“Agriculture is always that way, isn’t it? Though I’ll have to tell you the restaurant business isn’t very stable, either,” she added.
Mac, still beside her, said, “Jess happens to have a lot of talent.”
She flashed him a smile of thanks. Which distracted her from Cal’s approach.
“You’d probably do better if you had a wife to help you, Kevin. Someone who could cook for the hands and make roundup more enticing to the rest of us.” Cal slung his arm around Jessica’s shoulders. “Like Jess, here.”
Jessica’s cheeks flushed and she turned to glare at Cal, only to find him staring at Mac, not Kevin.
“Uh, yeah,” Mac responded tardily. “Jess is certainly a good cook.”
She felt like a side of beef hanging in a meat market. Not a pleasant feeling. “I think I’d better check on the steaks.”
“Tuck’s taking care of them,” Cal protested.
She didn’t bother to contradict him. With a murmured “Excuse me,” she marched away from the three men. And discovered that Tuck was nowhere in sight and the steaks were ready to be turned over.
She busied herself with the meat, happy to be alone. When she was finished, she looked around for Alex, but she didn’t see her. “Mabel, have you seen Alex?”
“No, Jess, I haven’t. How much longer for the steaks?”
“About five minutes. Can I help with anything else?”
“No, no, it’s your party. Go mingle.”
Jessica saw Melanie Rule sitting alone at one of the tables. Melanie had no family in the area and she worked hard. Jessica liked her.
And if Cal was interested in her, then Jessica was determined to be friends with her, even if it killed her.
“Melanie, how are you?” she asked, sitting next to her.
“Fine, Jess. Congratulations.”
“Thanks.”
“I guess you don’t have to worry about money anymore,” Melanie said with a sigh.
Jessica knew Melanie had no family support that she knew of and her job at the drugstore probably didn’t pay very high wages, but truthfully she was getting tired of everyone’s comments about her financial status. “No, not really,” she admitted with a sympathetic smile.
“Some people have all the luck,” Melanie said with a determined smile. “First your restaurants and then Cal.”
“Cal? What are you talking about? Cal is a friend.”
Melanie studied her, as if considering her next words, but before she could speak, they were interrupted by Jerry Brockmeier, the owner of the drugstore.
“Hey, there, ladies,” he greeted, sliding onto the bench across from them. “Congratulations, Jessica. I’ve got some new stuff in from Dallas you might want to come spend your fortune on,” he said with a big grin. “Some of that good fake diamond stuff. Cubic zirconia.”
Melanie seemed embarrassed at Jerry’s crass self-promotion, but Jessica had known him all her life. He’d been a couple of years older than her, between Cal and her grades. He’d inherited the drugstore from his father when he’d died. He and his mother ran it, with only a few employees, like Melanie.
“Thanks, Jerry, but I’m not much for jewelry.”
“She’d probably like a ring for her third finger,” Cal said from behind Jessica. When she whirled around and glared at him, he added, “Most ladies do.”
Jerry, fortunately, didn’t take the hint the way Cal intended. “Hey, send the lucky guy in, and I’ll sell him a great ring.”
“There is no one, Jerry. Cal is just teasing.”
“But there might be soon,” Cal added. “Where’s Mac?”
Jessica frowned at him. “I don’t know. I left him with you.”
“Well, darn it...” Cal began.
“Hey, Jess, how are you?” Spence asked, interrupting his firiend. “Hi, Melanie. Jerry.”
There were general greetings, then Spence said, “Melanie, want to come take a look at some puppies Tuck has? They’re in the barn.”
Melanie didn’t exhibit a lot of enthusiasm, but she stood. “Yes, of course. Cal, do you want to see the puppies?”
Jessica cringed at the hopeful expression in her friend’s gaze. Yes, Cal had made an impression on Melanie. Not that Jessica was surprised. Most women fell for him at once.
She thought it was that combination of muscle and heart, strength and caring. And life hadn’t been easy for Melanie.
Cal frowned. “If I knew where Mac was, I’d like—”
‘You need Mac to look at puppies?” Jessica questioned. This was the second time she’d gotten the feeling that Cal had arranged something with Mac.
“No, I...” Cal began, looking embarrassed.
“Come on, Cal. Melanie wants you to come,” Spence stated firmly.
With a shrug, and a glare at Jerry, Cal walked off with the other two.
“Is he mad at me? I don’t want any trouble with the sheriff,” Jerry protested.
“No, of course not. He believes in preventive frowns,” Jessica assured him.
“So, are you planning to get married, like Cal said?” Jerry asked. “You’ve never dated a homegrown boy, have you?”
“No, and we all know why.” Jessica didn’t bother pretending it had been her choice.
Jerry relaxed and smiled. “I guess so. Cal’s pretty persuasive.”
“Yeah. I’ve got to go check the steaks. Good to see you, Jerry.”
“Yeah. Say, come by for a soda some afternoon.”
He and his mother still had an old-fashioned ice cream and hamburger bar in the drugstore.
“Thanks. Jerry, I’ll do that.”
She returned to the fire. Still no sign of Tuck. Some chef he was! She certainly wouldn’t hire him for her new venture. That brought a chuckle to her lips. As if he’d be interested.
Several ladies stepped forward to help as she began putting steaks on plates. The four hostesses, drafted by their sons, brought out the vegetables and bread, and the tables filled up quickly.
As Jessica finished serving the steaks, she listened to the comments filtering through the night air. In addition to the contented silence, there were some rave reviews she enjoyed.
Yes, she thought, her idea was going to work.
“What are you up to?” Cal demanded.
Chapter Nine
Cal’s eyes narrowed when Jess jumped at his question.
“Um, taking the steaks off the fire.”
“You’re not supposed to be cooking. Where’s Mac?”
She raised her eyebrows. “I don’t know. Tuck was supposed to be in charge of the steaks, but I haven’t seen him anywhere.”
Tuck? Was she interested in Tuck? No, that wasn’t love in her voice. It was irritation.
Before he could decide who to look for, Mac hurried up.
“Sorry, Cal, but old man Jones has a legal problem and he wanted to discuss it with me.”
“Tell him you’re busy and he should make an appointment.” Cal glared at his friend. Mac wasn’t fulfilling his role very well. And he wasn’t showing any signs of falling for Jess.
Deciding to give Mac another chance, Cal said, “Here, Jess, I’ll finish serving the steaks. You and Mac take yours and go grab a table.” Cal stepped to her side and slid his hand over the handle of the long fork she was using. When his skin touched hers, he fought back an urge to pull her into his arms.
“No, I want to finish,” she protested, refusing to give the fork to him.
“It’s your party. You’re not supposed to cook,” he repeated. He looked around for support from Mac and discovered he was gone. “Where’d Mac go?”
“I think he’s helping his aunt set up another table,” Jessica said, elbowing Cal out of her way. Then she handed him a plate filled with steaming beef. “Here, go eat.”
“I’ll wait for you.” if Mac wasn’t going to keep an eye on her, as he’d promised, Cal would have to take over.
“Fine. Everyone’s been served, so I’m ready.”
Cal checked the area and located two seats at the table where Tony Brewster, the local minister, and the last man on the list, was seated. It might be good to test Jessica’s reaction to the man.
Just in case he’d been wrong about Mac.
JESSICA CUT A PIECE of meat and put it in her mouth, fear warring with pride. What if it tasted terrible?
Even as she chewed, relief filling her, she watched Cal and the others at the table. Cal ate his first bite, then turned to her.
“Jess, this steak is great What did you put on it?”
“That’s a trade secret,” she assured him, smiling.
Reverend Brewster smiled at her. “Whatever the secret is, guard it well, Jessica. It could make you another fortune.”
“Thanks, I will,” she said with a big smile.
“Jess isn’t interested in another restaurant, Tony,” Cal hurriedly said. “She has other plans.”
Jessica stared at him, unable to believe his words.
Tony leaned forward. “Oh, really? What plans, Jessica?”
Jessica tried to think of an appropriate response. She moved her lips several times, but nothing came out.
Cal had no such problem. “Jess is thinking about settling down. You know, starting a family.” He stared at Tony. “Don’t you think that’s a good idea, Tony?”
Jessica closed her eyes. Cal might as well paint a bull’s-eye on her back. Subtlety wasn’t his strong point. But then, it never had been. He’d always been starkly honest.
“A great idea. Who’s the lucky man, Jessica?”
Did she dare? It was the third time tonight that Cal had pushed her into a difficult situation. Maybe it was time he learned to mind his own business.
“Well,” she said with a smile at Tony, “I’m either going to start a new restaurant or marry Cal. I haven’t decided.”
CAL CHOKED on his steak. Somehow, he suspected Jessica’s hearty whacks to his back held punishment rather than sympathy. But for what? He’d just been trying to help.
Once he could breathe again, he interrupted Tony’s congratulations. “She’s teasing you, Tony.”
“You mean, you’re turning me down?” Jessica asked, pouring all her sixth-grade dramatic training into her voice and expression.
“Watch it, baby, or you’re going to be in trouble,” he warned, leaning toward her.
“Oh, well, then I guess I’ll have to start a new restaurant,” she assured her audience, shrugging her shoulders and grinning, as if that had been her intent all along.
Everyone began asking questions about her plans, accepting her remark about marrying Cal as a joke.
Cal stared at her. She’d told him she wanted to marry, start a family. She wouldn’t have time if she opened another restaurant. What was going on? Had she completely changed her mind? He’d thought it was because she didn’t like the names on his list.
They were going to have to have a long talk.
The first opportunity came when the party moved to the deck and Tim Collishaw picked up his fiddle. Jessica was standing among some of the women, discussing her recipe and her plans.
Cal walked to her side, slid his hand around her waist. “Come on, Jess. As the honoree, you need to start the dancing.” The temptation to slide his hand beneath her green T-shirt, to feel the warmth of her skin with his, was hard to resist.
“No, I—”
“No choice, baby,” he whispered in her ear as he pulled her to the center of the deck. With everyone watching, he knew she wouldn’t refuse him now.
But he didn’t want only the two of them dancing, everyone’s gaze on them. As he wrapped his arms around her, he called to the crowd, “Join us, folks.”
Men and women filled the deck until there was scarcely room to move. That satisfied Cal. He didn’t have much interest in dance moves.
“What’s going on, baby?” he whispered, bending to Jess’s ear.
With a grin that told him she wasn’t interested in any serious talk, she said, “We’re dancing. And not too well if you can’t even figure out what’s going on.”
“You know what I mean. What’s this idea about another restaurant? I thought you wanted a family.”
Her smile faded and she leaned her forehead against his shoulder.
“Jess?”
“I don’t want to talk now,” she muttered.
Cal pulled her closer to him, their bodies touching from knee to shoulder. He loved the feel of her against him, her scent enveloping him. Talk? No, that wasn’t what was on his mind, either.
He guessed Jess didn’t know how much her closeness affected his body. Since she kissed him that first time, he was discovering a craving for her touch, her kisses. They’d been friends forever, but now he wanted more.
But he couldn’t take what she didn’t want to offer.
So he held her.
And swayed to the music that he hoped would never end.
“Do YOU THINK he’ll marry her?” Florence asked Mabel softly as they watched the dancing.
Mabel kept her gaze pinned on her two children, Cal and Jessica. “I don’t know.”
“I want to win,” Florence said with determination, “but I hope those two get together. They were made for each other.”
“I know. The bet doesn’t matter, you know that. But it’s made us finally do something. I think that bet was the smartest thing we’ve ever done.”
“You could be right, for everyone but Mac. That boy has the hardest head I’ve ever seen.”
“Where is he?”
“Sitting over there talking about a law case with Herk Jones. Can you believe that? All these beautiful young women, and he talks to an old man.”
“But I thought you had a plan?”
“I did. I was going to invite my godchild to visit. I thought Mac would be attracted to her.”
“What happened?”
“She got engaged,” Florence said with disgust. “She called to tell me her exciting news the night I intended to call. Thank goodness, she told me before I invited her to come. That would’ve been a totally wasted visit, with her already in love with someone else.”
“So now what?” Mabel asked, still watching the pair on the dance floor.
“I have no idea. I’m gonna say my prayers and hope God takes pity on me.”
CAL WAS GLAD the lights were low. When the music ended, he figured his need for Jessica would be obvious to everyone unless he remained in the shadows. He was ashamed at the way his body reacted to her, when he was supposed to be her protector, but he didn’t know how to stop it.
He directed them toward the steps that led down to the lawn and darkness. Just as the music ended, he lifted her against him and stepped down.
Her head came up. “What are you doing?”
“Giving someone else the chance to dance.”
“Oh.”
“You okay?”
“Of course.”
“Are you really going to open a restaurant?”
“I have to do something, Cal. I’ve been going crazy sitting at home.”
“But you haven’t given this marriage idea a chance. I’ve never known you to give up so easily. You wouldn’t even tell me who you want so I could help.”
“Because I told you I didn’t want any help. And tonight, you might as well have painted a sign to hang on my back—Woman Wants Husband!”
“But you said you did.”
“That didn’t mean I wanted everyone in Cactus to know that.”
“I think they’re all interested,” he went on, ignoring her protest. ‘But I’m afraid some of them are more interested in your money than you. No offense, baby. They’re pretty dumb to feel that way.”
Her slender hand cupped his cheek. “Thanks, Cal. But you’re right. The whole town wants to know how much I got to the penny.” She sighed. “I guess I understand the four of you not marrying.”
“The four of who?”
“You, Mac, Spence, and Tuck. You have to worry about whether it’s you or
your oil wells.”
Cal studied her, then tried out his theory. “I guess any of those guys would make a good husband for you, since you wouldn’t have to worry about them marrying you for your money.”
“And you.” Her cheeks flushed. “The three of them and you.”
“Yeah,” he agreed. “And me. Too bad we’re more like brother and sister.” He flexed his suddenly aching shoulders, as if he were holding himself too rigid. “But Mac and the others don’t consider you to be their sister. You’re just a good friend.”
“That’s nice,” she said with a sigh. Then, as if he hadn’t brought up the subject of her marrying, she added, “But I’m very excited about my new restaurant idea.”
He wasn’t going to let her squirm away this time. “Look, baby, I’ve been thinking—”
She whirled around to face him, an expectant look on her face. “Yes?”
“Well, I mean, Mac or...or Spence or Tuck would make a good husband.”
The light went out of her face and she turned away. “I need to talk to Mabel.” Then, as she passed Melanie Rule, she stopped. “Cal?”
“Yes, baby?”
“Why don’t you dance with Melanie? She’s a very good dancer.” Then she walked off.
Since Cal was a gentleman, and Melanie had overheard Jessica’s words, he had no choice. But his attention remained on Jessica rather than the lady in his arms.
SPENCE STOOD in the shadows and watched the dancers on Tuck’s deck. In particular, his gaze focused on Cal and his partner. What a mess.
Melanie Rule was an attractive lady. Spence had noticed her lately. She’d only moved to Cactus a couple of years ago, and she was quiet. Almost withdrawn.
He’d thought about asking her out. Until he’d seen the way she looked at Cal.
So Melanie was keeping an eye on Cal, and he was keeping an eye on Jess, and Spence didn’t know who Jess was keeping an eye on.
Spence had accepted Mac’s warnings about marriage. At least for now. Someday, he intended to have a family. But it wouldn’t be someone who loved one of his friends. He knew that problem would be the kiss of death to a marriage.
He felt sympathy for Melanie.
One Hot Daddy-To-Be? Page 10