brides for brothers 03 - cowboy groom (7 page)

In an instant, Brett turned away from her and, opening the front door, he slid into the passenger seat. “I’m ready,” he said blandly. “Are you?”

In a huff, Sylvia flopped into the back seat and slammed the door. She didn’t even wave to the senator as Anna headed out the driveway.

T
HE RETURN TRIP
to the Randall ranch wasn’t nearly as enjoyable as the morning ride, Anna concluded. There was too little conversation.

Anna had to admit she’d enjoyed the first few minutes as she’d watched Sylvia slink down in the back seat and hide her face any time another car passed them. Not until they were on the freeway, out of her neighborhood, did she assume a normal position. Then she’d asked Brett to explain his comment about a bet.

“Ah, that’s a surprise for you. Our first child will be delivered free of charge because of my astute bet.” Brett’s smile was genial, but it wasn’t reciprocated.

Sylvia’s reaction came as no surprise to Anna. She’d already decided Sylvia didn’t have a maternal bone in her body and would welcome pregnancy as much as a beauty queen would want to wallow in a hog pen.

“I see,” Sylvia said, obviously trying hard to keep her tone modulated. “The offer of free care is most generous of you, Anna. If we’re on the ranch at that time, I’m sure I’ll appreciate your assistance.”

Brett pounced on her. “Of course we’ll be living there, Sylvia. All the Randalls are born on the ranch. Even Janie, with twins, is having them on the ranch.”

“Uh, Brett, that may not be true,” Anna hurriedly said. “Things get tricky with twins. They come early, you know, and may need special care.” She didn’t want him to be disappointed if Janie and the babies had to be in the hospital. He’d spoken with so much pride.

“But that’s why you’re there,” he replied simply, smiling at her.

The confidence in his voice warmed her heart, but she had to be honest. “Brett, I’m there to calm Pete, and to provide emergency care in case there’s not enough time to reach the hospital or something else happens.” She preferred not to think about what could occur. Births were unpredictable.

“You’ll manage,” he murmured, smiling at her again.

She could lose herself in those laughing brown eyes, she realized. Maybe Sylvia’s visit was the best thing for her, whether Janie and Megan wanted it or not. Sylvia would be a constant reminder not to lose her heart to Brett Randall.

After all, he had already made his choice. While Sylvia might become her least favorite person, Anna had nothing to do with the Randall family. She ignored the sudden dip in her spirits. There was going to be another Randall wedding, this one between Brett and Sylvia.

And that was one wedding she wouldn’t be attending.

“S
O
?” J
ANIE ASKED
as soon as she and Megan had dragged Anna into the television room.

Brett and Jake were carrying Sylvia’s bags upstairs to the bedroom prepared for her, with Sylvia following them.

“So what?” Anna stalled.

“Come on, Anna. We want to know what you think of her,” Megan explained.

“She’s very beautiful.” Anna had already decided to stay out of Randall business. Most particularly Brett Randall business. And she wasn’t going to mention to anyone her suspicion that Sylvia had future plans for Brett that didn’t include living with her in-laws. It was even possible that Anna had misinterpreted her words. It could be that Sylvia didn’t like the idea of Anna delivering any future children.

Janie shot her a look of mock disgust. “You’re no help at all.”

Megan, it appeared, wasn’t as ready to give up. “Do you like her?”

Anna had always been painfully honest. How was she to tactfully answer this question?

While she pondered her words, Janie crowed, “You don’t, do you?”

“I didn’t say that!”

“Your face did. Don’t ever play poker with the boys, Anna, ‘cause you’d lose all your money.”

“I’m not likely to play cards with them,” Anna assured Janie, anxious to escape their private conversation. “Did I have any calls?”

“Nope. No one is in labor. Amazing, isn’t it?” Janie said. “So, tell us why you don’t like her.”

Anna sighed. Janie wasn’t going to let her get away. “It’s just that…Sylvia didn’t like the fact that Brett was eating with us when—”

“Wait a minute. Brett was eating with you?” Megan asked, her eyebrows rising.

“Well, yes. He would’ve had to eat by himself if he hadn’t.”

Megan patted her shoulder, a gentle smile on her lips. “Sweetie, Brett has more friends in Casper than there are people in Rawhide. He could’ve had companions for lunch until next Christmas.”

Before Anna could say anything, Janie asked, “And you ran into Sylvia at lunch?”

Anna nodded. At Janie’s exasperated prodding, she told them about Sylvia’s reaction to Brett’s appearance with her and then added a description of the scene at the senator’s house.

Her words stunned the other two. Megan and Janie exchanged a surprised look and then turned to stare at her.

“I swear that’s what happened.”

Janie’s shoulders slumped, and she sighed. “She must really love him, then. Otherwise, she would’ve pitched a holy fit about him offering to leave her behind.”

“That’s what I figured,” Anna agreed, feeling as depressed as Janie looked.

“Then, for Brett’s sake, we’ll have to get along with her,” Megan said, determination in her voice.

“Yeah,” Janie agreed, not quite as determined.

“Yeah,” Anna echoed, her heart breaking.

“W
E’RE DELIGHTED
you’re here, Sylvia,” Jake said as he set down the luggage. “Welcome to the family.”

“Thank you so much, Jake. I’m delighted to visit. I’ve heard so much about your wonderful hospitality.” She smiled warmly at his brother, and Brett breathed a sigh of relief. He’d been having some doubts about his engagement after the events of the day. But Sylvia must have just been in a bad mood.

“Get washed up, sweetheart, and we’ll see what Red saved us for dinner. I know you must be hungry.” He smiled and turned to follow Jake from the room.

“Wait a minute, Brett. Can’t we…talk?”

“Now? Aren’t you hungry?” He was. Lunch seemed a long time ago.

Sylvia stepped closer and slid her hands around his neck, leaning against him. “You haven’t even kissed me today.” She pouted and lifted her mouth to his.

Brett eyed her lips, covered with bright red lipstick, shiny, as if he’d slide right off if he touched them, and he thought of Anna’s soft pink lips. Sylvia’s were thinner, more—more precise. Disconcerting as his thoughts were, he kissed her.

When he pulled away, Sylvia complained and tried to pull his head back down.

“Anna will be waiting on us for dinner, Sylvia. We’ll have some time later.”

She leaned her body into his, and Brett was surprised when his didn’t respond as it had in the past. He must be more tired than he thought.

“Where’s your room? I thought maybe we’d share a room while I was here. You know, conserve
heat,
” she added, writhing against him.

He shrugged off her invitation with a grin. “It’s summer, Sylvia. No one would buy that line.”

“It’s the nineties, Brett. Your family would understand if we slept together.” She pulled his head down for another kiss.

Brett accommodated her, but what enthusiasm he’d had was waning. He was a nineties man, true, but he still preferred for the man to do the chasing. And so far, it seemed to him, now that he came to think about it, that Sylvia had done all the pursuing.

He hadn’t mentioned to his brothers that Sylvia had proposed to him. He told himself it really didn’t matter. After all, he’d enthusiastically accepted.

Thinking about that moment, he realized his enthusiasm wasn’t what it had been. Was he that fickle? He hadn’t changed his mind, had he?

“What’s wrong, lover?” she asked, pouting again. “Don’t you want me?”

He noticed her lipstick wasn’t as bright as it had been. That probably meant he was wearing part of it. “Do I have lipstick on me?”

“Of course. Don’t you like my brand?”

The response that rushed into his head wasn’t lukewarm or halfhearted. Nor diplomatic. He substituted that response with a more appeasing one. “I don’t think lipstick is appropriate for any man, sweetheart. Even an engaged one.”

“You’re probably right. If I promise not to leave a trace from now on, will you forgive me?”

She puckered up again, and Brett began to feel trapped. He took her shoulders and moved her away from him. “It’s time to eat. I’ll see you downstairs.”

“But what about our sharing a room? I don’t want to sleep alone, Brett.”

“We’ll see,” he promised as he escaped through the door, leaving her staring after him. As well she might. He’d never been slow to hold her, touch her. Why now?

What was happening?

J
AKE SURVEYED THE TABLE
with satisfaction. They’d all decided to wait until Brett and the two women arrived to eat. Their first meal should be together.

They’d even invited B.J., Mildred and B.J.’s son, Toby, to eat with them. After all, Mildred had spent the entire day helping Red. It only seemed fair.

Conversation flowed around the table, and Jake watched the interchange. His smile gradually disappeared as he realized Sylvia seemed to be ignoring the women at the table. True, she’d been quite charming to him, and she was working hard at charming his brothers, but she seldom spoke to his sisters-in-law.

Even more troubling, she ignored Red and Mildred.

“Mr. Jake?” a little voice called, intruding on his thoughts.

He turned to the four-year-old he’d insisted sit beside him. “Yes, Toby? Need some more roast beef?”

The boy nodded, and Jake served him, then leaned over to cut the meat for him.

“I can do that,” B.J. insisted. She was sitting beside Toby.

“I’ve got it. Enjoy your meal.” After one swift glance, he avoided her warm smile.

“Brett tells me you’re a veterinarian,” Sylvia said with a small smile to B.J.

“Yes. We moved here around the first of the year.”

“It seems an unusual occupation for a woman. So—so dirty.” Sylvia shivered dramatically.

Jake stiffened, hoping B.J. didn’t take offense. He might avoid the woman himself, because for some unknown reason she made him uncomfortable, but her work was excellent.

“I happen to like animals,” B.J. said calmly, continuing to eat her meal. “Red, your roast is excellent. I hope you gave Mildred the recipe.”

“It’s not as good as that apple pie Mildred made for dessert,” Red said, smiling at Mildred.

“Wait a minute. How do you know it’s good since we haven’t had dessert yet?” Chad demanded.

“‘Cause I had an early sample, boy. Privilege of the cook.”

“I need more iced tea.”

Sylvia’s announcement stopped the good-natured teasing. Everyone turned to stare at her. She was looking pointedly at Red, whose cheeks flushed as he leapt to his feet.

“Sit down, Red,” Jake said, standing up. “You’ve more than done your share. I’ll fetch refills for everyone.”

Sylvia looked surprised. “Oh, I’m sorry. Does Red not serve at dinner? I just assumed…Please forgive me, Red.”

Jake looked at Brett, and his brother didn’t disappoint him.

“Red takes care of us, Sylvia, but he’s not a maid. He’s—he’s more like a mother,” Brett explained. He turned to grin at Red. “Except he doesn’t wear pearls like Beaver’s mom.”

Laughter removed the awkwardness.

“Well, I considered them, but I figured they’d get in the way of all the cookin’ I have to do to feed this bunch.”

“And we’re growing all the time,” Jake chimed in as he moved around the table, refilling iced-tea glasses. “We might even have to add on rooms if Brett and Sylvia are as eager to begin a family as you others.”

“Like you’re complaining,” Chad teased.

Jake grinned. Everyone knew he’d done some matchmaking so they’d have the next generation of Randalls underfoot.

“Oh, that won’t be necessary,” Sylvia announced, silencing the laughter. “Brett and I won’t be living here on the ranch.”

Chapter Six

Anna watched Brett from under her lashes. She’d been right when she’d deduced that Sylvia had no intention of living at the ranch. Had Brett suspected as much, too?

Brett sat frozen as his family stared at him. Finally he turned to look at Sylvia. “I don’t think we’ve discussed that decision, Sylvia.”

She trilled a laugh that didn’t bring a smile to a single member of her audience. “Silly me. I was thinking ahead. Daddy and I made such great plans for my and Brett’s future, but I forgot we haven’t had a chance to talk about it.”

“No, we haven’t,” Brett said, his voice even, but everyone could see the control it required.

When Brett didn’t ask her any questions, Jake leaned forward. “What plans are those, Sylvia?”

Seemingly unaware of the wariness emanating from those around her, Sylvia beamed as she explained. “Daddy has created a position on his staff for Brett. He’s going to be his personal assistant. We’ll go to Washington when Congress returns to session. By the time Daddy is ready to retire, Brett will be prepared to step right into his shoes. May I present your next senator from Wyoming, Brett Randall?”

Whether or not she expected applause, what she received was a tense silence.

Brett was the first to speak. “Sylvia, I explained to you that I don’t enjoy political games. I appreciate your father’s offer, but I’m not going to take it. Nor am I
ever
going to run for the Senate. I’m going to be a rancher, right here, with my brothers.” He sat back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest.

Intractable
was too soft a word for Brett’s attitude. Along with everyone else, Anna watched Sylvia for her reaction.

“I—I’m sorry, Brett. I thought you’d be pleased— I’m so sorry. Can’t we—I mean, it’s my life, too, surely—Oh!” Covering her face with her hands, Sylvia leapt from her chair and ran out of the kitchen.

“Damn,”
Brett muttered, his cheeks red. Then he, too, departed the kitchen without saying another word.