Shotgun Vows by Teresa Southwick Page A

“She didn’t drag me, Brody. She couldn’t. I’m the size of a beached whale—it would take a crane to move me anywhere these days. Don’t be so hard on her.” Jillian linked her fingers with his. “There’s nothing wrong with this place. Besides, I’m pregnant, not sick. Being here won’t hurt me.” She leaned forward and said, “Hi, Dawson.”
    He smiled. “Hi, yourself. How are you?”
    â€œFine, now that you guys are here. I was missing Brody a bunch.”
    â€œCan I get you ladies something to drink?” he asked.
    When he met her gaze, Mattie noticed that same glint in his eyes, the one that pegged her as an amusing child. How she would love to wipe that look off his face and show him a thing or two about the woman she was.
    But now wasn’t the time. And since he was here, Mattie decided, he might as well make himself useful. “I’d like a glass of wine,” she said.
    â€œSparkling water for me,” Jill chimed in.
    Brody glared at Mattie. “Make it two waters,” he said to Dawson.
    â€œSweetheart,” Jillian said to him, “why don’t you go along with Dawson and help him carry the drinks?”
    He bent over to kiss her cheek. “Whatever you say.”
    When the two men were gone, Mattie didn’t miss the pitying look Jillian sent her way. “I’m sorry, Mattie,” she said. “I wouldn’t have called him if I’d known he would act that way.”
    â€œDon’t worry about it. At least you’re with the man you love and he makes you happy. It’s just my bad luck that he acts like a mother hen.” What bothered her more was Dawson’s presence. He would see her big brother treating her like a kid when she was doing her best to show him she was a grown woman.
    Jillian glanced over to the bar where the two men were talking while waiting for the drink order. “Your brother’s intentions are good, Mattie.”
    â€œMaybe. But you know what they say about the road to hell.” Dejectedly, Mattie rested her chin in her hand.
    â€œJust you leave him to me when they come back.”
    Mattie watched several cowboys move around on a small dais in the corner of the room. Three picked up a couple of guitars and a fiddle, while one sat at a keyboard and another tested the microphone. Then they began to play a slow, country and western song. The words were sad, about love gone bad. Mattie had only one experience with love. Adolescent love—definitely gone bad. But she was willing to give romanceanother try. How else was she going to find her soul mate and have the family she wanted so badly?
    She glanced around the room, attempting to catch the eye of one of the unattached men present. Trying to look available and pleasant, she plastered a smile on her face. No one gave her a second look.
    Her small window of opportunity slammed shut when Brody and Dawson returned with the drinks. Her brother sat next to Jillian and possessively draped his arm across her shoulders. She snuggled into him with a contented sigh. Dawson was forced to take the empty chair at the table beside her, and content wasn’t exactly the word Mattie would use to describe his body language. In fact, he angled all of his very attractive muscles as far away from her as he could get and still remain in the same county.
    But Mattie didn’t miss the glances he received from other women in the room. And the realization gave her the strangest feeling, like the weight of a stone sitting on her chest.
    â€œBrody?” Jillian smiled sweetly.
    â€œHmm?”
    â€œWould you dance with me?”
    He gave her rounded belly a skeptical look. “Is it all right? Not too much exertion?”
    â€œI had more exertion last night,” she said, smiling seductively at him. He grinned—a look of supreme male satisfaction that Mattie didn’t quite understand.
    â€œOkay, lady. Let’s