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Authors: Candace Havens
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steps.”
They slid across the floor again and the third time around she really did have it down. Was there anything she couldn’t do?
Earlier in the afternoon, his grandmother had pulled him aside as they’d been leaving the picnic. “She’s a keeper, don’t be an idiot,” GG warned. “And treat her with respect, ya hear me? She isn’t one of them hussies you like to call arm candy. She’s a real woman and if you aren’t ready to take that on, there are plenty of men standing in line, I’m sure. You treat her like she’s a princess. There’s a sadness in that girl’s eyes, and you see what you can do about taking that away.”
Cade had promised he would. His grandmother had the best judgment about human beings that he’d ever known.
“Do I really have to go to this dance?” Patience asked for the third time since they’d started their lesson. She’d been stiff when the began, as if she didn’t want to touch him, but the past ten minutes or so she’d relaxed.
“GG will consider it a personal insult if you don’t,” Cade said carefully. Patience was searching for a way out and if he made it about him, she would have run back to her room where she’d spent most of the late afternoon. He’d wanted to talk to her after the picnic, but she hadn’t given him the opportunity.
“She always get her way?”
Cade chuckled. “Yes.”
“I believe it. She doesn’t seem to understand that I’m here working. For her. This case isn’t going to solve itself.”
“What you say is true,” Cade interjected. “But everyone needs a little time off. You had a busy day. You found the ring and GG told me that she remembered about the debate over the town’s water supply. And you spent all afternoon talking with your friends at Stonegate and tied to your laptop.”
Patience paused in their dancing. “Were you spying on me?”
Cade shrugged. “I had some business calls to follow up on and work to do. The walls aren’t that thick between our rooms. As I was saying before, you’ve been at it most of the day. You could look at the dance tonight as a way to blow off steam and get some exercise.”
The music stopped. They stared at one another for a moment. Somewhere a clock chimed eight times.
“We promised your grandmother we’d be there by eight,” she reminded him.
“Patience.”
She placed a finger to his lips. “Not now, Cade, please. I’ll go to the dance because your grandmother asked. She said most of the town turns out, so I might have a chance to observe some of those ranchers she mentioned earlier. I may even talk to a few of them. I appreciate what you’re doing with the dance lessons, but it’s all business tonight.”
Cade wanted to argue with her, but he knew it wasn’t worth it. He’d let her have this battle, knowing with confidence that he’d eventually win the war. Patience was like one of his mergers. He only needed to show her how both sides could benefit by working together.
He backed away and picked up his cowboy hat. “I was just going to say if you need me to introduce you to anyone, or if you need me to identify someone, I’m here for you.”
“Oh.” Her mouth formed a perfectly kissable O and he forced himself to ignore his body’s need to explore those lips. “I— Thanks,” she said finally.
“After you, ma’am.” He waved her toward the door and saw confusion fly across her face.
Cade didn’t bother to hide his grin. He’d help with the investigation any way he could. It was just as important, maybe more so, for him to find his father’s killer. But he was also determined to convince Patience that spending time with him wasn’t such a bad thing. He’d succeeded as a businessman by never backing down from a challenge, by being persistent.
Patience was about to get the full Cade Randall treatment.
9
T HE LOCAL LODGE HAD BEEN transformed into a sparkling spring wonderland. Everything from ficus trees to the wooden support beams had been
They slid across the floor again and the third time around she really did have it down. Was there anything she couldn’t do?
Earlier in the afternoon, his grandmother had pulled him aside as they’d been leaving the picnic. “She’s a keeper, don’t be an idiot,” GG warned. “And treat her with respect, ya hear me? She isn’t one of them hussies you like to call arm candy. She’s a real woman and if you aren’t ready to take that on, there are plenty of men standing in line, I’m sure. You treat her like she’s a princess. There’s a sadness in that girl’s eyes, and you see what you can do about taking that away.”
Cade had promised he would. His grandmother had the best judgment about human beings that he’d ever known.
“Do I really have to go to this dance?” Patience asked for the third time since they’d started their lesson. She’d been stiff when the began, as if she didn’t want to touch him, but the past ten minutes or so she’d relaxed.
“GG will consider it a personal insult if you don’t,” Cade said carefully. Patience was searching for a way out and if he made it about him, she would have run back to her room where she’d spent most of the late afternoon. He’d wanted to talk to her after the picnic, but she hadn’t given him the opportunity.
“She always get her way?”
Cade chuckled. “Yes.”
“I believe it. She doesn’t seem to understand that I’m here working. For her. This case isn’t going to solve itself.”
“What you say is true,” Cade interjected. “But everyone needs a little time off. You had a busy day. You found the ring and GG told me that she remembered about the debate over the town’s water supply. And you spent all afternoon talking with your friends at Stonegate and tied to your laptop.”
Patience paused in their dancing. “Were you spying on me?”
Cade shrugged. “I had some business calls to follow up on and work to do. The walls aren’t that thick between our rooms. As I was saying before, you’ve been at it most of the day. You could look at the dance tonight as a way to blow off steam and get some exercise.”
The music stopped. They stared at one another for a moment. Somewhere a clock chimed eight times.
“We promised your grandmother we’d be there by eight,” she reminded him.
“Patience.”
She placed a finger to his lips. “Not now, Cade, please. I’ll go to the dance because your grandmother asked. She said most of the town turns out, so I might have a chance to observe some of those ranchers she mentioned earlier. I may even talk to a few of them. I appreciate what you’re doing with the dance lessons, but it’s all business tonight.”
Cade wanted to argue with her, but he knew it wasn’t worth it. He’d let her have this battle, knowing with confidence that he’d eventually win the war. Patience was like one of his mergers. He only needed to show her how both sides could benefit by working together.
He backed away and picked up his cowboy hat. “I was just going to say if you need me to introduce you to anyone, or if you need me to identify someone, I’m here for you.”
“Oh.” Her mouth formed a perfectly kissable O and he forced himself to ignore his body’s need to explore those lips. “I— Thanks,” she said finally.
“After you, ma’am.” He waved her toward the door and saw confusion fly across her face.
Cade didn’t bother to hide his grin. He’d help with the investigation any way he could. It was just as important, maybe more so, for him to find his father’s killer. But he was also determined to convince Patience that spending time with him wasn’t such a bad thing. He’d succeeded as a businessman by never backing down from a challenge, by being persistent.
Patience was about to get the full Cade Randall treatment.
9
T HE LOCAL LODGE HAD BEEN transformed into a sparkling spring wonderland. Everything from ficus trees to the wooden support beams had been
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