brides for brothers 04 - cowboy surrender

by Judy Christenberry

  She paused when she discovered Red and Mildred sitting down, not speaking to each other.

  “Is everything all right?” she asked her aunt.

  “Of course. You two dance together real well.”

  “Nope. It’s not all right,” Red retorted.

  “Red, if you say anything, I’ll never forgive you.” Tears pooled in Mildred’s eyes.

  B.J. left Jake’s side and hurried around the table. “Let’s go powder our noses.”

  Jake watched the two of them cross the room before he turned back to Red. “Anything I can help you with?”

  “Jake, I want to marry her. It won’t stop me from doin’ my job. You okay with that?”

  “Of course I am, Red,” Jake said, grinning. “Congratulations, you old geezer!”

  “No need to congratulate me,” Red said, his expression glum. “The woman won’t say yes.”

  “You’ve asked her?”

  “Yup. But she insists she can’t leave B.J. and Toby.”

  “Hell, you’re not moving to Alaska, are you?”

  “That’s what I told her.” Several of the rest of the family began to drift to the table. “Walk outside with me.”

  Jake couldn’t refuse to follow the older man. After all Red had done for their family, the Randalls owed him their complete support.

  Jake listened to Red for several minutes, commiserating where appropriate, advising where he could. Not that Jake was an expert on how to deal with women. But just being there for him seemed to ease Red’s tension.

  When Jake led him back inside, he hoped B.J. talked some sense into Mildred in the ladies’ room. The music was playing again, but he ignored the dancers and headed for their table.

  Megan and Chad were sitting there, Megan’s head on her husband’s shoulder.

  “Tired, Megan? Do you want to go home?” Jake asked, concerned about her and the baby she was carrying.

  “Soon. But everyone’s having such a good time.”

  “Yeah. Have B.J. and her aunt come back?”

  “Oh, yes. She’s dancing. So is Mildred.”

  Both Red and Jake spun around to stare at the dancers. It didn’t take Jake long to find B.J. She was dancing with Bill Morris. He had his hand clamped on her, and even from where he stood, Jake could tell they were in a tug-of-war.

  B.J. certainly didn’t have her head on the man’s shoulder, he realized with satisfaction. With a sure stride and a lot of determination, Jake crossed the dance floor.

  “Take your hands off her, Bill,” he announced calmly.

  “She agreed to dance with me,” the other man insisted, turning a triumphant glare on Jake.

  “But she’s not enjoying it.”

  “No, I’m not,” B.J. said, and broke Bill’s hold. “I wanted to be polite, Bill, but you’re making it impossible.”

  “Hey, I’m just dancing.”

  “No. You’re holding me too close. I told you.” B.J. started to walk away, but Bill reached out to grab her arm.

  “I want to finish the dance.”

  “I don’t.”

  “Turn her loose,” Jake ordered.

  “Jake, I’ll handle this.” B.J. said, turning to face him. “Stay out of it.”

  “You’re with me. I protect my own.”

  “I take care of myself. I don’t need a man to protect me.”

  “Sweetheart, it’s my right if you’re with me.”

  “You’re not listening to me, Jake,” B.J. insisted.

  “Hey, what happened to me? Argue with me, B.J., not Jake.” Bill seemed affronted by them ignoring him.

  Jake grinned at the man’s distress. He guessed it was pretty sad to be ignored by the woman you’d set your sights on. He reached out to grasp B.J.’s arms. “Sweetheart, I’m listening. But you’ve got to understand how things work around here. If you’re with me, then I take care of you.”

  “Great! Then I won’t be with you, because I don’t need a macho man throwing his weight around.”

  “Too late,” he muttered, and it was. He’d watched those soft pink lips for too long without tasting them again. Besides, he wanted everyone to know she was his.

  For tonight only, of course.

  As a pretense, of course.

  In the center of the dance floor, he pulled her into his arms and kissed the living daylights out of her.

  Poor Bill Morris just stood there and watched.

  Out of sheer panic, B.J. ripped herself out of Jake’s embrace and swung her fist. She realized she’d made a mistake too late. Her knuckles had already connected with his jaw. And Jake stood there, his hand on his mouth and shock on his face.

  Chapter Four

  “Lady, you pack a mean punch,” Jake drawled after the shock wore off.

  Chad came up behind her and put his arm around her shoulders, startling her.

  “Need any help, B.J.? We Randalls have had a few fights around here, but none of them with a woman. I don’t want people to get the wrong idea.” He grinned at his brother.

  “Watch out, little brother. You’re choosing the wrong side.”

  “Aw, Jake, you know it wouldn’t be a fair fight. I’ve got to go for the underdog.”

  “She’d still be the underdog with you on her side,” Jake returned, a rueful grin on his face.

  The music started again, and B.J. turned toward the table where Megan was waiting. All she wanted to do was return to the table and hide. But there in her path was Bill Morris.

  He sported a tentative look on his face as he started, “B.J., I’m—”

  B.J. shot him a glacial stare that stopped him cold. “You’ll be the next one with a bruised jaw if you ever touch me again.”

  Bill hurriedly moved away and B.J. walked on. When someone caught her arm, she whirled around, ready to do battle again, only to discover Jake.

  “What do you want?” she asked, her cheeks red, sure everyone was watching them.

  “A dance.”

  She stared at him, confused.

  Without waiting for an answer, he pulled her into his arms. “If we don’t make up, everyone will be gossiping about us for weeks,” he whispered in her ear.

  She heard his words, but her body couldn’t respond to his warm embrace. He pulled her closer, forcing her to move her feet. “Relax, B.J. Everyone’s watching.”

  It didn’t take but a second to verify his warning. With a shuddering breath, she gave in to his persuasion and moved to the music.

  After several minutes, he whispered, “Why did you hit me? I kissed you earlier, and you didn’t seem upset.”

  “Not like that,” she replied, her voice sharper than she intended. His earlier kisses had been mere brushes of their lips, not a soul-searching invasion. She didn’t want to explain that she’d panicked. That she’d never been kissed like that, even by her husband. That she’d been ever so close to forgetting anything and everything but Jake Randall. No, she couldn’t explain those things to Jake.

  He pulled his head back to stare down at her.

  She determinedly looked away. Holding her breath, afraid he’d ask more questions she didn’t want to answer, she tried to follow his lead but hold her body apart from his.

  “Relax.” His order was delivered in a soft voice, but she recognized a note of inflexibility in it.

  With a deep breath, she tried to resist, but his warm body was tempting, inviting. He pulled her closer, giving her no option about the distance between them. Then he dropped her right hand and linked his hands behind her back. Without conscious thought, her hand joined with the other behind his neck, and they danced slowly about the room, pressed one against the other.

  As the music ended, awakening her from the dreamy state she’d been in, Jake whispered, “I think we should kiss again, just to convince everyone we’ve made up.”

  “But, Jake—” B.J. started to protest, but he did as he said he would, briefly tasting her lips. Then he lifted his head and smiled into her eyes.

  “See? If you could sm
ile instead of looking so stricken, I think we’d be able to convince everyone that you slugged me in a moment of passion.” A laughing twinkle in his brown eyes invited her to smile.

  She managed a small one, but she also couldn’t help asking the question she’d tried to ask when he kissed her. “Jake, why do we want them to think we’ve made up?”

  “That way, they won’t talk about you beating me up.”

  “Wouldn’t it be better for them to think we fought? Then they won’t expect anything else from the two of us.”

  “But then my family will go back to matchmaking,” he said as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and directed her back to the table.

  “Jake, I didn’t agree to—to help you avoid the matchmaking.”

  “You sure did. When you agreed that we were together, you signed on, B.J. Unless you want to come right out and tell them we were lying.”

  She stared at the eager faces of Jake’s family, her friends and her aunt, and swallowed. No, she didn’t want to tell them she’d lied. But she couldn’t keep up the charade if it meant spending time with Jake.

  “At least let them believe it for tonight,” he whispered. “We don’t want to spoil their evening.”

  She tried to think clearly, but her sensory nerves were on overload and it was hard to clarify anything. They reached the table, and much to her relief, Jake suggested the evening come to an end.

  Everyone seemed in agreement. As they stood, B.J. caught sight of Mildred and she remembered the other problem she needed to solve. Mildred and Red.

  “Jake,” she hurriedly whispered to her escort as they started toward the door, “can we take the pickup with Red and Mildred?”

  She reconsidered the wisdom of her request when Jake stopped to stare at her.

  “Good idea,” he murmured, a look in his eyes that gave her pause. “That will really convince every-one.”

  If it hadn’t been for Mildred, she would’ve protested and changed her mind. But she had to do what she could for her aunt.

  It took only a couple of whispered conversations on Jake’s part before the four of them got into the pickup and headed toward the ranch.

  B.J. waited at least five minutes before she ended the tense silence that had prevailed. “Red, Toby and I are the only family Mildred has, and Toby is a little young to assume his responsibilities as the man of the family. So I hope you’ll forgive me for asking this question.” She paused and studied the man’s wary expression. Then, with a big smile, she asked, “What are your intentions toward Mildred?”

  “Barbara Jo!” Mildred exclaimed.

  Red looked at Mildred and then back at B.J. “I asked Mildred to marry me, B.J. But she turned me down.”

  “Did she?” B.J. slanted a quick look at Mildred’s burning cheeks. “I’m sorry. I would’ve liked to welcome you to our family, Red. It’s too bad she doesn’t care enough about you.”

  Mildred gasped and turned to look out the window.

  Red stuck out his chin. “That’s not the reason she turned me down.”

  B.J. was distracted by the truck slowing to a stop on the side of the road.

  “We’re almost home,” Jake said softly. “I thought you might need a little more time.”

  With a nod, she turned her attention back to the couple behind her. “It’s not, Red? Why did she turn you down?”

  “That’s between me and Red,” Mildred protested.

  “Normally I would agree, Mildred,” B.J. said quietly, “but I suspect Toby and I play a role here. Am I right, Red?”

  “You’re right,” he said succinctly.

  B.J. reached over the seat to touch Mildred’s hands, clenched tightly in her lap. “Mildred, I can’t ever repay you for the support and love you’ve given me and Toby. Especially right after Darrell died. But we would never want you to sacrifice your happiness for ours.”

  Mildred lowered her head but said nothing.

  “Besides, it’s not like you’d go very far,” B.J. teased softly. “You could still keep an eye on Toby for me.”

  “That’s what I told her,” Red said, hope lightening the expression on his face.

  “And what happens when someone calls you in the middle of the night?” Mildred asked forcefully, staring at B.J.

  “We’d work something out, Mildred. Surely that’s not enough of a reason to deny Red’s happiness. And think how much Toby would enjoy having another man in the family,” B.J. added, grinning at Red.

  When she looked at Mildred, B.J. felt her heart lurch. Tears were streaming down the older woman’s cheeks. Had she gone too far? Would Mildred forgive her?

  “Mildred, don’t cry. I didn’t mean to upset you.” She cast a frantic look at Jake, who sat silently beside her. “I think we should go on now.”

  Without any argument, Jake started up the truck. B.J. turned toward the front, leaving Mildred to Red’s whispered reassurances. She only hoped he was able to make Mildred’s tears stop.

  When they stopped by the ranch house, B.J. spoke again. “Mildred, I’ll take Toby home. You and Red may need a little time to talk.”

  “That boy’s getting too big for you to carry. You’ll need help,” Mildred insisted.

  “She’s got me.” Jake offered. “I can handle Toby, Mildred,”

  B.J. opened her mouth to protest, but she paused as she noticed Mildred’s acceptance of Jake’s words. She could carry Toby. He was only a little boy. But if Jake’s offer satisfied Mildred, B.J. wouldn’t say anything.

  Toby had fallen asleep, of course, and B.J. reluctantly allowed Jake to carry him the short distance to her house. The sight of her little boy wrapped in Jake’s strong arms unexpectedly moved her. Perhaps it was because of all the stress of the evening, the assault on her senses.

  Whatever the reason, her eyes filled with unshed tears as she watched Jake hold Toby against his broad chest. Her child would never know a father’s touch, a father’s guidance, as he grew to manhood.

  She squared her shoulders. It didn’t matter. He would be loved.

  “His bedroom is the last one,” she whispered as she held open the door for Jake. Toby’s bed was ready. She’d turned down the covers before they’d left.

  After Jake laid him on the bed, she murmured her thanks, hoping Jake would leave, and tucked the covers around Toby, gently touching his flushed cheek as he lay sleeping. When she straightened and turned around, she discovered Jake leaning against the door frame, watching her.

  He stood back to allow her to precede him, then followed her down the hall to the front door.

  “Toby’s a lucky boy,” he said softly as she stopped.

  “What do you mean?”

  “His mom loves him very much.”

  “And yours didn’t love you?”

  His brows arched, as if he were surprised by her response. “Of course she did, but she died.”

  “How old were you when she died?”

  “Eight.”

  “Toby’s father died when he was one. So he’s only had one parent—and who knows what the future holds?”

  “That’s kind of morbid.”

  “No, realistic.”

  “I was trying to pay you a compliment, B.J.,” he said with exasperation.

  She shrugged her shoulders and looked away. The tenderness in his voice was too much to bear after the events of the night. “Sorry. It’s been a difficult evening.”

  “I appreciate what you did for Red.”

  “I didn’t do anything for Red. I was trying to help Mildred. She deserves to be happy.”

  “Doesn’t everyone?”

  Sighing, B.J. gestured to the door. “It’s late, Jake. Too late for a philosophical discussion.”

  “Okay. I can take a hint.” He reached out toward her, but she jerked back. “I was only going to touch your cheek, B.J., not retaliate.” His lips curved in a teasing grin.

  “I’ve already apologized,” she returned abruptly.

  “But not explained.” Something in her exp
ression must’ve warned him to save his breath. He held up his hands in surrender and backed out the door. “Okay. I won’t mention it again. Good night… partner.”

  She ground her teeth as she watched his long stride cover the distance between their homes. No, she hadn’t explained—and she wouldn’t. But she intended to make sure she never got that close to Jake Randall again.

  JAKE WAS FEELING pretty pleased with himself as he walked back to his house. He’d foiled the plans of the females of the house. Ceci was as wrong for him as all the other women they’d pushed forward. But thanks to B.J.’s and his fast thinking, he hadn’t had to spend the evening avoiding Ceci.

  As an extra bonus, he’d shared some interesting moments with B.J. She was sexy as hell—which he’d known the first moment he’d met her. But he’d never been this close to her before. Or tasted those soft lips.

  With a rueful laugh, he rubbed his chin. He’d never paid such a price for a kiss before, either. The memory of the emotions that filled him when he’d held her in his arms chased away his amusement.

  It was just as well she’d hit him. It was a good warning to keep in mind. He should keep his emotional distance from B.J. But he might forget that fact if he spent much more time kissing B. J. Anderson.

  As he stepped up on the back porch, the door opened and Red and Mildred emerged. The only light on the back porch spilled out from the house, but it was enough for Jake to see the bemused expressions of happiness on the couple’s faces.

  “I’m gonna walk Mildred home,” Red said, his gaze meeting Jake’s only briefly. The man could hardly keep his eyes off Mildred, whose cheeks were bright red.

  “Good. See you in the morning.”

  The couple passed him, their arms wrapped around each other, and faded into the night. Jake stood there, his hands on his hips, his eyes staring at nothing in the darkness. Looked like Red, too, would be joining the married state. Pretty soon he’d be the last bachelor on the Randall spread. Quite a change from last year at this time, when they’d been all men, all bachelors.

  Jake dismissed the feeling of loneliness that assailed him. He was happy. He didn’t need the complication of a woman to make his life worthwhile. In fact, in his experience, contrary to his brothers’, adding a woman to his life would only bring misery.