With the way we left things on Thursday, I wasn’t sure if Jake would even show up for the party. So, when he walked through the front door of the country club in a dark gray suit and candy cane striped tie, I excused myself from the conversation I was having with a couple of my dad’s colleagues and rushed over to greet him.
“You look especially scrumptious tonight,” I whispered as I linked my arm with his. “Thank you for coming.”
“I’m a man of my word. I said I’d see this through to the end, and I will.” A muscle ticked along his jaw. His body felt full of tension.
I hadn’t meant for things to end like this, but it was probably for the best. We were from two different worlds. Two people who’d joined together for a brief period of time. What happened between us was never meant to last. I was being sent away to work for the family business up in Oklahoma City, and Jake belonged here in Broken Bend. He’d told me himself that he dreamed of buying his own place and building a ranch of his own. He’d never build a future with a woman who could barely ride a horse. It just wasn’t meant to be.
“Can I introduce you to my parents?” I asked. “My dad might be a good contact to have when you start your own ranch.”
“You think I agreed to work with you so I could add your dad’s phone number to my contact list?” Jake flinched.
“No, I’m just saying it might not hurt to have him on your side if you ever need him.” I hated being responsible for the hurt in his eyes, but I could at least leave him with something besides the money I’d paid him. “He’s got connections.”
“I bet your dad will be thrilled to help out the guy who broke his daughter’s heart.”
My lungs were caught in a vise. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t draw in a full breath. “Jake, please.”
“Please, what?”
I pulled myself together. “This can go either way. I thought it would be easier if you ended things, but if you’d rather I break up with you—”
“So, then he’ll feel sorry for me for being a loser?” He shook his head.
“Then what do you want to do?” We’d spent too much time in the foyer and needed to get into the party. My brother had already told our parents I was bringing my boyfriend tonight. Whether Jake wanted to meet them or not, at least he could get a minute of face time with my dad. It might go a long way somewhere down the road.
“Is this the man responsible for you not showing up for family dinner twice in the past month?” My dad’s voice came from behind me. The blood drained from my face. This wasn’t how I wanted them to meet. Not with Jake so angry with me that he couldn’t see straight.
“Mr. Swisher, it’s nice to meet you.” Jake dragged his gaze from me to face my father.
My dad clasped his outstretched hand. “And you are?”
“Jake Robinson. He works on the Calhoun Ranch,” I said.
“Let the man speak for himself, Roxanne. That’s quite a grip you’ve got there. Feels like you must spend a lot of time fixing fences.” My dad smiled, but it was the one he offered to people he considered beneath him.
“Yes, sir. I know how to get the job done.” Jake’s jaw clenched as he let his hand fall back to his side.
“How is it the two of you met? Roxanne’s only been back in town for a few weeks between jobs, and I know she hasn’t been spending time at the Calhoun Ranch.” Dad tilted his head, studying Jake with eyes that never missed a thing.
“I told you, we met in town. Jake was standing behind me in line when I stopped in to order those two chairs you wanted for your office. I knocked my purse off the counter, and it spilled everywhere. He was kind enough to help me pick up my things, then asked if I wanted to grab a cup of coffee.” I shot a glance at Jake, hoping I’d stuck close enough to the truth that he wouldn’t contradict me.
“You did tell me that, sweetie. I’m just wondering what a ranch hand was doing in a store where the furniture costs more than his monthly paycheck.”
“Dad, don’t.” I reached for his arm, pleading for him to not belittle my guest.
He clasped Jake on the shoulder. “I see a few of my business associates I haven’t welcomed yet. Make sure you try the lobster tails. We had them flown in from Maine this morning.”
My dad stalked away, leaving the two of us standing in the plush entryway of a club I’d been coming to since I was a kid.
“I’m sorry. That was uncalled for. He’s just stressed about the party and wanting to make sure everyone is having a good time.” My excuse sounded as flimsy as a house of cards, even to my own ears.
“Yeah, I’m sure that’s where it’s coming from.” I wouldn’t have blamed Jake for walking out the door and never looking back, but he crooked his elbow and arched his brows. “Let’s get this over with, but I want to make one thing clear. You’re going to have to cut me loose, Roxy because the last thing I want to do is put an end to what’s started between us. The woman I’ve gotten to know is willing to face her fears and stand up for herself. I don’t know who you are when you’re around your father. You say you don’t want to go to Oklahoma, then don’t. What’s the worst thing that could happen?”
The threat of tears prickled my eyes. “I can’t.”
“You’re right, then. I don’t know you at all. Let’s go. This is your show, sugar. I’ll follow your lead.”
His willingness to see our charade through to the end proved what kind of man he was. My heart broke apart, piece by piece, with every step we took into the dining room. I pasted on a smile and introduced Jake to my mom and my sister. Stetson and Justin came over to shake his hand and I wondered what it would be like if we didn’t break up, if I stood up to my dad and refused to go to Oklahoma.
