Authors: Candace Havens
“It’s magical,” Patience whispered.
“The town goes all out every spring,” Cade informed her. He had to admit when he was a kid he’d taken all this for granted. Seeing everything through her eyes made it fresh again. Since their time out at the Triple Dare Ranch she’d been quiet. He didn’t know if it was the memories from her past or something else, but he wanted to wash the sadness from her eyes.
Tonight she wore tapered khaki shorts with a layered, white filmy top. Her long blond curls flowed around her giving her an ethereal beauty. She looked like a fairy princess who had lost her wings.
“What would you like to do first? The fair grounds with all the rides are past the food tents. Or we can peruse the booths. Artists from all over come here. If you’re hungry we can head over to the tents.”
“It doesn’t matter to me, but I wouldn’t mind looking at some of the booths here.” She pointed to the right. “Oh, look, it’s your friends.”
Cade guided her to Andy and Celia’s booth. There were four large pieces at the back including a buffet and dining table. Nearby he also noted vintage clothing and purses on mannequins and a large case filled with smaller trinkets and jewelry.
“Now that can’t be Cade Randall, because if he were in town he would have made a beeline for his favorite girl.” Celia stepped from behind the counter to give him a hug. Her belly was almost as big as she was. Always petite, it looked as though she’d swallowed three basketballs.
He hugged her as best he could and kissed her cheek. “Guess the rumors are true, Andy got ya knocked up.”
Celia smiled as she slapped his shoulder. “Behave. I’m going to be a mom. You have to be more respectful. Now who is this beauty? Are you steppin’ out on me, Cade?”
“This is my friend, Patience. She’s in town helping to solve my dad’s—uh, murder.” Those words would always be strange to say.
Celia patted the same shoulder she’d just slapped. “Aw, hon, we always told you he was a good man. GG wouldn’t have raised a man who could abandon his family.”
She stuck out her hand to Patience. “Andy didn’t lie, you are a hot one.”
“Celia!” Andy came into the booth holding two steaming cups. “I did not say that.”
Handing his wife her drink, he turned to Patience. “I told her that you were beautiful. Beautiful, remember? That’s what I said.”
Patience laughed. “Speaking of beautiful, is that buffet French? I love the lines.” She motioned to one of the larger pieces in the back of the booth.
Celia’s smile broadened. “I really do like her,” she said as she took Patience’s hand and walked her over to the furniture.
“So, what’s up with you two?” Andy asked, leaning close to Cade. “You keep watching her like she might run for the hills any minute. Did you have a fight?”
Cade frowned, more frustrated with his lack of understanding than the questioning. “No, we did not have a fight.”
“I find flowers and chocolate helpful,” Andy interrupted his thoughts. “And when all else fails, jewelry. In fact, I think I have just the thing.” He motioned for Cade to follow him over to the glass case.
That’s where Cade saw the necklace. Attached to a long silver chain was a delicate fairy holding what looked like the moon in her hands, but the moon was a diamond. The piece was made for Patience.
“That one,” Cade murmured. “I’ll take it.”
Andy shrugged and pulled the necklace from the case. “Do you want me to wrap it up?”
Cade shook his head. “Can you just put some tissue around it or something to protect it while it’s in my pocket?”
Andy produced a small sapphire-blue velvet pouch. After taking off the price tag he slipped the necklace into the tiny bag and handed it to Cade. Then Cade gave Andy a handful of bills. “Hey, this is more than we usually make in an entire day at the festival.”
“Keep it. With the baby coming you’ll have all kinds of expenses.”
The other man held his hands up in surrender. “Thanks, Cade.”
“What are you two conspiring about now?” Celia asked as the two women walked toward the case.
“I was showing Cade some of the cuff links we have,” Andy lied. “He’s a Mr. Fancy Pants now and doesn’t always wear shirts that button at the cuffs.
Celia stared at her husband. Cade had a feeling his secret would not be safe with Andy for long. Besides, Celia knew everything that was in that case. There was a good chance she’d already noticed the necklace was missing.
“Are you ready to look at some of the other vendors?” Cade asked Patience. There was a shimmer of tears in her eyes. He glanced at Celia. She mouthed the word “later.” Something had transpired between the two women and now Patience was worse than she had been.
Patience had been staring at her toes during the exchange, but she looked up at Cade and said, “Sure.” She turned to Celia. “I’m not sure when I’ll be back at my place, it depends on the case. Could be a couple of days, could be a week. Can you hold it for me until then?”
“Of course.” Celia reached out her arms to hug her. “Let me know and I’ll have Andy bring it up on the trailer for you. Now you two go have some fun. There’s so much to see now that the festival is bigger than ever.”
Cade put his arm around Patience’s shoulder and led her away.
“Do you want to go back to GG’s? Are you tired?”
“I’m fine.” Her voice was hoarse with emotion.
“Patience, please, whatever is making you sad is killing me. Let me help.” He turned her so she was facing him.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m a very practical person, but I keep coming across things that remind me of my family. I promised myself I’d shove all this away, but it isn’t working.
“My dad sold off all of our furniture when we started traveling full-time. One of the pieces had belonged to my mother and I had always treasured it. It looked exactly like the one in their booth.”
“Was it?”
“No. I checked the back of the piece. When he was four, my brother, Jeremy, climbed behind there and drew a life-sized portrait of himself on the wood. My dad thought it was the funniest thing in the world. My mom wasn’t too happy at first, but she told me later that it made the piece even more special to her.
“Anyway, it seems like everywhere I turn here there are reminders. I’m beginning to feel like the universe is trying to tell me something. Today at the ranch, well, knowing how much your dad loved you, it made me realize that even though we don’t talk as much as we should, my dad really does love me.”
Cade didn’t like seeing her hurt.
“Do you want to go back to the B and B?”
“No, I’d just be alone with my thoughts there. I’d rather stay busy.”
“Well, you wouldn’t exactly be alone.” Cade waggled his eyebrows at her.
Her laugh came out as more of a snort and her smile lit up her face. “That sounds like a perfectly lovely proposition, but let’s hang out here for a little while longer. Besides, I’m not leaving until I get some of that cotton candy you promised and a root beer float and some steak on a stick.”
Seeing the woman he met with Deacon last night at the dance, he guided her to the woman’s booth.
“Lily?” Cade hoped he remembered her name correctly. “I wanted to bring Patience over to meet you. She’s a big fan of Texas artists.”
“Oh, it’s good to see you again and lovely to meet you, Patience.”
The two women shook hands. “The artwork here is beautiful. Did you make it all?” Patience asked.
“I have several paintings here as well as some pottery,” Lily said. “My stuff is mixed in with some of the other local artists. Including some of Deacon’s woodwork.” She pointed out the pieces to Cade.
“I had no idea he did this sort of thing.” Cade was surprised by the intricately carved boxes. He was impressed.
Patience asked, “Is there any possibility I could purchase some things and have them shipped to Austin? I don’t mind paying the extra charges.”
Lily winked at her. “Girl, I’m not going to turn down any kind of sale. I’ll drive them personally to your house if I have to.”
“I seem to be in a shopping mood tonight, in fact, I’m about to buy way more than my little SUV will hold. Honestly, I don’t normally do this sort of thing, but your stuff really appeals to me. I especially like—”
Patience continued talking as the two of them walked toward the pieces. She seemed more animated now, but Cade wasn’t sure how much of that was true, and how much was for his benefit.
Cade worried working on his father’s case might be taking too much out of her. She usually worked with the dead and had little contact with the living, who had connections to the remains. This case had hit too close to home for her.
If he had the power he’d fire her, but technically she was consulting for the county. He also had a feeling she wouldn’t give up no matter what he said or did. They had to solve this case so they could both move on.
That phrase didn’t sit well with him. Move on to where? She’d shared his bed again the night before. This was all new territory for him, too. He wasn’t the kind of man who chased women, but this one was worth the effort. Even he was smart enough to figure that one out.
He knew exactly what to do.
No.
I can do this.
She was a competent scientist and she could solve this as long as she used logic. That had been her problem since she arrived in Phosphor. Never, since the week her brother went missing, had she ever been so emotional. After that, she had had to force herself to stop crying, her father needed her to be the sane and competent one, and that was what she became. From that moment on she refused to let emotions rule her. She didn’t go through the teen drama most high school girls did because she focused on her studies. In college she had some one-night stands, but if her date called again she would ignore him. She didn’t want to become too attached.
Patience wasn’t sure when her guard had slipped. The emotions she’d kept bottled had bubbled to the surface. Unfortunately, she wasn’t sure she could control them. Still, there was no way she was giving up now. She’d already learned so much about herself. And there was Cade.
Live beings meant complications; bones had few complications that good science couldn’t solve. The human element was messy. And she was definitely a mess. Part of her wished she’d never taken this case on, but that would have meant missing out on meeting Cade. No matter what happened to them in the future, she couldn’t deny that being with him was about the best thing that had happened to her in years.
In an effort to move her mind to happier thoughts she searched for the man. Patience had sent him for tea to wash down her corn dog and fried Snickers bar. If she kept eating like this, she would have to buy a new wardrobe soon.
While searching the tent for Cade, she noticed a table of elderly men staring at her. She remembered Moses, one of the men from the diner. These ranchers were the key to the investigation. She knew it, but she needed proof. Without a witness or some kind of evidence, all she had were rumors and innuendo.
Sitting up a little straighter, she gave them the Patience stare. The one that sent her lab assistants scurrying like frightened mice. The old men quickly turned away and continued their conversation.
She’d talk to the sheriff in the morning and tell him about her suspicions. While she might want to confront these men now, she knew better than to tip them off. No, she would play this one by the book.
Beginning her search again she finally caught sight of him. Logan had stopped Cade with a hand on his shoulder and his cousin was animated as they were talking and laughing.
The exchange pulled her out of her reverie. Moments later, Cade was at her side, handing her a cup of tea. “I saw you chatting with your cousin. What was so funny?”
“Things around here can sometimes get to be like a real-life soap opera. Charli likes Hemi, who is dancing with Michele. But Charli’s too much of a chicken to ask him to dance. Logan and I were daring her to do it.”
Patience frowned.
“What is it?” he asked.
“Well, I spend a lot of time in my office. My friends there often have drama in their lives, but I don’t get to see a lot of it in person. The anthropologist in me is fascinated, but I’m never happy knowing my friends are struggling or—”
“Love is messy,” Cade said, as he squeezed her hand.
“I was thinking the same thing. Life is messy in general. I have a tendency to live in a very sterile environment.”
He watched her carefully.
“Before—I wanted to tell you that I’m not normally so emotional. In fact, before I arrived in Phosphor, the last time I cried was when I received my first doctorate five years ago.”
“Five? That would have made you twenty-one.” He put an arm around her shoulder. “What was it about it that made you cry?”
“It’s dumb really. My dad had promised to come to see me walk the stage. I hadn’t seen him in two years, and he didn’t make it. He was caught up in a dig in Turkey. I don’t know why, but in that moment I felt more alone than I ever had.” She twisted away from Cade’s arm. “I seem to spill my guts whenever you’re around. Pretty soon, you’re going to know my whole life story, which isn’t very exciting.”
“Patience, I want to know everything about you. I’m interested in you.”
She sighed. “Thanks. You’re sweet. I’m not normally such a drama queen. An ice queen, maybe.”
Cade chuckled. “I have a hard time believing that. You’re the hottest woman I’ve ever met. I’m drawn to you like a bug to a flame.”
How did he always know the right thing to say?
“When I first met you, I would have never imagined you being so charming,” she said honestly.
He chuckled again. “That was the day from hell for me. I’d invested a ton of time in a merger and taken a huge risk. The deal was going to take my company and the one we were merging with to the next level and it has. When the sheriff called and asked me to meet him at your office, I honestly considered skipping it.
“So when you mentioned my dad, well, all those defenses went up immediately. Then I was in shock. I don’t even remember walking back to the car that was waiting for me. I don’t remember the meetings where we signed the final contracts, or the celebration afterward. It was like I’d stepped into some strange movie and I couldn’t get out.”
She lay her head on his shoulder. “I realize now how much information you had to process. Finding out after all those years that your father didn’t abandon you. The sheriff kept telling me you were a great guy. Although I had a hard time believing him that day, he was right.”
Kissing the top of her head he squeezed her to him. “At least I have closure. I wish I could help you find the same.”
She sighed deeply. “Yeah, I’ve been thinking about that, too. You were right about using my resources. When we finish this case, I’m going to get my friends at Stonegate to help me.”
“Good for you.”
“Yea, me,” she joked. “Before, I figured that if I never knew the real truth, a part of me could stay hopeful, but after everything that has happened the last few days, well, it won’t be easy. The case is more than thirteen years old, but if anyone can crack it, my colleagues can.” Her voice caught. “We were so close, Jeremy and me. When my mom died, well, he became my touchstone. If he is alive…I’ll be the happiest woman ever.”
Patience decided she’d been depressed long enough. Just talking about everything lightened her heart.
“We need to get some exercise,” she said as she stood. “After that fried Snickers bar, my butt is getting bigger as I speak.”
Cade laughed. “I happen to be very fond of your butt,” he said, sliding his hand seductively down her back. “I have an idea of a really great exercise we can do, but we need some privacy.”
Patience smiled. “We’ll do that workout later, I was thinking I’d like to dance. This band is really good.”
“Okay, but with one condition.”
“What?” She looked up through her lashes at him.
“I’m not sharing you with anyone tonight. All the dances are mine. You’re mine.”
Those words sent heat coursing through her body. She was ready to drag him back to the B and B. “I’m good with that,” she said against his lips before he kissed her. They stayed that way for almost a minute before someone whistled.
They reluctantly pulled apart and Cade led her to the floor.
She was his in more ways than he would ever know.