brides for brothers 03 - cowboy groom (11 page)

When the movie ended, Red offered apple cobbler as a late-night snack. Sylvia turned it down, so Brett immediately accepted. “I’ll see you in the morning, Sylvia,” he said cheerfully.

“Aren’t you even going to walk me to my room?” she demanded, a petulant look on her face that filled him with distaste.

He started to refuse, but then he discovered Jake’s gaze on him. “Sure.”

Sylvia said nothing as they walked up the stairs. She’d spoken little all evening, though she’d certainly cozied up against him on the sofa. The strokes she’d given his arm, his chest, his cheek, had been an invitation in which he had no interest. For some reason.

When they reached her door, she turned toward him even as her hand covered the doorknob.

“I know something more tempting than cobbler.”

Since she pressed her body against him, guessing her meaning didn’t take a lot of brain cells. He replied, “I’m crazy about Red’s cobbler.”

“Brett!” she protested, that hurt look coming into her eyes again. But he wasn’t about to be dragged into her bed out of guilt. He didn’t make love to a woman because her feelings were hurt.

“So’rry, Sylvia, but I’ve been working hard all day. A little pie, and I’ll sleep like a baby.”

“I bet I could help you sleep even better,” she whispered, her lips seeking his.

He turned his head so that she kissed his cheek. “The cobbler will do just fine.” He only hoped his brothers never found out he chose food over the sexy Sylvia.

Apparently his rejection finally got through to her because she shoved her door open and stepped inside. “Fine. Go have your stupid dessert. I’m beginning to think there’s something wrong with you anyway!”

Slamming the door, an announcement to the entire household that she wasn’t pleased, Sylvia ceased being a problem for Brett. For the moment.

When he entered the kitchen, his words were about Anna, still on his mind hours after he realized his interest in her. “Is Anna back yet?”

“Nope,” Red said, nudging a plate across the table toward him.

Considering his words to Sylvia, Brett felt a singular lack of interest in the cobbler, in spite of the scoop of ice cream melting on top of it. He crossed to the window to stare out at the darkness. “It’s pretty late.”

“You know babies don’t pay attention to anyone’s schedule,” Jake said.

“I just wonder about her driving late at night by herself.” He turned around in time to see Jake and Red exchange a look. “What?”

Jake shrugged. “Anna can take care of herself. She handled you, didn’t she?”

“Yeah, but…she’s so little. With a heart as big as Wyoming.”

“Yeah, she’s a good’un,” Red agreed.

Brett felt his chest swelling with pride…until he remembered Sylvia was his fiancée, not Anna.

“I hope Anna stays in the area,” Jake said.

“What do you mean?” Brett felt his heart clench in concern. “Why wouldn’t she stay here?”

“Doc says there may not be enough customers to keep her here. We Randalls have increased her business this year, but I don’t know if you and Sylvia will be as anxious to start your family as the others.”

“But she has other patients,” Brett insisted, ignoring the question about him and Sylvia. “She’s not just taking care of Janie and Megan.”

“Nope, but Doc says these things come in groups. There are a few women expecting right now, but Doc only delivered four babies the entire past year.”

“Can’t she do other nursing?”

“Sure. She helps out at Doc’s office or the hospital when they need someone.” Jake took another bite of his dessert, and Brett wanted to grab the spoon from his hand. What did food matter when they were talking about Anna leaving?

“Aren’t you gonna eat your cobbler?” Red asked as if he could read Brett’s mind.

Knowing that not eating would draw more questions he didn’t want to answer, Brett took his seat and began finishing off his dessert. Maybe if he drew it out long enough, Anna would come home and he could make sure she was all right. He didn’t like these late-night sorties of hers, even if she could take care of herself.

Half an hour later, he could spin out the snack no longer. Red had already gone to bed, and Jake was becoming curious about Brett’s lingering. He couldn’t explain either reason to his brother.

Sylvia wanted him in her bed, and he was trying to avoid her.

Anna didn’t want him, and he was trying to persuade her.

What’s wrong with that picture?
he asked himself. The fact that he was engaged to Sylvia.

He wasn’t sure what he was going to do about her. He thought he should wait until her visit was over before he talked to her about calling off the engagement. But if she kept pressing him to come to her bed, he might tell her earlier.

After rinsing their dishes, he and Jake climbed the stairs together. Once upstairs, he stood in the center of his room, debating his options. Finally, feeling silly, he pulled the chair from the desk in the corner and placed it under the doorknob.

He didn’t want to be surprised.

Probably he should feel flattered by Sylvia’s determination to get in his bed. But he wasn’t. Rather, he was growing more and more curious about Sylvia’s behavior.

Eventually dismissing such strange thoughts, he stripped to his briefs and pulled back the covers. It had been a long day. He should be tired. Instead, he still found a restlessness in him that refused to let him settle down.

He leaned back against the pillows and picked up a murder mystery he’d started. He forced himself to read the words, but the story didn’t take hold of his imagination.

The sound of someone in the hall had him bounding from the bed, forgetting why he’d put a chair under his doorknob. He swung the door open just as Sylvia raised her hand to knock.

“Oh!” she gasped. Then she smiled. “I’m glad to see you’re so eager, lover.” She put her hands on his bare chest.

“Sylvia!” he exclaimed in surprise. How could he have forgotten? he wondered. But he knew. A vision of Anna had filled his head.

“Well, aren’t you going to let me in?” Sylvia whispered, tracing the hair on his chest, pressing her lower body against his.

“Uh, I’m really too tired this evening, Sylvia.”

Her eyebrows climbed even as her eyes filled with anger. “You didn’t seem tired when you opened the door.”

“I, uh, I don’t—”

A noise in the hallway drew both their glances. Brett felt relief surge through him as Anna appeared at the top of the stairs. His defenses were forgotten, and he tried to move toward Anna.

Sylvia took full advantage and grabbed him around the neck, her lips covering his. He knew from Anna’s point of view, the kiss probably had the appearance of intimacy, even though he kept his hands braced on the door frame.

“Thanks, lover. You were terrific,” Sylvia said in a stage whisper before she strolled down the hall, sending a triumphant look Anna’s way.

With no thought to anything but erasing the appearance Sylvia had given of their relationship, Brett came out of the doorway toward Anna. “Anna, wait!” But she turned away.

“Excuse me, Brett. I didn’t mean to interrupt,” she muttered, still walking away from him.

He got to her in time to grab her arm before she could reach her room. Pulling her around, he tried to explain. “Anna, it wasn’t what you think.”

A
NNA DREW A DEEP BREATH
as Brett stopped her. What was wrong with the man? She’d tried to avert her gaze, but it was hard to keep from staring at him. His broad chest, flat stomach and muscular thighs would be impressive to any woman. Late at night, when she was tired, lonely and distressed, he was almost irresistible.

Even in his underwear. Especially in his underwear.

No boxer shorts for him. He was barely covered by white briefs. She didn’t care what anyone said; it wasn’t as if he were wearing a swimsuit.

“Did you get any dinner?”

His mundane question disrupted her heated thoughts, and she looked up at him wide-eyed. “What?”

“Did you eat any dinner? Last time you came in late, you hadn’t eaten. You didn’t, did you?”

She supposed he surmised his answer from her stare. Didn’t the man realize her mind was on anything but food? “I ate something.” She couldn’t remember what, but that didn’t matter.

“Come back to the kitchen and let me fix you a snack,” he suggested, reaching out to clasp both her arms.

“Brett, you’re in your underwear!” she finally burst out. She hadn’t been raised with boys. No matter how experienced she was, somehow standing in the hallway with Brett in his underwear seemed risky.

He frowned, as if he didn’t get her point. Finally he shrugged those magnificent shoulders and said, “I’ll put on some jeans. But you need to eat properly.”

With Sylvia’s cloying perfume clinging to him, his argument held little validity for Anna. She needed to get away from him before she did something stupid.

“No, thank you. I just want to go to bed.”

He tilted her chin up. “What’s wrong?”

She shook her head. If she started talking about the events of the evening, she might lose control.

“Did something bad happen?” Concern filled his eyes, making him that much more difficult to resist. “Was it the baby?”

“No, my car,” she said with a sigh.

He blinked several times. “Your car?”

Yes, her stupid car. She was terribly afraid it had given up the ghost. Not that she hadn’t gotten a lot of use out of it. But without a reliable vehicle, she couldn’t do her job. And where was she going to get the money to buy another?

Discouragement filled her. She was just making a place for herself, feeling she’d maybe found a home. Now she might have to go back to Casper to work until she could save enough for a good car.

“Sugar, I was afraid something tragic had happened,” Brett said, a relieved grin on his face.

She couldn’t agree with him. “It
is
tragic!”

“Is there something you’re not telling me?” he asked, bending toward her again.

She pressed against the wall. “No, just my car.”

“Cars can be fixed, sweetheart. Where is it? And how did you get home?” His last question grew more urgent, as if he’d just realized she’d been stranded.

“Joe Eichorn was passing by and gave me a ride.”

Brett sighed in relief. “Good. Joe’s a nice old man. You were lucky. Why didn’t you call me?”

Anna stared up at him. “Why would I call you?”

“To come get you. You’ve got a portable phone, don’t you?”

“Yes, I do, but I’m not your responsibility. Besides, Joe came along almost immediately after my car died.” Well, half an hour afterward. She’d been debating her options, considering walking back to the ranch, but she’d been at least ten miles away.

“I’ll take you out there first thing in the morning and see what needs to be done about your car. We can go before breakfast. I’ll call our mechanic and see if he can meet us there.” He gave her a sheepish grin. “My heart’s in the right place, sugar, but I’m not much of a mechanic.”

“Call a mechanic out on Sunday morning?” she demanded, ignoring his last statement. “Do you realize what he’ll charge? I can’t afford that!”

“Hey, Mike owes me a few favors. He’ll come without charging you.”

“No! No, I don’t take favors. I’ll manage just fine, thank you.”

She figured he’d take offense at her standoffish attitude. And that would be good, because then he’d release her and she could remove herself from temptation. Instead, he gently pushed a sprig of hair from her face, letting his fingers trail down the side of her cheek.

“And how will you manage, Miss Independent?” he asked, his voice as gentle as his fingers.

“Don’t—don’t do that.”

“Don’t do what?”

“Be nice to me. Try to take care of me. I have to stand on my own two feet.”

“Everyone needs a little help every once in a while. Why shouldn’t you?”

His warm breath skittered along her skin, and his body heat surrounded her. Only the lingering scent of Sylvia’s perfume kept her from casting herself on his chest and letting his strong arms hold her.

“Damn it, Brett! Go back to your room and leave me alone.”

His eyebrows soared. “I’m just trying to help.”

“Well, help Sylvia, not me. You’re engaged to her!” Using the last of her strength, Anna pushed away from Brett and tried to go to her room.

Brett, however, still held her in his arms.

Until another door opened.

“Am I interrupting something?” Jake asked.

Chapter Nine

Brett worked on catching Anna’s eye as she sat in the church pew three people down from him. He’d tried to maneuver a seat beside her, but he suspected her determination was the reason he hadn’t been successful. Chad and Megan sat between them.

She was upset.

And the cause wasn’t the car.

She’d been embarrassed when Jake had caught them in the hallway in a near-embrace, with him in his underwear. He’d explained to Jake, or at least tried to explain. But that was after Anna had scurried to her room and closed the door.

He’d gone back to Jake’s room and had a long talk with his oldest brother. It seemed to him Jake had been relieved when he’d explained his change of feelings about Sylvia.

Unfortunately, though, Jake said he should wait until Sylvia’s visit was at an end to tell her he wanted to break his engagement. As a gentleman, he should give her the opportunity to announce their parting, even putting the blame on him if she chose.

Heck, Brett didn’t care if she blamed the entire state of Wyoming as long as he didn’t have to marry her.

He still wasn’t sure how he’d screwed up so royally. Certainly his attitude toward marriage had changed since two of his brothers had successfully navigated those shark-infested waters. Janie and Megan were wonderful women.

But Sylvia? She wasn’t cut out for life on a ranch. Why hadn’t he realized it?

And then there was Anna. She was perfect. But there were five days to go before he could even show he was interested.

Interested? What an understatement. Jake had cautioned against moving too fast. After all, he’d only been with Sylvia about three weeks, though he’d known her for much longer.