Jarrod sighed as he walked back to the livery stable to pick up Jingo. His night had not gone as he had hoped.

Sally was not who Jarrod thought she was. All she did was gossip and complain about the other ladies at the dance. Jarrod had tried several times to steer the conversation in a different direction but she would ignore him and continue on her tirade. He did enjoy dancing with her as that was the only time she wasn't talking about the other women. But he noticed she seemed to be clutching to him rather tightly a few times while they were dancing and noticed her coy look at a few of the other ladies while she was doing this.

He was glad when Heath and Nick both asked her for a dance which he gladly agreed to much to her chagrin. He secretly hoped Nick would try to steal her away from him as revenge for making him do the ranch paperwork. Between Sally's complaining and gossiping and her mother's attitude Jarrod knew Nick would fit in perfectly with them. He chuckled to himself at that thought.

The dance finally ended so Jarrod being the true gentleman he was; escorted Sally home and saw her to the door. He sighed when he noticed she was stalling for a good night kiss.

"I enjoyed tonight Sally, thank you for a good time." Jarrod bowed to her and opened the door for her.

Sally frowned but as she walked past Jarrod she ran her hand over his forearm hoping he would catch her subtle gesture. When Jarrod had felt her hand going down his forearm he merely smiled politely as he closed the door behind him and hurriedly left.

Jarrod did not want to seem impolite but all he wanted to do was run as fast as he could to get away from her. He just walked as fast as he could not trying to be too obvious. He knew he would eventually have to see her at the Cattleman's and hoped he could figure out a nice way to tell her he did not wish to see her socially. He once again decided to play matchmaker and try to goad Nick into asking her out.

As he walked to the livery stable he noticed the Pool Emporium was open which surprised the attorney since all the other establishments had closed down for the dance. He already been there two nights in a row and wondered how it would look if he went in there for a third night in a row. He looked around the street and since it was abandoned thought it wouldn't hurt to stop in there for a quick drink.

He walked in and noticed right away there was not a single soul in the bar except for the...Jarrod's thoughts stopped in mid form when he saw her.

Behind the bar was probably the most beautiful woman he had laid his eyes on in years. She had shoulder length blonde hair with the deepest blue eyes he had ever seen. He couldn't tell too much about her figure since she was behind the bar.

When Jarrod walked into the Emporium Sam was behind the bar getting ready to close for the night. When she heard a customer enter she turned around to greet him and was taken back by his appearance. She knew he must have come from the dance judging by his clothes. He was extremely handsome but she was captivated by his ocean blue eyes. He was in dark trousers, white shirt with a tie hanging loosely around his neck with a tan jacket on.

She blushed when she realized she had been staring at the handsome stranger. She looked down as she asked, "May I help you?"

Jarrod could not tear his eyes away from her and stood frozen staring at the beautiful Madonna in front of him. He shook his head slightly clear the muddled thoughts running through his mind as he heard her say something but he didn't know what she had said. Damn it what did she say?

She smiled again and asked once more, "May I help you?"

Jarrod gave her his most dazzling smile and said, "Scotch please," as he walked to the bar.

She smiled at him and turned her back to him while she fixed his drink. Get yourself together Sam! You're acting like a school age girl with a silly crush! She turned back around and placed the drink in front of Jarrod.

When Jarrod picked up the glass and their fingers touched slightly and he felt dizzy from that slight touch. He quickly gulped down the scotch hoping to calm his nerves down.

Sam looked at him and before she could ask him anything Jarrod said, "Got hot dancing."

"Oh, of course. Would you like another one?" She hoped he did.

Jarrod smiled and said, "Yes, please." She once again turned around to get the bottle and this time Jarrod looked over the bar to get a better view of this beautiful Madonna. He quickly realized she was perfect in every way.

Sam turned around to find Jarrod staring at her and noticed he blushed when she caught him staring at her. She placed the glass down in front of him and turned to get the bottle and place it beside him hoping he would get the hint and decide to stay a little longer.

Jarrod sipped the drink and asked, "Kinda quiet tonight."

Sam sighed as she agreed with Jarrod, "Yes unfortunately. I didn't realize the dance was such a big thing here otherwise I never would have opened tonight."

Jarrod frowned at her remark and asked, "Are you the manager?" He raked his brain but he could not remember seeing her in here the last two nights.

Sam smiled widely, "You could say that I guess." She turned around and got a glass for herself and poured herself a drink while refreshing Jarrod's. "I'm the owner."

Jarrod choked on his drink when she announced she was the owner, "You? You're the owner?"

Sam frowned at Jarrod and spat, "Yes, do you have a problem with that?" She slammed her glass on the bar and put her hands on her hips.

Jarrod recovered quickly and said, "No, it's just that I haven't seen you in here before."

Sam's frown disappeared and Jarrod breathed a sigh of relief. "I didn't get in town until yesterday. My brother has been running it for me until I could get here."

"Family business?" Jarrod questioned.

Sam thought a moment before she answered, "I guess you could say that. My family owns ten of these in California and Nevada and it was my idea to open this one here in Stockton."

Jarrod sipped his scotch and said, "Well speaking for myself I'm very glad you decided to come to Stockton." He gave her another charming smile.

Sam chuckled and said, "You're glad I came to Stockton?"

Jarrod turned red with embarrassment when she pointed out his words to him, "Well I mean I am glad you decided to come to Stockton to run this Emporium?" Jarrod asked hopefully.

Sam smiled once again, "I will commute back and forth between this one and the one in Sacramento."

"Oh," he said disappointed.

Sam wrinkled her nose at him and said, "I don't think we have been formally introduced." She extended her hand to him and said, "I'm Samantha Harris."

Jarrod took her hand and kissed it and peeked to see what kind of reaction he got for that. He was pleasantly surprised when she blushed slightly. He didn't want to let go of her hand but finally did and said, "I'm Jarrod Barkley."

"Of the Stockton Barkley's?"

"Yes, why have you heard of us?"

Sam laughed, "Who hasn't heard of the Stockton Barkley's? You said you were Jarrod?" As Jarrod shook his head yes Sam started laughing to Jarrod's dismay. "I have an appointment with you next week in your San Francisco office to talk about my family's business."

Jarrod frowned as he tried to remember his appointments next week and then it hit him, "You're the Harris Business Company?" Sam nodded her head yes.

Jarrod frowned slightly inwardly as he did not like mixing business with pleasure but he was about to make an exception.