Page 21 of The Unbuttoned Ranger (Texas Heat: The Heart of a Texas Ranger #1)
“ Is it too late to take my pie off the auctioneer ’ s table?” CaDee said to Ursula once Marg explained how the auction worked.
“ Too late now, hun. Unless you want to march up on stage and grab it out of old Randy Wood ’ s hands. That will certainly attract a lot of men ’ s attention because cowboys certainly do love a challenge. Think of it as a good cause. The money goes to the Christmas fund for less fortunate kids.”
“ Where ’ s your pie by chance?” CaDee lifted her brow.
“ Oh, it ’ s there. But just like every year since the auction started it won ’ t get bid on.” Her smile faded.
“ And why is that?” CaDee couldn ’ t believe no one would bid for a date for someone as amazing and beautiful as Ursula.
“ Because Ely was the local hero. Although he ’ s been gone for a while, men have loyalty in these parts. They feel like asking me out is disloyal to someone they cared for and respected.”
“ I understand honor and respect that, but you ’ re beautiful, smart, and available. There might be someone who sees that Ely loved you and would want you to be happy and cherished.”
“ Small town politics.” She shrugged. “ Oh well. I ’ m lucky I have my kids.”
The bidding started.
“ Who ’ s that?” The pretty woman who ’ d been talking to Sharp earlier was standing on stage holding her pie. It didn ’ t take long for cowboys to push up the bid.
“ Emily Maines.” Ursula droned. “ I ’ ve never liked her, not even when she was madly in love with Sharp.”
“ Oh?” This grabbed CaDee ’ s undivided attention.
“ Are they…?” Why did it matter? She ’ d made it clear—crystal clear—to Sharp that she wasn ’ t looking for a relationship.
He only knew half of the situation with Dante, and it was a story that most men would shy away from.
Although Sharp didn ’ t seem like he ’ d cower away from much.
“ No,” Ursula crooned. “ God, no. She ’ s about as fake as that pie.
She didn ’ t make it. I was in the city yesterday taking the twins to their checkup and there was Miss Prissy Pants coming out of the bakery with guess what?
That pie she ’ s showing off. It would only serve her right if she tripped and landed face first in that phony pie. ”
“ So, you like her huh?” CaDee laughed.
“ Trust me, she ’ d love to sink her claws back into Sharp.”
“ But?”
“He’s no longer interested. They were in a relationship in high school until it became known that she was involved with several members of the football team.
Upon learning this, Sharp ended the relationship, despite her repeated efforts to reconcile and assurances that such behavior would not happen again. ”
The auctioneer counted down the bidding before he struck his gavel then held up Emily ’ s pie. “ Sold to the gentleman in the white Stetson.” She seemed thoroughly disappointed although she forced a smile on her lips.
Then it came down to CaDee ’ s pie. The auctioneer searched the crowd. “ Where is Miss CaDee Lang?”
She attempted to hide but Marg, bless her heart, screeched through the microphone, “ There she is. Get on up here, honey.”
“ Sorry,” Ursula mouthed as CaDee passed.
She ’ d never liked being in the spotlight, and most definitely never would have voluntarily stood in front of two hundred or more people auctioning her pie.
“ This is a special pie, y ’ all. This was made by our newest resident in Fin ’ s Creek.” Every eye in the place turned to her and they applauded. “ Let ’ s show her a big Texas welcome with a yee-haw.”
Everyone in the room shouted, “ Yee-haw!”
" Let's start the bidding at fifty. Fifty from the gentleman in the back," Randy announced in his trademark auctioneer style .
CaDee struggled to follow as bidding slowed at a hundred, with only Sharp and Gage continuing.
“ One twenty.” It was Sharp who called out.
Gage raised the bid to one-thirty. Sharp countered. Everyone in the room was chattering with interest and CaDee felt sweat on her back.
When the bidding came to two hundred, gasps could be heard through the crowd. Gage backed off and saluted Sharp when the gavel came down to close the bidding.
CaDee and Sharp made eye contact and he touched the brim of his hat. Her body quivered. Admittedly, she ‘ d hoped he would bid on her pie.
She watched him stroll to the stage to retrieve his pie then came around to the stairs to help her off stage.
“ Enjoy that pie,” the auctioneer said then continued to the next pie.
“ I hope I didn ’ t embarrass you,” Sharp said next to her ear.
“ The only embarrassing part was standing on stage,” she said.
“ I ’ ve got to go pay Marg. I ’ ll catch up with you in a minute.”
She watched him weave through the crowd and noticed that Emily was heading in her direction.
“ We haven ’ t been formally introduced.” The woman held out her hand. “ Emily.”
“ CaDee.”
“ So, you ’ re working Piper ’ s farm?”
“ I am.” CaDee continued to watch Sharp, hoping he hurried back before things got awkward with Emily.
“ He seems to have taken a liking to you.”
Oops . Too late.
“ He ’ s been kind enough to help me learn the ropes at Piper ’ s.”
“ Oh, I bet he has.” She smirked. “ We women need to watch out for each other. You might think he ’ s a great catch, I mean, look at him.
Women have tried to win his heart and hand over the years but he ’ s not available.
He loves the game, if you know what I mean.
” She laughed and it almost sounded bitter.
“ I ’ m not looking for a relationship, but I appreciate the …warning.” What more could she say?
“ Sharp and I have a history.”
“ I was told you two dated in high school.”
“ Oh, so he mentioned me?” Her eyes widened slightly.
“ Actually, Ursula did.”
Her nose wrinkled. “ Oh,” she droned. “ Maybe we can grab coffee some time?”
That was the last thing CaDee wanted. Thankfully, Sharp approached, skimming his gaze curiously between the two women.
“ He must have sensed that we were discussing him,” Emily said with a wink.
“ Hopefully it was all good.” He settled his gaze on CaDee.
“ Of course,” Emily laid her hand on his forearm possessively. “ Sounds like the band is starting a slow one. How about that dance, Sharp?”
“ Actually, I came to ask CaDee. How about that dance you promised me?” Sharp said to CaDee.
Her cheeks flushed, suspecting he came either to rescue her from Emily or to keep her quiet.
“ Boy, I can ’ t tell if she likes you or hates you,” CaDee said once she was in Sharp ’ s arms and they were starting to move to the slow beats of the country song.
“ I ’ d say a bit of both.” He laid his hands on her hips. “ Are you okay with this?”
“ The dance? I think you saved me from the shark.” She laughed.
“ She can be a bit…aggressive at times.”
“ So now you tell me.” She lifted her chin, looking up at him.
“ Should I also warn you that Gage swims in the same waters as Emily?”
“ You don ’ t have to warn me. After Dante I ’ m pretty good at reading people.”
He looked down into her gaze. “ What do you “ read” in me?”
“ Are you sure about this?”
“ Yeah, I am.”
“ Well, I see a man who has been chiseled by his work. Rough and tough. Protective.”
“ That was easy. You didn ’ t roast me.”
“ I ’ m not done yet. Although hardened, I also see a man who fears love and commitment.
He wants to love and be loved, but it feels risky to him.
Makes him feel vulnerable. That ’ s why he stays married to his career.
He understands the risks that come with chasing criminals, but relationships are an entirely different body of water. ”
He blinked. “ Did you talk to Ursula?”
“ She may have a said a few things, but I do have my own opinion. I also find that I ’ m very curious about the layers of Sharp Creed. I think I ’ ve peeled back layers but there ’ s so much more.”
“ Is that right? Well, Ursula told me Carsen is spending the night at her house tonight, so if you ’ re interested, I can show you a bit more about myself.”
The warning bells didn ’ t go off like they normally would.
“ What are you suggesting?”
“ Let me go grab that delicious looking pie and let ’ s get out of here. I know a place where we can eat it that and enjoy it because it ’ s the most expensive pie I ’ ve ever bought.”
“ I ’ ll meet you out front.” She took a step back and left him on the dance floor.
She caught up to Ursula who was piling a paper plate with finger foods.
“ I ’ m leaving.” CaDee told her. “ I wanted to check to make sure you ’ re still wanting Carsen to spend the night.”
“ Of course. The twins were excited when I mentioned the sleepover. He ’ ll be fine. I promise. Go and enjoy yourself and don ’ t do anything I wouldn ’ t do.” She grinned mischievously.
“ Thank you again.”
Ursula gave her a side hug. “ Have fun,” she whispered in her ear.