Chapter 5

"Mother, you need quality rest. And sleeping on the sofa isn't where you'll get it. Please take my...er...our bed," Katelyn insisted of her mother.

"But where will you two sleep? It makes more sense for me to be out here."

"It will be a bit crowded if all three of us sleep out here," Jarrod said, hooking his arm around Katelyn's waist.

"I meant that the two of you should have your bed," Carol said in her best "do not get smart with me, young man" voice.

"No. We've already decided. It's up to you whether or not you take the bed. But if you decide not to, then you'll have to find your own room on the floor."

Carol threw her hands up in the air, signaling her surrender. "You win. But I'm not happy about it."

Jarrod smiled at his pseudo mother-in-law and kissed her on the forehead. "We'll figure out a better arrangement tomorrow," he promised.

Yes. Like you going to Stockton! Katelyn thought.

"I'll hold you to that promise," Carol said as she made her way to the bedroom and closed the door.

Katelyn began to unfold the blankets she had and place them on the sofa. Jarrod turned to watch her and said softly, "This will make things interesting."

Katelyn closed her eyes. She could just kick herself for getting them into this mess.

"You can have the sofa, Mr. Barkley. I'll take the floor."

Jarrod, ever the gentleman, shook his head. He took her hand and said, "I can't let you do that. And it's Jarrod." He had noticed she had gone back to calling him Mr. Barkley and he admitted he didn't like it very much.

Katelyn looked into his eyes. She was feeling a bit put out with him at the moment, the long, emotional day catching up with her. If he thought he was getting anything more than a good night from her, he was about to be mistaken. She took back her hand and grabbed the other bedding and spread it out on the floor. Since her back was to him, she didn't know he had come up behind her until he swept her up into his arms and deposited her on the small sofa. "Good night," he said and then took his place on the floor.

Katelyn sighed. She was being childish. Jarrod was willing to do this big favor for her and she was not treating him very well. She felt horrible but didn't know how to rectify the situation. Well, she did know how, but refused to do it. She finally fell asleep, wishing she had just kept her big mouth shut.

As Katelyn readied for work the next morning, she found herself thinking about last night. Jarrod had been the perfect gentleman, staying on his side of the... well the floor.

He had woken early and told her he was going to go home to get ready for the day. He would see her at the office later that morning. Katelyn sighed, wondering if she would need to look for another job. When she had applied for and gotten the position as Jarrod Barkley's secretary, she knew it was the chance of a lifetime. She had heard many good things about this man and knew she had beaten out many others for this position.

Katelyn kissed her mother goodbye and set out for work. It was early yet, she didn't need to be there for at least another hour, but she wanted some time alone. The office wasn't too far to walk, though she often took a hired carriage.

When she arrived, the door to the inner office was closed and Katelyn breathed a sigh of relief. She wasn't prepared to greet her "husband" yet. She found the stack of morning correspondence on her desk and began sorting through it. She had just finished with that when the door to Jarrod's office opened and he stepped through.

"Katelyn, may I see you in my office?" His voice sounded hard. Not like it had last night and Katelyn knew this was it. She thought he would have waited until her mother had gone back to Denver before firing her, but apparently he wasn't going to wait. Maybe he had changed his mind about pretending to be her husband as well. She deserved it, she knew. But she feared for her mother's health when she tried to explain.

"Please sit down," he indicated one of the chairs in front of his desk. Instead of sitting across from her, he sat in the chair next to hers.

"What am I going to do with you?" he asked, a small smile on his face.

"Do with me?" Katelyn asked, clearly confused.

"It occurred to me this morning that you haven't asked for any time off while your mother is here. Why is that?"

Katelyn swallowed. "I was gone for so long because of her illness that I didn't feel the right to ask for more. I knew I would have weekends and evenings free."

Jarrod's next words caused Katelyn's face to pale.

"I'm replacing you."

"Mr. Barkley, I need this job. Please."

Jarrod had been enjoying teasing Katelyn, but he saw too late that she wasn't in the mood. He leaned forward.

"I'm not firing you. I'm giving you some time off. I've already been in touch with a temporary agency and they are sending someone over this afternoon. I want you to fill him or her in on what they need to know and I want you to take the rest of the time off to spend with your mother."

Katelyn was shocked. She couldn't afford to go that long without receiving any pay. She said as much.

"You'll still receive the salary we agreed upon, Katelyn."

Katelyn shook her head. "I can't let you do this."

"Of course you can. What kind of son-in-law would I be if I couldn't give my wife some time off?"

"But Mr. Barkley-"

"No 'buts' Katelyn. And what happened to calling me Jarrod?"

Katelyn sighed, knowing she had lost this battle. She nodded her agreement to him, thinking not for the first time what a special man he was. Whoever he eventually married, would be a lucky woman indeed.

It was much later that afternoon when the carriage carrying Jarrod Barkley arrived at Katelyn's cottage. Katelyn had left around three after instructing the man the temporary agency had sent over. Jarrod had never used a temporary agency before, but found it a novel idea.

Jarrod felt a bit strange just walking into Katelyn's without knocking, but knew that he had to act as though it were his home as well. He took a deep breath and entered. What greeted him warmed his heart. The atmosphere was cheery and Jarrod found he liked the idea of coming home to his waiting bride. The desire for it to be real hit him suddenly.

He found Katelyn and Carol in the kitchen working on dinner. "We just got started so it will be a while," Carol informed him.

Jarrod crossed over to them and gave a small bouquet of flowers to his "mother-in-law". She smiled and he knew he had gained some points there. He turned to Katelyn and gave her a kiss on the cheek. He then handed her a bouquet of yellow carnations and red roses set in a spray of baby's breath. Katelyn smiled as she took them and drank in their lovely smell.

"They're lovely!" she exclaimed and Jarrod was glad he had thought of them. He had heard her say once that yellow was her favorite color.

"The yellow carnations represent your favorite color," he said, watching her reaction.

She looked to him, surprised that he would know that. "And the roses?" she asked.

Jarrod's smile widened but Carol answered before he could. "Why dear, red roses mean love. And from the looks of these, he loves you a great deal."

Katelyn's cheeks turned a lovely shade of pink and Jarrod noticed she wouldn't look him in the eye. She turned to find a couple of vases to put the flowers in. He knew she knew the roses were just for show and yet she still blushed. He needed to break the tension and knew just how to do it.

"You'll need to pack your bags, ladies. I have good news."

Lucky had been waiting for Jarrod to notice her and chose this time to press up against him.

"Sorry, Lucky, you're not invited," he said patting the dog.

"What are you talking about?" Katelyn asked, sounding alarmed.

"We're going to move to my townhouse," Jarrod said, watching her beautiful blue eyes widen.

"You have a town house?" Carol asked, her hands resting on her hips. Her tone was a mixture of surprise and anger.

Jarrod found he was amused by both their reactions. To be honest, he hadn't thought about how either one would react when he made his plans. But it made more sense for them to move there since there was more room.

"Yes, but since the townhouse really isn't a place for Lucky, and the cottage is too small for all my things, we've been going back and forth until we can find a bigger place that will accommodate us all."

Carol accepted Jarrod's explanation but said, "I'll not say anything about it. Not one thing."

Jarrod didn't need her to say anything because her tone said it all. That she wasn't pleased was clear. He held back his grin and watched as the ladies continued to prepare dinner.

After dinner, Carol had gone to the bedroom to pack her things for the move. Katelyn stayed in the kitchen and stared out the small window at her back yard. Her stomach was full of knots. She felt as though she could be ill as she thought about moving to Jarrod's townhouse. What in the world was Jarrod thinking? Surely he wasn't thinking about she and Jarrod sharing a bedroom...and a bed! She wanted to ask but was afraid of what the answer would be. It was hard for Katelyn to think of him being like that, but she really didn't know him at all.

"You wanted to speak to me?" Jarrod asked, coming to stand behind her. Katelyn turned to look at him and walked outside. Lucky joined them and Katelyn picked up a stick and threw it out into the yard. Lucky ran after it, not a care in the world. Katelyn longed to feel that way.

"At least I think that's what you wanted when you glared at me before you walked outside?"

Katelyn, who had been watching Lucky retrieve the stick, met Jarrod's gaze.

"If you are worried I might try to take advantage of you, I assure you I won't. You have my word."

Katelyn found herself sighing with relief.

"How did you know that was what I was thinking?" Her hand flew to her mouth and she closed her eyes. Had she really said that out loud?

"I could tell by the worried look in your eyes and the stiff way you've been holding yourself."

Katelyn relaxed a little and looked out at Lucky who had retrieved the stick, but had found something else to hold her interest.

"I've thought about this and I can easily slip out after your mother goes to bed and be back before she wakes up."

"I can't kick you out of your own place," Katelyn said, keeping her voice low so that her mother wouldn't hear.

"It's my plan, remember? Don't worry. I'll just go to the office. The sofa there is quite comfortable. I've slept there many times before. Usually the night before a big case. I keep an extra set of clothes there. It'll be alright."

Katelyn felt guilty that Jarrod was going out of his way for her. Again, she had to ask, "Why don't you just go back to Stockton so that you don't have to be involved in this? It would make it so much easier for yourself."

Jarrod watched her profile and said softly, "I want to do this for you, no strings attached. Isn't that enough?"

Katelyn turned to him. NO! It wasn't! She wanted to know why he was doing this. But he was being so tightlipped about it and she wasn't really in a position to ask.

"Yes. Of course. Thank you, Jarrod," was what she said instead.