To Protect the Heart of a Brazen Woman [Brazen Sisters 6] (Siren Publishing Classic) (25 page)

“Then your sister will have me knowing you all approve. Either way, I’ll protect and love her as long as she’ll have me.” Jake meant every word, but he didn’t tell them it would probably kill him if she ever changed her mind.

“Bobbie, I know we don’t have to ask, because we already know the answer, but I’m going to anyway. Are you sure this is really what you want?” Joey asked.

“It is. Jake and I have talked it over and we’re not rushing into this.”

“It’s been years in the making.” Beau laughed, and almost everyone joined in.

“She wanted a really, really long engagement, but, I…” He paused and pressed a quick kiss to her smiling lips. “I’m not getting any younger and don’t want to wait, so we negotiated and I got her down to a year.”

“Where did you start?” Georgie asked Bobbie.

“Five years. I want him to have time to make sure this is what he really wants and isn’t doing it just to make me happy.”

“I won’t be changing my mind.” Jake decided everyone needed to know this. “It’s taken me a long time to admit it, but I’ve never wanted anything more. It was your heart I was trying to protect all along, because you’ve always owned mine.”

The five women who might as well have held his fate in their hands looked at each other. Their husbands, his friends, all sat silently, waiting for them to make a decision. Jake didn’t know what else he could say to prove himself. With Bobbie curled against him, her head on his shoulder, she could probably hear the way his heart was thudding in his chest.

“Fine, you can marry her,” Jessie finally said, and he wondered if the answer really would have been anything else.

“Yay!” Charlie shouted. “I get six aunts and a cousin. Now all I need is a mother, and maybe a little brother or sister.”

Everyone laughed except for Beau, who dropped his head to the table and groaned.

Bobbie leaned close to his hear and said, “I would have married you anyway.”

“I know, but I needed to know that your sisters understand just how much I love you.” He looked into Bobbie’s watery eyes and wanted to smack himself for making her cry on what should have been a tear-free day.

Thankfully she smiled and blinked the tears away. “It took you long enough to admit it.”

“Babe, it was always my intention to protect your heart from getting broken, especially by me.”

“Deep down I think I knew that, but from now on just love me.”

“Forever.” He covered her mouth with his, and a round of cheers erupted from around them.

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Rita is a contemporary romance author from the New England area. She has a couple of romantic comedies out there, too. Her stories vary in heat levels from sweet to sizzling, but hopefully they all have a hint of humor. If you enjoy family- and friend-based series, then you’ve found the right author.

For all titles by Rita Sawyer, please visit

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