A Soldier's Dare
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Jo McNally
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Chapter One
Belle Fortune was annoyed.
No... That wasn’t the right word. Irritated? Perturbed?
She whipped her blue BMW convertible into an open parking spot near the entrance of the only decent shopping she’d found since arriving in Texas—The Shoppes at Rambling Rose. She turned off the ignition and stayed in her seat for a minute, giving herself a firm talking-to.
Only a very bad person would be upset, annoyed, perturbed, irritated or whatever just because every single person in her family and social circles seemed to be falling in love except her.
And doggone it, she was not a bad person. Belle wanted the people she cared about to find love and happiness. It was wonderful. For them. Sure, she was the one with ten different Pinterest boards filled with wedding gowns, wedding locations, wedding flowers. And yes, she couldn’t help wondering once in a while when it might finally be her turn, but... She was fine. Totally fine. Completely. Fine.
Belle shook her head at herself. Self-pity was not her style. She got out of the car and shrugged off her melancholy. Hopefully a little change of scenery would help her snap out of it. The Hotel Fortune had been nonstop romance since her arrival in Rambling Rose a month ago. First up had been the lavish five-couple wedding ceremony of her Fortune cousins on New Year’s Eve. The hotel had been filled with happy Fortunes—there were a lot of them—not to mention lavish displays of beautiful flowers.
It was a relief when the decor was taken down after the weddings. Unfortunately—at least for Belle—the place immediately filled with lush Valentine’s Day decor. Vases full of fresh-cut red and white roses began appearing all around the lobby. At breakfast there were heart-shaped waffles, and at night there were pink “Cupid cocktails” at the bar. Belle had always been the starry-eyed romantic of her family, but she’d seen enough hearts and cupids in just one month here in Rambling Rose to last her a lifetime.
She was only a few steps inside The Shoppes at Rambling Rose when she realized her mistake. With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, naturally the shopping center was wall-to-wall hearts and flowers, too. This was the opposite of getting a reprieve from romance! Stores were advertising ways to Make Her Day Special and Show Her You Love Her. The local animal clinic, Paws and Claws, was holding an adoption event in the lobby that promised Unconditional Love. Of course.
It felt like the entire state of Texas was going out of its way to tell Belle she was alone when everyone else had someone to love. It wasn’t fair. Heck, her siblings had often teased her about how she heard wedding bells with any man she dated more than twice. That may have been true in college. And maybe in the first couple of years after that. But the wedding bells always seemed to ring for everyone except her.
She stopped in front of a storefront display of expensive leather bags and colorful silk scarves. She didn’t need a new bag or another scarf. Then again, need was never really a factor when she shopped. She started to go into the store, but had to wait for an older couple entering before her. The silver-haired gentleman slid his arm around the woman’s waist, and she leaned into him as he whispered something. Belle couldn’t help overhear as the woman laughed and looked up at him, her eyes shining with love. And a surprising amount of heat.
“Teddy!” She slapped his shoulder. “Forty years of marriage and you can still make me blush!”
Belle turned away from the shop, suddenly losing interest in leather and silk. It wouldn’t be worth sharing the shop with an admittedly adorable couple who had everything she’d ever wanted. She blinked, thinking of her parents back in New Orleans. Miles and Sarah Fortune had shared a great love story through the years, even after raising seven rambunctious children to adulthood. Maybe her case of the blues was because she was homesick.
It wasn’t like she hadn’t tried to find someone back home in the Big Easy. But she seemed to attract the wrong sort of men. Too many guys were more attracted to the Fortune family money than to her. Or they wanted a job opportunity at her father’s investment firm, or to pitch some cockeyed investment scheme to Dad or her brothers. If not, they were one of the clueless ones who saw her as some bubblehead blonde with lots of curves and no brain. And Belle still didn’t have a date for the upcoming Valentine’s Ball.
A woman walked across the tile-floored lobby of The Shoppes in a flowing black skirt and white blouse. She sat at an enormous harp set up near the indoor waterfall. Oh, no... The woman began to play a familiar love song, from Belle’s favorite vampire movie. Enough, already!
Her phone began to chime in her bag. She couldn’t help praying it wasn’t someone calling with news of wedding plans, then she quickly prayed for forgiveness. She wanted people to be happy, damn it. When she saw the name on the screen—her New Orleans friend Shelly Conley—she smiled and swiped to answer, popping in her earbud so her hands were free for shopping. Shelly was already married, so she was safe to talk to.
“Guurrll...” Belle started. “I am so glad to hear your voice.”
“Getting homesick already?”
She stopped to gaze at those leather bags again. They really were nice. “Maybe. I’ve got a case of the grumpies for some reason.”
Shelly laughed. “You? The grumpies? I don’t believe it, Suzie Sunshine. What’s gotten under your skin?”
Belle told her about all the romance surrounding her at every turn, right down to the harp music in the shopping center. Shelly laughed even louder at that.
“A harp? Like the ones cherubs play? Oh, wow. That is a bit much. But aren’t you the great lover of love songs?”
Belle went into the shop, glancing around to make sure that cute older couple had left. She pointed to the silver-blue bag in the window and asked the clerk to box one up for her. She didn’t need it, but her sister Georgia would love it.
“I think that whole five-weddings-at-once thing has ruined me.” Belle handed her credit card to the clerk with a smile. “Even a romantic like me can get romance overload.”
“That’s not what Madame Fauntegeaux said, girlfriend. Don’t you remember? She said you were going to find your very own Tall, Dark and Handsome in Texas.”
Belle groaned. Visiting that palm reader in New Orleans in December had been a lark. Shelly had arranged one last night of partying with Belle’s New Orleans girlfriends before she left the city that had always been her home. The narrow doorway just off Bourbon Street had a sign saying Discover the Future...If You Dare. Belle didn’t believe in that nonsense, but she’d had a few drinks and the other women insisted she had to have a reading. Naturally, the old woman predicted Belle would find a handsome lover in her future.
“Hel-lo?” Shelly called out on the phone. “You still with me?”
“Yeah...sorry.” Belle stopped in front of the jewelry store. “Some bracelets caught my eye. You know that lady was a scam artist, right?”
“Oh, come on! She knew Michelle was pregnant, and she wasn’t even showing yet.”
Belle walked into the jewelry store. “Michelle started resting her hand over her stomach the minute she got the news, so that was a pretty safe guess on Madame Fauntegeaux’s part.”
“Maybe, but keep your eyes open for Tall, Dark and Handsome...just in case.”
“Sure. Whatever you say. Hey, I gotta run. Tennis bracelets are calling my name.”
“You go for it, Belle. Retail therapy sounds like the perfect cure for the blues.”
They ended the call with promises to talk later. Belle followed her friend’s suggestion, going on a shopping spree. She could have done that while talking—she was a pro when it came to shopping. But she was afraid she’d let it slip to Shelly that she’d already met her tall, dark, handsome man. She wanted to keep that little project to herself for now. It was too soon to let anyone else in on her plan to marry Stefan Mendoza.
She’d first noticed Stefan at her older sister Savannah’s wedding, and his good looks had taken her breath away. He’d been coolly polite when they were reintroduced at the New Year’s wedding, but she was determined to get to know him much better now that she was living in Rambling Rose. She didn’t need any palm reader to know the long and tangled history of the Fortunes and Mendozas. That entanglement often led to wedding bells ringing between members of the two families. In fact, Savannah married Stefan’s brother Chaz Mendoza. Surely Belle and Stefan would be just as happy as they were. Stefan was The One for her.
Although the New Orleans Fortunes had kept their distance from the Texas branch of the family, there had been a lot more contact between them in recent years. Several of her brothers and sisters had already relocated to Texas. When Belle’s brothers Beau and Draper decided to open a branch of Fortune Investments in Rambling Rose this year, Belle agreed to come along to be their office manager. She hoped the move would open new opportunities for her. Not in finance, God forbid. If she could land a husband like Stefan with this move, along with her dream of owning her own boutique, life would be perfect.
Belle daydreamed of life with Stefan as she continued shopping. He’d support her when she stood up to her family and opened Belle’s Boutique. Her siblings were investors and scientists—they had a hard time understanding her desire to go into retail. Stefan would rub her feet at night after she’d worked a long day at her shop. They’d travel together... Maybe buy a beachfront condo in Miami, where his family was from. And she’d support him, too, whatever his dreams might be. She’d heard the Mendoza family had a winery and restaurant in Rambling Rose. Belle liked wine. And food. She could definitely see herself helping him there.
Her hands could barely hold any more shopping bags. It might be time to head back to her suite at the Hotel Fortune. Her brothers rented a house for themselves in town, but she’d declined their invitation to join them. Her Texas goals were all about gently breaking ties with the family business. Tough to do that if she was living with her bosses. They’d initially been surprised at her decision to stay at the hotel, but they’d quickly shrugged it off, probably secretly relieved their baby sister wouldn’t be crashing their bachelor pad. Belle thought living at the hotel might give her a better chance of seeing Stefan Mendoza, but it hadn’t worked so far.
She headed through the atrium of the shopping center on her way to the exit. The harpist was thankfully taking a break. Some of the bags Belle carried were gifts, and she’d managed to find a few trinkets for herself. A gold bracelet. A pretty blue scarf. When she walked into the Hotel Fortune with all this loot, she was going to look like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman.
She was lost in thoughts of one of her favorite movies when she caught sight of a dark blur rushing toward her. There was shouting from somewhere, and by the time she realized it was a dog barreling in her direction and tried to stop, the momentum of her packages kept her body moving forward. Her silver-blue Western boots slipped on the tile floor and with a squeal of horror, she was suddenly sailing through the air, shopping bags flying everywhere around her.
She grimaced as she hit the floor, her breath knocked out of her. A quick inventory told her nothing was broken. But everyone in the place was staring at her. Her face began to burn with embarrassment...and anger.
“Hey, are you okay?”
A man’s voice made her look up from where she lay sprawled ungracefully on the tile floor. One of his hands reached down to help her up. His other arm was clutching a wiggling black-and-white pit bull. She accepted his hand and stood, humiliation scorching her. There were bags and boxes everywhere. Several pair of hot pink lace panties had tumbled onto the floor. All around her, people were staring. Some were snickering. Her eyes narrowed as they settled on the man before her.
“You should keep your dog under control.” Her voice was sharp. “Shouldn’t that thing be on a leash or something?”
“It’s not my dog. I just didn’t want him getting outside.”
He pointed over to the animal adoption event she’d seen when she got here. A large sign behind the table identified it as Paws and Claws. A teenage girl ran over, looking horrified.
“Thank you so much for catching Sarge! I thought I’d latched his crate, but I guess not. He’s got so much energy.” She turned to Belle. “And I’m really sorry he tripped you up. Let me get Sarge back where he belongs...”
“Oh, yes, please, everyone make sure the dog is taken care of,” Belle muttered under her breath.
She bit the inside of her cheek in remorse. Hopefully no one heard that bratty remark.
The girl took Sarge from the man and snapped a leash on his collar. When she led him away, Belle noticed the dog’s strange gait. The black pit bull had a white face and white paws. Three paws. He was missing a front leg. It certainly hadn’t slowed him down any, or affected his happy grin or wagging stub of a tail. The man scratched the dog’s ears and told the girl not to worry. That he was glad to have been there to help.
Belle felt even more embarrassed than before. Falling down was nothing compared to her snapping so uncharacteristically at a man who’d saved a three-legged dog from getting out into the parking lot before extending a hand to her. Her cheeks felt like they were on fire.
“I am so sorry, Mr....?”
“Jack Radcliffe.”
That name was familiar for some reason, but she was sure she’d remember if she’d seen this guy before. His brown eyes were kind, but guarded. His voice was low and soft with her and the animal volunteer. He still hadn’t actually smiled, though. He was built like a mountain—easily a foot taller than Belle’s five foot two, with broad shoulders that looked rock-solid under the olive green Henley. A slight stubble darkened his jaw line.
“Mr. Radcliffe...” She gave him a sincere smile. “I apologize for behaving so rudely. I just...”
“You expected me to catch you first instead of the dog?”
So he had heard what she’d muttered. Her cheeks must have been fire-engine red at this point. If he wrote her off as a spoiled brat, she couldn’t blame him. It shouldn’t matter to her one way or the other. She didn’t know the guy. Her adrenaline rush from the fall was subsiding, and she needed to gather her things and get back to the hotel. But her mother’s etiquette rules were deeply ingrained in Belle.
“I’m embarrassed you heard that, Jack. You’re not seeing me at my best today, I’m afraid.” She flashed her brightest smile and extended her hand. “I’m Belle Fortune.”
Jack’s lips twitched when she said her name. Was that supposed to be a smile? He nodded as if thinking, Of course you are.
“We’re practically related,” he said. “My sister married Brady Fortune on New Year’s Eve. A brother of yours?”
“Brady’s my cousin. Your sister is Harper?” His eyes softened more at the mention of his sister. For all his seriousness, he apparently had a heart buried under that rock-solid chest of his. She tilted her head. “Harper’s wonderful. That multiwedding reception was packed, but I don’t recall seeing you there.” No way she wouldn’t have noticed this gorgeous man.
“I arrived in Rambling Rose yesterday. I’m afraid I missed the wedding.” He bent to start picking up her shopping bags. She’d forgotten her items were still scattered across the floor. She quickly snatched up her pink panties and stuffed them back into the shopping bag.
“I can’t imagine missing one of my siblings’ wedding. I—” She looked up, her eyes wide. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me today. That’s none of my business.”
His mouth slanted into the closest to a smile she’d seen so far. “Up until very recently, I was Captain Jack Radcliffe. I just got out of the Army and...” His mouth slid back into a straight line, his eyes cooling. “I couldn’t get here in time.”
Wow. She was really stepping in it today. “Once again, I’m so sorry. And thank you for your service.”
He grunted in response, looking away to grab one of her new red stilettos and putting it back in the box and into the last of her shopping bags. He handed the bag to her without a word. He had that steady-stare thing down really well. A man who was always composed. The complete opposite of her own impulsive personality. But she was a Fortune, which meant she wasn’t easily intimidated. She gazed back at him, raising one eyebrow as she waited for a proper response. It took a moment, but he finally cleared his throat.
“Um...yeah. Thanks. I’m actually here trying to make up for my absence. I don’t dare show up at my sister’s without a wedding gift, but I have no idea what they need. I mean, I haven’t even met Brady yet. I know he has two boys. And they just had a baby girl. Maybe some toys?”
Belle laughed, and his eyes widened. Jack wasn’t only handsome, he also seemed to be a genuinely nice guy. “Oh, honey, no. You don’t buy baby toys for a wedding gift, although it certainly wouldn’t hurt for you to show up with something for the kids.” He glanced around the atrium, looking lost. She couldn’t walk away and abandon him here. More surprisingly—she didn’t want to. She was intrigued by Jack Radcliffe. More than she wanted to admit. “Come on. I know which store Harper likes. She has a great sense of style.”
“You... You’re going to help me shop?”
“Sure! Lucky for you, shopping is my superpower.”
He raised a brow at all the bags she was carrying.
“I never would have guessed.”
Was he making a joke? Still no smile, but the relief was visible in his eyes. She grinned, turning to lead the way.
“Oh, ha ha. I’m exactly what you need, and you know it. Follow me.”
She led him into a small shop with handblown glass. One day Belle had complimented Harper’s unusual necklace with a cobalt glass pendant, and she’d told her about the local artisan here who did such pretty things with glass. Belle pointed to a shallow glass bowl of dark blue shot with streaks of green and gold. The saleswoman boxed it up. Belle looked at Jack and knew he’d probably just hand it to his sister like that, so she directed the woman to gift wrap it. Jack hardly said a word, watching her in bemusement, then handing his credit card to the clerk. He took the shopping bag and walked out with Belle. Next she stopped at a storefront filled with stuffed animals.
“You need those two baseball bears for the boys. And that little pink one for the baby.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He did as he was told, coming out of the store with a large bag holding the three bears. There was something endearing—maybe even sexy—about a solemn military man carrying bags of children’s toys through a shopping center so casually. They were outside before he spoke again. “Belle, thank you for this.” He held up the bags. “If my sister forgives me for missing the wedding, it will be thanks to you.” He smiled at her. It was a soft, reluctant smile, but wow. Jack Radcliffe had one hell of a good smile. He didn’t seem to notice that he’d rendered her speechless. “So...uh...thanks again. And hey, have a happy Valentine’s Day.” He walked away, heading toward a dark red pickup truck.
Belle finally convinced her feet to move, stuffing her bags into the trunk of her convertible before heading out of the parking lot. She should have asked for his number. Umm...no! She gave herself a mental shake. She hadn’t come to Texas looking for some random good time. She was looking for a husband, and that was going to be Stefan Mendoza, not some ex-soldier.
Even if he did have a heart-stopping smile.
