Christine Rimmer - The Lawman's Convenient Bride

By the time she’d sold the women a mixed bouquet each, Seth had given up and left. She found the card he’d been trying to hand her on the design counter next to the partially shaved cube of foam. Shaking her head, she stuck it in her apron pocket.

And then she banished Seth Yancy from her thoughts.

Humming softly to herself, she went back to work arranging peonies, roses, green hydrangeas, maidenhair ferns and two gorgeous green-tipped purple Fiesole artichokes in a mercury glass compote bowl.

* * *

On Friday, Seth called her at home. He wanted to know how she was doing. She said she felt great.

He said, “If you need anything, you’ll call me?”

“Absolutely,” she replied and refused to think too deeply as to whether or not that was true.

A few minutes after she hung up, she got another call—this time on her cell. It was her sister Nell, who ran a construction business with their brother Garrett. Nellie wanted to fly to Phoenix that weekend for a home show. “Just checking in to be sure you’re doing all right before I even think about deserting you.”

“You’re not deserting me. Nothing is happening here. Go.”

“I might stay over until Tuesday or Wednesday. Visit with an...old friend.”

“You know you sort of paused before the ‘old friend’ part, right?”

“What can I say? It’s a business-with-pleasure kind of situation.”

“Nellie.”

“Um?”

“Have a fabulous time.”

“I will—and you would tell me if there were any signs you’re going into labor, right? Any spotting or weird cramping or if the baby had dropped?”

“Of course I would. My due date is four weeks out, and there’s nothing to worry about.”

Nellie started waffling. “You know, the more I think about it, four weeks isn’t that far off. Anything could happen in the meantime.”

“Nellie. Stop. There is nothing for you to worry about. And anyway, Clara’s here if I need her.”

“And also Elise,” Nellie added helpfully.

Jody hesitated. She really didn’t want Nell to talk herself out of the trip.

“Jo-Jo, you’re too quiet.”

So she confessed, “Elise is taking a quick trip to New York with Jed for some publicity event.”

“You didn’t tell me that Elise took off.” Nellie said it in a chiding tone.

“She didn’t. Yet. She’s leaving tomorrow and will be back Tuesday and you’ll be back Wednesday, and how many times do I have to tell you that I’m experiencing no signs of approaching labor, but if anything happens, I can call Clara. Or Rory.” Rory McKellan was their cousin. “Or one of the guys if it comes down to it.” They had five brothers and all of them lived in the area. Four of those brothers were either married or engaged to women Jody counted as friends. “There is no shortage of people I can call in an emergency.”

Nell made a humming sound. “You really are sure about this?”

“How many times do I have to say it?”

Nell blew out an audible breath. “Sorry I got so freaky.”

“Not complaining. I love that you care.”

“I mean, you’ve had a textbook pregnancy, and you’re healthy as a horse.”

“Is this where I make a neighing sound?”

“Har-har. And it is your first baby and first babies—”

“Usually come late,” Jody finished for her, wishing never to hear that particular phrase again.

“Love you, Jo-Jo.”

“Love you, too. Call me when you get home.”

“Will do.”

She’d barely hung up when the phone blooped with a text. It was Seth.

You sure you don’t need anything?

She actually chuckled as she texted back. Who are you and how did you get this number?

It wasn’t easy, let me tell you. Call me. Anytime.

Absolutely. Will do.

The next day was Saturday. Nell flew to Phoenix and Elise and Jed took off for New York. Seth called that night. Just to check on her, he said. She told him yet again how well she was doing and he let her go.

Sunday, Lois Simonson, one of her two employees, ran the store all day. Jody stayed home and took it easy. She sat around in her pj’s with her feet up and binge-watched the second season of Outlander—really, where was her own Jamie Fraser? She’d been waiting for him for most of her life. A couple of times she’d dared to hope she’d found what she was looking for.

Wrong on both counts.

And Nick? He’d been a sweetheart. But she’d known from the first that he wasn’t the guy for her.

She put her hand on her giant belly and grinned to herself. She had Marybeth now. Her little girl would be enough for her. She would be a good mom and raise her child to know she could make anything she wanted of her life. And she would always have her sisters and her brothers and a network of in-laws and friends to count on and love.

Who needed a man?

Seth called that night, too. She grinned when she saw it was him. Was she kind of getting used to hearing his deep, careful voice?

Maybe. A little.

“What have you been doing?” he asked.

“Nothing. I have the day off, so I’ve been taking up space on the couch, watching TV.”

“Good,” he said. It was the first time she’d ever heard anything approaching approval in his voice when he talked to her. “And I know you’re eating right. At least, that’s what you tell me every time I call.”

“Well, there was that carton of Ben and Jerry’s Chunky Monkey and now it’s gone. But otherwise, I had breakfast, lunch and dinner, and all three were comprised of heart-healthy, fiber-rich, nutritious ingredients. And you’re kind of like an old mother hen, you know that?” There was a choked sort of sound from his end. “Seth Yancy, did you just almost laugh?”

“Me? Not a chance. Do you need anything?”

“Such as...?”

“Food. Supplies. Bottled water?”

“Are we preparing for the zombie apocalypse?”

“Just answer the question.”

“No, Seth. As I keep telling you, I have everything I need, and if there’s something I’ve forgotten, well, they have supermarkets now where I can pick up whatever I’ve run out of.”

“You’re being sarcastic.”

“You noticed.”

“And that reminds me. Should you even be driving?”

“Yes. I definitely should. And I do. Anything else?”

“Look. I’m trying really hard not to annoy you.”

“I know that. And I thank you for it.”

“I just want to—”

“—help. I know. And I appreciate it, Seth. But I’ve run out of ways to tell you that I am taking care of myself and there’s nothing, really, to help me with.”

He was so quiet she thought he’d hung up.

“Seth?”

“Right here. Okay, then. I’ll check in tomorrow.”

“Did I mention that the baby isn’t due for weeks yet?”

“Yeah. Got that.”

“So...are you planning to call every day?”

More silence. Finally, he asked, “Are you telling me not to?”

Yes! But somehow, she couldn’t say that. Because it was so painfully obvious that he cared about his brother’s unborn baby and he really did want to help. “No. It’s okay.” It came out sulky and grudging. “Let me try that again. I mean, thank you for, you know, being here. And I’ll talk to you tomorrow, then.”

“All right.” Was that gravel-and-granite voice of his marginally softer? She couldn’t be sure. “Sleep well, Jody.”

She felt another smile curve her lips. “Good night, Seth.”

* * *

Monday, he showed up at Bloom again just before closing time.

Jody was only too happy to introduce him to Marlie Grant, her second clerk and floral designer. Marlie, like Lois, had a talent with flowers and could be trusted not only to handle design and selling, but also to purchase stock from the wholesalers and flower farms nearby. Marlie took the last customer of the day, leaving Jody at the design station with Seth.