Finally Sophia sighed and glided to the door. “Since you’re all right, we’ll leave you for now. It is a little late, but we’ll see you in the morning, Ainsley. For breakfast. We’re at a hotel thirty miles away. I am not going to pay to stay in a dingy little cabin with little hope of running water.”
A tiny bit of relief at the unexpected liberty surged through Ainsley. She didn’t want her mother or Edward anywhere near her if she could avoid it, but she did agree to having breakfast. Anything to get her out the door. “Good night, Mother. Edward.”
Edward kissed Ainsley’s cheek. “I need to talk to you in the morning,” he whispered. “I’ll call you.” The door clicked shut behind him before she could answer. He had a different look this time. It wasn’t the over-confident you-love-me googly eyes he’d worn for the past two years. Hope blossomed within her. Something was about to change.
* * *
The ringing phone woke her the next morning and she fumbled for her cell. “Hello?” she mumbled, brushing her disheveled hair off her forehead. Sleep weighted her eyes and she blinked, trying to focus on the clock.
“Your mother can be a real slave driver when she wants something,” Edward’s voice came clearly into her ear. “I’m coming to get you for breakfast. Can you be ready in half an hour? I tried to tell her you could call a taxi, but I guess she wants to make sure you get here. As if you wouldn’t be able to do this on your own?”
“Oh, Edward. Welcome to my world.” She yawned and slipped from beneath the blankets.
“Coming here wasn’t my idea,” he stressed. “I want you to know that. I finally understand everything you’ve said to me over the years and I’m sorry I put you through so much.”
“As long as you’re making it right.”
“I’m trying. I told your mother about Cecelia and she was adamant that I wasn’t thinking clearly. She thinks you’re my true soulmate. And insisted we come to Wyoming to settle this. I knew you wanted me to stay away, but I thought Sophia being here alone would be worse.”
A floating, blissful sensation danced over her body. Not only had he realized they were never meant to be together, he also saw he and Cecelia were. Ainsley wanted to cheer and jump around her room. “Listen to your heart, Edward. Don’t let my mother convince you of anything else. Her world has to travel a certain path, and you and Cecelia are definitely a detour.”
He let out a quick breath and she could feel his relief come through the phone. “So what about you? How are you feeling about this cowboy of yours?”
Memories of Riley’s hands caressing her body momentarily threw her out of the conversation but she regained control. “I’m kinda liking this cowboy of mine.”
“He seems a decent guy.”
“He is.”
“I’m coming to get you. I’ll see you soon.”
She rubbed her eyes and peeked at the clock and groaned. Seven-thirty. The disbelief and indignation on Riley’s face had haunted her all night. Working on only a few hours of sleep was not the best time to hold her own with her mother. Deciding she needed reinforcements, she picked up her phone again while she rooted around for a pair of pants.
Her sister answered on the first ring. “Ainsley! You’re the very best sister in the entire world. Did you know that?”
“I did, actually. And it’s about time you figured it out. So what happened?” She found a purple shirt and changed out of her nightclothes.
“I went over to Edward’s house and yelled at him for being emotionally bound to the idea of a woman even if the actual woman wasn’t his ideal. And then I kissed him.”
How did she do it? Her sister had never been one to just let things happen, and in one week had managed to break through years of preconceived ideas and get her man. “Yay, you! I’m buying birdseed as soon as I get home.”
“Whoa whoa whoa,” Cecelia said. “Not only has he not proposed, but I don’t know if I’m ready to get married yet. I need to make sure his feelings are real and not a reaction to being displaced by you.”
“I’m sure they’re not.” Excitement rose through her, as if the mayor of Charleston had just signed on as one of her clients. She padded to the bathroom. A quick once-over in the mirror showed skin tanned from working outside, and her mother’s lecture on keeping her complexion creamy filled her head. “Don’t take too long. I wouldn’t want him to wonder what you’re waiting for and come back to me. He arrived here safely, by the way.”
She spun on her heel and left the room without putting on any makeup. Silence came through the phone and she pictured her sister tugging a lock of hair and putting it in her mouth.
“Edward?” Cecelia asked.
“He’s here. I figured you knew.”
“No,” she said with a small catch in her voice. “I told him to wait for me before seeing Mom, but I guess he went ahead anyway. What’s he doing there?”
A light knock sounded on her door and Ainsley pulled back the curtain. Edward waved at her through the window. “Right now, he’s waiting to take me to breakfast. I’ll call you later.”
“Take care of him for me, okay?”
“I will. I’m the best sister in the entire world, remember?”
Ainsley hovered outside Meagan’s door, hesitant to knock in case her roommate was still sleeping. Finally, she rapped softly and waited for a response. When she got none, she eased open the door. Meagan’s bed sheets were pulled tight on the empty bed, like she had spent the entire night elsewhere. Ainsley scribbled a hasty note saying she’d be back as soon as she could.
Her mother waited for them at an outside table at a small café called The Golden Bridge. She ran a critical eye over her daughter and frowned before taking a sip of coffee. The quaint restaurant was located on the outskirts of Little Falls and took advantage of the natural landscape for its mountain scenery. The Teton range rose in the distance, the large peaks glowing in the morning sun.
“Good morning, Mother.” Ainsley enveloped her in a hug and kissed her cheek, still reveling in the giddiness of Edward’s pronouncement.
“You’re making a scene, Ainsley. Sit down.”
Ainsley studied the empty patio but said nothing more as she took out a menu. “So to what do I owe this delightful surprise?” she asked after ordering a mound of French toast.
“It wouldn’t have been a surprise if you had answered your phone when I called,” Sophia said.
“You could have left me a message,” Ainsley replied.
Her mother sipped her black coffee and Ainsley waited for the direct, no-nonsense delivery of Sophia Fairfax wisdom. “Your being here is your sister’s influence, isn’t it? You can’t let her destroy what you and Edward have, Ainsley.”
Ainsley’s features tightened with the suppressed need to tell her mother exactly why she’d hightailed it to Wyoming instead of going on the cruise. Instead, she curled into her chair and looked at the glass of orange juice she no longer wanted, feeling the retreat of the self-confidence she had found on this trip. Fear of losing her shop kept her mouth closed and she gave her standard response, even though she had no intention of following through. “Yes, Mother.” Sophie would figure it out soon enough anyway.
“We’re booked on a private flight that leaves this evening,” Sophia said, “so you’ll have time to say good-bye to the little friends you’ve made, and thank the Pommers for their hospitality.”
“Can’t.” Ainsley shook her head. “I’ve already RSVPed for the evening’s entertainment and it would be unforgivably rude to just leave. The Pommers invited their friends and neighbors to a barbecue tonight as a way of saying good-bye to their guests, but I’m sure they’ll extend their hospitality to include you and Edward.” She stifled the smile that threatened to blossom, spurred by the spark in her heart. Her mother would have to agree. After all, she was a Fairfax and appearances and etiquette were extremely important. Now Ainsley could have her last evening with Riley. The thought was bittersweet.
She could tell him how she f
elt. Take a chance, take the risk, take a leap of faith for her heart and her life. The worst he could do was say no and she’d be no worse off than she already was. But would he want her around for a week? A month? Would losing her shop be worth the time they had?
Her mother nibbled on her dry toast. “I’m not going to dance with any cowhand,” she stated.
“So noted, Mother.”
Sophia gave a long-suffering sigh and pushed her plate away. “You and Edward will make a lovely couple. You can show everyone how well you dance together.”
“What do you say, Edward?” Ainsley said flippantly. “Ready to boot scoot boogie with me?”
Edward’s skin turned five shades lighter than his normal pale glow. “Can’t we dance to a waltz instead?” He gave her a lopsided grin from across the table, worlds away from his usual love-stricken face. What made it even better was the frown that deepened Sophia’s mouth when she saw it. Ainsley laughed, enjoying this lighthearted version of the man who would one day be her brother-in-law.
* * *
He would have to find a way to charm her mother. That’s all there was to it. Even if he could still feel the imprint of the boot on his ass.
Riley buttoned the cuffs of his striped shirt and tucked it into his jeans. The blessed last day had finally arrived. He’d get the chance to formally meet Ainsley’s mom. There had to be something about her that kept Ainsley focused on returning to South Carolina. And he had to tell her he wanted her to stay—not only in his bed, but in his heart. Even if his stomach churned whenever he thought of saying the words. But it would be worth it. She was worth it.
He pulled on his boots and pictured Ainsley lying naked on his bed, turning him hard in an instant. She could move into the guest room for the sake of Seth and Jeanne. They wouldn’t know where she spent her nights. Long, hot nights with nothing but the two of them, and days filled with laughter and companionship and someone who understood him. His sisters’ crazy meddling had actually done some good. He could maybe see a future with this woman.
His mood lightened as she shuffled down the stairs. This would be the last morning the interlopers would invade his home. Breakfast smelled good—his favorite sausage fried on the stove top and the scent of fresh biscuits warmed the air. “Good morning, ladies.”
Instead of fawning over him like every other morning that week, the women clustered around Leigh, who was facing away from the door. She had one hand covering her mouth, the other wrapped around her waist. Disgust covered Jewel’s beautiful features. Robin wore a similar expression. At the kitchen table, Meagan sat alone, tapping her fork against the side of her plate.
He threw a quick glance to his sisters at the sink, who stared back at him with identical confusion. Robin nudged Leigh and the dark-haired woman turned around. “Oh. You’re here.”
“Yes.”
“You’ll notice someone else isn't.”
Should he admit he knew Ainsley’s mother was here? He tried to read Meagan, but her whole body turned away from him. Something was going on.
“I saw her this morning,” Leigh continued with a toss of her straight hair. “She was driving with that accountant man who came to the ranch that one night. The one who sent her flowers before.”
No wonder Meagan avoided him. She lifted her thin shoulders. “Ainsley left me a note saying she went to breakfast with her mother and Edward and she’d be back late morning.”
“What is her mother even doing here?” Robin asked. “And her boyfriend?”
Riley stiffened at the term. Good question. And one he didn’t have an answer to.
The women took their seats, and Ainsley’s empty space screamed at him throughout the meal. The accountant. The one she swore wouldn’t show up again. Maybe Riley really was a way to pass the time before her wedding. And he’d fallen for it all. This was the last time. The padlock he placed around his heart made him sure of that. He shoveled eggs into his mouth, eager to get out of the kitchen and away from his ruined future.
“Can you believe she’s flaunting her fiancé in front of Riley?” Leigh asked Robin. “Why is she here when she has a boyfriend?”
“Maybe she wanted to get dirty mucking stalls and fixing fences,” Riley answered.
Leigh opened her mouth to say something else, but Molly interrupted the conversation. “I think we are here to show everyone our best attributes. If you can’t raise yourself up without tearing someone else down, then perhaps you would better employ your time somewhere else.”
Silence greeted her pronouncement, and Leigh finally muttered, “Sorry.”
Molly cleared her throat and picked up her fork. “Ladies, your time today is your own until the barbecue tonight, but please fill out the surveys left in your rooms. We can’t tell you how grateful we are for your time and energy. Cookie can saddle some horses if you want to take a ride around the ranch, or you can visit the Little Falls downtown area, all five stores of it. The day is yours.”
After breakfast, Riley escaped to the stables and saddled Westley before any of the invaders could detain him or ask to come along. He was going to work today. Cookie had been training a new dog and he wanted to see her progress. The company of animals was more suited to his current mood.
His horse galloped under him toward the south pasture. He was done. Done trusting, done being played, done being fed lines of lies and deceit. He would go back to the way things had been before his family decided to turn his beloved ranch into a meat market. His body tightened in protest, but an empty cavity expanded in his chest. She had seemed so lively, so sincere. And she had been using him the whole time. For sex, or for something else. It didn’t matter. None of it mattered anymore.
* * *
The barbeque was an hour away and Ainsley stood in a bra and panties next to her bed. She flipped through her clothes to find the perfect outfit—either something her mother would approve of or something she looked good in. Not good. Smashing. She wanted to be stunning. For no particular reason. Really. Giddy excitement filled her belly and she let out a laugh. After realizing how stupid it was to have Riley leave last night, how her body had craved his heat, she was ready to reclaim her life and confront her mother. She’d give Tess glowing recommendations and help her find a new job, and then Sophia could have Charleston Blooms. Being herself with Riley had become more important.
Molly hadn’t seemed eager to have two extra guests, but since the entire town had been invited, she had eventually agreed. The woman’s frosty conversation left Ainsley confused, since she had been friendly before. Ainsley pulled out the turquoise shirt that brought out the color in her eyes. She hadn’t been able to find Riley that afternoon. That wasn't surprising. Meagan had told her about his reaction when he’d found out Edward had returned, but she knew when she got him alone, she’d be able to explain. She had spent her time at the greenhouse, testing the moisture levels of the plants. The flowers had begun a miraculous recovery from their long neglect.
She wiggled into her black skirt. It fell just to her knees, with a ruffle on the edge that spoke of femininity. A slit in the side allowed for moving around while dancing. Ainsley twirled in front of her reflection, pleased with what she saw.
Meagan waited for her in the common area, frowning and picking at her purple shirt. Her head jerked up, her blue eyes wide with terror, when Ainsley entered the room. Her voice was strained when she spoke. “I don’t know if I can do this.”
“Do what?”
“This is my last night here, Ainsley. My last chance for the silent, reserved, uncommunicative man of my dreams to actually communicate with me and tell me how he feels.” She pressed her lips together. “What if he doesn’t say anything?”
Ainsley gave her roommate a hug. “Then you say something. Some guys have a hard time expressing themselves. But a lot of the time, those are the guys who are worth the wait. For example,” she continued, “Edward never had any trouble telling me over and over about his feelings.”
Meagan snorted, the
muscles in her face smoothing out, and the two women left the cabin into a night scented with spruce. “You’re right. You are. Maybe he’s scared because I haven’t told him how I feel. Maybe he’s afraid of rejection, too. I won’t let tonight go by without him knowing.”
A definite chill fell over the group when they approached the carriage that would take them all to the barbecue site, but it wasn’t from the weather. Lines had been drawn long ago, and tonight was the final showdown. Ainsley met the backstabbing bachelorettes with her back straight and chin up, and silently dared them to mess with her. She wanted one of them to say something. Anything. Especially since she still felt invincible after accepting what her heart had been telling her since she’d met Riley in the greenhouse that first night. She was ready.
Jewel very deliberately stared Ainsley up and down, then rolled her eyes and turned away, whispering something to Robin and Leigh. The three women laughed, but Ainsley wanted someone to say something to her, not whisper to each other. “It will be fun seeing my stiff and proper mother at a barbecue,” she told Meagan in an attempt to break the oppressive atmosphere.
Leigh snorted, and Ainsley spun, ready to hash it out.
“May I help you?” she asked archly in her best Sophia impression.
“Can you just shut up? Everyone here is tired of listening to you talk, PB,” Leigh answered.
Oh, she really didn’t want to know. And she certainly didn’t want to ask. But curiosity finally got the better of her. “Okay, I’ll bite. What’s with this PB crap?”
“Only our little nickname for you, Peanut Butter. Because you spread so easily and for anyone.”
All the frustration and animosity building inside Ainsley roared in her head as the adrenaline kicked up her pulse. A bizarre buzzing surrounded her and her vision narrowed in on the carefully dressed woman with the unnaturally purple eyes. Her hands curled into fists on their own. She’d never started a fight before, but this seemed like the perfect opportunity.
Who Wants to Marry a Cowboy? Page 22
