The Texan’s Bride(44)
“What!” Cadde threw his pen onto the desk. “Just because Kid is away doesn’t mean you can pick up his habit of annoying the crap out of me.”
Chance held up his hands. “I’m just trying to help you. You didn’t say anything to her after Myra left?”
“No. I…oh, no!” His mind clicked with the reality of his own actions. He’d mentioned the board meeting. After what had happened last night between them, he knew that was a big no-no in Jessie’s eyes. But Shilah was an important part of their business deal. Even as the thought zapped through his mind, he knew it was wrong. It negated everything they’d shared last night and made it business, functionally, not emotionally. Oh, God, he had to see Jessie.
He shoved back his chair. “I’ve got to go.”
“Cadde.”
His phone rang and Barbara’s voice came on, “Mr. Hardin, Arnie called from accounting. You’re ten minutes late for your appointment.”
Cadde sighed. “Tell him I’ll be right there.”
At the meeting, Arnie reviewed labor, material and rig costs of drilling in Louisiana. Cadde had to know if they could even afford this venture, but the numbers went right over his head. He couldn’t concentrate. Something beside business had his full attention—Jessie.
He stood. “I really have to run. Get all the figures to me. I’ll go over them in the morning.”
“Um…okay.”
Cadde hurried down the hallway. Jessie should be back from seeing Mirry by now. He stopped dead. The truck keys were in his pocket. With the way she was acting this morning, he’d forgotten to give them to her. Dammit!
Hurriedly, he unlocked the apartment door. Inside, everything was dark, not a light on anywhere. The bedroom was the same. No sign of Jessie. All her things were missing, but the scent of cherry blossoms lingered, as it did on his tongue.
But Jessie was gone.
CHAPTER TEN
CADDE HEADED OUT OF HOUSTON. Jessie had to be home by now. His guess was she’d called Rosa to pick her up and that had probably taken a slice of her independent pride. He was lousy at reading the signals. Still, they shouldn’t have to read each other’s mind. She should have said that he’d hurt her feelings and then they could have talked about it. But oh, no, she’d closed up tighter than a turtle poked by a stick.
That was Jessie, though, stubborn as hell, and she wasn’t sinking her pride. He knew how long she’d fought to keep it.
As he negotiated traffic, his thoughts shifted to Chance. He was going home. Family had always meant a lot to Chance. That’s what Cadde wanted with Jessie—a family, but their deal was there between them like a slap in the face. It stung. Somehow they had to get beyond that. She had to understand Shilah had to move forward. That didn’t diminish them as a couple, as a family. How did he explain that without hurting her feelings? How did he explain it to himself? All he knew was that he wanted her in his life.
He drove up to the garages and got out. Instead of going to the house, he walked toward the barn. He paused in the entry. Jessie sat in loose hay holding a bottle so a baby deer could suckle.
She cooed softly. “You’re so much better, Bambi. Drink all you want.”
A one-eyed donkey stuck his head through an open window.
“Go away, Winky, you’re not getting any more food.”
The donkey brayed in disagreement and Jessie’s face lit up like he’d never seen before. She was happy here in this musty barn with her animals. This was her world—a world she carved away from the aggressive protection of the people in her life.
Felix walked in from the back door. “She’s stronger, huh, Miss Jessie?”
“Much stronger.” Jessie stroked the deer. “Since the Dobermans are no longer here, she can roam free in the barn. But I would like her to get some sunshine.”
“I’m building a small pen with an eight-foot fence around it.”
Jessie jumped up and hugged Felix. “Thank you. Now she’ll have lots of sunshine.”
“Mr. Cadde.” Felix finally spotted him.
Jessie didn’t acknowledge his presence. She went into a small makeshift kitchen. To say she was still mad was like saying water was wet.
“Mr. Cadde, your gun and hat are at the house.”
“Thank you, Felix.”
He turned to Jessie. “Could we talk for a minute?”
“I’m busy,” she replied, and rinsed the baby bottle.
“It will only take a minute.”
“Fine,” she snapped in that clipped tone he was beginning to know well.
“Not here. In private.”
“Sorry, I’m busy.” She made to walk past him and he caught her arm, leading her out of the barn.