Craving a Real Texan--A Western romance Page 4

  * * *

  The living room felt more like a rustic cabin than any other place in this house. It was a large area, with polished wood flooring and a smooth stone fireplace that reached a steep ceiling. Wood beams crisscrossed overhead, and three good-size sofas formed a horseshoe facing the fireplace. Cade was just finishing up at the hearth, and she watched from behind as he started the fire. “You’re good at that.”

  “I was a Boy Scout,” he said, using a poker to arrange the wood as a slow flame began to burn.

  “And I was a Girl Scout back in the day, which means I know how to make s’mores.”

  “Oh yeah? Do you use fancy ingredients to step it up?”

  “There’s no improving on s’mores. They’re just right the way they are.”

  He rose, dusting off his jeans, and faced her. “I agree.”

  “Here’s your coffee,” she said, handing him a mug. “Do you take cream or sugar?”

  “Just black is fine. Have a seat,” he said, waiting like a gentleman for her to sit down.

  “Oh, um. I wasn’t going to impose. I have work to do. I should probably get to it.”

  “You’re not imposing. Have a seat and enjoy the fire, won’t you? At least while you’re drinking your coffee.” He pointed to the hearth. “It’s gonna be a beauty.”

  She got the feeling Cade didn’t like being alone. Either that or he was just being polite. But her instincts told her he was lonely. Which pretty much sealed the deal, because he looked like he really wanted the company.

  “Okay, sure. Thanks.”

  She took a seat facing the fireplace, and he sat down adjacent to her on another sofa. “This is a nice room. It’s big, but it’s sorta cozy, too.”

  He sipped his coffee and faced the fire. “We had some good times in this room.”

  “That’s great. Big families are nice. I’m an only child.”

  “Oh yeah? Where are you from?”

  “My folks are Floridians. I grew up in Clearwater.”

  The sun had set now, and firelight illuminated the room. The fire crackled and sparked. It was peaceful, sitting here, watching the flames begin to bounce, sipping coffee. Talking to Cade.

  “My baby sis, Lily, used to sit on the hearth, fascinated by the fire. We were always telling her to back up a bit, she was too close. Until one day, a spark flew onto her sweater and singed it pretty dang bad. She cried her little eyes out.”

  “Oh my gosh, that’s awful.”

  “It was scary. But Lily always did have an adventurous spirit.”

  She couldn’t sit here and pretend not to know Lily. She wasn’t that good of a liar. And she felt guilty deceiving Cade. She guzzled her coffee down in three big gulps and rose from the sofa. “Looks like I’m finished.”

  He stood up, too. “Already?” Cade gazed into his nearly full coffee cup. “I’m just getting started.”

  “I really should get to my work. There’s more coffee in the kitchen, if you’d like.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Okay, then I’ll shut the coffee maker off. Good night, Cade.”

  “Night,” he said, eyeing her with that dark, sexy gaze. “Sleep well.”

  “Uh-huh.” She scampered out of the room, trying not to raise Cade’s suspicions.

  Lily had made it sound so simple, but being Cade Tremaine’s personal chef was harder than she thought it would be.

  And that was no lie.

  * * *

  It was almost nine when Harper’s phone rang. She’d gotten into her pajamas and was on the bed with her laptop, inputting notes. She looked at the screen, and seeing Lily’s image pop up, answered quickly. “Hello,” she whispered.

  “Hi. Why are you whispering? Are you with Cade?” she whispered back.

  “I’m in my room, and he’s in the living room, as far as I know. He’s got a fire going in the fireplace.”

  “Okay,” she said in her normal voice. “He shouldn’t be able to hear you.”

  “I know that, but just in case. I’m a little spooked by all of this, Lil. I mean I’ve told more lies in one day than I’ve ever told in my entire life.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like what? You have to ask? I’m pretending I don’t know you. And that’s hard, because he’s been talking about you. How you’d all come up to the cabin and play games. He even told me about you singeing your sweater by the fire when you were a kid and how you cried your eyes out.”

  “He told you that? I’ll never forget it. I was scared to go anywhere near that fireplace after that.”

  “My point is, I made up a lie about your mother hiring me, and it’s just gotten worse from there. I hate myself for lying to him.”

  “It’s for his own good. Does he seem relaxed though? Is he eating better?”

  “Yes, he’s eating my food. But I’m not so sure he’s relaxing. He chopped wood around back today, and by the way, you didn’t tell me how—” She bit her tongue. She couldn’t confess to Lily that she thought he was sexy, especially bare-chested, swinging the ax, with that thick dark hair falling onto his forehead.

  “How what?”

  “How, uh, he seems to like having company. Every time I make an excuse to leave the room, he seems disappointed. Like he needs me there as a distraction or something.”

  “Yeah, I know. I think he’s afraid to be alone with his thoughts. That’s why he works himself so damn hard. And it’s also important that you stay there. For you and for him.”

  “Why for me? What have you heard?” It’d been almost a week since that fateful episode of One Last Date had aired featuring her rejection of Dale.

  “Are you sure you want to know?”

  No. Yes. She needed to know where she stood in the world. “Lay it on me. I can take it.”

  “Well, the tabloids are saying you went into hiding, and they’re calling on fans to keep an eye out for you. I’m afraid they’re calling it ‘the Harper Hunt’ on social media.”

  She took a deep breath and sighed. Why couldn’t this be over? Didn’t people have better things to do with their lives than to go on a manhunt—or rather a womanhunt? “So, they haven’t let it go yet.”

  “No, sorry. But they will in time. I’m sure of it.”

  “I just want my old life back, Lil. You know?” She heard defeat in her voice.

  “Hey, you’ll get it back, Harper. I know it’s just going to take a bit more time. At least you’re at peace at the cabin.”

  “I don’t know about that. I’m lying to your brother, seems like every minute of the day. He took me by surprise this morning, and I blurted out my name was Dawn. I know, I’m a fast thinker, but that’s the first thing that came to mind.”

  “Dawn? Well, at least that wasn’t a total lie.”

  “I thought this would be easier, Lily. Honestly, I hate lying.”

  “It’s for a good cause, and to save your own hide. So think of it as a necessary evil.”

  “I’ll try. By the way, I have something to confess.” She paused, nibbling on her lip for a second. “I let it slip that I knew about the death of Cade’s fiancée and his blood pressure troubles. Let me just say, Cade’s furious with your mother. I had to tell him it came up in my interview with her. You may want to warn her and tell her I’m really sorry.”

  “Will do. Mom will be fine with it. She appreciates you staying there, cooking for Cade. And don’t beat yourself up about it, either. He won’t stay mad at her for long.”

  “I hope not.”

  “Just do your job and try to stay away from Cade. It shouldn’t be that hard. It’s a big house. Oh, and Dawn...thanks.” Lily giggled.

  “You brat.”

  “Good night. Sleep well.”

  She hung up the phone and went back to work on her computer.

  She had developed a new recipe for
breakfast she wanted to try out. She didn’t even know if Cade was a breakfast eater, or what time he got up in the morning. She would soon find out.

  * * *

  Harper had been sleeping unusually well considering she was in a strange bed in a very strange situation. Hiding out from the world took its toll. Maybe it was mental exhaustion, but for the past three nights, she’d fallen asleep and stayed asleep all night long. Feeling safe. Feeling free.

  Now she popped her eyes open and stretched her arms above her head. A long sigh escaped her mouth as she enjoyed the first moments of wakefulness. It always took her a second to find her bearings and remember where she was and why she was here.

  She slid a glance at the digital clock on the bedside table. “Oh no.” She sat up immediately. Eight o’clock! “Oh no, no, no.”

  The scent of coffee brewing hit all of her alarms. Cade was up already, apparently making his own coffee.

  She ran to the bathroom, scrubbed her face clean, tossed on her bathrobe, then dashed out of the bedroom. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” she said as she entered the kitchen. “I overslept.”

  Cade stood by the coffee maker, sipping coffee casually, like he didn’t have a care in the world. His facial scruff was darker today, and his hair unkempt, yet no one would call it bedhead. He must’ve won Best Hair in high school, because even unruly, it looked fashionable...and sexy. Oh boy, she had to stop thinking of her dear friend’s brother in those terms. It was a big no-no in the unwritten Book of Best Friends.

  “Nothing to be sorry about, Dawn. I like to get up early.” He flashed her a good long look that made her stomach ripple. “You didn’t have to rush out of bed.”

  She could feel the heat rising up her throat. She’d forgotten her appearance. While he looked hot in a clean white T-shirt hugging his biceps, she was in a ratty robe and frumpy pajamas she’d purchased in town on her first day here.

  “I know I must look a mess. I usually don’t oversleep like this. Hang on and I’ll fix your breakfast.”

  “First off, you don’t look a mess.”

  She rolled her eyes dramatically, which put a smile on his face. “Okay, but you’re not a hot mess,” he amended.

  No, he was the hot one. “I see the distinction.”

  He chuckled. “Actually, I’m not hungry right now. Coffee’s fine. Well, at least I tried.”

  She poured herself a cup and sipped. “Not bad,” she said. It really wasn’t awful. So, he could make coffee and boil an egg.

  He returned her nod, his dark lashes framing his eyes beautifully. “Coming from you, I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  A bit of sunshine poured into the window, warming up the room. “I apologize for oversleeping, I should’ve asked you yesterday what time you like to eat breakfast.” Her personal chef skills were sorely lacking.

  “I can eat, or I don’t have to eat,” he said, taking another sip of coffee.

  She warmed her hands around her cup. “If you don’t mind waiting, I’ll go get dressed and make you something to eat. It’s a quick recipe. Shouldn’t take too long. Is there anything you don’t like?”

  He didn’t hesitate. “Liver, pig’s feet, octopus.”

  She smiled. “I can assure you breakfast doesn’t include any of those things.”

  “Good to know.”

  “Enjoy your coffee, Cade. I’ll have something edible for you in half an hour.”

  “Sounds good.”

  She turned to the oven, adjusting the digital dials. “I’ll just preheat the oven and be back in a jiff.”

  She walked out of the room, feeling like an idiot. She’d never been anyone’s personal chef before. After culinary school she’d catered for a time, and then she got the head chef job at Perfect and Pure in Barrel Falls.

  Ten minutes later, after she’d showered and dressed, she walked back into the kitchen feeling almost regal in jeans and a cocoa-brown tank top, her hair combed and almost dry.

  “That was quick,” Cade said, looking up from the kitchen table and giving her a once-over. He’d been reading something on his phone, and the minute she walked in, he shut it down. “You look real nice.”

  “Thanks.”

  “What’s for breakfast?”

  “It’s a surprise. A healthy take on a very delicious dish. Are you game?”

  “Do I have a choice?”

  “Of course you do.”

  “I’m kidding,” he said, though he wasn’t smiling. He rarely did.

  “This recipe is going into my cookbook. So I want your honest take on it.”

  “I can do that. Don’t let me interrupt what you were doing.”

  “I won’t.” Yet he didn’t turn his phone back on. Instead, he watched her move around the kitchen, giving her his full attention. She tried not to let it bother her, tried to go about her business.

  She sprayed and buttered a casserole dish. Then she measured out bread crumbs and flattened them into the bottom of the dish. She set it in the oven and let that cook while she diced up onions, broccoli and spinach and added in a half cup of bacon pieces. While that was sautéing, she separated two eggs, putting the whites into a bowl. Next, she added two more eggs and beat them until they were blended.

  She looked up and met Cade’s eyes. They were filled with questions, and she felt like she had to break the silence.

  “Do you have any plans today?” she asked as she pulled the casserole dish out of the oven.

  “I thought I’d take a hike.”

  “Good idea. I enjoy hiking. You can get adventurous out there.” She dumped the mixture into the casserole dish and then added the eggs and topped it off with cheese. “I’ll be taking a hike later this morning, too,” she said, putting the casserole back in the oven on high heat. Then she turned and went to get something from the fridge.

  “Oh yeah? Want some company?”

  Her eyes went wide. It was a good thing her back was to him. She’d just stepped in it. She was supposed to steer clear of him, but she unintentionally sounded like she was hinting that they should go together. “Don’t you want to explore alone?”

  She saw him shrug out of the corner of her eyes. “Do you?”

  He’d tossed it right back into her lap, and she couldn’t very well refuse him now. She couldn’t use work as an excuse. She’d already admitted she was going on a hike. She reminded herself she was actually here by his family’s good graces and it was saving her hide. She’d have to be careful around him and keep her mouth shut. “I suppose we can go together,” she said, heading back to the stove.

  “I’ll try to keep up,” he said, his eyes twinkling.

  She held back a smile. He was teasing her and she liked it—a very bad sign.

  She put the bowls in the sink and began cleaning the kitchen. When the oven timer dinged, she put on her oven mitts and pulled the casserole out.

  “Breakfast is ready.” She laid the dish on a trivet in the center of the table.

  “Wow, that looks impressive,” he said. “Is that a quiche?”

  “Sort of. It’s my interpretation of a healthy quiche, with lots of veggies. But the key is, the bread-crumb layer at the bottom replaces a ton of carbs we would’ve had with a butter crust. There’s some bacon and low-fat cheese in there, so it’s not a total loss.”

  “Well, it looks amazing.”

  She cut into the dish, placing a large piece on Cade’s plate. “Here you go.” She sliced herself a smaller piece and was about to exit the room.

  “Where are you going?” Cade asked.

  She pointed to the door. “I was just going to, uh—”

  “Dawn, sit down. Please. I thought we established that food tastes better when shared.”

  “I’m working for you, Cade. And, well, I bet you don’t share your meals with your housekeeper at the Tremaine house.”

 
“Irene has been making our meals since I was a kid. She practically raised all of us, and she always took a seat at our table. True story.”

  “Really?”

  “She’s like part of our family.”

  “But surely, I’m not—”

  “My mother hired you, not me. So technically you don’t work for me.”

  “Oh, is that how it works?” She put her hands on her hips. Cade was trying so darn hard to keep her near. She thought she understood why: he hated to be alone with his grief.

  “Yeah, that’s how it works. If we’re going to be here together, we might as well agree to a casual friendship.”

  “A casual friendship?”

  “Why not?”

  Well, he’d stumped her there. “But we don’t really know each other very well.”

  “And we can keep it that way if you want. Lord knows I don’t like talking about myself, but I don’t want you to feel you have to leave the room every time I enter it.”

  “I don’t do that,” she said without much conviction.

  “Don’t you?”

  Her shoulders slumped. “Okay, maybe I do. I just want to give you space.” What could she say? She’d never been a personal chef before, and she didn’t know the rules. But one thing she did know—she didn’t want to blow this.

  “How about, if either of us need space, we tell each other.”

  “I can do that.”

  “Good, then it’s settled,” he said.

  “Okay, Cade.” She sat down at the table with her food. “Let’s eat while it’s hot. Remember, I want your honest opinion.”

  “That’s all I know how to give.”

  She knew that about him already. But her? She’d been lying to him pretty much since the moment they met.