brides for brothers 04 - cowboy surrender (7 page)

Every man in the saddle was staring at them.

He turned back to B.J., realizing she hadn’t answered his question. “Well?”

“Not…exactly.”

He released her hand to capture her shoulders. “What are you asking?”

“I need us to pretend to—to be an item.”

“An item?” He wanted to be sure he understood what she was asking.

“Stop being obtuse, Jake!” she shouted, and struck his chest.

“Whoa! For someone asking a favor, you’re being a little aggressive, aren’t you, sweetheart?” He was beginning to enjoy their conversation. He had a feeling he was about to get the upper hand.

“The favor isn’t for me, you jerk. It’s for Red and Mildred.”

Her lips were pressed together, flattening out their fullness, but he still wanted to feel them beneath his, to taste her sweetness. He was filled with a hunger that had nothing to do with food.

“Well ? Will you agree?” she prodded.

“Why do Red and Mildred care if we…date?”

“Because Mildred won’t agree to marry Red unless she thinks—” B.J. broke off and sighed. “I feel utterly outdated by saying this, but Mildred wants to be
sure
I have a man to take care of me before she’ll marry Red.”

Mentioning marriage in the same sentence with him made Jake nervous. He stepped back. “What do you mean,
sure?
Are you asking me to marry you?”

He hadn’t meant to sound as if that prospect ranked lower than being bucked off a bronco onto sharp rocks. But he must’ve. Her cheeks whitened, and she abruptly slid back into the truck. He grabbed the door before she could slam it shut.

“Wait! I’m sorry, B.J. I didn’t mean to—”

“Turn loose!” She tugged on the door, and he instantly remembered how hard she had hit him last night.

He managed to slip his body between her and the door. “No fair running off without finishing our discussion.”

When she realized she couldn’t budge him, she stared straight ahead, her hands gripping the steering wheel.

“I just wanted to be clear on what you were asking,” he said, watching her closely.

With her jaw unclenched just enough to form words, she muttered, “I wanted you to pretend we were serious about—about each other until Red and Mildred get married. Once they’re legally tied, we can have a fight—which shouldn’t be difficult to arrange—and break it off.”

He should have felt relief. He did, he assured himself. She wasn’t setting a trap for him. She didn’t want marriage any more than he did. It was all pretense.

“Okay.”

His brief answer didn’t seem to have an effect on her. She continued to stare straight ahead over the steering wheel.

“Well?” he said, hoping for some reaction. “Is that all you wanted?”

“Yes, that’s all I wanted. Thank you.”

She didn’t sound grateful. In fact, she sounded as though she’d prefer to rub his face in the mud of a pigpen. Hell, he was taking a risk just for her. She ought to at least appreciate it!

He remembered that he’d asked her to take the same risk last night without giving her much of an option. But that wasn’t the point.

“So you can move now,” she ordered, anger still lacing her words.

“Not quite yet” He might as well get some pleasure out of their agreement, especially since he wasn’t getting any appreciation. Without any warning, he reached inside the truck, grabbed her by her jacket collar and pulled her from the truck into his arms.

Then his lips did what they’d been wanting to do ever since she arrived. They covered hers, molding her flesh to his, tasting her sweetness. In spite of her anger, her mouth opened to his, welcomed his tongue as he entered, joined in their mating. Her arms encircled his head, her fingers weaving through his hair, knocking his cowboy hat to the ground.

She was wearing those sexy jeans again, and his hands cupped her bottom, pulling her tightly to him, feeling her breasts against his chest. He wanted her naked, wanted to forget everything but her.

But the cheering in the distance brought both of them back to reality. They broke apart simultaneously. Her face was red, and she hid it on his chest.

“I forgot about our audience,” he muttered.

“We—we don’t need to get so realistic in our pretense in the future,” she returned, raising her gaze to his. “Kissing isn’t a good idea.”

“You weren’t objecting a minute ago.”

“Well, I’m objecting now.” This time when she got into the cab of the truck, he stepped back and she slammed the door.

Then she rolled down the window. “Promise you won’t tell anyone what we’re doing. Please.”

“No one?”

“No one.”

He shrugged his shoulders. “Okay, I promise.”

She stared at him intently, and his shoulders stiffened. Was she questioning his word? But all she did was nod and throw the truck into reverse.

He watched her drive away, reliving the kiss as he did so. The cool October wind interrupted his pleasure and reminded him that his hat was missing. When he found it on the ground, it had been pancaked by B.J.’s tire.

Shaping it as best he could, he jammed it on his head and turned around to face an appreciative audience.

Somehow he didn’t think he and B.J. were going to have to work very hard to spread the word about their…agreement.

B.J.
DROVE RAPIDLY
across the pasture, bouncing on the seat, too disturbed to slow down. She’d known the conversation would be difficult. Damn that sexy man’s hide.

She should be used to the Randalls’ handsomeness. Those lean cowboy hips, broad shoulders, all that muscle, topped by warm brown eyes, a lazy grin. One man fitting that description would be spectacular. Four men, each with a big heart and a bright mind, were almost more than a woman could comprehend.

And why one of those men, only one, should have the effect on her that Jake had was inexplicable. She’d known right away that her nervous system went on overload whenever she was around him. Fortunately he’d avoided her.

Until last night.

And look what she’d gotten herself into now. More time spent with Jake. But it was for Mildred’s happiness. Once she married Red, then B.J. and Jake would return to their distant relationship. Which would be much easier on her nerves.

T
HE THREE
R
ANDALL LADIES
gathered in the living room, seated close together so as not to be overheard.

“What do you think?” Janie asked, watching her cohorts.

“He certainly took the bait,” Megan said, “but will it last?”

“Maybe…if we keep the pressure on. Do we know any more disasters?” Anna asked.

“Just a few,” Janie assured her as she rolled her eyes. “And they’d all leap at the chance to spend time with Jake.”

“Well, you can’t blame them,” Megan said with a self-satisfied chuckle. “These Randall men are really something.”

“And that’s why we’ve got to marry off Jake. He’s too attractive. We’ll have a constant stream of women in here trying to attract him. Or any other man they can find.”

“You can’t fool us, Janie,” Anna said softly. “You want Jake to be happy as much as the rest of us.”

“Yeah,” Janie agreed with a sigh.

B.J.
DROVE HOME
, contented. She’d just spent the afternoon at the Winstons’ helping Grey Winston deliver the first foal bred from his prize stallion. The birth had been difficult, but mother and baby were doing well now. Grey had insisted on opening a bottle of champagne to celebrate.

After a sip, B.J. had excused herself. It was almost six. She tried to be home by five each day, but her job wasn’t one for a clock watcher.

Which gave her a good excuse to avoid Jake.

Last night, after her morning talk with him in the pasture, she’d gotten home after eight. Mildred had asked her if she wasn’t going to call Jake, but she’d told her she’d talked to him earlier.

If Mildred assumed they’d spent time on the phone exchanging words of love, it wasn’t B.J.’s fault. She hadn’t said anything like that.

As she pulled up to her house, she checked the rearview mirror, making sure Jake wasn’t coming out of his house or the barns. If her luck held, maybe she wouldn’t see him until Red and Mildred’s wedding.

The only problem was she hadn’t gotten a definite date out of Mildred. She’d tried last night, but Mildred had concentrated on feeding her and avoiding an answer.

She opened the door of her truck and got out. Tonight. Tonight she’d press Mildred to set a date for the wedding.

“Anyone home?” she called as she opened the door, expecting Toby’s usual greeting.

Toby exploded down the hall. “Mommy! Guess what! We’re eating dinner with Mr. Red and everyone.”

“We are?”

“You’re not,” Mildred said, appearing next with a beaming smile on her face.

“I don’t understand.”

“Red and I know you and Jake don’t get too much time together, so we’re going to take care of Toby tonight. We’re going to watch a movie after dinner. Then Red and I will come back here and put Toby to bed so you and Jake can stay out as late as you want.”

B.J. swallowed, frantically trying to find a way to change the plans. “Jake may have already made plans.”

“Red checked with him this morning. Didn’t he mention our idea when you talked to him?”

“Uh, no. I guess he forgot.” Did Mildred think she and Jake were in constant communication?

“Why can’t I go with you and Jake, Mommy?” Toby asked, his arms still around her neck.

Inspiration struck her as she stared into Toby’s eager eyes. “I think that’s a great idea, Toby. After all, Mildred, you and Red are the couple getting married. You need the time alone.”

“Nonsense. Red and I are too old for gallivantin’ around. We’ll leave that up to you young ones.”

“But I don’t get to spend much time with Toby. I don’t want—”

“We’ve already got everything arranged. And you’d better head for the shower. Jake will be here in half an hour.”

“Half an hour?” B.J. asked in shock.

“You’ll want to look your best for him. After all, there’s lots of women chasing after Jake Randall.” Mildred stepped forward and pulled Toby out of her arms. “Go figure out which storybook you want to take to show Mr. Red how well you can read, young man. I don’t want to be late for dinner, either.”

Toby immediately set off at a run for his bedroom, leaving B.J. standing by the front door still looking for a way out. “But, Mildred—”

“Don’t you want to spend time with Jake? I thought you two—”

“Of course I do!” B.J. exclaimed. “You took me by surprise. And—and I worry about Toby.”

“Nonsense, child. He’ll be fine with me and Red. You go make yourself pretty for that hunk you’ve snared.” Mildred pushed her toward her bedroom, her serenity restored.

But B.J. could barely walk. Her insides were churning, and she was grateful she didn’t have to continue her conversation with her aunt. She could scarcely think, much less talk.

And in half an hour, not only did she have to make herself presentable, but she also had to regain her composure. She didn’t want Jake to realize how much he affected her.

“Y
OU’RENOT GOING
to wear that,” Red said the moment Jake walked into the kitchen.

Jake came to an abrupt halt and looked down at his jeans and plaid shirt. They looked clean to him. “Why not?”

“’Cause I think B.J. would expect you to dress up a bit. After all, you two haven’t gotten away from the family much. Give you a chance to, you know, cuddle.” Red dug his elbow into Jake’s side.

Jake grabbed Red’s arm. “What are you talking about? Is B.J. coming—I mean, are Mildred and B.J. and Toby coming here for dinner?”

“Weren ’t you listening this morning, boy? I told you Mildred and I were taking care of Toby so you could take B.J. out.”

“No, you didn’t! I would’ve remembered—besides, it’s too late. I didn’t know, so I didn’t ask her. B.J. would slug me again if I asked her out to dinner at this late date. Even I know that much about women.”

“Not to worry,” Red assured him, and calmly returned to the stove. “Mildred took care of it for you. Better go change.”

“Change? Change into what? Since you arranged this date, just where am I taking her?”

“There’s this new restaurant in Wyndom. It has candles and tablecloths and everything.”

“Wyndom? That’s fifty miles away.”

“That’s right. That gives you a nice, long ride home with the little lady.” Red winked. “Now get back up those stairs and put on some fancy duds.”

Jake did as he was told…this time. But he was going to have to get a handle on this pretense. No one was going to lead him around by the nose.

Chapter Six

Jake knocked on the door and then stepped back, drawing a deep breath. Under Red’s orders, he’d changed into a tweed sports jacket and white shirt. But he’d kept on his jeans.

After all, this night was B.J.’s idea. So she owed him. And if he wanted to wear jeans, instead of a suit, it was okay.

The door swung open, and Mildred beamed at him. “Come in, you handsome man. Don’t you look fine!”

“Evenin’, Mildred. Is B.J. ready?”

“I’ll go see.”

As she turned away, Toby came tearing down the hall, followed by his dog. “Hi, Mr. Jake!”

Jake squatted to the little boy’s eye level. “Hi there, Toby. How are you?”

“Great! We’re going to eat with Mr. Red. I asked Mommy if I could eat with you, but she said no.”

He wouldn’t have minded if the little guy came with them. He may have avoided B.J. the past nine months, but he and Toby had become fast friends.

“Next time we’ll include you, buddy, okay? I heard they’re building a McDonald’s in Rawhide.”

“Wow! I love McDonald’s! Do they have a playground?” Toby asked, his eyes wide with excitement.

“I don’t know. We’ll check it out.”

“Okay! Wait till I tell Mommy.”

“Does your mommy like McDonald’s?” He didn’t know much about B.J.—except that she made his temperature rise.

Before Toby could inform him of B.J.’s tastes, Jake caught movement at the other end of the hall out of the corner of his eye. He looked up and almost fell flat on his back. He’d seen B.J. in snug jeans and a flared denim skirt and blouse, but he’d never seen her dressed in a silk sheath.