Chapter Fourteen

“Thanks, honey.” Caleb took the coffee cup from her hand and a packet of sugar. “I called Con while you were gone, caught him just before he and Mom were going to school.” He sat at the built-in desk next to the window.

“Is he having fun with Grandma?” The edge of the bed was the only other option in the room, so she sat down.

“Seems to be.” He took a sip and rested the cup on his knee. “He asked if you bought him something.”

“Oh! Yeah, I forgot to tell you, I did stop at a toy store.” She stood up and walked to the pile of bags and pulled out a colorful one and handed it to him. “I got him a couple of things. Thought you could give him the truck…well, grain cart, I guess. I don’t know all these farm machines.” She laughed.

Why did she have to be so damn perfect? He stared at her as she handed him the bag. He looked inside, noting how she had hit the nail right on the head when it came to Connor’s taste in toys. Beautiful, sexy, smart, and funny. He’d be a fool not to pursue this relationship, even though she was in hiding and could potentially disappear from his life. His heart had never been touched by a woman like she was affecting him. Even early on with Christie, he’d known it wouldn’t be a permanent, heart-bending thing. Laura, on the other hand….

“What?” she asked quietly, sitting back on the bed and taking a sip of her coffee.

“Just thinking. I’m missing your cooking, I think. Biscuits and gravy is what I’m wishing for right now.” He chuckled into his coffee cup, taking another sip.

“Since Phyllis will be cooking for someone else now, you’ll probably get pretty sick of my cooking soon enough.” She sipped again.

“I doubt that,” he answered truthfully. “I’ve already put on a little extra weight since you came out here.”

“Where? In your big toe?” She smirked. “You could always bring out a few more women to compete against me? See if I’m still the best choice?”

“Funny girl, why would I go and do that?” He set his coffee cup on the desk and leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. “Do you want to take the pickup today? Check out more of Casper?”

“Actually, I was wondering…. Do you think the conference would let me sit in a meeting or two? I met Don downstairs, and he suggested one this afternoon I might like.”

“Which one?” He felt stupid, not even having considered she might be interested in the meetings.

“Organics, at one o’clock.”

“I hadn’t planned to sit in on that one, but sure, why not? What about this morning? Maybe you’ll be interested in something?”

“What are the choices?”

He pulled out the program brochure and handed it to her. He’d marked a few things he wanted to check out. The last day was always more casual but also more frenzied. He still had two men he wanted to discuss his herd plans with, provided he was presented with an opportunity.

 

* * *

 

For lunch, Bud Rawlings, one of the larger breeders in Montana, waved Caleb and Laura to join him at his table. His very pregnant wife, Sarah, smiled at Laura and patted the seat next to her. Caleb and Bud had met years earlier at the National Cattlemen’s Association meeting in Colorado and immediately formed a friendship, continued through frequent emails and occasional phone calls.

“How much longer do you have to go?” Laura asked Sarah, placing her napkin on her lap.

“Just three weeks or so. My doctor would flip if he knew I’d come down here. My last two babies were early.” Sarah shifted uncomfortably on the chair.

“I wish you the best of luck.” Laura grinned.

The lunch conversation then revolved around family. Caleb talked about Connor and the Rawlings about their four boys. Sarah said she was hoping for a girl this time; they had decided to be surprised. Bud knew Josh, so Caleb told them Holly was expecting too.

Caleb’s attention was divided. He was trying to figure out how to fit in the discussion of expanding from simple friendship to a business arrangement with Bud…if Laura’s laugh didn’t distract him. He was trying to listen to the conversation she was having with Sarah and still keep up with Bud.

“Are you in a rush to get back?” Laura asked him, eyeing the dessert cart the waiter brought by the table.

“No.” He laughed. “Do you plan on taking a long time to eat one of those?”

“Oh, no. I could inhale it if needed.” She pointed to something chocolate.

He chose a cherry cheesecake.

“I make a good cheesecake,” she said after the waiter left.

“You like to bake?” Sarah asked, cutting into her pie.

“I do.” Laura nodded. “I’m Caleb’s cook at the ranch.”

“Oh!” Sarah exclaimed. “I thought you two were…involved. You’re so comfortable with each other.”

“Just the cook.” Laura focused on her dessert.

Her statement bothered him, hit him deep in the gut. But it was true, wasn’t it? They hadn’t established any relationship. A little snuggling and a few kisses didn’t make him her boyfriend. But maybe that was what bugged him? He wanted to be more than her employer.

“Do you do organics at all, Bud?” Laura asked, no doubt thinking about the next meeting they would be going into.

“No.” He shook his head. “We are traditional grass-fed Angus, just like Caleb’s ranch. Some of the best, if I say so myself, but not organic.” He wiped his mouth. “For us, it would be too difficult to switch. Too costly. I think we’d have to change to an all-corn-fed program and organic feed, at that. The cost would be astronomical, at least early on. Studies are still inconclusive about any superiority in organics, so we haven’t seen much reason to change.”

Caleb looked her way and noticed her studying Bud. “Have you and Caleb worked together on breeding programs?” She turned to Caleb. “Isn’t that what you call it?”

Bud laughed and wiped his mouth. He took a sip of water before he answered. “Where are you from, Laura?”

“Chicago.”

“Well, for a city girl, you sure can talk the talk.”

He and Sarah both laughed, but not unkindly.

“Caleb and I haven’t done any business together, no.” Bud turned his gaze back to Caleb. “I was thinking we should discuss swapping a bull or two if you’re interested. Or I’ll buy one from you, if you’d rather. Mix it up a bit.” He leaned back on his chair and crossed his arms. “I thought about heading to Dallas to the stock show, but with the baby coming, I’d rather stay close to Sarah.” He took his wife’s hand and squeezed it. “I talked with Manfred, and he told me you’re trying to improve your stock too. So, what do you say? I think it would be good for both of us.”

Caleb smiled. This couldn’t have worked out better if he’d planned it ahead of time. Laura was his lucky charm and apparently a damn good listener and quick learner, at least when it came to the agriculture business

 

* * *

 

“Thank you,” Caleb told Laura as soon as they were in traffic and on the way back to the hotel and conference center.

“For what?” She was genuinely confused.

“I’m not sure how you did it.” He glanced over his shoulder to switch lanes. “For three years at this conference, I’ve been trying to work up the courage to ask Bud to swap livestock with me. I’ve wanted some of his cattle for as long as I can remember, but I never quite got the nerve to bring it up.”

Caleb looked sheepishly at Laura. It surprised her he was shy about such a thing. That had to be an integral part of his business.

“Don’t you like the wheeling and dealing?”

He turned to her and shook his head. “Not much intimidates me, you understand.” He focused back on the busy road in front of them. “I rode bulls on the rodeo circuit for ten years or more. Those huge beasts didn’t scare me, but trying to convince Bud or anyone of his caliber to work with me is intimidating.”

“You don’t strike me as shy,” she said, looking out the window.

“I am,” he admitted. “It comes from growing up where I did. How I did.”

“I see.”

“Not really, Laura.” He glanced her way again and then back at the road with a shake of his head and a sigh that sounded so deep, as if it came from his toes. “Like you, I have a few skeletons. Mine, however, are best left in the closet.”

“Everyone has things they’d rather not have done, Caleb.”

She touched the back of his hand, which was resting on his thigh, and he turned it so he could entwine his fingers with hers.

“Maybe so.” He squeezed her hand.

They drove for more than ten minutes in silence, while Laura considered what he’d just admitted. Marketing and haggling were always a fun challenge for her when she had the restaurant. Would she be overstepping herself by offering to help him with it?

That morning, before lunch, they’d sat through two presentations geared toward the sales and marketing perspective of the ranching industry. Caleb had filled pages of paper with notes. She, on the other hand, realized she could have given the presentations.

Without using notes as a guide.

She knew Caleb had a great talent with the animals, skill with planning the crops and harvesting. She had no idea about that aspect of the industry. But marketing…. Well, that she excelled at. She was about to ask how he marketed the crops when they reached the hotel.

The parking lot was crowded, but he found a spot near the main entrance. Laura moved to open her door, but Caleb was quicker, drawing her to him in a quick, passionate kiss. He pulled his mouth slowly away and then held her for several minutes before leaning back on his seat.

“Do you really think all you are to me is the ranch cook?” he asked.

“Aren’t I?”

“For a smart girl, you sure are blind.” He leaned in again and kissed her. He backed up just enough to meet her eyes. “You stopped being just a cook the night I came home to find you lying on my couch, taking care of Connor. You care about him, and that means the world to me.”

“Okay, so I’m the cook and the nanny.” She shrugged, comfortable with that notion but hoping he would say something that would make her heart melt.

“You’re more than that, Laura, I care about you, and I’d like…. Well, I’d like to be involved with you.” He caressed her cheek with the back of his fingers.

“What does involved mean to you?” She tried not to hold her breath as she waited for the answer.

His laugh caught her off guard. “I’m not sure. If this was like thirty years ago, I suppose I would ask you if you wanted to go steady.”

“Oh.” She swallowed. “Do I get to wear your class ring and letter jacket?” The chuckle erupted from her without warning.

“If you want.” He shrugged. “I think I still have both.”

“What other…perks…come with this ‘going steady’ business?” She leaned in this time, placing a soft, gentle kiss at the hollow of his neck.

“Well, there’s this.” He tilted her head up to meet his lips, this time deeper, more intensely. “Even more if you want. We’ll go slowly, Laura. The last thing I want is to ruin a good thing.”

“Is that what I am? A good thing?”

“Isn’t that what that Martha cooking gal always said about her best cooking ideas? It’s a good thing? And you, Laura, are a very good thing.”

 

* * *

 

“I didn’t know you had such an interest in organics,” Caleb commented when he finally got a word in.

Laura hadn’t stopped talking about the presentation they’d sat through that afternoon. Don had invited them to join him for dinner at the Mexican restaurant he claimed was the best in the West.

“I didn’t before today.” She munched on her taco salad, moving the lettuce around in the baked tortilla bowl to pick up the last drips of salsa. “It’s fascinating.”

“So are you in?” Don asked with a chuckle.

“What do you mean, is she in?” Caleb looked between the two, knowing he was missing something.

“I suggested to her this morning, when she came to fetch coffee, that she consider creating a line of Italian premade organic dinners. You know I work with that processor out of Omaha. I told her I’d pitch it to them.”

“I see.” He frowned. “She didn’t tell me.” He shifted his gaze to Laura as he bit into his third taco. “No wonder you’re so excited about the topic.”

It reminded him, rather abruptly, that she was so much more than a cook. He realized that were he in her world, the world of Chicago and high finance, she might not even have given him a second look.

“It has possibilities. I always hoped to put my great grandma’s recipes in a cookbook. As a matter of respect for her. She taught me all I know in the kitchen.”

Don laughed and wiped sauce off the corner of his mouth. “I knew you didn’t learn it from your mother. She’s a knockout but never struck me as domestic.”

Laura laughed and agreed with a nod.

Caleb suddenly felt like a third wheel. She and Don had a past. Maybe not a friendship, but he knew enough about her real life to be able to understand her, converse with her. And now Don was considering including her in a business venture.

As if sensing his discomfort, she put her hand on his thigh and squeezed. He made a face he hoped looked like a grin.

“Interested in growing organic veggies for me?” She sipped on her nonalcoholic margarita.

“I’m pretty set in my ways. Like Bud said this morning, it would take a lot of expensive changes to make it work.”

“How much does land cost around you?”

“Thinking of trying your hand at agriculture?”

“Nope, I’ll leave that to the pros.” She smiled. “I thought maybe I could hire it out, have someone work the land for me.” She shrugged and bit into the shell of the taco salad. “I guess it would be the processor who had to find the ingredients, anyway, not me.”

Caleb didn’t want the conversation to go any further. Laura was a spitfire when she was interested in something, and while Caleb appreciated her enthusiasm, he knew the plan would not be able to include him.

“So, Jasper has gone and gotten himself hitched.” Don smoothly switched topics. Maybe even he could sense Caleb’s tension.

“He did,” Caleb answered. “I’m happy for him, too. Phyllis seems like a fine woman, and we’ll be sorry to lose her at the Morning Glory.”

“You still have the best one left,” Don winked at Laura before taking a drink.

Had the world tilted? Suddenly, Laura was larger than life, more than his cook, more than his girlfriend. What Don wanted, Don got, and it appeared he wanted Laura as a business partner...and maybe more? How could Caleb criticize the situation? Don was a good guy, a good partner who had helped Caleb expand to where he was now. And Laura, well, he wanted her as a partner, too.

How could a man not?

It was jealousy, Caleb realized, swirling the iced tea in his glass. Even though Laura had invited him to participate, Caleb was jealous. Even though he no longer wanted to be indebted to Don, the green-eyed monster popped up. It wasn’t as though he was competing with Don for Laura…or was he?

“What did the hotel offer you for tonight?” Don asked. “Surely, your room won’t be dried out. I know my hotel is full because of the conference.”

“They offered to find me another room at a different hotel. The dry rooms are all filled for tonight. I was thinking a lot of people would have gone, with the limited presentations tomorrow, but I guess not.”

“You could bunk with me, Caleb,” Don said. “The suite I’ve got has a pull-out.”

Laura’s face showed no outward reaction, but her hand spoke volumes. Slowly, she moved her fingers closer to his groin, inviting him to stay with her another night.

“I think I’m okay, Don. But thanks.” He raised his glass to his lips with one hand and moved her hand back down toward his knee with the other. His body was reacting in a predictable, uncomfortable way to her touch.

 

* * *

 

“I’m glad you decided to stay with me again tonight.” Laura grabbed Caleb’s hand as they watched Don drive away in his high-dollar Mercedes.

“You kind of convinced me, you little tease.” He placed a quick kiss on her lips.

“Don’t you like me touching you?” She tried to pout but then laughed, knowing she wasn’t any good at it.

“I’m afraid I like it too much, honey. I lose my head when I’m around you.”

Hand-in-hand they walked to the elevator and down the hallway to her—their—room. The doors on the west side of the hotel stood open, with fans blowing inside, and the windows open so air would flow through to dry off the residue from the sprinkler attack.

She handed him the plastic room key card and followed him inside, clicking on the light. “The message light is blinking.” She pointed to the phone next to the large bed.

“Better check it out,” he said, heading to the bathroom.

The front desk clerk told her the message was from Mary Grace, saying Caleb needed to call home as soon as possible.

Don’t let it be Connor.

As soon as he finished in the bathroom, Caleb called home and got a hold of his brother.

“It’s Hank,” Caleb told Laura, who was sitting next to him on the bed as he spoke to Josh.

“We’re leaving first thing in the morning,” He spoke into the receiver. “That’ll get us back to the ranch by mid-afternoon. Tell Mom I’m real sorry.”

Caleb hung up the phone and hung his head low. “Damn.”

“What is it? Is Hank okay?” She placed her hand on the middle of his back to comfort him. “Caleb, is he all right?”

“He was arrested again.” He rubbed a hand over his face.

“Again? Good heavens, for what?”

“Drugs.” Caleb didn’t elaborate.

“Oh.” Laura groaned, uncertain what to say. She thought Hank had been hurt or was sick, not incarcerated for doing something illegal. “Connor’s okay?”

“He’s fine. Holly went out to the ranch to watch him so Mom could bail Hank out.”

“Is your mom all right?”

Caleb turned to her and guided her onto his lap, so she was straddling his hips, facing him. She leaned back so she could see him.

“How about we concentrate on something more pleasant?”

Cradling her face, he brought her lips to his. His tongue was insistent, pressing her lips open and tangling with hers. His fingers ran through her hair, urging her even closer. She could feel his need where their bodies met, and she knew what he wanted from her.

Needing a breath, she pulled away. “That was nice.” She slid off his lap.

“Where are you going?” He grabbed her hand.

“I’m not sure I’m ready for this.” She concentrated on slipping off her shoes.

“We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.” He sat forward to take off his polished boots. He set them next to the bed and then lay back down on the bed, just as he had the night before, and flipped on the television.

Uncertain, she watched him watch TV. What was she waiting for? Some sign that it was time to move on to the next level with him? She wanted him. Obviously, judging by the bulge in his pants, he wanted her. He admitted to caring about her, asked her to be his girlfriend. What was the problem with her? He wasn’t going to propose to her like Jasper had to Phyllis. She didn’t want that yet, either. Maybe not at all.

Decision made and with deliberate, cat-like movements, she climbed onto the bed and slowly covered him with her body. “I want you, Caleb,” she whispered when her lips reached his ear and then trailed down the side of his neck. She straddled him, liking the feel of his taut body between her legs.

The television went off, the remote hitting the floor with a thud. Caleb’s hand found the buttons of her blouse, and he slowly opened the first three, his lips teasing her neck and ear lobe. He pulled her shirt free of her trousers, moving slowly, deliberately as she had minutes earlier. His eyes fixed on hers, almost hypnotizing her with the need she saw there.

She followed his lead, wanting, needing to feel his curly chest hair against her bare breasts. She slipped her shirt off her shoulders and smiled as Caleb’s eyes widened. He reached around her back and after two slight fumbles, unsnapped her bra, freeing her breasts for his hands.

“You are glorious.” His mouth found each nipple, tasting them with his tongue.

“Oh, Caleb.”

She sighed, slightly arching to give him better access before bringing his mouth up to meet hers. She forced him back against the pillows, leaning on him, feeling his strong, muscular chest against her. She fought to free him from the collared shirt he was wearing, and when she succeeded, he pinned her on the bed.

“You like to be on top, do you?” he asked.

She’d indulged in this activity so few times, she’d never been on top. “You take the lead.”

He licked and sucked areas on her body she didn’t know existed, his hands massaging her shoulders, tummy, and back. When his hands found the button of her pants, she tensed.

“I won’t rush things.” He spoke breathlessly, his eyes dark with passion. “You tell me when you want to stop, and I will.”

“I’m not a virgin, Caleb.”

“So you told me.” He slowly unzipped her pants. “I’ll still stop if you say so.”

She lifted her hips, and she moved out of her dress pants, glad she’d purchased the fancy thong panties at the lingerie store. He caressed her outer thighs and then brought his attention back to her breasts, rubbing her hardened nipples with his thumbs, making her wiggle with throbbing desire.

The buckle of his pants gave her trouble, but once it was unlatched, the button and fly opened easily, and he helped her push himself free of the khakis. He was a boxer man. He caught her chuckle in his mouth as he kissed her, guiding her hand to his bottom.

She ached to rip the drawers from his body, rub and caress his manhood, but she waited. If he were even close to as on fire as she was, that would be dangerous. He allowed her to take some of his weight, and instinctively, she wrapped her legs around him, rubbing the back of her calves against the back of his thighs.

“Laura.” He moaned and pushed his hardness against her. He found the thin straps that held her thong to her hips and pushed them down to her thighs, opening up her whole world to him. He threw the thong on the floor and slid his tongue along the inside of her thighs. She pulled his head up to hers, not wanting to lose herself just yet.

When the time felt right, she found herself slipping his boxers off his body, him helping her as they reached his ankles. He lay back on the bed on his side and pulled her against him, encouraging her to stroke him. She felt shy, suddenly, not having much experience in pleasuring a man.

“You have a beautiful body, Caleb,” she whispered, touching his length, knowing she’d never seen a man built like he was, much less had the chance to fondle one.

He took the hand she was touching him with and kissed it before he let go of her. He stood up and walked to the bathroom counter, where she watched him fumble through his toiletry bag. She watched in awe as the muscles worked in his back and thighs. His size was intimidating, but she knew he would bring her more pleasure than she’d ever experienced.

He smiled and climbed back onto the bed, carrying a foil wrapper, which he handed to her.

“Do the honors?” He kneeled on the bed in front of her, naked and not even the least uncomfortable. Or so it seemed.

She’d never placed protection on a man before, was happy he had something to use. She ripped the foil opened and pulled the sheath out. Going up on her knees, she touched him and slowly slid the prophylactic down his shaft. For a moment, they kneeled in front of each other, neither moving to finish the deed. He kissed her neck and then found her lips. They shared sweet, gentle kisses that made her blood warm.

She lay back and took his hand, pulling him on top of her. She spread her legs and welcomed him to guide himself to her opening. He pulled back slightly, and she closed her eyes, holding her breath, anticipating what she knew would be an amazing sense of fullness.

“I’m sorry, Laura.”

Her eyes flew open, and she sat up on her bent elbows, taking in his flushed face.

“I’ve got a bit of a quick trigger.”

 

* * *

 

The mishap was not discussed that night. They fell asleep holding each other, but he didn’t attempt to make love to her again, leaving her wondering what it would be like if he ever did. Laura guessed it was an over-abundance of pride that kept him silent. Really, what could be said that wouldn’t embarrass them both?

Jasper and Phyllis were waiting for them at the Casper airport, both smiling as if their lives depended upon it. They’d left Vegas on a red-eye, arriving in Casper on the first flight from Salt Lake City that morning. Jasper looked years younger, with a lighter spring in his step.

The women shared the back seat, and Laura listened quietly to the excited recount of their hasty excursion, her mind fixated on the man in dark shades behind the wheel. What was he thinking? Was he so embarrassed he’d never give it another shot?

“Are you warm?” Phyllis touched Laura’s arm in concern.

“Not particularly. Why?”

“You’re all flushed in the face.”

Laura caught Caleb’s small grin in the rearview mirror. Could he know she was remembering how it felt to be touched by him the night before? How his body had caressed her? Maybe he was thinking about it, too. What would have happened if….

It was early evening when they dropped the newlyweds at Jasper’s ranch. They’d be out to Caleb’s the next day to pick up what was left of Phyllis’ stuff. They were excited, Phyllis confided, to start their new life together. Amazing to Laura how much life had changed in just three days.

Laura turned to Caleb as they drove down the long gravel driveway that led from Jasper’s house.

 “You must be excited to see Conner.”

“I hate to be away from him for even this short a time.” His expression was hidden in the darkness of the cab. “It was, however, the best conference I’ve been to in a while. Certainly not boring like a few from the past.”

She wondered, of course, if that was due in part to her attendance, but she left the question drop without being asked. In fact, nothing else was said the rest of the trip to the Morning Glory ranch.

Connor shot out of the house the minute Caleb parked the car. He chuckled and climbed down to meet his happy son. A beleaguered-looking Holly followed slowly behind, waving to Laura and Caleb.

“I am so happy to have you home,” she said to Laura. “What a mess Hank’s in. I feel so sorry for Mary Grace.”

Laura had lots of questions but wanted to wait for the time Caleb was ready to share the information with her. It really wasn’t any of her business. She might be involved with Caleb—or after last night, she might not be—but either way, it was his prerogative when or whether to fill in the blanks.

She reached into the bed of the pickup and brought down her suitcase. Laura leaned low to hug Connor when he ran to her side of the truck. She’d miss the little guy, his curiosity, him following her around like her little shadow.

She glanced at Caleb, who was fiddling with something in the cab of the truck, before she walked back to the house with Holly who told her she’d been forced to cook three meals for the men, and in her opinion, Laura was a true miracle worker. Laura swallowed, knowing what Holly said was true, that it would be quite a feat to do it day after day.

The suitcase was heavy, but she hefted it up the stairs and quickly collected the clothing she needed to wash and threw it inside a pillowcase. “Back to real life,” Laura said to herself, wondering if the time in Casper had been just a dream.