Fortune's Heart

The force of her need bowled her over. Panic raced through her. This was Colton, and she was getting ready to make a fool of herself.

Stacey pulled back, knowing her face was flaming red. She was embarrassed all the way down to her toes. “Oops. I should go. I really should go,” she managed and refused to meet Colton’s gaze. She wondered how she would survive this, but couldn’t focus on that. She grabbed her coat and ran out the door.

Stacey drove home with her window down so she could cool off. Despite that, when she walked in the door she still felt as if she were on fire. Fanning her face, she pulled off her coat and threw it on a hanger.

She gnawed the inside of her lip as she walked toward the kitchen. She needed a very, very cold glass of water. She just wasn’t sure if she was going to drink it or pour it over her head.

“Stacey?” her mother called from the den. “Is that you?”

She took a deep breath and tried to compose herself. She walked to the doorway of the den. “It’s me. How was Piper?”

“No trouble at all,” her mother said. Her father was sitting next to her, dozing on the sofa. “She fell asleep like that,” her mother said, snapping her fingers and smiling.

“I’m glad to hear that. Thank you again for looking after her,” Stacey said.

“You know I will look after her anytime,” her mother said.

“Yes, but I don’t want to take advantage of you,” Stacey said.

“It’s not taking advantage,” her mother insisted. “It’s my pleasure. Besides, I know you would never take advantage of me. Enough about that.” She waved her hand. “So, how did the cooking lesson with Colton go?”

Stacey forced a smile. “Great. I think he’s ready to fix my super spaghetti recipe all by himself.”

“Good for him,” her mother said. “You’re a sweet girl to help him do that for another woman. Colton’s a good man. I might not be as generous as you are.”

Stacey managed to laugh. “I’ve known Colton forever. He’s just like a brother.”

“But he’s not really a brother,” her mother said, then shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. Can I fix you some hot chocolate?”

“No, thanks, Mama. I think water will do. I’m off to bed,” Stacey said, and went to the kitchen to get that tall glass of ice water. Maybe she should get two.

* * *

The next day, Stacey prepared enough food for a month of meals. Thank goodness, the Jones family had a big roomy freezer.

Her brother Jude dropped by before dinner. “Wow,” he said, when he looked at all the casserole dishes on top of the counter. “Are we feeding the entire town of Horseback Hollow?” he asked.

Stacey shot him a quelling glance. “This would feed far more than the township of Horseback Hollow. Technically, we don’t even live in the township of Horseback Hollow.”

Jude shrugged his shoulders. “True, so why did you cook so much?”

Stacey considered keeping her feelings to herself, but if anyone should understand, it would be Jude. Everyone knew he fell in love or like at the drop of a hat. She’d always thought of him as a Romeo. “I’m cooking to distract myself from something that’s bothering me. I have a crush on Colton Foster,” she whispered.

Silence followed. “Colton Foster? When did this happen?”

“Recently,” she said. “I didn’t plan it. And I think he has feelings for another woman.”

“Who?” Jude asked.

She shook her head. “I don’t know. He’s been cagey about it.”

“You’ve talked to him about another woman and you still have a crush on him?” he asked in disbelief.

“It didn’t happen exactly like that. Don’t fuss at me,” she said. “I thought you would understand.”

“Hell, no,” Jude said. “Don’t jump into a new romance. It’s not in your best interest.”

She gave a double take at his advice. “Says the guy who falls in love or like at least once a month.”

“I don’t want you to get hurt. Colton’s a good guy, but if he’s involved with another girl...”

“I didn’t say he was involved,” she said. “He just said he wanted to make her happy.”

Jude winced. “That’s a big deal, Stacey. Guys don’t talk about making a woman happy if they aren’t already pretty committed.”

“Thanks for the encouragement,” she murmured as she bundled up another casserole for the freezer.

Jude squeezed her shoulder. “I’m just looking out for you.”

She took a deep breath. “I know. It just seems ironic for you to be warning me away from my feelings for Colton.”

“Maybe I’m changing in my old age,” he said. “Or maybe I just don’t want you to get hurt again.”

Stacey thought about Joe and frowned. “I know it may sound crazy, but I feel as if my engagement to Joe was a lifetime ago.”

“I still wouldn’t mind kicking him into next week,” he said. “He shouldn’t have abandoned you.”

“He couldn’t handle the commitment,” she said, and only felt a twinge of sadness over the situation. She had begun to realize that Joe’s abandonment was his issue more than hers. “It’s taken a while for me to realize this, but I wouldn’t want him if he stayed with Piper and me out of obligation. At the same time, I feel terrible that Piper doesn’t have the daddy she deserves. But the truth is, I’m not sure Joe deserves her.”

Jude studied her for a long moment. “Dang, girl. You’ve grown up.”

She smiled at her brother. “You think?”

“Yeah,” he said, and waggled his finger at her. “Just don’t go falling for the local cowboys. I don’t want you to get hurt.” His gaze slid to the pot on the stove. “Can you share any of that soup? The smell is killing me.”

“That bad, huh?” she asked, smiling at his description.

“Have a little pity,” he said.

“Tell the truth,” she said. “When was the last time you prepared a full meal for yourself or anyone else?”

“Grilled cheese and canned soup count?”

She shook her head.

He sighed. “A long time.”

“That’s what I thought,” she said. “Maybe you’re due for a cooking lesson.”