In Shining Whatever (Three Magic Words Trilogy #2)(40)

Kate finally stopped near a twisted live oak tree in front of a body of water he would have called a creek, and popped open the lightweight aluminum lawn chairs. She reached out and took the can of worms from him and carefully baited her own hook, making sure the long earthworm was threaded on the hook well enough to keep the fish from cleaning it off without taking the hook. She tossed the line out into the bayou and got comfortable in her chair.

Hart followed her example and waited for her to start the conversation.

Five minutes later she hadn't said a word.

He leaned over to see if she'd fallen asleep.

Ten minutes. Nothing.



Fifteen, and he cleared his throat.

Twenty. He gave up and watched the bobble dancing in the gently rolling stream.

Thirty, and he was deep in his own thoughts. He'd given up bull riding because he was ready to come home and settle down on the ranch. His grandfather's passing seemed to be the sign that the time had arrived. Then there was Kate, the love of his life, at the wedding. From there it had been an emotional roller coaster that had him doing everything but cussing most days. He thought about Kate. He dreamed about her. He couldn't get her out of his mind.

But was it love?

Like Fancy and Sophie said at the party, what were those three words all men feared and women wanted to hear? They were important, yes, but were they the be-all and end-all of an existence? He did love Kate. He'd loved her when they were too young to even know what love was, and he still did; but could he live with her`? She'd come to Louisiana to think about the job offer. Would she ever be happy as a rancher's wife? Was he kidding himself that he could make her happy?

Kate could feel his tension when they first sat down. She wanted to talk; she really did. But she didn't know where to start. Did she tell him she'd loved him her whole life, and that all other men were measured by him? Or that she was terrified to let him know how much she cared about him, because she couldn't bear another heartache? She waited for him to talk, but he didn't say a word. Finally, she felt the tension ease as he watched the bobble.

The breeze picked up slightly, and the sun dipped a little lower in the east, sending rays of pink and yellow across the bayou. Minty-green leaves said spring had arrived and winter was over. One mother duck led the way to the edge of the bayou, and six little yellow babies followed her. Ignoring them, she hit the water with a splash, and, fearlessly, they went in right behind her, bobbing up and down like the red and white plastic balls on the fishing line.

"You ready to talk?" Kate asked.

"You?"



She shook her head.

"Then I guess we'll fish some more," he said.

The sun eased its way across the sky a while longer, and twilight set in, the trees becoming silhouettes in the dusky evening. They'd been on the bayou for hours and had eaten every last crumb of the leftover beignets and drunk a gallon of sweet tea. Still they fished.

"Y'all ever going to come in the house?" Maw Maw yelled from the tree line.

"In a minute. We didn't even get a bite yet," Kate answered.

"I bought some clams for chowder tomorrow, so don't worry about it. Come on in when you give up on it," Maw Maw said, and disappeared.

"Hungry?" Kate asked when it was full dark.

"Little bit."

"Figured anything out?"

"Haven't even scratched the surface," Hart said.

"Now you know why I didn't call you."

"Do we have to figure it all out before we talk?" he asked.

"Not all of it."

"I have trouble keeping my hands off you," he said.

"That's physical attraction. We're attracted to each other. Always have been, but that doesn't mean we could make it in a forever setting like Fancy and Theron, does it?"

"Never know until you try," he offered.

"And that I'm not willing to do until I figure out if I can make it last. Marriage is a one-time thing for me. Divorce is out of the question. If I make a mistake, I'll have to live with it forever. I'm not going to make a mistake. I won't do it if I can't at least think I'm going to get one of those cakes with the golden bells on top"

"What's it going to take to convince you?"

"I'll tell you when I figure it out. Are you proposing?"

"No, not right now"

"Why?"

"I need to fish some more. Maybe for a long time."

"Let's go eat supper. Maw Maw has made gumbo and bought good bread. Besides, she's going to put you through the wringer now that you're staying here. How do you like dominoes?"

Hart frowned. "What's dominoes got to do with anything?"

"You think you're staying here for free? Maw Maw loves dominoes. She saw a sucker when you knocked on the door. We will be playing, and she's not above cheating if she gets behind. You have to watch her like a hawk, because she likes to win."

His eyes came near to popping right out of his head. "You're lying."

"Keep thinking like that and you'll lose your shirt. Ever play poker?"

He blinked several times. "Of course."

"She's got that kind of face, and she takes it serious. How much money you got in your pocket?"