facts would make a man love me?”
“Of course they would!”
She smiled sadly, wrapping her arms around her taut body. “It’s not that easy, Cal. A man...a man has to want to marry, to settle down, before he even thinks about a woman that way.” Her gaze flew away from him. “My man doesn’t.”
My man. Those words tore at Cal’s heart. Those same words had described him a few days ago. Until he’d awakened to his feelings for Jessica. Him and his friends.
Like a lightning bolt, his last thought flashed through his mind. His friends... That’s why Jess wouldn’t talk to him, wouldn’t reveal the name of the man she loved. The man she wanted to marry had to be one of his three friends. And of his three friends, the one most resistant to marriage was Mac.
Cal loved Tuck, Spence, and Mac like brothers; he’d shared everything with them through the years. But he and Mac were particularly close, ever since they’d been on their own in Dallas. He’d lived through Mac’s marriage and the disastrous divorce that followed.
He’d never forget the night Mac had called him and asked him to meet him at a crowded, dark bar, a place they almost never frequented. Mac had
wanted to talk about his marriage ending, and he hadn’t wanted anyone to overhear. That painful evening was etched on Cal’s heart.
Mac had vowed then he’d never tread those waters again. And Cal was pretty sure he wouldn’t. But if anyone could persuade him, it would be Jess.
He almost rubbed his chest to ease the pain he felt there. Not only would he lose Jessica to another man, but he’d have to watch their happiness from close quarters.
Could he bear it?
He squared his jaw and said quietly, “Tell me who he is, baby,” seeking confirmation from Jessica, “and I’ll help you. We’ll hog-tie him in no time. And you’ll be happy.”
Chapter Eight
P rior to Friday night’s party, Cal returned to Mac’s home. Now that he had figured out it was Mac that Jessica wanted, he had to do something. Even if she’d refused to confide in him.
He didn’t blame her. Mac was a great guy. Financially, all four of them were set, but Mac, because of his law degree, had earning potential even if there was a financial disaster.
He was also the most determined against marriage. That must be why Jess was so sure her case was hopeless.
Not with Cal helping her.
His friend would have to give up his resistance to marriage. Jessica had to be happy. And Cal was resigned to a lot of suffering on his part.
“Everything ready for tonight?” Mac asked as Cal sat down.
“Mostly. But something occurred to me, and I figured you could help me out.”
“Sure, Cal, whatever you need.”
“I want you to stick close to Jess tonight.”
Mac frowned. “I thought that was your job. You’re the one who—”
“That’s why it has to be you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“If I stick close to Jess, all the men will keep away. I’ve threatened most of them at one time or another. They won’t have forgotten.” He grimaced. Jess was right. He’d done too good a job.
“Hmm,” Mac said. “You could be right Okay, I’ll keep an eye on her.”
“Unless you’ve got plans with another woman.” Cal watched Mac closely.
His eyebrows shot up. “Another woman? You think I’ve changed my mind about marrying?”
“You seemed real enthusiastic about Jess’s change of heart.” Cal leaned against the back of the chair, trying to look casual. “Maybe marriage isn’t such a bad idea.”
“Are we searching for your wife next? I think you should marry Jess and keep everything simple.”
Cal’s face flooded with color. “I wish you guys would stop suggesting such a thing. That’s not what Jess wants.”
“What do you want?”
His answer was simple. In spite of the complicated emotions he was beginning to feel for Jessica, he knew what he wanted. “I want her to be happy.”
Mac sent him a surrender grin. “Okay, I’ll do my duty.
“Of course they would!”
She smiled sadly, wrapping her arms around her taut body. “It’s not that easy, Cal. A man...a man has to want to marry, to settle down, before he even thinks about a woman that way.” Her gaze flew away from him. “My man doesn’t.”
My man. Those words tore at Cal’s heart. Those same words had described him a few days ago. Until he’d awakened to his feelings for Jessica. Him and his friends.
Like a lightning bolt, his last thought flashed through his mind. His friends... That’s why Jess wouldn’t talk to him, wouldn’t reveal the name of the man she loved. The man she wanted to marry had to be one of his three friends. And of his three friends, the one most resistant to marriage was Mac.
Cal loved Tuck, Spence, and Mac like brothers; he’d shared everything with them through the years. But he and Mac were particularly close, ever since they’d been on their own in Dallas. He’d lived through Mac’s marriage and the disastrous divorce that followed.
He’d never forget the night Mac had called him and asked him to meet him at a crowded, dark bar, a place they almost never frequented. Mac had
wanted to talk about his marriage ending, and he hadn’t wanted anyone to overhear. That painful evening was etched on Cal’s heart.
Mac had vowed then he’d never tread those waters again. And Cal was pretty sure he wouldn’t. But if anyone could persuade him, it would be Jess.
He almost rubbed his chest to ease the pain he felt there. Not only would he lose Jessica to another man, but he’d have to watch their happiness from close quarters.
Could he bear it?
He squared his jaw and said quietly, “Tell me who he is, baby,” seeking confirmation from Jessica, “and I’ll help you. We’ll hog-tie him in no time. And you’ll be happy.”
Chapter Eight
P rior to Friday night’s party, Cal returned to Mac’s home. Now that he had figured out it was Mac that Jessica wanted, he had to do something. Even if she’d refused to confide in him.
He didn’t blame her. Mac was a great guy. Financially, all four of them were set, but Mac, because of his law degree, had earning potential even if there was a financial disaster.
He was also the most determined against marriage. That must be why Jess was so sure her case was hopeless.
Not with Cal helping her.
His friend would have to give up his resistance to marriage. Jessica had to be happy. And Cal was resigned to a lot of suffering on his part.
“Everything ready for tonight?” Mac asked as Cal sat down.
“Mostly. But something occurred to me, and I figured you could help me out.”
“Sure, Cal, whatever you need.”
“I want you to stick close to Jess tonight.”
Mac frowned. “I thought that was your job. You’re the one who—”
“That’s why it has to be you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“If I stick close to Jess, all the men will keep away. I’ve threatened most of them at one time or another. They won’t have forgotten.” He grimaced. Jess was right. He’d done too good a job.
“Hmm,” Mac said. “You could be right Okay, I’ll keep an eye on her.”
“Unless you’ve got plans with another woman.” Cal watched Mac closely.
His eyebrows shot up. “Another woman? You think I’ve changed my mind about marrying?”
“You seemed real enthusiastic about Jess’s change of heart.” Cal leaned against the back of the chair, trying to look casual. “Maybe marriage isn’t such a bad idea.”
“Are we searching for your wife next? I think you should marry Jess and keep everything simple.”
Cal’s face flooded with color. “I wish you guys would stop suggesting such a thing. That’s not what Jess wants.”
“What do you want?”
His answer was simple. In spite of the complicated emotions he was beginning to feel for Jessica, he knew what he wanted. “I want her to be happy.”
Mac sent him a surrender grin. “Okay, I’ll do my duty.
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