Page 23 of A Cowboy to Call Her Own

“And then,” Hayes pressed.

And then she would have to make it up as she went. Kelley shrugged.

Hayes set his hand on her arm and said, “You keep cooking here. I won’t tell no one.”

“No. It’s not what Pauline wants, and she owns this place.” And keeping the boss happy ensured a good working environment. Kelley and her ex-husband were not good together because they were not happy. And now all Kelley wanted to bewashappy. “I’ll figure something else out for the catering.”

She just wasn’t sure where she would cook. Her mother relied solely on her microwave and toaster oven these days and hadn’t fixed her oven the last time it broke almost two years ago. Kelley’s dad and stepmother were in the middle of renovating their first floor and building their dream entertaining space. Kelley was currently advising her stepmom on the kitchen layout and design.

Just then a shout and thump echoed from the cleaning supply closet. Kelley rushed to investigate.

The busser, Shane, stood in a growing puddle of liquid soap leaking from the broken plastic industrial bottle near his boots. His eyebrows were arched into his hairline. “Sorry. I was getting paper towels for the bathroom and lost my balance.”

“There’s a hose out back to rinse the soap off your boots.” Kelley pointed to the back exit. “I’ll get this, and you can get back to clearing those tables out front.”

Shane nodded and backed himself out of the soap puddle.

Kelley added, “And Shane. Thanks for taking the initiative and helping, even though it’s not part of your job.”

Shane’s shoulders relaxed and he smiled. “Next time, I won’t make more of a mess.”

By the time Kelley got the soap cleaned up, she was needed out front to change out an empty CO2 tank in the soda bar and to cajole the temperamental ice machine into working again. It was a while later when she walked into the kitchen, thinking she might sneak in a minute to research possible commercial kitchens in the area that might allow her to use their space for a small fee.

“Heads up, Kelley.” Hayes stopped her and aimed his spatula toward the hallway. “You got company waiting for you in the office.”

Who now?Kelley headed to the office only to discover Laura-Beth inside. Her big sister’s arms were braced on the desk, and her attention was fixed on a large piece of poster paper spread across the top like she was a general planning for battle.

Laura-Beth spared Kelley a brief glance as if irritated Kelley was late to her meeting, then said, “Good. You’re finally here.”

“But you’re not supposed to be in here.” Kelley motioned to the sign on the door. “It’s employees only.”

“Well, that’s you. And if I place an order, then I’ll be a paying customer with the shift manager.” Laura-Beth drummed her fingers on the metal desktop and kept her focus on the colorful sticky tabs dotting the poster paper. Finally, she added, “I’ll take the ultimate breakfast sandwich on sourdough. Hold the bacon and double the avocado.”

“There’s no food service back here, LB.” It was more storage than office space. Not that her big sister was even listening. Sighing, Kelley stepped over to the other side of the desk and asked, “Why are you here, LB?”

“It’s the seating chart.” Laura-Beth spread her fingers and made circles over the poster paper. “We’ve got to shuffle again.”

“We did all that last night.” And well into the early hours of the morning, too. Kelley had prepped food for the Blackwell Stables while on a video call with Laura-Beth and Wes, who was still on the west coast, to help the couple finalize the seating chart.

“Due to recent information I received, we must rearrange seats,” Laura-Beth stated and finally straightened. Her grin stretched wide. “And since it affects you, I thought you’d like to be involved.”

Kelley stuck her hands into the pockets of the apron tied around her waist. “What have you heard?”

“It’s all good,” Laura-Beth assured her. “Really good. You have a plus-one now, so I’m moving you back to the wedding party table with us.”

“I’m supposed to be Mom’s plus one,” Kelley said flatly. That way their mother did not have to sit alone at the parents’ table with Kelley’s dad, stepmother and the three sets of opinionated grandparents.

“You’re off the hook,” Laura-Beth said, excitement in her words. “Mom found herself a new plus-one.”

“Who?” Kelley asked. Her mom mentioned nothing last night.

“I’m sure she will tell us when she’s ready.” Laura-Beth shrugged then pulled a pink sticky tab off the paper. “It’s for the best. Now you and Asher will be at my table where I wanted you in the first place.” Laura-Beth peeled a green sticky off and frowned. “Only, you and Asher will then be taking Cousin Betsy and her new husband’s places, so they need to be relocated.”

Asher was Kelley’s date? That was a newsflash. She rubbed her forehead and took a deep breath, hoping for some patience.

“You have to help me fix this.” Laura-Beth eyed Kelley. “I already told Betsy she was sitting with us. She is so excited. And now she’s going to feel slighted.”

“They won’t feel slighted and there’s nothing to fix,” Kelley said, working to keep her words indifferent and mild. “Because I don’t have a date.”