He was just about to say goodbye and send Catherine on her way when she eased forward, rose on tiptoe and lifted her lips to kiss him goodbye.

Of course. Great idea.

There was an audience present, and they were two people in love. A goodbye kiss was definitely in order.

Ray stepped in and lowered his mouth to hers, but as their lips met, he found himself wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close, savoring the feel of her in his arms, the scent of her shampoo, the taste of her…

Oh, wow.

Dear Reader,

If you’re like me, you enjoy a marriage—or engagement—of convenience story. And when that story is set in a small Texas town, with cowboys and ranchers and babies… Well, you have all the fixings for a great romance.

So welcome back to Brighton Valley, where interim mayor and wealthy rancher Ray Mendez has more money and property than he can shake a stick at—even after a lengthy legal battle with his gold-digging ex-wife. Now that the divorce is final, every single woman in town is determined to win his battered heart. But Ray’s not interested.

When he meets visiting actress and dancer Catherine Loza, he hires her to be his pretend fiancée to keep the women at bay until his interim position as mayor is finished. The scheme works beautifully—until Ray finds it difficult to draw the line at playacting, and Catherine realizes her temporary gig just might be the role of a lifetime.

So I hope you’ll pack this book in your suitcase—or take it down to the shore or the pool with you—for some good summer reading.

Wishing you romance,

Judy

About the Author

JUDY DUARTE always knew there was a book inside her, but since English was her least-favorite subject in school, she never considered herself a writer. An avid reader who enjoys a happy ending, Judy couldn’t shake the dream of creating a book of her own.

Her dream became a reality in March 2002, when Mills & Boon® released her first book, Cowboy Courage. Since then she has published more than twenty novels.

Her stories have touched the hearts of readers around the world. And in July 2005 Judy won a prestigious Readers’ Choice Award for The Rich Man’s Son.

Judy makes her home near the beach in Southern California. When she’s not cooped up in her writing cave, she’s spending time with her somewhat enormous but delightfully close family.

The Rancher’s Hired Fiancée

Judy Duarte

www.millsandboon.co.uk

To Mark Winch, who reads every book I write.

I hope you enjoy this one, too, Mark.

Chapter One

Catherine Loza napped in a child’s bedroom at the Walker family’s ranch in Texas, dreaming of sold-out nights on Broadway, the heady sound of applause and the pounding of her heart after a well-executed performance.

She took a bow, then straightened and glanced out into the audience, only to see an empty stall and a bale of straw in an illuminated old barn, where a group of children clapped their hands in delight.

Their faces were a blur until two of them glided toward the stage, greeting her with red rosebuds, their long stems free of thorns.

Recognizing Sofia and Stephen, Dan and Eva Walker’s youngest twins, Catherine knelt and received the flowers. Then the darling two-year-olds wrapped their pudgy arms around her and placed soft, moist kisses on her cheeks, on her forehead, on her chin.

How strange, she thought, but so sweet.

She’d no more than thanked them and sent them on their way when she heard a light tapping noise in the distance.

Thoughts and visions tumbled together in her sleepy mind—until another knock sounded, this time on the bedroom door.

“Yes?” she said, realizing she’d dozed off after reading a storybook to the children. Now, as she scanned the empty room, she saw that they’d both slipped off, leaving her to nap alone.

Eva opened the door and peered into the darkened bedroom. “I’m sorry to bother you, but we’re having company for dinner tonight, and I thought you might want to know.”

Catherine glanced out the window, which was shuttered tight, only a faint light creeping through the slats. She tried to guess the time of day but didn’t have a clue—other than it was obviously nearing the dinner hour.

“A lot of help I am,” Catherine said. “I wasn’t the one who was supposed to fall asleep.”

Eva chuckled softly. “Sofia and Stephen woke up a few minutes ago. Now they’re in the kitchen, coloring and playing with their sticker books.”

Catherine never had been one to nap during the day. Apparently the fresh air, sunshine and the rural Texas setting had a calming effect on her.

“If you’d like to rest a little longer,” Eva said, “it’s not a problem. You’ve been burning the candle at both ends for so long. Your body probably needs the sleep.”

“Who’s coming for dinner tonight?” Catherine asked.

“Ray Mendez. He’s a local rancher and a neighbor. In fact, he’ll be here any minute.”

“Thanks for the heads-up.” As Eva closed the bedroom door, Catherine raked her fingers through her hair, her nails catching on a couple of snags in her long curls. She probably looked a fright, with eyes puffy from sleep, but she wouldn’t stress about it. This was supposed to be a vacation of sorts.

Ever since her arrival on the ranch, she’d decided to go au natural—no makeup, no fancy hairstyles. She was also kicking back for a change—no schedules, no grueling workouts, no rehearsals. And quite frankly, she was looking forward to having a break from the hectic life she’d once known in Manhattan.

Catherine rolled to the side of the bed and got to her feet. Then she straightened the pillows, as well as the coverlet, before opening the door and stepping into the hall.

She’d taken only two steps when the doorbell rang. The rancher had just arrived. Wanting to make herself useful, she detoured to answer the door. What had Eva said his name was? Ray something.

Catherine had never met any of the Walkers’ neighbors, but she assumed Ray must be one of Hank’s friends. Hank, Dan’s elderly uncle, who’d once owned the ranch and now lived in a guesthouse Dan had built for him, always ate dinner with them in the main dining room.

Not seeing anyone else in the room, Catherine opened the front door.

She expected to see a weathered rancher who resembled Dan’s uncle, a sweet but crotchety old cowboy who reminded her of Robert Duvall when he’d played in Lonesome Dove or Open Range. But nothing had prepared her for the tall, dark-haired visitor who stood on the porch.

The man, whose expression revealed that he was just as surprised to see her as she was to see him, didn’t look anything like the grizzled Texan she’d envisioned just moments before. At first glance, he bore enough resemblance to Antonio Banderas to be his younger brother—all decked out in Western wear, of course.

A sense of awkwardness rose up inside, and she tried to tamp it down the best she could. She might be dressed like a barefoot street urchin in a pair of gray sweatpants, an old NYU T-shirt and no makeup to speak of, but she was actually an accomplished woman who’d performed on Broadway several times in the past—and would do so again.

“I’m Catherine Loza,” she said. “You must be Ray…?”

“Mendez.” His voice held the slightest bit of a Spanish accent, which made him all the more intriguing.

She reached up to flick a wild strand of her sleep-tousled curls from her eyes, only to feel something papery stuck to her face. She peeled it off, and when she looked at her fingers to see what it was, she spotted a child’s butterfly sticker.

Oh, for Pete’s sake. How had that gotten there?

It must have been on the bedspread or pillow, and she’d probably rolled over on it.

Determined to shake the flush from her face and to pretend that her ankles weren’t bound together with duct tape, that her brain hadn’t been abducted by aliens, Catherine forced herself to step forward and reach out to shake the neighboring rancher’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Ray. Eva said you’d be coming to dinner tonight. Please come in.”

The handsome rancher’s smile deepened, lighting his eyes, which were a vibrant shade of green.

As he released his grip on her hand, leaving her skin warm and tingling, he lifted a lazy index finger and peeled another sticker from her face.

Her lips parted as he showed her a little pink heart.

“You missed a couple of them,” he said.

Huh? A couple of… what?

He removed a gold star from over her brow and a unicorn from her chin.

Catherine blinked back her surprise, as well as her embarrassment. Then she swiped her hand first over one cheek and then the other, discovering that either Sofia or Stephen had decorated her face while she’d slept.

Goodness. What else had the twins done to her while she’d been asleep? Surely they hadn’t used their Magic Markers on her, too?

She hadn’t felt the least bit self-conscious in years, but it all came rushing back at her now. She must look like a clown. What must the man be thinking?

Calling on her acting skills and her ability to ad-lib on stage, she gave a little shrug, as if this sort of thing happened all the time. “Well, what do you know? The sticker fairies stopped by while I napped.”

Ray tossed her a crooked grin, humor sparking in his eyes. “You’ve got to watch out for those fairies, especially on the Walker Ranch. There’s no telling what they’ll do next.”

“I’m afraid he’s right about that,” Dan said as he entered the living room. “Our younger twins can be little rascals at times.”

Before Catherine could respond, Dan greeted his friend with a handshake, then invited him to take a seat, suggesting that she do the same.

But there was no way Catherine wanted to remain in the living room looking like a ragamuffin, so she said, “I’d better help Eva in the kitchen.”

“I was just in there,” Dan said. “And she has everything under control.”

Catherine didn’t care where she went—to the kitchen, her bedroom or the barn. All she wanted to do was to disappear from the handsome rancher’s sight until she could find a mirror before dinner.

“Well, since Eva doesn’t need my help, I’ll just go freshen up.” She lobbed Ray Mendez her best, unaffected smile. “It was nice meeting you.”

“The pleasure was mine.”

The sound of the word pleasure on the lips of a man who not only resembled a Latin lover but sounded like one, too, was enough to knock her little Texas world off its axis.

And until she flew back to Manhattan, she’d do whatever it took to keep her feet on solid ground in Brighton Valley.

One screwed-up world was more than she cared to handle.

Ray Mendez had no idea who Catherine Loza was, why she’d been napping this late in the afternoon or why she’d been included to have dinner at the Walkers’ ranch. He watched her leave the room, turn down the hall and walk toward the bedrooms.

The minute she was out of hearing range, he turned to his neighbor and friend. “You’re not starting in on me, too, are you?”

“Starting in on you? What do you mean?”

Ray crossed his arms and tensed. “Is this dinner supposed to be a setup?”

Dan looked a little confused by the question—or rather the accusation. “A setup? You mean, with you and Catherine? No, I wouldn’t do that.” Then he glanced toward the kitchen, as if realizing his pretty wife might have had a plan of her own.

But why wouldn’t she? Every time Ray turned around, one of the women in town was trying to play matchmaker.

“Eva called and asked you to dinner because we hadn’t seen you in a while,” Dan said. “Why would you think we had anything else in mind?”

“Because ever since word got out that my divorce was final, the local matchmakers have come out of the woodwork, determined to find the perfect second wife for me. And the last thing I’m looking for right now is romance. I’ve got my hands full trying to run my ranch from a distance and finish out the term of the previous mayor.”

“Has it been that bad?” Dan asked.

“You have no idea.”

“For the record,” Dan said, “Catherine is a great woman. She’s beautiful, talented and has a heart of gold. But she’s just visiting us. Her life is in New York, and yours is here. So it would be a waste of time to try my hand at matchmaking.”

That was a relief. Thank God Ray’s friends hadn’t joined every marriage-minded woman in town—or her well-intentioned best friend, mother or neighbor.

He unfolded his arms and let down his guard.

As he did so, he glanced down the hall just as Catherine returned with her hair combed, those wild platinum curls controlled by a clip of some kind.

She’d changed into a pair of black jeans and a crisp, white blouse—nothing fancy. She’d also applied a light coat of pink lipstick and slipped on a pair of ballet flats.

For a moment, Ray wondered if she had romance on her mind. But the cynical thought passed as quickly as it had struck.

If Catherine had expected to meet someone special tonight, she wouldn’t have opened the door with her hair a mess, stickers all over her face and no makeup whatsoever.

Although he had to admit, she’d looked pretty darn cute standing at the door, blue eyes wide, lips parted….

As Catherine crossed through the living room on her way to the kitchen, she gave him a passing smile.

And when she was again out of hearing range, Ray turned back to Dan. “Where’d you meet her?”

“She used to be Jenny’s roommate.”

Dan’s sister, Jenny Walker, had left Brighton Valley after graduating from high school. She’d gone to college in the Midwest, majored in music or dance and moved to New York, where she’d done some singing and acting off-Broadway.

About eight or nine years ago, Jenny gave birth to twins, although she died when Kevin and Kaylee were in kindergarten. Dan and Eva adopted the kids and were now raising them, as well as their own younger set of twins.

“Catherine has come out a time or two to visit,” Dan added, “but she never stayed long. She’s an actress and a dancer, so she usually has a Broadway show of some kind going on.”

“Is that what she’s doing here now? Visiting the kids?”

“Actually, this time I’m not sure how long she’ll be with us. She broke up with some hot-shot producer back in New York and wanted to get away for a while. I don’t know all of the details, but it really doesn’t matter. She stepped up to the plate and helped me and the kids out when we really needed her, so I’m happy to return the favor now.”

Ray raked his hand through his hair. “I’m sorry for jumping to conclusions. I should have known you wouldn’t have invited me to come over with more than dinner on your mind.”

Dan studied him for a moment. “Is the matchmaking really that bad?”

He chuffed. “I can’t make it through a single day without someone trying to set me up with a single daughter, niece or neighbor. And that’s not counting the unmarried ladies who approach me on their own behalf.” Ray grumbled under his breath, wishing he’d stayed out of politics and had remained on his ranch full-time.

“Well, I guess that’s to be expected.” A grin tugged at one side of Dan’s lips, and his eyes lit up with mirth. “You’re not a bad-looking fellow. And you’ve got a little cash put away. I guess that makes you an eligible bachelor in anyone’s book.”

“Very funny.” Ray had never been full of himself, but most women considered him to be the tall, dark and handsome type. He also had a head for business, which had allowed him to parlay a couple of inheritances into millions. As a result, he had more money and property than he could shake a stick at, something that made every unattached female between the ages of 18 and 40 seem to think he was a prime catch.

He could always give them the cold shoulder, but his mother had taught him to be polite and courteous—a habit he found hard to shake. Besides, he didn’t know how to keep the women at arm’s distance without alienating half the voters in town.

“To top it off,” Dan added, “you being the mayor gives you a little more status than just being a run-of-the-mill Texas rancher, which the ladies undoubtedly find even more appealing.”

Ray sighed. “That’s the problem. I’m not looking for romance. And if the time ever comes that I’m interested again, I’m perfectly capable of finding a woman without help.”

Dan, who’d been biting back a full-on smile, let it go and chuckled. “There’s got to be a lot of guys who’d be happy to trade places with you.”

“Maybe, but only for a couple of days. Then they’d get fed up, too. This has been going on since… well, since word got out that my divorce was final. And now I can hardly get any work done—in town or on the ranch.”

“Why not date someone, just so word will spread that you’re already taken?”

Ray shook his head. “No, I’m not going to do that. After the marriage I had, I’m steering clear of women in general. But even if I wanted to ask someone out, I don’t have the time to add anything else to my calendar. As it is, I’ve been spending the bulk of my day driving back and forth to the ranch, making sure Mark and Darren have everything under control, then zipping back to town for one meeting or another.”

“I don’t blame you for not wanting to jump back into another relationship, especially after the hell Heather put you through over the past two years.”

Dan had that right. Ray’s ex-wife had not only cheated on him, she’d turned out to be a heartless gold digger. And after the long legal battle she’d waged, Ray wasn’t about to make a mistake like that again.

“You know,” Dan said, “it might not be a bad idea to spread the rumor that you’re already taken. Maybe that way, the matchmaking mamas and their starry-eyed daughters will give you a break and let you get some work done.”

“That’s an idea, but as simple and easy as it sounds, I’m afraid it won’t work.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’d keep showing up alone at all the various community events I’m required to attend, and people will begin to realize the woman is only a myth. And then I’ll be right back where I started. I’m afraid I’d need the real thing, and that would defeat the purpose of creating a fictitious woman.”

“Too bad you can’t rent an escort,” Dan said.

“Yeah, right.”

At that moment, Catherine reentered the living room and called Dan’s name. “Eva said to tell you that dinner’s ready. She’s already called Hank, and he’s heading over here now.”

“Thanks,” Dan said. “We’ll be right there.”

As Catherine returned to the kitchen, Ray watched the sway of her denim-clad hips. It was hard to imagine her as a woman who was at home on the stage, especially since she had a wholesome, girl-next-door appeal. But then again, she was an actress…

Suddenly, an idea began to form.

“How long does Catherine plan to be in town?” he asked.

“I’m not sure. Why?”

“Do you think she’d want a job?”

“Probably. Just this morning she mentioned that she’d like to find something part-time and temporary. Why?”

“Because I want to hire her, if she’s interested.”

“What did you have in mind? Something clerical?”

“No, it would be an acting job.”

Dan looked confused. “I’m not following you.”

A slow smile stretched across Ray’s face. “I’d like to hire Catherine to be my fiancée.”

After dinner and dessert had been served, Dan’s uncle thanked Eva for another wonderful meal, then headed back to his place so he could watch his favorite TV show.

Eva sent the older twins to get ready for bed, then she and Dan gathered up the preschoolers and told them it was bath time, leaving Catherine and Ray in the dining room.

“Can I get you another cup of coffee?” Catherine asked.

“That sounds good. Thanks.”

Minutes later she returned with the carafe and filled his cup, then her own.

“Dan told me that you might be interested in some part-time work,” Ray said.

Catherine had no idea how long she’d be in Brighton Valley, but it would probably be at least a month. So she’d thought about trying to earn a little cash while she was here.

Of course, if truth be told, she didn’t have many skills that would come in handy in a place like Brighton Valley.

“I’m interested,” she said, lifting her coffee cup and taking a sip. “As long as it was only temporary. Do you know of a position that’s open?”

“Yes, I do. And it’s probably right up your alley.”

Catherine couldn’t imagine what it might be. She was just about to ask for more details when she realized that Ray had zeroed in on her again, as if mesmerized or intrigued by her.

If she were in Manhattan, dressed to the nines, she might have taken his interest as a compliment. As it was, she didn’t know what to think.

“What kind of job is it?” she asked.

“It’s a little unorthodox,” he admitted, “but it’s only part-time, and the money’s good.”

“Who would I be working for? And what would I be doing?”

“You’d be working for me. I need an actress, and you’d be perfect for the part.”

“I don’t understand.” Catherine lifted her cup and took another sip.

“I need a fiancée,” Ray said.

Catherine choked on her coffee. “Excuse me?”

“I want people in town to think that I’m in a committed relationship. And Dan thinks you have the acting skills to pull it off.”

“Why in the world would a man like you need to hire a girlfriend?” Once the words were off her tongue, she wanted to take them back. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m not sure I’m following you.”

“Okay, let me explain. I need a temporary escort to attend various community functions with me, and it would be best if people had the idea that we were serious about each other.”

Did he think that was an explanation? He’d merely reworded the job description.

“There are a lot of single women in town who’ve been making my life difficult,” he added. “And for some reason, they seem to think I’m actively looking for another wife.”

“But you’re not?”

“No. At least, not for the foreseeable future. My divorce became final a month ago, although my ex-wife moved out nearly two years ago. So I’m not in any hurry to jump into another relationship. I’ve tried to explain that to people, but apparently they don’t believe me.”

“Maybe you should be more direct.”

“I thought I was. And I’d rather not alienate or anger any of my constituents.”

Constituents? Oh, yes. Eva had mentioned he was also the mayor of Brighton Valley. So that meant he was dealing with small-town politics.

Either way Catherine thought the whole idea was a little weird—if not a bit laughable. But then again, she could use the work—and she was an actress.

“How long do you need my help?” she asked.

“Until my interim position as mayor is over—or for as long as you’re in town. Whichever comes first.”

He seemed to have it all planned out.

“I’ll pay you a thousand dollars a week,” he added.

Catherine was still trying to wrap her mind around his job offer, which was crazy. But the money he would pay spoke louder than the craziness, and against her better judgment, she found herself leaning toward an agreement.

“What would your fiancée have to do?” she asked.

Ray sketched an appreciative gaze over her that sent her senses reeling and had her wondering just how far he’d want her to go in playing the part.

“I have to attend a lot of events and fundraisers, so it would be nice to have you go with me whenever possible. I even have a ring for you to wear on your left hand, which you can return when the job is over.”

He was including the props?

This was wild. Pretending to be engaged to Ray Mendez was probably the craziest job offer she’d ever had, but she supposed it really didn’t matter. If he was willing to pay for her acting skills, then why not go along with it?

“All right,” she finally said. “You’ve got yourself a deal. When do I start?”

“Why don’t you meet me for lunch at Caroline’s tomorrow? A lot of the locals will be there, so it’ll be a good way to send out the message that I’m already taken.”

“And then…?”

“I don’t know.” He stroked his square-cut jaw. “Maybe I could greet you with a kiss, then we’ll play it by ear. Hopefully, the rumor mill will kick into gear right away.”

“What if it doesn’t?”

He gave a half shrug. “I guess we’ll have to take things day by day.”

“So you just want me to have lunch with you tomorrow?”

“Actually, later that evening, I also have a charity event to attend at the Brighton Valley Medical Center. It’s a benefit for the new neonatal intensive care unit, and it would probably be a good idea if we walked in together, holding hands. Maybe, if you looked at me a little starry-eyed, people would get the message.”

“You want me to look at you starry-eyed?”

“Hell, I don’t know how to explain it. You’re a woman—and an actress. Just do whatever you’d do if we were actually engaged or at least committed to each other. I want people to think we’re a real couple.”

“Okay. I can do that. But what’s the dress code tomorrow night?”

“I’ll be wearing a sport jacket.”

She bit down on her bottom lip, then glanced down at the simple blouse and black jeans she was wearing now. If truth be told, it was the fanciest outfit she’d brought with her.

“What’s the matter?” he asked.

“If we were in New York, it wouldn’t be a problem for me to find the right thing to wear. But I’m afraid I didn’t plan to do anything other than kick back on the ranch and play with the kids while I’m here, so I only packed casual outfits.”

“That’s not a problem.” He scooted back his chair and reached into the pocket of his jeans. He pulled out a money clip with a wad of bills, peeled off three hundred dollars and handed it to her. “After lunch tomorrow you can walk down the street to The Boutique. It’s a shop located a few doors down from the diner.”

Catherine couldn’t imagine what type of clothing she’d find in Brighton Valley, but then again, she’d chosen to come to Texas because it was light-years from Manhattan and her memories there. She supposed she would have to adjust her tastes to the styles small-town women found appealing—or at least affordable.

She stole another glance at the handsome rancher seated across the table from her to find that he was studying her, too. Sexual awareness fluttered through her like a swarm of lovesick butterflies.

But that shouldn’t surprise her. Ray Mendez was a handsome man. No wonder every woman in town was after him.

Of course, he was paying her to keep the other women at bay.

It would be an easy job, she decided—and one she might actually enjoy. Her biggest Broadway role had been the mistress of a 1920s Chicago mobster. The actor who’d played her lover had been twenty years older than she and about forty pounds overweight. His ruddy appearance had suited the character he’d played, although it had taken some real skills on her part to pretend she was sexually attracted to him.

Ray Mendez was going to make a much better costar, though—especially if her role was going to require a few starry-eyed gazes, some hand-holding and maybe a kiss or two.

For the first time since leaving Manhattan, she was actually looking forward to getting on stage again.

Chapter Two

At a few minutes before noon, Ray stood in front of Caroline’s Diner, waiting for his hired fiancée to arrive. The plan had been for Catherine to borrow Eva’s minivan, then to meet him in town.

To his surprise, he was actually looking forward to seeing her again—and not just because she was the solution to one of his many problems.

Even when she’d been wearing sweatpants and an oversize T-shirt, the tall, leggy blonde with bed-head curls had been a lovely sight. Her blue-green eyes—almost a turquoise shade, really—and an expressive smile only added to the overall effect.

Of course, those little heart and flower stickers that the younger Walker twins had stuck on her face while she’d slept had been an interesting touch.

When Ray had pointed them out, she’d made a joke of it without missing a beat. And that meant she would probably be able to handle anything the townspeople might throw at her. If anyone quizzed her about their past or their plans for the future, she’d be quick on her feet.

They hadn’t talked much after dinner last night, since Dan and Eva had returned to the table once they’d gotten the kids in bed. But they’d managed to concoct a believable past for their imaginary romance.

Fortunately, she wasn’t a well-known Broadway actress, so they’d agreed to tell people they’d met in Houston six months ago and that they’d been dating ever since.

The day Ray’s divorce had been final—after two long years in legal limbo—he’d proposed over a glass of champagne during a candlelit dinner in the city. She’d accepted, although they’d decided not to make an official announcement of their engagement until she could take some vacation time and come to Brighton Valley.

So now here he was, standing outside Caroline’s Diner, ready to reveal their phony engagement to the locals who’d already begun to file into the small restaurant and fill the tables.

Ray glanced at his wristwatch again, knowing that he’d arrived a few minutes early and realizing that Catherine really wasn’t late. Rather, he was a little nervous. Could they pull it off?

“Hello, Mayor,” a woman called out in a chipper voice.

Ray glanced up to see Melanie Robertson approaching the diner wearing a smile.

Aw, man. This was just the kind of thing he’d been trying to avoid. Where was his “fiancée” when he needed her?

“Are you waiting for someone?” Melanie asked. “Or would you like to join Carla Guerrero and me for lunch?”

“Thanks for the offer, but I am meeting someone.”

“Is it business or pleasure?” she asked, her lashes fluttering in a flirtatious manner.

“It’s definitely pleasure.” Out of the corner of his eye he spotted Catherine walking down the street. At least, that tall, blonde stranger striding toward him appeared to be the woman he’d met last night.

She’d told him that she hadn’t brought anything fancy to Texas, but… hot damn. She hadn’t needed a shopping trip for their lunch today. A pair of tight jeans, a little makeup and a dab of lipstick had made a stunning transformation from attractive girl next door to dazzling.

“Hi, honey.” Catherine burst into a smile as she reached him. “I’m sorry I’m late.”

Then she leaned forward and brushed her lips across his, giving him a brief hint of peppermint breath mints.

Her fragrance—something light and exotic—snaked around him, squeezing the air out of his lungs and making it nearly impossible to speak.

Then she turned to Melanie, offered a confident, bright-eyed smile and reached out her hand in greeting. “Hi, I’m Catherine Loza.”

The same pesky cat that seemed to have gotten Ray’s tongue appeared to have captured Melanie’s, as well. He could understand her surprised reaction to Catherine’s arrival and greeting, but not his own. Not when he’d been the one to set up the whole fake fiancée thing in the first place.

So why had Catherine’s performance set him off balance?

Because she was so damn good at what she was doing, he supposed.

Shaking off the real effects of the pretend kiss, he introduced the women, adding, “Melanie’s family owns the ice cream shop down the street.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Catherine said.

Melanie, whose eyes kept bouncing from Ray to his “date” and back again, said, “Same here. I… uh…” She nodded toward the entrance of Caroline’s Diner. “I came to have lunch with a coworker, so I guess I’ll see you two inside.” Then she reached for the door and let herself in.

Well, what do you know? Catherine had been on the job only a minute or two, and the ploy was already working like a charm.

When they were alone, she asked, “So how did I do?”

“You were great.” In fact, she was better than great. She both looked and acted the part of a loving fiancée, and even Ray found himself believing the romantic story they’d concocted was true.

“Now what?” she asked. “Did you want to go inside?”

“Yes, but I’ve got something to give you first. Come with me.” Ray led her to the street corner, then turned to the left. When they reached the alley, he made a second left.

Once they were out of plain sight, he reached into the lapel pocket of his leather jacket and removed a small, velvet-covered box. Then he lifted the lid and revealed an engagement ring.

“Will this work?” he asked.

Catherine’s breath caught as she peered at what appeared to be an antique, which had been cleaned and polished. The diamond, while fairly small, glistened in the sunlight.

“It was my grandmother’s,” he said.

“It’s beautiful.” She doubted the ring was costly, but she imagined that the sentimental value was priceless. “I’ve never had an heirloom, so I’ll take good care of it.”

Then she removed the ring from the box and slipped it on the ring finger of her left hand, surprised that it actually fit.

For a moment, she wondered about the woman who’d worn it before her, about the relationship she’d had with her husband—and with her grandson. She suspected they’d been close.

When she looked at Ray, when their eyes met and their gazes locked, she asked, “What was her name?”

The question seemed to sideswipe him. “Who?”

“Your grandmother.”

He paused, as if the reminder had surprised him as much as the question had, then said, “Her name was Elena.”

Catherine lifted her hand and studied the setting a bit longer. It was an old-fashioned piece of jewelry, yet it had been polished to a pretty shine.

When she looked up again, he was watching her intently.

“What’s the matter?” she asked.

He didn’t respond right away, and when she thought that he might not, he said, “I know that ring isn’t anything most people would consider impressive, but it meant a lot to my grandmother.”

Catherine’s mother had worn a single gold band, although she wasn’t sure it had meant much to her. And when she’d passed away, the family had buried her with it still on her finger. As far as Catherine knew, not one of her siblings had mentioned wanting to inherit it.

But Ray’s ring was different—special.

“It’s actually an honor to wear this.” She studied the setting a moment longer, then turned to Ray, whose gaze nearly set her heart on end.

So she repeated what she’d told him before, “I’ll take good care of it while it’s in my possession.”

“Thanks. I’m glad you can appreciate the sentiment attached to it. Not all women can.”

He’d mentioned being recently divorced, so she couldn’t help wondering if he was talking about his ex-wife.

Had she worn it? Had she given it back to him when they’d split?

Not that it mattered, she supposed.

“So,” he said, “are you ready to have lunch now?”

When she nodded, he took her hand and led her back to the diner, where they would begin their performance. They were a team, she supposed. Costars in a sense.

They also had something else in common—hearts on the mend.

Ray opened the glass door, allowing Catherine to enter first. While waiting for him to choose a table, she scanned the quaint interior of the small-town eatery, with its white café-style curtains on the front windows, as well as the yellow walls that were adorned by a trellis of daisies on the wallpaper border.

To the right of an old-fashioned cash register stood a refrigerated display case filled with pies and cakes—each one clearly homemade.

She glanced at a blackboard that advertised a full meal for only $7.99.

In bright yellow chalk, someone had written, What the Sheriff Ate, followed by, Chicken-Fried Steak, Buttered Green Beans, Mashed Potatoes, Country Gravy and Apple Pie.

The advertised special sounded delicious, but she’d have to watch what she ate today. When she’d gotten dressed back at the ranch, she’d struggled to zip her jeans and found them so snug in the waist that she’d been tempted to leave the top button undone or to wear something else.

If she didn’t start cutting out all the fat and the carbs she’d been consuming since arriving in Brighton Valley, she was going to return to New York twenty pounds heavier. And where would that leave her when it came time to audition for her next part?

Of course, after that stunt Erik Carmichael had pulled, she’d be lucky if other producers didn’t blackball her by association alone.

How could she have been so gullible, so blind? The one person she’d trusted completely had pulled the cashmere over her eyes. And while she feared that she’d been hard-pressed to trust another man again, it was her own gullibility that frightened her the most.

As Ray placed his hand on her lower back, claiming her in an intimate way, she shook off the bad memories and focused on the here and now.

“There’s a place for us to sit.” With his hand still warming her back, he ushered her to a table for two in the center of the restaurant, then pulled out her chair.

It was the perfect spot, she supposed. Everyone in the diner would see them together, which was what Ray had planned—and what he was paying for. So as soon as he’d taken the seat across from hers, she leaned forward, placed her hand over the top of his and put on her happiest smile. “I’ve missed you, Ray. It’s so good to be together again.”

His lips quirked into a crooked grin, and his green eyes sparked. “It’s been rough, hasn’t it?”

When she nodded, he tilted his hand to the side, wrapped his fingers around hers and gave them a gentle, affectionate squeeze. “I’m glad to have you with me for a change.”

Before Catherine could manage a response, a salt-and-pepper-haired waitress stopped by their table and smiled. “Hello, Mayor. Can I get you and your friend something to drink?”

“You sure can, Margie. I’d like a glass of iced tea.” Ray gave Catherine’s hand another little squeeze. “What would you like, honey?”

“Water will be fine.”

At the term of endearment, Margie’s head tilted to the side. Then her gaze zeroed in on their clasped hands. Instead of heading for the kitchen, she paused, her eyes widening and her lips parting.

“We’ll need a few minutes to look over the menu,” Ray told the stunned waitress.

Margie lingered a moment, as if she’d lost track of what she was doing. Then she addressed Catherine. “I haven’t seen you in town before. Are you new or just passing through?”

Catherine offered her a friendly smile. “I’m visiting for the next couple of weeks, but I’m not really passing through. I plan to move here before the end of summer.”

“Well, now. Isn’t that nice.” Margie shifted her weight to one hip, clearly intrigued by Catherine. “Where are you staying?”

“With me,” Ray said. “You’re the first one outside the Walker family to meet my fiancée, Margie.”

“Well, now. Imagine that.” The waitress beamed, her cheeks growing rosy. “What a nice surprise. Of course, there’s going to be a lot of heartbroken young women in town when they learn that our handsome young mayor is… already taken.”

“I doubt that anyone will shed a tear over that,” Ray said, turning to Catherine and giving her a wink. “But I’m definitely taken. And I was from the very first moment I laid eyes on her in Houston.”

Catherine reached for the menu with her left hand, taking care to flash the diamond on her finger. Then she stole a peek at Margie to see if the older woman had noticed—and she had.

When the waitress finally left the table, Ray said, “Margie is a great gal, but she’s a real talker. By nightfall, the news of our engagement will be all over town.”

As Catherine scanned the diner, which had filled with the lunch crowd, she realized that Margie might not have to say much at all, since everyone else seemed to be focusing their attention on her and coming to their own conclusions.

“So what are you going to have?” she asked as she opened the menu and tried to get back into character.

“If I hadn’t already eaten a good breakfast at the Rotary Club meeting this morning, I’d have the daily special. But Caroline’s helpings are usually more than filling, so I’ll probably get a sandwich instead.”

Moments later, Margie returned with her pad and pencil, ready to take their orders. “So what’ll you have?”

“I’d like the cottage cheese and fruit,” Catherine said.

Ray asked for a BLT with fries.

After jotting down their requests, Margie remained at the table, her eyes on Catherine. “So what do you think of Brighton Valley so far?”

“It’s a lovely town. I’m going to like living here.”

“I’m sure you will.” Margie smiled wistfully. “My husband and I came here to visit his sister one summer, and we were so impressed with the people and the small-town atmosphere that we went back to Austin, sold our house and moved out here for good. In fact, it was the single best thing we ever did for our family. Brighton Valley has got to be the greatest place in the world to raise kids.”

“That’s what I’ve been telling her,” Ray said. “So I’m glad you’re backing me up.”

“Well, let me be the first to congratulate you on your engagement,” Margie said, “and to welcome you to the best little town in all of Texas.”

“Thank you.”

Margie nodded toward the kitchen. “Well, it was nice meeting you, but I’d better turn in your orders before you die of hunger.”

When the waitress left them alone again, Ray reached into his pocket, pulled out a single key, as well as a business card, and handed it to Catherine. “This will get you into the apartment I keep in town, which is just down the street. I’ll point it out to you later.”

She placed the key into the pocket on the inside of her purse, then fingered the card with his contact information at both the Broken M Ranch and City Hall.

“After you go shopping at The Boutique,” he added, “you can hang out and wait for me at my place. I should be home by five or five-thirty.”

“All right. I’ll be dressed and ready to go by the time you get there.”

“Good. I’ve got some snacks in the pantry and drinks in the fridge. But if there’s anything else you need, give me a call and I’ll pick it up for you.”

Anything she needed?

For the hospital benefit? Or was he talking about the duration of her acting gig?

She recalled the day Erik Carmichael had given her the key to his place, pretty much telling her the same thing, so she wasn’t sure.

“Did you bring an overnight bag?” he asked.

No, only her makeup pouch. He hadn’t said anything about spending the night.

Where are you staying? Margie had asked Ray just moments ago. And without batting an eye, he’d said, With me.

Was he expecting Catherine to actually move into his apartment while they pretended to be lovers? He hadn’t mentioned anything about that when they’d discussed the job and his expectations last night.

“We’ll probably be out late this evening,” he added, then he bent forward and lowered his voice to a whisper. “It’ll be easier that way.”

She supposed it would be. And if they wanted everyone in town to assume they were lovers, staying together would make the whole idea a lot more believable.

They could, she supposed, talk about the sleeping arrangements later, but she assumed that she’d be using the sofa.

Of course, she wasn’t sure what he had in mind, but she’d have to deal with that when the time came. Right now, she had a job to do.

She had to convince everyone in town that she was Ray Mendez’s fiancée.

After Ray had paid the bill and left Margie a generous tip, he opened the door for Catherine and waited for her to exit. Once he’d followed her outside, they would be the talk of the diner, and that was just what he’d wanted.

Catherine had done all he’d asked of her. She’d looked at him a little starry-eyed, and she’d also used her hands when she’d talked, which had shown off the diamond his grandfather had placed upon his grandmother’s finger more than seventy-five years ago.

She’d seemed to be genuinely impressed by the ring, although he supposed that could have been part of the act. But something told him that wasn’t the case, which was more than a little surprising.

Before offering the ring to Heather, he’d had it cleaned and polished. But she’d turned up her nose at wearing something that wasn’t brand-new and expensive. So, like a fool, he’d gone into Houston and purchased her a two-carat diamond, which she’d taken with her when she’d told him she wanted a divorce and moved out of the ranch house.

He supposed he’d have to be thankful for Heather’s greed in that respect. Otherwise, he would have lost his grandmother’s ring completely—or paid through the nose to get it back, since Heather had known how much it had meant to him. And if she’d had one more thing to hold over him, they might still be in the midst of divorce negotiations.

On the other hand, Catherine seemed to have a lot more respect for the family heirloom. When she’d studied the diamond in the sunlight, she’d even asked his grandmother’s name, although Ray had been so caught up in the memory of Heather scrunching up her face at the ring that Catherine’s question had completely sideswiped him.

Now, as they stood outside the diner, in the mottled shade of one of the many elm trees that lined Main Street, Ray pointed to his right. “The Boutique is located right next to the ice cream shop. And several doors down, you’ll see the drugstore. There’s a little red door to the left of it, which is the stairway that leads to my apartment.”

“Thanks. After I buy the dress, I’ll probably do some window shopping while I’m here. If anyone asks me who I am, I’ll tell them I’m your fiancée. And that I’m staying with you.”

“That’s a good idea.” He probably ought to start the walk back to City Hall, but for some reason, he couldn’t quite tear himself away.

Outside, even in the dappled sunlight, the platinum strands of her hair glistened like white gold. And when she looked at him like that, smiling as though they were both involved in some kind of romantic secret, he noticed the green flecks in her irises that made her eyes appear to be a turquoise shade. It was an amazing color.

And she was an amazing… actress.

In fact, she was so good at what she did that he’d have to be careful not to confuse what was real and what wasn’t.

“Thanks for helping me out,” he said.

“You’re welcome.” She didn’t budge either, which meant she was waiting for him to make the first move. But there were people seated near the windows of Caroline’s Diner, people who were watching the two phony lovers through the glass.

“Well, I’d better go,” he said. “I’ve got to get back to City Hall before it gets much later. Do you have enough money to cover the dress and any incidentals you might need?”

She patted the side of her purse. “I sure do. And it’s plenty. I’ll probably have change to give you this evening when you get home.”

Change? Now, that was a surprise. Even when they’d only been dating, Heather would have spent the entire wad and then some. And once he’d slipped a ring on her finger… well, things had just gone from bad to worse.

He was just about to say goodbye and send Catherine on her way when she eased forward, rose on tiptoe and lifted her lips to kiss him goodbye.

Of course.

Great idea.

There was an audience present, and they were two people in love. A goodbye kiss was definitely in order.

Ray stepped in and lowered his mouth to hers, but as their lips met, he found himself wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close, savoring the feel of her in his arms, the scent of her shampoo, the taste of her….

Oh, wow.

As he slipped into fiancé mode, the kiss seemed to take on a life of its own, deepening—although not in a sexual or inappropriate public display. In fact, to anyone who might be peering at them from inside the diner, their parting kiss would appear to be sweet and affectionate.

Yet on the inside of Ray, where no one else was privy, it caused his gut to clench and his blood to stir.

She placed her hand—the one that bore his grandmother’s ring—on his face and smiled adoringly. As she slowly dropped her left hand, her fingers trailed down his cheek, sending ripples of heat radiating to his jaw and taunting him with sexual awareness.

Damn she was good. She even had him thinking there was something going on between them. No wonder Hollywood actors and actresses were constantly switching partners.

He’d best keep that fact in mind. The last thing in the world he needed to do was to get caught up in the act and to confuse fantasy with reality.

Chapter Three

When Ray entered his apartment at a quarter to five, he found Catherine seated on the sofa, watching television.

“You’re home early,” she said, reaching for the remote. After turning off the power, she stood to greet him.

But just the sight of the tall, shapely blonde wearing a classic black dress and heels made him freeze in his tracks.

“What do you think?” She turned around, showing him the new outfit she’d chosen.

“It’s amazing,” he said. And he wasn’t just talking about the dress. Her transformation from actress to cover model had nearly thrown him for a loop.

Each time he saw Catherine, she morphed into a woman who was even more beautiful than the last.

Is that what dating an actress would be like? Having a different woman each time they went out?

If so, the part of him that enjoyed an occasional male fantasy sat up and took notice.

“I even found a pair of heels and an evening bag,” she said, striding for the lamp table to show him a small beaded purse.

“You found all of that at The Boutique?” He’d expected her to complain about the out-of-date inventory at Brighton Valley’s only ladies dress shop. Heather, who wasn’t even from a place as style conscious as New York, certainly had.

“No,” Catherine said, “I had to go to Zapatos, the shoe store across the street, for the heels and bag.

What do you think? Will this do?”

Would it do?

“Absolutely.” She looked like a million bucks, which had him thinking he’d better reach for his wallet. “I couldn’t have given you enough money to pay for all of that.”

“Oh, yes, you did.” She smiled, lighting those blue-green eyes and revealing two of the prettiest dimples he’d ever seen. “I even have a few dollars change for you.”

Again, the compulsion to compare her to his ex-wife struck him hard, but he shook it off. Heather was long gone—thank goodness. And now, thanks to Catherine, Ray wouldn’t need to weed out the gold diggers from the dating pool until he was ready to.

“I’ll take a quick shower,” he said. “Just give me a couple of minutes.”

After snatching his clothes from the bedroom, he headed for the bathroom. Then, once inside, he turned on the spigot and waited for the water to heat.

Surprisingly, he was actually looking forward to attending the hospital benefit tonight, especially since he would walk in with Catherine on his arm. A man could get used to looking at a woman like her—and talking to her, too.

Of course, he was paying her to be pleasant and agreeable. If they’d met on different terms, it might be another story altogether.

He had to admit that he’d gone out on a limb by hiring a fake fiancée, but after all he’d been through with Heather, after all their divorce had cost him, he wasn’t ready to date again. And even when he was ready to give it another go, he didn’t think he’d ever want to get married again.

What a nightmare his marriage had turned out to be.

Of course, if he wanted to have a child, he’d have to reconsider. After all, as the only son of an only son, Ray had no one to leave his ranch and holdings to unless he had an heir. But he was still young—thirty-six on his next birthday—so he had plenty of time to think about having children.

He reached into the shower stall and felt the water growing warm, so he peeled off his clothes and stepped under the steady stream of water. As he reached for the bar of soap, he found Catherine’s lavender-colored razor resting next to it, along with her yellow bath gel.

It was weird to see feminine toiletries in his bathroom again. He’d been living without a woman under his roof for nearly two years, so he’d gotten used to having the place to himself.

Still, he reached for the plastic bottle, popped open the lid and took a whiff of Catherine’s soap. The exotic floral fragrance reminded him of her.

Again he realized that he could get used to coming home to a beautiful blonde like Catherine, to having her ask how his day went, to stepping into her embrace and breathing in her scent. But the Catherine who’d spent the lunch hour with him earlier today wasn’t real.

He’d employed her to be the perfect fiancée, and she was merely doing her job.

Even if he got caught up in the act, if he let down his guard, believing Catherine was different and allowing himself to see her in a romantic light, he’d be making another big mistake.

After all, he’d made up his mind to steer clear of big-city women from here on out—and cities didn’t get much bigger than Manhattan.

Besides, he now realized that he needed someone with both of her feet firmly planted on Brighton Valley soil.

And Catherine was only passing through.

Ray snatched one of the brown fluffy towels from the rack on the wall and dried off. After shaving and splashing on a bit of cologne, he put on his clothes—black slacks and a white dress shirt, which he left open at the collar.

After he’d combed his hair, he removed his black, Western-cut jacket from the hanger and slipped it on. Then he returned to the living room where Catherine waited for him.

She wasn’t watching television this time. She was standing near the window, looking out onto Main Street. She turned when she heard his footsteps, gave him a once-over and smiled. “You look great.”

He didn’t know about that, but he figured people were going to think that they’d planned coordinating outfits.

“Thanks,” he said. “So do you. You’re going to knock the socks off every man at the benefit—married or not.”

“Well, you’re no slouch, Mayor. Especially when you get all dressed up. So maybe I ought to worry about running into a few jealous women tonight.” A slow smile stretched across her face. “I might have to charge hazard pay.”

He chuckled. “There might be a few who’ll be sorry to learn I’m taken, but they’ll be polite about it.” He nodded toward the bedroom door. “I need to get my boots. I’ll be right back.”

Minutes later, he returned to the living room, ready to go.

“So tell me,” Catherine said, as she reached for her small, beaded evening bag. “What made you decide to run for mayor of Brighton Valley?”

“I didn’t actually run for mayor. Six months ago, after a couple of beers down at the Stagecoach Inn, I had a weak moment and agreed to run for a vacant city council seat. I’d never really wanted to get involved in politics, so I almost backed out the next day. But then I realized I might be able to make a difference in the community, so I went through with it.”

“Apparently the citizens of Brighton Valley agreed with you.”

“I guess you’re right, because I won hands down. Then, a few weeks ago, Jim Cornwall, the elected mayor, was trimming a tree in his backyard and fell off the ladder. He suffered a skull fracture, as well as several other serious injuries. He’ll be laid up for some time, so I was asked to fill the position until he returns.”

“That’s quite the compliment,” she said.

“You’re right, which is why I reluctantly agreed. Trouble was, I had enough on my plate already, with a land deal I’m in the midst of negotiating and a new horse-breeding operation that’s just getting under way.”

Then, on top of that, his life had been further complicated by all the single women coming out of the woodwork, now that he was single again. And if there was anything he didn’t need in his life right now, it was more complications—especially of the female variety.

“Something tells me you’ll be able to handle it.”

She was right, of course. Ray Mendez was no quitter. He was also an idea man who could think himself out of most any dilemma.

So here he was, preparing to go to a charity event at the Brighton Valley Medical Center with a hired fiancée, albeit a lovely woman who was sure to make a splash when they walked into the hospital side by side.

Ray had never been one to want center stage, yet he didn’t really mind it tonight, since he knew he’d be in good hands with an accomplished actress. So, with their employment agreement binding them, they were about to make their evening debut.

Now, as he opened the door of his apartment, the curtain was going up and the show was on. He probably ought to have a little stage fright, but he wasn’t the least bit apprehensive.

Catherine, as he’d found out at their matinee performance earlier today, just outside Caroline’s Diner, was one heck of an actress. All he had to do was to follow her lead.

In fact, he was looking forward to being with her tonight, to watching their act unfold.

When it was over, they’d head back to his place. He wasn’t sure what would happen after that. They’d have a debriefing, he supposed. And maybe they’d kick back and watch a little TV.

He really hadn’t given the rest of the evening any thought. Yet something told him he should have. He was finding his hired fiancée a little too attractive to just let the chips fall where they might.

As Catherine and Ray entered the hospital pavilion, which had been decorated with blinking white lights, black tablecloths and vases of red roses, she instinctively reached for his hand.

She wished she could say it had been part of the act, but the truth was, she was having a bit of stage fright—as unusual as that was.

He wrapped his fingers around hers and gave them a conspiratorial squeeze. “Good idea.”

She wished she could have taken full credit for the hand-holding, but she’d done it without any forethought.

During the ten-minute drive from his downtown apartment to the medical center, she’d been so engrossed by the tall, dark and handsome man across the seat from her, so mesmerized by his sexy Texas drawl, that she couldn’t help thinking of this evening as a date, rather than a job. So when they’d entered the pavilion and she’d spotted a sea of strangers, she’d reached for a friend.

At least, that’s the way it had felt at the time.

But he was right; slipping her hand into his had been the perfect move—under the circumstances.

So what if his warm grip was actually comforting and she found herself feeling energized by the connection, strengthened by it.

Ray led her toward a petite Latina who was greeting an older man dressed in a gray suit and bold tie.

“I want to introduce you to Dr. Ramirez,” he said upon their approach. “She’s one of the major players trying to fund a neonatal intensive care unit at Brighton Valley Medical Center.”

The attractive doctor who, even in high heels, didn’t appear to be much taller than five foot two, was stylishly dressed in turquoise and black.

“Selena,” Ray said, “I’d like you to meet my fiancée, Catherine Loza.”

The doctor brightened, and as she reached out in greeting, Catherine released her hold on Ray long enough to give the woman a polite shake.

“I didn’t realize Ray was engaged,” Selena Ramirez said, “but it’s no surprise. He’s a great guy.”

“I couldn’t agree more.” Catherine wondered if Selena had been one of the single women in town who’d been after Ray, although she certainly wasn’t giving off those kinds of vibes now.

Even Melanie Robertson, the woman she’d met in front of the diner, had seemed a little disappointed—and maybe even envious—when she’d gotten the message that the handsome, single mayor was now taken.

“Selena is an obstetrician,” Ray added. “She’s been actively working with the city council to support the efforts to build the NICU.”

“As it is,” Selena explained, “our smallest preemies have to be airlifted to Houston. And I’d like to provide our mothers with the assurance that their babies are getting the best care available here at the medical center.”

Ray nodded in agreement. “That reality really hit home for all of us when one of the councilmen’s granddaughter was born. She had some serious problems at birth and had to be transported to the nearest neonatal unit. That’s when we agreed to open our wallets and do whatever we could to help.”

“That must have been a scary time for the councilman’s family,” Catherine said.

“It was.” Selena’s face grew solemn. “And sadly, their baby didn’t make it.”

Just hearing of a new mother’s loss tore at Catherine’s heart. She loved children and had hoped to have one or two of her own someday, but she’d had so many female problems in the past, including cysts on one of her ovaries and surgery to remove it, that the doctors had told her years ago that she wasn’t likely to conceive. So her chances of having a baby of her own were slim to none.

She’d been more than a little disappointed upon learning the news, but she’d come to grips with it.

“I’d be happy to lend my support,” Catherine said. “When Jennifer Walker’s twins were born, they were several weeks early. But thanks to their time spent in a top-notch neonatal unit, they came home healthy and were soon thriving. So I know how valuable it is to have a NICU at the medical center.”

“Jennifer Walker’s twins? Are you talking about Kaylee and Kevin?”

Catherine nodded. “I used to be Jenn’s roommate in New York.”

“So that’s how you met Ray,” Selena surmised, “through Dan and Eva.”

Uh-oh. That hadn’t been part of the story she and Ray had created last night, but it was the truth, so she nodded in agreement. “That’s how we first met, of course. But nothing came of it. Then we ran into each other again in Houston six months ago. He attended one of my performances and came to visit me backstage—just to say hello. He asked me to have a drink with him, and one thing led to another.”

“You’re a performer?” Selena asked.

“I sing a little and dance.” Catherine thought it might be a good idea to downplay the acting.

“That’s wonderful. Our next benefit is a talent show, so it would be nice if you took part in it.”

Catherine was at a loss, and she glanced at Ray, hoping he’d toss her a lifeline of some kind.

“That’s on the second Saturday of this month,” Ray said. “Right?”

Selena nodded. “Can we count on you to perform?”

Good grief, Ray was leaving it up to her. But then again, she supposed that was only fair. He couldn’t very well schedule her every waking moment.

“I’ll see what kind of act I can come up with,” Catherine said.

“That’s great,” Selena said. “Clarissa Eubanks is in charge of the talent show. I’ll tell her to call the mayor’s office for contact information.”

“I’ll make it easy on both of you,” Ray said. “Catherine’s staying with me.”

They made the usual small talk for a while, then Selena saw someone else she needed to greet.

“Congratulations on your engagement,” she said as she prepared to walk away. “I hope you’ll be very happy together.”

“Thank you. I’m sure we will.” Catherine turned to Ray and blessed him with a lover’s smile, which he returned in full force.

For a moment, as their gazes zeroed in on each other again, something she couldn’t quite define passed between them, something warm and filling.

He reached to take her hand again, and as his fingers wrapped around hers, the shattered edges of her heart, which had been damaged by Erik’s deceit, melded into one another, as if beginning a much-needed healing process.

Coming to Brighton Valley had been a good idea, she decided.

With her hand tucked in Ray’s, reinforcing whatever tentative bond they’d forged just moments ago, her past turned a brand-new corner, revealing a future rife with promise and possibilities.

And for one brief moment in time, she could almost imagine that future including Ray Mendez.

Ever since Ray had agreed to take the job as the interim mayor of Brighton Valley, he’d spent more time at various benefits, ribbon-cutting ceremonies and dinner meetings than he’d imagined possible.

In fact, just thirty-six hours ago, he’d dreaded attending this very event.

Not that he didn’t fully support the building of a new neonatal intensive care unit. He did, but he’d been waking up each morning at four, just so he could tend to his personal business commitments, as well as the political obligations that now filled his calendar.

Yet tonight, with lovely Catherine on his arm, the hospital benefit had not only been tolerable, but surprisingly pleasant.

Of course, now as the evening was winding down, he and Catherine had become separated once again. Usually they’d split up due to someone wanting to speak to him privately about one matter or another. But a couple of times, someone else had whisked Catherine away to introduce her to somebody she “just had to meet.”

However, they’d always managed to find each other in the midst of the milling crowd.

Even from across the room, their gazes would meet. And when they did, Catherine would look at Ray with a lover’s yearning. At least, that’s the way it felt to him.

The first time it had happened, he’d been so unbalanced by the expression on her face that his breath had caught. But after a while he’d actually come to look forward to their eye contact.

What was with that?

He knew that their so-called romance was all an act, but he’d gotten so caught up in their performance that he’d found himself seeking her out, just to catch her eye.

And there she was now, standing next to a potted palm, talking to one of the doctors’ wives. And here it came—the glance his way, the look, the smile, the expression that announced she would much rather be curled up in bed with him.

She was good. Really good. And it was all he could do to remember that they’d only just met, that she was his employee, that they hadn’t slept together—and that they would never even consider it.

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