only thing that got to her was the idea of actually having to help her sister give birth. It would be small and petty to walk away from Bridgette in her time of need just because she felt uncomfortable, but that didn’t stop her from feeling a little anxious. Just another new experience to add to this adventure.
It would be added soon, too, from what her daddy said. Hell, it could happen tonight, thanks to Brodie and Caelen’s insistence that they head for their home this evening. Well over a two hour ride, the summer’s sun gave them the light to be able to push for the late ride. Jamie knew what really motivated their rush. She could see it in the scorching glances they sent her way.
Brodie and Caelen hoped to sneak her past Linc and Bridgette under the cloak of darkness. Instead of taking her to the main house, they’d probably ride right to the little cabin Bridgette had told her they’d moved into. Let them try .
“Jamie,” her daddy leaned in from his post at the head of the table. “I’d feel a little better if you actually ate something.”
“I’m not hungry.” Cold and hard, she made that statement with an unflinching look as she stared down her own daddy, a perfect imitation of her childhood sulk.
The difference came from her father, who didn’t instantly chastise her but instead covered her hand to give it a little squeeze. “Come on now, honey. You’ll be all worn out for your reunion with your sister if you don’t get some food in you.”
“It’s going to be dark when we get to the MacAuley ranch, Dad. Bridgette will probably be worn out herself.”
Sheridan
sighed that long suffering sound that he used to try to guilt Jamie out of her foul mood. “Well, at least seeing your sister should put a smile on your face.”
“It’s not my sister that puts a frown on it but the company she keeps.” Jamie couldn’t help but to follow that comment with a resentful glance at Brodie. “It’s a little foul by my standards.”
This time her dad’s squeeze pressed the bones in her hand together. “Jamie, do I have to remind you that you will be a guest in your sister’s home?”
“No.” Even if she only pretended to bend, the pain to her pride had her honestly muttering. “Sir.”
“And what kind of behavior does a proper guest display for her hosts?”
“To be gracious and smiling.” Now she couldn’t even look Brodie’s way, assured that he had his gloat on.
“And isn’t there something you have to say to Brodie?”
“I’m sorry I called you,” her father’s hand tightened in warning, “what I did, Brodie.”
Sheridan
’s response came instantly, with the cut of disproval in his tone. “That is not how an apology is given, Jamie Anne Traynor. Now, I want you to look that man in the eye, and give him the sincere apology he is due.”
Growing with the help of a deep breath, Jamie straightened in her seat and lifted her gaze back to meet Brodie’s sparkling one. Oh, he loved this moment. The very fact of which made it that much harder to give it to him, but she tried. “I’m really sorry, Mr. MacAuley, that you’re a colossal ass, and I can’t stand you.”
“Jamie!”
“It’s all right, Sheridan,” Brodie cut in with laughter tinting in his voice even as his gaze darkened on her. “Jamie just needs a little time with her sister. I’m sure Bridgette will remind her of just how a proper lady is supposed to act.”
“A proper lady would have already shot you in the balls,” Jamie grumbled, completely forgetting her dad’s hold on her hand in the moment of rash temper. “Ah! That hurt.”
Turning insulted eyes on her father, she snatched her hand back.
“And it’s going to hurt more if you need a spanking to remind you how a mature lady acts.”
That threat had her bristling and challenging her father as she never before would have dared. “I am mature, mature enough to know my own mind and to be honest to it.”
“Then you’re mature
It would be added soon, too, from what her daddy said. Hell, it could happen tonight, thanks to Brodie and Caelen’s insistence that they head for their home this evening. Well over a two hour ride, the summer’s sun gave them the light to be able to push for the late ride. Jamie knew what really motivated their rush. She could see it in the scorching glances they sent her way.
Brodie and Caelen hoped to sneak her past Linc and Bridgette under the cloak of darkness. Instead of taking her to the main house, they’d probably ride right to the little cabin Bridgette had told her they’d moved into. Let them try .
“Jamie,” her daddy leaned in from his post at the head of the table. “I’d feel a little better if you actually ate something.”
“I’m not hungry.” Cold and hard, she made that statement with an unflinching look as she stared down her own daddy, a perfect imitation of her childhood sulk.
The difference came from her father, who didn’t instantly chastise her but instead covered her hand to give it a little squeeze. “Come on now, honey. You’ll be all worn out for your reunion with your sister if you don’t get some food in you.”
“It’s going to be dark when we get to the MacAuley ranch, Dad. Bridgette will probably be worn out herself.”
Sheridan
sighed that long suffering sound that he used to try to guilt Jamie out of her foul mood. “Well, at least seeing your sister should put a smile on your face.”
“It’s not my sister that puts a frown on it but the company she keeps.” Jamie couldn’t help but to follow that comment with a resentful glance at Brodie. “It’s a little foul by my standards.”
This time her dad’s squeeze pressed the bones in her hand together. “Jamie, do I have to remind you that you will be a guest in your sister’s home?”
“No.” Even if she only pretended to bend, the pain to her pride had her honestly muttering. “Sir.”
“And what kind of behavior does a proper guest display for her hosts?”
“To be gracious and smiling.” Now she couldn’t even look Brodie’s way, assured that he had his gloat on.
“And isn’t there something you have to say to Brodie?”
“I’m sorry I called you,” her father’s hand tightened in warning, “what I did, Brodie.”
Sheridan
’s response came instantly, with the cut of disproval in his tone. “That is not how an apology is given, Jamie Anne Traynor. Now, I want you to look that man in the eye, and give him the sincere apology he is due.”
Growing with the help of a deep breath, Jamie straightened in her seat and lifted her gaze back to meet Brodie’s sparkling one. Oh, he loved this moment. The very fact of which made it that much harder to give it to him, but she tried. “I’m really sorry, Mr. MacAuley, that you’re a colossal ass, and I can’t stand you.”
“Jamie!”
“It’s all right, Sheridan,” Brodie cut in with laughter tinting in his voice even as his gaze darkened on her. “Jamie just needs a little time with her sister. I’m sure Bridgette will remind her of just how a proper lady is supposed to act.”
“A proper lady would have already shot you in the balls,” Jamie grumbled, completely forgetting her dad’s hold on her hand in the moment of rash temper. “Ah! That hurt.”
Turning insulted eyes on her father, she snatched her hand back.
“And it’s going to hurt more if you need a spanking to remind you how a mature lady acts.”
That threat had her bristling and challenging her father as she never before would have dared. “I am mature, mature enough to know my own mind and to be honest to it.”
“Then you’re mature
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