Page 66 of The Cowboy's Surprise Return

Mrs. Fisher cleared her throat. “My yard’s looking good, and I heard that’s because of y’all.”

“We know nothing,” Jackie and Cole said at the same time. His eyes cut to hers and she giggled.

“Um-hmm? Is that so?” the waitress asked, placing a manicured hand on her hip.

“We would never lie to you, Mrs. Fisher,” Jackie said sweetly.

She harrumphed, and said, “Whatcha ordering?” She studied them both. “Judging from your expressions, you two may need to replenish your energy stores.” She winked.

Jackie rolled her eyes, her face turning a deep, endearing red as she placed her order. Cole simply grinned.

Mrs. Fisher took Cole’s order, giving his shoulder a squeeze as she leaned in to say, “Thank you for the yard work, hon. You’re a good one.”

“What did she say?” Jackie asked when she’d left.

Cole shook his head, feeling a swell of gratitude and emotion. “She doesn’t believe we didn’t do her yard.”

“Well, half the town, along with her husband, saw us.”

“I didn’t do it for the attention.”

“I know.”

As they waited for their breakfasts, Jackie told tales about people they both knew, helping fill in backstory on things he’d missed while he was away. As he listened, he avoided thinking about how she was considering moving out of Sweetheart Creek.

It didn’t feel real. She had to change her mind at some point, because he couldn’t imagine her not here. Whenever someone passed their booth she gave them a bright smile and a wave, which was always returned. She belonged here.

They both looked up when someone paused beside them, and Jackie’s bright smile faded. It was Cole’s great-uncle, Henry Wylder.

“I thought you were smarter,” Henry said to Jackie.

Cole bristled as she drew herself taller.

“She is very smart,” Cole said loudly, causing his father to turn on his stool at the back counter, eyes narrowed at Henry. Cole gave a barely perceptible shake of his head and Roy slowly returned to his coffee. Cole really didn’t need his dad bailing him and Jackie out of a conversation with Uncle Curmudgeon. It might turn into a fight between himself and his father instead of Cole politely putting Henry in his place while defending his girlfriend. Or himself. Because Cole bet Henry was going to come after him by the end of this little tête-à-tête.

His uncle's lips formed a stern line, no doubt feeling the town all watching from their own tables. He glowered at Cole before flicking his attention to Jackie. “Do yourself a favor and stay away from this one. He’s not a man you can count on when things get tough.”

Cole ground his teeth together so he wouldn’t say anything his uncle, or the diner’s many eavesdroppers, would find worth repeating around town.

“Oh, Henry, sweetie. You underestimate me.” Jackie winked at Cole. “He’s the one who should watch out for me.” She waited a beat, then said coyly, looking up through her lashes, “When was the last time I kept a man longer than a month or two?” She laughed, but Cole heard the hint of pain in her light tone.

Henry’s frown deepened. “It doesn’t mean it’s a smart match-up just because you’ve been chasing him since you were knee-high to a grasshopper.”

“That I have,” she purred. “And I finally caught him.” She stroked the top of Cole’s hand. Her sultry look stirred his blood.

Cole cleared his throat, but his voice came out husky as he said, “Quite willingly on my part.”

Henry snorted, clearly annoyed with their act. “She had to pay to catch you by purchasing you in an auction.” He gave Cole an appraising look. “She can do better.”

“I know.” Cole grinned at Jackie, who grinned right back.

“Don’t you forget it.” His uncle continued to the door, leaving. Before the other diners had a chance to turn back to their meals, Cole half raised himself from the bench, leaned over the table and captured Jackie’s face in his hands. Swiftly he gave her a long, wet kiss to show the town exactly how he felt about JackieLynn Moorhouse.

* * *

On Monday morning, Jackie shuffled papers in her small office above the feed store, procrastinating on tracking down some missing receipts. She thumbed out a text to Lucy, who worked downstairs, to see if she had some on her desk. Then she stood and stared out the window that overlooked the loading area. She couldn’t stop thinking about Cole and their weekend together, and how he’d been sitting just three rows behind her at the state championship football game.

Somewhere between Friday morning and now her feelings for him had developed into something pretty big, and she couldn’t dodge the notion that Cole was in step with her.

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