Chapter 23
Cruz
A month after reconnecting, I’m flanked by Bob and Karl at the grill again.
Elodie’s sitting in a camp chair by her mom and sister.
These family grill-outs are becoming a thing, and I don’t foresee a change when the weather turns cold.
Bob’s already sketching plans for a four-season addition to the house.
“I always had it in mind,” he says about his idea and hitches up his jean shorts, which are secured with a plain brown leather belt.
“But then it got delayed with the accident. Elodie moved away and Clem went to school for even longer than me.” Despite what might sound like complaining, the man radiates pride for his girls.
Karl nods. He’s dressed like he should be Bob’s twin instead of a former brother-in-law. I’m the standout in jeans, boots, and a T-shirt.
“Both girls are back,” Karl says, “and if looks don’t deceive me, Elodie might be staying awhile because of this guy.”
Bob’s grin stretches wider. “The bakery was going to keep her here, but thanks to Cruz here, it’s not her prison.”
“I wish I could’ve seen that punch,” Karl mutters and does a quick shadowbox. Then he looks around like he’s afraid the townsfolk might’ve seen him.
“Thank you for that.” Bob’s solemn as he glances at the girls to make sure they don’t hear. “I hate that she felt like she had to keep it from us, but I’m glad someone helped her.”
My lungs freeze. I’m not prepared to talk about this, but I don’t hear censure.
Elodie didn’t tell them any of my personal details.
She glossed over my past, and I’m forever appreciative that she tried to protect me.
But if this whole situation has taught me anything, it’s that being ashamed of our past has no good purpose.
It leaves our history open to be used against us.
I’m not going to let something that Elodie accepts about me be a weakness like that. “I can’t take full credit for helping her. I called in a favor from my dad. He’s got connections I’d rather not know about and he made sure Dwayne left Elodie alone. He’s, uh . . . he’s in prison.”
Bob’s bushy brows rise. Karl makes a how ’bout that expression. Both guys study me. Karl’s probably heard worse confessions in his time, but Bob’s mouth doesn’t turn into a frown.
“I didn’t have the best childhood,” I continue.
Might as well get it all out. “Got in my share of trouble. Mom was an addict. Left us alone a lot. Dad was in and out of my life before he was out for a long time.” I swallow, determined to tell it all.
“Elodie was afraid for me when I hit that bastard, Damon. Worried that I’d hate myself for regressing into someone I worked hard on not being anymore.
What she doesn’t understand is that I’d do worse for her, and the last thing I would do is regret it. ”
Silence falls between us. The chatter of the women is a low murmur.
The burgers smell good on the grill, but my appetite starts retreating.
If I get kicked out, so be it. Elodie and I will figure a way to win her family over.
I just don’t want her to stress, and dammit, I really like her dad and uncle.
I drop my gaze and study the tips of my boots.
I wiped them off before I came over. Good habits are just good habits.
Karl claps a big hand on my shoulder. “Sorry to hear about what you went through. You’ve obviously taken charge of your own life and chosen a different path than your parents, but I’m glad to hear someone has Elodie’s back no matter what.”
“Me too.” Bob leans in closer. “Between you, me, and the fence posts, I’ll take the fall if she ever needs a problem dealt with again. I’m old and won’t be in jail for long.”
My laugh is as unexpected as his words. Bob and Karl snicker with me.
Karl nudges Bob. “He’s got her back, and we’ve got theirs, ain’t that right?”
They dissolve into delighted chortling that tells me they might even have fun saving me and Elodie from a hypothetical future scenario like the one we just got out of.
My humor rises, but I’m humbled to my core.
Not since Mae Bailey offered to give me a decent future have I realized how goddamn lucky I am.
I told these guys who I am and where I come from—dirty house, felon dad, and all—and Bob’s offering to take the blame for anything I do to benefit his daughter.
Instead of chasing me away, a guy who used his father’s prison network to threaten and intimidate, he’s bringing me into the Palmer fold.
And he didn’t ask me to name any kids after him for the privilege.
Elodie appears at my side, wrapping an arm around my waist. “You all sound like trouble.”
Bob’s smile is secretive. “Just telling your guy that it’s nice to see more of you.”
Elodie hugs me harder. “Angie’s been great.”
Her new employee is originally from a small town in eastern Montana and went to pastry school. She’s thrilled to be working in her home state again, and that her kids can be so close to their grandparents.
With Angie, Elodie can expand her menu and her hours and take more time off.
She even has temporary workers arranged to help with the cookie dough fundraiser and the holiday orders, working with the high school for both volunteer hours and extra fundraising opportunities to help pack and deliver orders.
She’s going to take her first week off right before she has to work on holiday orders, and I’m taking her to Bourbon Canyon and Bozeman. She wants to see where I grew up, literally and figuratively.
I have a ring in a drawer at my house, waiting patiently for that trip. I know just where to pop the question.
Elodie
I press my hands against my stomach to keep it from churning and smooth them down the rest of my dress. Over it I have on a robin’s-egg-blue cardigan, and boots beneath it. I’ve never thought so hard about what to wear when meeting someone.
Cruz leads me up a path to the back door.
The view from here is stunning. The Bailey Beef ranch encompasses rolling hills and tree-covered inclines.
Down another path is a cute shed with chickens darting around it.
There’s also a huge barn, a shop that Cruz said Lane used to do a lot of work in, and fenced-off pastures with horses and cattle.
A couple of goats even amble by the barn.
Cruz puts a hand at the small of my back. “You should see it when it’s green.”
The air is cool and the grasses are more brown than green today, but it doesn’t diminish the vista. “It’s stunning now. The trees on the foothills and the shadows from the clouds? Gorgeous.”
“I never would’ve been able to move far away. Myles would’ve had no issues bringing the Hennessys into the Foster House Gold deal, but he also wanted to watch out for me and Lane. We wanted to be close to this and the Baileys.”
The door opens and I spin around. A woman a little older than my mom appears in the doorway. She’s got a ruffled apron on and her salt-and-pepper hair pulled back.
“I thought I heard you pull up.” Her warm gaze lands on me. “So nice to finally meet you, Elodie.”
“I’ve heard so much about you.” I hold out the box of poppy seed cruisers, the muffins I made with the whiskey Cruz served me for a tasting at the distillery.
Why did I bring these? She has a daughter-in-law who’s also a baker. Mae probably gets yummy goodies all the time.
Her smile brightens even more. “Now I want dessert first. Come on in.”
She waves us inside and we pile in after her. The house is as inviting as everything else. I’m lucky I got to know Cruz. He probably wouldn’t have left if the Foster House opportunity hadn’t opened up.
For a large log home, it’s warm and inviting inside. Cruz leads me around a corner to a long dining room table. He pulls a seat out for me at the far end.
I don’t sit. “Can I help with anything?”
“You can help by sitting your sweet ass down and letting me and Mae spoil you.” He grins. “She’ll let us do the cleanup.”
My relief allows me to sit. As long as I’m not getting waited on. I take my seat. “Okay. I should’ve offered to cook.”
“You’ll have plenty of time for that. For today, she pulled a roast from the freezer, and the potatoes are fresh from the garden. And the onions, the carrots, the berries.”
I would push back and jump up, but he’s blocking the way. I crane my head back to stare up at him. Homegrown ingredients and meat so local it used to moo in the backyard sound divine to work with. “Everything she’s using is from the ranch?”
“Mae’s industrious, but she doesn’t churn her own butter.” He drops a kiss into my hair. “Now relax. We’ll be doing the dishes.”
Several minutes later, the three of us are at the end of the table, eating the best pot roast I’ve ever tasted.
After a few minutes of chatter, I feel like I’ve known Mae all my life.
She has a disarming way about her, unassuming and accepting.
All remaining tension drains from me. I get the whole week in town, and Cruz is going to treat me to a private Copper Summit Bourbon tour.
We have the cupcakes for dessert, and then Cruz and I clean up while Mae pours us each a glass of bourbon on the porch. Cruz leans against the railing, while Mae and I rock in some well-used wooden rocking chairs.
This is a lot like the times Cruz and I sat on his back deck, enjoying a drink after a meal. I messed up the first time he tried, but I’ve made up for it. Mostly with a blow job the next time we tried it.
My face warms, and I catch Cruz’s intense gaze. Is he thinking the same thing?
Mae rocks slowly. “Are you going down to the barn?”
He sets his glass on the end table between us. “Yes, ma’am. Gotta show her where it all started.” He holds out a hand. I take it and rise. He doesn’t let go of me as he leads me along the path to the barn.
The chickens streak across the yard and moos ring out in the distance. A horse whinnies and another nickers. We continue past the barn to the fence of the closest pasture.
The slight breeze. The frogs and the bugs. We could’ve gone anywhere for my vacation, but I can’t think of a better place. “It’s so peaceful out here. I bet there’s amazing fly-fishing.”
He laughs. “Tate and Teller already offered to take your dad out whenever he can get here next year.”
“That’s so sweet. Your family is welcoming.”
“They are my family,” he murmurs. “You know, when Myles first brought me out here, I remember this longing deep inside me that I was afraid to admit to. I wanted the welcoming home and the good food and to be surrounded by people who wanted me.”
“You have all that.”
“I didn’t feel like it at the time.”
“Oh, Cruz.” I turn to him and cup his cheek. My heart hurts for that young man.
He kisses my palm. “But this spot, where I was shown the horses and told about what I would be doing for work? This is exactly where I made a decision. That I would be someone who could have it all. Now I do. I have more. And there’s a woman who loves me that I want to spend the rest of my life with. ”
He slips his hand into a pocket and withdraws a twinkling ring. He drops to his knee, and even though he told me this day would come, tears spring into my eyes and I put a hand over my mouth.
“Elodie Palmer?” A sexy grin curves his lips. “Sugar? Will you marry me?”
“Oh my god, of course. Yes!” I wave my left hand in front of him. “Put it on, put it on.”
His grin is bigger than I’ve ever seen. The ring slides into place, a perfect fit. Cruz Foster is a prepared man.
He rises and sweeps me into his arms, letting out a big whoop. I cling to him, laughing as he spins me around.
“I’m going to make you a happy woman, Elodie. You and little future Lawson and Sylvie.”
“You already do.” Cruz keeps his word. I slide down his hard body when he sets me back on my feet. “Should we call or text everyone?”
The suggestive grin is back. “The rest of our bourbon is waiting for us, but the barn is right here, and you have a dress on, and we need to celebrate.” He takes my hand again and tows me toward the opening of the barn.
“I’ve been planning for a long time to bring the love of my life here—and get inside of her. ”
“I’m happy to make your dreams come true.”
“Aw, Elodie.” He spins me around. “You already do. Now grab the post and hang on. I’m about to make you mine again.”
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Thank you for reading Whiskey Flirt!