Page 47 of The Cowboy's Surprise Return

“I’m thinking twenty minutes or less.” He stroked her jawline with a thumb, her body still snugged against his.

“Our goal is fifteen.” She winked at him. “Speed-eating contest.”

“You’re romantic, despite what everyone else says,” Cole declared with a laugh. He quickly pulled her to a free seat and held it out for her, no doubt brushing off just how serious her offer had been.

Which was a good thing.

This was fake, a long game. It was not a fling, and she’d be best to remember that so she didn’t ruin everything.

* * *

Cole would have to be blind not to see the way Jackie was a magnet that attracted male gazes as they’d crossed the dining area. Sure, plenty of women were gawking, eyes flicking over them, but that had been to gather fuel for gossip. The men, though—they’d followed only Jackie as she’d marched across the room, moving like she owned the place even though she was being towed by Cole.

He’d given her that kiss to make it clear to all that Jackie Moorhouse was off-limits. And wow, it had been quite a kiss. His body’s reaction to that hot and sultry lip lock had nearly had him skipping supper and tearing out of there, Jackie tossed over his shoulder.

But he’d been raised better than that. Just barely.

Plus Jackie was taking the plan to mend his reputation seriously, and it wouldn’t have done hers any good to rip out of here after a kiss like that. Everyone would think he was using her, and that the crush they all said she’d had since elementary school was causing her to be blind. He had to do right by her. He had to be the kind of man a woman like her deserved.

As they waited impatiently for their meals to arrive, Cole settled in next to Jackie, dropping his hat on the table and draping an arm over the back of her chair. Across from them, Daisy-Mae sat with a partially bald man, both looking uncomfortable. Beside Daisy-Mae was Jenny Oliver, whose attention seemed to drift to a different table with an interest that meant, well, interest.

“So?” Daisy-Mae asked, elbow set beside her plate as she leaned forward. “You two?”

Cole waited, expecting Jackie to confirm their status as a couple, and ignoring the way Daisy-Mae was watching him. He could practically hear her questioning the excuse he’d given her not that long ago about not wanting a girlfriend. And here he was with one.

When Jackie remained silent, he said, “I finally let her catch me.” He gave her a warm smile, surprised when her cheeks flushed. “I avoided her for years at recess, but now I’m wondering why.”

“So you’re staying in town then?” Daisy-Mae asked, doubt thick in her tone.

“I am.”

“He found a reason to stay,” Jenny said with a sigh, as Cole took his thumb and grazed it along Jackie’s bottom lip as though tenderly wiping something away. Jackie swallowed hard, then took a sip from the water glass beside her plate.

“You’re a couple,” Jenny said softly, her focus still split between them and another table. She peeled her eyes away from whoever had her mesmerized and flicked her gaze between Cole and Jackie, her confusion and concern growing. “For real?”

“For real,” Jackie echoed.

Jenny continued to stare at them, along with Daisy-Mae, and Cole snugged Jackie closer, planting a kiss on her temple. She gave a quick smile and glanced over her shoulder, then back at everyone’s plates. The other four had their meals already and were politely waiting for Cole and Jackie to be served before starting.

“Go ahead, your food is getting cold,” she told them.

“Well, I say way to go, you two. It’s about time,” Daisy-Mae said sincerely, lifting her fork.

“I need to find someone next,” Jenny complained, following suit.

“Nope, Jackie said I’m next,” Daisy-Mae protested.

The men sitting beside them dug into their food, not seeming bothered that Cupid hadn’t delivered for them today, as their two dates bickered about finding true love.

“What did y’all do for odd jobs?” Cole asked Jenny as their plates arrived.

“Dennis helped me with inventory in my store.”

The man nodded, remaining silent. His cheeks had colored and Cole wondered if the bratty twinkle in Jenny’s eyes meant she’d had him working in the lingerie section just to make him uncomfortable. She was quiet and kind, but had a bit of a bratty streak to her when someone rubbed her the wrong way. It had made her one of Cole’s favorite people back in high school.

“How about you, Daisy-Mae? What did you get up to?”

“She helped me tag a herd this morning,” the man beside her said, leaning back and slinging an arm behind her. When his fingers curled around her arm Daisy-Mae straightened as though correcting her posture, moving out of reach.

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