Page 30 of Sweet Temptation

“Smitten?” Eleanor struggled to keep her expression neutral.Interesting. Very interesting.So much was beginning to make sense. Sort of.

“The way he looks at her…” Vicki sighed dramatically. “It’s like watching one of those old movies where the hero is absolutely besotted.”

“Alice—that’s Garret’s mother—tells us they’re together constantly,” Liz added. “Laughing together in the kitchen, walking hand in hand around the ranch—”

“The ranch?”

“Why yes. Jackie is staying at the Sweet family ranch.” Looking about, Liz leaned in and lowered her voice. “Just between us, he asked my sister’s permission to court her.”

“Court her?” Eyebrows high on her forehead, Eleanor was more confused now than ever.

The two siblings nodded in unison, both beaming like they’d found a cure for cancer.

“As in going to get married?” She hoped her voice didn’t crack. So soon after her break-up with that Brad fellow in Houston, this had the earmarks of a rebound fiasco written all over it.

Again the heads bobbed enthusiastically.

Vickie rubbed her hands together with joyful enthusiasm. “We’re just waiting for him to make it official.”

“I see.” She flashed what she hoped was a sincere smile and not that crooked one that always alerted her husband to her internal planning—or scheming as he’d called it. There might not be any scheming needed this time around, but there was certainly something cooking and she had every intention of finding out what the heck was really going on here. “Could you point me toward the ranch?”

Thumbing through the stack of seventh-grade history papers, Garret held a red pen poised above yet another creative interpretation of American history. The kitchen table made a better grading station than his bedroom—more space to spread out, and the occasional distraction of Jackie’s laugh drifting in from the living room. Three times he’d caught himself smiling at the sound. Three times he’d reminded himself his arrangement with Jackie was strictly business—nothing more.

The crunch of tires on gravel pulled his attention. He wasn’t expecting anyone; at this hour of the day, in the middle of the week, a surprise guest was more likely to mean someone was in trouble than wanting to socialize. Pushing back from the table, he moved across the house to the front window. A silver Buick had pulled up beside his truck, and an older woman emerged from the driver’s side. Sporting pressed slacks and a light cardigan despite the Texas heat, he wondered what kind of trouble the old woman could be having. Something about her bearing—confident, purposeful—struck him as familiar.

The woman was halfway to the porch when Jackie appeared at his side. Her sharp intake of breath gave him pause. What he didn’t know was if her reaction meant good news or bad.

“Grams,” Jackie whispered, then louder, “Grammy!” She bolted past him, flying through the screen door and down the steps. Garret followed at a more measured pace, watching as Jackie threw her arms around the older woman. Apparently, it was safe to say his answer was good news. What he didn’t know, was if this little visit meant trouble was brewing on the horizon.

“Surprise, darling,” the woman said, her voice carrying a touch of East Texas in its warmth.

“What are you doing here?” Jackie pulled back, her expression flickering between joy and something that looked oddly like panic. So much for a good thing.

“Can’t a grandmother check on her only grandchild?” The woman’s gaze shifted to Garret, shrewd eyes taking his measure in one sweeping glance. “Especially when that grandchild suddenly moves across the state to a small town with little to no explanation.”

Garret stepped forward, his shoulders straight, his smile strong. “I’m Garret Sweet. Welcome.”

The woman extended her hand, her eyes never leaving his face. “Eleanor Shannon.” A firm handshake, she held on a moment longer, her gaze fixed on his, scrutiny in her eyes. When she finally let go and stepped back, he had no idea where he stood, but he had a feeling the older woman had definitely come to a conclusion, he just had no idea if this was going to help or hurt their situation.

From behind, his mother called out to them. “Are y’all going to stand in the yard all day or invite our guest inside?”

“Oh, sorry. Of course.” Her elbow linked with her grandmother’s, Jackie led her grandmother toward the house.

“Is there a reason you haven’t mentioned you’re living with a handsome hunk?”

Jackie’s cheeks flushed. “Grammy…”

Walking beside them, Garret tried not to smile at her grandmother’s description of him. Handsomeanda hunk. Eleanor Shannon might have just made his day.

Crossing the threshold, a wide smile bloomed on their visitor’s face. “I can see why my granddaughter likes living here.”

For an instant the old woman’s gaze slanted in his direction, a knowing gleam in her eye, and Garret had the distinct feeling this woman was going to keep them on their toes.

Wiping her hands on a dish rag, his mother extended her hand. “Sorry for the mess. I’m in the middle of fixing supper.”

Her nose to the air, Eleanor Shannon sniffed. “Cornbread?”

Alice Sweet nodded.

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