LITMIR.BIZ

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the place across from him.

      “This isn’t a social call.”

      “Didn’t think it was, but you can still sit.”

      She shifted the carrier to her other hand, then flexed her fingers as if the combined weight of Emma and the contraption had taken a toll. He reached over and took the infant seat from her, then set it on the table.

      His heart contracted at the sight of the sleeping baby. Her little mouth was puckered up and moving as if she sucked an imaginary bottle in her sleep. Long, dark lashes curved above cheeks just beginning to show signs of getting chubby. Jake didn’t know the first thing about babies, but this one was a stunner in his book.

      “How’s she doin’?”

      “Great.”

      It was just one word, but there was a softness in Rachel’s voice that made him look up. Her expression as she stared at the baby held a tenderness he wouldn’t have expected from a woman so tenacious and hard-headed.

      “Everything all right?” he asked, glancing at the little girl sleeping in the seat.

      “She’s perfect,” Rachel answered, placing a hand on the carrier.

      Just then Sally Jean returned. “Here you go, Jake. Coffee and a menu.” She glanced at Rachel. “Need another one?”

      “No,” Rachel said.

      “Yes,” he answered at the same time.

      “I’m not staying for dinner.”

      “Have you already eaten?” he asked.

      “No, but that’s not why I’m—”

      “On second thought,” he told Sally Jean. “We’ll have two orders of meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy.”

      “I’m not hungry,” Rachel said.

      “It comes with a salad or soup,” Sally Jean said.

      Jake studied Rachel and figured she was a greens kind of gal. “We’ll have salad with thousand island dressing.”

      “Biscuits, French rolls, or garlic toast?”

      “Garlic toast,” he answered, deciding there was no way the two of them would be kissing.

      “Comin’ right up,” the waitress said, then moved away.

      “I came to talk to you, not to eat dinner,” Rachel informed him.

      “You can kill two birds.” And in that vein, he figured buying her dinner could feather his own nest. If he was nice to her, maybe he could soften her up and talk her into bowing out gracefully.

      Rachel stared at him and before she could respond, two old ladies, one with gray hair, the other bright red, slid out of the booth behind her. Jake spent a lot of time on the ranch and didn’t recognize the two women. When they started past, Gray Hair stopped by Emma’s car seat and peeked in.

      “Congratulations,” she said, looking from Rachel to him. “What a beautiful baby.”

      “Isn’t she?” Rachel said to them. “Cora Edens, Janie Compton, I’d like you to meet Jake Fletcher.”

      “Hello,” gray-haired Cora said.

      “Nice to meet you.” Flame-haired Janie stuck out her hand and Jake shook it.

      “Rachel, dear,” Cora said. “I didn’t know you were married.”

      “Oh, it’s not what—”

      “Or pregnant,” Janie said, looking at the baby. “What’s her name?”

      “Emma,” Rachel answered.

      “She’s a beauty.” Cora glanced at Jake. “She’s got the same indentation in her chin as her father. I think she’ll have your coloring, too. Can’t tell much from that fuzz all over her head, but my guess is her hair will be dark.”

      “Yes, ma’am,” he answered, unsure what response to make, but knowing one was required. He could have said they weren’t married and Emma wasn’t theirs, but that was a can of worms he didn’t particularly want to open.

      “Cora, Janie,” Rachel said, “Jake and I aren’t married. This isn’t what you think—”

      Apparently Rachel didn’t feel the same way about worms.

      Janie put a finger to her lips. “Don’t you fret. Far be it from me to judge you and your young man for doing the wild thing.”

      “No, it’s not that—”

      “If I was a few years younger, I’d be suckered by those blue eyes, too, honey. I just know you and your fella will do right by this baby and get married. It’s plain as day.” Cora patted her arm, then took another look into the carrier. “She’s somethin’.”

      Janie curved her fingers around the other woman’s arm. “C’mon, sister. We have to go before you embarrass this nice young couple any more. Good to see you, Rachel. Jake, nice to meet you.”

      “Wait—” Rachel held her hand up as the bell above the door double-dinged their departure. She met his gaze and there was a hint of a grin in her brown eyes. “Why didn’t you set them straight?”

      “Because I saw how you were wasting your breath,” he said. “Besides, I was too busy trying to wrap my mind around that ‘wild thing’ remark.”

      “I’m sorry,” she said, her cheeks pink. “I had no idea talking to you here would be a problem.”

      “No harm done.”

      “That may not be entirely true.”

      “How do you know those two? Doesn’t seem like you’d travel in the same circles.”

      “Cora was in the hospital when she broke her hip and had surgery. As soon as a patient is admitted, it’s my job to juggle their course of treatment with their insurance reimbursement. I also check into nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities. In Cora’s case, she needed heavy-duty physical therapy to get her back on her feet. It’s nice to see her up and around. On the other hand, she’s up and around and moving so well the whole town will think we’ve had a baby together.”

      “Are you saying that sweet little old lady has a big mouth?”

      “Mouths. Plural. Those two sweet little old ladies spread stories like a farmer spreads manure,” she said, sitting down across from him.

      Jake laughed. He couldn’t help himself. Then Sally Jean set two salads in front of them. With her hands on her hips, she looked from Rachel to Jake. “You two look like you’re havin’ fun.”

      Jake wouldn’t go that far. But if anyone had told him he would be laughing over dinner with the woman who was messing with his family, he’d have called the person crazy.

      “Entrées will be out in a few,” she said, and walked away without waiting for an answer.

      “Eat. You need to keep your strength up.” But when the smile disappeared from Rachel’s face, part of him wanted to call the words back.

      “My strength? Because of the baby,” she guessed, her gaze narrowed on him. “If you have your way, that won’t be an issue much longer.”

      “You got the papers?” he asked.

      “Regarding Emma’s custody hearing? Yes,” she said, picking up her fork.

      Jake studied her, wondering if she was planning to stab him with it. Just a moment before, when she’d laughed with him, her brown eyes had been sweet and warm as cocoa. Now her expression was pinched and uncomfortable, as if her panties had shrunk two sizes.

      “How could you, Jake?”

      “You left me no choice.”

      “There’s

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