“And as far as my engagement to Sheriff Walker goes, since he’s so highly regarded in this town, clearly his judgment should be considered unequalled. And he chose me.”
With that, Jillian stepped off the sidewalk and crossed the street with her head held high as she marched right into the Bluebonnet Bakery.
Once inside, her shoulders slumped against the back of the door, and she was pretty sure it was solely responsible for holding her up. She sighed from deep in her chest and allowed her gaze to skitter across the room to the bakery counter where Ella was holding back a smirk. Crapola. Not her, too. She turned around to let herself out. She wasn’t up for another round of Miss Grumpy Pants giving her grief, but before her hand turned the doorknob, Ella spoke up.
“Those two old biddies giving you trouble?”
She turned to face Ella. Jillian had enough on her plate right now, but in that moment she decided she wasn’t going to give Ella or the two elderly ladies the satisfaction of knowing they’d gotten to her. “I can handle them.”
“They’re the Barker cousins and I wouldn’t let them get you down. They don’t approve of anything that isn’t puritanical in this town. They tried to stop prom night at the high school once and when that didn’t go over well, they moved onto protesting the movie theatre for showing R-rated movies.”
“Well, I appreciate you telling me that.”
“They’re harmless and from what I could tell, you told them off pretty darn good.”
“But I didn’t.” She walked further into the bakery. “I simply told them the truth. My designs are for young and old alike. Barely There, sure it sounds sexy and some of my designs certainly are, but it’s all about being comfortable and stylish in your own skin. That’s the barely there I was getting at when I started my business. I wanted to design apparel that is so sleek and smooth and comfy that you barely know you’re wearing it.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, really. That was my intent and I try to hold true to that, no matter if it’s a pair of see-through baby dolls or a long nightgown. All my stuff is ultra comfortable.”
Ella blinked and cleared her throat as if a frog had taken up residence in there. “I see. Uh, what can I get you?”
“A cup of coffee please, black is fine and a bagel or something. I haven’t eaten since breakfast. If you have a minute, maybe you can sit down with me and we can go over the list of bakery items I’d like to order for my engagement party.”
Ella’s big amber eyes rounded and for a minute Jillian saw the girl she’d once been. When those eyes landed on a boy with a flirty smile, the guy was history. Jillian couldn’t imagine the weight of all that pressure, being the class favorite, having girls emulate her, having a string of boys at your beck and call. Ella’s life hadn’t measured up to those high school glory days and that must be a crushing blow to her. “Oh, I guess I can take a minute. It’s not too busy right now.”
It wasn’t busy at all. Ella’s bakery didn’t seem to be doing well through the bad economy. She had competition. The grocery stores had their own bakeries filled with breads, bagels, and doughnuts. But it was more than that. Ella didn’t enjoy the work. It was apparent by her attitude and by the way she’d let the place go.
She brought over two cups of coffee and an everything bagel loaded with cream cheese. They sat down at a café table. “Thanks again,” Jillian said, “for making me feel better about those Barker women.”
Ella shrugged. “I wouldn’t worry about them.”
She smiled, taking a big bite of her bagel. Her stomach rejoiced. “I won’t. I’ve had enough opposition coming back here.”
Ella regarded her, tilting her head. “I suppose it’s only natural. You’re big news in town. People seem to like a scandal.”
“How well I know. But I had no part in all that illegal stuff. I’ve been cleared of all charges. I’m hoping to put that behind me now.”
“It’s not always easy.” Ella’s voice faltered and sadness swept over her expression.
Jillian stared, surprised by her comment and the way Ella suddenly directed her gaze to the tabletop. Jillian couldn’t let that comment go. “Are you speaking from experience?”
“Haven’t you heard?”
Jillian gave her head a shake. “Heard what?”
Ella’s lips sealed tight.
“You don’t have to tell me if it’s too painful,” Jillian said after a time.
She was dying to know, but she was never one to pry. She took a sip of coffee.
“I haven’t spoken about it for quite some time, but…” Ella paused as if deciding whether to open up to her. “I suppose we’re in the same boat now. Kind of.” She sighed. “The short version is that I came home on spring break during my junior year in college and got engaged to Paul McKenzie. We were so much in love and looking forward to our wedding after I graduated college.”
Paul McKenzie was born into one of the wealthiest families in Texas, ranching and oil made for a huge family empire. Jillian had never cared for the guy. She’d refused him flat about a dozen times after he’d made it known he wanted a one night hookup with her rather than a real date. After he tired of her refusals, he’d spread vicious rumors about her at school. And Jack had nearly busted Paul’s nose when he found out what he’d been saying.
Ella smiled sheepishly. “I know now that Paul wasn’t loyal to me. He didn’t really love me.”
“What happened?”
“To put it bluntly, one night we walked in on my father and Paul’s mother going at it. They were buck naked in some twisty position in the McKenzie wine cellar. I’ll spare you the details, but Paul blamed my father for everything. He said some pretty horrendous things, which in that moment I understood. We were both shocked, but Paul wouldn’t let it go. He told his father immediately what we’d discovered and then went straight to my mother. When the news broke in the community, I think it was hardest on my mom. Paul and I split up. We just couldn’t seem to look at each other in the same way. And my mom tried to… well, months later, she swallowed half a bottle of sleeping pills. Luckily, she survived it all, but that and divorcing my father left her extremely fragile.”
“And so you’re here, trying to keep the bakery going to support her?”
“Yeah, there were some dark days back then and the bakery was the one constant I had in my life.”
“But you don’t like it much.”
She shook her head. “I enjoy creating and making pastries, testing new recipes, but not the rest. Making doughnuts and bread every day bores me to death.” She took a sip of coffee. “So now you know.”
Ella put her head down to go over the order Jillian had handed her.
“I know one thing, you and I aren’t very different at all,” she said softly.
“Maybe not,” Ella whispered.
“Ella,” Jillian said, pulling the order list out of her hand and getting her attention. “Why don’t you make us eight dozen of your finest pastries? Create something wonderful, something you enjoy making. And then please, stay for the party.”
Ella’s eyes lit for a moment and then she glanced away, blinking. “I don’t want your pity.”
“It’s not pity, Ella. We’re old friends. We’ve both been through hard times lately. Come, and enjoy a night out. It would mean a lot to me.”
“Why? I was never nice to you in school.”
“We’re not in school anymore, are we?”
Ella chuckled and glanced at the bakery as if it were her prison. “Hardly.”
“Just say you’ll think about it.”
“I can do that.” And then Ella smiled.
*
Jillian walked through Jack’s backyard gate, lured by the smoky scents rising up from the grill. The size of a man’s grill told its own story and Jack’s two-burner, rotisserie enabled barbeque grill had serious written all over it. He wasn’t anywhere in sight, but a spice rubbed brisket and sliced veggies were coaxing her forward. “Jack?”
; “In here,” he called from inside the house and as she followed the sound of his voice, she found him in the parlor, high atop a ladder, fidgeting with the blades of a new fan. “Watch your step.”
His warning came just in time and she sidestepped a mess of old fan parts on the floor. The view though, from where she stood made her mouth go dry.
“Almost done,” he said, using a screwdriver.
“Take your time.” She shouldn’t look at his ass, but he’d never know and he had a fine one, perfect in a pair of washed-out jeans, slung ultra-low on his hips. His shirt was off too, making him naked from the waist up. That word, naked. It did things to her when describing Jack Walker and her heartbeats sped. She inhaled from deep in her lungs to replace the oxygen that just pushed out in a gasp.
“What’d you say?” he asked, focused on that last blade.
“Uh, I brought dessert.”
“Oh, yeah?”
She was staring at her dessert, up there, shirtless, guileless, so intent on his task. He was breaking another of her conditions. Keep our clothes on, around each other. It had been in the interest of keeping things from getting hot and heavy, but had she really demanded that of him? Apparently, she couldn’t tell a man what he could and could not wear in his own home. Well, she could and did, but he hadn’t listened.
“Lawman food.”
He finally glanced down at her. “What in hell is lawman food?”
“Doughnuts from the bakery.”
“That’s not lawman food. Unless of course, you brought me a maple bar.” He turned on the ladder and gave her a hopeful look. Seeing all that muscle and bare flesh could give a girl hives.
She opened the bakery box and showed him half a dozen.
“Oh man, Jillian,” he said nearly drooling, and giving her a glimpse of what it would be like if Jack ever craved her, the same way he did his favorite doughnut.
He climbed down, finished with the installation of the fan. “I’m tempted,” he said gazing at the box.
“Go for it, Jack.” She moved the box closer to him. It was the only thing separating her from his almost naked body. “Dessert first. It’s not against the law.”
He laughed and all of those chest muscles rippled.
She stuffed the end of a maple bar into her mouth. “See,” she said, chewing, “it can be done.”
He reached for his white T-shirt and pulled it over his head, concealing mouthwatering abs. It was daunting, watching him put on his clothes—seeing soft cotton caress his skin until it settled at the waistband of his jeans—making her heart pound hard.
What had come over her? Was it the kiss the night of their deceptive engagement? Was it simply seeing him nearly naked? Was it something more, something unnamed?
She wasn’t going to do this with Jack. She couldn’t risk taking advantage of him again, or hurting his chances with the adoption. She had to keep her head together. They had made a mutual pact to help each other. Getting involved again would cause damage in the end. Hadn’t the entire town told her that, umpteen times? But the town hadn’t told her anything she didn’t already believe. She wasn’t good for Jack Walker. So, she had to cool the lust going on inside her head.
For Jack.
For Beau.
For her own sanity.
On her dare, he reached in and grabbed a doughnut and stuffed half of it into his mouth, his dark eyes glittering.
“You’re a daredevil, Sheriff Walker.”
“Maybe you bring that out in me.”
“Maybe, I shouldn’t.”
He dug his teeth into the other half of the doughnut. “You can’t help it, Jillian.”
No, no she couldn’t. She watched him enjoy the maple bar with gusto and then walked into the kitchen. “One’s all you’re getting before dinner.”
He followed her. “Yes, because we don’t want to be too wild and crazy.”
“Yeah, having two or three, now that would break the lawman code or something, right?” She set her half eaten doughnut on a napkin.
“Absolutely.” He went to the sink and ducked under, splashing water on his face and then washing his hands. Drying off with a towel, he asked, “Want a soda or beer?”
“Just water, thanks. I’ll get it.”
He took a glass from the cabinet and handed it to her. She moved to the front of the refrigerator and pressed the ice button and then filled her glass. Jack’s eyes were on her as she moved about his kitchen.
“Are you hungry?” he asked, grabbing a beer for himself.
“Not really. Not after downing half of that doughnut.”
“Me either.” He shrugged. “Guess there are some consequences when we don’t play by the rules.”
She got the feeling he wasn’t talking about dessert first anymore.
“I’ll go shut down the grill for now. We’ll eat a little later.”
She followed him outside. After he did his grill master thing with the food, he gestured for her to take a seat on the brick patio. She chose a padded lawn chair that faced a well-groomed garden and Jack leaned against a thick beam that held up the patio cover. The house was spacious and the lawn was equally large, green grass that met his neighbor’s green grass without benefit of fencing. She had always wondered at the borderless properties, even though she’d grown up in Texas. Where she’d lived, a tiny shack compared to Jack’s place, the houses had been stacked close together and rusted chain link fences divided the backyards. In Newport, her home now, and in L.A, where she worked, property lines were often in dispute causing major upheavals and lawsuits so the openness here was refreshing to her. “What do people do if they have dogs?”
Jack laughed again. It was as if the question wasn’t what he expected. “They put up hedges. Fences aren’t out of the question either. I have a fence out front.”
“That’s decorative. It’s not really functional.”
“True enough.”
“What about kids? What will you do if you get Beau?”
Jack’s brow furrowed, taking the question seriously now. “I suppose, I can fence in around the patio area, until he gets older.”
“So you’ve given this some thought.”
“I have. I don’t claim to know all there is about parenting…”
“You’ll be a great dad, Jack. I have no doubt.”
“If I’m able to adopt Beau.” His mouth curved down just enough for her to see his worry. Then he sipped his beer.
“I’ll do whatever I can to help make that happen.”
He gestured with the beer bottle in one hand making a wide arc. “That’s why we’re doing all this. I hope it’s enough.”
All this, meaning lying to everyone about their engagement and marriage. “Me too.”
“I got some things done today to make the house more livable. Fixed shutters, put up two new fans. I intend to paint a few rooms too, before we have the engagement party.”
“I’ll help.”
“Thanks, but you’ve got your hands full with opening your shop. I’ll manage.” He sipped beer again, downing the rest of the bottle. And though refusing her help seemed to fit his manly man nature, as well as giving her time to work on her own things, she halfway suspected Jack was avoiding having to work alongside her for any reason. He didn’t want her here. Period. Her showing up in Hope Wells had ruined his plans.
“I guess…” He scratched his head, and the words he wanted to form seemed to die on his lips.
“You guess what?” She leaned forward a bit, wondering why he looked like he’d just bitten into a rotten egg. His face contorted, his generous mouth looking impossibly grim.
“We, uh, also need to plan the wedding. Should happen soon.”
Yes, she supposed it should. But once again, the very idea of marrying her seemed to be like poison to Jack’s system. She tried not to be hurt by the look on his face, the tone of his voice. But it did hurt and she couldn’t deny it.
“How soon?”
He got this blank look on his face
. “However long it takes to plan one of these things.”
She didn’t really know. She’d never planned a wedding before, parties yes, weddings no.
“Okay.”
“The smaller the ceremony the better,” he said. “I mean, we’re having this splashy engagement party and all. The wedding doesn’t have to be—”
“I get it, Jack. You want a small ceremony. Perhaps just with family and close friends?”
“Maddie said she’d help and offered up 2 Hope Ranch for the nuptials. It’s pretty there.” He scratched his head, clearly uncomfortable with the subject. “Unless it’s not what you want.”
What exactly did she want? The details were beginning to cloud up. Seeing her soon-to-be husband on that ladder, abs beautifully exposed, messed with her head a little. She had the hots for Jack Walker, just like always. And, just like always, he was pushing her away.
Yet, she was going to be Jack’s bride and at least he cared enough to ask about her wedding day desires. The truth was, though, her brain was telling her not to make a big deal out of it, yet this was to be her first ever wedding. A girl always dreamed of her wedding day, what her dress would look like, speaking her vows, and mostly about the man that would stand by her side and make promises to her, about their future.
“Jillian?”
She’d been caught daydreaming. How very dumb of her. This was not real. None of it was and putting Jack’s gorgeous near nakedness aside, she had to remember that. “It’s very nice of her. I think we should do it.”
“Okay, I guess the next step is to take you to the ranch and introduce you to Maddie. I think you remember my cousin, Trey.”
“I sure do.” She nodded. “I’d like that.”
“There’s just one thing they both don’t know…”
Chapter Six
The next evening, a blazing tangerine sun was beginning to lower on the horizon as Jack and Jillian walked up to greet Maddie Walker on the steps of her home at 2 Hope Ranch. Jack quickly made introductions and it was clear by his tone more than any one particular thing, that Jack thought the world of his cousin’s wife. Often, his deep voice would give way to a softer pitch whenever her name came up in conversation.
Loving the Texas Lawman Page 7
