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“Yes, it certainly would,” Amber said. “Do you know who else is entered?”
“I have no idea,” Catie said. “I just got back in town. Chad probably knows, don’t you?”
“I haven’t the foggiest.”
“But you’re a judge.”
“So? Doesn’t mean I give two damns, sugar.”
Sugar. He’d called her sugar again. Oh, the sweet sound of it. And from Amber’s pursed lips, clearly she’d noticed, too. Course it probably didn’t sound nearly so sweet to her. Catie couldn’t help but smile.
“Well, I expect you’ll be a terrible judge then,” she said. “Thank goodness Zach and Dallas will take this duty more seriously.”
Chad let out a belly laugh. “You’re kidding right, Catie?”
“Caitlyn.”
“Christ. Caitlyn. Do you really think Zach and Dallas care any more about this thing than I do?”
“This is a tradition in Bakersville. It’s part of our history. It’s a…a…” Catie grasped for words. “It’s as true to Bakersville as the Miss America pageant is to Atlantic City. Just ask Annie. That’s where she’s from!”
“I can’t imagine Dr. Annie having anything to do with pageants of any kind, Catie.”
She scoffed, and he rolled his eyes.
“Caitlyn. And as far as this one, I got roped into judging, and I’ll do it, but neither of you better expect any preferential treatment from me. I intend to be fully fair and impartial.” He shook his head. “Of all the silly nonsense. Especially you, Catie. I’d’ve thought you’d have more sense.”
Anger seethed in Catie’s gut. It was as much an insult to Amber as it was to her, but if he thought she’d have more sense, why did he insist on thinking of her as a child? How dare he belittle her? “You’ve already told me I’m just a kid. I believe those were your words last evening, if I recall correctly. So it makes perfect sense that I’d want to take part in this silly tradition. Amber, I’ll leave this jerk to you.”
Catie stormed off, across the yard, her sandals tapping on the patio, through the kitchen where the caterers were readying the buffet, up the stairs, and to her pink and horsy room. She flopped onto her bed and let the anger give way to sadness. She hugged her stuffed horse as tears fell.
Tears for missing four years of her life in Bakersville. Tears for Laurie McCray, her second mother, whose funeral she hadn’t attended. Tears of jealousy for Annie, who had her handsome McCray boy and his children. Tears for Amber, whom she liked, and who might have been a friend under different circumstances. And mostly tears for her unrequited love. Even four years in Europe hadn’t erased him from her heart.
She sobbed and sniffed into her pillow as she realized the bitter truth.
Nothing would ever erase Chad McCray from her heart.
Chapter Five
Catie wasn’t sure how much time had passed. Surely
the caterers would have dinner ready by now. Still, she lay on her bed. The sobs had stopped, replaced by sniffles. She grabbed tissue after tissue from her nightstand until her bed was a sea of used snot rags.
She let out a heavy sigh. Her door creaked open.
“Sugar?”
Oh God. Not Chad. He couldn’t see her like this. In this infantile bedroom that belonged to a horse-loving freckle-faced teenager.
“Your ma’s looking for you. I told her I’d find you. It’s almost time for the buffet.”
His voice was husky and sexy. Same as always. Same as freaking always.
“Go away, Chad. Please.”
“Have you been crying? Damn, what’s wrong?”
He walked in and sat down on her bed. She turned toward the wall, inching away from him.
