Cupcakes and Cowboys (Sunset Plains Romance Book 1)
Read Cupcakes and Cowboys (Sunset Plains Romance Book 1) Online
Authors: Lindzee Armstrong
Tags: #contemporary western romance
Dedicated to my Oklahoma grandmother, Geraldine Winters, who always believed one day I’d be published. I miss you!
The minutes right before ten a.m. were by far the most nerve-wracking part of Cassidy’s day. She looked around the bakery with a critical eye, trying to find something out of place. The Victorian couch and two high-backed chairs that she’d reupholstered sat at the front of the store, the lines from the dust buster still visible on the fabric. The mismatched tables and chairs—yard sale finds she’d painted vibrant colors—had been wiped down. The display case next to the cash register overflowed with freshly baked cupcakes, cookies, and cakes, the front of the case showing no smudges or fingerprints. She could still smell the key lime from the cupcake of the day, mixing with the scent of the more traditional chocolate and vanilla.
The minute hand on the large wall clock ticked. Ten o’clock exactly. She took a deep breath, then flipped the sign on the glass front door from
closed
to
open
, praying she’d sell enough today to cover her rent and basic costs—no easy feat in a town as small as Sunset Plains, where the customers were loyal but few. If her parent’s didn’t generously let her live at home rent-free, she’d never have been able to qualify for the bank loan that allowed her to open Cupcakes and Cowboys.
The next half hour was quiet, with only the soft sounds of the radio to keep her company. Cassidy didn’t let the lack of customers dampen her spirits. Mondays were always her slowest day of the week, and mornings were even slower. She sat on the stool behind the counter, using the iPad that doubled as her cash register to respond to emails, when the bell on the front door jingled.
Cassidy looked up, her heart jumping in anticipation of her first customer of the day. The shadow against the frosted glass door was short and curvy, suggesting a woman. She hoped it was Mrs. Smith—she always bought one of the more expensive cakes to satisfy her sweet tooth. But it wasn’t elderly Mrs. Smith at the door. Anabeth Collins walked in, the morning light highlighting her platinum curls briefly before the door swung shut. She set her sunglasses on top of her head and walked across the laminate floor, the click of her cowboy boots echoing in the empty room as her eyes took in everything. Anabeth and Cassidy hadn’t run in the same circles in high school, but they’d been friendly to each other. When your graduating class contained thirty-two people, you tended to get to know everyone pretty well.
“Good morning,” Cassidy said, smiling at Anabeth. She wasn’t the type to eat carbs or sugar, but her mother was a frequent customer.
Anabeth looked around, her gaze approving. “This is a right fine shop you’ve got here. Mama talks about it a lot. I’ve been meaning to stop in.”
“Thank you. I’m really happy with how it turned out. What can I do for you today?”
Anabeth set her purse on the counter, the diamond in her engagement ring flashing. “I want you to bake my wedding cake.”
Cassidy inhaled sharply, her chest suddenly ice cold in direct contrast to the warm June day. Her mind flashed back to the last wedding cake she’d baked and decorated—her own. She’d spent hours on the gum paste flowers and baked a tier of spice cake—Drew’s favorite—even though the smell had made her nauseated. She still didn’t know what her mom did with the cake when Drew never showed up at the church. It had been three hundred and thirty-nine days, but her heart still bled every time she thought about it.
Cassidy looked away, straightening the small stack of customer loyalty cards next to the cash register. “I don’t do wedding cakes. Sorry.”
“I know you don’t like to do them, but you did that one in high school for Bethany Edwards and it was beautiful.”
“Thank you.” Cassidy had done a few wedding cakes. But she’d turned down every single request since Drew left, despite how badly she needed the money.
“A wedding cake is the focus of the reception, and I need someone I know will do a good job. Here, I have a picture.” Anabeth pulled a wrinkled paper from her purse and handed it to Cassidy. The cake was five tiers, with white fondant and elegant silver piping. Pink sugar flowers trailed down the side.
Cassidy took a deep breath, fighting to control her emotions. It was remarkably similar to the cake she’d made for herself. Did Anabeth remember? Surely not. It wasn’t like it’d been served at any reception.
Tears burned, and Cassidy blinked quickly, forcing them back. She thought about the money the cake would bring in—enough to pay an entire month’s rent on the bakery. But then she remembered the way panic had engulfed her when her mom said no one could find Drew. She’d clawed at her wedding dress, the tight fabric on her growing stomach forcing her to lean over a trash can and throw up before her mother could undo all the buttons.
“I can’t,” Cassidy said, forcing the words through her constricted airway. “I’m really sorry. I can recommend a few people who would do a great job.”
“You’re the only bakery in town.”
“There are lots of bakeries in Tulsa that are reputable.”
“I want to order a wedding cake from
you
.” Anabeth folded her arms, her lips pulling down in a pout. “I don’t want to drive an hour to Tulsa the day before my wedding to pick up a cake. Can’t you make an exception, just this once?”
Cassidy’s mind flashed to sitting on her bed that night, panic pumping through her veins with every heartbeat. She’d discovered blood when using the restroom. Her mother’s arms had wrapped tight around her as she gasped, each cramp more intense then the last. She and Drew planned on spending their wedding night in Oklahoma City. Instead she’d ended up in the emergency room without him.
“I’m more than happy to cater the reception or provide refreshments for the bridal shower,” Cassidy said. “But I can’t do the cake.”
Anabeth’s eyes flashed with anger. “I’d think a new bakery wouldn’t turn away paying customers. I just want my wedding day to be perfect.”
Cassidy’s eyes stung with unshed tears, and she felt her composure slipping. As far as she was concerned, any wedding day that ended with the bride and groom in the same room was a successful one. “I’m really sorry, Anabeth.” A sick pit formed in her stomach as she thought about how much money she was turning away. And then she thought of lying on a cold, sterile bed in the ER and hearing the words,
“The heartbeat’s gone. I’m sorry.”
The stress proved too much for the unplanned pregnancy. Even though the thought of being a mother terrified Cassidy, losing the baby and Drew all at once had devastated her.
Anabeth folded her arms, her eyes narrowing into slits as she glared. “He’s in a movie, you know. With Jase Larson. I saw a trailer for it the other day.”
Cassidy’s knees trembled. “Wh—what?”
“It’s been a year, Cassidy. Get over it. He obviously has.” Anabeth whirled and stomped toward the door, her blonde hair swaying against her back as she yanked it open. She walked past the front window and disappeared down the sidewalk, probably headed to the pharmacy her parents owned three doors down to complain to her mother.
Cassidy stumbled to the iPad, bringing up the search engine and typing in
Drew Harrington.
Numerous articles appeared from various celebrity magazines. Her hand shook so badly it took three tries to properly tap the first link.
She scanned the article, her mind barely comprehending what she read. The interview talked about how pleased Drew was to be in a movie with A-list actor Jase Larson, who’d taken Drew under his wing and become one of his closest friends in California.
She tapped on another article, and another. By all accounts, the movie—a romantic drama with a love triangle between two war buddies and the girl they left at home—was supposed to be one of the Blockbuster hits of the summer. Why hadn’t she heard about it before now? Had she been that out of touch?
Her finger hovered over a link for the trailer.
This is what he’d abandoned her for.
She tapped on the link. Drew filled the screen, dressed in full combat gear and dragging Jase Larson to safety. He looked so different from how she remembered him. His face was covered in dark scruff, his hair hidden by a helmet. His cheekbones were more defined, his arms obviously muscled. “I promised I’d get you home!” Drew yelled as an explosion went off in the distance.
“Take care of her,” Jase said, his eyes wide and compelling. “Tell her I love her. Promise me you’ll at least do that much.”
“Don’t you dare give up,” Drew said, his voice thick with determination. “She needs you.” Another explosion went off, this one much closer, and Drew and Jase both flew into the air.
The trailer was good. She’d always known Drew had what it took to make it big—had believed in him so fiercely that she’d ignored her own career goals to help him with his. She’d spent hours on set, silently watching as he filmed various indie movies. A few even won awards.
She tapped the
home
button on the iPad with an angry jab. He’d taken a step forward in his career and left her to deal with the mess at home. Alone.