In only another minute, she stood in his tub. Peeking out the window, she verified the area was still deserted. She scanned the windows of the adjacent houses that overlooked this side of the apartment building. She saw no one. Lowering the window, she beamed with success. Stage one accomplished.
Within ten minutes, she had unloaded her car. Another half hour had her clothes distributed in his closet and dresser. She put away the groceries and started dinner.
When she heard the front door open, she held her breath. Slowly she turned from the stove and faced the living room. This was it.
Jake walked in, paused, then looked at her, his dark eyes blazing, his body alert and poised as if for attack.
“What the hell are you doing here?” he demanded.
“Right here, right now?” she asked, stalling. “I’m cooking dinner.” She took a deep breath and boldly walked over to him, holding eye contact the entire time. She could see the emotions dance across his face before he schooled his features. Daringly, she reached up and pulled his head down for a kiss.
His lips were cool, his cheeks cold. She opened her mouth and he responded instantly, his own moving possessively over hers as his arms drew her tightly against him.
Jake kissed her long and deep, breaking away only when breathing became difficult for both of them.
“What are you doing here?” He rested his forehead against hers, rubbing his nose against hers. His tone was soft, his eyes delving deep into hers.
“Cooking dinner?” she returned, hesitant to take the final step.
“And just how did you get in?”
She smiled saucily, her eyes dancing in delight. “There are always ways. Why doesn’t the famous detective figure it out for himself?”
He thought a moment. “The bathroom window?”
She nodded. “For that you win the prize. Me.” Reaching up, she brushed her lips across his again, then pulled back. “And dinner. I’m cooking beef Stroganoff. I made a deep-dish cherry pie for dessert.” It was his favorite, that she remembered.
“Why are you here, Brianna?” he asked as he shrugged off his jacket and tossed it across the sofa.
She turned back to the kitchen, keeping busy lest her courage fail. “For one thing, I wanted to see you again. For another, I thought a nice dinner would be a kind of thank-you for watching out for me while Alan was running amok.”
“I don’t need thanks.”
“Right, you were only doing your job. I heard you say that the other morning. Maybe I want to cook dinner for you.” Maybe do a lot of things for you.
“All right, then you go home.”
“Actually, home is where your heart is. I have a house a few blocks over. But my home is here with you.” She turned and faced him defiantly. “And here is where I’m staying.”
He shook his head. “You can’t stay here.”
“Wanna bet? I’ve already moved in.” She tilted her chin arrogantly. Curious to see what he would do next.
“What?” His voice was low, incredulous.
“Check it out,” she said flippantly, gesturing toward his bedroom.
In two seconds he was in the room. In ten he was back.
“You can just pack up your things and get out. Have you gone nuts?”
She smiled slowly, hoping he couldn't see the rapid beat of her heart. She dared not let him know how nervous she felt or she wouldn’t stand a chance.
“Actually, I’ve decided I’m a bit tired of others running my life for me, so I thought I’d take over for a while. I’m twenty-six, you know, Jake. Don’t you think it’s time I was in charge of me?”
“I know how old you are. What does that have to do with anything?” He crossed the room and crowded her into the kitchen.
She held her ground, refusing to back up or give way.
“It has to do with not needing anyone to tell me how to live or what’s good for me. I don’t need my brother choosing my boyfriends. I don’t need the man I love acting like an altruistic fool and telling me what’s good for me. I’m the only one who knows what’s good for me. And I’m taking a stand tonight. Here I stay!”
He was silent, weighing her declaration, searching for something as he gazed deep into her eyes. He noted her determined stance, her stubborn chin and the fierce emotion reflected in her deep blue eyes.
Slowly he nodded, reaching out to touch her skin, to feather his fingertips across her cheek, push her hair behind her ear, trace that strong jaw.
“Nothing’s changed. I don’t have a lot of money.”
“I'm not independently wealthy. I told you, the ranch takes back most of the money it earns.”
“I don’t know much about family life. It was just my uncle and me, and he wasn’t much on family stuff.”
“I know lots, more than I want to sometimes, especially about nosy brothers who don’t mind their own business. We'll make our own family, establish our own traditions and customs. You’ll like Jase and Shannon. And right now, Josh isn’t a problem. I may never speak to him again.”
“My job is still hazardous.”
“So, apparently, is mine. When was the last time you were in the hospital? And didn’t you tell me your uncle died off duty? I expect most cops retire and only a few die in the line of duty. We’ll take our chances.”
“Will we be able to blend our life-styles? I liked meeting your friends at the reception. Did you like my friends when we went out to dinner?”
Her gaze dropped to his chin. “Except for Diane,” she mumbled.
He raised her head with his finger beneath her chin. “I told you there was nothing between us.”
“I didn’t come here to discuss your old girlfriends.” She tossed her hair, waiting.
Waiting.
“So you thought a
fait accompli
would accomplish what you wanted. Move in and leave me no choice?”
“You didn’t give me any choice. You decided something was good for me and walked away. I think this is good for both of us and I’m not walking away.” Could she pull it off?
“Your brother's right. You could do better than me.”
“I don’t think so.”
Slowly he smiled, giving in. “All right. But on one condition.”
She blinked, her heart threatening to burst.
All right
? He said it was
all right
? Happiness swept through her. She longed to throw herself into his arms, but caution held her back.
“What condition?” she asked warily.
“That we get married before you move in,” he said simply.
From walking away from her to marriage in one conversation was almost too much to take in!
She stared, unable to breathe, unable to think.
Jake’s smile broadened. His thumb brushed her lower lip, tugging gently.
“Say yes,” he urged, a moment of uncertainty setting in. Surely this was what she wanted. He knew beyond all doubt it was what he wanted.
“Yes,” she repeated. “Are you sure?”
“Of what? That I want you to marry me? Yes, I’m sure. I was going to ask you two years ago, at Christmas. I thought that would be romantic. And I wanted to give you some romance.
Then your brother stopped by after you'd left for Thanksgiving, and told me you were practically engaged to another man. The man was a rancher and you'd be happier with someone you’d known all your life. Josh suspected my motives were mercenary, that my job was too uncertain to offer stability to a woman like you. He said your family wouldn't stand by if I continued seeing you. I guess I let pride and anger stand in the way of common sense. You’re right. You're totally grown. If you know what you want, who am I to say otherwise?”
“I sure hope there’s something more,” she murmured, stepping into his embrace, reveling in the feel of his strong body, the sensation of homecoming that was so strong.
“Like I love you, Brie? Like I’ve loved you for years, missed you so much I couldn’t sleep nights.”
“Something like that,” she nodded, resting her cheek against his. “Don’t stop.”
He chuckled as his hands traced the firm muscles of her back, rubbing up and down, pressing her firmly against him.
“How about I used to cruise down Sheridan Avenue when you lived in the apartment over there, just to see you start for school? How about I haven’t been to Magio's since the day we had dinner there? And it was once my favorite restaurant. How about I’m only human and can stand only so much? There comes a time when a man knows when it’s best to grab the future with both hands and hold on, whatever the risk.”
“Umm, better and better.” Happiness flooded her. Tears pricked. She burrowed closer, clinging.
Love you, love you, love you
her heart pumped rhythmically.
“How about I love you more than I thought it possible to love anyone? I want you more than anything.” His low, sexy voice was intoxicating.
“I love you, too, Jake. I hate the time we've spent apart.”
The time for talking was over.
He kissed her.
The timer sounded for endless minutes before either recognized the sound.
“Dinner,” she said, pulling away and turning to the stove.
“After dinner, we’ll move your things back to your house.”
She turned, stricken. “No, we won’t. I told you I was staying, and I meant it.”
“I said we’d marry first, and I meant it. I don’t want your two brothers showing up and finding all your things at my place.”
“Scared?”
“Yep.”
She laughed at his teasing, wondering if Jake was ever afraid of anything. Except maybe committing his heart.
“I love you,” she said clearly. She wanted to make sure he knew that for all time.
“I know you do. I love you. After dinner, I’ll show you how much.”
In the end, Jake had his way. They moved her things back to her home later that evening.
“How attached are you to your apartment?” Brianna asked as they hung the last of her dresses.
“I’ve lived there for ten years, but it’s only an apartment. Why?”
“Want to move in here?” she asked.
He looked around, then at her. “I could.”
“Well, you’re bringing the cabin to the marriage. I thought I could offer this.”
“Are we bargaining?”
“Not really. I just don’t want to live in an apartment again. I like my house. But if your pride demands that we live in your poky old apartment—”
He laughed, snatched her up and spun her around and around until she was dizzy. “I like this place. And no, my pride doesn’t demand that we stay in my poky old apartment. It doesn’t matter where we live at first, because before too long we are going to want a bigger place.”
“We are?”
“For the kids.”
Her heart melted. “Kids?”
“At least a half dozen,” he said firmly.
“Wow, we’d better get started.” Laughing happily, she tightened her arms around his neck and kissed him.
Shannon Hart readjusted the skirt, settling the folds to her satisfaction. Standing back, she smiled at Brianna. “You look beautiful. Of course, I’ve never seen you when you didn’t, but today especially so.”
“Just as long as Jake thinks so,” Brianna said, staring at herself in the full-length mirror. The long white dress was a dream. The lacy sleeves covered her arms to her wrists; the fitted bodice enhanced her slender figure. She could hear the organ playing softly, the murmur of the guests. In less than ten minutes she would walk down the aisle and marry Jake Morgan.
She could hardly believe this was happening. It had been endless weeks since January. While she agreed six weeks wasn’t too long to plan a wedding—scarcely long enough as it proved—she would have been satisfied with a quick marriage the week after he proposed.
Jake had insisted on a big wedding. They had invited almost the entire college staff and every law enforcement officer in the county. There were longtime family friends to be included from home, cowboys from the ranch, and the church was threatened with a standing-room-only crowd.
“Jase’s right outside. You ready?” Shannon asked. She smoothed her own deep rose gown over her hips. She was Brianna’s sole attendant.
“As I’ll ever be.” Brianna took a deep breath and reached for her bouquet. There was no reason to be nervous. She loved Jake, he loved her, and today they would join their lives together.
Shannon opened the door and slipped out. Before it could close, Jase and Josh walked in together. In the dark suits and white shirts neither man looked like the rough and tumble cowboys she was used to. They both looked amazing and she was filled with happiness, though her expression grew wary when her gaze rested on Josh.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“I’ve come to walk up the aisle with my brother to give my sister to the man she loves,” Josh said. “We’re her only family right now and we want to give her away together.”
Tension shimmered in the air as he waited for Brianna’s response. The tightening of his jaw gave away the uncertainty he felt.
Brianna blinked back tears, pressing her lips together tightly so she wouldn’t cry.
“I love you, Sis. I’m glad things worked out for you,” Josh added softly. “Despite the mess I made of things.”
She reached out to hug him. Then turned to Jase and hugged him, tears sparkling on her lashes.
“None of that.” Jase brushed the tears away. “We don’t want everyone to think we’re forcing you to marry the man.”
“Or that you’re having regrets,” Josh said, smiling warmly at his younger sister.
“I’m so happy today. Be happy with me,” she whispered, love for both her brothers almost matching the love she had for Jake.
“We are,” Josh answered. “We are. Now the question is, can Jake ride?”
“Who cares? We’re not living on a ranch. We’re living right here in Texarkana”
“Weekends?” Jase asked.
“At our cabin in the mountains.”
“Summers?” Josh asked.
“Well, we’ll visit once in a while, but our future is here. And mine is with him.”
Of that there was no doubt. She loved Jake, always had, always would.
The organ music changed.
“Time to go, Brianna.”
Linking her arms with those of her two tall brothers, she smiled radiantly and started down the aisle to meet Jake.