One Hot Daddy-To-Be? (17 page)

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Authors: Judy Christenberry

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“Will you come to lunch tomorrow?” she asked Cal.

He hadn’t spoken since they’d left the restaurant.

“Of course I will, if you want me.”

“I do,” she said, her voice husky as she thought how true those words were. Sitting circumspectly on her side of the front seat, she longed for him to slide across and reach for her, to pull her into a kiss like the one they’d shared last night.

Instead, he merely asked, “What do you think they’re going to offer you?”

“I don’t know.”

“Will it mean moving to Dallas?”

She stared at him. Was he hoping to get rid of her? Did he actually want her to leave Cactus?

She was within a breath of asking him, of laying it all out on the line. Telling him how she felt about him, how she’d always felt about him. But when she opened her mouth, no words came out. Only a sigh.

“Well, you must have lots to do to get ready for tomorrow, so I won’t come in,” Cal said. He wasn’t even looking at her now. “In case I forget to tell you tomorrow, good luck.”

Jessica felt as if a pail of ice water had suddenly been dumped on her head. How could this be the same man as the one who shared the line shack with her last night? The one who brought her body to a fever pitch with one touch? No, this man was too cold and unemotional. Next thing she knew he’d reach out and shake her hand.

Without even so much as a glance in his direction, she opened the truck door and ran for home.

IT TOOK EVERY OUNCE of willpower he possessed to let her go. He didn’t want to. He’d hoped to explain himself this evening. To tell her he wanted their engagement to be real. To spend this night—and every night of the rest of his life—with Jessica in his arms.

But he didn’t want to discuss what could determine the rest of their lives while she was distracted by business. And he could tell she was distracted.

He didn’t sleep well that night. Without Jessica beside him, curled around him as she’d been last night, he couldn’t settle down. He tossed and turned, and woke up feeling more exhausted than when he went to bed.

After he reached the office, he dialed Jess’s number.

“Hi, baby,” he said softly when she answered. “Are you doing all right?”

She sounded tired, too. “Of course. I’m fine.”

“Anything I can do to help with today’s luncheon?”

“No. Just be here for me.”

“Always. I missed you last night.”

There was silence on her end.

He’d intended to wait until after the luncheon, until after she’d spoken with the corporate execs. He wanted Jessica to be free to make her own decisions about her future. But he was frightened. What if she didn’t love him and want to be with him? He couldn’t face the rest of his life without Jessica.

“Jess, I have to—”

“There’s the timer on the stove. I’ll see you at noon,” she said quickly before hanging up the phone.

Cal sat there, the receiver in his hand. Had he waited too long? Had he already lost her?

JESSICA FOUGHT her nerves all morning.

She hadn’t slept well. But the worry over her and Cal’s relationship had eased any nerves she had over the luncheon.

She’d decided the smart business decision was to listen to whatever offers the corporation made. Right now she had no idea where she stood with Cal, whether she had a future with him and in Cactus. She owed it to herself to hear the execs out.

Suddenly she wanted to wow them with her new idea. It all came down to personal pride. She went into the dining room to recheck every detail.

Ambience was important. She’d used a pale yellow tablecloth with green place mats. In the center of the table were several small cactus plants and a grouping of yellow squash.

When the doorbell rang, she hurried to the door, hoping it was Cal. Instead, her three visitors strolled in. She settled them into her living room and served fried zucchini with drinks while they waited for Cal.

After what seemed like hours of small talk she checked her watch. Cal was twenty minutes late. Did he intend to show up at all? In spite of how they’d parted last night, that wasn’t like Cal. She excused herself and called his office, her heart thumping as she considered his response.

Betty answered the phone.

“Betty, it’s Jess. Where’s Cal?”

“Oh, hon, I’m sorry. He’s settling an argument between Herk Jones and his neighbor. Is anything wrong?”

“He was supposed to be here for lunch at noon. I ... just got worried.”

“Oh, my gosh. I bet he’s forgotten the time. Those two have been going at each other for an hour. I’ll go tell him. I’ll be right back.”

“Thanks, Betty.”

Betty returned to the phone. “Jess, he said he doesn’t know when he’ll be there—to go on without him.”

After hanging up the phone, she covered her disappointment and invited her guests to the table. After all, she still had a business to manage.

Once the food was served, the three executives dispensed with the chitchat and concentrated on the meal. They asked her several questions about her choices and praised the steaks.

Finally, Bill put down his silverware. “Jessica, I won’t beat around the bush. The corporation thinks you’re a genius. We’d like to purchase the entire package—your restaurant concept, your new recipe, everything.”

Jessica remained silent. She simply stared at him.

Bill cleared his throat. “We haven’t mentioned price. That might help convince you.”

Jessica straightened her spine and looked Bill in the eye. Two million dollars for a recipe and an unproved restaurant idea. Why was she hesitating?

Apparently the executive misinterpreted her silence. With a quick glance at his cohorts, he came back with a counteroffer. “All right, Ms. Hoya, we’ll double the offer. But I’m afraid that’s as high as I can go. Of course, it comes with stock options, a corner office, staff. You know. TGM gets the pick of the Dallas elite.”

“Dallas?” Did he mean she’d have to leave Cactus? Her home, her friends ... Cal? No matter what her dream—no matter how hard she’d worked all her life to rise above her past—was it worth walking away from the man she loved?

But does he love you?
an inner voice asked. That was the question.

The offer was tempting, almost too good to refuse. “Well, Bill,” she said. “Let’s talk further.”

“JESSICA’S GOING TO BE real disappointed,” Betty pointed out after Cal finally pacified the two men.

“Damn. How did she take it?”

“You know Jessica. She’s a strong woman. I sure am going to hate to see her leave Cactus,” Betty said as she continued with her filing.

Cal froze. Then he snapped, “What did you say?”

“I said I’m sure—”

“Who said she’s leaving?”

Betty looked up at him. “You know I can’t reveal my sources.”

“Oh, yes, you can.” Cal’s tone was gruff. He was too impatient to deal with her teasing.

“Nita overheard those men talking. She passed the word along.”

Cal closed his eyes, regret filling him. Then he stiffened his shoulders. He wasn’t going to give up on Jessica. Or himself.

“Betty, prepare my letter of resignation,” he ordered in a no-nonsense voice, and whirled to go back to his office.

“What? What are you talking about, Cal Baxter? You can’t resign,” Betty yelled. She jumped up from her desk and trod after him, protests continuing to roll from her mouth.

He grabbed his Stetson and his Jeep keys and turned to face her. “Yes, I can. For Jessica, I can do anything. Have that letter ready when I get back.” Then he left her standing there with her mouth open.

He was grateful he was the sheriff when he drove way over the speed limit to reach Jessica’s town house. At least he didn’t have to worry about getting a speeding ticket. All he had to worry about was whether Jessica would let him go with her.

Whether she’d let him be a part of her life.

After pounding on the door, he waited impatiently, his breathing speeding up when he heard her footsteps through the door. As soon as she opened it, he blurted, “Did you accept their offer?”

“Hello to you, too. Don’t you want to come in?”

He moved past her. “Yeah. Did you accept their offer?”

“Yes, I did.”

He took a deep breath. “I’m turning in my resignation. I’ll be ready to go when you are.”

“Ready to go where?”

“To Dallas.” He reached out and captured her shoulders. “Baby, I can’t let you go. I know we said our engagement was a pretense, but—”

“Cal, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m not going to Dallas.” She watched him, her green gaze steady, patient.

“You’re not going to Dallas?” he asked, incredulous.

“Of course not. Cactus is my home. You’re here.”

Cal felt relief flow through him. Then, the significance of her words set him on fire. “You want to be with me?”

“Your mother’s right,” Jessica said with a shaky laugh. “Men are dumb as—”

Cal cut her off when he pulled her close and took possession of her mouth with his. He kissed her with the force of all his feelings, all the words that he’d been afraid to own up to. He let his lips tell her now.

Even as he broke the kiss, he said in an astonished tone, “But you kept talking about marrying someone else! You even let me make up that stupid list.”

“You broke my heart with that list.” There were tears in her eyes now as she pulled back to look at him.

“I was praying you’d throw it in my face. Instead, you said ‘go ahead.’ No wonder I was confused.” With his thumbs he wiped away the tears and then he kissed her, a long kiss that distracted him from their explanations.

“I was talking about marrying you,” she assured
him, her voice breathless. “It’s always been about you.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I did! What do you think kissing you every time I could, sleeping with you, meant?”

Cal stared at her. “I—I thought maybe you were inexperienced, trying your wings. Or maybe I took advantage of you.” He paused, then grinned. “I was so overwhelmed with wanting you, I guess I didn’t think clearly.”

“I guess not,” she drawled.

“Wait a minute. If I was supposed to know kissing me meant you loved me, why didn’t you know? Two of us were doing that kissing.”

Jessica rolled her eyes. “Really, Cal, that’s obvious.”

“What is?”

“Men want sex whether they’re in love or not. Right?”

“That sounds sexist,” he protested, then relented, “But I’m afraid you’re right. But it was more than that for me.” His lips took hers in a kiss that promised many hot nights ... and days, too, for the rest of their life.

When they came up for air, with a lot of heavy breathing, she said, “Have you turned in your resignation yet?”

“Nope. I told Betty to write the letter.”

“Which means she’s told half the town by now,” Jessica whispered as she dropped kisses on Cal’s face.

“Mmm,” he muttered in agreement, catching her lips with his.

In the midst of that kiss, he realized he hadn’t asked some important questions. “You are going to marry me, aren’t you?”

“Oh, yes.”

Another kiss.

“But you said you took their offer.”

“A modified version. I get to stay here in Cactus, have my restaurant, but work for them for a lot of money.” She grinned. “I’m quite a negotiator, aren’t I?”

“The best. How did you do that?”

“They’re going to franchise The Last Roundup, but my franchise is free. And when I come up with other ideas for restaurants, they’ll pay me.”

A pounding on her door interrupted their embrace.

“Who could that be?”

“Maybe those negotiators are back?”

“No. They’re halfway to Dallas,” Jessica assured him. Swinging open the door, she discovered the mayor and several city councilmen on her porch. They ignored her and spoke to Cal.

“Cal, you can’t quit! We need you. Tell us what you need to make you stay.”

Cal grinned and looked at Jessica. “Well, you might be able to persuade me. But it will take some new patrol cars and another deputy.”

“Done!” the mayor promised. “Anything else?”

“I think a month’s vacation for a honeymoon ought to do it.”

When they were finally left to themselves again, Jessica melted into Cal’s arms and said, “I guess I’m not the only negotiator in this family.”

“Hey, all those things will be good for the county.
Except the month-long honeymoon. That will be good for me.”