Cowboy in the Kitchen (18 page)

They’d just finished French vanilla frozen yogurt and freshly baked oatmeal cookies when Dorothy and Molly began to prepare the cabin for landing.

Hunt spun the hour hand of his watch back in time. “I can’t believe we’re here already.” His only plan for the evening was to take a cab to his hotel where he’d hang out until tomorrow morning when it was time to meet with Gabe.

“Thank you for making it a pleasant trip. I’d have been miserable sitting here alone with only the games on my cell phone for distraction from the turbulence.”

The pilot asked everyone to stay seated a few moments longer, until they’d come to a complete stop at the gate.

“I seriously doubt you’d have been either miserable or alone from the way those two flight attendants have kept watch over you.”

He craned his neck to see where they’d gone.

“Is that right? I didn’t notice.”

“That’s because they were sitting quietly, pretending not to be dangling the bait.”

They were next to deplane.

“May I offer you a ride, Hunt? My car is in the parking garage.”

“Thanks, but no. A friend is meeting me,” he lied.

Brenda stood and accepted the full-length silver fox fur coat that Dorothy brought from the closet. Hunt watched as Brenda slid her arms inside, pulled the silky pelts close and tossed her chestnut hair over the collar. She reached into the alligator handbag that matched her shoes and withdrew a small white card.

“If your lady friend is not a hundred percent receptive, as I believe she will be once you get up the nerve to speak your mind, you give me a call.”

He accepted the card and touched the brim of his hat as she turned away.

Hunt sat down, stared at Brenda Shaffer’s contact information and waited until the plane was empty before venturing through the exit and out onto the concourse. He glanced around, saw no familiar faces and tossed the card into a nearby trash can. Gillian Moore already had him hooked more permanently than an eighteen-pound bass on the last day of a fishing tournament.

And Gillian was all the woman—and all the trouble—he could handle.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

“W
HOA
! S
LOW
DOWN
.
Slow down.”

Hunt tried to calm Gillian over the phone, but she was as close to losing it as he figured she could be.

“Take a deep breath and then start over. I caught the part about the wedding being canceled but give me the details again at a lower decibel level.”

Gillian blew her nose and hiccupped before responding.

“Rachel and Buzz got into a fight during their Christmas open house. The party was one of those big deals they throw at their Hampton estate with their kids and neighbors and local celebrities coming and going all day. Anyway, Buzz consumed a little too much mulled cider and let it slip that they’ll be married before the week is out. The person he spilled the wassail to happens to write for
Entertainment Magazine
. When the guy cozied up to Rachel for the details, she threw what you’d call a wall-eyed hissy fit and told the guy hell would freeze over before she’d make it legal with that idiot Buzz.”

“Are you sure she wasn’t just saying that to throw the writer off the scent?”

“No, Rachel’s serious about canceling. She called me herself a couple hours ago with the news. They’ll pay the bill, of course, but we’ve gone to all this planning and work expecting this would be our publicity launch, and it’s all going to fall flat.”

“Maybe not, Gilly. I’m sure we can turn this situation around. I’ve got all night to brainstorm before I meet with Gabe in the morning.”

“Oh, Hunt!” She was in tears again. “I’ve been so selfish, I hadn’t even stopped to consider all the trouble I’ve put you through in the past forty-eight hours. I’m so sorry,” she blubbered.

“First, my darlin’, you didn’t put me through any trouble. This was all my idea, and I’ve done it voluntarily. We’ll consider it part of my Christmas gift to you, okay? No harm, no foul.

“And, second, you’ve got to get past the apologies and the panic, so we can make this work to your advantage. Remember the day the wrong trim was delivered, and we talked about turning lemons into lemon cheesecake? Well, this is the same thing on a grand scale. There’s got to be a way to salvage it. Maybe in the light of day Rachel will be more willing to listen to reason.”

“Even if she changes her mind, she’s lost the element of surprise that was so important to her. She’ll never have the ceremony here now that her secret is out.”

“Does anybody know about it yet?”

“Just everyone who follows her on Twitter since she tweeted it herself. I guess that was her way of getting
satisfaction,
if you catch my drift.”

“Then it’ll be picked up by all the news services tomorrow. Did she at least mention Moore House? They say bad publicity is better than no publicity.” He was suddenly wishing he’d kept that business card, but not for the reason it was intended. They could use some advice from a marketing professional now.

“I honestly don’t know. I wasn’t in a position to ask her a lot of questions, and I only learned about the tweet from Dad.”

“James? How’d he hear about it?”

“Oh, he follows all kinds of high-profile people. He says he’s doing hotel reconnaissance so he’s up-to-date on who might be in our part of the world.”

“Your dad is amazing. You couldn’t have a better business partner.”

“Well, we may not have any business left once we’ve been branded as the place Rachel and Buzz
didn’t
get married. Maybe this is the curse of the Caddo well. The price I’m paying for tearing it down.”

He could just imagine her lip poked out in an unusual bout of self-pity. It hadn’t been too many hours since he’d been doing the same thing himself. Thank goodness his brother had been there to talk sense into him. Cullen had been right. Memories of their parents weren’t attached to a place. They were held in the heart.

“Don’t be silly. That mumbo jumbo was just another tall Texas tale,” Hunt comforted Gillian.

“That’s an about-face,” she said, perking up.

“It takes me a while. It’s a man thing.”

“Hunt, you had a sentimental tie to that well, didn’t you?” she asked softly.

“I did. I camped out there after my folks died.”

“Why didn’t you tell me it was personal instead of playing it up as a legend?”

“Would it have made a difference?”

“I would have approached it differently. But hopefully when you see the waterfall that’s going to be built where the well stood you’ll have even more reason to appreciate the mansion.”

“Then you did the right thing,” he agreed.

“Can you forgive me for not being up-front with you?”

“Of course,” he said, meaning it.

Alma would say he was finally growing up. His brothers would say it was about time!

Hunt’s call-waiting beeped.

“Shouldn’t you take that?” Gillian asked.

Hunt looked at the caller ID. “It’s Robby. He’ll leave me a message.”

“Oh, no!” She groaned. “I bet he’s already made air travel arrangements that can’t be canceled. Everything is so expensive around Christmas. I’ll either refund his costs or offer his family a free week’s stay here to make it up to him.”

“Don’t add that to your list of stuff to fret over. Robby’s a television rock star, and remember I told you he travels in one of those fancy motor coaches with room for his crew. It’s all a write-off for his show, so don’t give that cost any more worry.”

“When were they expecting to be in Kilgore?”

“He plans to get on the road tomorrow, so they’ll be in town the day after.”

“Good, then there’s still a chance we can stop them from leaving New York.”

“If I know Robby, he’ll want to come anyway and make a show out of it. He never passes up the chance to eat some Southwestern barbecue or Tex-Mex. Let me talk to him again when we hang up and see which way he leans. Maybe once he learns about Gabe, it’ll seal the deal.”

“But you haven’t even talked to Gabe about this yet. How can you tell Robby it’s all set up, if it isn’t?”

“You leave that to me. When payback time comes, it may be painful, but you can bet your last buffalo nickel it’ll be tasty.”

“I can’t believe you’re taking this cancellation so lightly.” Gillian sniffed.

“If you’d rather sit in the dirt and eat worms, you’re going to be very lonely. I suspect that everybody else will get on board with the new game plan by the time I get home tomorrow evening.”

“Are you in cahoots with my dad?” Her tongue was sounding fat.

“What makes you ask that?” Hunt chuckled at how easily Gillian was picking up Texas talk.

“He basically said the same thing when he told me I was paralyzed by shock, but that I’d see things differently in twenty-four hours.”

“Are you still taking the pain meds?”

“Mom gave me another dose a little while ago. I don’t have any choice about taking them, when the alternative is a pounding knee.”

“Well, that explains a lot. While your daddy and I are not presently in cahoots, I do agree that when I get home tomorrow, you’ll have a different perspective on the circumstances.”

“Hunt, what would I have done these past few months without you?”

“I’m fairly sure there would be a few more men in Kilgore with bleeding ulcers, but you’d have managed just fine.”

“I’m serious. I owe so much to you. I don’t want to do this without you, now or ever.”

“Well, maybe you won’t have to. We’ll talk about it tomorrow.”

“Hunt, I love you.” Gillian’s words were slurred.

“Is that you or the medication talking?”

“What medication?”

“Sleep tight, Gilly.” He smiled to himself. And since she probably wouldn’t remember his words, he put it on the line. “I love you too, my darling, and I intend to spend the rest of my life with you.”

* * *

G
ILLIAN
WOKE
FEELING
like the Russian army had marched through her mouth. Her tongue was thick and dry, and her lips were chapped from sleeping with her jaw hanging open. She had a headache that two aspirin would fix, but there was no longer a stabbing pain in her leg. She was thankful for that merciful blessing.

Still, she felt a vague sense of unease, the kind of foreboding the heroine in a scary film gets just before she passes into the dense forest.

Then Gillian remembered.

“The wedding is off.” She said it out loud to help sort things clearly, without emotion. “Hunt comes home this afternoon. We have to figure out what to do with all the food and flowers because the deliveries will start today. And the installers will put up that enormous white tent to transform the terrace into a dining room and dance floor. What a waste.”

“Good morning, baby girl.” Her mother knocked and then peeked around the door. “Look what the UPS driver just delivered.”

She sat a carton on the bed and removed the top.

Gillian’s breath caught in her throat as she lifted one of the brochures and slid her fingertips across the glossy cover.

“Oh, it’s perfect.” She leafed through the pages that she’d carefully proofed before they went to the printer. The photos were stunning, the anecdotes endearing. “What do you think he’ll say?”

“He’ll be speechless.” Her mother settled on the mattress beside Gillian and draped an arm around her shoulders. “You’ve done the most amazing and selfless thing, and I don’t believe Hunt has a clue about this decision. The Temple brothers, and probably the whole town, are going to be stunned when you reveal the marquee. You will be the darling of Kilgore.”

Gillian shook her head. “That will depend on whether or not we survive and keep bringing jobs to town. But you and Dad know that being the belle of the ball had no bearing on my decision. It was simply the right thing to do. Once I realized that, I couldn’t do otherwise and live with myself.”

“Your dad and I are very proud of you.” Her mom hugged her close. “Now, let’s get you freshened up and downstairs. We don’t have much time to figure out what to do with the food and flowers that are on the way. We can put the meat in the walk-in but all that produce will have to get used in the next few days. Maybe we can have another open house. We can use some of the flowers at the hotel if you decide to go the open house route, but we could also send some to local hospitals and assisted living centers.”

Gillian waited until her mother stopped for breath before telling her about Hunt’s backup plan.

“When did you speak with him?”

“Last night. It was about the time the pain medicine was kicking in, so I’m afraid I’m a bit fuzzy on the details, but he’ll be home this afternoon, and we’ll talk it all out then.”

“Do you suppose you should reach out to Rachel and give her one last opportunity to go through with her plans before we flip the wedding on its ear?”

“No, Mom, I don’t believe I will. She has our number if she has a change of heart. But I’d imagine that by now the press is all over this story, and she’s sick of hearing about it.”

“Can’t you just imagine Buzz cowering in fear of Rachel? I bet he’s in the doghouse right now.” Her mom giggled.

“It certainly won’t be his first time. Though in the Hamptons, the dogs live better than ninety percent of the people in New York City, so I’m sure he’ll survive.”

“Are you girls covered up?” her father called from the hallway.

“Come on in, Dad.”

“The stone masons are here. This is your last chance to change your mind. Once that monstrosity of a marquee has been assembled and cemented, it’s there forever.”

Gillian offered her father the brochure she had in her hand and smiled. “Go ahead and get the workers started. Mom and I already had that conversation, and I’m certain it’s what I want to do.”

She glanced back and forth between her parents, looking for signs of any concerns they hadn’t shared with her.

“Do you two feel differently? This change impacts you, as well. I can still pull the plug and go with to the original plan. We’ll have to reorder some items that have already been monogrammed, but the profit we’re making for
not
hosting a high-end wedding more than covers that cost.”

“Nope. This is your place, honey. We’re just the bankers and the hired help. Your mother and I are actually enjoying the arrangement just as it is, and we don’t want to take over executive decisions at this point, unless you ask us to. And even if you ask us, we reserve the right to say no!”

He smiled to convince her they were on board.

“Then please tell the crew to get busy, so the sign will be ready to be revealed the day after tomorrow.”

“They’re setting up a tent so they can work undercover.”

“Perfect.”

“I’ll leave you girls to your personal business but don’t take too long. It’s almost ten o’clock and deliveries should begin by noon. We have a lot to figure out.” He gave them both a peck on the cheek and left the room.

The hours passed too quickly. Gillian had every intention of putting on some makeup and taking her hair out of its ponytail before Hunt arrived, but the day got away from her. When somebody mentioned his Jeep was pulling up the drive, she was sitting beneath the enormous tent that now enclosed the terrace. She was surrounded by a mountain of fresh flowers that were being arranged on site, and she had her to-do list in her lap, still puzzling over how to shift their plans to match whatever Hunt had come up with overnight.

“Wow, look at this place!” Hunt called as he entered the tent. “If you’d brought me here blindfolded, I’d have no idea where I was.”

“Then you understand just how I feel.” A very handsome fortyish man with bleached hair followed Hunt as he made a beeline for where Gillian was sitting on a stool at one of the portable bars set up for what would have been the reception.

Hunt made quick work of taking in his surroundings, never slowing until he was at her side, taking her in his arms and covering her mouth with his. The kiss was brief but filled with promise.

“Goodness!” she exclaimed with a smile.

“As Mae West would say, ‘Goodness has nothing to do with it.’ I’m just glad to see my best girl.”

My best girl? My best girl!
It was the first time he’d ever made anything that might resemble a public overture. Maybe absence truly did make the heart grow fonder.