The Cowboy’s Runaway Bride (BBW Romance - Billionaire Brothers 1) (3 page)

“Yes,” she replied firmly. “I’ll be home in three weeks’ time. We can catch up then.”

After Garrett gave Lyndsey his address, she relaxed in the comfortable wooden chair. The conversation with her maid-of-honor hadn’t been as difficult as she’d feared.

“How about I show you your room?” Garrett stood beside her.

“Sure.” She rose, picking up her shoes and dangling them by the straps. She didn’t think she could put them back on today.

Garrett didn’t seem to notice that she walked beside him in just her ivory-stockinged feet. They headed toward one of the guest bedrooms on the opposite side of the house to the master bedroom.

“I thought you’d be comfortable in here.” She followed Garrett into the lavender-and-cream room that had a full-sized bed and attached bathroom.

“It’s lovely.” She crossed to the window and looked out. Cows ambled in the summer sunshine, and she could spy majestic mountains in the far distance. “Thank you.” Her smile lit up her face.

Their eyes met and held for a long second, then Garrett cleared his throat. “I’ll just get you some clothes.”

###

G
arrett strode to his bedroom, wondering which of his clothes would best suit her ripe, lush body. Although she was dressed head to toe in a fancy wedding dress with ruffles and a big skirt, he just knew that underneath she was curvy as hell. His lower body stirred at the thought of her wearing his clothes, especially at night.

He rifled through his drawers, finally deciding on two T-shirts, one red and one white, and a pair of jeans that he hoped wouldn’t be too large for her. Although he was lean and muscular, he was six-foot tall. She’d probably have to roll up the pant legs a few times so she wouldn’t trip.

He gathered up the clothes and hurried back to the guest bedroom. Relax, he tried to tell himself. She’s not going anywhere - yet. But somehow, he breathed a little easier when he saw her waiting by the bedroom window. He couldn't believe that idiot of a fiancée had only been marrying her to aid his career. She was lucky he’d been the one to come across her on the highway. Anyone could have pretended to help her before...he didn’t even want to think about it.

“Hope these aren’t too big.” He held out the bundle of clothes.

Maddie took the pile from him. “Thanks,” she murmured.

As Garrett looked into her eyes, he knew he’d have to convince her to stay a lot longer than three weeks.

M
addie looked at herself in the mirror. Garrett’s clothes were too big. The T-shirt bagged all over, except for her cleavage, and she’d had to turn up the jean legs three times in order to walk comfortably. Secretly, she was relieved his clothes were too large on her curvy figure - her
too generous
curvy figure. Despite cutting out a lot of her favorite foods so she’d be sure to fit into her bridal gown, she hadn’t actually lost any weight.
Maybe that was because of the chocolate she’d eaten in the middle of the night when the stress of the wedding planning and realizing she was going to pledge the rest of her life to Howard had become too much.

Letting out a deep breath, Maddie tried to banish those thoughts. That part of her life was over now, and she didn’t regret her actions. In a way, she was grateful she'd overheard her parents’ conversation. At least now she didn’t have to feel guilty about running out on her own wedding. If anyone should feel guilty, it should be Howard, about to marry her under false pretenses!

The underwire of her bra poked into the side of her breast and she wriggled, trying to get comfortable. She’d had to wash out her bra and panties last night so she’d have clean underwear for the next day. A faint blush formed on her cheeks as her gaze flashed to the T-shirt peeping out from underneath the pillow on the bed. She’d worn one of Garrett’s T-shirts to bed last night, sans panties, since they’d been drying in the bathroom. When she’d slipped the soft cotton fabric over her head, her thoughts had turned to Garrett. Was he in bed right now? What was he wearing? What would he look like just in boxers...or nude?

Telling herself not to go there, she’d turned over in the comfortable bed, and tried to fall asleep. But no matter how drowsy she became, her thoughts still drifted to her rescuer, until the morning sunlight peeped around the edge of the curtains and gradually woke her.

Slipping her feet into her ivory kitten heels, Maddie headed toward the kitchen. The savory, aromatic scent of frying bacon tantalized her, making it easy to find her way.

“Good morning,” she said shyly, standing in the doorway.

Garrett, dressed in a black T-shirt and faded denim jeans, turned from the stove. Her heart skipped a beat.

“Morning,” he greeted her cheerfully. “Take a seat. Breakfast will be ready in a minute.”

Maddie sat at the table, taking off her shoes and wiggling her toes. Even the short walk from the bedroom to the kitchen was too much in those heels after yesterday. Heels were
not
for her. “You didn’t have to do that. I should be getting my own breakfast.”

“It’s no problem.” He flipped over the bacon. “Coffee?”

“Please,” she murmured.

He pressed a button on the machine. Coffee gurgled out of the spout and into a waiting cup. She watched as he added cream and sugar to her mug, and tried to tell herself it didn’t mean anything that he remembered how she liked her coffee.

“Thanks.” Before she could cross over to the counter to collect it, he placed the mug in front of her.

“Bacon and eggs okay?”

“More than okay.” Her stomach growled, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten much in the last twenty-four hours. She and Garrett had shared a quick pasta supper last night, and then she’d pleaded tiredness and gone to bed, indulging in a long, hot shower before donning Garrett’s t-shirt.

Maddie attacked the plate in front of her. Eggs over-easy and crispy bacon. Mmm. She couldn’t help remembering the breakfast Howard favored - bran cereal with two chopped prunes, and a splash of non-fat milk. She resolutely pushed that image out of her mind and concentrated on savoring her meal.

Garrett sat across from her and dug into his. After he swallowed the first few mouthfuls, he began telling her more about the ranch. Maddie had one bite of bacon left on her plate when she heard the front door open.

“Yoo-hoo, Mr. Garrett,” a cheery female voice called out.

“We’re in the kitchen, Carol.” Garrett wiped his mouth with a napkin before rising from the table.

A woman in her mid-fifties entered the room, laden down with shopping bags. Mid-height with a slight paunch around her stomach, she had short wavy hair threaded with gray at her temples. Sneakers, elastic-waisted pants and a floral T-shirt completed her ensemble.

“You must be Maddie.” The older woman smiled at her. “I hope you like the clothes I bought you.”

Maddie couldn’t help smiling back. There was something instantly likeable about Carol.  “I’m sure I will.”

“I put them on your account like you said to, Mr. Garrett.”

Maddie opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Garrett forestalled her. “We’ll talk about it when the account arrives.”

“Thanks.” Garrett had helped her so much already; she hated to be indebted to him for clothes as well, but until she received her wallet containing her credit card, she’d just have to get used to the idea.

Carol took out the clothes and placed them on the kitchen table. “I bought you three pairs of jeans, four T-shirts, three pairs of socks and,” she lowered her voice and opened the shopping bag so only Maddie could see what was inside, “a few pairs of panties.”

Heat crept along Maddie’s cheeks. “Thank you,” she whispered to the housekeeper.

“I didn’t get you a bra because I wasn’t sure what size you were,” Carol murmured. Then in a louder voice, she said, “I’m afraid Donna didn’t have any nightgowns.”

“I’m sure one of my T-shirts will do,” Garrett said easily, gesturing to Maddie.

The heat increased in Maddie’s face as she flashed back to last night when she’d slipped on Garrett’s T-shirt and fantasized about what he wore to bed.

“I saw a nice pair of sturdy shoes at the store that would be good for wearing around the ranch.” Carol continued, not deterred by her boss’s comment. “And until then, Maddie can borrow these.” She took out a pair of shoes from another bag. “I use these for gardening, but they’re not too bad. You’re welcome to use them until you buy yourself some shoes.”

“Thanks.” Maddie inspected the shoes: brown leather lace-ups, cracked in places and worn down at the heel, but there didn’t seem to be any holes and they looked like they might fit her.

“Donna’s going to close early today. Dental appointment.” Carol made a sympathetic face. “But she’ll be open tomorrow as usual.”

“Thanks, Carol.” Garrett flashed her a grin. “Coffee before you start?”

“I’d rather get started now, but thanks, Mr. Garrett. I’ll have a coffee on my break, though.”

“Help yourself,” Garrett called after her as she headed toward the bedrooms.

Maddie brushed her fingers against the soft cotton of the T-shirts before admiring the crisp denim of the jeans.

“Why don’t you try them on now?” Garrett came up behind her, looking over her shoulder at the new clothes. His breath fanned the side of her neck and she shivered slightly. “Tomorrow you can go to the store and buy those shoes Carol mentioned and anything else you need. Just put it all on my account.”

“Garrett.” She turned around to face him. Their eyes met and held. She drew in a shaky breath. “You can’t keep buying me things.”

“You’ll need a good pair of shoes for around the ranch. Carol’s shoes will do for now, but I want you to buy a new pair for yourself tomorrow.” He held her gaze. “You can take the SUV.”

Maddie nibbled on her lip, stopping when she realized Garrett’s gaze had instantly zeroed in on the nervous movement. “I can’t drive a stick,” she admitted.

“Then I’ll take you. I can pick up a few things while I‘m there.”

Heat stirred deep inside her when she became aware of his eyes still focused on her lips. She swallowed. “Okay.”  Gathering up the clothes and bags with trembling hands, she headed toward her bedroom.

“When you’re ready, we can go down to the cabins,” Garrett called out. She nodded, a shaky smile on her lips as she turned down the hallway.

###

G
arrett sat at the kitchen table. Although he couldn’t deny he'd enjoyed seeing Maddie wearing his clothes - and she looked as sexy as anything in them - he’d noticed that one of the jeans’ legs had already started to roll down. He didn’t want her to trip and fall over, or worse, sprain an ankle, or even break her leg because she wasn’t wearing suitable ranch clothes.

Whipping out his phone, he pulled up a number from his contact list. He'd be able to take her to town tomorrow, but what about other times? This would be the next best thing.

###

T
he new T-shirt clung to her figure in all the right places. Usually, Maddie preferred T-shirts that draped and skimmed her generous figure, but this shirt made her feel good about her womanly curves.

She tugged the annoying underwire bra into a less painful position, deciding that she would definitely need to buy some new bras tomorrow. Ugh. She hated bra shopping. 

Sitting on the bed, she wriggled into her new jeans, hoping she could do up the zipper. Smiling with delight as the metal teeth rasped all the way up to the top, she hopped off the bed and stood in front of the full-length mirror. Not bad. She sucked in her tummy, then slowly let it out again. She didn’t look bad at all in a curvy way, even without pulling in her stomach. Somehow these jeans made her soft swell of belly look womanly and even sexy, a phenomenon she’d never experienced before when wearing jeans.

Swiftly putting on a pair of pale-blue socks, Maddie tried on Carol‘s shoes. They seemed to fit. Looking at herself once more in the mirror, she wondered what Garrett’s reaction would be. Would he even notice that her new T-shirt somehow enhanced her curves? And that the jeans somehow seemed to minimize her figure flaws? Before she went back to Portland, she was definitely going to buy some more jeans and T-shirts from this small-town store
.
They fit in a way that her city clothes refused to.

Heat flared in Garrett's eyes when he caught sight of her entering the kitchen. For a moment her heart stopped, before it pounded like crazy.

"Ready to go?" His voice was husky.

"Yes." Did she really sound that breathless?

###

M
addie surveyed the dusty cabin. Spider webs festooned the interior, and the dust on the furnishings was an inch thick.
What had she gotten herself into?

Beside her, Garrett cleared his throat. “I didn’t think it would be this bad,” he muttered. “It definitely wasn’t this bad a year ago.” At Maddie’s look of surprise, he explained, “I bought the ranch three years ago, and have only been down here to the cabins a few times.” He shrugged. “I was busy getting the ranch operational and didn’t have time to do anything with the cabins until now.”

“Well, I guess I better get started.” Maddie gathered up the cleaning cloths she’d brought down from the house.

“Maybe you'd better stay here while I go back and get the vacuum cleaner.” He looked at the broom they’d brought with them. “I don’t think that’s going to be much help.”

Impressed that he even knew that they were going to need a vacuum - Howard definitely wouldn’t have - Maddie smiled. “A bit of dust isn’t going to hurt me.” She stepped inside the cabin, glad she was wearing Carol’s old shoes. Swiping the cloth along a dirty table, she sneezed as particles of dust flew up and tickled her nose.

“See?” Garrett grabbed her hand and urged her outside. “Stay out here. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“Okay.” Her eyes watered for a second as she watched him jump into the SUV and drive back to the house. Maybe she should buy some handkerchiefs tomorrow if the other cabin was just as bad.

Maddie strolled over to the next cabin, only a few yards away, and peered inside the dirty window. Yep. Just as bad. Her spirits sagged for a second as she thought about the thick layers of dust waiting for her. Then she straightened her spine. Just because she wasn’t working with books didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy cleaning the cabins. Besides, it would definitely take her mind off yesterday and her fiasco of a wedding.