Big-Bucks Bachelor

by Leah Vale

Melinda slipped down into her seat. She hated that every time Jack talked about getting her accepted by the town she feared he was taking one step closer to making good on his plan to leave.

  She didn’t have much time to waste convincing him to stay.

  If only she knew how.

  Bobby raised his hands to reclaim everyone’s attention. “There’s more, people.”

  Dean called, “Careful, Bobby. Don’t want to wear yourself out.”

  That sent snickers through the diner again. It wasn’t that Bobby Larson wasn’t liked, he just wasn’t well liked. He worked so hard at being who he was, or rather who he thought he should be—a greater man than his father had been—that he’d darn near turned himself into a caricature. Melinda felt sorry for him, knowing full well how hard it was to try to influence people’s opinions.

  Bobby cleared his throat and ignored Dean by using the heel of his hand to smooth back where his light brown hair had grayed at the temple. “I will be putting through legislation to expand the town of Jester, and will be drawing up plans to add a large hotel on the land that is now occupied by the community park. Which is why I want to assure that this Founders’ Day celebration will be the best one yet, because it will be the last one held in the park. The Town Hall lawn should serve nicely in the future.”

  The diner fell eerily silent for the space of a moment or two, then erupted in noise as everyone talked at once again.

  With her mouth hanging open at Bobby’s audacity, Melinda turned to look at Jack. He was frowning as he took a sip of coffee. Apparently changing the town itself wasn’t what Jack wanted. But would it help him stay? Would the memories be easier to bear if the town were different?

  Melinda wished she knew if he still felt as haunted as he had before.

  She was too afraid of the answer to ask.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Melinda couldn’t believe how abuzz Jester was over Mayor Bobby Larson’s announcement during the week approaching Founders’ Day. From what she could tell, the general consensus seemed to be that most were afraid Bobby was bringing about the end to their quiet, quaint town. That Jester wouldn’t be Jester without its community park and “antique” pavilion. And no one disputed that a large hotel would change things for sure.

  Life had certainly changed since the lottery win, but those changes had been for the better in most instances. There was hope where there used to be despair, contentment where there used to be stress and worry. The infusion of cash—a goodly portion of it coming from the media and curious out-of-towners—had returned a vitality to the town that had definitely been absent when Melinda had first arrived. She wanted to be a part of this town more than ever.

  But she wanted Jack here with her, too.

  He’d weathered Henry’s funeral and burial in the Faulkner plot behind the church better than she had thought he would. Only his grip on her hand revealed his struggle dealing with the heartbreak of the moment and the memories the funeral stirred for him.

  Melinda had been further surprised to discover Jack’s late wife hadn’t been buried in the Peterson plot, though they had held a memorial for her at the little church. When Jack had noticed Melinda looking at the grave markers there, wanting to say a prayer over the woman who’d been so important to him, he’d told her that Caroline’s parents had wanted to bury her near them in Idaho. He’d been too overwhelmed with his grief to think to object.

  Melinda had simply assumed that Caroline had been buried here, and that was one of the reasons Jack wanted to leave. When she found out differently, her guilt over wanting to keep him in Jester diminished considerably.

  She wanted to make their engagement real. As real as it had felt all week as they’d worked together, ate together and made love together, with Jack only occasionally going to his house—and possibly his memories of what he’d lost before.

  She tried with all her might not to worry that he could in some way be comparing her to Caroline, and she might be falling short. That left her to worry that he might not be emotionally moving on with his life after all, that he couldn’t as long as he stayed in Jester. Yet the more she saw him interact with the people in town, obviously caring about them, the less guilty she felt about wanting him to stay with her here.

  The morning of the celebration dawned clear and beautiful, despite a dire forecast of a blizzard on the way, due to hit later in the day. Figuring they could head home early if the weather did indeed turn for the worse, Jack had suggested they walk from Melinda’s house to the park.

  Bundled up tight against the ten-degree weather, a heat wave by some standards considering the time of year, they walked hand and hand out Melinda’s door and down Mega-Bucks Boulevard toward Main Street, looking very much like a happy couple.

  For Melinda it was so, so true.

  This was exactly what she’d always dreamed a relationship with Jack would be like—no, that wasn’t true. The sheer joy he inspired in her was beyond anything she could have imagined.

  She pointed at the scaffolding and supplies that were beginning to stack up next to the little, white, nondenominational church across the street as preparations for repairing its currently snow-covered slanted roof were made. The chimney, fascia boards and stained glass window had already reaped the benefits of the church’s benefactor. “Shelly isn’t wasting any time, is she?”

  Jack looked at the church. “Nope. After everyone made it clear on her job board which project they wanted her to fund with a portion of her winnings, she got right to it.”

  “That’s incredibly generous of her.”

  Jack shrugged. “That’s Shelly. Though I have to say, pretty much every one of the winners has some plan or another that will benefit the town in some way.”

  That’s because they intend to stay.

  The thought was a crushing weight on Melinda’s chest, but she pushed it away, not wanting anything to ruin such a glorious day. Or her happiness. She’d waited too long to finally experience this sort of joy, and she was going to cling to it as long as she could. She needed to live in the moment, take in the beauty around her. There was a bright clarity to the snow-encased world that only happened when it was dang cold outside.

  Jack’s gaze remained on the opposite side of the street as they neared the corner where Main Street formed a T with Mega-Bucks Boulevard, and when they were directly across from the green statue of Caroline Peterson sticking like glue to a bucking Jester, he stopped, his expression unreadable.

  Without looking at her he asked, “Have I ever told you the true story behind how that horse was tamed?”

  She raised her brows. Of course he hadn’t. They never talked of anything that was remotely connected to his late wife. But all she said was, “No, I don’t think you have.”

  He gestured at the statue. “There wasn’t a whole lot of bucking involved, that’s for sure. The story, as it’s told among the Peterson women, is that this particular Caroline was the only human Jester would let near him without a fight, mainly because she kept her pockets stuffed with sugar cubes, or clumps, or whatever they had back then. She simply won him over with patience and sweets.”

  Melinda nodded at the pioneer Caroline’s wisdom. Maybe that was where Melinda had gone wrong with Jack. She’d been plenty patient, but she’d never baked for him. She suppressed a grin at the thought of what making soup for him had garnered her.

  “You know,” he mused. “I should use some of my money to get that statue cleaned up. It certainly needs it.”

  A wild flutter started in Melinda’s chest. Jack wanted to spend some of his moving money on fixing up the very symbol of Jester, the statue of his late wife’s ancestor and namesake? Granted, he had more than enough money, but his wanting to spend some to restore what had to be the biggest reminder of what he’d lost was stunning. Did he mean it as a final tribute to his late wife? Or was it because Jack was coming to terms with the past?

  The flutter turned into a bucking bronco of her own as hope flooded her. She squeezed
his hand. “That would be a very fine thing to do, Jack.”

  He looked at her, and she met his gaze. There were a lot of feelings muddying his green eyes—regret, pain, she thought—but there was also acceptance. Melinda could hardly breathe around the relief crowding her chest.

  He gave a brief, firm nod. “Then it’s settled.” His deep baritone sounded scraped, but was still strong and sure.

  Her smile came straight from her heart, but she didn’t care. If he happened to notice, to realize how deeply she loved him, then so be it. Because as they started walking again, turning the corner and heading down Main Street toward the park two blocks away and the crowd they could see already gathering, Melinda decided that today was the day. Come hell or blizzard, she was going to ask Jack to stay with her in Jester and make their engagement real.

  She believed in the pit of her soul that Jack was finally healing, finally ready to begin his life again. His support and insistence she speak up gave her the courage to fight for what she wanted. To just flat-out say what it was.

  She wanted Jack.

  THE STRANGEST SORT of peace settled over Jack as he walked down Main Street hand in hand with Melinda. Then it hit him. He was happy. Completely happy for the first time in five years. The loneliness that had been mistaken as mourning by those around him was well and truly gone.

  He waited for the guilt he’d dreaded for so long would come with feeling this way. But it didn’t come. His chest simply continued to fill with warmth, and what could only be described as contentment. Damn, he felt good.

  He automatically glanced at Melinda, who had a small, contented sort of smile of her own curling the corners of her lovely mouth. He looked away and focused again on their destination. While he was willing to own his happiness, he wasn’t quite ready to admit to the possible reasons behind it. He still needed to take one step at a time.

  When they reached the park they were immediately engulfed by a welcoming, family atmosphere that was Jester at its best. He couldn’t tell if anyone noticed if his handshake was a little firmer, his smile more heartfelt. But while the Montana ground still lay firmly frozen, a thaw had begun inside of him, and he was nearly light-headed with relief. The loneliness that had gripped him for so long had nearly squeezed the life right out of him, and it felt so good to have that life back.

  Luke came up to them, his blue eyes sharp and clear again beneath the shadow of his Stetson, unlike the last time Jack had seen him at Henry’s funeral. “Hey, Jack. Caught the dog, yet?”

  “No, I haven’t. And I don’t expect to this weekend.” Jack surveyed the park, full of people and balloons and music and food. Lots and lots of food.

  He breathed in deep the heavenly smells of carnival, Montana style. There were barbecue beef ribs cooking somewhere, and Jack’s mouth started to water. “There’s going to be enough spilled kettle corn, hot dogs and discarded ribs to make that dog think he’s died and gone to doggie heaven. He’ll be full for a month.”

  Luke grunted in agreement. “I just hope he waits until everyone has cleared out before he comes slinking in. I’d hate to have someone unrack the rifle in their truck and pop him, thinking he’s a wolf.”

  Jack blew out a foggy breath. “Hopefully the noise will keep him away. If he were hungry enough to risk the crowd, he would have gone after the bait in the trap by now.”

  “Probably right.” Luke turned his gaze on Melinda, the appreciation on his face raising Jack’s hackles in a surprisingly intense way. He blinked at the realization he was jealous. Something else he hadn’t felt in a very long time, whether he should or not.

  Luke used the tip of a blunt finger to push his cowboy hat upward. “Melinda, I heard ol’ Jester’s line lives on thanks to you. Roy Anderson is talking you up to anyone who’ll listen for saving his mare and foal. Atta girl.”

  Melinda’s cheeks, already pink from the cold, colored more. Jack’s chest swelled with pride. Not only was she the most gorgeous thing around with her long, dark blond curls dancing in the wind and her chestnut eyes sparking with pleasure, she was a hell of a fine vet. And she was finally getting the recognition she deserved.

  He was glad for an entirely different reason than he would have been a couple of weeks ago. Before he wanted her happy so she would stay in Jester and take over his practice, now he wanted her happy because he cared about her. But he didn’t want to think about how deeply right now. He simply wanted to enjoy this day. To just live. With Melinda’s hand tucked securely within his.

  Luke gestured at her head. “I never realized how long your hair was. It looks real good down like that.”

  Melinda smiled and dropped her gaze to the ground. “Thank you, Sheriff.”

  Jack planted his splayed hand in the middle of Luke’s chest and applied a steady pressure. “Don’t you have some community policing to do, or vendor licenses to check or something?”

  Luke grinned at him and yielded to the pressure, a knowing twinkle in his blue eyes as he stepped backward. “Okay, okay. You two have fun.”

  Jack snaked an arm around Melinda and drew her tight against him. “No worries there.”

  Luke pointed a finger at them. “Hey. Keep the PDA to a minimum. This is a family event, after all.” He changed his admonishment to a wave. “Here’s hoping the weather holds. See ya,” he said and sauntered away toward the low, temporary stage the mayor had ordered constructed in the center of the park’s green space. Kids of various sizes were climbing onto it and readying their band instruments, not an easy thing on a subfreezing day.

  Melinda cocked a brow at Jack. “PDA?”

  He bent his head toward her until the steam their breath generated in the cold air mingled. “Public Display of Affection.” Then he demonstrated by catching her lips with his for a hard, quick kiss before straightening away from her.

  She smiled as brightly as the sun reflecting off the frozen pond. “Ah.”

  “Come on. Let’s go get some hot cider and something to eat before the band finishes thawing their instruments.” He tugged her toward where food booths had been set up on the basketball courts. But they couldn’t go far without stopping to visit with someone.

  Irene had her little twelve-year-old tan Welsh Corgi, Benny, with her, outfitted in a light blue, knitted doggie sweater that matched her scarf. After greeting Irene, Jack dropped down in a squat to check the old fella’s joints.

  “Hey, Benny. How you doing?”

  The little dog nudged his long muzzle along Jack’s jeans-encased thigh and wagged his bottom for all he was worth.

  Jack looked up at Irene, squinting against the winter sun. “He moving okay?”

  Irene pulled her scarf down from her chin. “He’s a little stiff when he first gets up, but after he gets going, he seems to move fine. He never was much of a speed demon, you know.”

  Considering Benny was of a breed that had very short legs and stocky bodies, that was understandable, but they had been developed to help herd livestock. Still, Jack knew Benny had been more of a porch dog than a work dog, especially after the death of Irene’s husband.

  With a last pat to the dog, Jack stood, and Irene looked between him and Melinda with a merry twinkle in her blue eyes. “So, do we have a date, yet? Or any other specifics? I’m just dying to help out.” She put a quick gloved hand to Melinda’s arm. “You will let me help out, won’t you? I have the best bean casserole I can make for the reception. Or maybe an engagement party?”

  Melinda smiled sweetly at Irene. “I promise we won’t do a thing without your help, Irene.”

  Jack nodded in agreement. He no longer felt a twinge of guilt over the truth of their engagement. He supposed the fact that they were at least physically involved made the lie less bitter. At least, that’s how he chose to rationalize how he felt.

  When they finally got their food, their choice was affected by what they could eat with their gloves on. They settled on hot cider and hot dogs that, by mutual agreement after a lot of eyebrow wiggling and snickers, they�
��d left the onions off of. Food in hand, they found an empty picnic table amongst those that had been hauled out from the pavilion and scattered around the park. They sat side-by-side and started right in on their food before the freezing air cooled it completely.

  Melinda remarked, “You know, Jack, I don’t think it would be an exaggeration to say that you know just about everyone in this town.”

  He shrugged at the obviousness of it. “It’s a town of pet owners. Nathan and Connor probably know everyone, too. Though far more…personally than I do.”

  “And you like everyone.”

  He did. But liking and belonging were two different things. Though the thought of leaving town didn’t hold near the urgency it previously had. And he knew why. “Jester’s a town of good people, Melinda.”

  She fell silent while they finished eating their hot dogs. They listened to the small, multigrade band from the school play and chatted with people who stopped by to wish them well.

  Though the day only warmed up to the low teens, Melinda’s color continued to run high, repeatedly drawing his attention to her beautiful face. He finally leaned over and whispered, “You’ve been glowing all day. Have you been thinking about being on top again?”

  She blinked, then elbowed him. “Shh, Jack. Remember what Luke said about this being a family event.”

  “I can’t help it. You’re too gorgeous.”

  Her big brown eyes misted, and she launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and squeezing.

  Contentment squeezed him from the inside, and he tried to lighten the moment for both their sakes by joking, “Oh, boy. PDA, PDA. You’re going to get us busted.”

  Her heart near to exploding with the love she felt for Jack, Melinda gave him one more hard squeeze for being so dang wonderful, then pulled away. And after seeing the evidence of all the friendships he had here, she knew it was time. She had to find out if there was even the slimmest chance of them making a life together in Jester.

  She stood. “Then we better go find us a not-so-public spot. Come on.” She held out a hand, and he took it in his, his grip wonderfully warm and possessive.