Page 18 of The Rancher's Fake Fiancée

“Maybe one thing…but maybe not. The only way to find out is to test it.”

Time slowed. His hand rose with slow deliberation. A warm palm slid around to cup her cheek, and a slight pressure applied to raise her head to meet his lowered one. An indrawn breath waited for the moment when male lips feathered along hers, slightly parted on a second soft intake of breath, before the kiss deepened and laid claim to a full exploration. Heartbeats raced beneath heated palms. Jesse almost forgot every reason why such a thing would not be a good idea… almost. Thank Heavens for small interruptions. In this case, it was Emmie.

“Papa Joe said you two need to stop being kissy-faced and get the watermelon on your way to dinner. The roast is ready.” Those words sailed from behind them followed by a nervous giggle that turned into a full-blown laugh as Emmie turned and ran back along the path to the house. Jesse stopped and stepped back, hands dropping to her sides. In another realm perhaps the whole moment might have been laughable. But she couldn’t muster that feeling now. Her gaze met Cole’s, and she wished she could read the man as easily as she could most of her clients. He stepped back in haste when she did, but he misjudged the space from where he stood and the edge of the pool. He landed feet first in the water. Water splashed loudly in the quiet of the afternoon.

“Are you okay?” Jessie found her senses to ask the question.

The cowboy stood up straight and gave a shake of his wet head. The Stetson was no longer on his head but pouring water as he held it in his hand. Then his other hand raised, and she saw the green watermelon in its clear plastic netting. At least he saved the dessert. But he was soaked, his shirt dripping and clinging to a broad chest that reminded her of the kiss, and she hoped the heat rising in her cheeks was not noticeable.

“Just had to get the dessert. It’s nice and cold.”

Chapter Nine

Are you outof your mind? What possessed you?Those were just a few of the sentences running rampant through her brain since she stepped over that invisible line and kissed Cole Connors. This was simply an assignment to be handled and then moved on from. She knew better. It was a bad idea all the way around. She had never crossed that line before.Yes, it was a bad idea andyes, she knew better. But why hadn’t she crossed the line before? That invisible line between duty and just pure wanting? The only reason kept flashing in her mind…Cole Connors. That was the reason.

He had been a thorn in her side since she arrived in Red Cliffs as the undercover barmaid in the saloon. He was arrogant and full of himself and everything she never wanted.Or had she?There was that indecision again. It wasn’thereither. Nor was the wishy-washy feeling she was experiencing in his presence more so than in any other assignment. But he had progressed from being the hard-hearted rancher she first thought. The arrogant male had become a caring father. This presented an appeal that she had not experienced before. His love for his daughter and sacrifices of his own life over the years to raise Emmie and run a huge ranching empire at the same time was a testament to the fact that there was a whole lot more to the man besides hot looks and a sexy smile.

But all of that, plus one incredible, toe-curling kiss had to be shelved in a vault and the key tossed away. It could never happen again. She had no idea what he was thinking. He had said it was a test. To see if her heart was there? What did he mean by that? She had a heart. It was fine. Or it would be fine…once she had caught the man who she held responsible for robbing her life and many others of the man who might have been the love of her life many years ago. Until the day he was killed in a bust gone wrong, trying to bring the man she now sought to justice. So that was what mattered. A kiss was to be forgotten. She was to move on and do her job. And she was going to do just that. If only she wasn’t having to face Cole in a few minutes and parade before the town folk as his fiancée…his adoring fiancée.

*

“You got alot on your mind or something?” Cole noted that Uncle Joe was eyeing him a bit too closely. Cole dropped his fingers from fidgeting for the third time with a collar that seemed like it was a chokehold around his neck. The ice cubes clinked loudly as he emptied his glass and sat it down on the bar top beside him. The last thing he needed was an inquisition from the man eyeing him far too much like he was a specimen under a microscope. That had begun earlier that afternoon when he carried the watermelon to Uncle Joe’s kitchen while hurrying to deposit it on the counter. He continued into the bathroom to use a few towels to do the best he could in stemming the dripping clothes he wore. Between the know-a-secret grin on his daughter’s face during the meal and Jessie’s quietness, his uncle’s brain was sensing something amiss. And since Cole couldn’t explain what had gotten into him suddenly wanting to kiss Jessie and then making a fool of himself by falling into the river. Well, things were not boding well for a comfortable evening ahead. Jessie had not said more than a half dozen words to him during the drive from the cabin to the ranch and then she had disappeared upstairs to get ready for the party. He reached for the tight collar again.

Uncle Joe chuckled. He was clearly enjoying something. But before he could voice it, they were joined by Emmie who arrived ahead of the vision in blue who approached at a slower pace.

“Isn’t she gorgeous?!” Emmie introduced their arrival, and all gazes swung to Jesse, who looked slightly self-conscious.

Uncle Joe responded first. “I’ll second that since my nephew has lost his power of speaking right now. Guess that is the desired effect, eh Miss Jesse? You certainly achieved that.”

Cole stood straighter and found his voice. “My speech is just fine. And we’ll be late for dinner if we don’t get a move on. Are we ready?” He was already moving to the entry hall. The fact that the vision of Jesse walking down the stairs a few moments before had taken his breath and coherent thought away from him was hopefully covered by his wish to be on their way.

Uncle Joe stepped up and offered Jesse his arm in an exaggerated gallant fashion. Emmie giggled at the sight. Jesse smiled with more warmth and gingerly slid her arm through his offered one. They passed a waiting Cole in the doorway.

“You snooze, you lose the lady, my boy. Take lessons from this old man.” Uncle Joe threw the teasing jibe over his shoulder.

“Mind Marcella and…” Cole began with a look at his daughter who watched with glee from the bottom stair step now.

“I know Dad…and behave and get in bed by ten. I did listen the first twelve times you said it this evening. Love you and try to have fun!”

Cole wasn’t so sure about the fun part. Jessie showed no memory of the kiss from earlier that day at Uncle Joe’s. It evidently had little effect on her. And now she was giving her smiles to Uncle Joe which he was enjoying ribbing him about. All of which only served to keep him off-kilter. This was a charade. There was no engagement. Then why shouldn’t that make him feel a lot better than he did? It was going to be a long evening in more ways than one.

Cole finally smiled. He could put on a front, too. But then the smile faded as he strode down the walkway to catch up with the pair ahead of him. “I thought we were going in my truck.”

His uncle paused in opening the door of his polished town car. “Taking a special lady out deserves a special transport. Don’t worry,” he responded. He nodded at the front seat. “You get to drive.” Jessie was already seated in the front passenger seat. “Now keep in mind that I will be back in the chaperone’s spot. Just keep your mind on the road and hands on the wheel.” Then he laughed at his own wittiness and closed the door and then took his seat in the back. Cole was left to open his own door.

Thankfully, his uncle in the back seat kept up a running dialogue with Jessie. Much to Cole’s irritation, he might as well have been a chauffeur hired for the evening. No one expected conversation from him. That didn’t keep him from finding his mind wandering to the beauty in blue sharing the front seat with him.

There was a faint, very pleasant scent of perfume now and then that he found suited her. It wasn’t cloying like the ton of perfumes some women going out for the evening seemed to favor. Her scent would linger in a man’s senses with its subtlety. And the length of leg showing and highlighting those sexy blue sparkly high heels was bringing up the heat level in the car and he kept adjusting the temperature controls downward.

When Emmie had announced Jessie’s arrival, he knew what it was to have his mind go blank and have to fight to remember his ability to speak coherent thoughts. But then it had arrived too late to articulate his own pleasure at the sight of her in a dress that was beyond enticing. Her hair had been pinned upwards in some sexy style that left wisps of dangly hair to caress her length of neck, enticing a man’s fingers to want to explore the soft skin. Those were thoughts that had him trying to remember a coherent thought. She must think him all kinds of rude as he had just kept his mouth shut as he’d ushered them out the door.

When they turned into the parking area of the two-story banquet hall on the outskirts of the town, the lot was almost full. This time, he beat his uncle to the punch, and it was his arm he offered to a surprised Jessie as he opened the door.

“Now you’re learning,” his uncle whispered with a wide grin and a slap on his back. He led the way to the building entrance.

Cole with Jessie on his arm trailed a few feet behind, more by his design than anything else. Before they entered the building, he wanted to say what was on his mind. He lowered his voice.

“I didn’t get to say much at the house earlier when you came downstairs. But I add my sentiment along with everyone else’s. You are very beautiful this evening. The color blue and the outfit suit you. You’re going to be a hit with everyone inside.”

---