Cupcake Cutie (Plus Size Romance 1) Read Free Page B

cupcake crumbs left on her plate.  “Not quite.”
    “What other reason could you have for not wanting to go to the best shindig this town throws?”
    “I only know of one barn big enough to accommodate all the residents of Pleasant View.  And there’s one particular Wyman I don’t fancy seeing again.”
    Grinning wickedly, Adaira tapped her finger on her chin.  “Now which Wyman could you be talking about? I know it’s not sweet old Rowling.  And it couldn’t be Rylan, seeing as how he’s practically halfway to the altar.  So, it must be the ruggedly handsome, sexy as hell hunk of a man, Decker.”
    Ella blushed profusely.  “What if it is?”
    “Look, I get it. He has a devastatingly swooning effect on the female population.  You don’t have to be embarrassed for lusting after him.  Hell, every woman in this town has fantasized about Decker.  I’ve even entertained a torrid thought or two,” she said, winking.  “Anyway, I doubt that he’ll be in attendance.  To my knowledge he hasn’t been to a barn dance since his wife—”
    “I knew it!” Ella screamed, slamming her fists down on the table.  “He said it was complicated. Complicated my ass!  Either a man’s married or not.  Sounds pretty damn simple to me.”
    Adaira soothingly patted Ella’s arm.  “Calm down, honey.  You’re going to give yourself an aneurysm.  Tell me what happened.”
    Ella leaned back against the booth and crossed her arms over her chest.  “It’s a long story.  Let’s just say he led me to believe one thing, but now I know another.”
    Adaira offered her friend a reassuring smile.  “That doesn’t sound like Decker.  He’s well known for his honesty and integrity.  I don’t know the circumstances of your interaction, but I can’t believe he would intentionally mislead you.”
    “Well, he did, during a private conversation we had.”
    Raising an eyebrow, Adaira said, “I’d like to have been a fly on the wall for that one.”
    Ella huffed.  “Wouldn’t have done you any good; we were outside at the time.”
    “Now I’m really intrigued.  I didn’t think graphic designing, techie, computer types spent much time outdoors.”
    “Forget I said anything.  It was nothing.”
    “Okay, I won’t press you.  But I still want you to come with me to the dance.  It will be so much fun.  I swear you’ll love it.  Plus, I know for a fact that I am your only friend here in Pleasant View.  You need to get out and meet some more of the townspeople.  Nearly everyone attends this annual event.  Where else could you mingle with the whole town in one place?”
    Ella rolled her eyes in exasperation.  “Fine.  I’ll go if you can promise me he won’t be there.”
    “Like I said, Decker hasn’t been to one of these dances in years.  Cross my heart and hope to die, he won’t be there.”
     
    LEANING BACK IN A kitchen chair, Rowling Wyman took a long sip of his coffee and crossed his legs.  “Decker, I’m damn glad that cattle sale was called off.  It’s ‘bout time you made it to another one of my barn dances.  It’ll be good havin’ both my sons in attendance this year.”
    “I never said I was goin.’  I got some work to take care of down at the fire station.”
    Rowling scowled.  “I’m sure it’s nothin’ that can’t wait a few hours.”
    Rylan sopped the last of the sawmill gravy off his plate with a buttermilk biscuit.  “Don’t waste your breath, Dad.  Decker’s been meaner than a bronc with a bur under its saddle since he came back from Caldwell’s place yesterday.”
    Furrowing his brow, Rowling turned his attention to Decker.  “That so, son? You gotta stop lettin’ that idiot get under your skin.  I’ve told you a hundred times over the years, his daddy’s death wasn’t your fault.  Hank was a stubborn fool who couldn’t be reasoned with.  And it looks like his boy has followed right close in his footsteps.  Now you stop blamin’ yourself, and