First Comes Marriage
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“Hardly. When the town loses the football game, it’ll start all over again.” She ran her finger around the rim of the cup, feeling the cracked edge. “The grocer wouldn’t let me buy tea. The diner was all out of veggie burgers and any other nonmeat items, and I got a ticket even though I was parked legally.” She sighed wearily. “They hate me.”
He pushed his chair back and stood up. She turned to see him put a pan on the stove and take food out of the refrigerator. “I’m still a vegetarian, you know.”
He laughed. “I’m making you a grilled cheese sandwich, your highness.”
Tears welled in her eyes. She wasn’t used to someone taking care of her. Growing up, she’d had an army of servants at her beck and call, but she never asked them to serve her. She’d often gone without a snack when hungry, too ashamed to ask the cook to make her something. “Thank you. I appreciate it...you have no idea how much.”
He cleared his throat. “Yeah, well, I don’t want you fainting on me.” She sipped her tea and watched him sizzle butter in the pan. She felt herself relax as the warm liquid went down her throat. “On top of it all, Rose seems to think I’m going to take over Dr. Harper’s practice.”
“Well, Dr. Harper has been talking about retiring. His wife is getting worse, but there’s no other doctor in town.”
“I told her I don’t have my sights on his practice—I plan to go back to London to run my father’s clinic.”
“Yeah, they think you’ll like it so much here, you’ll stay. I mean, who would leave the good old US of A to go back to colonial times.”
She pursed her lips to bite back a retort. He was trying hard to keep up the pretense of being a surly rancher; she wouldn’t engage in his ribbing.
“Besides, if you haven’t noticed, I’m the town’s most eligible bachelor and they figure you’ll fall in love with me and never leave.”
She couldn’t help but scoff. He thought a lot of himself. “Well, she has nothing to worry about. I’m getting married a few weeks after I return.” She winced. Her marriage wasn’t a secret, but for some reason she didn’t want to discuss it with Jake.
Crash! Startled, she turned and saw the pan on the floor. Jake recovered quickly.
“Sorry...handle slipped from my fingers. Don’t worry, I saved your sandwich.”
He set a plate down. She picked up the sandwich and took a bite. This is the most delicious thing I’ve ever tasted. She let the buttery bread and soft cheese melt in her mouth.
“Mmm. Thank you!” She saw him staring at her, his green eyes darkening to brown. She felt herself blush and looked down at her plate.
Jake sat down and splayed his fingers over his half-empty mug.
“I heard something about a fiancé, but this town has a way of embellishing.” He gazed pointedly at her hand. “You don’t wear a ring.”
She chewed slowly. “In Indian culture, the engagement is part of the wedding festivities. My parents wanted it to be the first party of the two-week celebrations.”
“Two weeks?”
“I’m their only child—they’ve always spoiled me.” She kept her eyes on her plate. Her mother had been planning this event for over a year. She was quite upset at the timing of Meera’s trip, but Meera hadn’t wanted to put it off. She needed to do this before the wedding.
“So tell me about your fiancé.” His tone was casual, but there was something new in his voice. She searched his face, but he was studying the table.
“Raj is a family friend. We’ve known each other since we were children. He’s also a physician, and his family is also from India originally, but we both grew up in the UK. We have a lot in common.”
“Is he also a vegetarian?”
She laughed. “Yes, he is. We are very well suited to each other.”
A shadow flittered across his face. “Well suited. That’s an interesting way to put it. Do you love him?”
She frowned. What a strange question. But suddenly her mouth was dry. She took a sip of her tea and rubbed her temples.
“As I said, I’ve known him for many years and we’re quite fond of each other. We’re research partners—we run a research project together, and after I finish my research doctorate, we’ll open our own lab.”
He raised his brows.
Suddenly, she didn’t want to talk about Raj anymore. “Are you married?”
Was it her imagination, or did he flinch? He shook his head. “I was engaged once.”
“What happened?”
“She left me.” His voice was devoid of emotion, but she sensed bitterness and pain behind the words.
“Is the fertility tea hers?”
He laughed mirthlessly. “Yeah, that one took me by surprise, too.” He was trying too hard to keep his voice carefree. The raw sorrow in his eyes gave him away. She wanted to reach out and touch him.
“How long ago?” she asked softly.
“Almost a year.”
Meera placed her hand over his. “I’m so sorry.” His hand felt warm and rough and somehow familiar. Meera pulled away.
He gave her a wistful smile. “It’s probably for the best. I’ve let it go.”
She finished her sandwich and stood up to wash the plate. She had a thousand questions for him, but it didn’t feel right to pry. He seemed vulnerable...and heartbroken.
“Why’re you marrying a man you don’t love?”
Meera froze, the water pouring over her hands as she held the plate. Her head throbbed painfully. Was he asking because his fiancée had left him? “What makes you think I don’t love him?” Did her voice sound shaky?
“You haven’t once said that you do.”
She turned off the water and sat down wearily. “There are all kinds of love, Jake. My parents didn’t even know each other when my grandparents arranged their marriage. They discovered one another and fell in love after their wedding, and they’ve been together for forty years. Forty years!”
He didn’t look convinced.
“Love is something you have to nurture...it grows over time.”
“So what is this, an arranged marriage?” he asked contemptuously.
“You could call it that or a planned marriage. A carefully selected union between two people who know and admire each other. It’s a sound basis for selecting a life partner.”
He gaped at her, shaking his head in disbelief. “It’s not a business merger, Meera, it’s a life together. This is the twenty-first century. Your parents can’t marry you off against your will.”
She glared at him. “How American of you to think this is happening without my consent! Arranged marriages have been a part of my heritage for a very long time. The divorce rate in India is one percent. One percent! Compared to over fifty percent here. I’m not marrying Raj because my parents are making me—I’m marrying him because I want to. He’s a good match for me, we’ve known each other for years...it only makes sense we would be good life partners.” Was it just her, or was it getting stuffy in here? Her head was about to explode.
“What about love?”
What was with Jake and this love thing? “There are all kinds of love. At some level, Raj and I have loved each other for twenty years.”
“That sounds like an academic argument to me.”
“Well, I am a scientist.”
“And yet you believe in karma.”
She started to argue, then stopped. He has me there. “There are many things in this universe that science hasn’t explained.”
“Are your parents happily married?”
“Pardon me?”
“You said your parents have been married for forty years. Has it been a happy marriage?”
She had never thought about it before, but of course her parents were happy. Weren’t they? She knew their inability to have children had created an underlying sadness for both of them, but beyond that? She suddenly realized she didn’t know much about how her parents’ marriage worked.
She stood up. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ve had a very difficult day and I’m exhausted. I need to go lie down and figure out whether I should return to London.” She pushed her chair back, picked up her cup and took it to the sink. She was grateful for the food and tea; she felt fortified.
When she was done washing the dishes, she muttered a curt good-night as she stepped past him.
“Throw them a barbecue.”
She turned in the doorway. “What?”
“The town. They can’t resist a good barbecue—it’s a good way to win them over. You can have it here, and I’ll give you a grill and meat. Just...wear jeans and a T-shirt—you know, regular clothes.”
She frowned at him. “What’s wrong with my clothes? This dress is Gucci.”
His eyes traveled up and down her body. Heat seared through her. “Most people here get their clothes at discount stores. Show them you aren’t the Queen of England. Wear something regular folks wear, like that dress you had on this morning.”
She began to argue with him, then stopped. He was showing her a way out. A barbecue. I can use it as an opportunity to show them...and Jake...that I’m not so strange. All was not lost. She could picture it already.
She clapped her hands and stepped toward him. “I’ll have it the day after tomorrow. It’s a Sunday, so the office will be closed. I’ll order everything I need online, overnight delivery. Yes, I’m sure I can make it work. I’ll go make a list right now. Thank you so much, Jake.”
Impulsively, she leaned over and gave him a peck on the cheek. Her lips tingled as they touched his prickly stubble, and she took in his scent. She stepped back, suddenly a little light-headed. Her headache was gone, replaced with comforting, elating warmth.
His eyes darkened. He shifted in his seat, clearing his throat. “Yeah, well, I’ll tell Kelly to help you with all this. Let me know if you need anything.”
Her cheeks burned as she backed out of the room. She mumbled another thank-you and fled to the cottage.
CHAPTER FOUR
JAKE SURVEYED THE SCENE. Not bad. Meera had gone to quite some expense, renting a tent, tables, chairs, even a dance floor. The tables were draped with red-and-white-checkered cloths and little vases of fresh-cut flowers. She’d turned his entire field into a photo-worthy barbecue.
He’d seen the light on in the cottage well into the night for the past two days, and she was up before sunrise today. She set up the tent right in front of the hay barn, the red structure providing a picturesque backdrop. She even managed a great day: partly cloudy sky, pleasant breeze and dry ground.
She had already loaded coal in the chimney starters of the grill he’d lent her, and he made a mental note to check that she’d opened the vent. Meera was standing near the grill with a clipboard in hand. He could see her checking things off. She was dressed in jeans and—what do you know—a T-shirt. She looked amazing, but then she always did—in whatever she had on, even the severe dresses she wore to work. Her dark hair was pulled into a ponytail. He liked it. It showed off her big, expressive brown eyes.
She’s something, isn’t she? He didn’t know many people who would take on the town of Hell’s Bells. Jolene certainly hadn’t; she’d run away as soon as they turned on her, and she was born here. He admired Meera’s gumption. Although she looked like a fragile little thing, he sensed an inner strength. She was a fighter.
He walked toward her.
“Need some help?”
She looked up and smiled. Oh, wow. His legs suddenly felt unsteady, and he slowed down. It was the first genuine smile he had seen since she arrived, and it was spectacular. He stopped when he reached her and stared at the ground, not wanting to meet her eyes. She was wearing flip-flops with sequins on the straps, calling attention to her bright red toes.
“I think I have the grill going.”
He gave it a perfunctory look and nodded, unable to take his eyes off her. “You do—the coal looks nice and hot.” She gave him another stunning smile, and he found himself grinning like a teenage boy. She had put it all together by herself. Given her obviously wealthy upbringing, he’d expected her to ask him or his staff for help on any number of little things, from moving tables and chairs to starting the grill, but she hadn’t.
“People should be here any minute. I think I’ll start the first round of hot dogs and burgers. I just need to check the package...”
“Package?”
“The instructions on how to cook them without burning.”
Instructions? “What?”
She pointed to the cooler. He frowned. It wasn’t one of his coolers; he’d assumed it held the beer. “Where did you get that meat?”
She smiled broadly. “It’s meatless hot dogs and burgers.”
Meatless meat? He gripped the cooler lid and lifted out a package. Precooked? This was going to be bad. Really bad.
“Tofu?”
She nodded excitedly. “They taste just like meat, but they’re made of soy. Sustainable soy, I might add.”
Why am I getting involved in this? She’s her own worst enemy. He looked at her excited face. She had her convictions, and he respected her for that, but she was headed for disaster. “Listen, Meera, I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but it won’t work. Meat is meat, and nothing else tastes like it. You told the town you’re throwing a barbecue; they’ll be expecting meat, you can’t just—”
“But that’s the point—I’ll show them they can follow a healthy lifestyle and keep their traditions. They don’t have to give up barbecues, just eat less red meat.”
“This is a ranchin’ town, Meera. You’re not going to win them over in one night. I pulled out a bunch of meat from the freezer yesterday—Kelly was supposed to give it to you. It’s all in the fridge. I’ll go get it. You can offer up your tofu dogs and burgers as another option.”
“No!” She gave him a sharp look. “That defeats the purpose. Part of my rotation here is to improve public health. I want to introduce the town to the notion that there are healthy, tasty alternatives to red meat. I have it all planned.”
He shook his head. Add stubborn to the reasons I shouldn’t get involved. “The whole point of this barbecue is to make up for not understanding what’s important to the town. Meat is important.”
“I’m trying to show them how to enjoy their traditions in a better way.”
He threw up his hands.
He turned. “I’m not gonna waste my time arguing with you.”
She looked defiantly at him. “It’ll be fine, just wait and see.”
* * *
“WHAT THE HELL is this?” Rose spit out the first bite of hot dog. Others followed suit, seeming equally appalled.
“It’s a tofu dog,” Meera explained.
“Toe what now?”
Meera looked at the disgusted faces. About fifty people were here—a good turnout, according to Jake. What’s wrong? She’d tasted the first hot dog; it was delicious. Jake’s advice on the mix of wood chips for the grill had given it quite a flavor. So why were they spitting it out?
She watched in dismay as people used her thoughtfully placed trash cans to toss perfectly grilled tofu dogs and burgers.
“Where’s the meat? I didn’t sign up for this veggie crap.”
“Rose, remember how Dr. Harper has been talking about getting the town to eat healthier? Well, this is—”
Rose grabbed her arm and said in a low voice, “You don’t mess with a barbecue. A barbecue is about meat—juicy, fat, red meat. It’s not the time to introduce tofu. Dr. Harper meant to do some health seminars, hand out flyers, that kind of thing. You silly girl.”
“I’m leaving! Should’ve known she was gonna screw this up,” she overheard someone say.
“Why don’t you go back to wherever they actually like this stuff,” another local added.
“That’s enough!” Jake’s booming voice made Meera jump. “Meera’s gone to a lot of trouble, so why don’t we give her a chance?” There he was, tall and lean, cowboy hat and jeans and a T-shirt that showed off every flex of his sinewy muscles. He was towing a cooler behind him. “I’ve got some fresh meat here, and we’ll grill it right up. And she’s got some cold beer, so settle down.”
There were cheers from the crowd. Meera’s face burned. How dare he? “What do you think you’re doing?” she whispered angrily when he got near.
“I’m saving you from yourself—you’ll thank me later.”
“Oh, you are such a pompous—” She took a deep breath and turned to the crowd. She was wasting her energy on Jake. “Listen, everybody, can I just take a second to tell you about some of the health benefits of eating soy rather than red meat? Studies have shown that eating soy can lower your risk of heart disease by as much as...” She stopped. Her guests were crowding around Jake, choosing meat, chatting away. Jake started poking coal in the grill, taking off the tofu burgers and dogs and throwing them in the trash bin.
She crossed her arms. She noticed something on the ground, near the grill. The clipboard. Someone stepped on it, and she heard it snap.
“Well, if you’ll pardon me, I need to take care of something back at the cottage.” No one listened. No one cared. She turned on her heels and ran.
She flung herself on the bed.
The nerve of him! She wanted the town to get to know her as a person, not “the Queen of England,” as they’d all taken to calling her—a not-so-endearing name that Jake had no doubt perpetuated. Dr. Thurm and Dr. Harper had asked her to work on preventative medicine in Bellhaven as part of the community education component of her rotation. Teaching the townsfolk how to eat better was the perfect way to achieve that, and she’d been sure the party would convince them she wasn’t just some clueless foreigner. She’d planned every detail of the barbecue so they could see how simple lifestyle changes could make a difference in their health. It was the basis for her research, a way to prove to Dr. Thurm that the development of her blood pressure compound could work. People would be willing to make a change for their health. Jake had ruined it all.
She let her tears fall. She could have turned it around, explained the benefits of soy...if Jake hadn’t shown up with meat. How could she compete with that? Serving meat at her party! Her parents would be furious if they ever found out.
What am I doing here? she wondered. This will never work. Maybe I should have waited until after the wedding, taken some time to talk Dr. Thurm into letting me do this in New York. Why am I trying to get this awful town to like me? I’m so in over my head.
But she couldn’t go back to London, not after she’d fought so hard with her mum to come here now. This was her final shot at independence, to be free of the social obligations that came with being a socialite’s only daughter, before taking on the duties of marriage. She’d seen the opportunity and jumped on it.
Meera would never have this kind of freedom again. Raj hated traveling.
Her phone rang, and she looked at the caller ID. As usual, his timing is great. Maybe talking to him will help.
“Hello, Raj.” She tried to inject some enthusiasm into her voice; she didn’t want to worry him.
“Hello, love, glad I caught you. I tried ringing earlier...” She felt a twinge of guilt. She’d been so busy planning the barbecue, she’d forgotten to return his call.
“Yes, I’ve been quite busy settling in. How are you getting along?”
He began talking about patients and giving her an update on the practice. Everything was falling into place. She and Raj would run her father’s practice after they were married and eventually merge with the medical conglomerate Raj’s parents owned. Her father was looking forward to retiring after Meera and Raj took over the medical center. Their research project was progressing well, and once they secured permissions and funding for their own laboratory, the sky was the limit.
She listened to his familiar voice, letting it soothe her as she lay back on her bed. The tension eased out of her muscles. This was why she was marrying Raj: he always calmed her. Given what had happened tonight, should she go back early? She could come back later and complete the rotation or maybe even transfer somewhere else. But then she wouldn’t be able to apply for the funding she needed to start the lab. She squeezed her eyes shut.
Raj was talking about a new computer system her father wanted to invest in. Her thoughts went back to the barbecue. Jake had been right about it bringing the town together, and he’d been nice enough to let her host the party at his ranch. And even though she hadn’t wanted him to, he’d been generous to offer up all that meat. She would pay him for it, of course. Jake! Why did he infuriate her so much? And yet, she couldn’t hold on to her anger. No matter how wrong he was, Jake was well-intentioned. She thought back to a few nights ago when he’d made her a grilled cheese. Despite disagreeing with her about being a vegetarian, he respected her choice.
So why had he brought out the meat today? She thought about the way the town had reacted to her tofu dogs. Obviously, Jake knew the folks of Bellhaven better than she did. Maybe she had pushed too hard? She should go back; it was rude to leave her own party and perhaps a little grumpy. After all, the band would be there soon... Surely, there was a way to salvage the evening? The original purpose of the barbecue was to convince the townspeople she meant well; maybe she could still make that happen.
She interrupted Raj. “Listen, I’m rather in the middle of something right now—do you mind if I ring you later?”
He paused. “Well, I suppose that would be all right, although now is the best time for me.”
“Sorry, but I really need to go.”
“Meera...”
She stabbed the end button and immediately regretted it. Raj hadn’t done anything wrong. Oh, well, she’d explain it to him later.
She walked back to the barbecue and saw the band setting up. People were sitting down and eating, and loud conversations drifted to her ears. There was general merriment in the air. It was exactly as she planned it, except it wasn’t. Jake had done this.
She wrinkled her nose as she approached the grill. Jake was placing fat, bloody pieces of meat above the coals. Bile rose in her throat, and she clutched her stomach, resisting the urge to throw up.
He held out a plate to her and she stared at him in horror.
“Relax. I saved you a tofu burger before I put the meat on.”
She smiled gratefully and took the plate. There was the sweetness again, the way he thought about her needs. Not many men would be that considerate.
“Who are they?” Jake pointed at the band.
“Don’t worry, I thought the meatless meal would be enough of an experiment. The band is from Richmond—they do country music. The online reviews said they’re quite good.”
He smiled mischievously. “Well, then, you’ll have to save a dance for me.”
A shiver ran down her spine. She looked down shyly. “I don’t dance very well.”
He leaned forward and whispered, “Don’t worry, I’ll teach you.” His breath warmed her ear.
“Jake, these burgers are yum-mum-mee.” While Meera was staring at her feet, Gloria had sidled up to Jake and put her hand on his arm.
Meera smiled brightly at her. Best fake smile, Meera—time to mend fences. Gloria was wearing extremely small shorts again, showing off miles of legs that ended in wedged heels. Ah, note to self: pointed heels get stuck in the mud, wedges are the way to go. She would have to go shoe shopping soon; retail therapy might be a good antidote to the stress of Bellhaven. Gloria had paired her shorts with a red-and-white-checkered shirt tied in a knot above her belly button, and a pink cowboy hat completed the look. She and Jake would make a picture-perfect, all-American couple.
“Mmm... This is so good, Jake—what did you put it in?” Gloria purred. She leaned in, and Jake took a step closer to the grill, away from her.
“It’s just beef, Gloria, nothing special.”
Oh, I can’t watch this. Meera excused herself, much to Gloria’s delight and Jake’s apparent dismay. She headed over to see the band.
“Dr. M., can I talk to you for a minute?”
Meera turned to find a young woman standing behind her. The girl was red in the face and heavyset. Meera frowned. The raised rash on her face could indicate a medical problem. “Of course. Come with me.”