Laura’s soft daze had vanished after their shower. He had put his clothes on and turned around to look at his goddess to see a calculating light in her blue eyes. She had been fully dressed with her shirt tucked in, and he had known her skepticism was back.
“Where’s your ring?” he asked.
“Oh my god,” she said. “I left it in the bathroom.” She dashed out of the bedroom to search for it. But it must have been easy to find, because it was on her finger when he walked into the sitting room.
“I’ll just get the beer and we can head home. Want to drive?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said. “It’s too late to go to the courthouse now.”
“We can always go into Acton,” he reminded her.
“The judge sits every Tuesday and Thursday.”
“We can drive in Thursday afternoon,” Steve said. “But there will be gossip. In Denver, there was a sporting chance that you wouldn’t be noticed. In Acton, not a hope. On the other hand, this marriage isn’t going to hold up in a court of law if there’s anything secretive about it.”
“What do you mean?”
“Only way this marriage is going to get your cousins off your back is if it is a for real marriage. Wedding, honeymoon, setting up house. The whole nine yards. Suppose they challenge our marriage on the grounds that it is just a sham? They could tie you up in court for years.”
Laura felt panicky. Why hadn’t she realized that her marriage would be more than her and Steve? If he left her. When he left her, she was going to be publicly humiliated. “I suppose you want to send an announcement to the papers?” she snapped.
Steve laughed. “We’ll start by putting an announcement in the Denver papers. Be a big deal one of you B&B Bascoms getting hitched. Shouldn’t be surprised if we have to give interviews.”
“Dear God.”
“And we will have to follow it up by having us a big shindig. My people won’t think our marriage is real if we don’t have a bit of a bash. As it is, my mom is going to be very hurt that I got married without her being there. But I don’t think we can get my folks out to Colorado by Thursday afternoon.”
“Daddy won’t like it either, if he’s not there.” Laura’s voice was very soft. Steve thought that she had not considered that their marriage was something more than a deal between the two of them. But marriage was always more than a couple.
So here they were on the road to the ranch, Laura’s competent hands on the steering wheel and all her attention on the road. There were no streetlights out here, so attention was a good thing. The road signs all warned of deer in the vicinity. This heavy pickup would survive an impact even with a full grown buck, but it would be a serious accident all the same.
“I’ll drop you at your cabin,” she said. “You can install those cameras tomorrow.”
“I have to sleep by myself?” he asked mildly.
“Your things are all at the cabin,” she countered.
Women cared more about clean underwear than men. Fact of life. “I can pack my kit in about a minute,” he said.
“Huh.” They drove on. “Well, okay. You can move in tonight.” Her eyes swung sideways to his face for a brief inspection.
“Why, thank you,” he drawled. “I look forward to sleeping in your bed, Miss Laura.”
It was dark in the cab of the truck, but he thought she blushed.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Laura eased the truck down the drive, her foot barely touching the gas pedal. Rosa and Carlos’s house was just a dark block above the glittering stream. She couldn’t see Lance’s smaller bungalow through the trees. She set the handbrake on the slight incline outside Steve’s cabin. A soft glow illuminated his windows. She began to open her door, but Steve’s hand was on her wrist, and his face was carved from granite.
“Probably nothing,” he said in a low, hard voice that barely carried. “But I want to check first.” His chin indicated the cabin. “I don’t waste electricity,” he said.
He produced a tiny penlight. “Stay here,” he instructed in that same compelling tone. His hand went briefly to the light above the rear view mirror. When he opened the door, the cab stayed dark. Laura knew a command when she heard one. She kept her seat.
Steve crouched and walked bent double to the stand of little trees and bushes that screened the back door of the cabin. Despite her excellent night vision, Laura could barely make him out. She watched him go up to the front door and try his key. He turned the knob and slipped inside. The lights blazed suddenly and she got out of the truck. He met her at the porch looking grim.
“That cousin of yours was in here earlier.” His voice was clipped.
“Piper?” She had thought Piper had left the ranch.
“The same.” He waved a big hand around the tidy cabin. “She messed with my stuff,” he said. He was plainly pissed.
It looked the same to her. Ready for a surprise inspection. “Are you sure?”
“She sat or lay down on my bed.” He was outraged. “And she looked through my things.”
The quilt was perhaps a shade less taut and the pillow had a small dent in it. Laura suppressed a smile. Piper was in such shit. “What on earth for?” she asked.
Steve found a black nylon duffel and began to empty the dresser drawers. He briskly tucked neatly folded stacks of clothes into the bag, before heading to the bathroom. He returned in a moment with his shaving kit in a black leather box.
“Smell that,” he demanded. He was quietly furious.
Laura sniffed. Piper’s heavy perfume mixed with her cousin’s personal scent overlaid a smell of shaving soap.
“She was rootling all through my stuff.” He moved over to the bed where his Mac was charging and picked it up. He pressed buttons. “Tried to get into my notepad,” he said. His voice became even colder. He put the Mac on top of the other things in his duffel, added his reader, and turned back to her. “Let’s go,” he said.
“What was she looking for?” wondered Laura.
“She was plenty pissed at me the day we met,” said Steve. “But there was no reason for her to break into my cabin and wait for me. Nothing between us and nothing for her to find.”
Laura eased the truck along the route home, mindful that the other residents of the ranch would be asleep this late. “I don’t know what she was after,” she said thoughtfully. “Although Piper is a touch spoiled. She may have heard rumors about you and me. Perhaps she wanted to check them out.”
“So she broke into my home and rifled through my stuff?”
“Well, she wouldn’t think it was so awful since you are an employee,” Laura explained.
Steve’s snort was all the answer she got. There was a porch light on at the Big House. And the living room windows were lit up too. Daddy had waited up for her. Just as if she had gone on a date with Steve, and was seventeen all over again. She didn’t know whether to feel exasperated or touched.
She drove around to the back where she usually parked and got out. The light above the back door was on too. Daddy was making a fuss. What an old softie. Steve grabbed his bag, checked the lock on the topper of the truck and joined her.
“Lock the truck,” he said in his command voice.
“Okay.”
“Ten grand worth of equipment in the back and your cousin may have sticky fingers.”
“Hmm. Let’s be quiet. Daddy may have dropped off waiting for me,” she explained.
“Your daddy waits up for you every time you go on a date?” he whispered against her hair. Amusement was back in his voice. He kissed her head.
Laura shook her head slightly. “I don’t date,” she reminded him.
Steve dropped his bag in the hall and together they went into the living room. Her cousin Patrick was reading in an armchair. He sprang up as they came into the room. Immediately his shoulders squared and his eyes narrowed. He did not smile.
“Hey,” she said. “I didn’t know you were coming, Pat.” She moved towards him with her hands out. “How�
��s it going?”
Patrick deliberately set down the papers he had been reading and laid his pen on top. He was wearing a polo shirt and chinos and his left arm was bandaged from wrist to elbow. He rose and gave her a tight hug, evaluating Steve over the top of her head.
“I heard you were thinking of getting married,” he said curtly. “I came to meet your bridegroom.” Laura flinched. The last thing she wanted was a pissing contest. But Patrick, who was usually the most urbane of men, was spoiling for a fight. He examined Steve as if he wanted to rip his head off.
“This is Steve Holden,” Laura said softly. She showed Pat her ring. “We’re going to get married.”
Patrick took her left hand in his and rocked it from side to side as he examined the diamond. His eyes went to Steve. “Nice stone,” he said levelly. “Did you pay for it yourself, Lauralee?”
“Patrick Bascom!” she chided. “Shame on you.” She peeked at Steve. He was standing at ease, but an alertness in his posture informed her he was ready to rumble.
“Seems like it’s the question of the hour.” Pat did not let go of her hand, and his tone was belligerent.
Laura touched his bandaged arm. “You got hurt,” she said. “How’d you hurt your arm?” She kissed his cheek. “Welcome home.”
Patrick shook his head. “It’s nothing,” he said dismissively. “Just a bit of shrapnel. I’m fine.”
“How did it happen?” she asked him. “Were you injured in combat? Does Uncle Jeremy know?”
“He does not. I haven’t seen him since I got back.” Patrick’s brown eyes were still raking Steve.
She stroked the bandages on his forearm. “Well, I’m glad you’re home safe, Pat. Have you seen Zeke?”
He stopped his masculine posturing to grin at her, but he kept her in the circle of his arms. “He sent his love. And I just sent about a million photos of your godchildren to your phone. They are huge. Walking already. Zeke and Jenna want to know when you’re coming to visit.”
Laura chuckled. “I don’t know that I have time to go out to Yakima Ridge until after roundup. How long were you there for?”
“Five days,” he said shortly. He gave her a last squeeze and let her go.
“Five days in the backwoods, Patrick Bascom,” she teased. “After seven months in Syria! And now you’re in rural Colorado. You must be pining for the fleshpots of Denver.”
“Uncle Gil had a job for me,” Patrick said. “I had to fly out to Washington State to get it sorted.”
“Oh. How is Uncle Gil?”
“Happy. He and our new aunt seem to split their time between French Town and traveling. They were just back from a trip to Maine.”
“He’s not going to change his mind about making you the CFO of B&B?” she said in alarm.
Patrick’s lips firmed. “No. Uncle Gil has turned the company over to me and Cal. He doesn’t plan to alter that.” He put his arm back around Laura and faced Steve. “You know, I do appreciate you giving in to Edgar Thompson. Neither Cal nor I wanted to have to find new jobs. Or lose our inheritance.”
“You could have quit the reserves,” she said quietly.
“No.” His words came fast and hard. “Not while our country is at war.”
“Huh.” She paused and tried to spread oil on the water. “Well, as you see, I have solved my marrying problem,” she waved a hand at Steve and smiled at Pat’s handsome face. But her placating words had no effect on the adamantine cast of her cousin’s features.
* * *
Steve assessed Cousin Patrick. So this was the major’s twin brother. He was mighty upset. He had seen that exact expression on the major’s face. Mostly before an operation. It wasn’t a pleasant look. Patrick Bascom was gunning for bear. And he was the bear. Had Cousin Patrick wanted Laura after all? Because he was prepared to take him out, if this feller came between him and his mate.
“Laura honey,” Steve said quietly. “Why don’t you go get ready for bed? I’ll be along as soon as I have a word with your cousin.”
He could see Laura hesitate, but after a moment she shrugged and left the room. “You guys have to get along,” she said. “I can’t have my brother and my husband at odds.”
“Brother?” Steve asked.
“Laura may be my third cousin, but I think of her as my sister,” Patrick said flatly. “Aunt Brenda and Uncle Freddie pretty much brought Zeke and me up with Cal and Luther. And Bethany and Laura.” He stood like a man getting set for a little hand to hand.
Steve braced himself for a brawl. He was pretty sure he could take a fellow who wore a prissy pink shirt with a little alligator on the breast pocket and plucked his eyebrows. But on the other hand, Patrick Bascom was a full four inches taller than he was, and a bit wider.
Patrick hadn’t relaxed his broad shoulders and for all he looked more smooth and civilized than big, scarred Major Bascom, Steve could see the resemblance between battle-hardened Zeke and his twin. Besides, in his shoes, Steve would want to put the fear of God into the man who planned to marry his kid sister for her money.
“I’m pleased to meet you too,” Steve drawled. “I’ll take good care of Laura. I have sisters too.”
Patrick scowled. “You had better. My brother told me a bit about you, Holden. Laura isn’t some dame you picked up in a bar for an evening’s fun. And she is for damned sure going to sign a watertight prenuptial before you get married. Is that understood?” he barked.
“She took me to Denver to meet her lawyer,” Steve said peaceably. “Fellow called Carmichael. He drew up a contract.” He reached into his hip pocket and brought out the folded document.
Patrick opened it and began to read. His stony face got stiffer and stiffer. He turned to the last page. He looked straight at Steve. “You’re marrying her for her money, this makes it plain just how much,” he said through his teeth. “Makes it hard to believe that you are planning to look after Laura.”
“She hasn’t paid me a penny yet,” Steve said. “And I don’t intend to take her money. But the thing is, Laura wouldn’t marry me without me signing that thing.”
Patrick snorted. “Easy to say. But actions always speak louder than words. You understand you have signed away all community property rights?”
“That’s right. Whatever is Laura’s, stays Laura’s. Whatever is mine, remains mine.”
“I get it.” Patrick’s eyes narrowed. “You’re hoping to get in the back door via the kid. You better remember that Carmichael is not the only good lawyer in Denver. I can guaran-damn-tee you that I personally will see that this custody arrangement is enforced. You’ll be lucky to get out of this with your stud fee.”
Steve shook his head. “I wouldn’t agree to leave my children and just move on. Where I come from that’s pretty much the working definition of pond scum. No decent man abandons his babies, even to a woman who will be as good a mother as Laura will be.”
Patrick suddenly seemed to have steam coming out of his nostrils, His mouth parted as if he intended to bellow. His shoulders expanded. In fact, he finally looked more like a bear than a lawyer. Steve looked around at the comfortable, oversized furniture, the tall lamps, and the fancy sculptures of horses that he had decided might well be real Remingtons. It would be hard to slug a fellow who looked so much like his former superior officer, and he didn’t want to.
He shook his head again. “Laura won’t thank us for having a fistfight in her house.” His voice hardened, “And this is her house.”
Patrick closed his mouth with an audible snap, like a bear denied its prey. He returned to perusing the contract. “If I have anything to do with it, you’ll never see a penny more than she’s agreed to.”
“I don’t intend to take even that much,” he repeated. “And I can promise you that I intend to honor my vows and stand by Laura. We believe in a bear bond where I come from.”
“Idaho,” There was contempt in the word. “I hear your people are poorer than dirt.” Patrick’s brown eyes were scornful. “You fucking planned
this didn’t you? I knew Thompson shouldn’t have contacted you.”
“I see Clive’s lawyers have been confiding in you, Cousin. But you have no call to speak ill of my family,” Steve retorted. “We’re poor but we’re not trash. We may not have much in the way of money, but we know how to value our women and look after them. But I didn’t come to Colorado looking to marry Laura. I came to see if I wanted a bunch of tomcats as cousins.”
“Huh.”
“Your father is on what? His sixth marriage? Chasing women younger than his kids. No man in my clan would carry on that way. Now that I’ve found Laura, that’s it. My bachelor days are done. And whatever my reservations about the Bascoms, I don’t see I’ve got much choice. Laura’s kin will be my children’s kin.” Steve rolled his shoulders.
“So you’re going to turn down your inheritance?” Patrick’s voice could have sliced stone.
Steve shook his head. “I’m not a fool. I’ll take the smooth with the rough. But I’ll take nothing from Laura.”
“Have you told her you are cousins?” Patrick asked.
Steve winced. “Third or fourth – I haven’t quite figured it out. But no, I haven’t told her. Not yet. But what difference does it make? If I have money, then I can scarcely be accused of marrying her for hers. But I’d like a chance to get her to trust me.”
Patrick folded his arms across his chest. “You want to marry a woman who doesn’t trust you?”
“I want Laura any way I can get her,” Steve said simply. “She’ll figure out sooner or later that I’m going to stick by her. We’re mates. Given time she’ll love me back.”
“Huh.”
“Bears mate for life,” Steve said. “I don’t know what was up with your father and Clive, but I never heard of bears acting like that. No round heels in my clan that’s for damn sure. If I left my wife and babies – and right now Miss Laura probably has a belly full of cub – no one in my family would ever speak to me again. Not my father, not my brothers or sisters, not my mom or my uncles. That’s not how we do it in Idaho. We Holdens look after our own. And when we find our mates, that’s it.”
Bear Pause (BBW / Bear Shifter Romance): A Billionaire Oil Bearons Romance (Bear Fursuits Book 6) Page 13