Redeeming the CEO Cowboy

A gnawing ache pinched her belly. His enthusiasm wasn’t easy to take. She would forever hold dear the first time she’d made love to a man...a special man whom she might very well have loved. Those memories would never leave her.

“Then we can move on? Start fresh?” he asked.

“I think so.”

But she would’ve been happier if he’d never come back to town.

Three (#u55e666fa-b323-5a87-a3e9-f3a40a9e9df5)

Susanna put two dozen double chocolate muffins in the oven, set the egg timer and then spread her palms over her apron, smoothing it out. One more batch to go and she’d be done this morning. She strode to the kitchen window and gazed out at the sun-soaked street. A scorcher, the weathercaster had warned. She didn’t doubt it. Beads of moisture already trickled down her neck. It was going to be a steam-rising-from-asphalt kind of day.

She spotted a tall figure running up the street. Instead of backing away from the window, she strained to focus on Casey doing his daily exercise. His strides were long and efficient and smooth. She sighed. Why was she punishing herself by searching for him?

As he approached the house, she took a few steps back, out of view of her window. Good. His run was over. He’d go inside his house now and let her get on with her day.

Then she heard footfalls on her driveway, quickly followed by a light rapping on her door. It had to be Casey. He was the only person on the street as of three seconds ago. Apparently, starting fresh started early for Casey. “Darn it,” she muttered.

Last night they’d parted as “friends.” What on earth did he want now?

She opened the door. He stood on her doorstep, hands on hips, chest heaving up and down, wearing black nylon running shorts and a round-necked T-shirt. A headband kept blond locks from falling onto his face, which was coated in a sheen of sweat. He put up a finger, silently asking her to wait until he caught his breath. The dog was nowhere in sight.

Seconds ticked by. He filled her doorway and she stared at him. How could she not? He looked heaven sent standing on her threshold, neck bulging, shoulders broad and muscles tight. Her pulse raced. She’d bet her heart was beating faster than his, and her only exercise this morning had been to lift muffin tins out of the oven.

“Morning,” he said at last.

“Good morning. Where’s Charger today?”

“I figured I wouldn’t punish him. I needed a fast run today. But some days I have to go slower.”

She nodded. She got it. His back had never been the same since his injury.

“Is Ally still sleeping?”

“Yes. I’ll be getting her up in a few minutes.”

His gaze lifted to her hair, hanging loosely past her shoulders. Darned hairclips weren’t worth their weight in chocolate chips. They’d fallen out while she was working on batter and she’d forgotten to tie her hair back up.

“I’d ask you in, but...”

“No problem. I had a thought and wanted to run it by you. Any chance you can bake up some of those amazing muffins for my crew?”

“Your crew?”

“Yeah, at the restaurant. I spoke to the foreman yesterday. The guys are busting their asses, working day and night to finish the project on time. Your muffins will take the frowns off their faces in the morning.”

“How many are we talking about?”

“Three dozen a day would work.”

“Every day?” She did some mental calculations. She could use the extra money.

“Yes, until the restaurant is ready to open. The construction is going on at the River Walk. You could make it your last stop of the morning. Doesn’t matter what time they get delivered.”

“Oh, uh...sure. I’d love to.”

“Wanna start tomorrow?”

She gave it less than one second of thought. “Yes, I can manage that.”

“That’s great. I’ll get the info to you later today. Gotta take a shower now.”

“O-kay.” Instantly, she pictured him stripping off his workout clothes and soaping his body all up. Dang it. What was wrong with her? One minute she was sorry he’d landed on her doorstep, the next, she was imagining joining him in the shower.

He strode down the steps and off her property. Her heartbeat settled down finally and she closed the door. She wasn’t ungrateful for the work he offered, but it meant dealing closely with him again.

“Auntie?”

She swiveled around to find Ally in the hallway, her eyes half-lidded, her hair a curly mess of fluff. She stood there in her nightgown printed with tiny pink and white roses, her thumb in her mouth.

“Hi, Muffin.”

She giggled softly. “I’m not a muffin.”

“Oh, I forgot. You got up all by yourself this morning. Good girl.”

Beaming, Ally puffed out her chest.

“Are you ready for breakfast?”

Ally’s gaze darted around the living room. Every morning when she woke up, she seemed confused and unsure about all the changes in her life. At times, Susanna thought she was remembering her mother. At other times she seemed to be adjusting just fine. She didn’t pressure her. She gave the child all the space she needed. “Okay.”

“Great. We’ll have oatmeal with fruit and then you can help me put muffins in the oven. Would you like that?”

The next thing she knew, Ally was racing toward her with arms outstretched. Susanna seared the sight into her memory. She squatted to scoop Ally up and spin her around. Giggles burst from the child’s lips, revealing a mouthful of small, bright white teeth. Susanna was a sucker for that sweet smile.

It was the greatest feeling in the world. Having Ally’s trust—and hopefully love—one day was all she could ask for. She wasn’t Ally’s biological mother, but she felt like a mom right now, and the feeling seemed to be growing every day. She brushed her lips to Ally’s soft rosy cheek and then set her down. “Okay, my girl, it’s time to start our day together.”

* * *

“Hello, Austin,” Casey said, climbing down from his SUV. Plucking off his Ray-Ban sunglasses and stuffing them into his shirt pocket, he extended his hand to his mentor. “It’s good to see you.”

Big, burly, sweet-faced Austin Brown clasped his leathery hand around Casey’s. Austin’s was a work hand, the rough calluses and blisters a permanent testament to the man’s struggles and successes in life. He tugged Casey into a clumsy bear hug and gave him several forceful pats on the back. Then the former owner of Sentinel Construction pulled away and stared at him. “It’s about time you came out to Sentinel Ranch again. Elizabeth’s been asking for you.”

“I can’t wait to see her again.”

“Well, let’s head on inside. It’s hotter than hell today. Elizabeth has a great lunch waiting for you.”

Casey squinted to catch a quick glimpse of the sprawling two hundred-acre spread nestled in the heart of Crystal Canyon on the outskirts of Carson City. Austin had custom-built the mansion-sized ranch house twelve years ago; it was the envy of local landowners, Casey included. Constructed with flagstone, timber logs and brick, it was a visual masterpiece that earned a place on the pages of several architectural magazines. The publicity had done wonders for Sentinel Construction.