Читать книгу Redeeming the CEO Cowboy - Charlene Sands - Страница 9

Three

Susanna put two dozen double chocolate muffins in the oven, set the egg timer and then spread her palms over her apron, smoothing it out. One more batch to go and she’d be done this morning. She strode to the kitchen window and gazed out at the sun-soaked street. A scorcher, the weathercaster had warned. She didn’t doubt it. Beads of moisture already trickled down her neck. It was going to be a steam-rising-from-asphalt kind of day.

She spotted a tall figure running up the street. Instead of backing away from the window, she strained to focus on Casey doing his daily exercise. His strides were long and efficient and smooth. She sighed. Why was she punishing herself by searching for him?

As he approached the house, she took a few steps back, out of view of her window. Good. His run was over. He’d go inside his house now and let her get on with her day.

Then she heard footfalls on her driveway, quickly followed by a light rapping on her door. It had to be Casey. He was the only person on the street as of three seconds ago. Apparently, starting fresh started early for Casey. “Darn it,” she muttered.

Last night they’d parted as “friends.” What on earth did he want now?

She opened the door. He stood on her doorstep, hands on hips, chest heaving up and down, wearing black nylon running shorts and a round-necked T-shirt. A headband kept blond locks from falling onto his face, which was coated in a sheen of sweat. He put up a finger, silently asking her to wait until he caught his breath. The dog was nowhere in sight.

Seconds ticked by. He filled her doorway and she stared at him. How could she not? He looked heaven sent standing on her threshold, neck bulging, shoulders broad and muscles tight. Her pulse raced. She’d bet her heart was beating faster than his, and her only exercise this morning had been to lift muffin tins out of the oven.

“Morning,” he said at last.

“Good morning. Where’s Charger today?”

“I figured I wouldn’t punish him. I needed a fast run today. But some days I have to go slower.”

She nodded. She got it. His back had never been the same since his injury.

“Is Ally still sleeping?”

“Yes. I’ll be getting her up in a few minutes.”

His gaze lifted to her hair, hanging loosely past her shoulders. Darned hairclips weren’t worth their weight in chocolate chips. They’d fallen out while she was working on batter and she’d forgotten to tie her hair back up.

“I’d ask you in, but...”

“No problem. I had a thought and wanted to run it by you. Any chance you can bake up some of those amazing muffins for my crew?”

“Your crew?”

“Yeah, at the restaurant. I spoke to the foreman yesterday. The guys are busting their asses, working day and night to finish the project on time. Your muffins will take the frowns off their faces in the morning.”

“How many are we talking about?”

“Three dozen a day would work.”

“Every day?” She did some mental calculations. She could use the extra money.

“Yes, until the restaurant is ready to open. The construction is going on at the River Walk. You could make it your last stop of the morning. Doesn’t matter what time they get delivered.”

“Oh, uh...sure. I’d love to.”

“Wanna start tomorrow?”

She gave it less than one second of thought. “Yes, I can manage that.”

“That’s great. I’ll get the info to you later today. Gotta take a shower now.”

“O-kay.” Instantly, she pictured him stripping off his workout clothes and soaping his body all up. Dang it. What was wrong with her? One minute she was sorry he’d landed on her doorstep, the next, she was imagining joining him in the shower.

He strode down the steps and off her property. Her heartbeat settled down finally and she closed the door. She wasn’t ungrateful for the work he offered, but it meant dealing closely with him again.

“Auntie?”

She swiveled around to find Ally in the hallway, her eyes half-lidded, her hair a curly mess of fluff. She stood there in her nightgown printed with tiny pink and white roses, her thumb in her mouth.

“Hi, Muffin.”

She giggled softly. “I’m not a muffin.”

“Oh, I forgot. You got up all by yourself this morning. Good girl.”

Beaming, Ally puffed out her chest.

“Are you ready for breakfast?”

Ally’s gaze darted around the living room. Every morning when she woke up, she seemed confused and unsure about all the changes in her life. At times, Susanna thought she was remembering her mother. At other times she seemed to be adjusting just fine. She didn’t pressure her. She gave the child all the space she needed. “Okay.”

“Great. We’ll have oatmeal with fruit and then you can help me put muffins in the oven. Would you like that?”

The next thing she knew, Ally was racing toward her with arms outstretched. Susanna seared the sight into her memory. She squatted to scoop Ally up and spin her around. Giggles burst from the child’s lips, revealing a mouthful of small, bright white teeth. Susanna was a sucker for that sweet smile.

It was the greatest feeling in the world. Having Ally’s trust—and hopefully love—one day was all she could ask for. She wasn’t Ally’s biological mother, but she felt like a mom right now, and the feeling seemed to be growing every day. She brushed her lips to Ally’s soft rosy cheek and then set her down. “Okay, my girl, it’s time to start our day together.”

* * *

“Hello, Austin,” Casey said, climbing down from his SUV. Plucking off his Ray-Ban sunglasses and stuffing them into his shirt pocket, he extended his hand to his mentor. “It’s good to see you.”

Big, burly, sweet-faced Austin Brown clasped his leathery hand around Casey’s. Austin’s was a work hand, the rough calluses and blisters a permanent testament to the man’s struggles and successes in life. He tugged Casey into a clumsy bear hug and gave him several forceful pats on the back. Then the former owner of Sentinel Construction pulled away and stared at him. “It’s about time you came out to Sentinel Ranch again. Elizabeth’s been asking for you.”

“I can’t wait to see her again.”

“Well, let’s head on inside. It’s hotter than hell today. Elizabeth has a great lunch waiting for you.”

Casey squinted to catch a quick glimpse of the sprawling two hundred-acre spread nestled in the heart of Crystal Canyon on the outskirts of Carson City. Austin had custom-built the mansion-sized ranch house twelve years ago; it was the envy of local landowners, Casey included. Constructed with flagstone, timber logs and brick, it was a visual masterpiece that earned a place on the pages of several architectural magazines. The publicity had done wonders for Sentinel Construction.

They approached the house and Austin turned to him. “You’re looking fit. How’s the back doing?”

“Most days I’m pretty good.”

“Glad to hear it. Can’t imagine anything worse than getting thrown ten feet in the air by a wild horse and landing smack on your back. Still makes me cringe thinking what you went through, boy.”

“My life’s different now, that’s for sure. Mostly, thanks to you.”

Austin Brown was a man to be feared, or so Casey had thought in those early years, when the older man had personally hired him in the rodeo off-season to work on a construction crew. Casey had been green around the ears and desperately in need of work to support Audrey. He’d learned a lot about construction during that time. Austin didn’t like mess ups and Casey proved himself a valuable worker. After Casey hit it big as a rodeo rider and made a fortune in endorsements, he invested in Sentinel Construction and through the years, shared in the profits. Less than eighteen months ago, Austin retired and Casey jumped at the chance to buy him out with only one condition: that he remain as his consultant and advisor.

“You’re the son he never had,” Elizabeth had told him once. “He wouldn’t want the company in anyone else’s hands.” Being parentless for most of his life, Casey was moved to tears by her comment and now he and Austin were as close as two people could be that weren’t blood-related.

“How about you, Austin? That arthritis still giving you fits?”

“Ahh, I’ve got nothing to complain about.” Austin’s palm landed on his beer belly. “I’ve put on a few pounds since I retired though. Elizabeth’s put me on some dang new-age regimen. Claims it’s a way of life and not so much a diet.”

Casey laughed. Austin on a diet? That he’d like to see. Austin loved food. Only his love for Elizabeth, his childhood sweetheart and wife of fifty some odd years, could get him to abide by new eating rules.

Casey removed his hat as they entered the home. The cool interior walls of natural stone and wood were just as he remembered them. Casey felt warmth and love every time he entered the Browns’ home. It wasn’t picture perfect. Elizabeth’s half-knitted blanket lay on the sofa in the great room, her spools of yarn cozy in a basket beside it and a few issues of Cowboys and Indians magazine lay open on chairs and on their signature rock and glass coffee table. Miss Caroline, their black and white tuxedo cat, lay stretched out on the window sill as if she owned the place. Missy, as they called her, was going on eleven years and was the apple of Elizabeth and Austin’s eyes. If it weren’t for Missy, Casey would’ve brought the pup out to the ranch.

Casey lifted his nose to heavenly scents of tangy sauce and garlic and onions coming from the kitchen. “Something smells mighty good.”

“That’ll be lunch.”

The housekeeper stepped out of the kitchen and approached him. “Hello, Mr. Thomas. Would you like me to take your hat?”

“Oh, sure.” Casey handed it to her. She took Austin’s hat as well. “How you doing, Bessie?”

She smiled. “Well, thank you. Miss Elizabeth wouldn’t let me touch a thing in the kitchen. She’s making you one of your favorites.”

“I told you,” Austin said.

“Well, now that’s incentive for me to come by more often.”

“Wish you would. C’mon now.”

Bessie moved on and Austin led him into the kitchen. Elizabeth was leaning over the oven, pulling out a roasting pan. She was dressed impeccably in a pair of beige slacks and a cream and brown printed blouse. Even working in the hot kitchen, not a hair on her silver-gray head was out of place.

The second she spotted him, she set her oven mitts down and lifted her arms to him. “Casey, it’s good to see you.”

He walked into her arms, giving the petite woman a gentle squeeze. His eyes closed to the tenderness swelling in his heart. Then he cleared his throat and backed away to look into her bright amber eyes. “Same here. You’re as pretty as ever, Elizabeth.”

“You’re a charmer, Casey.”

No, he wasn’t. Mostly, he was gruff and rough around the edges. “I’ll thank you for that.”

“I hope you brought your appetite. I made you pulled pork with your favorite peanut coleslaw and fried onions.”

Casey looked at the pan of steaming, fork-tender pork shoulder roast oozing with barbeque sauce, just waiting to be shredded. “I brought an appetite and a half. Can’t wait to dive in.”

Casey did the honors of forking the meat from the roast, working alongside Elizabeth, who was arranging plates for all of them. She gave Austin half the portion size she’d given Casey and left off the sourdough bun from her husband’s plate.

She ignored Austin mumbling under his breath and smiled wide. “Okay, boys, looks like we’re ready to sit down.”

An hour later, after a delicious lunch spent shooting the breeze with the Browns, Casey sat in an extra-wide chocolate-leather chair facing Austin in his study, a tumbler of Scotch gripped in one hand. With its lived-in chairs, paneled fireplace and beige Italian sofa, the study was one of Casey’s favorite rooms in the house. Walnut bookshelves banked two opposing walls. There were five hundred books if there was one on those shelves. Austin probably speed read through every danged book in here. Mesh window shades dimmed the sunlight but still allowed a stunning view of Crystal Canyon.

“So you’re thinking of expanding the business?” Austin asked, eyeing Casey seriously. The older man had worked his fingers to the bone building the company from scratch and had a keen sense of business.

“Yeah, I’ve been shopping around Reno looking for office space. We’re bursting at the seams in Tahoe and ready to branch out. But you know I wouldn’t make that decision until I talked it out with you.”

“Yes, well. I’m glad you did.” Deep in thought, Austin scratched his chin, his fingers clasping the skin underneath. “You know that Nartoli nearly went belly up when he expanded too quickly. That’s why I always tried to grow the business slowly.”

“I’d take it slow, too. But I think the time is right.” Casey put his lips to the tumbler and sipped Scotch.

“Do you have enough business in the area to warrant opening a division in Reno?”

“We’re getting requests all the time and bidding on several big projects. Since the moratorium on commercial building has been lifted, the area is taking off.”

“Smart of you to want to get in on the ground floor of that. Actually, you’re young enough to do it. By the time those thoughts entered my skull, I was looking at retirement.” Austin leaned into the arm of his chair and leather squeaked under him. “Tell me, Casey, do you have a girl? Any thoughts of settling down?”

Casey frowned. It was a question he didn’t expect. A picture of Susie baking up those doggone delicious muffins popped into his head. “None at the moment.”

None ever. But he kept that to himself to stay away from scrutiny or friends and family trying to change his mind. Casey had grown up really fast, raising Audrey and raising hell on the rodeo. When Audrey wasn’t around, he’d led a wild life. There was always a woman around to keep him company. Funny, how a spill from a horse could change all that. He’d found out who his friends really were. Suddenly, the rodeo champion was a broken man facing months of rehab with no future to speak of and no hope of a family of his own. He’d faced that reality dead on and reinvented himself. It had been a large learning curve, but finally he was in a good place again.