Stealing the Cowboy's Heart Read online

  “You’d miss it if they didn’t.”

  “Ha. Try me.”

  Kylie grinned. “Now, I have a question for you. Where are you in your plan? I think you have one more year, right?”

  “My plan?”

  “Your five-year plan?” She looked confused...no, more like upset. “When we first met, you said you had a five-year plan... You know, about leaving the rodeo next year and going back to Wyoming. To join your brothers?”

  “Well, things have changed some since I made that decision, especially in this last year. And circumstances have changed at home too. Basically, everything’s up in the air at this point...”

  Kylie stared at him as if he’d just told her the sun would never shine again.

  He wanted to stop talking, but it wasn’t fair of him not to explain. At least about the things he knew. “Now that I’m doing so well in the rankings, I need to put away as much money as I can. So...I guess the short answer is, yes, I do plan to go back to ranching, but I’m not so sure about the rest of the picture.”

  “It’s just that you were so adamant,” she said with a shrug and looked down, although he doubted she was still studying the menu. “Does your family know you’re here? I mean this close to Wyoming?”

  “They know about my leg and that I’m sidelined, but I might’ve left out the part that I’m six hours away.”

  Kylie winced. At least he thought that’s what that was.

  “That’s not very nice.”

  “They don’t need me. And they’re used to my schedule taking me all over the place. Mom’s away visiting my sister in Utah. After she’s back, I’ll swing by on my way to Oklahoma.”

  “To a rodeo?”

  He shook his head. “My doctor.”

  Relieved that they’d veered to a safer subject, he leaned back and drank his beer.

  Irene returned with a pad and pencil. “You two ready?”

  Kylie looked at the woman as if she were speaking Martian. “May we have another minute?”

  “Take all the time you want, hon,” Irene said. “I’ll check back later, but feel free to give me a holler.”

  Kylie went back to studying the menu, and Landon almost teased her that she wasn’t going to be quizzed. But he had a feeling it wasn’t food that was on her mind. She was disappointed in him. Why, he wasn’t sure. Maybe because he hadn’t stuck to the plan? Or did it have something to do with him not seeing his family? Oh, hell, maybe it had nothing to do with him.

  “Know what you want?” he asked.

  “I think so. You?”

  “Yep. Let’s order so we can discuss your remodeling plans.”

  Kylie sighed. “I still think it’s a bad idea.”

  “Why? You don’t trust me?”

  “You know why.”

  “You’re not my mother, Kylie. Stop acting like it.” Landon hadn’t raised his voice, but he regretted his words.

  She lowered her gaze and wouldn’t look at him.

  “I’m sorry, Kylie. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.”

  “No need to apologize. You’re right.” She gave him a fleeting smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

  Irene showed up again and Kylie ordered quickly, even adding a glass of wine. Which made him feel more like crap. He might’ve seen her drink alcohol maybe five times over the years.

  While it was no excuse for his remark, he felt edgy, once again worried about pulling off this harebrained plan of his. Luckily he’d found Joe easily. They worked out some logistics and timeline, but Landon didn’t know the guy from Adam. There was no way to be sure he wouldn’t open his mouth, even though Landon was paying him to keep their deal private.

  “Landon?”

  Both women were looking expectantly at him. Irene had her pencil poised.

  “Rib eye, medium rare, and a potato, nothing on it.”

  “Salad comes with it,” Irene said. “We have some good homemade dressings.”

  “You know what, skip the potato. I do want a salad, but not the regular side.” He quickly scanned the menu options. “I’d like the house special without the croutons and Italian dressing on the side.”

  Irene hesitated. “That’s a big salad. People normally order it as an entrée.”

  “Good. Exactly what I want.”

  Grinning, Irene picked up the menus. “A man who watches his figure. How refreshing.”

  He was glad to see Kylie smile too.

  “What?” he said, playing it up and patting his belly. “I’m not getting enough exercise with this bum leg. Gotta cut calories.”

  “Except for the occasional chocolate cupcake?” Kylie asked, before both women laughed, and Irene went to another table.

  “You always were a healthy eater,” Kylie said. “That’s why I could never understand why you drank so much beer.”

  Landon was speechless for a moment. “When did you ever see me drink too much?”

  “Um, the night you and Gary ended up in Mexico?”

  “Ah.” He nodded, pissed at himself just thinking about his stupidity. “It’s something I try to forget.” He stared into Kylie’s beautiful eyes, and momentarily got off track. “Other than that night, did you ever see me drunk?”

  Without stopping to think about it she shook her head. “Actually, I’ve never seen you drink more than two beers.”

  “Sounds about right.”

  “Why that night?”

  He shrugged, despite knowing the exact reason. “I’d just come back after my brother’s accident.” He paused while Irene delivered Kylie’s wine.

  “I don’t think I ever heard what happened to him.”

  “It was a freak accident. He was trying to cut a calf loose from some barbed wire, and he fell down a twenty-foot slope. Martin didn’t find him for over an hour. He didn’t move him, instead they waited for the paramedics. The doctor said Chad was lucky. He could have been in much worse shape. He was in rehab for a long time, though. So I stayed to help Martin...” He realized he hadn’t talked to anyone about this before. “Anyway, getting back on the circuit was harder than I expected.”

  “Gary and I had just met you around that time. I’ve always admired you for putting your family first.”

  “Hell, if I’d really put them first, I would’ve quit rodeoing altogether.”

  Kylie’s lips parted. But she just blinked, didn’t say a word.

  He wanted to kick himself from here to next week for saying that, especially after everything he’d told her. He gulped some of his beer, wishing he knew if explaining he didn’t mean it would help. That his brothers had sworn that he didn’t need to stick around, and Martin had even said that his leaving might’ve been the best thing for Chad.

  Kylie was studying him in a way that made him brace for more questions, ones that he wouldn’t know how to answer. Before she could start, he said, “Let’s talk about the bench seats.”

  She hesitated, but only for a second. “Oh, I didn’t tell you. Joe called—the man who’d given me the quote? He gave me a different price for just the counter and condiment cabinet. It’s totally within my budget and he’s starting day after tomorrow.”

  “Great. I assume he’s going to work after hours?”

  “Mostly. But I offered to close a few half days as long as I can give my regular customers notice.”

  Landon did all he could to keep his annoyance from showing. “What did he say?”

  “He liked that idea, especially since he still has to order some of the materials.”

  Damn, the old buzzard was already going off script. Great. Just great.

  Irene brought their salads and the timing couldn’t have been better. After she left, Landon said, “I’ll have to place an order for the oak. I assume everyone uses the local hardware s
tore?”

  “You still want to take on the tables as well as the bench seats?” she asked softly. “Because honestly, I can wait.”

  “Why? I’m here.”

  “And another thing, I don’t know where you’d be able to work.”

  “Do you have a garage?”

  She nodded. “It’s small, though. And you’d need tools... I don’t have anything other than a hammer and screwdriver.”

  “I have some tools in my truck. Whatever else I need I’ll pick up at the hardware store.”

  “You could probably borrow stuff from Matt. Or the McAllisters. You’d like them a lot.”

  “Maybe. I’ll figure out what’s what first.”

  After they’d each taken a few bites of their salads, Kylie set her fork down and took a sip of wine. She made a little bit of a face, which Landon pretended not to notice.

  “Promise me something,” she said.

  “What’s that?”

  “If the project gets to be too much for you, or it bothers your leg, or you get antsy to leave, please tell me. Don’t—”

  “Antsy to leave? I’m not going anywhere, Kylie.” He held her gaze. Didn’t she understand what he’d been trying to tell her? “I mean, I’ve got the doctor and I need to get back on the circuit, but I’m here for you.”

  “I just don’t want you to feel as if you have to finish,” she said.

  Damn. Sticking to the year’s grace period hadn’t been easy. But he’d known she needed the time and space to heal, to fully understand that the failure was Gary’s and not hers. But what had tormented him the most was the possibility she and Gary would reconcile. Landon had lost too much sleep worried that her guilt over their shared attraction would push her into giving Gary a second chance.

  Kylie reached over and laid her hand on his. “Promise me?”

  He sucked in a breath, and turned his hand over so that their palms met. “I promise.”

  Eyes wide and startled, she nodded. He barely had time to squeeze her hand before she retreated. “I’ve heard the hardware store has a problem bringing in special orders quickly. All this might be a moot point.”

  “That’s crazy. What about Kalispell? That’s what, less than an hour away? I bet we could get whatever we need there. What time do you close tomorrow?”

  “Um, four o’clock.”

  “Okay, that’s not bad if we leave right away.”

  Her brows went up. “We?”

  “Well, yeah. I know oak is the front-runner, but you might find another kind of wood you like. Something that’s cheaper. Any chance you can close an hour earlier?”

  “I suppose,” she said, stabbing at a cherry tomato.

  “Another thing... Have you thought about the bar stools?” Landon waited for her to answer. But she sure wasn’t in any hurry. “I guess I’m not clear on what you’re aiming for.”

  “I’m not sure myself.” She glanced around and lowered her voice. “It probably seems silly, but I can’t alienate the townspeople.”

  “I get it. The town I’m from isn’t all that much bigger than Blackfoot Falls.”

  “Seriously?” Kylie said, looking adorably baffled. “I don’t think you told me that before. Huh.” She stared at him for so long he considered hitting the restroom just to check if there was anything in his teeth. “While we’re on the subject, why don’t you have a girlfriend?”

  He waited for the punch line. Evidently there wasn’t one. “You do realize we weren’t within a thousand miles of that subject.”

  “Don’t be silly. It comes under the heading of stuff I don’t know about you.”

  “Ah. Of course.” He stalled, wondering what had prompted the question. He’d already told her he hadn’t forgotten about her, but he didn’t dare go overboard about that. Not yet. “Do you mean ever, or now?”

  “Both.”

  “Aren’t you forgetting about Sierra?”

  Kylie wrinkled her nose. “You dated her for less than a month.”

  “Yeah, but we—” He cleared his throat, pretty sure Kylie didn’t expect him to be that honest. “We went out like six times.”

  She gave him a patient smile. “That’s not what I meant and you know it.”

  “I’m only twenty-eight. Not exactly over the hill.”

  “I didn’t ask why you weren’t married.”

  He sipped his beer, not sure what else to say. Was she trying to throw up obstacles? “I had a girlfriend for the two years I was in college. Shelly wanted a city life, and I didn’t. Can I eat my salad now?”

  “I forgot you went to college. What was your major?”

  “History,” he said. “But I quit early.”

  Irene showed up with their meals. Landon quickly dug into his steak. A lot of chewing meant less talking. Kylie had opened a door. Maybe it was only by a crack, but he was willing to do whatever it took to prove he was the right man for her.

  Chapter Eight

  Landon tensed when he noticed the time. He was supposed to pick Kylie up in twenty minutes for their trip to Kalispell. “Okay, let me explain this again.” He’d been on the phone with Joe for a while and wasn’t at all confident the guy understood the problem. Or the plan he’d gone over several times. “If Kylie closes the bakery early so you can work on the counter, that ups the chances of me being caught with my pants down.”

  “How do ya figure?”

  His head was going to explode. He yanked a shirt out of the small closet and sent two hangers banging against the wall. “Because I’ll be working in her garage. If she leaves early she’ll probably go home.”

  He gave that a moment to sink in, but he wasn’t counting on it. “And the deal was,” he continued, “that you’re supposed to be helping me during the day, then working on the counter in the evening—”

  “Now hold on. I thought you said you were hiring me as a consultant.”

  “That’s right. A hands-on consultant. With my bum leg, I don’t know how much help I’ll need.” Landon knew he was stretching the truth some, but he couldn’t admit he wasn’t all that good with anything beyond a hammer.

  “Ain’t bad enough you’re stealing the job right out from under me. Now you’re asking me to work twelve-hour days. And just when we’re coming on hunting season.”

  Landon bit off a curse. “Joe, stop. Think about it for a minute. I’m paying you more than you quoted Kylie. You’re ahead on this no matter how you look at it.”

  Joe was quiet a moment. “I can’t figure out what you’re getting out of this.”

  “Kylie’s a friend and I want her to be happy. That’s all. Look, can we just agree the project will be completed in two weeks? Delay the counter if you need to.”

  “I don’t know about that. Kylie seemed more interested in getting the counter done first.”

  “Because she can’t afford—” Landon had no business getting frustrated. Guilt pricked his conscience. He didn’t want to mess things up for Kylie just because he’d bitten off more than he could chew. Even asking to work in her garage had been self-serving. He needed to spend more time with her. “You’re right,” Landon said. “The last thing I want to do is disappoint her.”

  Joe’s rusty chuckle grated on his nerves. “You’re sweet on her.”

  Landon sighed. “Yep.”

  “Why didn’t you just say so, boy? Kylie’s a good kid. I like her, so here’s what we’ll do. You go ahead and use her garage to distress the wood and seal it. My workshop’s a few miles outside of town. That’s where we’ll do most of the construction.”

  By the time Landon had gotten the dimensions he’d need to get started and they finally disconnected he felt a lot better. All the sneaking around didn’t sit well with him, except for the fact that Kylie would end up happy.

  He slip
ped on his shirt, and since he had a few minutes, he decided to call Chad. Run a few things by him, go over the list before he and Kylie headed out.

  “If it isn’t the master carpenter.”

  Landon thought about hanging up on his brother, but decided it was better to just take the abuse. “Are you done? Or have you been saving up waiting for me to call.”

  “Both. What’s up?”

  “I have a list of stuff to get, and I want to make sure I’m not forgetting anything.”

  “Shoot.”

  “Oak for the bench seats and tables. Polyurethane for the—”

  “Hold on. I did a little checking. Oak isn’t your best bet. With the humidity in that part of the country, I’d go for ash or maple.”

  Landon should have done his own research, dammit. He had done some internet searches to see what he was getting himself into, but he hadn’t considered humidity. In fact, Joe hadn’t said anything either. “Is that going to make a big difference?”

  “Depends on how long you want the furniture to last.”

  “Okay. Good. Thanks.” He continued down the list, most of which he’d gotten from Joe, the rest from the DIY websites he’d found.

  Chad waited until he was finished. “Sounds good. But I know what you generally keep in your toolbox. You realize you’ll need things like a router, circular saw, a power drill—”

  “I’m using someone’s workshop. He’s got all that stuff.”

  “Okay, that just leaves the tool belt.”

  Landon was just about to ask what kind when he heard Chad’s wife call out, “Women love tool belts. Make sure it rides low on your hips.”

  Chad laughed. “Cindy’s right. And don’t skimp on the leather. You gonna tell me who she is or what?”

  Landon sighed. “She’s a friend.”

  “A friend? Try again, dude. You aren’t doing this for a pal.”

  “Fine. She’s a really good friend. And that’s it, I’m not saying anything else.”

  Sounding a little distanced, as if he’d turned away from the phone, Chad said, “It’s definitely serious.”

  “Dammit, Chad. Knock it off. And tell Cindy I can hear her whooping it up back there. Jeez.”