more than just a teacher.
You need to stop worrying about how she feels, because this was supposed to always be about helping her find a husband, not getting your jollies off.
Trying to keep the irritation out of his tone, he said, “Don’t worry about Jay. By tomorrow, he’ll be eating out of the palm of your hand.”
Rand’s smile was a flash of brilliance. “Thanks Jake. For all of this. You’re a really good friend.”
As she walked inside, Jake had the sudden urge to beat his fool head against the wood of the door jam.
Chapter Eight
Rand was feeling panicked by the time Thursday morning rolled around. She went about her daily chores, and tried to act normal, but she couldn’t seem to calm down. She had dropped off the check for the spaghetti feed Monday morning and left it with Jamie, along with her phone number (in case he didn’t have it) but Jay hadn’t called or dropped by since he saw her with Jake on Sunday.
Maybe they were too convincing and he wasn’t interested anymore? If that was the case, she had no one. She’d already turned down most of the men in town, pinning all of her hopes on Jay and now she was going to lose everything.
Damn it, it was her fault. She’d asked Jake to help her and it wasn’t his fault that he’d been too good. Even Red thought they were serious! Granted his kisses had a way of making her lose all sanity and when he touched her, hot needles pricked her skin, but she had nothing to compare it too. Maybe that happened with all men. Regardless, Jake had already said he wouldn’t marry her, and she didn’t want him to anyway.
She needed to know if Jay was really out of the picture, so she could try to find a backup. She had a good two months and there were other men in other towns, but still…Jay had seemed like a good, solid choice.
When the hands left for lunch she hopped into the truck and headed to the animal hospital.
She walked in the door and Jamie looked up with a smile. “Hey Rand.”
“Hey, Jamie. Could I talk to Jay?”
Jamie gave her a surprised look. “Sure. Hang on.”
“Thanks.” Rand paced in the front while Jamie went to the back. Her eyes kept catching those of Mrs. Donaldson’s golden retriever and the dog let its big pink tongue loll out of his mouth and his tail thumped.
“Miranda, honey.” Mrs. Donaldson called, patting the seat next to her.
Rand prayed Jamie would come out and save her but no such luck. She sat next to the older woman and found herself with Hank, the golden retriever, whose head was in her lap. She stroked his fuzzy ears while Mrs. Donaldson whispered, “I heard about your predicament, bless your heart.”
Rand gritted her teeth. “I’ll be fine, Mrs. Donaldson.”
“Of course you will be. I expect Jake will make you a fine husband.” The older woman’s eyes were bright with interest.
Rand choked. “Jake and I are not getting married.”
Mrs. Donaldson’s eyebrows shot up. “Really? I just assumed with how cozy you two were on Sunday and a man is only really serious about a woman once he’s taken her to church.”
“Rand, you can come back now.” Jamie came back to the front and Rand wanted to kiss her for saving her. “Just head on into exam room two.”
“Have a good day, Mrs. Donaldson.” Rand tried not to run from the room, but it was close. She shut the door with a sigh and leaned back against it..
Jay came through the door a moment later and smiled at her. “Hey Rand, this is a nice surprise.”
“It is?” Rand hoped she didn’t sound as stupid as she felt.
Jay cocked his head to the side. “Well, yeah. Is there something wrong with Digger or Scout?”
“What? Oh no, they’re fine. I was actually wondering..well…I had thought maybe we had a…” why couldn’t she think of the word? “Connection?” Jay looked so shocked, her heart sank. “I am so sorry. I am such an idiot.”
“No! I mean…yeah, I thought you were cute, but after seeing you and Jake together
You need to stop worrying about how she feels, because this was supposed to always be about helping her find a husband, not getting your jollies off.
Trying to keep the irritation out of his tone, he said, “Don’t worry about Jay. By tomorrow, he’ll be eating out of the palm of your hand.”
Rand’s smile was a flash of brilliance. “Thanks Jake. For all of this. You’re a really good friend.”
As she walked inside, Jake had the sudden urge to beat his fool head against the wood of the door jam.
Chapter Eight
Rand was feeling panicked by the time Thursday morning rolled around. She went about her daily chores, and tried to act normal, but she couldn’t seem to calm down. She had dropped off the check for the spaghetti feed Monday morning and left it with Jamie, along with her phone number (in case he didn’t have it) but Jay hadn’t called or dropped by since he saw her with Jake on Sunday.
Maybe they were too convincing and he wasn’t interested anymore? If that was the case, she had no one. She’d already turned down most of the men in town, pinning all of her hopes on Jay and now she was going to lose everything.
Damn it, it was her fault. She’d asked Jake to help her and it wasn’t his fault that he’d been too good. Even Red thought they were serious! Granted his kisses had a way of making her lose all sanity and when he touched her, hot needles pricked her skin, but she had nothing to compare it too. Maybe that happened with all men. Regardless, Jake had already said he wouldn’t marry her, and she didn’t want him to anyway.
She needed to know if Jay was really out of the picture, so she could try to find a backup. She had a good two months and there were other men in other towns, but still…Jay had seemed like a good, solid choice.
When the hands left for lunch she hopped into the truck and headed to the animal hospital.
She walked in the door and Jamie looked up with a smile. “Hey Rand.”
“Hey, Jamie. Could I talk to Jay?”
Jamie gave her a surprised look. “Sure. Hang on.”
“Thanks.” Rand paced in the front while Jamie went to the back. Her eyes kept catching those of Mrs. Donaldson’s golden retriever and the dog let its big pink tongue loll out of his mouth and his tail thumped.
“Miranda, honey.” Mrs. Donaldson called, patting the seat next to her.
Rand prayed Jamie would come out and save her but no such luck. She sat next to the older woman and found herself with Hank, the golden retriever, whose head was in her lap. She stroked his fuzzy ears while Mrs. Donaldson whispered, “I heard about your predicament, bless your heart.”
Rand gritted her teeth. “I’ll be fine, Mrs. Donaldson.”
“Of course you will be. I expect Jake will make you a fine husband.” The older woman’s eyes were bright with interest.
Rand choked. “Jake and I are not getting married.”
Mrs. Donaldson’s eyebrows shot up. “Really? I just assumed with how cozy you two were on Sunday and a man is only really serious about a woman once he’s taken her to church.”
“Rand, you can come back now.” Jamie came back to the front and Rand wanted to kiss her for saving her. “Just head on into exam room two.”
“Have a good day, Mrs. Donaldson.” Rand tried not to run from the room, but it was close. She shut the door with a sigh and leaned back against it..
Jay came through the door a moment later and smiled at her. “Hey Rand, this is a nice surprise.”
“It is?” Rand hoped she didn’t sound as stupid as she felt.
Jay cocked his head to the side. “Well, yeah. Is there something wrong with Digger or Scout?”
“What? Oh no, they’re fine. I was actually wondering..well…I had thought maybe we had a…” why couldn’t she think of the word? “Connection?” Jay looked so shocked, her heart sank. “I am so sorry. I am such an idiot.”
“No! I mean…yeah, I thought you were cute, but after seeing you and Jake together
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