Page 20 of The Rancher's Fake Fiancée

“Yes, he does.” And the way he said it brought something else to mind.

“You aren’t a fan of him liking someone or is it just him liking her?”

“Is this an interrogation?”

“Not even close,” she shot back. “Why?”

“Let’s just say that things like this often have other motivations at hand and leave it at that.”

“You’re a snob.” Jessie’s automatic response came out to surprise both her and him. But she stood by it.

That got his attention, and he drew her away from the table and out of earshot of others. “I am not a snob. I just know that there are those women who see dollar signs when it comes to men who might have a larger bank account than most. Uncle Joe fits that bill. And I look out for him.”

“Well, I doubt a female like Katie, who owns her own home and has her own business with clients on a steady basis is looking out to score more. Is this something you have a more personal experience with?”

He gave her a long look. “You and she had a lengthy conversation on your side of the table I see. I assume that is where you gained that information on her?”

“You assume correctly. My training comes in handy in all sorts of ways.” Jessie continued to level her gaze on him.

Then he added more. “Madeleine wasn’t in her age group but had mastered the same M.O. to perfection. Uncle Joe tried to warn me, but I wouldn’t listen.”

“I see. And he saw quite clearly through her. Which leads me to believe he is simply a better judge of character probably than his nephew. If he’s happy and trusts Katie, then my advice is that if you want him happy, which he seems to be right now, then support him and be happy for him. Most of us, if we’re lucky, find a great love only once in our lives…and just a few are blessed with two in their lifetimes.”

“Is this your personal experience talking or something out of a romance novel?”

She leveled her gaze and her voice. “I imagine it could be both. But it is mostly common sense. Every one of us hopes to share a long life with someone until we die. Some do not make that goal. But people like your uncle Joe deserve the best. If Katie is that for him, then he is the luckiest man in this room. And I have lost my appetite.” She turned on her heel and headed to the ladies’ room. Let him eat cake by himself.

Chapter Ten

“We’re so happyto see Cole has decided to settle down and find a wife and a mother for Emmie,” the lady was gushing above the other two who had cornered Jesse in the ladies’ room after she had left Cole standing with a stunned expression on his face. She would hate to let the women know that Cole was probably not too pleased with settling down or with her. But she had let her own experiences cloud her opinion of the situation and basically gave him a piece of her mind whether he wanted it or not. Or whether he deserved it or not. It wasn’t any of her business…not his personal life and Emmie’s. She smiled and nodded as she gathered her small purse and left the room to the women and their comments.

“There you are.” Katie met her just outside the door. “I’m sorry but Cole asked if I would check on you. He was worried I suppose. New fiancées tend to do that as I recall.” She gave a small laugh.

Jesse fell into step beside her.

“I suppose. I just ran into some ladies who were extending their congratulations, and I lost track of time.”

“I’m sure that many of the ladies here will continue to do that through the evening, but some will also be aiming daggers at your back.” A grin had replaced the smile.

“Daggers? Should I worry?”

The woman shook her head. “There are a few mothers here who have given good tries at getting Cole to choose their daughter over another. They never thought they might have to worry about someone coming in from outside Red Cliffs and claiming the prize bachelor right under their noses. But it is amusing watching their faces.”

Jessie joined her grin. “I knew I liked you right away. You call it as you see it and I tend to do that also.”

“There you are. Uncle Joe is waiting for you on the dance floor,” Cole said with a smile at Katie, as he joined the pair a few steps from the table.

“I better hurry then. That man does like to dance.” She left them alone.

“I’m sorry.”

Whatever she expected, it wasn’t those words. He didn’t strike her as a man who voiced them easily nor very often. But she wasn’t going to make it easy. “Sorry for what exactly?”

“You like this, don’t you? I get it. Okay…I’m sorry for acting like a snob know-it-all about Katie and Uncle Joe. You might be right. Everyone does deserve the right to find happiness wherever it might present itself. So, what made you so wise on this subject? Do you have experience with that one great love? Some guy hanging out in the shrouded past of yours that you go home to between these secret operations?”

Jesse had many thoughts listening to his words. Many memories and most unhappy in reality. She had worked hard for a long time to put the past where it belonged and leave it. But there was always that moment that would inevitably come along and blow that resolve. But she wasn’t about to share with this rancher. Her gaze steadied on his searching one.

“No. There’s no one hanging out back home.” It was the truth in a very simplified version. Straight from the playbook…keep it short, simple, and as basedion truth as possible.He seemed to buy into it.

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