Somebody Like You (26 page)

Dottie. She’d grown to love her landlady. It broke her heart again to think of leaving her, of saying good-bye. And Hank. And Rosie. Sally and Oliver. Paco. Maggie.

Maverick Junction, Texas had very quickly become part of her. What she’d learned and experienced here had changed her forever.

Tears spilled again when she thought of life without Cash in it. He’d awakened a part of her she’d never known existed. Well, with enough time and effort, she’d get over him.

In a trillion years or so.

A
nnelise jotted the information on a notepad, then stretched. Her muscles ached, not from overwork but from tension. She’d managed to confirm a flight from Austin into Boston’s Logan International first thing tomorrow morning. Rufus would drive her and Silas to the airport, then stay behind to tie up loose ends here. He’d leave the Olds they’d rented at the airport’s car return when he flew out later.

Now that she had her plans firmed up, a sense of lethargy set in, and she wandered into her bedroom. Her beautiful bedroom. One she’d painted and decorated herself. Dropping onto her bed, she took a moment to commit it to memory. She’d come here with such high hopes.

The learning curve in Maverick Junction had been steep and the price high. But she couldn’t for one second regret the experience.

She could wish it had turned out differently, yes. But she wouldn’t give up her time here for anything.

Exhaling loudly, she shook off the listlessness and went to her closet. The first time she’d seen it, it had seemed so small. Now, it seemed perfect. Everything she needed fit. She’d miss even this.

Taking her few pieces of clothes from the closet, she began to pack. She couldn’t bear to leave Maggie’s beautiful clothes behind. She ran a hand over the dress she’d worn in Dallas, held it to her, and moved to the slow music in her head. What a magical night.

And now, everything had fallen apart.

Her mind refused to quiet.
Come see me, Cash. Talk to me. Tell me this was all a huge mistake.

But the apartment remained silent. No quick rap at the kitchen door announced his arrival. He didn’t rush in to scoop her up in his arms and tell her he loved her.

Loved?

Oh, God. She covered her face with trembling hands.

She loved him. Had tumbled down the rabbit hole—cowboy boots and all.

Her stomach knotted. When had that happened?

She sat down on the edge of her bed. She was in love with Cash.
She loved him.
Loved his ranch, his ugly dog. Loved everything about him. And tomorrow morning she’d get on a plane and leave him behind. Forever.

Because he hadn’t been honest. Even as he held her close. As he made love to her, first by the pond, then at his house. He’d chewed her out for keeping secrets while holding on to his own.

What if she stayed?

No, whatever else she might be, she wasn’t a glutton for punishment.

Cash’s words from last night replayed in her head.
This thing between us. It can’t work.

He’d made himself more than clear. No room for misinterpretation there.

She had no choice. Picking up the top, she stared into her tiny closet, at her jeans and T-shirts. They showed more than a little wear from working in them. A couple of shirts were stained. She wadded those up and threw them in the wastebasket.

Her gaze landed on her cowboy boots. She wouldn’t need them in Boston. She thought of the night she’d bought them, remembered how wonderful and new shopping with Cash had felt. Even if she never wore them again, she couldn’t leave the boots behind.

The banging on her door startled her.

What the heck?

She dropped the shirt she was folding onto the bed and hurried, barefoot, to the kitchen. Through the window, she saw one very angry cowboy on her landing. Had she conjured him?

He barged in, not waiting for her to open the door. “What the hell are you doing? Is this about last night?”

“What?”

“You’re supposed to be at the ranch.”

“I told you I might not make it.”

“Your errand is finished.”

“I’ve decided not to go.”

“So, what? You’re going to sit up here in this hot apartment and pout? I upset you last night. Got that. Still, that’s no reason to pull this little stunt. A lot of people are upset you’re not at the picnic.”

“A lot of people? And who exactly would that be?”

His jaw tightened. “Me, for one.”

“Why?”

“Because I—I care about you, Annie.”

He cared about her
. That was the best he could do. And it wasn’t good enough. Despair settled in her stomach.

He hesitated. “I told you I was sorry.”

“Not everything’s about you,” she said.

“Maybe not, but—” He ran a thumb along her cheek. Tipping his head, he took a good long look at her. His brow creased. “Annie? What’s wrong?”

She looked a mess, and she knew it. While she’d been in the bathroom, she’d caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror over her sink. Her eyes were swollen and red, her cheeks flushed.

Not trusting herself, she pulled away. “It has nothing to do with you.”

“Your grandfather? Is he worse?”

The concern in his voice was her undoing. Her heart, which she’d thought broken before, crumbled in a thousand shards.

“No. Not that I know.”

“She won’t help you.”

“No.” Despite her best intentions, the tears started again. “She’s going to let him die.”

He pulled her in, buried her face in his chest, and held her tightly. “I’m sorry, darlin’.”

Between sobs, she said, “She’s going to let him die. She won’t even get tested.”

“How about if I go talk to her?”

And he would. He would do that for her. That knowledge only made her cry harder. She was going to lose them both, her grandpa and Cash.

“Annie, I don’t know what to say. What to do.”

“Don’t say anything at all. Make love to me, Cash.”

“Annie—”

“Please.”

“I should say no, but I can’t.” He carried her into the bedroom, then stopped. “What’s this?”

She’d forgotten. Clothes were strewn across the bed, some folded, some tossed haphazardly. She couldn’t tell him she was leaving. Not yet.

Double standard? Yes. She’d been angry because he hadn’t told her everything, and now she was holding back. Again.

She’d tell him later. Why ruin today for him any more than she already had?

“I decided to clean my closet.” With a sweep of her hand, she brushed the clothes to the floor.

About to argue the point, he gave up when she closed the distance between them and kissed him. All the passion, all the hurt, the anger, the need, poured from her to him.

Within minutes, their clothes joined the ones scattered across the floor. Naked, they fell to her bed. She needed one last time.

Cash didn’t disappoint.

Freshly bathed, hair brushed and makeup reapplied, and dressed in a pair of Sadler store bargain-barrel shorts and an Armani original top she’d brought with her, Annelise walked down the stairs ahead of Cash. The back door to Dottie’s opened, and Rufus stepped out.

“Ms. Montjoy.” He nodded. “Everything okay?”

“Yes. I’ve decided to go to the barbecue after all.” After a moment, she said, “You know, while we’re here, I’d prefer you and Silas call me Annie.”

Rufus looked almost offended. “Ms. Montjoy—”

“Annie. Otherwise the two of you will stick out like a sore thumb. We don’t want to call any more attention to you than we need to. Right?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She laid a hand on his arm. “Everyone here knows me as Annie.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He shuffled a foot. “Ms. Willis is ready to leave for the party. Do you mind if we give her a ride?”

“Not at all.” Annelise stopped, looked at the Caddy, at Staubach waiting patiently in the backseat, his tongue lolling out. She turned to Cash. “She could ride with us.”

“You feeling the need for a chaperone again? Kind of late for that, don’t you think?”

Mortified, she shot a quick glance at Rufus.

“Yes, she can.” Cash chuckled. “Let me run in, see if she needs help with anything.”

He came out carrying a platter of cookies with Dottie trailing in his wake. Today she wore hot-pink capris and a pink and white polka-dotted blouse. Pink sandals sporting huge rhinestones finished off her outfit.

“You look wonderful, Dottie.”

“You don’t look half-bad yourself, sweetie. That top is the exact color of your eyes.” Dottie studied her, then Cash. “You looked awfully pale when you came home this morning, Annie, but I see you got your color back.”

A blaze of heat rushed from her toes to the top of her head. Cash threw his head back and laughed till she elbowed him in the ribs.

“Ouch! Careful, darlin’. Don’t want to make me drop the dessert.”

“I’ll dessert you,” she muttered.

He leaned in close and whispered, “I think you already did.”

Deciding discretion was, indeed, the better part of valor, she slunk off to the car.

Things were in full swing when they pulled into the yard, and Annelise was suddenly very glad she’d come. She said a prayer of thanks that Cash had driven to her apartment to collect her, then a second one that she’d have today with him and all these others who’d come to mean so much to her.

Determined to make the most of this gift, Annelise fought to put her hurt aside. She hadn’t saved her grandfather. She hadn’t won Cash’s heart. And so hers would ache. But for today, she’d do her best to ignore it.

Forcing a smile, she helped Dottie out of the backseat. Staubach bounded out after her.

Some of the hands had thrown together a band, and the music practically flowed from their fiddles, guitars, and a rather beat-up drum set. Paco, showing off a remarkably good voice, stood in an old hay wagon pressed into service as a stage and sang about cheating hearts. A few couples two-stepped on the makeshift dance floor they’d created the day before.

Neighbors and friends came up to them as they made their way with the cookies to several tables already groaning under the weight of the delicious-smelling food Rosie and the girls had prepared.

No one should go hungry
, Annelise thought, even as a calorie counter cranked up in her mind.

Some of the townspeople nodded at her but seemed hesitant to approach. Even Cash introduced her with more deference than he had in the past.

“See,” she hissed. “This is exactly why I didn’t tell you about my so-called
pedigree
sooner. Don’t treat me any differently than you did before you knew who my grandfather was. I’m the same woman who’s been mucking out your stalls.”

“The hell you are.”

She put a hand on his shoulder. “Yes, I am.”

“Fine. You are.”

Austin, his nephew, ran up to him, a football cradled in his arms. “Throw me some, Uncle Cash?”

“You bet.”

She sat down on one of the hay bales, her foot tapping to the beat of a Trace Adkins song. Her heart beat way too fast. Seeing Cash surrounded by his family, she realized how small hers was. If she lost her grandfather…Melancholy settled over her again.

She’d hoped against hope to stumble across her before-unaccounted-for aunt. She had. She’d prayed that aunt could save her grandfather. She wouldn’t.

And Cash. He’d be furious come this time tomorrow when he realized she’d skipped town.

Well, it couldn’t be helped. There was no other way. She couldn’t stay knowing she loved him, that he couldn’t love her back. And she needed to spend whatever time was left with Grandpa.

Her head jerked up as a new voice joined the band. Deep and rich. Cash stood on stage in front of the mic, singing about the wonder of love.

She couldn’t bear to listen. Standing, she wandered over to the horses. Several of them had been decorated for the Fourth with red, white, and blue ribbons braided into their manes and tails. Blankets made to look like the American flag draped over their backs. Old Molly even wore an Uncle Sam hat perched jauntily between her ears.

A couple of the hands were giving kids horseback rides, and parents with cameras stood by the board fence capturing it all for posterity.

One little girl, about three years old and cute as a button in her red, white, and blue outfit, stood in the middle of the paddock crying. She wanted to ride but was afraid to get on alone.

Out of the corner of her eye, Annelise saw Cash coming toward them. One foot on the middle rail, he vaulted over the fence. Mounting a horse with a flag painted on its side, his hat tipped low over his eyes, he held out his arms. One of the ranch hands lifted the little girl into them. Cash slowly guided the horse around the outside of the paddock. With the little girl now grinning ear to ear, he stopped by her parents so they could get their picture.

Oh, boy
, Annelise thought. And the storm within grew wilder.

Cash watched Annie walk away. He finished his loop around the ring, then handed the pigtailed little girl down to her mother.

“Thanks, Cash.”

“No biggie. Can’t have her growing up afraid of horses.” He dismounted, patted the mare’s muzzle, and tossed the reins to one of his men.

His sister was waiting for him when he jumped the fence. “Hey, Cash.” She locked an arm through his. “You know I’ve always wanted what’s best for you, little brother.”

“Uh-oh.”

“What do you mean, uh-oh?”

“Any time you start out like that, I’m in trouble.”

“Not this time. Not necessarily you, anyway.” She patted his hand. “First, though, I want to say I think you’ve found a real treasure.”

His brows wrinkled.

“Cash, anybody with half a brain knows you and Annie are getting real serious about each other.”

He tried to pull away, but after wrestling two kids around, his sister had grown some muscle. Without making a stink about it, he had no choice but to stay arm-locked with her.

“I saw the pictures Mel ran.” She slapped at him. “Don’t go making that face. I caught the two of you on AOL and
Entertainment Tonight
, too.”

“What?” Now he did break loose.

“Annie’s big news, bro. I also believe she’s that someone special who’s been missing in your life.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about, believe me.”

“Have you done something to screw this up?”

“No.” He kicked a dirt clod. “Yes. Maybe.”

“What’s wrong, Cash? What did you do?” Her eyes narrowed.

“I can’t go into it now.”

“You don’t
want
to go into it now.”

“That’s what I said.”