by Dani Collins
“Introduce us.”
Renny couldn’t think of anything worse. If Jacob hadn’t insisted on driving, she would have left him at Mona’s, but she supposed it was inevitable. She allowed Con to march her up the aisle between the racked pool tables and through the door. The sunshine blinded her. She squinted to bring the jagged Rockies and solid blue sky into focus.
Greenbowl’s Main Street materialized in all its small town cuteness. Renny had always liked it and knew she’d miss it. She was friends or friendly with virtually everyone, through Con and Mona. Given that, Con should have realized the only stranger on the street would be her fiancé, but he veered away from where Jacob leaned against his Mercedes halfway down the block.
Jacob sent her a questioning look.
Renny shrugged and followed Con as he approached an elderly man tucking a newspaper into the basket on his bicycle handlebars.
“Jacob!” Con exclaimed, startling the old man. “You’re not at all how Renny described you.”
Here we go, Renny thought, and rolled her eyes.
“I’m not in the mood for games today, son.” The man balanced the bicycle between his thighs, ready to push off.
“Right,” Con said. “You’re anxious to get the wedding planned. Is there a reason you’re in such a hurry to get married?”
“Really, Con, another time,” the man said.
“Are you pedaling or riding the handlebars?” Con asked Renny.
“Don’t be a poor loser.” She swung him to face Jacob.
“I haven’t lost yet. Oh, that one,” he said in a false tone of discovery.
“Yes, that one. Doofus.”
“Hello, Con.” Jacob held out his hand as he walked toward them.
Con shook hands. “Of course, you’re the fiancé. You look more like Renny’s type.”
“I have a type?” she began to say, but she stopped herself as she realized how much Jacob resembled Con. She had thought the resemblance superficial when she had met Jacob. Now she saw it went beyond the dark coloring and six-foot height of both men. They both wore their hair long enough to swoop across their foreheads; they both had squared-off jaws, quick smiles and blue eyes. Jacob wore suits and Con avoided them, but that was the most significant difference.
“It’s nice to meet you, Con, but I expected something more original,” Jacob said with amusement.
“So did I.” Con measured Jacob with a glance.
“I beg your pardon?” Jacob asked.
“You should. I was here first.”
“You misunderstand me.” Jacob gestured toward the old man pedaling away. “I meant I expected you to be more original than greeting the senior instead of me. Cary Grant did that in His Girl Friday. The next time you try to insult me, use your own material.”
“Renny, you found yourself a smart man. He knows there’ll be a next time. I underestimated you, Jacob. I guess that means I insulted you after all.”
“Con,” she said through her teeth.
“Renny warned me you might see our engagement as a challenge.” Jacob drew her to his side.
“She’d be disappointed if I didn’t.”
“I’d be astounded,” she assured him. “C’mon, Con. Surprise me by behaving yourself.”
“It’s all right, darling,” Jacob said. “From everything you’ve said about him, I know Con can’t stand losing. He can take a few shots at me if his pride demands it, but nothing he does will keep me from marrying you.”
Renny stiffened. “You can’t say things like that. He takes it as a dare.”
“Jacob and I are trying to reach an understanding,” Con said, nudging her aside and reaching his arm across Jacob’s shoulders, all buddy-buddy like. “Tell me, Jacob, what do you think of a woman who lets a gullible old lady in her care be swindled, then tries to skip town?”
“Just a minute—” Outrage choked off Renny’s defense.
“If you’re referring to your grandmother, Renny spoke to me about the situation.”
“And she’s eaten up by guilt, isn’t she? I really should give her the opportunity to make it up to Gran—rather than fire her, I mean.”
“You can’t fire me,” Renny interjected. “I resigned.”
“You didn’t have to quit over one mistake, cookie. Gran thinks the world of you. She’ll overlook it.”
“I quit when I accepted Jacob’s proposal because we’ll be living in Minneapolis. I’ve been working out my notice for the last three weeks. You knew that. It’s why you had to be back today.” Take that, smart aleck.
“You don’t feel any remorse at all?” he asked.
“Of course I do.” Renny folded her arms. “I feel horrible.”
“Then you owe it to yourself to help sort this out.”
Renny pressed her eyes closed. It was like playing three-card monte. She didn’t know in which direction his argument would go or where it would end up.
“I told you I called the police. They’re investigating, but since there’s no real evidence against Felix—”
“Who is Felix?”
“Felix Newman was the name on the card, the one with the number for the florist in Detroit. Felix’s description will be posted with a warning, for all that’s worth. He could change his looks and keep doing what he’s doing,” she grumbled.
“So you don’t think Gran is the only person he’s suckered?”
“I think he’s making a tidy living with this scam of his, but Mona’s the only one who’s lodged a complaint.” Renny didn’t want to imagine how many others had blithely allowed their money to be stolen. “I checked with the hotel and it was the first they’d heard of it, too.”
“Would you recognize him if you saw him again?”
“Of course, but there’s no guarantee he’d stick around once the police put out their warning.”
“You called them this morning?”
“Just before I came here.”
“You probably spoke to a night clerk. They won’t get their act together before this afternoon at the earliest. We can sort it out ourselves.” Con opened the door of his Spitfire. “Let’s go.”
He could be such a rat sometimes, tempting her like a seasoned carny worker to the roller coaster ride that was time spent in his company. But she was no longer the impulsive woman who would have leapt into that seat and whooped as he pulled away. “I can’t leave my wedding plans and go back to Deception Springs right now.”
“It’s only an hour away. Surprise and speed. That’s how you gain the advantage over your opponent, cookie. Strategy 101.”
“I’m not going back to Deception,” she repeated.
“You don’t mind, do you, Jacob? You’d be helping a lovely old lady. Have you met my grandmother?”
“I’m staying with her while Renny works out her notice.”
“Is she keeping her teeth in? Gran, I mean.”
“Uh, no, actually.”
“That’s great. It means she likes you.” Con slapped Jacob’s shoulder.
“I have things to do,” Renny argued. “Hair, nails, facial—”
“Cut, polish and wax? Quit fishing for compliments.” He turned to Jacob. “Five G’s is a blow to Gran. She’s on a fixed income, you know.”
“Right. But I understand you recently liquidated an asset. Did Renny mention I sell mutual funds? Let me give you my card.”
“Jacob—” Renny put up a hand, stalling his sales pitch. “Con, I’m sorry. There’s nothing I can do. I'm getting married tomorrow.”
Con considered her as he slipped Jacob’s card into his wallet, then pushed his wallet into his back pocket. “We’ll take Jake’s car, all go together.”
“Jacob, please tell him we can’t.”
“We could talk investments on the way,” Con suggested.
Renny shot Con a dark look.
Jacob shrugged at Renny. “I know you’re bothered by this whole thing. Would you feel better if you located the man and identified him to the police? There are salons in De
ception.”
Con raised his brows as if waiting for her decision. As if she actually had a choice to make.
“But the caterer is coming by with the dishes.” Renny heard how lame it sounded and felt her shoulders sag in defeat. “All right, I’ll go. But I want to be back here by lunch. I can’t leave Mona alone all day when it’s my last one with her.”
“No problem. Go use Shakey’s phone to call Gran and let her know where we’re going.”
“You know they have these fancy inventions called mobile phones, right?” Renny dug hers out of her purse, but it was dead. “Oh. Forgot to dock it. Jacob?”
“I left mine at the house.”
“No problem. It’s not like we’re in a hurry or anything.” Con gave a negligent shrug. “Call over to my place if you’re worried about Gran being alone. Spencer’s there. He’s not doing anything.”
“You need to talk to him,” Renny said as she recalled the hangdog face on Con’s pilot. “He’s had coffee with Gran every morning this week and, between you and me, is worried sick you’re going to let him go now that you don’t need a pilot.”
“Ask him to meet the caterer for you. That should reassure him he’s still needed.”
“Con.”
“Just trying to help a buddy get over his shyness and meet people. Fine, scratch calling Spence, just let Gran know what we’re doing. Go with Renny, Jake. Try Shakey’s coffee. It’s the best in town.” Con leaned on his car and squinted at the sky as if he wanted to soak up Montana sunshine for the rest of the day.
Renny distrusted his idleness. Con’s body might be still, but his mind was always working. Reluctantly, she let Jacob open the door for her and re-entered Shakey’s.
8:33 a.m.
Renny had always imagined the day before her wedding would involve the full princess treatment, but it was turning into conflict with a capital “Con.”
Mona, typically, didn’t want Renny going to any trouble on her behalf. Renny reassured her by telling her she wanted to visit a spa in Deception, but the tiny white lie bothered her.
As she walked out of the pool hall again, her stomach churned with misgivings, but not as bad as before she had told Con. Her conscience had been very bothered at the idea of walking away from Mona’s problem, but a couple of hours in a car with Con and Jacob weren’t likely to provide inner peace.
Con was still leaning on his car and straightened when they appeared.
“Gran all right?” he asked.
“She asked me what I thought you were up to.”
“You said six foot one, right?”
“I said you love her very much so your motive is pure, but after a couple of weeks of doing nothing, you’re bored, and that makes you dangerous.”
“You’re one of the few people besides Gran who gets me. It’s so refreshing.”
“Are we ready to go?” Jacob asked.
“Do you have a map?” Con asked.
“I do.” Jacob walked down the block to his car.
“I knew he was a map man,” Con murmured as Jacob moved out of earshot. “Where’s his sense of adventure?”
“I keep it in the glove box,” Jacob called out, showing them the map he retrieved.
“I’ll bet.” Con chuckled.
Renny opened her mouth to defend Jacob, but paused when she saw Jacob step back and view his car. He scratched his head.
“Problem?” she asked, walking toward him. Con strolled beside her.
“The tires are flat.” Jacob circled his car.
“All of them?” Renny asked, incredulous.
“What are the chances of that?” Con asked. “Hey, I know. Renny and I will go ahead and you can catch up.”
And he could spank her bare bottom while they were at it, because he obviously thought she was born yesterday. “No thanks. I’ll wait for Jacob.”
“You have to come with me. I can’t find a guy I’ve never seen,” Con reminded her.
“So wait for us.”
“It makes more sense for you and me to go ahead. That way, we’ll be done by the time Jacob catches up to us.”
“Done what?”
“Finding Felix. Pay attention. What do you say, Jake?”
“I didn’t see the man. I can’t help you.” Jacob bent to press his thumb against one of the tires.
“I mean about our going on ahead.” Con made a face at her behind Jacob’s back and tapped his temple.
“Stop it,” she mouthed.
“I don’t mind either way.” Jacob frowned at the tires. “I can’t understand how all of them . . . .”
“Honestly, Jacob, can’t you see that Con let the air out of your tires so I would have to go with him? You’ll notice his car is a two-seater, so you’ll be left behind.” She waved from Jacob’s flat tires to Con’s Spitfire.
“Renatta Jane O’Laughlin! What are you suggesting? Just because we would be arrested for what we’ve done in that car doesn’t mean I plan to do it again. Unless you want to, of course. You were pretty enthusiastic the first time.”
Renny closed her eyes in a wince. When she opened them, Con had moved to his own car and opened the door. Grinning, he invited her into it with a wave.
Jacob lifted his brows indignantly.
“Ignore him,” Renny urged. “Everything is a game to Con. He doesn’t want me. He wants to win.”
“If there’s still something between you—”
“There’s not.”
“We might be rushing things.”
“I want to marry you, Jacob.” She curled her fists around the lapels of his jacket and kissed his lips.
He didn’t usually care for public displays of affection—was kind of reserved in private, for that matter—but he was a good kisser. He had warm lips, not too wet. Maybe he didn’t haul her into his arms the way Con would have, but having her butt grabbed during a quick embrace was not the respectable image she sought to attain. She liked that Jacob’s conservative personality curbed her impulsive nature.
“Do you suppose there’s a superstition about sending your bride off with her ex-boyfriend the day before the wedding?” Jacob asked.
“I’m waiting for you, so it doesn’t matter.”
“These tires will take time to fix. You go ahead. I’ll catch up.”
“You can’t let him get away with this nonsense.”
“Renny, the quickest way to stop this nonsense is for you to prove you’re not affected. You’re the most reliable woman I know. I trust you completely.”
Reliable? That had to be the dreariest adjective ever applied to her. It shouldn’t bother her when she had struggled so hard to become an upstanding citizen, but she liked to think she still had a splash of color. On the other hand, she wanted to avoid the opposite extreme that Con brought out in her. Maybe Jacob was right. This was the ultimate test. Besides, she was curious to know what Con was trying to accomplish by separating her from Jacob. She and Con could clear the air while she cleared her conscience, all before lunch.
“I won’t disappoint you,” she promised.
“I know you won’t. Where should we meet?”
“Same place we stayed with Gran. I’ll leave a message with the bell desk.”
“All right.” He walked her to the Spitfire.
“So glad you decided to join me,” Con said.
“Don’t get smug or I’ll insist on driving.” She slid into the topless roadster and he slammed the door, rounded the car and climbed over the driver’s door to drop behind the wheel. Gunning the engine, he pulled away.
After waving at Jacob, she straightened in her seat. Con picked up speed and the wind gathered around her feet, billowing her skirt. She pushed it down her thighs.
“Why did you ditch Jacob?” she asked.
“Huh?” He looked from the road to her legs, to the road, back to her legs and, finally, to her face. “Oh. It’s an intervention. He’s not right for you, cookie. When you said ‘average,’ I didn’t realize you meant dull, complacent and a fa
thead.”
“He is not!”
“What’s he like in the sack?”
“I wouldn’t know,” she said, realizing as she spoke that it was absolutely the wrong thing to say.
Gravel sprayed as Con pulled over and jammed on the brakes. He stared at her.
“We want to wait until we’re married.”
He raised his brows.
“It’s romantic!”
He pulled back onto the road without saying a word.
Renny slouched in her seat, thoughts ominous. Gradually the beauty of the approaching Bitterroots lightened her mood. She loved this part of the country. It was the first place she had felt settled.
And she was leaving it.
Her mood dipped toward sour again.
“So . . . ” He leaned his forearm on the back of her seat and toyed with her blowing hair. Tingles raced down her nape. “Six months without sex?”
“Did I say I’ve been without sex for six months?”
“You’re awfully snippy. Haven’t seen you this uptight since you first came to live with Gran.”
She shifted away. “So you dragged me away from Jacob to tell me you don’t like him. Fine. Opinion noted. I’m still getting married tomorrow. You didn’t have to go to this extreme to make your point.”
“Actually, I had another reason. See, I’ve been giving this situation with Felix some thought.” He scraped the backs of his fingernails under his chin.
“No, you haven’t.”
“Hear me out. I’m thinking of a sting.”
Dormant parts of her sat up and rubbed gleeful hands. A bubble of excited laughter rose to the back of her throat and she fought it back with a cough. She had considered the same thing as soon as Gran had told her what had happened, but she had fought the urge. Walking away from her shameful past had been a rough road, most of it uphill. Any backsliding she’d done had been with the man next to her and, even though he’d found her an exciting companion for a few harmless forays into role playing, he hadn’t been prepared to make that kind of woman his life partner. And he didn’t even know what she’d done! She couldn’t run a sting with Con. It would raise questions about why she was so good at confidence games. Besides, lying to people was a step backward and it would mean lying to Jacob, too. She couldn’t hurt him. She shook her head.