Judy Duarte - The Rancher's Hired Fiancée

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.