Flirting with Love(43)

Emily set up a tip jar beside Elisabeth, which Elisabeth had been excruciatingly embarrassed by, but it solved the more embarrassing position of constantly turning away money that was offered. She’d set up the free pawdicures as a way to meet people and gain new clients, while also getting them over to the table and introducing them to her baked goods. It had worked so well that they’d sold most of her beer cakes already. Emily had also set up a clipboard sign-up sheet, where customers left their names, phone numbers, and email addresses, as well as what they were interested in—pet grooming, pet baked goods, or people baked goods. Emily had such a strong business sense, she’d already begun ticking off ideas, like a weekly Paws & Pies newsletter.

Tracie and Maddy came by with Justin Bieber for a puppy treat. Maddy’s long red hair hung loosely to her waist.

“Thank you for cleaning up Justin Bieber. I thought you’d have to shave him bald.”

“He’s too handsome to shave. Just try to keep him out of the creek.”

Tracie bought a bag of doggy cookies. “Thanks again, Elisabeth. I’ll call you to schedule another grooming in a few weeks.”

When Elisabeth finished with the puppy she was working on, she exhaled loudly. “You guys, I don’t think I could have run the booth without you. Thank you so much.”

“This has been really fun.” Callie pulled her dark hair up and secured it in a high ponytail.

“Yeah. It’s been a blast. I have to run to see Shaley and Luke, but I’ll try to come back after.” Daisy hugged Elisabeth. “Welcome to the sisterhood. Wes told me that Ross said he loves you.”

“Really?” Elisabeth felt her cheeks flush.

“Those guys gossip like girls,” Daisy explained. “It’s all good. Now you’re really one of us. One more Braden man enters couplehood.”

“Now it’s Emmie’s turn.” Callie put her arm around Emily.

“Speaking of…” Daisy nodded at Tate McGregor heading toward the booth. She leaned in close to Emily and whispered, “You’ve been spending a lot of time with him lately. Are you holding out on us?”

Emily gave her a shove. “Go see my brother. I am not going out with him. I’m working on a project with him.”

Elisabeth watched Tate approach. Did every man in Trusty wear low-slung jeans and tight T-shirts? He had a deep tan, shiny black hair, and like most guys around town, a tattoo snaking out from under his sleeve.

“He is cute,” Elisabeth whispered.

“We’re not dating,” Emily snapped. “I’ll be back.” Emily hurried out of the booth and joined Tate.

Elisabeth watched them walk off together. “You think they’re dating?”

“No idea, but I doubt it. She’d be gushing about it if they were.” Callie nibbled on a crumb of beer cake. “She needs that trip to Tuscany so badly.” A group of women were heading for their booth. “Oh good, customers. Take a break. I’ll watch the booth for a few minutes.”

“Thanks. Want me to bring you a soda?”

“Iced tea would be great. Thanks.” Callie turned to help a customer.

Elisabeth went off in the direction of the snack pavilion. She wandered through the livestock pavilion on the way. The smell of hay and sweaty animals probably turned a lot of people’s stomachs, but it made Elisabeth think of Kennedy, Dolly, and the other animals, and how much she loved living in her aunt’s house. She sighed and leaned on a stall, thinking of Ross. If it hadn’t been for Kennedy, she wondered when they might have met. She was sure they would have. Fate would have seen to it.

A wave of people came through the pavilion, and she weaved her way free of them and into the crowd moving in the direction of the food. The warm summer air carried away the scent of the animals and brought in the aroma of grilling meat, deep-fried foods, and buttery popcorn. The pavilion was packed tighter than a cattle run. Elisabeth was shoulder to shoulder with a man on either side of her. She ordered drinks, paid, snagged some napkins, and turned to leave. A small boy ran in front of her, and she lost her grip on one of the cups. It landed with a thud and cold liquid splashed all over her feet and legs and on the feet of the couple standing beside her. Great.

“I’m so sorry,” she said as she handed them napkins.

“It’s okay.” The man raked his eyes down to her chest. His girlfriend glared at her.

Elisabeth had been glared at so much recently that the woman’s stare didn’t come as a surprise. She hurried toward the entrance and paused at the sight of Ross talking with Tate. A man crossed in front of her and stopped to study a fairground map. Something about the way he was standing was familiar. She glanced at Ross, then back at the man, his familiarity nagging at her. She ran her eyes down his body, and he lifted his head. Elisabeth’s breath hitched at his square jaw, the coffee-stain birthmark just below the hairline on his neck. No. Her pulse quickened. Her brain told her to move. Get the hell out of there. But she was unable to turn away. Robbie? She had to be wrong. What would he be doing here in Trusty? The last time they’d spoken, he was in California, finishing up his all-important PhD.

He lifted his eyes and she held her breath as he surveyed the grounds and slowly turned in her direction.

She spun around, but not before catching a glimpse of his electric-blue eyes.

Ohgodohgodohgod.

She ducked through the crowd to the other side of the pavilion and hurried back to her booth.

“Hey there,” Callie said as she handed a customer their change. “Some guy was looking for you. I told him you went for snacks. Robbie something or other.”

She sank into the chair and covered her face. Robbie. Fucking Robbie. Why would he come all this way?

“Oh my God, what’s wrong?”

Elisabeth sprang to her feet and paced the small booth. “Nothing.” Nothing. He’s nothing.

Callie’s arm circled her shoulder. “Elisabeth, what is it? You’re shaking like a leaf.”

She was not only shaking, she felt sick to her stomach. She looked up at Callie and burst into tears. What the hell was wrong with her? She was over him. Done. Totally, without a doubt, done. Why was she so shaken up?

What the hell was Robbie doing here? He didn’t belong here. He’d broken up with her and she’d moved on. She had no lingering doubts about him, or them, and definitely no doubts about Ross.

Ross.

Oh God.

She needed to pull herself together.

“It’s nothing, really. I just…”

“Who’s Robbie?” Callie asked, handing her tissues from her purse.

Elisabeth wiped her eyes. “Thanks.” She sniffled and drew in a deep breath. “Oh God, how can this be happening?”

“If I knew what was happening, I might be able to tell you.”

She looked at Callie. Sweet Callie who would probably never fall apart over an ex-boyfriend whom she once thought she loved. She knew now that what she felt for Robbie wasn’t love, but, oh God, why was she falling to pieces? Why did her heart ache and her stomach twist into a fist?

“I think I need to find Ross.”





ROSS LEANED AGAINST the fence between his brothers Jake and Luke. He’d already seen to a handful of animals and watched Luke show Shaley. Shaley won a blue ribbon. Luke and Daisy were so proud, they were still glowing. Daisy headed back to the booth to help Elisabeth, and Ross was seconds from going to see her himself, but it had been a long time since he’d seen Jake, and he wanted to hang out for a few more minutes first.

“What time’s your gig?” Ross asked.

Jake shrugged. “Dunno. Soon.” His skin was bronzed, his muscles strong, and his cocky attitude was just as sure as it always was. “Wes said you’ve got a serious girlfriend.”

“Yup.” Ross slid him a look that he knew clearly translated to, Keep your comments to yourself and don’t fuck with me. And he knew from the smirk and arched brow on Jake’s face that his look translated to, Yeah, right.

Jake turned around and leaned his elbows on the fence, kicked one ankle over the other, and glanced at Luke.

“Here it comes,” Luke said.

“My only question is, why?” Jake held Ross’s gaze.

“Why what?” Ross asked flatly.

“Why tie yourself down? You had it made. You’ve got a great career. You’ve always had women all over you, so don’t tell me you hit a dry spell. Why give it all up? What do you gain?” Jake watched a blonde walk by wearing Daisy Dukes and cowgirl boots. “Why, oh why, indeed.”

“You’re an idiot.” Ross shifted his eyes away.

Luke chuckled.

“I’m not being funny. I’m really curious. I never thought I’d see the day Pierce and Luke settled down, and I guess of all my brothers, I honestly thought you’d be first.” Jake lifted his cowboy hat as a pair of pretty brunettes walked past. “But you held out, man. Why now?”

Ross shared a knowing glance with Luke—One day he’ll understand—then he settled a hand on Jake’s shoulder. “Jake, let me put this into words that you can understand. You know that high you get when you’ve got two women in your bed?”

“Hell yes.” Jake’s eyes lit up.

“Remember the feeling when you were in love with Fiona in high school?” He knew he struck a nerve, and he meant to.