Something Blue, page 5
She would’ve been working all week on the upcoming shower and he was busy running Silva Ranch.
So how come he couldn’t stop thinking about her? What was she doing? What was she thinking?
How come he kept going over every word, every detail? The way her green eyes sparkled when she laughed, the way she didn’t hold back and said what she meant. And that look she gave him. It’d happened more than once. A mix of surprise and, one might even say, admiration.
It was a good look, and he liked the way it made him feel.
Sawyer shook his head.
He wasn’t some teenager who’d never flirted or been flirted with. What was the matter with him? He highly doubted Beth was at home, thinking about their time together, running over it in her mind.
Except what if she was? What if she’d found the kind of enjoyment that she hadn’t felt in years? What if she was interested in doing it again?
“You need to stop it,” he told himself, and turned up Creedence singing about the bayou.
But he didn’t really want to stop it.
She’d made him smile and laugh with engaging conversation. And she was straightforward.
She wasn’t what Uncle Joe called mealymouthed.
The only negative from their not-date together was the a-hole bartender who’d started trash-talking his brother’s fiancée as soon as Beth left for the restroom.
“Wasn’t that Shelby Meyers who was just in here?” he’d asked the other bartender.
The guy had thought he was whispering, but he was wrong.
“I heard she’s getting married to that Richie Rich kid she was with,” he’d said, before singing the line from a song about gold diggers.
And that was all Sawyer could tolerate. He’d called the guy out immediately.
Sure, he’d had similar concerns about Garrett’s fiancée, but that was a family matter. He wasn’t going to have some random guy in Johnson City walking around talking trash.
The guy had cowered straightaway when confronted. Unfortunately, that was when Beth returned.
The non-date was over then.
He knew how the scene probably looked, but she hadn’t said anything about it.
Maybe no harm, no foul. But if she brought the moment up, he’d be sure to explain.
Then again, he didn’t really want to be the one to tell Beth what people were saying about her best friend.
Sawyer arrived at Northcliff Ranch later that morning. He met with the owners, Bert and Ginny Ferguson, and Peyton, their intern trainer.
The stallion, Buck, was as beautiful as ever. His deep amber color shone in the sunlight, and the wider-than-usual blaze down the center of his face and the white socks on his hind legs made him unique.
Sawyer had to have him. He wouldn’t close the deal today, but Buck would be his.
“He’s a beauty, isn’t he?” Peyton walked the horse around the paddock.
“He is.”
“I’ll tell you a little secret, too, if you’re interested.”
“Always.”
“He likes when you sweet-talk him and call him Bucky. This big guy comes across like he doesn’t like anybody, but you just got to know how to handle him.”
“Sweet-talk and call him Bucky. Roger that.”
“Mr. Ferguson wants you to stay for lunch. He’d like to close the deal today.”
“I’m sure.”
“You know you want him. Why wait?”
She was awfully pushy for a college kid. “I want to be certain.”
“How are you not already?”
Because he was a grown-up. And he just wasn’t, but he’d get there. Life had taught him to settle for nothing less than certainty.
After lunch with the Fergusons and another visit and mount on Buck, aka Bucky, Sawyer headed for home.
He didn’t make it more than fifteen minutes from the ranch before the midafternoon driving doziness hit him. He stopped at a diner on the highway for some coffee to go. A caffeine bump for the way home.
The place was a sixties-style luncheonette with counter service and booths, and the diner had a lot of patrons given the time of day. Sawyer waited at the counter after placing his order for coffee, black, and giving the lady a five to keep.
“I’ll make you a fresh pot, hon.”
While she brewed, he checked his phone.
No messages from Uncle Joe or Garrett, so all must be well at the ranch.
No messages from Beth, not that he expected any, but she had his number now and something could come up with that blasted couples shower that required his input.
Stranger things had happened.
No calls or voicemails from anyone, so he let his gaze wander across the booths of people. Mostly families, a few solo diners, and two couples. One couple he didn’t know from Adam’s housecat. The other made him do a double take.
Was that…?
No.
But it had to be. If it wasn’t her, it was the spitting image.
Shelby Meyers, with her dark hair braided back and sunglasses pushed up on her head. She didn’t see him, but Sawyer definitely saw her, sitting in a booth, way too close to some cowboy who was most definitely not his brother.
“What in the Sam Hill?” Sawyer muttered.
“What’s that, hon?” The waitress slid his coffee across the counter.
“Oh. Nothing. Sorry, ma’am.”
Not nothing, though. That was his brother’s fiancée, all saddled up in a booth with some other guy.
They spoke quietly, intimately, about something.
He should say something. Go over there pretending it’s casual, and bust her. But something about Shelby’s expression stopped him.
What if it was nothing? He’d been wrong before about this kind of thing. If he walked over and gave any indication that he thought she was up to no good—and she wasn’t—she’d go right back to Garrett.
Then he’d be the bad guy, and Garrett was the type that held a grudge forever.
But what if he was right and said nothing? How could he ever explain that to his brother?
Better to play this cool.
He’d see Shelby again, and just ask her. Not in a suspicious, prying way. He’d keep it neutral. Innocent.
Sawyer grabbed his coffee and left, determined to think the best of Garrett’s new love.
Still, the feeling that this was likely the worst situation possible haunted him all day.
Saturday breakfast was an event at Silva Ranch.
Sawyer was responsible for the bacon and eggs and never-ending pots of coffee, Uncle Joe brought the Crockpot of grits and toppings, and Lina provided the baked goods, fruits, and vegetables.
No one ate lunch on Saturdays, because a breakfast like theirs lasted until dinner.
“I brought strawberries, blueberries, and some tomatoes that are perfectly ripe,” Lina said, setting down her basket. “And I was feeling like cinnamon rolls this morning.”
“You won’t get any argument from me on any of that.” Uncle Joe settled his Crockpot on the counter and plugged it in on low. “Y’all are going to have to roll me out of here today, I can already tell. You get the tire fixed on that wheelbarrow? You may need it.”
“You’ll be fine.” Lina patted Joe on the arm. “We can walk around the ranch a bit before it gets hot. Helps the food settle.”
Joe placed his hand over hers. “That’s a good idea.”
“Besides.” Lina began pulling plates from Sawyer’s cabinet, familiar with the kitchen. “We’ll have help eating breakfast this time. Garrett and Shelby are coming over.”
Sawyer and Joe shared a look.
“They are?” Joe asked.
“Of course they are. They’re staying at the guesthouse, and they have to eat.”
“We’re just surprised at the good news is all.” Sawyer helped her put down the place settings.
He’d hoped to see his brother, alone, before being faced with him and Shelby. Now, his favorite meal of the week was going to be served with a side of tension.
Garrett and Shelby showed up, Dodger leading the way into the kitchen just as Lina was serving up the eggs, over easy.
Everyone was all smiles and warm greetings, Lina doting over Shelby the way she doted on everyone. They were seated, Garrett at the other end of the table, Shelby to his left, next to Lina.
Sawyer found a Busy Bone in the pantry for Dodger, because without it, no one got to have breakfast in peace.
“What did you kids get up to yesterday?” Lina asked.
Garrett motioned to Shelby. “I just got some work done at the guesthouse. She’s the one with all the excitement.”
Sawyer jerked his gaze to Shelby.
This was it. Was she going to fess up to hanging out with some guy all day? Maybe it was just a cousin. Maybe he was being an idiot. But they sure hadn’t appeared to be cousinly.
“Well, I spent the afternoon at the bridal shop, trying on dresses and getting measured.”
Lina clapped her hands together with delight.
What?
No, she was not in a bridal shop all afternoon, trying on dresses. She’d been out near Carson, Texas, saddled up in a booth with some local cowboy.
She was lying. Which meant she was hiding something.
“Is this bridal shop in Carson, by any chance?” Sawyer shifted in his seat.
“No, it’s right here in Fredericksburg. Why?”
Oh, it was, was it?
“Just wondering. I thought I saw you while I was coming back from looking at a horse.”
Shelby’s laugh was laced with nerves. “Only if you stopped in Magnolia Bridal.”
A smile stiffened across his lips. “No. Just into a diner for some coffee.”
Panic flashed in her eyes.
“How did it go at the bridal shop?” Lina interjected.
Shelby jerked her gaze from his, focusing on Lina. “What? Oh. Great. It went wonderfully. I want to go back with Beth, and my mom. Probably. There are a few I like, but I wouldn’t dare make a decision like that alone.”
“I didn’t know women ever liked to alone.” Sawyer dared her to look his way again. “Especially not for something so important.”
“They don’t.” She took a sip of her orange juice.
Were her hands shaking?
“But since we’re limited on time, I thought I’d better at least check things out.”
“And you’re wise to do so.” Lina smiled. “I know I’ve said it already, but I’m just thrilled for both of you. This whole thing is just such wonderful news.”
Sawyer picked up his coffee.
Sure. Wonderful news.
They continued with breakfast and Sawyer chewed on his thoughts as much as on his food.
He could keep prying, ask a lot of questions, and come across like an overbearing a-hole. Wouldn’t be the first time he was accused of such.
But this was his brother’s fiancée. He didn’t want to push and push, and end up with Garrett, Lina, and even Uncle Joe mad at him.
He also didn’t want to be wrong.
There was still a chance her coffee date was…innocent. Though even thinking such made him want to smack himself upside the head.
No explanation existed that made what he saw completely innocent.
After breakfast, he and Garrett cleaned up in the kitchen with Dodger tap dancing at their feet hoping for some dropped crumbs. Lina chatted with Shelby while Joe went out to the stables.
Sawyer fought the urge to bring up anything around company.
He and his brother would go out riding once breakfast settled. They did it almost every Saturday, and today should be no different.
As soon as the kitchen was clean, Sawyer asked about riding.
“I was planning to go into town with Shelby. Maybe some other time?”
But they rode every Saturday.
“We can go afterwards,” Shelby was quick to say. “Go riding with your brother. Dodger can stay here with me.”
She was probably being agreeable out of guilt, but Sawyer would take it.
“You sure?” Garrett asked.
For the love of Pete, she already had him whipped to the point he had to ask twice?
“I’m sure.”
“She can stay here, and we’ll catch up. We can take the dog for a walk and talk about the shower tomorrow,” Lina offered.
“Yeah.” Shelby smiled. “That sounds perfect.”
“So, we’re riding?” Sawyer fought to keep the annoyance out of his tone.
“Looks like.”
They made it maybe half a mile on their ride before Sawyer cracked.
“I know I saw Shelby outside of Carson yesterday.”
Garrett sat on his filly, Delilah, his form perfect, completely unphased. “Yeah, she said she’d be running some errands.”
“She was at a diner. Not running errands.”
“I guess she was hungry and stopped to eat.”
“Then why didn’t she say all that at breakfast?”
Garrett pulled his horse up short and Sawyer stopped too. “Why don’t you just say what it is you want to say?”
“I—” He did not want to go there.
“Spit it out, Sawyer.”
“I saw her having lunch with some guy.”
Garrett stared at him for the longest few seconds of his life. And then laughed.
Laughed!
“Not lunch with a guy! Oh no!”
Sawyer grimaced. “Don’t be a smart-ass, I’m serious. They looked…cozy.”
The laughter stopped; Garrett’s expression suddenly solemn. “I know you were lied to about stuff like this, but I don’t like your tone. Shelby has male friends. She has a lot of friends. She has co-workers. You know how well known her family is.”
“That’s not what this—”
“And she can have lunch with whoever she wishes. If I didn’t trust her, I wouldn’t be marrying her.”
“I just think you need to ask her who she was with the other day. That’s all.”
“I’m not going to interrogate her because you’re the one who’s suspicious. You’re suspicious of everyone. I get why you’re wary of people, but it doesn’t mean Shelby has done anything wrong. That’s just you.”
“But I think—”
“Look, I know what you went through, but my fiancée isn’t the same as yours. Just because Melissa lied and cheated on you, doesn’t mean Shelby will do me the same way. I hate that that happened to you, but you can’t go around suspecting the worst of everyone because you got burned.”
Sawyer kept silent, his jaw cramping with how hard he bit back his words.
“You can’t take that out on us.”
“That’s not what I’m doing.”
“Isn’t it?”
“I’m trying to look out for you. All that love and stuff can make you blind, and I don’t want to see you get hurt. You’re my brother. You’re my only family.”
“I know. But you’ve got to trust me on this. I know what I’m doing.”
“I’m not—”
“We’re dropping this. Right now. I want to enjoy my ride with my brother.”
He’d drop it. For now. But he was not letting this go.
Chapter 5
Silva Ranch made a surprisingly ideal location for a bridal shower. Beth let a wave of pride wash over her as the Sunday sun eased lower in the sky.
No, she couldn’t control the weather or the Texas heat, but if she could, she would’ve arranged a late afternoon just like this.
Warm, but not too hot. Sunny, but not too bright. Nice breeze, low humidity.
It was a perfect day.
Now, if she could only get a duplicate day for the wedding in a few weeks.
Shelby had chosen a Tex-Mex theme for the shower and, in a matter of days, Beth had pulled together an outdoor luncheon and made Sawyer’s backyard look like the ideal if understated fiesta.
Colorful table coverings and adorable, take-home-with-you succulents decorated every table.
And, of course, Aurora’s food rose beyond the occasion.
“Can you believe this?” Shelby pulled Beth aside.
“You like?”
“Like? Are you kidding? This is perfect. I can’t believe you put this together so fast. And do you smell those fajitas? And there’s southwestern-style caprese salad at each high-top table, with salsa verde and queso. I’d never even heard of southwestern caprese until today. Everything looks and tastes amazing.”
“I’m glad you’re pleased.”
“You’re a miracle worker.”
That was her job, but it always made her happy when the miracle played out.
“My mother can’t stop oohing and aahing.”
“Really?” Evelyn oohing over anything was impressive. Maybe she’d ooh and aah to her friends and Orchard Inn would benefit.
“The fact my mother hasn’t picked this party, and the food, apart is the greatest compliment ever. I already told your sister.”
“Good.” She wanted Aurora to get all the compliments. In truth, the culinary work she was doing now was at a lower level than her previous work. If everyone bragged on her and reminded her of her talent and skill, then maybe being back home wouldn’t be so bad.
At least Aurora had seemed excited about some of the fruits and veggies she’d bought at the Founder’s Day festival. The southwestern caprese was made with buffalo mozzarella and tomatoes from a vender she’d met there.
“You need to eat something,” Shelby insisted.
“I will in a bit.” But the truth was, Beth never ate until an event was over. She needed to be free to work, in case something came up.
“Okay, you’d better. I’m off to mingle. I think my aunt just got here.” Shelby turned to go but stopped dead in her tracks. “No. No, no, no.”
“What?”
“My mother has cornered Sawyer.”
Uh-oh. Evelyn Meyers meeting Sawyer Silva was the very definition of an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object.
“We should go say hello,” Beth suggested. “Also known as intervene.”
“That won’t help. He doesn’t like me. He’ll hate me after meeting my mom.”
A record scratched in Beth’s mind. “What? How could he not like you?”
