The Rancher and the Event Planner - By Cheryl Gorman Page 0,6
clothes. She pasted on her friendliest smile, the smile she reserved for her most difficult clients, and looked up at the bane of her childhood existence. “Hello, Rona. I’m called JC now.”
Rona swept her gaze surreptitiously over JC. “Is that so?”
“Yeah. How’s tricks?”
Rona gave her an insipid smile. “Heard you had a little car accident.” She tapped her chin and said, “Got arrested, too I understand. You’ll have to tell me all about jail sometime.”
JC deflected Rona’s little barb with a smile. She didn’t have the power to hurt her anymore. “I was never in jail. You’ll have to find out about jail for yourself.”
Rona gave JC a terse smile then turned her heavily mascaraed green eyes on Rafe and brushed a strand of her shoulder-length, dark hair from her cheek. “Nice to see you, Rafe. I’ll be at the Round Up tonight. New band in town.”
Rafe leaned back in his chair. “Have fun.”
She lowered her lashes then looked at him again. “I was hoping you might be there. I’ll have my dancing shoes on.”
“Don’t get out much these days.”
“I know but you can always change your mind. Think about it, okay?” She shifted her gaze to JC and hefted her Chanel purse on her shoulder. “See you around, Jennifer.”
After the café door closed behind Rona, JC rolled her eyes. “Some people never change.”
“She hasn’t for sure,” he said and signaled the waitress for the bill.
JC withdrew some cash from her purse to pay her part.
Rafe stopped her. “My treat.”
“Thanks.” She put away her money.
“I’ll take you by Earl’s to check on your car.”
Rafe touched her lower back as they exited the café. His touch almost singed her skin making her hyper aware of him. What kind of feelings would he elicit if she were in his arms?
JC slid into the oven-like interior of his truck. But as soon as he started the engine, cool air blasted from the vents. She was thankful for the relief but it didn’t help her forget about Rafe’s touch. Her skin still tingled with the memory. She had to remind herself that she was here to do a job. Period. Dreaming was for fools.
***
After Jennifer grabbed a pair of white sandals from her luggage Rafe stowed the case in the flatbed of his truck. He opened the passenger door for her and she put one foot on the running board. Her skirt pulled invitingly across her hips and butt and the hem of her skirt slid upward giving him a heart-stopping view of her thigh. He sucked in a breath and heat shot to his groin, heat he hadn’t experienced with any woman in a long time. What was going on with him? He tried to force his gaze away but he couldn’t. It was like his eyeballs were glued to her sexy expanse of female skin. Finally, she was settled on the seat.
A moment later, Rafe pulled the truck onto the street and headed for Molly’s school. “The Salvation Inn is closed because the owner’s sister is ill down in Houston. Not sure when it’ll open up again.”
JC glanced down the road then back at him. “No problem, I’m sure Cade won’t mind putting me up for a few days.”
He turned a corner and headed north. “Except that we had a bad storm a few days ago and a tree was struck by lightning. It fell on the east side of the cabin and took out the kitchen.”
Jennifer’s head snapped around, her amber eyes wide with surprise and worry. “Was Cade hurt?”
Rafe shook his head. “No, he was away when it happened. That’s probably why he didn’t mention it.”
She turned back around, her shoulders slumping slightly as she settled against the back of the seat with a little frown on her forehead.
“He just didn’t want you to worry. Cade’s been staying in the bunk house with the ranch hands while it’s being repaired.”
She raked her teeth over her lower lip and desire gnawed at him with velvet teeth. “I don’t suppose there’s a new motel in town?”
“’fraid not.”
“What am I going to do? Linc was crystal clear about me staying in town and working one day a week in Dallas.” Her face brightened and she snapped her fingers. “What about Mrs. Thornby? Cade told me she was renting out a couple of rooms in that old Victorian of hers.”
“Sorry, she passed about six months back and the place has been sold.”
The scent she wore rode the air currents from the vents and drifted