Vegas Vows, Texas Nights

The pilot, a navy veteran, came by to say hello to the passengers and make sure everyone was ready for takeoff.

Luke shook his hand. “Hey, Bill. Hope you didn’t lose too much at the tables while you were here.”

“Nah, my big gambling days are behind me. The penny slots are just my speed.”

“I hear you,” Luke said. He’d never been a gambler. He didn’t like to play games he couldn’t control. And he didn’t like the odds in Las Vegas, with the exception of his recent marriage.

The odds of him marrying Katie had been slim to none. Yet he’d beat them and no one was more surprised than he was. Except Katie. He’d won the jackpot and now he had to convince his new bride being married to him wasn’t a big fat mistake.

“Any time you want to come up and copilot, you know where the cockpit is,” Bill said.

“Maybe later. Right now I’m still feeling the effects of last night’s party.” Luke grinned. “I’m afraid you’re the designated driver today.” He was in no shape to navigate anything, much less fly the friendly skies. He’d become a helicopter pilot while living on Rising Springs Ranch and had gotten his pilot’s license in flight school during his stint in the service. Yet Mason had insisted he not pilot the plane so Luke could let loose and not have to worry about his alcohol consumption. His brother wanted everyone to have a good time.

“Sure thing. I’ll see that you all have a good flight.”

“Thanks, Bill.”

Luke buckled up and glanced back at Katie. She was all set, looking like she’d just lost her best friend, even though Drea was sitting right next to her.

He sighed and as he turned his head around, he came eye to eye with Risk in the seat beside him. “Something going on between you two?” he asked.

He’d promised Katie he wouldn’t give away their secret and he wouldn’t betray that vow. “Who?”

“Don’t be obtuse. You and Katie.”

“No, nothing.”

“I’m not judging,” Risk said. “And if you do have something going with her, it’d be a good thing. I can read you like a book. You’re hot for her.”

Luke shot him a warning look.

Risk’s hands went up. “I’m just saying, if you get together with her, you have my approval.”

“Like I’d need it.”

“Hey, just want to see you happy for once.”

“You do know who she is, right?”

Risk smirked. “The best pastry chef in all of Texas. She’d keep us silly in gourmet cupcakes.”

“She’s Shelly’s younger sister. And she barely tolerates me.”

Years ago, Katie had dragged Shelly to a Red Barrel charity function and had introduced them. There’d been instant attraction between them and Luke had begun dating Katie’s big sister. The engagement had seemed to fall right into place. Until the day Luke had woken up and realized he was making a big mistake.

“You two took off together last night,” Risk said, “and today, you can’t take your eyes off her.”

“Leave it alone. Okay?”

Risk seemed to read the emotion on his face. “Okay, I’ll back off.” He slapped Luke on the shoulder. “But if you run into a problem, I’m here for you.”

“Appreciate that. Why aren’t you hanging with your fiancée?”

“Seems the girls won’t call it quits on their bachelorette party until the plane touches down in Boone Springs.”

Risk eyed April, giving Luke a chance to seek out Katie again. And there she was, trying her best not to spoil everyone’s fun, trying to smile and conceal the pain she must be going through. The thought that he was the cause of her pain ate away at him. It was the last thing he wanted. But he couldn’t let her go. Not now.

She was the girl who shared a love of horses with him, the girl he’d danced with most of the night, the impossible girl who’d been in his dreams for the past five years.

He needed a chance with her, and this was the best he was going to get.

One chance.

Was that too much to ask?

Two

A Boone limo picked up the entire wedding party at the airport, taking everyone directly to their homes on the outskirts of town. Katie was among the last to be dropped off since she lived in the heart of Boone Springs, her apartment just above the bakery. It was a modest place, with one bedroom, one bath, but the rooms were spacious enough and her large home kitchen served as a backup when orders in the bakery exceeded their limit. That didn’t happen often. Katie ran an efficient place and there was nothing like rolling out of bed at 4:00 a.m. and working in her jammies downstairs until the bakery opened at seven o’clock.

As the limo pulled up in front of the bakery, she was struck with a pang of relief. “This is my stop,” she said to her friends remaining in the limo. “I hope you all had a great time.”

Drea gave her a big hug. “It was wonderful. Amazing girl-bonding, my friend. Thanks for all you’ve done. Love you for it.”

“Love you, too.”

Katie glanced at everyone and waved a farewell. “All of you made the party for our dear friends something to remember.”

“After last night, I’ve forgotten more than I remember,” Mason said, smiling.

“You had the best time with your friends and family, especially with your fiancée.” Drea gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “Just ask me, I’ll fill in the blanks.”

Katie had some blanks she’d like to have filled in, too.

“One thing I do know, Luke and Katie worked hard on organizing this. Thank you,” Mason said. “You two make a good team.”

A rush of heat crawled up her neck. “Thank you. It wasn’t that hard, really, and it was fun.” The only difficult part had been working with Luke. Her husband. Oh God.

The limo driver grabbed Katie’s bags and opened the door for her.

“I’ll get off here, too,” Luke told the driver.

Katie glared at him.

“It’s a short walk to the office,” he explained. “And I need to check up on something. Benny, if you could drop off my bags at the ranch I’d appreciate it.”

The limo driver nodded. “Yes, sir.”

Katie climbed out, Luke right behind her.

“I’ll take those.” He grabbed her bags from the driver’s hand.

Katie noticed some raised eyebrows in the limo and wanted to melt right into the cement. What on earth was Luke doing? She didn’t want to arouse suspicion. It was bad enough she’d had to lie to her best friend about where she’d been last night. But Luke was oblivious as to how his behavior appeared to everyone.

“Bye,” Drea said. “Thanks again, hon. We’ll talk soon.”

“Okay,” Katie said, giving her friend a smile.

When the limo drove off, she turned to Luke. “Give me my bags, Luke.”

“I’ll carry them up for you.”

“That’s not necessary.”

“I know, but I’d like to.”

“Why?”

“Your hangover is hanging on. You’re pale and looking a little weak.”

“The only reason I look ill is because of what happened between us. Makes me sick to my stomach.”

His mouth twitched, but she wasn’t at all sorry she’d been so crude. Well, maybe she was a little bit sorry. This was just as much her fault as it was his.

“All the more reason for me to help you. I feel responsible.”

“Don’t.”

“I can’t help it, Katie. C’mon, you need to rest.”

She didn’t like him telling her what she needed, but his jaw was set stubbornly and they couldn’t stand here all day arguing. “Okay, fine.”

He had the good sense not to gloat at winning the point. He nodded and walked over to the front door with her bags.

She opened up her shop and walked in first. The bakery had been closed for three days, yet the scent of vanilla, cinnamon and sugar flavored the air. The smell of home. She sighed and her body relaxed.

“Smells like you in here,” Luke remarked, as if reading her thoughts.

“How’s that?” she asked.

“Sweet.”

She let his comment hang in the air for a moment. She didn’t feel sweet right now. She felt horrible and guilty. She kept wishing she could escape from this horrible dream. Waking up wed to her sister’s ex was truly a nightmare. And the sooner they rectified it, the better.

“The stairs are in the back, through the kitchen.” She led the way and he followed.

He stopped to take a look at her baking area. “So this is where the cupcake magic happens. I’ve always wondered what this place looked like.”

“Yep, this is it. This is where I spend a good deal of my life.” She couldn’t keep the pleasure out of her voice. She was proud of her shop, proud of what she’d accomplished. And she loved her work.

Luke took in the huge mixer, bowls and cupcake tins, the bins of flour and sugar and the industrial-size refrigerator. Yes, this was home to her.

“I see you here,” Luke said, as if he was picturing her at work.

“It’s not glamourous.”

“I would imagine it’s darn hard work. But work that you enjoy.”

“True.”

“Your bakery is the best in the county, everyone knows that. But I’ve only known you as a horse lover. You spend a lot of time at Red Barrel. How do you find time for both?”

“You run a multimillion-dollar company, how do you find the time?”

He grinned. “You’re quick, I’ll give you that.”

“Apparently, not quick enough,” she mumbled. Or else she wouldn’t have gone to bed with him.

Luke ran a hand down his face. “I wasn’t lying when I said it was mutual, Katie. I know that for a fact. Don’t blame yourself too much.”

She squeezed her eyes shut briefly and nodded. The man she knew at the horse rescue was gentle and caring and kind. He’d been her friend at one time and that was where it all got confusing. Because he had hurt her sister and maybe what Katie thought she’d known about him was all wrong. “Okay, can we just not talk about it?”

“Talk about what?” He played along. “You were going to tell me how you find time to work at the rescue.”

“My workday ends early. And I think the work we do at the rescue is important. Those animals need help.” She lifted a shoulder. “I don’t date. Or at least I haven’t for a while and so I have all kinds of—”

“You won’t be dating, Katie.”

She didn’t like his tone, or the implied command. “Luke, for heaven’s sake. You think I want to complicate my life even more?” She fisted her hands. “And you don’t get to tell me what I can or cannot do.”

“It may have been a hasty wedding, but you’re my wife.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Don’t say that.”

“I’m your husband.”

“For a nanosecond. Remember, you promised that you’ll look into a divorce as soon as possible.”

“I said it and I will. But until that time…” Luke came closer, his incredible eyes soft on her. He took her hand and squeezed. “If you ever need anything, call me.”

“You know what I want.”

He smiled and his blue eyes darkened. “I know what you think you want.”

“What does that mean?”

His hand gently wrapped around her neck, his fingertips urging her forward. Then he lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her. It was tender and sweet, not at all demanding, and the pleasure made it hard to pull away.

“I think you should leave,” she murmured, pushing at his chest.

“I was just going.”

When he backed away, she stared at him. There was a moment, one tiny second, when she saw something in him that made her happy, made her wish he didn’t have to go.

“When you hear from your attorney, give me a call.”

He nodded and walked out of the bakery.

Maybe it was a good thing she hadn’t taken him up to her apartment.

“Here’s your herbal tea, Mama.” Katie handed her mother a mug and took a seat beside her on the living room sofa in the home Katie and her sister had grown up in on Blue Jay Avenue. The neighborhood was close-knit, just on the outskirts of Boone Springs, about a ten-minute drive from the bakery. She’d come here as soon as she’d unpacked her bags.

“Thanks, honey. I love the pomegranate and blackberry mix.” Her mother blew on the steam and then sipped delicately. “Mmm. Tastes so good going down.”

“It is good,” she said, concerned over her mother’s health.

Diana Rodgers had tired eyes that told of sacrifice and lack of energy. Her body was a bit broken from ill health. At the age of fifty-eight, she’d suffered a minor heart attack that had taken her away from the teaching job she’d loved. Taking an early retirement had never been in her plans. She’d been a single mother most of her life, working hard at the grammar school with special needs kids. But the job was stressful, and Diana often took her work home with her, a habit her cardiologist couldn’t condone.

“So why aren’t you joining me in a cup?”

“I will a little later. Right now, I just want to hear how you’re feeling.”

“You’ve only been gone three days, hon. I appreciate you coming over as soon as you got home, but I’m the same as I was before you left.” Her mom waved her hand. “Enough about me, how was your trip?”

“It was…nice.” Katie had trouble mustering up any enthusiasm. Oh, and one little detail I forgot to mention… I married Lucas Boone. “Drea and Mason enjoyed it very much. I think everyone did.”

Her mother moved around in her seat a bit and her mouth twisted as it did every time the Boone name was mentioned. “Too bad Drea had to fall in love with him.”

“Mom, Mason’s a nice guy.”

“He’s rich and feels entitled, just like all the Boones.”

She meant Luke.

That sick feeling in Katie’s stomach acted up again. “Drea’s happy and that’s all that matters.”

Her mother sipped her tea. “So, what did all you gals do at the bachelorette party?”

Katie shrugged. “The usual things. We saw the sights, ate like there was no tomorrow, had a spa day, went to a concert, and then on the last night the entire group got together for a party at a nightclub.”

There. She’d given a short, encapsulated version of her long weekend. Enough said.

“You had to deal with Luke?”

Before she could answer, Shelly walked into the house, dropping her shoulder bag on the edge of the sofa. “What about loser Luke?”

Katie’s heart started pounding. Shelly was still bitter. “Hi, sis. What are you doing here?”

“Checking in with Mom, just like you.” Her sister, dressed in nurse’s white, walked over to give her mother a kiss on the cheek. “Hi, Mom. How are you today?”

“Feeling pretty good. Your sister made me some tea. Would you like a cup, sweetheart?”

“Thanks, but I’m fine. Just thought I’d stop by here first, before heading home and changing clothes. Dr. Moore asked me and a few colleagues to attend his seminar tonight. I have to leave soon. So, what about Luke?”

“Nothing,” Katie said.

“Your sister had to plan Drea’s bachelorette party with him.”

“We didn’t plan the bachelorette party together. He was in charge of entertaining the groomsmen. All we did was coordinate the party at the end of the weekend together.”

“Ugh,” Shelly said. “Poor you.”

“It wasn’t that bad.”

“I feel sorry for any woman who gets involved with him,” Shelly said flatly. “I should’ve known better.”

“He wasn’t ready for marriage,” Katie said. God, they’d had this conversation for years. It was truly beginning to grate on her nerves. Shelly never was one for letting go. She’d never forgiven their dad for divorcing their mother. She’d never accepted their father’s new wife. Clearly, a broken engagement, even if it was three days before the ceremony, was much better than a divorce later on.

“Why are you defending him?” Shelly asked.

“Maybe I just want you to move on with your life, Shel. Maybe I’m not defending him so much as I’m looking out for you.”

Shelly sighed. “Okay, got it. Easier said than done.”

“It’s so nice to have both of my girls here with me today,” her mother said softly.

“I wish I could stay longer,” Shelly said. “But I’m meeting everyone at the hospital in an hour.”

“That’s fine, honey. You go on to the seminar. I’m proud of the way you girls are so conscientious about your work. That means you, too, Katie.”

“I know, Mama.” Her mother had always told her how proud she was of what she’d accomplished at the bakery. Her business was on solid ground now but it hadn’t always been that way. Her mom had faith in her, had always given her support. “I’ll stay and visit with you a bit longer.”

“Wonderful.” Shelly gave her a rare smile.

Her sister had had a rough time facing her friends after the marriage debacle and then to have her “almost” groom leave town for years, leaving her with no hope, no way to reconcile her sadness, no way to rant and rave at him. That was probably the greatest injustice. Shelly had never gotten the closure she’d needed.

After Shelly left, Diana got up to take her teacup to the kitchen. “I made soup, your favorite, chicken and dumplings. Will you stay and have some with me?”

“Sure, that sounds yummy.”

Katie was beat, tired and nervous, but having comfort food and her mother’s company would distract her from the giant mistake she’d made in Las Vegas last night.

Katie raced down the stairs, stubbing her toe on the last step. “Ow, damn it.” As she entered the bakery, not even the soothing scents of all things sweet helped lighten her mood this morning. She’d overslept by an hour and now she was totally behind schedule. Gosh, she’d had so much on her mind, sleep had eluded her, and when she’d finally fallen asleep, it had been deep and heavy. She’d dreamed that a faceless beast was chasing her and she’d kept running and running until she’d woken up in a sweat.

Was that dream trying to tell her something?

She flipped on the light, tied on her lavender Katie’s Kupcakes and Bakery apron and got to work, gathering up her ingredients, prepping her cupcake tins.

The Monday morning special was always a carrot zucchini cupcake infused with a light apricot filling. She called it her Start Smart Special, a healthier alternative to a sugary treat. It was a fan favorite for those guilty of indulging over the weekend.

Her assistant, Lori, knocked on the back door. Katie opened it to her smiling face.

“Hey, good to see you. How was your trip?” Lori asked, as she walked past her and took off her sweater.

“Uh, it was okay.”

“That so? Just okay?” Lori sounded as if she had her doubts. They’d worked closely together for six years and knew each other pretty well. Now Lori was putting herself through college at night aiming for a degree in business, so the bakery hours were perfect for her. The shop closed at two in the afternoon. “Sounds like it wasn’t fun. Did something happen?”

“No. Nothing. I’m just tired. I overslept.”

“You never oversleep. Maybe you had too much fun in Vegas.” Lori winked. If she only knew. “You’re gonna have to give me deets. I’ve been cramming all weekend, stuck at my place, fantasizing about your fun weekend.”

“There are no details.” Katie shrugged. “We had a good time. Saw a show. Got massages, did some dancing. Usual stuff.”

“You were excited about it when you left here. I thought for sure you’d have some good Vegas stories to entertain me with this morning.”

Lori put on her apron and they began measuring out ingredients. She started on chocolate ganache cupcakes with marshmallow filling while Katie worked on the special. They had their routine down to a science and being behind schedule meant one or two cupcakes would have to get the boot.

“Sorry, Lori. Nothing much to report,” she fibbed. “How about we eliminate anything pumpkin, since the fall season has been over for a while,” she said, changing the subject.

“Good choice.”

“And if there are any complaints, you know what to do.”

“Always.”

It was her motto to keep the customer happy by giving away a free cupcake or two to ward off hostility. Although that rarely happened with her regular Boone Springs customers. They were like family. She knew most of them by name, as well as where they lived and how many kids they had. She often catered birthday parties and other occasions.

While the cupcakes were baking, she worked on pastries, filling croissants, making cookies and cinnamon rolls. Between the two of them, working nonstop, they’d filled the bakery case shelves by 7:00 a.m. Coffee brewed and her regulars began popping into the shop.

By nine thirty, there was a lull and Katie flopped into a chair in the small lounge by the back door. Exhaustion set in and it wasn’t just from lack of sleep, but acute mental fatigue over what happened in Vegas this past weekend.

Lori gave her a sympathetic look. “Why don’t you go upstairs for an hour?” she suggested. “Get in a nap. I can handle things until it picks up again.”

“Don’t we have deliveries today?” Sometimes they’d get orders from companies or restaurants or clients celebrating big birthdays.

Lori scanned the list on the bakery wall. “It’s Monday and pretty calm right now.”

“Thanks, but I’ll be fine in a few minutes. Just need to get a second wind.”

The second wind didn’t come and by closing time, Katie was truly beat. She had one delivery to make, a last-minute order for a private dinner party happening later tonight. They needed a dozen tiramisu and a dozen lemon raspberry cupcakes, and while Lori closed up shop, Katie arranged the cupcakes in a box and taped it shut.

“Let me take those for you,” Lori said. “I can drop them off on my way home. This way you can go upstairs now and relax, put your feet up.”

“I can’t let you do that. You’ve got studying to do.”

“It’ll take me ten minutes, tops. It’s my way of making up for all the days you let me off early when I had to cram for an exam. Say yes.”

“You really are such a good friend. Yes. Thanks.”

Lori smiled. “Welcome.”

After Lori took off with the delivery, Katie climbed the stairs slowly and once inside her apartment, plopped down on her sofa. She turned on the television, struggling to keep her eyes open until she finally lost the battle.

Normally, Luke spent most of his time in the office in the main house at Rising Springs Ranch. He took a hands-on approach to running things on the property and had a good relationship with Joe Buckley, their ranch foreman. They worked well together and Luke knew Joe wouldn’t let him down.

Today he was at the Boone Springs corporate office, sitting in a room with his name plaque on the desk, staring out the window.

He had Katie on the brain and he’d come into town today, just because he wanted to be close to her. Her bakery was only two blocks away, nestled in between a clothing boutique and a fabric store. Because of the location, the bakery got pretty good foot traffic. Even if it didn’t, Katie would be successful, because her pastries were the best in the county and because Luke had made sure no Boone holdings would ever compete with her.

A little fact he’d kept secret.

While he was serving the country, he’d made his wishes known and his brothers had all been onboard. He’d put the Rodgers family through enough and they’d done what they could to make sure Shelly and her family wouldn’t unintentionally suffer any hardships of their doing.

But for him, it had mostly been about Katie. Wanting to see her succeed, wanting her to have a good life. God, when he’d come back home, he’d wished she had married, or at the very least, been in a serious relationship. Knowing she was still single had made his return torturous, yet he’d managed to keep his distance when he saw her around town or when they volunteered at the horse rescue.