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Janet had to laugh. “Truthfully? There was no stopping him,” she said, feeling a blush rise on her cheeks. “And besides, I kind of like him,” she added.
The other woman chortled. “I’ll just bet you do. I could tell right fast that he had it bad for you, sweetie. Good for you, darlin’. Somebody needed to take that man under control, that’s for sure.”
Janet felt someone walk up as she heard from behind, “Who are we talking about?”
Janet turned and faced a woman she’d never met before. She seemed nice enough, if kind of nosy, but before Janet could respond, Gladys answered in a smug tone, “Jeffrey McIntyre.”
The other woman stiffened as she asked, “What about him?”
“He got married, that’s what!” Gladys exclaimed. “And this here’s the young lady that roped him in.”
The stranger’s gaze narrowed into slits of ice as she turned spiteful eyes on Janet. “Who the hell are you and where’d you come from?”
The grocer’s wife stiffened. “Listen here, Pamela Sutty, you’ll watch your tongue in my store or you’ll be shopping in Layton, understand me? There’s no call to take out your anger on Ms. McIntyre here. She’s done you no harm.”
Holy hell. Two jealous bitches in one day! First the doctor’s receptionist and now an unknown woman in the grocery store. So was it going to be a fifty/fifty split? Would half the town accept her while the other half loathed her for showing up and marrying the man who’d probably been the town’s most eligible bachelor? Even if she had mentioned something like this happening to Jeff weeks ago, she hadn’t truly believed it would come to pass. But now—she was making enemies faster than she was making friends. These two women had judged her simply for showing up and marrying one of their own. Maybe it was because it had happened so fast, but more than likely it was because she’d taken Jeff off the market. But whatever the reason, Janet’s stomach tied into knots as she juggled Hannah from one hip to the next.
Ignoring the other woman, she turned around and thanked Gladys, paid for her purchases and left the store as quickly as she could.
Trying to breathe evenly, she drove straight to the library where she visited with Annie and let their conversation soothe her.
“So, I guess now that you’re married you probably won’t be cleaning Jason’s house anymore?” the librarian asked with an amused expression.
“Nope, I won’t,” Janet agreed, tipping her lips up. “To tell you the truth, Jeff didn’t like me going over there anyway.”
Annie let out an indelicate snort of laughter. “Yeah, I’ll bet.”
Janet lifted one eyebrow in question, wanting her new friend to spill more but not really wanting to ask for more.
Annie shrugged as she seemed to interpret her expression. “Jason’s a wild man and Jeff knows everything about him. He wouldn’t want you there.”
“A wild man?”
“He’s nice enough. And he’s trustworthy, but he’s a manwhore.”
“Jeff did mention that.”
“Have you met your neighbors yet? The Turners?”
“No, I didn’t know we had neighbors.”
“They live out there where y’all do, in the north part of the county, that’s the only reason I’m mentioning them now, thought maybe you knew them.”
“No, but what about them?”
As if she’d lost her train of thought for a moment, the other woman shook her head a bit. “Oh, we were talking about Jason Parker. So, anyway, a few years back, before David and Diana got married—they’re the Turners—anyway, Jason made some kind of a play for Diana. She was already engaged to David at the time and I know what happened wasn’t her doing. It was Jason’s, of course. I don’t really know anymore, but whatever happened, Jason Parker didn’t do himself any favors. I know that Jeff has pretty much always disliked the guy, but after that, David Turner really didn’t care for the man either—at all.”
“So what happened?”
“I don’t know exactly. Couldn’t ever find out. I just know that Jason has stepped on toes and doesn’t seem to care much who likes or dislikes him.”
“So you’re telling me gossip and you don’t even know the full story?” Janet wailed in amusement. She was amused, but she was also a bit disgruntled, because as much as she didn’t care to admit it, she wanted to know about the people around here. She didn’t want to call it gossip, because that was just bad, but she’d like to have a clue about things, so she could stay one step ahead.
“I’m sorry,” Annie snickered. “Next time I’ll make sure I have all the details to titillate you with.”
“No problem,” Janet responded as she sobered a bit. “Hey, can I ask you a question?”
Her serious tone seemed to get Annie’s attention. “Sure.”
“You seem to like me well enough—”
“Well, you’re a likable person!” Annie exclaimed.
The other woman’s warmth brought a smile to Janet’s lips. “Thanks. But I’ve run across a couple of women today who literally looked at me with evil in their eyes.”
Annie looked completely amused. “Was this after they found out you’d married Jeff?”
“Yeah, pretty much.”
“They’re jealous! I know you mostly stay on the ranch, but you must have figured out by now that Jeff was the catch of the century around here?” Annie smiled a mischievous smile. “And didn’t I see you drive up in his Mercedes?” she teased.
“Yeah,” Janet responded, one side of her mouth lifting, almost embarrassed.
“They’re jealous,” Annie reiterated. “And here’s another thing—and please don’t take this the wrong way, this is just my theory as to their spitefulness.” Annie paused and when Janet nodded for her to continue, she said, “It’s also because you’re not one of us. You showed up out of nowhere and then, like a few weeks later, you’ve snagged the hottest, richest man in the county. Well, I mean, he’s not as hot as my Rusty, but you know what I mean,” she said, tongue-in-cheek. “I’m not saying it’s right, I’m not saying they ought to treat you like crap, but it is what it is, you know?”
“You don’t treat me like crap. You’re nice and sweet to me, and you have been from the moment you met me.”
“Well, you’ve been nice to me, as well. I like you. But then again, I’ve never been infatuated with your husband, either. I’ve got all I can handle with Rusty, you know? He’s always been the guy I wanted, so I’m not jealous of you a bit.” She paused and then lifted her eyebrows, a teasing look crossing her features. “Although I can’t say I wouldn’t mind driving a Mercedes.”
Janet was about to respond when a tall, good-looking man appeared in the doorway, wearing jeans, a work shirt, and dusty boots. He glanced at her, but gave her scant attention as his eyes fell on Annie and held. He stood completely still right inside the entryway, and when Annie glanced up and saw him, she flashed him a wicked smile and said softly to Janet, never taking her eyes from the man, “And there’s the reason I’ll never be jealous of you. Check out my man.”
Janet bit her lip as the man, who was very obviously Annie’s husband, heard what she said and rolled his eyes. His hands went to his hips as his eyes narrowed. “What’s all that about wanting a Mercedes?” he asked in a booming voice, stepping forward.
Annie jumped up and went to him, wrapped her arms around his neck and said, “I don’t care about a stupid ole’ Mercedes! Not when I have a ten-year-old Ford to drive! Are you kidding me, babe?”
Janet was held spellbound as she watched him spear his fingers through Annie’s hair as he leaned down and whispered something in her ear, one arm wrapping tightly around her waist. Whatever he said made Annie sway into him until he seemed to be holding all her weight. He held her tightly for a moment and then kissed her on the forehead before pushing her firmly away and walking back to the door.
When he stood just inside the entrance, he looked toward Janet and dipped his head as if in afterthought. “Ma’am.” And then he glanced at
Annie once more, scanned her critically as if making sure she was happy before walking out the door.
“Whoa,” Janet mumbled. “Potent.”
Annie came back and sat back down and then sighed, a delicious, contented sound slipping from her lips. “I know.”
“So, what did he want?” Janet asked.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, he showed up but then he just left.”
“Oh, yeah. He does that a lot when he has a few extra minutes in his day. Just checking on me, I guess.”
The simple romance of it all stirred something deep within Janet’s feminine psyche. The two were obviously in love and what they had together didn’t make her jealous exactly. Envious was probably a more appropriate word.
One thing she knew for sure—happiness wasn’t about a stupid ole’ Mercedes.
****
