brides for brothers 02 - cowboy daddy (11 page)

“No.”

“Then what’s wrong? You’re not saying much. Did Doc hurt you? I thought he wasn’t as gentle as he could’ve been.”

“No, Pete, he didn’t hurt me. It—it’s just a shock, like you said.”

He parked in front of the drugstore. “Janie, I know you don’t want to marry me, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to abandon you or forget that these babies are mine, too. I’ll do everything I can to help you.” Leaning over, he brushed her lips with his, aching to deepen the kiss, to celebrate the incredible news that they were having twins. But he did neither.

Janie said nothing.

“Wait here. I’ll be right back.”

And he was. There was no one waiting, and the pharmacist filled the vitamin prescription at once, even though he sent several curious looks in Pete’s direction.

Pete hurried back to the truck. “Guess we’d better be on our way and tell your parents before gossip beats us to it,” he suggested with a wry chuckle.

“We have something else to tell them, too.”

“What’s that, sweetheart?” he asked as he backed out of the parking space.

“I’ve decided to marry you—if you still want me after you hear my terms.”

Chapter Eight

Even as she finished speaking, Janie was holding her breath. But when Pete threw on the brakes, practically standing on them, she had to forget her breathing to grab hold of the armrest. Otherwise, she would’ve ended up on the floorboard.

“You’ll marry me?” he demanded.

“Yes,” Janie said, breathing deeply. “But only on one condition, Pete. And you won’t like it.”

She’d given her decision some thought since Doc had told her she was having twins. Suddenly overwhelmed, she’d realized she would need Pete’s strength, as well as her own, to give her babies a healthy birth. And he deserved to be involved in his children’s lives.

And then there was the fighting in their families.

And the fact that she didn’t think she could hold out much longer between Pete’s pursuit and her longings.

“What condition?”

Before she could answer, loud honking interrupted. They both turned to see several cars lined up behind them on the road.

Pete quickly pulled the truck into the same parking place. “What condition?” he repeated.

“I’ll understand if you say no, Pete. Really, I will. But I can’t—I can’t sleep with you.” After one look at the shock on his face, she turned away and waited for his response.

One large hand snaked out to pull her chin back around to him. “Let me get this straight. You’ll marry me, but you won’t sleep with me?”

Her skin tingled from his touch, and she could understand his incredulity. She’d always responded to him like fire racing through deadwood. “Yes.”

“Janie, that’s absurd! If there was one thing right about us, it was the loving.”

“But it wasn’t loving, Pete. Remember? You don’t love me. You just want me.”

“Don’t start that again, Janie. I want to take care of you and our baby—babies. That’s enough.”

What a hardheaded man. She wanted his love so badly, she’d been willing to risk giving him up. But he hadn’t budged an inch. “Pete, you can say no. I won’t tell anyone. Everyone will continue to think I’m being stubborn.”

“You are!” he snapped.

She didn’t think he had to be so quick with his agreement. “Fine. We’ll just forget I ever offered.”

“Nope, we won’t. I’m accepting your proposal,” Pete said firmly. “I’m marrying you. But I have a condition, too.”

Such a jumble of emotions filled Janie. She was going to marry Pete Randall. But he had terms. Just like her. “What—what kind of terms?”

“I don’t want anyone to know that our marriage isn’t a normal one. I’ll go along with your terms until after the babies are born. I’m not sure it’d be safe, anyway. Then we’ll renegotiate. Okay?”

“Renegotiate?” she repeated, her voice wavering.

His eyes narrowed, and he reached out to encircle her nape. “That’s right, Janie, my girl. You get your way now. I get my way later.”

“Wait—” In one fluid motion, he pulled her close, and his lips covered hers. Instantly the longing that welled up in her was more than she could handle. She’d never realized before that life without Pete’s touch was colorless.

Her fingers fluttered against his cheeks before sliding around his neck. She settled into his embrace with a sigh that shivered all the way through her. How she’d missed his kisses! When his tongue pressed for entry, she didn’t hesitate. The taste of him was ambrosia to her.

His hands stroked her sides under her coat, then slid around to cup her breasts. Memories of their lovemaking overtook her. Pete had never done anything halfway. When he’d taken her, she’d felt completely loved—and she longed to feel that way again.

Hazily she tried to remember why they’d stopped loving each other. It felt so good.
He
felt so good. She slid one hand down across his broad chest, her fingers seeking an opening so she could touch his warm skin.

But her tactile exploration was cut short when a rapping on the car window interrupted their embrace. Pete looked over her shoulder and grinned at the old gentleman passing by. But Janie couldn’t even summon up a smile. Now she remembered why she hadn’t felt Pete’s arms around her for a long time—and why she’d agreed to marry him but not sleep with him.

Pete’s loving might be magical, but reality hurt too much afterward. It was a lot safer to do without his touch, she reminded herself as she fought to stay in control of her emotions.

As if he were obliging her, he immediately set the truck in motion again, pulling out of the parking space with a squeal of tires.

“Slow down, Pete,” Janie protested. “What’s the hurry?”

“What’s the hurry? I’m getting you home in front of your parents before you change your mind.”

Janie drew a deep breath. The ramifications of her offer were beginning to sink in. “I—I won’t change my mind, but we could wait awhile, to see if you do.”

“I won’t. And we’re not waiting.”

“Well, you don’t have to be so dictatorial!”

Pete pressed down on the accelerator. “Dictatorial? Janie Dawson, I’ve been following you around like a dog begging for a bone for almost a week. And you wonder why I don’t want to wait?”

“I’m not showing yet.”

“No, but at least ten people heard Mrs. Priddy ask me if I was the daddy. So just how long do you think that secret will take to spread all over the county?”

“You said you didn’t mind if people knew,” she reminded him, her teeth sinking into her bottom lip.

“Hell, Janie! You’re driving me crazy. I’m thinking about you, not me. People always blame the woman, you know that. If we get married at once, there won’t be that much gossip. But if we wait, after everyone knows, they’ll think you forced me to marry you.” He grinned, a teasing look in his eyes that reminded her of happier times.

“Maybe I’ll tell them
you
forced
me.
”

“And that would be accurate,” he returned, and then puffed out his chest. “But no one would believe you.”

Only the laughter on his face kept her from slugging him. He had always teased her. “A little full of yourself, aren’t you?”

“Why not? I’m having twins…and I’m marrying the most beautiful girl in the world.”

Before she could recover from such a wonderful compliment, he leaned over and kissed her again.

“Pete! You’re driving!”

“No problem. There aren’t any cars.”

“And—and we aren’t going to do that.” She was becoming concerned about the way he kept touching her, throwing her hormones into overdrive…and her control out the window.

“You’re wrong about that, Janie. We have to convince everyone that we’re a normal couple, remember? That was my condition, and you agreed. We may not have sex, but we’ll be doing a lot of kissing.”

Oh, mercy, she was in trouble.

“P
ERFECT TIMING
,” Lavinia called out as they entered. “Hank is washing up, and dinner is almost ready.”

“Good. I’m starved,” Pete said with a grin. He gave Janie a significant look, warning her to wait until her father arrived on the scene.

“Everything’s okay?” Lavinia asked with a slight frown, as if sensing some underlying tension.

“Fine,” Pete responded, not giving Janie a chance to speak. Hank came into the kitchen just then, and Pete was glad. He wasn’t sure how long he and Janie could remain silent.

“You’re back. How’s everything, Janie?”

Janie looked at Pete and then her parents. “We—we have some news.”

Hank, who had just started to sit down, straightened quickly. “You mean you’re—”

“Having twins,” Janie said breathlessly, her gaze going from her father to her mother.

As if Samantha in “Bewitched” had twitched her nose, everyone froze. Then, with a small cry, Lavinia hugged Janie, while Hank gasped like a marathon runner on his last mile.

After they expressed their concerns and happiness, Hank turned to the next topic. “Now, see here, Janie, I don’t care what your reasons are, it’s time you gave in and married Pete.”

“She has,” Pete said quietly—and, he’d admit, with a little pride. While everyone had tried to convince Janie, or at least all the men in the two families, he’d been the one to persuade her. He set aside his disappointment that she didn’t really want him. He’d deal with that emotion later.

For the second time, they stunned Lavinia and Hank. Then the real celebration began. Lavinia had tears in her eyes as she served dinner, constantly asking questions about their decision.

Hank, relief on his face, served himself large portions of the steak and potatoes Lavinia had prepared, ignoring the broccoli.

“Hank Dawson, you put back that second steak. It has too much cholesterol. You want to be around to play with your grandbabies, don’t you?” Lavinia asked sharply.

Hank rolled his eyes and replaced the smaller of the two steaks. “You watch out, Pete. Don’t let Janie get the upper hand. You never get it back.”

Lavinia ignored her husband’s comment. “Have you told Pete’s family yet?”

“No, Mom. I wanted you and Dad to be the first ones to know,” Janie replied.

Actually they hadn’t even discussed whom to tell first. Pete, too, had assumed they would tell her parents first. Now he was anxious to inform his own family.

“I think we should all go to the Randalls’. There’s a lot to discuss. Is that all right with you, Pete?”

“That’s a good idea, Lavinia. I’ll call.” Pete excused himself and went to the phone on the wall. Brett answered. “Brett, would you tell Red I’m eating at the Dawsons again?”

“Sure. But he may be mad.”

“I know. But we’re all coming over there after dinner. Tell Jake, will you?”

“Yeah. What’s sup?”

“I’ll tell you when I get there.”

He hung up as Brett asked him another question. They’d all find out together. And hopefully the news would bring peace back to the Randall household.

B.J.
RAPPED
on the back door and waited in the cold night for someone to open the door. She smiled when Megan urged her inside. The two women had talked several times since the disastrous dinner to welcome Megan and Chad. B.J. felt she’d made a new friend.

“How’s it going?” she asked as she passed Megan.

“About the same. It’s colder inside than it is outside.”

“That’s pretty cold,” B.J. returned, shivering as her body welcomed the heat.

“How about a cup of coffee?” Megan asked, gesturing to the coffeepot that was always ready in the Randall kitchen.

“I’d love one, but I really came to talk to Pete.”

“He’s on his way, according to Brett. If you have time, you can wait for him. And I can have someone to talk to.”

B.J. sat down at the table. “Come on, Megan. Things can’t be that bad. Chad speaks to you, doesn’t he?”

“Sure. He says, ‘Could I have more coffee?’ or ‘Please pass the potatoes.’” She shoved her hand through her chin-length light brown hair.

“Didn’t you explain to him that Janie didn’t feel she should marry Pete until he loves her?”

“Of course I did. And he assured me Pete loves Janie. I suggested he tell Pete he loves her so they can make up and get married before the baby’s born.” Setting two cups of coffee on the table, she joined B.J. “Then he tells me Pete doesn’t want to say those words.”

B.J. shook her head. “These Randall men are something else. Sexy as can be and as hardheaded as mules. God must’ve put them on earth as punishment for women.”

“Tell me about it,” Megan agreed with a sigh, thinking of her own struggles getting Chad to admit his love for her.

The sound of several vehicles arriving distracted them.

“Are you expecting someone besides Pete?” B.J. asked. “If so, I can see him tomorrow. It’s nothing urgent.”

Before Megan could answer, Jake hurried into the kitchen, but he paused when he saw B.J. “I didn’t know you were here.”

His frown didn’t make her feel welcome, but then Jake had never acted pleased with her presence.

“I’m just on my way out,” she offered pleasantly, standing, hoping he’d never know how his attitude hurt her.

Megan intervened. “Don’t be silly, B.J. You needed to talk to Pete. I’m sure this is him. Sit back down.”

Before B.J. could move one way of the other, the door opened to Pete, Janie and her parents.

After the initial greetings, B.J. cornered Pete. “Call me tomorrow when you have a minute. I need to talk to you about our inoculation schedule. Good night, everyone.”

“Wait, B.J.” He turned to Janie. “Do you mind if we tell her?”

Janie smiled at her rather than at Pete. “Of course not. She’s become a friend.”

“Tell B.J. what?” Jake asked.

“Our news. We wanted to tell all of you at once,” Pete added.

“Okay,” Jake agreed. “Shall we adjourn to the living room? Megan, would you knock on Red’s door and ask him to join us? I’ll get Brett.”

“I really don’t have to stay, Janie, if you want it to be just family,” B.J. whispered.

“Stay, please. We won’t keep you long.”

After her last visit to the Randall household, B.J. had vowed to avoid any more family gatherings. But she couldn’t leave now. Curiosity had won out over common sense.