“This might not be the best time, but, GG, can I ask you a question?” Patience spoke softly so the others couldn’t hear her.
GG took her hand. “What’s on your mind?”
“I need to ask you about your son, Joseph.”
GG’s lips became a straight line across her face, but she nodded to Patience to go ahead.
“Do you know if there was someone who might have wanted to cause him harm? Maybe he had a falling-out with someone?”
“I’ve been racking my brain ever since Beau told me about finding Joseph.” She held on to Patience’s hand a little tighter. “I’m an old woman and that was a long time ago but, to be honest, Joseph was very much his own man. If he had trouble with someone, he wouldn’t have mentioned it to me and would have handled it on his own. I can tell you, even though he was my son, he could be hardheaded sometimes. Cade gets his stubbornness from his father.” She paused to look out at her children and grandchildren.
Patience could see from the older woman’s expression that she was recalling memories.
“I’m sorry I ruined your lovely picnic with the investigation,” Patience said. “I should have waited until we were back at the B and B.”
“No, girl, you are doing your job. Don’t apologize to me. You know, around that time there was a bit of a scuttlebutt over the county laying down pipes for waterlines. I don’t remember the details, as I wasn’t the mayor back then. But I think some of the ranchers were upset because they were worried that the county might be tapping into private wells.”
“Okay, well, I’ll definitely look into that.” Patience’s gut was sending her signals again. She just wasn’t sure what they meant.
“I’ve said my goodbyes, I’m off.” Charli leaned down to give her grandmother a hug. “Oh, and I’ll see you at the dance tonight.” She pointed to Patience. “I promise you’re going to have the time of your life.”
“Dance?”
“Yes, and don’t worry, you already have a date,” Cade said behind her.
She twisted around on the bench so she could see him. “Funny, I don’t remember anyone asking me to a dance.”
“Hmm, in that case how about—” An elbow in the ribs from Cade interrupted Logan.
“Patience, will you go to the dance with me?” Cade asked formally.
Teasing him, she glanced at Logan and back at Cade as if she were trying to make a decision. Then she shrugged. “I guess so.”
Logan snorted with laughter. “Doesn’t sound like she’s too excited about the prospect.”
Cade smirked at his cousin, then smiled at her. “I guess I’ll have to do my best to make sure you know just how fun a date I can be.” His voice was lower and had the husky tone it had when they were making love.
Patience held up her hand so he could help her off the bench. He pulled her up to him.
“I’m looking forward to it,” she said as she pushed away from his chest. “There’s just one thing.”
“What’s that?” His face had turned serious and she knew he was worried that she was looking for a way out of the event.
“I don’t know how to dance.”
“SLIDE YOUR HAND AROUND TO MY belt loop, and—” Cade stopped as Patience stepped on his toes for the third time. Luckily he’d prepared for their dance lesson by wearing steel-toed boots. They were in the downstairs dining area where he’d pushed the tables and chairs back to make an impromptu dance floor. He’d already taught her an easy version of the waltz. She had rhythm, which helped, but not much experience dancing with a partner.
They were practicing the two-step, and when she stepped on his toes Cade knew it was his fault. He was so entranced by her beauty that he kept forgetting to give her the instructions. Never in his life had he been so befuddled by a woman. She seemed clueless to how gorgeous she was. It was one of the many reasons he found her so appealing.
Tonight she wore a pair of dark jeans with boots that made her legs look eleven feet long. And a wisp of a top that tied around the neck with frills down her front. The distracting part was her upper back was completely bare. Every time his hand moved across the soft skin there his jeans threatened to tent again. Twice he had had to stop and kiss her because he couldn’t go a second longer without doing so.
She’d left her hair down in loose curls, and Cade wasn’t so sure he wanted to share her with anyone at the festival. In fact, more than once he’d thought about pretending to be sick or maybe even a headache so they could stay at the B and B and she could play nursemaid. It was childish, but he didn’t care.
The only thing that kept him from making a complete fool of himself was that he knew his grandmother wouldn’t fall for it. She’d send Logan or one of his other cousins to bring Patience to the dance, and he couldn’t have that. The idea of another man dancing with her was enough to make his hands ball into fists.
Yep. He had it bad for her.
She stumbled slightly. “Maybe I should just stick to the waltz,” she said as he righted her.
“You’re catching on fast. The trick to this one is the same as the waltz—just let your partner guide you. But rather than going up on your toes, keep your feet flat on the ground and shuffle through the steps.”
They slid across the floor again and the third time around she really did have it down. Was there anything she couldn’t do?
Earlier in the afternoon, his grandmother had pulled him aside as they’d been leaving the picnic. “She’s a keeper, don’t be an idiot,” GG warned. “And treat her with respect, ya hear me? She isn’t one of them hussies you like to call arm candy. She’s a real woman and if you aren’t ready to take that on, there are plenty of men standing in line, I’m sure. You treat her like she’s a princess. There’s a sadness in that girl’s eyes, and you see what you can do about taking that away.”
Cade had promised he would. His grandmother had the best judgment about human beings that he’d ever known.
“Do I really have to go to this dance?” Patience asked for the third time since they’d started their lesson. She’d been stiff when the began, as if she didn’t want to touch him, but the past ten minutes or so she’d relaxed.
“GG will consider it a personal insult if you don’t,” Cade said carefully. Patience was searching for a way out and if he made it about him, she would have run back to her room where she’d spent most of the late afternoon. He’d wanted to talk to her after the picnic, but she hadn’t given him the opportunity.
“She always get her way?”
Cade chuckled. “Yes.”
“I believe it. She doesn’t seem to understand that I’m here working. For her. This case isn’t going to solve itself.”
“What you say is true,” Cade interjected. “But everyone needs a little time off. You had a busy day. You found the ring and GG told me that she remembered about the debate over the town’s water supply. And you spent all afternoon talking with your friends at Stonegate and tied to your laptop.”
Patience paused in their dancing. “Were you spying on me?”
Cade shrugged. “I had some business calls to follow up on and work to do. The walls aren’t that thick between our rooms. As I was saying before, you’ve been at it most of the day. You could look at the dance tonight as a way to blow off steam and get some exercise.”
The music stopped. They stared at one another for a moment. Somewhere a clock chimed eight times.
“We promised your grandmother we’d be there by eight,” she reminded him.
“Patience.”
She placed a finger to his lips. “Not now, Cade, please. I’ll go to the dance because your grandmother asked. She said most of the town turns out, so I might have a chance to observe some of those ranchers she mentioned earlier. I may even talk to a few of them. I appreciate what you’re doing with the dance lessons, but it’s all business tonight.”
Cade wanted to argue with her, but he knew it wasn’t worth it. He’d let her have this battle, knowing with confidence that he’d e
ventually win the war. Patience was like one of his mergers. He only needed to show her how both sides could benefit by working together.
He backed away and picked up his cowboy hat. “I was just going to say if you need me to introduce you to anyone, or if you need me to identify someone, I’m here for you.”
“Oh.” Her mouth formed a perfectly kissable O and he forced himself to ignore his body’s need to explore those lips. “I— Thanks,” she said finally.
“After you, ma’am.” He waved her toward the door and saw confusion fly across her face.
Cade didn’t bother to hide his grin. He’d help with the investigation any way he could. It was just as important, maybe more so, for him to find his father’s killer. But he was also determined to convince Patience that spending time with him wasn’t such a bad thing. He’d succeeded as a businessman by never backing down from a challenge, by being persistent.
Patience was about to get the full Cade Randall treatment.
9
THE LOCAL LODGE HAD BEEN transformed into a sparkling spring wonderland. Everything from ficus trees to the wooden support beams had been wrapped in twinkle lights. The large central room was packed with people when Patience and Cade arrived for the dance.
“About time you two showed up,” GG said when they found her at the drinks table where she refilled the iced-tea pitchers. “I was about to send out a search party to see if you two were lost.” There was a glint in her eyes that looked as though GG thought they were making out before joining the party.
Whenever she was with Cade she felt like a school-girl with a major crush. When he’d offered to teach her how to dance, she’d been thrilled and mortified. But he had that way of making her feel comfortable, like she could do no wrong. She knew his toes would be bruised in the morning, but he never even acknowledged that she’d made a mistake or two—or twelve.
Patience’s cheeks warmed and she forced herself to concentrate on the conversation.
“Told you I was teaching her how to dance,” Cade reminded his grandmother as he took the heavy cooler she’d been using to refill the tea away from her.
GG grabbed the cooler back from him. “Then you kids go get on the dance floor and show them how it’s done.”
“Anyone ever tell you that you’re a bossy old woman?” he said, kissing her cheek.
“You ever call me old again, and I’ll be searching for a switch out on the old pear tree.”
Cade kissed GG’s cheek and then led Patience away. She wasn’t afraid of anything but nerves seized her as they stood at the edge of the dance floor. “They’re all so good,” she said of the dancers. Young and old twirled around the dance floor as if they’d been doing it their entire lives. “I’m sure to muck it up. Why don’t we just watch from here?”
“Don’t be silly, you’re a natural,” Cade said. He’d been a very patient teacher, but she didn’t relish making a fool out of herself in front of all these people. When she and Cade arrived, she hadn’t failed to notice the curious glances from some of the crowd. She much preferred finding a quiet corner somewhere and leaving the dancing to the veterans.
“If you aren’t going to dance with her, I’d be more than happy to—”
“Try and die, Logan,” Cade interrupted him.
“Oh, now, no reason to get testy, cuz. But I can tell you that you aren’t going to monopolize her all night. Uncle Rudy says he’s teaching her the Shottish, and Kent is determined that she learn the Cotton-eyed Joe.”
Cade gave him a go-to-hell look that made her giggle. Nervous or not, it didn’t seem like she would get out of this anytime soon.
Might as well make the most of it.
“Your time is coming, Logan.” She winked at him. “But I did promise this first dance to my wonderful instructor.”
Before Logan could say another word, Cade had her out on the dance floor. The first few steps were a little awkward, but they found their way.
The music slowed and Cade pulled her closer clasping their hands against his heart. The small, intimate gesture registered with her from head to toe. Patience wasn’t sure she would ever understand her body’s response to Cade.
As hot as their lovemaking had been, there was a connection between them that had nothing to do with sex. An intimacy she had never ever experienced before.
She still couldn’t wrap her mind around the fact that they’d known each other for such a short while. Their lovemaking earlier was so intense that it had scared her. She’d tried so hard to put up a wall again, protecting herself. But Cade had a way of chipping at her defenses. Like now, being in his arms, her body and heart were at war with her mind.
Her mind believing she should get over this school-girl crush and concentrate on what was most important—the case. Her heart and body, unfortunately, disagreed. Every time he touched her, her breath caught. And the way he looked at her sometimes sent her heart thumping as if she’d run a marathon.
“Are you having fun?” Cade whispered against her ear. “You have such a serious look on your face.”
She thought about lying and telling him that she was thinking of the case, but it wasn’t her way. “I’m trying to figure out what’s going on here.”
“We’re at a dance and I’m holding you close because every man in this place has his eyes on you.” He pulled her a little tighter as he turned the corner of the dance floor.
“I don’t want a relationship, Cade.”
He pulled away from her enough to where he could see her eyes. “I know. No one said anything about a relationship. We’re friends.”
“What about earlier?”
He seemed to catch himself before he spoke, and then he smiled. “We were comforting one another. You said so yourself. That is what friends do during a crisis.”
Patience smirked. “Really?”
“That’s the story. At least until you can admit we have a deeper connection.”
“I’m trying to ignore it,” she said under her breath.
Cade twirled her again. “For the record, this sort of thing is new to me.” Cade stroked her cheek. “I don’t remember a time when I’ve wanted a woman so bad, or felt like I could tell her anything and she would understand.”
Patience’s heart exploded with caring. She reached up to touch his jaw.
He leaned down to kiss her and she gave a tiny gasp of pleasure when their lips met.
Before she could resume dancing with Cade, Logan took her in his arms.
Pausing, Cade stuck an arm between them. “At least a foot, or you’ll be missing your manhood by the end of the night.”
Logan laughed but moved so they were a little farther apart.
“I’ve never seen him like this.” Logan guided her around the dance floor.
“Like what?” Patience watched as Cade held out a hand to his grandmother and gave a little bow. He really was quite the charmer.
“Possessive about a woman.”
She turned her attention back to Logan. “I don’t think it’s possessive so much as protective.”
Logan snorted. “No, it’s definitely possessive. Did you know he’s never brought a woman to any of our family functions?”
She shrugged.
“He’s genuinely jealous, look at him.”
She glanced across the dance floor to find Cade studying her. She gave him a quick smile and returned her attention to Logan.
“Probably knows we’re gossiping about him.”
Logan laughed again. “Patience, you can’t be this clueless. You are a very smart woman.” Logan nodded toward Cade. “Trust me, you’re off the market, Patience, at least in Phosphor.” He dipped her then, which threw her off balance. If he hadn’t been so strong, she would have fallen on her butt.
The song ended just in time.
Kent showed up just in time to teach her the Cotton-eyed Joe. Several dances later Logan was back. Cade had been kept busy by GG’s friends.
“Are you up for one more before the band takes a br
eak?” Logan asked.
She took a deep breath. “I could use some iced tea and a little break. Have you seen Cade?”
“He’s dancing with Michele,” Logan said as he handed her a plastic cup of iced tea.
Patience found him. Michele wasn’t like the older women he’d been dancing with before. She was a beautiful brunette with long legs and a cropped shirt that showed off near-perfect abs.
A knot tightened in Patience’s stomach when she watched the woman tug on Cade’s ear with her long red fingernails. Cade gave his dance partner an affectionate look.
A wave of nausea washed over her, and she sipped her tea to help quell the rolling feeling in her stomach.
So this is what it is like to feel jealous.
She cleared her throat. “They seem comfortable with one another.”
“Yeah. They were high school sweethearts. Michele went off to Denver to college and broke Cade’s heart.”
“Oh.” An hour ago Logan had been talking about how possessive Cade was of Patience, but with this new woman in the room it didn’t seem as if he cared at all. She knew how silly she was being, but she couldn’t stop the hurt.
She needed to get away.
“Can you excuse me for a minute? I need to visit the ladies’ room.” She handed him her tea, but didn’t meet his eyes.
“Sure, it’s over in the corner to the right of the band.”
Getting through the crowd before the tears spilled was her main objective. Luckily, even though women were crowded around the small mirror freshening their makeup, one of the stalls was open. Patience locked the door and took a steadying breath.
What in the hell is wrong with me?
There was no reason for her to be jealous. Sure, she and Cade had been intimate but she had no claim to him. More than anyone she knew that once physical needs were met, it was perfectly acceptable to walk away.
Tell that to the knot in my stomach.
If this was jealousy, she wanted no part of it.
Logan had been wrong. Cade had only been protective of her, not possessive. They had shared a fun day together, and she’d read more into it than she should have. When Cade had commented that he felt the same way, he’d probably been talking about their mutual attraction rather than some deeper connection.
Truth and Dare Page 6
