The Rancher's Hired Fiancee

by Judy Duarte

  Heck, even if he were the needy kind, he wasn’t interested in complicating his life with romance until long after his job as interim mayor was finished. And to be honest, the jury was still out on whether he ever wanted another wife or not. His divorce had left him more than a little gun-shy when it came to trusting his heart to anyone again. So he wasn’t going to give matrimony another try anytime soon.

  Of course, it was a little weird and disconcerting to think that he’d not only had to pay through the nose to divorce the ex-wife who’d made his life a living hell, but that he was now paying a fake fiancée to keep his life simple and maintain his privacy.

  On the other hand, he found himself enjoying Catherine’s attentions far more than he could have imagined.

  So he placed his hand on her lower back. “Come on, honey. Let’s get something to eat.”

  They’d no more than taken a couple of steps when an old pickup started up, then backfired.

  Catherine jumped. “What was that? A gunshot?”

  Ray slipped his arm around her and smiled. “No, it was just an old truck that needs a tune-up.”

  “Oh, thank goodness.” As they walked toward the chuck wagon, she leaned into him, just as if it was the most natural thing in the world to do.

  And maybe it was.

  “Speaking of old trucks,” she said, “I completely forgot to mention this. Dan’s pickup, which I drove into town today, isn’t running very well. So I’m going to need a ride home this evening—unless you don’t mind me sleeping on your sofa.”

  No kidding? Ray would love to have her stay the night with him in town. And she didn’t need to take the sofa. She could sleep anywhere she liked.

  “If you spend the night,” he said, “I’ll take you to Caroline’s Diner for breakfast in the morning. The Brighton Valley Rotary is meeting in the back room, and that way, people will assume we’re not only engaged but sleeping together.”

  It was kind of a lame excuse, especially since Ray hadn’t even planned to attend the meeting. But if it meant having Catherine to himself this evening, then so be it.

  “Sounds good to me.”

  It did? Was she feeling that comfortable with him, too? Or did spending the night just make her job easier?

  The only way to find out for sure was to ask, and he wasn’t about to do that.

  They continued on to the chuck wagon and the spread of food that had been set out on long tables, but it took nearly twenty minutes to get there, thanks to all the folks who stopped them to offer their congratulations.

  Each time it happened, Catherine lit up like a happy bride at her wedding.

  Needless to say, the phony engagement was working beautifully, and Ray couldn’t imagine anyone thinking that Catherine wasn’t in love with “her man.”

  He supposed he ought to be pleased, but for some reason, he felt compelled to steal her away from the crowd, to find someplace quiet and romantic where they could spend the rest of the evening alone.

  And he didn’t dare contemplate why.

  Chapter Six

  As the sun set over Brighton Valley, black, wrought-iron gas lamps that had been spaced throughout the town square came on, bathing the parklike grounds in a soft glow.

  An hour earlier, Ray had introduced Catherine to Shane and Jillian Hollister, then asked the couple to join them at their table when they ate dinner. Shane, who’d once been a detective with the Houston Police Department, had worked on Dan Walker’s ranch prior to being appointed as the Brighton Valley sheriff.

  Shane was off duty today, yet he continued to make the rounds, just as Ray did. But Catherine didn’t mind fending for herself. She’d hit it off with Jillian. And she also enjoyed holding Mary Rose, the Hollisters’ three-month-old daughter.

  “It must be tough leaving the baby with a sitter while you do your student teaching,” Catherine said.

  “Yes, it is, but my grandmother recently moved to Brighton Valley and watches Mary Rose for me. In fact, Gram loves providing child care and even has her own little nursery set up. So I’m really fortunate in that respect.”

  Catherine studied the infant in her arms and smiled. “It seems like ages since I’ve held a little one.”

  “Did you have brothers and sisters?”

  “Yes, but by the time I left for college, I was so eager to get a break from them that I didn’t think I’d ever want to have kids of my own.”

  “Have you changed your mind?”

  “I suppose,” Catherine said wistfully, “but I’ve had a lot of female problems, including endometriosis. The doctor told me that I’d probably never conceive.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” Jillian said.

  “Me, too.” Catherine glanced up and gave her an I’ve-accepted-it smile. “But the Walker twins have become the children I’ll never have. After Kaylee and Kevin were born, I fell in love with them. And since their mother was my roommate, the kids lived with me for the first five years of their lives. So at least I’ve had the whole baby experience—times two.”

  Catherine glanced down at Mary Rose, realizing that holding someone else’s child wasn’t the same as holding her own.

  The thought of adopting someday struck again, which was comforting. At least she had options available to her.

  “You know,” Jillian said, “my doctor, Selena Ramirez, is a great obstetrician/gynecologist. She was a resident at the Brighton Valley Medical Center, but started up her own practice last year. You might want to check with her and get a second opinion. She also treats infertility.”

  If Catherine were going to stay in town, she’d give it some thought. But she had no business even thinking about home and hearth and families at this point in her life.

  Still, she scanned the town square, searching for Ray and finding him talking to Jillian’s husband. As their gazes met, a warm feeling spread throughout her chest, setting off a yearning she couldn’t quite explain.

  What was that all about? It’s not as though she and Ray actually had a future together.

  Jillian glanced at the bangle watch she wore on her wrist, then sighed. “As much as I’d like to stay here, I need to take Mary Rose home. It’s getting close to her bedtime.”

  Catherine took one last look at the precious infant in her arms, then handed her back to her mommy.

  “I need to let Shane know I’m leaving,” Jillian said. “That is, if I can find him.”

  “He’s over there,” Catherine said, pointing toward the chuck wagon, “talking to Ray.”

  “Oh, yes. I see them.” Jillian reached for the diaper bag, then paused. “I hate to leave you sitting by yourself.”

  “Don’t feel bad about that. I like sitting here, listening to the music.” She’d also enjoyed talking to Jillian, as well as the various townspeople who occasionally stopped by to introduce themselves and to welcome her to Brighton Valley.

  “Shane and I will be inviting you and Ray for dinner one day soon,” Jillian said, as she prepared to leave.

  “I’d like that.” Catherine had found it easy to talk to Jillian. And the fact that she was also a friend of Eva’s made it all the nicer.

  “Hopefully, Ray will come back soon.”

  “I’m sure he will.” Catherine offered her new friend a smile. “And even if he doesn’t, I’m in no hurry to leave. I’m having a good time.”

  As Jillian crossed the lawn and approached her husband, Catherine watched her go. Once she’d reached Shane’s side, Ray spoke to them both for a moment longer, then he softly stroked Mary Rose’s dark hair before returning to Catherine’s table.

  “How are you holding up?” he asked as he took a seat beside her.

  “I’m fine. How about you?”

  “Winding down.” He lifted his Stetson with one hand, then combed his fingers through his dark hair with the other. “It’s been a long day, and I’d really like to say my goodbyes and get away from the crowd and all the noise.”

  It must have been especially tiring for him. Even thoug
h he wasn’t being bombarded by matchmakers, a lot of people continued to drag him off to talk about a project or a problem they had.

  “Will you be able to leave soon?” Catherine asked. “Or do you need to stay until it’s over?”

  “It’s supposed to go on for another hour, but I don’t need to stay that long.”

  As she studied him in the soft light created by one of the gas lamps, she noticed that his expression had turned serious, creating a furrowed brow.

  Was something weighing on his mind? Or was he just tired, as he’d implied?

  When his gaze caught hers, he seemed to shake the serious thoughts. “You’ve got to be worn to a frazzle.”

  “Not really.” She’d been able to kick back and enjoy the day, but he hadn’t been that lucky. He’d had to work.

  In a sense, she supposed she’d been working, too. But being Ray’s fiancée hadn’t required much effort on her part. It had been an easy role to fall into. In fact, at times it felt as though the two of them were a real couple.

  But even if it was real, long-distance relationships had two strikes against them already. Not that Ray had indicated he’d like to become involved in something like that.

  As the country-western band began to play a slow and sultry love song, Catherine stood and reached out her hand to him. “Okay, Mr. Mayor. I’ve been patient long enough. You’ve been so busy with your civic duties that you haven’t even gotten around to dancing with the woman you love, and I think it’s high time you did.”

  He tilted his head slightly, then when he caught her wink, he smiled, slipped his hand into hers and let her lead him to the dance floor.

  On the stage, an attractive young brunette vocalist sang “Breathe,” the hit song that had earned Faith Hill a Grammy.

  The local singer certainly wasn’t as talented as Faith, but she gave it her all, and the other couples who’d gathered on the dance floor seemed to appreciate her efforts.

  “I should have thought of this earlier,” Ray whispered, as they walked across the lawn. “People are probably wondering why I haven’t been courting my fiancée properly.”

  “I’m not so sure about that,” she said, lowering her voice to match his. “We put on a believable act for them.”

  In fact, there’d been times throughout the day that she’d nearly forgotten that she really wasn’t his lover, that he’d only hired her to play the part.

  When they reached the dance floor, Catherine turned to Ray, whose smile had lit his face and completely chased away that furrowed brow.

  “I’m not a bad dancer,” he said as they came together, “for an amateur. But I’m sure you’re used to guys with a lot more talent than I’ve got. So take it easy on me, okay?”

  As she peered into his eyes and saw them sparkle with mirth, she returned his grin. “I’m not looking for any fancy footwork, Ray. All you need to do is sway to the music, and I’ll follow your lead.”

  As he opened his arms, she stepped into his embrace, savoring the warmth of his body and the musky scent of his cologne.

  It’s an act, she told herself. But as she felt the strength of his arms, as they melded into one on the dance floor, she couldn’t help wishing there was something more going on between them.

  If things were different…

  If she were going to stay in Texas indefinitely…

  If she didn’t have a career waiting for her in New York, directors who’d like to cast her again…

  But how crazy was that? If she stayed in Brighton Valley, she’d have to give up all she’d ever wanted, all she’d worked so hard to achieve.

  No, they just had this time together—today, tonight, next week. Who knew how long she’d stay in town? Who knew when the urge to return to the stage would strike?

  The song, it seemed, ended all too soon. And as Ray released her, she hadn’t been ready to let him go.

  That is, until their eyes met and she spotted the intensity burning in his gaze.

  Well, what do you know? The dance had affected him, too.

  “Come on,” he said, taking her by the hand. “Let’s go home.”

  Her heart skipped a beat, then slipped into overdrive.

  Home, he’d said. But right now, she’d follow him anywhere—no matter what role she was playing, even if she were merely being herself.

  * * *

  Ray had taken Catherine’s hand when they’d walked off the dance floor, and he continued to hold it as they left the town square and headed back to his apartment.

  He wasn’t sure what he’d expected when he’d taken her into his arms—just a run of the mill slow dance, he supposed. But when his hands had glided along the curve of her back and he’d drawn her close, there’d been more than a seductive tune and lyrics swirling around them.

  No one ever told him that acting could be so much fun—or so arousing. He could almost imagine their phony romance taking a turn toward the real thing.

  Would he ever find a woman like Catherine—or like the woman she was pretending to be?

  Again, he wondered how much was acting and how much of it was genuine. After all, he was only human. And he’d been celibate for nearly two years.

  Damn, had it really been that long?

  He had no idea what to expect when they returned to his apartment—a good-night kiss or maybe one of appreciation? It was hard to say, but something told him that any kiss they shared was going to consume him with lust for the beautiful woman who had the ability to turn him inside out with just a smile.

  Still, he was glad to know she’d be going home with him. Even if it meant one of them would be sleeping on the sofa.

  As they walked down Main Street, which was quiet now that the stores had closed, their boot soles crunched along the sidewalk.

  “There’s something appealing about Brighton Valley,” she said.

  “I think so.”

  “How’d you like growing up here?”

  He wasn’t sure why she’d asked, but he gave her an honest answer. “It was great. I can’t imagine living anywhere else.”

  She seemed to think on that for a moment, then she nudged her arm against his. “You mentioned being an only child. That must have been nice—and peaceful. The house I grew up in was just one drama after another.”

  “My home life was nice and quiet, but it was lonely at times.”

  She smiled. “Sometimes people can be lonely in a crowd.”

  He supposed she might be right about that. “It wasn’t so bad, though. My parents wanted me to socialize, so they let me invite plenty of friends to come to the ranch.”

  “Did you have any cousins?” she asked.

  “Nope. It was just one set of grandparents, my folks and me. In fact, I was the only son of an only son.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said.

  “Don’t be. It wasn’t so bad.” A smile tugged at Ray’s lips, as he thought back to the loving home in which he’d grown up. “I was a late-in-life baby, whose birth was an answer to my mother’s prayers. Needless to say, all the adults in my life doted on me.”

  Catherine’s smile deepened, setting off her pretty dimples. “I’ll bet they’re proud of the man you’ve grown up to be.”

  “They were. They sat in the front row of every school play I was in, every Little League game I played. And they cheered, even if I messed up, telling me that it didn’t matter.”

  “Do they live with you?” she asked. “I mean, it being a family ranch and all.”

  “No. My grandpa passed away when I was a junior in high school, and my dad died three years later. I lost my grandmother next, and my mom right before my thirtieth birthday.”

  “That’s too bad. I’m sorry.”

  He was, too. “I guess that’s the downside of having older parents. You usually lose them a lot sooner than most of your friends.”

  He sensed her grieving for him, and he appreciated the sentiment—whether sincere or not. Heather hadn’t fully understood or sympathized with his loss—and she hadn
’t even tried to fake it. Instead, she’d thought he was lucky to have been the sole heir of the family ranch, the biggest spread in Brighton Valley and all the investments his family had accrued over two generations.

  But he would have given it all up just to have his family still with him.

  As they neared the drugstore, he realized they’d be at his apartment in no time at all and he found himself looking forward to having some time alone with the woman who was unlike any other he’d ever known.

  “So what about school?” she asked. “Did you attend college?”

  He wasn’t sure what had triggered her curiosity, yet he didn’t mind her interest in his past. So he said, “I went to Texas A and M.”

  There didn’t seem to be any reason to mention that he’d graduated at the top of his class and received several job offers before his last semester—a couple in the Dallas area and one near Houston. He’d turned them down, though. Instead, he’d come home and taken over the family ranch, which he’d made even more successful than his grandfather and father had made it.

  As they continued to hold hands and to make their way down the quiet, deserted downtown street, Ray relished the intimacy they shared.

  “What about you?” he asked.

  There wasn’t much to tell—at least, when it came to her childhood—but Catherine supposed it was only fair that he quizzed her, too.

  “I don’t have too many good memories of growing up. By the time I graduated from high school, all I wanted to do was get on the first bus heading to Ohio.”

  “Ohio?” he asked.

  “I had a scholarship to Crandall School of Fine Arts. It wasn’t my first choice of colleges, but it had offered the best scholarship and was the farthest from home. So I jumped at it.”

  “And that’s where you met Jenny Walker?”

  She nodded. “Then we both moved to Manhattan.”

  Once she’d left New Mexico, she’d really begun to thrive in the college setting—and even more so in the metropolis, where she’d finally become the woman she was meant to be.