To Catch a Texas Cowboy (Wishing, Texas Book 2) Page 11

  What the hell had he been thinking kissing Grace? His throbbing body told him exactly what he’d been thinking, and what he’d probably have done if Cassie hadn’t walked in on them.

  He’d better step up his searches because a man could only resist temptation so long.

  After taking her time dressing, Grace walked down the hallway to Cassie’s studio, and found her friend working on her latest wood sculpture of strong hands clenched around a rope.

  While she’d enjoyed Cassie’s artwork before, her latest pieces appealed to her, possessed a hopefulness and a sensuality her darker work never possessed. “That sculpture is really beautiful. Malcolm’s right. This is by far the best work you’ve ever done.”

  Cassie placed the chisel and hammer on the worktable beside her. “That’s what you open up with after what I walked in on in the kitchen?”

  “I figured it was worth a shot. Granted, it was a big long shot, but—”

  “You know me well enough to know that comment had no chance of sidetracking me. Now do you want to talk about the elephant in the room, or rather the kitchen, or should I feign memory loss? It’s up to you.”

  Grace considered ignoring the subject, but why bother? As confused as she was by the battle her head and her body were waging over AJ, she could use help sorting out the chaos.

  “I need a reality check,” Grace said, using their code phrase meaning I’ve-done-something-that-could-peg-the-stupidity-meter-and-I-don’t-know-what-to-do-so-help. “My head says it’s not a good idea to get involved with anyone, especially AJ, but kissing him made me feel—” She paused, trying to find the right words. Elated. Entranced. Ecstatic. None of which she felt ready to admit, even to Cassie.

  “Happy hormones doing the wild thing?”

  Graced nodded. Like minions let loose without the boss on a Caribbean vacation. Grace clenched the chair arms so tight her hands grew numb. The moment she’d walked out of the kitchen she’d wanted to rush back, wrestle AJ to the ground, finish what they’d started, and keep exploring each other until they couldn’t see straight. She crossed her legs, and tried not to squirm at the heat building there.

  “Should I give you the same advice you gave me when I asked what to do about Ty?”

  “No.” Grace knew exactly the conversation to which Cassie referred, and the advice she’d spouted so easily. You could use a good old-fashioned roll in the hay. “Your situation with Ty was different.”

  Cassie’s right eyebrow rose, as she gave Grace the best-friend-I’m-calling-it-crap look.

  “You may not have been happy with me at the time, but considering your upcoming wedding, clearly I was right about you two.”

  “But at the time I insisted you were crazy.”

  Exactly the way you are now. The words hung unspoken between them, but Grace received the message loud and clear.

  “I’m sure AJ’s a great guy, but he’s not my type.”

  Cassie burst out laughing. Not dainty feminine chuckles, but loud guffaws that rumbled around the room bouncing off the walls, lasting so long her eyes watered by the time she quieted. “Not your type? That’s not what it looked like from where I stood. In fact, if I’d arrived a little later I would’ve seen a new side to you and AJ.”

  Grace cringed. No kidding. How could she have gotten that lost in him? That never happened to her. Even in the height of her passion, she never completely let go. Ever.

  Knowing she couldn’t deny what Cassie said without her friend laughing in her face again, Grace said, “I’ll admit there’s chemistry, but that’s not all that matters. He’s not my type in other ways. Very important ones. Hello, police officer? Like I want to relive my parents’ disaster up close and personal.”

  Not only that, but AJ was too ruggedly sexy and mind-numbingly overwhelming. But worse, she suspected he wouldn’t be a have-fun-and-move-on guy. She’d bet he was a commitment guy. No way would she play with those matches without fire fighter protective gear and a big ass fire extinguisher nearby.

  “I’ve met your dad, and AJ’s nothing like him.”

  “That may be, but there are certain universal truths about cops. The job comes first, and secrecy’s written into the job description are two of them.”

  “You wanted a reality check. Here it is. You’ve got to quit living your life worrying about repeating your parents’ mistakes.”

  “That’s easy to say, but hard to do.”

  Especially with her DNA. How could she have a stable relationship with the examples she had of wedded bliss? Her parents had failed miserably at marriage, and Grace wasn’t sure their second marriages were that idyllic either. Then there were her older brothers. One recently filed for divorce from wife number two, and though she loved Brianna, she suspected having her niece had been her other brother and sister-in-law’s last-ditch attempt to save their marriage.

  Grace figured her chances of having a successful relationship—she wouldn’t calculate the odds on marriage—were the same as her becoming an astronaut and flying a mission to Mars. Yeah, that would happen, considering whenever she flew, the slightest turbulence made her reach for the airsick bag.

  Instead of being a foolish optimist, she’d preferred the realistic approach. Why go into a relationship with those lousy odds?

  “I know you’re scared a relationship won’t work, but keeping it all fun and light can get old after a while,” Cassie said.

  Sometimes she hated how well they knew each other. Like now.

  “Trust me. I found that out one day when I realized the only one I had to count on was my best friend.”

  Grace winced at Cassie’s words. Tell me about it.

  “I may not have known AJ long, but there’s something I learned right away. While his job is important, if his mother, sisters, Ty or any of his friends needed him, it wouldn’t matter what was going on at work. He’d be there.”

  Instead of changing Grace’s mind, Cassie’s statement reinforced her opinion. He’d want more than she could give, all right. AJ couldn’t be more wrong for her, and a girl could only work on so many issues at once. Right now, career trumped love life as far as Grace was concerned.

  A couple days later, as Grace drove into town, she found herself more at ease than she expected to be at this point in her move. So far she’d reviewed Chloe’s notes on running the inn, researched the subject on the Internet, and reworked The Bluebonnet Inn’s brochure. When she’d accepted Cassie’s offer, Grace thought of the job as a stopgap until she found something better, but now she wasn’t sure.

  The job definitely had possibilities. Plus, Cassie made it clear, while she was accessible to help, she wouldn’t hover over Grace. The inn was hers to run as she saw fit. In fact, Cassie said she’d pretty much be her own boss. Grace decided she could get used to that. She also found the new challenges stimulating, and for the first time in years she looked forward to getting to work every morning.

  Keeping busy for the most part kept her thoughts off an oh-so-distracting lawman. Yup, the key to keeping her new life on track was to stay busy and focus on work. That and never, ever, no matter what the natural or man-made disaster, would she come out of her room in her pajamas.

  Thankfully without trying, she’d avoided AJ. She chalked it up to fate taking pity on her to allow her hormones to settle down. She also viewed it as a sign the friendship agreement was the right plan.

  She refused to let anything or anyone mess up this second chance. She wanted to make the most of her life, become part of the community, and that meant getting to know people. But would people accept her? After all, this was a small town and she was the outsider. From New York City of all places. She couldn’t get more Yankee than that, which brought her back to her trip into town to have the new brochures printed locally rather than online. Hopefully that would create goodwill. Then once she saw to that, she planned on introducing herself to other local business people.

  As she turned onto Throckmorton Street on the town square, she smiled at the bustl
ing activity. According to Cassie, since the drought had lessened recently in Texas, tourism had picked up. She made a mental note to ask shop owners if she could drop off brochures. Who knew when shoppers might decide they were having so much fun they wanted to spend the night?

  The town was laid out simply. Four streets, each lined with mostly brick buildings of different size and color, formed the town square. In the center, on a piece of land equal to a city block, with trees that had a park-type feel to it, resided the town’s courthouse, complete with massive southern pillars and grand steps leading to the entrance.

  After two laps around the square she found a parking spot, and headed for the printer. A little bell above the door chimed as she entered Langston Printers. The small shop contained post office boxes along one wall. The other held a pegboard with an array of shipping and office supplies.

  A middle-aged woman, with apple-red hair, dressed in a purple plaid shirt and jeans stood helping the shop’s only customer, who had apparently come to buy stamps because of the line at the post office.

  As Grace waited, the sounds of printers and voices drifted from behind the closed door some ten feet behind the counter. After the older lady in front of her concluded her business, Grace introduced herself, and learned the woman running the register, Diane Langston, owned the shop with her husband, and they’d been in business for over thirty years.

  “That’s quite an accomplishment these days.” Grace placed her revamped brochure on the counter and explained what she needed.

  “We’ll be glad to take care of those for you, but it’ll be three weeks until we can get them done.”

  “That long? There’s no way you could get them done sooner?” With the great printers on the market allowing people to print more work themselves, and online shops doing fabulous work dirt cheap, most local mom and pop stores found it difficult to stay in business. How was this one busy enough to take three weeks to print simple brochures?

  “That’s with putting a rush on it as a favor to Ty,” Diane said. “All of us local business owners appreciate what he’s done as the head of the Chamber of Commerce to bring people to town. The president before him wasn’t worth two cents. I don’t know where we’d be if Ty hadn’t stepped up and taken over.”

  “Thank you for putting a rush on the brochures,” Grace said, and gave Diane the necessary contact information. She’d place this order for community goodwill sake, but order enough brochures online to bridge the gap.

  With her task done, Grace thanked the woman, left the shop, and almost ran into AJ. From the moment she’d met the man she’d been impressed, but today, dressed in his police uniform, cowboy boots and hat, the holster and gun attached to the belt at his waist, added to his overwhelming presence. She hadn’t imagined that was possible. Tingles surged through her.

  “We finally meet when you’re officially on the job. Are you ever in your office?”

  Smooth, Grace. Think first. Speak second. The other way around doesn’t work too well.

  “Hello to you, too.” His lips curled upward into a sexy grin, reminding her how his lips had sent pleasure gushing through her two days ago.

  Palms sweaty, Grace resisted the urge to fan her flushed face as she remembered the way her body melted against his firm angles as his hands caressed the small of her back.

  There went her control again.

  Ignoring her body’s heated reaction, she mentally chased down her discipline. “You have to admit, you don’t spend a lot of time in your office. As a new citizen of Wishing, should I be concerned?”

  “You should feel comforted because I’m a visible reminder this town has an active, involved police department. I can’t know what’s going on in town sitting behind my desk.”

  He leaned closer, and his fresh, woodsy scent teased her senses. How did the man smell so good in the Texas heat? His lips curled into a mischievous grin, making her heart trip again. “Don’t tell anyone, but I hate being cooped up behind a desk. It’s my idea of cruel and unusual punishment.”

  “Your secret’s safe with me,” she teased back.

  She caught his gaze, and her light-hearted, teasing tone evaporated. Her breath caught in her chest at the trust in his eyes. Oh, my. She’d chosen the wrong words. That was the last thing she wanted AJ to think, that they could have the type of relationship where they confided in each other. What could she say to get out of this mess, and correct the obviously wrong impression she’d given him? Hello? Hadn’t he heard the joking tone in her voice?

  Her mind spinning trying to think of what to say without sounding like an idiot or offending him, she told herself to look away. Break eye contact. That would be a good start, but she couldn’t. She didn’t want to.

  A toddler somewhere on the street bellowed in protest over not being picked up, smashing the bubble surrounding her and AJ.

  “What brings you into town?”

  “I’m supporting another local business having the inn’s new brochures printed in town rather than online. Or that’s what I intended.” She nodded toward the print store behind her. “But since Diane said it’ll take three weeks to get them done, I’ll have to use an online printer to tide me over.”

  AJ brows furrowed in thought. “That’s odd. Most mom and pop printer shops are lucky if they’re still open.”

  “That’s what I thought.”

  AJ stepped past her, and peered into the shop window. “It’s quiet in there now. I wonder what their secret to success is?”

  “They must do a lot of online business.”

  “But how do they compete with the big online printers who got into the business right away?”

  People milled around them on the sidewalk, nodding and mumbling hello, many with a curious gleam in their eyes as they glanced between her and AJ. They’d be the hot topic of gossip at dinner tables all over town tonight. Hoping to minimize the damage, or at least quit giving everyone a show, she said, “I don’t want to keep you from—what did you say? Being a visible presence around town?”

  As if she could. The man wasn’t the blend-in type. Not close.

  “It’s the equivalent of a New York cop walking the beat.”

  “And I’ve got things to do as well. I’m off to introduce myself to other business people.”

  “Mind if I tag along? Since we’re both making the rounds, we might as well go together.”

  To quell further gossip, she should say no, but having AJ with her would make her seem less the outsider. “Sure. Why not? You could introduce me. I considered asking Cassie to come with me, but she really can’t spare the time if she’s going to finish her latest sculpture before the wedding.”

  AJ opened the door to Dress Like a Dream women’s boutique. “We might as well start here.”

  He held the door for her to enter, and followed her inside. The shop displayed an eclectic mix of clothing. Part of the store contained what Grace considered traditional women’s western wear of sturdy jeans and colorful cotton blouses. Another area showcased more upscale, hipper western wear such as expensive rhinestone-studded jeans and shirts, T-shirts with a Native American flare, and long flowing skirts. The last section displayed cowboy boots in every style and color imaginable.

  “Chief, what’re you doing in here today? Is there some kind of trouble?” A tall, slender woman from behind the register walked toward them. Dressed in a maxi white skirt and white T-shirt, a leather belt with a silver and turquoise design, coordinating jewelry and cowboy boots, she showcased her wares well.

  “Everything’s fine, Mrs. Thompson.”

  After AJ introduced Grace, the woman cautiously eyed her from head to toe as if she wasn’t sure how to react, then politely said, “Pleased to meet you, Ms. Henry.”

  Grace smoothed her moist palm down her beige linen slacks. Note to self: what worked in the business world to portray confidence and sensibility to clients could put distance between you and people here. She’d teased Cassie about her change in clothing, but now it made sens
e, considering she’d said the most important thing she’d learned about running the inn was to make people feel comfortable.

  “Call me Grace. I don’t believe in fellow businesswomen being so formal.”

  The other woman’s posture eased, and a wide smile spilled across her face. “Then I insist you call me, Rosalie.”

  “I’m glad to finally have a chance to meet people now that I’ve settled in some.”

  “Cassie was excited you were coming to help her out, and Lord knows she can use it, considering all the sweet girl has on her plate.” The older woman’s gaze filled with sympathy. “Wanda and Aubrey have been glad to help, but Cassie doesn’t want them to give up their lives.”

  “I know she appreciates all they’ve done for her.” Ty’s family had accepted her the moment she arrived, long before Ty did in fact. Cassie continually mentioned how different her life had become now that she had a family to support her.

  “How’s business going, Mrs. Thompson?” AJ asked, pulling Grace away from her thoughts. “You have any problems or concerns I need to know about?”

  “Shoplifting’s down since I installed more cameras like you suggested. I’m thankful you told me about that blind spot in the store.” Rosalie turned to Grace and explained how AJ had discovered the issue the first time he entered her shop. “That’s the kind of thing Chief Mitchell, God rest his soul, would’ve picked up on. He checked in with us business owners, like you do. Not that I’m criticizing Chief Weston, mind you, but he was of a different generation. He expected if there were problems, we’d find him.”

  “Jack’s a hard act to follow. If I can do half the job he did, I’ll call it a win.”

  While there was obvious affection in AJ’s voice, his smile appeared forced, and his eyes dimmed. Obviously he’d heard similar comments before. Following someone revered in a job was never easy, but taking over for a friend in a small town had to be more difficult.

  “You have an amazing shop,” Grace said, hoping to steer the conversation in a new direction as she selected a sleeveless halter back blouse off the rack to her left. Though she’d never have dreamed of wearing something so bold before, the strong black and gold print and the loose-fitting style appealed to her. Plus, it would be cool and comfortable in the Texas heat. “The first thing I’m going to do when I get paid is come here to buy a new outfit.”