Chapter Twelve

T he next day, while on her way to the cottage to see how the landscaping effort had gone, all Izzy could think about was Nathan’s proposal that they should concentrate on one thing at a time. It was crazy because at the time the only thing she wanted to focus on was the man sitting on the opposite side of the table. She’d tried to let a steady gaze confirm that she had no intention of giving up on her plan, but it’d been a halfhearted effort at best.

Nathan knew as well as she did that their time to save the ranch was running short, but her instincts told her becoming a major player at the rodeo was just as important for the ranch as opening The Wedding Cottage, or any other money-making scheme they’d decided on. She would not give up on the idea just because a good-looking rancher essentially told her to stay in one lane.

He didn’t know it, but when he’d given in and said she’d won, in her mind, he’d semi-agreed to talk to someone on the Strawberry Ridge Rodeo Association board about becoming a sponsor. All she had to do was get him there.

Except this morning, he’d come to the same conclusion. He’d sent her a text letting her know he had an appointment with the president of the association and that she could leave cleaning up the stalls until he got back. If he could compromise, so could she. What was the point of being hired for a job if he was going to let her off the hook whenever he wasn’t around? Besides, she liked keeping the stalls clean and comfortable for the horses. And she hadn’t been alone. Blake and Timmy worked with her before heading into town to see Malorie and the twins.

Left her to her own devices for the remainder of the day, she’d decided to follow her mom to the cottage. The sun was high in the sky, the day pleasantly warm enough that she had the window down. A breeze tugged at her braid. She could see why it was so easy for Malorie and the twins to make Strawberry Ridge and the Triple L their new home. Aside from falling in love with Blake and Timmy.

She would do her best to make sure Nathan and his brothers kept the ranch. And not just because life was slower and more peaceful on the Triple L. Or how. despite his grumpy introduction when she’d first met him, Nathan fit right in. He belonged here.

Where did she belong? On the road to her next job?

Parking by the cottage close to her mother’s Jeep, Izzy sternly reminded herself love wasn’t at the top of her bucket list. A little flirting with Nathan at Luke’s—if she could call it flirting, which she didn’t—was all she could do. He was her client. A guy who, from what she’d seen so far, liked being on his own. Entering into a relationship that was more than a professional partnership with the reclusive man would lose her all the traction she’d gained so far for her business.

Sylvia waved at her from the garden.

“Hi.” She hugged her mom. “I came to see how the planting went.”

“Those kids had the best time. Blake and Malorie are so good with them.” Her mom went back to slowly grooming the flower beds. “How’s the Triple L coming along?”

Sylvia was always interested in the details of her daughter’s jobs. Izzy dropped down to help her mom smooth out the fresh soil between tall, white lupines and bushy lavender, interspersed with bright purple petunias. “It’s coming along fine.”

“Only, fine?” Her mom glanced at Izzy and raised a brow. “My girl, who can work miracles, thinks things are fine ? The Wedding Cottage is a brilliant idea.”

How did she put it without sounding like she was concerned? She wasn’t about to give up, but she was beginning to feel the pressure to do something big to save the ranch. She hadn’t failed a client yet and Nathan wasn’t about to be the first.

“The Wedding Cottage won’t be enough to keep the ranch going, Mom,” she admitted.

Sylvia reached out and laced fingers with Izzy. “This is a very big project you’ve taken on. There’s bound to be a few hiccups before you’re done. I’m confident you’ll make it work.”

She gently rubbed her mom’s swollen knuckles. Whatever she said, Izzy knew Sylvia wouldn’t stop working in the garden.

“I need to do some more research,” she said quietly, more than worry about her work on her mind.

“You will.” Sylvia smiled. “I have some news of my own.”

“Uh oh.”

Sylvia laughed. “I know what you’re going to say but hold it in for a minute. Okay? I got a call from George.” George Coleman, her mom’s new friend whom she’d met on the river cruise. “He’s decided to sell his house and has asked me to help him put some of his antique pieces up for auction.”

Her mom knew everything there was to know about downsizing. It was how she made her living.

Izzy eased back on her heels. “Doesn’t he live in San Francisco?”

“Yes.” Her mom’s expression went a little dreamy. She shook her head and stood. “These beds are looking terrific, don’t you think?”

“They look great.” And then because she was so surprised, Izzy said, “You like George.”

Sylvia blushed. “You like Nathan.” As if that was reason enough to finally let her heart have a say.

For as long as Izzy could remember, her mom had never encouraged the occasional man she met to become a part of their lives.

“He needs my help,” Izzy defended herself, then huffed out a breath. “Nathan is my client. I can’t like him like that.”

“It sounds to me like he’s not just a client anymore.” Her mom stood, pulling Izzy up with her. “You’re happy here. It’s okay if you’ve found someone to love.”

“Yeah, that worked out so well the last time. I’m not in love, Mom. I’m... trying to save a ranch,” she said softly, realizing as she did so that she’d made up her mind to save Nathan too. He would be appalled if he knew. She was appalled.

Sylvia pulled her into a tight hug. “Maybe so, but I like him, and his brothers. They’re good people. Nathan is nothing like Jim. If he commits to you, he will always be committed.”

“How do you know?” It wasn’t often that Sylvia dispensed motherly advice.

“Just a feeling I have.” Sylvia leaned back. “Now, be honest, don’t you think he’ll make a great dad someday?”

How would she know? She’d never had a dad. Though watching Nathan with Timmy, Andee, and Reece, she’d once or twice wished...

“So, when are you leaving to help George?”

With a crooked smile that always made Izzy crazy, Sylvia let her get away with that non-answer. “In a few days. In the meantime, I’ll make some of your favorite peach cobbler. Nathan will like that.”

“I’m sure he will,” Izzy agreed with a smirk. What man didn’t like home-baked goods? And cobbler was one of her mother’s specialties. “Look, don’t get any ideas about Nathan. He’s got roots and I like to fly free.”

She was already finding it hard to concentrate on her job when Nathan was around. Letting her heart take over would not make that easier.

“Sure. If it’s what you want. That doesn’t mean you can’t cook for the man. And don’t forget, someday I want grandbabies.”

“Of course you do,” Izzy said under her breath.

Sylvia gave her a peck on the cheek, which meant she hadn’t let go of the idea that her daughter had found a man her mom liked enough to become his champion. She’d never mentioned grandchildren when Izzy was engaged to Jim.

There was still a lot to do if she was going to get the Triple L back on financial track. Kicking Nathan Lohmen off her to-do list—how he had gotten there in the first place she didn’t know—Izzy stepped back to take in the whole garden. While she was at it, she took a mental step forward to focus on her dream for the future. “This looks great. I see the boys laid out a drip water line too. They won’t have to come up here to water every day. Let’s check out the inside.”

They went into the cottage. New furnishings made the space as comfortable and cozy as Izzy had imagined it would be.

“Lovely,” Sylvia stopped beside Izzy. “Malorie said she was going to add some personal touches. The drapes and those pillows are perfect.”

Izzy checked out the tiny kitchen area and bathroom. The soft blue and green additions were perfect. If ever she got married, this is where she would want to tie the knot. It was small but intimate. Exactly the opposite of what Jim had pushed her into planning. “All we have to do now is get the word out that The Wedding Cottage is open for business.”

“I can do that for you.” Her surprise must have shown because her mother clarified, “Before I leave. I want to help.”

And to nag her about Nathan no doubt, but for some reason, Izzy was okay with that. She could handle any shenanigans Sylvia sent her way.

“I’ve got flyers at the guesthouse. I was going to take them to businesses around town this afternoon. Malorie says there’s a new teahouse in town. I can’t wait to check it out.”

“I’m coming with you.” Sylvia headed for the door. “We’ll need to change our clothes.”

On the way to her Range Rover, Izzy stopped long enough to ensure all the tools were picked up in the garden. “You don’t think our work clothes are good enough?” she teased.

Her mom made a funny face. Izzy laughed. Sylvia had been the one to teach her about having a personal brand. Neither one of them ever went anywhere without the right attire.

They were entering the guesthouse when Izzy remembered to ask, “What do you think Nathan’s brand is?”

She noticed his truck wasn’t parked in its usual spot. She hoped his meeting was going well.

“Working cowboy,” Sylvia said as she glanced over her shoulder at Izzy like it was the only choice.

And her mom was right. She’d have to play with some images when they got back from delivering the flyers but a cowboy riding a horse was the first image that came to her mind.

She quickly changed and was waiting for her mom when Sylvia came downstairs dressed in a forest green dress that gathered in at the waist and fell gracefully to her knees. Her dark red hair curled at her shoulders. She carried a small hat and clutch that matched her dress.

Knowing her mom would dress for a pleasant afternoon meeting town merchants, Izzy had selected a sleeveless dress similar to Sylvia’s, light blue with white and pale yellow flowers. Her hat was a straw sun hat with matching flowers on the narrow brim. She slung a light blue purse over her shoulder.

“Ready?”

“You look lovely,” Sylvia said with a smile.

Izzy winked at her mom. This was a game they liked to play—going out on the town together to visit a local tearoom. “So do you.”

She handed Sylvia the box of flyers and off they went. First stop, the Chamber of Commerce, then the library, Booklover’s Hideaway, and the Strawberry Ridge Journal where Izzy put in an ad to run for three weeks for The Wedding Cottage. It was entertaining having her mother by her side. Sylvia Payton never met a stranger.

She could do this. The more she and Sylvia walked from business to business on Main, the more she fell in love with the town and the shop owners who were happy to put the flyers on their counters where customers could see them.

With just a few flyers left and content that they’d talked to as many merchants as they could, Izzy followed the directions to the Rose Tea Emporium on Main and Thirteenth given to her at the Chamber of Commerce. The older Victorian-style house that had been converted into the Emporium looked brand new. It was a light sage green with white elegant trim, and had a porch that hosted outdoor seating. All the tables were occupied.

A leaded glass transom mirrored the colorful stained glass in the upper half of the double doors. Bushes of lavender and blue hydrangeas flanked the wide steps up to the porch.

The beauty of the restoration caught Izzy’s breath. “Wow.”

“This is stunning,” Sylvia agreed, stopping to smell the hydrangeas. “There’s a lot of cars parked in front. I hope they have room for two more guests.”

Inside a lady dressed in a slender Victorian dress layered in pale yellow lace approached them. “Welcome, I’m Elizabeth Green, owner of the Emporium. I’m afraid we don’t have any tables left.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Everything about the Emporium was charming, from the wood-paneled walls, the antique tables and chairs, the sideboard displaying delicate tea sets, to the lacy curtains at the windows. “Actually, we stopped by because we’re hoping to leave these flyers with you. The Lohmen brothers are opening a wedding venue on their ranch, The Wedding Cottage, and we’re trying to get the word out.” Izzy gave Elizabeth one of the flyers.

“You don’t mean Nathan Lohmen, do you?” Elizabeth asked with a smile.

“Yes, do you know him?”

“I helped Elizabeth with the renovations on this place,” a familiar deep voice said behind Izzy.

She spun around and came face to face with the one man who had the power to knock her off her rails. In the meantime, Sylvia was standing back and watching the show, a knowing smile on her face. Izzy ignored her mom.

“How did you know we were here?”

“I just finished my meeting and saw you come in.” He looked over Izzy’s shoulder. “Hi, Elizabeth. I see you’re busy. Is the table on the back porch taken?”

“Not if you’ll be joining the ladies.” Elizabeth matched her house. Both were out of this world exquisite. And it appeared that Nathan knew his way around the Emporium and the lady who owned her. “It’s been a long time since you’ve come by.”

He nodded. “If it’s okay with the ladies, I’d love to have tea with them.”

“I’m sure they won’t mind,” Elizabeth said as if it would be sacrilege to turn down an opportunity to have a sit down with the very handsome Nathan Lohmen. She turned to Izzy. “I’ll gladly take your flyers and put them on the tables.”

Elizabeth accepted the remaining advertisements, then led the way to the back porch where there was a lone table with four chairs. Hydrangea blooms in a small vase graced the middle of a white lace tablecloth.

Izzy tried not to think about how happy the Emporium owner was to see Nathan. For a man who hadn’t made much effort to be polite when they first met, he sure was comfortable around the lady making eyes at him.

She didn’t miss her mother’s pointed look. In a valiant effort to ignore the silent nudge, Izzy laid the napkin across her lap. “How did the meeting go?”

He’d dressed for business in blue jeans, a crisp white shirt, and black vest, so he’d at least made an effort, although Izzy admitted she liked his everyday cowboy look too. “I met with the association president and got a sponsorship spot for the Triple L.”

“That’s good.” Izzy wasn’t surprised. It wasn’t like the town leaders didn’t know about the working ranches in the area. She’d been counting on Nathan having more pull than he realized.

Their tea arrived. And then a plate of finger sandwiches and another of fruit tarts.

Dang it, she liked Nathan. Too much, in fact. It didn’t help that her mother was aware and happy to occupy a seat, front row center, so she had a good view of her daughter’s potential romantic downfall. That wasn’t what Izzy would call it but she could interpret Sylvia’s evaluating look.

She scrambled to come up with a good excuse to leave, but before she could, Elizabeth joined them, waving one of the flyers at Nathan. “The Wedding Cottage is lovely.”

“Thanks to Izzy. It’s her idea and design,” he said with an approving nod at Izzy. A flutter started in her belly.

Elizabeth shifted her attention to Izzy. “Have you given any consideration to linking with caterers on the website?”

“Like the Rose Tea Emporium?” Izzy suggested, fighting off the brief stab of envy that Elizabeth had no qualms about asking for what she wanted business-wise or letting the cowboy sitting across from Izzy know that she fancied him.

She was tempted to do the same, but nothing about her future plans had changed.

Elizabeth looked at Nathan and back again. “The Emporium would be a nice fit for your brides and grooms, and their guests, don’t you think?”

Here to do a job, not make a judgment on Nathan’s entanglements, Izzy agreed with the astute businesswoman. “Send me your information and web page address and I’ll set up the link tomorrow.”

“You’ll have it in your inbox tonight,” Elizabeth promised, turning her grin on Nathan. “I’d better get back to my customers.” She made a quick exit, the lace of her dress swirling around her ankles and showing off white half-boots.

She turned to Nathan, but he wasn’t watching Elizabeth. His gaze was squarely on Izzy. It didn’t make sense. What could be more romantic than a good-looking rancher and a pretty Tea Emporium owner finding common ground?

Taking a sip of her tea, Izzy stared at Nathan over the gold-lined rim and took the bull by the horns. “Will you do me a favor?” His brows went up, but he didn’t object. So far. “I need you to sketch a self-portrait—head and shoulders—with Duke next to you or behind you.”

“Why?” The arch of his brows flattened.

Here was the Nathan she knew and lo... liked . “I’m working on your brand. The image will also go on the ranch’s business cards.”

He leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest. “Why can’t Blake and Jonas be part of the sketch?”

“Because they didn’t ask me to give them a new look.” She propped her elbows on the table.

Sylvia broke in. “If you two are done fighting—”

“We’re not fighting—” Izzy said without looking at her mom.

At the same time, Nathan sort of agreed with her, “We’re discussing.”

“And I’m ready to go home,” Sylvia said with a laugh. “Come on Iz, I have things to do before I leave.”

Nathan sent Izzy a questioning look.

“It’s a long story. I’ll tell you later.” Dropping her napkin on the table, she stood to accompany Sylvia who was already making her way back through the tearoom.

Nathan was right behind Izzy. “I’ll get the bill.”

“That’s okay. Thanks.” Even at that, he stood by while she presented her credit card.

Out on the pavement, the stubborn man held the door open while Sylvia climbed into the Land Rover. He pulled on her mom’s seatbelt until she could reach it, then shot Izzy a challenging glance. “Come to breakfast tomorrow morning. Blake and Jonas will be there. We can talk about our next move.”

“I’ll be there.” She smiled at the bossy cowboy, adding for good measure. “I’d like bacon and eggs, please.”

“Count me out. I’ll be packing,” Sylvia said, aiming a happy grin at Izzy.

She could guess what her mom was thinking. She loved the idea of Izzy making an attachment with Nathan Lohmen. It wasn’t going to happen.

When she let herself into the main house the next morning, it wasn’t a happy family breakfast that Izzy walked into. And right in the middle of it all was Nathan, his fists balled at his sides.

Izzy just hoped she wasn’t the cause of the brothers’ current disagreement.