Chapter 4

4

R y's natural instinct was to smile at the woman standing on the porch, so he did so. She smiled in return, looking a little shy.

He liked shy.

He liked her.

She wasn't a classic beauty, but all the pieces came together, making her very appealing. Someone who interested him a great deal. It struck him that by coming back to Lost Creek, the next chapter in his life would not only include a return to working in his family's restaurant. It would also involve what he personally wanted in his life.

More than anything, Ry knew he wanted kids. Definitely more than one, since he'd been an only child. Each summer when his cousin Tucker came to stay during the school holidays, it felt right having him there. They'd shared a bedroom and talked long into the night. Their days had been full of riding their bikes, playing basketball, and swimming at Lost Creek Lake, usually with Todd Hart in tow. The three had been like brothers— eating ice cream and pizza, reading comic books, and playing video games.

Now, Todd was gone— and Tucker might as well be.

Two years ago, a drunk driver had struck the car Tucker drove. His cousin had been severely injured, but his pregnant wife had been killed. Ry only knew about the accident from his parents. Tucker had never picked up the phone when Ry had called. Never answered any texts or emails. It was if he'd dropped off the face of the earth. Ry only hoped now that he was stateside again that he might find Tucker and reconnect with him.

He pushed aside those thoughts and turned his full attention to Emerson now, saying, "I appreciate you giving me a ride to the winery."

Ry picked up his duffel bag and backpack to take to her car.

Laughter bubbled from her. "You may not be so grateful once you see what you'll be riding in." She glanced up and down his frame and added, "Those long legs may not work in my Mini Cooper." She grinned. "Or you'll be riding with your knees next to your ears."

He glanced over her shoulder and saw a dilapidated Mini-Cooper sitting in the driveway.

Shrugging, he told her, "It's better than walking."

He closed the door to Harper's house and accompanied Emerson to her car. It was a tight squeeze fitting his gear inside the miniscule trunk. He did open the driver's door for her. She flushed a pretty pink, making her even more appealing.

"Thank you," she said.

"The army— and Shelly Blackwood —drilled good manners into me."

Ry closed her door and went around to the passenger's seat, seeing it would be fairly challenging. He climbed in, situating himself, and gave her a thumbs up, despite feeling like a sardine crammed into a tin can with a hundred fellow fish.

"Fortunately, Lost Creek Winery isn't that far from here," she said brightly, inserting the key into the ignition and starting the car. "But I guess you know that since you're from here."

Curious about her, he said, "Tell me about yourself, Emerson. How did you wind up in Lost Creek?"

He saw a guarded expression cross her face as she replied. "I roomed with Finley Farrow our freshman year in college. She really wanted to come home to Lost Creek to teach, and the elementary school she'd attended actually had two positions open. She interviewed for one, and I interviewed for the other. We were both hired, and I've spent six very happy years here."

She paused, licking her lips a moment, causing a spark of desire to flare within him.

"We both are actually leaving our teaching careers behind us, though. Finley is a photographer and will be pursuing that full-time. She just recently got married. I, on the other hand, am committed to being a baker in my new career. Do you remember The Bake House?"

"Best cakes, donuts, and kolaches in the Hill Country," he said. "I rode my bike plenty of times to The Bake House for a sausage kolache."

"I used to work part-time on the weekends and full-time during the summers for Ethel Frederick, the owner." She cleared her throat. "Ethel recently passed away, and she left The Bake House to me. I'm going to be baking there three days a week, while a friend of mine from my days in Austin will manage the bakery for me. A lot of my time is devoted to baking cakes for Weddings with Hart. I know Harper and Ivy picked you up from the airport, so I'm assuming Harper shared all about her business with you."

"She did. I'm looking forward to seeing the event center on the property. Harper really praised your baking skills. You must be some kind of culinary genius."

"I taught science and math. Baking utilizes science. You really have to be precise in your measurements for things to turn out well. What I really enjoy, however, is flexing my creative muscles when I design and decorate those cakes. There have been several innovations in the baking industry in recent years, and Harper put in a first-class kitchen for me to bake on-site so that I wouldn't have to transport cakes." She chuckled. "Trying to move a five-tiered wedding cake can be a nightmare."

"Especially in a Mini Cooper," he quipped.

Emerson laughed— and he wanted to hear more of that.

"Sounds like we're both starting new chapters in our lives," Ry noted. "You, stepping away from teaching and devoting yourself to baking. I'll be going into the family barbeque business. At least, that's what I'm planning. We'll see what Dad thinks."

Emerson put on her blinker and turned into Lost Creek Winery.

"When I heard you were coming home, I wondered if you would be working with your mom or dad."

"Definitely Dad, although I'm happy to help out Mom, too. I have barbeque sauce running through my veins," he joked. "I've been smoking meats since I was in kindergarten. I was actually a cook in the army."

"You were? I guess you didn't have to shoot anyone."

He paused a moment and then said, "A soldier is a soldier, Emerson. I was trained exactly as all other soldiers who enlist. I went through boot camp, where I received my basic combat training. Then I did specific culinary training to be a cook in the army. Periodically, I still had to undergo various training exercises when I was stationed around the world. Cooking was ninety-nine percent of my time in the army during my first TOD. Tour of Duty," he explained. "Then I decided to move into the field."

"What changed your mind about cooking?" she asked, making a turn into a parking lot.

Ry could see the event center lay ahead of them. Instead of answering her question, he turned his attention to the facility.

"Wow. I really like what Harper did with this. I can't wait to see the inside. And meet her husband. Ivy's husband, too."

Emerson got out of the car before he could unfold himself and get her door for her. She told him to leave his things in the car for now. They walked across a bridge and toward the event center together.

"Harper said business is brisk," he commented.

She laughed. "You've arrived in the middle of wedding season, Ry Blackwood. This place is hopping on weekends and even several days during the week. Harper offers a discount on renting the facilities during the week, and she has her fair share of Tuesday and Thursday weddings."

"But not Wednesdays," he noted. "She and Ivy told me a group of you get together each Wednesday night and share a meal. I've been invited to the next one tomorrow night. It seems you're the one who provides desserts, and we serve as guinea pigs testing them out."

She laughed again, rich and throaty, making him want to stop and pull her to him for a kiss. This was unbelievable. He had never been attracted to a woman so quickly. Ry didn't even know if she were seeing anyone although he hadn't spotted a ring on her left hand.

"Yes, I do like to try things out on the group. Braden and Finley do the same. Both are fantastic cooks, and they alternate who makes the meal each week. We've had everything recently from Thai to Italian to Peruvian food."

He opened the door, ushering her inside the building, and gazed about, taking in the place. Whistling low as he spied one wall made entirely of glass, he began wandering through the facility, seeing where weddings would occur and the set-up on the other side where receptions could be held. A couple of tables were decorated for his homecoming. He saw Harper had gone with a patriotic theme of red, white, and blue. A banner hung on the wall, proclaiming WELCOME HOME, RY , the block letters in a stars and stripes pattern.

A tall, lean man approached him, holding out a hand in greeting.

"Braden Clark. Husband to Harper and winemaker for Lost Creek Vineyards."

Ry took the hand and pumped it enthusiastically. "Glad to meet you, Braden. Harper and Ivy are like little sisters to me."

Braden smiled. "They've told me how much you're like family to them. Thank you for your service."

Another man joined them, dark-haired and with chocolate brown eyes. "I second that," he said, offering his hand. "Thank you for what you've done for our country, protecting us at home and abroad. Dax Tennyson. Ivy's husband."

"I hear you run a coffeehouse. I'll definitely stop by and check it out." He glanced to Braden. "Hate to say it, but I'm not much of a wine drinker."

Both men laughed, and Dax said, "I was a beer drinker until I moved to the Hill Country. Yes, they've got a lot of great craft beers on tap here, but marrying someone who comes from a wine family and has a terrific nose for the bouquet of wines, I've come to appreciate wine."

"And I grew up in a winemaking family," Braden told Ry. "I practically had wine in my sippy cup."

He liked the easy camaraderie he felt with these two men and decided to ask them a question.

"I've been invited to your group gathering tomorrow night, and I wanted to check and see if Emerson is seeing anyone."

Braden and Dax exchanged a knowing look, and Braden said, "Nope. Emerson hasn't dated anyone for as long as either of us have been in Lost Creek. You interested in her?"

Shrugging, he said, "She gave me a ride to the winery just now. She seems really nice, but I didn't know if I should ask her out or not."

"I'd do it," Dax encouraged. "Emerson is a really kind, thoughtful person. A little quiet until she gets to know you, but then she can be a real chatterbox."

"Good to know," Ry said. "I think I'm going to go find her."

"She was heading toward the kitchen when I passed her," Dax volunteered. "But your parents are already in the kitchen prepping, so you better avoid that area."

"Thanks."

He ventured toward the glass wall and was stopped on the way by a blonde with brilliant aquamarine eyes, recognizing her. "Finley Farrow. It's good to see you."

She gave him a hug. "And here I thought a popular guy like Ry Blackwood wouldn't even know me. I'm sure Harper and Ivy mentioned me when they picked you up at the airport. I hope you don't mind if I take a few photos tonight of your homecoming."

"Please do. Mom'll love that. In fact, I had a photo session before I separated from the army. Had the opportunity to have my picture made in my dress and everyday uniforms. I have the digital copies and need to print out a few of them so Mom can frame them."

"I'd be happy to print and frame those for you, Ry," Finley offered. "I'm moving into photography full-time now. It's something I do all the time."

"I'd appreciate that. We can exchange info later."

A tall, handsome man with wire frame glasses stepped up to Finley, wrapping an arm around her waist as he stuck out a hand to Ry.

"Holden Scott. Finley's other half."

"Ry Blackwood," he said, shaking Holden's hand. "I hear the two of you recently tied the knot. Congratulations."

Holden and Finley exchanged a tender yet heated look, and it caused a rush of emotion to fill Ry.

This is what he wanted. Someone to love. Someone to share life together.

The couple turned back to him, and Holden said, "We're still newlyweds, going on a month of marriage now. I hear you'll be at dinner tomorrow with the gang. We'll talk some more then. I know things will be starting up soon, so we'll free you up."

"Thanks," he said, seeing Harper fussing with the flower arrangement on one of the tables.

He walked toward her and asked, "I hear Mom and Dad are already in the kitchen, working on our dinner?"

"They should be ready to serve in the next ten minutes or so. That means no going to the kitchen for you. I want you out of sight while they're doing their set-up there. It won't take them long since it's such a small group of us. Nothing like the hundred or more plates they prep during a wedding reception."

Harper glanced up as Emerson rolled a cake by them and said, "Em, once you get the cake fixed how you want, would you take Ry to the bridal suite and keep him under wraps until everyone's here and Shy and Shelly have everything plated?"

"Sure can, Harper."

Harper turned to him. "Go with Emerson and stay out of sight."

"Yes, General," he said, saluting her in a teasing fashion.

As he walked over to Emerson, he heard music start up and saw Dax was at a station with speakers. He recalled Ivy's husband acted as a DJ or had his band play live at receptions and supposed he would provide music for this evening.

Wandering over to Emerson, he took a good look at his welcome cake and smiled.

"My mouth is already salivating," he told her.

"Harper told me you were a chocoholic, so I did my best to come through. I've baked a molten mocha chocolate cake for your party tonight. I hope you'll enjoy it."

"It's beautiful, Emerson. A true work of art. I can see where your creative juices were flowing as you put this dessert together." He looked over his shoulder, seeing Harper point impatiently, and asked Emerson, "Ready to go hide?"

"Yes."

She led him to a group of rooms, and they entered one which had a large mirror running the length of one wall. Several chairs sat spaced out in front of it, and he assumed it was for brides and their attendants to sit and have their hair and makeup done before the ceremony. Several other comfortable chairs were scattered about the room, along with a slightly raised platform.

"This is where the bride and her bridesmaids get ready," Emerson explained. "Harper always has the bride step up here to make certain that the hem of the gown is intact. She's a stickler for details, our Harper, but her weddings turn out flawlessly every time."

She began wandering the room. "Your parents also do a wonderful job catering many of the receptions. Since it's a Hill Country wedding, Harper is always quick to suggest that the bride and groom go with a Texas theme for their food, and that means barbeque. Your dad smokes the best meat on the planet."

He stepped closer to her and said, "That's because you haven't sampled my smoked meats, Emerson," he said quietly. "And I've learned a lot from my time in the army. I told you I cooked during the majority of my first TOD. I was stationed in South Korea. I incorporated a lot of Asian influences into the meals I cooked. I traveled to Vietnam. Laos. Thailand. Cambodia. Japan. I can't wait to bring some of the influences of those cuisines into traditional Hill Country barbeque."

Ry took another step toward her, his heart beating rapidly, as if he were a teenager about to ask a girl on a date for the first time. He caught the scent of sweetness on her, and he wished he could bury his nose against her skin.

"As a fellow preparer of food, I would really appreciate your opinion on some dishes. I'd like to try them out and get your feedback before I bring up any kind of menu changes to my dad."

His hand went to her waist, resting it there, and he heard her breath hitch as her eyes widened in surprise. "I'm even interested in a fusion of my smoked meats placed inside your pastries. I think we could create some special dishes together."

His gaze fell to her mouth as she nervously licked her lips, and he added, "So, what do you say, Emerson? Interested in stepping into my test kitchen and giving me some professional advice?"

Ry wanted to do more than cook for this lovely woman. The attraction between them had the air crackling with electricity. His hand on her waist tightened slightly, and his gaze locked on hers. He started to move in to kiss her.

And stopped.

This wasn't a woman who would appreciate being rushed. He couldn't move too fast with her, sensing she would scurry away like a jack rabbit. He'd been a hunter during his teen years and had learned the patience of waiting on a deer. Emerson reminded him of those deer. Graceful. Soulful eyes. A bit skittish. He needed to take his time. Show her he could be trusted. Calm her fears.

His gaze connected with her unusual gray eyes, seeking answers. Ones which she didn't even know he was questioning her about yet, but Ry was determined to find those answers and pursue the connection he felt with this woman he'd just met.

She said in a prim teacher's voice, "Yes, I would be happy to taste your food and provide some feedback to you, Ry."

Emerson took a step back, breaking the contact between them, and it was a good thing she did so. If she hadn't, Ry just might have kissed her anyway.

The door opened, and Ivy popped her head in. "Come on, Ry. It's time to surprise Shy and Shelly."

He couldn't help himself. As Emerson took a step away, his hand went to the small of her back, guiding her from the room. He sensed the shiver running through her and knew this woman was going to challenge him in ways he'd never experienced before.

Ry couldn't wait to rise to those challenges.