she felt sorry for him. She might not see them often, but she had family, and as curious as they were, she knew she could count on them, no matter what.
Johnny, on the other hand, had no one.
He returned to his saddle bag and flipped open the top, taking out a well-used leather-bound bible and placing it on the writing desk, his hand lingering over the cover.
“You’re a Christian?” she asked, more alarmed than surprised.
He looked her straight in the eye. “Yes, ma’am. Does that bother you?”
Jenn looked away from his soul-piercing gaze. “No, not at all,” she said with forced enthusiasm.
“You’re in good company here. My family is all outspoken believers.”
She expected he would naturally include her in the statement, but he continued to watch her, assessing her with eyes that gleamed almost black in the twilight of the bedroom.
To her relief, he didn’t press the point. Instead, he shifted back to their original quandary.
“You said something about ground rules.” That low, soft-spoken voice went straight to her heart. “What did you have in mind?”
“It’s not that I don’t trust you,” she began, and realized to her own surprise that she meant it. “But I think we’d both be more comfortable—and believable—if we simply devise and agree to abide by a game plan. That way there won’t be as many opportunities for mistakes, faux pas, if you will.”
“Okay,” he said straightaway, sitting on the corner of the bed and gesturing her to the pinewood chair. “Should I shut the door, do you think, so others can’t hear our conversation?”
“No!” Jenn felt a blush rising to her cheeks—again. “That’s exactly what I’m talking about. My family is old-fashioned. I’m old-fashioned, at least in that respect. This is exactly the sort of behavior I don’t want—”
She stopped speaking dead in the middle of her statement when she looked at Johnny, who’d crossed his arms and was grinning like the Cheshire Cat.
She suddenly realized he was teasing her, which only made her blush all the more.
“Seriously, now,” he said. “What is it you think we should—or should not—do to make our grand charade a success?”
Jenn had no idea where to start. Her mind was jumbled with thoughts, and not all were about the pretense they were initiating. He was looking at her with an intensity and amusement that sent her mind and heart completely off-kilter.
Johnny merely cocked an eyebrow, waiting.
“Well, I don’t think we should spend too much time together alone,” she started, and then realized that was exactly what they were doing now. “Of course, my family will expect us to hang out with each other, but let’s try to do that when everyone’s around.”
He nodded, his lips quirking in that adorable smile of his.
“My family doesn’t really believe in private time—individual or otherwise—especially during these reunions. They usually have every spare second filled with some amusement or another.”
“Sounds good to me.”
“It’ll drive you crazy by the end of your first week here.”
He laughed. “You like your private time, huh?”
“Oh, yes,” she agreed instantly. “I have to have some downtime just to recover from all the noise my family makes. Trust me, you will, too.”
“Naw.” He shook his head. “Other than devotional time, which I usually take early in the morning before anyone else rises, I think I’m good.”
“We’ll see.” This man was far too agreeable, which would normally set her nerves on edge, but for some reason, she liked him all the more for his positive attitude.
“What else?” he asked, leaning back on his hands.
She wondered if his curly black hair was always as ruffled as it was now, or whether it was the result of wearing his cowboy hat all day.
“I would prefer that you not try to delve into my personal business—my private life. I’ll respect yours, as well. Naturally, I’ll fill you in on the basics, the things you need to know to be my Johnny. But at the end of the day, I’m a very private person, and I’d like it to stay that way.”
“Of course,” he agreed immediately with a firm nod of his head. “Likewise, darlin’.”
The endearment left a mark on her heart. She wanted to deny him the right to use a pet name with her, but realized it could work to her advantage, so she said nothing.
She considered what a simple cowboy like Johnny could possibly consider a private life. He spent all his time out on the range with cows, after all.
Then again, as a social worker, she’d learned the hard way that everyone had secrets. She knew she personally carried more than the usual load. But still…
“Anything else I should know?” he asked, interrupting her thoughts.
“No P.D.A.,” she blurted without thinking, and then groaned inwardly. This was going to be much, much more complicated than she’d ever imagined.
That quirk of his lips again. She was positive that trait was going to drive her crazy within the space of a week, for better or worse.
“Public Displays of Affection,” she clarified.
Johnny chuckled softly, a deep, low rumble in his throat. “I know what P.D.A. stands for. I was just wondering what your family will think if there aren’t any. We’re supposed to be in love, remember?”
She choked and sputtered for air.
He just grinned. He was baiting her—again, as if he enjoyed making her blush.
Maybe he did.
“You have a point,” she conceded slowly. “I suppose there must be something. Er—uh—holding hands once in a while would be appropriate, and I g-guess you can put your arm around me from time to time.” She hated how she stammered through that sentence, but she couldn’t help herself.
“I feel honored,” Johnny said, using his fingers to tip the rim of the hat he wasn’t wearing. She couldn’t tell whether or not he was teasing her again. His voice was serious, but his midnight-blue eyes were dancing with merriment.
She frowned. “I’m serious. And one more thing. Absolutely, positively no kissing. Not even so much as a peck on the cheek. Are we clear on that point?”
His gaze widened, and for the longest moment she thought he might object, but in the end he just nodded. “Done,” he said firmly.
She let out a sigh. He had no idea of the relief flooding through her. Because, even though she didn’t know this man at all, she believed he meant what he said.
She
