North Dakota Weddings (56 page)

Her vision blurred. She pulled herself from his grip, uncertain if she liked his persistence. She trudged up the drive empty-handed because Paul insisted on carrying the luggage. Paul wanted something from her, and for that matter, so did Jack.

Before pushing through the door, she closed her eyes and sucked in a breath, mentally preparing to face whatever might come over the next few days. Jack’s handsome face, that brooding look in his eyes, came to mind.

Could Paul be right about Jack caring for her?

Four thirty Friday afternoon, FountainTech offices grew quiet as people left early for the weekend. Jack pulled up the schematics of his invention on his laptop and finished up a few details—a modified pump that he’d labored on for months. He should be ecstatic. And he was, except he hadn’t seen Rayne in two weeks. Make that three, because he’d been in Dallas most of the week before her father had his heart attack.

Though she was expected back in the office Monday morning, Jack was beginning to feel uneasy—would she really come back? His team had worked on the fountain in her absence, but her creative touch was the missing ingredient. If Jack could define it, could put a name or label on it, he wouldn’t need Rayne—at least for the fountain… .

The problem was, Jack should not be feeling this way about the woman—she was off-limits. He’d told himself that a hundred times. But no matter how hard he tried, he hadn’t been able to shake her from his thoughts.

Now that he was sure he’d accomplished an engineering feat, was there anyone else he would want to share this news with? Regardless of his feelings, Rayne should be the one to see it first—she would be the person who would see the most potential in it.

Suddenly, Jack couldn’t stand it any longer. He flipped open his cell and phoned her.

Getting Rayne’s reaction would go a long way in telling him where her thoughts were. If her heart was into coming back to work.

“Hello, Jack?”

Jack closed his eyes, savoring the sound of her voice.
Idiot
. “Hi, Rayne. I hope I didn’t interrupt dinner.”

She laughed softly. “No, we’re just finishing up a card game.”

“How’s your father?”

“He’s much better, though cranky about having to eat low-fat. Bacon and eggs are a staple on the farm, don’t you know.”

Jack smiled. She sounded good. “And you? How are you holding up?”

“If you’re calling to make sure that I’ll be at work on Monday, you can count on me to be there.”

Monday was three days away. He couldn’t wait until then. He really was an idiot. “Actually, Rayne, I have some important news that I need to share with you.”

Rayne sucked in a breath. “What is it?”

“Any chance you’ll be heading back to Fargo tomorrow?”

Jack heard a man guffawing in the background, and Rayne covered her phone to answer. “I’m sorry, Jack. They were waiting on me. I folded so I could talk to you in private. You’re asking if I can come in tomorrow? Has something happened to the fountain?”

Jack hesitated. How did he say this? “Yes and no. I would really rather show you than tell you over the phone.”

“And this can’t wait? I hadn’t planned to come back tomorrow.”

Jack cringed and scratched his head as an idea began to form. Could he do that? More importantly, should he?

“I’ve got it. Why don’t I drive out to you? I can show you there.” He really was losing it, but the more he thought about it, the more he liked this idea. He wanted to know more about Rayne and her life on a farm. See where she was first inspired to create her designs.

“Are you serious? Jack, I don’t think that would be a good idea.”

“If I would be intruding, I won’t come. But I promise not to take much of your time. Rayne…I’ve been working on this project even before I came to FountainTech.” Jack pinched his nose. Should he say it? “I can’t think of anyone I would rather share this with than you.”

Saying the words left him feeling completely exposed.

“Oh Jack. I didn’t mean to sound as though I didn’t want you here. That would be rude. I thought you were just making the offer in jest, out of kindness. I would love to see…”

“Rayne?”

“I would love to see your project.”

Rayne proceeded to give directions, which Jack wrote down. GPS didn’t always work accurately in remote places. He recalled the time when GPS directed him to turn right, only there was a two-hundred-foot drop instead of a road. He didn’t need to experience that twice to learn his lesson.

When he hung up, Jack stared at the phone. He wanted to crawl through it to be with her right now. Plus, he allowed himself a grin, a change in scenery would do him good. As he headed home to change clothes before driving to see Rayne, he wondered why he was letting this happen all over again.

Was he destined to destroy his career over women? Then again, he was simply showing her his new design—something that would benefit FountainTech. His initial plan when he first started was to keep his most important asset close to him—that’s all he was doing.

On his way out of Fargo, Jack navigated a few slippery spots, heading north toward the Flemming family farm. The nearer he drew to his destination, the more he thought this was a bad idea. He had never been more indecisive.

By seven o’clock that evening, he drove around the circular drive to the farmhouse. As he slowed his vehicle to a stop and turned off the ignition, he watched Rayne talking to Paul next to his big dual-wheeled pickup, the door hanging open. Jack figured the Brawny paper towel man was leaving, but instead of stepping into his truck, he moved away from the door and shut it.

Paul started toward Jack’s sports car, Rayne following. She smiled at Jack, a tentative look on her face, and gave him a little wave.

Jack opened his car door and stepped out. This was either a huge mistake or…

He was just in time.

J
ack actually came!

If it weren’t for the thrumming in her heart, Rayne would have thought she was seeing things. Apparently, Paul was taken aback as well— he suddenly decided to stay for dinner. Her mother had insisted on having dinner ready for Jack when he arrived, though Rayne explained that Jack would likely eat before he got there.

Paul’s long legs carried him too fast, closing the distance between him and Jack. Rayne had to run to pass Paul, making it to Jack first. As she darted in front of Paul, she imagined herself as a barrier between the two, diffusing the tension in the air. Or so she hoped. But she wondered who she was protecting from whom.

She smiled at Jack, oh so glad to see him. “You’re just in time for dinner. Have you eaten?”

“Oh, I couldn’t intrude like that. I just wanted to get your input on something.” He avoided looking at
her—really
looking at her—and glanced at Paul who stood behind her.

Paul thrust out his big hand. “Good to see you again, Jack. If you can’t stay, we understand.”

Jack shook his hand, a funny look on his face.

Rayne wanted to jab Paul with a stare.

“Dinner’s waiting. It would be rude to refuse,” she said with a teasing smile, while her heart seemed to stutter at the thought that he might leave so soon.

“Since you put it like that, I’d love to stay,” he said, and flashed his dimpled grin.

Then, as if the Jack she knew had suddenly returned, he stared into her eyes, searching.

With Paul standing right behind her—hovering as if he owned her—the moment was awkward, but in a comical sort of way, like in a funny movie. A blizzard snowing them all in for the weekend would keep things right on track.

Looking down, she dug her foot into the snow and chuckled. “Well, since that’s settled, let’s go eat.”

Rayne struck out toward the farmhouse, confident the two men were close behind.

“What brings you all this way out on a Friday evening?” Paul asked.

“It’s regarding a project that Rayne and I are working on. I didn’t feel I could wait until she returned.” Jack’s voice sounded confident, and she sensed that whatever he had created had exhilarated him.

She opened the door, laughing a little inside that neither of the men had thought to open the door for her, proving to the other he was the better gentleman.

“Rayne, can you help me in here?” her mother called from the kitchen.

“You two make yourselves comfortable. Dinner will be ready soon.”

Whenever Paul stayed for dinner, which had been a lot lately, he usually helped set the table. This evening he gestured for Jack to join him in the den. Rayne left the two alone and headed toward the kitchen.

After setting the table and putting out the fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and home-grown corn and green beans, Rayne strolled to the den to call the men.

Arms crossed, she hung in the doorway and watched Paul showing Jack one of her father’s rifles. “Okay, boys, the fun is over. Let’s eat.”

Paul snapped the barrel of the rifle shut, and Jack looked up at her, relief spreading over his face.

“I hope you like fried chicken,” she said.

Jack’s grin was impish, making him look like a little boy. “Love it.”

Rayne guided him to the dining room where they usually ate their evening meal. Her father stood at the head of the table for the first time since his heart attack.

“Dad.” She rushed over to him. “You sure you feel up to this?”

Though a little pale, he’d been steadily improving. He squinted an eye at her then looked at Jack and Paul. “Your mother told me I had better come down because you had two suitors here for dinner. Looks like she was right.”

Fire spread over her cheeks. She helped her father into his chair. “Jack isn’t a suitor, Dad. He’s my boss. Do you remember meeting him in the hospital?”

Rayne looked over at Jack. He and Paul remained standing. She assumed they were waiting on her father to be seated. Paul had a triumphant grin on his face. Jack was unreadable.

Jack sank into the sturdy oak chair at the table across from Rayne, who sat waiting. She smiled at him. She had more color in her face than he’d seen before. He looked down at his empty plate. Being at the farm was good for her.

Paul slid into the seat next to her, only increasing Jack’s unease. Eating with the family hadn’t been part of his plan. The decision to drive out to the farm had cost him—he’d quickly lost control and now found himself being washed out to sea by a strong current called Rayne. He smiled to himself. With that analogy, Paul was a barracuda.

Suddenly, everyone bowed their heads, and Jack followed suit. Rayne’s father said a quick blessing, thanking the Lord for their food and for their guests.

When he finished, Jack slowly lifted his head to the immediate clinking of utensils and dishes being passed around the table. Rayne’s father seemed disconnected from the activity as he eyed Jack from the far end of the table.

Rayne’s mother dished food onto her husband’s plate—a heaping spoonful of mashed potatoes—while he squinted an eye at Jack, studying him.

“The potatoes have got no fat. But you can’t have the fried chicken.” She handed him a plate of baked chicken. “Here you go.” With a fork, she encouraged a chicken breast onto his place.

“Why’d you make fried chicken, woman? You know it’s my favorite.”

“For our guests. Rayne said we’d be having company.” She looked up from preparing his plate and winked at Jack.

“I didn’t say for dinner, Mom.” Rayne appeared embarrassed. “But I’m glad you were thinking ahead.”

Rayne’s father grunted his disapproval, keeping his eyes on Jack. “Rayne tells me you’re from Florida.”

Jack liked that Rayne had been talking about him. “Yes.” But he felt, as had already been suggested, like a suitor on trial. The room tilted a little at the idea.

Paul passed the mashed potatoes to Jack. “What part?”

“The sunny part.” Jack dropped a large spoonful of the potatoes on his plate and laughed at his own joke, then looked up to a table of stares.

Rayne was the only other person who chuckled. “I’m sure it’s hard for Jack, coming from a warmer state to North Dakota.”

As soon as Jack finished eating, he’d have to find a way to show Rayne the reason he came then escape. Fortunately, the rest of dinner wasn’t focused too much on him. Paul and Rayne’s father hogged the conversation, engrossed in a farm-related discussion.