by June Faver
Cade set about opening the blinds and turned on a large window air conditioner.
“You’ve been here pretty often in the past?” she asked. “When—when they were alive?”
“Just came out sometimes to keep Sara company or to bring her lunch. After Leo was born, she brought him out here with her, but when he got to be up and running around, she stayed home with him. Mrs. Reynolds would go stay with him one day a week, and Sara managed to keep up with the bookkeeping, but when Lissy made her appearance, she had to give it up altogether. They hired a part-time person to keep books, answer the phone, things like that.”
“I see.” What she saw was the same grim-looking office with filing cabinets, a desk, and two chairs placed in front of it. Nothing had changed.
“Jason used the desk in the back.” Cade indicated the desk half-hidden behind a tall bookcase at the far end of the office. “This one up front is the one Sara used, and then later, the woman they hired to keep books.”
Just the sight of Jason’s neatly arranged desk again caused a shiver to tease the back of Jenn’s neck. He was always one to straighten things before he left. Apparently this habit had carried over to his own enterprise.
“Your brother was a neatnik,” Cade said. “He always kept things shipshape.”
Another tremor caused Jenn to gasp. She caught her lower lip in her teeth, taking deep breaths until the sensation passed.
Cade gazed down at her. “Hey, are you all right?”
She swallowed hard. “Just peachy.”
There was a knock at the door. “Hallooo?”
She turned to find a very attractive woman framed in the doorway. She was smiling and stepped toward Jenn, her hand outstretched. “I’m Magdalena Swearingen. Just call me Maggie.” She gave Jenn’s hand an enthusiastic shake before reaching for Cade’s.
“How do you do, ma’am?” Cade looked beyond the woman to the large man standing behind her.
“Oh, this is Butch. He works for me.” Maggie made an elaborate gesture toward the man who towered over her. “Butch is the best airplane mechanic anywhere around here.”
Butch looked a bit embarrassed but lurched forward to shake hands with both Cade and Jenn. “Good to meet you folks.”
“I’m Jenn LaChance and this is Cade Garrett. We—we just inherited the airstrip.”
Maggie’s face contorted into a frown. “Yes, I heard. So sorry for your losses. I can imagine how you’re feeling.” Then she gave a wide smile. “But if you’re ready to talk a little business, I wanted you to know that I’m interested in purchasing the property, lock, stock, and barrel. I lease hangar number five from you…for my personal plane…and sometimes the company aircraft.”
“Miz Maggie owns the Swearingen Corporation,” Butch offered. “Outta Dallas.”
Maggie smiled in a deprecating matter and shook her head. “Oh, no. I’m just part of the family.”
Jenn felt a suffocating pressure in her chest. Things were happening so quickly, and she had no idea what was the best choice. “Well, um, I don’t think we know enough about the airstrip to discuss it with you. We just came out today to look around and get to know the place on our own.”
Maggie’s grin widened. “Well, no one expects you to become experts overnight. But we just wanted to meet you and let you know that the absolute minute you’re ready to deal, we are too.” She reached in her pocket and drew out a couple of business cards.
“Thanks,” Cade said. He studied the card intently before tucking it in his shirt pocket.
“We’ll get out of your hair so you can get your business straightened out,” Maggie said. “C’mon, Butch. Let’s go back to work.” She waggled her manicured fingers and turned to exit the building with Butch trailing behind her.
Jenn and Cade stared for a moment at the door and then began speaking at once.
Cade grinned. “I’m glad we have more than one prospective buyer for the airstrip.”
Jenn nodded. “And I’m glad we don’t have to sell to Mr. Pell.” She shrugged. “He just seems so grim.”
“We can talk to Breck Ryan about the sale. He probably has some good ideas. Maybe we should list the property with a Realtor. You know, the ones that deal with business properties.”
“That sounds like a great idea.” She looked around the office. “I suppose there are some financial ledgers around somewhere. Let’s check and see if we’re in the black.”
“Yes, ma’am. Let’s find that ledger.”
They spent the next few minutes pawing through the desk drawers and the filing cabinets until Cade let out a whoop of discovery. “Aha! I think this is what we’re looking for.” He placed the blue clothbound book on the desktop. When he opened it, Jenn could see rows of entries.
“This is it!” Jenn settled in the chair behind the desk and started turning pages. “Oh, look at all these customers. These are the people who are leasing hangar space and these are the ones who pay to let their aircraft sit out on the tarmac.”
After they had spent a few minutes perusing the ledger, they agreed that the airstrip was profitable.
“Unfortunately, neither of us knows a thing about running this business.” Cade was leaning over her, his clean man smell drawing her attention away from the book. He sure does clean up well.
“Um, yeah. It looks like the airstrip is in the black. Maybe we can get this sold for some big bucks.” She closed the ledger to, hopefully, end the discussion.
“I was hoping we could put some money into a trust for the kids’ education.” He said it casually, just dropped it into the conversation, but she could tell it was important to him.
Jenn held her breath for a moment. “Yes, well, I am not independently wealthy, so I will need to have money to feed, clothe, and shelter them.”
His blue eyes seemed to bore into her. He looked as if he had more to say but pressed his lips together.
* * *
“I swear, Miz Fern, this is the best pecan pie I’ve ever had the pleasure to eat in my entire life.” Big Jim Garrett took another bite, savoring the taste on his tongue.
“Why, thankee, Big Jim.” Fern Davis’s face crinkled up in a pleased grin, and her cheeks took on a rosy tone. “It’s a secret family recipe.”
Big Jim gave her a look of mock surprise. “I’m family.”
“Well, that’s a fact.” She peered at him over the top of her wire-rimmed glasses.
“And we harvested a huge crop of paper-shell pecans this past year. We have bags and bags in the freezers.” Big Jim took another bite.
“Don’t yew worry yoursel’ one little bit. I’ll be mighty happy ta make yew all the pecan pies yew can eat.” She giggled, covering her mouth with both hands.
Big Jim leaned forward earnestly. “You consider my sons to be part of your family, don’t you? They sure do think you’re family.”
Fern’s eyes opened wide. “Why, I shore do. Them boys o’ your’n are the salt o’ tha earth. None better.”
“And they think the world of you, Miz Fern.” Big Jim scraped up the last bite of his pie but held off putting it in his mouth. “I sure do hope you plan to share that recipe with your lovely granddaughter Leah.”
Fern’s mouth puckered up in a scowl. “Well, of course. She’s my own flesh an’ blood.”
“And little Gracie and your brand-new great-grandson James Tyler Garrett.”
Fern planted her fists on her hips and glared at Big Jim. “Jist what are yew gittin’ at, Big Jim Garrett?”
He assumed an innocent expression. “Why, Miz Fern, I’m just saying that family is family. We should share and share alike.”
“That sounds ’bout right.” She folded her arms but continued to give him a suspicious glare.
“So I’m sure you want Leah to be able to make this wonderful pie for Tyler and the children.”
Her lit
tle head nodded, just once.
“And I’m sure you wouldn’t withhold something this delicious from my other sons, Colton and Beau…and their wives, Misty and Dixie…Leah’s sisters-in-law and the aunties for your own great-grandbabies.”
Fern made a snorting sound. “Well, ain’t yew somethin’, Big Jim. I guess I’ll have to make shore my secret family recipe for homemade pecan pie will have to be shared with everyone in my family.”
Big Jim flashed a wide smile. “That’s the spirit, Fern. Do you suppose I could have another slice of this excellent pie?”
Fern’s lips twitched. “No.”
Chapter 15
Cade drove Jennifer to the house that was now hers. He walked her up to the door, wishing it had been a real date and that he could take her in his arms and kiss those luscious lips. But he sensed she had enjoyed his company enough for one day. “I…uh, I thank you for going with me today.”
She gazed up at him. “Don’t be silly. I’m the one thanking you for the time we had today. The lunch was great, and I never would have gutted up enough courage to go out to the airstrip without your urging. When Breck sort of made us show up there, I felt like crying… It was just as though Jason should be right around the corner.”
Cade swallowed hard. “I know what you mean. It was tough.”
“I was really dreading going there again, but now I’m feeling better about it. It’s just a business…my brother’s business.” She drew a deep breath and blew it out forcefully. “I’m all confused now. Part of me wants to keep Jason’s business in the family…but I’m so woefully ignorant of any business management expertise.” She shook her head, looking sad.
Cade stroked her cheek with his fingertips. Her skin was as soft as Lissy’s. He cleared his throat. “Whatever you decide to do is fine with me. If you want to take over the management of the airstrip, I’ll do my best to learn.”
“That’s just it,” she said. “I’m also thinking that we should just take the money and run, so we can concentrate on things that are more important, like the children.”
Cade leaned one hand against the doorjamb, in effect fencing her in. “There’s no hurry. It seems that both of our prospective buyers will wait on us. Just take it easy, and we’ll figure it out together.”
Jennifer reached up and took his face in both her hands. She pulled him down to her level and placed a firm but lingering kiss against his lips.
Cade wrapped both arms around her, drawing her close. He deepened the kiss, tasting her sweetness. All of his senses were going berserk. He felt hot, flushed with desire, yet consumed by the icy shiver circling his spine.
She pulled away abruptly. “I—I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”
He didn’t release her, holding her clasped against his chest. “No, you did the right thing. I needed that.” He lowered his mouth to claim another kiss.
This time it was warm and sweet. When he pulled away, she was smiling.
“I just don’t know if we should be doing this,” she said. “I mean, it might make things difficult if we were to become involved.”
A wry grin spread across his face. “Or it might become wonderful if we were to become involved.”
She smiled but cast her eyes down. “I—I should go in now. Ollie has been with the kids all day.”
“I understand. I’ll take the ledger to Breck tomorrow. Maybe he can help us come up with the right decision.”
“Good idea.” She hesitated and then stretched up for another kiss, heaved a sigh, and quickly entered the house, closing the door in his face.
She likes me.
* * *
Jenn leaned against the door. Oh, what have I done now?
“You’re back already?” Ollie said in a stage whisper. “Kids are asleep. I figured you would stay out for a long time with that hot cowboy. Dang! He’s a babe.”
Jenn let out a long, pent-up breath. “You’re telling me.”
Ollie patted the sofa beside her. “Come tell me all about it. Confession is good for the soul.”
Jenn stowed her keys and jacket before going to sink down beside Ollie. “It was just lunch, and we went out to the airstrip to look around.” She was aware that her voice quivered a little.
Ollie gave her a wry smile. “Oh, is that all?”
“Of course. What else would there be?”
Ollie chuckled. “Oh, I’m pretty sure there’s more.”
Jenn shifted under Ollie’s scrutiny. “Not really. We had a great lunch at the steak house and then he drove me out to the airstrip. We were there when Breck handed over the keys, but we thought we should just go back there and look around.” She shrugged. “We looked at the ledger in the office. Cade is going to take it to the lawyer’s office tomorrow. Breck told us there were some possible buyers in the mix.”
Ollie’s eyes opened wide. “Oh, that sounds exciting. So you’re planning on selling?”
“Maybe. I’m not an expert, so I’ll go along with whatever Breck and Cade think is best.” She clasped her hands together. “Although I really feel bad about getting rid of the business that Jason loved. I mean, he built it from scratch. He was always crazy about flying.”
“I remember your brother. He was a charming man. I used to love watching him in church. He was a very manly man, but he was a pushover for his wife and children. I always thought they had the perfect family.”
Jenn swallowed hard, the taste of tears burning her throat. “They were.”
Ollie leaned over to pat Jenn’s hands, clasped tight together in her lap. “I’m outta here. Have a great evening.” She gathered her handbag and keys. “I’m pretty sure you’re going to have cowboy dreams.”
Jenn sucked in a breath. “Oh, no. I most certainly will not be dreaming about Cade Garrett.” She jumped to her feet.
Ollie just chuckled as she headed to the front door. “I think you’re protesting too much. Just sayin’.”
Jenn rushed to catch her before she left. “Wait! I didn’t get a chance to thank you for staying with the children. I appreciate you so much.”
“Not a problem. I love being a part of your happy little family, even a little bit. I’m glad we’re friends.”
“Me too.” Jenn gave her a hug. “You’re the best.”
* * *
The next day, Cade took care of his stock at the crack of dawn, so he could clean up and go to Breckenridge T. Ryan’s office early.
He didn’t see Breck’s truck outside, but he went inside anyway.
Misty Garrett, his cousin Colt’s wife, sat at her desk, sipping coffee. “Good morning, Cade. What are you up to so early in the morning? Did you have an appointment that I didn’t know about?”
Cade grinned and shook his head. “Not likely. You and Colt doing okay?”
Her face lit up like sunshine on a cloudy day. “The Colt man and I are totally fabulous. I never dreamed I could be so happy.”
“Aw. You deserve it. I know you went through a lot to be together.” He took a seat in one of the chairs in front of her desk.
“What about you, Cade? Anyone exciting on your playlist?”
“Um—” He felt blindsided by that simple question. “I…uh…”
Misty chortled and pushed back from her desk. “I’m going to get you a cup of coffee while you think up an answer. There’s got to be someone special. You’re a great guy and not too hard to look at.” She went to the coffeepot on the console behind her desk and poured a cup of the dark, rich liquid. “Sugar, creamer?”
“Just plain, thanks.” Cade accepted the cup, thankful to have something to do with his hands.
Misty settled behind her desk. “Well, if you’re not going to dish about your love life, tell me what brings you in today.”
Cade huffed out a sigh, relieved that she wasn’t going to pry into his romantic relationship, alt
hough he was pretty sure he didn’t have one. A few kisses didn’t amount to much…but it was a start. He took the blue cloth ledger out from under his arm and placed it in front of Misty. “I wanted Breck to take a look at this. It’s the financial ledger from the airstrip.”
She gazed at it as if it might bite her. “Unfortunately, Breckenridge T. Ryan is in Amarillo, representing a local rancher’s son in a DUI arrest that resulted in a motor accident with injuries. He may or may not be in today, but he’ll call in when he can.”
“Oh. Well, I guess I better make an appointment.”
Misty arranged for him to come in the following day, late morning. She explained that Breckenridge T. Ryan considered himself a rancher first and an attorney second, so he still made his wife and his ranch his first priority. “You can leave the ledger with me, and I can make sure he has a chance to look it over before your appointment.”
Cade pressed his lips together. “Um, no thanks. I think I need to keep this book close at hand, for a while at least.” He took his leave and returned to his own ranch to continue his usual tasks and try to figure out how to convince Jennifer to fall in love with him.
* * *
Jenn had been awakened quite early.
Ollie had apparently given Lissy enough liquids to float a battleship because the diaper had not been able to contain the output.
Lissy’s cries jerked Jenn out of a very passionate dream starring the very hot Cade Garrett.
Jenn took a moment to compose herself before yelling, “I’m coming, Lissy.” She staggered to her feet and reached for a robe. By the time she reached the children’s room, she had managed to close the garment around herself and tie the sash. “Oh, poor baby.”
She lifted Lissy but held her away from her body, transporting the sopping-wet child into the bathroom, where she ran a few inches of warm water in the tub and managed to get her cleaned up in a relatively short time.
Lissy followed behind her as she stripped the child’s bed and got the sheets into the washer. With that task underway, she set about preparing breakfast.
Leo was apparently not a morning person. He had slept through all the commotion but now appeared in the kitchen in his pajamas and with a grumpy expression on his face.
