Tangled Up (Bachelors of Buttermilk Falls #2) (10 page)

“Right . . . I . . . um . . .” She shook her head and he could tell he’d embarrassed her by the way she was stammering.

“We can save that for the camera.” He winked as Betty came over and dropped down plastic cups, spoons, and napkins.

“Okay, you two,” Betty began her instructions. “Make sure you only fill your cups halfway full so that you’ll have plenty of chili for folks to sample.”

“Got it.” Brandon stepped behind the table and grabbed his mixing spoon.

She waved two green tickets in her hand and dropped one in an empty mason jar in front of his chili and then did the same with Abby’s jar. “These are ‘winner’ tickets. Each taste tester has three tickets to leave for their top three chili picks. The jar with the most tickets wins. Good luck.” She laughed and leaned into Brandon. “Try not to take it too hard if you lose. You’re up against a pro.”

He returned her laugh with his own. “Don’t I know it, but who knows—everyone loves the dark horse in any competition.”

“You know, Brandon.” Abby reached for her ladle. “I understand if you’d like to concede before this gets started. I wouldn’t want to embarrass you in front of all these people or on camera no less. You could sneak out the back and ride your dark horse home.”

“No way. I am in it to win it.” Brandon looked down at his lumpy pot, the bright red sauce bubbling to the top. Just as his mother had taught him. He grabbed a plastic cup and filled it halfway, careful to follow Betty’s instructions. “Care to taste?”

Abby smiled, accepting his cup. Digging her spoon in, she took a bite. “Not bad.”

“Not bad. It’s freakin’ awesome. Admit it.”

“It’s got a sweet little kick to it. I’ll give you that. What’s in it?”

“Like I’d tell my competition.” He reached out and playfully tugged on her long ponytail. “Tell you what. I’ll share Mama Swift’s secret ingredient after I win, and we’re far away from here and on our date that I’ve planned.”

He could see that comment made her cheeks even redder than they were before, and he liked that result. Their fun banter ended way too soon as a crowd of eager taste testers gathered around them.

Brandon went to work, scooping his chili into little cups, taking his time to chat with all the testers that stopped by and to tell them all about his plans for the inn. People seemed genuinely happy to hear that the place would be re-opening and wished him well. After twenty minutes, ten green tickets had been dropped into his jar. Not a bad start.

He glanced over at Abby who was flirting it up with the Volunteer Fire Department—all of them. The men were swarming around her table.

He watched as every bone in his body turned jealous at the fact that her giggles and coy looks weren’t aimed at him. She certainly knew what she was doing, sweet-talking her way to victory.

Well, two could play that game. “Betty, you’re looking beautiful tonight. Is that a new sweater?” he called out to the waitress, who immediately came over.

“Now, Brandon, you’re not trying to charm another vote out of me, are you?”

“You know me, Betty.” Handing her a cup of his chili, he lowered his voice. “But I do need your help.”

“With what, sugar?”

He nodded in the direction of his competition. “Abby agreed to finally go out with me if I beat her. I have something very romantic planned.” He grinned, adding for good measure, “I don’t need to win the contest; I just need more tickets than her. Can you help me out?”

Betty’s face lit up. “I have an idea. Are you willing to do whatever it takes?”

“Yes!”

She reached up and squeezed his cheek. “Consider it done.”

Abby stopped what she was doing and glared over at Brandon. “What are you up to?”

“Me?”

“Yes, you.” Her eyebrow shot up. “You’re up to no good.”

“What are you insinuating, Ms. Stevens?” His feigned surprise could have won him an Emmy.

She held up her mason jar, now nearly full with green tickets. “Looks like we’ll be going on the date of my choosing tonight.”

He winked at the camera, ready to get his flirt on. “So, Abby, if on the off chance you beat me, where will we be going?”

“That’s for me to know and you to find out.” She glanced down at her watch. “In exactly one hour. Unless you want to throw in the towel now because I would
totally
understand if you wanted to save face and all.”

“Never! I’ve got an hour.” He scanned the room for his partner in crime. Where did Betty dash off to? Maybe he should try to recruit some votes at the refreshment table; it seemed to be the place to gather judging by the crowd around it. “I’ll go grab us some apple cider.”

Brandon headed over to the drinks. Tapping on the spout, he filled one glass up and then another for Abby. Bill, the owner of the local hardware store, was at the table so Brandon took a few minutes to talk to him about light fixtures.

Finally heading back with Abby’s drink, he was nearly run over by a mob of women all beelining it for his chili table. Before he knew what was happening, his ticket jar overflowed with green tickets. What the devil had Betty told these women? He sauntered back up to his station where Abby shook her head.

“I knew you’d cheat. What? Did you offer up your lips to be raffled off to one lucky lady?”

There was only one woman he was interested in placing his lips all over, and Abby wouldn’t have to win some stupid raffle to get him to do it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He handed her the cider. “Obviously these women know good chili when they taste it.”

“Oh, please.” She rolled her eyes. “Half of them didn’t even try it.”

As the hour passed and more and more women stopped by to sample his chili and drop off their green tickets, it became apparent that Brandon would win their bet. He rubbed his hands in excitement.

Whatever Betty had told these ladies he’d do, it had worked. He reached for Abby’s coat and handed it to her. It was finally time for their special evening.

“What are you doing?”

“We’re leaving early. It’ll save you the embarrassment.” He kidded and grabbed his own coat, shoving his arms through it.

She reached over the table and picked up his ticket jar, waving it in front of him. “I want to know what you did to get all these tickets.”

He shrugged and put his unused cups and spoons to the side. Betty had said she’d take care of his and Abby’s crock pots so they could take off for their date. “I’ll go let Betty and Bridget know we’re leaving now. Meet you out front?”

She sighed and zipped up her coat. “Fine, but just know, Brandon Swift, that you are a cheater. You did not win this cook-off fair and square.”

“I can live with that.” He squeezed her shoulders and headed for the front where he saw Betty getting ready to take the podium.

“Betty.”

“Hey, sugar. You taking off so soon?”

“Yeah, I’m kind of feeling like I shouldn’t really win the contest.”

“Say no more. We’ll give the trophy to Ernie. He’s been trying to win for twenty years.”

Brandon glanced over at the town’s cop, hamming it up with tasters. “Then it’s high time you give it to him.”

She nodded in Abby’s direction. “Are you happy with the outcome?”

He smiled and stole a glance over at his date who was in a conversation with Shane. “Very.”

“Good. Now go have fun.” She winked.

He started to head back to the table, but turned, remembering he did have one final question for Betty. “Say, how did you get all those women to vote for me?”

She came over and squeezed his hand. “I told them you’d help out with our annual Christmas fundraiser.” She ran her bony hand up and down his arm. “Say, do you have a tattoo?”

“No.”

“Bummer. Well, we can paint one on you. I’ll call you soon, and we’ll work out the details. It’s time now to count the tickets.” With that, she hurried over to collect Ernie’s mason jar.

Brandon shook his head, chuckling. Whatever he’d agreed to do, he didn’t care and was sure it would be well worth it.

A
bby stared
out at the docked motorboat. After leaving the Elks Lodge, Brandon had driven them back to his place and escorted her to the dock before rushing into his cottage. What was he up to and when did he purchase a boat?

She wrapped her arms around her chest and gazed out at the water. The chili cook-off had been fun—totally rigged whether her date admitted it or not, but still a great evening.

This new norm of hanging out was one word: awesome. Sure she wanted to rip his clothes off, especially today when he’d forgone his red and white flannel for a sexy, deep green sweater, but the time they were spending joking, laughing, and teasing each other was fun, too. Why weren’t they like this when they were sleeping together?

Eventually she’d have to be honest and risk him being furious with her for casting the spell; however, it was nice not to think about the impending conversation and just enjoy being with him.

“Hey, sorry that took so long. You ready to begin our date?” Brandon’s arms were full of blankets and two large white pillows. He stopped and handed the pillows to her.

“Will Shane be filming us?”

“No, I told him to take a hike. Follow me.”

“Shouldn’t he be here?” Abby hugged the pillows to her chest. She wasn’t really all that concerned that the camera wouldn’t be turned on for whatever adventure Brandon had planned.

“I think he’s got enough footage for our first date. You know, we want to tease our audience.” He stopped and stepped into the boat. “Besides, there wouldn’t be enough room in here for him and his film equipment.”

Abby watched as Brandon unfolded the blankets and laid them on the boat’s floor. “What are we doing? Why the pillows and blankets?”

He stopped what he was doing. “Man, you ask a lot of questions.”

“Okay.” She zipped her lips. “I’ll just watch.” Abby stood in silence as Brandon rearranged things to his liking. This couldn’t be his, could it? Not able to take the silence any longer, she asked, “Is this yours?”

“Nah, it’s Mitch’s. He let me borrow it for the night.”

“We’re going out on the water? It’s dark out there.” She stepped back.

“We’re not going too far.” He reached out and took the pillows, setting them down and then reaching for her hand. “I want to show you something.”

“You do?” Her hand slipped into the one he offered without any hesitation. Whatever it was, his familiar touch was all she needed to throw caution to the wind and step up and in to the boat.

“Here, take a seat.”

Abby let go of his hand and sat down on the blankets, stretching her legs. “Comfy.”

Brandon crouched down next to her and handed her a thermos. “Given your condition, I thought we’d go with hot chocolate tonight.”

“Good choice.” She couldn’t help but wonder if he’d rather be sipping champagne with a woman not pregnant. Why had he gone to all this trouble without even letting Shane film what they were doing? Wasn’t that the point of their dating? All show for the camera.

“Okay, time to go.” Brandon hopped up into the driver’s seat, turned on the boat, and guided it down the edge of the lake while she enjoyed the cool evening’s breeze. Being on the water in the fall was one of her favorite pastimes, but he couldn’t possibly know that. Minutes later, he stopped short of the alcove that led up to the inn and dropped an anchor.

“I knew it. We’re working tonight, aren’t we?”

“Not at all.” He grinned and slid down next to her. “I thought it would be nice to see the inn from this vantage point.”

Her heart raced as his arm brushed with hers. They sat in silence, looking out at the dark property. “You love this place, don’t you?”

He leaned back, propping himself on his elbows. “I know it’s been a whirlwind, but it just feels right. Like this place was always meant to be mine.”

“Well, I’m happy for you.” She may have thought he was completely insane for his spontaneous purchase, but she was starting to realize how much this new business venture meant to him. That passion made her want him even more.

She instinctively reached down and wrapped her arms around her middle. “It really is going to be a beautiful lakeside inn. Everyone who owns a boat is going to want to stop by.” She thought for a minute, holding on to the image of several boats docked around them on a beautiful summer night. “You know, it might be a good idea to open a bar down here in the summer. Something to entice customers in.”

“Love that idea. We could serve signature drinks and appetizers. Maybe set up some speakers with summertime music. A little island-inspired action, man.” He snapped his fingers and began to sing the first few lines of a Bob Marley tune.

She giggled and sang along. Brandon had a nice singing voice. Another thing about him that she didn’t know.

Finishing the chorus, he turned and faced her. “How do you do it?”

“Do what?”

“Always say the right thing. You have so many good ideas in that beautiful head of yours, Abby Stevens.”

“You have ideas, too, and you always know how to say the right thing.”
Especially when you’re calling me beautiful.

“No, I know how to
write
the right thing.” He pulled his legs to his chest and sighed.

“I loved being a reporter, but this—he motioned all around him—this feels right, too. For the first time in my life, I feel . . .” He stopped and looked away.

“Inspired?” she offered.

“Exactly.” His head dropped back and his gaze rested on hers. “Ready to see what else inspires me?”

She gulped down the shiver that then blasted through her in response to that question.

Boy, am I.

He laid down, resting his head on the pillow. “Join me.”

What the devil was he up to? Abby cautiously slid down next to him while he pulled the blankets up, covering them completely.

“Brandon, what are we doing?” she asked in a whisper.

“Look up.”

Abby’s eyes darted up into the evening sky. “Wow.” She hadn’t realized how clear it was. Thousands of stars twinkled down on them.

“Pretty amazing, huh?”

“It sure is,” she agreed. “Is this what you wanted to show me?”

“Isn’t it beautiful?”

She murmured her agreement. “How did you know this morning that it was going to be this gorgeous tonight?”

“Weather report.”

“Of course.”

“I follow a meteor shower website, too. They said tonight there would be quite a show in the Northeast.”

He follows a meteor shower website? Who was this guy?
There were so many facets to this man she’d never known.

As they laid in silence taking in the night sky, Abby couldn’t remember the last time she spent so much time getting lost in the stars. Could any one of them grant her a wish? She rested her hands on her stomach and closed her eyes. It was worth a shot.

Brandon tapped her shoulder. “What are you thinking?”

“That more nights should end like this one.” She tilted her head toward him. “So, how long have you been stargazing?”

“Ever since I was a boy. We had a pond out back in the town I grew up in in Montana and a small rowboat. I’d lay in that thing for hours thinking about things.”

“What kind of things?”

“What I wanted to be when I grew up, what it would be like to get out of Montana.”

He dropped his head toward her. “Stupid, right.”

“No, not at all. Did you like growing up in the country?”

“Not really. My dad left my mom for a co-worker when I was six, and then he died a couple years later.”

“I’m sorry.” He’d never told her about his father. His admission made her chest tighten.

“It’s probably why I have trust issues. I didn’t want to turn out like my dad and cheat on my wife.” He let out a sarcastic laugh. “Instead, I married a woman who screwed me over. Go figure.”

Abby stayed quiet processing the insight she was being given into Brandon. Clearly the people he’d trusted had let him down.

“My mom ended up going back to college where she met her current husband, who was an adjunct English professor, and they moved to Washington.”

“Is she there now?”

“Yep. In Emerald Springs, about ninety minutes from Seattle. She loves it.”

“Well, that’s great that she’s happy. Do you see her often?”

“Not really. I think I’m going to fly her in for our Memorial Day opening and try to talk her into staying for a couple months this summer. I think she’d like it out here.”

Abby smiled sheepishly knowing the secret growing inside her would probably get Grandma Swift to Buttermilk Falls next summer if not sooner. “I’d love to meet your mom.”

“You two would have a blast together.” He chuckled and tapped her arm. “She’s an amazing cook.”

“Oh, yes. Her infamous chili recipe. Speaking of which, you never told me the secret ingredient.”

“There are two really: spicy tomato juice and honey.”

“I knew there was a spicy sweetness to it.” She rolled over on her side, causing him to do the same. “I’m glad you beat me, even if you did cheat.”

“I was just making sure you’d get an opportunity to make a wish on a star.”

Abby looked up at the shimmering sky. “Did you ever bring Caitlin out here?”

“Nah. We didn’t really do anything like this. I never did this in L.A. with my ex-wife either.” He paused then added. “You know, the thing with Caitlin was a mistake. I’d been rebounding with a few women for the better part of this year after my divorce went through. I’m done with that phase of my life.”

She wasn’t sure why he was admitting that, but she was glad to hear it. His willingness to open up and share a little about himself gave her hope. They were moving in the right direction. “Let’s make a wish on where we hope to be in eight months.” She knew what hers would be—that Brandon would be right by her side as they watched their beautiful baby sleeping in its crib.

“Eight months? Why eight months?”

“Or five . . . six, maybe?”

“I like eight. That puts us at the end of June. You will have had your baby. The inn will have been open for a month, and your catering business will have taken off. Although Emma might have to take on your summer clients if you’re taking time off.”

Abby hadn’t even thought about that. She knew her cousin would pitch in and Aunt Sheila would most likely come out of retirement to help if they needed it. “It’s going to be fantastic. Taste the Magic will be on everyone’s lips and hopefully hips.”

“What?”

“The name for the catering company.” She’d completely forgotten to fill Brandon in. “Do you like it?”

“I think it’s perfect.” He chuckled. “And I’ll give you my mom’s chili recipe to add to the menu for next fall. That is, if you want it.”

“Of course I do.” There was so much she wanted when it came to Brandon. She’d never known about his small town upbringing in Montana, that he was close to his mother, or what his dad had done before he passed away. As she learned more and more about him, it only deepened her feelings.

She continued to stare at the night’s twinkling sky. Trust was incredibly important to him. Would he ever trust her again once she revealed the secret she was literally carrying?

B
randon’s eyes opened
, feeling Abby’s arm draped around him. They must have fallen asleep. He quietly wiggled out of her embrace and fished the engine key out of his jacket pocket. He hadn’t meant to conk out and should probably get her out of the cold.

Turning the boat on, he glanced behind him one last time at the inn and smiled. His lakeside inn, Abby had called it. What a perfect name. The Lakeside Inn. He could just picture the sign on the three-story building, welcoming his guests.

Soon, he’d be spending many late nights inside working his tail off to make it a success. Smiling down on Abby, he couldn’t help but hope his new business partner would be right by his side, sharing in those long evenings.

He sighed and steered the boat in the direction of his cottage. Late nights with just the two of them probably wouldn’t be happening. She, after all, would have to go home to a newborn.

Under the circumstances, it was wrong to enjoy her company as much as he did. Still, tonight had been perfect. Talking underneath the stars and sharing some of the not so great parts about his past—well, he didn’t do that with anyone. There was something about Abby that made him let down his guard and trust her.

He had even kept his ex-wife at bay, but every moment he spent with Abby gave him a little hope that one day he’d be able to let another woman back into his heart. He just wished it could be her.

Reaching his dock, he anchored the boat and scooped up his sleeping beauty. Her arms linked around his neck as she rested her head on his chest. He had already decided that he’d give her his bed, and he’d take the couch.

Minutes later, he laid her down in his room, unzipped her boots, and tucked in his comforter. He really should drive her home. It was totally selfish, and maybe he was confusing happiness for loneliness. Whatever it was, he couldn’t wait to get up in the morning and make her breakfast.

Feeling the sudden urge to write, he walked over to his laptop and grabbed his power cord. His story was coming along and if just talking to Abby inspired him to get words down, he was pretty sure her sleeping in his bed was going to produce a record number of plot twists tonight.

“Brandon . . .” she murmured.

Turning, he sat on the edge of his bed and swept her hair back to massage her neck with the tip of his finger, not really sure why he was doing that. It wasn’t his usual move with a woman lying in his bed, but everything he was feeling for Abby was unusual . . . unexpected . . . and freakin’ awesome.

“This was the best date I’ve ever been on,” she whispered through her sleepy hooded eyes, her hands folded on her chest.

“Me, too.” He covered her hands with his. “And we have four more to go. You’re going to love what I have in store for us.”

She smiled and snuggled into the comforter. “I’ve missed this bed.”

Brandon brushed a strand of hair out of her face as she drifted off to sleep, his finger lingering on her soft cheek.