Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 51995 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 260(@200wpm)___ 208(@250wpm)___ 173(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51995 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 260(@200wpm)___ 208(@250wpm)___ 173(@300wpm)
“Sit, sit,” she said, motioning to the dining room chairs.
Conrad obeyed, and she hastened to a china cabinet to fetch another plate. As soon as she’d added a third place setting across from him, Beau also reluctantly obeyed. Humming under her breath, she donned oven mitts and began bringing in dishes. One after the other. Her guests could only gape.
“I’ve never seen anything like this.” An absolute feast of goodness. The kind a family of six or more would reserve for special occasions. There were multiple casseroles, mashed this and creamed that, with steamed and fried vegetables next to sauces of every consistency and color.
“Are you expecting other guests?” Beau asked, clearly as awed as Conrad.
“Nope. Just us. Why?” She took the seat between them and scooped a bit of everything onto their plates. “Oh, and make sure to save room for dessert. I baked your favorite pie.”
He gave himself an inner shake. “I’m curious. What’s my favorite pie?” And how had she learned what it was when he wasn’t sure? He usually avoided carbs.
“I don’t know.” Again, her eyes twinkled at him. “We’ll find out together.”
There was no stopping his smile. I am not falling for this woman. I’ve already fallen.
The thought rocked him to his core. Maybe she experienced something similar. A flush spread over her cheeks. He felt himself lean toward her again, ready to press his lips into hers. She leaned toward him.
Beau coughed and adjusted the neckline of his shirt. “I get that you guys are having a moment, but I’m starved. Mind if I dive in?” He rubbed his hands together as Conrad and Jane came to their senses.
A little laugh left her. Did she have any idea what direction Conrad had hoped to go? How would she react if he told her?
Should he tell her? That curse…
“Please do dive in,” she said, filling her own plate.
Noticing the bruises that discolored her hand, he tenderly cupped her fingertips to inspect the injury. No swelling, so no broken bones. Pride filled him. She’d made a proper fist and protected herself well.
“You blackened both his eyes.” He gently grazed his thumb over her battered knuckles. “Good job.”
“Are black eyes better or worse than a broken nose?” she asked, sounding worried.
“The broken nose caused the black eyes, making them equal.”
Her worry melted away, her own sense of pride blossoming. “My first time throwing a punch, and I hit the bull’s eye.”
Oh, yeah. He had definitely fallen for this woman.
“If someone ever grabs you again, go for their throat and run away screaming,” Beau said, after swallowing a bite of a casserole. “You will run away screaming, won’t you, Jane?”
“As fast as your feet can carry you,” Conrad commanded. “Screaming loudly.” With Jane, it was best to cover every base.
Trepidation flashed inside her baby blues. “You guys expect more trouble, don’t you?”
He would take no chances with her. “I have an agent monitoring the Headliner. As of this afternoon, eleven people have mentioned the possibility of finding gold in your cemetery.” Yes, the rumors about gold were old, and treasure hunters had searched here in the past, but. You only needed one to wreak havoc on Jane’s life. “Those eleven will tell others. Those people will spread the word further. At some point, someone will sneak onto your property to find out the truth.”
Radiating ferocity, Beau said, “Whatever day it is, whatever time, I want you to call me at even the hint of a trespasser.”
Jane nodded, but Conrad wasn’t sure he believed she’d make the call. She needed those self-defense lessons more than ever.
He devoured his meal, both hurrying, eager to begin her training, and savoring, floored by the perfection of flavors. Never had he enjoyed food more. Though full, Conrad sampled each dessert and decided his favorite pie was all of them.
“I’ll clean up,” he said.
“I’ll help,” Beau announced.
“As if!” Jane wagged a finger at them. “Grandma Lily will roll over in her grave if I shirk my duties.”
“Or she’ll applaud our willingness to perform our duties.” No way he sat back and watched his hostess clean after she’d done the cooking. Unwilling to entertain further arguments, he stood, gathered what dishes he could, and strode to the sink.
Beau followed. They washed and dried while a sputtering Jane delivered the rest of the dirties.
They were a team, and it was kind of wonderful.
When they finished, Conrad focused fully on Jane. “Beau has a lot to do—” hint, hint—“and I have a lot to teach you. We should get started.”
The vet snickered before returning his attention to his equipment.
“Let’s go out back,” Conrad suggested, beyond ready to have her to himself.
She led him to the porch, where a bulb illuminated soft grass and billowing trees. Lightning bugs flashed here and there, creating an almost magical backdrop. The incredible scent of magnolia filled his nose and fogged his head. For the rest of his life, he would associate magnolia with Jane Ladling.