Page 56 of Texas Temptation

Jordan rose and yawned. “Sorry. I am tired. See you in the morning.”

When morning arrived, Jordan thought about their planned trip to Tumbleweed to get a ring. She glowed with happiness. What kind of ring would Cade want her to have? She liked simple settings. None of his tastes were ostentatious, so they’d probably easily agree on the ring.

Would he wear a wedding ring as well? She’d like that. Feeling possessive, she wanted the entire world to know he was hers.

She could spend the entire morning in bed dreaming about Cade and their lives together, but she had to get up. Caleb would awaken soon.

After a quick shower, Jordan went to see to Caleb. She wished she had something else to wear, but jeans would have to do. The suit from her Los Angeles trip was too formal for casual Tumbleweed, and she hadn’t brought anything else from Florida.

As ten o’clock approached, Jordan grew nervous. This would be the first time anyone outside the immediate family knew of Cade’s coming marriage. How would his neighbors and friends take it? They had all known his first wife and daughter. Would they draw comparisons?

Jordan wished she knew more about Marissa and the circumstance of Cade’s marriage.

“Don’t be silly,” she told herself as she walked out into the sunshine.

“He asked me to marry him, not the other way around.”

Entering the office, Jordan smiled at Penny. She noticed Cade’s office door was closed. “Is Cade ready?”

“I believe so. He told me he’d be gone most of the day. I didn’t offer my best wishes yesterday. I hope you both will be happy.”

She rang the intercom and told Cade that Jordan was waiting to see him.

“We’re buying rings,” Jordan said, trying for a friendly note.

Penny looked up and nodded.

“So he said. Get a big one, he’s good for it.”

Jordan wandered to the door, waiting. She had called Julie first thing yesterday to share her news. Then called Joe to tell him she wouldn’t be returning to Florida to live and formally giving notice to quit. What else did she need to deal with?

“Ready?” Cade came from his office. Jordan smiled, feeling that thrill she did every time she saw him. Today it felt even stronger knowing one day they’d be married and starting a life together.

“We’ll be back late this afternoon,” he told Penny.

Jordan noticed he wore jeans as well. Had he done so deliberately to put her at ease? Cade could be dictatorial sometimes, but he also could be surprisingly thoughtful. A complex man she was marrying.

Just before they reached town, Jordan asked if he’d wear a wedding ring.

“If you want me to,” he replied.

She wanted to ask if he had with Marissa, but couldn’t make herself say the words. It really didn’t matter. This was their marriage, not his first one. Whether they did things the same or differently, it only mattered that they did what they wanted.

The jeweler looked surprised when Cade told him what he wanted. The glance at Jordan had her once again feeling inadequate. But she forgot it all when the man spread out a rainbow of rings on the black velvet drop cloth. The diamonds sparkled in the light. The few other precious stones contrasted with the shimmering brilliance of the diamonds.

Cade picked one and held it for Jordan’s inspection. “Do you like this one?”

“It’s nice.”

“Lacks a ringing endorsement,” he said, placing it back on the velvet. “Which do you prefer?”

She studied the display, reaching out for the simple solitary diamond in a plain gold setting.

“This one.”

Despite Penny’s words, Jordan wanted a ring she loved, not one to show off. She’d be wearing it the rest of her life.

He nodded to the jeweler. “We’d like to see matching wedding rings, as well.”

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