“That’s sweet, but I was hoping you would say you were thinking about me,” he said.
“Is that a pickup line?” I asked.
“It could be,” he answered. “I’ve never used it before, but I like it if it’s working—and you are certainly thinking about me now. Ask me what’s on my mind.”
I stopped and looked up at him. “What’s on your mind, Jackson?”
“You,” he answered and kissed me right there amid all those people. “If you asked me yesterday, or last week, or tomorrow, the answer would be the same. Ever since that first day in the Tumbleweed, you have been on my mind.”
“Wow!” I whispered. “That’s the most romantic thing I have ever heard.”
“It’s the truth.” His warm breath on my neck sent extra shivers down my spine.
“We’ve only known each other a couple of weeks,” I said.
“When you know, you know.” He started walking again. “Now, back to wedding talk. What kind of wedding do you want when you get married?”
“A quick trip to the courthouse would be fine with me—and that isif, notwhen.”
“Are you against marriage?”
“Nope, but I want to be absolutely sure.” I took a couple of steps before I realized that Jackson had stopped in his tracks.
“I’m a patient man, and I understand why you wouldn’t want to rush into anything,” he finally said and took my hand in his. “I’m going to Dallas on Saturday, which is Valentine’s Day, for an oil company meeting. Dad is sending the plane to take me, and I’m staying over until Sunday. One of my army team members is retiring, and we’re having a get-together for him.” He slowly took a couple of steps closer. “Why don’t you come along?”
“I have to work, and we have a new woman arriving, so I need to be there to help train her,” I answered. “Can I have a rain check?”
“Of course you can.” Jackson stopped at my SUV and opened the door for me. He pulled me close to his chest, tipped my chin up with his knuckles, and kissed me—soft at first and then deeper, with more passion.
A fiery-hot desire rushed through my entire body, and I forgot all about everything else. I leaned in to him. My hands snaked up around his neck, and I tangled my fingers in his hair. He cupped my face in hiscold, gloved hands, and we made out like a couple of teenagers in the church parking lot until we were both panting.
“Text me when you get home—or better yet, FaceTime,” he whispered when he finally took a step back.
“I will.” My body whined for more than kisses all the way back to the trailer. Rosie must have heard me drive up, because she had two cups of hot chocolate sitting on the bar. She motioned me inside and said, “Close the door fast so you don’t let all the bought warm air out.”
I hung my coat on the rack, picked up one of the cups, and sat down on the sofa. “You know I’ve been thinking. The Mendoza family is taking care of the reception. We are Scarlett’s family, and we should do something. I’m at a loss to know how or what to do. I’ve only ever been to one wedding. That was Frank and Paula’s, and I was just told to sit on the back pew and be good.”
Rosie brought her hot chocolate to the living area and sat down on the other end of the sofa. “You are the boss and have the final say-so, but what do you think about the Tumbleweed buying her dress and flowers? It’s a tradition for the groom to pay for her bouquet, but we could decorate the church or just call a florist and tell them to do it.”
“Are you talented at arranging flowers?” I asked.
“Absolutely not,” she answered.
“Me neither, so let’s book a florist and go shopping for a dress in El Paso,” I suggested.
Rosie tapped her chin with her finger and pursed her lips. “How about we plan on going to find a dress on Friday? Tressa is coming tomorrow, and we need to get her settled for a couple of days. On Wednesday, you need to go to Sierra Blanca to the bank. We don’t need to keep so much money in the safe.”
“Friday it is,” I said. “If Scarlett is agreeable to that. I’ve never bought flowers or had any delivered to me, but Ada Lou might have some suggestions. We can ask her tomorrow.”
“I feel better now that we have a plan,” Rosie said. “My priest says that I like to be in control because I wasn’t when I was married. But nowthat we agree, I believe I can sleep. This is going to be a busy week. The Tumbleweed will save one young woman and is sending another one off to a happy ever after. You and Jackson seem to be getting along right fine, but please don’t spring an engagement on me like Scarlett did.”
“I promise I won’t,” I said. “We should fuss at her for sure for not telling us first. After all, we are her family.”
“Yes, we are.” Rosie stood up, put her cup in the dishwasher, and headed down the hallway. “And we will make Tressa part of the family, too.”
“Of course we will.” I wondered if Rosie was trying to convince herself or me.
Scarlett was already in the café when Rosie and I arrived the next morning. She had put on a pot of coffee and hugged us both as soon as we were in the storage room. “I’m so sorry I didn’t call y’all or at least send a text before dinner last night. I had no idea Grady was even thinking about announcing the engagement, but he was so excited. That really was the twenty-fifth time he asked me to marry him. He has every single one marked on last year’s calendar. When he asked me if we could do it right then, I couldn’t tell him no. Not again!”
