Somebody Like You Page 21

  “Darn shame. He’s not ugly.”

  Annelise swallowed her laugh. “Sounds like it’s my bad luck, huh?”

  “Judy, stop jackin’ your jaws and take the lady’s order. Annie came in to eat, not to get set up by no matchmaker.”

  “All right, all right. What’cha gonna have?”

  She went with fried green tomatoes, ribs, and a salad to ease her guilty conscience. Then, throwing caution to the wind, she ordered sweet tea.

  She chatted with Oliver and Judy till her meal came. Then they actually got busy, and she concentrated on her food. Between this and the meal Cash promised tonight, she’d have a month’s ration of fat calories today.

  “You meetin’ with Thelma again?” Ollie asked while she was paying.

  “No. She’s going to call me later. Right now, I’m running over to Maggie’s to pick up a dress.”

  “Aren’t her things fabulous?” one of the women at a table of four asked.

  “They sure are. With her talent, I’m amazed she’s not in New York.”

  “New York City?”

  One look at the appalled expressions on everyone’s face and Annelise realized her gaffe. Time to leave.

  “’Bye, Ollie. Nice to meet you, Judy.” She nodded toward the other customers.

  Several women were milling around Maggie’s when she walked in. As she listened to them, she realized they’d driven in from Austin, and it wasn’t their first trip to the shop. She didn’t blame them in the least.

  “Your dress is finished,” Maggie said. “I’ll be just a few minutes.”

  “Absolutely. That’ll give me some time to look around a little bit more.” It had dawned on her on the ride to Lone Tree that she had black leather pants, a couple of pairs of jeans, and a handful of T-shirts. Period.

  While Maggie helped the three with their selections, Annelise found a pair of white slacks and an incredible gauzy top for the trip tomorrow. She’d need something to wear the morning after the fund-raiser, too. On the Maggie originals wall, she spotted a short skirt in a fresh geometric print. A short-sleeve blouse in the same coral as in the skirt caught her eye.

  “Okay if I try these on?”

  “Sure. The dressing room’s in the back corner.”

  On her way to the changing room, she spotted a pair of pale pink shorts. She picked them up and, rummaging through the racks, found a white top with a sweetheart neckline. The outfit would be perfect for a drive-in date, wouldn’t it? With a Cheshire cat grin, she added it to her finds.

  Everything fit as though they’d been custom-made for her. She hung them by the counter. “I’m going to take these, too.”

  “Oh, there’s a great necklace on the mannequin over there that would match that top perfectly,” one of the women from Austin said.

  She was right. Annelise added it to her growing pile.

  When the women left, bags in tow, Maggie sighed. “They’re good customers. About once a month, they make the trip to check out my new stock. Okay. Let’s go to the back and try on this dress of yours.”

  She flipped the door sign to read CLOSED. “We don’t need any interruptions. It shouldn’t take too long.”

  Once in the sewing room, Maggie removed the dress from a cover bag.

  “Oh, Maggie.”

  “I know.” She grinned ear to ear. “I want you to turn your back to the mirror.” She slid the dress over Annelise’s head. She sighed as the silk whispered along her body.

  Typical designer, Maggie wouldn’t let her take even the tiniest peek till she fussed with it a bit, then slipped on the sheer short-sleeve jacket. “Okay.” Maggie turned her toward the mirror.

  The dress was everything Annelise could have hoped for and more. This should, pretty please, knock the boots right off Cash’s feet.

  “Maggie Sullivan, you’ve got magic in those fingers of yours.”

  The young woman laughed. “I don’t know about magic, but I have a few thousand pin pricks.”

  “Did you get any sleep last night?” Annelise couldn’t help running her fingers over the dress’s skirt. It made a wonderful little shushing sound.

  “Enough,” Maggie said. “It’s energizing to see a creation come to life.”

  “It must be wonderful to be so talented.” She turned and peered over her shoulder to see the back. “I promise I’ll mention your name every chance I get. We’ll see if we can plaster you all over the news.”

  Maggie hugged her. “That would truly be a dream come true.” She studied Annelise’s reflection. “What are you going to do for shoes? Accessories?”

  “My mom’s taking care of that.”

  She frowned. “Okay.”

  Annelise laughed. “I called her last night. Believe me, there’s nothing she likes better than to get her fingers in the details. I’ll have everything I need.”

  Maggie helped her out of the dress and, while Annelise slipped back into her jeans, she zipped it up in a protective bag.

  They went into the front where she paid for the rest of her purchases. “Not bad for an hour of shopping. Thanks again, Maggie. I’ll see you soon.”

  “Great. Have fun tomorrow night.”

  Once she had her things safely stored, she decided to give Thelma Hanson a call before she left town.

  On the third ring, Thelma answered.

  “Ms. Hanson? This is Annelise Montjoy.”

  “I know who you are. ’Spose you’re wondering if I’ve had any luck so far.”

  “Well, yes. I’m in Lone Tree this afternoon, so…”

  “I’m having lunch with your aunt tomorrow.”

  “You are?” Her breath hitched. Her aunt! For the first time, it seemed real. Before, she’d been a vague idea. “Does she know about me?”

  “No, ma’am, she don’t. Didn’t figure I’d tell her about your visit till I was sitting face to face with her. Give her less chance to pretend she doesn’t know what I’m talking about. You know, she might not be too happy to see you.”

  “I understand.”

  “You’ve waited a long time, honey. Give me a little more. I’ll call when I know something or can get her to agree to talk with you.”

  “Thank you. I appreciate this so much, Ms. Hanson.”

  “Didn’t we agree to Thelma?”

  “Yes, ma’am, we did. I appreciate your help, Thelma. I have to go to Dallas tomorrow to attend a fund-raiser for a charity I sponsor.”

  “Now and Then. I know all about it. Been reading about you through that Google thing on the Internet.”

  Of course. Wasn’t her life an open book? “I’ll be staying overnight and coming back the next day. I’ll have my phone with me, though, so you can leave a message if I don’t answer.”

  “Fine.”

  Annelise found herself with a dead phone held up to her ear. Well. Brevity could be a good thing, she supposed.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Annelise’s phone rang. Giving her new dress one last pat where it hung in the tiny closet, she bolted for the kitchen and her cell.

  “You home?” Cash asked.

  “Yes. I got here a few minutes ago.”

  “Did your dress turn out okay?”

  “It did. Better than I dared imagine.”

  “So, my guess is you’re in a pretty good mood, then.”

  “I am.”

  “Up for a movie? Maybe a hot dog and some popcorn?”

  “You bet. In fact, I’m counting on it.”

  “Thought we’d take the Caddy. Put the top down and sit under the stars.”

  Annelise smiled clear to the tips of her toes. It sounded heavenly.

  “Do you mind if Staubach tags along? He’s promised me he’ll hang out in the backseat and not bother us.”

  She laughed. “That would be more than wonderful. Thanks, Cash. This sounds like fun.”

  “I still can’t believe you’ve never been before.”

  “See? Goes to prove little rich girls don’t have all the fun.”

  There w
as silence for a few seconds, then she chuckled. “It’s okay, Cash. I can poke fun at myself.”

  “You’re too much.”

  She wrapped an arm at her waist and hugged herself, hearing the laughter in his voice.

  “Can you be ready in half an hour? I need to run a couple things over to my parents’ place first.”

  His parents. Her heart dropped to her toes. Memories of them in the barn—right after she and Cash…Well, it was inevitable she’d have to face them again at some point. Might as well get it over.

  Then she thought of the new shorts and top waiting in the bedroom. Her new drive-in outfit. Before she’d run over to Lone Tree, she’d taken a quick shower at the ranch. Still, a bath sure would feel great. “Give me forty.”

  “Deal.”

  She drew a tub and added some bubbles. The sultry scent of bergamot, vanilla, and orchid rose from the hot water. She slid into the tub, leaning back and closing her eyes. Had she ever felt as alive as she did right now, here in this tiny town, working with horses and sharing kisses with Cash?

  Tomorrow, once she attended the fund-raiser, this ideal would undoubtedly come to an end. So she’d better make the most of tonight, hadn’t she?

  He rapped on the door as she gave her lashes one last flick of mascara. She took a moment to check herself out in the mirror. The top fit like a glove, the shorts were fun and flirty. And she was as nervous as a kid at her first piano recital. She took one last calming breath and went to answer the door.

  He leaned against the jamb and let his gaze slide over her. Then he let out a long, wolf whistle. “Well, round them doggies up and bring ’em home. You look like dessert served up on fancy Sunday china, darlin’.”

  She mock-curtsied and batted her lashes. “Why, thank you, sir.”

  When she righted, she met his eyes, eyes dark with desire. Before she could say anything, he pulled her to him and kissed her. And he took no prisoners!

  “We don’t have to go to the drive-in. We could stay right here,” he whispered.

  “Not on your life.” She pushed away. “You promised me a movie and popcorn, and I’m holding you to it.”

  “Grab your purse, then, and let’s go.”

  Staubach waited in the backseat. She rubbed his head, and he gave her a sloppy kiss. “Argh.” She wiped her face.

  Once they were headed down the road, she looked in the side mirror. The dog held his head high, ears flapping in the wind and, she swore, grinning.

  She grinned with him.

  Cash turned off the highway onto a gravel road. The sign read BIG SANDY RANCH.

  “Your folks live here?”

  “Yep. It belonged to my mom’s parents.”

  “Did your grandpa leave his ranch to Vivi or your dad?” She turned to face him. “Or to you? You’re the one keeping it together.”

  Cash’s face showed no emotion. “Kind of a long story there.” He gave her a half smile. “Nothing for you to worry about.”

  Hmm. She begged to differ. She suspected that long story wasn’t totally to Cash’s liking. She saw it in the way he held himself, in the short answer, in his unwillingness to quite meet her eyes. Obviously, though, it wasn’t something he wanted to discuss.

  He pointed to his left. “There’s the old homestead. Mom and Dad decided to leave it as it was. Outside. Inside, that’s a different story. Mom’s gone through every inch of the place, redoing and redecorating—almost on a daily basis.”

  As they drove closer, Annelise couldn’t take her eyes off the house and grounds. A rambling two-story sprawled across a well-manicured green lawn. Bushes and flowers lapped at the foundation. A wrap-around porch boasted a swing and comfy looking lounge chairs. Pots of bright flowers and trailing ivy lined the front steps.

  A big red barn, doors open, sat at a distance from the house. Another smaller structure appeared off to the right. A huge garage sat across the drive from the house.

  A few horses cropped grass in a paddock, and she heard cows lowing in the distance.

  It looked like home. Looked like a Norman Rockwell version of a Texas ranch.

  Pulling up to the sidewalk, Cash got out and went to the back of the car. Opening the trunk, she heard him grunt as he lifted something out.

  She opened her door and watched as he swung the saddle over his shoulder and slammed the trunk.

  Holding out a hand to her, he said, “Come on. I’ll only be a minute.”

  At the front door, he knocked, wiped his feet on the welcome mat, and stuck his head in the door. “Anybody home?”

  “We’re in the kitchen, honey. Come on in,” his mother called.

  “I’ve got the saddle Dad wanted. I’ll put it down in the hallway here.” He dropped the saddle onto the burnished oak floor. To Annelise, it looked incongruous beside the antique side table with its stained glass lamp and fancy little doodads.

  “That’s fine. Are you hungry?” She peeked her head around the doorway. “Oh, hi, Annie. I didn’t realize Cash had brought you with him.” She wiped her hands on a tea towel. “Excuse my manners.”

  “I’m the one who dropped in uninvited.”

  “Dad’s in the barn finishing up a couple last-minute chores. Would you two like to stay for dinner? It’s pick and lose tonight, so…” She spread her hands. “We’d love to have you.” Mrs. Hardeman included Annelise in her welcoming smile.

  “Thanks, Mom, but we can’t. I promised Annie I’d take her to the drive-in.” He winked. “She’s never been if you can believe that. We’ll grab something at the snack bar for dinner.”

  “You sure?” She walked to them and rubbed her son’s back. “I don’t feel like we’ve seen much of you since we’ve been home. Maybe tomorrow night?”

  “Actually, Annie and I have to fly to Dallas tomorrow afternoon. She’s got a thing there. We’ll be staying overnight.”

  “Oh?”

  Annelise grew warm with embarrassment. “Dottie’s going with us,” she said quickly.

  “Really? That’s wonderful. Dottie’s a good person.”

  “Yes, she is.”

  “Gotta go, Mom. I left Staubach out in the car. If I leave him there too long, he’ll eat the upholstery.”

  “That dog is liable to eat more than that. Never saw anything like him.” She kissed Cash’s cheek, then surprised Annelise by hugging her and giving her a quick kiss. Laying a hand on Annelise’s face, Mrs. Hardeman said, “You come back.”

  “Thank you. I will.”

  “And have a good time tonight.” She pointed a finger at Cash. “And you. Remember where you are. No fogging the windows. Let this poor girl watch the movie.”

  “That what you and Dad did when you went? Watched the show?”

  She gave him another loud kiss. “Do as I say.”

  “Not as you did?”

  “Go on.” She laughed. “Get out of here.”

  Halfway down the walk, Annelise stopped, her mind replaying something he’d said to his mother. “Flying? You didn’t tell me we were flying to Dallas. I assumed we’d drive.”

  “Flying’s faster.”

  “Is there an airport nearby?”

  “There’s one at Whispering Pines.”

  “Whispering—” Her forehead creased.

  “I’m flying us, Annie. I keep a little plane at the ranch. And you don’t need to worry. It’s big enough for the three of us and all the luggage you two gals will have.”

  Her mouth opened, closed. Finally she asked, “You fly?”

  “I do. It’s a handy skill to have when you live this far from everything.”

  She’d slipped on her sunglasses, but she pushed them down her nose to look at him. “This won’t be your first solo?”

  He laughed and opened her door for her. “No.”

  “You own your own plane?”

  “Yes, I do.”

  Oh, for someone who prided herself on her ability to quickly size up the competition, she’d pegged this man so wrong. She remembered their first meeting. How
she’d judged him on the old Caddy, his rundown boots. Worried he wouldn’t eat because Staubach had raided the bag of groceries. She hadn’t only missed the bull’s-eye, she hadn’t landed anywhere near the target.

  She slid into the front seat. He waited while she tied her hair back, then off they went, Kenny Chesney singing about sunsets and tequila.

  “What in the world is pick and lose? Some Texas dish you’ve hidden from the rest of the world?”

  He laughed. “It’s my mom’s name for leftover night. She cleans out the fridge, and you pick from whatever’s on the table. A little bit of this, a little bit of that. Since it’s all a day or two old and has been warmed up once or twice, a lot of times you lose on the quality. Pick and lose. But then you probably didn’t eat leftovers, did you?”

  She turned on the seat to look at him. “Does it bother you that I might not have? Leftovers have no bearing on who I am.”

  “Oh, honey. Yeah, they do.”

  “You’re wrong, Cash. And you know what? You’re the one being the snob here. Not me.”

  He swung out onto the main road. “I didn’t say you were a snob.”

  “Yes, you did.”

  “When?”

  “Right now. You insinuated it. You do that a lot. Little digs.”

  He glanced at her. “They’re not intentional.”

  “Doesn’t matter. A dig is a dig.”

  “Staubach?”

  The dog’s ears perked up, then flattened again in the wind.

  “Stay away from girls. They’re touchy creatures.”

  Annelise swatted him.

  When they got to the drive-in, he pulled up to what looked like a toll booth and paid. Then they drove on through.

  “How close to the screen do you want to be?”

  “I don’t know. Where do you usually park?”

  “I like to go to the back. That way nobody bothers you on their way to the concession stand. And no one interrupts when things get hot and heavy.”

  She laughed. “Right. I should have known. So how many lucky ladies have come here with you, Cash?”

  He shook his head. “Huh-uh. Not going there.” When she started to open her mouth, he said, “A gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell.”