Have Cowboy, Need Cupid (10 page)

Chapter Nine

Something was burning.

Suzanne raced into the kitchen, waving her hands around as she fought through the smoke. She threw the oven door open, and thick black smoke swirled out like a funnel cloud. The smoke alarm suddenly shrilled, and she reached for the cake. Yikes! She burned her fingers.

“Jiminy Cricket.” Shaking her stinging fingers, she turned and grabbed potholders, then removed the steaming cake pan. A black blobby mess oozed over the edge of the pan, and the center had sunk, forming a muddy pit.

What had gone wrong
this
time?

It was the third time she’d tried to bake the cake and failed. She’d thought the third time was supposed to be the charm.

Wincing at the still-screeching smoke alarm, she shoved the pan on top of the oven, opened the kitchen door and tried to wave the cloud of smoke outside. The alarm continued to buzz. Her ears ringing, she grabbed the broom and beat the infuriating thing into silence.

Good heavens, what a nightmare. Exhausted, she sat down and blew her hair from her eyes. She was a culinary disaster. A complete failure.

How could baking one little cake be so darned hard?

The clock on the wall chimed, reminding her she was going to be late for her riding lesson, so she tossed the cake into the trash, dumped the pan in, too, knowing she’d never be able to clean it, then ran to the bedroom to finish dressing.

Earlier, she’d teased Rafe about wearing something he would like, so she pulled on her black lace bikini underwear and matching bra, then dressed in jeans and a black cotton shirt, leaving the top two buttons open to reveal just enough skin to tease him.

But what about the cake?

Oh, well, she would just stop by Mimi’s coffee shop and pick up one. If she brought a silver tray from Rebecca’s cupboard and sliced the cake, then placed some garnish in a few strategic places on the platter, no one would ever know she hadn’t baked it herself.

After all, she
had
baked a cake, three cakes to be exact. Did it really matter if the one she took to Rafe’s wasn’t one of those monstrosities?

R
AFE WORKED ALL AFTERNOON
breaking the new quarter horse. Progress was slow, but he’d finally coached the coppery-brown horse into dropping his defenses, and had managed to rope him and lead him around the ring a few times. His chest swelled with the pride of accomplishment as he unhooked the rope. He didn’t want to push too hard today. Salamander had already conceded to the first steps in his training. Rafe would lose ground if he pushed him beyond his limits too quickly. He had to gain his trust, a task that took time. And patience. Both of which he had in spades when it came to horses.

Women were a different matter.

His patience with seeing Suzanne Hartwell and not touching her had worn thin. He was almost starting to like the woman. A far more dangerous situation.

Palo Romerez pulled his truck and double horse trailer up the drive and parked just as Rafe emerged from the barn. The young man looked sheepish as he approached.

“Come to check on Salamander?”

Romerez dug his booted heels into the dirt. “Actually, I came to tell you I have to move them.”

“What?” Rafe squinted in the afternoon sun. He’d hoped to get more boarders, not lose the ones he had.

“I’m sorry, Rafe, but I’ve found another trainer.”

Rafe frowned. He’d known Romerez for years, had always valued his friendship. And, although the man sometimes ran short on money, they had exchanged services before. Palo helped him during spring roundup and Rafe worked with his cutting horses. Of course, Rafe still had to charge him for boarding, but his reputation as a trainer was growing. Or so he’d thought. One reason he didn’t understand why he hadn’t received calls for any new boarders.

“What’s really going on, Palo?”

“I got an offer for steady work over at the Four Stars, and free boarding comes with the job. Plus I get to learn from their trainer.”

Landon. Rafe should have known the man would do whatever he could to make things more difficult for Rafe. Next thing he would be stealing Bud and Red away from him.

Losing Palo’s boarding fees would hurt. That money had helped pay Bud and Red’s salaries.

“I’m really sorry, Rafe, but I have to look out for my family.” Palo’s ruddy features looked weathered. “Geraldine’s pregnant, you know.”

“No, I didn’t. Congratulations.” Rafe wanted to put his fist through something, but he understood Palo’s problem. One reason he didn’t need a wife or family himself. He had nothing to offer them. He certainly couldn’t fault Palo for taking care of his own.

“You need help loading him up?” Rafe asked.

Palo looked past Rafe at the corral where Salamander pranced. “No, thanks, man, I can get him. I’ll be back for the others later on.”

Frustrated, Rafe watched Palo load the quarter horse, his hands knotted around the fence. Then he turned and saw Suzanne Hartwell in the front yard and frowned. Did she have any idea that his life was falling apart around him?

S
OMETHING WAS WRONG
with Rafe. Suzanne had an insane urge to go to him and tell him that everything would be all right.

Yet, how could she do that when she herself was supposed to be taking advantage of his problems?

“You are so sweet to help me with my garden,” Mrs. McAllister said. “I just couldn’t reach those weeds to pull them.”

“It’s no problem,” Suzanne said. “I’m not much of a gardener, but I enjoyed hearing all about your flowers.” At least she hadn’t lied about her gardening ability. But she couldn’t have faked her lack of knowledge. The first time Rafe’s mother had mentioned pruning, Suzanne had known she was lost.

“Your mother wasn’t into gardening?” Mrs. McAllister asked.

“She died when I was little,” Suzanne said, dumping the weeds into the wheelbarrow. “I have no idea if she enjoyed working in the yard.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry, hon.” Mrs. McAllister touched the brim of her straw sunhat. “That must have been very difficult for you.”

Suzanne shrugged. “I imagine it was hardest for my dad, raising two daughters alone.”

“Yes, but young girls need their mothers around, too. You must have missed her terribly.”

“Can a person really miss something they’ve never had?”

Mrs. McAllister removed her gardening gloves, her expression so tender it moved something inside Suzanne’s chest. “I think you already know the answer to that question, dear.”

A surge of sadness enveloped Suzanne. Why did this woman make her think about things she had never let bother her before? Why did her companionship spark such a desperate need to have known her own mother? To belong to a family.

She
had
a family—her father and Rebecca. Yet both of them were newlyweds now. Both had a special person in their lives—someone who loved them. And although her father had been married several times, she sensed that Eleanor might really care for him. That this time he might have more than a trophy wife.

“Are you all right, dear?” Mrs. McAllister asked.

Suzanne opened her mouth to reply, but her breath caught when Rafe suddenly appeared, glaring down at her. She’d watched him working with the horse when she’d first arrived. She’d been mesmerized by his quiet manner, by the strength in his slow movements and the agility with which he’d coached the animal into trusting him. His whispers to the animal had spurred a longing deep inside her.

What would it feel like if he whispered to her in that gruff voice? She’d probably eat out of his hand, as well.

R
AFE DID NOT WANT TO KNOW
why his mother had asked Suzanne if she was okay or why, for just a moment, he’d seen a look of longing in Suzanne’s eyes.

What would Suzanne Hartwell have to be sad about?

“Rafe, Suzanne helped me with my gardening while you were busy.”

“Really?” The woman kept surprising him. Somehow she didn’t seem the gardening type.

“I simply pulled a few weeds,” Suzanne said. “It was no big deal.”

Mrs. McAllister blushed. “It is to an old lady whose knees won’t allow her to bend down anymore.”

“You’re a regular do-gooder, aren’t you?” Rafe said, knowing he sounded surly. But his day had been crappy and the thought of spending time with Suzanne tonight, especially riding at sunset, was giving him a case of the wants.

He wanted to touch her and kiss her and forget his problems for a while. He wanted to make that sad look on her face disappear.

“You look worn-out, son. Let’s have a bite of dinner before you two go riding.”

“Suzanne probably has other plans.”

“Actually, I don’t.” She tucked a strand of that dark hair behind her ear, a turquoise earring glistening in the fading sun. “But if you don’t have time tonight…”

He took one look at his mother’s hopeful face and couldn’t refuse.

He told himself his reluctance to entertain Suzanne had nothing to do with the fact that seeing her had brightened his miserable day.

I
N SPITE OF THE TENSION
simmering between her and Rafe, and the fact that he had glowered at her from across the table, and that after his shower he smelled enticingly of soap and shampoo, Rafe’s mother made Suzanne feel so welcome, she totally relaxed. “This is delicious, Mrs. McAllister,” Suzanne said. She had never eaten chicken and dumplings and homemade cornbread and thought them tasty.

“Thanks, I let Maria have the afternoon off so I could have the kitchen to myself.”

“Mother, she’s supposed to be taking over the chores so you can rest.”

“Nonsense,” his mother said. “I felt fine today. A body will go plumb crazy lying around doing nothing all the time.” She glanced at Suzanne and winked, and Suzanne realized that Rafe’s mother was trying, very coyly, to set her up with her son.

Guilt swamped her.

Why hadn’t she recognized Mrs. McAllister’s intentions before? Because she’d been so busy with her own agenda, concentrating on avoiding falling for Rafe’s macho cowboy image and thinking about how to convince him to sell his land to Horton Developers.

But what if he didn’t sell? Had James really explored the alternatives? Would Rafe lose his ranch, anyway? Would she actually be doing him and his mother a favor by offering them enough money to buy a smaller place they could manage, maybe put some money away for retirement or a vacation for Mrs. McAllister?

“How was your day, son?” Mrs. McAllister asked.

“Fine.” Rafe offered no more, and Suzanne wondered why his reply sounded so clipped.

“What was that horse trailer doing out there? Did you take in some more boarders?”

“No.” Rafe washed his dinner down with a hefty swallow of tea. “Palo Romerez pulled his horses. He’s taking him to Landon’s.” Rafe stabbed a piece of cornbread and slathered butter on it. Suzanne couldn’t imagine a man with a healthier appetite. Did he approach lovemaking with as much passion?

He was so committed to his mother, to his ranch—if he ever fell in love with a woman, would he be as committed?

“Seems Landon offered him a sweet deal to work for him.”

“You mean he bribed him, to steal him out from under you,” Rafe’s mother said. “That no-account cuss. He’s been trying to wheedle our land away from us for years.” She turned to Suzanne. “Used to hound Frank all the time to sell.”

Suzanne shifted uncomfortably. So, losing the boarders was the reason Rafe had been so upset. Rafe wiped his mouth with his napkin and stood, then began gathering dishes. Mrs. McAllister pushed back her chair and reached for them. “Stop that right now, son. You’ve worked hard enough on the ranch today. I’ll do the dishes while you take Suzanne for that ride you promised her.”

“But you’re not supposed—”

“I’ll help Rafe with them,” Suzanne said, jumping into action.

“No, dear, Maria will be back any minute. She’ll help me. You serve the cake you brought and get the coffee. Then you two take your ride.” She smiled wistfully. “That is, unless you want cake and coffee afterward.”

“You baked a cake?” Rafe asked, his surprise irking Suzanne.

“Yes, why don’t you try some.”

Minutes later Suzanne stared at the raptured look on Rafe’s face as he consumed the dessert. The man did eat the way he worked, with passion and unabashed masculinity. Again she wondered if he made love the same way.

He licked the last of the chocolate crumbs from his finger, and she imagined that tongue trailing over her. “I have to admit that was delicious.” His dark eyes met hers, enigmatic, sexy, brooding. Filled with hunger for more. “Obviously I was wrong about you being able to cook.”

She met his gaze with a challenging smile. “You might find you’ve been wrong about a lot of things concerning me.”

He arched a brow and Suzanne realized he had accepted her challenge. She was ready for the games to begin. No more pussyfooting around the fact that she found him attractive.

And that he had missed some undeniably good qualities she had. If Rafe didn’t like her, she wanted to know why. Or at least she wanted to prove him wrong and show him that he had misjudged her.

R
AFE STUDIED
S
UZANNE
as they saddled the horses and rode out to the northernmost pasture, bordering Pine Ridge. He had been wrong about Suzanne being able to cook. Had he misjudged her about other things, as well? Did she have secrets that would negate all the things he’d thought about her when they’d first met?

Was she really nothing like Cecilia?

Would she break his heart if he opened himself up to her, or would she turn out to be the sensitive, caring woman he sensed lay beneath the surface of her beautiful tough-girl facade?

They passed the stream again and his favorite clearing, then rode toward Summit Falls, the place he had called a sanctuary as a child. Orange and yellow lines painted a portrait in the sky, the purple hues of dusk cloaking the treetops with a surreal glow. The mountains rose before them, a burst of spring dotted with new buds blossoming on branches left bare from winter.

“It’s beautiful,” Suzanne admitted.

He was so tired of fighting this attraction to her, of being alone. With everything else going wrong in his life, didn’t he deserve to have a moment of pleasure? A small amount of comfort…