Love Me ~ Like That (27 page)

Cash had to get ready for work so I left him with a smile on his face and hay in his hair. I never knew hay was so sexy, but everything on Cash is sexy. We are going to have to revisit the barn soon because I have some plans.

When I get back to the house, Granny and Margie are talking about some of their favorite recipes. Margie is telling her some of Cash’s favorites, and Granny has a pen out making notes.

“Did the doctor call?” They both shake their heads at me. “What are the two of you up to?”

Granny wears her little mischievous grin, and Margie’s cheeks turn a nice shade of pink.

“We are just talking about exchanging recipes. What are we having for supper anyway? Why don’t we have the Wilsons over?”

The little fixer is at it again, I see. She thinks she is sneaky. I play along with her because it makes her happy when she thinks she has gotten something over on me.

“Sure, they can come over. I was going to order a pizza, but I can order two of them and make a salad. Did you want me to make something for dessert, too?” I haven’t even considered supper because it’s not even lunchtime yet.

“We can’t serve guests a bought pizza, Bailey. You can do better than that. Let’s see.” She glances down at her notes. “What about grilled chicken? You can use that indoor grill Kathy Rose got me for Christmas last year.” She looks over to Margie and beams.

They don’t know Cash and I have made up. They are trying to get me back in his good graces through his stomach. He does love to eat. But I’m going to have a little fun with them. “Granny, you and Papa don’t like grilled chicken. I wouldn’t want to make something you don’t want to eat. That’s kind of rude, don’t you think?”

“We can just eat the vegetables. If you hurry up, you can get a pot of pinto beans going. I would love a good country meal tonight.”

Margie is nodding.

“Granny, you know I’m not any good cooking cornbread. Mine always flops. Besides, beans need to soak overnight.” I sigh. It’s the truth. Cooking beans is an art I haven’t mastered yet.

Granny looks at Margie hopefully.

“I can walk you through my recipe, Bailey. It’s foolproof,” Margie says.

I don’t have much confidence that I can pull it off, but they seem excited about this so I go along with all of it. “Okay, I would love to learn a good cornbread recipe, Margie. Are there any other requests for this dinner or can I decide on my own what to serve?” I raise my eyebrows.

“You make anything you want to make, Bailey. You are an excellent cook.” Granny looks at Margie when she says that instead of me. “But you need to hurry up and get those beans on or they will never be ready in time.” I’m about to get her good. “Well, then I’ll just go get some canned beans at the grocery store when I pick up the other items we’ll need.” I’m holding my breath so I don’t laugh.

Their mouths hang open a little.

I better let them off the hook before they catch a fly. “I’m only teasing y’all.” I laugh my way to the kitchen. I see some major Googling in my near future.

I want to surprise Bailey, and when I make my mind up on something, I get tunnel vision. I don’t want to wait. I want to get the ball rolling today. I feel like I’ve known Bailey forever. I love her with every single beat of my heart. I’ve got plans to make. I text Lizzie to see if she can help me out.

Me: I need your help.

Lizzie: Oh, no! What did you do?

Me: What makes you think I did something?

Lizzie: You’re a guy. You all screw up eventually. Your brother is driving me crazy. Get him to leave me alone and I will help you.

Me: Deal, can you meet me about 3?

Lizzie: I guess. What is going on, Cash?

I call Lizzie and let her in on my plans. She is more than happy to be my partner in crime.

I don’t know what is up with Clay, but we’ve been hanging out a lot, so I feel like I have a pretty good grasp on his character—honest, and would do anything for anyone. He has this huge heart for helping kids with disabilities and is in the middle of setting up a ranch that will use horses for therapy. He’s explained a dozen times how the horses will help the kids. I don’t understand everything he tells me, but I donated money and offered to volunteer when the place is up and going. He is a standup guy, but when he gets around Lizzie he turns all cheesy. I need to teach that boy how to swagger. That’s what big brothers are for, right? It’s about time I take my job seriously. If he would turn that voice and those guitar skills loose on her, she’d be putty in his hands. He has more of our dad’s natural talents than I did. He even has a band and they played gigs in Nashville before he and Oakley decided to move down here to be close to us. I can’t believe the whole damn band followed him. He has to be pretty awesome for that to happen.

The rest of my workday drags on. I have a working lunch. Dawn picks me up a sandwich and I eat at my desk. I want to get as much accomplished as possible since I am leaving early.

Dawn is a keeper. She runs a tight ship, and I would be here several more hours a day without her. If I could get her up to par on a little bookkeeping, I wouldn’t have to hire a full-time bookkeeper, but I can’t keep up with all of the finances anymore and they’re piling up.

I call Clay like I promised Lizzie since she’ll help me out in a few hours.

“Hey, Clay. What’s up, dude?”

“Man, I’ve been working my ass off. When are you and the little lady coming out to see the progress?”

He is proud of the work he’s doing. He plays local bars at night to make ends meet, but his true passion is these kids and making a difference in their lives.

“Soon, man, soon, I promise. Hey, I’ve been meaning to ask you what is going on between you and Lizzie? You know she and Bailey are practically sisters.”

“Hell if I know. She won’t give me the time of day. I don’t even think she knows my name.”

I laugh. He is helpless. “She knows you’re a cheesy ass. You’ve got to stop with those stupid ass pick-up lines.”

He lets out a big breath. “Most girls think they’re endearing. She doesn’t? That’s the problem? I love my pick-up lines. They’re funny, and I like making people laugh. I really don’t mean them as pick-ups. Hell, I’ve said them to Bailey.”

I didn’t know he was laying them on my girl too. “Yeah, about that, stop it. Find another way to be a comic genius, ya hear me, bro. The girls think it’s stupid. Trust me on this one. If you really want to get to know Lizzie better, I’ll ask Bailey to give you some hints. I think Lizzie is a take no shit kind of girl. I happen to think a lot of her, so if you’re not ready for that, back off.”

We make some plans for a guys’ night and get off the phone so I can finish up and meet Lizzie.

I’m bouncing my knee, tapping my pen on the desk, and I keep looking at the clock. I should have never tried to work today. It’s not like I’m nervous. I just want to hurry up and do this. I’m excited and anxious. Besides, Bailey in the barn this morning was one sexy sight to behold. That image is fresh in my mind, not the work on desk.

I turn off my computer and get ready to leave. There isn’t any reason to stay here. I’m not able to concentrate. It’s an hour before I’m supposed to meet Lizzie, but I’m going to ride over and start the process early. “Dawn, I’m leaving for the day. I have some things I need to take care of, but can you take a look at the invoices? See if you can organize them. They are becoming a problem for us. I don’t want to hire anyone else until we get them caught up and organized, even if I have to work double shifts for a month.”

“Cash, go. I’ll work on the bookkeeping.” She comes over and pushes me toward the door.

I’ve been on my favorite food blog this morning, Southernplate.com, and I have my shopping list ready. That southern girl, Christy Jordan, is awesome! She not only has great recipes but sometimes even great advice on life in general. She at least has a good story to go with her recipes, plus she gives step by step instructions with pictures, and every once in a while she will have a video lesson. She is a college girl’s best friend. Her dishes are simple but so yummy. The best part, to me anyway, is she is from northern Alabama, too. That’s a win-win in my book!

I’ve found a no soak method for the pinto beans, so that’s happening. I’m making a loaded potato salad, grilled chicken, bacon wrapped green beans and old fashioned chocolate pie for dessert. The chocolate pie was my other grandmother’s recipe and my daddy’s favorite. I’m going to attempt Margie’s cornbread, but I don’t have high hopes. Everything else should turn out good though, not as good as Granny’s of course, but better than Momma’s. That’s not saying much. Momma didn’t get Granny’s talent for cooking. I guess it skipped a generation. Momma would kill me if I ever told anyone that. She’s the kind of cook that opens up the can and sticks it in the microwave. I didn’t get any cooking lessons from her, in fact, now I cook for her. I think I’ve spoiled her.

The doctor’s office finally called me back. They didn’t order Papa any new medicine and they aren’t aware of any oxygen therapy for dementia patients. They told me that adding that to his daily routines would probably agitate him. They are very concerned about why I would be experimenting with his treatments and how I got extra medicines. They didn’t seem too convinced with my explanation and they will be taking a look into this. They talked to me like I was an idiot, don’t they think I’m more concerned about him than they are. I will stop by the pharmacy and see about the extra meds that were in the bag and the oxygen tank. If the doctor didn’t order them, how were they filled? This is all so confusing. I wonder if it is an old prescription that was mistakenly filled. But then why would the labels be different?

I call out to Granny and Margie, “You guys need anything while I’m out?” They have been in there plotting some more. I can hear a lot of whispering, but can’t make out what they’re saying.

“Did you get those beans on, Bailey?” Granny asks.

What is it with her and these beans? I know she likes dry beans but gee-whiz, give me a break already.

“Yes, ma’am. I have them in the crock pot.” I know that isn’t her normal method of doing them, but Southernplate’s way looked so much easier. This girl is all about easy, as long as it still tastes good. “It’s a new method I’ve learned about. It works wonders.” I hope. I head out the door before she can complain about my methods of cooking.