by Kim Redford
Slade clapped his hands together. “Sounds like a plan. Let’s celebrate Lauren’s return to town. Blackberry cobbler with vanilla ice cream all around.”
“Yum!” Storm grabbed Slade’s apron and swayed back and forth.
“Sounds good, but I’ve got to return the booster to the station,” Kent said. “We just stopped by to pick up barbeque on our way to Ruby’s place. Hedy and Hannah are waiting for us there.”
“Rain check?” Lauren asked, smiling around at the group.
“Only if Hannah can come.” Storm gave everyone a big, bright grin.
“You bet,” Kent agreed.
“Okay then, that’s a plan, so we’ll be on our way.” Sydney started for the front door with Storm by her side. As she opened the door, she glanced back. “Lauren, when you get settled in, call and we can get the girls together for a play day.”
“I’ll give Lauren your number later,” Kent said.
“Perfect!” Sydney shooed Storm out the front door.
“I’m looking forward to catching up while the girls get to know each other,” Lauren called as she waved good-bye.
“Soon!” Sydney gave a little wave before she shut the door with a solid click behind her.
“Guess we better get on our way soon, too.” Kent turned to look at Lauren. She was making all kinds of plans with others when he wanted to keep her for himself. But that was the way of a small town where everybody knew everybody. Maybe he’d better plan a trip up to Lovers Leap like the old days where they could be alone.
“What kind of barbeque do you want?” Slade grabbed a plastic menu off a nearby table and held it out to Lauren.
She held up her hands in mock surrender. “No choices for me. I want everything!”
Slade guffawed as he tossed the menu back on the table.
“I haven’t eaten food from the Chuckwagon Café in so long that I’ve got to have it all.” Lauren joined his laughter.
Kent couldn’t help but smile at her happiness, even as he wished she wasn’t looking quite so interested in Slade.
“You got it,” Slade said. “I’ll pack up a variety of meats. Coleslaw, potato salad, and baked beans sound good?”
“Wonderful!” Lauren clapped her hands together in delight.
“You’re taking food to Hedy, too?” Slade turned toward Kent with a slight frown on his face.
Kent nodded, wondering why Slade was making a point of it.
“Truth of the matter, Hedy’s been coming in when she’s working at her store and ordering her usual. I don’t know if it’s my cooking or not, but she’s been leaving most of her food on her plate.” Slade shook his head, obviously concerned about Hedy.
“Do you mean she’s not eating right?” Lauren appeared worried about her aunt.
“Maybe Hedy eats more at home.” Slade cocked his head to one side. “But I kind of doubt it. She’s always been bantam weight and now she’s getting downright skinny.”
“Something’s just not right with her,” Kent agreed.
“Lauren, I’m glad you’re back in town for lots of reasons.” Slade stepped close to her. “We’ll all trust you to get to the bottom of what’s going on.”
“I’ll do my best.” Lauren nodded as she emphasized her words. “First of all, we’ll make sure she cleans her plate tonight.”
Kent smiled at the old saying that every child had heard a million times growing up in Wildcat Bluff, but he wasn’t amused at all. Too many people were noticing too many things that didn’t bode well for Hedy.
“Tell you what,” Slade said, “one thing that seems to tickle Hedy’s fancy are my pies. I’ve been making sure to give her extra big pieces.”
“And she eats them?” Lauren asked.
“Some better than others,” Slade explained. “I’ve been trying different pie recipes that are in Granny’s old recipe book. I think some of them go all the way back to her grandma. Anyway, I’m doing my best to tempt her with something she’ll eat.”
“Thank you.” Lauren reached out and squeezed his arm.
“I made a rhubarb-blackberry pie today with her in mind. I’ll send it with you.”
“Just a piece will do,” Lauren said. “I don’t want to take a whole pie that you could serve to others.”
Slade grinned, revealing white teeth against his tanned skin. “I can make more. Anyway, what else have I got to do while I heal—if I ever do.”
“You’ll heal,” Kent cut in, feeling lower than a snake at his earlier jealousy. Slade was hurting all the time, not just from his injuries but from losing the life he’d loved since high school. Kent ought to be glad for anything that’d perk up his cousin. If making delicious pies would do the trick, he and every other member of the family would happily eat them.
“I really appreciate what everyone is doing for Aunt Hedy,” Lauren said. “I was concerned before I got here, but now I’m flat-out worried about her.”
“Hedy belongs to us all,” Kent said. “We’ll do anything to help her.”
“If she’ll let us help her. That’s the big bugaboo,” Slade added, shaking his head. “You know she’s got an independent streak a mile wide.”
“We’ll find a way,” Lauren insisted. “Just give me a little time to figure out what’s going on.”
“You got it,” Slade agreed as he turned toward the kitchen. “Now let me box up your vittles.”
On a sigh, Lauren turned to Kent. “Nobody’s life is perfect, is it?”
“Not by a long shot, but with close family and good friends, we can make it through the hard times together.”
“Thanks.” She pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. “For everything.”
And in that moment, he felt as if he’d come home—and he hadn’t even known he’d been gone.
Chapter 9
A little later, Lauren sat with Kent in the booster. She’d wedged two brown paper bags filled with Chuckwagon Café goodies between her feet. She could feel heat from the food containers against the bare skin of her feet. Soon the tantalizing aroma of barbeque had her stomach growling in anticipation.
“Hungry?” Kent glanced her way, then back at Main Street as he drove toward the fire-rescue station.
She patted her tummy. “Guess I’m ready for the best food in Wildcat Bluff County.”
“Or anywhere?”
“I wouldn’t deny it, not with a Duval sitting this close to me.”
“Smart gal.” He chuckled as he turned right onto Cougar Lane and slowed to a crawl.
“Something wrong?” She felt a little twist of alarm run through her because he drove so slowly. Was there a problem with the booster?
“Yes and no.” He eased into the station’s parking lot, stopped under a bare-leafed mimosa, and put the vehicle into park. He turned to face her.
“Kent?” Now she doubted if the problem was with the booster. She didn’t look at him, not sure if she wanted to see what was in his eyes or learn what was on his mind.
He sighed as he rubbed a hand across his beard stubble. “Today’s brought back all kinds of memories.”
“Good ones?”
“Yeah. I feel like I’m eighteen again and trying to get you alone.”
She smiled as she saw his sincerity and remembered only too well what he meant. “Lots of friends and family around here. Aunt Hedy used to help us make excuses to get away.”
“We ought to be grown up enough now not to need help, don’t you think?”
She sighed, knowing she should tell him they didn’t need to be alone, but she felt heat rising up and flooding her body. He was making her hot like he’d always done. But that was then. And now was now. They were well beyond such youthful fancies. Yet her thoughts didn’t douse the fire that was building inside her, making her feel damp and achy in the deepest, most sensitive part of her. It wouldn’t do. Not
anymore. She tried to cool down with thoughts of ice cream, but that was too much of a sweet reminder of Kent. A snowstorm like she’d experienced in Connecticut was better for putting out fires.
“Others are waiting to spend time with you, but before I give you back I want to let you know that I’d like for us to find time to be together.”
She swallowed hard at his words. Did she dare go down that dangerous-to-her-heart path again?
“Am I asking too much?”
“No,” she heard herself say, even as she tried to come up with a good reason to stay away from him.
He clasped her hand and raised it to his lips. He kissed each fingertip before he placed a warm kiss on her palm. “You still have the softest hands.”
“Kent, I’m not sure—” But her words caught in her throat as he gently tugged her toward him, leaned forward, and nuzzled her cheek with his face. She could feel the scratch of his afternoon shadow against her skin, smell his scent, and feel the heat of his body. All were more tantalizing to her senses than the rich smell of barbeque.
“Can we go back up to Lovers Leap?”
She shivered even as he stoked her like a fire, driving her flames higher and higher. When he captured her shoulders with his large hands and caught her lips with his mouth, she felt smart reason and good intentions fly out the window. Instead, she leaned into him, feeling the hard muscles of his chest against her soft breasts. She moaned softly as he gently traced her lips with his tongue, as if tasting her again. When she nipped his lips in return, he deepened the sensual kiss.
And she reeled back in time to those heady days of youth when hormones ran wild. She grasped his shoulders, pulling him closer, needing his heat, his strength, and his desire in a way she’d thought long gone. She kissed him back, harder, longer, stronger as she reached up to dig her fingers into his thick hair and hold on against the rising risk of losing him all over again.
When he thrust back the seat, picked her up, and set her across his lap, she could feel the hardness of his desire for her, and that sensation drove her even wilder. He tore his mouth from hers and rained kisses across her face, down her neck, up to her ear where he lingered, teasing with his tongue as he obviously remembered her sensitivity. He stoked her flames just as she ignited his fire, and he brought her closer to fulfillment than she’d been in years.
Suddenly, he jerked his face away, breathing hard. He looked out across the parking lot at the fire station. “Hell,” he said in a low, rough voice, “we’re acting like a couple of teenagers. Anybody could see us. We don’t want to put on a show for the entire town to hear about.”
She inhaled sharply as she tried to catch her breath and regain her composure, but it wasn’t easy.
“Sorry. I started that and I’m out of line. But—”
“You had some help.” She placed a soft kiss on his cheek, knowing he was right to consider their location. She eased off his lap and scooted close to the passenger door. She folded her arms over her stomach, feeling defensive at all the emotions that were cascading through her. Hot. Cold. And oh so very achy.
“I apologize.”
“There’s no need.”
“Yes, there is. I didn’t mean to come on so strong. It’s just that—”
“It’s been a long time.”
“Hell yeah.”
“Let’s not rush into anything.” She tried to sound cool and reasonable, even thought she was burning up inside and wanting so much more of him. “I just got back into town today.”
“My lucky day.” He leaned forward and put the booster into drive, then glanced over at her with eyes still dark with desire. “You always did know how to get under my skin. Guess you still do.”
“I’m not immune to your charms either.”
“Good thing.” He focused on the station again. “We’d better get back to business—”
“Before the barbeque gets cold and Aunt Hedy comes looking for us.”
“Right.”
Still, he hesitated, and then glanced at her. “Can I have a rain check on Lovers Leap?”
She smiled despite herself. “Only if there are old, soft quilts and the Chuckwagon Café food, too.”
“You mean I’m not enough?”
“You’re more than enough.” She knew she was getting in deeper by the moment, but she didn’t have the will to stop. “That’s just the trouble.”
He grinned, flashing white teeth and deep dimples. “Maybe a little trouble is what we’ve both been needing in our lives.”
She couldn’t help but smile as he sent the booster forward with a sudden burst of speed. He was definitely Trouble with a capital T.
Kent pulled up in front of a station bay and picked up the remote control from the dashboard.
She glanced down the line of empty parking spaces. She recognized Hedy’s van next to a blue pickup that looked like it needed help. Her own white SUV that had a light coating of dust from the trip was where she’d left it several spots down from the other two vehicles.
“Do you think Aunt Hedy called a tow for that truck?”
“Tow? Why would you say that?”
“Look at it. Not only is it covered in mud and dirt, it’s got several big dints that I can see from here. It’s probably got bald tires and has a flat.”
“It looks like a perfectly reasonable work vehicle to me. Stuff happens out on ranches.”
“Stuff?”
He gave a big sigh as he used the remote control to open a bay door of the station. “Why don’t you grab the barbeque and I’ll meet you at Ruby’s.”
“Wait!” She turned to look at him. He appeared a little hot, or uncomfortable, under the collar. “Oh no!” She quickly swiveled her head to gaze at the vehicle then back at him. “That’s not your pickup, is it?”
He rolled his eyes in exaggerated annoyance, but the hint of a smile lurked about his lips. “That big dent came from a hardheaded bull bent on revenge. And the tires aren’t bald. I’ve never been known to drive an unsafe vehicle.”
She felt a sudden attack of giggles coming on because she’d just insulted his ride. And guys were notoriously sensitive about their vehicles. It shouldn’t have struck her as funny, but it did. She put a hand over her mouth to try to stop the laugh that threatened to erupt, but pretty soon she choked, then chortled as her shoulder shook with mirth and a giggle rolled out.
“Go ahead and laugh,” he grumbled as he pointed to her vehicle. “I suppose that pristine little prissy SUV belongs to you.”
“I’m sorry,” she managed before she laughed harder, feeling her eyes burn with moisture. She tried to stop, honestly, but she felt as if something had broken inside of her or had been let loose after so many years of pent-up tension and worry. She hadn’t laughed this hard since the last time she’d been with Kent all those years ago. And the laughter felt wonderful.
“For your information, everything about my truck is in fine working order.”
“Except the outside?”
“Not important.” He looked at her, turning serious. “If I wash my truck, it’ll just get dirty again. If I get that dint fixed, some other critter will take into his head to butt it again. Why bother?”
“You make a good point.” She took a deep breath, tamping down the humor of the situation, because she could see he was serious about his vehicle. She might even be hurting his feelings, but he’d always played fast and loose with stuff. It just didn’t matter to him.
“If it offends you, I can wash the truck.”
“Oh no, it’s fine. I remember now that you never did much care what was on the outside of anything.”
“It’s what’s on the inside that counts.” He reached over and took her hand. As he rubbed a rough thumb over her soft palm, he gazed into her eyes. “Lauren, you’ve always been beautiful. Everybody knows that. But it’s your inner beauty that’
s always shone through that’s nigh on irresistible.”
“Oh, Kent, you big silly.” She felt his words go straight to her heart, and now she felt like crying with the sheer tenderness and sincerity of his words.
“It’s the truth.”
“You’ve got a big heart that sees the best in everybody. Kent, I—”
A loud knock on the passenger door made Lauren jump, so she quickly looked out the window.
Hedy grinned at her. “Hey, let’s get this show on the road!”
Lauren smiled back as she lowered her window. “I take it you’re hungry.”
“And I’m anxious to meet that little tyke of yours.”
“She’s going to love you.” Lauren glanced back at Kent. “Guess Aunt Hedy’s right. We need to get a move on.”
“Go ahead and take the barbeque. I’ll park the booster and close up here.”
“We can wait for you,” Hedy said.
“No need. I’ll be at Ruby’s pretty quick.”
“Thanks.” Lauren realized he was still holding her hand, so she squeezed his fingers and let go. “I’m sorry about being unappreciative of your truck.”
“Don’t worry.” He chuckled, boyish dimples flashing with the mischief in his eyes. “I’ll get you back for it.”
“No doubt.” She chuckled at his warm look that promised plenty of delicious trouble—just like the old days. “I’d better run inside and change clothes first.”
“Go ahead like you are. I’ll bring your dress.”
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
“Thanks. I’ll wash the jeans and bring them back to the station. But I’m keeping the T-shirt.”
“You sure you don’t want to give it back to me?” He grinned even bigger. “I’d take it home.”
She rolled her eyes at him, imagining taking his fire-rescue shirt away from him and snuggling against the softness and the smell of him in her lonesome bed. But she pushed those thoughts aside and turned her attention to Hedy, who was grinning up at them. “You hear all that?”
“Sure did. I’m not touching any of it with a ten-foot pole.” She appeared delighted with them. “Let Kent lock up and we can be on our way.”
