brides for brothers 04 - cowboy surrender by judy christenberry Page B
Authors: judy christenberry
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tire.
Shaping it as best he could, he jammed it on his head and turned around to face an appreciative audience.
Somehow he didn’t think he and B.J. were going to have to work very hard to spread the word about their…agreement.
B.J. DROVE RAPIDLY across the pasture, bouncing on the seat, too disturbed to slow down. She’d known the conversation would be difficult. Damn that sexy man’s hide.
She should be used to the Randalls’ handsomeness. Those lean cowboy hips, broad shoulders, all that muscle, topped by warm brown eyes, a lazy grin. One man fitting that description would be spectacular. Four men, each with a big heart and a bright mind, were almost more than a woman could comprehend.
And why one of those men, only one, should have the effect on her that Jake had was inexplicable. She’d known right away that her nervous system went on overload whenever she was around him. Fortunately he’d avoided her.
Until last night.
And look what she’d gotten herself into now. More time spent with Jake. But it was for Mildred’s happiness. Once she married Red, then B.J. and Jake would return to their distant relationship. Which would be much easier on her nerves.
T HE THREE R ANDALL LADIES gathered in the living room, seated close together so as not to be overheard.
“What do you think?” Janie asked, watching her cohorts.
“He certainly took the bait,” Megan said, “but will it last?”
“Maybe…if we keep the pressure on. Do we know any more disasters?” Anna asked.
“Just a few,” Janie assured her as she rolled her eyes. “And they’d all leap at the chance to spend time with Jake.”
“Well, you can’t blame them,” Megan said with a self-satisfied chuckle. “These Randall men are really something.”
“And that’s why we’ve got to marry off Jake. He’s too attractive. We’ll have a constant stream of women in here trying to attract him. Or any other man they can find.”
“You can’t fool us, Janie,” Anna said softly. “You want Jake to be happy as much as the rest of us.”
“Yeah,” Janie agreed with a sigh.
B.J. DROVE HOME , contented. She’d just spent the afternoon at the Winstons’ helping Grey Winston deliver the first foal bred from his prize stallion. The birth had been difficult, but mother and baby were doing well now. Grey had insisted on opening a bottle of champagne to celebrate.
After a sip, B.J. had excused herself. It was almost six. She tried to be home by five each day, but her job wasn’t one for a clock watcher.
Which gave her a good excuse to avoid Jake.
Last night, after her morning talk with him in the pasture, she’d gotten home after eight. Mildred had asked her if she wasn’t going to call Jake, but she’d told her she’d talked to him earlier.
If Mildred assumed they’d spent time on the phone exchanging words of love, it wasn’t B.J.’s fault. She hadn’t said anything like that.
As she pulled up to her house, she checked the rearview mirror, making sure Jake wasn’t coming out of his house or the barns. If her luck held, maybe she wouldn’t see him until Red and Mildred’s wedding.
The only problem was she hadn’t gotten a definite date out of Mildred. She’d tried last night, but Mildred had concentrated on feeding her and avoiding an answer.
She opened the door of her truck and got out. Tonight. Tonight she’d press Mildred to set a date for the wedding.
“Anyone home?” she called as she opened the door, expecting Toby’s usual greeting.
Toby exploded down the hall. “Mommy! Guess what! We’re eating dinner with Mr. Red and everyone.”
“We are?”
“You’re not,” Mildred said, appearing next with a beaming smile on her face.
“I don’t understand.”
“Red and I know you and Jake don’t get too much time together, so we’re going to take care of Toby tonight. We’re going to watch a movie after dinner. Then Red and I will come back here and put Toby to bed so you and Jake can stay out as
Shaping it as best he could, he jammed it on his head and turned around to face an appreciative audience.
Somehow he didn’t think he and B.J. were going to have to work very hard to spread the word about their…agreement.
B.J. DROVE RAPIDLY across the pasture, bouncing on the seat, too disturbed to slow down. She’d known the conversation would be difficult. Damn that sexy man’s hide.
She should be used to the Randalls’ handsomeness. Those lean cowboy hips, broad shoulders, all that muscle, topped by warm brown eyes, a lazy grin. One man fitting that description would be spectacular. Four men, each with a big heart and a bright mind, were almost more than a woman could comprehend.
And why one of those men, only one, should have the effect on her that Jake had was inexplicable. She’d known right away that her nervous system went on overload whenever she was around him. Fortunately he’d avoided her.
Until last night.
And look what she’d gotten herself into now. More time spent with Jake. But it was for Mildred’s happiness. Once she married Red, then B.J. and Jake would return to their distant relationship. Which would be much easier on her nerves.
T HE THREE R ANDALL LADIES gathered in the living room, seated close together so as not to be overheard.
“What do you think?” Janie asked, watching her cohorts.
“He certainly took the bait,” Megan said, “but will it last?”
“Maybe…if we keep the pressure on. Do we know any more disasters?” Anna asked.
“Just a few,” Janie assured her as she rolled her eyes. “And they’d all leap at the chance to spend time with Jake.”
“Well, you can’t blame them,” Megan said with a self-satisfied chuckle. “These Randall men are really something.”
“And that’s why we’ve got to marry off Jake. He’s too attractive. We’ll have a constant stream of women in here trying to attract him. Or any other man they can find.”
“You can’t fool us, Janie,” Anna said softly. “You want Jake to be happy as much as the rest of us.”
“Yeah,” Janie agreed with a sigh.
B.J. DROVE HOME , contented. She’d just spent the afternoon at the Winstons’ helping Grey Winston deliver the first foal bred from his prize stallion. The birth had been difficult, but mother and baby were doing well now. Grey had insisted on opening a bottle of champagne to celebrate.
After a sip, B.J. had excused herself. It was almost six. She tried to be home by five each day, but her job wasn’t one for a clock watcher.
Which gave her a good excuse to avoid Jake.
Last night, after her morning talk with him in the pasture, she’d gotten home after eight. Mildred had asked her if she wasn’t going to call Jake, but she’d told her she’d talked to him earlier.
If Mildred assumed they’d spent time on the phone exchanging words of love, it wasn’t B.J.’s fault. She hadn’t said anything like that.
As she pulled up to her house, she checked the rearview mirror, making sure Jake wasn’t coming out of his house or the barns. If her luck held, maybe she wouldn’t see him until Red and Mildred’s wedding.
The only problem was she hadn’t gotten a definite date out of Mildred. She’d tried last night, but Mildred had concentrated on feeding her and avoiding an answer.
She opened the door of her truck and got out. Tonight. Tonight she’d press Mildred to set a date for the wedding.
“Anyone home?” she called as she opened the door, expecting Toby’s usual greeting.
Toby exploded down the hall. “Mommy! Guess what! We’re eating dinner with Mr. Red and everyone.”
“We are?”
“You’re not,” Mildred said, appearing next with a beaming smile on her face.
“I don’t understand.”
“Red and I know you and Jake don’t get too much time together, so we’re going to take care of Toby tonight. We’re going to watch a movie after dinner. Then Red and I will come back here and put Toby to bed so you and Jake can stay out as
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