Pansy nodded then escaped into the kitchen. Of all the small town cafes in all of the western United States, he had to walk into hers. She cracked three eggs onto the griddle beside the pile of fresh grated potatoes and four strips of bacon then dropped the shells one by one into the garbage. The loud ticking of the old school clock above the door competed with the sizzle of the food as it cooked.
Pulling a deep breath into her lungs, she let it out bit by bit. It would be okay. She didn’t think Kade recognized her, at least not yet. Hopefully, their past and her pain could stay right where she’d hidden it.
Maybe he was passing through on his way to another bull riding. If she had an ounce of luck left, he’d be gone as soon as he had breakfast. Pansy grabbed the coffee pot and a mug. Time to play up Pansy Lark, city girl, cosplayer and cook extraordinaire.
“Here you go.” She poured the mug full of coffee and placed it before him. Keeping her head down, she let the locks of her wig shadow her face. “Your breakfast will be out in a minute.”
“You weren’t here the last time I visited East Hope.” Kade’s deep voice reverberated through her bones. She’d always loved his voice, and his touch, and . . .
Enough! She hurried toward the kitchen door but stopped when she reached it. It would be rude not to answer. If she hadn’t been rude all those years ago, she could be polite now. “I’ve been here about ten months.”
“Where you from? Not from around here.”
“What makes you say that?” She wasn’t going into her personal life. Kade had given up any right to know about her past.
“The hair-do. Don’t know many East Hopians who channel Cleopatra—or any woman but a fifties country western singer.” The smile he shot her way made her heart do a tap dance around her chest. “Big hair rules in these parts.”
Pansy fought to keep the corners of her mouth from turning up at the visual. Big hair was indeed the norm in this small town. But she’d be damned if she’d give him the satisfaction of seeing her smile. “I like to be different.” Before he could say another thing, she disappeared through the door.
She’d adopted various wigs and costumes when her life disintegrated, stepping into the personas of women who’d made their own way in the world. After she lost Maxie, she’d worked hard to become the polar opposite of the conventional small town cowgirl she’d been before, a girl who played by the rules. And she’d succeeded—until now.
Pansy slid the spatula beneath the eggs, flipping them before turning the bacon and shredded potatoes. As she waited for the food to finish cooking, she dropped into the ancient wooden chair in the corner of the kitchen. The oak spindles on the back creaked as she settled in.
She had to get a grip. The same attraction she’d felt years ago for that damned cowboy was back and even stronger but things were different this time. She wasn’t making that mistake twice.
Kade was the same footloose cowboy he’d always been, but she’d changed. The feelings she felt for him would bring her nothing but heartache. She’d finally found, if not peace then at least a measure of quietude in her life. Besides, she’d had enough heartache for three lifetimes.
The man rode bulls, and bulls were his only true love. She’d found out the hard way that nothing and no one stood in the way of Kade’s desire for a world championship. Maybe he’d already won the world. Pansy didn’t know. She’d made it a point to stay away from everything that had to do with rodeo.
His words from earlier jolted through her brain. You weren’t here the last time I visited East Hope. He wasn’t a stranger passing through. He knew the little town.
For peace of mind, she’d cling to the idea that he was here for a short visit, and he’d be gone soon.
After sliding the eggs onto the heavy white porcelain plate, she piled the bacon beside the hash browns. Serve the man and he’ll leave the cafe. Then she’d at least have some breathing room while she figured out what to do about him.
East Hope reminded her of her hometown—their hometown. Instead of pine trees, it had sagebrush, but the people and lifestyle were the same. When she’d arrived here, she’d relaxed for the first time in years. Denver had served its purpose, getting her away from the awful memories, but it had been like living in a boarding house, not a home.
She’d considered staying in East Hope. If Kade ruined this for her she’d never forgive him. She had come to terms with his leaving her, but she wasn’t ready to let bygones be bygones. And she sure wasn’t going to set herself up for another fall.
She stood and picked up the loaded plate. Time to get this over with. A glance at the big old school clock above the door told her it was time to begin preparations for the lunch crowd. Straightening her shoulders and lifting her chin, she channeled Cleo. Pansy had worked hard to become a strong woman, and she wasn’t about to let a chance meeting with Kade push her back to the naïve girl she’d been.
The bell over the door announced another customer just as she entered the dining room with the food. Micah West waved to her then veered toward Kade.
Micah had married Cary, Pansy’s best and only friend, the fall before, and they were expecting a baby within the next few weeks. Cary was happy, and for that, Micah had earned Pansy’s loyalty.
She set the plate before Kade, smiled at Micah and turned toward the kitchen. “I’ll get you some coffee, Micah.”
“Wait. I’d like to introduce someone.” Micah slapped Kade on the shoulder. He laid his cowboy hat top down on the counter then settled onto a stool. “This is my cousin, well, second-cousin, Kade Vaughn. He’s going to be staying with us for a couple of months.”
A shiver of apprehension passed through Pansy. So much for keeping her identity a secret. When he heard her name…
“Kade, this is Cary’s friend, Pansy.”
Kade had been looking at Micah, but now his head snapped around and his narrowed gaze burned into her. She tried to take a deep breath, but her lungs had gone on strike. He not only knew who she was, he was staying in East Hope. For several months!
Double dip dammit!
This couldn’t be happening. She didn’t want to leave East Hope. But the thought of being around Kade for that long made her stomach mutiny.
Both men were staring at her.
She needed to do something—respond, regain control. She needed to do it now. Pansy stuck out her hand. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Vaughn.” Maybe, if Kade could keep his mouth shut, she could keep Micah and Cary in the dark about her relationship with Kade for a while longer. The less she had to explain, the better.
“Call me Kade.”
When his strong, warm fingers wrapped around hers, a tingle shot up her arm. With a gasp, she jerked away. So much for acting unaffected. “Sorry,” she said, trying to cover her confusion. “Static electric shock.”
“Or something.” The grin on Kade’s face nearly sent her into a tailspin. He was flirting with her. She was not falling into his trap again.
“Anyway, nice to meet you. I have—things to do.” She knew she was babbling, and the warmth of a blush moved up her cheeks.
“You okay, Pansy?” Micah’s concerned voice prodded her into action.
“I’m just dandy.” She’d continue to babble if she stood here looking at a man that was once the most important person in her life. “Gotta go.” She turned and fled through the kitchen and out the back door. What she wanted to do was climb into her car and drive back to the anonymity of Denver.
No way that was going to happen.
She’d promised to take care of the café and pastry shop for Cary until the baby arrived, and she wouldn’t go back on her word. Cary had asked Pansy about staying on permanently. That wonderful idea had just flown the coop.
She wasn’t strong enough to spend two months around Kade. She wasn’t sure she could spend two days around the cowboy without falling for him again.
Pansy was committed to staying in East Hope for another six weeks at the minimum, and she wouldn’t go back on her word.
It w
as going to be a long six weeks.
Pulling in a deep breath, she let it out slowly. Unlike Kade, she’d never been a quitter. She’s survived things worse than this. Much worse.
She’d always known she’d run into him someday, but she’d hoped that day was a long way off. Should have known better. For the past seven years nothing in her life had been easy.
One thing she could count on—Kade never stayed long in one place. Moving on was as natural to him as breathing. No way was he going to become a homebody now.
This might be a small town, and it might take some doing, but she’d stay out of his way. One short nod sealed her decision. It was going to take more than charm on Kade’s part to move back into her life.
Keeping her distance from the cowboy had just become her first priority. “Kade Vaughn, you’re not going to ride in here and mess up my life again.”
Leaning against the old building, the worn bricks warm against her back, she surveyed the area. Turning her attention to the view across from the café, she lifted her shoulders then relaxed the muscles.
Groups of wild sunflowers bloomed among the sagebrush. The snow capped peaks of Three Sisters provided a beautiful backdrop to the high desert landscape.
Pansy fisted her hands and planted them on her hips. “This is my town now.” No more running—not from her memories, and especially, not from Kade Vaughn.
~*~
Kade pulled his shiny new Dodge pickup beneath the Cottonwood tree in front of Micah and Cary’s farmhouse and turned off the key. When he’d walked into the Five and Diner to wait for Micah and had seen Pansy instead, he’d been speechless. She was every bit as beautiful as he remembered.
The wig had confused him for a moment, but nothing she could have done would throw him off for long. When Micah had introduced them, he’d recognized the panic in her expression. Dread had filled her pale blue eyes. Eyes that had haunted his dreams for years.
Kade jumped at a knock on his truck window. There stood his cousin with a goofy grin on his face. It was good to see Micah smile. The years of being married to his first wife, Marlene, had just about scrubbed any happiness from Micah’s life. Thanks to Cary, Micah’s grin was back.
“Where’s your head? I’ve been standing here waiting for you come conscious.” Micah stepped back as Kade opened the door and slid out of the truck.
“I’m mentally counting all the money I haven’t won since Swamp Fox decided to dance on my hat.” Kade rested his hand on the truck fender and paused a second for the rush of dizziness to pass. “I figure I’m down at least ten thousand dollars.”
Micah reached out and touched Kade’s arm. “You all right?”
“Yeah. My awesomeness just overpowers me sometimes.” The dizzy spells were getting farther apart and less intense, but they snuck up on him once in a while, especially when he overdid. Kade started up the steps with Micah right behind.
“Cary’s got lunch ready, but before we go in, I’ve got to ask you something.”
Kade looked at his buddy. Not a hint of a grin marred Micah’s face now.
“What’s going on with you and Pansy?”
“What do you mean? She serves a great breakfast.” It had been obvious Pansy hadn’t wanted Micah to know there was something between them. He’d thought he’d covered his feelings pretty well at the café.
“I saw the look on her face when I introduced you two.” Micah sat on the step and leaned back on his elbows. “Sit.”
Kade hadn’t had time to figure out his feelings for Pansy. All he knew at this point was the feelings were there, and they were as strong as ever. How long had it been since he’d seen her? They’d graduated from the University of Montana seven years ago. Seven years since he’d left home and lost track of her.
Hardest decision he’d ever made had been to leave Pansy, and he’d wondered often enough if he’d made the right one. They’d been so good together. Should have turned out different, but he’d never been able to figure out how.
“Let’s just say we have history.” He’d been little more than a kid, hadn’t experienced life yet. He’d needed to see if he had what it took to ride bulls with the best. “With emphasis on the history part.”
“The look on that woman’s face wasn’t indifference.”
“Hey, I don’t meddle in your life. I don’t ask about you and Cary.” That should do it. Micah had always been a private person, and he’d respect Kade’s need to keep his feelings to himself.
“Cary’s worried. You can tell me, or you can tell her.” For the first time since they’d started this conversation, Micah smiled. “I’d choose me.”
Micah was right about one thing. His wife was very protective of her friends, and if Kade wanted to stay here until he was healthy enough to go back on the road, he’d have to answer Cary’s questions. “We’d just graduated from the U of M, and Pansy wanted to get married, you know, settle down and have kids. My plan was to go on the road and ride bulls for a living. When I told her marriage was out of the question right then, she fell apart.”
“She wouldn’t wait?”
“We didn’t get to that. She wanted to set a date, and I couldn’t give her one.” The sight of her tear-stained face just before he’d walked away had haunted his dreams. He hadn’t wanted to deal with her broken heart or his load of guilt, so he’d immersed himself in life on the road.
In the back of his mind, he’d always planned to come home to Pansy. He’d tried to tell her that before he left. At least he’d thought he had. “I texted her every few days and called at least once a week.” Things had been, if not perfect, at least getting better.
Micah remained silent.
“The last time I talked to her she was so angry. She called me a selfish bastard and hung up on me.” Kade had been confused. Pansy had always been the calm one, tending to think things through and find a solution.”
“And you haven’t seen her since until today?”
“Took me two years before I came home. When I finally did, she was gone.” Knowing her parents the way he did, Kade wasn’t surprised she’d left and hadn’t told them where she was going. But none of their friends had heard from her either. That did surprise him.
The girl he’d known then had been big into community and friendship, loyal to the bone. Sure, she’d been angry and hurt when he hadn’t wanted to get married, but to give up everything and disappear. It wasn’t like his Pansy.
Guess he didn’t have the right to call her his any more.
“Through the years, off and on, I tried to find her. I can’t believe all I have to do is get hurt and come here to the outback of Oregon and there she is.” Micah’s invitation to convalesce at the ranch had been just what he’d needed. He’d have gone stir-crazy living at home with his parents. No concussion was a good one, and his had been pretty bad.
He’d mostly recovered. Now he looked normal, and he’d regained most of his balance. The doctors said no more bull riding—ever, but those doctors didn’t know Kade Vaughn.
He’d been having a magical year, one that every competitor in any sport dreamed of. For the first four months of the TBC season, he’d been damn near perfect. He’d won over half of the events he’d entered and he’d been second at several more. Yup, he’d been flying high right up until Swamp Fox threw him into the fence and knocked him out.
A week in the hospital then a month living with his parents had him crawling out of his skin. Even though he was one of the lucky ones, and his parents loved him and wanted the best for him, they’d hovered. His mom had been a wreck every time he left the house.
Micah’s invitation had come just soon enough to save his sanity.
“I appreciate you and Cary letting me stay, don’t think I don’t, but Pansy and I have to work this out by ourselves, if we can.”
Micah stood and stretched before turning to Kade. “You’re always welcome here, you know that. Just know, if you hurt Pansy in any way my wife will kill you.” He turned and moved to the to
p step then looked over his shoulder at Kade. “Let’s go in. Cary has lunch ready. Think you can eat after that breakfast?”
“I can always eat. You know that.” Kade followed Micah through the house to the kitchen. “You don’t think she’d poison me, do you?”
“Cary? She’s not a sneak. She’ll give you fair warning before she comes after you.”
“Good to know,” Kade said as they entered the huge ranch kitchen.
Micah’s wife stood in front of the stove, her very pregnant belly resting against the appliance. She turned and smiled. “Tomato soup and cheese sandwiches.” She tipped the pan and slid a sandwich onto a plate with four others. “Sit.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Kade dropped into one of the oak chairs that ringed the table and turned to Micah. “She have everyone around here trained to sit on command?”
Before Micah could answer, Cary turned and pointed the spatula in their direction. “You’d better think carefully about your answer.”
Micah looked from Cary to Kade. “There’s not a right way to answer your question, so I’ll start on this delicious soup.” He picked up his spoon and took a spoonful. “Mmmmm.”
“Smart man.” Kade took a sandwich off the plate Cary had set on the table. The warm cheese and toasty bread melted in his mouth. “Thanks, Cary. How’s the little guy?”
In a move he’d seen many pregnant women make, Cary laid her hand on the front of her stomach. As she looked down, a sweet smile graced her face. She raised her gaze to Kade’s. “We don’t know if it’s a boy or girl. We’re going to be surprised.”
“Okay, how’s the little person doing?”
Cary placed her hands on the small of her back and stretched. “The little person better get here soon. This baby’s about to break my ribs when it stretches.”
Kade had seen his sister pregnant and a couple of cousins, but he’d been gone most of the time. He’d show up long enough to play Uncle Kade then hit the road again. Birth was something he’d just as soon not think about.
Cary raised her gaze to meet his, the loving expression gone. “Micah says you met my best friend at the café.”
Sweet Cowboy Kisses (Sugar Coated Cowboys Book 2) Page 2
