Picking up the letters, Serena grimaced. You’d think the post office would have the grace to try and space them out every once in a while.
Slumping against the back of her father’s old easy chair, Serena nibbled her lip. How was she going to manage things?
She was still trying to figure out how to pay everything and still eat when her sister, Tracy, knocked. Once a week, Tracy went to an exercise class at the Y, then came over to Serena’s for a glass of wine and catch-up.
Usually Tracy was too nice to point out the obvious differences in their lifestyles. She was married and spent her days home with a four-year-old little boy. She and her husband definitely didn’t have the Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous way of life, but it sure was a whole lot fuller than Serena’s.
After guiding her to the kitchen and pouring them both a glass of wine, the two of them sat down to chat. Tracy’s news centered around Jesse, her boy.
Serena focused solely on the bills she needed to pay.
Sipping from her glass of Chardonnay, Tracy listened intently to Serena’s laundry list of troubles. “Since you’ve already refused my offer of a loan, I’m a little at a loss of what you should do.”
“I think I need a part-time job, just for a little while.”
“How are you going to do that? You already work forty hours a week at the library.” Before Serena could reply, Tracy continued. “I know you do like that job, but they pay you next to nothing! Maybe you should quit and find something else to do.”
The thought of quitting the library was like having all her teeth pulled and dentures put in. It was just unthinkable. “But I love my job. I worked really hard to get it, too.”
“It’s good you love it, because you sure aren’t working for the pay.”
“It’s easy for you to say. Bubba makes a good living selling insurance.”
“He does, and that’s a fact. Plus, I decided to get married instead of get a fancy master’s in library science. I’m not spending my days dreading mail delivery. Those bills of yours are making you miserable. You know I’m right.”
“I know.” Only her sister could make Serena’s goals of getting a higher education into a bad thing. But Serena knew Tracy wasn’t trying to be mean. “I know you’re trying to help, but quitting isn’t an option. And before you even suggest it again, no, I don’t want a loan. And, I’m not going to ask Mom for help, either.”
Tracy frowned. “Money’s been really tight since Daddy got laid off in the fall.” Then she almost smiled. “Hey, there’s always Pete Ross over at the bank.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You know. He’s had a crush on you for ages. I bet he’d help you get a loan.” She waggled her eyebrows up and down in a Groucho Marx way. “I bet he’d give you a personal loan if you agreed to go out with him.”
Pete Ross. Wasn’t that how it always was? Pete was a perfectly good man, who was decent-looking and had a perfectly good job. And he liked her. But was she interested in him?
Not even a little bit. “I can’t do that. It wouldn’t be right.”
“You’ve got to do something.”
“Not start dating men in order to use them.”
Tracy drummed her fingers on the table. “All right. Maybe…maybe…I know! You could start giving blood? I read somewhere that the money’s pretty good.”
“Ha, ha.” She’d have to give away every drop in her veins to make a difference. “No thanks. You know how I am with needles.” Figuring she better dive in and tell her sister the whole truth, she said, “Um, actually, I do have an opportunity to make some extra cash, I’ve just been kind of slow to start up on it.”
“What’s that?”
Now that she’d brought up the subject, Serena wasn’t sure how to go about sharing the whole unvarnished truth. “The other day, Jarred Riddell came to see me at the library.”
Pressing one palm on her chest, Tracy struck a pose that would set the sweetest southern belle to shame. “He is so fine.”
Privately, Serena agreed. He was fine. But that only served to remind her about just how different she and Jarred were. “Do you want to hear about this or not?”
“Of course I do. What did he want?”
“He offered me a job.”
“To do what?”
She took a deep breath. “To give him charm-school lessons.”
Tracy’s mouth dropped open like a bass caught on the line. “Why on earth does he think he needs charm lessons? And why from you?”
“Because we’re friends.”
“I know you are. Y’all have been good buddies for ages.” Her voice drifted off. Obviously she had a whole lot more in her mind than she was saying.
Against her will, Serena felt more than a bit, oh…put out. “Jarred wants to impress Veronica Snow. He’s got this idea that if he’s perfect, she’ll bid on him at the Electra community auction next month.” She took a deep breath and continued. “From then on, he imagines the two of them falling in love.”
“Wow.”
It was a mouthful! “Anyway, he thinks I have enough manners to help him, uh…achieve his goal.”
“Oh…kay.” Tracy looked her over. “Well, I never really thought of you as Electra’s own Miss Manners, but I guess he does have a point. You do know how to eat and talk right. And, being a librarian and all, you could research all the finer points of etiquette.”
“Thank you.”
“And you are looking for a part-time job. How come you’ve been waiting to start?”
“No reason in particular,” she fibbed. No way was she going to let her sister know that just thinking about Jarred and Veronica together made her stomach knot.
“I still don’t get it. You need some extra money, plus he’s always been a good friend of yours. And, well, there are his biceps to think about. Those, alone, would be worth hours of my time.”
He did have great arms. And abs, too. Forcing herself to only concentrate on her friend Jarred, she grappled with more excuses. “Jarred’s a good guy, but, Trace, he never has taken directions well. He’s so full of himself. And, I’m kind of worried that the manners thing would be a lost cause anyway. The last time I saw him, he was chewing tobacco right in front of Veronica. She got scared and ran off.”
“That’s easy enough to fix. And shoot, you wouldn’t have to do all that much, I’m thinking. If you even get him halfway to being a gentleman, things will be a whole lot better.” Picking up a bill, Tracy stared at Serena the way only an older sister could. “How much was he going to pay you?”
“I never thought to ask. I kind of felt uncomfortable even thinking about helping him for money.”
“I hate to tell you this. But, if you won’t accept a loan from me, you might not have a choice. You’d best get on the phone and see if you can stop by his place. Pronto.”
“I don’t want to go over to the Riddell ranch.” She’d be on his home turf, plus there was enough testosterone around there to set her teeth on edge.
“You better. Otherwise he’s going to find someone else or decide Veronica’s not for him. Then you’ll really be up a creek without a paddle.” Waving a hand, she said, “The minute I leave, I want you to go get on the phone and become his etiquette advisor.”
“I will. I guess you’re right.”
Tracy spoiled the moment by nodding. “Oh, I know I am. Call me later and tell me what happened.”
The minute Tracy walked out her door, Serena picked up the phone and dialed Jarred’s number. After speaking to Junior for a sec, he put Jarred on the line.
“Is this really Serena Higgens? Last I heard she was too busy to give me the time of day.”
Oh, humble pie was so hard to eat! “It is. I was just wondering if you still needed some help with those charm-school lessons.”
“You mean since yesterday?”
Serena supposed she deserved his sarcasm. “I…I thought maybe you might have changed your mind?”
“Why are you asking?
”
“I’ve decided I have time to help you.”
“Have you, now?”
Remembering Tracy’s advice and staring at her bills, Serena told herself to be strong and move forward. “Is there any way I could come out and see you this evening?” she sputtered, sure her skin was turning so red and heated that someone would think she was sick. “We could talk about things.”
“Sure.” After a pause, he said, “Do you mind coming over?”
“No.” She hadn’t been to their ranch in years. “I could stop by in, say, an hour?”
“I’ll be waiting, sugar. With bells on.”
She gritted her teeth. “Good.”
When she hung up, Serena tossed those bills against the wall and swore loudly. Making extra money shouldn’t be so hard.
And neither should being around Jarred Riddell. All she needed to do was think that she was doing a favor for a friend. That was all. She was good at doing favors.
Chapter Five
“Who’s coming over?” Trent asked from his position on the couch. Lately, he’d taken to sprawling on it at every opportunity, boots and all.
As if he was a patient in a counseling session or something.
Jarred scowled. “Serena Higgens is coming over, that’s who. Get your feet off the couch.”
One Roper lifted an inch before settling back on the supple leather with a puff of dust and grime. “Why?”
“Because you’re going to mark up the leather, that’s why.” Jarred stared at him with disdain. “You’re going to scratch that couch up something awful and ruin it.” Sheesh, even he knew that much.
As slow as molasses, Trent plopped one foot after the other on the floor. “I don’t know why you care so much about the state of leather around here all of a sudden. We bought this couch because it was supposed to be tough. That salesgirl said it could stand up to just about anything. Even us.”
“She said it was tough, not indestructible.”
“Why are you so touchy? And why have you invited Serena over here? Have y’all finally decided to go from friends to friends with benefits?”
“Hell, no.” Wondering why Trent would even think such a thing, he added, “There’s nothing between us. Besides, she’s a librarian.”
“So? She’s the sexiest librarian I ever saw. And I know there’s something between y’all. There always has been.”
Serena…sexy? “We’re just friends, Trent. That’s all.”
“Have you ever kissed her?”
“No.”
“That’s too bad. That olive skin and green-hazel eyes of hers would just about drive me mad. And the way she fills out a pair of jeans…it’s downright sinful.”
The conversation was making Jarred slightly uncomfortable.
Because, well, now that he thought about it, his brother kind of had a point. Serena could fill out a pair of Lee jeans like no other.
But she was just his buddy…and he had a more refined type of girl in mind.
“So if you don’t want to date her, why do you want her over here?”
“I offered her a job.”
“Job?” Junior asked as he entered the room.
Snickering, Trent quipped, “Is Serena going to teach you to read?”
This questioning from his brothers was making him edgy. He didn’t like feeling weak, especially not in front of them. Sarcastically, he said, “Maybe one day y’all will be smart enough to try out some original lines. Who knows? Maybe then your social life would improve.”
As serious as ever, Junior looked him up and down. “Serena Higgens is a nice gal. What are you hiring her for?”
“I’m hiring her to help me get fancy.”
Trent burst out laughing. Even Junior broke his usual solemn expression and smirked.
As Jarred watched them, his stomach churned. Shoot. More than ever, his brothers were annoying him something awful.
Actually everything seemed to do that at the moment. More than ever, he felt like a contestant on Wheel of Fortune—and a bad one at that. Yes, the wheel in his life was continually spinning around in circles. He was living in fear that the darn wheel was fixin’ to going to settle on bankrupt or lose a turn or whatever other kind of doomsday Pat Sajak could deal up.
“Care to explain ‘getting fancy’?” Junior asked.
“Serena’s coming over to help me with some table manners and stuff. Like which fork to use when there’s two next to your plate. That’s all.”
Trent screwed up his face as if they were talking rocket science. “Who cares? All you got to do is just pick up one.” He paused, considering. “I mean, as long as it ain’t dirty.”
Junior nodded. “Why do you need to know about forks, anyway?”
“Because most classy people know about those things.”
“Most people don’t care,” Trent replied. “Not most people I know, anyway.”
Though the temptation to tease Trent about the company he kept was strong, Jarred kept the high road. “Serena is going to teach me other stuff, too.”
“Such as?”
“Manners. Other stuff…” Because he really didn’t know what he needed, just that he needed it something awful, Jarred kept his answer short. “Hell, I don’t know. If I knew I wouldn’t be hiring her now, would I?”
Trent raised his hands as if he’d just been burned. “Touchy!”
“Shut up. She’s due here any minute. When she arrives, y’all need to scoot on out of here. I don’t want you getting in the way.”
“Not so fast,” Trent said. “If Serena’s wearing jeans, I could stand around and watch her all day. Maybe I should get some private lessons, too. You, too, Junior.”
Junior shook his head. “I’ll pass. Serena’s great, but I’d rather sit in a ring with a two-ton bull named Damien than talk about forks.” Sizing Jarred up, a slow, smooth grin suddenly floated over Junior’s face. “Wait a minute, all this is for the auction, isn’t it? You’re worried about getting an offer.”
Trent snapped his fingers. “Don’t worry. You won’t be a wallflower. I heard the girls at the barbecue joint already talking about bidding all kinds of money for your ‘services.’ You’ll be snapped up.”
Jarred winced. Those women at Jim Bob’s BBQ were a pushy bunch, and that was the truth. No telling what they’d be having him do for a whole week. He had to spark Veronica’s interest. He just had to!
But there was no way he was going to tell them about his infatuation with Veronica Snow. Junior and Trent would start laughing at him and wouldn’t know when to stop. “Just the same, I’m going to get a little polish.”
He was going to continue some more but the words stuck in his throat when a movement outside the window caught his attention. He shook his head when the ugliest little beat-up sedan, covered in rust and in dire need of a paint job, rolled to a stop in front of their door.
“Man, that’s ugly,” Junior whispered.
“As ugly as sin,” Trent added.
Jarred didn’t bother saying any different. That car was ugly, and from the noise the carburetor was making, it wasn’t going to make it another six months, neither.
Next to his brothers, Jarred watched Serena Higgens slide out of the driver’s side and smooth down her jeans before grabbing her purse. Then she stared at the house and paused…unaware that three sets of eyes were checking her out.
“Lord have mercy,” Trent murmured. “I swear those jeans were painted on.”
The dark denim did seem to mold to her butt. And the silver concho belt around her hips only served to accentuate her tiny waist.
“I’ve always been a fan of her hair myself,” Junior said. “It’s so black and shiny.”
For a moment, Jarred also stared at the long swath of hair falling down the middle of her back. Junior did have a point. It looked silky soft. Jarred could only imagine what it looked like in the morning, spread out on her pillows. Or cascading along bare shoulders.
The image was startling and completel
y unwelcome. “Stop looking at her that way. She’s my friend. And now she’s even more than that! She’s my tutor,” Jarred said.
But boy was there a lot to see. Above those jeans was a deceptively plain blue cotton shirt. But the top three buttons were unfastened…just daring a man’s eyes to stray there a little longer than was proper.
Finally she moved. When she approached the house, her hips swayed slightly, bringing all attention back to those amazing hips.
Trent whistled low.
Junior blinked, then turned away as if the sight he was seeing was too much for him. “Good luck with your lessons, brother. After I say hi, I’m getting out of here.”
“Me, too,” Trent said finally. “I think I’ll go see if Virginia needs some help getting ready for bed.”
When the doorbell rang, Jarred walked across the foyer feeling a little shaky himself. Seeing Serena through his brothers’ eyes made him see her in a whole new light.
For a moment, he’d even forgotten Veronica’s polished perfection.
An hour ago, he would have never dreamed that was possible.
JARRED’S SMILE WAS A MILE WIDE when he greeted her at his front door. “Hey, Serena. Look at you! You’re right on time.”
His easy demeanor never failed to bring her up short. Was he joshing her, or genuinely pleased she was punctual? “Hey. I mean, hello. I mean…thank you for seeing me,” she stammered as she walked past him into the biggest house she’d ever seen.
Though she’d promised herself she wouldn’t look all impressed by his home, she couldn’t help it. The foyer was large enough to fit her car in. Maybe two of them. The blackand-white checkered tile floor and spiral staircase in back of it looked old-fashioned in a Hollywood way and was beautiful.
So was the crystal chandelier that hung above their heads, as well as the paintings gracing the dove-gray walls. Both paintings delivered sparks of color and were surprisingly modern.
My Favorite Cowboy Page 4
