brides for brothers 04 - cowboy surrender (13 page)

“No, we won’t be a minute,” Jake assured her before he turned back to his friend. “You’ll have to come out to the place, Butch, and see everyone. All three of the others are married now, and Pete has two sons.”

“No kidding? Man, I didn’t think any of you would ever try marriage again. And two boys? Then the Randall ranch is safe for the next generation? That was always your concern,” Butch reminded him.

Harvey laughed. “Everyone knows how worried Jake was about not having any kids. He didn’t want different blood taking over at the Randalls’.”

Different blood B.J.
turned that phrase over in her head. Apparently Jake was big on bloodlines. He’d talked about that at their dinner in Wyndom, how thrilled he was to have the next generation of real Randalls. B.J. didn’t need a sack of grain to hit her in the head. She got the point.

“Nope, no problem now. There’ll be Randalls on the place for a long time,” Jake said, his grin even broader. “We’ve got to go, but the family’s having a party for Halloween. Where shall we send the invite?”

“Mrs. Potter’s putting me up at her bed and breakfast until I get settled some place.”

“You looking for a job? We could use someone right now,” Jake said, as if he’d suddenly realized his friend might be looking for work.

“I don’t need any pity hiring, Jake,” Butch said, squaring his jaw.

“Man, with all we’ve had going on, none of us puts in a full week anymore. And Lefty died last winter, before Christmas. We’ve never replaced him.”

“Lefty? That’s too bad. But are you sure you need someone? ’Cause I can—”

“Jake’s been asking for most of the year, Butch,” Harvey said. “There’s not a lot of good help around.”

Jake shot the store owner a grateful look. Then he quickly worked out the details with his friend before sweeping B.J. and Toby out the door.

Once they were in the truck, B.J. started to ask Jake about the man, but Toby had another question in mind.

“Why can’t I be your little boy, Mr. Jake? Is something wrong with my blood?”

Chapter Ten

B.J. sucked in a deep breath.

Jake spoke before she could think of what to say.

“Nah. There’s nothing wrong with your blood, Toby. They just meant we’re not kin to each other. You know, like you and your mom.”

“Oh.”

B.J. desperately sought a change of subject. “How did you do in school today, Toby? Did you learn to write any new words?”

Her little boy turned and frowned at her, his look distracted. “Mm-hmm. Mr. Jake?”

“Yes, Toby?”

“How—?”

“Toby, did you know the Randalls are having a Halloween party?” B.J. asked, hoping to distract him again. She didn’t think it would be a good idea to pursue the idea of Toby being Jake’s son.

This time she was more successful.

“A Halloween party? With masks and everything?” Toby demanded. “Can we go?”

“It’s bad manners to invite yourself to a party,” she gently reminded him.

“Don’t worry about it, Toby,” Jake assured him. “Of course you’re invited. And you can wear a mask.”

“I’m going to be a monster!” Toby assured his hero. “Right, Mommy?”

“We’ll see,” she said, offering a mother’s standard fare.

“You won’t scare me, will you?” Jake asked, pretending to shake in fear.

“Nah,” Toby replied, imitating Jake’s way of answering. “’Sides, you wouldn’t be scared. Maybe Mommy would.” Toby cut his gaze toward his mother, a grin on his face.

B.J. was willing to play along, as long as it kept her son happy. “I just might be. Promise you’ll tell me it’s you?”

“Yeah, Mommy.”

“And if she gets scared, I’ll comfort her,” Jake added, and shot a teasing look at B.J.

The thought of Jake’s big arms wrapped around her, his hands stroking her, sent shivers through her body. His brown eyes caressed her over Toby’s head, and she broke away from his gaze.

“I won’t scare you, Mommy,” her son promised.

“Doggone it, Toby, why’d you promise that? I was going to get to hug your mom.”

“I saw Bobby’s mommy hugging.”

B.J. frowned, unable to follow her son’s comment. Before she could ask about his words, Jake did.

“Was she happy about it?”

“Uh-huh. She was hugging Bobby’s new daddy.”

“Good for her,” Jake said, smiling at B.J. over Toby’s head.

“Yeah. Bobby says he’s his real daddy. But they don’t have the same blood. Do they?”

“Probably not,” Jake agreed.

“Then how come he’s his real daddy?”

B.J. could think of nothing to derail the conversation. Even the subject of Toby’s monster costume probably wouldn’t distract him.

“Because his mom married the man. That would make him his daddy.”

“Even if they don’t have the same blood?”

“Well, he wouldn’t be his
real
daddy, but he’d be his stepdaddy.”

“Oh.”

B.J. decided the all-male conversation had gone on long enough. “Did you tell Jake that Aunt Mildred is making cupcakes for the class for your birthday?” she asked. “And that she’ll make one for Jake, too?”

“No. Do you like chocolate cupcakes, Mr. Jake?”

“You bet. I’ll be looking forward to one of your cupcakes. Maybe I could come over and eat it for breakfast.”

“Yeah!”

B.J. breathed a sigh of relief. At least Toby didn’t seem upset about anything. She took a deep breath and leaned back against the seat.

Then Toby calmly announced, “Bobby said he thought I was going to have a new daddy.”

B.J. felt the blood drain out of her head. She was so shocked, she didn’t realize Jake had slammed on the brakes until he’d stopped the truck on the side of the road.

“What are you talking about?” he demanded harshly.

B.J.’s arm immediately went around her son’s shoulders. She didn’t want anyone speaking so cruelly to her little boy, but she knew how devastated Toby would be to find his hero unhappy with him. “Jake—” she began.

“Why did Bobby say that?” Jake ignored her warning.

“I told him about you kissing Mommy, and he said that’s what his new daddy always did.” Toby squared his shoulders and lifted his chin to stare at Jake. “Are you mad?”

B.J. didn’t realize she was holding her breath until Jake expelled his own.

“No, son, I’m not angry. But Bobby was wrong. Men and women kiss without getting married. You know, I’ve been married before, and I don’t intend to marry. Your mom and I were just being friendly.”

Friendly. Of course, that was the correct explanation. She was glad he’d done away with poor Toby’s dreams. If he hadn’t, Toby might have really been hurt.

“Never?” Toby whispered.

“No, never.”

Toby turned a troubled glance to B.J. “Is that okay, Mommy?”

“Of course, sweetie,” she replied, swallowing inexplicable tears in the back of her throat. “I’m sorry if you’re disappointed, but when Mildred marries Red, you’ll have a grandpa. Then when they have— have things at school for daddies, Red can come with you.”

“Sure. I like Mr. Red.”

She’d never been so proud of her child. He was hurting inside. And it was her fault. She was going to have to tell Mildred the truth—and let Mildred make her own decision. But she couldn’t hurt her son any more.

Hugging him closer to her, she leaned over and kissed the top of his head. “Mr. Red likes you, too. I think we should ask Mildred if you can walk her down the aisle when she marries Mr. Red.”

While Toby, distracted again, excitedly asked B.J. what she meant, Jake pulled the truck back on the road and continued on to the ranch.

D
AMN!
H
E HADN’T MEANT
to hurt the kid’s feelings. Jake looked sideways at the other two in the truck. They made a tender picture, mother and son, her arm around him.

If Jake were ever going to marry again, it would be to someone like B.J., warm, loving, caring.

If?
What was he thinking? There was no question of him marrying! Never!

He glared at B.J. as if she were responsible for the shocking thought that had intruded into his head. It was those kisses of hers. The unexpected hunger he’d discovered for touching B. J. Anderson was the reason. For only a second, he considered being married to the woman beside him, having the right to touch her whenever he wanted.

Having her touch him.

He hurriedly sent those thoughts out the window, before his body could show the effects of the warmth that filled him. Lately he’d felt out of control too often.

By the time he’d parked the truck in its usual place, he’d concentrated his thoughts on more-mundane things and convinced himself everything was okay. He turned off the engine and turned to smile at his passengers. The sight of Toby whispering to his mother puzzled Jake.

“Everything all right?”

“Yes,” B.J. said, giving Jake a brief look before turning back to her son. “It’s all right, Toby. Just be sure you say thank-you.”

“Thank you for my hat, Mr. Jake,” Toby said. The serious look on his little face worried Jake.

“You’re welcome. Happy birthday, pal. You like it, don’t you?”

“Sure. It’s just like yours.” His smile this time wasn’t his best, but Jake was pleased.

“Sweetie, run on over to the house and tell Mildred I’ll be there in a minute. I need to talk to Mr. Jake.” B.J. didn’t look at Jake as she spoke, her gaze focused on her child.

But Jake felt anticipation build in him. Time alone with B.J. meant the possibility of a few more of those drugging kisses. He couldn’t afford too many, but already his body was revving up with the thought of holding her again.

“See ya, Toby,” he called out as the little boy slipped past his mother and out the door on her side. Toby waved but said nothing. Briefly Jake was distracted from thoughts of B.J. as he watched the child jog to their house, clutching the bag containing his new hat.

“Everything all right with Toby?”

“No,” B.J. said, and he could hear icicles hanging off that one word.

“What’s wrong?”

“We can’t pretend any longer.” She was staring straight ahead.

Jake studied her face, wishing she’d look at him. He was confused. “I thought we were talking about Toby.”

“We are. Toby is believing our pretense. And I don’t want him hurt.”

“I told him we were just being friendly.” In Jake’s mind, his explanation would take care of the problem.

“It’s not enough, Jake. Soon he’ll hear rumors from other kids. Because—because it’s what he wants, he’ll ignore your explanation.”

“What do you mean, it’s what he wants?”

Now she looked at him, but her expression was a mixture of anger and disgust, and he almost wished she were staring straight ahead. “Come on, Jake. You must realize Toby has a bad case of hero worship. And since he’s seen us…” She paused and Jake watched her swallow. He wanted to stroke her throat as he traced the movement with his gaze.

He leaned toward her, not even realizing it until she jerked away from him. Pulling himself together, he asked, “After he’s seen us what?”

“Kissing! After he saw us in the barn, he obviously felt our—our relationship has changed.”

“Yeah. We recognize each other now,” Jake drawled at her obvious understatement.

“We always recognized each other,” she said indignantly, looking at him again.

That indignation made her lips form a sexy pout that drew his lips like a magnet. But she only allowed a brief touching before she put her hands on his chest and pushed.

“Don’t”

“Sorry. I couldn’t help myself.”

She glared at him.

“So what are you saying? Around Toby we don’t pretend? I think that might be—”

“Impossible. That would be impossible. I’m saying we shouldn’t pretend anymore. At all.” She pressed those lips tightly together.

“What about Mildred and Red?” He wanted to protest more, to tell her she couldn’t stop what had already been set in motion. But he was afraid she’d question his motives. Red and Mildred were safer.

“I’m going to tell Mildred the truth.”

Jake frowned. “Do you think that’s fair? They’ve made plans.” So had he. For a little more closeness with B.J.

“I won’t risk my son’s happiness.”

“Aren’t you being melodramatic? I’m not going to hurt Toby.” He wouldn’t do that. He and Toby were pals.

She lifted her chin. “No. Our pretense is over, Jake. You’re on your own in the future.”

“Hey, don’t act like I begged you.” His pride was hurt. She thought he couldn’t manage on his own? He conveniently pushed aside that Friday night in Rawhide.
She
was the one who’d wanted to continue the charade.

“I know.” Her words came out with defeat, and she sagged against the car seat. “I made a mistake. I’m sorry I asked you to do this—” she waved one hand distractedly “—and—and I hope you don’t have any unpleasant repercussions from it.”

“Hey, B.J., I don’t have anything to complain about,” he said softly, fighting the urge to gather her against him.

She shook her head no, her chin lowered. Before he could think of anything else to say, she slid from the truck and hurried to her home.

Damn!
That made two Andersons he’d upset this afternoon. He slapped the steering wheel, angry with himself and with the events of the day. Which had started off with such promise.

His original idea had been so simple.

A little friendliness to scare off scheming women.

But things had gotten complicated.

He threw himself from the truck, not wanting to think about what had happened. When he reached the kitchen, he didn’t slow down, in spite of the fact that Red and his three sisters-in-law were there.

“Jake!” Janie called out. “How did the day go?”

“Fine! Damn fine! In fact, outstandingly damn fine!”

He realized he hadn’t been as tactful as he’d intended when a stunned silence followed him from the room.

B.J.
ENTERED THE HOUSE
and squared her shoulders. She couldn’t put off her talk with Mildred. It was going to be hard enough without time to think about it.

“Mildred?”

“In the kitchen,” Mildred called back.

As B.J. entered the most popular room in the house, Toby was showing Mildred his hat.