Read Online brides for brothers 03 - cowboy groom by judy christenberry - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: judy christenberry
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Brett suspected as much, too?
Brett sat frozen as his family stared at him. Finally he turned to look at Sylvia. “I don’t think we’ve discussed that decision, Sylvia.”
She trilled a laugh that didn’t bring a smile to a single member of her audience. “Silly me. I was thinking ahead. Daddy and I made such great plans for my and Brett’s future, but I forgot we haven’t had a chance to talk about it.”
“No, we haven’t,” Brett said, his voice even, but everyone could see the control it required.
When Brett didn’t ask her any questions, Jake leaned forward. “What plans are those, Sylvia?”
Seemingly unaware of the wariness emanating from those around her, Sylvia beamed as she explained. “Daddy has created a position on his staff for Brett. He’s going to be his personal assistant. We’ll go to Washington when Congress returns to session. By the time Daddy is ready to retire, Brett will be prepared to step right into his shoes. May I present your next senator from Wyoming, Brett Randall?”
Whether or not she expected applause, what she received was a tense silence.
Brett was the first to speak. “Sylvia, I explained to you that I don’t enjoy political games. I appreciate your father’s offer, but I’m not going to take it. Nor am I ever going to run for the Senate. I’m going to be a rancher, right here, with my brothers.” He sat back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest.
Intractable was too soft a word for Brett’s attitude. Along with everyone else, Anna watched Sylvia for her reaction.
“I—I’m sorry, Brett. I thought you’d be pleased— I’m so sorry. Can’t we—I mean, it’s my life, too, surely—Oh!” Covering her face with her hands, Sylvia leapt from her chair and ran out of the kitchen.
“Damn,” Brett muttered, his cheeks red. Then he, too, departed the kitchen without saying another word.
B RETT HURRIED up the stairs after Sylvia. He didn’t want to talk to her right now, but he had no choice. Only a jerk would leave her alone. She’d closed the bedroom door behind her, and he rapped before opening it.
“Sylvia?” Expecting her to be on the bed, crying, he was surprised when she stepped from behind the door and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Automatically his arms came around her, but he didn’t tighten the embrace. “Sylvia,” he protested as she almost choked him.
“I’m so sorry, Brett. Please forgive me. I was only trying to help, to build us a brilliant future. I thought you’d be so proud of me.”
Brett took her shoulders and pushed her away from him so he could see her face. She certainly sounded upset, but he noticed she hadn’t shed any tears.
“Look, Sylvia—” he began, almost ready to voice the feeling that had been growing in him all day. She would call him fickle, but whatever emotion had led him to accept her proposal, it wasn’t there now.
She pressed her hand across his mouth. “Please forgive me, lover. I’ll agree to whatever you want. I only want you to be happy!” Then she leaned into him again, her lips covering his.
Again Brett held her at arm’s length. Things were growing more awkward by the moment. How could he bring up his indecision when she was being so self-sacrificing? “Look, Sylvia, maybe we’d better—”
“Make love to me, Brett. Take me in your arms and make me forget everything. I promise to make you happy!” She pushed against his hold, reaching out for him.
“Now? Sylvia, the entire family is waiting downstairs, wondering what’s going to happen. We can’t—”
“Let them wait. We’re more important right now. We’re going to become one, to form a family, to have children. Don’t you see, Brett?”
Brett had thought a number of times about having children, like his brothers, but this was the first time Sylvia had ever mentioned that possibility.
“You want children?”
“Of course! Don’t you?”
“Yes, but—but I have to go downstairs right now. I
Brett sat frozen as his family stared at him. Finally he turned to look at Sylvia. “I don’t think we’ve discussed that decision, Sylvia.”
She trilled a laugh that didn’t bring a smile to a single member of her audience. “Silly me. I was thinking ahead. Daddy and I made such great plans for my and Brett’s future, but I forgot we haven’t had a chance to talk about it.”
“No, we haven’t,” Brett said, his voice even, but everyone could see the control it required.
When Brett didn’t ask her any questions, Jake leaned forward. “What plans are those, Sylvia?”
Seemingly unaware of the wariness emanating from those around her, Sylvia beamed as she explained. “Daddy has created a position on his staff for Brett. He’s going to be his personal assistant. We’ll go to Washington when Congress returns to session. By the time Daddy is ready to retire, Brett will be prepared to step right into his shoes. May I present your next senator from Wyoming, Brett Randall?”
Whether or not she expected applause, what she received was a tense silence.
Brett was the first to speak. “Sylvia, I explained to you that I don’t enjoy political games. I appreciate your father’s offer, but I’m not going to take it. Nor am I ever going to run for the Senate. I’m going to be a rancher, right here, with my brothers.” He sat back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest.
Intractable was too soft a word for Brett’s attitude. Along with everyone else, Anna watched Sylvia for her reaction.
“I—I’m sorry, Brett. I thought you’d be pleased— I’m so sorry. Can’t we—I mean, it’s my life, too, surely—Oh!” Covering her face with her hands, Sylvia leapt from her chair and ran out of the kitchen.
“Damn,” Brett muttered, his cheeks red. Then he, too, departed the kitchen without saying another word.
B RETT HURRIED up the stairs after Sylvia. He didn’t want to talk to her right now, but he had no choice. Only a jerk would leave her alone. She’d closed the bedroom door behind her, and he rapped before opening it.
“Sylvia?” Expecting her to be on the bed, crying, he was surprised when she stepped from behind the door and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Automatically his arms came around her, but he didn’t tighten the embrace. “Sylvia,” he protested as she almost choked him.
“I’m so sorry, Brett. Please forgive me. I was only trying to help, to build us a brilliant future. I thought you’d be so proud of me.”
Brett took her shoulders and pushed her away from him so he could see her face. She certainly sounded upset, but he noticed she hadn’t shed any tears.
“Look, Sylvia—” he began, almost ready to voice the feeling that had been growing in him all day. She would call him fickle, but whatever emotion had led him to accept her proposal, it wasn’t there now.
She pressed her hand across his mouth. “Please forgive me, lover. I’ll agree to whatever you want. I only want you to be happy!” Then she leaned into him again, her lips covering his.
Again Brett held her at arm’s length. Things were growing more awkward by the moment. How could he bring up his indecision when she was being so self-sacrificing? “Look, Sylvia, maybe we’d better—”
“Make love to me, Brett. Take me in your arms and make me forget everything. I promise to make you happy!” She pushed against his hold, reaching out for him.
“Now? Sylvia, the entire family is waiting downstairs, wondering what’s going to happen. We can’t—”
“Let them wait. We’re more important right now. We’re going to become one, to form a family, to have children. Don’t you see, Brett?”
Brett had thought a number of times about having children, like his brothers, but this was the first time Sylvia had ever mentioned that possibility.
“You want children?”
“Of course! Don’t you?”
“Yes, but—but I have to go downstairs right now. I
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