Her Surprise Hometown Match, page 13
“You’d think after the last movie that kept him up all night he’d pick a different show.”
“Apparently it’s a popular series with his classmates. So now I have to go home and calm him down.”
“Wait. You drove. Let me get my purse and I’ll come with you.”
“No, go enjoy the rest of your night. It’s not like you go out very often. One of the girls will take you home.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
“Okay, but call if you need anything.”
“I will.”
As her friend rushed out the door, Juliette returned to the deck. Her friends were laughing as she sat down.
“What did I miss?”
“Serena was telling us that if she hadn’t picked out the wedding venue when she did,” Carrie informed her, “Logan was going to kidnap her and bring her to the county clerk’s office.”
The bride-to-be grinned. “I know he doesn’t care about all the little details for the wedding, but he’s been a good sport all along. At the time I thought he was teasing, until I saw the serious look on his face. I shot back, telling him the only way I’d get married without family with us was if we went to Las Vegas. Before I knew it, he was on his phone, checking flights. I grabbed his cell and had to hide it until he got that crazy notion out of his head.”
“It wasn’t a crazy idea and I still stand by it,” a deep voice spoke behind Juliette. She twisted in her seat to see Logan headed their way.
Serena jumped up, her face flushing with pleasure. “What are you doing here?”
“Missing you,” her fiancé said as he rounded the table, wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her in for a kiss. Multiple aahs sounded from the table.
“It really was a close call,” Heidi said. “But as usual, Serena talked him down. Now we all get to watch them exchange vows.”
Then, the rest of the significant others showed up. Heidi jumped up to hug Reid, Deke came behind Grace to lean down and kiss his wife’s cheek, Carrie reached out to take Adam’s hand, and Faith and Roan exchanged content grins.
Juliette rolled her eyes. “I thought this was supposed to be a girls night.”
Faith leaned over. “It doesn’t have to be. Call Ty.”
She bit her lower lip. As much as she loved the idea, it was late. By the time he got to town, if he could even make it, everyone would be heading home. And then they’d be alone and have to discuss the kiss. She wasn’t ready for that conversation.
“Stop talking yourself out of it,” Faith admonished.
Should she go for it? Was it too weird? She pulled out her phone and stared at the screen, her thumbs hovering over the keyboard. She pulled up his contact when all of a sudden she heard boots echo against the wooden deck. Gooseflesh broke out over her skin. She knew before she turned that it was Ty.
“Heard there’s a party,” he said to everyone in way of a greeting.
Juliette shot a scowl at Faith. “You knew?”
“Nope. The guys showing up was a complete surprise.”
Still, her friend looked guilty. “But?”
“But, we knew Ty met up with the guys tonight.”
“And you didn’t think to tell me?”
“Why would we? We didn’t know they’d crash our party and besides, you didn’t tell us you went on a date with Ty until after the fact.”
She couldn’t argue with that logic. Holding back a sigh, she glanced over her shoulder. Ty sent her that rogue’s smile and she lost all coherent thought.
* * *
TY REALIZED BY the look on Juliette’s face that his showing up unannounced was a complete surprise. He kept the smile on his face, even though the look he shot Adam promised revenge.
When the guys had found out about his date with Juliette, he should have known they’d set him up, telling him they wanted to stop by the new hangout, conveniently leaving out the fact that the women were there. He’d never admit it, but he was glad they did.
As the group began to mingle, he took a seat beside Juliette. “I think we were set up.”
Juliette’s gaze passed over each person and she shook her head sorrowfully. “And I thought they were such nice people.”
Ty laughed, relieved that she wasn’t miffed at him for showing up out of the blue.
“I should have known something was up. Adam was acting weird.”
“None of the women were.”
He met her gaze. “We must be losing our edge.”
She sent him a grin that warmed him from head to toe. “Speak for yourself.”
After their date last night, he wasn’t sure how she’d respond to him. He didn’t know if their kisses had rocked her world, but they’d knocked his on its axis. He couldn’t stop thinking about her; her surprise when he gave her the corsage, how lovely she looked in the green dress that reflected the color of her eyes, her hair pulled up, framing her face. Was she as taken by him as he was with her? Surprised by this connection that had linked them together since the first moment they’d met?
He didn’t want to push if she wasn’t interested, because the unease that flashed in her eyes every now and again made him wary. Was it him? He didn’t know how he’d feel if she didn’t return the attraction. They’d see each other at the farm and he didn’t want things to be awkward between them because he really liked her. This spontaneous meetup was natural, more to his liking. And by her smile, he hoped Juliette thought so too.
“Where were you tonight?” she asked.
“We ran into each other at Smitty’s Pub, then Logan wanted me to see the venue where he and Serena are getting married. The next thing I knew, we ended up here. You?”
“A little shopping and then we came here for appetizers.”
He glanced around the deck. “Nice place.”
“Just opened this summer. It’s a great place to hang out with friends.”
“You ladies come here often?”
She glanced around the deck. “Not really. I mean, they might, but I’m usually busy with a project.”
“So how did they talk you into joining them tonight?”
Her lopsided grin went straight to his heart. “My best friend Addie came by my house and nagged me into getting out for a few hours.”
“Let me guess. You had a very important uprising to plot and didn’t want to be disturbed?”
Her chuckle lilted in the air. “Not exactly. Honestly, I was going to kick my feet up with a bowl of popcorn and watch a movie.”
“I had a similar night lined up. Until Colton ditched me.”
“Come again?”
He moved closer, inhaling her minty sweet scent. “Colton and I went to Smitty’s to get dinner when Kelsey called. He asked if he could hang out with her, which meant me going solo, but Adam and his crew took pity on me and convinced me to join them.”
Juliette angled her head, a strand of hair slipping from behind her ear to brush her cheek. He fisted his fingers to keep from tucking it back into her rich, thick hair.
“I already knew some of the guys when I arrived in town,” he explained, “including Adam. Now that I’ve become part of Golden, I’ve expanded that circle.” He gazed over her shoulder. “To be honest, I’ve missed the social aspect of being on the rodeo circuit.”
“For partners in crime, we sure aren’t very dangerous if our friends have to drag us out for a night on the town.”
“I spent all day fixing fences, which now that I say it, sounds boring, so yeah, I was up for some action.”
Their eyes met and held.
Juliette cleared her voice. “So we were saved by our friends.”
“Maybe. Unless you want to go on our own adventure.”
She scanned the group as if considering his suggestion. Leaned closer. “Now that they’re all paired up, they don’t even know we’re here,” she whispered, her lips close to his ear. “What did you have in mind?”
Her breath, whispering over his skin, had him shifting in the chair. He cleared his suddenly tight throat. “We could go for a drive.”
“Now?”
“You got better plans?”
She hesitated. “As a matter of fact, I don’t.”
They stood and slipped away from the table without being noticed. He took her hand once they were outside. They were headed to his truck when he detoured.
“What are you doing?”
“Adam mentioned a large boulder on the side of the creek where they used to fish. Let’s check it out.”
She tugged back on his arm. “We can’t go down there. It’s dark.”
He wiggled his eyebrows in challenge.
She rolled her eyes.
He led her around the building. “What’s the big deal? There’s a path.”
Her tone pitched higher. “A path meant to be used in the daylight.”
“C’mon, darlin’,” he said as he carefully led her down the uneven ground. “Don’t get all prim on me now.”
He saw the flame leap into her eyes, knowing she couldn’t resist, and carefully led her down on a trail to the edge of the rushing water.
“I’m never going to hear the end of this,” he heard her mutter.
He glanced over his shoulder. “We do have a habit of getting people to talk about us.”
In the moonlight streaming through the tree branches, he could make out the scowl on her pretty face.
“That’s a bad thing?” he asked, thinking he should be asking himself the same question. Having people talk about him didn’t exactly make him come off as responsible, and that’s what he needed to convince his dad he could take care of the farm.
“I’m uncomfortable with people in my business.”
“Says the woman who was ready to steal a city sign with me.”
She went to throw up her hands, but one was still connected to his. “Hey, you never said anything about stealing it.”
“It was sort of implied.”
“Thankfully your poorly thought out plan didn’t work.”
They drew close to the edge. The rushing water grew louder, drowning out all the other sounds round them. They were hidden from prying eyes on the deck by a thick barrier of tree trunks and natural vegetation. Sure enough, a large boulder sat sentinel on the bank.
“This has to be the spot.”
Juliette shivered. A perfect excuse to put an arm around her shoulders. “You okay?”
She snuggled against him. “I am now.”
The silver light from the moon tangled in the eddies of the water, splashing over rocks and broken tree branches. Juliette let out a sigh and pointed to the other side.
“I’ve never told anyone, but I love waterfalls.”
Sure enough, water cascaded down two levels of the falls, pouring into the creek.
Ty watched her wistful expression and wondered where it came from. “Why would you keep that a secret?”
She shrugged, but he sensed she was holding back.
He tugged her closer. “Is it a not-liking-anyone-in-your-business thing?”
“I suppose.”
“I noticed last night that you were uncomfortable when people kept talking about your past accomplishments.”
“Wouldn’t you be if the focus was on you? It was a dance, not a reunion.”
“Darlin’, I lived for the limelight at the rodeo. Not the person to ask that question.”
They went quiet for a time, drinking in the beauty. Even in the night shadows, Ty was entranced by their surroundings, more so with the woman beside him. Then he remembered something she’d said to him.
“Does it have anything to do with you being the town hero?”
She went stiff.
“You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”
“It’s just...” He felt her relax. “That day was not a big deal, but became a big deal and I haven’t been able to live it down.”
“Why would you want to? From what I heard, you saved a little girl.”
“She was in a stroller, in the middle of the road.”
“And so were you. Timing.”
He watched her bite her lower lip.
“It was timing, right?”
“Of course.” She ducked from under his arm and stepped away. Not far, since there was only a small open patch to stand in, but far enough that he didn’t like the loss of her warmth. She bent down to pick up a stone and toss it in the bubbling water.
“Do you ever regret how certain events shaped your life?” she asked.
“Only too much.”
He could understand why that day might not line up with who she was now. He had plenty of regrets about the way he’d treated his family when he’d been on the road with the rodeo. Didn’t want to revisit his selfishness.
“I’ve learned that you have to take a stand,” he said. He’d sworn to his family he’d be there and meant to keep that vow.
She ran her hands up and down her arms. Chilled from the cold night air or the direction of the conversation?
“I realize we haven’t known each other very long, but you can talk to me.”
She turned to him, remorse shining in her eyes. “Thanks, but I’m good.”
Somehow, he didn’t think she was.
Contrary to her mood, Juliette reached out and grabbed his hand, intertwining her fingers in his. To his surprise, she tugged him closer. Her dress swirled around her legs as he ended up against her. Their gazes met and he waited for her to make the next move. She went on tiptoes and brushed her lips over his. He finally wrapped his arms around her and kissed her back wholeheartedly.
Before long, be broke the kiss and smiled down at her. “I could get used to this.”
She sent him a rueful smile. “I wouldn’t argue against it.”
“Good, because I wasn’t sure how you felt after last night.”
“Apparently the same as you, so let’s not analyze it and just enjoy being together.”
“I knew there was a reason I liked you.”
She stepped back and playfully tapped his arm.
“Okay, no analyzing. What, then?”
Her playful grin almost had him worried, but he already knew he’d say yes to whatever she asked.
“So, about Serena and Logan’s wedding.”
He stuffed his hands in his pockets.
“It’s been brought to my attention that I haven’t sent back the RSVP card.”
“And this is important because?”
She cleared her throat. “Serena already added me as a guest.”
“So what’s the problem?”
He waited for her to continue, pretty sure where this discussion was going, but wanting her to make her move.
She straightened her shoulders. “Remember when I agreed to go to the dance and I said I’d call in my marker when you least expected it?”
“I do.”
“I’m calling it in now.” She lifted her chin. “Will you attend the wedding with me? Seems I’m a plus-two without a date.”
“When you put it so nicely, darlin’.”
She got that miffed expression he loved. “I’m serious.”
“I’d be honored.”
Her smile was bright in the moonlight.
“I have another request.”
He winked and removed his hands from his pockets. “Good thing I like you.”
She shook her head, then said, “So your truck is here?”
“It is. Why?”
“Seems I also need a ride home.”
“Another favor, huh?”
She pointed a finger at him. “You owe me since you got me in trouble with the chief.”
“And we both paid the price for that, but yeah, I can give you a lift.”
Hand in hand, they made their way up the path. The parking lot had cleared out. He hadn’t realized how late it had gotten. Spending time with Juliette had a way of making him forget all about the minutes passing by.
As they drove to her cottage, he said, “Are you free tomorrow?”
“What did you have in mind?”
“Liz won’t be back until later in the day, but I thought you might want to come to the farm and ride one of the horses.”
“I’d love to. After I take them out, I can address the horses’ temperaments in my proposal.”
“How about ten o’clock?”
“I’ll be there.”
He sent her a sidelong glance, catching her smile, which did crazy things to his gut. For a guy who didn’t do steady relationships, he couldn’t get enough of her, which would cause a problem if he started to put her before the farm.
CHAPTER NINE
“I SPOKE TO my grandson this morning.” Gayle Ann dropped a teaspoon of sugar into her tea with a self-satisfied twist of her wrist after relaying her report. “He told me their group of friends met at The Perch and Ty and Juliette slipped off by themselves. I sense romance in the air.”
The matchmakers had gathered at Sit A Spell on Sunday morning after church to compare notes on their latest mission.
Alveda frowned. “Was he curious as to why you were asking?”
“No. I simply asked him about his night and he filled me in from there. All our successful matches were together having a good time. Learning about Ty and Juliette was like icing on the cake.”
“She’s coming to the farm to ride with Ty.” Brando checked his watch. “Should be there now.”
Harry smiled. “My anonymous donation to the equine program moved things along.”
“Got them in each other’s orbit, anyway,” Alveda agreed.
“And they went to the dance together at the high school Friday night,” Bunny said with a twinkle in her eye. “Things are moving right along. Told you that dress would work.”
Brando chuckled. “It was all very, what’d ya call it, organic.”
