Southern Hearts (Southern Love Series) (2 page)

Austin sat on a bale of hay. Today was a beautiful day in
Dallas to sit on the ranch and write songs for his upcoming album. It had been
exactly three days since he had mentioned to Rebecca about Southern Rose
catering their wedding. She was still giving him attitude about the idea. He
didn't understand her objections. It wasn't like he was asking to serve pickled
pigs feet and chitterlings at the wedding.

"Austin?" Rebecca called his name.

He looked up from his notepad to see her walking over to
him wearing a Prada skirt and high heels that she could barely walk in. He
tried not to laugh as Rebecca walked like a penguin. Getting up from the bale
of hay, he walked over to her. He sensed by the way she was walking that it
would take her forever to make it to the barn.

"Rebecca, you need to change your attire on the
ranch," he said, stifling a laugh. "What's wrong with what I have
on?" She did a slow twirl for him.

He shook his head. Talking to Rebecca was like talking to a
wall. There was no point in telling her anything, because she wouldn't listen
anyway. "Anyways, what's up?"

"I decided that you can have your southern cuisine, if
it's going to make you happy."

Austin didn't like how she said it. She was treating him
like a little boy who wanted a toy in a store. "Well, I appreciate
that."

"But there is absolutely no way I want to be a part of
planning the menu." She flipped her shoulder-length hair back.

He looked at her. Rebecca had a tendency to pout when she
didn't get her way.

"All right," he said. "Are you sure you
don't want to come with me? I'm pretty sure that Chef Rue will be able to
create an additional menu for our guests to choose from."

"Sorry, baby, no can do." She kissed his cheek.
"I have a spa date with Mother."

"Enjoy the spa," Austin said as he watched
Rebecca walk gingerly back to the main house in her ridiculous shoes.

Taking his phone off the clip of his belt and the business
card out of his pocket, he dialed the number for Southern Rose.

"Thank you for calling Southern Rose. This is
Farrah."

"Hi, Farrah. This is Austin." For the first time
in his life, Austin was tongue-tied. Her soft, feminine voice sounded relaxing
and intriguing.

"Hi! How are you?" she said cheerfully.

"I'm okay." He sat down back down on the bale of
hay. "How are you?"

"I'm okay. Thanks for asking." She paused.
"What can I do for you today?"

"I wanted to make a consultation for the wedding and
the dinner event I'm hosting." He wondered if she smiled when she talked
and was she just happy all the time.

"Sure. Do you have a date in mind?"

"Are you available today?" he asked.

"Give me one second," she said as she put him on
hold.

Austin could hear her laughing in the background. For some
reason, her laughter was familiar like he had heard it before.

"I'm back." She paused. "You can come in
around six when I close. You can park in the back of the store. My staff knows
you're a celebrity, so I think coming in late will give you peace of
mind."

"Thanks, Farrah. I'll see you later."

"Yes. Have a wonderful day," she said and hung up
the phone.

***

A tap sounded on the back door of Southern Rose Eatery.
Farrah got up from her office chair and went to the door. Tonight, her
restaurant would be staying open late to service her VIP clients. Opening the
door, she came face-to-face with grey eyes belonging to Austin McBride. He
appeared angry when he walked through the door.

"Hi," she said, moving back to allow him entry.
She smelled his masculine scent as he passed.

"Hello," he said, taking off his cowboy hat as he
walked into the room.

Farrah looked at him strangely when she realized he was
alone. "You didn't bring the bride?" she asked.

"She was feeling under the weather," he replied.

"I hope she feels better." She smiled. "Well,
let's get started," she said, walking into the main area of the restaurant,
where she had menus on the table. She rubbed her sweaty hands on her blue
jeans. Her nerves were getting the best of her. "Have a seat." She
gestured for him to sit at the table.

"Thank you," he said and sat down across the
table from her.

"I took the liberty of creating a few ideas, but
overall it's your choice on what type of meal you want served at each
event," Farrah said and handed him the menus.

Austin took the menus that Farrah handed him. "The
first event is a family gathering, so I want to do southern comfort foods like
my momma used to cook," he said.

Farrah could sense sadness in his voice when he mentioned
his mother. "I'm sorry," she said.

"Momma has been dead for a year now," he said.

Reaching across the table, she squeezed his hand. She
understood his pain. "The pain will slowly subside, but you will always
remember her, especially on birthdays, holidays, and the anniversary of her
death."

"You speak like you can relate," he said.

"My mom died ten years ago, when I was
seventeen," she replied.

"I'm sorry," he said.

They sat there for a minute, holding one another's hand.

Farrah cleared her throat and removed her hand from his.
"Let's get back to work," she said cheerfully. "You can do baby
back ribs, a brisket, and barbecue sliders. Corn slaw, roasted potato skins,
and sweet and spicy bourbon baked beans."

She heard his stomach growl when she mentioned the food.

"Darling, you got my stomach rumbling," he said
with a smile.

"Are you hungry?" Motioning for him to follow her
to the kitchen, she said, "I can prepare us a light meal. What's something
you haven't had in a long time?"

"I didn't finish my fried chicken the other day."
He smiled.

"Fried chicken, gravy, and mashed potatoes with
homemade biscuits. And I have extra brownies."

"You're going to spoil me, honey." He laughed and
walked to the front of the restaurant.

"What are you doing?"

"Picking out my lifetime table here," he said as
he sat down at a table in the back. Farrah couldn't help but laugh at Austin's
antics.

"Come help me cook," she said, motioning him back
to the kitchen.

"Ma'am, it would be a pleasure to help you cook,
but—"

"Can you boil water?" She laughed.

"That I can do."

He washed his hands. When he was done, Farrah threw an
apron at him.

Farrah set Austin up peeling potatoes while she seasoned
the chicken and prepared the breading. Throughout the night, Austin would watch
Farrah when he thought she wasn't paying attention, and she did the same.

***

"Mmm, good!" Austin said as he licked his
fingers.

"You did a good job with the potatoes," Farrah
said, as she ate another spoonful of potatoes and gravy. "Are you
married?" Austin asked. "No," she coughed.

"A woman who cooks like this should be married, and
your husband should be pampering you," he said as he bit into his hot
fried chicken.

"When the time comes," Farrah said nonchalantly.
"Sometimes people get married for the wrong reasons."

"Have you been married before?" he asked.

"No," she replied.

Austin saw hurt in Farrah's eyes, and he wanted to meet the
man who had hurt this beautiful creature before him.

"Can you elaborate on 'the wrong reason' why people
get married?" he asked, looking at her.

Farrah looked across the table at him. "I feel some
people get married for
all
the wrong reasons, like to have kids, or so
they can live together, or so they can make their relationship official."

"For what reason should you get married?"

"If and when I get married, it has to be for more than
just love," Farrah said softly.

"What is out there besides love?" Austin asked.

"I can't tell you that, Mr. McBride," she said.

"Why not?" he asked.

"Because we're getting way off topic. We shouldn't be
talking about this," she said.

"We're just talking as friends. Now tell me the reason
why
you
would get married," he replied.

"Actually, I'm your employee, not your friend, seeing
as how you hired my restaurant to cater your event," she said and took a
sip of her tea.

Farrah took a deep breath. Austin watched as she played
with the necklace around her neck. Slowly, she answered.

"I'll only marry someone who makes me feel whole,
someone who would have the power to heal my heart and spirit. He would be the
missing piece of the puzzle I've been searching my whole life for. Any other
man would only be a companion; I don't want to settle anymore," she said
softly.

Austin was astounded. "You're a hopeless
romantic." He laughed.

"Maybe," she said with a shrug.

Austin watched as she tucked a strand of curly hair that
had escaped her ponytail behind her ear. He wanted to reach up and touch her.
"I think I should be leaving. I'll have my assistant get to you regarding
the menu for the party," he said.

"Yeah," she said.

"Thank you for dinner," he said as he stood at
the back door of the restaurant.

"No problem. Anytime," she said and held the door
for him. "Just let me know which menu you decide on for the first
event."

"Okay," he said. He walked out into the warm
Texas night to his pickup truck. He turned to look one more time at her as she
closed the door. Chef Rue was definitely awakening something inside of him.

***

It had been exactly three days since Austin sat at Southern
Rose Eatery, having dinner with Farrah. Since then, his mind had been plagued
by thoughts of the beautiful chef. After dinner that night, he'd made the
decision to have his personal assistant Megan relay communication to Farrah.
Austin didn't know what exactly was going on with his feelings about Farrah,
but he knew when he touched her hand that he needed to put some distance
between them. The last time he was around her, he had wanted to act on impulse
and kiss her. He replayed the conversation they had over dinner regarding
marriage and the reason to marry someone.

"Earth to Austin." Megan snapped her fingers in
front of him.

"Sorry," he said as he looked at Megan, who was
going through some papers.

"Chef Rue wants to add some type of fish to the menu,
maybe salmon. I told her I would discuss this with you."

Just hearing Farrah's name made Austin smile. "Tell
Farrah that we have two ponds on the ranch that are stocked with fish, not to
mention all the fish in Lake Lewisville."

Megan looked uneasy. "So, you want me to tell her to
go catch the fish from the ponds on the ranch."

"Yes," he replied.

"I will email her and see what she says," Megan
said, tapping away at her computer.

Austin wished he could be a fly on the wall when Farrah
read the email.

***

Farrah sat in her office going over recipes she wanted to
try for Austin and Rebecca's wedding. For the past few weeks, Austin's personal
assistant, Megan, had been the link between them. Megan was kind enough to
explain that Austin's fiancée was a New York socialite and a former model who
didn't approve of the southern cuisine that Austin wanted. Farrah knew her
southern gourmet cuisine was top notch, but she wanted to please everyone, so
her plan was to add dishes that would suit Rebecca's tastes.

Looking at her watch, Farrah realized that Southern Rose
had been closed for two hours and she was still burning the midnight oil. She
wanted to make sure everything was in order when she catered the first event.

Financially, she needed Austin's business, and she was
happy for the attention Southern Rose was receiving since the last wedding she
catered. With Austin's pending nuptials, her restaurant would gain even more
attention.

Her stomach grumbled. She hadn't eaten anything since
breakfast, and it was long overdue that she put something in her stomach.
Farrah started to put her binder full of recipes in her book bag when her
computer chimed, notifying her that she had an email.

Ms. Rue,

Mr. McBride prefers that you use bass and catfish from
the ponds on the McBride Ranch. He will provide the materials such as the
fishing rods and bait.

Farrah screamed at the computer screen. He wanted her to go
fishing? He would provide the fishing rod? She didn't even know how to bait,
hook, or throw the damn thing in the water!

Megan,

I do not know how to fish. I will see if my staff knows
how to fish; if not, I could hire a fisherman.

Farrah Rue

With that said, she turned off the computer and left her
office. She was long overdue for something to eat and a big glass of wine.

***

Austin chuckled as he kicked off his boots by his bed.
Farrah didn't know how to fish. That was surprising since she grew up in the
south.

"Please don't sit on the bed after being out there
with those animals!" Rebecca said shrilly. Austin stopped and looked at
Rebecca, who sat at the vanity, putting on her facial cream.

"Hi, baby, how your day was?" he asked, annoyed.
After working all day on the ranch, the first thing she said to him was not to
sit on the bed.

"My day was wonderful. I did some shopping. I had to
do it online, though, since there's nothing here."

Rebecca rolled her eyes. "I can't wait until we move
to New York."

Austin was taking his clothes off when he froze after
hearing Rebecca mention them moving to New York.

"Becca, we talked about moving to the ranch and having
a baby next year."