Country Boy vs. City Girl Read online

  Books by Shanna Hatfield

  The Women of Tenacity Series

  The Women of Tenacity - A Prelude

  Heart of Clay

  Country Boy vs. City Girl

  Not His Type

  by

  SHANNA HATFIELD

  Country Boy vs. City Girl

  Copyright 2011

  by Shanna Hatfield

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  For permission requests, please contact the author, with a subject line of "permission request” at the email address below or through her website.

  Shanna Hatfield

  [email protected]

  shannahatfield.com

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

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  To my BFF -

  you encourage my dreams, make me laugh, tolerate my craziness and still call me friend.

  Thanks for being you!

  Prologue

  Jenna Keaton stepped away from the hand attempting to settle on the backside of her cocktail dress and sighed in disgust.

  “Pardon me, Mr. Jenkins, but it looks like my aunt needs me. Perhaps we can chat later,” Jenna said through a tight smile, wishing Byron Jenkins would take a hint and leave her alone. He’d followed her around the room for the last fifteen minutes, insisting she agree to have dinner with him. Although handsome enough in an aristocratic way, he was pompous and arrogant with the hands of an octopus.

  “I’ll come with you,” Byron said, placing his clammy hand on the small of her back.

  Jenna pivoted to the side and quickly stepped away from him again. “That won’t be necessary, Mr. Jenkins.”

  “Oh, but I insist,” Byron said, draping an arm across her shoulders and leaning close, his breath hot and foul on her face. “I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

  “Well, it looks like you will have to, Mr. Jenkins. I am in need of this lady’s immediate assistance,” said a rich baritone voice above Jenna’s ear.

  Turning toward the sound, Jenna found herself staring into a broad chest, impeccably covered by an expensive pewter gray suit jacket, crisp white shirt and deep blue silk tie. Tilting back her head, she looked up into a face worthy of a magazine cover highlighted by luminous gray eyes and raven black hair. Generous lips parted in a smile that revealed a deep dimple in his left cheek, making Jenna’s knees turn into a substance not unlike gelatin.

  “Shall we?” her handsome rescuer politely inquired, inclining his head toward the kitchen.

  “Yes, thank you,” she finally managed to say, attempting to gather her wits as she took his proffered arm and walked through the kitchen door.

  <><><>

  Josh Carver steeled himself for another miserable evening. He assumed the party he was attending would be like so many others, filled with snooty socialites, catty women in full man-hunting gear, pompous executives and conceited ladder climbers.

  He wasn’t disappointed.

  Glancing around the room, he noted the same crowd that typically attended one of Phil and Amelia Granger’s parties. They generally fell into one of two types: people who came to flaunt their riches or those desperate to rub elbows with them. Josh was glad he didn’t fall into either category. He was here simply as a friend. He liked Phil and Amelia, just not always their choice of company.

  Picking up a dainty appetizer, Josh took a bite then wished he had resisted the urge. Amelia’s fancy little fripperies always looked appealing but were terribly hard to swallow.

  Walking to the beverage table, he poured a glass of water and took a deep drink before unobtrusively popping a mint in his mouth, hoping to dislodge the bad taste the horrific tidbit left behind. He was leaning against the wall, thinking what he wouldn’t give for a juicy steak and a breath of fresh air when he observed Byron Jenkins trying to palm a lovely young woman he’d not yet had the pleasure of meeting.

  Of medium height and build with shoulder length brown hair, she wore her simple dark blue gown well, filling it out in all the right places. Her face was pleasant and appealing, with a natural look about her. She didn’t seem too ruffled by Mr. Jenkins and his wayward hands. She appeared to be trying to get away from him, though, and go to the kitchen. Josh had watched Amelia go in there a few minutes ago.

  When Byron threw his arm around her shoulders, Josh felt the need to rescue her. Perhaps because he’d been clawed, petted and pawed at enough of these parties to know what a nightmare it could be.

  Stepping beside her, he wasn’t sure what he’d say or do, but was surprised when she grasped the lifeline he tossed out with his small overstatement of the truth. He sincerely hoped she would assist him in escaping the boredom of this party, even if it was through a few minutes of interesting conversation.

  As they walked through the kitchen to a small patio door, he escorted her outside into the fading evening light away from the noise and annoyances of the party. Quietly closing the door behind them, he leaned against the balcony railing, appreciating the view of the Portland skyline from the high-rise terrace.

  Turning to his companion, he stuck out his hand, “I’m Josh Carver.”

  She grasped his large hand in her small one, sending currents zinging up his arm, and looked up at him with the warmest brown eyes he’d ever seen. It was like dipping into a pool of molten chocolate and Josh was quite partial to all things chocolate.

  “Thank you, Mr. Carver, for coming to my rescue. Mr. Jenkins was getting a little too forward. I’m Jenna Keaton,” she said in a strong voice that Josh liked. She sounded and acted like a no-nonsense kind of girl.

  “I’m glad to be of service, Miss Keaton. I’m not in the habit of stretching the truth, but I felt the situation made it necessary. What brings you to Phil and Amelia’s this evening?” he asked, genuinely interested in knowing more about Jenna Keaton.

  Jenna studied the gorgeous man who escorted her outside, rescuing her not only from Mr. Jenkins but also the unpleasant gathering. She loved her aunt and uncle, but their parties were notoriously awful, full of people intent on impressing each other while pretending to enjoy Aunt Amelia’s perfectly tasteless culinary creations.

  “They are my aunt and uncle. I just moved here a few days ago to start a new job on Monday and they insisted I join them for the party this evening. Aunt Amelia said it would be a great opportunity to meet people but if Mr. Jenkins is any indication, I don’t think I’m in a hurry to make too many acquaintances,” Jenna said with a smile.

  “Phil and Amelia are nice and they mean well,” Josh said, trying not to laugh. “I think they miss having their kids around now that they have all flown the coop. I’m sure they’ll enjoy having you here in town.”

  “Yes, those cousins of mine couldn’t have scattered any further if they’d tried: Ben in New York, Jane in Miami and Cory in Dallas. At least it keeps Aun
t Amelia busy planning trips to go visit them.”

  Josh laughed and Jenna decided she quite liked the sound of it. She had no idea who Josh Carver was other than someone mannerly, handsome and from what she’d seen so far, very kind. He was younger than she first thought. She would guess him to be somewhere around her age of thirty, but he somehow seemed older and wiser than his years.

  “So, Miss Jenna Keaton, you’ll be starting work Monday. Where?” Josh asked, so far liking this niece of the Grangers much more than he should.

  “I’ll be working in the human resources department of the new state building. I enjoy the work and was ready to get out of Seattle, so here I am. At a boring party with a bunch of stuffy people all bent on impressing each other with their money, credentials or lies,” Jenna said, a teasing look in her eyes. “Which category would you fall into?”

  “Pardon?” Josh asked, not sure how to respond to this straight-talking girl with an engaging smile.

  “Are you here to impress people with your money, credentials or fabricated stories?” Jenna repeated with a sassy grin.

  “None of the above,” Josh answered honestly, leaning against the balcony railing. “Your uncle will tell you I’m a terrible liar, my only credentials are that I’m good at what I do and try to be an honest, upright kind of guy. As for the money I slave away to earn, it would be pocket change for many of the people inside.”

  They sat out on the balcony, watching the inky darkness encompass the evening and visited for much longer than Josh planned. Amelia finally opened the patio door on an exasperated sigh.

  “Well, good gracious, Phil and I have looked just everywhere for you two, and here you sit all along. I’m so glad you met each other. Jenna, you did meet Josh, didn’t you? Isn’t he just the nicest boy?” Amelia gushed as she stood waiting for Josh and Jenna to return inside.

  “Yes, Aunt Amelia, we met. It seems I’ll be working just a few blocks from him so we planned on meeting for lunch Thursday,” Jenna said, speaking to her aunt but taking the opportunity to really look at Josh again now that they were inside in full light. Jenna laughed to herself when the description that popped into her head was tall, dark and handsome. How cliché was that even if it was true?

  “Oh, splendid,” Amelia said, giving Jenna’s shoulder a squeeze as she waltzed through the kitchen back to the crowd in the living room.

  Josh looked at Jenna and appreciated what he saw. Although she wouldn’t be described as a raving beauty, there was something about her that drew him in, something he found more than a little attractive. She looked fresh, genuine and altogether appealing.

  Sticking his hand in his pocket, Josh pulled out one of his business cards and handed it to Jenna. “If you need anything, please feel free to give me a call. I know it can be hard getting established in a new place.”

  Jenna took the card and put it in the small evening bag she retrieved from a kitchen chair along with a sweater. “Thank you. I appreciate your offer and I’ll look forward to having lunch with you next week,” she said as they walked out of the kitchen. “I think I’m about ready to call it a night, as soon as I tell Amelia and Phil goodbye. It was really very nice to meet you.”

  “If you don’t mind, I’ll come with you to find your aunt and uncle and say goodnight,” Josh looked down at her with a smile that brought the dimple in his cheek out of hiding and made her feel a bit lightheaded.

  They quickly found Phil and Amelia near the front door, chatting with a couple who appeared to be leaving.

  “Thank you both for this evening, but I’m ready to go back to my apartment,” Jenna said as she gave first Amelia and then Phil a hug.

  “I need to be going as well,” Josh said, shaking Phil’s hand and giving Amelia’s cheek a kiss. “Thank you again for inviting me. As always, it is a pleasure to see you both.”

  “Anytime, Josh,” Amelia said, walking both Jenna and Josh out the door into the hall. “Jenna, why don’t I have someone drive you home? I don’t want you out alone after dark, especially since the city is so new to you.”

  “I’d be happy to see Jenna home,” Josh volunteered as they arrived at the elevator. “It sounds like her apartment isn’t that far from mine, so it wouldn’t be any trouble.”

  “If you’re sure?” Amelia questioned. When Josh nodded, she turned to Jenna, “Would that be agreeable to you, dear?”

  “Yes, Aunt Amelia, it would be just fine.” Jenna kissed her aunt’s cheek, stepping into the elevator, followed by Josh.

  They chatted as they rode down to the lobby. Stepping out of the building, Josh held Jenna’s sweater for her while she slipped it on then directed her to a shiny black sports car parked across the street.

  “Nice wheels, Josh,” Jenna said, failing miserably in her effort to not be impressed by the car or the man as he held her door open for her. “What is it you said you did for a living?”

  “I sell cars,” Josh said with a laugh as he climbed behind the wheel. “I find this particular machine makes a great mobile business card. People ask me all the time where I got my car and it is really easy to segue into where I work and what I do.”

  “Very smart,” Jenna agreed, sinking into the soft leather seat as Josh started the car and the engine roared to life. “That’s how you know my aunt and uncle, isn’t it. They buy new cars as often as most people buy shoes. You must do pretty well selling cars.”

  “Oh, I get by,” Josh said, with his customary humbleness.

  The truth of the matter was Josh worked hard to be the best in his career. He built relationships with his clients, getting to know them not just as people who paid his commission, but on a personal level. He learned years ago that caring about his clients resulted in their loyalty and gave him a sense of purpose. That was what made him the top salesman for five of the eight years he had worked at an upscale dealership in Portland.

  Fresh out of college with a degree in business management, Josh charmed his way into a job as a novice car peddler. The combination of his honesty, business savvy, good looks and friendly personality quickly pushed him to the forefront as a man people trusted, a novelty in the world of car salesmen. He had a reputation for only selling people what they wanted or needed, and had never talked anyone into something he didn’t think would be a good fit for them. The fact that he easily pulled in a six-figure income was the icing on the cake.

  “Ok, so give me directions to your apartment and I’ll take you there,” Josh said, pulling out into traffic. “Unless there is anywhere else you want to stop.”

  Jenna looked at Josh in her matter-of-fact manner. “Actually, I’m starving, would you want to join me for dinner? The food Aunt Amelia serves at her parties is absolutely ridiculous.”

  Josh couldn’t keep from laughing. “Just for that, I’m buying. Where would you like to go?”

  “Anywhere, as long as its edible,” Jenna grinned at Josh, liking him better by the minute. If she wasn’t careful, this was the kind of guy who could get under her skin and into her carefully guarded heart. Someone urban, successful, gorgeous and fun with a charming personality could definitely be a combination Jenna would find hard to resist.

  Josh pulled into the parking lot of his favorite steakhouse, thrilled at the prospect of having a real meal with a lovely companion. The evening was rapidly improving.

  As they walked in the door, the hostess greeted Josh by name, “Good evening, Mr. Carver. Nice to see you again. Table for two?”

  “Yes, please,” Josh said as he and Jenna followed the hostess to a booth.

  “Will this be satisfactory?” the hostess asked.

  “This is perfect, thank you,” Josh said, waiting for Jenna to sit down before sliding into the booth.

  “Well, you must either leave quite an impression or come here often,” Jenna said as she picked up a menu.

  “Maybe both,” Josh teased, as he took a sip of water.

  The waiter soon arrived, taking down their orders. They enjoyed both the meal and the conver
sation, lingering longer than either of them planned.

  All too quickly, Josh was walking Jenna to her apartment door, making sure she arrived safely.

  “Thank you for having dinner with me,” Josh said, as she unlocked the door. “It was a very pleasant surprise to meet you tonight.”

  Opening her door and flipping on the light, Jenna turned to Josh with a warm smile, “Thank you for feeding a starving newcomer to the city and for extending your friendship. I really appreciate it.”

  “You are most welcome. It’s the least I can do,” Josh said, starting to lose himself in those warm chocolate pools staring back at him. Trying to think of some reason to keep her talking, Josh couldn’t come up with a single thing.

  She walked inside and started to close the door. Before she did, she looked up at Josh with a shy smile. “I’m already looking forward to lunch Thursday. Thanks again and goodnight.”

  <><><>

  It didn’t take long for Josh and Jenna to begin seeing each other regularly. Despite her plans to stay focused on her career and his vow to not get involved in a committed relationship, they couldn’t stay away from each other.

  Spring progressed to summer as he took her to plays and concerts. They visited museums and art galleries, ate at bistros, strolled through parks and wandered through some of the most exclusive boutique shopping districts in town. They dined and danced, enjoying all the urbane adventures the city had to offer.

  He took her to a few family gatherings an hour away in Tenacity where he learned without a doubt that Jenna did not seem to possess much enthusiasm for country life. Having grown up in a small rural community, Josh’s family was still very much tied to their agricultural roots. Josh enjoyed the trips home where he could take deep breaths of clean air, hear the birds chirp and look out over miles of fields without a single skyscraper in sight.