brides for brothers 03 - cowboy groom (16 page)

“Brett,” Megan said softly, “accidents happen.”

“It didn’t happen to me.”

Jake frowned. “Brett, are you saying you don’t think this baby is yours?”

“Damn right it’s not mine.” Now he understood why Sylvia had tried to seduce him. And he gave thanks that he had rejected her. That Anna had already tempted him. He stared at her, still hurt that she believed Sylvia.

“How can you be so sure?” Jake asked.

“Because, big brother, I’ve never shared a bed with my soon-to-be ex-fiancée.”

“A bed isn’t required,” Pete muttered. “Janie and I are testament to that fact.”

“Then I’ll be more specific. I’ve never had relations with Sylvia. If she’s pregnant, and I doubt that she is, it’s someone else’s baby. Not mine.”

Chad stared at him. “Why?”

“Why what?”

“She’s a good-looking woman. Weren’t you tempted?”

Brett could feel his cheeks flushing. “Yeah. In the beginning, I was. But I was staying under her father’s roof. It didn’t seem the polite thing to do to sit at his table and seduce his daughter at the same time.”

“Oh, good.” Chad gave him a cheeky grin. “I was just trying to decide which would be worse. You being the father of Sylvia’s baby, or you being attracted to something other than women.”

Brett glared at his brother, but he could tell his look didn’t faze Chad. Movement at his side drew him as he realized Anna was slowly sliding down the wall.

“Anna? Are you okay?” he demanded, grabbing her arms to shore her up.

She nodded, just barely meeting his gaze before looking away. “Yes, of course. This has all been a bit of a—a shock. I apologize for causing you any…for upsetting everyone. If you want me to leave, I can—”

Several emphatic no’s rang out, including Brett’s.

“I think we’re all a little shocked, Anna,” Jake said quietly, “but that kind of sacrifice won’t be necessary. Why don’t we all come back into the kitchen and sit down.”

Since Jake’s suggestion was more of a command, everyone did as he asked. Brett found himself beside Anna. He wasn’t happy with her right now, but he still wanted to be close to her.

“Anna, why do you think Sylvia is pregnant? Did she tell you?”

“Not until I confronted her. She was nauseated this morning and—and I suddenly sensed…I realized…I asked her.”

“Just like that? She said, ‘Oh, yes, I’m pregnant’?” Brett scoffed.

Anna looked at him for the first time since they’d entered the kitchen. “Pregnant women are my business. I won’t doubt your knowledge of your stupid cows. Don’t doubt my expertise.”

He almost grinned at her feistiness. As serious as the situation was, he was beginning to understand Anna’s behavior in the hall. And was relieved. It wasn’t that she wanted him to be with Sylvia. She’d been concerned about the baby. Unbelievable relief filled him.

“Well, if she really is pregnant—and I’m not convinced she is, that would explain her behavior,” he said, speaking his thoughts aloud.

“What do you mean?” Jake asked, making Brett regret his lapse of control.

He could feel his cheeks flaming, but he answered his brother’s question. “Sylvia’s been working hard at getting me into her bed.”

Jake chuckled. “I can testify to that. When she mistook your room for mine, she wasn’t hiding any weapons.”

“And you resisted?” Chad asked in surprise, looking at Brett. “Man, I’m beginning to worry about you again.”

Brett wanted to choke his younger brother, but he had to settle for an angry glare. “I’d already realized I’d made a mistake by the time Sylvia came here. It would’ve been…” He couldn’t think of the proper adjective.

“Dishonorable?” Anna suggested softly.

“Yeah,” he agreed, smiling at her. Maybe she had some feeling for him after all. He hoped so. He thought he was becoming obsessive over her.

“I think you need to go back upstairs and explain to Sylvia that the engagement is over. We’ve got time to get her back to Casper before dark,” Jake said firmly.

“We?” Brett hated to think of a long drive with just him and Sylvia.

“I’m going with you. I want to be sure her father understands the situation.”

“You don’t have to go with me, Jake. I can tell Donald, I assure you.”

“I know, Brett. But I thought you might like some company.”

Brett exchanged a look with Jake that warmed him to his toes. Jake was the best brother a man could have. It went a long way to erase the hurt he’d experienced in the hall.

“Thanks.”

A
NNA STOOD
out on the porch, one arm looped around a timber that held up the roof. Taking a deep breath, she stared out at the distant mountains.

She loved it here so much. Not just the Randalls, though she couldn’t imagine a more perfect home. No, she loved Wyoming, the hugeness of it, the incredible beauty, the big hearts of the people in it.

Was she going to have to leave it?

She’d fallen in love with Brett Randall.

And he was real enough to break her heart.

Too many times in the past, she’d been snubbed because her father was an alcoholic. Cruelly teased because she couldn’t afford nice clothes. Not invited anywhere because she didn’t have a home she could invite friends to.

When she’d gone to nursing school, she thought she’d left her past behind. She’d thought no one would know about poor Anna O’Brien. But she’d been wrong. Spending her meager earnings on cheap store dresses hadn’t changed things.

Her taste had improved over the years, and the money she could spend had increased a little, but she didn’t try to fool herself anymore.

She would always be the same person.

Surprisingly she was a person that Brett Randall wanted. That in itself was amazing.

But it was also the reason she might have to leave a place she’d been hoping to call home.

After all, she’d had trouble resisting Brett when he wasn’t really trying to seduce her…and he’d been engaged. How would she manage to resist him when neither of those things was true?

He and Jake had taken Sylvia back to Casper only minutes after Anna’s revelations. They were due back anytime now. Brett would no longer be engaged. And he would be trying to seduce her.

Maybe she should agree to go to bed with him. Why fight him and her own feelings when her heart would be broken either way? At least she’d have memories to dream of in her lonely bed.

She blinked back tears, knowing she was only tormenting herself. She couldn’t give in to her wants. Or Brett’s. Not unless she wanted to follow her father’s path of self-destruction.

If she remained strong and resisted temptation, she would at least have self-respect. She’d fought her past too hard and too long to give that up for anyone. Even Brett.

She’d have to stay until Janie had her babies. She’d promised. But then she’d find a new place, start over again. It wouldn’t be so hard. She’d made friends here, but she could make more friends somewhere else. It wasn’t as if she had family here to tie her down. She could pick up and move whenever she wanted.

Her brave thoughts faltered at the pit of yearning that filled her. How she wanted to have roots, a family.

But that wasn’t what Brett wanted. Not with her. He wanted her…for a while. For pleasure. But that pleasure would turn to heartbreak when he finally chose someone to be Mrs. Brett Randall.

The future Mrs. Randall would be like Sylvia, only with a good heart. Beautiful, refined, well educated. She’d have gracious parents, polished silver, sorority girlfriends. And she’d love babies. And, most of all, she’d love Brett.

Oh, please, let her love him with all her heart.

The sound of an engine disrupted her thoughts. It had to be Jake and Brett returning. She should go inside, hide among the others. But she didn’t move.

Just this last time. In the cover of twilight, she’d let herself look at him. She’d pretend everything was fine. And she’d feast her eyes upon him enough to last her a lifetime. Just this last time.

B
RETT COULDN’T IMAGINE
a more beautiful sight than Anna standing on the porch, waiting for him. It was certainly more than he expected. He didn’t see Jake precede him up the stairs and into the house. All he could see was Anna, her red hair lighting the growing darkness, her slender form drawing him.

Filled with a sudden elation, he leapt on the porch, grabbed her and lifted her in the air, spinning in a circle. Before she could even think of protesting, he set her back on her feet and swooped down to cover her lips with his.

Her hands were already on his shoulders, in an attempt to maintain her balance. He took it as a good sign when they linked around his neck, her fingers sliding through his hair. He’d waited forever, it seemed, to taste Anna’s soft lips, but the wait had been well worth it.

The growing hunger urged him to greater closeness, and his tongue teased for her to open to him. His arms held her even tighter against him, and his fingers caressed and stroked her. He lost all sense of time and place. All he knew was Anna. And she was all he wanted to know.

Unfortunately a voice intruded on the happiest moment Brett had experienced in a long time.

“I guess I don’t have to worry about my brother’s sexual orientation anymore,” Chad drawled.

Brett reluctantly lifted his lips from Anna, his gaze trained on her beautiful face. “Go away, bro,” he muttered, wanting to be alone with the woman in his arms.

Her eyes popped open, and the pleasure on her face disappeared, replaced by a panic Brett didn’t understand. She broke free of his embrace and quickly followed Chad into the kitchen. Brett hurried after her.

“Sorry, Anna,” he apologized at once. “I was celebrating my bachelor status.” Anything to take that look off her face.

Clearly Chad had informed the others of what he’d interrupted.

“I’m glad I wasn’t on the back porch,” Janie said from her seat at the table. “Pete would be upset if you kissed me like that.”

“Upset? I’d take his head off,” Pete agreed with a grin.

Brett ignored their teasing. He kept his gaze on Anna as she put as much distance between them as the kitchen would allow.

“I’d say that’s a good way to
lose
your bachelor status. That’s probably how you got into trouble with Sylvia,” Chad suggested.

“No, not exactly,” Brett replied. He didn’t go into details, as he had with Jake, but Sylvia had been the one wanting to kiss. And her kisses had been pleasant, stimulating.

Anna’s kiss was a knockout.

He didn’t want dinner. He wanted Anna. If she so much as smiled at him, he’d pursue her. Hell, he was going to pursue her anyway. But it wouldn’t take much of an invitation from her for him to take her to bed.

Just thinking about it was producing a result that would soon be obvious to everyone in the kitchen. He quickly sat down at the table. “I’m starving.”

Chad gave him a knowing grin. “I bet.”

He was going to have to beat up his brother. A quick look at Anna told him she didn’t comprehend Chad’s dig.

Anxious to make sure Anna had forgiven him for that kiss, he said, “Anna, you don’t mind sitting next to me, do you?”

Anna gave him a quick glance and then looked away, her cheeks pink. “No, of course not, but—but I’m not very hungry. I think I may skip dinner.”

Brett desperately sought a reason to keep her there with him, but Jake came to his rescue.

“I wish you’d stay, Anna. We’ve got something to celebrate tonight, and we’d like you to be a part of it.”

“Maybe it should just be family, Jake,” she offered, not looking at Brett.

“You feel like family, Anna. I wish you’d sit down and eat with us.”

Anna licked, her lips and then bit down on her bottom one, and Brett thought he was going melt. Damn, he’d never been this out of control, and he’d only kissed the woman. The strength of his desire was beginning to scare him.

“Besides, I bet you’d like to hear about our talk with Sylvia and her father.” Jake’s grin was an invitation to relax.

Brett breathed a sigh of relief as even Anna came to the table. As she sat down next to him, he took care not to touch her. After all, he didn’t want to scare her away. And he’d like to ease the tightness of his jeans, which hadn’t come from overeating. He had yet to take a bite. Of anything but Anna.

Jake made an amusing story of the afternoon’s strife. Brett even laughed at the picture he presented. In actual fact, he hadn’t enjoyed the encounter at all.

And he wasn’t convinced that the story came as a surprise to Sylvia’s father. The father of her child wasn’t someone Donald would choose for a son-in-law.

Both Sylvia and her father had tried to convince Brett to go ahead with the marriage, offering a brilliant political future as his reward. He’d refused.

Even if he wasn’t interested in Anna, it wouldn’t have been a difficult choice. He had no interest in politics. Or in Sylvia.

“So you weren’t tempted by a combination of the lovely Sylvia and being president of the United States?” Chad teased.

“Not even for a second,” Brett muttered, and cast a look at Anna. She concentrated on her eating, and he allowed himself the luxury of watching her.

“Does that mean you’re beyond temptation, brother, or you didn’t care for the bait?” Chad continued, grinning at him.

He glared at his brother, knowing Chad wouldn’t hesitate to embarrass both him and Anna. “Mind your own business.”

As if she read her brother-in-law’s mind, Megan changed the subject. “Chad, we’re going to have an old-fashioned social at church as a fund-raiser. I forgot to tell you I said we’d go.”

Brett noted with relief that his wife had snagged Chad’s attention.

“When is it?”

“Saturday night. It’s a box social. You know, where the women bring a picnic supper and the men bid on it.”

“I have to pay to eat a dinner you fixed?” Chad asked, frowning. “That doesn’t make sense.”

“Yes, it does, brother,” Jake said, a grin on his face. “What you’re paying for is the right to keep the other men from having dinner with your wife.”

Chad’s face clouded up. “Is that true? Another man could outbid me and eat dinner with you?” he demanded of his wife.