Handsome Rancher (Handsome Devils Book 1) Read online

  Leigh grinned, a self-satisfied grin that Megan knew beyond a doubt boded trouble. She braced herself.

  “Well, Janet, Chase made that promise a while ago,” Leigh said. “Before he and Megan became engaged.”

  8

  “Congratulations, Chase. Good for you.”

  Puzzled, Chase stopped hammering the side of the Go Fish booth back together and turned to look at the couple standing next to him. Edith and George Brown, owners of a neighboring ranch, both grinned at him.

  “Um, thanks. But Megan arranged everything. I just did what she told me to do,” Chase admitted, not wanting anyone to think he had anything to do with the success of the carnival and auction. Megan deserved all the credit.

  The Browns laughed, and George slapped him on the back. “Son, that’s the best way to handle things. Just do what Megan tells you to do. You’ll be a much happier man.”

  Still laughing, the elderly couple wandered away, leaving Chase frowning after them. What had George meant by that last comment?

  Shaking his head, he went back to work, quickly fixing the booth and letting the juvenile fishers return to their fun.

  Once he finished all the necessary repairs, he cut back toward the auction tent. Every few feet, someone stopped him with congratulations. After the third time, a bad feeling settled in his stomach. That feeling only intensified when he saw Leigh racing toward him, Nathan on her heels.

  “Hey, Chase,” Leigh said when she skidded to a stop in front of him.

  Her expression screamed guilt.

  “What did you do?” Chase asked, knowing he really didn’t want to hear her answer.

  “See, there was a bit of a problem during the auction.” She fidgeted with her necklace that said: Kiss Me, You Frog.

  “I’ll say,” Nathan muttered. “Tell him, Leigh.”

  Chase put his hand on his sister’s arm. “Yeah, tell me, Leigh. Right this second.”

  She let go of her necklace and put her hands on her hips. “Fine. But it’s not a big deal. All that happened was I told some of the people at the auction that you and Megan are engaged.”

  Chase felt like his blood turned icy cold. For a minute, he only stared at his sister, unable to believe what she’d just told him. Then he got angry.

  “Why in the blazes would you say something like that?” he demanded.

  Leigh shrugged. “The bidding on that trip got out of hand, and Megan didn’t have enough money. When it became obvious Janet Defries was going to win, I stopped the auction and said you couldn’t go on the trip with Janet because you’re engaged to Megan.” She smiled brightly. “So now that you’re up-to-date, I’m heading on over to the—”

  Chase silenced her with a frown. Then he looked at Nathan. “Did you say anything to clear up this mess?”

  “Me?” Nathan shook his head slowly. “I didn’t have a chance. Before I knew what had happened, Leigh said I’d donate the two thousand dollars the town would have made if Janet’s bid had been accepted.”

  Unable to believe what she’d done, Chase stared at his sister. “You’re like a one-person wrecking crew today.”

  Rather than appearing insulted, Leigh said, “Just trying to help.”

  “Help isn’t the four-letter word I’d associate with you, Leigh,” Chase muttered, heading toward the tent. As he grew nearer, more and more people congratulated him on his engagement to Megan. He’d have to set a lot of people straight later today, but right now, he had to see Megan.

  He found her at the front of the auction tent, trying to talk to Earl and a couple of members of the city council. Not unexpectedly, no one was listening to her. They were too busy telling each other that they’d known all along that he and Megan were more than just friends.

  When he stopped next to her, Megan looked up, relief immediately crossing her face. “I can’t believe Leigh did this,” she said. “Earl, Chase is here now. He and I want to explain that Leigh was wrong to—”

  “Steal your thunder.” Earl patted Megan’s arm “I know. You and Chase probably wanted to wait before making an announcement. But don’t worry, we won’t push you for a wedding date. At least not right away.”

  “Still, they shouldn’t wait too long if they want to reserve the church for the wedding.” This came from Trent, who had come up to the group and now stood grinning at Megan and Chase like a court jester. “You two lovebirds don’t want to let the grass grow beneath your feet. Seize the day, I say. You may want to give some thought to hightailing it to Las Vegas and getting hitched right away.”

  “Cute,” Chase said to his younger brother. Turning back to the group, he said, “Could Megan and I have a minute with Earl, folks?”

  The crowd agreed and after a few more congratulations, left them alone with the mayor.

  Chase studied Megan’s face, debating how to handle this fiasco. Although he knew she wanted their relationship to move into the romantic arena, he also knew she’d never push him into marriage. She didn’t seem any more pleased about this bogus story than he was.

  “Earl, about what Leigh said. She was wrong,” Chase said, wanting to flatten this problem quickly.

  His tone must have convinced Earl that he was serious. The mayor slipped his glasses down his nose and studied Chase and Megan closely. Finally, he asked Megan, “Is that the truth? Is Leigh wrong?”

  Megan didn’t hesitate. “Yes, she’s wrong.”

  “I see.” Earl pushed his glasses back in place.

  Megan shifted her weight, anxiously gnawing her bottom lip.

  Earl scratched his head. “Well, I’m not sure I completely understand what the two of you are telling me.”

  “Leigh got it wrong,” Chase reiterated.

  “Do you mean Leigh is wrong about you getting married anytime soon? I’d say that was your own business. But if, for instance of course, you were to tell me that you’re not engaged after all, then we’d have a real problem on our hands…”

  “Um…problem?”

  “For starters, that would mean Janet is the rightful winner of the trip. And Chase did agree to go with the winner if asked, so we’d need him to take Janet to San Antonio.”

  “Oh.”

  “Then there’s the embarrassment factor. Not only would you two look like fools, but everyone might wonder if the auction was legit. Could cause the city big problems.”

  Chase gulped.

  Earl turned to Megan, his stare intense. “I sure would hate to see a black cloud settle over this great carnival and auction you arranged. But if Leigh was wrong, then I guess Leigh was wrong.”

  Chase heard Megan groan softly by his side, and he felt like kicking his family tree. Earl was right. If they turned around now and said Leigh had been joking, then Megan’s hard work might fall under suspicion. Sure, they could explain it, but some people would never believe them.

  Megan took off her glasses. “Leigh was wrong about—”

  “The wedding,” Chase said. “We’re not planning on getting married anytime soon. We want to have a long engagement.”

  She’d been all set to confess to the mayor, and he couldn’t let her do it. They could work this out with a little time. It wouldn’t kill him to pretend to be engaged to Megan for a few weeks.

  Then, once things died down and her plans for the park were firm, they could tell everyone the engagement was off because they’d decided they made better friends than lovers. No one would be harmed by the deception, and the kids would still get their playground.

  He looked at Megan, who was obviously confused by what he’d told Earl. He explained to the mayor, “We’re planning a long engagement. And don’t try to change our minds about this. We both need time to think about our future.”

  As much as he hated lying to Earl, he knew he was doing the right thing for Megan and the town. He’d simply have to bide his time until they could straighten this out. But when he got home, he and Leigh were going to have a long, hard talk.

  “Good. Good. Glad to hear that was wh
at you wanted to tell me.” Earl leaned forward and placed a kiss on Megan’s cheek. “I’m really happy for you, honey. Despite his ornery tendencies, Chase here is a good man.”

  Beside him, Chase could feel how tense Megan was. Wanting to lighten the mood, he said to Earl, “Ornery tendencies? I don’t have anything but pure sugar pumping through my veins.”

  Earl snorted. “You’re a hoot, boy. A real hoot.” With that he walked away, leaving Megan and Chase alone at the far end of the tent.

  “Why didn’t you tell him the truth?” Megan whispered.

  Chase shrugged. “Because I don’t want it to spoil the auction.”

  “But we’re lying. We’re not engaged.”

  That part bothered him, too. “Megan, will you marry me?”

  She blinked. “What?”

  “Now when people ask you if I really proposed, you can truthfully say yes,” he pointed out.

  Catching on quickly, Megan smiled. “I get it, and my answer is yes. Now you can tell everyone I accepted.”

  For a heartbeat, they shared a smile, two old friends who had figured out a solution to a major problem. Then worry gnawed at him. What if she’d misunderstood? “But you know this engagement is—”

  “Relax; I’m not taking it seriously.”

  “Good. After the trip, we’ll announce we’ve broken up.”

  “Are you sure you want to go on that trip together? I’ll understand if you’d rather not.”

  Chase studied her, standing in front of him in her pretty white sundress, her hair fluffed around her face. She looked sexy and sweet at the same time. As far as he could tell, the two of them going away together on that trip was a lousy idea. But as Megan continued to look at him, the words dried up on his lips. He couldn’t let the people in this town think he’d dumped her. And that’s exactly what they’d think if he didn’t go to San Antonio with Megan.

  Concern for her feelings forced him to add, “But, Megan, we’re going on this trip as friends. That’s all.”

  “I understand.” She drew an imaginary X across her chest. “I promise I won’t kiss you. Nor will I picture you naked. I will be on my very best behavior.”

  Chase knew she meant that. Megan sincerely intended on being on her best behavior.

  Now if only he could say the same thing about himself.

  “I should have guessed you and Chase were in love,” Amanda Newman said the following Tuesday when she pushed her cart into line behind Megan at Palmer’s Grocery. “The way you looked at each other the night of the meeting made it clear you both cared deeply.”

  Megan had been putting her groceries on the conveyor belt, but she stopped and turned to look at the minister’s wife. Sure, there was a chance Amanda had seen something in her gaze as she’d looked at Chase.

  She was, after all, in love with the man. But Chase didn’t love her. At least, he didn’t romantically love her—or so he said.

  Not yet anyway. But Megan still had hope. He had agreed to keep up their pretend engagement. A man didn’t do that for just any woman who crossed his path.

  “So, you saw something in the way Chase looked at me?” Megan couldn’t resist asking Amanda.

  “Oh, yes. He looked at you the same way Conrad looks at me.” Amanda’s expression turned blissful. “Like you make him complete.”

  Megan liked the thought that in some way, Chase might feel she made him complete. “And he looked at me that way?”

  Amanda laughed. “Of course he did, dear. Why else would he want to marry you?”

  The comment felt like a bucket of ice water poured over Megan’s head. That was the problem—their engagement wasn’t real. Moreover, according to him, they would never be anything more than friends. Of course, friends didn’t kiss the way she and Chase did.

  “If you don’t finish putting your groceries on the counter, I’m going to have to arrest you for loitering.”

  At Trent’s voice, Megan turned. He stood at the end of the counter, his grin wild and wicked. Holding up a head of lettuce, he asked, “You gonna make dinner for your loving fiancé?”

  Megan shot Trent a reproachful look because he knew all too well that the engagement wasn’t real. But her look only made him laugh.

  He tossed the head of lettuce from hand to hand. “If you are, I should warn you that Chase is more of a meat and potatoes guy. He likes salads, but not as the main course.” Nodding toward her cart, he added, “Why don’t you give the rest of the folks standing in line a break and finish emptying your cart. I’ll bag for you.”

  Megan glanced behind her and realized with a start she really was holding up the line.

  “Sorry,” she said and quickly loaded her remaining food on the counter.

  “She just got engaged,” Amanda explained to the other customers in line. “It’s to be expected that she’d be distracted. All those wedding plans to make.”

  “When’s the big day?” Peggy Turner, the cashier, asked.

  “Yeah, Megan, when’s the big day?” Trent winked. “I want to be certain I mark it on my calendar.”

  Megan felt the warmth of a blush climb her face. She hated lying with a passion, but she also agreed with Chase. The best way to handle this situation was to wait a few weeks, then tell everyone that she and Chase had decided they made better friends than lovers.

  But she couldn’t help wishing they really were engaged. Whenever someone asked her when the wedding was, her heart did a little flutter, almost as if she were really marrying Chase.

  Everyone was looking at her, so Megan gave them the pat answer she and Chase had developed for when they were confronted with this question. “We want to have a long engagement, so we haven’t set a date yet.”

  “Why a long engagement?” Amanda asked. “You’ve known each other for most of your lives.” Before Megan could respond, she pressed on. “If you want to have a June wedding, you need to hurry.”

  Megan grabbed on to that excuse with relief. “Yes. That’s it. I want to have a June wedding, and since it’s already May, I don’t have time to put something together on such short notice. I want to wait until June of next year so I can have the wedding of my dreams.”

  Her answer must have sounded pretty good because Amanda’s expression softened. “You do that. It’s important that your wedding be exactly right.”

  Feeling satisfied that she’d handled this situation well, Megan paid the cashier and helped Trent finish bagging her groceries. Again, she couldn’t help wishing her engagement were real. She really would like a June or September wedding. While she was too late for June, she certainly could put together a wonderful ceremony before September. That is, naturally, if she could convince the groom to actually be a groom.

  Just when Megan thought she was going to escape the store without future incidents, Trent said, “I don’t think you should wait a whole year. What’s important is you’re getting married. You shouldn’t care where or when the ceremony takes place.”

  Megan walked over to him and said softly, “Cut it out.”

  But Trent seemed to be warming to the topic. “Chase has been on his own for long enough. I bet the ladies of this town would be more than happy to help you come up with a beautiful wedding that could be pulled together quickly.”

  “Oh, yes,” Amanda said. “I’m sure Conrad would be able to find time for you. And if you want an outdoor ceremony, it’s always lovely out at the lake. Or better yet, hold it at Chase’s ranch. It would be wonderful by the pool.”

  Megan debated her answer and finally decided to use her groceries as an excuse to escape. “I’ll keep all those ideas in mind. Thank you.”

  Then before anyone else could come up with suggestions for a wedding that realistically would never happen, Megan pushed her cart toward the parking lot. As she expected, Trent fell into step next to her.

  “You’re an evil man,” she told him as soon as they were out of earshot of anyone else. “You shouldn’t tease me like that. I don’t want anyone to find out that the
engagement isn’t real.”

  Trent shrugged. “Maybe I wasn’t teasing you. Maybe I don’t think you and Chase should break your engagement even if it is fake.”

  They had reached her car, so Megan turned to face him. She’d never had a serious conversation in her life with Chase’s carefree younger brother. But his expression told her he was absolutely sincere today.

  “You really feel that way?” she asked.

  “Sure,” Trent said. “I think you’re good for Chase. You always have been. Marriage would probably suit him.”

  Megan stared at Trent, stunned that he could feel that way. She thought he, of all people, would discourage his oldest brother from marriage. She’d never figured him for an ally.

  “You’re teasing me again, right?” she asked, deciding this was simply another one of his pranks.

  Trent shook his head. “No. Dead serious this time. I love Chase. I want what’s best for him, even if sometimes he’s too dense to know what that might be. Sure, at first it was a joke, but now that I’ve thought about it, I think you two are perfect together.”

  Working on autopilot, Megan unlocked her car and loaded her groceries inside. Periodically, she glanced at Trent, who was helping her. Trent thought she and Chase were perfect together? Would wonders never cease?

  After her groceries were in the car, she faced Trent again. “I guess Leigh told you how I feel about Chase.”

  “Leigh didn’t have to tell me. It’s always been written all over you. Chase is the only one who never noticed,” Trent said.

  “I’m that obvious, huh?”

  Trent pulled his sunglasses out of his shirt pocket and slipped them on. “Oh, yeah. You’re like a neon sign. But hey, that’s good. You should let people know how you feel about them. Life’s too short to waste time playing games.”

  Megan laughed. “This from you? The master at playing games?”

  “See, now that’s where you’re wrong. I’m always painfully honest with the ladies I date. They know up front that we’re only having fun.”

  Megan slipped her keys into the pocket of her slacks. “Thanks for telling me you’d think I’d be good for Chase. I think so, too. But he has to do what he feels is right for him. I can’t force him to fall in love with me.”