Read brides for brothers 02 - cowboy daddy Online
Authors: judy christenberry
brides for brothers 02 - cowboy daddy (23 page)
Even Pete, from across the room, could see her body flinch at her mother’s words. He and Lavinia exchanged looks of concern, but he walked to Janie’s bedside.
“Sweetheart, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to argue with you.” He could feel Lavinia’s gaze on him, but it was no time to be dishonest. “I’ll do whatever you want, I promise.”
Even if it meant watching her leave. He wanted her—forever—but most of all, he wanted her safe and happy. Even if she went away. Or married someone else. But the thought of it was tearing him in two.
He brushed her lips with his, gently, softly, and then, without another word, left the room.
B
Y THE NEXT EVENING
, Doc assured Pete the babies were fine, as would be Janie after some rest. While the relief was incredible, Pete’s heart was heavy.
He was sure Janie intended to leave. She’d asked her mother to stay another night with her, after the doctor refused to allow her to go back to her parents’ home.
He visited Janie once that evening, but she scarcely responded to him. As he left the room, Lavinia gave him a sad smile.
Yes, Janie was leaving.
“Y
OU CAN’T GO
without telling him why,” Lavinia said, frustration in her voice. “Janie, the man has been distraught with worry. He cares about you.”
“He cares about his babies,” Janie replied softly, one hand cradling her stomach. The scare she’d received, endangering her babies’ lives, had made them so much more precious. And helped her make some decisions.
Unfortunately her mother was right. She couldn’t leave Pete without telling him…without assuring him of a role in his children’s lives.
“All right, Mom. We’ll wait for him to come back.”
“He’s downstairs in the kitchen right now.”
“He didn’t ride out today?”
“Of course not. He’s waiting to do whatever he can to help you.”
Janie’s eyes filled with tears, and she turned away. “Ask him to come up.”
She moved to the window, hoping the bright winter sun would dry out her eyes. Reminded of that first meeting with Pete after she’d found out she was pregnant, Janie dug deep for the control she’d had then. She refused to let Pete know how painful this meeting would be for her.
“Janie.”
That low, sexy voice that thrilled her announced Pete’s arrival.
She didn’t turn around. “Pete, I’m going back home.”
Silence greeted her announcement, but she didn’t realize he’d moved until his hands fell on her shoulders and gently turned her around. “Why?”
She wasn’t prepared to answer that question. “I won’t keep you from seeing the babies or—or being their daddy.”
“Why, Janie? Is it Manning?”
That question brought her gaze to his, filled with indignation. “Of course not!”
“Then why can’t you stay? Why can’t you let me take care of you? I’ll sleep on the daybed if you want.”
She ducked her head. “Pete, I can’t continue to—I’d be living a lie.”
“You once said you loved me.”
Her heart contracted in pain. Once? She would always love this stubborn man. “Yes,” she whispered.
“Janie, I’ll try harder. I’ll do whatever you want,” he pleaded softly. “Give me another chance.”
The tears reappeared, and she gasped, trying to hold them back. “Pete, it’s me, not you.”
He lifted her chin, staring at her, a frown on his face. One tear escaped and traveled down her cheek, and he erased it with his thumb. “What are you talking about, Janie?”
She tried to turn away, but he wouldn’t let her. Finally she lifted her gaze to his and told him the truth.
“I tried to be sexy,” she explained with a hiccup, “but I can’t hold you with sex the rest of my life. I won’t always be attractive or young. And I can’t live with the fear that you’ll find someone else who is.”
As if they were frozen in a lovers’ tableau, they stood there, Pete’s arms around her, their faces lifted to each other. Suddenly Pete lifted her in his arms and spun around.
“Dear God, give me strength,” she heard him mutter.
“Pete, what are you doing?” she shrieked.
“Sorry, sweetheart, I forgot about your concussion,” he muttered as he set her back down on her feet. Then, to her surprise, he tried to kiss her.
She shoved him away. “Pete, I’m leaving, remember?”
“Nope. Not in a million years.”
“Pete Randall, you can’t order me around. I’ll do. what I jolly well please, and you can just—”
He threw back his head in laughter, and she stared at him in surprise. Had he gone crazy?
“That’s my Janie,” he said as he chuckled. “I’ve missed you so much.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Janie, the sex has been incredible these last few days—”
“I know, Pete, but I can’t—”
“Would you let me finish?”
Irritation rose at his high-handedness, but she nodded grudgingly.
“Since when did I ever need seducing?” he asked, a grin on his face.
“When you began losing interest.”
He looked as if she’d poleaxed him. “What?”
“You stopped wanting me all the time.”
“Janie Dawson Randall, I have never stopped wanting you every minute of every day since the first time I made love to you. And I never will.”
“What about the day we bought the computer?”
He shook his head in bewilderment. “What about it?”
“You acted like you wanted to make love to me before we left for shopping.”
“I did. That doesn’t prove I don’t want you.”
“But you didn’t.”
“You said I’d mess up your makeup!” he exploded.
“Such a silly excuse wouldn’t have stopped you in the past. And—and…” She paused to restrain her tears. “And you were friendly with Bryan.”
He leaned his forehead against hers. “Are you out of your mind, Janie? Do I have to punch out every man who even looks at you for you to believe I want you?”
She buried her face in his chest. “It doesn’t matter, Pete,” she said wearily. “I won’t always look this way. Someone younger, prettier, will come along. I’m not strong enough to face that.”
“Janie,” Pete whispered, raising her head again, “I think I forgot to tell you something.”
She blinked several times, wanting to ask if he’d already found someone else, but she couldn’t bring herself to do so.
“What?”
“I forgot to tell you that I love you.”
She stared at him. The words she’d always wanted to hear were now impossible to believe. “Pete, please—”
“Janie, I’ve always loved you. Only you. But at first, I was afraid to tell you, afraid to admit how much I needed you. Then, after we married, you seemed…unhappy with me. I realized how much I loved you, but I thought I had to—to woo you back. To convince you to love me again. So I was trying to do whatever would make you happy.” He grinned. “Like spend all afternoon using that stupid computer.”
“You didn’t like it?” she asked, distracted by his hands. They were stroking her back in a rhythmic pattern.
“I hated it. I know computers are good, but I won’t want to mess with them. I’d rather my wife take care of that end of our business.”
“I could do that but, Pete—”
His lips covered hers before she could finish. The magic of his touch was still there even when she thought she was leaving him. When he lifted his mouth from hers, she tried again. “Pete, I’m not sure—”
He kissed her again.
This time he spoke. “I’m sure, Janie. I’m sure with all my heart. There will never be anyone else to tempt me. And I don’t need a sexy lady every night. Even a crabby Janie will do me.”
“Are you sure, because I can’t—”
He silenced her with his lips. “I missed you, sweetheart.”
“What?”
“The last few days, I knew you weren’t being yourself. I wanted to argue with you just to find the old Janie. But every time I opened the bedroom door, well, other parts of me took over.”
“Really, Pete? You’re sure?”
“I’m more sure of my love for you than anything else in the world.”
In a small voice, she said, “I was afraid if I lost the babies you wouldn’t want to be married to me anymore.” She felt ashamed to admit such a thing, but she wanted to be honest. If—and she still wasn’t sure—happiness was there waiting, within her reach, she didn’t want it tainted with unresolved issues.
He tightened his embrace. “Janie, I would’ve grieved for our babies if we’d lost them. But you…I couldn’t survive without you. Don’t ever leave me.”
Finally he’d convinced her. She had found the love she’d been seeking when she’d first come into his arms. And now she’d never have to leave them.
After several minutes of reassuring each other, Janie gasped.
“What is it, sweetheart?” Pete asked with concern.
“Mom! I told her I was leaving you. We’d better go tell her.”
“Good idea. Besides, if we don’t get away from this bed, I may not be able to restrain myself, and I think it’s too soon after your accident.”
“Probably. At least until nap time this afternoon,” she said with a grin.
They walked arm in arm down the stairs to the kitchen. When they opened the door, they found the full complement of Randalls, along with her mother, waiting for them, apprehension on their faces.
Janie let her husband speak for her. He beamed at their audience and simply said, “We love each other.”
Everyone circled them, kissing Janie’s cheek and patting Pete on the back. Relief and excitement filled the room.
Brett, after everyone sat back down, chuckled. “
I
could’ve told you that.”
“Don’t be too sure,” Pete warned. “Love isn’t as easy as it looks.”
“And it’s about time you found out,” Jake added. “After all, you caught Janie’s bouquet, remember?”
“Yeah, but I’m going to always be the bridesmaid,” Brett joked.
“Uh-uh,” Jake said, rubbing his chin. “We’ll see.”
eISBN 978-14592-7506-5
COWBOY DADDY
Copyright © 1996 by Judy Christenberry.
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part In any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road. Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.
All characters In this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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