The Rancher and the Event Planner - By Cheryl Gorman Page 0,40
as she could to her makeup, then she pulled out onto the road.
The hurt heaped on her by Rafe, turned to anger and frustration. A few minutes later, she slammed a hand against the steering wheel as she drove in the Bluebonnet’s parking lot. “Stubborn man,” she mumbled to herself.
She remembered the seven layer chocolate cake she’d seen on the menu. Normally, she would never indulge in something so rich and calorie laden but chocolate was good therapy for everything, particularly a broken heart.
When she stepped inside, a tall, slender woman she’d never seen before placed a fresh cloth on a table and laid out bunches of silver. The scent of food filled the air. “Hi, I’m Ryn,” she said walking toward JC, her white tiered skirt swishing around her ankles and sandal covered feet. “Would you like a table?” Her aqua tank top accented her dark hair and eyes.
“No, the counter’s okay.”
Ryn grabbed a menu and cocked her head to the side. “You must be JC. Grace told me all about you. Welcome to Salvation.”
“Thank you.”
Her wide mouth and straight white teeth beamed a smile. “I’ve been away with my daughter on a little vacation. Just got back in last night. Grace’s taking the afternoon and evening off so she and her husband can have some alone time.”
Ryn studied her for a moment. “I saw you at the barbecue the other day. I’m sorry we didn’t have a chance to talk, but the baked goods were disappearing as fast as I could replenish them.”
A slight frown appeared between Ryn’s eyes. “Are you okay?”
“I’ve had better days.”
Ryn nodded. “I can spot a woman who needs chocolate from fifty paces. Come with me.”
JC settled on a stool at the front counter and Ryn handed her a laminated dessert menu featuring a variety of goodies. She pointed to the picture of the seven layer cake. “My favorite too. But we’ve just added something new. You game?”
“Sure, why not?” JC said. She didn’t see how anything worse could happen to her today. Ryn filled a dessert plate with something chocolate and handed it to JC. “This is a new recipe. It’s called Chocolate Caramel Margarita, guaranteed to brighten your day. Have a taste while I get us something cold to drink.”
JC dug into the square-shaped treat iced with a thick coating of caramel. She closed her eyes as the chocolate, caramel and a hint of strawberry melted on her tongue.
“Here you go,” Ryn said, as she settled on a stool next to her and handed JC a glass of cold water. “What do you think?”
JC swallowed and licked her lips. “Fabulous. Nothing like chocolate and caramel to melt your troubles.”
“I’m glad. If you feel like talking, I’m all ears. And I never betray a confidence.”
Ryn was a sweetheart to offer but most of the news filtered through the café. She didn’t want to talk to Linc. JC considered herself a pretty good judge of character. Ryn’s guileless, honest gaze told her she truly cared and locked the door on spreading JC’s story all over town. She decided to take a chance. “Thanks, I could use someone to talk to.” She told her about Rafe, Molly, and what transpired at the barbecue.
“I don’t know Rafe very well. He and Molly come in the Bluebonnet fairly often, but then everybody knows about what happened with his wife. I’m sorry you found yourself in the middle of it.” She leaned over and laid her hand on JC’s. “Want some advice from a total stranger?”
“Go for it.”
“Don’t let what happened ruin the rest of your time here in Salvation because it’s a great place with wonderful people. They opened their arms and their hearts to me and my daughter and we’ve never looked back. And there are a lot of other eligible bachelors around besides Rafe McCord.”
The bell tingled on the shop door. When she looked up at the sound, her eyes sparkled with more than the prospect of a customer coming in the door. “Hi, Cade the new dessert is gone, I’m afraid. JC took the last one.”
“Thought you were checking fence lines today?” JC said.
“Got done early.” He turned his attention back to Ryn. “My mouth is hankering for a taste of carrot cake.”
Cade took off his hat and gave Ryn one of his killer grins. “I hung up my saddle for the evening so I figured I’d drop in and see how you’re doing.”
JC rose from the stool. Well, well, well, what’s going on