Chapter Three
“W ell,” Wallace began, clearing his throat. The doorway stood empty.
“ Well, indeed. He is all of what I said and more.”
“I hate that he might have heard what we said. That was most unprofessional of this office. I will of course render apologies on our behalf.”
“No, you will not. He should not have stepped past the ladies outside without an appointment or one of them stepping in to see if we could be disturbed. There are manners and rules and we do not apologize to someone who shows up uninvited and proceeds to issue his own orders or make hints of bribery.”
“My. My , you certainly have taken a disliking to the man. Did something happen between the two of you that I don’t know about?”
“Nothing has happened between us except when I tried to pay him a visit at his ranch three days ago, to introduce myself and be professional in thanking him for running a good election campaign and all, and then stating I wanted to discuss the possibility of his going along with a proposed plan that would allow for the city to benefit by access to the thermal pools on his property, he told me…no, and basically threatened me with trespassing. He acted like I was no better than any other politician who came with hat in hand wanting something from his family for nothing. And then he rode off on his high horse…literally.”
“Quite an inauspicious beginning to say the least. I can see how things might have gotten off on the wrong footing. But perhaps…” Wallace did not get to finish the thought.
“No perhaps about it, Wallace. If he chooses to donate because it is a worthy cause, then he knows how to reach the Park Committee and make his donation through the proper channels. Let’s set the mail aside while I make a couple of phone calls. Then we can continue.”
“Will do.” He shut the door behind him.
The nerve of the man! And so full of himself and his importance. What did he think she would do? Fall at his feet and thank him for his generosity and offer to hold a parade in his honor? He was as obstinate as she remembered. And he was so full of his charming self…she could well imagine how he had poured it on for Gina and Dorothea. Cade Lockwood was the golden boy of the Lockwood family…who all looked as though they were molded to be gorgeous and wealthy and above everyone else. How many photos had she seen of the man when she began to wade through the ton of materials that her team had gathered on her then opponent in the race for mayor? Golden boy indeed. Gorgeous…well those dark blue bedroom eyes as she had read described over and over ad nauseum might pause the heartbeats of most women, but she was certainly not one of them. True, she might have had to regroup her wits when he’d ridden up on his black horse the first time they met, the cowboy of the year in five rodeo events year after year, inducted last year into the hall of fame, and worth millions in family wealth and ranching. The list went on and on, but thankfully she had seen the true man behind the myth in their brief meeting and she was not a fan. Those types left her cold…and very irritated.
Luckily, the rest of the day went along as expected and she had to rush from the tax meeting well after six to get home and put the evening meal on the table. The back door opened as she was pulling the apple pie from the oven.
“Perfect timing,” she remarked, and turned to set the pie on the cabinet. Then things went wrong. The person standing in the doorway was the apparition from her office…Cade Lockwood. The potholder slipped a bit in her loosened hold due to the unexpected shock and the hot pan’s edge caught her off-guard and she felt the dessert leave her grasp. Her brother stepped inside right after Cade and couldn’t move fast enough to do anything. Cade didn’t move to save the dessert. His grip took hold of her wrist and turned her toward the sink. Cold water began running from the tap.
“Does anyone know where a first aid kit is?” His voice was calm and his brain clearly hadn’t short-circuited.
“Here, under the sink,” Matt spoke up, opening the cabinet underneath and coming up with the blue box.
“Burn cream?” Cade reached his free hand out to receive it from the sheriff. Matt placed it in his hand. “There’s gauze, too.”
“She might just need the cream and some air around it right now. It’s pink but doesn’t look worse than a side graze that shocked her.”
She? Why had she become a bystander in the whole scene? And yes, it hurt like hell. But so did the grip he had on her wrist. A different sort of pain maybe…an irritation? Or just a shock that this man could so easily exert control over her body’s sensitive spots. Maybe not wholly irritating. Aggravating mostly…that she would note it in the midst of all that was going on.
“I didn’t know that you had an M. D. behind your name? I trust I don’t need to worry about malpractice after your diagnosis?”
Those eyes cut over to hers. She hadn’t noted the two deep grooves that appeared beside a very strong-looking mouth that half curled into almost a smile. But there was an imperfection, and she noted it…out loud before she could help it.
“Did someone break your nose for you? It isn’t straight.” As soon as she’d spoken, she wanted to die of embarrassment.
There went the rest of the smile, and it was blinding up as close as they were to each other. “No, someone didn’t. More like somet hings …two different bulls that did that rearrangement for me. Some people think it lends character to me. What do you think, Ms. Mayor?”
“I always thought character was more an inside, unseen trait that people either have or not in their makeup.”
“Touché,” he whispered, accompanied by an almost imperceptible quick wink. So much so, she might have just imagined it. But she didn’t think so.
“Excuse me, but if you let go of her wrist, we might get to have dinner at some point. We’ll need another place set at the table, too.” Matthew’s comment was dry, and humor was just below the surface, but still dancing in his eyes as he watched the exchange.
Cade stepped away. But then he grabbed the roll of paper towels and began helping Matt clean up the remains of the damaged pie from the floor. It soon ended up in the trash can and the floor was cleaned.
“Sorry, I didn’t warn you we were on the way. Or that I was bringing by news of the culprit who parked in your space this morning.”
Tori busied herself setting an extra place and trying to gain control of her thoughts with the advent of Cade Lockwood in her kitchen after the way the day had begun. She was in for another surprise as they took their places at the dining table set into the alcove of the bright, airy kitchen.
“Well, if I had known, I would have had the table in the dining room set for a guest to join us. Since we usually eat here in the kitchen when it is just Matt and me and my niece—his daughter—pardon us being so casual.” She sounded stiff even to her own thinking.
“Eating in the kitchen is the best place. That’s how it was at our house while we were all at home, growing up. I still eat there myself. But I’m sorry about just barging in this evening.”
“Well, I didn’t give you much choice.” Matt grinned, helping himself to the mashed potatoes. “I couldn’t leave a prisoner to languish on jail food when we always have so much. Could I, sis? And this is killing two birds with one stone. I needed to see if you, the complainant, wanted me to hold the offender…that’s this man sitting here with us…in contempt and have me pursue that with the court in the morning? The judge had already left the building.”
“Am I missing something?” Tori was baffled. “What are you talking about, Matt?”
“Well, this morning you ordered me to do my duty and take care of the…how did you put it…the uneducated person who had no idea of how to read a sign and probably needed to have its importance explained to them like a child? Well, funny thing is that the person driving that monstrosity of a truck, as you called it, turned out to be Cade here. And he was in a hurry and just didn’t pay the sign much mind, but it seemed he had to waste some time waiting on the person he had come to see and when he got back…well he found that little pink note that we officers like to leave on cars from time to time. So, I thought I would kill two birds with one stone…bring him along to get the complainant’s decision on charges and enjoy some great food at the same time. Smart thinking on my part…wouldn’t you agree, Mayor?”
She would agree to the fact her brother would be owed a payback big time in the near future. Whatever he thought his smart thinking was, it was a big mistake in her book.
Tori’s gaze moved to the man sitting quietly watching the exchange between the two of them. Somehow, she had the feeling he had a large part to play in getting Matt to issue such an invitation. What was he up to?
“Interesting interpretation of the law,” was her comment. She passed the basket of rolls to their guest.
“I thought so.” Matt grinned, next taking the basket and helping himself. “Cade, these rolls are a whole food group in themselves. Take another.” And the guest/defendant did just that.
For the next few minutes, eating was the order of the day. Tori was grateful for that. And she had already made a mental note to discuss a certain topic with her brother once they had an alone moment. Such as checking in with the hostess before surprising her with a dinner guest.
“That was just what I needed.” Matt grinned again while rubbing his very full stomach. “I’ll have to take that slice of pecan pie, or two, with me for a bedtime snack. How about you, Cade?”
“Would that be one of those pies that Tillie has over at the café? It looks a lot like one of them and they are indeed tasty. Tillie always has the best pies of anyone in town.”
“Really? You think so? The best pies in town?” Tori was pleased that Cade was so easy to draw into her trap. She actually smiled at the man. Which drew a quizzical look from him in return. But he took the next step blindly.
“Sorry if that might bruise the ego, Mayor. But I know you wouldn’t disagree that one of Tillie’s pies is hard to beat.”
“I wouldn’t disagree at all. I’m pleased to hear you say so. I shall certainly take the compliment.”
Cade looked confused. And Matt couldn’t leave well enough alone any longer. His hand landed a pat on Cade’s shoulder. “Hate to see a man fall so easily into my dear sister’s trap. But that isn’t Tillie’s pie on your plate. In fact, each time you eat a pie at the café…you are eating a pie baked right here in this kitchen. The baker is sending you one of her gotcha smiles at the moment.”
The light dawned across the rancher’s face. “ You did this?”
“Indeed. I did do that pie and all those others that you just proclaimed the best ever. It’s a little hobby of mine, you might say. So now, when you go into Tillie’s and order that slab of pie, you will think of me. Isn’t that nice?” Her feigned sweet smile was perfect…in her judgment. The look in his narrowed gaze told her that he might not agree on that point. Matt pushed out of his chair and broke the moment.
“I’ve got to finish up a thing or two at the office and then want to check on Jillie at the sleepover at Janie Wilcox’s house…covertly of course. Heaven help me if she catches her dad doing such a thing.” He grinned and shrugged. “But then, I can’t help it if a report came in and I just happened to have a call in the same block…across the street even.”
“Always nice to see that devious streak is still there…even as you grow old.” Tori stood and gave him a hug.
“I’m beginning to see a definite family resemblance in the both of you,” Cade said, shaking his head as he joined the pair at the back door.
“We’ll take that as a compliment,” Matt said, taking his hat from the hat rack beside the door and pulling it down upon his head. Cade did likewise.
“So, what’s the decision, Miss Plaintiff? I was about to forget the business that brought us here.”
“I was wondering about that. Glad to see you remembered your duty, Sheriff,” Tori responded, with a glance at the tall cowboy standing in silent regard of her. The girls in the office were wrong was the sudden thought that took over her brain. Those eyes were a deep sapphire blue…not just a dark blue as they opined. And snap out of it! The color of his eyes made no difference in the matter.
“A firm warning will do… this time . So, you can cut him loose, Sheriff. I trust he has learned a valuable lesson. And knows that an appointment is always the best idea…unless one has tried that and gotten nowhere.” He wasn’t going to catch her out so easily. “Do give my favorite niece a hug and kiss for me when she gets home.”
Cade gave a slow smile that had the oddest effect on her coherent thought process. “Indeed, I have, Sheriff. I have seen a whole other side of our mayor this evening. And garnered some interesting information. I do appreciate the mercy you showed this lawbreaker this evening.”
“And on that note, we won’t push our luck any further. See you tomorrow, sis. Lock up tight.” And the two men left her to do just that.