Love Rising: Spring (Mandrake Falls Series Romance Book 4) (5 page)

“We think it was Jocelyn,” Andrea said abruptly.

“What?”

“Jocelyn could have planted the note hoping to make Ryan
McIntyre jealous.” Jason watched Jeremy for a reaction. There was none.

Silence ticked through the office.

“Like we said,” Jason offered lamely, “it’s just a theory.”

♥

AFTER JEREMY left and Trevor slouched off to cover yet another
incident with
Lavery’s
cows, Jason asked Andrea to
stay behind so they could go over the photographs from the wedding.

They were huddled in front of the computer screen.

“What do you hope to accomplish with this?”

It was getting late. Andrea had a story to write if she was
going to maintain her daily quota and the phone, of course, never stopped
ringing. They’d been over each image a dozen times. There was nothing out of
the ordinary in any of them. It was just a bunch of people standing around
looking in one direction—toward the back pew where Scout Rutherford was giving
birth.

“I feel bad for the guy,” answered Jason. “We basically told
him the love of his life is a lying, scheming bitch. I should have made sure
before we lobbed the accusation out there. Did you see the look on his face? I
felt like I’d kicked a puppy. If Jocelyn is responsible then he’ll figure it
out and maybe get over her. But if she isn’t, we’ve made both of them miserable
for no reason. And I don’t like eating crow for days on end to make up for shit.”

“You didn’t do this—I did. Why did you take the blame for
the classified?” Andrea looked at Jason curiously. Jason Fiske was technically
her boss. Non-descript in looks, fairly intense about the paper, one of those
guys she knew but didn’t know at all.

“The boss pays me the big bucks to take the blame, not you.
Now, shut up and help me figure this out. We are looking for someone who doesn’t
belong.” Jason peered at the screen, clicking the mouse to magnify certain
sections of the image around the pew where the camera case was stowed.

“Why someone who doesn’t belong?”

“Think about it. We’ve seen everyone who
does
belong at the wedding. But there were
a lot of people in attendance who were not from Mandrake Falls.”

“What would a stranger have against Jocelyn and Jeremy?”

“Nothing.
The mission was to discredit
the paper. It’s the only explanation that makes sense. What I don’t understand
is how this person could think a little thing like a fake engagement notice
would be enough to do the job?”

Andrea shrugged and chewed her lip, thinking. “It wouldn’t be,
unless it materially damaged Jocelyn or Jeremy in some way and we were sued.
Jeremy didn’t sound like he was going to sue us but maybe Jocelyn will. Does
she have a case? Is there something about Jocelyn Tate that we don’t know?”

JOCELYN WAS awake and in the shower when he got home. Jeremy
dropped his car keys on the little table beside the door, took off his sport
coat and flung it at the couch where it slid to the floor.

He stood in the middle of the room listening to the water
running.

She was behind the whole thing, using him to make Ryan
jealous just like she used him to make Hudson jealous. It was humiliating on so
many levels.

Jeremy flushed and tried not to sweat through his tee-shirt
which was overkill with the sweater vest he was wearing. Either the day was too
hot or he was.

He moved to the window. The mint green lawn was emerging
from the snow and the crocuses had pushed their heads up. Purple blooms
clustered together made bursts of color against the white, granular snow. The
crocus must be a damned determined flower, he thought. If they could get out of
the deep freeze, so could he. He would confront Jocelyn flat out and get a
straight answer about the classified. If she was the one who put it in Andrea’s
camera case, he would be over her. Somehow Jeremy knew that the moment she confessed,
he’d stop loving her. She’d be a coward. And much less noble than what he
believed her to be deep down.

Jeremy squared his shoulders and felt like a fool for doing
it. He was too tall. A tall guy without the shoulders or confidence to carry it
off looked like a dork when he squared his shoulders.

“Jeremy?”

He turned around. She was wearing the plaid flannel bathrobe
his dad bought him for Christmas. Her hair was wrapped in a terry towel.

“I hope you don’t mind me using your shower. The water is
off at my place.”

“Why is it off?”

She shrugged and moved to the couch. “Maybe it’s not off. I
don’t know. It leaks so I hate to turn it on unless I absolutely have to.” She
sat down and tucked her feet under her. “So what did you find out?”

Jeremy took a breath. “Jocelyn, did you stick something in
Andrea’s camera bag at the wedding?”

“What?”

His heart was pounding. There was no change in Jocelyn’s expression
which was a good sign.
Unless she was a brilliant liar.
“You heard me.”

“Yes, I heard you. I just can’t believe the question. Did I
stick something in Andrea’s camera bag at the wedding? No. I did not. Who told
you I did?”

“They said the ad came from an unknown source who stuck it
in Andrea’s camera bag at the wedding when the attention was on Scout
Rutherford.”

Jocelyn pulled the towel from her head and blotted her hair
with it. “And Andrea decided to run this random ad in the paper? Uh, no, I don’t
think so.” She sounded unconcerned. “Andrea is covering her ass.”

“Andrea didn’t run it—Jason did. It was an accident. He didn’t
even read it. He was on automatic pilot at that point to meet the deadline. Are
you in love with Ryan McIntyre?”

Jocelyn’s pretty blue eyes widened and she laughed
incredulously. “Am I in
love
with
Ryan? Where did
that
come from?”

Not a denial. His chest squeezed. “It’s a theory they have.
Jason, Andrea and Trevor think you put the note in the camera bag, hoping the
paper would run it. You are trying to make Ryan jealous.”

Jocelyn speared her fingers through her wet hair and shook
it to dry it faster. But her posture had changed and her smile was gone. Jeremy
watched her closely. “Is it true?” he asked.

“I barely know Ryan McIntyre. He asked me to the wedding.
That’s all.”

“Is it true?” Jeremy asked again, evenly.

She frowned.
Then looked him full in the
face.
“No, it is not true. I didn’t put that thing in Andrea’s camera
case. I don’t know who did or why they singled out you and me for a practical
joke. I’m not going to lie to you—I like Ryan and I’d like to see him again.
But I wouldn’t use you to try to make him jealous. Why would they even think that?”

“Because you used me to make Hudson Grace
jealous.
Even though it back-fired and you basically drove Hudson into
Michael’s arms they thought you might be giving it another shot to land Ryan.”
Yes, he was being cruel and he didn’t care. Jeremy was hurting.

“That’s a pretty low opinion everyone has of me. Is that
what you think too?”

Her beautiful blue eyes met his.

The flop sweat was back. She looked cute in his robe. Jeremy
tried not to think about her naked body under the flannel.
Or
of her breasts rubbing against the fabric.
Her hair was long, much
longer than it usually looked. Sitting on his couch in his robe with her long
blonde hair fanned out over her shoulders, Jocelyn was exquisite. Her face was
clean of makeup and he hoped, guile. He hoped she wasn’t lying to him about the
ad because he still loved her.
Not out of
the snow pack yet
, he thought ruefully. Even a crocus was tougher than he
was. Worse luck, now she liked Ryan McIntyre.

Jeremy sat beside her on the couch and rested his elbows on
his knees, his hands linked. “I don’t think you’d do anything malicious or
selfish. I think you throw yourself at the wrong guys, but that’s just me. I
hope it works out for you with Ryan if he’s the one you want. Maybe we’ll all
laugh about this one day.”

Jocelyn examined his profile. His glasses caught the
firelight, hiding his eyes. The heavy black frames cut off most of his profile.
But he had nice hair that was chestnut-brown in color and really shiny and thick.
It waved and bumped up in odd places. He needed a cut. Jeremy Marks looked like
he rarely got his hair cut or bought new clothes. He would look better with a
better wardrobe, Jocelyn mused. He had changed out of the grubby sweatshirt
into jeans and a white button-down shirt, over which he’d pulled a striped knitted
vest. He was wearing black Converse sneakers. High tops of all things. Hipster
styling, only in Jeremy’s case there wasn’t anything hip about his style.

The guy had no money. That was the problem, not only for
Jeremy but for her. She liked him, he was sweet. But she couldn’t fall in love
with a poor guy. She had a horror of poverty. Jocelyn had been raised poor and
had no intention of spending the rest of her life struggling to make ends meet
like her parents did. Her mother died because they were poor. Jocelyn wasn’t
going to do that to any kid of hers.

“Jeremy.” She took his hand in hers and a sweet shiver of
warmth passed through her. “I’m sorry you have to go through this again because
of me. I don’t want to hurt you and I don’t want to mislead you. You’re the
nicest guy I know.”

He slouched back against the sofa but didn’t release her
hand. “Don’t say it. Honestly, I don’t want to hear how doomed and pointless my
feelings are. I’ll straighten this out with Ryan just in case he thinks the ad
was for real. Everyone else in town will know it’s a joke.”

“Why do you assume that? It’s not totally out of the
question that we got engaged.”

He swiveled his head to look at her. “I’ll take that as a
compliment but yes, it is totally out of the question. Shit,
Joce
, don’t pretend that it isn’t! I hate it when people
try to be kind. It always makes a guy feel worse.”

“When have you ever known me to be kind to you? I’m horrible
to you so shut up.” Jocelyn removed his glasses from his face. “Let me see your
eyes for a minute.”

Jeremy Marks had brown eyes that were surprisingly handsomer
than she remembered. She’d never looked at him this closely before.

“You know what? You’re a good-looking guy. Under different
circumstances, I could see myself being interested. You’re sexy and I like
being with you; it’s not so crazy to think we could be a couple.” She gave him
his glasses back. “But we’re not so we have to set the record straight. Not
because it’s so freaking outrageous but because it’s totally possible.”

“Oh. Okay. Thanks.”

“You don’t believe me.”

He grinned. “I’m still trying to wrap my head around you being
here wearing my bathrobe and telling me I’m sexy. That’s the level of outrageousness
I’m at with you. An engagement is a whole other planet.
Another
guy’s life.”

Jocelyn smiled and looked away. He was so plain about his
feelings for her. She had to admire his guts. No matter how many times he got
shot down, Jeremy Marks was willing to keep on loving her. But she didn’t
believe it wasn’t love any more than what she felt for Hudson or Ryan McIntyre was
love. She wanted something unattainable and so did Jeremy Marks.

“We’re the same, you and me. We’re ambitious and we want what
we can’t have,” she said. “Maybe that’s why you like me.”

“I don’t just like you, Jocelyn.”

She nodded. “I know.”

They sat quietly for a minute, looking at the fire and
listening to the noises in the cavernous building. The furnace had come on and
the heat was rising to the loft apartment.

“What do you have planned for today?’ Jocelyn asked suddenly.
“It’s your day off, right?”

“Yes, it is.” Jeremy nodded and stretched, glad to break the
tension. “My day is packed with excitement. There’s a trip to the library to
get some books for the week and if it’s not too cold, a hike to Fillmore Ridge.
After that, I’ll have the Monday Night Blue Plate Special at the diner because
a guy can never get enough meatloaf. How about you? Are you meeting Ryan
today?”

She nodded, although she had no thought of meeting Ryan
unless he called. She had a policy of not calling a man the day after a date.
It was important not to look needy or eager. Let him come to her was the
Jocelyn Tate philosophy. She’d probably go home and wait by the phone. “He’ll want
to talk about the engagement notice. If the
Gazette
thinks I’m the culprit, I’ll bet Ryan does too.”

“I’ll talk to him and explain the situation.”

“No, don’t worry about it. But there is one thing you can do
for me—I rode my bike here and I’ve only just warmed up again. I can’t face
riding back. Could you give me a lift home?”

Jeremy had a bike rack attached to the rear of his beat up
Toyota. He left her alone to dress and went outside to attach her bike to the
rack. Jocelyn watched him from the large window overlooking the grounds. The
crocuses were up, she noticed. The apartment was nice and warm now. For a
fleeting second she wished she was spending the day with Jeremy Marks instead
of waiting for Ryan’s call.

And then she realized in a blast of self-illumination why
she had come to his apartment in the first place. Riding her bike through town
like a mad woman—it wasn’t because she suspected him. Deep down, Jocelyn knew
from the first that Jeremy had nothing to do with the engagement notice. Someone
was trying to make her look stupid and it had worked because she felt stupid—right
up until she talked to Jeremy. Though she didn’t want to acknowledge it, hanging
around Jeremy Marks always made her feel better.

Jocelyn could
not
be
developing feelings for the guy.

She turned away from the window, biting her lip.
No way. Not happening, Tate.
Not when
she still had a chance with Ryan McIntyre. Marry rich. That was the plan and
she wasn’t going to get distracted by a pair of sympathetic brown eyes.

♥

RYAN MCINTYRE sat in his office at the Millennium Mall
shopping complex, pondering the enigma of Paula Dunlop. He had returned to work
after lunch and tried to focus but failed. Several tasks were pinging in his
electronic calendar reminding him they were overdue. First, Paula Dunlop’s wide
startled eyes filled his thoughts, and then her lips. The blob of mayonnaise at
the corner of her mouth ... he never thought he’d be grateful for mayonnaise.

The problem was they didn’t know what to say after that. Paula
went red in the face and bolted down her sandwich. Ryan did the same, gulping his
scalding hot coffee before tossing some bills on the counter. He thought once
they were out on the sidewalk he’d know what to do, but after a brief awkward
exchange of pleasantries, Paula shouted a cheery good-bye and marched away like
she was in a parade. The spring sunshine fell over her red hair.

Ryan had been fighting down the urge to call her at the
salon ever since. A major over-reaction, he thought wryly, and swung back to
pick up his ball point pen. Several contracts needed his signature. He tried to
read them but his mind drifted to wondering why Paula ran off so fast. Talking
to her would clear everything up and then he could get back to work.

Decisively, Ryan picked up the receiver.

Jeremy Marks walked into the office. Ryan slammed the phone
down, flustered and annoyed by the interruption. Jeremy Marks was the last
person he wanted to see.

“Who the hell let you in?” he barked.

“Mr. McIntyre, we need to talk.”

Ryan stood up. “No, I don’t think we do. If you’re here to
tell me how sorry you both are—stow it because I don’t care. Don’t let the door
hit you on the way out.”

Jeremy reddened and pushed his glasses up on his nose. “You,
of all people, should know that engagement notice wasn’t real. You took Jocelyn
to the wedding. It’s obvious she’s interested in you. Someone is playing a joke
on all of us. The
Gazette
doesn’t
know who but they’re trying to figure it out. I came here to confirm that
Jocelyn is not engaged to me and she wasn’t interested in me when you took her
to the wedding. So, don’t be angry with her because she’s innocent. She likes
you.
A lot.
And she deserves to be happy.”

Ryan came around the desk, eyeing Jeremy thoughtfully. “You
took Paula Dunlop to the wedding, didn’t you? How come you didn’t you ask
Jocelyn? You like her; everyone knows that. Were you too embarrassed by her reputation
to be seen with her?”

“No!
God no.
I didn’t ask her
because she would’ve said no and I couldn’t take the rejection. And I like
Paula. She’s fun to hang out with.”