The Chef Chases his Cowboy Dream (Silverstone Ranch Book 3) Read online

  The Chef Chases His Cowboy Dream

  Silverstone Ranch - Book 3

  April Murdock

  Contents

  The Chef Chases His Cowboy Dream

  April Murdock

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Epilogue

  Mia and Christian’s Beginning

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Get your free cowboy romance

  More Cowboy Stories from April

  Copyright © 2021 April Murdock and Sweet River Publishing

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems. Publisher expressly prohibits any form of reproduction.

  This is a work of fiction. Any references to names, characters, organizations, places, events, or incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  The Chef Chases His Cowboy Dream

  Silverstone Ranch - Book 3

  April Murdock

  Chapter One

  Lily stood on her tiptoes as she reached for the burnt-out lightbulb. Third time in as many weeks it had gone out. There had to be some kind of issue with their wiring. The ranch house wasn’t exactly ancient, but some updated electrical work might help.

  The ladder beneath her feet wobbled and her heart leapt into her throat. She flung out her arms. If she fell, she’d never hear the end of it.

  “Lily! You’ll never guess who I ran into today!” The kitchen door banged open. Lily’s heart continued to race as she turned her head and scowled at her youngest sister.

  “Azalea, you nearly gave me a heart attack!”

  Azalea craned her neck and flipped her long brown hair over her shoulder. “Isn’t there someone else who can do that? I have something important to tell you.”

  “I’m sure it can wait. I have a lot to do today.”

  Azalea grasped onto the ladder as it wobbled again. “Leave it. I’m sure one of the guys can do it.”

  Lily rolled her eyes. “Cade and Tyson have better things to do than change a lightbulb.” She stretched her arm out once more and her fingertips grazed the fixture, but she couldn’t quite reach it. Maybe she needed the other ladder, or taller shoes.

  She sighed, then blew a curly strand of red hair out of her eyes. Azalea was right. She should just wait until someone could help. With calculated movement, Lily descended the ladder. She faced her sister and placed her hands on her hips. “What’s so important you had to come ripping through the house like you were on fire?”

  Azalea’s eyes lit up and her face broke into a huge smile. “Wesley’s back.”

  Lily stared dumbfounded at her sister. Azalea had to be mistaken. Wesley was a hotshot chef in New Jersey or New Hampshire—one of the “New” states in the northeast. Why on earth would he come back to Hennesy now? He’d gotten out of here free and clear. She shook her head. “I think you’ve been eavesdropping on those old ladies outside the coffee shop again. They don’t know what they’re talking about.” She turned her attention to the ladder.

  Azalea grabbed Lily’s arm and forced her to stay focused. “I wasn’t! But, yes they do know. Mrs. West told Mrs. Sloane that Mia bumped into Wesley at the farmer’s market.”

  Lily’s eyes narrowed. “That sure sounds like eavesdropping to me.”

  Azalea rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Point is, Wesley is back in town.” She stared at Lily with an expectant expression. Her toe tapped and her round eyes never left Lily’s face.

  “And what?”

  Azalea groaned. “Are you going to visit him?”

  Lily snorted. “I haven’t seen, let alone spoken to, Wesley in five years. I’m sure he has better things to do than to visit with me. Besides, he’ll probably be on the next plane out. People like Wesley Hall don’t hang out in small towns like Hennesy.” She pulled her arm from Azalea’s grasp and grabbed the ladder. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to pull some weeds.”

  Azalea made a face. “Why?”

  Lily sighed. That question had crossed her mind before. Why did she bother? Because no one else would do it. Marguerite had the rodeo business to run, Zinnia was busy with her vet clinic, Aster was a nurse, and Azalea had her college courses. Lily was the only one who wasn’t busy. “If I don’t do it, who will?”

  Her face grew hot as she put the ladder under her arm and headed toward the kitchen door. Why hadn’t she finished college—or found a career path? Because her dad needed her, that’s why. Ben Greene might not be alone at Silverstone Ranch, but he only hired people to work with the animals. He refused to find a housekeeper. Between laundry, cooking, cleaning, and the occasional odd job, Lily’s days were always filled up.

  Her father paid her, so she had to assume he appreciated the work she did for him. But it would be nice to finally have something to call her own. At this rate, she’d probably just live at Silverstone for the rest of her life. Things could be worse.

  Lily trudged toward the barn. A little silver sports car bumped along the dirt road leading to the house. Lily squinted. She didn’t recognize it, but that didn’t mean anything. After Cade married Marguerite and moved in a few months ago, he’d been getting more visits from hotshot Hollywood folk.

  She adjusted the ladder and continued toward the barn. Once inside, she leaned the ladder against the wall with all the tools. Her gaze landed on a toolbox filled with gloves, a trowel, and a few other supplies. Lily rummaged through the box. Last time she’d used it, she’d put a garbage bag inside.

  It was missing. Of course. Lily glanced up at the shelf just out of reach. A dusty box of garbage bags mocked her. Why couldn’t people just get their own bags? Lily threw down the gloves into the box and reached for the ladder. She climbed up a few steps and grabbed the box. Empty. Figures.

  Lily dragged her hand along the filthy shelf. She’d have to add cleaning the barn to her list of summer chores. There had to be another box up there. Where was it? She took another step on the higher rung of the ladder and gripped the shelf with both hands. They were out. A groan resembling a growl escaped her chest.

  “Still have that temper, I see.”

  Lily yelped. The ladder teetered with her movement and she lost her balance. Arms flailing in the air, she closed her eyes and braced herself for impact.

  Instead of colliding with the hard earth, she landed in a pair of strong arms. Lily’s eyes lifted and met the blue eyes she’d loved since she was eleven.

  Wesley smelled like cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. He’d always preferred baking to creating the culinary masterpieces his restaurant was famous for. His square chin dimpled as he smirked at her. “Looks like you’re just as graceful as I remember too.”

  A blush took over her face and Lily scrambled from his arms. She dusted hersel
f off and looked away. “What are you doing here?” He wore a white button-up shirt he’d rolled to his elbows and a pair of black slacks. No longer the cowboy she’d grown up with.

  Wesley folded his arms. “Now, is that any way to say hello to an old friend?” He rubbed his jaw, his eyes twinkling. “Where’s the girl I used to skip school with? The girl who taught me how to let go and just have fun? That friend?”

  Her eyes flew to meet his. “Friends? Is that what we are?” Lily’s lips twitched into a smile. He hadn’t changed. “I believe it was you who insisted we skip biology, sneak into the lab, and release all the frogs. I got my first bad grade in that class because of you.”

  He tilted his head to the side. “Those frogs deserved their freedom.”

  Lily laughed. “I hardly think being eaten by a stray tabby is considered freedom.”

  He joined in with her laugher. “Yeah, probably not.”

  Chapter Two

  Wesley sat beside Lily, their backs against the barn wall. “What about all those balloons in the gym?”

  Lily shook her head. “Nope. That wasn’t me.” She glanced at him. “But I was in the group that put the principal’s truck on the stage.”

  He snickered. “Remember that morning when we got to school and the teachers were chasing a bunch of chickens through the building?”

  Her head shot up and she stared at him. “That was you?”

  He chuckled.

  “Why didn’t I get invited?” Her indignant tone was one of the things he loved about Lily. She was usually up for anything. Both of them were middle kids and got away with a lot more than they should have.

  Wesley lifted a shoulder. “My uncle had a bunch of hens that weren’t laying anymore. I asked him if I could take them off his hands.”

  She let out a laugh. “Feathers were found for months after that. How did you do it?”

  He dusted off his shoulders. “Stick with me, young grasshopper, and I will teach you my ways.”

  Lily elbowed him in the ribs.

  Wesley yelped. “Hey!”

  She rested her head back against the wall. “I love chickens. I keep telling my sisters we should get some. I’d totally be the type of person to dress them up too.”

  He laughed. “Really? I guess there are still some things I don’t know about you.”

  She chuckled and gave him a sly smile. “I’m a woman of mystery, Wes.”

  They sat in silence for a few minutes. He needed to suck it up and do what he’d come there to do. Since the moment his plane landed in Texas, all he could think about was asking Lily out on an official date. If he laid it all out and she said no, then he would drop it for good. She could be dating someone, for all he knew. He opened his mouth but she beat him.

  Lily picked at the straw on the dirt between them. “Mia’s mom mentioned you were back in town. Any particular reason?”

  “Actually, yes—”

  “I bet Mia was really excited to see you.”

  “I think so, but that isn’t—”

  Lily’s eyes widened. “You’re getting back together with her, aren’t you.” It sounded more like a statement than a question. She clasped her hands together. “I knew things weren’t officially over between you. I’m never wrong.” Her smile widened. “Are you moving back here? Or will you be asking her to move to New York?”

  “New Jersey.”

  “What?”

  “I was living in New Jersey.”

  “Oh. Well, all I know is Mia has been thinking of moving back east. I bet she’d be happy to make the change. You guys were the perfect couple. It’s why you were voted prom king and queen, you know—”

  He placed his hand on her knee. “Lily.”

  She stilled.

  “The reason I came back was—”

  “Lily! You won’t believe who I ran into at the market!” A breathless Mia burst into the barn.

  Lily and Wesley got to their feet. Mia’s eyes zoned in on him, shifted to Lily, then returned. She smiled and cleared her throat. Her hand reached for the gold heart pendant at her neck. “Hi, Wesley.”

  “I think I can figure out who.” Lily winked at Wesley and crossed over to Mia.

  Wesley cursed inwardly. He’d lost his chance. He should have asked her out when she’d been in his arms. She’d fit there so perfectly—better than he’d ever imagined. Bumping into Mia at the market had thrown everything out of whack. With the town already talking about him and Mia, it was less likely he’d be able to start anything romantic with Lily.

  She seemed to be completely oblivious of his intentions. Maybe he’d read her interest wrong. It could have been wishful thinking. Wesley had always wondered what it would have been like to date his best friend. He’d liked to think she felt the same way.

  He took in a deep breath and let it out as he made his way to them. Their quiet voices stopped as he got closer.

  Lily placed her arms around Wesley’s and Mia’s shoulders. “The three musketeers back together again.”

  Wesley glanced at Mia, who gave him that familiar smile. Her blonde hair fell in waves over her shoulders and her pale blue eyes reminded him of the afternoon sky. She’d been everything he’d wanted in a girl—when he was in high school. How could he have been so blind to what was right in front of him?

  He looked to Lily, who grinned.

  Mia bumped her hip into Lily. “You know what I think would be fun?”

  “What?”

  Mia met Wesley’s eyes. “A double date this weekend.”

  Wesley opened his mouth. Nope. Just the thought of Lily being on a date with someone else churned his insides.

  “I don’t have anyone I could bring.” Lily dropped her arms and shoved her hands into her pockets.

  Wait, she wasn’t dating anyone? He had a chance. All he had to do was get her alone and ask her out.

  Mia snapped her fingers. “You remember my cousin Todd?”

  Wesley stiffened. No. Not Todd. Lily could do so much better.

  Lily nodded.

  “He’s in town for the next few weeks. I could set you up with him. He always thought you were cute.” Mia’s gaze met Wesley’s again.

  Lily smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes. “He did?”

  “Not Todd.”

  Both girls stared at him, their smiles leaving their faces.

  “Why not?” Mia folded her arms.

  Had he said that out loud? Shoot. Wesley rubbed the back of his neck.

  “Yeah, why not?” Lily’s gaze bored through him. It was like she could read every single thing that flew through his mind—like they were kids again and could finish each other’s sentences. He glanced at Mia. They used to communicate in a similar way—with just their eyes. “Don’t you think she could do better than Todd?”

  Mia brushed him off. “Yeah, well, it’s not like she’s going to get engaged to the guy.”

  Engaged. Why did that word make him feel sick inside? He didn’t want her to be engaged to anyone. Least of all Todd. What was he thinking? He wasn’t dating her, he had no choice in the matter.

  “Well?” Mia gave him a pointed look.

  “Well, what?”

  “Do you have a better option?”

  They stared at him again. Of course he had a better option. Lily should be dating him. But he couldn’t say that, not now that Mia was there. And definitely not now that both girls assumed he was interested in Mia. Maybe he had it all wrong. He knew Mia was a good fit for him—they had gotten along really well. He truly cared for Mia and they’d only broken it off because he’d moved to New Jersey. He just didn’t do the long-distance thing.

  Wesley shrugged. “My brother isn’t dating anyone.”

  “Your broth—” Mia glanced at Lily. “Of course. I can’t believe I never thought of that!” She pushed his shoulder, a playful smile touching her lips. “We should have set them up ages ago.”

  Lily smiled at them. “Sounds great.” Her voice sounded flat—not matching her expression. She d
idn’t seem excited about the prospect. He should have just kept his big mouth shut.

  Chapter Three

  Lily followed behind Wesley and Mia. Her friend linked her arm within Wesley’s like they had never broken up in the first place. Her stomach knotted and she pushed down the nausea that came with wanting what she couldn’t have. Wesley having feelings for her? She huffed. Not likely. They were friends, plain and simple. Nothing less, for sure. Definitely nothing more.

  She’d held a candle for the guy all through junior high and high school—never quite getting past the friend zone they’d found themselves in when they were younger. She cursed her decision to set him up with Mia in the first place. At the time it made sense. Both of them needed dates to Homecoming—it was perfect—but she hadn’t meant for them to fall in love.

  Secretly she’d hoped he’d come to his senses and realize what a great couple they could be.

  Lily sighed. Wesley was back and he ended up right where he left off. Holding out for him would only cause her pain. She held back while Wesley opened Mia’s car door and helped her inside. When Mia drove away, they both watched her car disappear between the trees that lined the highway.

  Wesley made his way toward her. “Well, that was unexpected.”

  Lily cocked her head to the side. “What part? That both you and Mia have a knack for finding each other? Or that you just set me up with Christian?” She shook her head and spun on her heel, heading toward the barn. She still needed to pull some weeds. She’d just have to find a bucket to put them in.