Have Cowboy, Need Cupid (16 page)

But how would she get back in his good graces again—and make him fall in love with her?

T
HE NEXT DAY
Rafe had choked on his pride by cutting a deal with Landon to rent part of his property to the man for grazing rights. As he left, he met Palo Romerez at the gate to Landon’s ranch. “Suzanne Hartwell did what?”

“Heard she called a town meeting to discuss the new development. Guess they’ll pick up where they left off the other night.”

When her father had his heart attack. Man, Suzanne was even more coldhearted than he’d imagined. It had only been forty-eight hours and she was back in business mode. Bitterness filled him. Obviously she’d never left it.

And to think she had wept in his arms and acted as if her family meant everything to her. As if he meant something to her.

Instead, her job meant more to her than he did.

“Thanks for passing on the info,” he said, shifting gears. “I think I’ll head to town now.”

Ten minutes later he parked in front of the town hall, not surprised to find a large gathering outside. Elderly women marched in a circle, waving homemade signs painted with magic markers that read Tree-killers Go Home. A few of the old-timers chanted, “Save Sugar Hill. Save Sugar Hill.”

The mayor wove through the crowd, trying to calm people, urging folks to consider the big picture and passing out Reelect Orville Lewis stickers.

Wiley Hartwell roared up with a train of cars, decorated with banners and streamers. Dozens of people leaned out the windows, waving signs, honking horns, a few shouting through bullhorns, “Don’t kill off the small businessman.”

The prayer wagon from the church held out lit candles, the alto part of the choir humming in the background while the sopranos sang, “Save Sugar Hill from the sinners.”

Rafe shuddered at the horn-blowing, then watched in disbelief as some of the people actually drew a visible line on the sidewalk, those in favor of the development taking a stance by jumping the line to congregate together, chanting “Don’t hold us back. We want progress.” The other half shouted and yelled back, clustering on the opposite side like soldiers ready to defend their country from foreign invasion.

A shiny convertible roared up and out climbed Suzanne Hartwell, looking like the city girl she was in a black designer suit that hugged her curves and spelled class. The crowd virtually parted like the Red Sea as she sashayed through them to the front stoop.

Rafe folded his arms and watched, unsettled by her appearance and remembering how it felt to touch and taste every inch of those delectable curves. For one brief second, when Suzanne spotted him, he thought he detected a spark of emotion in her eyes.

Something that looked like tenderness. Or real affection.

But he’d been a sucker once; he refused to let her fool him again.

So he simply stared her down, silently vowing not to let her affect him.

S
UZANNE’S HEART
leaped in her chest when she spotted Rafe. But the look of hatred in his eyes slammed into her like a knife piercing her chest. She nearly buckled from the pain, but forced herself to move forward. Maybe if he heard the solution she’d come up with, he’d give her another chance. Whatever the outcome, she had to talk to him first and make sure he knew she really cared for him. That everything hadn’t been a lie.

She turned to the mayor. “Why don’t you get everyone inside and calmed down, then we’ll talk.”

He nodded, puffing his chubby little body up like a rooster ready to crow, then clapped his hands and started issuing orders.

Meanwhile, she zigzagged through the crowd until she reached Rafe, then dragged him to the corner. He simply stared at her, his dark eyes like ice. “Rafe, I’m so glad you’re here—”

“Why, so you can humiliate me in public?”

Her legs wobbled beneath her at the venom in his voice. She cleared her throat, willing herself not to break down. What had happened to spunky Suzanne who could close a cutthroat deal without blinking an eye? “No, Rafe, because I think you might like my idea. That is, if you can knock that chip off your shoulder long enough to listen.”

Uh-oh, her temper was taking over. Trying to protect her from the pain. But Rafe didn’t know that, he simply thought she was ruthless.

“Is that what you came to tell me?”

She closed her eyes, trying to regroup her thoughts, then opened them and searched his face for any trace of emotion other than disgust. She found none. She plunged forward, trying gut-wrenching honesty for once. “I’m sorry for the way I handled things, Rafe. I really am. But I’m trying to make up for it.”

His jaw tightened, emotions flickering in his eyes. It was almost as if he wanted to believe her but couldn’t.

“I don’t want to hurt you or your mother. You were right to show me your land and let me see how much it meant to both of you.”

He continued to stare at her, and she shifted, grasping for courage in spite of the fact that his reaction offered no encouragement. “I know how I would feel if someone made my grandmother give up her beloved house on Pine Mountain.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me the truth about why you came to Sugar Hill from the beginning?”

Suzanne pleaded with him with her eyes. “I…I don’t know. I was going to, but then Dad had that heart attack, and…things just happened too fast.”

His head jerked up. “You had plenty of time before then.”

“I…I know and I’m sorry.” She might as well go for broke and admit that she loved him. Maybe if she made a complete fool out of herself, he would forget the fact that she had made one out of him. Not that she’d meant to, but he thought she had. “I…I—”

“Suzanne!”

Suzanne halted in horror as James jogged to her side. He curved an arm around her and kissed her cheek. “Hey, I’m glad I got here in time. I talked to your father. He told me about the meeting.”

Rafe knotted his hands into fists, clenching his jaw so tightly his words sounded as if they’d been ground out between his teeth. “You must be from Horton Developers?”

Suzanne grimaced. Oh, heavens, what awful timing. “Rafe McAllister,” she said, gesturing toward James. “This is James Horton. My boss.”

“And her fiancé,” James said at the same time.

Chapter Fifteen

Rafe squared his shoulders to keep from stumbling backward. Suzanne was going to marry this guy?

“Engaged…” he said, spying the monster sapphire ring on her right hand. Funny how she had neglected to tell him about the man who had given it to her or its significance.

“Rafe, please, let me explain—”

James extended his hand. “We’d like to sit down and discuss some business with you.”

Rafe glanced at the man’s gesture of friendship and snarled. If he hadn’t wanted to do business with Horton before, he certainly didn’t want to touch his dirty hands now. What kind of man sent his fiancée to seduce another man to further his career? He almost felt sorry for Suzanne. Why had she let this man use her like that?

“I don’t do business with people like you,” Rafe said, not caring how ill-mannered he sounded.

Horton dropped his hand, his nostrils flaring. “Your attitude won’t save your ranch, McAllister. I know what shape you’re in financially, and how you got there.”

“James—” Suzanne clutched at his elbow, and Rafe grimaced, an irrational seed of jealousy eating at him just seeing her touch another man. He wasn’t supposed to care.

Steeling himself against his foolish feelings toward her, he directed his comment to Horton, his tone lethal. “What exactly is that supposed to mean?”

“It means I’m aware your father had a gambling problem and—”

Suzanne pulled at the man again, and Rafe exploded.

“My personal life is none of your business.” He refused to let the man voice the ugly truth about his father’s affairs in public. If someone else heard and told his mother, she would be devastated.

Did Suzanne already know? Had she been holding the information as some kind of wild card to play in case he didn’t cooperate?

The mayor bobbed his head out. “Ms. Hartwell, I believe I’ve got everyone settled down now. We’re ready to begin.”

Suzanne twisted her hands together, looking agitated. “Rafe, James, just come in and hear my suggestions. I have a solution that will make us all happy.”

Rafe failed to see how that was possible. Did she plan to still sleep with him and marry her rich boyfriend? “There is nothing either one of you have to say that I want to hear.” Rafe spun on his boots and thundered away, humiliation and hurt knotting his stomach.

W
HEN RAFE HAD LEFT
the night before, Suzanne had thought things couldn’t get worse. But his ice-cold attitude toward her had now dropped well below the freezing point.

And she still had to deal with James.

“Are you coming, Ms. Hartwell?” Mayor Lewis brushed the three hairs on his balding head in an obvious attempt to prove he still had hair.

“Yes.” Knowing Rafe needed time, and she had her work cut out for her, convincing the town to go with her idea, she headed inside. James followed.

“I’m sorry, Suzanne, I didn’t realize that guy was such a jerk or I wouldn’t have sent you down here alone.”

Suzanne winced. “He’s not really that bad. But his property means a lot to him.”

“Yeah, but geesh. Think of the money he can make.”

“Not everything is about money, James,” Suzanne countered, suddenly realizing that his entire value system revolved around dollar signs. In fact, except for his marriage proposal, which had sounded more pragmatic than romantic, most of their conversations had been about business deals, profits and earnings and stock options.

“Here, here. Let’s have some order,” the mayor bellowed.

Suzanne ignored James’s perplexed look, wove through the aisle separating the two hostile groups and took the microphone. As she gazed out into the crowd, she spotted her uncle Wiley. Beside him sat Grammy Rose, her three cousins and Rebecca. Thank God her family was behind her, she thought as they each gave her a thumbs-up.

Still, her heart ached. If only Rafe had stayed and heard her idea.

Maybe then he would realize she wasn’t the cold, heartless female he thought her to be.

“Ladies and gentleman,” Suzanne said. “I work for Horton Developers—” a round of boos circulated the room, but Suzanne waited them out, then continued “—but please hear me out.”

“Yes, hear the girl out,” her uncle Wiley shouted.

The other Hartwells clapped, and Suzanne smiled her thanks. “I understand the controversy surrounding the proposal for the new mall project, and I’ve taken everyone’s concerns into consideration. Each of you has made some valid points, but I think I’ve created a solution that will suit all of you as well as alleviate your anxiety.”

“Let’s hear it, then,” the mayor said.

Suzanne displayed the flow charts and diagrams she’d worked on all morning. “Instead of the shopping mall we had originally designed, I’ve drawn up a scale model of a different type of cluster that would lend itself to the small-town life you all love, bring in extra revenue for the town and showcase some of your own local talent.”

The crowd grew quiet, their interest captured.

“How you gonna do that?” an elderly woman asked. Suzanne smiled to reassure the woman, then noticed that Rafe’s mother was sitting next to the lady. Mrs. McAllister fluttered a wave, and Suzanne nodded, wondering if Rafe had told his mother about her deception.

“Yeah, how are you going to do that?” Bud, Rafe’s ranch hand shot up from his seat, and Suzanne gripped the edge of the podium, his scrutinizing look not as friendly as Rafe’s mother’s.

“With a development that consists of specialty shops housing clothing boutiques, an art gallery, antique stores, as well as arts and crafts stores that could sell local wares created by the citizens of Sugar Hill. In addition, we could incorporate a country restaurant and an old-fashioned drugstore that will add atmosphere and enhance the historical feel of the town.”

“I could sell my pottery there instead of out of my barn,” a young woman with a baby in her arms said.

“And I can put some of my sewing there,” a middle-aged woman with a big straw hat said.

Rebecca’s husband, Thomas, piped up. “Rebecca has some lovely paintings to sell.”

“But where would we put it?” an old-timer in coveralls asked.

“There are some empty warehouses over on Do-than Street,” Suzanne said. “I’ve already checked them out.”

“You mean right downtown?” the mayor asked.

“Yes, it can be a town project,” Suzanne said. “With the profits, you’ll probably be able to give some of your existing businesses a facelift, too.”

“The Hotspot could use a facelift,” Mimi said.

“So could my law office,” said Suzanne’s aunt.

“And I need some renovations to my bridal boutique,” Alison added.

A gray-haired lady with a bouffant hairdo waved a handkerchief. “We could set up a place to teach arts and crafts, maybe even have a quilting bee in the back room.”

“I vote for that!” a woman beside her chirped. “We could even offer craft classes.”

“To cut down on cost, you can share space in the warehouse and curtain off different areas to make booths,” Suzanne explained. “Imagine a big flea market atmosphere.”

“My husband can sell those fabulous horse head canes he makes,” Dottie Berger said. “He hand carves each one himself so no two look alike.”

“And I’ve always dabbled in antiques,” another young mother said. “I could have my own booth.”

“And Ruby Jean can sell her famous homemade fig preserves and jellies,” a blue-haired woman with a hearing aid shouted.

Suzanne nodded at their enthusiasm, but James frowned at her from the side. “You’re talking about doing this instead of the multilevel development we’d planned?”

“Yes. This project will fit the town,” Suzanne said, her voice growing stronger, “increase revenue and tourism, and offer something more unique than your average everyday shopping center. Horton Developers can help these people refurbish their own town and utilize their talents, and the mall can be built farther out of town. I’ve already located another piece of property that will meet Horton’s needs.”

The town cheered, the locals throwing out suggestions for the craft store. Suzanne beamed, grateful they had liked her proposal.

Well, everyone except James.

He was probably going to like her next announcement even less. She had to tell him that she didn’t intend to marry him.

“O
H, MY WORD
, you should have been there, Rafe,” Mrs. McAllister tittered. “Suzanne Hartwell is a genius.”

You mean the deceiving, lying, engaged woman who used him, then threw him away?

Rafe bit back the comment burning the tip of his tongue. “A genius, huh?”

“Yes. She had the entire town eating out of the palm of her hand.”

“I imagine she did.” Just like she’d had him eating out of the palm of her hand. Hell, he’d been on his knees—

“Maria, set an extra place, will you?” His mother said, grinning. “We’re having a guest for dinner.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Maria hurried to the kitchen to retrieve another place setting. The smell of homemade fried chicken, mashed potatoes and peach cobbler wafted through the double doors, and Rafe caught the implication.

Oh, hell. “You didn’t invite Suzanne Hartwell to dinner, did you, Mom?”

Disappointment fell across her face. “Actually, no. But not for lack of trying. She and that man from Horton Developers skipped out of there so fast I didn’t get a chance to ask.”

Was Suzanne off with Horton now? Was she kissing him, holding him…

His stomach rolled at the thought.

“So, who’s the extra plate for?”

His mother’s cheeks turned pink. “Uh, Bud’s going to join us.”

Right. She’d mentioned inviting him before. But why was his mother blushing?

“Yes, it’s really no big deal, son, but he’s been so nice to me lately. And he drove me to town today to the meeting. The poor man needs a decent meal every now and then.” She patted her hair, which looked as if she’d just come from the beauty shop. And if his eyes were working properly, she’d had some kind of color put on it. The gray had completely disappeared.

“You don’t mind do you, Rafe?”

Rafe shrugged. “I guess not. I like Bud.” Was the man trying to woo his mother?

Not that he should care if they got together. Bud was a good guy, a hard worker, although financially he didn’t think the man had much to show for himself. But he wanted his mother to be happy. And she had seemed so much happier these past couple of weeks. He’d thought it was because of Suzanne, but maybe she had a crush on his ranch hand.

After what his dad had done, she deserved to find someone else.

He glanced at the table and winced. If they were heading toward a romantic relationship, he would feel like a fifth wheel at dinner. “Mom, tell Maria not to bother to set an extra place. I’m going out tonight.”

“Oh?” The curiosity in her eyes cut him to the bone. She thought he was going to see Suzanne.

He pictured Suzanne with Horton, though, and strode outside. Maybe he’d drop by the Dusty Pub and drown his sorrows with a pitcher of beer. Anything to take his mind off the fact that his mother had a new love in her life, while he had failed miserably in his own.

A
S SOON AS
the meeting broke up, James cornered Suzanne. “I really wish you’d discussed this new plan with me before you presented it.”

“You don’t like the idea?” Or did he simply not like being upstaged by a woman?

James ran a hand through his hair. “No, it’s a fine idea, I just wish we’d discussed it first.”

“I think you’ll like the other spot I’ve found for your mall,” Suzanne said. “It’s about twenty-five miles out of town, but it has great access to the expressway, and you won’t have to deal with the backlash of this town’s protests.”

James twisted his mouth sideways. “All right, I’ll look at it.” He offered his first smile. “You usually do have good judgment. But I thought you were losing your edge for a minute when you first brought up the idea of this hokey arts and craft village.”

“It’s not hokey,” Suzanne said. “There are some talented people in town, and their uniqueness will draw tourists to visit. With the mountains behind them, the possibilities are endless. I can see a bed and breakfast going in, maybe a row of antique stores. Horton might want to think about putting some rental cabins in near Turner’s Point. The stream that runs through that area is great for fishing, a perfect mountain vacation.”

James planted both hands on her arms and pulled her to him, then kissed her. “Thank God you’re back. I thought I’d lost you to all that sentimentality, when all along you’ve had your head in business.”

Suzanne tasted the guilt on her lips and forced herself not to visibly wipe off his mouthprint. She wanted Rafe’s approval, Rafe’s kiss, Rafe’s hands holding her.

“James, there is some truth to what you said,” she said, vying for honesty.

His eyebrows creased together. “What do you mean?”

“That I…the sentimental stuff.” Oh, heck, she couldn’t admit that she’d fallen for Rafe McAllister, not when he hated her. She did have some pride left, albeit not much. But she had to break it off with James.

So she simply blurted out the truth. “I can’t marry you, James.”

His stunned expression would have been funny if she hadn’t detected a slight bit of hurt to it. Or maybe it was just his pride that had been hurt. He had never mentioned love. Not once.

And his kisses certainly didn’t have the passion she’d experienced with Rafe.

“You can’t marry me?” James said dumbly.

“That’s right.” She slid the ring off her finger and folded it into his hand. “I…I do care about you, James, and I admire your talent on the job, and I…I appreciate the offer.”

“You appreciate the offer?” he asked in an incredulous voice.

“Yes, but I don’t love you, James.”

“Who said anything about love?” Anger hardened his voice. “We had a good thing, Suzanne. We get along, we work well together, just look at how this deal turned out.”

“Yes.” Suzanne’s heart gave a pang. “Just look at how it turned out.” Then she left him standing inside the town hall and went to nurse her broken heart.

Everything had worked out for the town, although she didn’t know if she could return to Atlanta and work with James now. Not that he would want her to….