The drive into town was done in comfortable silence as the radio played. She looked at everything as they passed, noting what had changed and what hadn’t. All too soon, they pulled up to the drugstore.
They got out and walked inside, hand in hand. Everything felt like it had before Boyd had taken her away. She could almost believe the last years hadn’t happened. When Jace stopped to look at a cat toy, Taryn continued on to the pharmacy to get the morning-after pill.
As she stood in line, she realized that someone had walked up near her. She moved over, thinking they needed room to reach something on the shelf next to her. She glanced at them. Then quickly did a double-take when she recognized the face.
Brick’s dark brown eyes met hers. “Picking up something for yourself? Or someone else?”
Her heart skipped a beat.
He nodded to the pharmacy desk. “You’re up.”
Taryn glanced at the clerk and woodenly walked up to the counter. She asked for the pill and waited as the employee found it and brought it back. Her hands shook as she pulled out cash to pay. She glanced behind her to see if Brick was still there, but he was gone. And that worried her more than if he were still standing there.
The fact that he was in town could only mean bad things. Brick was completely loyal to Boyd. Was he here for her? Or was Brick in town for the undercover agent? She got her receipt and put her change in her wallet.
“Hey.”
Taryn jumped, dropping her purse and the bag with her purchase when Jace touched her arm.
He studied her for a moment before picking up the items and putting his hand on her back. “What happened?”
“One of Boyd’s men was in the store.”
“Who? Where?”
She looked around as they walked through the aisles, but she could no longer find him. “Brick. He’s gone.”
“And you’re sure it was him?”
“Yes.”
Jace didn’t say another word as they hurried from the store and got into his truck. “Do you know what he drives?”
“I … no,” she said with a shake of her head. She studied the cars in the lot, trying to see inside the vehicles. “I don’t see him out here either.”
Jace looked at her. “What did he say to you?”
“He asked if I was getting something for myself or someone else. Then he told me it was my turn at the counter.”
“That’s it?” Jace asked with a frown.
Taryn shrugged. “That’s it.”
“Did he try to take you? Did he ask if you had the money?”
She shook her head. “All he said was what I told you.”
“Well, looks like he just wanted to remind you that you were being watched.”
“What do we do?”
“Nothing. You’ve got time before you have to be in Fort Worth. For all he knows, you’re just catching up with an old friend.”
Taryn’s hands shook as she fastened her seat belt. “Yeah.”
“We can go home,” Jace offered.
She turned her head to look at him. “Boyd has already taken so much from us. I’m not going to let them take another second. Let’s have breakfast.”
“I agree completely,” he said with a sexy grin.
But as he backed out of the parking spot, Taryn noticed that Jace scanned faces and vehicles, looking for threats. And so was she.
When they reached Velma’s, they decided to eat there. Taryn scarfed her blueberry donut down so fast that she wanted another. Jace happily ordered a second as he devoured the huge cinnamon roll and drank a mug of coffee. Taryn opted for a latte.
It wasn’t long before Jace had her laughing as he filled her in on stories from the time she had been gone. When she was with Jace, it was easy to forget the trouble that awaited them. He’d always had that ability. Not only was he likeable, but there was also something about him that drew others. Women, especially.
When he had been with her, he never gave any other women even a glance. Taryn never worried about him cheating. But it was also why she was surprised he was single.
“How are your parents?” she asked.
Jace smiled as he swallowed his bite of food. “The same. They’re going to be so happy you’ve returned. I haven’t told them yet because they’d want to see you.”
“And they don’t need to know about all of this while it’s going on,” she finished.
He reached across the table and took her hand. “They’d want to help.”
“I wouldn’t let them. I’m barely allowing you.”
“I know,” he said with a chuckle. “But as soon as we get back, we’ll head there for some dinner and a ride to the river.”
“Oh, that sounds heavenly,” Taryn said. “Both the horse ride to the river as well as your dad’s amazing steaks and your mother’s cherry pie.”
Jace chuckled.
She pushed away her empty plate. “I hope you aren’t going to leave without letting them know where you’re going.”
“Clayton and Abby will tell my parents and Cooper’s mom after we leave. We know better than to take off and not let someone have information to tell our families.”
“Good.”
Jace held her gaze. “I think Boyd’s idiotic for allowing you to return to your hometown to do what he ordered. But I’m glad he did. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be together now.”
“He doesn’t care about the money. It’s about controlling me.”
“That’s right, but it’s all about to change.” Jace cleared his throat, a smile on his face. “So, when do you want to go down to the courthouse?”
She laughed, loving how he always knew when to change the subject. “You do know there’s a seventy-two-hour waiting period after we apply for a marriage license before we can get married, right?”
“And you know that I have connections, right? It can be waived with a court order.”
Her eyes widened. “You’re serious? I thought you wanted to keep it secret.”
“What I want is to marry you. What do you say?”
She hesitated for just a moment before she nodded. “I told you last night I wanted to be your wife. That hasn’t changed.”
“Then let’s go see what we can do about that.”
She scooted from the bench as they walked out together and drove to the courthouse. Taryn waited in the lobby as Jace spoke to the front desk. A moment later, he was shown into an office. She used that time to freshen up in the bathroom. She took her hair down, ran her hands through the strands, and dug into her purse for some lip gloss. Fifteen minutes later, Jace returned with a piece of paper in his hand.
“You got it?” she asked as she rose to her feet.
He looked shocked. “You doubted me?”
“I wasn’t sure there would be time.”
“The benefits of living in the same town all my life. Come on. They’re waiting for us. Unless you want to change. We can come back.”
She glanced down at her jeans and shirt. “We can have another celebration later if we want to. A fancy dress doesn’t matter right now. You do.”
Chapter 22
Jace caught Taryn looking down at the bouquet of white anemones as they drove back to his house. The priceless look of surprise and love on her face when she saw the flowers made him glad that he asked a woman to go across the street for them as he settled the paperwork. The florist had put some eucalyptus into the small bouquet and tied it with a white ribbon.