Lois Dyer - Cade Coulter's Return

“Were you flirting with my husband?” Sally asked her with a smile.

“Only because of his cinnamon rolls.” Mariah slid the tray of rolls inside the glass counter case, already nearly filled with fresh pies, cakes and Ed’s famous chocolate-caramel bars. “You were so smart to marry a man who can bake, Sally.”

“You’ve got that right.” Sally nodded emphatically, her blue eyes twinkling behind wire-framed glasses. “A husband who can cook is worth his weight in gold.”

Mariah had a swift image of Ed’s big frame and solid muscles. “I can’t afford him,” she determined. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate his bakery items,” she assured Sally.

“Lucky for you free meals are a perk of your job,” Sally told her.

The outer door opened, the string of bells hanging from the handle jingling merrily, and a tall brunette burst into the room. “Morning, you two.” She shed her coat as she skirted the tables to disappear through the kitchen door. “Hi, Ed.” Her cheery hello was followed by a rumbled greeting from the baker and then she reentered the dining area. “How’s everything with you guys this morning?”

“Fine, Julie. How about you?” Mariah picked up a box of salt and one of pepper and headed for the table nearest the door.

“Bob took me to a movie last night—the new thriller with Leanne Crystal.”

“How was it?” Mariah finished filling the salt and pepper shakers and moved to the next table.

Julie shrugged and picked up the pepper shaker. “All right, I guess. I thought the heroine took silly risks—all to make the hero look as if he was saving the day.”

“I hate movies like that,” Mariah commented.

“Yeah,” Julie agreed. “Give me a romantic comedy any day.” She paused abruptly, half-filled pepper shaker in hand. “Hey, I just remembered—we ran into Linda Barnes at the theater. You know her, right? She’s Ned Anderson’s legal secretary and she told me one of the Coulter boys is back in town. Have you seen him?”

“Yes.” Mariah nodded, screwing the shiny metal lid back onto the glass salt shaker.

“Which one is he?”

“Joseph’s oldest son, Cade.”

“Linda said he’s incredibly good-looking, but kind of scary.”

“Scary?” Mariah frowned, considering. “I think he seems a little edgy.”

“Did he tell you where he’s been all these years?” Julie asked, blatantly curious.

“He said he was working in Mexico just before coming home but that’s all I know.”

“I wonder where his brothers are? Have you heard from any of them?”

“No, I haven’t. Although maybe Cade knows more about them.”

“Well, I hope they show up soon,” Julie said. “Bob told me the taxes on the Triple C must be humungous and the sooner the heirs talk to the IRS, the better chance they have to work out a deal.”

Since Julie’s husband was an accountant, Mariah assumed he’d had experience with the IRS and probably was right.

She wiped spilled grains of salt off the wood tabletop.

“I hope they’re found soon, too.” Mariah picked up the box of salt and moved to the next table. “Joseph wanted them to return and live on the Triple C. He’d be terribly disappointed if they can’t all be found.”

The growl of powerful engines sounded in the street outside and headlights swept over the front of the café. Mariah glanced out the big plate glass window at six men piling out of two dual-wheeled pickup trucks.

Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.