Page 13 of Sweet Temptation (Honeysuckle, Texas #3)

Eleanor Shannon had never been one to wait for an invitation.

Not back in the seventies when she’d marched in the women’s rights rallies, not when she’d taken over her late husband’s firm despite the skeptics, and certainly not when it came to checking up on her only granddaughter.

That still small voice in the back of her head wouldn’t stop asking what the heck was really going on in West Texas.

She knew why her beloved grandchild had moved to Houston; as much as Eleanor loved her small hometown, Jackie couldn’t wait to escape.

Then, with no warning, one minute her precious Jacqueline was in Houston bubbling excitedly over a new guy in her life—Brad something—and then the next thing Eleanor knew, her big city loving granddaughter was settling down across the state in of all places, a small town.

All it had taken was one short night, tossing and turning, to be packed and on the road by six am. And now, here she was.

Honeysuckle, Texas had more charm than she’d expected.

She’d been picturing some dusty one-horse town with tumbleweed on the sidewalks, but the tidy storefronts and flower boxes reminded her of any number of East Texas small towns from her childhood.

She parked her silver Buick—a sensible car for a not-so-sensible woman, as her friends liked to joke—and checked her lipstick in the rearview mirror.

Content that she looked presentable, she stepped out of the car and began strolling down Main Street, delighted for the chance to stretch her legs and work her stiff muscles.

Shop after shop tugged at her curiosity to go in and peruse, but there was only time for a quick look before she called Jackie and tracked down where she was staying.

Coming upon Corn Hole Heaven, she paused.

An entire store dedicated to corn hole? Memories of playing as a child made her smile.

Maybe one quick perusal wouldn’t hurt anything.

The bell jingled cheerfully as she pushed open the door.

The interior was surprisingly spacious, filled with colorful wooden boards and fabric bags arranged by weight and color.

Who knew there were so many options for accessories, and so… bright too.

“Hello!” A woman about twenty years her junior approached with a welcoming smile. “Just passing through or looking to join the corn hole revolution?”

“Neither, actually.” Eleanor returned the warm smile. “My granddaughter Jacqueline recently moved to town, and I thought I’d surprise her.”

The woman’s face twisted in thought, then, as if a switch had been flipped, lit up like a Christmas tree. “You must mean Jackie! Oh my goodness, you’re Jackie’s grandmother?” She turned toward the back of the store. “Liz! Come out here! Jackie’s grandmother is here!”

Another woman, clearly a sister based on their similar features, hurried from the back room.

“I’m Vicki Langley, and this is my sister Liz,” the first woman explained. “We’re Garret’s aunts.”

“Garret?” Eleanor repeated, testing the name on her tongue. Her granddaughter had been very vague about her reasons for settling into a small town—something she’d spent her entire childhood planning to escape—but this could explain a lot. A new man.

The sisters exchanged knowing glances that set off Eleanor’s internal alarms.

“Jackie hasn’t mentioned Garret?” Liz asked.

Eleanor shook her head.

The two siblings leaned in conspiratorially.

“He’s our nephew. And, well, quite frankly,” Vicki’s smile took over her face, “I’ve never seen him so smitten.”

“Smitten?” Eleanor struggled to keep her expression neutral. Interesting. Very interesting. So much was beginning to make sense. Sort of.

“The way he looks at her…” Vicki sighed dramatically. “It’s like watching one of those old movies where the hero is absolutely besotted.”

“Alice—that’s Garret’s mother—tells us they’re together constantly,” Liz added. “Laughing together in the kitchen, walking hand in hand around the ranch—”

“The ranch?”

“Why yes. Jackie is staying at the Sweet family ranch.” Looking about, Liz leaned in and lowered her voice. “Just between us, he asked my sister’s permission to court her.”

“Court her?” Eyebrows high on her forehead, Eleanor was more confused now than ever.

The two siblings nodded in unison, both beaming like they’d found a cure for cancer.

“As in going to get married?” She hoped her voice didn’t crack. So soon after her break-up with that Brad fellow in Houston, this had the earmarks of a rebound fiasco written all over it.

Again the heads bobbed enthusiastically.

Vickie rubbed her hands together with joyful enthusiasm. “We’re just waiting for him to make it official.”

“I see.” She flashed what she hoped was a sincere smile and not that crooked one that always alerted her husband to her internal planning—or scheming as he’d called it.

There might not be any scheming needed this time around, but there was certainly something cooking and she had every intention of finding out what the heck was really going on here. “Could you point me toward the ranch?”

Thumbing through the stack of seventh-grade history papers, Garret held a red pen poised above yet another creative interpretation of American history.

The kitchen table made a better grading station than his bedroom—more space to spread out, and the occasional distraction of Jackie’s laugh drifting in from the living room.

Three times he’d caught himself smiling at the sound.

Three times he’d reminded himself his arrangement with Jackie was strictly business—nothing more.

The crunch of tires on gravel pulled his attention.

He wasn’t expecting anyone; at this hour of the day, in the middle of the week, a surprise guest was more likely to mean someone was in trouble than wanting to socialize.

Pushing back from the table, he moved across the house to the front window.

A silver Buick had pulled up beside his truck, and an older woman emerged from the driver’s side.

Sporting pressed slacks and a light cardigan despite the Texas heat, he wondered what kind of trouble the old woman could be having.

Something about her bearing—confident, purposeful—struck him as familiar.

The woman was halfway to the porch when Jackie appeared at his side. Her sharp intake of breath gave him pause. What he didn’t know was if her reaction meant good news or bad.

“Grams,” Jackie whispered, then louder, “Grammy!” She bolted past him, flying through the screen door and down the steps.

Garret followed at a more measured pace, watching as Jackie threw her arms around the older woman.

Apparently, it was safe to say his answer was good news.

What he didn’t know, was if this little visit meant trouble was brewing on the horizon.

“Surprise, darling,” the woman said, her voice carrying a touch of East Texas in its warmth.

“What are you doing here?” Jackie pulled back, her expression flickering between joy and something that looked oddly like panic. So much for a good thing.

“Can’t a grandmother check on her only grandchild?” The woman’s gaze shifted to Garret, shrewd eyes taking his measure in one sweeping glance. “Especially when that grandchild suddenly moves across the state to a small town with little to no explanation.”

Garret stepped forward, his shoulders straight, his smile strong. “I’m Garret Sweet. Welcome.”

The woman extended her hand, her eyes never leaving his face.

“Eleanor Shannon.” A firm handshake, she held on a moment longer, her gaze fixed on his, scrutiny in her eyes.

When she finally let go and stepped back, he had no idea where he stood, but he had a feeling the older woman had definitely come to a conclusion, he just had no idea if this was going to help or hurt their situation.

From behind, his mother called out to them. “Are y’all going to stand in the yard all day or invite our guest inside?”

“Oh, sorry. Of course.” Her elbow linked with her grandmother’s, Jackie led her grandmother toward the house.

“Is there a reason you haven’t mentioned you’re living with a handsome hunk?”

Jackie’s cheeks flushed. “Grammy…”

Walking beside them, Garret tried not to smile at her grandmother’s description of him. Handsome and a hunk. Eleanor Shannon might have just made his day.

Crossing the threshold, a wide smile bloomed on their visitor’s face. “I can see why my granddaughter likes living here.”

For an instant the old woman’s gaze slanted in his direction, a knowing gleam in her eye, and Garret had the distinct feeling this woman was going to keep them on their toes.

Wiping her hands on a dish rag, his mother extended her hand. “Sorry for the mess. I’m in the middle of fixing supper.”

Her nose to the air, Eleanor Shannon sniffed. “Cornbread?”

Alice Sweet nodded.

“Oh my, and is that… Alfredo sauce?”

His mother’s smile couldn’t have grown any wider. “Yes. I was busy baking all afternoon so we’re having fettuccine Alfredo for dinner. You’re staying, of course.”

“Thank you.”

“There’s fresh rolls too if you prefer that to cornbread.” His mother had begun walking Eleanor to the kitchen.

The woman stopped in her tracks and tipping her face up at his mother, barely shook her head. “May my grandmother Morretti forgive me, but I’ll take the cornbread.”

Laughing as if they’d been friends for years, the two sauntered the rest of the way to the kitchen mumbling something about marinara versus Alfredo and linguini and angel hair pasta.

“Are we in trouble?” he mouthed softly to Jackie.

With a lazy shrug, she rolled her head. “I have no idea.”

The sound of spitting gravel caught both their attention, followed by a car door slamming and booted heels stomping up the porch steps. Another moment and the screen door flew open.

Eyes wide as saucers and slightly out of breath from the jaunt to the house, Rachel zeroed in on Jackie. “You. Will. Not. Believe this.”

“Believe what?” Her gaze narrowed, Jackie swung around to face his sister.

“I bumped into Iris Hathaway at the candle shop. She was telling Jillian all about Angela Simpson’s handsome new… ready?… Fiancé!”

“Oh, no.” Jackie’s hand flew to her mouth. “Brad proposed to her?”

Hands fisted on her hips, Rachel dipped her chin down and up. “Ooooh, yes.”

Brad was engaged? Jackie’s stomach twisted as she processed Rachel’s words.

To the blonde from the café? What scam was this character thinking he could pull off?

Did he really intend to become a bigamist and drive back and forth between two wives, or did he have some other crazy scheme up his sleeve? “Are we sure she’s not just hopeful?”

Rachel nodded vigorously. “According to Iris, he proposed last night. Got down on one knee and everything.”

Garret followed them, his expression darkening. “This guy gets worse by the minute.”

The three of them sank onto the couch, Jackie’s mind racing. Disbelief at Brad’s audacity simmered until pure anger at his nerve brewed to a boil. “I need to tell his wife.”

“Well, someone needs to tell Angela before she gets in any deeper.” Rachel leaned forward eagerly. “This man can’t just keep collecting women like trading cards.”

“What man collects women like trading cards?” Grams’ voice made all three of them jump. She stood in the doorway, her glance drifting to Garret, then back to her granddaughter.

“Grams, I—” Jackie started, but her grandmother raised a hand.

“I couldn’t help but overhear. These old ears still work remarkably well.” She crossed the room and perched on the arm of the sofa beside Jackie. “Would this be the same Brad you were so smitten with in Houston?”

Jackie nodded.

“And he skipped over marrying you and chose this woman here in town?”

Again, Jackie bobbed her head, wondering how she’d gotten so lucky to have dodged a marriage proposal from Brad. “There’s a bigger problem.”

Her grandmother’s brows drifted high on her forehead, but she sat silently waiting for what Jackie had to say.

“He already has a wife,” Rachel blurted out.

Immediately Grams eyes narrowed in disbelief, and then just as quickly her chin lifted, eyes sparkling with mischief.

It was the same look Grams had when she’d accidentally poisoned the shrubs a neighbor had planted—and refused to move—from their side of the property line, or when her police buddies cited Joe Parker with a traffic violation over and over for an entire month after smacking her best friend’s granddaughter.

Yep, she’d seen that look a lot throughout her childhood whenever her grandmother saw injustice and was brewing an idea to help Karma along.

Grams tapped her fingers against her knee.

“You know, when I was in college, there was a boy who tried to date three girls from the same sorority house.”

“What happened?” Garret asked.

“Let’s just say some lessons need to be taught publicly to really stick.” Her smile broadened. “And Mary Jo Pucket’s brother looks really good in makeup and a padded bra.”

Stifling a chuckle, Rachel leaned forward. “Mrs. Shannon, I think I would have liked going to college with you.”

“It’s Eleanor, dear, and likewise.”

“So,” Jackie inched forward in her seat, “does this mean we’re going to help teach Brad a lesson”?

Pushing to her feet, her grandmother looked at the three of them. “Sometimes, helping karma along can be an awfully entertaining way to pass the time.”