“We’d never be a pair. I remember her as the timid one. She didn’t have a daring bone in her body. I need a woman who’s a risk taker.”
“I think he protests too much,” Hunter said. “Anyway, marrying you would be enough of a risk for any woman. She’d have to be brave to take you on.”
“Don’t you all dare try and push Josie and I together.” Devin frowned fiercely at his brothers, but they all laughed.
“You don’t scare us,” Cort said, and Fletch and Hunter nodded in agreement.
* * * *
Hunter drove Lacey and Josie to Lacey’s house. He kissed Lacey and waved good-bye to Josie. Josie looked around as she walked in the house.
“I like it. It’s cozy.”
“I felt the same way the first time I saw it. Wait until you see my garden tomorrow. I’ve become quite the cowgirl. I have a garden, I ride, and I’m marrying a cowboy.”
Josie stared at Lacey. “I don’t remember ever seeing you this happy and content.”
“I haven’t been. This move and meeting Hunter after all this time has been the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
“I’m glad. You deserve happiness after all the sadness you’ve endured. It’s matured you. I can see it in your face and the way you act.”
“I hope so. The counseling and Hunter and his family helped me.”
“They’re great. I wish we had the same type of relationships in our family,” Josie said in a wistful tone.
“We will. You and I are starting the change.”
Josie sank down on the sofa. “When do we meet our dad?”
“Is tomorrow too soon? I arranged for him to come here at one o’clock. It can be changed if you aren’t ready.”
“No, let’s get it over with. I’m nervous about the meeting and the interview. That will get one thing out of the way and I can concentrate on the job.”
Lacey sat beside her. “Do you really want the job?”
“For some reason I do. I’m not even sure why, but like you, I was happy and comfortable living in Pleasure Valley. I haven’t been really happy in a long time either.”
“Do you know why you’re especially shy with men?”
“No. But even when they show interest, I always expect them to go away. And my fatalistic prophecy keeps coming true.”
“Dad has a lot to answer for and one of the things is our innate distrust of men,” Lacey said. “But I’m seeing there are good men, a lot of them in this area.”
“Maybe I came because I saw the goodness in Hunter and hoped there were more like him around.” Josie grinned. “Where am I going to sleep? I’m tired.”
Lacey showed her to the smaller bedroom. “Do you need help unpacking?”
“I’ll do most of it tomorrow. I have my nightgown and toothbrush in the smaller bag.”
“Then I’ll see you when you wake up tomorrow.”
Josie hugged Lacey and closed the door. Then she sat on the side of the bed and looked out the window at the moon shining over the mountain tops.
Josie had enjoyed the dinner and seeing the Garrisons. She liked the peace and quiet of this ranch. But Lacey was wrong. Their dad hadn’t made Josie shy with men. There were two reasons she came to Pleasure Valley, the job and the secret no one knew.
Chapter Seventeen
Smitty dropped their father off at the house and drove on to the barn. Lacey stepped out on the porch to greet him.
His black hair had turned gray at the temples. He still stood tall and straight, and although his eyes had lines around them, they were the misty gray she remembered.
“Lacey, I’m so glad you agreed to see me.”
Wilburt Donelles’s quiet voice reminded Lacey of bedtime and the stories he’d told them. She swallowed around the lump in her throat.
“Josie’s waiting in the kitchen. I thought you might join us for iced tea and homemade brownies.”
“I’d like that.” He followed her through the living room and into the kitchen.
“Josie.” He said her name, and they stared at each other.
Lacey broke the silence. “Shall we sit? I’ll pour the tea. The brownies are on the table.” She motioned for them to move. Her father looked away first and sat in the nearest chair.
Once Lacey had placed the tea glasses on the table, she joined them. She looked from their father to Josie.
“It’s difficult to know where to start after all this time.” Lacey heard the shakiness in her voice.
Her father looked down at his hands. They were large and callused, a working man’s hands.
He looked up and faced them. “I want to say I’m sorry. I know it’s not much after what I did.”
“Why did you leave us?” Josie asked.
“I’ve wondered myself over the years why I left without saying good-bye. The answer is simple. I was a coward. I’m ashamed of it, but I didn’t have to go through the tears and begging me to stay. I would have relented and stayed longer, but I’d have left anyway, eventually. A clean cut seemed best.”
“Best for you,” Lacey said.
“Yes. I married your mother when I was too young. The commitment of marriage and then three children soon afterward scared me. How would I take care of you all? I had little education.”
“Did you love Mom?” Josie asked him.
“I thought I did. As I said, we were young and our blood ran hot. I’d bet if you asked your mother she’d admit we didn’t love each other in the forever way.”
Lacey stood and paced across the small kitchen. When she stopped, she leaned in front of her dad.
“What is the forever way?”
He gazed at her ring and scrutinized her face. “You know. I heard you’re engaged to Hunter Garrison. I’d bet you love him in a different way than you did your first husband.”
“What do you know about Ray?”
“Quite a bit. It was on the national news, and I read the articles online. I wanted to contact you, but I knew it wouldn’t be the best time. You were dealing with enough.”
Lacey sat and sipped her tea. “It is different with Hunter,” she admitted.
Josie frowned at him. “So you were too young, hot for sex, and didn’t like commitment. Is that your excuse for leaving a wife and three babies?” she asked sharply.
He didn’t blink, and said, “Yes.”
“Then why do we need to know you now?”
“I hoped I might be able to make amends and in some way be a small part of your life.” He straightened his shoulders as though preparing to be attacked.
But Josie’s breath went out of her and tears streamed down her face. “You don’t know how much you took away from us when you left.”
“No, but I’ve carried a load of guilt imagining it. I hoped I’d find you healthy, happy, and strong women.”
“We are,” Josie protested. “That is, except in the area of dealing with men. Lacey’s been lucky just recently.”
He studied both daughters. “You’ve grown up beautiful, intelligent women. Your mother and stepfather can be proud.” Then he stood. “I’m going to leave. Please think about what I said. I’d like to see you again and tell you about my wife and family. Maybe you’d want to meet them in the future. But I understand nothing changes overnight. Still, I want you to know that I’d like to have you in my life.” He took long strides out the front door.
Lacey watched as he walked toward Smitty’s truck.
Smitty came out of the barn and, nodding, he got in and they rode off.
She returned to the kitchen and sat by Josie. Josie had wiped her eyes and she nibbled on a brownie.
“How did you think the meeting went?” Lacey asked. “Would you want to see him another time?”
“In some crazy way, I am interested in his life and the woman he married. I think I might like to meet my half brother and sister.”
“If you did, you shouldn’t act angry toward them,” Lacey warned.
“You know I’d never take out my anger t
oward Dad on them. You didn’t say a lot.”
“I might have a few weeks ago. But I refuse to let anyone upset my happiness.” Lacey hugged her sister. “We’ll deal with this together. Slowly, like Dad said.”
“What about your wedding? Will you let Dad know?”
“I think I will call him tonight and tell him we’ll see him after Hunter and I get back from our honeymoon. If I ask him to the wedding I’m afraid it would upset Mom and take away from the pleasure of the day.”
“He’ll understand. I want to see him, too. Let me know whenever you arrange the next meeting,” Josie said.
“I’d like you to be with me.”
* * * *
“Mr. and Mrs. Garrison must have invited the whole town to celebrate your upcoming wedding,” Josie said as she and Lacey mingled in the crowd outside the home place. They stopped every few minutes so townspeople could introduce themselves and offer Lacey congratulations.
“I can’t believe I’ve been here over a week. Mom, Dad, and Renee arrive tomorrow for your wedding on Sunday.”
“I’m getting nervous. The time’s flown by, but I’m looking forward to being Mrs. Hunter Garrison.”
“If I ever had a man look at me the way he does you, I’d run to the nearest minister and tie the knot.”
Lacey started to speak when she heard loud voices coming from where she saw Hunter and Devin standing. She quickly pushed her way to their side.
“You!” Cornelia said when she saw Lacey. She stood in front of Hunter. “He’d have come back to me if not for you. But I’ll enjoy when the time comes and he cheats on you, just like your first husband did.” Cornelia shoved Hunter and then stalked off crying and cursing.
Hunter looked sadly at Cornelia as she walked to her car. “She began stalking me before you arrived. I shouldn’t have shrugged it off. I’m sorry I hurt her, even though it was unintentional. Cort warned me she’d get too serious. I didn’t listen.” Hunter glanced around at the police car parking nearby. “Damn, someone must have called Taylor Dixon, he’s our sheriff.” Hunter nodded at the man quickly approaching them.
“Heard you all were getting rowdy out here,” Taylor said, and grinned. “But it looks pretty quiet to me.”
“We’re fine. Whoever called overreacted,” Devin said. “Why not stay and celebrate Hunter’s engagement? It’s sort of late since they’re getting married Sunday, but you know us. We love an excuse to party.”
“And I should ignore the call I got?”
“Yes, forget it,” Hunter added with emphasis.
Taylor rocked back on his boot heels. “Are you telling me how to do my job, Hunter?”
Hunter grinned. “I guess I am, Taylor. Why not stay and eat?”
“You always were bossy back in school.” He smiled and shook Hunter’s hand. “Congratulations, she’s a pretty lady.”
“Honey, this is Taylor Dixon, one of my friends from high school.”
“It’s nice to meet you. I’d like to stay at your party, but I’m covering so my deputies can be here.” Taylor tipped his hat and started walking toward his car.
“He’s young to be sheriff,” Lacey said. “I always picture them as older and gray haired.”
“I’ll tell Taylor. He’ll get a hoot out of your description. He won the election two years ago. The townspeople have been pleased with his work. He was a deputy first and ran for office when the old sheriff retired.”
“Come on, folks. Let’s have a party,” Devin yelled. “Who’s going to challenge Lacey, our present champion in horseshoes?”
Several of the men and women wanting to play horse shoes yelled for her to join them. “I have to go.” She winked. “Don’t get in trouble while I’m occupied.” She kissed Hunter and headed toward the group of people waving at her.
Lacey beat them all. It was fun and everyone took their defeat in good cheer. Hunter stood at the front of the crowd beaming at her.
When Devin ended the contest by calling them to dinner, Lacey was relieved. “They wore me out. But it was fun,” she said to Hunter.
“We’ll go to my place after we eat. It’ll be our last chance for any privacy until after our wedding on Sunday.”
“That’s just one more day from now. You can’t wait?” she asked. Then she touched his arm and leaned closer.
“Can you wait?” He raised his eyebrow at her.
“Hmmm, no.”
He hugged her tight. “You had better say no.”
Devin came up behind them. “Get in line before all the food’s gone.”
“We’re headed in that direction. By the way, would you mind driving Josie back to Lacey’s place?”
“You have other plans for Lacey?” He winked at her.
“It’s none of your business, but yes, I do.”
“Sure. I’ll drive her home.”
“You don’t sound very enthusiastic,” Hunter said.
“I don’t know what it is about her, but she irritates me, frequently. Sorry, Lacey, I know she’s your sister.”
“Give her time. Josie is sweet, but she’s cautious about showing her true self to strangers.”
“It doesn’t matter. I won’t be seeing her much. She’ll be working at the home place and I work in town, or I’m gone to the rodeos.”
Lacey watched him stroll off. “That’s interesting,” she said to Hunter. “I’ve never known Josie to irritate anyone before Devin.”
“Forget them. Let’s hurry and eat and go home.”
“You have a one-track mind,” Lacey teased.
“And it’s all on your track, darlin’.”
They filled their plates and sat at one of the picnic tables. Friends and family stopped by to congratulate them.
After they’d finished eating, Hunter whispered in Lacey’s ear. “I’m going to stroll around the house to the truck. In a few minutes you follow.”
“We have to tell everyone good-bye,” she protested.
“No, we don’t. They’ll understand. If we stay and say good-bye it’ll take us another thirty minutes to an hour to get away.”
“If they complain later, I’m blaming you.”
“That’s why I have broad shoulders. I can handle it.”
Hunter excused himself, dumped his trash in the large black bag, and walked around the corner of the house. Once he’d disappeared, Lacey gathered her plate and trash in her hands. When she stood, the others looked at her.
“I’ll say good-bye now. Please tell the others we’ll see them and you all on Sunday.”
“I knew Hunter was sneaking off,” his friend Ty said. “We’ll let him get away with tricking us this time.”
“I’d appreciate it.” Lacey took her trash to the receptacle and hurried off to join Hunter.
He waited at the truck by her door. Then he hurriedly started the engine and drove quickly down the road toward his house. Just inside the entrance to his piece of land, he stopped and got out. He pulled on a gate that had been pushed back into the bushes. Once it swung around, he shut it behind them. Then he punched in a code and the lock snapped shut.
When he got back inside the truck, Lacey stared at him. “I never noticed the gate. Why did you use it tonight?”
“To discourage any tricksters.”
“Good idea.”
At the house, he carried her in and strode directly to the bedroom. “I’m anxious to see your beautiful body,” he said in explanation of his rush.
“You are definitely in a hurry. I’m putting the blinds down first in case the gate doesn’t keep out the visitors.”
“They wouldn’t peek in the windows.”
“I’m not taking a chance.” Lacey pulled the cords on the curtains until the room was dark.
Hunter put on the bedside light. He had a slight swagger in his step as he approached her. “I’ve been waiting all evening to have you to myself.”
Lacey met him halfway. Her hand caressed the side of his neck. “In two days I’ll be living here with you.” She rubbed he
r leg along the inside of his. “Aren’t you afraid you may get tired of me?” Her voice sounded husky to her ears. His eyes lit with a flash of desire.
“Maybe after the first hundred years. But I doubt it.”
She undid the top button of his shirt. “You gave the right answer.”
“What do I win?”
“Me.” She took a step backward and pulled her shirt over her head, and reached behind to unfasten her bra. She threw both on the end of the bed. “Do you want to see more?”
His soft-as-a-caress gaze slid from her face to her breasts. Her nipples tightened when he stared at them.
“Yes, show me more.”
Seductively, she rubbed her hands down her neck, across her shoulders, and cupped her breasts, bringing them up and pointed at him.
When he took a deep breath and groaned, she smiled. Her hands smoothed across her midriff to her waist and slowly unfastened the button on her jeans. His intent stare heated her blood and it raced everywhere under her skin.
His breathing quickened and she noted the bulge behind the zipper of his pants. “I can’t last much longer without grabbing you,” he warned.
“Sure you can. In this game, you can’t touch me until I’ve undressed you, but I can touch you.” His smoldering look had her heart being like a tom-tom.
“I don’t remember agreeing to this game.”
The very air between them seemed to sizzle. “You didn’t, but I’m taking charge.”
His lips curved in faint amusement. “Lead the way.”
Slowly, she slid the zipper down and wiggled out of her jeans. She’d worn flats and they were easy to kick off. Then she faced him, naked except for her black bikini.
“Pull off your shirt,” Lacey ordered. Then she stepped into his space. “Put your hands behind your back.”
After he did, she brushed the tip of her nipples across his chest. He sucked in air between his clenched teeth. She kissed his six-pack and his hard abdomen.
Lacey freed the button on his jeans and drew his zipper down. Her hand slipped behind his shorts and wrapped around his hard cock. It jerked in her hand.
“He’s antsy.” She looked up at Hunter’s face.
“He’s hungry and ready to pounce at any moment.”
The Unforgettable Bride [Brides for the Garrison Brothers 1] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) Page 15