Chapter 4

Normally, Katelyn looked forward to coming home every day. She had rented a small cottage not far from downtown. It was a cute little place, very modest but it more than met her needs. She had planted flowers in the front on either side of the walk way and they were in full bloom. Beside the porch were rose bushes with their beautiful red blossoms making the air fragrant. Katelyn had always considered her home her mini-sanctuary.

But not today. Today she was bringing her mother and her make-believe husband home with her. Her worst nightmare was coming true.

The driver stopped the carriage in front of the house and Jarrod stepped out first. He helped Carol down and then Katelyn. He held her hand for a moment longer and gave it a slight squeeze as he said, "I'll get the bags and take care of the driver."

Katelyn nodded and she and her mother walked to the front door. She opened it a huge ball of fur came running out. Kate had found a stray puppy last year and hadn't had the heart to turn it away. She had named her Lucky and thought it was a fitting name.

"Hello, Lucky, hello girl!" Lucky wagged her tale as her master petted her.

"Meet Mother, Lucky," Katelyn said and Carol patted the excited dog. Lucky jumped up onto Carol and Katelyn tried to nudge her away.

"Off, Lucky!" she said, but Lucky was ignoring her.

"Off!" Jarrod said in a low, stern voice. Lucky obeyed immediately and turned toward him.

"Sit!"

Lucky obeyed again, her tale wagging. Katelyn was amazed. She had been trying to teach Lucky to sit for over a year with no luck. She admitted she hadn't been working as consistently as she should have, but still... Jarrod was a stranger and yet Lucky was acting as though she had known him all of her life.

"Well, she certainly knows who's boss around here!" Carol said with a smile.

Katelyn smiled weakly. Jarrod brought in the small trunk and suitcases. Lucky stayed close by his side, wagging her tail with glee.

"Your dog missed you," Carol said. "I think she would like her papa to be around more."

"Mother!" Katelyn said sharply.

Carol just smiled. Katelyn turned to look at Jarrod who was bending down over the trunk. She could have sworn he was hiding a smile.

"Where do you want these?" Jarrod asked, straightening up.

"My mom's things can go in the bedroom." Katelyn crossed the small room and opened a door that led to the house's only bedroom.

"Oh, honey, I can't take your room. Where will the two of you sleep?"

As far apart as possible.

"I'll be fine on the couch," Carol said.

"Mother, you are not sleeping on the couch. You need your rest. Doctor's orders." Besides, sharing a bedroom with Jarrod Barkley was out of the question. This charade could only go so far, for heaven's sake!

Carol opened her mouth to protest but Jarrod spoke. "We insist you take the bedroom. We won't take no for an answer." When Jarrod had said we the first time, he put his hands on Katelyn's shoulders and gave them a slight squeeze. His touch sent shivers all through her.

And just as quickly as Lucky had obeyed, Carol had.

A few hours later, Katelyn grew tired of watching her supposed protector lapping up attention from Jarrod Barkley.

"Come on, Lucky. It's time for you to go outside for a while."

The dog looked over at Jarrod and gave a little whine. Katelyn rolled her eyes. Now her dog was asking his permission!

"Go, Lucky," Jarrod said and watched as Katelyn and Lucky went out the door. He waited a few minutes and then excused himself and walked outside. He found Katelyn kneeling down in front of Lucky, petting her. When Lucky saw Jarrod, her ears perked up and she bowled Katelyn over to get to him.

"Sit. Stay."

Katelyn closed her eyes in embarrassment at the sound of his deep voice. She sprawled out on the ground in a rather undignified manner. Jarrod reached down and Katelyn noticed how his strong, masculine hand swallowed hers as he helped her up.

"How come when I ask her to do something she ignores me?" Katelyn asked, knowing that they needed to talk about a more serious matter, but she wasn't quite ready for that yet.

"Your answer, my dear, is in your question."

Katelyn's pulse quickened at his endearment, but she wouldn't allow herself to enjoy the pleasure. He probably calls a lot of women 'dear' . It's only a casual gesture, she told herself.

"You ask, ever so sweetly, I might add. Lucky isn't ignoring you. She's just telling you 'no'. Dogs are like children and must be told firmly, but kindly."

Jarrod spent the next few minutes giving Lucky commands and instructing Katelyn on how to do the same. Katelyn was enjoying the lesson but when Jarrod stepped closer and took her hand in his, she felt her heart slamming in her chest.

"W-what are you doing?" she asked. Jarrod had laced their fingers together and Katelyn loved the way their hands seemed to fit together so perfectly. She backed up and found herself leaning against a tree. Jarrod rested his forearm on a low branch and blocked her in.

"Katelyn," he said in a low voice. "We need to talk."

Katelyn knew that. But for the life of her she couldn't respond. As a matter of fact, she couldn't remember what it was they needed to talk about! He was so close. His blue eyes scanning her face, his warm breath on her cheek. How long had she dreamed of this kind of interaction between them? It was just so sudden. So unexpected. And they weren't alone. Her mother was here. Her mother and Jarrod. Under the same roof!

"I hope you don't mind," Jarrod said softly. "Your mother may be watching and I am assuming we want to give the illusion of a happily married couple? Unless we are having troubles. But then again, if you went to all this trouble to fabricate a marriage, it should be a happy one. And I will do my best to fulfill that role-" He dipped his head in a token bow. "-and keep up the image of a happily married couple. Any objections so far?"

His mischievous smile told her he was teasing. The only objection Katelyn had was that it wasn't real.

"So, tell me how I became the son-in-law of the woman inside?" He raised his eyebrows. "Unless there is another Jarrod Barkley that looks just like me and he is the one you told your mother about?"

No, you're definitely the one, Katelyn thought. Her cheeks felt as though they were on fire. She wished she could just sink into a hole in the ground.

"When I was ten, my father died," she began.

Jarrod's smile faded and she saw earnest regret in his eyes.

"I'm sorry."

"My mother never remarried and we always were able to make it somehow, as a team. But I felt the need to be out on my own and saw an ad for a Ladies College here in San Francisco. It was difficult for my mother when I left, and she's always asked me when I was going to settle down and get married. So I..."Katelyn cleared her throat. "I finally grew tired of the questions about when I was going to get married and I made something up to appease her."

"Something?" Jarrod asked, raising one eyebrow.

"Well, I told her I was seeing someone."

"Someone?"

This was really getting to be too much. Bad enough that she had to tell him this at all, but with the way he was watching her...

"Fine. I told her I was seeing you. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to use you or lie about it. But she sounded so worried and I just reached the end of my rope! I just want her to be happy," she finished softly.

After a few moments, she went on again. "I know I should have told her the truth, if not before certainly at the train station. But I was afraid..."

"Afraid?"

Katelyn looked up into his handsome blue eyes. "I'm afraid that the shock could be too much for her. I don't want to lose her. She's all I have in the world right now. She looks strong, but she isn't . I didn't see any harm in continuing and I didn't foresee you getting caught up in this."

Jarrod began to speak but Katelyn interrupted him. "But don't worry. I have a plan. Tomorrow, I'll tell her you have to go back to Stockton for an important case. Mother is just happy at being able to meet you."

Jarrod considered her words. "I can play the doting husband for a while. How long is your mother staying?"

Katelyn's eyes widened. He actually was willing to go along with this? Her fantasy Jarrod would, of course, play along. The imaginary Jarrod would sweep her into his arms and make everything right, even propose for real. But this was the real Jarrod. He wouldn't be able to play along for as long as her mother would be staying. "A month."

He would change his mind now, she knew.

"Oh, a whole month." His voice turned thoughtful. He was quiet for a few minutes and Katelyn thought he was trying to find a way out of this mess. She didn't blame him. She would let him off the hook.

"I think I can arrange that."

Katelyn blinked several times. "You can't be serious."

"Sure, why not?"

Katelyn stared at him. "Why would you?"

Jarrod looked away from her, trying to choose his words carefully.

"I understand the pressures placed on someone to accomplish things in their life," Jarrod said, looking at her again. "I'm doing this for reasons I'd rather not say right now. Let's just leave it at that."

Katelyn found her mind asking all sorts of questions. Why would he do this? And why wouldn't he tell her his reasons? What did she really know about him anyway? Was he just setting her up to cash in an IOU later?

Katelyn dismissed those thoughts. Jarrod Barkley was not that kind of man. She was sure of it. Then why...?

There's always a possibility that he has some feelings for you, she thought. Her eyes widened. That possibility sparked hope in her.

She felt his hand squeeze hers again and this jarred her out of her thoughts.

"Now, suppose you fill me in on our courtship. I want every last detail."

Katelyn swallowed hard. She tried to remember everything she had written and told to her mother. She had thought that she couldn't be humiliated any further. How silly. It was just beginning.