CHAPTER 33
JAMIE
J amie was dead asleep, cocooned in her blankets after a late-night binge of reality dating shows. The drama had been so good—the kind where contestants declared their love on Tuesday and threw drinks at each other by Wednesday—that she’d ignored her better judgment and stayed up way too late.
When her phone rang she groaned, rolling onto her stomach and blindly swatting at the nightstand. The buzzing rattled against the wood, insistent and shrill. She cracked one eye open to see the glowing screen. Ruth. Of course.
“Hello?” she mumbled, still groggy.
“Did I wake you?” Ruth’s voice was full of surprise.
Jamie rubbed her eyes. “Why? What time is it?”
“Eleven.”
“Jesus, really?” That snapped Jamie out of her haze. She suddenly remembered: “Happy birthday!”
“Thanks.” Ruth sounded deflated, which was unusual—she loved her birthday .
Jamie frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“No one’s paying attention to my birthday.”
“What about Nolan?”
“He got me a new phone case, which I love. It’s a picture of Reba.” She paused before clarifying, “The dog, not the singer.”
Jamie smiled. “That’s thoughtful.” She hated keeping secrets from her assistant but she couldn’t ruin Nolan’s surprise.
“It is,” Ruth admitted. “I don’t mean to sound ungrateful. He was being sweet before he left for work this morning. But I guess I just thought today would feel more . . . I don’t know, special?”
Jamie knew exactly how to lift her spirits. “How about I take you to lunch? Meet me at the Cheesecake Factory in Green Hills in an hour.” She knew Ruth wouldn’t turn down their French dip cheeseburger. For someone so small, it was impressive to watch her devour it.
“That sounds amazing!” Just like that the old Ruth was back. “Oh, I almost forgot—how were your exams? I didn’t hear back from you last night.”
“I’ll tell you everything at lunch.”
She hung up and texted Nolan. Their plan was foolproof. The Cheesecake Factory was connected to the mall, so she could keep Ruth busy shopping for hours before the real surprise.
Jamie strolled into the Cheesecake Factory in flip-flops, jeans, and a clayton langley tour tank top, grinning at her joke. She knew she’d see him later, and the thought of his reaction made her giddy.
A few minutes later Ruth walked in, spotted Jamie, and did a double-take. “Okay, what’s going on?”
Jamie smirked. “What do you mean?”
“You’re early.” Ruth slid into the seat across from her.
Jamie stood and hugged her. “Happy birthday! ”
“Thanks,” Ruth said, eyeing her suspiciously before setting down her purse.
Jamie tapped the table. “Show me your phone case.”
Ruth pulled her phone from her bag and placed it on the table. “Cute, right?”
“Super cute,” Jamie agreed.
Ruth tucked it away. “Okay, tell me about your exams.”
Jamie hesitated. She didn’t want to outright lie to Ruth—well, more than she already had—but she also didn’t want to ruin her birthday.
“The first three went well,” she said carefully. “The other two . . . we’ll see.”
“I’m sure you did great,” Ruth said, full of confidence.
Why is everyone saying that?
“I’ll find out next week,” Jamie said, dismissing the thought.
As usual, Ruth studied the menu like she hadn’t already memorized it before settling on the French dip cheeseburger. No surprises there. Jamie ordered a Cobb salad, knowing there would be plenty of food at the party later.
After lunch Jamie slid a credit card across the table. “Happy birthday.”
Ruth picked it up and squinted. “You got me a credit card?”
“In a sense.” Jamie nodded. “I didn’t have time to get you a present so I’m taking you shopping.”
Ruth made a face. “Thanks, but I don’t feel like it.”
Jamie had to think fast on her feet. “As your employer, I insist.”
“So I don’t have a choice? Even though it’s my birthday?”
“Exactly,” Jamie said, flashing a mischievous grin.
They wandered through the mall but Ruth barely glanced at the displays, making no move to try anything on.
This was going to be more challenging than Jamie had anticipated.
She pulled out her phone and scanned the mall directory.
Bingo. There was a LUSH store on the upper level, and if anything could lift Ruth’s spirits it was their scented soaps and bath bombs.
“Where are we going?” Ruth asked as Jamie directed her toward the escalator.
Jamie just smiled. “You’ll see.”
The second they stopped in front of the store, Ruth’s face lit up.
“LUSH!” she squealed. “I can’t believe it!” She grabbed a shopping tote and disappeared into the aisles.
Twenty minutes later Ruth had filled her bag with enough bath products to turn Nolan’s house into a tropical oasis. Jamie figured Clayton’s place could use the same treatment, so she picked up a couple of gift boxes for the girls.
With Ruth in a much better mood, shopping became easier. They stopped by Aritzia, J.Crew, and Nordstrom, where Ruth predictably headed straight for the sales racks. But Jamie put a stop to that. “Nope. Full price only today.”
Ruth groaned but let Jamie steer her toward the new arrivals, eventually picking out a chic black-and-white polka dot Kate Spade dress that Jamie insisted would be perfect for her.
When Jamie checked her phone it was already five p.m. They were going to be late for Ruth’s party. “Let’s go,” she suggested. “I don’t think we can carry much more, anyway.”
After loading their shopping bags into the trunk of her car, Ruth turned to Jamie with a grateful smile. “Thanks, James. This was really special.” She wrapped her arms around her in a quick hug. “I’ll drive you back to Shorty’s.”
Jamie hesitated before saying, “I’m coming with you to the ranch.”
Ruth blinked. “You are? ”
“Yeah.” Jamie shrugged like it was no big deal. “I need to get Poppy.”
Her assistant frowned. “What’s Poppy doing at the ranch?”
“Oh, I didn’t tell you,” Jamie said casually, though her voice had a slight edge. “Clayton came to get her. She missed her puppies.”
“Uh-huh.” Ruth gave her a knowing look. “Are you sure you don’t miss Clayton?”
Jamie tightened her fingers on the door handle as something sharp and unwelcome coiled in her chest. She scoffed, shaking her head as she climbed in. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
Nolan’s house, where the party was being held, wasn’t visible from the dirt road leading to Clayton’s place. The guests were instructed to park at the main house, and golf carts would shuttle them to the event.
Ruth’s car rolled to a stop just as Nolan and the girls bounded onto the porch. Before the engine was even off Jamie shoved open the door and jumped out, a wide grin spreading across her face.
“Miss Jamie!” Charlotte squealed, running toward her, Emily close behind. Both wore dresses—something Jamie knew they hated—which made her stomach tighten. Hopefully Ruth wouldn’t pick up on it.
“Hi, girls!” Jamie bent down to hug them, straightened, and caught Nolan’s eye. He was dressed in a navy short-sleeved shirt and dark jeans, looking entirely too composed for someone pulling off a surprise.
Charlotte thrust a bunch of freshly picked flowers into Ruth’s hands. “Happy birthday, Miss Ruth!”
“Oh, thank you, sweetie.” Ruth hugged both girls before turning to Nolan with a puzzled expression. “What are you doing at Clayton’s? ”
Nolan smiled. “Waiting for you. We’re having a birthday dinner at our house.”
“A birthday dinner?” Ruth’s eyes flickered with surprise before softening. Then she glanced down at her romper. “I should probably change first.”
Jamie stepped in casually. “Why don’t you wear that polka dot dress? It looks great on you. And those black flats go perfectly with it.”
Ruth hesitated for half a second, then shrugged. “Sure, why not?”
“Come in and change,” Jamie said, linking her arm through Ruth’s. “I’m going to wear the black dress and those Louboutins I bought.”
The mention of the overpriced shoes made her stomach clench. She’d splurged on them to cheer herself up after bombing her exams, but the disappointment still lingered. No matter how hard she’d studied, it hadn’t been enough.
And here she was, spending money on shoes she didn’t need to feel like she had control over something. She could already hear Clayton’s voice: A dollar saved is a dollar earned.
She shook the thought away. Tonight wasn’t about her. It was about Ruth.
Nolan helped them carry their bags into the house, where Clayton lay on the floor, play-wrestling with Poppy, Duke, and the puppies. He glanced up and smiled when he saw Jamie’s outfit.
“Nice top,” he said with a laugh. “Want me to sign it?”
“Sure.” Jamie adjusted the straps of her tank top. “I can sell it on eBay for a dollar.”
Shaking his head, Clayton returned to wrestling with the dogs as Jamie and Ruth carried their shopping bags into Clayton’s bedroom to get ready .
Clayton stood when they returned to the living room, brushing off his shirt. Jamie sucked in a breath before she could stop it.
He wasn’t in his usual jeans and cowboy boots. He wore a fitted black shirt, dark pants, and real shoes. The effortless way he carried himself, the way the fabric stretched over his broad shoulders, shouldn’t have caught her off guard, but it did.
And then he whistled.
Jamie snapped out of it, heat creeping up her neck.
Clayton’s gaze flicked over her, his expression unreadable. “Why’d you come in here lookin’ like that?”
“Very funny.” She rolled her eyes, catching the Dolly Parton song reference and trying to act unfazed.
Nolan clapped his hands, eager to get moving. “Everybody ready? It’s nice enough to walk.”
Jamie lifted her heel, flashing the red bottom of her stilettos. “These shoes aren’t made for walking.”
“What are they made for?” Clayton asked, his voice low and laced with curiosity.
Jamie forced a smile, resisting the way her pulse ticked up. “They’re for show.”
Everyone cleared out of Clayton’s house and Ruth drove Nolan while Jamie, Clayton, and the girls piled into his truck.
“Do you think she knows?” Clayton asked as he started the engine.
Jamie shook her head. “Not a clue.”