“When’s the last time you saw him?”
“At Tex’s funeral.”
“If I were him, I would be proud of you and your sister. You make a hell of a team. And Tammy. The three of you are going to make the B and B a tremendous success.”
Her eyes lit up. “Thanks. That means a lot to me. And thanks for caring about my feelings. Even if I don’t follow your advice, I appreciate your motives.” She motioned between them. “You and I make a good team, too. I’m glad I brought you on this trip and that you’re going to check out the horses with me.”
“So am I.” He was eager to go to the equestrian center and help her in any way he could, and he couldn’t agree more—they were a damned fine team.
In and out of bed.
Chapter Nine
Jenna hit the jackpot. She’d purchased two wonderful geldings and now she and J.D. were almost home, traveling down the Flying B Road and heading toward the ranch.
She glanced at the man she’d spent the night with. They’d behaved in a professional manner at the equestrian center. No hand-holding, no public display of affection, nothing that indicated that they were lovers.
“What’s going to happen now that we’re back?” she asked. “How are we going to handle this?”
“What do you mean?”
“Our affair. Are we going to sneak around and keep it a secret? Or let everyone know that we’re together?”
“I’ll do whatever you’re comfortable with.”
“What would you prefer?” Before she went out on a limb and expressed her feelings, she desperately wanted to know how he felt.
“Truthfully? I’d like to be open about it. We’re both consenting adults and have a right to be together. We don’t have anything to hide, not as far as I’m concerned. But if you would rather go the secret route, I’ll respect your wishes.”
He’d said exactly what she’d hoped he would say. “I completely agree. Sneaking around seems cheap, and it would make me feel cheap. I don’t want to call dirty attention to ourselves, and if we have a secret affair and get caught, it will seem too much like what my dad did with Savannah. Even if the circumstances aren’t the same, it would affect me that way.”
“I’d never want to do anything that would make you feel badly about yourself.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “This is a nice thing we’ve got going.”
She smiled. “Very nice.”
They arrived at the ranch, and she drove to the barn. Although it was still daylight, dusk would be closing in soon. As they prepared to unload the first gelding, Manny and Hugh, who’d been working nearby, moseyed on over to greet them, obviously curious about the horses she’d purchased.
Jenna got a little nervous. She knew that she shouldn’t, not after she and J.D. agreed that they had every right to disclose their affair, but now that they were actually in the company of Flying B employees, she wasn’t sure how to act.
J.D. behaved in a perfectly natural way. He unloaded the horse and talked to Hugh and Manny about both geldings and what great finds they were. By the time the second horse was unloaded and placed in his stall, Jenna was able to relax, too. She realized that J.D. was going to handle it.
He said to the other men, “Normally I wouldn’t bring something like this up, but I’m concerned about ranch gossip. Jenna and I are dating now. So if you notice us hanging around together or Jenna coming and going from my cabin more often than she did before, please treat the situation with respect.”
Hugh replied, “I understand. People talk, and you can’t stop their tongues from wagging. But you don’t want them talking out of turn.” He addressed Jenna. “I’ll admit that I’ve done my share of talking over the years. But never in a hurtful way. And I won’t do that to you, either.”
“Thank you.” She couldn’t be more pleased with his reaction. Hugh was as honest as they come, and he’d been around since the Savannah days, witnessing the devastation firsthand.
Young Manny was another story. The Savannah situation had occurred long before he’d been born. No doubt he’d heard about it, though, especially since the past had been unearthed. But Manny only seemed concerned with the here and now.
A cheeky grin broke out on his face, and he said to Jenna, “I knew you two were going to hook up. Maria and I are seeing each other now, too. We should go on a double date sometime.”
“Sure.” She smiled at him. “Maria seems like a nice girl.”
“She’s the best. I’m right crazy for her.”
Jenna hoped J.D. was feeling the same sense of boyish craziness for her, regardless of how short-lived their affair proved to be. She glanced over at him, and he winked, making her heart spin.
Hugh nudged Manny. “Let’s go. It’s about quitting time.”
Manny was still grinning. To the new lovers, he said, “See you guys.”
After the old foreman and the young ranch hand were gone, Jenna spoke to J.D. “Thanks for taking care of that.”
“You’re welcome. I figured that we needed to get it out there, better sooner than later.” He reached for her hand. “Do you want to stay with me tonight? Or are you planning on sleeping in your own bed?”
“I’d like to stay with you, as long as you don’t think it’s too soon.”
“Too soon for what? We already went public with it. In fact, maybe you should just move in with me.”
Stunned, she stared at him. “Move in?”
“To the cabin. It would be nice to have you there every night, and now that my memory is starting to improve...”
“You only remembered a few things. Granted, they were really important things, but it was just bits and pieces.”
“Yes, but look how quickly it happened. It’s probably just a matter of time before everything comes rushing back. And then I’ll be leaving.”
“So we should cram in as many days together as we can?”
“It works for me.”
It worked for her, too. She wanted as much of him as she could get and for as long as she could get it. Still, it wasn’t something she’d expected. “I’ll move in with you, but I need time to prepare. I want to talk to Donna and Tammy first.”
“About us?”
She nodded. “I can’t go skipping off to stay with you without explaining it to them.”
He laughed. “Skipping?”
She play-punched his arm. “You know what I mean.”
“Yes, I believe I do.” He kissed her, long and slow, and she wrapped her arms around him.
After the kiss ended, she said, “Will you take my luggage to the cabin? There’s no point in me hauling it back to the house. I should probably pack a few more bags if I’m moving in with you.” She paused to ponder the situation. “God, that sounds weird. Us living together.”
“I know, but I figure it’s going to be more like a vacation since it’s probably going to be so short.”
“That’s a good way of looking at it.”
“It will be fun. A romantic adventure.”
“I think so, too.” One more kiss, and they parted ways.
As she exited the barn, the horses she’d just purchased whinnied, calling out to each other and adjusting to their new home. Jenna was making an adjustment, too.
She walked to the house with an emotionally cluttered mind. She came to the porch and ascended the steps, grateful that she owned a piece of the ranch. If J.D. was the type who wanted to settle down, she could easily imagine sharing her home with him.
But he wasn’t, and it was pointless to entertain those types of imaginings. Someday she would meet the man from her list. J.D. wasn’t him, and all of the wishing in the world wouldn’t change the nature of their relationship. She had no choice but to accept it.
She opened the front door and saw Donna, sitting on
the sofa, tapping away on her iPad. Although she was dressed casually, she managed to look elegant, as always.
Tammy was in the living room, too, paging through a magazine. She looked lovely, as well, and appeared to be dressed to go out. On the floor beside her was her purse.
Jenna approached both women. She was glad that she’d come across them together, rather than having to summon a meeting or speak to them separately.
Tammy glanced up first. “Hey,” she said. “You’re home from your trip. How did it go?”
Obviously Jenna had plenty to say about the subject, but she started off simple. “I bought some new lesson horses.”
“That’s great. Maybe I can see them tomorrow? I don’t have time tonight. I’m waiting for Mike to call—we’re meeting in town for dinner.”
“Tomorrow would be fine. I’d like for you to see them.” She didn’t make the same offer to Donna. Her sister’s allergies acted up whenever she went near the stables.
But that didn’t stop Donna from sensing there was more to the conversation than met the eye. She asked, “What else is going on? Besides the horsey stuff?”
“A lot.” Jenna sat beside her, with Tammy directly across from them. “I took J.D. on the trip with me, and we’re lovers now. But it’s just an affair.”
Tammy frowned. “There’s no commitment involved?”
“He isn’t the right man for that.”
Donna put the iPad down. “I figured that you’d end up sleeping together. It was obvious how much you wanted him.”
“As long as you don’t get hurt,” Tammy put in.
“I won’t. After he leaves, I’ll go on with my life and he’ll go on with his.” She dropped the rest of her bomb. “But we’re going to live together for the duration of his stay. I’m moving into the dream cabin with him, and we’re going to treat it as a vacation, of sorts.”
“That sounds too easy,” Donna said.
Before a feeling of sadness crept in, Jenna shoved it away. “Actually, J.D is getting closer to recouping his memory.” She relayed the Sam Houston/Cherokee information. “He thinks it’s only a matter of time before the rest of it comes tumbling back.”
Tammy scooted to the edge of her chair. “That’s fascinating. Okay if I tell Mike? He should know.”
“I’m sure that would be fine. I think J.D. would appreciate you passing it on to Doc. Come to think of it, J.D. should probably inform Deputy Tobbs, too. The more information the sheriff’s department has, the better their chances are of uncovering his identity. In case he doesn’t remember everything on his own.”
After a stream of silence, Tammy said, “This is off topic, but I already told Donna while you were on your trip, and it concerns the three of us. I heard from my brothers this morning. They’ll be here on Wednesday, so if that fits into your schedule, we should plan on having the vote that day.”
Jenna’s stomach went tight. The P.I. Savannah. The possible child. “J.D. thinks I should vote yes. He thinks it’s important to know the truth and embrace it.”
Tammy replied, “That’s what I’m going to do,” making her upcoming vote apparent.
Donna scrunched up her face, indicating an opposing opinion.
Jenna said, “I haven’t made a decision, but I’m leaning toward yes. I’m curious about Savannah, but I’m even more curious if there’s another Byrd out there. What if it’s someone who needs a family? Who would like to have us be part of his or her life?”
“What if it’s someone who doesn’t?” her sister countered. “If another other Byrd exists, he or she could want nothing to do with us. These types of things don’t always turn out hunky-dory.”
“I know, but after being around J.D and seeing how lost he is from not being able to remember his family, it’s hard for me not to consider how important family is.”
“Does that mean you’re okay with what Dad did, too?”
Jenna scowled. “Hell, no. That’s a whole other matter.” Even if J.D. thought otherwise. “Dad created this mess.”
Donna blew out her breath. “I’m glad you haven’t gone completely over to the dark side.”
Jenna found herself saying, “You know it’s possible that Savannah isn’t the hussy I’ve been assuming that she was. Dad could have seduced her into being with him. He could have taken advantage of her. You know how brazen he can be when he wants something.”
Donna didn’t disagree. But she didn’t say that she was cutting Savannah any slack, either.
Jenna asked Tammy, “How do you think your brothers will vote?”
“I don’t know. We’ll just have to wait and see.” Tammy’s cell phone rang from her purse and she reached in and grabbed it. Obviously it was Doc. She all but glowed when she answered the summons. She got up and walked away to talk to him, waving goodbye to Donna and Jenna, and leaving them alone.
Neither said a word. The impending vote was only two days away, but the results, whatever they turned out to be, would last a lifetime.
* * *
Jenna arrived on J.D.’s doorstep with a slew of luggage and a worried expression, and he got worried, too.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“I’m getting freaked out about the vote. Tammy’s brothers will be here on Wednesday.”
He took her luggage and brought it inside. “You already knew they were coming sometime this week.”
She followed him inside. “I know. But now it seems so final.”
“Are you sure you’re not freaked out about this?” He motioned to the air between them. “About staying with me?”
“Why? Are you freaked out about it?”
“No.” But he feared that he might have pushed the boundaries of their relationship, drawing her into something she couldn’t handle.
“I want to stay with you. In fact, I think it’s going to be a relief getting away from the main house for a while.”
“So it’s really the vote that’s bothering you?”
She nodded. “If we search for Savannah, we’ll know for sure if we have a brother or sister or cousin. And if we don’t, I’ll always be left wondering.”
“So what are you going to do?”
“Vote yes.”
He knew she’d been considering it, but she looked as if she’d just made up her mind for certain. “You’ll be doing the right thing.”
“Tammy is voting yes, too. But I think Donna is going to vote no.”
“What about Tammy’s brothers?”
“Tammy doesn’t know.”
They sat on the sofa together. “Does it have to be unanimous? Because if it does, it sounds like you’re going to be deadlocked, regardless of how Tammy’s brothers vote.”
“We already agreed that the majority will rule.”
“Then it still has a shot of going through.”
“I hope so. Because I want to talk to Savannah and hear her side of what happened all those years ago.”
“You’re willing to hear her side, but not your dad’s? He’s the man who raised you. Who fed you and clothed you. Savannah is a stranger.”
“Yes, he’s the man who did all of that. But he’s also the guy who turned Donna and me into the basket cases that we are.”
He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “I barely know your sister, other than what you’ve told me about her, but from what I can tell, she isn’t a basket case, and by God, neither are you. You’re beautiful, hardworking, independent women. And if your dad helped shape you into those things, then he must have done something right.”
She put her head on his shoulder. “Okay so maybe we’re not basket cases. But we’re not totally normal, either. Me with the husband checklist, and her with the inability to get close to people.”
“Does this mean that you’re giving up the list?
”
She sat forward and laughed. “No.”
He laughed, too. “Then why are you beating yourself up about it?”
“I guess I shouldn’t be. Because someday the man from my list is going to appear, and I’ll be living my dream life.”
“As opposed to living with me in the dream cabin? You keep talking like that and you’re going to make me jealous of this guy you’re going to marry.”
She searched his gaze. “Are you being serious?”
Was he? J.D. wasn’t sure. But he said, “No. I was just goofing around.”
“I should have known better than to think you would be jealous.”
“I’m all for you marrying someone else.”
“Stop rubbing it in.”
“I’m not rubbing it in, I’m being supportive.”
“If you say so.”
Before it turned into an argument, he said, “Why don’t we settle this with a kiss?”
“I’d rather settle it with some butterscotch pudding. Do you still have some of those?”
“Yes.” But it stung that she’d avoided kissing him. “I’ll get you one.” He went into the kitchen and returned with the pudding and a spoon.
“Thanks.” She peeled the top off the container and proceeded to eat her favorite treat.
J.D. watched her. “Can I kiss you after you’re done?”
Her lips curved into a smile. “Only if you admit that you’re a little jealous of the prince who is going to marry me.”
“The prince? Is that one of his requirements?”
“No. I was just being smart.” She finished the pudding and set it aside. “You can kiss me if you want.”
He put a hand on his heart, like a knight in a melodrama. “But I haven’t sworn my jealousy yet.”
“Now who’s being smart?”
“Me. But I think maybe I am a little jealous. It’s not that I want to be married.” He sucked in his breath. “The idea of marriage still makes me panicky. But envisioning you with another man is a tough pill to swallow. Especially when I hear the way you talk about him.”
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