“I think a lot of people got drunk that night.” Yours truly, among them.
“He swore up and down that he’d only had a few glasses of punch. I didn’t believe him, and I told him so in no uncertain terms. I mean, please. That would be insane, for Braden and Jenny to spike the punch and get everybody falling-down drunk for their wedding reception. Where’s the sense in that?”
“There’s none,” Jordyn agreed, thinking about Will. He was so sure that a certain cowboy had spiked her punch. But what if someone had put something right in the punch bowl itself? A lot of people had behaved way out of character that night. Bizarre things had happened. Maybe that punch was at least partly to blame.
Or maybe not. Maybe it was just a case of people kicking over the traces, letting loose and getting crazy on a beautiful summer’s night.
Claire heaved a shaky sigh, smoothed a hand down her long sable hair and slowly shook her head. “I can’t believe I just unloaded all over you.”
Jordyn patted her hand. “It’s okay. Believe me, I get it. Sometimes you just need a good cry.”
Claire pressed her fingers under her tear-puffy eyes. “I look terrible, don’t I?”
“No, you don’t. You look like a woman who needed to get something difficult off her chest.”
Claire actually smiled then, a trembling smile, but a sincere one. “Grandma adores you. I can see why.”
“Aw. I love her right back.”
“Do you think I could use the bathroom to freshen up a little?”
Jordyn stood and pulled the doors wide again. “Right this way...” She led Claire to the half bath off the foyer. “I’m guessing you came to pick up Bekka?”
“I did, yes. I’m taking her into Kalispell. Thought I’d do a little shopping, get my mind off my problems.”
“Sounds like a great plan. I’ll get her for you, why don’t I?”
“That would be perfect.”
Ten minutes later Claire left with the baby. Jordyn worked on the books for a while then got going on future lesson plans.
At three she got up, went into the entry and peeked out through the sidelight next to the door.
Will was there at the curb in his quad cab, right on time as promised. She smiled at the sight of him. He really was one of the good guys.
She pulled open the door and waved him inside, where she introduced him to Suzie and Sara and the kids. He took it all in stride, answering any and all prying questions, admiring the pile of handmade wedding presents and helping her carry the big box of artistic treasures out to her Subaru.
He put the box in the back, closed the hatch and asked, “So what are you going to do with all those clay butterflies and egg carton caterpillars?”
“I haven’t decided yet—maybe decorate my bedroom at the ranch.” She grinned at him. “So how is the new homestead?”
“The main thing is it’s mine.” He looked so proud.
“I’m happy for you.” She said it softly, with feeling. “Way to go, Will.”
He resettled his Stetson, tipping the brim at her. “’Preciate that.”
She led the way to the boardinghouse and parked on the street in front. He pulled in behind her.
She started to open her door, but he jogged over and slid into the passenger seat, pulling the door shut behind him. “What?” she asked.
He sent her a guarded glance. “Jordyn...”
“Go ahead. I’m listening.”
“I just think I ought to warn you up front that at first, we’ll definitely be roughing it. The main house needs work. All the buildings do...”
“Does the roof leak?”
“No.”
“Are there lights and heat?”
“Yeah.”
“Hot and cold running water?”
“Of course.”
“Then we’ll manage. And we’ll whip it into shape in no time.”
For that, he gave her a slow, sexy—and relieved—smile. “You’re a good sport, Jordyn Leigh.”
A good sport. It wasn’t the kind of compliment that made a girl blush with pleasure, but she felt his sincerity, and that warmed her heart. “Come on,” she said, and pulled on her door handle. “Let’s get my stuff and get moving.”
* * *
After they’d hauled everything out to the vehicles, Jordyn introduced Will to Melba and Old Gene, and handed over her key.
Old Gene shook Will’s hand. “You’re a very lucky young man. You take care of this sweet girl, now.”
Will played the sincere groom to perfection. “Yes, sir. I certainly will.”
Melba tugged Jordyn aside for a last hug. “I do hate to see you leave us...”
Jordyn promised her again to keep in touch. She thought of Claire and whispered, “I saw Claire at Country Kids today. She told me that she and Bekka are staying here with you for a while.”
“She told you about her troubles?” At Jordyn’s nod, Melba clucked her tongue. “I’m telling myself that she and Levi will work it out.”
“I know they will,” Jordyn replied with maybe a little more confidence than she felt. It never hurt to keep things positive.
Will said goodbye to Old Gene and ushered Jordyn out the door.
She paused once they were down the porch steps to look back at the old boardinghouse. “It’s so weird, walking away this time, knowing I really don’t live there anymore...”
He pulled her close to his side, just like a real husband might do. “You going to be all right?”
She took comfort from the warmth and strength of his sheltering arm. “Yeah. I will. I’ll be just fine.”
He gave her shoulder a squeeze. “Next stop, Crawford’s. We need to grab a few things.”
She left him to get in her Subaru as he climbed into his truck.
He drove the few blocks to North Main and pulled into the parking lot at Crawford’s General Store. They parked side by side, and then got out and stood between the vehicles while he explained what they had to shop for.
“Foodwise, we need the basics. At least enough for tonight and tomorrow morning.”
“What about furniture? Will we be sleeping on the floor?”
“There are a couple of old beds left behind by the previous owners, and some dusty-looking mattresses. I saw a beat-up table and some mismatched chairs in the kitchen. The living room is empty. Like I said before, it’s pretty sparse.”
“Pillows, sheets, blankets, towels?”
“We’ll have to buy them—and you know, maybe we ought to just stay at the Manor for another night. Tomorrow I’ll head for Kalispell and spend the day getting everything we need to set us up.”
“Will.”
He eyed her sideways. “You’re looking obstinate, Jordyn Leigh.”
“You’re a Clifton. I’m a Cates. We come from sturdy stock. Crawford’s has the basics. Let’s get what we can’t do without and head for the ranch.”
“It’s too much to ask. You have to get up early and get to work in the morning.”
She knew that he would rather be out at his new place, and she intended that he should have what he wanted. “What did I just tell you, Will?”
He was weakening. “You’re sure?”
“Positive. Now let’s go.”
* * *
They walked into Crawford’s and right away, Will spotted those two middle-aged ladies from Sunday afternoon. Apparently, the two of them spent a lot of time shopping.
The two caught sight of him and Jordyn and instantly started whispering together.
Will gave them a friendly wave. They nodded and smiled—and went right back to whispering again. About then, it occurred to Will that he and Jordyn needed to play this thing right.
Jordyn pulled a cart free from the row by
the doors and wheeled it around toward him. “Let’s get the linens and some cleaning supplies first, then we’ll get food for tonight and tomorrow.” As she came even with him, he reached out, grabbed her fingers from the cart handle and reeled her in close. She made a small, breathless sound, braced her hands on his chest and stared up at him, wide-eyed. “Will! What are you—?”
He bent his head and nuzzled her shining, sweet-smelling hair. “Haven’t you noticed?”
“What?”
He rubbed his nose against hers and whispered, “People are watching. And we did just get married.”
She gave the cutest little sigh. “Oh. Well. I see...”
“Do you?” He tipped up her chin with a finger and settled his mouth gently on hers.
Chapter Six
Jordyn let out a little squeak, a squeak that turned into another soft sigh. And then she slid her hands up and wrapped them around his neck, pressing her slender body close to his. They were a great fit, just right.
And by then, she was kissing him back, stirring vague memories of Saturday night, reminding him that he really liked kissing her. She smelled so good, and she tasted like a ripe peach.
Little Jordyn Leigh Cates. Who knew?
When he lifted his head, he whispered, “We’re newlyweds, remember? We’re newlyweds who can’t keep their hands off each other.”
“Ah,” she whispered back, her cheeks pink, a soft smile on those plump lips he would be only too happy to kiss every chance he got. “You mean we need to provide a public display of affection for the benefit of anyone who might doubt how very much in love we are?”
“Exactly.”
“Or we could just ignore all the gossips and go about our business, not caring in the least what small-minded people might say.” She started to pull away.
He caught her arm. Gently. “Jordyn...”
“What?” She gave him one of those challenging looks—the kind she’d been giving since she got out of diapers.
He didn’t let that look of hers stop him. “I think you really need to kiss me again.”
She giggled, a happy, playful sound. It caused an ache in the center of his chest. A really good ache. And then she scrunched up her eyebrows, pretending to think it over. Finally, she agreed, “Only one more. We have a lot of shopping to do.”
“I guess I’d better make it good.”
“Yes, you’d better.”
So he kissed her again. Not too deep. It was a public place, after all. He made that kiss slow and tender. It wasn’t hard—kissing her felt so right.
Too right? Oh, yeah. But now wasn’t the time to get all tied in knots because he just possibly might be developing a too-powerful attraction to his childhood friend and temporary bride.
When he lifted his head that time, they shared a knowing smile. And when she pulled away, he didn’t stop her—even though he really wouldn’t have minded kissing her some more, just standing there by the carts in Crawford’s, with Jordyn Leigh in his arms, his mouth pressed to hers.
For maybe a lifetime or so.
* * *
The ranch was a beauty, Jordyn thought. Acres of rolling green land, dotted here and there with stands of cottonwood and pine. Fall Mountain, a local landmark, could be seen in the distance, with the snowcapped peaks of the Rockies looming even farther out.
The ranch compound included the main house, the foreman’s cottage, a bunkhouse, a barn and corrals, with a series of fenced pastures close in. The stock pond, over a rise not far from the circle of buildings, was fed by a creek, which meandered through the property.
Will stopped to open the driveway gate, and she pulled in behind him. He leaned in her window before he got back in his truck. “Did you see the creek?”
“Yeah.”
“Good trout fishing in that creek.” He pointed at the gate. “Picture an arch overhead with Flying C in wrought iron.”
“Sounds perfect.”
“But one thing at a time...”
They shared a quick smile. He tapped the side of her door and took off at a jog back to his pickup. They went through the gate and drove on to the circle of buildings. She parked next to him in a bare spot in front of a two-story, white-sided, blue-shuttered farmhouse with a wraparound porch.
“It’s charming,” she said when he pulled open her door for her.
He made a low, rueful sound. “It will be, in time.”
She got out and they went up the weathered steps to the door, which was painted a tired blue and had a fan-shaped window at the top. He had the key in his hand.
The door creaked on its hinges as he pushed it inward onto a foyer, with stairs in the center leading to the upper floor, a bare living room on the left and an empty dining room to the right. He hung his hat on a peg by the door.
“The bones are good,” she said. The walls had been whitewashed, and heavy, beautiful old beams crossed the ceilings. The floor was scuffed and dusty, but made of good wide-planked hardwood. The windows were the old-fashioned sash kind.
“Master bedroom’s here, with separate bathroom,” he said, as they moved deeper into the first floor and passed by it on the left. He took her to the kitchen, which had a battered gate-leg table and three mismatched chairs, wood counters, a great old farm sink, an avocado-green range leftover from the seventies and a refrigerator to match.
She pulled open the fridge. It was working, and it was empty. And wonder of wonders, it was clean. “We can start loading this puppy up right away,” she told him happily.
He chuckled. “You are so easy to please.”
She met his fine blue eyes. They crinkled at the corners with his wonderful smile. She felt the sudden, lovely echo of his kiss on her lips and had to stop herself from raising a hand and brushing her fingers against her mouth.
This wasn’t bad, her and Will, playing at being married. It wasn’t bad at all.
In fact, it was really, really fun.
Maybe too much fun...
She could almost feel guilty.
But, hey. Wait a minute. They had a plan, and she intended to follow it through. No reason to beat herself up over the choice she’d made. Might as well make the best of it.
And with Will as her short-term husband, making the best of it wouldn’t be all that tough. He was so easy to look at, and he kept a good attitude.
Plus, there were bound to be opportunities for more of those lovely PDAs...
He said, “Let’s move along.”
And they did. They passed the half bath, which had a cute pedestal sink. She glanced in the utility room. It had an empty space where the washer and dryer should be. They poked their heads out the back door, and she admired the wide back porch. From there, they returned to the front hall and climbed the stairs.
The second floor offered two bedrooms, a shared bath and a sitting area that overlooked the bare backyard and had a great view of the barn and the creek and the stock pond shining in the afternoon sun.
“Do I get my choice of these two bedrooms up here?” she asked.
He turned from the view out the sitting room windows. “Unless you want the master...” They shared another long look.
She liked that, too, sharing long looks with him, feeling as if they were keeping a really good secret, just between the two of them.
“Forget it,” she said. “I’m not kicking you out of your bedroom.”
“Whichever one you want, Jordyn, it’s yours.” His voice had that rumble to it, a rough, manly sound that sent sparks flashing along the surface of her skin. For a long moment, she just stared at him, because it was no hardship, looking at Will.
Wake up, woman. Choose a room. “I’ll take the one over the living room. It already has a bed.” The bed in question was an ancient cast-iron affair, with a rolled-back mattress braced ag
ainst the head of it. It didn’t look all that comfortable. But at least she wouldn’t have to sleep on the floor.
She followed him back downstairs and out to the vehicles.
They unloaded everything. As soon as they had it all inside, they got to work. By a little after seven, they had the kitchen wiped down, the fridge stocked with the basics, the other food put away and the two beds made and ready for bedtime.
Jordyn got to work on dinner, which consisted of ham sandwiches, potato chips, Crawford’s amazing dill pickles and cold cans of beer. They were just sitting down to enjoy the feast when Will’s cell rang.
Will glanced at the display before answering. “It’s Cece. She’s called more than once since Sunday, so I’d better answer this time.” He took the call.
Jordyn set down her half-finished pickle and listened to him tell his sister the story they’d agreed on. “Yep. That’s right, Cece...Uh-huh, we are...I know, I know. It’s a surprise, but it’s real. Me and Jordyn Leigh are in love and married and damned happy about it.” He winked at her across the table.
She forced a smile for him, but she felt a stab of regret that she hadn’t called Cecelia before now. They’d been friends forever, she and Cece. Maybe they didn’t get together as much as they used to, now that Cece had married Nick Pritchett and they’d moved out of the boardinghouse and into their own place. But still. Jordyn had married Cece’s brother, for heaven’s sakes. The least Jordyn could have done was pick up the phone and share the news.
Share the lies is more like it...
And really, that was what bothered her, wasn’t it?
She might be having a ball, playing house with Will. But she needed to get real with herself, at least. She hadn’t called Cece because she hadn’t been looking forward to telling her lifelong friend the same lies she’d been telling everyone else.
Lot of good not calling had done. In the end, she would be telling the lies, anyway.
“She’s right here,” said Will. “Love you, too. Hold on.” He offered the phone.
Jordyn took it. “Hey,” she said weakly.
“Jordyn. How are you? Why didn’t you call?” The familiar sound of Cece’s voice made her throat clutch.
The Maverick's Accidental Bride (Montana Mavericks: What Happened At The Wedding Book 1) (Contemporary Cowboy Romance) Page 8
