Love Me Tender

by Wendy Vella

  “My Abigail says you’re good at many things.”

  Jack battled the slow red heat that was making its way up his neck. He and Abigail had only ever kissed, but still, it was damned unsettling to have the mother of a woman you’d got hot and heavy with say he was good at things.

  “Sure, I can do a few horse tricks, but nothing like singing or dancing. Sorry to disappoint you.”

  The woman made a tsking noise. “Wearing a tux and playing the piano would have been perfect.”

  “Sorry, one-fingered plunking is the best I can do.”

  “We really don’t need them to perform, June,” Bailey said, battling a smile. Jack had a sudden urge to growl at her.

  “I thought that woman had left town!”

  Jack followed Mrs. Harvey’s gaze and found Mandy and Rory walking in the door, both loaded down.

  It had been five days since he’d called a halt to their lovemaking, and there hadn’t been an hour he hadn’t regretted it and called himself every kind of fool. He felt different around Rory, and that scared him. Distance, Jack had hoped, would lessen the impact she had on him.

  Looking at all those curls spilling out the bottom of her hat and that sweet face, he realized he’d been fooling himself.

  He was in so much trouble.

  June Harvey muttered something about Rory being a pain in her side, and then stormed away.

  She certainly causes me pain.

  “That woman needs to move on,” Bailey said. “Rory has as much right as anyone to be here.”

  Jack agreed.

  “Hey, Mandy,” he said as she reached his side.

  “Jack, Bailey.” She nodded.

  He’d always felt protective of Mandy Robbins. She reminded him of a baby bird not quite ready for her first solo flight.

  “You need a hand with those?” He took her boxes.

  “Thanks. They’re the samples for the auction night decorations. Rory, you put yours on the table beside where Jack’s putting mine.”

  “Sure, and then I’m leaving,” she said, loud enough for the room to hear.

  “Hi.”

  “Hi.” She fiddled with the things in the box.

  “I didn’t take you for chickenshit, Princess.” He stood beside her at the table.

  “What?”

  “Running away.”

  “Ha, that’s funny considering what happened the other day.”

  “Okay, so it’s my turn to apologize. Sorry I was wrong. I should have stayed.”

  “No, you were right.” She fiddled with the corner of a box, clearly uncomfortable.

  “The thing is, Rory, I don’t know if I was,” Jack said slowly.

  “Forget it, Jack. You were right, we’re just trouble together. Now I need to get out of here. This kind of thing isn’t really me.”

  “You running from me, Mrs. Harvey, or the entire room?”

  “All of the above.”

  Jack tugged off her hat, and her curls tumbled free.

  “You look a little less pale than you did the other day when I found you skulking in your grandmother’s closet.”

  He hadn’t realized how much he’d missed Rory until she was standing in front of him. The woman was so goddamned sweet.

  “Whatever, and I don’t skulk.”

  “Take off your coat, otherwise you’ll overheat.”

  “I need the bathroom.”

  “That’s just an excuse to leave,” Jack said. Why did he enjoy sparring with her so much? He felt alive for the first time in days… five of them, actually.

  Before he could stop her she’d walked away to where Ted stood. He followed.

  “Can I have a look around, Ted?”

  “Sure, you go on, Rory. The staff will answer any of your questions, and if you come across a large, hairy gray cat, check him over for me, will you?”

  “Branch, right? You still haven’t taken him to the vet?”

  “No time, and he seems to be eating again.”

  She left, and Jack exhaled slowly. Even her scent disturbed him. It wasn’t the alluring kind that wrapped around your senses, it wasn’t even sexy, but it was Rory, and it got to him.

  “You set me up.” He pointed a finger at Ted. “You knew this room was full of women—not just any women, the auction committee—and you sent me in here like a lamb to the slaughter.”

  Ted smiled his shark smile and walked way.

  Jack made his escape and headed for reception, humming along to a Christmas carol. The place was decked out with expensive baubles and smelled of cinnamon. He found Lenny and Flo on duty.

  “Bud.” He and Lenny slapped hands. Occasionally the man helped out in the stables and on tours.

  “Jack,” Flo purred. He smiled and leaned on the counter, ready to... hell, he was flirting. Disgusted, he straightened. Pip said it was like breathing to him, and she was right.

  “Here’s a list of the guests and details for tomorrow’s tour.” He handed it to Lenny, avoiding Flo, who was now pouting. “Later.”

  “I’m saving for you, Jack. We’re going to have a date. A long, all-night one.”

  “Okay, sure. See you round, Flo.”

  “You okay, Jack?”

  He nodded to Lenny, then headed for the doors. The cold slapped him in the face, which he liked, because it made him feel alive. Deciding on a quick walk up the trails before he headed back to the ranch, Jack took a few steps before he heard Rory’s voice.

  “The thing is, Branch, your daddy is worried. Apparently, he thinks something’s off with you. Because you let the squirrel scurry past your nose with no attempt on your part to catch it, I think he’s on the money. Right off I can see where the issue is, but you... and likely him, aren’t going to like it.”

  Jack could have kept walking right past Rory and Ted’s cat. They hadn’t seen him yet, so it would be easy to do, but he didn’t. Instead he headed right into the trees and found her with Branch in her arms.

  “You’re fat, bud, and need to lose weight. It happens to us all at some stage in our lives. Basically, your human is killing you with love.”

  “Ted’s gonna love that.”

  She didn’t jump, just turned to look at Jack. Why the hell did he feel that kick to his gut with her? This belligerent, uncomfortable woman.

  “I’m not worried about him. Branch is the important factor here.”

  “Sure. Hand him over, and we’ll go back and you can tell his daddy all about it.”

  “I can carry a cat, like I told you the other day. You don’t need to come back with me either.”

  “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

  “I can carry him.”

  “He’s half your weight.”

  “Will you stop doing that!”

  “What?” He wrestled the cat out of her arms, and she had to let go or hurt the beast. “Being a gentleman? What’s the big deal here, haven’t you met many before?”

  “That and taking shots at me. I can’t help my size.”

  “And yet you feel confident taking shots at me... continually.”

  “Whatever.”

  She tried to brush by him, but Jack grabbed her arm and hauled her close. The kiss was brief, and her fight equally so. When he released her she looked as confused as he felt.

  “Why did you do that again when five days ago you didn’t want me?”

  “I wanted you, my head just wasn’t on straight.”

  “And now it is?” she scoffed.

  “It’s a hell of thing, Princess, but it seems I can’t seem to stop wanting you, no matter how hard I try.”

  “Try harder!”

  “Ah, but the real kicker for you is that you want me right back.”

  Her teeth snapped together.

  “Like hell!”

  He followed with a wide smile as she stormed back down the track. If he was off-balance, the least he could do was make her that way too.

  What did it say about them that they were happy unsettling and annoying each other?
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  Chapter 26

  “You impressed by this place, Princess?”

  “It’s very nice,” she said in her best pissed-off voice. The man made her want to grab her hair and snarl.

  “Don’t get snippy.”

  “I’m not snippy,” she said slowly. “You just annoy the hell out of me.”

  “Ditto.”

  That made her feel better.

  “And they say women are fickle,” Rory muttered.

  “Oh no, you definitely wear that crown. I was just having an off day.”

  “Are you laughing at me?” She glared at him.

  “As if,” he said, but his eyes were smiling.

  Bastard.

  “You seen Ted, Flo?” Jack asked the brunette at reception. The woman was just about falling over the counter to get to him. It made Rory want to puke. Surely he got sick of that kind of thing?

  “Oh hi, Jack. He’s in that room with the organizing committee. You want me to get you anything?”

  Rory wasn’t sure how the woman did it, but she made his name sound sultry.

  “No, I’m sweet, but thanks,” Jack said.

  “Aww, Branch, hello, sweetie,” Flo cooed. “You want a treat?”

  “No, he doesn’t want a treat. He’s fat,” Rory snapped before walking away.

  She didn’t care if Jack followed, she needed to get away from all that gushing.

  “That was rude, don’t you think?”

  Rory spun on her heel to look at him. She took the cat out of his arms, and he let her.

  “Look, you may like all that crap; I, however, don’t. So excuse me while I find somewhere to puke.”

  “What crap?”

  “Oh hi, Jack, you want me to get you anything?” Rory purred.

  “Flo was just being nice.” His black brows met in the middle. “It’s her job.”

  “I doubt she uses that tone with the other guests.”

  “I have no idea what you’re getting at.”

  “Yes, because you’re so used to it you don’t even notice anymore. Have some respect for them and you,” Rory muttered, turning away from him.

  “Jealous, Princess? You want me, so no one else can?”

  She ignored that dig. Like hell she wanted him... okay so maybe that was a lie, but like hell would she ever do anything about it... again. And she absolutely refused to be jealous. Rory didn’t for one minute believe he wanted her any more than he did other women, even though he’d said he regretted leaving that day.

  The room was still full of committee women when they returned. They found Ted talking to the Robbins sisters.

  “We need to talk about Branch,” she said, handing him his cat.

  “Hey big fella.” Ted kissed the top of his cat’s head. “How’s he doing, do you think?”

  She looked around and saw people everywhere.

  “Can we go somewhere to talk?”

  “Is he dying?” The color leached out of Ted’s face.

  “No!” Rory shook her head to add weight to the word. “He’s just, well... he’s fat.”

  Shock held Ted silent. Maggie Winter, who was standing behind him, had a fist pressed to her mouth to stop from laughing.

  “Look, let’s go somewhere and talk about this.”

  “He’s not fat!”

  “He is, Ted, and it will shorten his lifespan. It’s putting strain on his joints,” Rory said, resigned to having this conversation in front of everyone. “He could develop high blood pressure and even diabetes, and don’t get me started on his heart.”

  “Oh now surely—”

  “Fat in his chest can restrict his lungs expanding and make breathing difficult. You need to put him on a diet.”

  “Really?” Ted looked worried now. “I mean, sure, he eats a lot, but only because the guests feed him. But surely it’s not that serious?”

  Rory put her hands on her hips. It was her I-mean-business stance.

  “You asked my opinion and I’m giving it to you. Now take him to the local vet, and he’ll tell you the same.”

  Ted held up a hand. “No, okay, I got it. So what do I do?”

  “Measure out his food, and I’m talking dry food only, and make sure he has access to lots of water. Have him weighed so you know it’s working, and absolutely no treats.”

  “None?”

  Rory shook her head, and Ted’s shoulders slumped.

  “Branch will feel better for it, Ted, trust me,” she added, feeling sorry for him.

  “Okay, I’ll make sure it’s done.”

  “And take him to the local vet.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t practice anymore.”

  “You sound knowledgeable, so that’s enough for me.”

  “He needs a proper checkup, Ted.”

  “Can’t you do it?”

  “No, you tightass, she doesn’t have the gear for that,” Jack said, and until that moment Rory hadn’t realized he was still nearby. “Now get me one of those pastries, and I wouldn’t mind a coffee either. We’ll chase it up with beer and pizza later.”

  “You get it.” Ted put Branch down gently.

  “Have you seen who’s standing by the food?” Jack asked.

  They all looked and saw the gaggle of woman.

  “Such a wimp,” Ted said before he walked away.

  Rory moved away from Jack and sat with Mandy for a while, discussing decorations. Not once did she look to see where Jack was. Hopefully he had left the room.

  “Maybe tone it down a bit, Mandy. Subtlety is key.”

  “You think? Maybe I’ll drop the pink and gold streamers?”

  “That’s a start, and now you have this under control I’m leaving.”

  “Give me a minute and I’ll drive you.”

  “No, the walk will be good for me, I’ve spent the last few days inside. Come and see me later, we’ll drink coffee and I’ll lecture you on being tough.”

  Mandy smiled. “Okay I’d like that, and thanks, Rory.”

  Leaving the room again, Rory took her time walking through the Lodge. The artwork on the walls was really something. Most were local scenes. Some of the mountains, others of the town.

  “Aurora May, can I have a moment?”

  She turned to find one of her mother’s old friends behind her.

  “What can I do for you, Mrs. Lucas?”

  “We would like to say a few things.”

  “We?” Rory looked beyond her and found four more of the gaggle that her mother had once been part of.

  “A few of us were having a Christmas lunch, and when we saw you thought it was the perfect opportunity to discuss this matter of you staying in town.”

  “I have as much right to be here as anyone.”

  “Not if you’re stealing things.”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “Sssh.” Mrs. Lucas grabbed Rory’s arm and urged her to follow the other ladies back to the area they were seated in, a small, cozy nook before a fire.

  “Items have been going missing in town, Aurora May, and we believe you’re responsible.”

  Rory shook her hand free and moved to face the women.

  “Aww, come on, you cannot be serious?” This was getting ridiculous. “Surely you’re not so desperate to get me out of Ryker that you would make up stories?”

  Mrs. Lucas had obviously been delegated speaker, as the other women silently stood at her back looking grim.

  “We don’t make up stories!”

  “Well I assure you I didn’t steal anything.”

  “After you left Tea Total a teacup and saucer went missing, and after the quiz night, a small painting from A.S., Joe Trainer’s bar.”

  Rory shook her head, hardly daring to believe this was happening. “I’m done with this crap,” she added, preparing to leave.

  “You listen here, girl. The Harveys are important people, and June is our friend. Seeing you brings your father’s treachery back. Abigail is a good girl, and she doesn’t need upsetting either by
the likes of you.”

  “Good girl?” Rory scoffed. “Abigail is hardly that and never was, and for what it’s worth, Mrs. Lucas, I don’t really care what you want.”

  “You always were a bad one.”

  “How do you figure that when I used to be your daughter’s bestie? And my mother was part of your witches’ coven!” Rory felt the leash on her anger slip.

  “I saw through you when you were a girl. Obnoxious and spoiled. You need to leave Ryker, and this time don’t come back!”

  “The debt was repaid,” Rory said in a cold, flat voice. “And to be honest, holding on to this for as long as you all have is downright disturbing. You need to move on and stop fabricating lies about me.”

  “We’re not a big city, young lady. We don’t forget, nor do we mean to.”

  “What about me and my brothers, don’t we deserve to live a life we choose? This was a happy place for me before the trouble. Don’t I have the right to be happy here again?”

  “We don’t wish you ill, we simply want you out of town.”

  “I’m not discussing this with you any further, and you can tell whoever is threatening me to stop now, as I’m not leaving.”

  “What are you talking about? No one has threatened you,” Mrs. Lucas said.

  “Sure, that’s why my window was broken with that rock, and I’ve received two notes, and had my tires slashed.”

  The shock on their faces was real.

  “I think you’re lying, and how do we know you all weren’t involved back then?”

  These words came from a Mrs. Jack, who until then had been silent.

  “I was thirteen!”

  Stay calm, Rory.

  “Your brothers were older.”

  “Don’t even think about using that tone when you speak about my brothers!”

  “Problem?”

  Rory closed her eyes. Why did he have to arrive now?

  Chapter 27

  “It’s okay, Princess.” Jack moved to Rory’s side and placed a hand around her waist.

  “This is not your fight, Jack.”

  “Says who?”

  He’d always thought of himself as a peaceful man, but he had a fierce sense of right and wrong. He’d been victimized right along with his brothers in his youth, and the taste that had left in his mouth had been bitter.