Her Unbridled Cowboy (Harland County Series) (34 page)

“Come on. We can leave now,” Brandi
said, and they fell into step together.

The designer kept looking at her,
but the woman never asked a thing. She was secretly thanking her friend when
they found Jordan and Cole sitting at a quiet table, sharing a funnel cake.

Shoot. She didn’t want to see
them…or anyone right now.

“Hey you two,” Cole said.

Jordan smiled. “Brandi, I thought
you left.”

“Had to come back, but now I’m
leaving again,” she said. “Kerri and I are both heading out.”

Her sister’s head snapped in her direction
while Cole’s gaze narrowed on her face, then glanced past her…probably looking
for his brother.

“Where’s Connor?”

Yep. She knew it.

She shrugged. “I don’t know. Around
I guess.” Somehow she’d kept the tremor from her voice.

Jordan looked at her up and down,
then slowly rose to her feet, her concerned gaze boring deep. “Kerri, what
happened? What’s going on, and don’t say nothing because I know better.”

Cole stood up to stand behind Jordan, his concerned expression matching her sister’s. “Did you and Connor have a fight?”

A snort bubbled up Kerri’s throat,
but came out as another hiccup.
Darn it.
“Yes,” she answered.

“Kerri, what’s going on?” Jordan asked again. “Your dress is dirty, your arm is bruised and the knuckles on your
right hand are swollen. Tell me what happened.” 

She should’ve known Jordan would take in all of those things so quickly. Once a cop, always a cop. She sighed.

“Jesus.” Cole stepped closer to
look at her arm. “Did Connor do this?”

She shook her head. “No. Of course
not.”

Her brother-in-law’s eyes darkened
so much she couldn’t tell iris from pupil. “Who?”

“Yeah, Kerri, who?”  Brandi stepped
closer.

Then Jordan moved until she stood
toe to toe. “Who did this, Kerri?”

“Duke,” she replied, knowing it was
useless to try to lie to her sister.

“Duke?” Cole and Jordan asked at
the same time, both wearing a flush of anger.

Kerri nodded. Cripes. She might as
well tell them and be done. “Yes. He grabbed me in the stable and kissed me.”

 Cole cursed. “I hope Connor beat
the crap out of him.” He shoved a hand through his hair and Kerri was hit with
a fierce wave of sadness.

His brother believed her.
Why
couldn’t Connor have had this kind of reaction?
Silently her sadness
spilled down her face as she shook her head.

“No, unfortunately your brother
chose to think I was enjoying that kiss and was somehow scheming with Duke.” 

How could he think that of her
after the wonderful day they’d spent together? After all the intimacies they’d
shared the past few weeks?

She was just sick inside.

“Oh, Kerri, I am so sorry.” Jordan gently placed her hand on Kerri’s shoulder, and Brandi touched the other.

“That stupid jerk! I don’t know who
I am angrier with—Connor or Duke,” Cole rasped as he paced back and forth then
stopped. “First, I think I better go pay Duke a visit.” He went to leave, but
Kerri grabbed him by the arm and stopped him.

“Don’t! I’ve already taken care of
him,” she pleaded, and he looked down at her in confusion. She managed a weak
smile. “You don’t think my cop sister wouldn’t teach me a few things?”

 A slow grin spread across his
face. “I almost feel sorry for Duke.”

Jordan nodded. “You should. Kerri
was top of her Kung Fu class and holds a 2
^nd
degree purple belt.” Jordan’s pride showed in her smile. “Tell me what you did.”

“Yeah.” Brandi moved closer. “What
did you do?”

Feeling as if it were all a dream, Kerri
relayed the rest of the Duke/manure episode to them and managed a small smile
at their laughter.

Her throat began to close up again,
so she cleared it. “I’m leaving.”

“Okay, hun,” Jordan said. “Where’s your stuff? In Connor’s truck?”

Kerri nodded.

Jordan pushed a curtain of hair
over Kerri’s shoulder. “No worries. I’ll drop it off tomorrow.”

She hugged her sister. “Thanks.”

“And I’ll kick my brother’s ass. In
fact, I feel the need to do that right now.”

Kerri pushed from her sister’s
embrace to grab Cole’s arm and hold tight. Again. “Please don’t bother Connor.
He’s feeling betrayed. He’s hurting. He doesn’t need a lecture right now.”

Jeez, listen to her, sticking up
for the man who was breaking her heart. But she understood him. Knew what
motivated his harsh words. Didn’t make him less of total idiot but she did
comprehend.

“What about you?” Cole looked down
at her, gaze warm and full of understanding.

She blinked and stepped back. “What
about me?”

Jordan slipped her arm through her
husband’s and stared at her. “Kerri, you don’t go kissing a man the way you did
by the truck earlier today without having some deep feelings for him.”

“I didn’t say I didn’t have
feelings for him, but
he
chose to walk away, not me.” Kerri sighed and swiped
at the fresh trail of tears that spilled over at the realization.

Brandi stepped close and took her
uninjured hand. “Honey, can’t you do something about it?”

Kerri shrugged. “I tried. He
wouldn’t listen. And now, I don’t think I should.” At the trio of frowns that
met her gaze. She pushed a lock of hair behind her ear then tried to explain.
“Connor’s whole problem with women is trust. He doesn’t trust them, and I can’t
get involved with him if I have to worry about him mistaking things all the
time.”

Brandi nodded. “I see what you
mean.”

“Yeah,” Jordan agreed. “Maybe he
just needs time like Cole did, to come around to your way of thinking.”

Cole kissed her sister’s head and
the happy couple smirked.

If only it were that simple.

“Well, if you’re ready?” Brandi
stepped forward, question in her eyes.

Kerri nodded. She wanted to get out
of there so bad. Her head throbbed. Her arm throbbed. Her hand throbbed.

Her heart throbbed. And not in a
good way.

She wasn’t going to hold it
together much longer. “Yep, let’s go.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Jordan said. “If you need me, call.”

She nodded. “Uh, yeah, except my
phone is in my purse behind the seat in Connor’s truck.”

Cole straightened and pulled his
phone from his pocket. “Do you want me to call him so I can get your things
now?”

God, no
. She couldn’t take
another meeting with Connor now. She just couldn’t. “No. Tomorrow’s fine.”

“Yeah.” Brandi hooked her arm
through Kerri’s uninjured one. “She’s staying with me tonight, so it’s all
good.”

Kerri could’ve kissed the woman
because her house key was also in her purse in Connor’s truck. She glanced
sideways at her friend and smiled her thanks.

“Okay, then tomorrow it is,” Jordan said.

And with a wave, Kerri finally
headed to the exit, her breathing a little easier by the time they made it to
the field of parked vehicles.

“Just so you know, I don’t have ice
cream, but we can share some raspberry cheesecake yogurt,” Brandi said, brown
gaze apologetic.

Thank God. Kerri couldn’t look at
ice cream right now. It would only make her think about…

She inhaled and forced a smile.
“Sounds good.”

Darn it, Connor.

Bad enough the cowboy crushed her
heart and clipped the wings she’d just started to spread, but did he have to
take away her comfort food, too?

T
he grand opening of
Texas
Republic
was a big success. Kerri and Jordan were kept busy the whole week
with prep and training and promo. Which worked for Kerri. It had been a tough
week. Her chest still felt like it was in a vice. And she was sad. Very sad.
The loss of what could have been hit her deeper than expected. For something
that had mostly been a friends-with-benefits kind of fling, she was taking
their break-up hard.

So the busy schedule, and the exceptionally
busy opening day, was a welcomed distraction. The turnout was a huge success,
and the band had started playing an hour ago. She could hear the laughter and
clapping of the costumers all the way back in the kitchen.

It felt good to be in her element
again. The past few months she felt off, floundering, but now she was where she
belonged. Her domain. Pans, pots, skillets, cutting boards, knives, fillets,
fresh vegetables…garlic. She loved cooking with garlic.

She was at home. At peace.

But still, Connor managed to haunt.
She hadn’t seen the cowboy since the fair, but his taste, his scent…and
sometimes when she closed her eyes Kerri could almost feel his lingering touch.
Especially in the dang pantry, her body would ache for him.

Stupid body
.

Staying busy kept those feelings at
bay. She went through her normal daily routine. And the world continued to
spin.

Tonight was great, though. She
welcomed the constant rush of orders the efficient wait staff brought her way.
The two experienced assistant cooks she’d handpicked were perfect. They knew
the basics of the operation, so Kerri only had to train them in the style of
her cooking, and they soon established a good routine.

A two-night trial run had put the
wait staff, kitchen, prep and bar staff through the paces. Kerri and Jordan had
asked Kade to round up local service members and their families to act as
guinea pigs in exchange for free meals.

It’d been a huge success. Not many
ripples, and what little had surfaced where efficiently worked out. And a smooth
opening was the product.

A tray of raw, marinated prime rib
steaks was in Kerri’s hands as she made her way out into the dining room toward
the open pit. It was positioned safe from the costumers, yet where they could still
see, smell and watch as their meals cooked. From the reaction of the crowd
tonight, the pit was a big hit.

After handing the tray to the
workers manning the pit, Kerri made sure nothing was needed. Satisfied all was
going well, she headed back toward the kitchen when Jordan stopped her.

“Mom and dad just arrived with the
McCalls,” her sister informed, raising her voice to be heard over the band.
“Come and take a break.”

Her gaze drifted to were her sister
pointed, and she stiffened at the sight of Connor settling down at the big table.

Jordan pushed Kerri forward. “You
have to face him sometime,” her sister said. “Might as well be where you know
he’ll be civilized.”

True. It would be good to get it
over with, too. The longer it took for them to bump into each other, the more
apprehensive she’d become.

“Okay, but just for a minute. I
need to get back in the kitchen.” She brought a smile to her lips as they
approached the table.

“Kerri! Hello dear.” Her mom made
to kiss her, so Kerri bent down to receive it.

“Hello.” Smile still glued to her
lips, she nodded to everyone at the table, including Connor, who gave her the
same response. She sat down and sipped the ice water shoved in her hand.

“Looks like you’re doing great.” Cole
grasped her free hand and squeezed. “Between your cooking and Jordan’s head for business, you’ll be packing them in like this for months.”

Kerri returned his squeeze. “I hope
so.” She also hoped to be in California before summer’s end.

“That’s the idea, sweetheart.” Jordan winked.

As always happened lately, when her
sister looked lovingly at her husband, Kerri’s heart suddenly felt empty. Her gaze
involuntarily went to Connor’s face, and she was startled to find a pair of
brown eyes watching her intently.

With her pulse now cracking the
sound barrier, she felt her cheeks heat despite her efforts to stop it.
Crud
.
She really hated that he had the power to bring heat to her face…and body.

“Excuse me, Kerri,” one of the
waitresses said as she approached. “But there are a few customers who asked if
they could meet the
wonderful cook
.”

She felt her blush deepen as pride
mixed with delight to brighten her mood. “Of course. Just lead the way.” She
stood and glanced at her family. “Sorry, duty calls.”

Her gaze met and held Connor’s for
a beat before she turned to follow the waitress. His face and posture were full
of indifference, but she’d caught a flicker of heat in his eyes. Kerri’s
satisfaction turned back to sadness. She wished the cowboy had had a clue.

C
onnor was aware of
Kerri all night. Damn woman got under his skin and held tight. No matter how
hard he tried not to, his gaze followed her as she made rounds to the tables before
she eventually disappeared into the kitchen.

When his parents and the Masters
had left, he’d moved to an empty booth with Cole to free up the big table, and
they were eventually joined by Kevin and Kade. Connor deliberately sat with his
back to the kitchen so he wouldn’t have to look at her. Wouldn’t have to add to
the ache in his heart.

It hadn’t helped.

Damn body knew when she’d return to
the dining room before he’d catch sight. Awareness rippled down his spine and
spread to his groin. Shifting in his seat, he silently cursed his body for
betraying his mind and heart. He did
not
want to be attracted to a cheating
woman, a woman who’d played him not once, but twice.

Too bad his body didn’t seem to
have such high standards.

“Oh great. Look who just walked
in?” Cole’s sour tone brought Connor’s focus back to the room, and his gaze
came to rest on the object of his brother’s dislike.

Duke Carver.

The bastard’s presence was enough
to sour Connor’s stomach. Duke was probably here to see Kerri and support her
on her opening night.
Shit
. The knife stuck in Connor’s heart sliced
deeper. He still couldn’t believe she did that to him. He thought she was
different. Never in a million years had he thought she’d betray him. But she
had, and he wasn’t about to stick around and watch the two of them have a good
laugh at his expense.