Single-Dad Cowboy by Vicki Lewis Thompson
Chapter Twenty-Six
Nell’s sensual gift to Zeke deepened their connection, adding to the magic as they made love. Although he didn’t say the word, his touch and the light in his eyes told her all she needed to know.
They slept a little and he left at dawn, his reluctance obvious. Being with her clearly bolstered his spirits, but his decision to face this family drama without her was the right one.
Sending him off with kisses and smiles, she settled into a day of waiting for news. She’d thrown in a load of laundry and was making a grocery list when Val texted.
Lunch at Gertie’s? I desperately need to talk.
Desperately? When she’d bid her friend goodbye after the riding lesson, Val was looking forward to having dinner with Teague at the Choosy Moose.
She typed a quick reply. Twelve-thirty?
C U then.No exclamation points, no smiley faces.
Val was an emoji nut. Something was very wrong in her world if she was sending undecorated texts.
Uh-oh. Phone battery was very low. Better charge it. Zeke would likely contact her at some point today or tonight. Oh, yeah, he hadn’t played her the ringtone he’d assigned to her, after all. They’d both forgotten. No wonder. They’d been too busy making love to think about ringtones.
Two hours later, she parked in front of Gertie’s. Val’s little truck sat two spaces down, but Val wasn’t in it. She wasn’t sitting at one of the two umbrella-topped bistro tables on the sidewalk, either.
The sandwich shop was at its festive best in warm weather, when pots of red geraniums picked up the color of the red-and-white umbrellas. Both tables were taken by folks surrounded by shopping bags, likely tourists.
Val must be inside saving them a place. Visitors flocked to Apple Grove this time of year. Because the summer crowd helped keep local businesses afloat, Nell didn’t mind that seating was hard to come by in one of her favorite eateries.
As she started toward the entrance, Val hailed her. Her friend hurried down the sidewalk, a shopping bag in each hand.
She held them up. “I just dropped a wad at Jeans Junction.”
“Are they having a sale?” Funny that Val hadn’t mentioned it and hadn’t thought to invite her.
“No sale. This is therapy.”
Val always waited for a sale. “Teague?”
“Yep.” Big sunglasses hid her eyes, but her voice quivered. Her gorgeous blond hair, which she usually styled with a brush and blow dryer, looked as if it had been washed and left to dry on its own. “Let’s go order.”
“My treat.” Nell held the door for her.
“You don’t have to do that.” Val paused. “No seats.”
“Let’s get stuff to go and take it over to the gazebo.”
“That’ll work.” Misery echoed in every syllable. “Probably better, anyway.”
Nell convinced Val to let her pay, probably because Val didn’t have the energy to argue. They stood in silence at the pickup window waiting for their order.
Eager to lift the dismal mood that had settled over them, Nell glanced at the bags. “What did you buy?”
“I don’t know.” Val shrugged. “Jeans, blouses.”
Whatever had happened must be really bad. Val loved shopping for clothes. She was built like a model, tall and slim. Everything looked good on her.
Eventually their order came up. Nell picked up the cardboard tray that held both sacks and their drinks. Then she led the way out the door and across the street to the grassy square. “Smells good out here.”
“Does it?”
“Yeah, especially the grass. Since I grew up in a high-rise, I’m always excited about walking on it and breathing in that tangy smell.” She looked over at the gazebo. “Nobody’s claimed the steps. There’s even a bit of shade. We can sit there.”
“Okay.”
“Or we can climb up to the roof if you want. I’m sure there’s a nice view of the mountains from there.”
Val looked over at her. “Very funny.”
“I thought so.”
She plopped down on the second step from the top and handed Val her sack and her iced tea.
“Thank you. Thank you for buying my lunch. That was sweet.” She stared at the sack without opening it. Then she sniffed.
“Oh, Val.” Nell put down her sandwich and wrapped an arm around her friend’s shoulders. “What happened?”
“He… he proposed!” She choked back a sob. “The dirty rat asked me to marry him!”
It would be hilarious, except it wasn’t. “I thought you made yourself clear on that issue.”
“I did! So help me, I absolutely did.” She pushed her sunglasses to the top of her head, dug in the bag and pulled out a napkin. Then she mopped her face and blew her nose.
“Then why did he propose?”
“He didn’t believe me. He thinks I say that to every guy in the beginning. But after we had such a great time together, especially in bed, he figured I was falling for him so he popped the question.”
“After a week?”
“He said it wasn’t the time that was important, it was the amazing connection.” She took a shaky breath and blew her nose again.
“Is he in love with you?”
“He thinks he is. But how can he be? Like you said, it’s been a week. Nobody falls in love in a week except in the movies.”
“Well, I’ve heard of a few cases.” She’d been involved with Zeke for only two weeks and her heart was definitely on the line. Then again, she’d spent time with him building the greenhouse. She’d been half in love with him after that.
“I can’t believe he’s done this. He ruined everything.”
“I take it you’re not in love with him.”
“Certainly not!”
“Then I have a question.”
“What?”
“Don’t get mad at me, but… if you’re not into him, why are you crying?”
“I’m not in love! I’m furious! I want to punch him in his sexy face. I almost did, too, but I have a mean left hook and I might have broken that beautiful nose.”
“I’m glad you restrained yourself.”
“It wasn’t easy. I reminded him of what I’d said, that I only want a nice guy to have a good time with. He asked why we couldn’t have a good time as husband and wife. He doesn’t get it.”
“So it’s over?”
“So over, and I hate that because he’s got it all—a cute house, a terrific body, sexy moves in bed, good hygiene—” She paused. “You just snorted. What’s so funny about good hygiene?”
“Nothing.” Nell swallowed her laughter. “It’s highly desirable in a partner.” And Val was full of it. Whether she wanted to be emotionally involved with Teague or not, she was up to her eyeballs in gooey feelings for that cowboy.
On the other hand, she was so dead-set against making a commitment that she might not recognize love if it bit her on the backside. And if Teague was an inventive lover, it probably had.
“You know what else? Now I have to see him twice a week for the riding lessons.”
“I guess you could quit.”
“Hell, no, I’m not quitting. I suggested he find someone to take over for him so he wouldn’t have to suffer through seeing me twice a week. But he has no intention of doing that. He’s attached to those girls.”
“And they’re attached to him.”
“He had the gall to mention that. He even said—get this—that since we both like kids so much, we’d be awesome parents! Can you believe the guy?”
“He has cojones, all right.”
“I don’t want to think about his cojones, thank you very much.”
Nell ducked her head. Giggling was not appropriate. Val was in pain, even though it was self-inflicted. Between Zeke’s folks and Val’s feud with Teague, this weekend would be a doozy.
