by Barbara Gee
Izzy grinned and put two cans in her cart. “Well I’ll do my part then. Thanks.”
The lady moved on with her cereal, and Izzy shook her head, a smile lingering on her lips. It might not be an audible voice, but the towering display of cherry pie-filling sent a definite message. It looked like she’d spend the rest of her morning baking after all.
* * *
Andi hurried into the cafeteria at noon, her eyes a little wild.
“Hey, are you okay?” Izzy asked worriedly. Andi was one of the most laid back people she’d ever met, and seeing her in what looked like distress caused her instant concern, especially considering her pregnancy.
Andi grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the food line. “I’m fine, I just need to eat. I forgot to take crackers to work to snack on, and if I don’t get something in my stomach soon, I’m going to lose whatever’s left of my breakfast.”
“You should have called and asked to meet earlier. I had the whole morning off, I could have come anytime.”
“I was in a staff meeting until just a few minutes ago,” Andi said, grabbing a tray. “Oh man, this food smells good and awful at the same time. I need to eat, but it’s kind of nauseating.”
“Go for the grilled cheese and chicken noodle soup. I don’t think the heavy lasagna would be the best choice.”
Andi took half a sandwich and filled a large bowl with soup. “If this settles my stomach, the lasagna might start to sound good. Then I’ll get that, too. I’m a bottomless pit these days, it seems.”
Izzy chuckled. “I’m sure Charlie doesn’t tease you about that at all,” she said, making Andi laugh.
“He sympathy eats,” she replied. “We’re going to both be big as houses in another eight months.”
“I’ll believe it when I see it,” Izzy said, picking up her own tray of lasagna and breadsticks and weaving through the tables to find a quiet spot in the corner. Lunches were busy, even on off weeks, because all the staff and volunteers tended to come right at noon.
Andi plopped into a chair across from her and took a huge bite of her grilled cheese. She closed her eyes and chewed hard. “Please let me keep this down,” she mumbled before taking another bite.
Izzy tried not to laugh, but a soft snicker escaped. Andi opened one eye and looked balefully at her friend.
“It might not be so funny in a minute. Seriously, Iz, I ate a really small lunch once last week and by dinner time I was starving. I inhaled my food, then threw up and had to eat all over again. I feel the same way right now as I did then.”
Izzy crinkled her nose. “Okay, we don’t want that. I’ll distract you so you don’t think about it. Guess what I did this morning?”
“Slept in?”
“A little. Then I went to the grocery store.”
“Awesome, I guess.” Andi said as she spooned up some soup.
“And then I baked. I made—”
“No, don’t tell me,” Andi begged, holding up a hand. “Sweets don’t sound at all appealing right now.”
“Because your body needs protein,” Izzy said. “Anyway, I baked some… things, two different kinds, to give to Tanner James.”
Andi paused with her spoon halfway to her mouth, then placed it back in her soup bowl. “Why?” she asked simply, her forehead creased in a frown.
Izzy faltered a little, second-guessing herself all over again. “Because cherry pie-filling was on sale?” she said uncertainly.
“What does that have to do with Tanner?”
Izzy told her friend the story, but Andi didn’t seem convinced God had spoken through the display of canned cherries.
“I don’t know, Iz. Tanner doesn’t strike me as the kind who can be won over with baked goods.
“Maybe not, but I don’t know what else to do. I’ll give this a try and if he doesn’t respond, I’ll come up with a plan B.” Izzy was determined to follow through. If he squashed her like a bug yet again, so be it.
“Okay, well, he’s working with Comet right now. He’s the black gelding that’s been giving us a little attitude lately. Molly asked Tanner to see what he can do with him.”
“Hmm. Molly,” Izzy said slowly, picturing the woman in charge of the equestrian program. She was a warm, knowledgeable woman, a physical therapist like herself who had gone for her hippotherapy certification, allowing her to introduce horses as an actual rehab tool to the veterans they served. Izzy knew the incredible benefits the movement of horses could impart to those able to ride, and she was thrilled to have someone with that expertise working at the ranch.
Molly was also about thirty-five, recently divorced, and definitely on the prowl for a replacement for her ex-husband. Izzy liked her, everyone did, but the idea of Molly working so closely with Tanner didn’t sit so well. That thought was followed closely by a stern admonishment that the idea of Molly befriending Tanner shouldn’t bother her at all. If Molly was able to get through to the man, to take down some of his walls, wasn’t that a good thing? Why should Izzy care if God chose to use Molly instead of her, as long as the result was a happier Tanner?
“Yes, Molly. My boss,” Andi said, continuing the conversation. “She really likes what she’s seen of Tanner so far. He’s fantastic with the horses. When he walks through the stable, they all just kind gravitate to the front of their pen and nicker and stomp. It’s like they’re groupies hoping to get noticed by the pop-star. It’s amazing, considering he’s only been here a few days.”
“Too bad he doesn’t exude that kind of warmth toward the human population of this ranch,” Izzy said a little sourly. She told Andi about the game of Horse, and how Tanner had thrown it at the end to get rid of her.
“That’s another reason why I’m not convinced taking him baked goods is the right thing to do,” Andi said. “You’re just giving him another opportunity to reject you. Besides, you said he’s not your type, so why are you even trying?”
“I’m not doing it as a romantic thing,” Izzy said quickly. “Honest, I’m not. I don’t look at him that way. I just feel so strongly that he needs a friend, that he has things on his mind that make him pull away from everyone.” She shrugged. “I help people, Andi. Tanner might not need my help with any body parts, but I think he needs help just the same.”
“I’m not telling you not to do it. I’m just warning you it might not turn out the way you hope.”
“I realize that, but I’m not keeping two whole pans of goodies for myself, so tell me—where’s he going to be around two o’clock.”
Andi gave it some thought, then gave Izzy a scheming smile. “Go get me some lasagna and I’ll tell you.”
Izzy groaned and stood up. “Breadsticks, too?”
“Just one. No wait, make it two. I’m feeling much better.”
* * *
A little before two o’clock, Izzy was once again making her way to the barn. Several minutes ago, Andi had sent a text saying Tanner was in the staff lounge, going over the feed mix sheets for the horses. She said he was in there alone, making it the perfect time for Izzy to deliver the sweets.
Izzy had immediately left her office, carrying the Tupperware container she’d packed full of two kinds of bars. Once in the barn, she hurried along the hallway, gearing up for rejection but hoping for a break-through.
The door to the lounge was open. She stopped just before it and took a deep breath. Here goes nothing.
“There you are,” she said as she entered the room, hoping to give the impression she’d been searching for him rather than using an inside informant.
Tanner was hunched over a table, papers spread out before him. He looked up, his handsome face once again marred by a frown.
“I, um, had the morning off, so I did some baking.” Izzy set the plastic container on the table. “I thought I’d share some of it with the new guy.”
He leaned his chair back, giving the Tupperware a disinterested look. “I’ve been trying to stay away from sweets. Just leave them there, I’m sure the rest of the staff will be glad for them.�
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Izzy’s smile wavered, but she pressed on. “Okay, so what do you eat? In case I get the urge to cook again sometime soon.”
His eyes narrowed. “The cafeteria has everything I could possibly need,” he said.
“I haven’t seen you in there,” Izzy said, pulling out a chair and sitting across from him.
“I go on off times, to avoid the rush.”
“You don’t like crowds? That’s a surprise,” Izzy said drily.
He stood and began gathering up his papers. “Anything else?” he asked. “I’ve got things to do.”
“Why did you intentionally miss that shot last night?” she asked, voicing the first thing that came to mind in an effort to keep the conversation going. Judging from his clenched jaw, it probably hadn’t been the best choice of topics.
She pushed ahead anyway. “Did you decide to throw the game because you didn’t want to risk getting beaten fair and square by a girl?” She knew that wasn’t the reason, but she was curious to see his reaction.
His dark eyes gave nothing away. “Yep. That’s it,” he said shortly.
She got up and faced him, smiling. “Aw, so you do have a heart.”
One brow raised slightly. “Why do you say that?”
Izzy chuckled. “Isn’t it obvious? You could have told the truth just now—I mean, we both know you blew off the shot because you wanted to rid yourself of my annoying presence. Lying about it shows you obviously don’t want to hurt my feelings.” She gave him a wide, fake smile. She knew she was pushing it and no doubt annoying him further, but forcing this man to engage called for extreme measures. “That’s so sweet, Tanner.”
He folded his arms, his dark eyes piercing. “So what makes you think I’ve changed my mind about your presence between then and now?”
She folded her own arms, mimicking his stance. “I don’t think you have.”
“Yet here you are.”
“Yep. The thing is, Tanner, I’ve decided you’re my cause.” She couldn’t hide her grin when he cocked his head warily. “Come on, it’s obvious you need someone to bring you out of your shell, and I’ve decided I’m the one to do it.”
He studied her in silence for a moment. “Subtle, aren’t you?” he asked finally.
“Um, well, that would be an adjective that’s probably never appeared next to my name,” she admitted.
“At least you’re honest. But seriously, Izzy, I don’t know how I can make it any clearer. I’m not interested. Not in your friendship, or anything else.”
She swallowed hard at his bluntness, then recovered and shrugged apologetically. “That’s making things pretty clear all right. But until God tells me otherwise, you’re still my cause.”
“Oh, so now it’s God’s will that you continue bugging me?”
“Well…..I don’t usually bang my head against a brick wall just for the fun of it,” she said with a little glare of her own.
His lips firmed. “So stop the banging. You need to find another cause, Izzy.” He turned away, walking toward the door.
“I thought so, too, but then the cherry pie-filling was on sale. It was a huge display. And really, how often does that happen?”
He looked back, his expression one of total confusion. Izzy flung out her hands. “It’s a long story, but just trust me, okay? I wanted to back out, but I couldn’t, because I put out my fleece, and God gave me cherries. Thus, the cherry cheesecake bars had to be made.”
His lips parted and Izzy steeled herself for another rebuke. Then his eyes shifted to the box on the table.
“Cherry cheesecake?” he asked.
Izzy nodded. “They’re good. I tasted them to make sure. Twice.”
He gave her a sideways look before going over to the table and pulling the Tupperware toward him. He peeled back the lid and saw the red cherry topping.
“They need to be refrigerated,” Izzy said helpfully. “There are some butterscotch brownies in there, too.”
Tanner picked up the container and headed once more for the door. “You still need to find another cause,” he said over his shoulder, just before he disappeared from view.
Izzy stood there for a good two minutes, going back over the conversation, digesting it, and trying to figure out her next move. One thing she knew for sure.
It was a good thing Isabella Harding didn’t give up easily.
CHAPTER 5
Tanner hefted his packed duffle bag and left his dorm room, opting to take the three flights of stairs down instead of waiting for the elevator. Maddy Simon had called him late last evening to let him know that cabin number five had been vacated and cleaned, and he was welcome to move in whenever he wanted.
No time like the present. Tanner would drop his stuff off, check out his new abode, then hit up the cafeteria for a quick breakfast before heading to the stables.
He got in the golf cart that had been assigned to him on his first day and sped toward the line of six cabins around the corner from the dormitory building. He stopped at the one second from the end, grabbed his bag and jogged up the front porch steps. The key was under the mat, just as Maddy had said it would be.
The cabin’s interior was a pleasant surprise. It was only one room plus a bathroom, but it was decently big and laid out well, with a queen sized bed at the far end, a sitting area and table by French doors leading to the fenced-in back yard, and a small kitchenette at the front window. It would more than meet his needs for the next—well, for however long he was there. Luther hadn’t yet been in touch, so everything was still up in the air as far as his next assignment.
He quickly unpacked his duffle. Clothes, the few travel-sized toiletries he had left from his trip out, and the ridiculous container of cherry topped bars. Which were also ridiculously good, and already more than half gone. He put them in the small fridge, then strode to the door. He needed to get a move on if he was going to have time for breakfast.
He tugged the door open then grabbed onto the frame to keep from plowing into the girl who was standing on his front porch. It was none other than Izzy Harding, with her hand raised, presumably ready to knock.
Her blue-gray eyes widened. “You!” she sputtered, dropping her hand and looking at him with a mixture of confusion and glee.
He sighed. The girl was annoyingly persistent, and if it weren’t for her obvious surprise, he would’ve assumed she’d been following him. What she was actually doing there, he had no idea, but he was running late. She needed to leave.
“Izzy,” he said shortly, pulling the door shut behind him, in case she had any ideas about coming inside.
She stepped back and gave a little laugh. “Oh dear, Tanner. I’m afraid I have really, really bad news for you. At least that’s how you’re going to view it.”
He frowned, shoving his hands in his back pockets as he waited for her to say more.
She tilted her head toward cabin number six, about fifteen feet away. “We’re neighbors,” she announced, her lovely eyes alight with laughter.
Her words didn’t fully register at first because, well, those eyes. They sparkled with life and joy, indicating an outlook on life so very different from his own. He both admired and was irritated by that. Izzy Harding was becoming a thorn in his side, but what a beautiful thorn she was.
Wait, had she just said they were neighbors?
“You live there?” he asked, staring at the nearby cabin disbelievingly. Now that was indeed a problem.
His frown must have showed his displeasure, because she held up her hands defensively, her eyes still twinkling. “Hey, I was here first. For six months, in fact. And I had nothing to do with your living assignment. No one even warned me.” She gestured toward his golf cart. “I saw that parked out front when I was leaving for work and thought I’d stop in and say hey to whoever was moving in. Imagine my surprise.”
“Yeah, imagine that,” he said dryly.
She laughed and poked his chest once with a little pink-tipped finger. “Still think you’re not my caus
e, Tanner? Get this—I just finished my devotions ten minutes ago and I told God the cherries were a good first move, but if I’m supposed to keep chipping away at the brick wall, I’m going to need a little more validation. Because it’s not my favorite thing to do, quite frankly. Then I came over here and you answered the door.”
He wiped a hand down his face. “Doesn’t matter. I still don’t want to be your cause, Izzy.” He stepped around her, going down the porch steps to his golf cart.
She followed. “Just let me know if you ever need to borrow a cup of sugar, neighbor.”
He shook his head, exasperated, and got in his cart. He reversed out onto the lane, took off without looking back, then stewed about the situation all the way to the barn.
Izzy was a full-time staff member, so what was she doing still living in one of the cabins? If he’d known she’d be his neighbor, he would’ve stuck with the dorm room. He supposed he could still go to Maddy and request that, but then she’d wonder why, and he didn’t want to admit it was because he was having trouble staying indifferent toward the adorable Izzy Harding.
He gritted his teeth. This was a complication he didn’t need. For the first time since arriving at the ranch, he thought maybe it would be best if Luther called him back sooner rather than later. Not that he was anxious for his next undercover assignment, because if it was anything like the last couple, it would be long, dangerous, and lonely, even for an unsociable man like him.
No, he was thinking an early exit might be best because according to little Miss Izzy, God had plans for him. Plans he wasn’t ready for and didn’t want. He wished he could discount her claims and put them out of his head, but his grandmother had been a devout Christian and had taken him to church and Sunday School every week. Although he’d never made a personal commitment, he did believe in God—he just hadn’t counted on Him ever interfering in his own life. Especially not in the form of a cute physical therapist with a little too much conviction.
She might be determined to wear him down, but bottom line, Izzy’s plans for him weren’t compatible with his role with the FBI, where the ability to keep his so-called “shell” firmly in place could mean the difference between life and death. Letting Izzy in, even as just a friend, would only complicate things, and he had enough on his plate as it was.
