Later that week, Remington received a bouquet of flowers and a handwritten note from Jarrod asking her to accompany him to the school benefit. He would have invited her in person, but business had taken him to San Francisco for several days, so Jarrod asked Nick if he would deliver the invitation on his behalf.

A broad smile on his face, Nick showed up as Remi was dismissing her students at the end of the day. She looked surprised as Nick handed her the flowers and seated himself on the edge of her desk.

"What's this for?" she asked him curiously.

The tall cowboy pushed back his hat and tried to hold back an even wider grin. "I guess you'll just have to read the card and see,' he said mysteriously.

Remi took the note from the center of the bouquet and read it slowly. When she realized it was from Jarrod, a tingle went up her spine. She looked up at Nick, who couldn't contain his grin any longer.

"I'm sending a wire to Jarrod tomorrow," he said. "I'll tell him you'll be thrilled to go."

"I haven't accepted, yet, Nick," she replied in exasperation. "A girl can't make up her mind in an instant. She has to think on something like this."

"What's there to think on?" Nick demanded. "You can't try to tell me you're not interested." He paused. "You are interested, aren't you?"

Remi got up and walked across the room, still holding Jarrod's invitation. Yes, she was interested, but…

"Nick, he's your brother. You don't get involved with your friend's brother," she tried to object.

Nick brushed away her concern with a wave of his hand. "Nonsense. As said friend, I can't think of anyone I'd rather see you involved with. You're both intelligent, have some of the same interests and," Nick couldn't resist, "you know he comes from a good family."

He watched her intently. He'd never thought of Remi as indecisive, but she stood staring at the piece of paper in her hand uncertainly. He played his last card. "Besides, this whole shindig's for the school. You can't very well not show up. Might as well go with someone who can at least dance."

Remi looked at him, irritated. Nick was infuriating when he was right and in this case, she couldn't argue with him even if she'd wanted to. She gave Nick a resigned smile.

"You win, cowboy. You can tell Jarrod I'd be honored to attend the benefit with him." She fervently hoped she'd made the right decision.

.

An event hosted by Mylie Sykes was always a lavish production. As one of Stockton's premiere families, rivaled only by the Barkleys, a Sykes affair was usually the most sought after invitation in town. In this case, since it was a fundraiser for the local school, one had to make a generous donation for the privilege of attending. But not many were deterred by this and the ballroom of the Sykes mansion on the edge on Stockton was filled with the glitter of jewels and the rustle of silk and taffeta.

Remi gazed in wonder as she entered on Jarrod's arm.

"Now this is something no one back east would believe. To hear them talk, the most sophistication found out west is a barn dance!"

Jarrod laughed. "Well, we do dust off our hats and spurs once in a while."

Dressed in an elegant black suit complete with white tie, Remi reflected Jarrod had done more than dust off his hat and she couldn't remember ever seeing him wear spurs. He was as handsome and charming as anyone she had ever met and she was glad she'd decided to come with him. Looking around, she saw Victoria talking to their hostess and Audra was dancing with Charlie Radcliffe. The other Barkleys were nowhere to be seen.

Jarrod spotted his mother and took Remi over to pay their compliments.

"Hello, Jarrod," greeted Mylie. "I'm so glad you could come." She turned to Remi. "And this must be our new teacher. We met at the rodeo, but haven't been introduced. I'm Mylie Sykes." She extended a well-manicured hand and Remi took it warmly.

"Remington Kirk. You have a lovely home, Mrs. Sykes."

"Thank you, dear, call me Mylie." She gave Jarrod an appraising look. "I see you've already managed to captivate one of our most eligible bachelors." Remi blushed slightly as Mylie continued, "And your dress is exquisite. Is it from back east?"

As Remi answered Mylie's questions, Jarrod couldn't help but agree. Remington's dress was exquisite. It was a dark golden brown silk cut in the latest style that accented her red hair and ivory skin to perfection. But it was the woman wearing the dress that enchanted him. She was stunningly beautiful and that was the least of his fascination with her. She was intelligent in a way most of the lovely ladies of his acquaintance were not. In fact, on the drive over they had a lively discussion on the California state legislature's polices on trade with the rest of the union. Here was a woman whose mind attracted him as much as her body, which, he reflected, attracted him very much.

He was brought back to the present when Nick clapped him on the shoulder.

"I see you finally made it, Counselor." He turned to Remi. "By God, Red, look at you! I hope Jarrod appreciates he's here with the best looking woman in the room." He bestowed a charming smile on Mylie and Victoria. "Excluding my mother and our fine-looking hostess, of course. Mother, would you care to dance?" He extended his arm to Victoria.

"I'd love to, Nicholas," she replied graciously and he swept her off to the dance floor.

Jarrod turned to Remington and offered his hand. "And you, lovely lady? Would you care to dance?"

Remi accepted. "It would be a pleasure."

.

Jake Atkins watched jealously as Jarrod and Remi danced. He would have avoided this party, but his mother insisted they make an appearance to show everyone the Atkins' could stand with the rest of Stockton's elite. They had a moderately successful ranch and his mother yearned to take her place with the likes of Victoria Barkley. They did well enough, but here, watching that smug Jarrod Barkley prance around with the most desirable woman in town was more than he could stomach. He couldn't forget how the new teacher had snubbed him after the shooting contest. He stayed in the shadows, watching. Someday, he was going to pay them a lesson they wouldn't soon forget.

.

Remi was having a marvelous evening. She spent most of it dancing in Jarrod's arms, saving a few dances for Nick and Heath plus a few short breaks for a glass of champagne. She didn't usually drink much and the champagne was making her a bit giddy. That was just as well, for it made the feelings she was having for the charismatic and handsome Jarrod easier to deal with. Had it only been a month since she arrived in Stockton? Her life back in Philadelphia seemed far away and she felt like the princess in a fairy tale where happily ever afters truly existed. She had fallen in love with Jarrod and the prospect scared her more than a little. But she still wished the evening would go on forever and was sad when it came time to go.

The moon was full and the stars were twinkling in the sky as Jarrod drove her back to town.

"It's so beautiful," Remi exclaimed, looking at the stars. She never saw stars like that in Philadelphia with all the streetlights and tall buildings.

"Yes, it certainly is," replied Jarrod.

She looked over and realized he wasn't looking at the sky, he was gazing at her instead. She looked away, suddenly feeling awkward. There was an uneasy silence.

"I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable," Jarrod apologized.

Remi shook her head, smiling a little. "Don't apologize, Jarrod," she told him. "I guess I'm just not comfortable with comments like that."

Jarrod was mildly surprised. Most beautiful women he knew craved the compliments and attention. "I'll try not to say such things in the future," he said, a bit teasingly, "but I can't guarantee my success." He tried to keep his eyes on the road, but couldn't help stealing a glance in her direction. Their eyes met and he had a hard time tearing himself away.

"I understand a new opera production is coming San Francisco," he started, trying to break the silence by changing the subject. He remembered the comment she made that first night at dinner about opera being one thing she'd miss from back home. "From Paris, I do believe. By a composer named Bizet."

"Really?" Remi was intrigued. She did love the opera, the music and the voices would sweep her away to places she could only imagine. Before he died, she and her brother rarely missed a performance. She was never sure if Josh went because he truly enjoyed opera or just because he knew how much she loved it. She hadn't even dreamed she might get a chance to see Bizet's groundbreaking composition out here in California.

"I've wanted to see 'Carmen' since I heard it was going to be performed in Philadelphia not long after I left to come west," she said, the enthusiasm evident on her face. "I understand it's quite spectacular, on par with anything done by Mozart or Verdi. He actually wrote the lead role for a mezzo-soprano rather than a true soprano. I don't think anyone's ever done that before." She sighed wistfully. "I do hope I'll get a chance to see it."

Jarrod was amazed. He didn't believe he had ever met anyone who could discuss opera with such straightforwardness. He resolved to himself that he would take her to see the performance no matter what the cost. It would be a pleasure to share with her something they mutually enjoyed.

Then they were pulling up in front of the boarding house. Both of them were reluctant to call the evening over.

Jarrod took Remi's hand in his and kissed it warmly. "I hope you had an enjoyable evening," he said, meeting her eyes with his own. She reached up and touched his cheek.

"It was wonderful, Jarrod," Remi replied softly, never taking her eyes from his. A fluttery feeling developed inside her as he leaned forward to kiss her lips gently. Her hand slid down to caress his shoulder as he pulled her closer into his embrace.

She had been longing for and dreading this moment again since their encounter during the storm. Now that it finally was here, she didn't want it to ever end. The champagne she had consumed at the party emboldened her and their kiss deepened until Remi could barely breathe.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, they slowly broke apart. Jarrod lightly kissed her forehead before releasing her completely.

"I should probably go inside," she said without much conviction.

"I'll walk you up," he said and helped her out of the buggy, letting his hands linger on her waist longer than was strictly necessary. They made their way slowly up the walk and paused in front of the door.

Remi gazed into his eyes again. You could lose yourself forever in those eyes, she reflected. "Thank you again for a lovely evening," she said, making no move to go inside.

Jarrod couldn't resist kissing her one more time. He covered her warm, soft lips with his own, encircling her in his arms. The touch of her hands on his back as she put her arms around him sent shivers of longing up his spine. He pulled back before his desire for her became too obvious.

"We should probably call it a night," he whispered, not trusting his voice.

Remi nodded. "I think you're right. Goodnight, Jarrod."

"Goodnight, Remington," he replied. As he watched her enter the house, he knew he had fallen for her, fallen so deep there was no way he would ever get out.