Twins For The Rancher

“Carrington Beef.”

Somehow Adam managed not to curse out loud, though the parade of words racing through his head was certainly colorful.

Lauren pulled a business card from her pocket. “A rep named Tim Wainwright.”

It was as if Fate said, “You think I can’t make your day any worse? Here, hold my beer.”

Chapter Two

“Honestly, it’s going to be a while before I’m ready for any sort of food products,” Lauren said as she shoved the business card back in her pocket. She lifted her gaze to Adam Hartley’s in time to see a flash of what looked like frustration on his face before he managed to hide it.

“I understand,” he said, back to the friendly, engaging man he’d been since his arrival, as if the moment when he’d clenched his jaw and then finally let out a breath had been nothing more than a figment of her imagination. “I’d appreciate it if I could tell you about our products, however.”

His approach was different enough from Tim Wainwright’s that she wanted to give him a chance. It was possible that his good looks—dark wavy hair, lean build and a face that was far from difficult to look at—might be a factor in her decision, too. She wasn’t interested in getting involved to any extent with anyone—might never be again after what Phil had put her through—but it didn’t hurt anything to look.

And while Tim Wainwright had also been attractive, his personality was a little too slick and polished—a bit too much like Phil’s, she now realized—for him to appeal to her in that way. Granted, it could all be an act he put on for work, but it didn’t really matter. She was so not in the market for a man. The market wasn’t even on the same continent.

“If you don’t mind talking while I work, go for it.”

“Okay,” he replied, sounding a bit surprised by her response.

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be rude. It’s just that I have limited time to get a lot done, and I’m running behind.” Which hadn’t been helped by all the interruptions. Well-meaning ones, but interruptions nonetheless.

“No need to explain. I should have called ahead and made an appointment to meet with you.”

“Hard to do when you don’t know the number.”

“True.” He smiled, and wow, did he have a nice smile. He ought to be able to sell beef to half of Texas on that smile alone.

But she also knew better than to trust smiles alone. Phil had an attractive smile, too—until you realized it belonged to a snake.

“The Rocking Horse Ranch has been in my family nearly a century. Everyone who works there is family, and we have a history of producing high-quality beef products—steaks, ground, ribs.”

As she listened to Adam’s sales pitch, she grabbed one of the tables she aimed to get rid of and started dragging it toward the front wall.

“Here, let me help you with that.” Adam lifted the opposite side of the table and together they carried it away from the middle of the large dining room.

Before she could voice an objection to his continuing to help her with manual labor, Adam launched back into his spiel.

“I’m sure you already know that diners are more and more interested in where their food comes from, and with our products you’d be able to tell them it’s from a few miles down the road, raised by a family that’s been part of Blue Falls for a hundred years.”

She had to give him credit—he certainly was passionate about his family’s business. Considering her own strong ties to family and the hard work to share her love of food with others, she admired that passion. Still, when it came down to the decision-making, it would have to be based on the price and quality of the beef. Adam Hartley could have all the charm and belief in his products the world had to offer, but it wouldn’t matter if she didn’t deem his ranch’s beef good enough to associate with her own brand.

“Sounds as if you have a fine operation,” she said. “If you’ll leave your card, I’ll call for a sample when I’m closer to making those types of decisions.”

After a slight hesitation, he nodded and retrieved a card from his wallet, then handed it over. The ranch brand was like none she’d ever seen before, a little rocking horse like a child might use. She made a mental note to provide rocking horses for the girls when they were old enough.

“Interesting brand.”

“With an interesting story behind it,” he said as he helped her move another table.

“Well, don’t keep me hanging.”

“Shortly after my great-grandfather bought the first part of the ranch acreage, he found out my great-grandmother was pregnant with their first child, my grandfather. He used part of a tree he cleared where the house was to be built to make a rocking horse for the baby. And he made the first sign with the name of the ranch using what was left.”

“That’s sweet.”

“Yeah, my mom gets teary every time she tells that story. Oh, by the way, I was informed by my sister to tell you that our mom is a big fan of your show.”

“I appreciate that. Are you a fan?” For some reason, she couldn’t resist the teasing question.

He placed one of the old chairs next to the growing collection of furniture she needed to get out of the way. “I’m just going to be honest here and say that before today I didn’t even know who you were.”

She caught the look of concern on his face, as if maybe he’d just shot a giant hole in his chances to land her business. Even seeing that, she couldn’t help but laugh.

“I can’t say that I’m surprised. I wouldn’t peg you as the main demographic.”

“If it helps, I do like baked goods. I don’t think I’ve ever said no to pie, cake or cookies.”

She pointed at him. “And that’s what keeps me in business, the country’s collective sweet tooth.”

Without direction, Adam rolled an old salad bar toward the rest of the castoffs. “I hope you don’t mind me asking, but if you’re known for baking—”

“Why a barbecue restaurant?”

“Yeah.”

“My grandfather has won more blue ribbons than I can count in barbecue competitions. I want to feature his recipe. He’s actually the reason I’m here.” She gestured toward their surroundings, glancing up at the high ceiling with the log beams that she imagined gleaming after a good cleaning and polish. “He grew up in Blue Falls.”

“I wonder if my parents know him.”

“Probably not. He left about fifty years ago.”

“Has he moved back?”

She shook her head. Not unless you counted the fact he was camped out at their hotel babysitting while she worked.

“No, and yet he somehow convinced me that this was the place to launch the next phase of my business.”

“Blue Falls is a good place to settle.”

“I won’t be living here, either,” she said. “I’ll just be here to get this place up and running, then I’ll leave it in a manager’s hands and go back home.”

“Which is where?”

That felt a little too personal to reveal to a man she’d just met.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to pry.”

Settling for a compromise answer, she said, “North Texas.”

Lauren realized when they picked up the next table to move it that it was the last one. “So, have you been helping me haul all this stuff in the hopes I’ll award you a contract?”

“No, ma’am. Just being neighborly.”

He seemed genuine with that answer, but she wasn’t sure she totally bought it. Or maybe she was just extra cautious now, having been so recently burned in a very public way. She wondered if Adam Hartley knew about that. She found herself hoping not, and hated the idea that her recent troubles were what sprang to mind when people saw her now. Maybe if he hadn’t known who she was before today, he didn’t know all the ugly backstory, either. That would be refreshing.

“Okay, neighbor, I could use a suggestion of who to call to make all this stuff disappear.” She pointed toward the pile of furniture they’d moved. It was still serviceable but not at all like what she had in mind for her restaurant.

“Actually, I know someone who would probably love to take if off your hands at no cost. She repurposes things other people don’t want anymore.”

“Sounds great.”

He pulled out his phone and started scrolling through his contacts until he found what he was looking for, then extended the phone to her. She added Ella Bryant’s name and number to her own phone before returning his to him.

“Well, I best get out of your hair,” he said as he slid the phone back into his pocket.

“Are you kidding? You helped me make up for all the time I lost this morning.”

“Glad to help, ma’am.”

“Lauren, please.”

“It was nice talking with you, Lauren. I look forward to hearing from you about that sample.”

As he walked toward the front door, she thought that if she was any other single woman who’d had any other recent past than the one that she’d just experienced over the past eighteen months, she might want a sample all right. A sampling of Adam Hartley.

* * *

ADAM HURRIED ACROSS the parking lot of what had until this morning been his dream purchase. Well, he supposed it was still technically a dream, but one that wasn’t going to come true. But maybe he could still salvage something positive from the unexpected turn of events. Though he didn’t have any sort of commitment of her business, he thought the meeting with Lauren had gone pretty well. He’d even managed not to allow his instant attraction to her show. At least he hoped it hadn’t. Now he just needed to get out of sight of the restaurant before she noticed he’d arrived on foot. It wouldn’t speak to his professionalism and the success of his company that he didn’t even have a running vehicle to drive.

Thinking about his damaged truck brought to mind the fact that he’d almost beaten Tim Wainwright to the punch this time. It was as if the man had spies all over Central Texas, feeding him advance information about potential customers. Judging by the number of accounts Adam had lost to the man, he’d wager Wainwright’s commission income was quite a tidy sum. Enough to make him cocky. The times they’d crossed paths, Wainwright acted friendly but it was in that way that said without words that he knew he was always going to win the day. He really hadn’t changed that much since his days as quarterback at Jones-Bennett High, one of Blue Falls High’s biggest rivals.

Adam’s jaw tensed just thinking about the guy’s smug look if Carrington Beef convinced Lauren to go with their products. That commission alone would probably send Wainwright on some Caribbean vacation. He likely didn’t have a family ranch he was trying to take to the next level, to save for future generations. The idea of Lauren doing business with him stuck in Adam’s craw.

Though their initial meeting had gone well, Adam felt as if he needed to do something more to bring Lauren over to his side. But he couldn’t be pushy, wouldn’t put on a practiced smile and say whatever necessary to garner her business. There had to be a happy medium. He just had to figure out what that was, and quickly.

His stomach let out a growl that would make a grizzly jealous. Thankfully the sound had held off until he was out of earshot of Lauren. Before he texted some member of his family for a ride home, he aimed to settle the ravenous beast. Lunch at the Primrose Café would be a perfect solution. Maybe while he downed the daily special, some tremendous idea for guaranteeing Lauren went with Rocking Horse Ranch beef would occur to him.

At the sound of an approaching vehicle, he moved farther onto the side of the road. When the car slowed and stopped next to him, he looked over and saw Lauren staring back at him. She looked confused, probably because she hadn’t passed any disabled vehicles between her building and him.

“Need a ride?”

“I’m good, thanks.”

As if to negate his words, a rumble of thunder picked that moment to accompany the overcast skies.

“I wouldn’t be very neighborly if I let you get drenched, would I?”

With a sigh, he opened the passenger-side door and slipped inside the car just as the first raindrops fell.

“Thanks.”

“No problem. Where to?” Thank goodness she didn’t ask him why he’d been hoofing it down the shoulder of the road.

“Primrose Café, downtown.”

“They have good food?”

“Yeah.”

“Great. I’ll give it a try, too. Was headed out in search of lunch, just hadn’t decided where. Though I look a fright.”

“No, you don’t.” Far from it. “And besides, the Primrose isn’t fancy. You’ll see everyone from tourists to ranchers who have a load of cattle waiting outside.”

When they reached the café, the parking lot was pretty full. With her small car, however, she was able to squeeze into a space that would hold only about half of his truck if he split it down the center. Thankfully, the spot was close to the door.

“One of the joys of having a small car,” she said. “Along with great gas mileage.”

They raced for the front door to the café, which he held open for her.

“Thanks.” She offered a brief smile, but it was enough to make his insides feel wobbly. He looked away, trying to convince himself it was just his hunger reasserting itself.

Lauren got the attention of a waitress when they stepped inside. “Who do I see about placing a to-go order?”

“Any of us. But honestly, you’ll probably get your food faster if you just eat here. We got a big group takeout order in about two minutes ago, so you’d be behind all those. Different cook working on dine-ins.”

Adam looked around the crowded room, not unusual for this time of day, and spotted a two-top over by the wall. He caught Lauren’s gaze and pointed toward the table. “You’re welcome to join me if you think you can stand me a little longer.”

He tried not to take it personally when she hesitated a little too long before nodding.

They’d barely sat down before a woman at the next table said, “Oh, my God. You’re the Brazos Baker, aren’t you?”

Lauren smiled, similar to the smile she showed on her website. It was different than the more natural ones she wore when not in what could be considered the public spotlight.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I don’t believe it.” The woman looked at her friends, who suddenly appeared just as excited. “We all love your show.”

“I made your pineapple cream cake for my daughter’s wedding,” one of the other women said. “I had to hide the top tier for her and her husband or it would have been gobbled up, too.”

“Well, I’m glad everyone enjoyed it.”

The back-and-forth was interrupted by the same waitress who’d greeted them at the entrance. “What can I get for you?”

They hadn’t even cracked the menus open, not that Adam ever had to. Other than the daily specials, the menu at the Primrose didn’t really change. Still, Lauren hadn’t been here before.

“She needs time to look at the menu,” he said.

“No, I’m okay. You go ahead. I can decide quickly.” She opened up her menu to give it a quick perusal.

“Burger and fries for me,” he said, not feeling the daily special of turkey and dressing.

“That actually sounds good,” Lauren said. “Give me that, too.”

When the waitress hurried away, Lauren pulled out her buzzing phone. “Sorry, I have to respond to this.”

“No need to apologize. You’re a busy woman.”

She flew through answering the text like a teenager who could text faster than she could speak. He took the opportunity to text Angel for a ride home after he ate. When he looked up, Lauren pointed at his phone.

“Looks as if I’m not the only one.”

“Arranging the family version of Uber.” At the curious expression on her face, he confessed, “I might have run over a deer and crunched the front of my truck on the way into town.”

“Oh, no. My sister once completely destroyed her car when she hit, I swear, the biggest buck I’ve ever seen. He was like a ninety-eight-pointer or something.”

He laughed at that mental image. “Bet he had a neck ache before his untimely demise.”

One of those genuine smiles appeared on her face, and he swore he’d never seen anything so beautiful.

The waitress had been right. She appeared with their food just as the other staff members behind the counter started bagging up a large number of takeout containers. As their waitress moved on to her next customers, he noticed a couple of the women who’d been chatting with Lauren were now looking at him. They smiled then shifted their gazes away, but he felt odd, as if they’d been sizing him up.

He’d taken one bite of his burger when the group of women started making moves to leave. When they stood, the one who’d originally recognized Lauren drew her attention again.

“I’m so glad to see you doing well and moving on. The way that boy treated you was so wrong. I wanted to hit him upside the head with my purse, and it’s not an unsubstantial weapon,” she said, lifting what to Adam’s eyes looked more like a piece of luggage.

“Uh, thank you.” Lauren’s answer sounded strangled, as if she suddenly wished she was anywhere but where she sat.

Thankfully, the women didn’t stick around any longer, especially since one of the waitresses was already clearing their table so more customers could be seated. But Adam only saw that activity with his peripheral vision because his gaze was fixed on Lauren and how any hint of a smile, of happiness, had just evaporated right before his eyes.

Chapter Three

Lauren had read books where the characters were placed in situations so embarrassing that they wished for a hole to open up and swallow them, but she’d never experienced it herself. Not until now anyway. Even during the trial Phil had forced her into with claims she’d promised him half her business, she hadn’t experienced the need to pull herself into a shell to hide like a turtle. Then she’d had her attorney beside her, and she’d been filled instead with righteous anger and a fierce determination to prove that Phil was full of crap and not entitled to one red cent of her money.

The determination had paid off. Only after it was all over did she realize the emotional toll it had taken on her. But as the woman had said, Lauren was moving forward—just not in the way the other woman had assumed. Before Lauren figured out some way to correct her while also not offending Adam, the woman and her friends were already headed for the exit.

Oh, how she wished she hadn’t gotten a text from Papa Ed earlier that he and the girls had already eaten and were about to take a nap. She’d intended to order her lunch to go so she could head back to work. She wanted to get a good amount accomplished but also leave plenty of time to play with Bethany and Harper before their bedtime.

Movement across the table brought her back to the present. She couldn’t meet Adam’s gaze, didn’t want to invite any questions about what the other woman had meant. Hoping by some miracle he’d missed it entirely, she latched on to the first nonrelated topic that came to mind.

“So, you said your company only employs family members. How many people is that?”

“We’re up to eleven if you don’t count the kids, although one’s a toddler so she gets a free pass.” She smiled at his joke, causing him to do the same. “Some have other jobs, too, but we all pitch in on the ranch whenever and wherever needed. You’re welcome to come out and see the operation sometime, if that would help make your decision easier.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” she said, more out of gratitude that he’d not asked about the woman’s comment than any real need to see the beef still on the hoof.

Thankfully, their conversation flowed into even safer territory with him telling her about the various businesses in town that brought in tourists, or that were popular with the locals—or both.

“You’re going to have some competition from Keri Teague. She owns Mehlerhaus Bakery and is considered the best baker in Blue Falls.”

“I don’t mind a little friendly competition. It’s been my experience that there can never be too many desserts available. The number of people with a fondness for sweets is directly proportional to the number of sweets they can get their hands on.”

Adam laughed. “You and Keri should get a cut of Dr. Brown’s business. He’s the local dentist.”

She smiled. “That’s not a half-bad idea.”

Adam’s smile lessened a fraction as he glanced beyond her. Before she could turn to investigate why, an older woman stepped up to the table and placed her hand on Adam’s shoulder.

“I hear your family’s about to get a little bigger again.”

“You hear correctly.”

Was Adam married? She didn’t see a ring on his hand, but that didn’t mean anything. She knew ranchers who didn’t wear rings so they didn’t get caught on machinery and rip off a finger. Of course, he could be a father without a wife. He had mentioned kids on the ranch earlier. Though she barely knew him, she really didn’t want to believe he might be married and having a friendly, chatty lunch with her. She was well aware that men and women had business lunches all the time, but the fact that Adam didn’t come across as a married man made her hope he wasn’t. Not that she wanted to be with him. She just didn’t want to be faced with another lying, self-serving man.

Adam made eye contact with Lauren. “My oldest brother, Neil, and his wife just announced they’re having their first baby.”

“Oh, good for them.” She ignored the strange and unexpected feeling of relief that the child wasn’t his. She tried finding a valid reason for her reaction. When she couldn’t, she chose to ignore it.

“Yeah, it’s so nice seeing all the joyful events your family has been having—weddings, babies.” The woman shifted her attention toward Lauren. “I’m sorry. I must have left my manners in the car. I’m Verona Charles. I wanted to welcome you to Blue Falls. Everyone is so excited to have you here, and we can’t wait to see what you do with your place.”

“Thank you. I appreciate that.” She wondered if there was a soul left in the county who didn’t know what she was up to. She accepted Verona’s hand for a shake. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Verona used to be the head of the Blue Falls Tourist Bureau before she retired,” Adam said.

“Yeah, but old habits die hard. I still have this urge to greet newcomers and visitors as soon as they cross the city limits.”

Lauren caught a shift in Adam’s expression—as if he was trying really hard not to smile or maybe even laugh. What was that about?

“Verona, your order’s ready,” one of the waitresses called out from behind the counter.

“Oh, I better get that. Taking lunch out to everyone at the nursery.”

After Verona took her leave, Adam explained her final statement. “Her niece, Elissa, owns Paradise Garden Nursery, a big garden center a short distance outside of town. That’s another tourist draw to the area, especially in the spring.”

“Ah. So now explain what was so funny.”

“You caught that, huh?”

She nodded as she swirled a fry through her pool of ketchup.

“I guess someone should warn you. Verona has appointed herself town matchmaker. If you spend any time here at all, she’ll try to pair you up with someone.”

A cold ball of dread formed in Lauren’s middle. A matchmaker was the absolute last thing she needed in her life right now.

* * *

ADAM CONSIDERED HIMSELF lucky that his attempt to not laugh at Verona was all Lauren had noticed. If she’d guessed that he’d momentarily been okay with the idea of Verona trying to match up the two of them, that likely would have been the end of any chance he had of winning her business. He had all the evidence he needed in her reactions to what both the unknown woman and Verona had said. He wasn’t Sherlock Holmes or anything, but even he was able to deduce she wasn’t interested in a romantic relationship. He had to admit he was curious why, but he wasn’t about to ask such a personal question of someone he’d met only a little more than an hour ago.

After they’d finished their meals, he asked Lauren if she wanted dessert.