Page 76 of A Cowboy's Bride
Shit.
Petra stared at Sydney for the longest time before her friend patted her fingers and then stood. “And that’s the end of this house call. I’ve got a couple things I need to do before returning. I’ll be back in time to join the party.”
She gave Petra a hug then vanished before Petra’s brain had caught up enough to even say goodbye.
A second later, the door opened again. This time Tansy rushed in, Jake hard on her heels.
“Hey, Petra,” Tansy said happily. “Have a nice visit with Sydney?”
Nice? If two-by-fours to the head and heart could be considered nice, she supposed it was.
“Sure.” Petra opened her mouth to ask a question, but Jake interrupted.
“Sorry, Petra. Tansy, will you stop running away.”
“Running was required because there’s nothing more to talk about, but you continued to flap your gums. I figured escape was easier than breaking my hand trying to stop the babble of noise.” She kept walking, headed to the kitchen. “Because if there’s anything worse than being told someone doesn’t think you know what you’re doing, it’s having somebody tell you that over and over and over again.”
“I never said you don’t know what you’re doing,” Jake snapped. “Only that we’re supposed to do this together, and your approach makes no sense whatsoever.”
Tansy leaned against the island, smiling at Petra even as she raised her hands in frustration. “I make no sense. That’s what the man just said.”
All other thoughts pushed aside, Petra ping-ponged her gaze between two of them. “What are you up to? Not that I want to organize my own party, but Tansy, I thought you were prepping things for tonight. Why are you here in the house?”
“Becausehewas in the kitchen in the studio.” Tansy batted her lashes at Jake. “Andheseems to know what needs to be done, so I’m letting him do it.”
“I wasn’t trying to tell you what to do,” Jake insisted. He hesitated. “Well, maybe a little.” He turned toward Petra for support. “I was trying to figure out when we need to start cooking the chicken wings, but Tansy seems to think that ‘when they need to start’ is a sufficient answer.
“Relax, Jakey. Got it under control,” Tansy sing-songed.
“Is there something wrong with you writing down the times that we need to start? It seems that’s what a reasonable person would do,” Jake complained.
“Great, so now I’m unreasonable.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
Tansy turned on him, fists planted on her hips as she glared daggers. “I did that once, on my final exam for level II chef training. Never again am I inflicting that level of minutia on my brain.”
Petra couldn’t help it. She snickered loud enough it caught both of their attention. She swallowed hard trying to hide her amusement. But really, poor Jake. “Tansy, I love you dearly. Would you please go up to the kitchen and make sure all of the things for my birthday party are ready on time?”
“I love you too, and I’ll absolutely do that.” Tansy blew her a kiss then marched past Jake, close enough to knock him with her shoulder.
He swayed on the spot but was smart enough not to say anything.
Petra waited until Tansy left the room before coming over and squeezing Jake’s shoulders. “You are a very organized man. I can totally understand how Tansy’s seemingly scattered approach would be hard on you. But that same approach has produced all the food for a highly successful café, and also many special events around Heart Falls over the years. And, I might add, it seems to have put meals on this table at least seventy-five percent of the time whenyouwere supposed to be our cook.”
He opened his mouth then firmly closed it. “You’re right.”
That admission was only half of the battle. “If you’re supposed to be working together in the kitchen, probably the easiest way to do that without you getting an ulcer is for you to ask her what you should help with.”
“It’s really hard not knowing what’s coming next,” Jake muttered softly.
“It is, but you’re a big boy. I think you can handle it.”
He snorted before wrapping her up in a hug. He patted her on the back the way he would’ve one of his brothers. “You’re a good one, Petra. Thanks for the advice.”
“Any time. Now,” she shoved him toward the door, “would you please get out there? Because I want this to be an awesome birthday party. I’m sure Tansy’s got some carrots for you to peel or something.”
Jake muttered under his breath slightly, but he obediently headed for the door. The door clicked shut before Petra breathed her own sigh of relief.
