Page 3 of Sweet Temptation

Holding a lightweight sweater, she froze mid motion. “That’s only because he hasn’t been around them enough. I’m sure once we’re married, he’ll change his mind.” Didn’t her grandmother always say, if people waited till they were ready to have children, no one would have them?

“For the smartest woman I know,” Katie fisted her hands on her hips, “you sure become a blithering idiot when it comes to Brad.”

“Gee, thanks.”

“Seriously. I want you to be happy, but with a nice guy who appreciates and cherishes you and wants to settle down and have a family. It’s not like you’re pushing forty or something. What’s the hurry?”

“I’m not twenty anymore either. If I want to have the big family I’ve always dreamed of, Brad is my best option.”

Katie sighed. “I’m not going to talk you out of this, am I?”

Shaking her head, she closed her suitcase. “Nope. And this is about it. What I don’t wear anymore has either been dropped off at the consignment store or donated. I’ve already sold most of the kitchen things, and I have a few people coming by later today for some more of the furniture and odds and ends. What isn’t gone by the time I leave tomorrow is going to be picked up by a local shelter.”

“Lord love a duck.” Katie rolled her eyes. “Jackie, please. Use your common sense. What are you going to do when you reach West Texas? Buy everything new with money you don’t have?”

“I won’t need anything. Brad’s apartment was way nicer than this place, I’m sure wherever he’s living in Millers Creek will be just as nice.”

“Millers Creek. Sounds like a brewery. I don’t like this—any of it.”

“I know.” Setting the bag down by the side of the bed, she smiled at her friend. “I appreciate how much you worry about me, but I’m okay. This will be good.”

“Didn’t your grandmother ever teach you there are plenty of fish in the sea? Why do you insist on hanging onto this slick eel of a guy?”

“He is not slick.”

Katie merely raised a brow at her and sighed.

“He’s charming, good-looking, well-educated, well employed, and we know we’ll be perfectly happy together.”

“We? Brad actually said this to you?” Katie crossed her arms.

“Well,” she glanced down at the bag she’d just packed, “not in those words.”

“Uh-huh.” Letting her arms fall to her side, Katie inched closer to her friend. “Please, tell me you at least have a backup plan if Brad doesn’t work out.”

She shook her head and grinned with more self-assurance than she felt. “Won’t need one.”

What she needed was to fly to Midland tomorrow, then drive to Millers Creek, and then she’d be reunited with Brad. So what if he had no idea she was coming? Doesn’t everybody love surprises?

Chapter Two

“Where are you off to all dolled up?” Garret’s sister Jillian paused in the hall by his bedroom door.

“Bronco Lounge.”

“In Millers Creek?”

Buttoning his dress shirt, his fingers stilled and he turned to face his sister. “Is there another one I don’t know of?”

“No.” She shook her head. “But why are you going all the way to Millers Creek when the Whiskey Moon here in town is perfectly good for dancing and a drink.”

“It is.” He went back to buttoning his shirt. “But we already know everyone in town, and I don’t know everyone in Millers Creek.”

“And…?” Jillian’s brows furrowed, waiting for more.

He tucked his shirt into his pressed jeans. “And I have to find a wife somewhere. Internet isn’t working. In town wouldn’t fly. So, I’m off to the Bronco Lounge.”

“Yeah. I know what you mean.” Jillian’s head bobbed. “Maybe I should come too. Maybe there’s some nice unattached man who isn’t looking to get lucky.”

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