When Petals Fall: A Cowboy, Second Chance Romantic Suspense (Chance Creek Book 1)

by A. L. Mercier

  There was bacon and sausage, eggs both scrambled and fried, biscuits, white gravy, and Lizzie's favorite…French toast.

  Brand waved a fork through the air, "Are you going to just sit there and stare at it or eat it?"

  Matt paused, coffee cup nearly to his lips. "Yeah, you better get some before we eat your portion."

  Lizzie took some bacon slices and French toast before the pigs ate it all. Those two men had had heaping plates of food when she had walked in the door, and now they were looking for second helpings.

  Matt and Brand looked at her expectantly. She snagged one more slice of French toast and gave them the "Go ahead." Forks flew as the two men reached for more food.

  Her mother clucked her tongue. "You two act as if you haven't had a decent meal in days."

  "We're hungry," her brother said around a mouthful of French toast.

  "Brandon Patrick Thomason," Margaret chastised. "I've taught you better manners than to talk with your mouth full."

  "Sorry, Mom."

  "As well you should be."

  Her mom was a stickler for rules and manners, which is why Lizzie swallowed before asking Matt, "How long did you stay at the dance?"

  "I left right after you did." Matt took a sip of his coffee.

  "Did you have a good time?" her father asked.

  "It was a lot of fun."

  "I suppose you settling things with Jake is part of the reason why you slept so soundly. Nothing like ridding yourself of a problem to set things to rights." Her mother probed as usual.

  Lizzie paused with a forkful of French toast halfway to her mouth. Wait. How the heck did she know that already?

  "Who…?"

  "Look at our girl, Peter. Looks and sounds like an owl," her mother said with a laugh. Then she patted Lizzie's hand as if to comfort her through her bewilderment. "Just thirty minutes ago Serena called to tell me the news."

  Mrs. Maguire? "How would she—"

  "Well, it seems Serena spoke with Leo this morning who spoke with Ryan who heard from Jake that you two worked things out last night."

  "We didn't exactly 'settle' things completely. Not yet anyway." The memory of how it felt to be in Jake's arms again and how she came to her senses before they got carried too far away spurred the blooming heat in her cheeks.

  Across the table from her Matt chuckled and Brand grinned like a loon. She kicked Matt under the table first, and then Brand.

  "It hasn't even been eight hours and the gossip is already in? For God's sake, it's barely six-thirty in the morning!"

  "Don't you take the Lord's name in vain, Elizabeth Anne."

  She knew better, her mother was a religious woman, but she couldn't believe how quickly word had spread. "Yes ma'am. Sorry."

  Her mother passed the sausage to her father. "Alright then. You're not in the city anymore, Lizzie. You're back in Chance Creek and news like that spreads quickly." She pointed with her fork. "Eat your breakfast before it gets cold."

  "Yes, Mama," Lizzie cut off another piece of French toast. The phone rang. Lizzie jumped up. "I'll get it, it's probably Katie."

  The phone was on the far side of the kitchen, but she made it by the third ring.

  "Hello?"

  No one answered.

  "Hel-lo?"

  Still no one spoke but she could hear someone breathing. She hung up.

  "Well isn't that just a fine how-do-you-do."

  "What," Brand asked.

  "I'm back home for less than a week and I get a heavy breather."

  Matt grinned. "Obviously someone missed you."

  She sent Matt a glare as she headed back to the table. "Ha ha."

  The phone rang again.

  Lizzie spun back around. "Oh for Heaven's sake."

  She reached it on the second ring this time.

  "Hello?" she sing-songed.

  "Morning Darlin'." She'd recognize that low drawl anywhere. She twisted the phone cord around her fingers and turned her back on the others in the room.

  Jake. "Good morning. Hey, did you just call here?"

  "No."

  "So you weren't my heavy breather?"

  "Did you want me to be?"

  She snickered. "No."

  "Because I could if you wanted. I'll hang up right now—"

  She laughed. "No, that's okay." She'd missed his humor, dry as it was.

  "About supper tonight?"

  Was he canceling? "Yes?"

  "I wanted to change our plans a bit. Why don't we go to the seafood place in Green River you like so much."

  "Oh." Was this change in plans to get her in more intimate surroundings?

  "Is that okay?"

  She wasn't sure how she felt about that. Why not? The food was to die for. "Sure. That sounds good. I haven't been there in a long time."

  "Seven years," Jake reminded her, his voice betraying his own memory of their first official date at the same restaurant.

  She glanced over her shoulder as she noticed the room had gone silent. The family was unabashedly listing. When she raised her eyebrows, they went back to eating, or at least pretended to.

  "Does six-thirty still sound okay?"

  "Works for me."

  "Great. I'll see you tonight."

  "Bye." Lizzie hung up, and when she turned everyone was once again staring at her. She walked back to the table and took her seat.

  She could feel her mother's eyes on her as she bit into a piece of bacon, and when she looked up her mother asked, "Well?"

  She swallowed. "That was Jake." Her mother continued to stare at her expectantly. "We're going to dinner tonight."

  "Well, that's lovely isn't it, Peter?"

  "Hmm," he said around the rim of his coffee cup, his gaze focused on Lizzie. The hmm from her father sounded disapproving. Did he have a problem with her going out with Jake?

  "Where are you two going?" Matt asked.

  "Green River."

  Matt raised his eyebrows while Brand grinned and her father frowned.

  "Well then, you'll be going to The Landing?"

  "Yes, Mama."

  "You'll have to wear something nice tonight, dear."

  "Maybe the black slacks?"

  "It's June, you should wear something light. Those lovely cream-colored linen pants you have with the pink crocheted top would be wonderful."

  "With the cream sandals or those strappy heels I've got?"

  "Oh, I think the sandals would be perfect."

  "That's what I was thinking." It was habit, her mother helping her choose her outfit. A familiar pre-date dance.

  "So, you and Jake are back to dating now," her father said more than asked.

  "I'm not sure since I've only been back less than a week. I guess it's more like just spending time together while I'm here."

  "I see."

  "Do you object to that, Daddy?"

  "No, I don't object, I just think you should be careful is all."

  Oh, she'd be more than careful. She mentally drew a do-not-cross line. "Don't worry about me, daddy. I can take care of myself."

  "Just because Jake is treating you to a nice dinner, don't feel obligated to repay him with sex," her mother advised. Lizzie choked on her bacon, her brother laughed, and Matt spewed his coffee onto his shirt and plate. Her father groaned aloud.

  Oh my God, she could not believe her mother had just said that.

  "Gretty, don't pry into Lizzie's private life."

  "I'm not prying, just telling her like it is."

  "Well, can you tell her when I'm not around. No father wants to know about their daughter's sex life."

  Her mother nodded. "That's a fact. They'd rather pretend that their daughter's an eternal virgin."

  "And what's wrong with that?"

  Taking pity on her father, she placated him. "Nothing, Daddy. Nothing is wrong with that at all."

  "May I be excused?" Brand asked in a strained voice as he bit back a laugh.

  "Me too?" Matt asked, laughing outright.

&nb
sp; "Yes, you may." When her father made to rise from his chair, her mother put a hand on his forearm. "Peter, deluding yourself isn't healthy."

  "A whole lot healthier than thinking about the reality of the situation." He gave her mother a quick kiss on the cheek. "Have a good time tonight, pumpkin," he said to Lizzie. "Be careful."

  "I will."

  As the three men walked out the door, she joined her mother at the sink and her mother began cleanup of the kitchen.

  "I can't believe you said that, Mama," Lizzie placed the stack of plates on the counter.

  "Well, it's the truth."

  "But in front of everyone?"

  "Oh, quit pouting, Elizabeth, or you'll get wrinkles."

  "Yes, ma'am." Though truthfully wrinkles were the least of her worries. She had to keep Jake just where she wanted him, only she wasn't exactly sure where that was. So many things were unsettled, including what had happened between them seven years ago.

  "So, you're starting things back up with Jacob."

  It was a statement rather than a question. "Maybe."

  Her other just gave her a look.

  "Okay, probably. Why?"

  "To my way of thinking, that may not be the smartest thing." Lizzie sighed and her mother paused to give her a knowing smile. "But ever since you two were little you were drawn together like bees to honey."

  "Isn't that the truth."

  "I suppose it's inevitable that you two come together again, but you know there's no way this will end well."

  Her mother was right, as usual. There really was no way this would end well. She was leaving in six short months. Lizzie looked at her mother with confusion and anguish. She couldn't not be with Jake when he was so close; the pull was too strong. Her mother wrapped her in her arms for a hug.

  "I can't help it."

  Her mother sighed and stroked her hair. "And neither can he."

  9

  Lizzie

  The Chance Creek Diner was exactly as Lizzie remembered it. Red vinyl booths with black and white checkered tabletops lined the walls while tables with the same color schemes filled the middle of the room. The regular customers sat at the long counter and behind it the waitresses bustled about getting drinks from the soda dispensers, desserts, and coffee while others called customer orders to the cooks in the kitchen.

  On the far side of the room was a door leading to the ice cream bar where the teenagers came to eat ice cream, drink soda, and hang with their friends. She and Jake had shared a number of root beer floats in the corner booth, secluded from the rest of the world, where a young couple currently sat holding hands across the checkered tabletop.

  "I heard from Mrs. Kennedy who heard from Mr. Shaw when he came in to buy nails who heard from Jenny Simmons who heard from Laura Reese who heard from Logan MacGregor who heard from Leo Kramer who heard from Ryan who heard from Jake that you and Jake are getting back together and are going to Green River for dinner tonight," Katie announced as she slid into the booth across from Lizzie.

  "The grapevine in Chance Creek is still working at full capacity, I see." She knew people heard about their getting back together but the dinner too? "Good grief. Jake only called me four hours ago."

  Katie laughed and waved a hand in the air. "Welcome back to Chance Creek where gossip spreads faster than Amber Worthington's legs."

  Lizzie laughed even while looking around for eavesdroppers. "Oh Katie, that was just mean."

  Katie shrugged. "But true."

  Lizzie inclined her head when Katie raised a questioning brow. "True."

  The young waitress approached, and Lizzie recognized her as one of the Franklin girls.

  "Can I take your order?"

  "Hey Cassie," Katie replied, "I'll have a large Cherry Coke with double order of French fries."

  Lizzie tilted her head. "I'll have the same. Thank you."

  "It's good to see you back, Lizzie."

  "Thanks, Cassie, but I'm only back for a few months."

  Cassie snapped her gum. "I know. Mrs. Kennedy told me when she came in for Mr. Kennedy's pie. You should open one of those stores here. I think the women around here would love it."

  "We're already working on that."

  "Good. You can't get any decent products at Simmons' General Store and I like stuff with fragrance. Your orders will be up in a jiff," Cassie turned and walked away.

  "We could always set up a display in the General Store if nothing else," Katie suggested.

  Lizzie nodded. "We'll have to see what the Simmons' say. I can't imagine it being a problem."

  After Cassie set their drinks on the table, Lizzie shook her head. "I can't get past how much she's grown up. I used to babysit her."

  "Ryan's been spending a lot of time with her lately." Katie took a sip of her soda.

  "Oh really," Lizzie whispered conspiratorially.

  "Yep."

  "Interesting. Very interesting."

  Katie took a drink of her soda. "Oh yeah."

  "Some things never change, while so many other things have."

  "Seven years is a long time," Katie reminded her.

  "Yeah, but in some ways not long enough. I hate gossip."

  Katie raised a brow and cleared her throat indicating they just did that very thing.

  "When it's about me, I mean, and spread clear across town."

  "Amen to that," Katie said and raised her glass. Lizzie clinked hers against Katie's and they took a drink of their soda. "So, I met with the baby shampoo boys." That was Katie's nickname for their lawyers, the prestigious Johnson and Johnson brothers.

  "How did that go?"

  "The usual. More paperwork for the licensing and stuff."

  "And did you meet with Dee?" Dee Abrams was their PR consultant who was helping them find ways to get optimum exposure at minimal cost.

  "She said advertising on radio station websites was a major deal and the price was right."

  "Oh, wow, I'd have never thought of that."

  Cassie set their orders of fries on the table, then with an, "Enjoy," moved on to help another customer.

  Katie poured some ketchup onto her plate and dipped a fry. "I know. Dee has some really great ideas for our starting budget."

  "What about newspapers? I'd like to hit the ones locally at least."

  "Major bucks, plus who reads paper anymore," Katie said around her straw. "We're looking into online advertising on their sites."

  "Damn. Well, I did get some calls in to some of the larger businesses in Jackson Hole like Dee suggested, and the majority of them are agreeable to carry advertisements for the shop. I was thinking pens, magnets, maybe little notepads, tiny bottles of hand sanitizer with our logo. I did some pricing and if we buy them in bulk, we can get some really good deals."

  "Sounds good."

  "And seeing as we're going to be opening the doors right around the holiday season, I was thinking maybe candy canes with our names on the wrappers."

  "Cute," Katie said around a fry.

  "Did you want to go over the papers today or wait until tomorrow?"

  "The baby boys said there was no rush on these. We've already got the major licensing stuff in and the lease, so these can wait a day or two."

  "Okay." Lizzie dipped another fry.

  Katie shifted in her seat to sit up straighter. "Oh, hell."

  "What?"

  "Amber and Tiffany just walked in."

  "Oh yippee." Amber Worthington had the hots for Jake and made no qualms about the fact he was her next conquest, and Tiffany Phillips was the biggest bitch in Chance Creek.

  "As long as she keeps her hands off of Jake while I'm here, I'm good."

  "So you've staked your claim?"

  She guessed she had since her answer was a resounding, "Yep."

  "It's about time."

  Lizzie rolled her eyes. "Only while I'm here. Not permanently."

  "Oh really? And what did Jake have to say to that?"

  Lizzie shrugged.

  "Oh-ho, no way.
Spill it, chickee. When you shrug in just that way it means you've got something good going on in that big old brain of yours and you better get to sharing."

  "Fine. We didn't resolve everything completely, and the decision to start seeing each other wasn't conscious. We danced, and it just all fell back into place. Then he asked me to dinner. Anyway, when I told him seeing each other was temporary, he said, and this is a quote, 'I bet I can change your mind.'"

  Katie picked up her fork and held it out to Lizzie. "You may as well stick it in you because you are so done."

  She stabbed her French fry in the dwindling puddle of ketchup. "Jacob Kramer is not going to change my mind."

  "You only call him by his full name when he's got you nervous." Lizzie glared at Katie. Katie shrugged and took a sip of her soda. "I can't say that I blame you for going a little whacky, though. The man oozes testosterone."

  Lizzie sighed. What was the use of denying it? Katie always could read her like a book. She smooshed the French fry into the plate. "That he does."

  "And you get to enjoy it for at least the next five months, three weeks, and one day."

  Lizzie leaned back in the booth and took a drink of her Cherry Coke. "Oh yes, yes, I do."

  She wished she felt better about it, but she couldn't help but worry about how it was going to feel leaving him again. Six months with Jake Kramer, indulging in sex and wickedness could make her yearn for more. Her body's yearning she could handle, the pain of leaving him she wasn't so sure. And it would hurt to leave him, of that she had no doubt, but she couldn't stay away. Fool? Probably. Masochist? Definitely.

  "And skanky Amber can eat her heart out."

  Lizzie smiled.

  "She's glaring at you right now."

  "Is she really?"

  "Oh yeah." Katie raised her hand and wiggled her fingers at Amber and Tiffany.

  Lizzie snickered. "You are so bad."

  "I just can't help myself."

  "Are we ever going to grow up?"

  Katie looked horrified at the thought. "God, I hope not."

  "What time is it?"

  Katie looked at her watch. "About two. What time are you going—" Katie's words were cut off by the ringing at Lizzie's hip.

  Lizzie looked at the caller ID then looked at Katie. "It's Jake."

  "Well answer it."

  She hit the talk button. "Hello?"