Chapter Ten
“W e’re so happy to see Cole has decided to settle down and find a wife and a mother for Emmie,” the lady was gushing above the other two who had cornered Jesse in the ladies’ room after she had left Cole standing with a stunned expression on his face.
She would hate to let the women know that Cole was probably not too pleased with settling down or with her.
But she had let her own experiences cloud her opinion of the situation and basically gave him a piece of her mind whether he wanted it or not.
Or whether he deserved it or not. It wasn’t any of her business…
not his personal life and Emmie’s. She smiled and nodded as she gathered her small purse and left the room to the women and their comments.
“There you are.” Katie met her just outside the door. “I’m sorry but Cole asked if I would check on you. He was worried I suppose. New fiancées tend to do that as I recall.” She gave a small laugh.
Jesse fell into step beside her.
“I suppose. I just ran into some ladies who were extending their congratulations, and I lost track of time.”
“I’m sure that many of the ladies here will continue to do that through the evening, but some will also be aiming daggers at your back.” A grin had replaced the smile.
“Daggers? Should I worry?”
The woman shook her head. “There are a few mothers here who have given good tries at getting Cole to choose their daughter over another. They never thought they might have to worry about someone coming in from outside Red Cliffs and claiming the prize bachelor right under their noses. But it is amusing watching their faces.”
Jessie joined her grin. “I knew I liked you right away. You call it as you see it and I tend to do that also.”
“There you are. Uncle Joe is waiting for you on the dance floor,” Cole said with a smile at Katie, as he joined the pair a few steps from the table.
“I better hurry then. That man does like to dance.” She left them alone.
“I’m sorry.”
Whatever she expected, it wasn’t those words. He didn’t strike her as a man who voiced them easily nor very often. But she wasn’t going to make it easy. “Sorry for what exactly?”
“You like this, don’t you? I get it. Okay…
I’m sorry for acting like a snob know-it-all about Katie and Uncle Joe.
You might be right. Everyone does deserve the right to find happiness wherever it might present itself.
So, what made you so wise on this subject?
Do you have experience with that one great love?
Some guy hanging out in the shrouded past of yours that you go home to between these secret operations? ”
Jesse had many thoughts listening to his words.
Many memories and most unhappy in reality.
She had worked hard for a long time to put the past where it belonged and leave it.
But there was always that moment that would inevitably come along and blow that resolve.
But she wasn’t about to share with this rancher. Her gaze steadied on his searching one.
“No. There’s no one hanging out back home.” It was the truth in a very simplified version. Straight from the playbook… keep it short, simple, and as based i on truth as possible. He seemed to buy into it.
Cole held out his hand. “Let’s go find our song.”
She placed her palm inside his. It was warm and felt almost comforting.
“Our song?” She followed as he led them to the center of the floor where other couples were already gathering.
He made a twirling motion bringing her around into his chest which sent coherent thought to abandon her unsteady brain for the moment.
Cole drew her closer and they began a two-step around the center of the floor.
“I’m not telling you how to do your job,” he whispered just above her cheek, “but shouldn’t a happy and in-love fiancée be smiling adoringly at the man she is madly in love with and looking forward to him slipping a gold band on her hand?”
He was reminding her of the job at hand.
What else should she be thinking about? The whiff of cologne that made her want to move in for a closer inspection?
The fact that his arms were especially inviting to have them draw her against his length even tighter?
Or should she remember it was all an act for others watching them with interest…
all for a show. That cold thought was fact and facts counted in her job.
And appearances. She fitted a wide smile on her face and wound her free hand higher to rest caressingly at the nape of his neck.
“I do adore you, darling.” Her words were just loud enough to be heard by those dancing close enough around them.
Just right for them to carry back to their respective tables and share with their fellow townspeople.
All for show. That thought carried a sting in that moment where it never had before. “I do love a romantic dance with you.”
His gaze had narrowed and moved slowly from hers to the area of her mouth, lingered long enough to cause a stirring within her pulse rate, then lifted to make its way to her gaze again.
“Too many people around us for my liking, darling . But guess I’ll just have to wait for that long drive home to show you how I really feel. ”
She missed a step at his words but quickly recovered.
“Oops.” His hold tightened around her waist. “Didn’t mean to shake you up there, sweetheart.” His smile wasn’t sorry at all but totally seductive.
“You’re very good at this, dear,” she said in a lowered voice. “Sounds like you’ve had some experience with romancing your partner before.”
His grin held a slight hint of devilment. “You wouldn’t be jealous, would you? But no worries.” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “I’ll keep you close enough in case any of those daggers being sent your way by jealous ladies watching us won’t touch you.”
“You are such a gentleman. How did I ever get so lucky to have been the one chosen by you over all the others?” That should add even more looks to land on her. Bring them on ladies.
“You like to play with fire. I never figured on that one.”
“I’ll be leaving soon, and you’ll have to deal with them all even more determined to take my place.”
“No one will come close to that.” Their gazes locked of their own accord.
The words didn’t seem to be part of any act but came out unbidden and silence followed in their wake.
Jessie could almost believe they were heartfelt.
But it was an act…right? When she looked into those gray depths, something shuttered them from her search. The wall was in place again.
Luckily, the music ended at that moment, and she wasn’t sure if she felt relief or disappointment. His hand remained at her lower back all the way back to the table.
She didn’t have a chance to sit as Uncle Joe was on his feet and asking for the next dance.
Jesse smiled and nodded. It was a good escape.
But she soon saw that Cole had taken Katie onto the floor also.
The sight pleased her. If he meant what he said earlier, then he would be trying to get to know the woman his uncle felt so strongly about.
To her surprise, the song was a fast one…
a polka and she felt like her feet rarely touched the ground as her partner was certainly lively and very good at the steps.
She felt the laughter come naturally as they moved around the other dancers.
“You are very good at this, dear girl,” he said, paying her an earnest compliment.
“A good partner makes a lowly one look better,” she said, concentrating on each step to keep up. “And you are a wonderful dancer. You must have attended a lot of these dances in your lifetime here.”
“You could say that.” He grinned and nodded. “It keeps a body young in my estimation. And gives an old man a chance to dance with some pretty girls and remember my youth.”
“Well, you are definitely outdancing most of the younger men here. Makes me wish I had you to teach me to be better on the dance floor.”
“Well, since you are going to take up residence practically next door to me, seems we will have time to have some dance lessons since you’ll soon be a Connor.”
Reality came back again. She nodded. “That’s right. There will be those opportunities.”
“You know it does me good to see you and my nephew together on the dance floor. I remember those special looks that Mary and I used to share when we danced. I like to think Katie and I are settling into that habit, also. It certainly does my heart good to see you and Cole and think what the future holds for the both of you.”
Jesse felt a total sham. She liked this man, and his opinion meant a lot to her. And she could only imagine what it would feel like to be part of his family. And an ache began inside the area close to her heart. It was hard to maintain a smile on her face until the music finally ended.
“Thank goodness, the next one is a slow one,” Katie said as the other couple came up to their side.
“Nonsense, Katie girl,” Uncle Joe grinned. He took her hand in his. “I ordered a slow one just for us.” He drew her out onto the floor as the lights dimmed and the slow ballad began.
“He is amazing,” Jesse said. Before she could turn to leave, Cole’s hand had captured hers and drew her back to him.