When Hank surrendered Janie’s hand to Pete, he grasped it tightly, hoping Janie wouldn’t realize how nervous he was. Then he looked into her bright blue eyes, and the fear that had been growing the past few hours left him. Everything would be all right.
Janie whispered her vows, her gaze pinned to Pete’s strong features. He was a good man, even if he did have trouble loving her. She promised herself, even as she made her promises to Pete aloud, that she would find a way to make him love her.
When the pastor pronounced them husband and wife and suggested Pete kiss the bride, he did so with enthusiasm. So much enthusiasm, and so effectively, that Janie forgot they were in front of an audience. After all, he hadn’t touched her since that kiss in front of the drugstore.
It occurred to Janie, as she enjoyed Pete’s touch, she didn’t have to hold back this once. She could kiss the boots off Pete if she wanted to, and he couldn’t do much about it because they had an audience. With pleasure, she pressed against him, wrapping her arms around his neck, pretending, if only for a little while, that he loved her.
Pretending he loved her as much as she loved him.
Pretending happily-ever-after.
Only Jake’s voice, reminding them they had a reception to go to, brought Janie back to reality. That and Pete’s withdrawal. But she did feel some satisfaction when she saw the reluctance in his eyes.
Her cheeks bright red, she turned to face family and friends.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Jake announced, “it gives me great pleasure to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Peter Randall. I hope you’ll all join us at the ranch for the reception.”
Lavinia had wanted to have the reception at their house, but the Randalls’ was so much larger, she’d agreed to Jake’s offer. After all, most of the county would show up in spite of the short notice. She and Red, along with Mildred’s help, had been baking nonstop.
Pete and Janie walked down the aisle, smiling at the well-wishers. Janie dreaded the drive to the ranch. She would be alone with Pete for the first time since they’d decided to marry. Life had been so hectic the past few days, she’d only seen him a few times, and always surrounded by people.
The photographer was waiting outside. “Give her a kiss, Pete, so I can get a good picture.”
With a grin, Pete swept her to him, his lips covering hers. The man was incredible. Here they were in broad daylight, surrounded by a lot of people, and a warning that she wouldn’t sleep with him, and she was longing for a double bed.
Thank goodness for the daybed in the babies’ room.
“Janie,” her mother called to her just as they started down the steps to Pete’s truck.
“Yes, Mom?”
“Honey, I’m sorry, but we ran out of bedrooms. I hope you don’t mind, but Great-Aunt Henrietta decided to make the trip after all, and there was nothing left.”
A sense of foreboding came over Janie.
“Jake said she could sleep on that daybed you had put in your extra bedroom. It will just be for one night.” Her mother looked at Pete, standing beside her. “I’m sorry, Pete. I know you’d prefer to be alone, but we don’t have anywhere else to put her. You should have planned a real honeymoon.”
“Remember? Janie didn’t want one. But don’t worry about Aunt Henrietta. We Randalls are a hospitable lot.” His grin was wide enough to cover Wyoming, and Janie wanted to punch him in his breadbasket.
“Well, there’s one good thing,” Lavinia added with a wink. “Aunt Henrietta is as deaf as a fence post. She won’t hear a thing.”
Chapter Nine
“Wipe that grin off your face, Pete Randall,” Janie ordered in frustration as soon as the two of them were in his truck.
“I’m not supposed to be happy on my wedding day?” he asked, his brown eyes wide with innocence.
“That’s not why you were grinning and you know it. You think we’re going to sleep together tonight because of Aunt Henrietta!”
“I always did like that lady,” Pete returned, still smiling.
“You’ve never even met her!” Janie’s great-aunt Henrietta lived in Cleveland, and Janie had seen her a few times as a child.
His sexy chuckle was the only response.
“Pete,” Janie said in a warning tone.
“Relax, Janie. You know I’m teasing you. I gave you my word, didn’t I? Whatever else you may think of me, you know I keep my promises.”
Janie sighed and sank back against the seat. What Pete said was true. She knew he was a man of his word. In fact, the only thing she’d ever found to complain about him was the fact that he didn’t love her.
She was more worried about her own reaction. Sleeping in the same bed with Pete would be a test of discipline she wasn’t sure she’d pass.
“Did I tell you how beautiful you look today?” Pete asked softly, drawing her from her depressing thoughts.
The rush of warmth that filled her brought a blush to her cheeks. “No. But I don’t think I look as good as you.” Pete had worn a navy suit, a blue-and-gold tie and crisp white shirt. With his broad shoulders and narrow hips, he was every woman’s dream.
“Honey, you’re wrong about that. If we have little girls, I hope they both look like you.”
For the first time since Doc’s revelation, Janie considered the future. “It won’t bother you if we have girls?”
He grinned. “Janie, I’ve been living in an all-man world for a long time. I’m looking forward to having a few women around, even if they’re in diapers.”
“You already have Megan and B.J. and her aunt. Soon the women will outnumber the men.”
“Not likely,” Pete objected with a grin. “B.J. and Mildred really aren’t part of the family. They just live on the place. And since I don’t think Jake will ever marry again, and Brett hasn’t shown any inclination in that direction, either, we’ve got a long way to go before females outnumber males at the Randalls’.”
Pete turned the truck onto the long driveway leading to the ranch, and the proximity of the ranch house reminded Janie of her original concern. “Pete, what are we going to do about this evening?”
“What do you mean?”
She sent him a disgusted look. “I’m talking about the sleeping arrangements, and you know it.”
“We’ve got a king-size bed, Janie. Surely we can both sleep on it one night without any problems.”
Sucking in her breath as she pictured Pete, his broad chest bare, wearing only his briefs as he slid under the covers within her reach, Janie shuddered. Could she keep her hands to herself? Could he?
When she said nothing, Pete pulled the truck to a halt by the house and turned her toward him. “I won’t make love to you, Janie, unless you change your mind. But remember, you have a promise to keep, too.” With those words, he leaned forward to kiss her. “We have an audience,” he added just before his lips covered hers.
He extracted one hell of a down payment.
MEGAN STARED at Pete and Janie from the back door of the ranch house, remembering those first few minutes after her own marriage, just a couple of weeks ago. At least she had known her husband loved her.
Poor Janie.
“Remind you of us?” Chad whispered in her ear, his arm sliding around her.
“Not lately,” she said coolly, hiding her reaction to his nearness.
Chad pulled her around to face him. “I think it’s time we buried the hatchet, Meggie. I’ve missed you.”
“But I didn’t go anywhere, Chad. You’re the one who withdrew because I didn’t agree with you.” She felt it was important to work out what went wrong, not sweep it under the rug.
“Hell, Meggie, you sided against Pete. What was I supposed to do?”
“Allow me to have my own opinion? I’m not an extension of you, Chad. I’m my own person. I love Pete like a brother, but that doesn’t make him—or you—always right.”
He linked his arms around her waist. “If I promise to do better, will you forgive me?”
How could s
he resist his smile? With a sigh of agreement, she melted against him and their lips met.
“Hey, you two, get out of the doorway,” Red grumbled. “You’re not the only newlyweds anymore.”
“I don’t know, Red. I’m feeling pretty much like a newlywed right now,” Chad said, still holding Megan against him.
“I can tell, but I need some help.”
Megan pulled from Chad’s embrace. “What can I do?”
Mildred bustled into the kitchen in time to hear Megan’s question. “Lavinia thinks you and B.J. should serve the punch and cake. You both look so pretty in your dresses.”
“Thanks, Mildred. We were fortunate to find two alike.” When she started toward the dining room, where the cake and punch were located, Chad followed. Over her shoulder, she said, “You should stay here and help Red.”
“But who’s gonna protect you from all those woman-hungry cowboys?”
Mildred chuckled, but Red ordered Chad to get the hot rolls from the oven before they burned.
“I could’ve done that,” Mildred said, eyeing Red.
“Now, Miss Bates—” Red began.
“He’s used to ordering me around, Mildred,” Chad intervened. He’d noticed some tension between the two older people, though he didn’t understand why. “You can put them in the bread basket Red has ready.”
Mollified, Mildred picked up a spatula.
“Where are those two? I thought their truck arrived five minutes ago.” Red frowned toward the back door.
“I think they got distracted,” Chad offered, a big grin on his face. He had similar plans for his bride as soon as they could escape the celebration. In fact, he’d been doing a lot of thinking about babies, ever since he’d heard of Pete’s approaching fatherhood.
Tonight might be a good time for a discussion with Meggie. Or something.
Janie and Pete entered the kitchen.
“It’s about time,” Red growled. Then, to everyone’s surprise, he stepped forward and kissed Janie on the cheek. “Welcome to the family, Janie.”
“Oh, Red, thank you!”
“Hey, watch it, Red,” Pete protested, but the grin on his face told everyone he wasn’t serious. “I’m not letting anyone kiss my bride but me.”
“From what I saw out the back door, I’d say you’ve already used up your quota,” Chad teased, laughing as Janie’s cheeks flushed.
“Don’t mind these men, child,” Mildred said. “Pete, you take your beautiful bride in the living room and show her off. The house is full of people waiting to congratulate you.” Then she turned to Chad. “You should join them, young man. Half the county is waiting to be introduced to your bride, too.”
Chad willingly headed for the dining room. As he was leaving the kitchen, however, he wondered if it was safe to leave Red and Mildred alone.
“Who put you in charge?” Red growled behind him.
“I’m just trying to be helpful,” Mildred returned.
Love might be brimming in the living room, Chad thought, but it was in short supply in the kitchen.
“FEEL FREE to go upstairs whenever you want,” Jake said, pausing beside Pete. “You and Janie have been good sports, and no one would mind whenever you want to call it an evening.”
“Thanks, Jake, but we’re enjoying ourselves, right Janie?” Pete asked, slipping his arm around Janie’s waist.
“Right,” she murmured, struggling to summon a smile. It wasn’t that she wasn’t having fun. Sort of. She and Pete had been the center of attention for several hours. The food had been delicious, and the cutting of the wedding cake suddenly brought home to Janie that she’d actually achieved her dream of marrying Pete Randall.
But she was tired. And anxious about the coming night. Every time she thought of sharing a bed, even a king-size bed, with the sexy man next to her, she grew more and more nervous.
“How about a dance?” Pete asked, surprising Janie.
Jake stared at his brother, too. “You want to dance? There isn’t much room in here with all the guests.”
“Everyone can’t dance, but we’ve got a guitar player and a fiddler here. Janie and I could have our dance, and you and B.J. and Chad and Megan can join us.”
Even as he said it, Pete was motioning to a friend across the room. Within minutes, he had arranged a cleared space in the center of the room and. the two musicians ready to play. He motioned for Chad and Megan to join them.
“Where’s B.J.?” he called.
“Over here,” she returned, waving to him. “Do you need something?”
“Pete, B.J. and I don’t need to join in,” Jake protested in a low voice.
Janie watched him curiously. He seemed agitated. She supposed he was afraid B.J. might get the wrong idea.
When B.J. reached their side and Pete explained what he wanted, she agreed, after a brief glance at Jake. The three couples gathered in the cleared space, and Pete nodded to the musicians.
Janie, after a moment of resistance, collapsed against Pete’s chest. She was too tired to resist. His arms wrapped her against him, and they moved slowly to the music. With her eyes closed, she could almost imagine them alone six months ago, just beginning what she’d hoped would lead to a long life together.
Instead, it had led to a pregnancy and a marriage—in that order. And not because Pete loved her.
“You okay?” Pete asked, leaning down to whisper in her ear. He followed his question with a kiss beneath her ear, and she shivered against him.
“I’m a little tired,” she murmured.
“I’ve kept you down here too long, I guess. But…I was enjoying pretending that our marriage is real. When we go upstairs, I have to face the fact that it’s not.”
Janie reared back from his hold. “Don’t try to make me feel guilty, Pete Randall. It won’t work.”
“Darn, Janie Randall. You’re too smart for me.” His lips captured hers for a brief kiss. “By the way, I kissed Aunt Henrietta, too. I thought it was the least I could do to thank her.”
“I don’t know why you want to thank her. It’s not going to change anything,” she assured him, but she figured she was trying to convince herself as much as him.
“At least I’ll get to see you when I wake up in the morning.”
“I just hope the first thing you see isn’t me bent over the toilet.”
Pete frowned sharply. “You’re getting sick? Did you call the doc?”
“It’s only happened once.”
“Wait a minute. I think he’s still here. I’ll—” Pete began, and started to leave her standing alone in the middle of the makeshift dance floor.
Janie grabbed him by his lapels. “Stop, Pete. I don’t need you to find the doctor. I’m fine. Throwing up before a wedding is commonplace.”
“Yeah, but Doc said—”
“Pete! For heaven’s sake, it’s no big deal.” She wanted to shake him, but he was too big. The only things that got a response from the man were sex or babies.
“Have you been taking your vitamins?” he asked, still staring at her.
She rolled her eyes. “How romantic you are, Pete Randall.”
“You want romance?” he asked, pulling her closer, his lips trailing down her neck.
Pulling back, she muttered, “That’s sex, not romance.”
“Hell, I already sent you flowers and candy. Much more romance, and I won’t be able to pay for the babies,” he teased.
“I don’t need candy and flowers. And whatever else you do, don’t help me with the grocery shopping, either,” she ordered.
“You won’t have to do any grocery shopping. Red takes care of that.”
It suddenly struck Janie that her entire life had been turned upside down. “What am I going to do?”
“What do you mean?” Pete asked, frowning.
“Tomorrow. What am I going to do tomorrow?”
Pete seemed confused, and he stopped moving to the music. “What will you do tomorrow?” he repeated. “You’ll relax, do whate
ver you want.”
But Janie wasn’t comforted. Suddenly she felt disoriented, lost.
“Janie, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. Your job is to take care of yourself and the babies.” For the first time since he’d discovered she was pregnant, he reached down and pressed his hand against her stomach, his fingers splayed against the satin wedding gown.
“Pete!” Janie squealed softly. “People are watching.”
He gathered her back into his arms. “We’re married, Janie. They haven’t forgotten even if you have.”
She laid her head on his shoulder. “I’m so tired, I don’t think I can even remember my name.”
“Randall. You’re a Randall, Janie Dawson Randall, and I think it’s time I take you home.” She didn’t even protest when he swung her up into his arms and headed for the stairs.
“Wait!” Mildred called out as Pete passed her. “Janie hasn’t thrown her bouquet!” She thrust the flowers, which had been resting on a nearby table, into Janie’s hands.
“Make it fast, Mrs. Randall,” Pete whispered. He climbed the first two stairs and turned her toward the living room.
“Put me down, Pete,” she whispered.
“Nope. Toss that bouquet, little lady, and toss it fast.”
Somehow, doing as her new husband ordered seemed the easiest thing at that moment. With one arm around his neck, she used the other to toss the bouquet over the balustrade.
Shrieks of laughter filled the air, and Janie looked down to discover a terror-stricken Brett clutching the bridal bouquet to his chest.
Pete didn’t wait. He turned and headed up the stairs. Behind them, Janie heard Brett protesting.
“Hey! Wait! Throw it again, Janie. Not me! I wasn’t supposed—”
“I think Janie did a fine job,” Jake announced, and their guests burst into delighted laughter.
JAKE WATCHED Pete carrying Janie up the stairs. Before he could stop himself, he thought of doing the same to B.J. He’d have a harder time of it because she was a tall woman. Curvaceous.
He shook his head. What was he thinking? His first wife, Chloe, had been small, dainty, demanding. And he needed to remember that she was the reason he would never marry again.
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