by Em Petrova
Cort tossed a look over his shoulder. “I don’t know how you left the ranch. I never could.”
Dom extended a fist, and Cort bumped knuckles with him. “I ask myself that same question at least once a day.”
“Good to see ya thriving here. I came to sample the brisket I’ve been hearing so much about.”
He stifled a groan. “You’ll have to come back tomorrow if it’s brisket you’re after. We’re running a limited menu due to the power issue.”
“Oh damn. Well, I’ll take whatever you’ve got most of.”
“Ribs.”
“Sounds good.”
Dom grabbed one of the takeout boxes, lifted the lid of the grill and used tongs to remove a thick rack of ribs off the heat. The juices and spices added extra enticement to the whole presentation as he placed it into the box.
He held out the box to his buddy, and Cort already had cash in hand.
Dom shook his head. “No, it’s on the house.”
“Can’t earn a living by giving stuff away.” Cort dropped the money into the next takeout box and accepted his food. “Got time to sit with me a few while I eat?”
“You bet.” He waved toward his kitchen manager, who took over manning the grills while he and Cort walked to an outdoor table and sat facing each other. “Sure you wanna sit out in the open with me like this?”
Cort lifted a brow midway into opening his takeout box.
Dom gestured toward Mortimer’s. “Your sister-in-law won’t be happy to see you eating my food with me for company.”
Tearing into the ribs, Cort shrugged. “We’re friends. She’ll get over it.”
He watched his friend’s first bite to gauge his reaction. When Cort closed his eyes and swayed his head as he savored the bite, Dom’s grin stretched across his face.
“Damn. That’s a good rack o’ ribs.” He went for a second mouthful.
“I appreciate it, bro. I heard as much from the guys who ate my food on the Tour, but I’ve only been open a couple days and haven’t gotten a lot of feedback from customers as of yet. Then the power going out would have left me closed for the day.”
“What’s with Jada having all that charcoal?” Cort bit off a smile as if he already guessed.
“We have a bit of a feud going on.”
“Figured as much.”
“Yeah, I feel sorta bad about buying all the grills in Crossroads. Guess I overestimated the number I’d need to stay in operation.”
“It’s business. Besides, now if you ever need them, you have them. You can throw one hell of a tailgater.”
Dom smiled and chuckled. “I’ll remember that next time the Bulldogs are playin’ Alabama. How’s the Bellamy? Any new gossip to share?”
“Kaoz has revolutionized the place. It practically runs itself.”
“That’s great.”
“Yep.” He polished off another rib, wiped his mouth with the paper napkin and then reached for another. “My dad’s being pestered by the church ladies a couple times a week. Guess they view him as Crossroad’s most eligible bachelor now that Aidan’s off the auction block.”
The news had Dom laughing. “I imagine the things your father’s saying about that.”
“Oh yeah, it’s a hoot. You know, the other ranch hands have been talking about heading over here to persuade you to return to work with us. Theo supports the barbecue business, but he says the Bellamy ain’t the same.”
“Aw, man.” He looked up at Cort.
“You leave a mark wherever you go. On the Bellamy. On the rodeo circuit.” He raised the ribs. “With your food.”
He turned his head to gaze over at Jada’s. She stood at the grill, waving her spatula and talking to a customer.
“What about with her? Think I left a good enough mark to win her back?”
Cort gave him a greasy-lipped smile. “Pretty good chance.”
“You think?”
“I know.”
Dom ran his knuckles over his scar. “How do you know?”
“Because I’ve counted six times that Jada looked over here since we sat down.”
* * * * *
After two full weeks of operating her business across the road from Savage’s, she thought she’d stop peeking over there.
Why did she need to catch yet another glimpse of him? He had a hot body, sure. But no brains.
Okay, maybe that was a little harsh. He had brains enough to buy up those grills when they learned the power would be off all day. And over the weeks he was in business, he managed to fill his parking lot with more and more cars.
He was kind of a nice guy when they first met, and he visited his grandpa a lot in those first months when the man was in Crossroads Manor. She could only assume he still visited him.
He was also a great kisser…
Stop it, Jada.
She needed to concentrate on getting new business. What did her sister Joss do? She put up photos of her designs on social media. Snapping photos of her food seemed easy enough.
She grabbed a platter and set it on the prep station. She started to fill it with the most beautiful presentation of her food—brisket, rustic mashed potatoes, half an ear of corn and a biscuit. She plated a slice of pecan pie for dessert and then arranged the plates to look most aesthetically pleasing.
After snapping half a dozen photos and then adding a filter to one for optimal lighting, she uploaded to two different sites along with plenty of hashtags. This was all new to her, but helping Joss with her boutique and web shop had taught her a few tips and tricks.
She walked into the dining room to see only a single person seated there. She offered the older gentleman a smile. “How is everything, sir?”
“Great as always. You’re doing a fine job, young lady.”
Beaming, she said, “Thank you. That means a lot to me.”
She pushed open the front door and scanned her outdoor seating area. At this time of day, she typically had a few late lunch customers, but her dining room usually wasn’t this empty. A glance at Savage’s showed her he wasn’t in much better shape.
How could she reach more customers both in and out of Crossroads? Fliers had been printed a week ago and she placed stacks of printed menus all over town in various spots, including the back of the church where other literature could be picked up. Besides, who didn’t want barbecue after church services?
Dom wasn’t outdoors today, trimming hedges under the windows of his restaurant—or shudder—raking his gravel into pristine flatness while showing off all those chiseled muscles.
She had to stop thinking about what they’d done together in her office too. Every time she walked through the door and saw the spot on her desk where he’d made her orgasm, she had to squeeze her thighs together and count to ten. She even caught herself singing a time or two.
So they lost their heads a little. Who cared? They purged their systems and that was that.
Except if she had another chance, she would throw herself at him again.
Think, Jada. The business.
She tapped a fingertip on the doorjamb as she compared her restaurant to Savage’s Barbecue. They both had neat exteriors and interiors. Carolee’s hubby had stopped across the road to buy some brisket, and they all sat down with forks to sample Dom’s food. Which was good, she must admit, but hers stood up just as well.
What could she do that he didn’t? What did other restaurants do to drum up new business?
A car passed on the road, and her mind blanked for a moment as the ah-ha moment took hold.
“Delivery,” she whispered to herself and then immediately shot a look toward Savage’s as if he overheard. She narrowed her eyes in a glare. Knowing him, he had supersonic hearing too.
She shook herself and hurried back inside to her office. When she plopped into her desk chair and drew her laptop toward her, she ignored the corner of the desk where he’d done all those hot, naughty things to drive her wild. Like slipping his fingers into the crotch of her shorts—
Seconds later, a bunch of used vehicles popped onto her screen. What she needed was something small, economy… She scrolled for several minutes until she landed on one.
She grabbed her phone and dialed the seller’s number. “Hi, I’m calling about your car for sale.”
“Sorry, it’s sold.”
“Oh, okay. Thanks anyway.” Disappointment tinged her tone, but she didn’t let one loss get her down. Offering delivery was the best idea for Mortimer’s and she knew it would widen her business immediately. She spent another half hour searching for a delivery vehicle but then Carolee popped in to ask a question, and Jada followed her into the kitchen to discuss the matter of a delivery truck error.
After that, business picked up, and she spent time revolving between kitchen and dining areas, talking to customers in hopes of brightening their day and adding to their dining experience.
She was outside wiping off a table when she heard a car honk. Glancing up, she stared at the vehicle pulling into Savage’s. Then she did a double take.
That couldn’t be the same car she’d just called about, could it? The small white hatchback perfect for putting a logo on the side for her delivery car?
As she looked on, the car parked out front of Savage’s and then the Stetson emerged first, followed by a pair of long legs in perfectly fitted Wranglers.
She sucked in a breath while a scream gathered in her throat. No way. This went beyond coincidence. Had he hacked her computer and the instant she landed on the car page, he called and bought the vehicle out from under her?
No, no. Those things only happened in movies, and this was no movie. Dom’s long legs carried him inside his restaurant, and a minute later he came out carrying something long and rectangular. He stepped up to the side of the car and slapped it onto the door.
Then he stepped back to examine it. As soon as he moved aside, she saw what it was—a magnetic sign with Savage’s Barbecue Delivery in blue letters.
That scream erupted from her throat. Black spots floated in front of her vision. He didn’t just have a sign sitting around—he must have been planning to start delivery all along and had the sign waiting for the perfect vehicle.
She stomped her foot and then realized some customers seated at a picnic table were staring at her. She threw them a wave and then shoved her fist into her mouth to keep any more screams—or songs—from bursting out.
God, the man was so infuriating! Why hadn’t she thought of delivering sooner? She would have snagged up that car the moment she saw it up for sale.
She couldn’t allow Dom to one-up her, could she? If he was on the road delivering barbecue, she needed to be doing it two minutes sooner, even if it meant using her own pickup.
She rushed back inside and did another quick search of the cars for sale, seeing everything from custom refurbished Mustangs to SUVs with big price tags. What she needed was a small vehicle, one that wasn’t a gas hog.
Pausing on an image, she read the description and then tapped her finger against the screen. Yes! An electric car would be perfect for delivery. The fact it was purple would only catch people’s attention as it zipped around through Crossroads.
She made the call and then ran into the kitchen. “Carolee, I’ll be back soon!”
The woman looked up with a confused grin. “Okay?”
“Hold down the fort.” Jada rushed out and jumped into her truck. She swung by Joss’s boutique on the way and stormed into the shop.
Joss looked up from steaming some garments with her brows shooting up in surprise. “Jada, what are you doing here?”
“I need to ask a favor.”
Joss dropped the sleeve of a floaty blue dress she’d just steamed. “What sort of favor?”
“Gosh, your stomach’s even bigger and it’s only been two days since I saw you.” She shook off her distraction. “Never mind. I need you to go with me to buy this vehicle and then drive it to the restaurant for me.”
“Um…I suppose I could close the shop early.”
Jada pressed her palms together in a plea. “I’ll owe you so big, sis. I’ll buy you a dozen of your favorite cupcakes from the Crossroads Confection Connection.”
“As if I need more calories.” She chuckled as she bustled across the shop for her purse and keys. Partway to her long counter, her step faltered, but before Jada could ask if everything was okay, she took up with as much energy as she started out with.
Once they were seated in the pickup, Joss said, “Why are you buying a vehicle?”
“For delivery. That rat Savage is two steps ahead of me, and I can’t let him best me. I have to get a car on the road to deliver today!” She started the truck and tried her best not to cause her hugely pregnant sister to bounce in her seat. She sliced a look at Joss. “Sorry.”
“It’s fine.” She smiled but then placed her hand on her baby bump. “Where is this car anyway?”
“Just outside town limits. It shouldn’t take long for me to write him a check.”
“How do you know the car is sound?”
“It’s newer. And the description says it’s in good condition.”
“You’re so trusting, Jada.” She chuckled and then gripped the armrest.
“Are you okay?” Jada’s brows pinched as she watched her sister. “Am I driving too erratically? Bumping too much?”
“No, you’re good.”
“Okay. If you need me to slow down, let me know.”
A few minutes later, they passed by the Crossroads Winery and then the Bellamy Ranch with its sprawling fields dotted with horses and cows. “I bet Cort’s excited about the baby coming in a few weeks,” Jada said.
“Yes, he is.” Her sister’s tone took on a breathy quality. Raspy almost.
Jada stared at Joss’s face. Her cheeks were a little more pink than usual. Jada directed her attention to her lips to find them parted on a silent gasp.
She quickly applied the brakes. “You’re not okay! Are you in labor?”
For a moment, Joss didn’t speak. “I think I might be.”
“Oh my God! How long has this been going on?”
“I felt a little off this morning.”
“Did you tell your husband?”
“He suggested I take the day off.”
“Well, why didn’t you?” Jada stared at her sister, exasperated that she was out here as far from the Crossroads Hospital as possible with a woman who hadn’t heeded her own body’s demands. Thoughts of buying the car exited her right ear.
“I had things to pack up and ship. I didn’t get to the post office.” Joss gripped the armrest again.
“Oh my God! How fast are your contractions coming?”
“I think a few minutes.”
“A few? Woman, you’re crazier about running this business than I thought.”
“Speak for yourself, dragging me off to help you buy a car after you didn’t even look at it!” Her words broke off on a panting breath.
“Oh my God!” Jada cried out for the third time. “I’m turning around and driving to the Bellamy right now.”
Joss gripped her forearm instead of the armrest. “I think you better just call Cort and save the time so you can drive me to the hospital faster.”
Her stomach bottomed out. “You better not plan on having this baby in my truck.”
“Then drive faster or I might.” She gritted her teeth and moaned through her contraction.
Chapter Five
Dom was behaving. Trying his damnedest to stay away from his sexy little blonde competitor—and succeeding too.
When he saw her wiggle her little round ass while wiping down picnic tables, he forced himself back inside his restaurant to avoid looking at her.
But when he spied her new delivery car parked outside of the tractor supply store later that afternoon, he couldn’t stop himself from whipping his truck in next to her.
Because he missed spending time with her. Missed her sass and wit.
And her lips, dammit.
Though his grandpa told him she’d visited him several times, Dom hadn’t bumped into her at the nursing home. In a town this small, she sure did a good job of avoiding him.
Staring at the front door, he thought about driving away before she noticed him sitting here. Then he considered going inside after her, cornering her…maybe finding a desk to claim her on.
Great—now he could almost taste her, smell her sweet vanilla bean perfume…and feel her fingers digging into his spine.
He either had to drive away before she came out or stop being a coward and go after what he wanted.
He opened his door and climbed out of his truck. He was just about to go inside the tractor supply store when she came out, a delivery warming bag tucked under her arm. She spotted him and stopped dead.
“Hi, Dom.”
“Jada,” he drawled, pulling away from the side of his truck that he’d not-so-casually thumped against the minute he saw her emerge from the building.
She looked him over. He eyed her right back. Did she have to be so damn adorable? Today she wore her hair pulled off her face in a ponytail that made his fingers clench with the urge to wrap his hand around it, tip her head and dip his mouth to that pulse point on her throat.
He latched his stare onto her neck. Flicker flicker. He ran his tongue over his dry lips.
When he met her stare, she cleared her throat. “Are you delivering here too?”
“No. Just about to head inside and have a gander.”
“Oh.”
He expected her to run to her bean can of an electric car and zoom off, but she remained standing in front of him.
“Heard your sister had her baby.”
“You heard from Cort, I suppose.” She shifted her weight to one hip, jutting it outward.
He stifled a groan. “Yup. Everyone’s saying that you barely made it to the hospital with her.”
She nodded, the hint of amusement tipping the corner of her lips. “If you can claim that the baby’s head starting to crown when we pulled into the parking lot is barely making it.”
