Chapter Sixteen

Midway through the week Jovy propped her feet up on the desk in the small office at the back of the café, her mouth stretching into a big grin as she stared at her account on the laptop. She was doing well. Not as well as she would have in a more populated area, but given her location and the short prep time, she was pleased. If these numbers kept up for the next week and a half, the CEO position was as good as hers. She couldn’t imagine her cousin having the same kind of portfolio.

Who knew the men and women of North Central Texas would embrace a gluten-free, vegan diet?

With a click of her mouse, she exited out of the file and shut down her laptop just as her grandfather called.

“Hi Jovy,” he greeted. “How are you doing?”

“Good.” She closed her eyes and sighed. It was so nice to hear his voice. She hadn’t realized she missed him until he spoke. “I was just looking over my books and I have to admit, I’m pleased.”

“That’s wonderful.” She heard the smile in his voice and mentally saw the approval in his eyes. “I knew if anyone could sell meatless meals to cowboys it was you.” His chuckle filled her ear. “Time is dwindling down.”

Her smile slowly faded and a swift wave of pain sliced through her chest. Pretty soon it would be Stone she’d miss. But now wasn’t the time to dwell. Not with her grandfather on the line.

“A week from Sunday, I’m going to meet you and your cousin in Joyful,” he stated, shocking her speechless. Her grandfather hardly ever left Philadelphia. She’d been under the impression they’d all meet up at Larson Industries for the announcement, since they were to email their final portfolios to him the day before. “After I name my successor, I’m going to take some time off and visit an old war buddy in Dallas for a long-overdue reunion. I’m only about two decades late.” His chuckle returned.

She shook her head to clear it. “That’s great. I think Dallas is only about an hour away.”

“That’s what I’ve been told,” he said, his voice light and carefree, and for the first time she realized maybe he was actually looking forward to retirement. “I just wanted to touch base, but I’d better let you go. I have a meeting in five minutes. I’ll talk to you next week.”

They said their good-byes and hung up. He was really doing it. Her grandfather was really retiring. The fact that Ross Larson Sr. was leaving work to do something fun hit home. Jovy couldn’t remember a time in her life when her grandfather took a vacation. At least, not one that required a plane and more than an overnight bag. This was good. She was glad he was finally going to step down and relax. That, too, was about two decades late. Because he always put responsibilities and others first.

Like someone else she knew.

A smile spread across Jovy’s lips and her whole body softened whenever she thought of Stone. He was a saint. But he was starting to loosen up and have more fun. This week they’d fallen into a great, mutually satisfying routine. Every other day, she worked at the ranch, and on those days, she spent her nights in Stone’s bed. The other days, she worked at the café, and they spent the nights at her apartment.

It was hard to believe it was already Thursday. That’s because she’d been enjoying the process of bringing his company into the twenty-first century. Now Foxtrot’s books were so up to date the company could practically run itself. Well, not quite. Someone still had to record the transactions and receipts. She shuddered to think what was going to happen to the paperwork once she was gone. In fact, Jovy refused to think about leaving at all. It hurt too damn much.

Instead, she chose to focus on the present and her time with Stone. He took her horseback riding, taught her the correct way to rub down a horse, how to drive a stick shift, use a saw, drill, and her personal favorite—a nail gun. She had way too much fun helping nail a two-by-four wall together. Hard physical labor, long hours of mental labor in the office, then passion-filled nights. Her time at At-Ease made her feel good. Stone made her feel good. If they weren’t laughing, they were smiling, or making love until they were too exhausted and spent to move.

Heat flooded Jovy’s body at the memories. Every minute spent with Stone made her wish their time together was more than a passing fling. And she got the impression by the way his gaze sometimes lingered with such longing that he felt the same. She was going to have to bite the bullet and broach the subject. Today.

A knock at the door pulled her out of her thoughts, and when Blanche and Cece entered with matching serious expressions, her heart dropped to her stomach.

“What is it?” Jovy jumped to her feet. “What’s wrong? Is it Leslie? Her little boy?” The woman had needed the day off because her young son had a fever.

“No. They’re fine. I guess. I’m sorry, we didn’t mean to alarm you, but we don’t like the looks of the sky,” Cece replied.

Blanche nodded. “Yes. I think we’d better leave.”

That morning when Stone had dropped her off before heading up the road to McGregor Feed, he told her to keep a radio on because they were calling for storms. An hour had passed since she’d checked. “I haven’t heard any thunder.”

“Sometimes there isn’t any,” Cece stated as Jovy’s phone rang.

It was Stone.

“Hey,” she answered.

“Where are you?” The concern in his tone stopped her heart.

She forced herself to breathe normally. “In my office.”

“Who else is working with you?”

She shot her gaze to the women. “Cece and Blanche.”

“The three of you need to get to Skeeter’s storm cellar. Now.”

The women nodded, apparently hearing the conversation. Cece stepped closer. “Stone, where’s the gas hookup so I can turn it off?”

“No time for that,” he protested, really scaring the hell out of Jovy. “Just get to the shelter.”

Her insides froze. “What about you?” He was at the store. She’d seen enough documentaries on TV to know it wasn’t safe. “Can you get to Skeeter’s, too?”

“I’ll be fine here. The McGregors have a big enough shelter out back,” he answered. “I don’t know how long we’re going to have cell coverage. Just get to the shelter and wait for me when it’s over. Are you at Skeeter’s yet?”

Jesus, they hadn’t even left the café. “No,” she replied, grabbing her purse and laptop before Blanche tugged her through the building and out the door. Theoretically, Jovy hadn’t lied. Technically, she wasn’t there. The wind had picked up and the sky seemed to be one big strange-colored cloud she’d never seen. Philadelphia often got sideswiped by remnants of hurricanes and hammered with blizzards. Not floor-to-ceiling, dangerous-looking clouds. If she hadn’t been scared out of her freaking mind, Jovy probably would’ve found it incredible. But she was frightened and running to keep up with Blanche, who death-gripped her arm while racing with Cece down the street to the garage.

“Are you there yet, Jovy?” Stone stressed, reminding her she still held her phone to her ear. His tone was urgent and full of worry.

“Almost,” she panted, relief easing some of the tightness in her chest when she saw the older man standing by an open door that lifted from the ground, motioning them to hurry. “We’re here now. Skeeter’s waiting with his door open.”

“Good.” Stone’s sigh of relief crackled through the phone. “I called him first and told him to expect you and the others. Get in and stay there. I’ll come get you when it’s over. And Jovy, I—”

The phone went dead.

“Come on! It’s here! Get in,” Skeeter yelled, his voice barely audible over the wind that roared so loud her ears hurt.

Blanche released Jovy and made her follow Cece down the stairs before helping Skeeter pull the door closed and secure it in place. The wind howled and world raged above while the four of them huddled in the small space lit by a lantern. It smelled damp and musty, but she didn’t care. The alternative was worse. And as the noise grew louder and the door rattled so violently she thought it was going to fly off the hinges, her ears began to pop. Jovy clutched her laptop, her livelihood, all she worked so hard for, and wished to God she could trade it for Stone.

Saving her portfolio meant nothing compared to him. He was everything. He was important. He mattered.

In that instant, Jovy realized her feelings for the man went way beyond casual.

She was in love with Stone Mitchum.