brides for brothers 03 - cowboy groom by judy christenberry

the always-prompt Sylvia?” Anna couldn’t help asking. She knew she sounded catty, but she’d already endured a lot at Sylvia’s hand.
    Brett grinned. “She’s never on time. Her father likes to believe she is, but I always end up waiting.”
    Anna was glad to find Sylvia failed to measure up again. She was quickly coming to dislike the woman.
    But, she had to admit, revenge was sweet. Since Sylvia had delayed coming out, they both had frontrow seats to see her reaction to Anna’s car.
    When Sylvia spotted the car, she turned deathly pale and then looked at Brett. “Damn it, this had better be a joke!”

Chapter Five
    Brett stared at the woman he’d promised to marry. She was beautiful. But he suspected her beauty wasn’t as deep as he’d thought.
    Carefully avoiding looking at Anna, afraid she’d been hurt by Sylvia’s words, he opened the back of the car and began removing the suitcases they had just loaded. Still, no one spoke until he set the first two cases down on the flagstone entryway.
    “Finally you understand, lover,” Sylvia purred. “What if someone saw us riding in that—that vehicle?”
    Without answering, he returned to the car to take out the other bags. When he rounded the car, he saw that Anna had removed the two bags from the back seat.
    “Thanks, Anna.”
    With a wry smile, as if she hadn’t suffered any insult at all, she murmured, “No problem. I’ll see you back at the ranch.”
    He set the bags down with the others and reached to catch her arm. “Where are you going?”
    Her eyebrows almost disappeared beneath her red curls, and Brett was surprised by the sudden urge to kiss her rounded lips. They were a natural pink that looked incredibly soft.
    “To the ranch, of course.”
    “Well, so am I. Don’t leave without me.”
    “Brett! What are you talking about?” Sylvia demanded from behind him. Brett turned to his fiancée. She was standing rigidly on the steps, glaring at Anna.
    “I’m going back with Anna, as planned. You’re welcome to join us, of course, assuming you don’t insult Anna or her car anymore. Or we can cancel the visit until a more…more appropriate time. Like maybe next year.” Since it was the first of July, he figured Sylvia would recognize his sudden lack of interest in her visit.
    The look of panic that crossed Sylvia’s face surprised Brett. But he was grateful she’d gotten his message.
    “I’m sorry, Anna. I didn’t think about my, uh, my words upsetting you. Of course I’ll come with the two of you.”
    Brett didn’t move. “Are you sure, Sylvia?”
    She gave him one of those I’m-so-misunderstood smiles. “Why, certainly, lover. I couldn’t bear the thought of you two—I mean of you going without me.” She turned her gaze from him to Anna. “You do forgive me, don’t you, Anna?”
    He noticed Anna didn’t smile, but she graciously nodded and murmured, “Of course.”
    When Brett reached for the bags, Anna also stepped forward. “Nope,” he said, catching her arm. He noticed his hand completely spanned her forearm. She was no bigger than a minute. “You don’t need to reload any bags. You’ve done enough, little one.”
    “Don’t be silly—” she began.
    “Uh-uh. Get behind the wheel. And no pouting because I won the bet,” he added with a teasing grin just for her.
    She gave him a smile that lit up her face. “No. No pouting.”
    He replaced all the luggage and then gestured to the back seat, half-full of bags. “Okay, Sylvia. Get in.”
    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