Love's Deception (5 page)

Cat’s voice faltered. How many times had the words in this book lifted her despairing heart? How many times had she found the courage to face another day after reading a poignant verse on enduring to the end? Hot tears filled her eyes and she didn’t dare blink or they would spill onto her cheeks. She couldn’t meet Ty’s gaze and dropped her head to look at the book in her hand.

He leaned back, narrowing his eyes and folding his arms. “So you’re trying to convert me? Is that why you keep letting me come over?”

Her head shot up. “No, I mean, I wouldn’t mind, but—” Why had she even opened this can of worms in the first place? She should be breaking off this friendship and walking away. “Ty, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you. But I can’t keep doing this—you coming over every night, letting Danny practically worship the ground you walk on. I don’t think it’s a good idea to let him get any more attached than he already is. You and I have completely different views on the one thing that is most important to me.” She glanced at the book in her hand. “But as far as the whole converting thing goes. I love the Book of Mormon and I wanted to share it with you. That’s all.”

Ty’s expression softened and he moved closer. Cat knew she should stand up. Show him to the door. Anything but let herself be caught by his arresting presence and captivating blue eyes. Despite knowing better, she didn’t move a muscle. His hand went to her face and wiped away a tear. He leaned forward and touched his lips to hers, kissing her softly. Without thinking, she let herself just feel and leaned forward to return his kiss. She reached for his cheek, his whiskers tickling her fingertips like she had imagined.

Too soon he pulled back, sliding his hand down her arm. “I will, but please don’t ask me to stay away, Catherine.”

Feeling completely detached from reality, she whispered, “You will what?”

He chuckled. “Yes, I guess I can read your book.” He took it from her and stood. “I’d better get home. My alarm is going off at five.”

Shocked, Cat stared back. “Okay.”

They walked to the door and she locked it behind him. Leaning against the wall, she let out a deep sigh. How had the conversation in which she planned to break up with him end in their first kiss?

Six

Cat’s head snapped up during sacrament meeting when the bishop announced the multi-stake Single Adult fireside.
Oh no, I promised to go with Allen!
They had exchanged a few text messages but hadn’t spoken in days. He’d been swamped with work meetings, and she’d been busy taking care of her mother and Danny, not to mention slightly distracted by Ty. Hopefully her broad-shouldered farmer friend wasn’t planning to stop by tonight. He hadn’t last Sunday, but things had changed since then. Cat would call him on the way home—this would be a good excuse to put some space between them.

For the family ward she attended with her mother, the meeting block ended at four in the afternoon. After Primary, Cat got in the truck and pulled out her cell phone. She held down the power button, and the phone came on briefly before dying. “Dang it,” she mumbled and tried again. Nothing. She dropped the phone on the seat and turned the key in the ignition, frustrated at forgetting to buy a new cord for her car charger after Danny broke the last one. The diesel’s wait-to-start light mocked her desire to hurry. When the engine rumbled to life, she moved the truck closer to the meetinghouse door from which her mother would exit.

Even if Cat weren’t worried about calling Ty, she would be in a hurry. She had about an hour to feed Danny, her mother, and sixteen horses, not to mention get ready for the fireside. Her mother slowly emerged from the building and walked to the truck, her fatigue evident. Cat helped her into the vehicle, then rambled about her worries as they drove home. When she saw Ty’s black Dodge in their driveway, her heart skipped a beat.

“Uh-oh,” her mother said. “You definitely should have told him about the fireside when he was here last night.”

Cat put the truck in park, her mind jumping to the previous evening and the memory of her hand against his face. His lips on hers. “I know. But I completely forgot. The fireside was the last thing on my mind.”

Ty stepped out of his truck carrying a plastic grocery sack. He flashed her a smile and waved at Danny in the back seat. She opened her door, and when she climbed down next to Ty, he pulled her into his arms. “Hey, beautiful, you sure look nice. I picked up steaks. I thought we could barbecue tonight.” At her expression, he frowned and asked, “Is something wrong? Don’t tell me you’ve suddenly gone vegetarian.”

Cat shook her head, an ache hitting the bottom of her gut. “No, but I can’t do dinner tonight. I would have called but my phone died. There’s this fireside at seven, and I promised Allen two weeks ago I’d go with him. I’m so sorry, Ty. I should have told you sooner, but I forgot about it.”

He frowned and stepped away. “So that’s it, huh? Your boyfriend’s back in town. I should have guessed.”

Before Cat could say more, Ty dropped the heavy grocery sack into her hand. “These need to go in the fridge. Enjoy your night, Cat.” He turned on his heel and walked away.

“Ty, wait! Let me—” But he slammed the truck door and revved the engine. She threw up her hands.

“It’s hard to play both sides of the field,” her mother said from behind her.

Cat let out a frustrated sigh. “What should I do now?”

Always the practical one, her mother answered, “Go to the fireside. You already committed to that. Give Ty time to cool off and then talk to him tomorrow. I know it’s not my place to say, but hopefully you decide to break up with him before something worse happens.”

“Okay,” Cat said. Allen would be there in an hour. Either way, she owed it to him to go to the fireside.

Her mom started for the door. “I’ll change my clothes and help you feed the horses.”

Cat trudged up the stairs after her. “Mom, you’ll wear yourself out. It’s too much walking, and you know it. Plus, I need you to conserve your energy so you can watch Danny.”

Her mother smiled at her. “Bossy, bossy, bossy. You’re always bossing me around these days. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were the mother.”

“Sorry, Mom, but now it’s my job to take care of you.”

During the fireside, Cat’s mind couldn’t leave the subject of Ty alone. She didn’t know if she felt more guilty about him or about Allen. She assumed there would never be anything more to her relationship with Ty than friendship and had failed to mention his visits in any of her texts to Allen. And if she were completely honest with herself, she had downplayed the seriousness of her relationship with Allen the night she and Ty first talked about it. She never intended to play both sides of the field—never intended to even care about Ty—but somehow it had happened. And now everything had caught up with her.

As she and Allen walked across the parking lot of the stake center in Lake Oswego, he reached to take her hand. Cat’s pulse quickened when she threaded her fingers between his, but not in the thrilling way Ty made her pulse race. Visions of kissing Ty tormented her every step. Not only had she kissed him, she had thoroughly enjoyed it. Allen unlocked his Toyota but didn’t open the door.

“You look pretty tonight, Cat,” he said, wrapping his arms around her. “I missed you.”

Ty’s hurt expression flashed before her eyes. Her mind screamed no. Why had her heart been so willing to betray Allen by kissing Ty? Yet tonight it seemed to wage war in her chest at the slightest thought of kissing Allen.

Cat twisted out of his arms and brought her hand to her forehead. “Allen, I’m sorry. I can’t do this. I need to go home.”

“Can’t what? What’s wrong, Cat?”

She shook her head. “It’s not you. I just . . . I’m not sure where I stand right now, and until I figure it out, I think I need some space.”

In the dim light of the parking lot, she couldn’t decipher his reaction, especially when he turned his back to her. “I’m sorry, Allen,” she added. “I know that sounds awful. I’m probably the worst friend ever, and I don’t blame you if you never want to see me again.”

He turned to face her, his eyes narrowed. “Are you breaking up with me? There’s someone else, isn’t there?”

Cat shifted her feet, looking at the ground. She couldn’t love Ty, but she couldn’t stop thinking about him, either. His kiss lingered in her memory, and his words replayed themselves in her mind. “There was, but after tonight he might not want to see me again.”

Allen shook his head, frowning. “It’s that farmer, isn’t it?”

She nodded.

“Hmm. That’s not surprising, when the only thing you and I ever disagree on is where we’d live and what we’d do with your horses.” Allen’s shoulders sagged. “Compared to me and my allergies, he must look like a dream. Perfect for someone who loves the country as much as you do.”

“Oh, Allen, I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

He waved it off and opened the door for her. “Don’t. I’ll be fine. We’ve been friends for almost as long as I can remember. I suppose this doesn’t have to change that. It might be hard to swallow, but I’ll be there for you. Whether I like him or not.” Allen’s words said one thing, but his tone of voice left her with no doubt that he’d taken the rejection personally.

Cat tried to smile. “Thank you, Allen. I am sorry.”

“Hop in and I’ll take you home.”

Before getting out of his car, she apologized to Allen again. As soon as she walked into her house, she called Ty’s cell number. There was no answer. “Where is he?” she mumbled to herself, dropping the phone into her purse. Although she should have been more open with him about her and Allen, it was ridiculous for him to act so upset about it. She had been up front about not wanting a relationship. Unfortunately her actions must have sent a different message. She couldn’t have him thinking they were anything more than casual friends. And absolutely no more kissing. She had enjoyed Ty’s kiss far more than she should have.

Cat grabbed her keys from the counter and left. She parked in front of Ty’s quaint white farmhouse. She knocked and waited, wringing her hands.

A smiling, gray-haired woman answered the door in her bathrobe and curlers. “Hello, can I help you?”

“I’m sorry to bother you—it looks like you’re getting ready for bed—but is Ty here? I need to talk to him, please.”

His mother’s face lit up. “Are you Catherine?”

“Yes, but most everyone calls me Cat.”

“Aren’t you a cute little thing. Come in, dear. I’m Lorraine. Now I see why Ty spends all his free time at your house.”

Cat smiled at the kind words and stepped through the open door. “Sorry to take him away from home.”

His mother bustled around the kitchen, pulling her purse over her shoulder and picking up a set of keys. “Nonsense, don’t be sorry. It’s high time that boy finds a good girl and settles down. I’m only mad he hasn’t brought you over to meet us.”

“He’s not here?” Cat asked.

His mom walked to the door. “He’s down at Moe’s. I’ll take you there. Ty can give you a ride back.” She stood in the open doorway. “Well, come on dear. What are you waiting for?”

Cat followed her outside. “He might not like me just showing up. He’s already mad at me.”

“If there’s one thing I know about Ty, it’s that he doesn’t stay mad for long. Don’t you worry. Seeing your pretty face is bound to improve his mood.” His mother climbed into the old sedan. The headlights lit the front of the house and the engine turned over once before sputtering to life. Not sure she had a choice, Cat got in the car.

The gravel crunched beneath the tires as they drove slowly down the driveway. “Tell me about yourself. Ty says you have a son,” his mother said.

“Yes, I do. His name is Danny. He turns seven next month.”

“I have a grandson who’s six and another one who’s seven. That’s such a fun age.”

“Definitely.” A moment later Cat said, “I noticed Ty doesn’t talk much about himself. Why is that?”

“He’s always been a quiet boy—very private. But give him time and he’ll warm up. ”

Cat wanted to ask his mother more about him. There was so much she didn’t know. Why had he never married? Why had he changed the subject both times she’d mentioned college? She wanted to go back someday, finish her degree. Had he felt she was putting him down by asking about his education? That certainly hadn’t been her intention. If anything, the fact that he was a good old country boy made him all the more attractive to her. After a moment of silence, she formulated her next question. It was on the tip of her tongue when Lorraine suddenly turned on her blinker.

“Here we are, dear. This is Moe’s, and there’s the truck.”

Cat gasped. “Moe’s is a bar?”

“A tavern, actually. Moe’s Tavern.”

“It looks like whoever built it had one too many to drink. They couldn’t keep their building materials straight.”

Ty’s mother chuckled. “Moe has done a few additions and remodels over the years.”

“I think the place might collapse if somebody slams the door.”

“Just don’t slam it when you go in and you’ll be fine. I’d better get back and check on Ty’s father. No doubt he’ll be needing something by now. I swear my Andy’s milking this heart attack for all it’s worth. Go on, dear. You and Ty have a nice time. I’ll see you when you get back to the house.” Ty’s mother put the car in reverse and waited.

Cat opened her door and stepped onto the gravel. “Thank you, Mrs. Bradford,” she said, then closed the door behind her. “I think,” she muttered to herself as she watched Ty’s mother drive away. Clutching her purse to her side, Cat turned to look at Moe’s Tavern. The black iron bars on the windows loomed in front of her. Besides Ty’s truck, there were two motorcycles, a souped-up Honda, and another farm truck on the patch of rock that doubled as a parking lot. She squared her shoulders and marched to the entrance. Her eyes passed over the standard red-and-white No Minors Allowed sign before she opened the door.

A Willie Nelson song played from the jukebox in the corner. Two men with graying beards and studded leather jackets lounged in a booth by the door. At a table sat three men probably close to her age, and at another, two old-timers—farmers by the look of their dusty overalls. All of them stared at her. The only person in the place who hadn’t raised his eyes to the door when she walked in was Ty. He sat at the bar with his back to her, his shoulders hunched over his drink.