A Breath of Heaven: El Camino Real (4 page)

 And it was killing him.

The pain of losing Abby would hurt his
heart till the day he died.

Cade unzipped the side pocket of his
suitcase and took out a little gift he’d bought for his reluctant hostess. He
smiled. Despite their battles, he still thought the world of her. She was
something else. Abby wasn’t a lazy little rich girl, she was an exceptional
woman, one of the most respected veterinarians in East Texas. Growing up on one
of the prime ranches in the state, Abby was as entrenched in the cowboy way of
life as he was. By all rights, they should be married now with a houseful of
kids, not be at odds like two cantankerous cur dogs fighting over a bone.

Lying back on the bed, he studied his
peace offering. The stone reminded him of her eyes. He rubbed the large piece
of lapis lazuli carved into the shape of a morning glory flower. Smiling, he
imagined how it was going to look hanging around her graceful neck.

Buzz
.

Cade opened his phone. It was Jase. “Hey,
Groom. I’m still alive.”

“I’m glad to hear that, I had my doubts
there for a while.”

“Me too. Right now, I’m safely ensconced
in the guest room. So, what’s the plan?”

“My plan? Well, the weather’s not
cooperating. Shiloh will be here in the morning, but Trace and Trevor won’t
make it till the afternoon. I have to keep Pam happy, so I’ve promised her the
dance at the lodge is still on.”

“Sounds good to me. Not even a blizzard’s
going to keep people away from El Camino. Good times here are legendary. Did
you call your sister or do I need to slip her a note under the door?”

“Ha! No, I called her, you don’t need to
put yourself out.”

Jase probably realized Cade would love an
excuse to knock on her door. “That’s probably smart. How about your plan?”

Cade sighed. “Now, this is just between me
and you, Jase. I don’t want everyone knowing that I’m pulling out all the
stops.”

“Your secret’s safe with me. It’s high
time you two buried the hatchet.”

“Oh, I want to do more than stop fighting
– I want to win your sister’s hand.”

Jase laughed. “Just make sure you don’t
pull back a nub – and good luck. If there’s anything I can do – just tell me.”

“I’ll do it. You can wish me luck.” Cade
drawled, hoping he wasn’t making the biggest mistake of his life. 

“Oh, I wish you luck. I’ll see you in the
morning, if you survive the night – that is.”

“Wouldn’t miss it. This is going to be a
Christmas to remember.”

“Yea, my wedding and your funeral.” Jase
laughed at his own joke. “No, seriously - remember, Cade, this is your home
too. Always has been, no matter whether my sister comes to her senses or not.”

“Thanks.” Jase’s statement made Cade feel
funny. There’d been a time when Abby was the primary one who made him feel as
if he belonged in the family. Hanging up the phone, he let his mind wander to
days gone by. The King boys and their sister had run the ranch since their
parents had retired to a smaller spread in Colorado where they raised
registered Palominos. El Camino had always been a special place. Like Jase had
said, for all practical purposes, this was his home. He still vividly
remembered the time when his father had been gored by a bull at a Wyoming
rodeo. Cade had been thirteen and alone. If Sam King hadn’t taken him in, he
would’ve ended up in foster care. The Kings had given him a good life and he
loved them as much as if they were his blood kin. None of that had stopped him
from searching for his mother, however. Even now, not a day went by that he
didn’t think of her. Cade kept a PI on retainer to locate her, but so far no
luck. By rights he should give up. It had been years, but he just couldn’t.
Aside from wanting Abby in his life, finding his mother was the next most
important thing to him.

Cade could still remember the day Sam King
had called his wife and told her to set another place at the table. The big
rancher had brought him to his house, a scared gangly teenager with no place to
go. The Kings had opened their home and made him welcome. Oh, it hadn’t been
easy. Even though they treated him like one of their own, there were still
folks in the area who took a sick satisfaction out of reminding him he was a
half-breed and not quite as good as they were. Some women had gotten their
jollies out of teasing him, then pulling back, saying he wasn’t their kind. Of
course, things changed when he’d made it big on the rodeo circuit. Now he
couldn’t fight the buckle bunnies off with a stick. The only problem was that
he didn’t want the buckle bunnies—he only wanted Abby Grace.

Bam! Bam! Bam
! “Damn!” Was she
trying to give him a heart attack? Cade almost levitated off the bed.

“Supper’s ready!” She yelled. “You have
five minutes to get in here or I’m throwing your part out to the barn cats.”

Her voice sounded through the door and
he’d swear she was laughing. “I’m coming, she-devil. Keep your panties on.” If
she was wearing any. He’d give his eyeteeth to find out. Standing up, Cade
slipped the jewelry into his front pocket, not really sure whether he was going
to give it to the little shrew or not. Before he left the room, he slipped off
his jacket, slinging it on the bed, rolling up the sleeves of his shirt as he
made his way down the hall. Cade smiled, he felt like he was about to enter the
coliseum for a gladiator match.

Abby’s cottage, which sat about a half
mile from the main house, was comfortable, inviting and smelled like home. He
liked it. It had been a while since Cade had spent time in a place like this.
Rodeo life was tough. Well, those days were just about behind him. Was he
relieved? Hell, if he knew. “Something smells damned good.”

“I hope you like it.” Abby sat down
primly, placed her napkin in her lap, and then couldn’t find a place to put her
gaze. Looking at Cade wasn’t an option. She didn’t want to lose her appetite. Abby
laughed, amused by her own joke.

“What are you giggling about? Have you
developed mental illness while I’ve been gone? I‘ve heard early on-set dementia
is a common malady for old maids.” He smirked as he settled himself across from
her. “You know without sex, your hormones go all wonky.”

“Old maid?” Abby gasped, breaking her own
rule and glaring at him. “I’ll have you know I’m only twenty-six years old. I’m
not over the hill, yet, not by a long shot.” His words hurt, but she’d pout
later. Now she wanted to fume.

Cade leaned on the table and stacked his
fork on top of the knife. “Let’s think about this rationally.” He motioned
toward her with one capable, wide sexy hand. “You say you will never marry and
you don’t date. Now, what does that make you exactly?”

“Smart.” Abby chewed on the inside of her
lip and served him his food. “You’re older than me and unmarried. What does
that make you?”

“An eligible bachelor.” He answered
confidently, licking his lips. “This food looks amazing. What is it?”

“A double standard, that’s what it is.”
When he stared pointedly at her, she answered. “Veal chops with Rosemary
butter, pancetta green beans, lemon barley pilaf and a chocolate amaretto
torte.”

Licking his lips, he surveyed his food.
“Hmmmm, you always were a marvelous cook. Did you happen to slip in some
Spanish Fly?” He named a drug often used as both an aphrodisiac and as a
poison. “If you did, I have to tell you it wasn’t necessary. I’m horny all the
time.”

“Oh, hush, I don’t care if you never get
another erection.” She tossed a roll at him, which he caught. “Just eat.”

“And that, my dear, would be a waste. My
pelvic sorcery is legendary.”

Abby choked, giggling. He always could
make her laugh. “I’m sure you are my talented in the pelvic department.” For a
while, they ate in companionable silence, ‘til she felt guilty and searched for
something non-combative to say. “Congratulations, Cade, I heard you made World
Championship Cowboy again.” Heard wasn’t exactly correct. She’d been seated in
the stands at his last competition when he received the coveted award. But he
didn’t need to know that. She just hoped her surprise came through before
Christmas.

“I did.” Soon he needed to tell her he was
retiring and coming home, but not tonight. He dreaded telling her, not sure
why, unless he was afraid she wouldn’t be as happy about it as he needed for
her to be. “So, this wedding, how do you really feel about it? Be honest.”
Poke. Poke. He hid a grin, knowing what was coming.

He wasn’t disappointed. Curse words turned
the air blue. “It’s a mistake, a horrible damn mistake. I can’t believe Jase is
going to marry that wicked, no-count, lily-livered excuse for a woman. She
won’t treat him right. Hell, she won’t even cook for him. She’s a freakin’
vegan!”

Cade roared with laughter. “They can hire
a cook, Abby. Your brother is rich.”

“Yea, that’s why the money-grubbing,
fake-boobed, bleached blonde bimbo is marrying him. For his money, not because
she cares anything about him.” Abby fumed as she viciously cut up her chop. “If
I were marrying the man I love, I’d treat him like a king.” She said that – not
realizing the pun she’d created with her own last name.

Chuckling, Cade was amused and touched.
“Being treated like a King is a good thing, I can attest to that fact.” But
hearing Abby talk about how she would treat a man she loved made him ache with
the need to be that man.  

Abby didn’t seem to be listening to him.
She kept suffering over her future sister-in-law. “She eats garbanzo beans and
seeds and crap. Heck, they can’t even have a normal wedding cake! It has to be
gluten free and be made without eggs. I had to put almond milk in it for
Christ’s sake!”

“Why are you making the cake?” Cade asked
in a conversational tone, knowing he was just getting her more worked up.

“Because I wanted it done right,” she
fussed.

“Brat.” He couldn’t resist.

“Although…”

Abby’s smile was so cute, Cade’s toes
curled in his boots. “What did you do?” He wouldn’t put anything past her. She
was diabolical. He ought to know.

“The last time she ate over here...I put
real butter in her mashed potatoes and honey in her carrots.”

Cade roared. “You’re so evil. I love it!”
Damn, he enjoyed being with her. They fought and carried on, but they seemed to
feed off each other’s energy. It was exciting as hell. Feeling mischievous, he
decided to really piss her off. He loved to live dangerously. “I thought I
heard somewhere you decided to become a lesbian.” Cade watched her eyes widen
and her cheeks grow pink, then she frowned at him like she’d love to dump a sack
of cow fertilizer on his head.

“Oh, you’d like that, wouldn’t you? Girl
on girl action. You ass. But no.”

“Hmmm, okay. And what do you know about
girl-on-girl action anyway.” When she refused to answer, he continued. “It’s
just a mystery to me why you’ve decided to live the way you do. You certainly
sent me packing without a backward glance.” 

He licked butter from his fork and Abby
swallowed hard. “It’s no mystery, Cade. I’m just not interested in good-looking
men.” She cleared her throat. That hadn’t come out exactly right. She hadn’t
meant to compliment him – even though it was the God’s truth. “I’m happier
alone.” Which was a lie. 

Her unintentional compliment wasn’t lost
on Cade. “Aha! So, you do think I’m good-looking.” They locked gazes again. Her
eyes were sparkling, probably with anger, but that was okay. Fuck! She was so
beautiful and smart. Abby was sweet to everybody, but him. And she was damn
sexy. If no one was enjoying her delectable little body, it was a crime against
nature, a terrible crime. “Let me ask you something,” he sobered, needing an
answer. “We’ve never talked about it. And I need to know. What changed your
mind about us? Why don’t you like me anymore, Abby?”

Uh-oh. Careful, Abby Grace. “I don’t
dislike you, Cade.” She paused, thoughtfully. “I just don’t like you very
much.” No, she didn’t like him. She loved him with her whole heart.

“So, you’re ambivalent toward me. You have
no feelings for me at all? Or are you secretly in love with me and wishing you
could lick jalapeno jelly off my six-pack?”

“Grrrrrr...” She considered pouring ice
tea over his head. “I‘d probably get sick from narcissistic poisoning.”

“If you feel nothing for me, why are your
nipples so big and hard? They’re playing peekaboo at me through your sweater.”
He stared at them. He couldn’t help it. “Do you even have on a bra?”

“ARG!” Abby crossed her arms over her
breasts, cupping the tip of each one in her palm. “Stop looking at me! And yes,
I have on a bra.”

Cade took a big sip of tea. “How many
times have you turned me down?”

“I don’t remember.” Standing up, she
cleared their plates, hoping he would change the subject. “Do you want a piece
of torte?” She sat the decadent chocolate dessert between them. “I’ll cut you a
big piece if you’ll change the subject.”

Cade considered his options. He wanted
answers, and he’d get them eventually. He was nothing if not persistent. Right
now, he wanted chocolate. “Cake.”