Lori Foster Bundle

by Lori Foster

  They were likely enjoying his predicament. He’d always been different from them. More withdrawn. More self-contained. Though he never doubted their love, he often felt like an outsider; because of his father, there were things he’d never be able to share with them. Like the pride of their male parentage.

  Knowing he’d gotten himself mired in an emotional conflict probably had them all rubbing their hands with glee. They just loved it when he fell into the same traps that grabbed them. It happened far too often for Jordan’s peace of mind.

  Lisa, being a natural-born flirt, smiled widely at the sight of Casey and took off at a run to see him. Casey grinned and knelt down to catch her. Adam quickly followed suit, but he was a bit more cautious, keeping one eye on Sawyer and Gabe.

  Georgia had come to a complete and utter halt. She just stood there frozen, apparently as appalled as he felt. Jordan could have told her it wouldn’t do her any good.

  Sawyer started forward with a wide smile and a warm glint in his dark eyes. “Georgia?”

  She nodded, staring up at him. Jordan heard her swallow. “Yes?”

  Sawyer, damn him, hugged her. He put his arms right around her, as if she were a member of the family or something, and cradled her to his chest with a great show of affection.

  Jordan saw red and had to struggle not to huff like a bull. Luckily Sawyer released her right away.

  “It’s so nice to meet you,” Sawyer said. “Casey has told me quite a bit about you.”

  Her eyes were still round, her expression awed. “You’re Casey’s father?”

  “Yes.” Sawyer glowed with pride whenever he spoke of Case. “I understand he’ll be doing a spot of baby-sitting today. We’re all looking forward to it. Especially my wife. Now that we have our own little one-six-month-old Shohn—and with Morgan’s daughter Amber, Honey’s finding she really adores children. She’s never had much chance to be around older children, so this’ll be a real treat for her.”

  Jordan knew what his brother was doing, making it sound like a damn favor to him if Georgia didn’t hesitate to let him take the kids. He’d told Sawyer on the phone that she hadn’t quite agreed yet. But now, well…Sawyer’s performance should clinch it.

  He glanced at Georgia to see how she was reacting to Sawyer’s long-winded introduction. He wasn’t really surprised to see that her mouth was still open as she stared up at him. There was an innate compassion to Sawyer that drew women; they felt safe with him.

  Then Gabe sauntered forward and Jordan thought she might faint. He cursed low even as he clasped her arm to steady her. Everyone ignored him.

  “Hi, there,” Gabe said, flashing her with his most engaging grin, and Georgia couldn’t even blink. When Gabe waited, still smiling, she managed to lift one hand and flit her fingers in a feeble wave of greeting.

  Jordan heaved a disgusted sigh. “Why are you all here?”

  Sawyer shrugged. “I came because you asked me to. Gabe tagged along so you wouldn’t have to leave Georgia here alone. He’ll drive your car and drop me off to get Georgia’s car, then we’ll both be back. Casey is going to go ahead and take the kids to meet Honey, since she’s practically bouncing with excitement.”

  Sawyer spoke as if the plans had all been finalized, attempting, no doubt, to head Georgia off at the pass, so to speak.

  But at the mention of her offspring, Georgia came out of her stupor. “This is ridiculous. You’re all going to so much trouble—”

  “Not at all.” Gabe winked at her, rendering her mute again. He had that effect on all women, it seemed. Even his wife wasn’t yet immune. He’d ask Elizabeth if she’d like mashed potatoes, and the woman would blush scarlet. It was uncanny.

  “It’s no problem at all,” Gabe assured her. “And for the record, my wife is anxious to meet the kids, too. We don’t have any of our own yet. Not that I’m above trying, you understand—”

  Jordan stepped in front of him. “You know, Georgia, since Sawyer is here anyway, why don’t we let him take a peek at your mother? He’s a damn fine doctor. And that way, if she ever has any other problems, you can just give him a call. They’ll already be acquainted.”

  Sawyer nodded. “I still make housecalls, if you can believe the convenience of that! But in Buckhorn, we’re all real neighborly that way.”

  Jordan shook his head at the not-so-subtle suggestion that Georgia could be more neighborly herself.

  She turned her back on them all, one hand to her head. “This is incredible.” She appeared to be speaking to herself.

  “Where did you move from?” Gabe asked.

  Distracted, she waved a hand and said, “Milwaukee.”

  “Ah, that explains it. We do things differently here.”

  She turned back around, her eyes intent. “Are there any other brothers I haven’t met yet?”

  They said in unison, “No.”

  “Thank God for small favors.” They all grinned at her, making her fall back a step before she caught herself. “All right, I want to see my mother. I won’t really feel reassured until I have. She’s on the third floor.”

  Casey spoke up. “I’ll go on and head out. The squirts are anxious to see the lake. That okay?”

  Georgia looked harried, but she nodded. “Yes, okay.” She pulled her children close. “You guys be on especially good behavior for Casey, all right?”

  “We will!”

  “We’re always good.”

  Georgia smiled. “I know. I’m a very lucky mother to have you two.”

  The kids smothered her with hugs—quickly because they were anxious to be off—and she kissed each of them. “Jordan and I will be there soon. And be careful around that water!”

  Casey put his arm around her shoulders and gave her a squeeze. “They’ll be fine. Don’t worry. We have a rule that no kids are allowed even on the shore without a life preserver on. I won’t let them get hurt. I promise.”

  As Casey took both kids by the hand and walked away, Georgia got that shell-shocked look about her again.

  Jordan gently maneuvered her into the elevator and pushed the third-floor button. In the crowded confines of the elevator, she stood closer to him than she had all morning. He assumed his brothers intimidated her because she was so damn small by comparison. Her curly golden brown hair would barely brush any of the male chins surrounding her, her shoulders were only half as wide as theirs.

  Her petite build really emphasized her full breasts, he noticed. And once he noticed, he couldn’t stop noticing. She wore a tailored yellow blouse buttoned to her throat and tucked into a long, trim denim skirt. There was nothing sexy about the outfit, and in fact, it was quite understated. But it did nothing to mask her appeal. He doubted a burlap sack could have managed that feat.

  Jordan was lost in erotic fantasies better left to the privacy of his bedroom than a crowded elevator, when he felt her hand slip into his. He wanted to shout with the pleasure of it. She was warming to him, accepting him, even if reluctantly.

  Then he saw that Sawyer had noticed it, too, and was whistling softly. He even nudged Gabe, who lifted both brows.

  Jordan scowled at them. He could read their thoughts as clearly as if they were stamped on their foreheads. They liked it that he was exhibiting some male possessiveness. They’d reacted in a similar way when he’d had his first fight, ages ago. A few neighborhood bullies had been picking on an old dog, and when they’d thrown a rock and the dog had yelped, Jordan lost his temper. He’d been a young kid, but not too young to hate injustice and cruelty.

  No one had been more shocked than he when he’d kicked butt on the older boys, but his brothers revelled in his loss of control. Since then, it had only happened a handful of times, but each and every time his brothers damn near had a celebration. It was as if they’d always known he could be ferocious, and loved seeing it firsthand.

  Jordan had been disgusted with his loss of control then, just as he was now. Not that he would have done anything differently, but…

  Before he
could get truly annoyed with his brothers for being so smug at his predicament, the elevator doors opened.

  Walking quickly now, Georgia made a beeline for her mother’s room. Once there, she turned back to them as if not quite sure what to do with them. She glanced at Sawyer and Gabe, then to Jordan. “I might be awhile.”

  Jordan nodded. “Take your time. I’m in no hurry.”

  “Me, either,” Gabe said, making her frown.

  “Gabe and I will be on our way shortly,” Sawyer promised her, “but I am interested in checking on your mother myself, if you’re not opposed to it. It’s not that I doubt the good care she’s getting here. But with emphysema, any number of small ailments can come up. If you’re comfortable with the idea, why then, I’m a whole lot closer than the hospital.”

  Georgia looked so relieved by the repeated offer, Jordan wanted to kiss her. Anytime she was given genuine caring, she always seemed so surprised.

  “Actually,” she said, “that would be wonderful. I worry so much about her. She says she won’t overdo, but then something like this happens. She’s so determined not to complain, to continue mothering me even when I don’t need it, even though I’m twenty-three…”

  Jordan nearly choked when she gave her age. Twenty-three? That had to mean she’d gotten pregnant at sixteen. Good Lord, that was a lot to expect of someone who was little more than a child herself. Had she finished high school? Gotten any college at all?

  He again thought of her stepping onto that stage, and tried to imagine how she personally felt about it. She was so damn young, so driven by hard-nosed pride. Did she enjoy the work at all or was she taking the only job she could that would pay the bills?

  “Most mothers are that way,” Sawyer assured her while casting quick worried glances at Jordan. “My own is as stubborn as a goat and twice as ornery.”

  Gabe nodded to that. When Georgia looked at Jordan, appalled by what she took as an insult to their mother, he managed to laugh to cover the emotions she’d made him feel. “You’d have to meet Mom to understand, sweetheart. We love her dearly, but—”

  “But she did manage to raise the lot of you.” Georgia shook her head. “I suppose that takes great fortitude.”

  They all laughed. “Exactly.”

  “Let me check on Mom and talk to her privately for a moment, to make sure she doesn’t object to you coming in. I’ll be right back.”

  Georgia slipped silently into the room and the second she was gone, Jordan began to pace. He could feel Sawyer and Gabe watching him.

  “Any reason why you look so tormented?” Sawyer asked.

  Jordan glared at him. “She’s only twenty-three!”

  “You thought she looked older?”

  “No, Gabe, it’s not that. It’s just…damn she’s young to do what she’s doing.”

  Gabe asked, “What is it she’s doing?”

  Sawyer, having been apprised by Morgan, as well as Howard and Jesse who’d gotten a firsthand show, said, “I think he’s talking about the dancing.”

  “Ah.” Gabe caught Jordan’s eye and gave him a wide, masculine smile. “You know, I was thinking of going to watch her act, myself. I haven’t seen a live show in ages. Whadya think, Sawyer? You want to come, too?”

  7

  JORDAN TURNED so fast Gabe jumped in surprise. With his eyes blazing and his jaw locked, he growled, “Don’t even think about it, little brother.”

  After biting his lips to keep from laughing, Gabe soothed, “All right. Don’t get in a lather over it.”

  It took him a second, and then Jordan’s eyes narrowed. He realized Gabe had just gotten him but good. And Jordan had made it disgustingly easy for him to do. Choking Gabe sounded better by the minute.

  Georgia opened the door. She looked at Jordan’s severe frown, then at Sawyer’s exasperation and Gabe’s innocent expression. Her own turned suspicious. “Am I interrupting anything?”

  “Not at all.” Sawyer stepped forward. “Am I allowed in?”

  She didn’t look convinced, but she let it go. “Yes. Mom said she’d like to meet you.” Georgia glanced once more at Jordan, then turned away. She and Sawyer walked into her mother’s room, Sawyer’s hand at her waist.

  Jordan was still looking at the closed door when Gabe murmured, “I see Morgan was right.”

  Jordan rounded on his younger brother again. He felt dangerously close to losing his edge. “You wanna tell me exactly what the hell that means?”

  “Ho!” Gabe backed up, pretending fear. And this time there was no way for him to hide his amusement. “Don’t bite my face off over a simple observation. If you’re still worried that I might go to the bar, I promise I was just yanking your chain. You can quit snarling at me now. Besides, Lizzy would have my head if I looked at another woman and you know it. She’s got a mean jealous streak.” Gabe sounded immensely pleased over that observation.

  “If you don’t stop pricking my temper,” Jordan rumbled, “you won’t have to worry about Elizabeth. I’ll have your damn head.”

  Gabe laughed. “Honest to God, Jordan, I’ve never seen you in such a fury. It’s kind of interesting.”

  “You’re on thin ice, Gabe.”

  In his defense, Gabe said, “Hey, I’m justified. Don’t think I’ve forgotten that you stole my wife from me!”

  Georgia gasped behind them. When they both turned to her, she stammered, “Mom wanted a moment alone with Sawyer.” She looked from one to the other of them. She appeared stricken, and embarrassed.

  Gabe smiled as he explained. “My wife chose to work for Jordan in his clinic. Jordan knew that I wanted her with me, but he made up all these lame excuses and just swept her away.”

  “That,” Jordan said, watching Georgia closely, “is only Gabe’s side of the story. Elizabeth has a knack with animals, a special rapport. She’s much better suited to being my assistant than she is playing receptionist for Gabe. That’s all he was referring to.”

  Gabe shrugged. “Well, you did kiss her, too. Right in front of me.”

  He snorted over that. “A brotherly kiss and you damn well know it.”

  “Brotherly, huh? Well, in that case—” Gabe reached for Georgia, who quickly took two startled steps away from him. But he’d barely moved more than a foot before Jordan caught him by his collar and hauled him back.

  “Not in this lifetime, Gabe.” The statement was low and mean, and made Gabe chuckle.

  “That’s what I figured.” To Georgia, he said, “Can you believe he kissed my Lizzy? Not that I blame him. She’s about the most beautiful woman in these parts and pretty irresistible. You’ll see what I mean when you meet her. And luckily for Jordan here, I let him live because she turned right around after kissing him and agreed to marry me.”

  Georgia gave a nervous smile. “I see.”

  “No you don’t.” Jordan released Gabe and propped his hands on his hips. “Elizabeth had just helped me save all the animals in the clinic from a fire. It was a kiss of gratitude, no more.”

  “Uh-huh.” Gabe pretended to think otherwise. “And what Morgan told me is that your Georgia here has incredibly pretty gray eyes. Now that I’ve seen her for myself, I agree. Very pretty.”

  He and Georgia spoke at the same time.

  “She’s not my Georgia.”

  “I’m not his Georgia.”

  Gabe said, “Oh, look. There’s Sawyer.”

  They both turned and Sawyer nodded with a smile. “She’s doing fine. Incredibly well, in fact. Her doctor is a good man. I’ve always liked him.” Sawyer pulled out a card and handed it to Georgia. “Here’s my home number. Once she’s released, probably by the middle of the week, feel free to give me a call if you have any questions or if she has any problems, okay?”

  Georgia’s eyes softened to pewter. “Thank you. That’s very generous of you.”

  “You might want to share that number with the children, too, so that if anything like this happens again, they can give me a call if you’re at work.”

  S
he nodded as she tucked the card securely into her bag. “They have my number at the bar, but Bill doesn’t always answer the phone at night during the show. We’ve argued over that several times.”

  “I understand.” Sawyer glanced at Jordan. “Perhaps a pager would be good?”

  Jordan saw the guilt flash across Georgia’s face and knew she couldn’t afford one. He spoke quickly. “Gabe, don’t you have an extra pager you’re not using anymore?”

  Gabe looked dumbfounded for only a second, then nodded. “Oh, yeah. Right.” And with a grin: “Hey, it’s even paid up for the next six months.”

  Georgia was already shaking her head, but Gabe slung an arm around her, which caused her to still immediately. “I insist. That’s what friends are for.”

  She might have protested further, once she regained use of her tongue, but Sawyer chose that auspicious moment to tell Jordan, “Her mother wants to see you.”

  “Me?”

  “Yep. She was rather insistent on it.”

  Georgia groaned. “Oh, God. She’s so overprotective….”

  Jordan peered at the closed door with deep reservation. He hoped like hell this wasn’t the familial interrogation. At thirty-three, he was so rusty he had no idea if he’d know how to answer or not. Especially considering he hadn’t yet figured out what he felt for Georgia. Lust certainly, and compassion. But if there was more…

  Georgia started to follow him in, but Sawyer gently caught her arm. “She specified that she wanted to see Jordan, and only Jordan.”

  Jordan groaned in dread, mustered his manly courage and headed in. He wasn’t a damn coward. He could face one disgruntled mother, with or without all his thoughts in order. But when he peeked around the curtain to the bed, he found Ruth Samson half-sitting up, very clear-headed, and more than a little disgruntled.

  Good heavens, the woman looked as ferocious as Morgan on his most intimidating days.

  “MS. SAMSON?”

  Her eyes, the same blue gray as her daughter’s, locked onto him and without preamble she stated, “My daughter has whisker burns this morning.”