LITMIR.BIZ

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I can’t.” She shook her head quickly, trying to think up an excuse. “I have to pick up Brady from school.”

      “Then bring him along. I want to thank you for having me to supper last night.”

      “That’s not necessary. Really.”

      He gave a sly smile. “Surely you aren’t going to let me eat alone.”

      She knew this man didn’t need her sympathy. Any woman would be willing to go, including her, she had to admit. “Okay, give me fifteen minutes to get Brady from school. I’ll meet you there.” Jess walked away, fighting the need to run. To run far from this man and the feelings he’d created in her.

      After getting Brady from preschool, Jess walked him to Gracie May’s. She hated that she felt nervous. When had been the last time she’d had lunch with a man? High school?

      Most of all she didn’t want Brady getting too attached to Johnny. Maybe that was why she hadn’t explained the plan to meet Johnny for lunch to her son. The child was already intrigued by the man. Suddenly Brady had an interest in horses, but it seemed to be also about the man.

      “Mom, can I have French fries?”

      She’d rather he ate something healthier, but said, “This once.”

      She opened the door to the old storefront diner and looked around. It had been built in the fifties and not much had changed. It had worn linoleum floors and cracked red vinyl-covered booths. A lunch counter ran along the length of the restaurant, and every stool was filled. The place was crowded for lunch. Good. Several customers were eating her pies.

      She glanced around for her lunch date. No, it wasn’t a date, she chided herself. She finally found Johnny sitting in a booth along the window.

      “Mom, Johnny’s here.”

      “I see that.”

      They both walked over as Johnny stood next to his table. “Hi, Brady.”

      “Hi, Johnny. Are we going to have lunch with you?”

      “I’d like it if you two would join me.”

      Brady looked at her. “Sure.”

      Once again, she was surprised by her son’s enthusiasm. “Hello, Jess.”

      “Johnny.”

      He took her coat and hung it up on the hook at the end of the booth.

      “I want to sit with Johnny,” Brady said, and climbed into the seat by the window. Jess sat down across from them.

      “Did you see Storm today?” the child asked.

      “Yes, I did. I worked with him this morning.”

      “Did you hear that, Mom?”

      “That’s good, because that’s Johnny’s job,” she said, then looked at Johnny. With his hat off, she could really notice his eyes. Those light gray eyes. “Is he any better?”

      “Not yet. It’s going to take a while.”

      The waitress, Bonnie Waters, came by with two cups and a coffeepot. “Well, what do we have here?” She filled the mugs.

      Jess put on a smile. “Bonnie, this is Johnny Jameson, the new trainer who is working with Storm.”

      The fortysomething woman stood back and took stock of the man. “Either you’re just plain crazy, or you’re really good at what you do.” She smiled. “Since you’re so good to look at, I don’t care which it is. Welcome to Larkville, Johnny Jameson.”

      Johnny gave her a smile. “Thank you, Bonnie. I hear the food here is pretty good.”

      The waitress winked at Jess. “Well, I can guarantee the dessert is.”

      “That’s ‘cause it’s my mom’s,” Brady said as he got up on his knees.

      “You’re a good son, Mr. Brady Calhoun,” Bonnie said. “So what’s your pleasure today?”

      “I want a hamburger and French fries.”

      “I’ll have the same,” Johnny added.

      “Me, too,” Jess finished.

      The waitress walked away and Brady took over the conversation, wanting to know everything that Johnny did with Storm.

      “I was telling your mother that he’s getting used to me.”

      “Will that take a long time?”

      Johnny glanced at Jess, not knowing how to answer the boy. “I’m hoping not too long.”

      “So this is why you sneaked off today?”

      Johnny looked over his shoulder and found a pretty brunette standing at the end of the booth, smiling. She had dark eyes that revealed her interest in him.

      “Hi, Aunt Molly,” Brady cheered. “This is Johnny. He’s helping Papa’s horse.”

      The brunette nodded. “Horse trainer extraordinaire.” Before any introduction could be made, she stuck out her hand. “Hello, I’m Molly Dayton.”

      Johnny stood. “Johnny Jameson. Pleased to meet you, Molly.”

      “I’d say the pleasure is mine.”

      Jess drew her attention momentarily. “Molly, please join us for lunch.”

      Jess slid over and Molly sat down beside her. “So, Johnny Jameson, I’ve heard a lot about you.”

      Johnny was surprised. “You have?”

      “Small town, you know. Also Jess here is my best friend. But she is a little on the serious side.”

      Johnny laughed. “Something tells me you’ve spent a lot of years trying to change that.”

      They both laughed. Jess sat up straight and said, “Hello, I’m right here.”

      Molly grinned. “And she’s fun to tease.”

      “And I’m also your boss,” Jess said. “And I don’t have time today. I need to get Brady back to the ranch before long, then I have a meeting with a prospective retailer.”

      Molly gasped. “The Good Neighbor grocery chain is going to carry your jams and jellies?”

      Jess hesitated. “Nothing definite, but keep your fingers crossed.”

      “I’ll do better than that,” Molly said. “I’ll run Brady back to the ranch for you. But I’ll need to borrow your car seat.”

      “Mol, I don’t want you to go all the way out there.” She had trouble focusing with Johnny Jameson across from her.

      “Not a problem.” Her friend glanced at Johnny, giving him the once-over. “I wouldn’t mind seeing you at work.”

      Brady’s head snapped up at her. “Mom, I want to watch Johnny, too.”

      Jess tried not to react to Molly’s flirting. “Sorry, son, too dangerous. You need to stay inside with Nancy. I mean it.”

      Brady didn’t look happy.

      “How about this, Brady,” Johnny began. “Why don’t you and Molly show me around town after lunch?”

      The child still didn’t look happy. “Okay.”

      Jess still didn’t like this situation any better. But by the looks of things, she’d been outmaneuvered.

      “Just behave.” She wasn’t sure if she was talking to her son or her friend.

      Later on that day, after spending an hour or so in town with Brady and Molly, Johnny returned to the Double Bar C Ranch and approached Storm’s stall. Already he heard the horse’s high-pitched whinnies and the sound of his kicking at the wooden slats.

      By

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