“Jake did awesome, of course,” Jessa said. “He fielded millions of questions and I think piqued a lot of interest. No one committed to anything last night, but they loved the idea that the farmers market might not have to be a long-term solution. Assuming, of course, it can still be the short-term solution.” Worry tinged her words.
“What’s wrong? I thought things were going well,” said Taycee. “We got more votes last round than ever before, didn’t we?”
“Yeah,” said Jessa. “But we still have fifteen grand to go and only two voting opportunities left. If we get within a few thousand, I think the farmers could pool together whatever savings they have left to make up the difference, but I’m getting worried we might not make it. I’m really wishing I would have scheduled the voting to go one more round because we could really use an extra week.”
One more round. Taycee didn’t think she could handle the one week they had left, and yet here was Jessa, wishing for more. Taycee’s heart sank. With that much money on the line, Jessa would never agree to risk telling Jake and Miles the truth. And Taycee wasn’t sure it was worth the risk either. “We’ll make it, Jess. I still have that morning show interview to do before the final vote. I’m sure that will help drive up the numbers.”
“Let’s hope so.” But Jessa sounded anything but assured. “I think this organic farming thing is a good fit, I really do. My uncle was up all night reading about it. I just got off the phone with him, and I’ve never heard him sound this hopeful before. But what if we can’t earn enough for the co-op? They’ll be ready to start selling in only a few weeks.”
“We’ll earn enough, Jess, I promise,” said Taycee. “Even if I have to get down on my knees during that interview and beg for people’s votes.”
“I’m going to hold you to that, you know.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything different.”
“Where were you last night, anyway?” Jessa asked. “I figured you’d at least pop in for a second, just to see how everything was going.”
Taycee hesitated. With the way Jessa had been trying to push Jake on her lately, how would she react to the news that Taycee had spent the entire day with Luke? Not good.
“Oh, I knew you’d have everything under control,” Taycee said.
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“Probably because I didn’t want to answer your question.”
Silence. Followed by more silence. Just when Taycee thought the connection had failed, Jessa gasped. “You went out with the Tin Man, didn’t you?” It sounded accusatory—not the typical gushing, overly-excited way most best friends would phrase a question like that. Not that Taycee had expected anything different. Still, it would have been nice if Jessa at least pretended to be happy for her.
“Yes,” Taycee finally said. “I spent the entire day with Luke—who, believe it or not, does have a heart, and a pretty big one at that—and had the most incredible day of my life. Now go ahead and ruin it for me because I know that’s what you’re going to do.” Maybe Jessa would take the hint and back off.
“What were you thinking?” Jessa said. “Did anyone see you?”
What kind of question was that? It made Taycee feel like a scolded child who’d snuck off and done something she wasn’t supposed to, which was ridiculous. “Of course not,” Taycee said. “I mean, how could they when he picked me up in a dark tinted car and drove to a hidden cave where we spent the day reducing the mosquito population one by one. I won, by the way.”
Jessa didn’t laugh, not that Taycee expected her to.
“How could you?” Jessa said. “Luke got voted off weeks ago, which means you shouldn’t be dating him, at least not until the show is over. If word got out, we might as well post a banner declaring ourselves fraudulent.”
“Aren’t you being a tad melodramatic?”
“No! The viewers think you’re in love with one of the remaining bachelors. They want you to be in love with one of them because they’re the ones who picked them. If they find out you’re off gallivanting around with someone they already voted off—especially the one from Shelter Springs—what do you think they’re going to say? You go, girl? Wahoo? No! They’re going to be ticked!”
Which was exactly how Taycee felt at the moment. She took a calming breath and struggled for a level tone. “Look, Jessa. You practically forced me into doing this show, and for the sake of your aunt and uncle and the rest of the farmers, I agreed. I let you push a new wardrobe on me and get manicures, and then I endured weeks of dating with guys I never wanted to go out with in the first place. I understand this show is important, and I would never want to do anything to jeopardize that, but you’re the producer of the show—not my life.”
“You’re not getting it,” said Jessa. “What if someone who watches the show saw you with Luke last night? What if they decided to comment about it online and speculate what you were doing out with a bachelor who they voted off when you’re supposed to be falling for someone else? How do you think that would go over? Do you think people would still be willing to vote or give to our cause after something like that? I don’t think so. Nobody likes to be made to feel like a fool, Tace. Which is exactly how they would feel. A fool who’s been taken in by yet another fraudulent charity case.”
Taycee frowned. Why had she answered the phone? She should have kept today all to herself as the day to relive the most perfect day ever. Instead, in two minutes flat, Jessa had tainted it. Granted, her friend had a point, but that didn’t mean Taycee had to like it.
“Okay, so I never thought about it like that,” Taycee said grudgingly. “But he picked me up early, we spent the day in Denver, and he dropped me off late. No one saw us.”
“Maybe not in Shelter, but did someone recognize you while you were in Denver?”
“I seriously doubt it. I’m not that famous.”
Jessa let out a breath. “Just promise me you won’t see him again until after this is all over, okay?”
“Fine,” said Taycee, hating how bossy Jessa sounded. “Try to remember, though, that you put me here. As far as I’m concerned, I’ve been a fraud from the beginning. In fact, I’ve about made up my mind to tell Miles and Jake exactly that.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“It’s the right thing to do, Jess.”
“And what if they walk?” Jessa’s voice escalated. “Is it also the right thing to tell my aunt and uncle—two people I consider my parents—that they’ll have to hand their farm over to the bank in a few months because you can’t get over your obsession with Luke Carney?”
“That’s not fair and you know it,” Taycee snapped.
“You know what your problem is?” Jessa sounded angry.
“No, but I’m sure you’re going to tell me.”
“You’re stubborn, that’s what. You’ve made Luke out to be this perfect guy who no one can compare with, and because of that, you’ve missed out on some great relationships in your life. Now you’re letting a guy like Jake slip through your fingers as well. Is Luke really worth this?”
“Yes.” Taycee had never been more sure about anything.
“I hope so, because Jake is pretty amazing.”
“For crying out loud, Jessa! Enough about Jake!” Taycee practically yelled. “Yes, he’s amazing, but do you know what? Luke’s amazing too—and a way better fit for me. Again, this is my life. My choice. Back off.”
“Fine,” Jessa snapped. “As long as you promise you won’t say anything to Jake and Miles.”
“Fine.” Taycee drove her thumb into the “end call” button and resisted the urge to throw her phone across the room. For the millionth time, she cursed Jessa for turning her into Shelter’s bachelorette. Not only had it put her in this horrible position, it had driven a solid wedge into their friendship, distancing them. Yes, Jessa had always been blunt and domineering, but she’d also been someone Taycee could joke around with, talk to, and turn to in both good times and bad.
Not so much anymore
.
Taycee’s phone rang, and she nearly auto-rejected the call until Luke’s handsome face appeared on the screen.
“Hey,” she answered, hoping she didn’t sound too upset.
“Hey yourself.” His voice instantly became a soothing melody to her throbbing mind. “I was wondering if you’d had dinner yet.”
Her gaze flickered back to the kitchen. “I was about to open a can of soup.”
“Seriously? Canned soup for Sunday dinner?”
“I didn’t make it to the store yesterday. It’s all I’ve got.”
“Want to come over? I’ve got some steaks marinating.”
The thought of spending the evening with Luke made Taycee want to bolt to her car and drive as fast as she could. But she’d promised Jessa she wouldn’t, and a promise was a promise. “I’d love nothing more than to come over, but I can’t.”
“Got other plans?”
“If I did, I’d break them.”
Silence. “That makes about as much sense as . . . well, you usually do, I guess.”
Taycee smiled. “It’s Jessa. She thinks that if someone saw us together it would be bad for the show’s reputation. Which is probably true. And since we need all the votes we can possibly get, I’ve promised not to see you again until after it’s all over. So I guess this means I can’t come over tomorrow night to help you out either. Sorry, Luke.”
“I guess I can wait another week.”
“Thanks,” said Taycee. “Although it will be more like a week and a half since they pushed back the final vote until after that morning show interview.”
“What?” The way Luke said it sounded like he’d have to wait years, not weeks. It made Taycee smile.
“After that, I’m all yours.” She barely stopped herself from adding “forever.” That might come across as a bit much at this point.
He let out a breath. “All right then. I guess I should be grateful I got to spend yesterday with you. But that doesn’t mean I can’t call, right?”
“Right.”
“Every night?”
“And morning,” Taycee added. “If you want. During the day would be fine too.”
Luke chuckled. “Well, I’d hate to give you the chance to forget about me.”
“As if I could.” Taycee hesitated, wanting to add something but not sure how to put it. “Luke, I . . .” her voice drifted off.
“You?”
“I’d quit this bachelorette thing right now if there wasn’t so much on the line. You know that, right?”
“Yeah.”
She swallowed. “I still have two more dates to get through. Which means that even though I don’t want to, I still have to act like I’m into both Jake and Miles. And well . . .” This was awkward. And embarrassing. Something Taycee would rather not talk about, but she needed him to understand.
“Then I won’t watch,” said Luke. “What I don’t see won’t hurt me, right?”
Relief flooded through Taycee as she heard those words. Pure relief. As much as she’d dreaded getting through the last two dates, she was more concerned about Luke’s reaction to seeing her with two other guys. But now she didn’t have to worry because he trusted her enough not to watch. Or judge. Or demand that she drop out.
“Thank you,” she breathed. For whatever reason, tears stung the back of her eyes. Whether it was because she was already emotional from her chat with Jessa or because of Luke’s willingness to understand, she didn’t know. What she did know what that she now loved him more than ever.
“Just so you know,” Taycee said, holding the phone closer to her ear as if it would somehow bring him nearer. “It’s always been you for me.”
TAYCEE APPLIED SOME LIP GLOSS and stared at her reflection in the mirror. Alec had finally been voted off, much to her relief, and Miles would be here any minute to pick her up. If it had been up to her, Jake and Miles were the two she would have chosen from the beginning. The two she liked the best. Still, she couldn’t wait to get the date over with. Although she liked Miles and had fun with him, the sooner he dropped her off, the sooner she could talk to Luke and get her mind off the fact that she was a horrible person for deceiving two great guys.
Then after tonight, there would be only Jake’s date left.
Knock, knock-ety, knock, knock. Knock, knock.
Taycee smiled at the now familiar rhythm of Miles’s unique knock. She would definitely miss him when he left town in another week. His smile alone could brighten any day. And his energy—he was like a kid at Disneyland.
Taycee smile as she opened the door. “Hey you.”
“Don’t you look prettier than a glob of butter melting on a stack of wheat cakes.” Only Miles could pull off a line like that and make it sound like a compliment. He stepped forward and kissed Taycee’s cheek before his hand caught hers as he pulled her out the door. “Ready for a hick night out?”
“Did you just say ‘hick?’” Miles was always full of surprises.
He nodded as an easy smile split his face. “I thought I’d show you some of my world.”
“So we’re flying to Oklahoma, and I get to watch you ride in a rodeo?”
“Nah.” He grinned. “I decided to bring Oklahoma to you.”
Normally, Taycee would be intrigued and excited by such a description. But all she could think about was how uncomfortable this “hick night out” would be. Which was sad, because Miles was obviously thrilled. “Sounds like my kind of night,” she said with a smile.
“One you’ll never forget.”
And it was that. Miles drove her to Denver where they ate dinner at some over-the-top Denver version of a barbeque joint where troughs served as sinks and peanut shells dotted the stained concrete floor. Their food came to them on tin plates, and slow, twangy country music played in the background.
“Wow, when you said hick, you meant hick, didn’t you?” Taycee teased.
“I’ve always been a man of my word.” Miles paused. “Well, most of the time, anyway.”
Taycee leaned forward over her plate. “I’m sensing a story here. Do tell.”
“Okay, but don’t forget you asked for it.” He grinned, leaning closer. “Back in high school, there was this sheriff who liked to pull my friends over every chance he got. He used to hang out at a gas station in town, ready and waitin’ for one of us to drive by. So one day, me and my buddy decided to do something about it.”
Taycee’s hand covered his, stopping the story. “This isn’t something that’s going to get you carted off to prison, is it? If so, I need to remind you that you’re on camera right now.”
“Nah.” Miles waved away her concern. “Like I was saying, one day we waited for the sheriff to take a break and go inside the gas station. Then we snuck up and chained the rear axle of his car to a light pole.”
“You did not.” If Taycee ever thought of doing something like that to Ralph, he would definitely update her mug shots.
“Sure did.” Miles’s grin broadened. “Then we hustled to my cousin’s truck and waited for him to come back out. When he did, we sped down main street as fast as we could.”
“What happened?”
“His siren sounded, and he took off like an inchworm stuck to hot concrete. His tires screeched and gravel spewed everywhere.” Miles’s laughter rang out as his hand slapped the table. “He was madder than a mosquito in a mannequin factory. We spent a night in jail for that one.”
Taycee laughed so hard her sides ached, especially when Miles added, “It didn’t solve our problem though. For some reason, that darn sheriff started pulling us over even more after that.”
The story was exactly what Taycee needed. Miles soothed her stress, making her forget about the cameras, the viewers, Shelter. She’d miss him when he left, the way she missed Caleb or any other really good friend. He was fun—the kind of guy she would have loved to hang out with in high school.
After dinner, they watched the first half of a demolition derby, and then blitzed across town to catch th
e second half of a rodeo—just in time to see some crazy lunatic on the back of a motorcycle barrel up a ramp, through a ring of fire, and over a line of cars. Miles yeehawed the entire time, and with his hilarious asides, the date was over almost as soon as it had begun.
He drove her home and walked her to her front porch. “Well,” he said, “this is it, I guess.”
“Thank you for a truly unforgettable date, Miles. You are one of a kind.” Taycee meant every word.
“Kinda like you.” His arms circled Taycee, and he pulled her close. Before she could say anything, his mouth covered hers in slow and thorough kiss. It felt wrong, like she was kissing a good friend, but she let it happen even as the guilt plucked away at her insides. She had to picture the sweet, hard-working faces of the McCrays in order to keep from blurting out the truth.
“Even if I don’t get chosen tomorrow, I’d sure like to keep seein’ you,” Miles breathed in her ear.
The words echoed through Taycee’s head like a pounding hammer. She resisted the urge to run inside and close the door firmly between her and a guy who wanted more than she could ever give.
Taycee swallowed. She had to say something. No way could she leave him hanging like that, especially with the camera filming their every move, their every word. But what could she say that wouldn’t give him false hope, while still keeping the viewers hopeful?
“Uh . . .” The words wouldn’t come. There was nothing she could say.
“Speechless,” Miles teased. “I’ve been known to have that effect on girls.”
“Overcome is a better word.” Taycee pasted on a smile and forced herself to answer his question. “And yes, I’d like that too.”
Miles grinned, kissed her one last time, and left her with a wink on her doorstep. Taycee shoved her key in the lock and disappeared inside, barely refraining from slamming the door behind her in an effort to block out the world, the stress, the knowledge that she’d just given a genuinely nice guy a reason to falsely hope.
ON WEDNESDAY EVENING, TAYCEE closed her shop and walked the short distance to her apartment. There was a time back in high school when she wanted guys to notice her, when she craved being asked out on a date, and when the idea of more than one guy liking her at the same time filled her teenage, girlish fantasies.
The Reluctant Bachelorette Page 21