Baker's Bargain (Culpepper Cowboys Book 5)

by Kirsten Osbourne

  “Yes! That’s them. Valerie Dobson was called Valerie the Virgin before she married Jesse Savoy. And her ex-boyfriend has just been sentenced to thirty years in prison. I think it was a plea bargain or something. Rumor has it he kidnapped her sister, but I’m not sure if that’s true.”

  Marcus frowned. “I think I read about that too. That’s this show?”

  She nodded emphatically. “And Valerie is the one who was messaging me on Twitter a little while ago!”

  “She really tweets with fans?”

  “Yes! That’s part of what I find so incredible about the show. The fans and stars tweet live while the show is happening too. Jesse wasn’t always involved in the Twitter parties before they married, but now he never misses an episode. And they usually take a selfie of the two of them sitting there with their phones tweeting away. They’re always holding hands or she’s in his lap or something.” She sighed.

  “What? You want to be in his lap?”

  “Not at all. I just want someone to look at me the way Jesse looks at Valerie.” She shrugged. “There’s this great clip from them on the Night Show. It’s so obvious that neither of them are acting, and their feelings are real! Matt Winters, the host, actually looks at Jesse and says, ‘You get paid for that?’ after this incredible kissing scene.”

  Marcus noted what she was saying. She wanted to be loved the way the stars of her show loved each other. He could start studying how they acted in their interviews and recreate it. He may be only a lawyer, but he could show this sweet girl the kind of romance she was craving. It wouldn’t kill him.

  By the time the show was over, she was yawning. “I’m sorry. We’re working long days to get the bakery up and running as soon as possible.”

  He nodded. “I understand. I hate to add to your tiredness. Why don’t I take you home?”

  She frowned, turning her face into his shoulder. “I’m not ready to leave you yet.”

  Marcus smiled at that. “I appreciate the sentiment, but you need sleep. We can do this again tomorrow night.”

  She smiled at that. “Well, in that case…”

  He put one finger under her chin and turned her face up to his for a kiss. “I need at least one good kiss before I can take you home, though.”

  Grace sighed. “I was afraid you were going to forget all about kissing me.”

  “How could I do that when it’s all I’ve thought about all day?” Of course, he’d thought about doing a whole lot more than kissing her, but he wasn’t going to discuss where his thoughts had really gone. She was too innocent to hear all that from him.

  She lifted her lips for his kiss, one hand flattening against the front of his shirt, while the other went to the back of his neck to toy with the curls there. When his lips came down on hers, she felt her heart skip a beat. Oh, how he got her heart racing when he kissed her.

  His arms closed around her, pulling her closer toward him. He wanted to pull her onto his lap, but he knew that would be a bit much. No, he’d have to content himself with holding her against him.

  Her lips fluttered beneath his, responding to his. He traced the seam of her lips with his tongue, demanding entrance. “Open for me.”

  Grace got onto her knees on the couch beside him, pressing even closer. When he started to kiss her this way, she could think of nothing but getting closer to him and touching him. The hand at the front of his shirt, rubbed up and down his chest, feeling his hard muscles beneath the fabric of his shirt.

  Finally, he pulled back, taking big gulps of air. “For someone who was never kissed before yesterday, you’re awfully good at it.”

  She giggled. “Why, thank you.” She’d never once in her life considered she would think that was a compliment, but here she was, loving every kiss. Was she more like Chastity than she’d realized?

  “We have to get out of here. I’m too tempted to carry you up the stairs to my bed right now. That would not be a good idea at all.”

  She sighed. “Oh, I think it sounds like a fine idea, but I also think that I would hate myself forever if we did that before I had a ring on my finger.”

  He nodded, sighing. “And we’re talking a wedding ring, not engagement ring, right?” He knew the answer, but he clarified anyway. He wanted to make sure they were on the same page about everything.

  She nodded. “I was taught that an engagement ring means it’s okay to hold hands. Not even time to kiss yet.”

  “All right. I may have to think about this a bit.”

  “Think about what?” She was still a bit too bemused from his kisses to be able to concentrate on what he was saying.

  “About putting a wedding ring on that finger.”

  She stared at him, her eyes wide. “We’ve known each other for less than thirty-six hours.”

  Marcus shrugged. “How long do you think it took Jo and Dylan to know they belonged together?”

  “I think he knew the instant their eyes met. She may have taken a little longer.” Grace wasn’t sure if he meant on the show or in real life, but with those two the answer seemed to be the same. Their chemistry together was too strong for it to be any other way.

  He stood up. “Let’s go. We’ll take my truck this time. No reason for you to have to climb on my bike with your skirt again.”

  “Oh, it wasn’t so bad. I’m used to doing everything I need to do in a skirt.”

  “Did you not wear pants at home?” he asked, leading her toward the front of the house where his truck was parked.

  She shook her head. “Not very often. My parents thought girls should wear skirts at all times, because pants tempt men to do things they shouldn’t. A girl should always be covered as much as possible.”

  “You know that’s a bunch of hogwash, right?”

  She laughed. “I always suspected it was. Thank you for confirming it for me.”

  He opened the truck door and waited as she got in before running around to the other side. “What time tomorrow night?” he asked. “I’m working from home tomorrow, so I’ll be available after five or so.”

  She frowned, unsure how long the trip into town for supplies would take. “We’re shopping tomorrow for supplies for the bakery. Why don’t I text you when we’re home, and I can get away? I can’t leave my cousins to do all the work.”

  “Of course, you can’t! I’d never ask you to!”

  “Good. Give me your number, and I’ll text as soon as I’m ready.”

  He rattled off his number as he pulled into Linda Culpepper’s driveway. He parked the truck and unbuckled her seatbelt, pulling her across the seat to him. “One more kiss, and then I’ll go on my merry way.”

  She offered her lips to him sweetly. “I’m already ready for the days when we won’t have to kiss goodnight in your truck.” She knew she was probably being too forward, at least her mother would have said so, but sometimes she needed to say what was on her mind.

  He grinned at that. “Well, Miss Grace, hopefully those days will be over real soon.”

  Grace smiled as she opened the door, getting down out of the truck. “You might need to install a step on my side. It’s a big climb for a girl like me.”

  He laughed. “I’ll do just that. G’night, Grace.”

  “G’night, Marcus.” She turned and hurried into the house, looking back over her shoulder one last time before opening the door. He was pretty incredible in her eyes.

  5

  Grace woke the next morning with a smile on her lips. She could still feel how good Marcus’s lips felt against hers. She couldn’t wait to spend more time with him, and they had agreed to get together that evening.

  She groaned as she rolled out of bed, thinking about all the things she needed to get done before she would have that privilege. After a quick shower, she hurried into the kitchen to have breakfast. It was just her and Honor again, and she smiled at her twin. “Where is everyone?”

  Honor shrugged. “Linda made breakfast, but said she had a couple of things to prepare for the kids today. The o
ther two aren’t up yet. Patience and Felicity aren’t exactly morning people.”

  “They’ll have to learn to be if they want to run a successful bakery!” Grace said, sipping her juice. “I had dinner with my Marcus last night.”

  “Your Marcus? I think I saw you two walking across the yard together on Sunday. It’s hard to believe we’ve only been here two days.” Honor shook her head. “So much has happened in such a short time!”

  “What do you think of the horses?”

  “Horses? Oh, they’re awesome. I’m in love already.” Honor seemed a bit distracted to Grace. “How ‘bout you? I heard you went on a walk with your lawyer man.”

  Grace grinned. “Well, I wouldn’t say he’s my lawyer-man. Yet.”

  “Tell me you didn’t tell him any of your stupid lawyer jokes!”

  Grace bit her lip to stifle a giggle. “One or two.”

  “Or fifty.” Honor shook her head. “And they say you’re the practical twin.”

  Grace shrugged. “Maybe I’m tired of being the practical twin. Time to live dangerously for a change.”

  Honor studied Grace over the top of her coffee cup. “Did he kiss you?”

  Grace looked around. Linda had wandered off somewhere, and their cousins hadn’t come to breakfast yet. “Yes.”

  “And? Did you like it?”

  Grace sighed, knowing her eyes were sparkling. “Kissing is better than Lazy Love.” She knew her twin would get the impact of her words.

  Honor stared at her sister in disbelief for a moment, before throwing her head back and laughing. “You’re a goner. Have you talked wedding yet?”

  “No! We just met Sunday! He’d never seen Lazy Love, so I had to introduce him.”

  Honor rolled her eyes good-naturedly. “Of course you did. Because everyone on the planet needs to love that silly show just as much as you do.”

  Grace shrugged. “Well, it would be nice. It’s the best show on television, after all.”

  “You just keep thinking that.” Honor looked around to see who was there. “What else did you do? Did you have a good time?”

  “We had a marvelous time. We walked across the ranch over to his house, which is on the other side of the woods. It’s so beautiful here. I don’t ever want to leave.”

  “Just don’t tell Mom and Dad that when you call, and we’ll be good. I don’t want them to realize we’re not coming back until we’re at least seventy-three.”

  “Seventy-three? Why seventy-three?”

  “Not sure.” Honor shrugged. “Just seems like a good age, doesn’t it?”

  “Sure!” Grace reached out and squeezed her sister’s hand. “I hope you have a great day today.”

  “Are y’all going to work on setting up the bakery?”

  Grace nodded. “We have our first order. A baby shower cake.”

  “I hope word gets out fast. From what I hear, they need a lot of money.”

  “Who’ve you been talking to?”

  “Angus. How did the lawyer like your silly show?”

  “You can’t call it silly unless you’ve seen it.” Grace stuck her tongue out at her twin. She was still wearing her pajamas, and they looked very much alike in that moment. Neither had done the things that made them different. Honor wasn’t wearing her “boy clothes” and Grace hadn’t yet put on her make-up or fixed her hair. They deliberately emphasized their differences, and had for years, because they were sick of being seen as a matching set of salt and pepper shakers.

  “Fine. Your potentially-silly show. Is that better?”

  Grace wrinkled her nose. “I guess it’s better. I think he liked it. Or else he’s just tolerating it for me.”

  “Either way, he sounds like a good guy. I’m glad you like him.”

  “For someone I felt obligated to date at least once, he’s pretty terrific. We’re going to see each other again tonight. He’s already mentioning rings.”

  “Oh, wow. Dad would have a fit!” Honor shook her head. “I wonder how they’ll react when they realize we’re all moving here.”

  Grace sighed. “I don’t even want to think about it, to be honest with you. Dad will probably blame Mom for not taking us more in hand. Whatever.” Grace hated the idea of making things harder on their mother, but she couldn’t live under those conditions for another minute. She had the right to live her life as she saw fit, as long as she didn’t break God’s laws. And not the made-up laws that people attributed to God either.

  “I guess it’s not something we can worry about.” She jumped up. “I need to get dressed, so I can go spend my day with the horses!” Honor shrugged, popping the last of her toast into her mouth in one huge bite. She was gone before Grace had a chance to ask any more questions.

  Grace watched her go with a grin, wishing she could be more like Honor at times, but knowing it would only make Honor behave even more extreme so that they could still be as different as possible. She understood why Honor wanted to be an individual, but it still sometimes hurt that she didn’t want to be anything like her.

  They had to make a long drive into Cheyenne to go to a warehouse store, which would take a good half of the day. By the time they had everything put away and prepped for their first day open, there would be little time for anything else, before Marcus came to pick her up.

  She finished her breakfast, put her plate in the dishwasher, and went to check on her cousins. If they were going to have a full day, they needed to start it early.

  Six hours later, Grace and her cousins were back from Cheyenne and unloading the SUV they’d borrowed from Hope. Grace was twitching slightly from all of the show tunes her cousins had sung on the trip. Didn’t the girls know any songs other than show tunes? Grace was a fan, but not for hours straight. She wanted to kill someone!

  Each of them had claimed a small workstation of their own for decorating. Grace set hers up with a smile, putting her tubes and food colorings in a logical order so she could get to them when she wanted.

  She was still a bit mystified about how they’d advertise, but Linda kept assuring her that as long as she made cakes, people would buy them. “In a small town like Culpepper, you don’t have to advertise,” Linda assured her. “It’s a lot harder to hide what you’re doing than it is to broadcast it.”

  By the time they’d finished putting everything where they wanted it, and getting the bakery ready to start working in, it was after four-thirty. Grace hurried back to the big house and rushed through her shower. She couldn’t see Marcus with the flour that had formed a light powder over her body as they had transferred it from the huge bags to the plastic bins they’d purchased to store it in.

  She dressed in jeans instead of a dress, worried he might bring his motorcycle again, and she didn’t want to feel uncomfortable with how she was dressed.

  After she’d finished her show and was dressed and ready, she texted him. Ready when you are. Did you have a good day?

  I don’t know about good, but it was productive. Be there in ten minutes.

  Grace wandered into the kitchen to talk to Linda. It was the first time she’d seen her all day. “I’m going to spend the evening with Marcus.”

  Linda smiled. “You and your sisters. You get out from under your parents’ thumbs and go wild.”

  Grace frowned at that. “Does it seem like I’m going wild? We’re not doing anything wrong. Just spending time together. He’s never even touched me inappropriately!”

  Linda shook her head. “Grace, it’s okay! You’re a big girl. I’m not your mother.”

  “But I don’t want to do something that even gives the appearance of being wrong. Do you think I should take one of the other girls as a chaperone?”

  “No, I don’t. I think what you’re doing is fine. I’m sorry if I made it seem like you were doing wrong, because I really don’t think so.” Linda hugged Grace. “Go and have a wonderful time.”

  Grace nodded, still unsure about how she should act with Marcus. Maybe she was being too forward by going to his
house with him every night. Maybe she should tell him that she couldn’t spend any more time alone with him until they were married. She knew most people didn’t feel those things were necessary, but she had been raised to believe they were.

  The knock came at the door then, and Grace hurried toward it. “I won’t be too late!” she called back to Linda.

  “Just enjoy yourself!”

  Grace opened the door and smiled. Marcus stood there, leaning against the door jam, looking sexier than any man had a right to look. The look in his eyes made her feel weak in the knees. “Hi you.”

  The grin that spread across his face did nothing for the state of her knees. “Hi.” He took her hand, leading her out to his truck. “Did you get a lot done today?”

  She nodded, running her hand over the back of her neck, surprised at the tension she felt as a result of one teasing comment. “We did. The bakery is all ready to start tomorrow.”

  “Wow. You girls are sure moving fast.” He didn’t bother to start the truck and instead pulled her toward him. “I missed your kisses today.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck, drawing his head down for a kiss. “I missed yours too.” How could a man’s kisses be so addictive? He always had a very distinct taste to him. Kind of orangey. How did he do that?

  After a moment, he pulled back and started the truck, driving out onto the highway. “If we’re going to keep doing this, we need to build a road between the Culpepper’s house and mine. It would take less than half the time if I could just drive straight and not go in a big U.”

  She shrugged. “Probably.” Her mind was back on what Linda had said. He expected her to kiss him as soon as they were alone. How long would that last before he’d expect more? No wonder her mother had said to save kissing for marriage.

  “You all right?” he asked, surprised that she seemed so moody. She was normally very even tempered. He thought about asking if it was that time of the month, but thought better of it. A girl had threatened him with a steak knife for that once.