Craving a Real Texan--A Western romance Read online

  “I didn’t mean...it’s just that there’s a lot to do if you like the outdoors.”

  It was a nice save, and he glanced at her again. “Like taking a hike?”

  “Yep, there’s some interesting vegetation up there that I’d like to check out. Just wanted to let you know I’ll be gone for an hour. So how about dinner at seven tonight?”

  “Aren’t there leftovers from lunch?”

  “There are. Want to have them tomorrow?”

  “Sure. It was really good.”

  “Thank you. I’m trying out a new recipe for tonight. How do you feel about pasta?”

  “Who doesn’t love pasta?”

  She smiled sweetly, glanced at his chest one more time and then turned away, giving him a beautiful view of her long tan legs and perfect behind as she wandered off.

  It was something he shouldn’t be noticing. But man, he wouldn’t be male if he didn’t.

  Two

  Harper had been taking the same hike every day since she’d arrived, because the paths were relatively remote and she didn’t run into a lot of people. It was a perfect way to clear her mind without worry of being spotted. Her disguise seemed to be working.

  Cade didn’t bat an eye in recognition when they’d first met, thank goodness. Lucky for her, he didn’t watch much television.

  Seeing him just minutes ago chopping wood bare-chested brought thoughts of a rugged lumberjack to mind rather than a big business tycoon. The sight of him holding that ax with his muscles bunching, his dark, straight hair falling onto his forehead, the stubble on his jaw, put her female instincts on high alert. Which, under her dire circumstances, jarred her. She wasn’t supposed to be thinking about physical attraction or the way her tummy tightened when Cade wielded that ax. No, she was supposed to be recovering from a scandal that had rattled her entire world, not ogling Lily’s sexy-as-sin brother.

  The May sun beat down, warming her limbs. As she climbed a rise, she spotted a blanket of wildflowers, their colors waving in the breeze. It was like a pastel patch of heaven. She stooped down and picked the prettiest of them, making another lovely bouquet.

  On her way back, as she walked through a cooler area shaded by Texas live oak trees, she found a crop of wild onions along the side of the path. Their pungent scent tickled her nostrils, and she stopped to pick several of them to use in her meal tonight.

  When she was done, she gathered up the onions and the wildflowers and resumed her walk, only stopping when she reached a road crossing. It was single-lane traffic on both sides. She waited as one car after another drove by, keeping her head down. For a few minutes there, she’d almost forgotten her predicament. She’d gotten lost in her thoughts, planning her next meal for Cade, but the fear of being discovered reared its ugly head again. Once the cars passed and they were out of sight, she ran across the road quickly then resumed her walk back.

  When she returned, Cade was sitting on the porch, wearing a T-shirt—thank goodness—with a book that he didn’t seem to be reading in his hand. Oh well, it was a nice afternoon to just be. She would love to join him in that if things were different.

  He looked her way as she climbed the steps and rose from his seat. “Hi. What’ve you got there?”

  She stopped long enough to show him. The flowers were self-explanatory. “I found some wild onions. I’ll be cooking them up tonight.”

  “Sounds good. How was your hike?”

  “Pretty good. It’s an easy path, if you’d like to try it sometime.”

  “Maybe I will.”

  “How did the log splitting go?”

  “Filled up the woodpile for now.”

  “I’d like to try it sometime.”

  “What?” He seemed baffled at her request. “You mean, chopping wood?”

  “Sure, why not? Doesn’t look that hard.”

  He grinned. “Was that a put-down?”

  “Are you being a chauvinist?”

  “Are you one of those women that gets offended easily? If you are, I’m going to have to zip my darn lips a lot around you.” There was a teasing gleam in his eyes.

  “No, I’m not, but I like being outdoors. I like nature and doing things to challenge myself.”

  He nodded. “Fair enough.”

  “I don’t expect you to stand up every time I enter the room, either,” she said. “But don’t get me wrong, it’s a nice gesture.”

  “Southern manners, Dawn. That’s all. I’ve been doing it since I was a boy.”

  “Okay, as long as you don’t—”

  But it was too late—he’d already reached the door and pulled it open.

  “Uh, open the door for me.”

  “Sorry,” he said. “Old habits and all.”

  She laughed. She had a feeling this was one battle she was going to lose.

  “What’s funny?”

  “Nothing, really. It’s just that the last guy I was with wouldn’t know a Southern manner if it hit him upside the head.” Unless the cameras were on.

  “Well, then. I take it he wasn’t a Texan.”

  “No, he was from back East, and he’s history now.”

  Why she found the need to make that point, she wasn’t entirely sure. Maybe it had something to do with the way Cade jangled her nerves whenever he was near.

  “Can’t say as I blame you.”

  “You’d be the only one who wouldn’t,” she muttered.

  “What’d you say?” he asked.

  “Oh, nothing. Nothing at all.”

  She didn’t want to ruin the day by thinking of Dale. He was history. If she’d made one right move lately, it was to refuse his marriage proposal. She had no second thoughts on that one. At least she could feel good about not caving in to the pressure. She’d listened to her heart and her brain. Both told her he was a no-go.

  In the kitchen, she took a good long minute to wash her hands. Cade followed her in holding a bottle of red wine. The Tremaines had an extensive wine closet just off the kitchen.

  “Thought wine would be good with pasta,” Case said, grabbing two wineglasses from an overhead cabinet and opening the bottle. “Would you like to join me?”

  She was not a big drinker, but a little wine with her meal sounded good. “I’d love to, later with the meal.”

  “Mind if I do?”

  Heavens, it was his cabin, his wine and his family’s generosity in letting her stay here. “Go right ahead.”

  While he poured himself a glass, she moved around the kitchen, gathering up the ingredients she needed for her dish. “Do you like mushrooms?”

  “I do. Are they wild, too?”

  “I haven’t found any in my hikes, so I’m not sure they grow up here.”

  “What are you making?”

  “It’s something a bit different—crunchy pasta with a mushroom and herb sauce. Topped with cheese. I’ve been working on the recipe, and I’m hoping it’s refined enough for my cookbook.”

  Cade sipped wine and took a seat facing her. “Do you have a publisher for your cookbook yet?”

  “Not yet, no.” She shrugged. “These days if you’re not renowned in the business, you have to have a theme, or gimmick, if you want to call it that, to get any feedback at all. Half of my recipes are a little bit outside the mainstream, like crunchy pasta, for instance, so I have that going for me. And I try to keep them as healthy as possible. I haven’t come up with a title yet, but it has to hit the mark exactly.”

  Cade lifted his glass, contemplating. “How about Daring, Dining and Dawn?”

  “That’s pretty good just off the top of your head.” Only her first name wasn’t Dawn, and he’d just reminded her that she was deliberately deceiving him.

  Her only justification was that she was doing this for his sake. According to his sister, he needed this time to relax and be calm. And right now
he’d planted himself at the kitchen table, sipping wine, keeping his eyes trained on her.

  It made her jittery.

  Because she had this undefined attraction to him. And as much as she tried to talk herself out of it—because it was the last thing she needed—she had no real control of those sparks shooting off inside her.

  “Mind if I watch?” he asked.

  Yes. She minded. She had to keep focused on her dish and jot down notes for her cookbook, not have Cade Tremaine sitting so close, reminding her how he looked stripped down to his jeans. He was Lily’s brother, for heaven’s sake, and a guy in need of some peace. And from what she gathered, he was still grieving his fiancée’s death.

  “No, I don’t mind at all.” She swallowed, hating that the lie flowed so easily from her lips.

  “Thanks.”

  But she didn’t dwell on it; she went right into boiling water for the pasta in a big pot. Next, she turned her attention to the mushrooms, using both portobello and shiitake. She cut them into small, even pieces, getting them ready for the sauce. Once the water boiled, she added spaghetti to the pot. She had the computer set up on the kitchen table, and she logged on, making her notes. She dared a glance at Cade, who sat quietly, sipping cabernet, his eyes trained on her.

  Her nerves a bit rattled, she finished her notes and closed down the computer. “What book are you reading?” she asked to break the silence.

  “The latest thriller. I’m not an avid reader, but it was on the bestseller list, so I figured it might be good. It’s called Wall of Darkness. Heard of it?”

  “No, I’m not a thriller reader. So, you don’t read much?”

  “No, usually can’t find the time. I’m trying to focus on relaxing, and people say reading is a good way to escape. Unfortunately, relaxing doesn’t come easy to me. And I can’t seem to get into this book.”

  “Thus, the wood chopping?”

  He smiled. “I’ll be building a fire tonight.”

  “Really? It isn’t that cold out, but it is peaceful to watch the flames.”

  “I remember as a kid, coming here in the dead of winter and sitting by the fire, drinking hot cocoa and playing games with my family. My dad was alive then.”

  “Was he a gamer?”

  “He was. My father loved competition, and he loved to win.”

  “Most people do. Love to win, that is.”

  “Do you?”

  “Of course. I’m pretty good at cards. Poker, gin rummy, Uno, Go Fish. You name it and I play it.”

  “Go Fish?”

  “I’m a child at heart.”

  He chuckled and sipped his wine again.

  She turned away to stir the spaghetti, and when it was done, she lifted the colander, draining the liquid and then dumping the contents onto a round platter. “There, that just has to cool a bit.”

  She got out a cast-iron skillet next and put in a few teaspoons of olive oil, setting the burner on low heat.

  Cade was quiet. He wasn’t much for small talk, and she felt the need to carry on a conversation to keep the awkwardness at bay. “I hope you don’t mind me trying out this recipe on you. It’s probably like nothing you’ve ever had before.”

  He took a second to answer, his expression thoughtful. “If my mother hired you, you must be very good at what you do. So, don’t worry about experimenting with me. I’m sort of your captive audience.”

  She turned to him. “But still, if you have favorites or any kind of cravings...”

  Something flashed in Cade’s eyes for a split second. “I’ll be sure to let you know if I have any cravings,” he said, expressionless but for the tiniest crook of his lips. Or was she imagining it?

  “Well, thank you. I’m open to suggestions. Food suggestions,” she clarified.

  “Ah, got it,” he said casually, as if he was teasing her. But that couldn’t be. From what Lily had told her in the past, Cade had been devastated when his fiancée passed and had withdrawn within himself. He held everything inside until he’d nearly made himself sick. So any notion that he was flirting wasn’t really plausible.

  Which was a darn good thing.

  She finished the dish by sliding the cooled pasta into the skillet and cooking it through until the entire batch was browned lightly on both sides, making it crispy. Then she added the tomato sauce, onions and mushrooms, topping it off with fresh basil and dabs of ricotta cheese. “Are you ready?” she asked Cade as she lifted the skillet from the stove.

  “Looks delicious,” he said. “You are joining me for this, right?”

  “Only if I’m not intruding.”

  “Food tastes better when shared,” he said, his brows gathering. “I read that somewhere.”

  A little laugh escaped her. “I think that’s my line, Cade.”

  She set the steaming skillet down on the table and then brought over two plates and utensils, quickly setting the table. “Oh, I almost forgot.” She grabbed a vase filled with the new batch of wildflowers she’d picked today and positioned it in the center. After a quick assessment of the table setting, she sat down.

  The May sun lowered on the horizon, casting a pretty golden glow in the room. It was soothing, and she always loved this time of day.

  “My stomach’s grumbling,” Cade said. “Either I’m real hungry or your food is appetizing as hell.”

  “Or both. Can I serve you up a portion?” She put out her hand for his plate.

  “Sure,” he said, setting it in her hand.

  She gave him a very generous helping. “I’m not sure if I’m that hungry,” he said.

  “I have faith in you.”

  “Do you now?”

  “Yes, you look like a man who can really pack it in.” She smiled and took her seat, placing a napkin on her lap. She forked into the dish and took a bite, then immediately critiqued her work. “It could use more seasoning,” she said. “I’ll have to add that to my notes.”

  Cade had a mouthful of food, and after he finished chewing, he said, “Tastes fine to me.”

  “It’s passable, but not perfect.”

  “Are you a perfectionist?” he asked.

  “When it comes to meal preparation, I am.”

  “So, you’re like an artist. You are your own harshest critic.”

  “I suppose. I never thought of it that way. I think everyone is a perfectionist about something, don’t you? I mean, if you’re into fashion, you’re probably not satisfied until your outfit totally rocks. If you’re a golfer, you aim for that hole in one. So, what is it that you want perfection in, Cade? Your business?”

  “Hardly. My business is about the bottom line, but I don’t need perfection in that. Only good stats while delivering good product. There are hits and misses in ranching and oil but as long as the Tremaine name stands for honesty and integrity, I’m happy.” He lingered on the question a minute. “I guess I found perfection in my fiancée. Yeah,” he said, nodding his head. “Bree was perfect, and I think that’s all I needed. And wanted.”

  “I’m sorry you lost her.”

  He snapped his eyes to hers. “How did you know?”

  Oh no. She’d been caught. She’d let her guard down, and now she had to think fast. “Oh, uh...your mother mentioned it. It was part of the interview. She told me you weren’t eating well and that I should remedy that. I asked her why and she told me.”

  Oh boy, what a whopper of a lie. But she’d let it slip and now she had to pay the price. She hoped Rose Tremaine would forgive her, because Harper really wasn’t trying to sabotage her relationship with her son.

  “My mother told you I wasn’t eating well because of Bree? What else did she tell you?”

  “Only that. Well, she did mention something about your...your—” She briefly squeezed her eyes shut. Why on earth did she keep on talking?

  “My what?”
>
  His gaze swooped down on her like a predator’s. She felt trapped and had to answer now. “Your blood pressure,” she squeaked.

  A tic worked in his jaw, and he gave his head a shake. “That’s unbelievable. I’m thirty-three years old and my mother still thinks I’m a kid. The only reason I came up to the cabin was to get her off my back. If I stayed home, she would’ve been hovering like a damn helicopter.”

  She shrugged. “That’s what mothers do, I guess. Out of love.”

  “Yeah, I know.” He gave her a look, his dark eyes assessing her, as if sizing her up. It was reminiscent of her latest reality show fiasco, being judged unfairly by Team Dale, his loyal fans.

  “I’m really sorry,” she said, meaning it from the bottom of her heart. Cade had been robbed of the kind of love she’d been looking for. The kind her mom and dad had. The kind that makes you do stupid things, makes you smile all day long, makes your heart sing, because you have a secret nobody else has.

  Cade’s eyes softened. “You know what? You’re innocent in all this,” he said. “I shouldn’t take it out on you because things didn’t work out for me the way they should have.”

  Oh man. She was so not innocent. She’d told him lie after lie, and it wasn’t like her. She hated this game she was playing, but it was too late to back out now.

  “Don’t worry about it. So, about that wood you chopped today. Still planning on having a fire tonight?”

  “I...uh, yeah. I’ll build a fire.”

  He seemed a little baffled by her change of subject.

  “While you do that, I’ll just clean up in here. Are you finished? Want some more?”

  “It was great, but no, thanks. I’m full.”

  “Too full for a cup of coffee?”

  “Actually, that sounds good.”

  “Okay, well, you go build the fire. Coffee should be ready in a few minutes.”

  He looked around the kitchen. “Need some help in here first?”

  “Nope, I’ve got this.”

  “Okay, thanks.”

  He walked out of the room, and Harper hugged herself around the middle as she shivered. The air was growing colder outside, but that wasn’t it. She’d just dodged a bullet, lying through her teeth to Cade. “You have to be more careful, Harper,” she muttered. “Or you’re gonna blow it for him.” The best thing she could do was to get out of Cade’s way and let him deal with his issues himself.