Chapter 6

6

R y flashed his winning smile at Emerson, a smile which had always gotten him whatever he wanted.

It obviously had no effect on this woman.

Instead, Emerson's face reflected the stereotypical phase deer caught in the headlights . She looked as if she was panicked by his innocent, flirtatious question. She tried to pull away from him, but he held her hand firmly.

In his most soothing voice, as if trying to comfort a frightened animal, he said, "It's all right, Emerson. I know you don't know me at all. But you know people who do know me well. If asking for a date is too much at this point, maybe we can simply go for coffee and get to know one another a little better. I hear that Dax owns a coffeehouse in town. We could sit and chat over a cup of coffee and you could see if you might like to go out with me sometime."

She still appeared incredibly unsure, and so he added, "You don't have to give me an answer either way right now. You'll be around me some tomorrow night at the group dinner and Harper and Braden's house. Let's see how that goes. Then I'll ask again and see if you're interested in having coffee or dinner with me sometime."

Ry removed his hand from hers, thinking she still looked as if she were ready to bolt from her chair. For the life of him, he couldn't understand why the thought of going out with him had put her in such a state of terror. Being asked on a date shouldn't cause a woman to want to flee a room. At another time in his life, Ry would've let it go. Let her go. Not worried about it.

He was older now, though. And something about Emerson drew him to her. Something he didn't yet understand. Whatever it was, he wanted to find out more about her.

And why the thought of spending a few hours in his company seemed to bring her to a state of chaos.

Dax had gone to a music station and called out, "Let's make this a party for Ry's homecoming."

All of a sudden, Ain't Too Proud to Beg began playing over the speakers. People pushed back from their chairs, ready to get up and dance to the infectious song. Ry started to ask Emerson if she might at least care to dance, but she told him, "I need to leave now. We should get your bags from my car."

She came to her feet and was halfway to the door by the time he reacted.

Something wasn't right. Braden and Dax had mentioned that they hadn't known Emerson to date anyone since they'd come to Lost Creek. Ry couldn't help but wonder if something in her past had turned her off men. He stood and turned to his dad.

"Be right back."

Hurrying toward the door and leaving the building, he saw Emerson ahead of him. Following her with long strides, he reached her as she got to her Mini Cooper. She'd already raised the hatch.

"Sorry. I need to go," she said breathlessly. "I've got to get home and get some sleep. I have to be at the bakery at three."

"Three in the morning?" he asked.

She gave him a nervous smile. "All those donuts and breakfast pastries don't bake themselves. The Bake House opens early, and we have to have fresh items for customers to purchase. The community depends upon us. I would never let Ethel's legacy down."

He reached in and slung his backpack over his shoulder before picking up his duffel bag. Emerson closed the hatch.

"Can I return the favor and at least pick you up tomorrow and drive you to the group dinner?" he asked quietly.

She had been avoiding his gaze, but she met it now. "I… I… guess so."

He pulled out his cell. "Let's exchange numbers. You can text me your address."

They did so and he asked, "What time is dinner?"

"Five-thirty," she replied. "We meet early because several of us have jobs that get us up early."

He supposed like the bakery, Dax's coffeehouse would open early.

"Early isn't a problem for me," he told her. "I'm always up before the sun, courtesy of Uncle Sam. Old habits die hard. What time should I be at your house?"

"Five-fifteen should do it. I live a few blocks off the town square. Braden and Harper's house isn't far from me. I'll see you then," she said stiffly, going to her driver's door and unlocking the car.

She got in, and Ry stepped between her and the door, not wanting her to close him out just yet.

"Thanks again for picking me up and bringing me to the party tonight," he said. "Your dessert— and your company —were the highlights of my evening."

Her eyes narrowed at his words. "You don't mean that," she said. "Seeing your parents and your friends. That was what was important."

He wasn't going to let her push aside what he'd said. "I am thrilled to be back home in Lost Creek, but I know the time and effort you put into that dessert. You didn't even know me, but you put heart and soul into making it. I appreciate that, Emerson, and I do want to get to know you better."

He stepped back. "Thanks again. I'll see you tomorrow night."

Ry closed the car door and waited as she started the car and drove away. He raised a hand, waving at her as she left. He couldn't help but wonder what her story was and how to unlock it.

And he decided Finley might be just the person to clue him in.

Returning to the building, he dropped his gear just inside the front door. He joined the party, which was now in full swing, thanks to the upbeat music. He danced with his mom to Luke Combs' Fast Car and then took turns dancing with the other women present, including Ana Ramirez. He learned a little about her and Wolf's new production company, and she invited him to come along with Holden and Finley and watch filming one day.

When he came to Finley, he asked, "Can we talk as we dance?"

A knowing look came into her eyes. "You want the scoop on Emerson, don't you? I saw you talking to her throughout dinner."

Ry nodded. "She intrigues me. Not many women ever have. I asked her out, and she was ready to run from the building like it was on fire. Has she been hurt badly by a man in her past?"

Hesitation crossed her face. "I don't want to share too much of Em's story with you, Ry," Finley answered. "It's her story to share. I will say that she had a really rough childhood. She was given up by her mother and placed in foster care when she was about thirteen or fourteen. She was too old for anyone to want to adopt and never really had anyone cheering her on all those years before she arrived at UT. Em worked hard to land scholarships and grants to pay for her education. She knew that a college degree was her way out of poverty."

He couldn't imagine not having a support system all those years. He'd had loving parents, great friends, and encouraging teachers and coaches all his life. The thought of Emerson having no one but herself weighed heavily on his heart.

"I really want to get to know her," he shared. "Right now, she doesn't know me— much less trust me —but I want her to see me around people she does know and trust. I hope that it'll encourage her to say yes to a date."

Finley smiled at him. "Emerson has a tender heart and is the kind of person who would give you the shirt off her back. You're right. She doesn't trust easily, but once she knows someone? She is a loving, giving soul."

She studied him a moment. "You might be the one to finally break through all the walls she's built around herself, Ry. I hope that's the case."

He returned Finley to her husband and then danced some more, glad to be back in the town he loved and free of his army obligations.

When the party finally broke up, he gathered his gear and accompanied his parents to their catering truck. He helped them clean up in the kitchen and then his dad drove them home to the house he'd grown up in.

"I wish I would've known you were coming, Ry," his mom said. "I would've put new sheets on the bed. Dusted your room."

"It's fine, Mom," he said. "It won't take us two minutes to make up the bed together."

She leaned into him. "It's so good to finally have you here, baby."

As they put the sheets on the bed, he said, "Do you know much about Emerson?"

"Oh, she's a lovely girl. So kindhearted. She just inherited The Bake House, so she'll be leaving teaching. She'll run the bakery, as well as baking cakes for Harper's events. We went to a wedding at the winery a couple of weeks ago, and I swear it was the most beautiful wedding cake I've ever seen. Emerson is incredibly talented."

"What she made for my homecoming was delicious," he said. "I'm actually going to dinner at Harper's house tomorrow night, and Emerson is making dessert for that, too."

Mom beamed at him. "Oh, that's wonderful, honey. I know how close you were with Harper and Ivy. They do have a nice little group of friends." She finished fluffing a pillow and then asked, "Are you going to take a few days off and get acclimated to being home again?"

"I'm not sure," he told her. "I guess I need to talk with Dad."

"He won't expect you to be at work first thing tomorrow morning. I say take some time to relax before you start working. You'll be doing that the rest of your life."

"One thing I need to do is pick up some civilian clothes. I only have a couple of things to wear."

She brightened. "I can let Joanie handle the diner tomorrow. Why don't we go into San Antonio for the day and do some shopping?"

He grinned. "I'd love to spend the day with you, Mom."

Ry wrapped her in a tight bear hug and kissed the top of her head.

"Let me go in and get things running in the morning. You can stop by about eight-thirty. I'll feed you breakfast, and then we can drive into San Antonio and be there in time for the stores to open."

"Sounds like a plan, Mom. Looking forward to it. Let me go say goodnight to Dad."

Ry headed downstairs again, finding his dad in front of the TV, watching the news.

"Sports is almost on if you want to watch that. Have a seat, son."

He sat on the sofa and said, "How are the Rangers doing this year?"

"Pitching's been solid," Dad replied. "The hitting has been sporadic, though. They'll have ten runs one night and one the next. I'm hoping they'll get their act together after the All-Star break next week and aim for more consistency." His dad paused. "What are your plans, son?"

"Tomorrow, Mom and I are going shopping in San Antonio." He chuckled. "I only have a couple of things to wear. Long range? I hope you and I can sit down and talk about my future at Blackwood BBQ."

Dad smiled at him fondly. "I was hoping you meant it when you said you wanted to come to work with me."

"I know you have your way of doing things, Dad, but I learned a few things in the army when I was cooking. I'd like to try some of them out. They'll be a little bit out of your comfort zone."

Shy Blackwood frowned. "We'll have to see about that, Ry. What I do works. Let's just get you back in the groove of smoking meats and doing things the Blackwood way before you start trying to change everything up."

Ry's heart knew his dad wouldn't go for many of the ideas he wanted to implement. Something told him that somewhere down the line, he was going to have to make a decision. Whether to stay at Blackwood BBQ— or open his own place. He didn't want to compete against his dad, but Ry also didn't want to take orders the rest of his life. He wanted to be his own man, calling the shots his way.

For now, though, he needed to get back into the swing of things. It had been several years since he'd cooked. While he knew it would be like riding a bicycle and he'd easily pick it up again, he would work for his dad.

And bide his time.