At least no more than he was already in.
“JESSICA, I expected you earlier,” Mabel said as a greeting, her gaze roving Jessica’s sexy outfit. “Perfect, dear, just perfect. You’re—Oh, you need to fix your lipstick. It’s a little smeared.”
Jessica’s cheeks burned. “I got a drink of water just before I left,” she said hurriedly. “I’ll go to the powder room and fix it.”
And hope she could regain her composure before Cal came into the house. The man was driving her crazy. Kissing her that way to warn her? Any more warning and she’d have to go home and hide behind locked doors. Didn’t the man have a clue? Did he think she responded to other men’s kisses like that?
Oh, she’d tried. When she’d gone away to college, she’d already given up on Cal wanting her. She’d dated a lot of men. But after two dates, she’d always walked away. Only once had she tried having sex with a man. He’d been nice, sweet, very interested in her. When she’d agreed with his plea to become intimate, he’d been ecstatic.
She’d regretted her decision at once. But it was too late. And too late, she realized she was a one-man woman. And that one man was Cal. Either that or she was frigid. Now she knew for sure that she wasn’t frigid. Not after Cal set her on fire in his truck.
After fixing her lipstick, she returned to the living
room, and was glad to see several guests had arrived. Florence Gibbons was there, as well as Spence’s parents.
But there seemed to be an unusually high number of young women arriving. Jessica searched for Mabel, to see if she needed any help, of course, and also to ask her a few questions.
“Mabel, is there anything I need to do?” she asked when she found Mabel in the kitchen. After Mabel assured her she had everything under control, Jessica added, “I didn’t know Ed was friends with so many young women.”
“He’d better not be!” Mabel retorted with a smile. “I guess I can tell you now. The party is for Cal.”
“Why?” Jessica didn’t feel any better that all the young women had been invited for Cal.
“He just had his fourth anniversary as sheriff. I thought we should celebrate it.”
“And you invited all those women because Cal is friends with them?” She was trying to be subtle, though she didn’t think Mabel believed her.
“Heck, no! They’re all camouflage.” Mabel put her arm around Jessica. “You’re the one. And dressed like that, you can’t miss. Come on, let’s make the big announcement.”
Jessica stood to one side in the large living room as Mabel surprised her son. She figured Cal didn’t have any idea about his mother’s other surprise, either.
Jessica should have told him on the way over.
But she’d been distracted.
“Hey, Jess, you’re lookin’ fine tonight,” someone said from behind her.
She turned toward the voice. “Johnny! I didn’t know you were here,” she murmured. Automatically her gaze sought out Cal.
He’d already spotted her and her companion, and his gray eyes were hard as steel.
“Yeah. Mrs. Baxter called and invited me personally. Nice of her, wasn’t it?”
When she nodded, he leaned closer and wrapped his hand around her bare neck, whispering, “I’m glad she did. I wouldn’t want to miss seeing you in this outfit. Maybe you can wear it for me when I take you out to dinner.”
She didn’t like his touch or the way he was practically hanging over her. “Maybe you should take Lydia out instead.”
His gaze narrowed. “I don’t want Lydia. I want you.”
“Get away from her.” Cal had suddenly appeared in front of them.
Jessica closed her eyes briefly, then placed a hand on Cal’s chest. “Cal, please, we’re just talking. Don’t ruin your mother’s party.”
“I won’t if he leaves you alone.”
Johnny, who spent a lot of time building his muscles, couldn’t compare to Cal who, at six foot three, topped him by five inches and fifty pounds of muscle.
“Listen, Sheriff,” Johnny responded, refusing to give up, “you can’t tell her what to do.”
“No, but I can get rid of uninvited guests. After all, it’s my party.”
“Your mother invited me!”
Seeing a fight in her future, Jessica desperately sought a distraction. Music was her answer. “Dance
with me, Cal. I want the privilege of the first dance with the honoree. If you’ll excuse us, Johnny?” She made it a question, but she was sure Johnny would recognize dismissal when he heard it. He might be a lot of things, but stupid wasn’t one of them.
She wasn’t sure Cal would accept her invitation. Sometimes men preferred fighting. To enhance her offer, she ran her arms up around his neck and leaned into him.
His big hands curled around her waist and he pulled her even closer against him, moving fluidly to the center of the floor where the rug had been rolled up. Several couples were already making use of the available space.
Now that she’d achieved her goal, Jessica tried to ease back from his hold, but his hands kept her pressed against him.
“I thought you wanted to dance,” he murmured, his breath warm in her ear as he bent his head down to her.
“Yes, but if we dance like this, people will think we’re...you know, a couple. And...and the other women will think you’re taken. Your mother invited a lot of women here tonight so you would have a good time.”
“I’m having a good time.”
He spun her around, then pulled her back against him. “In fact, I haven’t had this good a time in years.”
She was having trouble breathing. “I think you’re trying to control your temper. When you calm down, you may regret what’s happening here.”
And something was definitely happening. She
could feel his arousal through their clothing. Was Mabel’s plan working? Could she trick Cal like that?
In spite of how she felt about him, she didn’t want him to fall into a trap. She only wanted him if he wanted her, without tricks.
She nibbled on her bottom tip. Finally she muttered, “Remind me to tell you something on the way home.” Until then, she decided to enjoy herself.
Chapter Five
C
al wasn’t happy with his mother’s surprise. Nor was he happy that she’d invited Johnny Boyd. But he couldn’t object to dancing with Jessica. It was pure pleasure.
And he could justify his dancing with her because Johnny kept hovering around her. Cal let her dance with his friends, Mac, Spence, and Tuck, but the rest of the dances he claimed for himself.
He enjoyed himself so much, in fact, that when friends began to leave as midnight approached, he was startled.
“You’re leaving already?” he said.
“Hey, man, work starts at sunrise,” Tuck reminded him. He had his arms around two young ladies, but he didn’t seem eager to extend his evening.
Cal nodded. After his friend walked away, he leaned down to Jessica. “Do you think he’s interested in either of those ladies?”
With a sigh, she shook her head no.
Since she only confirmed his thoughts, he didn’t question her answer. “Are you ready to go home?”
“Yes. Tuck’s right, it’s late. I can catch a ride with someone so you won’t have to—”
“I’ll see you home,” he insisted, not wanting to end the evening. He knew Jessica considered him to be her big brother, and had no interest in him, but he intended to keep an eye on her.
“I have to help Mabel clean up,” she murmured, her gaze searching the crowd for his mother. When she spotted her with her three friends, she left Cal’s side and headed toward Mabel.
Cal watched as Jessica kissed Mabel’s cheek, bringing a smile to his mother’s face. In fact, he was relaxed, leaning against a wall, watching, when Johnny moved in on Jessica. Immediately, he straightened from the wall and hurried to Jessica’s side, sliding his arm around her narrow waist, shifting her hip against his.
“You leaving, Johnny?” he said, nodding at his mother and her friends at the same time.
“Yeah. And I thought I’d offer Jessica a ride home,” Johnny returned, frustration in his voice.
“Not necessary. She came with me.”
“Man, when are you going to let her have a life? She’s not some little lamb about to be attacked by a wolf.” Johnny moved a little closer.
Cal retained his hold on Jessica. “I’m not stopping Jessica from doing anything she wants. Baby, you want to go with Johnny?” He was taking a gamble, but he didn’t think Jessica would let him down.
“Thank you for the offer, Johnny, but I did come with Cal. I think Lydia needs a ride, though.”
Cal breathed a sigh of relief after Johnny glared at Jessica before stomping away.
“Well, ladies, Jess and I are leaving. Mom, thanks for the surprise party. We’ll see you around,” he said, pulling Jessica toward the door.
He almost had her outside when Mac stopped them.
“Cal, you comin’ tomorrow?”
Tomorrow? In spite of the fact that he’d been attending the informal rodeos in the spring and fall for several years, it took a minute for Cal to comprehend what Mac was asking. “Yeah, I’ll be there, same as usual.”
“Good. And we’ll finish our day at The Old Cantina, okay, Jess?”
“Of course it’s okay. My profits would dip considerably if you guys switched to the Dairy Queen for your Saturday nights,” she said with a smile.
Mac kissed her on the cheek before he headed toward his hostess to say goodbye.
As they stepped outdoors, Spence joined them.
“Going home alone?” Cal asked, frowning. “There were a lot of ladies here tonight.”
“Yeah, and most of them are in love with you,” Spence returned, a grin on his face.
“Not likely, Spence. See you tomorrow?”
“Sure.” He leaned over to kiss Jessica’s cheek. “And we’ll see you tomorrow afternoon,” he added.
She smiled and nodded.
After Cal joined her in the cab of his pickup, he complained. “My friends are awful free and easy with their kisses.”
“Surely you’re not complaining about that, too?” she asked, laughing. “Next thing I know you’ll want to lock me in a glass case.”
“Not wearing those clothes. I think you’d better burn them after you get home.”
She frowned at him. “You really don’t like them?”
“It’s not a question of liking. Any man would like them, but they send the wrong kind of message.”
He felt her stare and turned to meet her gaze. Instead of compliance, she raised her eyebrows and murmured, “I think I should buy some more just like them.”
“What?” he roared. “You can’t mean that.”
“Cal, I’m twenty-seven, soon to be twenty-eight. I want to marry and have a family. Immaculate conception isn’t likely, so I need to find a man.” She turned and stared out the truck window.
Cal sat dumbfounded. She’d mentioned something about getting on with her life, but he hadn’t really believed she meant to find a man. Another man in her life. “Maybe you need to give this idea some thought. You know, be sure you want to make these changes.”
“I’ve thought. A long time. But it’s hard to find a man who isn’t intimidated by Cal Baxter, Sheriff.”
“I said I’d set you up with some guys,” he said, noting that he sounded defensive. But he didn’t want everything to change. He didn’t want Jessica belonging to some other man. Nor did he want his friends married. His world seemed to be spinning out of control.
“I think I have to make the choice myself, Cal,” she whispered.
And risk making a big mistake, Cal thought. He’d
been called out to more than a few domestic disturbances in Cactus.
He sought desperately for something to distract Jessica. He didn’t want her to tell him to get lost. “Say, what did you want to tell me on the way home?”
She stared at him, her eyes wide.
“Don’t you remember? While we were dancing you said for me to remind you to tell me something.”
“Uh, yes. It’s about your mother.”
When she said nothing else, Cal, after coming to a stop in her driveway, shut off his engine and turned to look at her. “Well?”
“Your mother has decided it’s time for you to marry.”
“That stupid bet,” he muttered.
“You know?” she asked in surprise.
“Yeah, I know. Tuck’s mom told him. Actually, I think she tried to bribe him,” Cal said with a laugh. “Anyway, he told all of us. Don’t worry. We’re not going to cooperate.” He grinned at Jessica, sure he’d relieved her anxiety. But she was still staring at him, her eyes wide. “What? Is there something else?”
She ran her tongue over her full lips, and his temperature rose as his gaze followed its movement.
“Uh, yes, there’s more.”
“What is it, baby?”
“Me.”
He swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. “You? You mean. Mom is trying to marry you off, too?”
She sank her teeth into her full bottom lip and he leaned closer.
“Don’t worry, Jess, I’ll tell her you’re not ready.”
Her chin rose. “But I am, Cal. The problem is that I think you should know she’s trying to many you to me.”
“You? Me? That’s ridiculous!”
She turned away, staring out the passenger window again.
Cal felt nausea rise in his stomach. “Listen, baby, I’ll talk to her. She’ll understand. And...and I’ll help you look for a good man. I’ll take care of everything.”
Of course he would. He’d promised Jessica’s mother as she lay dying that he’d take care of Jessica. He loved taking care of Jessica. So why did he feel as if he was about to lose his supper?
She turned to face him again, her look grim. “You do that, Cal Baxter! You take care of everything!” Then she yanked open the door and ran to her front door.
He opened his door to go after her, but by the time his boots hit the ground, she’d already entered the house and slammed the door behind her.
Something was wrong.
After an enjoyable evening, Jessica was angry with him, and be didn’t know why. His mother was messing up, if Jessica was to be believed, trying to force Jessica to marry him. And he was feeling worse than he had when that old bull kicked him in the shin two years ago.
What should he do now?
JESSICA’S MOOD hadn’t improved when she got up the next morning.
“It’s your own fault,” she muttered over a steaming cup of coffee.
She’d actually believed Mabel when she’d told her to seduce Cal and everything would be all right. Dancing in his arms, her body plastered to his, all evening, she’d begun to believe he might have finally realized how perfect they were for each other.
For three hours she’d been living in a fool’s paradise. Until the drive home, when he promised to find her a man. What was he? Chopped liver?
No. He was an incredible man, sexy, tender, loving—but not interested in her.
It was about time she accepted what she’d known all along. He thought of her as his little sister and that wasn’t going to change.
The phone rang.
“Jess? Wasn’t last night perfect?” Mabel crooned as soon as Jessica answered.
“It was a nice party, Mabel,” she replied, struggling to keep her voice even.
“Party? Who cares about the party? I’m talking about you and Cal. Those clothes were perfect. He couldn’t keep his hands off of you.”
“Mabel, he was keeping me from Johnny, that’s all. If you hadn’t invited Johnny, he wouldn’t have danced with me at all.”
Silence.
“But he kissed you before you came in.”
“Yes, but—I don’t know why, but I think he was trying to show me what could happen if I tempted a man.”
“He thinks you don’t know? At twenty-seven?
Lord have mercy, the boy is dumber than I thought he was!” Mabel rasped, irritation filling her voice.
Jessica gave a watery chuckle. “It’s okay, Mabel. At least I’ve finally accepted that he doesn’t want me.” She swallowed back tears. She wasn’t going to lose control. She’d had other bad things happen in her life and had learned to move on.
“Well, I haven’t! I’ve just begun my campaign. Now, you’re going to need some more sexy clothes, something that shows off your figure. Where did you buy those?”
Jessica thought about arguing with her, but in the end she gave up and told her the name of the store. It was a large store in Lubbock, about fifty miles away.
It wasn’t that Jessica believed Mabel could pull off her plans. But if she, Jessica, intended to marry and have children, she’d need to find a man somewhere. And sexy clothes seemed to catch their attention.
“Great. I’ll pick you up in twenty minutes and we’re heading for Lubbock. My treat.”
“I can pay for—”
“Of course you can. But this is my plan, so I’ll pay. Besides, you’re my daughter, sweetheart. At least in my heart. And eventually you’re going to be my daughter by marriage.”
“Mabel—”
“Twenty minutes.” She hung up the phone.
Jessica stood there, the phone in her hand and a small smile on her face. Cal and his mom were a lot alike. Big hearts and stubborn minds. She loved them both.
How was she going to survive without them?
CAL PERCHED on the top rail of the chute pen, preparing to settle onto the rambunctious bull. But his heart wasn’t into the spirit of the occasion.
The more he thought about last night, and the way the evening ended, the more depressed he became. Jessica wanted to get married. Apparently to any man but him.
Not that he wanted to marry Jessica, he hurriedly assured himself, because marriage wasn’t something he was ready for. And Jessica was like a sister.
“Ready, Cal?” Tuck asked.
He snapped his head up, staring at his friend. “Uh, year.”
When he didn’t move, Tuck asked, “What are you waiting for?”
He didn’t know. Except that Jessica wasn’t really his sister. He couldn’t continue to believe that old standby after their kiss in his truck yesterday. Or their close dancing last night.
But she seemed intent on finding someone else.
“Come on, Cal,” another cowboy called. “We can’t hold this animal much longer.”
Okay, he’d get this over with. If he could ride this bull, maybe he could convince Jessica that—What? She didn’t want to marry? That she might be interested in him?
That thought distracted him completely. The bull barely got outside the gate before he dumped Cal on the soft dirt. To add insult to injury, he stepped over Cal and trotted to the other end of the arena.
Cal limped to the side of the corral.
“Man, I don’t think you were focused,” Mac said as he reached out a helping hand to pull Cal over the fence before the bull could take another run at him.