The Way to a Cowboy's Heart. Teresa Southwick
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grinned. “That’s silly.”
Her smile made him glad he’d been able to take her mind off things for a minute. But that didn’t ease his own misgivings. PJ. had been gone a long time. But how long was too long when you were shopping for a week’s worth of groceries for six people? He didn’t have a clue. What if she had been in an accident? What if she never came back? He didn’t even know who to call to come get the kid. Did P.J. have folks? Where was Emily’s father?
“It’s not gonna work, Mister Cade.”
“What’s that?”
“Distracting me. Mommy says I’m not easily distracted. Not like when I was little.”
“Oh. You’re big now?” He lifted her slightly, pretending that he could hardly heft her slight weight. She was no bigger than a minute. She giggled, then wrinkled her nose, showing him that she was on to him. He noticed the spattering of freckles across the bridge of her cute little button nose. Like mother, like daughter.
Where the hell was PJ.?
“I’m seven, almost eight. My birthday’s before Mommy and I hafta go back home.”
“Is that right?” He tugged playfully on one of her pigtails, just below where the pink ribbon fastened it. “What do you want for your birthday?”
“That doll with the big boobs.” Then her eyes narrowed and she pointed one small finger accusingly at him. “You’re doing it again.”
“Distracting you?” It took every ounce of his selfcontrol, but he managed to keep a straight face and not react to her description of the doll.
“Uh-huh.” Her bottom lip pushed out. “I wish Mommy would get here.”
“If she doesn’t come back soon, I’ll go look for her. Deal?”
“You promise?”
“Yup.”
Just then, he heard the faint sound of a car. In case he was wrong about it, he didn’t say anything so Emily wouldn’t be disappointed. Finally, he saw a cloud of dust, then PJ.’s compact car roared up the circular drive and stopped in front of them. She hopped out, smiled brightly and waved, then unlocked the hatchback. She had a helluva nerve looking so cheerful after what she’d put her daughter through.
“I’m glad you guys are here,” she said. “I could use some help with this stuff. I got some great—”
“Where have you been?” Cade walked down the steps and stood in front of her.
Emily followed and folded her arms over her chest. “We were worried, Mom.”
“We?” P.J. looked at him and her right eyebrow rose questioningly.
“He was keeping me company,” Emily said. “I borrowed trouble and now I have to give it back because you’re here. What took you so long, Mommy?” she asked, throwing her arms around her mother’s waist.
P.J. put her hand comfortingly on the girl’s shoulder. “I’m sorry you had a bad time. But it takes a while to buy enough food for growing boys.”
“That’s what Mister Cade said,” Emily told her, tipping her head back to look up.
“Did he?” She glanced in his direction.
Cade could almost hear her asking questions. Like why he could find the time to reassure a little girl when the boys had practically begged him for a crumb of his attention. She wouldn’t buy his explanation that this was different, but it was. Emily was a little kid and she was scared. End of story.
“Did you get enough for Steve to have two helpings?” Emily asked.
“I got enough to feed a good-sized horse. See?” she said, indicating the back of the car, chock-full of bags and assorted things.
Emily leaned in the opening and started rummaging through the packages. “Can I help?”
“I expected you back a long time ago,” Cade snapped.
PJ. stared at him for three straight seconds before turning away. She rearranged the bags and gave her daughter one that contained a loaf of bread, and a package of hot dog rolls. “Here. This is really heavy. Do you think you can handle it?”
“’Course I can.” She took her package and raced to the front door. “Then I’m gonna go find Steve.”
“Is there a problem?” P.J. asked Cade when the child had disappeared inside. “Was Emily any trouble?” She grabbed several bags and carried them up the front steps.
“Other than the fact that she could talk the ears off a bull elephant, no.”
“Did you need something?”
“No.” He didn’t want to go where that question could take him. He lifted groceries out and followed her into the house.
“So there wasn’t a crisis here that only I could handle?”
They set their bundles on the kitchen counter and looked at each other. P.J. was a little breathless from carrying the bags.
“No,” he answered.
“Then why are you acting like a wounded bear?”
“I’m not.”
“The heck you’re not And I don’t understand why. You offered to let Emily stay here with you. So what’s your problem?”
“What took you so long?” He heard the irritation in his voice, and knew it sounded damn close to worry. It was too late to take back the words.
“I’ll show you what took me.” She brushed past him and he heard the front door slam. A few moments later it banged closed again. She entered the kitchen lugging a flat of fresh strawberries with a bouquet of mixed flowers on top.
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