What to Read After FSOG: The Gemstone Collection (WTRAFSOG Book 9)

by Kristine Cayne

  ’Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam,

  Be it ever so humble there’s no place like home!

  Only Connor didn’t have a TV, and he hadn’t turned on his stereo this morning. Even if he had, he couldn’t imagine why the local top 40 station would be playing a song from the turn of the twentieth century.

  He wandered around the bottom floor of the house, through the kitchen and dining rooms, looking for the source of the music. It kept playing the same refrain over, and over.

  ’Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam,

  Be it ever so humble there’s no place like home!

  Connor couldn’t figure out where the music was coming from, and it wasn’t stopping. He walked out to the carriage house, to see if for some god-forsaken reason, Luke was up at this hour, jamming to really loud moldy oldies. Knocking on the door, he knew there wasn’t anything playing inside there. He could hear his brother’s snores from the other side of the door, and no music coming from inside.

  Walking back inside the big house, he could hear the refrain repeating itself again. He began to walk towards the stairs, a chill creeping up his spine as the hair on the back of his neck stood at attention.

  When he set his foot on the bottom tread of the stairs, the music abruptly stopped. As he continued up the stairs, slowly, he heard no more sounds except the quiet footfalls of his own feet.

  Grumbling about the interruption of his morning caffeine intake, he reversed his steps on the stairs and went back into the front room to finish his cold coffee.

  Jessie had managed to awaken at her normal five thirty, was finished milking the goats, and had started for the fridge to get the milk for her first batch of cheese when the phone rang.

  “Hello?”

  “No catchy business title to answer the phone with?” The voice at the other end of the phone sounded familiar, but Jessie couldn’t place it. It was low and gritty, but sweet, like her grandmother’s pralines used to be. The speaker had a slight drawl, not an exaggerated drawl, like the locals, but definitely a Texas boy.

  “I’m sorry?”

  “Most business owners answer their phones with the name of their business, like I answer my phone, ‘Estelle’s’.” Ah…It was the restaurant owner who had looked at her like a veal cutlet yesterday. And the one she had shot at…

  “Oh. I’m sorry. Ahem…Stillwell Dairy, how may I be of service to you?”

  There was a slight pause at the other end of the line, as she blushed. If his mind was half as filthy as hers, she was sure she knew what he was thinking. “Hello? Did I lose you?”

  “Oh no. You didn’t lose me. I’m here.” His voice had gotten even lower, and it made something inside Jessie go all warm and gooey. She could get used to talking to this guy on the phone. “I was calling to let you know I was very impressed with your cheese yesterday. Very…exceptional quality.”

  Relief flooded through her, in spite of the fact she was still angry at him for leering at her. And mad at herself for the lurid images that kept flowing through her mind at the sound of his voice. “I’m really glad you liked it.”

  “Do you make it all there, at your house?”

  “I have modified my kitchen to be a commercial grade food preparation area.” She bristled, in spite of herself. Was he trying to question her qualifications?

  “I have no doubts you did. I was just making conversation.”

  “Oh. Well, yes. I do make it all here.”

  “And you flavor it with your own herbs? I noticed the gardens when I was there yesterday.”

  “Yes, I do.” She felt the relief swell to pride, and she started to feel warm from the positive attention. Maybe this would mean some real orders for once. She could handle a hot guy leering at her, if he was going to order stuff.

  “The basil you used, it’s not the regular sweet basil, is it? It had a unique flavor. Spicy. Was it some sort of Asian variety?” The way he said the word spicy made Jessie’s knees weak.

  “Yes, that was Holy Basil, I think. I also raise some other Asian varieties, some Mediterranean varieties, as well as the regular sweet basil and lemon basil.” She needed to be friendly, get him to like her, so he would order more cheese from her. “You should come out and see my garden some time, maybe the next time you need some cheese?”

  “That’s actually why I was calling. I need to make arrangements to pay you for the cheese you brought by, and I would like to order more, if I could.”

  “Don’t worry about what I brought by. It was an apology gift for yesterday. I really am embarrassed I pulled a gun on you. Don’t worry about it. As for the order, I would be happy to set you up. How much do you need?”

  He thought for a few seconds. “I would like a little extra for experimenting with new recipes, but I think about twice as much as you gave me yesterday morning should do me for the rest of the week. If that’s okay.”

  She nearly choked on her spit, she was so shocked. “Sure! Um, I don’t have any of the aged stuff left, it takes about a month to develop at least. But the rest of it, I would be happy to have ready for you. When do you need it?”

  “Can I come pick it up tomorrow? I used most of what you gave me yesterday. It was really great cheese.”

  “O-okay. I’ll have it ready in the morning.” Sleep was over-rated anyways, right?

  “Great. See you then, Jessie.”

  After hanging up the phone, Jessie let out a whoop of exultation, did a happy dance, and got into her truck to make a run to town to buy every lemon she could find. She had cheese to make.

  Connor hung up the phone, feeling horny as hell. Talking to Jessie about cheese of all things had managed to give him a hard on to rival any he’d had. Granted, it had been years since he’d felt anything for any woman. Sure, he’d had sex, but nothing else. Not since Brandy.

  Just the thought of his ex-wife tamed the raging erection, and soured his mood enough to go out to the carriage house and see what Luke was up to.

  The sounds of power tools came through the thin walls of the house, as Connor walked across the parking lot. As he came closer, he heard the sounds of a woman’s laughter over the noise of what was probably Luke’s drill.

  Opening the front door, Connor called out, “Hello there!” He didn’t want to interrupt anything inappropriate.

  “Back here, in the kitchen!” His brother called back.

  Connor went to the kitchen, and was surprised to find Kathy sitting on one of the countertops, feet dangling over the edge.

  “Hi, Kathy. I didn’t know you were coming over today. Did we have plans for something?” Connor was surprised to see her, here with Luke. Since the restaurant was closed today, he wondered if he had asked her to come in to do something. He didn’t remember, but his mind had been a little scattered lately.

  “No. You didn’t need me for anything.” She looked down at Luke, who was lying under the sink, his legs out in the middle of the kitchen floor, hiding his shoulders under the cabinet. “I just stopped by to visit with Luke.” She hopped off the countertop lithely as a kitten, “I was just fixing to leave anyway.”

  “Hey, since you’re here, can I ask you something?” She was walking to the front door, and Connor was following her.

  She stopped and turned to look at him. “Sure.”

  “Your friend, Jessie. What’s her story?”

  Kathy snorted. “Her story?”

  Connor blushed, realizing how it sounded. “Never mind. I’m going over to her place tomorrow for more cheese, I just wanted a little insider info before I get a gun pulled on me again. Forget about it.”

  “Jessie is one of my best friends, I’m not airing her dirty laundry for you. But I will tell you she’s worked harder than almost anybody I know to get her business running, market herself, make the cheese, and keep her goats in top condition. And she does it all alone.”

  “So…there’s um…no husband?”

  “Why? You like her?” Kathy nudged him in the ribs.

>   “I don’t know her, how would I know? I was just asking.” Realizing he was fixing to be in a heap of trouble if he didn’t change the subject, he asked, “How much do you think I owe her for the cheese she brought over yesterday?”

  “She brought over a little more than a dozen six-ounce packages? Probably a little over two hundred dollars.”

  His eyes bugged out of his head. “Two hundred dollars? Seriously?”

  “That’s between two and three dollars an ounce for high-grade, hand-made, local goat’s milk cheese. Dude. Such a great deal.”

  “It is good cheese…” Connor said wistfully.

  “It is great cheese. Tell her I said hi when you see her tomorrow.”

  “Okay, I will. See you later, Kathy. Enjoy your time off.”

  “Thanks, Connor. Bye.” And she turned and was out the door.

  Turning slowly, Connor started whistling as he made his way back to the kitchen, where Luke was still under the counter.

  “Hey, man. What was Kathy doing here?” Connor was curious.

  “Hell, I don’t know, man. But I wish she would just move in and put me out of my misery.” Luke slowly made his way out from under the cabinet, a grimace on his face.

  “What’s going on?”

  “Nothing yet, but that woman…Jesus! She does something to me I can’t explain. I had to stay underneath the cabinet where I couldn’t see her, because every time I looked at those legs, I got this devastating chubby…embarrassing, man. It was like Darcy Williams all over again.”

  “Darcy? Seriously? Wow…” Connor gave a low whistle, remembering his kid brother’s obsession with their babysitter when they were younger and Luke was discovering infinite ways he could pleasure himself while thinking about her. Connor had devised a way to schedule bathroom time, so he could shower. “Kathy?” Sure, she was pretty, redheaded, built well, and competent, but Darcy Williams material? No way. He shook his head in disbelief.

  Together, they had decided to hire Kathy to help with the restaurant in the beginning. Connor had been reluctant, as he wasn’t sure her resume supported what he needed. Luke, however, had insisted, and Connor was glad, because she had proved to be indispensable. Maybe she was what Luke needed to stick around a little while. Connor didn’t want to admit it, but Luke’s imminent departure was looming nearer, and he wasn’t ready to let his little brother go. If he was going to be honest with himself, he wasn’t ready to deal with the restaurant alone. Or the house.

  Luke was standing in front of Connor, leaning against the counter top across from him. “Can I tell you something? Promise not to make fun of me?”

  “You can tell me anything, Luke. But I will always reserve the right to make fun of you. Sorry about that.”

  Luke ran his hands through his hair, as a flush crept up his neck. “I think I’m in love with Kathy.”

  “What?”

  “Dude. She’s all I think about. All day. I drink more water than I ever have, because I want to go into the kitchen and get a glass so I can look at her. Sick, isn’t it?” He looked down at his feet, the flush crawling from his neck to his cheek.

  “Mr. Tap That Ass has feelings. How touching.” Connor said wryly.

  “Shut the fuck up, dude. I’m being serious. She’s like a drug, and I can’t get enough.”

  “Have you slept with her?”

  “No, I haven’t even kissed her. Stupid, I know. But I just know if I kiss her, I won’t be able to stop there, and I don’t know exactly how she feels. It’s so intense, you know?”

  “No, and you sound like a fucking girl, man.” Connor looked in the fridge, which wasn’t cold. “Fridge isn’t hooked up?”

  “Fuck! Not again.” Luke opened the refrigerator door, slammed it shut and stomped outside to the breaker box.

  “What do you mean? Was it working earlier?” Connor followed him out, confused.

  “Hell, yeah it was! I installed it yesterday.” Luke was pissed, flipping breakers and switches frantically. “This house is so fucked up. I don’t know how you’re going to stay here. I can’t wait to get the fuck out.”

  “It’s an old house. So, it has foibles. I prefer to think of it as character.”

  “Some character. It wouldn’t surprise me if this place was haunted.”

  “Whatever, man. There aren’t any ghosts here.” Connor was trying not to think about the music he had heard, just this morning.

  “I would normally agree with you, Dude. If it was just one or two things. But it’s constant, man. There’s always something creepy happening around here. The refrigerators going out, that fucking mirror you hate so much, it always sounds like there’s someone walking around in here, up there…”he gestured upwards to the loft of the carriage house.

  “I get it, Luke. I really do. But what do you want to do about it? The only thing that really bothers me is the fridge continuing to go out. That’s the only thing affecting my livelihood, here. The rest of it is spooky, yeah…”

  “It’s fucking creepy, man…” Luke interrupted.

  “Okay, it’s fucking creepy, but I invested everything I have into this business, and I can’t get it back. Not at this point. I’ve got to keep going.” His voice trailed off, dejectedly. If he couldn’t make a go at this, he wasn’t sure where he would end up. The restaurant symbolized Connor’s hope for the future, and he couldn’t give that up.

  “I know what you have riding on this place, man.” Luke’s voice softened, as did his features.

  “I have everything riding on this place, Luke. It’s got to work.” Connor said softly, before going back to the big house for a couple of beers. When he returned, Luke was installing the sink fixtures in the kitchenette.

  “You need some help, man?”

  “Naw.” Luke took a swig from the beer Connor offered him, gratefully. “In fact, I’m almost finished with this place. I’ll need to pull down some boards from the interior walls upstairs to get the insulation in, and that’s it. I’m done in a week, tops. I can get my ass back to Houston.”

  “You gonna kiss Kathy goodbye?” Connor was only half teasing. Not only did he want his brother to be happy, he wanted him to have a reason to stay here, in Serendipity.

  Luke’s eyes turned fuzzy, as he appeared to briefly fantasize about her. “Yeah, I think so, man. I want to see if the fireworks I imagine are really there, you know?” He shrugged. “If not, Houston will be that much sweeter.”

  “If there are fireworks? Will you stay?” Connor narrowed his eyes in question. He was hopeful.

  “Not in this place. I may take her back with me to Houston, if she’ll go.”

  Connor snarled at Luke, “Like hell you will. She’s the best employee I’ve got here. I’m not sure at this point I could run the place without her.”

  Luke playfully punched his big brother’s arm, and the panic rising inside Connor eased, somewhat.

  Connor stayed and drank the rest of his beer, watching Luke finish up the kitchenette, before going back to the big house to experiment with more goat cheese recipes, his mind straying to the tantalizing woman with the goats.

  Chapter Five

  Singing along with some Greatest Hits of the Eighties, Jessie finished up the last mama goat, before setting all the babies and mamas loose in the pasture. Wondering if she would have enough time for a nap before Connor showed, she looked up to see her Billy goat, Samson has gotten out of his enclosure, and was availing himself to the ladies.

  Sighing heavily, she went back into the barn for her tool apron and a bucket of feed to try to lure him back to his side of the fence. Jessie had been up until two thirty in the morning, finishing Connor’s order, and now this. If it wasn’t one thing, it was another. She was constantly trying to repair fences, which the wily goats managed to get through, no matter how secure she made them. She would truly love to have a permanent game fence put up, like an associate of hers has, but she was pretty sure for the size of her property, it would cost close to $50,000 to install. And she didn’t
have anything else to mortgage to make it happen.

  Finding the hole in the fence wasn’t a problem. Samson was pretty big, if his horns were included in his mass, so the holes he made were big enough to spot. She crawled through his hole and dumped the bucket of feed on his side of the fence, rattling it all the way. That usually worked, but today was not her day.

  “Great…” Samson was mounting a female furiously, thrusting in and out of her with abandon, knowing his stolen opportunity was about to be put to an end, and he was going at it for all he was worth. It was Marie, who had just given birth to twins about a week ago, and was probably already in heat again. Jessie rolled her eyes and went after the randy billy goat.

  Samson had been the product of a trade, so Jessie hadn’t raised him from a baby, and he was still a little skittish with her, although she had tamed him down a lot. She walked up to him, slowly, and grasped his enormous horns in her hands. He started bucking and thrashing wildly, but she hung on. She knew he would tire before she did, and then she could lead him back to his enclosure, if she could hold on long enough for him to settle.

  “How can I help?”

  Startled, Jessie looked up into the cool blue gaze of Connor, who had walked out into the pasture, where she was wrestling with Samson. Jessie had dug in her heels, and was holding the horns with all her might, while the male goat thrashed and bucked, wildly.

  “In the barn. Bring me some rope hanging on the wall.” She gritted out between clenched teeth.

  Connor jogged off, and returned shortly, with a length of coiled rope, which he held out to Jessie. Using her entire body, she grunted, deftly maneuvering the goat to the ground. With lightening fast speed, she hogtied his legs together tightly, coiling the rope around the legs, securing the struggling, bleating goat. Jessie knew this made him angry, and his skittishness would be worse for a couple of weeks, but it was safer than struggling with his horns, and she was tired.

  Breathing heavily, she sat back on her heels and looked up at the impressive figure standing before her, his arms crossed and an amused expression on his face.