Cash followed Travis up the steep ladder back outside.
“Do some research, would you? Find out who’s the best company in this area.” Travis looked around. “I assume you’re going to clear out the path to get here easier.”
“Yup. Just hadn’t gotten to it yet. Come over here.” Cash walked off toward the patio, Travis following. “What would you think about me installing a hot tub out here? I’d probably extend the decking so to not lose any square footage from this patio area, but the privacy is perfect.”
Travis arched an eyebrow. “Privacy? A hot tub? Just exactly what’s going on over here?”
Cash slugged Travis’s arm. “Ha. If only. But nothing is going on. Absolutely nothing, as you well know. After all, you did have dinner with my roommate and the new sheriff department deputy.”
Travis grinned. “Just jerking your chain. I don’t care if you put in a hot tub. Besides, it’d probably be good for your leg.”
At the mention of his leg, Cash rubbed this thigh. “Probably.”
“You know, Caroline mentioned to me before we left that you’re walking a lot better. Your limp is barely there anymore. Are you still hurting?”
Cash shrugged, uncomfortable discussing his injuries. “Not much. Now follow me to the back. One more thing to show you.”
Cash led them inside to the back bedroom he’d called his own for the first few days. “This room is in terrible shape. The half-bath flooring is almost rotten through. In fact, the entire bath area needs a total rebuild. I was thinking that since I’ve got to tear it all out anyway, why not go ahead and make it into a full bath? Renovate this entire area, maybe make the room a little larger, a little nicer.”
“A little larger and nicer, huh? For who?”
“I don’t know. No one in particular. I just thought this house should have a nice master bedroom and bath, but never mind.”
“Don’t get your panties in wad. Go ahead and knock out a wall or two. Caroline will be thrilled at all you’ve done.” Travis shook his head. “Honestly, I had no idea this place could be renovated like this. I’d actually thought about tearing it down.” When Cash looked at him aghast, Travis chuckled. “Yeah, that was my wife’s reaction too.” They walked into the kitchen. “You really have an eye for this, Cash. Just like that bar you rescued and sent home to Mom and Dad’s house. You’re good at this. Really, really good. Show me what else you’ve done.”
Once Travis had toured the rest of the house, he seemed pleased with everything that’d been accomplished so far. They rode back to the Halo M ranch, and after promising Caroline a tour of the house soon, Cash headed home. He found a note from Paige on his bed that he’d overlooked earlier.
Date with Marc. Be home later. Leftover meatloaf in fridge.
Well, damn.
Yay on the meatloaf, but damn on the date.
Chapter Eight
“Thanks, Marc. I had a lovely time.”
“Me too. My friends were crazy about you.”
Paige smiled. “That’s nice. I enjoyed meeting them.”
Marc draped his arm across the back of her car seat. “Since I’m low man on the totem pole, I drew holiday duty through Tuesday, but I’d like to see you again.” He caught strands of her hair and rubbed them between his fingers. “I really like you, Paige. I hope you know that.”
Paige’s heart thudded like stampeding elephants in her ears. A tremor shook her legs. This is what she should want. A stable man. A man who wanted her. A man who saw her as an adult with no memories of her as a child.
He leaned toward her. Paige braced herself for his kiss. Not that he was a bad kisser, because he wasn’t. In fact, he was pretty darned good at it. But no matter how much she wanted to feel the same zing through her blood as when Cash kissed her, Marc’s kisses never did more than leave her mouth a little wetter than before.
“I like you too, Marc. Thank you for such a wonderful day. Your friends were great and I loved the fireworks.”
He slid the hand that’d been on the back of her seat down to the nape of her neck. He gently pulled her toward him and kissed her. It was a nice kiss. Soft. Non-demanding. Almost reverent with the respect he showed her. He never attacked her mouth as though he couldn’t live another minute without her taste. He never gripped her and jerked her against a rigid bulge in his jeans, making her knees weak with need.
In short, he wasn’t Cash Montgomery.
“Can I come in?” he asked against her lips.
She shook her head. “Not tonight.” Pulling away from him, she smiled. “You have work tomorrow, mister. And it’s almost midnight now.”
He sighed. “You’re right. I knew you’d be good for me.” Linking his fingers through hers, he gave them a soft squeeze and then brought them to his lips. “Save Friday night for me. Since I have to work the rest of the weekend, I have the entire next weekend off. Let’s go somewhere. Do something special. Just the two of us.”
The muscles in her gut twisted into a painful knot. She forced the smile on her face to remain steady. Marc was so nice, such a gentleman. Maybe with a little more time she’d be able to let him into her heart. Her life would be so much calmer with him in it instead of some heart-stopping cowboy. “Sounds wonderfully interesting.” She leaned forward and gave him a quick kiss. “Thank you again.” She opened the door to leave. “Don’t get out. I can walk myself a couple of dozen feet to the door.”
“Paige.”
She turned back. “Yes?”
“I’m serious. I want to be alone with you. Think about going away for a weekend. Anywhere you want.”
“I’ll think about it. I promise. Goodnight, Marc.”
“Night, Paige.”
He waited until she shut her front door before he rumbled down the drive. The living room was dark, as was the rest of the house, except for her bedroom. The lamp beside the living room sofa had been left on. It was throwing just enough light for her to see her way down the hall. She wasn’t sure whether to deem Cash considerate for leaving a light on or pissed that he’d left a light on like he was her big brother, or worse, a good friend and considerate roommate.
Which brought up another point. Why wasn’t he down here tonight kissing her like she held the breath of life, and without it, he would die?
She flopped onto her bed still fully dressed and stared at the ceiling. The damn man was driving her crazy. One night he’s kissing her and the next he’s nowhere to be found. Pounding her fists on the mattress, she uttered the dirtiest word she knew. It didn’t help.
She climbed off the bed and opened her closet door to kick in her shoes. Cash’s belt and silver buckle swung to the side, whapping her wrist. She took the belt off the nail and hung it over the corner of the mirror above her dresser. That memento had traveled with her since the night he’d given it to her. It was one of the few items she owned that she wouldn’t sell or trade for anything. Did he even remember giving it to her? He’d probably laugh if he saw it. Think her a silly, sentimental female, which she wasn’t. Not by a long shot. But it represented a special night for her, a night that had changed her whole future.
After changing into her pajamas, she crawled between her sheets. As she settled into her foam-gel mattress, she sighed. Why couldn’t she fall for someone normal, like Marc Singer? Hell, why couldn’t she fall for someone who liked her back? Oh, no. She had to go and fall in love with the most obstinate cowboy God ever put on this earth.
Rolling onto her stomach, she thought about Marc. He was a really super guy. He deserved someone who chose him, not someone who was with him because her number-one choice was a stubborn bullheaded cowboy who needed her whether or not he’d admit it.
And based on that, she needed to tell Marc the truth. She liked him, but she didn’t
like
him. Argh. She was going to have to give him the let’s-be-friends talk and she
hated
that talk. She’d given it and been on the receiving end of that talk. Both ends sucked.
Flopping onto her back, she resumed her stare of the ceiling. Her door squeaked as it opened a couple of inches. Leaning up on her elbows, did she dare hope it was Cash? That he’d finally come to his senses and come down to her?
Ruby jumped onto the bed, her body so tiny that her landing made no movement. She bumped Paige’s arm, followed by a loud purr.
“Hey, sweetheart.” Paige sat, pulled the kitten into her lap and began giving Ruby long strokes down her back. “What’d you do today? Have a good day? Did you and Buster play? So what did Cash do while I was gone?”
The cat purred and butted but had no further information about the goings on in the house while Paige was on her date. She and Ruby rubbed noses.
“You’re no help at all.” Paige fluffed her pillow before lying back down. “You know what I’m going to do, Ruby?” The cat climbed on top of Paige’s abdomen and curled into a ball. Paige ran her hand in the cat’s fur. “I think I’m going to lasso me a stubborn bullheaded bull rider. He’ll never know what hit him until it’s too late. What do you think?”
Again, Ruby had no words of wisdom. Just a loud purr of approval.
Paige’s alarm beeped at seven. Groaning, she rolled over and turned it off. Her movement sent Ruby into a purring and head-butting routine.
“Great. Just what I need. A morning cat.” Sitting, she stretched. “I am so not a morning person.”
Cash’s silver buckle caught the morning rays and threw them into her eyes. She squeezed her eyes tight and then she remembered her resolution from last night. Either she needed to excise Cash Montgomery out of her mind and soul or she needed to weasel her way into his. One way or the other, she knew she had to resolve this mental battle before she could move on with her life.
She threw on her robe, brushed her hair and then opened her door. The life-affirming aroma of coffee wafted into her room. Pinch her. She had to be dreaming.
Cash was sitting at the dining room table, a cup of coffee at his elbow, his face hidden by the Sunday
Whispering Springs Gazette
.
“Morning.”
Cash lowered the paper enough to look over the top. “Morning.” He snapped the paper back into place.
Paige grinned to herself and headed for the kitchen. “Thanks for making coffee.”
“No problem.” The reply was muted by the newspaper.
While she waited for her toast to pop, she poured a cup of coffee and sipped. A little strong, but not surprising. She knew that most of the coffee the cowboys preferred was as thick as mud.
She carried her toast and coffee into the dining room, which, now that she thought about it, was the first time they’d eaten here instead of the kitchen table.
“What’s the occasion?” she asked. When he lowered the paper enough to frown at her, she indicated the table with her cup. “The dining room. I mean, it’s nice but we usually sit in the kitchen.”
He folded the paper and set it by his plate. “No occasion.”
When he started to push his chair back, she said, “Wait. Go with me to church this morning.” He started to argue but she cut him off. “They miss you, Cash. You’re home but you’re not. I mean, you’re here in Whispering Springs but you’re not seeing your family much.”
“Saw Travis yesterday. Will see the rest of the family tomorrow at the annual Bar M cookout and fireworks.”
“Sounds like fun. But come with me to church, Cash. I know your mom wants to see you.”
“She put you up to this?”
Paige shook her head. “Nope.”
“I hate a crowded church. The pews cram packed, hips pressed together, elbows colliding, overwhelming scents from a mixture of perfumes and colognes. Thanks, but no thanks.”
“Today’s perfect then. Being Memorial Day weekend, the crowd will be sparse. Lots of butt and elbow room. We need to leave here about ten. I’ll drive.”
He stood. “Of course you will.”
At ten when Paige walked into the living room, Cash sat on the sofa dressed in a pair of jeans, a snap shirt with a bolo tie and a jacket. His boots looked freshly polished.
“Well,” she said on a sigh. “You clean up right nice, Mr. Montgomery.”
He winked at her. “You look pretty spiffy yourself.”
Arriving at Whispering Springs United Methodist Church with Cash Montgomery had to be akin to escorting the latest teen idol through a mall. The women all fluffed their hair and pulled back their shoulders. The men had to slap his back or shake his hand. Cash appeared taken aback with the reception, as though he couldn’t understand why people would want to cozy up to him.
Sitting alone on the second row, his mother’s face lit up as if hit by a spotlight when she got sight of him. The smile that stretched across her mouth produced deep dimples in both her cheeks.
She stood to hug her son. “Cash,” she said. “You look wonderful.” She clutched his arm as she kissed his cheek. “How are you feeling?”
“Better,” he said, and then realized he did feel better. He wasn’t in pain anywhere, if his heart ache didn’t count. When had his leg stopped hurting all the time? He couldn’t remember the last painkiller besides the nightly bedtime aspirin.
“Sit here with me,” Jackie Montgomery said, sliding farther down the pew. “You too, Paige. I haven’t even greeted you this morning.”
Paige smiled. “Good morning, Jackie.” She took a seat next to Cash on the pew.
Lane Montgomery entered the church through a side door and slipped into the pew next to his wife. “Morning, son. Paige.”
Paige had been right. Attendance was light, to say the least. His parents were the only Montgomerys present beyond him. Olivia, Jason and Travis had apparently skipped this morning, like he wished he could have done.
He hadn’t gone to sleep until long after Paige had arrived home from her date. At least the guy hadn’t spent the night. Better yet, she hadn’t even invited her date into the house. It’d taken every ounce of willpower combined with a dose of cussing to keep him upstairs and away from the front door. Another kiss like the one from Friday night and he’d have been stripping off Paige’s clothes as though they were on fire. Then again, another kiss like that and he’d be on fire.
At the moment, his biggest problem was that Paige was simply sitting too close for comfort. Not that she was doing anything but listening to the sermon, but her floral perfume made him want to press his nose into her neck, nibble along her ear, run his tongue down the curve of her chin and then kiss his way down her neck. Her leg touched his when she shifted on the pew. A powerful jolt of sexual awareness surged through his veins. He adjusted his position, but short of running out of the building, he was forced to sit there and let the essence of Paige Ryan permeate every one of his senses.
After the services, his mother grabbed his arm before he could make a run for the door. “I’m glad you came. I was going to call you this afternoon anyway. You are coming tomorrow to the barbeque, right?”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” Cash said.
“You too, Paige. Lydia did give you our invitation, didn’t she?”
A rosy blush bloomed on Paige’s cheeks. “She did, but I didn’t realize I was supposed to RSVP. I’m so sorry.”
Jackie laughed. “No RSVP necessary. Just come on over about three or so.”
“Of course. What can I bring?”
His mother thought for a moment and then said, “Pies and cookies. There’ll be a herd of kids running around. No one else is bringing cookies and I’m sure we can use another pie or any dessert you want to make. Can you do that?”
Paige grinned. “Cookies are my specialty.”
“Excellent.” Jackie hugged Cash. “You and Paige want to go to lunch with your dad and me?”
“Thanks, Mom. Maybe some other time.”
“Okay. Good to see you, Paige. See you both tomorrow.”
Once they were in the car, Cash said, “I still owe you a meal.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Sure I do. I’d planned on taking you out on Friday, but being that you’re so popular, you left me for another man that night.”
Paige laughed, the sound lighting a spark inside him. “Yeah. That’s my problem. I’m too popular.”
Grinning, Cash pointed through the windshield. “Drive. I’m buying lunch.”
“Where to?”
“The Rosemont Room. Ever been there?”
Paige shook her head. The Rosemont Room was one of the nicest restaurants in Whispering Springs.
“I figured we got all dressed up and everything. Let’s have lunch before we go home.”
Paige made a right turn and headed downtown. “If you’re paying, I’m eating.”
Lunch with Cash was like seeing an old friend. He laughed at her jokes, listened intently while she talked on and on about her new job, and then was ever-so sympathetic when they talked about her parents.
Over steaks and salads, they debated the strengths and weaknesses of every cookie they could name. But they had to agree it might be impossible to find someone who didn’t love chocolate chip cookies. Cash claimed he’d never eaten a snickerdoodle cookie, so Paige immediately made a mental note to bake some tonight for his parents’ party, along with chocolate chip cookies and a coconut cream pie.