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Authors: Lynn Cahoon
Tags: Romance, Contemporary
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head. “Too much excitement. Thanks for dinner.”
“Anytime.”
Lizzie pulled JR to his feet. “Say ‘thank you’ to Cash.”
Without looking up, JR muttered, “Thanks,” and took off for the door.
“It’s been a rough weekend for him.” Lizzie headed after her wounded son.
“I’ll call next week to make plans.”
Lizzie turned and waved when she was at the door, but Cash was already at a diner’s table being the perfect host and owner. She and her son had been dismissed.
CHAPTER FIVE
He should leave well enough alone, but he couldn’t.
Grimly, James strained to focus on the curvy road up to Lizzie’s place as daylight quickly faded from the sky. Though it was only a few miles and the truck could handle the tight curves without problems, most wildlife versus car accidents occurred at dusk so the drive was taking longer than he wanted.
The rental cabin business Lizzie and her family ran sat on the dirt road winding through the mountains outside Shawnee. The road dead-ended twenty miles past the Hudson’s place at a small mining community. Between Lizzie’s and the road’s end were some of the best brown trout fishing spots in Idaho. Heck, maybe even in the northwest.
He hit the brakes at the sight of eyes flashing in the gathering dark by the river. Yep, a small herd of deer grazed next to the road, probably coming down to drink. James eased off the gas and hoped the deer would cooperate and stay on the side of the road while he edged by.
Mr. Cooper had kept him at the Longhorn long after they’d finished their meal. The man could eat. Sixteen-ounce rib eye, loaded baked potato, a side salad, and cheesecake for dessert. This coupled with strict religious beliefs that didn’t allow for a sip of either alcohol or caffeine. James had kept his drink order alcohol free as well, but Jesse’s drinking was a point of discussion for their upcoming meeting.
“We don’t expect him to follow our moral code.” Mr. Cooper had scooped up a bite of sour cream laden potato. “It’s just we don’t want to be explaining why the face of Cooper’s Country Store had to be bailed out of jail.”
James did his best to alleviate the man’s fears, but drinking a few beers after a big competition came with the lifestyle. Jesse wouldn’t give it up easily. Maybe the size of the contract would help him say no. Or at least when.
Cooper had continued, “We expect you to be the enforcer. We’re paying for a relationship with you as well.” Apprehension must have crossed James’s face because the man clarified, “Of course we’re paying you a bonus to manage your brother. But this is non-negotiable. You’re both part of the Cooper Country Store family.”
The words echoed in James’s head long after the meal ended.
Especially when Jesse hadn’t been at the hotel room when James returned.
He’d flicked on the television, but anxiety and restlessness got the better of him so he turned it back off. If he couldn’t nail down Jesse, he’d go finish his discussion with Lizzie. He had a son, and by God, he would get to know him, not waste more time waiting for his damn brother to show.
He’d left a note for Jesse, but James knew Jesse wouldn’t be the first one back in the room.
As the miles passed, James wondered if showing up without calling first was his best choice. Jesse might be the Sullivan with the reputation for being unreliable, but James knew he himself could sometimes be — and often had been — more than a little impetuous when it came to Lizzie. What if she was still at dinner with Cash? What if they were at the house, curled up together after putting JR to bed, sharing a kiss. Or more.
Damn it, he did not want them sharing anything with JR in the house.
Aw hell. Truthfully, he didn’t want them sharing anything, ever.
“Damn it,” he growled to himself. He shook the vision of what Cash might be doing with Lizzie out of his head. Cash wasn’t a problem — yet. If James didn’t
“Anytime.”
Lizzie pulled JR to his feet. “Say ‘thank you’ to Cash.”
Without looking up, JR muttered, “Thanks,” and took off for the door.
“It’s been a rough weekend for him.” Lizzie headed after her wounded son.
“I’ll call next week to make plans.”
Lizzie turned and waved when she was at the door, but Cash was already at a diner’s table being the perfect host and owner. She and her son had been dismissed.
CHAPTER FIVE
He should leave well enough alone, but he couldn’t.
Grimly, James strained to focus on the curvy road up to Lizzie’s place as daylight quickly faded from the sky. Though it was only a few miles and the truck could handle the tight curves without problems, most wildlife versus car accidents occurred at dusk so the drive was taking longer than he wanted.
The rental cabin business Lizzie and her family ran sat on the dirt road winding through the mountains outside Shawnee. The road dead-ended twenty miles past the Hudson’s place at a small mining community. Between Lizzie’s and the road’s end were some of the best brown trout fishing spots in Idaho. Heck, maybe even in the northwest.
He hit the brakes at the sight of eyes flashing in the gathering dark by the river. Yep, a small herd of deer grazed next to the road, probably coming down to drink. James eased off the gas and hoped the deer would cooperate and stay on the side of the road while he edged by.
Mr. Cooper had kept him at the Longhorn long after they’d finished their meal. The man could eat. Sixteen-ounce rib eye, loaded baked potato, a side salad, and cheesecake for dessert. This coupled with strict religious beliefs that didn’t allow for a sip of either alcohol or caffeine. James had kept his drink order alcohol free as well, but Jesse’s drinking was a point of discussion for their upcoming meeting.
“We don’t expect him to follow our moral code.” Mr. Cooper had scooped up a bite of sour cream laden potato. “It’s just we don’t want to be explaining why the face of Cooper’s Country Store had to be bailed out of jail.”
James did his best to alleviate the man’s fears, but drinking a few beers after a big competition came with the lifestyle. Jesse wouldn’t give it up easily. Maybe the size of the contract would help him say no. Or at least when.
Cooper had continued, “We expect you to be the enforcer. We’re paying for a relationship with you as well.” Apprehension must have crossed James’s face because the man clarified, “Of course we’re paying you a bonus to manage your brother. But this is non-negotiable. You’re both part of the Cooper Country Store family.”
The words echoed in James’s head long after the meal ended.
Especially when Jesse hadn’t been at the hotel room when James returned.
He’d flicked on the television, but anxiety and restlessness got the better of him so he turned it back off. If he couldn’t nail down Jesse, he’d go finish his discussion with Lizzie. He had a son, and by God, he would get to know him, not waste more time waiting for his damn brother to show.
He’d left a note for Jesse, but James knew Jesse wouldn’t be the first one back in the room.
As the miles passed, James wondered if showing up without calling first was his best choice. Jesse might be the Sullivan with the reputation for being unreliable, but James knew he himself could sometimes be — and often had been — more than a little impetuous when it came to Lizzie. What if she was still at dinner with Cash? What if they were at the house, curled up together after putting JR to bed, sharing a kiss. Or more.
Damn it, he did not want them sharing anything with JR in the house.
Aw hell. Truthfully, he didn’t want them sharing anything, ever.
“Damn it,” he growled to himself. He shook the vision of what Cash might be doing with Lizzie out of his head. Cash wasn’t a problem — yet. If James didn’t
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