The Rancher's Hired Fiancee

by Judy Duarte

  “Are you sorry you took on the extra work?” she asked.

  “I really don’t mind the job itself. The biggest problem I have is balancing all of my other responsibilities.”

  “Such as…?”

  “The day-to-day duties on my ranch, as well as the new horse-breeding operation I’m just starting up with Dan.” He blew out a sigh, and his shoulders seemed to slump a bit. “I hate leaving others to do the work I should be doing myself. And it’s not easy being pulled in a hundred different directions. But I can handle it. Besides, now that you’ve stepped in as my ‘fiancée,’ things are a lot easier. I don’t have to fend off the single ladies in town.”

  “That surprises me.”

  “What does?” He hung his jacket on the back of one of the dinette chairs. “That the women are interested in me?”

  “No, not that.” Goodness, not that. The man was successful, well-respected, personable and drop-dead gorgeous. “I’m just a little surprised that you’re not the least bit interested in dating.”

  “I don’t have time for a relationship. And even if I did, I’m not ready to get involved in another one.”

  If that was the case, then his ex-wife must have done a real number on him—just as Erik had done to her.

  “Not that it’s really any of my business,” she said, “but why aren’t you ready to start dating?”

  “My divorce got ugly.” He strode to the kitchen area, pulled a glass from the cupboard, then filled it with water from the tap. “And when the one person in the world you depend on to have your back kicks you in the ass instead…well, even a cowboy isn’t too eager to get back in the saddle again.”

  She knew exactly what he meant. That’s why she was in Brighton Valley these days, rather than in Manhattan.

  After Ray had quenched his thirst and put the empty glass in the sink, Catherine said, “You mentioned that your divorce got ugly. I assume your marriage started out all right. When did things go south?”

  “Probably after the first few weeks. But our relationship was wrong from the get-go. And it’s my fault for not realizing that.”

  Catherine should have seen Erik’s flaws, too, but love—or whatever she’d felt for him—had blinded her to them. She’d not only been hurt, but she’d felt pretty stupid, too. So it was nice to know she wasn’t the only one who’d been snowballed by someone she’d cared about, someone she’d trusted.

  “What clues did you miss?” she asked.

  “First of all, Heather was a city girl who didn’t like living on a ranch. And I was crazy for thinking she’d eventually get used to it.” He clucked his tongue and shook his head. “She was also selfish and greedy. I’d noticed it going in, I suppose. But I hadn’t realized just how bad it really was.” He pointed to Catherine’s left hand. “When I asked Heather to marry me, she turned up her nose at the ring you’re wearing. I know it isn’t much, but she couldn’t see the value in it—the vows made and kept over the years.”

  Catherine lifted her finger, studied the small stone. Again she thought about Ray’s grandmother, the woman who’d worn it and cherished the love and the promises it had represented.

  “I should have taken a step back and reconsidered my proposal at that point,” Ray said as he left the kitchen area, “but I stuck the ring in the safe, then went out and purchased a two-carat diamond for her instead.”

  Catherine had always believed there were two sides to every story—until she’d met Erik and fallen for his lies. So she found herself disliking Ray’s ex-wife, even though they’d never met.

  “Were the two of you ever happy?” she asked.

  “At first, but once we got home from our honeymoon, the complaints started. And it became clear that she hated everything about my life—and me, too. Before long, she was spending more time in the city than she was in Brighton Valley. The day we split, she finally admitted that she was having an affair with a plastic surgeon.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “About the divorce? Don’t be. It was for the best. Trouble was, she hired a high-priced attorney out of Houston, and even though I’d expected to pay a hefty settlement, I hadn’t been prepared for a legal battle. Each time I thought we’d reached some kind of agreement, she’d ask for something else. The whole thing dragged on for nearly two years.”

  Catherine didn’t know what to say. Another I’m sorry seemed not only redundant but inadequate.

  “I’m just glad it’s finally over,” he said. “So you can see why I’d be hesitant to get involved with someone else again—especially a woman who’s only interested in me because she thinks I’d make a good catch.”

  Ray Mendez would make a wonderful catch for any woman, so Catherine could certainly understand why every Tamara, Diane and Mary in town was trying her best to snag his attention or set him up with someone she knew.

  Yet Ray had a lot more going for him than his financial portfolio and political standing in the community. And he deserved a woman who’d be true blue and a helpmate to him.

  “Dan said you’d been through a breakup, too,” Ray said.

  Catherine hadn’t meant to bring up the subject. Goodness, she was trying to forget Erik and all he’d put her through. But after Ray’s heartfelt disclosure, it seemed only fair to admit that she’d been hurt and disappointed, too.

  “Last year I met a producer who’d recently moved to Manhattan from London. He asked me out, and we started dating. Before long, he promised me a starring role in the play he was producing, and I was thrilled. In fact, he also gave me an opportunity to invest in the production, which meant I’d reap some of the profit.

  “For the first time in my life, I began to believe that I might finally be able to have it all—a successful career and a happy marriage. But he turned out to be a scam artist who ran off, taking the funding for a production that never came to pass.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  Catherine had not only been crushed and embarrassed by his deception, but she’d also lost a large chunk of her savings to the lying jerk.

  “So you decided to get away for a while?” Ray asked.

  That was about the size of it. She’d sublet her brownstone for three months and flown to Texas to stay with Dan and Eva.

  “I figured that Brighton Valley would be a great place to lick my wounds and to sort out my options,” she admitted.

  And while she was here, she’d use the downtime to allow her body to mend. Like many professional dancers, she’d suffered a couple of injuries that made it difficult for her to continue performing in musicals.

  To be honest, she hoped to land more singing or acting roles from now on. But she’d deal with that once she got back to Manhattan.

  In the meantime, she tossed Ray an appreciative smile. “And thanks to you, I’ll not only be able to stay longer, I’ll also be able practice my acting skills while I’m here.”

  “I’m glad to do my part. You’ve been a real godsend. If things continue to go well, I’ll have to give you a bonus.”

  With finances being what they were, she could certainly use the extra cash, but she couldn’t take any more money for doing a job that came so easily to her.

  “That’s not necessary,” she said. “I get a lot of perks working for you.”

  “Such as…?”

  “Meals and entertainment.”

  As their gazes met, as their time so far together came to mind, another perk crossed her mind: heart-spinning kisses that turned her every which way but loose.

  Her cheeks warmed at the memory. Afraid to let him know what she was thinking, she turned away, walked several steps to the window and peered at the street below just so she could break eye contact.

  “When do you plan to return to New York?” he asked.

  “I don’t know. In a couple of months, maybe. I don’t have a return flight scheduled.”

  She liked knowing she could leave whenever she grew tired of being in Brighton Valley, although she found the rural Texas setting b
oth quaint and restful. But she’d grown up in a small town and had found it to be stifling.

  In Manhattan, she’d thrived and had finally become the woman she was meant to be.

  “Well, I’d better get into my boots and jeans,” he said, removing his wristwatch and leaving it on the dinette table, “or we’ll end up arriving even later than we already are.”

  Minutes later, Ray sauntered into the living room in his Western wear, his Stetson in hand. His bright-eyed, sexy grin was so mesmerizing that Catherine couldn’t help thinking that he made the perfect cowboy hero to play opposite her.

  How did Brighton Valley’s most handsome and eligible bachelor get better-looking each time she laid eyes on him?

  “I’m sorry I kept you waiting,” he said.

  She offered him a breezy smile and said, “No problem,” even though she could see a huge one looming on the horizon.

  Ray had hired her to keep the local ladies from setting their romantic sights on him, and she had no reason to doubt that they’d respect the phony engagement.

  Catherine would respect the role she was playing, too. And there was the problem.

  As Ray opened the door for her, she grabbed her purse and proceeded downstairs. In a matter of minutes she’d be strolling along the street with the hottest cowboy in town.

  She’d pretend to be in love with the handsome mayor, although it wouldn’t take much acting on her part to feign her affection or her attraction to him.

  No, the real difficulty would be in forgetting that it was all part of the act.

  * * *

  Ray and Catherine decided to walk to the community barbecue, since the town square was just down the street. In fact, it was so close that they’d barely stepped onto the sidewalk when they caught a hearty whiff of mesquite-grilled meat and heard the sound of bluegrass music.

  “It sure smells good,” Catherine said.

  “Wait until you taste it. Brighton Valley goes all out for this event.”

  Ray, who’d been fighting the urge to hold her hand while they’d made the five-block walk, reached for it now.

  It was all part of the act, he told himself. Yet there was something very appealing about Catherine. Something that made him happy to be with her.

  Maybe it was the fact that she wasn’t batting her eyelashes at him, that she wasn’t delivering homemade cookies and hinting that she’d like more than a friendship.

  Yeah, he told himself. That had to be it.

  But as she slipped her hand into his, as their fingers threaded together, a burst of pride shot through him.

  Or was it more than that?

  Unwilling to let the possibility of anything “more” take root, he said, “I think you’ll have a good time. Besides having the best barbecue food you’ve ever eaten, several of the local bands will be playing and trying to outdo each other as a way of promoting themselves for future parties and performances.”

  “Is it all bluegrass and country-western music?” she asked.

  “For the most part. You’ll hear some banjo groups and a couple of fiddlers. But there’ll probably be some classic rock, too.”

  “It sounds fun.”

  He’d always liked attending the event, but something told him he was going to enjoy it a whole lot more with Catherine as his date.

  Well, not a date in the classic sense of the word.

  As they turned the corner and caught the first glimpse of the town square, Ray gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “Here we are.”

  The parklike area had already begun to fill with local residents, who stood in small groups on the grass or sat in some of the white chairs and tables they’d gotten from the party-rental company.

  Near the courthouse, the Barbecue Pit, a local restaurant known for its great sauce, had set up an old-style chuck wagon, as well as a portable barbecue grill, where several men with white aprons watched the meat cook over mesquite chips.

  Over by the restrooms, Charlie Biller’s bluegrass band played their last set, as the Dave Hawkins Trio stood by, waiting to take their place on stage.

  Now would be a good time for Ray to walk up to the microphone and welcome everyone to the event that had become one of the highlights of the year.

  They’d barely stepped off the sidewalk and onto the grass when they were met by Buddy Elkins, one of the older city council members. Buddy was dressed in his cowboy finest—complete with boots, a silver buckle and a Stetson.

  As recognition dawned, the silver-haired councilman headed straight for Ray with a big grin on his face. “I’d heard you snatched up the prettiest little gal in these parts, but I gotta tell ya’, Mayor, the rumor mill didn’t do this young lady justice. You really hit the jackpot this time.”

  Ray winked at Catherine, then released her hand so he could shake Buddy’s. “You’ve got that right. I’m a lucky man. Catherine has renewed my faith in women.”

  That same surge of pride returned as Ray watched Buddy tip his hat to Catherine. “I’m pleased to meet you, ma’am.”

  She thanked him, then blessed him with a pretty smile.

  Buddy elbowed Ray. “There’ll be a hundred young men who’ll be chomping at the bit to take your place—and a few my age who’d like to give you a run for your money. So you’d better treat her right.”

  “You can bet on it.” Ray stole a glance at Catherine, and she gave him one of those starry-eyed smiles he’d suggested she throw his way every now and again. But this one shot right to his heart—or somewhere thereabouts. In fact, if he didn’t know better, he’d think it was real.

  Too bad it wasn’t. He could get used to having a woman look at him like that—especially if the lady was her.

  Shaking off the effects of their playacting, Ray said, “I’m going to head over to the stage and welcome people to the barbecue. But I’ll be right back, Buddy. So don’t try to steal my girl from me.”

  Buddy, who was nearing seventy, chuckled. “I’ll keep my eye on her and chase off any riffraff who might not be as honorable as I am.”

  Ray brushed a kiss on Catherine’s cheek, but as he did so, he caught a whiff of her floral scent, which taunted him to distraction. But he didn’t dare stray from his task, so he excused himself and headed for the bandstand.

  Along the way, several of the local townspeople stopped him to ask about one thing or another—but mostly to congratulate him on his engagement. For the first time in what seemed like ages, no one tried to hit on him or introduce him to the perfect woman.

  Apparently the Brighton Valley residents had begun to realize that he’d already found her.

  Of course, when it came to hired fiancées, he certainly had. Catherine was not only classy and sophisticated, but she also seemed to have a down-to-earth way about her.

  Ray reminded himself that she was a talented actress who was able to immerse herself in a role. And even though a bucolic setting and small-town personalities held little appeal to a woman who’d moved on to the big city, Catherine appeared to be in her element and charmed everyone she met.

  In fact, Ray felt a little bewitched by her, too.

  When Charlie Biller, the leader of the bluegrass band, noticed Ray standing near the stage, he nodded to acknowledge him.

  As soon as the song ended, the audience broke into applause. Charlie thanked them, then announced, “Let’s all give a hand to Mayor Mendez.”

  Once Ray stood at the microphone, he welcomed everyone to the barbecue, then thanked the committee members who’d worked so hard to put on the event, as well as the local businesses and citizens who’d made donations of both money and goods.

  “Before I turn the stage over to Dave and his trio,” Ray said, “I’d like to take a minute to thank you for offering your best wishes on my engagement.”

  A brief hush fell on the crowd, followed by a gasp or two and some startled looks.

  Ray scanned the grounds, looking for Catherine, finding her in the same place he’d left her. “Honey? Where are you?”

  The
townspeople, many of whom hadn’t heard the news, began to crane their necks, seeking the woman in question.

  Catherine, who wore a pretty smile, lifted her hand and fluttered her fingers. Then she blew Ray a little kiss.

  Damn. She was good. And so natural… .

  So believable.

  But Ray couldn’t very well stand there and gawk at her like everyone else. So he said, “Let’s get on with the show.”

  As the trio of banjo players took their place onstage, Ray stepped onto the lawn, only to be stopped by Clyde Wilkerson, one of the local ranchers.

  “I had no idea you were engaged,” Clyde said. “When in the world did that happen? My wife was planning to invite you to dinner so she could introduce you to our niece.”

  “I kept things quiet until I popped the question and she said yes.”

  Clyde took another gander at Catherine. “Lucky you. She’s certainly a pretty one.”

  “Yes, she is.” Ray found himself craning his neck, looking for her. And wanting to make his way back to her.

  “Where’d you find her?” Clyde asked.

  “In Houston. I saw her dance on stage at the Yellow Rose Theater, and I knew right then and there that I had to meet her. We’ve been seeing each other for several months now.”

  “I don’t suppose she has a sister,” Clyde said. “I’d sure like to see my son Grady find a lady like that.”

  Catherine, who’d managed to break free of Buddy, made her way to where Ray and Clyde were standing. She offered Ray an I-missed-you-baby smile, then slipped her arm through his.

  Trouble was, Ray had kind of missed her, too.

  He supposed he ought to be glad his ploy was working—and he was. The whole town square was abuzz with whispers about the mayor’s new lady and nods of approval, indicating they were all clearly impressed by the match.

  Thank goodness for that small miracle.

  Some bachelors might find it nice to have nearly every single woman in town trying to catch their eye. And while Ray had spent more than his share of lonely nights during the months leading to his divorce and the two years after he and Heather had split, he’d put it all behind him now. And it grated on him to have anyone assume that he’d never be a whole man until he landed another wife, when that couldn’t be any further from the truth.