by Judy Duarte
“Oh, yes, you did.” She smiled, lighting those blue-green eyes and revealing two of the prettiest dimples he’d ever seen. “I even have a few dollars change for you.”
Again, the compulsion to compare her to his ex-wife struck him hard, but he shook it off. Heather was long gone—thank goodness. And now, thanks to Catherine, Ray wouldn’t need to weed out the gold diggers from the dating pool until he was ready to.
“I’ll take a quick shower,” he said. “Just give me a couple of minutes.”
After snatching his clothes from the bedroom, he headed for the bathroom. Then, once inside, he turned on the spigot and waited for the water to heat.
Surprisingly, he was actually looking forward to attending the hospital benefit tonight, especially since he would walk in with Catherine on his arm. A man could get used to looking at a woman like her—and talking to her, too.
Of course, he was paying her to be pleasant and agreeable. If they’d met on different terms, it might be another story altogether.
He had to admit that he’d gone out on a limb by hiring a fake fiancée, but after all he’d been through with Heather, after all their divorce had cost him, he wasn’t ready to date again. And even when he was ready to give it another go, he didn’t think he’d ever want to get married again.
What a nightmare his marriage had turned out to be.
Of course, if he wanted to have a child, he’d have to reconsider. After all, as the only son of an only son, Ray had no one to leave his ranch and holdings to unless he had an heir. But he was still young—thirty-six on his next birthday—so he had plenty of time to think about having children.
He reached into the shower stall and felt the water growing warm, so he peeled off his clothes and stepped under the steady stream of water. As he reached for the bar of soap, he found Catherine’s lavender-colored razor resting next to it, along with her yellow bath gel.
It was weird to see feminine toiletries in his bathroom again. He’d been living without a woman under his roof for nearly two years, so he’d gotten used to having the place to himself.
Still, he reached for the plastic bottle, popped open the lid and took a whiff of Catherine’s soap. The exotic floral fragrance reminded him of her.
Again he realized that he could get used to coming home to a beautiful blonde like Catherine, to having her ask how his day went, to stepping into her embrace and breathing in her scent. But the Catherine who’d spent the lunch hour with him earlier today wasn’t real.
He’d employed her to be the perfect fiancée, and she was merely doing her job.
Even if he got caught up in the act, if he let down his guard, believing Catherine was different and allowing himself to see her in a romantic light, he’d be making another big mistake.
After all, he’d made up his mind to steer clear of big-city women from here on out—and cities didn’t get much bigger than Manhattan.
Besides, he now realized that he needed someone with both of her feet firmly planted on Brighton Valley soil.
And Catherine was only passing through.
Ray snatched one of the brown fluffy towels from the rack on the wall and dried off. After shaving and splashing on a bit of cologne, he put on his clothes—black slacks and a white dress shirt, which he left open at the collar.
After he’d combed his hair, he removed his black, Western-cut jacket from the hanger and slipped it on. Then he returned to the living room where Catherine waited for him.
She wasn’t watching television this time. She was standing near the window, looking out onto Main Street. She turned when she heard his footsteps, gave him a once-over and smiled. “You look great.”
He didn’t know about that, but he figured people were going to think that they’d planned coordinating outfits.
“Thanks,” he said. “So do you. You’re going to knock the socks off every man at the benefit—married or not.”
“Well, you’re no slouch, Mayor. Especially when you get all dressed up. So maybe I ought to worry about running into a few jealous women tonight.” A slow smile stretched across her face. “I might have to charge hazard pay.”
He chuckled. “There might be a few who’ll be sorry to learn I’m taken, but they’ll be polite about it.” He nodded toward the bedroom door. “I need to get my boots. I’ll be right back.”
Minutes later, he returned to the living room, ready to go.
“So tell me,” Catherine said, as she reached for her small, beaded evening bag. “What made you decide to run for mayor of Brighton Valley?”
“I didn’t actually run for mayor. Six months ago, after a couple of beers down at the Stagecoach Inn, I had a weak moment and agreed to run for a vacant city council seat. I’d never really wanted to get involved in politics, so I almost backed out the next day. But then I realized I might be able to make a difference in the community, so I went through with it.”
“Apparently the citizens of Brighton Valley agreed with you.”
“I guess you’re right, because I won hands down. Then, a few weeks ago, Jim Cornwall, the elected mayor, was trimming a tree in his backyard and fell off the ladder. He suffered a skull fracture, as well as several other serious injuries. He’ll be laid up for some time, so I was asked to fill the position until he returns.”
“That’s quite the compliment,” she said.
“You’re right, which is why I reluctantly agreed. Trouble was, I had enough on my plate already, with a land deal I’m in the midst of negotiating and a new horse-breeding operation that’s just getting under way.”
Then, on top of that, his life had been further complicated by all the single women coming out of the woodwork, now that he was single again. And if there was anything he didn’t need in his life right now, it was more complications—especially of the female variety.
“Something tells me you’ll be able to handle it.”
She was right, of course. Ray Mendez was no quitter. He was also an idea man who could think himself out of most any dilemma.
So here he was, preparing to go to a charity event at the Brighton Valley Medical Center with a hired fiancée, albeit a lovely woman who was sure to make a splash when they walked into the hospital side by side.
Ray had never been one to want center stage, yet he didn’t really mind it tonight, since he knew he’d be in good hands with an accomplished actress. So, with their employment agreement binding them, they were about to make their evening debut.
Now, as he opened the door of his apartment, the curtain was going up and the show was on. He probably ought to have a little stage fright, but he wasn’t the least bit apprehensive.
Catherine, as he’d found out at their matinee performance earlier today, just outside Caroline’s Diner, was one heck of an actress. All he had to do was to follow her lead.
In fact, he was looking forward to being with her tonight, to watching their act unfold.
When it was over, they’d head back to his place. He wasn’t sure what would happen after that. They’d have a debriefing, he supposed. And maybe they’d kick back and watch a little TV.
He really hadn’t given the rest of the evening any thought. Yet something told him he should have. He was finding his hired fiancée a little too attractive to just let the chips fall where they might.
* * *
As Catherine and Ray entered the hospital pavilion, which had been decorated with blinking white lights, black tablecloths and vases of red roses, she instinctively reached for his hand.
She wished she could say it had been part of the act, but the truth was, she was having a bit of stage fright—as unusual as that was.
He wrapped his fingers around hers and gave them a conspiratorial squeeze. “Good idea.”
She wished she could have taken full credit for the hand-holding, but she’d done it without any forethought.
During the ten-minute drive from his downtown apartment to the medical center, she’d been so engrossed by the tall, dark and handsome man acros
s the seat from her, so mesmerized by his sexy Texas drawl, that she couldn’t help thinking of this evening as a date, rather than a job. So when they’d entered the pavilion and she’d spotted a sea of strangers, she’d reached for a friend.
At least, that’s the way it had felt at the time.
But he was right; slipping her hand into his had been the perfect move—under the circumstances.
So what if his warm grip was actually comforting and she found herself feeling energized by the connection, strengthened by it.
Ray led her toward a petite Latina who was greeting an older man dressed in a gray suit and bold tie.
“I want to introduce you to Dr. Ramirez,” he said upon their approach. “She’s one of the major players trying to fund a neonatal intensive care unit at Brighton Valley Medical Center.”
The attractive doctor who, even in high heels, didn’t appear to be much taller than five foot two, was stylishly dressed in turquoise and black.
“Selena,” Ray said, “I’d like you to meet my fiancée, Catherine Loza.”
The doctor brightened, and as she reached out in greeting, Catherine released her hold on Ray long enough to give the woman a polite shake.
“I didn’t realize Ray was engaged,” Selena Ramirez said, “but it’s no surprise. He’s a great guy.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” Catherine wondered if Selena had been one of the single women in town who’d been after Ray, although she certainly wasn’t giving off those kinds of vibes now.
Even Melanie Robertson, the woman she’d met in front of the diner, had seemed a little disappointed—and maybe even envious—when she’d gotten the message that the handsome, single mayor was now taken.
“Selena is an obstetrician,” Ray added. “She’s been actively working with the city council to support the efforts to build the NICU.”
“As it is,” Selena explained, “our smallest preemies have to be airlifted to Houston. And I’d like to provide our mothers with the assurance that their babies are getting the best care available here at the medical center.”
Ray nodded in agreement. “That reality really hit home for all of us when one of the councilmen’s granddaughter was born. She had some serious problems at birth and had to be transported to the nearest neonatal unit. That’s when we agreed to open our wallets and do whatever we could to help.”
“That must have been a scary time for the councilman’s family,” Catherine said.
“It was.” Selena’s face grew solemn. “And sadly, their baby didn’t make it.”
Just hearing of a new mother’s loss tore at Catherine’s heart. She loved children and had hoped to have one or two of her own someday, but she’d had so many female problems in the past, including cysts on one of her ovaries and surgery to remove it, that the doctors had told her years ago that she wasn’t likely to conceive. So her chances of having a baby of her own were slim to none.
She’d been more than a little disappointed upon learning the news, but she’d come to grips with it.
“I’d be happy to lend my support,” Catherine said. “When Jennifer Walker’s twins were born, they were several weeks early. But thanks to their time spent in a top-notch neonatal unit, they came home healthy and were soon thriving. So I know how valuable it is to have a NICU at the medical center.”
“Jennifer Walker’s twins? Are you talking about Kaylee and Kevin?”
Catherine nodded. “I used to be Jenn’s roommate in New York.”
“So that’s how you met Ray,” Selena surmised, “through Dan and Eva.”
Uh-oh. That hadn’t been part of the story she and Ray had created last night, but it was the truth, so she nodded in agreement. “That’s how we first met, of course. But nothing came of it. Then we ran into each other again in Houston six months ago. He attended one of my performances and came to visit me backstage—just to say hello. He asked me to have a drink with him, and one thing led to another.”
“You’re a performer?” Selena asked.
“I sing a little and dance.” Catherine thought it might be a good idea to downplay the acting.
“That’s wonderful. Our next benefit is a talent show, so it would be nice if you took part in it.”
Catherine was at a loss, and she glanced at Ray, hoping he’d toss her a lifeline of some kind.
“That’s on the second Saturday of this month,” Ray said. “Right?”
Selena nodded. “Can we count on you to perform?”
Good grief, Ray was leaving it up to her. But then again, she supposed that was only fair. He couldn’t very well schedule her every waking moment.
“I’ll see what kind of act I can come up with,” Catherine said.
“That’s great,” Selena said. “Clarissa Eubanks is in charge of the talent show. I’ll tell her to call the mayor’s office for contact information.”
“I’ll make it easy on both of you,” Ray said. “Catherine’s staying with me.”
They made the usual small talk for a while, then Selena saw someone else she needed to greet.
“Congratulations on your engagement,” she said as she prepared to walk away. “I hope you’ll be very happy together.”
“Thank you. I’m sure we will.” Catherine turned to Ray and blessed him with a lover’s smile, which he returned in full force.
For a moment, as their gazes zeroed in on each other again, something she couldn’t quite define passed between them, something warm and filling.
He reached to take her hand again, and as his fingers wrapped around hers, the shattered edges of her heart, which had been damaged by Erik’s deceit, melded into one another, as if beginning a much-needed healing process.
Coming to Brighton Valley had been a good idea, she decided.
With her hand tucked in Ray’s, reinforcing whatever tentative bond they’d forged just moments ago, her past turned a brand-new corner, revealing a future rife with promise and possibilities.
And for one brief moment in time, she could almost imagine that future including Ray Mendez.
* * *
Ever since Ray had agreed to take the job as the interim mayor of Brighton Valley, he’d spent more time at various benefits, ribbon-cutting ceremonies and dinner meetings than he’d imagined possible.
In fact, just thirty-six hours ago, he’d dreaded attending this very event.
Not that he didn’t fully support the building of a new neonatal intensive care unit. He did, but he’d been waking up each morning at four, just so he could tend to his personal business commitments, as well as the political obligations that now filled his calendar.
Yet tonight, with lovely Catherine on his arm, the hospital benefit had not only been tolerable, but surprisingly pleasant.
Of course, now as the evening was winding down, he and Catherine had become separated once again. Usually they’d split up due to someone wanting to speak to him privately about one matter or another. But a couple of times, someone else had whisked Catherine away to introduce her to somebody she “just had to meet.”
However, they’d always managed to find each other in the midst of the milling crowd.
Even from across the room, their gazes would meet. And when they did, Catherine would look at Ray with a lover’s yearning. At least, that’s the way it felt to him.
The first time it had happened, he’d been so unbalanced by the expression on her face that his breath had caught. But after a while he’d actually come to look forward to their eye contact.
What was with that?
He knew that their so-called romance was all an act, but he’d gotten so caught up in their performance that he’d found himself seeking her out, just to catch her eye.
And there she was now, standing next to a potted palm, talking to one of the doctors’ wives. And here it came—the glance his way, the look, the smile, the expression that announced she would much rather be curled up in bed with him.
She was good. Really good. And it was all he could do to remember that
they’d only just met, that she was his employee, that they hadn’t slept together—and that they would never even consider it.
Well, hell. Okay, so he probably would consider it—if it ever came to that. But it wouldn’t.
The affectionate glances, the touches, were all just for show. Things would be much different when they returned to his apartment.
So why was all that phony longing driving him nuts now?
Because she was such a good actress that he was buying it all—hook, line and sinker. How was that for bad luck and a lousy roll of the dice?
Still, he planned to take one last opportunity to claim his fiancée this evening. Then he’d take her home and end it all.
After checking his wristwatch and deciding now was the time, Ray made his way across the room to where Catherine was speaking to Margo Reinhold, the wife of one of the city councilmen.
“Your fiancée and I have been talking,” Margo said to Ray. “I suggested that she join the Brighton Valley Women’s Club. We’re having a luncheon and fashion show next month, so it would be a fun meeting to attend. We’re also looking for more models, so I hope she’ll consider volunteering for that, as well.”
There was no guarantee Catherine would still be in town this summer, so she couldn’t very well commit to anything that far in advance without letting someone down.
Realizing her dilemma and seeing the indecision in her eyes, Ray stepped in to help. “I’m sure Catherine would love to join you ladies, but she has plans to…take a cruise with a couple of her girlfriends.”
“Oh, yes,” Catherine said, taking the baton he’d passed. “When is the fashion show?”
“It’s on August the tenth.”
Catherine’s expression fell—just as if she were shattered that her previously made plans wouldn’t allow her to take part in the event.
“Wouldn’t you know it?” she said. “That’s the day I set sail for the Caribbean.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that,” Margo said. “But there’s always next year.”
“Oh, of course.” Catherine tossed Ray another one of those bright-eyed, I-love-you grins. Or maybe it was one of those saved-by-the-bell smiles.