Playing for Keeps/A Tempting Stranger (5 page)

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Authors: Lori Copeland

Tags: #Fiction, #Romance, #General, #Contemporary, #Westerns, #test

BOOK: Playing for Keeps/A Tempting Stranger
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Page 37
ing on the other side of a hedge watering his flowers and trees looked up quite calmly.
''Afternoon, Jessica," he greeted her. "Goin' to a fire?"
"No." She smiled timidly. "Just having a little trouble with my gas pedal," she told him sweetly. She got out and in retaliation slammed the truck door with a forceful blow. "That was very funny," she told the truck sarcastically.
Coming around to the front of the house, she heard a voice calling her name.
"Jessica! Jessica, is that you?" She saw Maureen Winters running toward her excitedly.
"Maureen?" she cried and ran over to meet her halfway. They threw their arms around each other and dissolved in a fit of giggles.
"I haven't seen you in ages," Maureen was scolding. "Why have you stayed away from home so long!"
"Oh, I've really been tied to my job," she answered vaguely. They had been best friends all during high school, and Jessica had flown back to be maid of honor when Maureen had married Pete Winters four years ago.
"I'm sorry that I didn't get to talk to you the other day at the graveyard," Maureen apologized, "but Pete had to go straight back to work. You know how sorry we both are." She reached over to hug Jessica again.
"I know, and thank you," Jessica murmured, precariously close to tears in this good friend's comforting arms. "My goodness, Jamie is growing so, I hardly recognize him," she said, bending down to talk to the little boy who had just skidded up on his Big Wheels.
"Hi, Jesseeka," he called, giving her a radiant smile.
"Hi, Jamie," she said. "Are you being a good boy?"
Large solemn brown eyes met her gaze as he nodded his head in an earnest affirmation. "You got any puppies I can play with today?" he asked hopefully. The last time Jessica had seen him, Uncle Fred's beagle had just given birth to a new litter. Jamie had played happily with them all after-
 
Page 38
noon and left screaming his protests in the arms of his mother.
''No," she said sorrowfully for the benefit of the small boy, "they've all gone to live somewhere else now."
"Oh," he said as his face fell. Trying once again, he asked, "Do you got a kid I can play with?"
"No," she said sorrowfully, for herself this time, "I don't have one of those either, but I wish I did."
He turned his head in the direction of the gray relic sitting in the driveway. "Is that your truck?"
"Yes," she said smiling. "Do you like it?"
"Yuk, no!" he said adamantly. "It's ugly."
"Jamie!" His mother sounded shocked. "That isn't a nice thing to say to Jessica!"
Jessica laughed, "No, but very truthful!"
"Well, listen, I have to be running on," Maureen was saying. "Call me sometime and let's have lunch together. I'll fill you in on all the local gossip, and you can fill me in on what's been keeping you in Austin."
"Fine," she agreed readily. "As soon as I get things under control, I'll give you a call."
"Great! Come on, Jamie, let's get going," she ordered.
" 'Bye, Jesseeka," he called as he went pedaling loudly on down the street.
 
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Chapter Two
The clock in the steeple of the old Methodist church sitting on the corner was just tolling two when Jessica stepped onto the porch. The mouth-watering aroma of someone's pot roast cooking for their evening meal assailed her nostrils as she reached down and rang the door-bell. The door was opened immediately by a pleasant pudgy-faced woman whose mouth broke into a large smile when she saw Jessica standing there. Judge Baker's wife was a roly-poly little woman who made you feel good just to be around her. Uncle Fred used to tease Aunt Rainey about her weight sometimes, telling her if she didn't lay off the sweets, she'd soon be as big as Edna Baker. He'd laugh and say that when she walked down the aisle for
 
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Sunday morning services, her fanny looked like two wildcats wrestling in a gunnysack. ''Yessir"he'd grin"if being fat was a crime, ol' Edna would be in for a life sentence."
"Jessica Cole, come in here, girl, and let me look at you." Mrs. Baker beamed. "My goodness gracious, you're prettier than ever! I told the judge just this morning, why you hadn't run off to Hollywood to be one of them big movie stars is beyond me," she rattled on. "Mercy sakes, Fred and Rainey was proud of you!"
Jessica blushed at the outlandish praise, and hoping to steer the conversation into another channel, she asked, "I'm not too early?"
"Heavens to Betsy, child, not if you don't mind waiting until the judge finishes his lunch. He won't be long now. Come on, sweetie, you can wait for the judge in his study."
She proceeded to lead the way through the comfortable old living room. The clock on the mantle was chiming, and Jessica heard Edna's birds singing in their cages in front of the window. They moved on down the hall and stopped in front of a large oak door. She poked her head in the open door and motioned for Jessica to enter. "Now, you just make yourself at home. The judge will be right with you in a little bit." Mrs. Baker patted Jessica's shoulder as Jessica sank into the overstuffed chair in front of the judge's desk. Mrs. Baker quietly closed the door behind her, leaving Jessica to gaze around the room distractedly. As she sat with her hands in her lap waiting to hear the will Jessica couldn't help but think back to how her aunt and uncle had reacted to the news of her marriage to Jason.
"Married!" Aunt Rainey had sunk weakly into the chair at the kitchen table.
"Well, I won't hear of it," Uncle Fred boomed out, his loud, deep voice echoing around the room.
Jessica sought the comfort of Jason's arm, panic filling her. She had never dreamed they would take it this badly.
 
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''Merciful heavens, boy! What in the world were you thinking of? She's nothing but a baby yet!" Uncle Fred's face was red and his breathing growing heavy and raspy. "She's not ready to take on the responsibility of a marriage!"
"She's seventeen, sir," Jason respectfully reminded him, holding tight to Jessica's trembling hand.
"Jessica, dear, what about school?" Aunt Rainey pleaded, tears filling her pale eyes. "What about all the plans we made?"
Jessica had never felt so low or guilty. She was fully aware of their dream for her. They had never had an education, and for years they had talked of nothing else for Jessica. It was as if they wanted to relive their life through her.
Jason shifted around uncomfortably, his eyes searching for Jessica's.
"It will just have to be annulled," Uncle Fred said, sitting down wearily in his chair. The late-morning sunshine shown on his face, which had grown pale and ashen since they had entered the room only minutes earlier.
"Fred, take your medicine," Aunt Rainey pleaded between tears, getting up to get the amber-colored bottle from the shelf.
"I'm sorry, sir, but we love each other, and I can't let you annul the marriage," Jason said firmly.
"You don't have a damn thing to say about it, son. She's under age," he said bluntly, popping one of the tiny white pills under his tongue. "I can't let
you
destroy something we dreamed of and worked for all our life. You're a fine man, Jason. I have no qualms about you as a person. I've known you all your life, but I'll move heaven and earth to get this marriage set asideannulledwhatever it takes. You can trust my word on that, son. Jessica.!"
Jessica snapped to attention, her heart feeling as though it were being torn in two. "What, Uncle Fred?"
 
Page 42
''Go to your room, girl. I'll handle things from here on out!"
Jessica looked wildly at Jason, tears flooding her violet eyes. "But, Uncle Fred, I love him . . ."
"
I said go to your room, girl!
" he roared.
"Jessica." Jason's helpless voice came to her. "Stay here. Don't leave me. Somehow we'll work this thing out together." His beautiful green eyes were pools of living torment.
"I'm sorry, Jason. It's out of your hands," Fred told him grimly.
"Come with me, dear. Let me take you to your room." Aunt Rainey reached for Jessica's hand. "Let the men settle this alone."
"No," she screamed, her nerves finally breaking. "Just leave me aloneall of you. Just leave me alone!" Tears were running in rivulets down her cheeks.
Suddenly Uncle Fred gasped sharply, and all eyes in the room focused on him.
"Fred!" Rainey ran over, clutching his arm, turning back pleadingly to Jason and Jessica. "Please," she begged, "do as he says." Her tired old face was filled with pain and worry.
"Are you coming with me, Jessica?" Jason asked tensely. "I don't want to do anything to jeopardize Fred's health, honey, but don't let them ruin your life," he pleaded. "Don't let them do this to us, Angel."
"Oh, Jason, don't make me choose between you and them." How could she choose between breaking Uncle Fred and Aunt Rainey's hearts, maybe bringing on a fatal heart attack in the processand giving up the man she loved more than her own life. It was an impossible decision.
Jason started slowly for the door, defeat showing plainly on his handsome face.
"All right, Jessica. I'll try to make the choice for you. Maybe they are right. Apparently you
are
too young for
 
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marriage. But when I walk out that door, there'll be no turning back. Either you come with me now, or we'll both forget this marriage ever took place.''
Jessica looked around at the faces in the room, Aunt Rainey's tear-streaked one, Uncle Fred's sickly gray one, her beloved Jason's. Death would be an easier choice for her at this moment.
Recognizing the torn look of anguish on her face, Jason slowly opened the door, his eyes growing misty. "Goodbye, Jessie," he said softly and walked quietly out of her life.
Tears welled up in Jessica's eyes at the painful memory of her lost love, and she hoped the judge would hurry. She sat drumming her fingertips on the arm of the old chair as she stared at the wall in front of her, rapidly blinking back her tears. Resignedly she realized she had no control over the memories or the emotions that seemed to flood through her, and if she was ever going to get through the reading of the will, she decided, she would have to give them full rein. She thought back to the two days before she had left for college. They were the blackest in Jessica's life. She went to the phone a hundred times, her hand hovering over the receiver, aching to call Jason to come after her, but always walking away crying. Her heart filled with a deep resentment toward her aunt and uncle, and she began to look forward to the day when she would board the bus for Austin.
That day finally dawned, dark and rainy, suiting Jessica's mood. As the bus pulled slowly out of town she closed her eyes, tears cascading silently down her cheeks. She would fulfill her obligation to her aunt and uncle, and then she would come back and somehow, someway she would make Jason Rawlings notice her again. Right now all she had to concentrate on was getting through the next four years. "God help me," she prayed as she dropped into a heartbroken, exhausted sleep.
 
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The next few years passed slowly, Jessica never forgetting that one summer night in Jason's arms. She came home only when necessary, her heart never able to totally forgive Uncle Fred and Aunt Rainey. Jessica would avoid all mention of Jason on her brief visits home. After college she had secured the teaching job in Austin, staying on to live there permanently in her small three-room garage apartment. Her life had settled down into a normal pattern, from which the only thing missing was love.
Jessica's mind shifted back to the present. There was simply no reason to cry over spilt milk. She had grieved for Jason for eight years. It was time she started to build a new life for herself. Although Aunt Rainey had never said so, Jason was probably married again by now with two or three little golden-haired, emerald-eyed children running around somewhere.
At that moment the door opened behind her and the booming voice of Judge Baker exploded into the room. ''Well, well, if it isn't little Jessie Cole," he blared as he came around her chair and bent down to peck her on the cheek. Mrs. Baker stood beside him, smiling down at Jessica. He straightened and moved to stand behind his massive oak desk. "My, my," he teased with a twinkle in his eye, "what I wouldn't give to be thirty years younger right now. Why, Mama would be a fool to turn around and walk out of this room, leaving me alone with a pretty little thing like you." Looking at her, he gave "Mama" a big licentious grin.
"Oh, go on with you, Daddy. If you were thirty years younger, you'd still be too old for her. But," she added to assure him, "I'd still be here," and beamed happily back at him.
He let out a deep hooting laugh and patted her ample bottom. "No need to get worried, Mama. I've had you for fifty years, my eyes are blind . . . Well, almost!" he added, turning his gaze back to Jessica.
"Horsefeathers! You old goat." She laughed. "Go on

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