He’d survived the wedding in one piece. Hopefully, the worst part was over. Ready to leave, he sent Ashley a brief text message.
She appeared in the room where he waited in a matter of minutes and smiled at him. “Jessie is ready to go, too. If you’ll come with me, I’ll get you out of here without being mobbed by your fans.”
“You’re the one who wanted them all gathered together today,” he pointed out as she opened a door into the hallway and looked both ways before motioning for him to follow. He felt like he was on a mission full of covert maneuvers as they made their way to a small meeting room where Jessie waited with her friend.
Chase removed his hat and smiled at both women.
“This is Stacey,” Ashley said, introducing Chase to the maid of honor.
She gave him an observant look before breaking into a warm smile and reaching out to shake his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Jarrett. Thank you for making this trip possible.”
He tipped his head toward his cousin. “Oh, this was all Ashley. Any credit for today goes straight to her.”
“Well, she did put together a beautiful wedding,” Stacey offered.
“It helped to have a beautiful bride,” Ashley said, smiling at Jessie.
The girl wore another white dress, except this one had a western vibe. It appeared to be cotton, inset with strips of crocheted lace along both sleeves. More lace bordered the placket of covered buttons that marched all the way down the front of the dress. A wide, tooled leather belt cinched at her waist made it appear impossibly tiny. Brown boots with cream stitching on the toes covered her feet and a silver necklace ornamented with turquoise stones encircled her neck. Her hair remained styled in the elaborate updo she’d worn during the ceremony.
Chase experienced the strangest desire to pull the pins from her hair and see how long it was. He had no idea if it was bobbed off at her chin or if it would fall down to that small waist of hers.
Mentally shaking off his fascination with her gleaming hair, he smiled and held out an arm to her. “Shall we make an escape and find some lunch? I don’t know about you, but I skipped breakfast and could really go for some food.”
Nervously, she nodded and accepted the arm he held out to her. “I am a little hungry.”
“Great. I know just the place.” Chase glanced over at his cousin. “I’ll catch up with you later, Ash. Thanks for putting together a nice wedding.”
“You’re so welcome, Chase. In spite of what you might think, you’ll someday thank me for all this,” Ashley said, then escaped into the ballroom.
Unsettled by her cryptic words, he wasn’t sure what she meant and decided to think about it later. After all, he only had to pretend to be the husband of the sweet woman beside him until five that afternoon, then he could get back to his regular routine.
“Shall we go, Mrs. Jarrett?” he asked, offering Jessie a cocky grin.
She nodded and allowed him to lead her out the door. The security grouch stood in the hallway and guided them to the nearest exit where a limo waited.
“Ever ridden in one of these?” Chase asked as they slid onto the leather-covered seat.
“No, I haven’t,” she said, looking around the interior then scooting as far away from him as she could go before bumping into the door.
Surprised she didn’t attempt to cling to him, he couldn’t help but be intrigued by the fact she didn’t behave like any of the rodeo fans he typically encountered. When Ashley told him of her plans, he’d fully anticipated having to fend off some amorous woman’s intentions all afternoon.
From what he’d observed, Jessie Pierce wouldn’t give him a bit of trouble, unless having to draw her out of her shell counted.
Ashley had been correct in saying the girl was shy and reserved. Rather than gazing at him in adoration, she turned her face to the window and looked outside. His ego might have suffered from her lack of interest if he worried about that sort of thing.
“Where to sir?” the driver asked, interrupting Chase’s thoughts.
“The Bellagio, please,” Chase said, deciding they could find something to eat there. He looked to Jessie again. “Have you ever been there?”
“No. This is my first time to visit Las Vegas.” The low tone of her voice did something to Chase. Something he forced himself to ignore as he leaned back against the comfortable seat and stretched out his long legs. “You’re kidding me.”
“No. I never had a reason to come, although Stacey has tried to talk me into accompanying her any number of times.” She tossed him a quick glance then stared out the window as the car pulled into the busy traffic bustling up and down The Strip.
Chase chuckled. “Your friend seems like she’s full of fun.”
A true smile filled her features and transformed her face from attractive to undeniably pretty as she looked over at him. Amazing cheekbones and a bright light sparkling in her eyes made him smile in return.
“Stacey is full of something, for sure,” Jessie said, meeting his gaze.
Chase found himself fighting a losing battle to keep from falling into those big baby blues. In need of a distraction, he pointed out some of the landmarks along The Strip.
“Have you been able to do much sightseeing since you got here?” he asked when she practically pressed her nose to the glass as they passed a cluster of themed casinos.
“No. We had dress fittings on Thursday and went over the wedding plans. Yesterday, Ashley took us shopping for western attire. We went to the rodeo both evenings, but other than that, we haven’t had time to see too many sights.”
“Then we’ll fix that this afternoon.” Chase grinned as the limo pulled up the drive and stopped in front of one of the town’s ritzier hotels. He handed the driver a tip then got out and held a hand out to Jessie, pulling her up beside him.
He liked that she was tall. And Ashley was right. For one day, it wouldn’t kill him to pretend he had a wife. One he liked and found more than a little intriguing.
“Come on, Jessie. Prepare to be dazzled and amazed.”
Chapter Four
Jessie followed Chase inside the elegant hotel, doing her best not to gape at the impressive lobby.
In the crush of people, Chase took her hand in his and led her to a conservatory where she clamped her jaw to keep her mouth from dangling open at the stunning holiday decorations. After she’d admired the elaborate display for several moments, he maneuvered them out of the packed area and back to the lobby.
“Hungry?” Chase asked.
Unable to find her voice, she merely nodded her head.
He guided her through throngs of people and over to a popular restaurant where they were quickly seated at a quiet table away from prying eyes.
She’d done her homework, reading every article she could find about Chase Jarrett and studying photos of him she found online. Regardless of what she’d learned, she hadn’t been prepared to meet him in person.
He was even more handsome up close than she’d imagined. In fact, when she’d walked down the aisle at their mock wedding, the rapid pounding of her heart and the butterflies taking flight in her stomach made her wish she was really about to become his bride.
Far taller than she’d expected, he stood a few inches above her, even with her wearing heels. His shoulders were broader than she pictured — his form more muscular.
She’d nearly tripped when she’d caught her first glimpse of him in that tuxedo, waiting with his friend and the pastor. The moment he’d smiled at her, her knees began to quake and her temperature spiked.
Momentarily concerned she might faint, she took a deep breath and blocked out everything except the words the pastor said. She had to or she never would have made it through the ceremony with hundreds of eyes watching her every move.
For a wedding that was entirely fake, she thought Ashley had done a fabulous job of hiring an actor who actually seemed to be a pastor. Since the ceremony wasn’t real, anyone could have conducted it, but Pastor Randall certa
inly knew what he was doing, so perfectly portraying his part.
Jessie did find it strange Ashley asked if she’d mind if her father walked her down the aisle. Thoroughly charmed by the kind man, she also enjoyed meeting his lovely wife. It was easy to see where Ashley got both her beauty and outgoing personality.
Although she assumed everyone knew the wedding was bogus, it generated a lot of interest. She’d noticed a television news crew filming part of it and there were multiple photographers. No doubt, the wedding would be big news among the rodeo circles Chase frequented. It certainly appeared to encourage his most ardent fans. Every time one of them tried to plant a kiss on his mouth and ended up pressing their lips to his cheek or chin, she had to work to contain an urge to giggle.
Thoughts of kisses made her knees quake again, recalling how much she’d enjoyed the kiss Chase had given her when the pastor pronounced them man and wife. It had been the single most wonderful kiss she’d ever experienced. Sweet, gentle, tender, and full of emotion, the kiss was everything a bride would dream of receiving on her wedding day. No wonder women fell all over themselves trying to get Chase’s attention.
Even during the brief reception, Chase had kissed her cheek or temple a few times, as if he truly cared about her. He’d been attentive and charming, obviously doing his best to make her feel special. She absolutely felt like she’d awakened in the midst of a wonderful dream.
If Jessie could have planned a wedding, it would have been nearly identical to what Ashley pulled off. The only difference would have been that Jessie would have held it outdoors on a warm spring day and there certainly would not have been hundreds of strangers in attendance.
But the archway of burgundy and champagne roses with greens, her bouquet of flowers, even the boutonnieres were exactly what she would have chosen.
The gown she wore was expensive and exquisite. She’d dreaded having to wear something tacky or gaudy, but she should have known from her conversations with Ashley that the woman would make sure everything held a measure of class. Had Jessie walked into a bridal shop with the ability to select any gown, the one she wore down the aisle would have been her first choice. Simple yet elegant, it fit her perfectly and made her feel like a princess in her very own fairy tale.
Of course, it didn’t hurt that she had a handsome cowboy prince at her side, at least for the day.
Convinced Chase would be an arrogant jerk, she was pleasantly surprised to find him polite and gentlemanly. In spite of her efforts to do otherwise, she couldn’t help stealing glances at him. With tousled blond hair, fascinating hazel eyes, and a mouth simply made for kissing, it was no wonder he set female hearts aflutter everywhere he went.
“Ready to order?” Chase asked, drawing her from her musings.
She blinked, realizing she’d been staring at him. “Yes, thank you.” She glanced through the menu and decided on a salad right before their server returned to their table with glasses of ice water and the soda Chase had ordered.
“Are you sure you don’t want anything else to drink? Even lemonade?” he asked after the server took their orders and picked up the menus.
“Water is fine. Thank you.” She took a sip of the cool liquid, wishing she could hold the icy glass to her cheeks. They felt like they were on fire as Chase continued to study her.
Curious, she considered what he saw when he looked at her. She wasn’t exactly an ardent fan or someone who was given to silly crushes. Did he see a plain, hardworking girl? Someone most men looked right past since Jessie wasn’t one who spent a lot of time doing her hair or fussing with her makeup.
Presumably, he was used to being surrounded with beautiful women, all vying for his attention and favor.
Well, if that was what he was waiting for, he’d probably be disappointed. Even if Jessie wanted to go all fangirl on him, which she most emphatically did not, she was too shy to ever do such a thing. After all, she was twenty-five, owner of her own successful business, and not given to public demonstrations of craziness.
The feelings stirred up by the cowboy sitting across from her definitely qualified as crazy. Perhaps even certifiably so. There was no other explanation for the relentless desire to lean across the table and kiss Chase’s tempting mouth or run her fingers through that thick blond hair.
Disturbed by the thoughts swirling through her head, Jessie shifted in her chair and took a deep breath. She could do this. She could make it through another… a quick glance at the chunky silver bracelet watch on her wrist gave her the time… four hours with Chase Jarrett. He’d leave her at the hotel where she’d change clothes and head to the rodeo to watch him ride.
If tonight went like the past two evenings, he wouldn’t even glance her way. And that was fine with her.
It was undeniably exciting to pretend to be married to the virile man for a few hours, but the charade would end at five. Tomorrow, she’d be back home, back to her regular, if not sometimes boring, life.
Jessie glanced up as the server set their orders in front of them.
“Is there anything else I can bring you?” he asked, giving Jessie a long glance.
She shook her head and smiled. “Everything looks great. Thank you so much.”
“My pleasure.” The server smiled at her with undisguised interest before he walked off.
Jessie couldn’t miss Chase’s scowl, but had no idea what put it there. She bowed her head and said a silent word of thanks for her meal before digging into the salad.
Aware that he’d been the one to initiate most of the conversation, she swallowed and watched as he cut off a bite of steak.
Sensing her perusal, he held up his fork. “Want a taste? It’s pretty good.”
“Thank you, but I’m fine with my salad.” She pointed to the strips of seared steak among the greens. “I’ve got plenty of beef right here.”
He grinned. “It’s nice to see you eat meat. Most of the girls I’ve shared a meal with the last year or two go on and on about the horrors of eating meat. I take it as a personal insult since I raise a little beef.”
“What type of cattle do you run?” she asked.
“Angus. They’re solid producers and perpetually in demand. I also raise rodeo bulls.”
She raised an eyebrow and smiled. “I bet that’s interesting. How many bulls do you have now?”
“Right at a dozen. I’m hoping to have one ready to enter in the big-time in the next year or two. For now, they compete at smaller rodeos, just to get in the practice.”
“And how many cattle do you have, other than the bulls?” Jessie took a bite of her salad, waiting for his answer. He gave her a curious glance and shook his head, as though he needed to dislodge some errant thought before he leaned back in his chair.
“I’ve got almost two-hundred head right now. I just bought a ranch back in the spring, so I plan to continue adding to the herd.”
She nodded. “That’s smart. How many acres is your ranch?”
“Almost three thousand acres,” Chase said, pride shining from his eyes. “I got a pretty good deal on the place. Most of the buildings were just one windstorm away from falling down and every fence on the place needed to be repaired or replaced. The soil is rich and we got a good wheat crop off it, as well as produced more than enough hay to keep my cattle fed.”
Jessie bit her tongue to keep from asking him questions about the soil type, if he grew winter wheat, and if he had any thoughts on the sustainable farming practices she’d read about in a recent article in a farming magazine. Already feeling out of her element, she decided talking about beef production and crop rotation probably wouldn’t impress her faux husband.
She had an idea he much preferred his women to be of ornamental value only. Derisively, she thought about how spectacularly she failed on that front. She wasn’t and would never be anyone’s arm candy.
A farm girl at heart, she’d never look glamorous or turn heads. She was a simple girl who wanted a simple life. Or so she’d thought up until Chase had k
issed her. In that moment, something electric, magical, and completely unexpected zipped through her veins, leaving her puzzled and off-kilter.
“Do you have any ranch hands?” she inquired.
Chase nodded as he cut another bite of steak. “I have a few. Lucas, he was my best man today, is my ranch manager.”
At her questioning look, he smiled. “Lucas and I have been best friends for what seems like forever. When he got hurt, we weren’t sure he’d ever find his way past the mental and physical challenges. Then I bought my ranch and offered him the job. He was reluctant to take it, but his wife encouraged him. Lori is his right hand helper and his legs when there are places Lucas can’t go.”
Curiosity got the best of her and she set down her fork. “Did Lucas get hurt at a rodeo?”
“No,” Chase said, eating the bite of steak before he answered. “You’d think a bull rider who ends up in a wheel chair would have had some horrible wreck in the arena. Lucas was helping a friend with his feeding. He’d climbed up on top of the haystack to unfasten a tarp and took a step back on air. He fell onto a concrete feed bunk. We’re lucky he survived the fall. He lost the ability to walk, but he brings a wealth of knowledge to my ranch and I can trust him implicitly while I’m out on the rodeo circuit.”
“That’s wonderful,” she said, then felt like an idiot. “I don’t mean about him getting injured, I meant about your friendship and him working for you, giving you peace of mind to be gone while you rodeo.”
Chase chuckled and the sound, a deep rumbling from his broad chest, made her heart somersault in response. “I knew what you meant, Jessie. Thank you. I don’t know what I’d do without Lucas or Lori. What about you? What do you do?”
Jessie pushed an olive around on her plate, uncomfortable talking about herself. “I work in graphic design.”
Chase looked at her. “Didn’t Ashley mention something about you owning your own business?”
Jessie nodded. “Yeah, she probably did. My company is Rose Above Graphics. I design everything from book covers to promotional pieces for small businesses.”
Chasing Christmas: (Sweet Holiday Western Romance) (Rodeo Romance Book 5) Page 4