Rocky Mountain Legacy. Lois Richer

parents came home because of your grandmother?”

      “I don’t think they know about her yet. I thought the family was keeping it a secret so my parents could enjoy their well-deserved vacation.”

      “Maybe someone decided it was better if they knew the truth.”

      “I guess.” But no one had told her that, either, which bugged Sara.

      They were seated at a window table overlooking Cartier’s delightful garden. Outside, golden sheaves of mature grasses waved in the breeze. A few flowers, unscathed from last night’s frost, still bloomed.

      “I haven’t been here before. Thanks for asking me.” Sara accepted from the waiter the heavy white card with the day’s menu on it. “I’ll look, but after those buttery croissants yesterday, I’m on salad for a while.”

      “Aw, come on. You can’t expect me to enjoy my meal while you’re nibbling rabbit food.” Cade’s white teeth flashed.

      “I guess soup would be okay.” With those blue eyes staring, Sara wasn’t sure she’d be able to swallow a thing.

      “The kind of soup should make a difference.” Cade grinned.

      “Why?” She couldn’t quite interpret his smug tone.

      “I was told mushroom is your favorite.” He lifted the card from her hands and handed it, with his own, to the waiter. Then he ordered for both of them. “I think you’ll enjoy this meal, Sara.”

      “Will I?”

      The waiter brought their soup and set it down while she fumed. Cade Porter was a human bulldozer. Just like her family. Sara itched to point out his peremptory attitude, but that wasn’t the way one treated a client.

      Cade must have caught on.

      “That wasn’t very bright of me. I’m sorry, Sara. Karen would bawl me out for ordering for her without even asking. I apologize. Should I call the waiter back?”

      “Never mind.”

      “Thank you. Shall I say grace?”

      She nodded, waited until he’d finished. The word charming had obviously been created to describe Cade Porter. He waited for her to pick up her spoon.

      That’s when his words sank in.

      “Who told you mushroom soup is my favorite?”

      “Your sister.”

      “Katie.” Sara closed her eyes as she smothered a groan. “When?”

      “I phoned you this morning to confirm. You were out, so I spoke to her. I wanted to make sure you wouldn’t have a problem with the food here. She clarified things.” He frowned at her inelegant sniff.

      “Oh, I’m sure she did,” Sara grated. No wonder her sister had given her the dirtiest job in the building, “found” a fresh outfit and almost pushed her out the door. “What else did Katie tell you?”

      “Does it matter? Why don’t you taste the soup?”

      She’d lost her appetite, but that wasn’t his fault. Cade couldn’t know, would have no idea of the lengths her family would go to keep her at Woodwards. But Katie’s questions about Cade now made sense. Her sister had manipulated her hoping she’d get busy with Cade’s wedding and stick around.

      “I’ll send it back.”

      “No, please. It’s fine.” Sara swallowed her frustration, picked up her spoon and tasted the soup. “Delicious.”

      “I know. This place has the best food you’ll find in town.” Cade made no attempt to smother his satisfaction. “You can’t deny that.”

      “No, I can’t. I apologize for my bad humor.” His steady scrutiny made her nervous, so she concentrated on eating.

      Silence stretched long and tense. Finally Cade pressed back in his chair and sighed.

      “You would have preferred if I hadn’t spoken about you to Katie.” His frown turned into a quizzical ruffle. “I get that, okay?”

      “Great.” Her spirit groaned. Her parents were back in town. By now Katie had probably told them all about this meeting and they were all hatching another scheme.

      “I promise I won’t do it again.”

      “Thanks. I appreciate your discretion.”

      “I can be very discreet,” Cade assured her. But his eyes wouldn’t release hers and a frown now marred the smooth perfection of his forehead. “Only—”

      “Yes?”

      “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

      She had to explain. Otherwise he’d get tricked into their manipulations and maybe expect more—Sara shoved a mass of unruly ringlets behind her ear and dived in.

      “Cade, I understand that you love your sister.”

      “As, I’m sure, you love your family.” He said it casually, with the assurance of someone completely confident in his family’s love.

      “I do love them. Very much. But—” she waited until the salads were served and they were alone again “—my family is a pain.”

      It sounded horrible, but it was the truth.

      Cade laughed.

      “All families are at some time or another, I suppose.” A small smile played around his firm lips. “It’s the nature of the beast.”

      Sara’s stomach clenched. She looked through the window, bending her head so the ringlets swung forward, offering him no opportunity to read her expression.

      “It’s a little more than that in my case,” she said quietly. “My family believes my move to Los Angeles to pursue my career is a terrible mistake. They’ve tried, over and over, to get me to give it up, to stick with Weddings by Woodwards. They even try to change my ideas. I think they feel I’ve somehow diminished their work because I chose to leave, to pursue something else.”

      “I see.”

      He didn’t, but he would soon.

      “The other Woodwards, my brothers Reese and Donovan, and my sister, Katie, all are a part of the company. So are my parents and, of course, my grandmother. If she’d had more than one son, he’d be part of it, too. And be happy to be there.”