Some Like It Hot (Sweetrock Cowboy Romance Book 1)

by Leighann Dobbs

  And for a second, she thought she was going to say yes.

  There was much more to keep her here in Sweetrock than there was waiting for her back in Boston.

  But if Nick wanted her here, then why didn't he just come out and ask her? She replayed his words in her head. He'd said he was looking for a pastry chef. He never said he wanted it to be her.

  Her brow creased into a frown as she glanced into Nick's booth. His back was to her as he happily cooked chili. Obviously, he still had his mind on winning the contest whereas Sam's mind had shoved thoughts of the contest to some dark corner and filled the rest of the space with thoughts of Nick.

  A surge of insecurities rushed through her. Maybe Nick didn't feel the same way about her. Maybe her cooking wasn't good enough. Maybe she was just a summer fling that would soon be forgotten.

  She wasn't usually that insecure. What was wrong with her? And even if Nick did only think of her as a summer fling then so what? She hadn't given him any indication she was staying, so why wouldn't he? It wasn't fair to assume his feelings were that shallow, especially since she knew they had a connection that went beyond a casual fling. Maybe she should be the one to say something first. After all, she was the one that kept insisting she was leaving at the end of the week.

  Once she'd won the chili contest.

  But she didn't care about winning anymore. It was clear it would either be her or Nick since they always seemed to be tied or running first and second place. She wanted the money to start her own place. Nick wanted it to bail his restaurant out. But what if they could both accomplish their goals no matter who won?

  If she won, maybe she could use the money to buy a stake in The Chuckwagon and then she could be part owner while she worked at her passion for baking in the kitchen. Right alongside Nick.

  Sam worked the rest of the afternoon on auto-pilot while mulling over how to handle the situation. What should she say to Nick? Should she just blurt out her feelings or try to feel him out? She wanted to make sure to go about it the right way. It was too important to screw up.

  Towards the end of the day when the crowd finally thinned, she got a chance to rest and noticed that two messages had come in on her phone. One from her parents. With the pecan pie contest and all the excitement at The Chuckwagon, she'd forgotten to call them as she had planned. She'd have to do that today. She'd put them off long enough. The other message was from the tow truck company. She would have her car back tomorrow.

  Her parents wouldn't like the idea of her staying in Sweetrock. She'd have to break it to them gently and make it seem like a good career move. An idea struck. She was taking a risk, but she was pretty sure that Nick was going to ask her to work in The Chuckwagon and if that were the case she'd only have to embellish the story she told her parents just a little bit. Make it sound like she was going to be running her own restaurant just like they had dreamed for her. A little white lie that would appease them and hopefully be somewhat close to the truth.

  It sounded like a good plan until she looked up and saw Nick walking away with a tall blonde wearing turquoise cowboy boots. Was that the same one from The Chuckwagon? What was up with that?

  Sam pushed down a pang of jealousy. She was being ridiculous. Nick had every right to walk around with another girl. It wasn't like they were making out behind the tent or anything.

  Were they?

  Sam craned her neck to see. It was late in the day, and most of the fairgoers had gone home for dinner. A new crowd of people would come later to see the rodeo and gorge themselves on fried dough, but now it was time for the chili contestants to close up their booths. Apparently, Nick had closed early.

  She watched as Nick and the blonde parted ways.

  See? Nothing to worry about. She was just being paranoid because the girl was blonde and it made her think of Lizette and how Eddie had dumped her. The girl was probably just an old friend or something.

  Sam finished cleaning her area then grabbed her phone. Better get the call to her parents out of the way so she could focus on what she was going to say to Nick. She dialed her mother's number.

  "Sam! It's about time. I've left you several messages, and if it wasn't for your infrequent texts, I might have had to send the MP's out after you." Her mother's good-natured chiding put Sam on the defensive. Now she didn't feel so bad about the lie she was about to tell. She tried to remain calm and pleasant.

  "Sorry, Mom. It's been so busy out here, and I have a lot of catching up to do with Tessa." That would make her mom happy, her mom loved Tessa.

  "It's just that we worry, dear. And you know you need to get going on your career."

  Sam knew that was a way for her mother to fish about information and she might as well give it to her. "Well, Mom, I have been working on that. A new opportunity came up, and things might take a little different turn than when we last spoke."

  "Really?" Her mother's tone dripped apprehension and disapproval, and Sam felt that old spark of rebellion flare. She was tired of her parents trying to control her. She was a grown woman and could run her own life. Suddenly being thousands of miles away from them had more appeal. Her anger washed away the guilt she felt at lying to her mother.

  "Yes, it's something I really can't turn down."

  "Tell me about it."

  "I know you and Daddy will approve because I ran a spreadsheet with calculations going out several years. I have limited funds and this acquisition will get me to five-star restaurant status the quickest." Sam had thought about what to tell her mother all afternoon. The thing that pushed her parents’ hot buttons was planning and organization. The spreadsheet and her analysis would impress them.

  "That's great, dear. What is the acquisition?" Her mother sounded more interested now.

  "I have a unique opportunity to buy into a restaurant that has fallen on bad times. It's got an already established client base so I'll be way ahead of the curve."

  "That does sound like a good opportunity." She could hear her mother pulling over a pad of paper, probably wanting to write down every detail so she could repeat it to her father.

  Sam took a deep breath and embellished her lie. It was founded in truth since she hoped she really would be working at The Chuckwagon. Okay, so the "buying in" part was a lie, but her parents were more likely to approve if they thought she was the owner. Maybe someday she would be. Sam knew she was getting ahead of herself, but it was worth the risk if it helped get her parents off her back. Maybe if they ever came out to visit she'd be in a more prominent position at the restaurant. Or maybe by then she and Nick would be…

  Well, now she was really getting ahead of herself.

  Her mother peppered her with questions and Sam answered each one without hesitation. In this case, her planning had certainly served her well. She was so focused on spinning the tale to her mother that she didn't notice someone approaching her from behind.

  Nick clutched the bouquet of white flowers nervously as he approached Sam. He’d raced off to one of the florist tents on the other side of the fair to get the flowers to add a level of seriousness to his question. He wanted to show Sam he didn’t take this lightly.

  She was sitting on an overturned white plastic bucket with her back to him. He noticed how her back curved in at her slim waist and the way her hair fell over her shoulder as she leaned forward with her elbows on her knees, intent on her phone conversation.

  He was overtaken with the beauty of her and was paralyzed with self-doubt. Why would Sam want to stay here with him? But then he thought about the time they’d spent together. He knew they had something, and he had to ask and find out. He wanted her to work in the restaurant with him. Wanted to take more trail rides with her. Wanted everything.

  He stepped forward quietly, not wanting to interrupt the phone conversation. Whatever it was must be important judging by the way she was focusing so intently on it. Snatches of the conversation drifted over to him.

  “…That’s right, Mom. The restaurant is in foreclosure,
and I can get it real cheap.”

  Nick froze in his tracks. Restaurant? What was she talking about?

  “Yep…insider tip…foreclosure…I ran all the numbers, and it’ll be much more lucrative than in Boston, especially with the menu changes….”

  Foreclosure? Was she talking about The Chuckwagon? But how could she know about that? Nobody knew about the foreclosure except Nick and the bank. Nobody. He’d kept the notice locked in his grandfather’s roll top desk.

  The roll top desk that Sam had been trying to open the other morning.

  Nick’s heart crashed. He must’ve forgotten to lock the desk and what he saw—when he’d thought she’d been about to open it—was really her closing it.

  Had that been her plan all along? To get the insider scoop on the troubles he was having at The Chuckwagon so she could take it away from him?

  Nick staggered back with the weight of the realization. The flowers fell from his hand, scattering on the ground, the pristine white of their petals now marred with dirt. The heel of Nick’s boot mashed a white rose into the soil as he turned and walked away without a word, all of his hopes and dreams for the future dissolving into a puddle of despair.

  Sam disconnected from her mother. The conversation had been draining. She hated lying and wasn’t any good at it, either, but she needed to make it sound right. She didn’t want her parents to worry.

  She stood, flipping the white plastic bucket back upright and then noticed something strange on the ground.

  Flowers.

  Where had those come from?

  Her eyes scanned the area, but the only person she saw was Tessa making her way down the aisle toward her. Since Sam wouldn’t be getting her car until the next day and she and Tessa were hanging out together that night, Tessa had offered to pick her up.

  “Are you ready?” Tessa asked.

  “Sure.” Sam frowned down at the flowers then shrugged. They were all dirty and mashed into the ground. Someone had probably dropped them earlier, and she hadn’t noticed in all the chaos. She grabbed her purse and double checked that everything was secured for the night.

  Heading toward the parking lot, she linked her arm through Tessa’s. “I’m more than ready, and I have some exciting news that I think you’re going to like.”

  Sam made Tessa wait until they’d showered, changed and were seated at one of Tessa’s favorite haunts—O’Toole’s—a small pub style bar before she would tell her the news.

  “Come on. I’m dying here. What is the exciting news?” Tessa begged.

  Sam swung her chair to face her friend so she could see the look on her face. “I’m considering staying in Sweetrock.”

  Tessa blinked. Then her eyes widened, and her face split into a smile.

  “Do you mean it?” Tessa squealed then hugged Sam.

  “Well, I think so. I mean, Nick didn’t actually ask me to stay, but it seemed like…”

  “Of course, it does. I know he’ll want you to stay, and Rena was practically begging me to ask you to consider working at The Chuckwagon. This is awesome!” Tessa leaned across the polished wooden bar and waved at the bartender.

  Tall glasses filled with drinks colored a vibrant blueish green appeared in front of them. Sam eyed them skeptically. “What are these?”

  “Just drink. They’re good.” Tessa held up her glass and tilted it toward Sam, and they clinked. “I’m so excited that I’m going to get to see you all the time. You can stay with me…unless you’re going to stay with Nick?”

  Sam hadn’t thought about where she would stay. Was she rushing into things? Maybe she should give it a little more thought before committing to staying. Either way, it was too soon to move in with Nick. Not that he was asking. “If you don’t mind, I’ll stay with you until I get my own place.”

  “I’d love it.”

  Tessa spun around in her seat, sipping through her straw. The place was relatively small and loaded with oak and stained glass. It was less crowded than The Bull Sheep and less noisy so they could hear each other talk. They perched on oak barstools at the bar itself, which ran along one entire wall. The main floor of the room was dotted with tall pub tables and dividers that stood about five feet high with green potted plants sprouting out of the top that broke the room into sections and added to the noise insulation. Sam rested her feet—clad in white cowboy boots this time—on the brass foot rail.

  Was she making the right decision?

  The bar was only about half full and Tessa had greeted a few of the patrons. Having lived in town her whole life, she knew most everyone. If Sam moved here, she’d know all those same people pretty soon, too. She liked the idea of walking into a bar and knowing people. Of recognizing familiar faces everywhere she went. It wasn’t like that in Boston.

  Tessa waved to someone in the back corner, and Sam looked over, recognizing Cash. She gave him a wave. Would Nick be coming here to join him?

  Thoughts of Nick caused a rock to lodge in her stomach. She’d be excited to see him tonight even though she promised the night to Tessa, but something was bothering her. He’d left his booth at the fair without even saying goodbye and hadn’t bothered to phone or text her since.

  Was he mad because she was spending the night with Tessa?

  The thought made her realize that she didn’t know Nick all that well. If he was one of those controlling jerks, she didn’t want to have anything to do with him. He wouldn’t be the first boyfriend that acted nice during the first few months and then changed into an ass after that. But if Nick was a jerk, Tessa wouldn’t want her to be with him.

  Sam took another sip of the drink. Her mind was just playing tricks on her due to her uncertainties over staying in Sweetrock. Her imagination was acting overtime, and she was second-guessing herself. A few more drinks and that would pass.

  Tessa spun back around to face the bar. “So what’s going on with your car?”

  “More good news on that,” Sam said. “I should be getting it tomorrow.” So I won’t need to bother you for rides anymore.”

  “It hasn’t been a problem. I’m sure Nick will be disappointed, though.”

  Sam laughed. “I don’t know. It’s probably been inconvenient for him to drive me around.”

  Tessa snickered. “I don’t think so, judging by the way I saw him looking at you. Seems like he’d like to give you as many rides as possible.”

  Sam felt a rush of warmth from Tessa’s assessment of Nick’s feelings. See? All those self-doubts were stupid. Tessa should know. She and Nick had been buddies forever.

  She sucked down the rest of her drink then swiveled around in the stool. “I have to head to the ladies’ room.” She threw some money on the bar. “I’ll buy the next round.”

  On the way to the ladies’ room, Sam slid her eyes to the corner where she’d seen Cash. Cash was sitting with Jackson, who seemed to be paying more attention to the ladies at the neighboring table than to Cash. Nick wasn’t there.

  Why was she looking? Lord, please don’t let me turn into one of those clingy women who can’t go anywhere without her boyfriend.

  Boyfriend?

  On her way back from the bathroom, Sam noticed the bar had started to fill up. Most of the pub tables were now occupied. And one familiar face sat at a table she’d just passed. Sam pressed her lips together trying to remember if she was someone Tessa had introduced her to.

  No, wait. She wasn’t someone she’d met through Tessa. She was the blonde she’d seen Nick with at the fair.

  Sam slowed her pace. The table was on the other side of one of the divider planters, and she chanced a peek through the large leaves to verify it was the same woman. Yep. Same turquoise cowboy boots. It was the same girl.

  So what? As she’d already guessed, the woman probably lived in town. And everyone in town knew everyone else, including Nick.

  Standing so close on the other side of the wall she wasn’t visible, but she could hear snatches of the conversation. The blonde was saying, “...at the fair...Nick
...said he'd be here..."

  Was she talking about Nick? No. Nick wouldn't make plans to meet another girl here. Not while he and Sam were...were what, exactly? They weren't even officially dating. And they'd never discussed anything about being exclusive. Sam had just assumed...but maybe Nick wasn't on the same page.

  She leaned closer to catch more of what the turquoise-booted blonde was saying.

  "...did you see those weird menu changes?...said he hasn’t dated anyone serious in a while...”

  Weird menu changes? Was she talking about The Chuckwagon menu changes that Sam had suggested?

  Something about the woman's voice set Sam on edge. She had that same twangy tone that Lizette had and the reference to menu changes brought back memories of Sam getting fired. And of Eddie dumping her for Lizette.

  No sense in jumping to conclusions.

  The blonde could be talking about anyone. Surely other people were named Nick. And she had been at The Chuckwagon and probably saw the new menu. So what if she didn't like the changes? You can't please everyone. She was probably just reading things into her words that weren't there.

  Determined not to become one of those suspicious girlfriends that won’t let her guy have a night off, Sam turned away from the blonde and hurried back to the bar.

  Tonight was for fun and celebrating with Tessa, and she wasn’t going to ruin it by being unnecessarily paranoid. She slid onto her bar seat grabbed her fresh drink, plastered a smile on her face and pushed down the little niggle of doubt that pecked at her heart.

  20

  Tessa dropped Sam off at the fairgrounds the next morning, and she hurried to her booth, feeling ridiculously excited and somewhat apprehensive about seeing Nick. Her heart fluttered around in her chest like a frightened bird, wondering what he would think about her decision to stay in Sweetrock. Would he ask her the question he seemed to be on the brink of asking yesterday?