Page 48 of The Cowboy's Surprise Return

Cole lowered his chin, raising his eyebrows in question, until she gave a slight shake of her head. He knew she was well-practiced at handling men and unwanted attention, but that didn’t mean there weren’t times when it would be nice to have a man step in on her behalf, ready to raise a fist.

By the time Cole had finished catching up on everyone’s day, his plate was half-empty. He checked Jackie’s plate. It was scraped bare.

“I told you, fifteen minutes,” she said.

He pressed his leg against hers as he checked the time.

“You seem to be eating rather slowly,” she drawled, causing his blood to warm. Was she serious?

No, she was a flirt.

This was all a game.

He laughed, relaxing in his chair. He was going to enjoy the next several months. That is, if he didn’t die from internal combustion whenever she gave him that teasing, burning gaze. One that had him thinking of things that would most definitely not fall into the category of fake relationship.

* * *

Jackie could barely focus on the chocolate cake that had been served after the main course. Her friends kept shooting her looks of encouragement laced with concern. She could read their thoughts like they were her own. Daisy-Mae was excited for the way she was finally claiming the object of her affections, but wondered if she’d get hurt by hooking up with a known heartbreaker. Jenny was thrilled Jackie and Cole appeared to have a connection, but wondered if it was fueled by something other than love on Cole’s part.

Jackie hated to admit it, but spending time with Cole today had not nudged her any closer to ending her crush. The man was as good as she’d dreamed. Everything from taking care of Mrs. Fisher’s yard without being asked, to worrying about her father, to loving his family so much he felt guilty for not being able to pull his brothers from the raging creek faster, to being a thoughtful and caring boyfriend tonight. He was everything she’d look for in a man.

Which meant she might have messed up.

She gave herself a shake. No, this was all still early on, and it was a charade. That’s what she needed to focus on. Heck, Cole was probably pretending. He couldn’t possibly be like this day in and day out.

It was like her Jackie Show. He was putting on the Cole Show to prove to his family that he was home for good, loved them and wanted to fix things.

He’d signed up for the Jackie Show, not for her to fall in love with him. And especially not with a pretend version.

She opened her mouth, smile at the ready… and couldn’t think of a single thing to say.

Cole scooped up a chocolate-covered strawberry before his dessert plate was swept away by a busboy. He held it out for Jackie. “Want my strawberry? I noticed you saved yours for last.”

She took it, watching him. His gaze was full of kindness and warmth that stirred her crush like a cat pouncing into a cloud of butterflies.

“Are you okay?” Jenny leaned forward in concern as Jackie slowly ate Cole’s strawberry, lost in her thoughts.

“You’ve been really quiet,” Daisy-Mae added.

Jackie faked a yawn and stretched her arms. “I’m beat. That’s all.”

“Sure, sure,” Daisy-Mae said with a wicked grin, shooting Cole a sly look.

“Sorry, girls.” She shifted in her seat, grabbing her purse from where she’d slung it over the back of her chair. “I’d love to stay and chat, but I need to teach Cole a few things. It was on his to-do list.” She stood, winking at her friends, who hooted with laughter. The men beside them gaped, eyeing Cole, then her.

Cole’s face turned red.

“I’m kidding! Cole and I…” She lowered her chin, looked at him shyly through her lashes. “…are just taking things slowly. We discovered today that we get along really well and enjoy each other’s company.” She frowned, realizing the truth of that statement. “So we’re exploring where that might take us.” Also relatively true.

“Well, judging from that kiss earlier, I think I already know,” Daisy-Mae said with a giggle.

“They’re serving coffee,” Cole said, giving Jackie a pointed look.

She dropped her purse into her lap, realizing what she’d done to him. She’d put on her flirty-and-full-of-games, innuendo-making persona, which was not the image they’d planned to create. No burning fast and hot. Slow. Careful. Like they wanted this to last. And she’d retreated into safe territory as soon as things got a little too close for comfort.

Jackie sighed.

This was so difficult. Who was she supposed to be? Her real self? Nobody was ready for that.

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