Page 27 of Sweet Temptation

Mission accomplished. He had her blessing to court Jackie. He felt like throwing a fist pump in the air, and then it hit him, none of this was real—and wasn’t that just a bloody shame.

Chapter Eleven

So far, all was well with the world. At least the part where the Sweet siblings all married for a year to save the ranch. Garret’s mom was happy as a pig in slop, grinning every time he and Jackie walked into a room, every time she spotted him standing close, intentionally gazing at her as if she had been plucked from heaven just for him, when he brought her flowers, and her favorite candy tied to a balloon that still floated in her room. All in just a couple of days.

Adding to everyone’s good mood, Jackie heard from the high school sooner than anyone had expected that she’d gotten the job. The principal was delighted to have someone with Jackie’s skills apply for the position. The woman fawned over Jackie as if afraid her new hire would have a thunderbolt revelation that she was too good for a small-town administrative job.

Now came the next challenge. Getting the town’s gossip mill on board with the plan.

Gentle fingertips brushed across his shoulder. He knew exactly who stood behind him. “Sleep well?” Jackie glanced casually across the kitchen, noticing his mother’s gaze nonchalantly on the two of them, and kissed him on the temple.

Never in his life had he been so intrigued by a mere kiss on the side of his head. A small part of him thought back to that old television show about being lost in space and the robot shoutingDanger Will Robinson, danger. Deep down, his inner robot knew this whole plan was like a kid playing with matches—someone was going to get burned, and he was pretty sure, when Jackie walked away in a little more than a year, he was going to be the one thoroughly singed.

“I’m ready if you are.” Inching back, Jackie’s tone held the same sweetness as her smile.

“Corn hole here we come.” Standing, he took hold of her hand. After all, he had a part to play.

His mom looked up from the sink. “Oh, you’re going to town today?”

“The four of us. Rachel and Jillian are coming too,” he supplied.

A few more minutes, some chatter and the four were in the car heading to town.

“We’d be there by now if you’d let me drive,” Rachel sighed from the back seat.

“And that,” Jillian smiled too sweetly at her twin, “is why Garret’s driving.”

Crossing her arms, Rachel made a momentary attempt at being insulted before letting her arms fall to her side and leaning forward, beamed at her brother and Jackie. “I say things are going well, don’t you think?”

Garret nodded. He didn’t really want to have a detailed conversation about how often he’d suddenly found himself wishing at least some of this was for real.

In town, he pulled into an available parking spot close to the park. The three women hopped out, and elbows linked, made themselves at home at the open court closest to the street. They’d planned all of this ahead, of course—well, maybe not the linked elbows. He had a feeling that it was just some female bonding going on. If Jackie were really a lifetime love partner, the way the three were getting along like a house on fire would have been a good thing.

“Okay.” Rachel rubbed her hands together with more enthusiasm than the situation called for. “It will be Jill and me against you and Garret.”

Jackie nodded and looked at him, her gaze a little lost. The urge to squeeze her hand and reassure her that she was going to be great was stronger than he’d anticipated, and since they were supposed to put on a show for the town, he went ahead and did what came naturally. Not only did he squeeze her hand, he gave her the slightest of pecks on the lips. “You’ve got this.”

As expected, Jillian and Rachel had aced all their tosses. On her first throw, Jackie’s bean bag flew across the wooden board and landed almost a foot away. “Oops?”

There was no stopping the chuckle that escaped from deep in his throat at her innocent expression. He was pretty sure she’d done that on purpose to help with the act, but regardless, she looked so darn cute. “Let me show you.” Standing behind her, he brushed up close, his breath momentarily catching in his throat before he found the strength to take her right hand in his and slowly swing her arm forward and back again. “It’s an easy motion.”

“Easy,” she repeated.

Doing it once again, this time with a bag in her hand, he led her arm forward and back and then on the forward swing, whispered in her ear, “Let it go.”

She dropped it right on the floor beside her.

This time he forced a soft chuckle. She might be acting, but he was pretty sure her reaction to his voice was purely carnal, and that made him happier than it should have. A few more tries and he stood back, letting her toss the bag. A hole in one. While he’d like to think he was a darn good teacher, he had to accept that Jackie was more likely a darn good actress.

After an hour or so of putting on a show for the town, and beating his sisters quite handsomely, they were all set to head to the café for a late lunch when Aunt Vicky appeared.

Hurrying up to them, his aunt was practically out of breath, her grin wide and her gaze settling on Jackie. “I see we have another champion in town.”

It took Jackie a moment to realize his aunt was excited about her. Her hand flew to her chest as her head shook feverishly from side to side. “Not me. I’m just learning.”

“Well then, if this is beginning, I can’t wait to see how you play after a little more practice!”

“We were just heading to lunch.” Jillian smiled at her aunt. “Would you like to join us?”

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