Diamond in the Rough (Diamond J #2) (2 page)

CHAPTER THREE

An Invitation

Aidan blinked, his hand flew to his face and his eyes opened wide. Then he frowned and said, “What was that for?”

Midge appeared behind him and chimed in, “Yeah, what was that for?”

Gina’s hand fluttered in the air for a moment as if controlled by some invisible string, then dropped to her side. He was checking her out, but she’d been checking him out, too. Equal opportunity ogling.

"Oh, my gosh. I'm sorry." She looked down and admitted, “I don't know what got into me. I shouldn’t have done that.”

He shook his head and looked at her sternly. “No, you shouldn’t have.” His lips pressed together and his eyes narrowed.

The words hung in the air. Tension stretched. The clock on the wall ticked the seconds off. Gina swallowed the lump in her throat. It would serve her right if he smacked her back. Or if he walked out of here and told everyone he knew to stay away from the crazy lady at the Memories and More Scrapbook Store. She didn't need that kind of publicity. The poor economy had hit Wilder just as hard as the rest of the country. This store had been a dream come true for her. It allowed her to work flexible hours, to run Toby wherever he needed to go, to be there when he needed her.

Her chest rose and fell as she sucked in a deep breath and prepared to take whatever the cowboy wanted to dish out. She lifted her chin and pulled her shoulders back, ready to take her medicine. Midge caught her eye, looked pointedly at her chest and gave her a thumbs up. Gina’s eyes rounded and she shook her head slightly, frowning at her friend.

Her well-meaning, but ill-timed friend.

The cowboy – she had forgotten his name! – caught her look and glanced back toward Midge, who shrugged and tried to look innocent. She failed miserably, instead looking like an impish pixie.

He turned back to Gina and tapped his tanned cheek with an index finger. “You owe me for that.”

Gina nodded. “You’re right. I am so, so sorry. There is no excuse for—”

“Stop.” He held up his hand, palm out, in front of her face. “Words are empty.”

“Hey, now.” She frowned. “You were checking me out.”

His lips split in a wide grin. He drawled, “And you were checking me out, too, darlin’.”

She stuttered for a moment, unsure of what to say next. Finally, she continued, “I’m so sorry, Mr., uh—”

“Aidan. The name is Aidan, ma’am.”

That term raised her hackles. “Ma’am? Just how old do you think I am?”

His face held firm. No smile, no scowl. “Old enough to know better, I’d say. Now, about that apology.” Before she could interrupt, he held up his hand again. “There is something you could do to make it up to me. You know, for slapping a customer in the face for absolutely no reason.”

“I’m listening.” She regarded him warily.

“My boss, Beth Jameson, needs invitations. You can make invitations.” He turned to Midge and involved her in his negotiations. “Right?”

Midge nodded vigorously, then added, “Sounds like the perfect solution to me!”

Gina scowled at her friend, then at Aidan, and then let her shoulders relax. She threw her hands up in surrender. “Okay, you win. I’ll make the invitations.”

A smile spread across Aidan’s face, and his features softened as the tension left them. She looked at him, and wondered how it was possible that a man could irritate her and attract her at the exact same moment.

They moved through the doorway and into the store, Midge in the lead, followed by Aidan, with Gina behind. It gave her a chance to really look at him without fear of getting caught. His jeans hugged his legs, every muscle outlined by denim. Of course, he was wearing Wranglers. What else would a good cowboy wear? She breathed in his scent — freshly cut grass, hay and horse.

They sat down at a work table, side by side. His arm brushed hers as they looked at the various rubber stamps and patterned papers Midge laid in front of them. She felt every touch. Gina jotted notes on a piece of paper as she quizzed him about the event, details about the barbecue, things about the Diamond J Ranch.

“You know, it would be great to incorporate the name of the ranch into the design of the invitations,” she offered. She sketched out a diamond shape.

He nodded his agreement. “Beth would like that a lot, I think, and I know Beau would.”

“Good. I think I’ve got enough to get started then. How many do you need?” she asked as she sat back in the folding chair.

He shrugged, “I don’t know. Maybe a hundred?”

Her eyebrows arched. “Must be quite the party.”

He nodded. “Yup.” The word had two syllables, the way he dragged it out. “Lots of folks come out for this event.”

The Diamond J Ranch had been a fixture in Cardwell County for years. A legend. The old timers talked about the old days when the Jamesons would run their cattle the old way, actual cattle drives.

From the time she’d been a little girl, she dreamed of rodeos and horses and, yes, cowboys. And here she was sitting with one. She prodded, “And who are the lucky people on the guest list?”

He shrugged again. “Mostly rodeo folks, and some business people from around here. Beth wants to make an impression on folks and drum up business.”

She nodded, “Anyone I would know?”

He looked confused for a moment. “You mean my boss?”

She leaned toward him just a bit, feeling flirty, and let her arm brush against his. “I mean, would I know any of the business people around here who are invited?”

His eyes widened as recognition dawned on his face. “You want to come?”

Midge walked by and observed loudly, “About time. Yes, she wants an invitation.”

He grinned and looked down at Gina. “Well, then, absolutely make a hundred and one invitations. Consider yourself invited.”

She smiled back, sure Toby would think a day at a real live ranch was almost as exciting as going to a carnival or something like that. “Can I bring someone?”

His smile faded and he nodded once, then scooted away from the table. “How much time do you need to get these done?”

She slid her chair back and followed him as he strode toward the door, worried she'd been too pushy about bringing Toby with her. She walked quickly to catch up with him. “Today's Friday. I can have them ready by Monday. Would you like to come by and pick them up, or shall I deliver them to you out at the Diamond J?”

“I’ll have somebody pick them up.” He touched the rim of his hat as way of a goodbye and pushed out the door.

“Mmmm-hmmmm, he was yummy.” Midge said as she pulled a new pack of Echo Park patterned paper from a box
.
“You need help with those invitations?”

“No, I can handle it. In fact, I think I’ll get started right now.” Gina moved to the front of the store and watched out the big front window as Aidan crossed the road. He swung up into a dusty white Chevy pickup. When he reversed out of the parking space, his head swiveled back toward her and she ducked behind a display rack.

Gina shook her head at herself, then returned to the table and sat down. As she experimented with various stamps and designs, she allowed herself to remember how good he looked. Rugged. He had the look of a man who knew what it was to work for a living, well-muscled and tan. He’d smelled of hay, straw, horses, sunshine.

But guys who smelled like that never had two dimes to rub together. She reminded herself she was not looking for a man, but if she were, a ranch hand who probably made just enough to pay for his beer on Friday and Saturday nights was not going to make her dreams come true.

CHAPTER FOUR

Advice

As Aidan drove out to the Diamond J Ranch, he thought about finally meeting Gina. When Beth asked him to order invitations for the Memorial Day Barbecue, he’d jumped at the chance to meet the owner of the scrapbook store. He’d seen her around town, tried to be cool and confident, but his flirting hadn’t done any good. She had a boyfriend.

Of course she had a boyfriend, he told himself. She had curves in all the right places, wide blue-green eyes, freckles sprinkled across her nose and that mane of wavy auburn hair was hard to miss. He could imagine how it would feel to have that thick hair tickle his face, while he gripped her hips as she straddled him—

A blaring horn broke his train of thought. He jerked the wheel to the right and put the old truck back in its lane. The green Honda continued on its way and he waved an apology at the driver. Aidan glanced in the rearview mirror and took a moment to appreciate the last few minutes.

Gina was every bit as beautiful close up as she was from a distance. Dark red highlights streaked her thick hair, usually swept back in a low ponytail, but today it hung loose, spilling over her shoulders. And those eyes. Reminded him of the dark green moss that carpeted the forest floor.

Aidan maneuvered his old truck into his usual parking spot under the big oak tree, put it in park and waited for it to shudder to a stop. The door squealed in protest as he opened it. He slid out and slammed the door. As usual, it didn’t shut all the way, so he gave it a kick for good measure.

“Why don’t you just shoot that thing and put it out of its misery?”

Aidan looked around to find Beau leaning against the barn door, a piece of hay sticking out of his mouth, bobbing as he chewed on it.

“Nothing wrong with my truck,” Aidan said. “I know its quirks.”

Beau shook his head. “You know, you could get a deal on a new truck.”

Aidan shrugged, “I know. And when I’m ready, I’ll go. But for now, this ol’ truck’ll do just fine.”

Beau nodded toward the truck. “You know, you’re not fooling anybody driving that old heap.”

“Not trying to fool anybody. Just happy with what I got.” Aidan waved a hand toward the house. “Is Charlotte inside?”

“Yup.” Beau pulled the bit of hay from his mouth and dropped it on the ground.

Aidan started toward the house. “Okay, then. I’m gonna run in for a minute. You got something you want me to do after that?”

“Yeah, the fence on the yearling pastures needs to be replaced. Why don’t you grab one of the boys and work on fence?”

“Can do, Beau. See you later.”

“Hey, Aidan!”

Aidan stopped and turned in his tracks. “Yeah?”

“What’re you talking to Charlotte about? A girl?” Beau’s teeth flashed when he grinned. He waggled his eyebrows. “You know, I highly recommend settling down with a good woman.”

Aidan grinned. Beau wouldn’t have uttered those words a year ago. He’d been a confirmed bachelor until Beth Jameson came along. Aidan shrugged and said, “We all can’t marry the boss.”

“Lots of eligible bachelorettes around, and now that I’m taken, they’ll have their sights set on you.” With a shrug, Beau turned and disappeared into the barn. He called over his shoulder, “You don’t know what you’re missing!”

His friend’s laughter followed Aidan as he crunched across the gravel toward the big house. He tugged the back door open, slipped into the kitchen and the scent of fresh baked bread and roast beef greeted him. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. This was what he loved about the Diamond J Ranch, about his life now.

Growing up, he was never greeted by scents like that. Here, the crock pot held a big pot roast, potatoes, onions and celery. Back then, the only good scent in the house was a fancy little pot with scented gel. His mother didn’t even fill that herself. Juanita, their housekeeper, filled it.

Charlotte lifted a fresh baked apple pie from the oven. "Afternoon, Aidan." She placed it on a cooling rack, then closed the oven and wiped her hands on her apron. Charlotte was a stout woman, with a rounded middle and chubby cheeks that were perpetually pink.

“Afternoon,” he replied. He clasped his hands together, then stuck them in his pockets and finally let them hang at his sides.

She glanced over at him, then grabbed the copper tea kettle from the stove and filled it with water. “I was going to make myself a pot of tea. Join me?” Though she’d lived in the States since she was a little girl, her voice still carried a hint of Irish brogue.

He glanced over his shoulder. He held fond memories of afternoon tea with his grandmother, but it wasn't a very manly habit.

She scoffed, “Ain’t none of the boys around to see you enjoying a bit o’ tea time.”

He grinned, scooted a chair back and lowered himself onto the seat. The tea kettle whistled merrily.

Charlotte pulled two cups from the hooks under the counter. “What are you in the mood for today?”

He rummaged through the little basket, located a bright yellow packet and tore it open. “Earl Grey.” He slid the basket back across the table.

“What’s on your mind?” Charlotte asked as she flipped through the varieties of tea.

One corner of Aidan’s lip pulled up in a half grin. “How’d you know something’s on my mind?”

She pinned him with her intense blue eyes and said, “That’s the only time you’re in my kitchen unless you’re here to eat.”

She sat down across from him, curled her plump hands around the cup and waited. The only sound was the soft tick of the oven as it cooled.

Aidan lifted the cup to his lips, but it was too hot and he sat it down. He sighed.

“So, tell me about her.”

The grin was full this time. “Do you know the gal that runs the scrapbook store in town?”

A frown appeared on Charlotte’s brow. “Carla something?”

“Gina.” Her name felt like warm chocolate on his tongue, rich and sweet.

She grabbed the honey bear from the center of the table and popped the top. After she swirled honey into her cup, she offered it to Aidan but he shook his head. She urged, “Go ahead. Tell me about her.”

“I’ve had a crush on her for a while, I guess. Seen her around town. Went in there today to see if she’d help with the invitations to the barbecue.”

Charlotte nodded her approval. He briefly ran through the conversation and events at the store earlier in the afternoon. He finished, “So the invitations’ll be ready Monday.”

Charlotte steepled her fingers in front of her as she considered the situation. “And you want to know if you should pick them up or have someone else do it?”

“Right.” He wanted an excuse to see her.

“And you’re worried about her bringing a date to the barbecue.”

His shoulders drooped. “Right.”

She sipped her tea, her index finger tapping the side of the cup thoughtfully. “Well, I think you should go pick up the invitations yourself. Get to know her a little better before you start worrying about a date that she may or may not bring to the barbecue.”

He nodded, took a couple of gulps of his tea, and set the cup down with a thump. “You sure I should go pick them up?” A frown furrowed his brow as he stared down at the half empty cup.

"She's not Tracy." Charlotte's voice was soft, kind.

At the mention of his ex-girlfriend, Aidan felt a surge of anger. "I know." They'd dated for several months before she'd shown her true colors.

"I know how disappointed you were when she started planning how to spend your trust fund."

He huffed out a sigh. His mouth curled up in a wry smile. "She racked up all that credit card debt, and though I'd pay it off for her."

"Don't judge this new gal based on what someone else did."

"I wish I hadn't told anybody about that money.”

Charlotte lifted one shoulder. "Your last name is Brackston. That name shows up all over this state. People are bound to put two and two together."

"Thanks for the tea." He scooted his chair back.

He let himself out the back door and headed for the barn to round up fencing supplies and help. He trusted Charlotte. She and Mr. Jameson had had a strong, steady relationship for years. Theirs was a love that was comfortable and nothing like the convenience that seemed to hold his own parents’ marriage together.

He wanted to feel a love that deep someday.