“Not yet. Let’s get the ring first.”
Her heart sank. Maybe he didn’t really mean it. Maybe he intended to keep the engagement quiet. But logic gave her spirits a lift. Keeping it secret wouldn’t work.
She followed him to the front door of the barn.
“Uh, guys, I need to run an errand with Jess. Can you manage without me for half an hour?”
“What?” Tuck complained. “You’re going to leave us here doing your dirty work while you go play with Jessica?”
“Half an hour?” Jessica echoed at almost the same time.
“Do you think it will take longer?” he asked, surprised.
“I just—Of course not. We might even be able to finish in fifteen minutes if you’re fast!” She spun around and headed for her car.
Mac leaned on his pitchfork. “Whatever it is, you’d better plan on a little longer. Jessica doesn’t seem happy with you. We’ll cover things here.”
“Right. I’ll check in with you later on.” Cal hurried after Jessica.
BY THE TIME Cal caught up with Jessica, she was prepared to drive off. He threw himself into the passenger seat of her car, glaring at her. She’d counseled herself to be calm. If she could. After all, it wasn’t every day that a lady got engaged. Especially to the man she’d loved for twenty-three years.
“Are you upset, baby? Did I do something wrong?” Cal asked.
“No, of course not. I know you’re busy.”
He caught her arm even as she backed out of his driveway. “Hey, you know I always have time for you. Did I not allow enough time for you to choose the ring you like?”
She felt like a shrew. “I’m sorry, Cal. I don’t know what I was thinking. I think I’m a little off balance.”
Leaning over, he surprised her by dropping a brief kiss on her lips, leaving her wanting more. “Me, too. Come on, let’s get this over with.”
She pressed her lips together, warning herself not to complain again because he was treating this momentous occasion as if he were shopping for a can of soda.
Momentous occasion? There was her first mistake. No one should call a pretend engagement important. But it was to her. It might be the closest she ever came to achieving her dream.
Since Mr. Anderson’s jewelry store was on the town square, a few storefronts down from the sheriff’s office, it didn’t take long to reach their goal, leaving Jessica little time to reconsider her agreement to Cal’s offer.
“Howdy, Sheriff. Jessica. How are you doing today?” Mr. Anderson greeted them. He’d been the only jeweler in town since before their births. In fact, Ed Baxter had bought the modest ring he’d given Mabel from George Anderson.
“Afternoon, Mr. Anderson,” Cal replied, and slipped his arm around Jessica, surprising her.
She nodded, trying to smile as if nothing had changed.
When neither she nor Cal added any words to their initial greeting, George Anderson frowned and asked, “Are you needing a plaque for some award or something, Sheriff?”
“Nope. We need a ring.”
Jessica, after seeing Mr. Anderson’s surprise, looked away.
“Is it your birthday, Jessica?” Mr. Anderson asked, still not quite clear.
“No.” She felt irritated that her voice came out in a whisper. Clearing her throat, she looked at Cal.
He seemed taken aback by Mr. Anderson’s lack of comprehension. “A ring, Mr. Anderson.”
“That’s what you said, Sheriff. A birthstone? When were you born, Jessica?”
“No, not a birthstone! An engagement ring!” Cal snapped, as if his patience had completely disappeared. The two ladies on the other side of the small shop had no problem hearing him.
After a startled gasp, the women immediately gave up their shopping and rushed for the door.
“An engagement ring? For the two of you?” George Anderson exclaimed, a broad smile breaking across his face.
“Yes,” Cal said firmly, bringing his voice back under control. “Do you have something nice?”
“You bet I do. I have just the thing.” The elderly man hustled to his office.
Jessica stood rigidly beside Cal, afraid to speak. If she opened her mouth, she might begin laughing hysterically.
Mr. Anderson quickly returned with a large black velvet box. “These are my special rings. A little pricey, but you can afford it, can’t you, Cal?”
Cal stiffened at Mr. Anderson’s laugh, his arm tightening around Jessica. “Yes, I can.”
“I really don’t need a big ring...” Jessica began.
“Let’s see them, Mr. Anderson,” Cal prompted, ignoring her words.
Was the dratted man intent on getting back to work? Had she taken too much of his precious time? Just as her rage began to rise, she watched him bend over the now open box where six large rings glistened under the artificial light. Cal was taking his time, examining each ring.
“Cal, these are much too large,” she whispered.
“Which do you like best?” he asked, sliding the box closer to her. As she bent over the rings, he said to Mr. Anderson, “I know it’s unusual, but I’d like something with an emerald in it.” Then he added, “For her eyes.”
Jessica couldn’t believe such a romantic thought had come from Cal. Stunned, she stared at him until Mr. Anderson, having made another trip to his office, brought out a second box. He lifted out a ring consisting of an oval emerald surrounded by large diamonds and showed it to Cal.
“Like this one?”
“Perfect,” Cal agreed, taking it from him. He turned to Jessica. “What do you think? Do you like it?”
She took one look at it and fell in love. Though she had the money now to buy nice jewelry, she hadn’t because she was always working in the kitchen. She’d never even looked at a ring like this one. “It’s...it’s beautiful, but—”
“Give me your finger.”
Reluctantly, she surrendered her hand to Cal’s. When he slid the slender ring on her third finger, she almost stopped breathing. “Oh.”
“Perfect,” Cal muttered, staring at the ring. Then he lifted her finger to his lips.
She gasped, unprepared for his action. But there was more to come. He swept her into his arms and kissed her as if he’d never let her go. A kiss she’d always dreamed of, longed for. In Cal’s arms, Jessica felt safe and excited, loved and supported. As if she could do anything she wanted because she had Cal by her side. Vaguely, she heard the bell over the door ring, but it didn’t seem important at the time.
“What’s going on here?” Edith Hauk asked.
Cal released Jessica but said nothing.
It was Mr. Anderson who explained the situation. “Isn’t it wonderful? These two just got engaged.”
“Oh! Well, congratulations. Let me see the ring,” Edith said, rushing to them.
“Actually, Jessica hasn’t said this is the ring she wants,” Cal warned. “Is it?”
His question was directed at Jessica. Reluctantly, she lifted her gaze from the beautiful ring and nodded, unable to speak.
“Wonderful. Is it a good fit?” Mr. Anderson asked. When she nodded again, he turned to Cal. “If you’ll come to my office, Cal, we’ll discuss price.”
Cal followed him, leaving Jessica to Edith Hauk’s mercy.
“My goodness, Spence hasn’t said a word. Wait till I get hold of that boy, keeping a secret like that from his mama.”
“Uh, Spence didn’t know. We’ve k-kept it a secret... from everyone.”
“I see. Well, you’ve certainly had an exciting month, what with selling your restaurants, too. But I heard you were starting another one. Will you still go ahead with it?”
“Oh, yes, of course,” Jessica said, but she wondered why she would waste time on a restaurant when she had Cal to—But she didn’t. It was a pretense. She’d almost forgotten. She stared down at the ring.
“It’s a beautiful ring. And so unusual to have an emerald in it,” Edith commented, her gaze following Jessica’s.
/> “Thank you.”
The two men returned to join them.
“You ready, Jess?” Cal asked.
She nodded again, not trusting her voice.
“Well, I’m sure word is spreading all over town by now,” Edith said. “Everyone will be so excited. When is the wedding?”
“Uh, we haven’t set a date yet,” Cal replied.
“I bet your mama will be pushing for an early one,” Edith returned, her smile not quite as broad as it was.
Jessica and Cal looked at each other, startled.
“Oh. no. Mabel!” Jessica gasped before the two of them sprinted to the door.
Chapter Eleven
“We’ve got to get there before she hears the news from someone else,” Jessica gasped as she ran. “Or she’ll never forgive us.”
Cal didn’t answer, but he ran to the passenger side of her Lexus. She unlocked the doors and in no time they were racing down the main street of Cactus.
“Careful, or Pete will give you a ticket,” he warned, a grin on his face.
“I’ll pay it. But we need to reach Mabel now.” She turned the corner before she asked the most important question. “We are going to tell her the truth, aren’t we?”
Cal didn’t respond.
“Cal? It would be cruel to let her believe—”
“I don’t know. I want to tell her the truth, but—”
“We have to.”
“What about the guys? Mac, Spence, and Tuck. They were trying to help me find you a husband. Do we tell them, too?”
“I—I suppose so,” she muttered, not liking the expanded list,
“Well, see, there’s the problem. When you tell people the secret, it leaks out.”
“You think the guys would—”
“Not intentionally. Neither would Mom and Dad. But they’ll hate lying about it. If anyone realizes we’re pretending, then all our work will be for nothing.”
She pulled into the drive at the Baxters’s. “You mean, we have to keep the secret just between the two of us?”
“I can’t help but think that will be best. I’m afraid Mom will be upset about the engagement, so when we break it off, it won’t bother her so much.”
“Why would she be upset?” Jessica asked, confused.
“She might not think we should marry, since we’re almost like brother and sister.” He made that remark while he stared straight ahead.
“I am so tired of you saying that, Callum Baxter. We are not related. A lot of people have known their husbands or wives all their lives. Besides, I told you Mabel suggested we marry.”
He ignored her comment. “Looks like Mom already knows.” He nodded to the front door of the house where Mabel could be seen, a big smile on her face. “Let’s go face the music. And smile. You’re going to have to do some acting if you’re going to convince Mom that you love her baby boy.”
Jessica got out of the car and raced to Mabel’s outstretched arms. She knew how Mabel felt about her marrying Cal.
“Oh, Jessica, I am so happy,” Mabel whispered in her ear as she hugged her. Releasing Jessica, Mabel wrapped her arms around Cal’s neck. “It’s about time, you big galoot. I didn’t think you’d ever wake up!”
“You’re not upset?” Cal asked, stepping back to look at his mother.
“You bet I am. I can’t believe I had to hear the news from Edith Hauk. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Er, we just decided. I wanted to get a ring right away. We didn’t think about how fast the news would travel. Where’s Dad?”
“He’s at the Western Auto getting new tires put on the car. I called him on his cell phone as soon as I heard.” Mabel turned back toward the house. “Come on in. I’m preparing a celebratory dinner for the four of us tonight.”
Cal gave Jessica a questioning stare, as if to see if she was free, and she nodded. She wasn’t about to hurt Mabel’s feelings.
Once they were in the kitchen, seated at the table with glasses of iced tea, Mabel studied her ring, giving it her approval. “Perfect with Jessica’s eyes. And unique, just like the two of you. Think of the beautiful babies you’ll make,” she added, beaming at them.
Cal choked on his tea. Setting it down, he said, “We haven’t even set a date yet, Mom. Let’s don’t jump the gun.”
“I have my restaurant to start up, Mabel. It’s going to take a lot of time.”
“So you should get married first,” Mabel intoned. “No point in wasting time.”
“We thought it might be better to wait until after I get the restaurant started,” Jessica returned. Keeping Mabel in the dark was going to cause a lot of problems.
“But, Jess, darling, when you started your first restaurant, it took almost two years,” Mabel exclaimed.
“Mother, don’t pressure Jess,” Cal ordered. “And forget about that silly bet you ladies made. We’re not arranging our wedding for anyone but us.”
Mabel turned a bland look on the two of them. “Of course not, dear. I was only thinking of the two of you. Now, you go back to the ranch. Jessica, can you stay, or do you have things to do?”
Jessica wasn’t about to be left alone with Mabel until she’d gotten a little more used to their pretense. “I need to drive Cal back to the ranch. He rode with me. What time should I be here for dinner?”
“About six-thirty. Cal, can you pick up Jess on your way?”
“Of course, Mom.”
“Good.” She turned to Jessica. “If he gets there about six, that’ll give you a few minutes to cuddle before you come here.”
Jessica gulped back the panic that filled her.
Cal stared at his mother. “Mind your own business, Mom.”
Mabel arched her eyebrow at him. “I am. My first grandchild isn’t going to make an appearance until you do more than hold hands.”
Jessica jumped to her feet before Mabel could get more specific about what she wanted them to do. “We’d better go.”
“Yeah. I left the guys doing all my work. I’d better go relieve them,” Cal said, rising with her.
“Oh, yes.”
“‘Bye, Mom, we’ll see you at six-thirty.”
Jessica was already dreading the evening.
CAL WAS AMAZED at how comfortable he was being engaged to Jessica. After all, he and his three friends had fought the idea of marriage for a lot of years.
But because it was Jessica, he was happy.
When they reached his ranch, she sat silently, waiting for him to get out of the car.
“Uh, Jess, I need to kiss you ‘bye.”
She turned to stare at him. “But—”
“I think the guys are in the house. They’re probably watching us.”
“I don’t think an officer of the law should behave that way in public,” she said stiltedly.
He grinned and shifted closer toward her. “We’re in your car on my property. Besides, you don’t want me to lose status in front of my friends, do you? Come on, baby, we’ve kissed before.”
Watching her cheeks flush, he swallowed the raging hunger that filled him. He’d be gentle. After all, he didn’t want to scare her. Slowly bending his head toward hers, he waited until she acknowledged him, her lips rising to meet his. Then his mouth covered hers and he gave her a gentle kiss.
That’s all he intended. But when her lips clung to his, trembling with need, he abandoned such gentlemanly thoughts. He pulled her against him and painted her bottom lip with his tongue, teasing for entry. She never hesitated.
Her arms went around his neck and she lay her head back against his shoulder, making the kiss easier to deepen. Their tongues dueled for dominance and his manhood surged against the jeans he wore.
Hell, he wanted to undress her right here, in broad daylight. The need to touch her skin, to feel her against him, was almost overwhelming. He lifted his mouth, then reslanted it across hers, tasting, tempting, loving.
“Cal!” she whispered, wrenching her mouth away. “We’ve got to stop.”
“I don’t know if I can,” he muttered, his hands stroking her back, lifting her toward him.
“Cal, it’s a pretense, remember? We’re not engaged and—”
He hated her reminding him of their agreement. With a sigh, he released her, his hands tingling with the urge to touch her again. “Right.”
“We shouldn’t spend time alone. It seems we...we react rather violently to each other,” she said softly, staring at her hands, now tightly clenched in her lap.
“Yeah,” he agreed, clearing his throat. “I wonder why that is.” He knew why he reacted the way he did. He just needed to know what was going on in her head.
She didn’t give him a clue. “I need to get back home.”
“Here’s your hat, what’s your hurry?” he asked, pulling his Stetson back down on his forehead. Their kiss had knocked it askew.
She didn’t respond. Nor did she look at him.
“Okay, okay, I’m going. But I need a goodbye kiss.”
Her gaze cut up to his in surprise. “What did you call the kiss a minute ago?”
“Oh, baby, that was a hello kiss if ever there was one,” he assured her. Then he leaned forward and only brushed her lips with his and got out of the car in one smooth motion. It was either that or take her to the back seat.
Nodding and touching his Stetson, he strode into his house. His friends were standing in the kitchen, glasses of iced tea in their hands, innocent expressions on their faces.
“Anything exciting going on?” Tuck asked.
“I’d guess you’ve already heard about my engagement, so, nope, there’s no news.”
Spence grinned. “We’re happy for you, Cal. You and Jess make a perfect couple.”
“Thanks. Sorry I abandoned you guys to do the rest of the unloading.”
Mac handed him some messages. “We found out why you’d left us when we came inside. The phone’s been ringing off the wall. Your mom told us what was going on.”
“I would’ve told you first, but someone saw us in George Anderson’s store when I was telling him why we were there. They ran out before we could do anything.”
“Hey,” Tuck said with a laugh, “we know how the gossips work in Cactus. They’ve certainly talked about all of us for a lot of years.”
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