brides for brothers 03 - cowboy groom Read Online Free Page A

a hot temper. I’m always calm.”
    “Ah, my mistake.”
    His grin told her he was laughing at her, which only made it harder to control the emotions she’d learned to curb years ago. What was wrong with her?
    “So, are you going to answer my question?”
    “You have so many questions I can’t remember it.”
    “About Doc.”
    “Dr. Jacoby has been very supportive,” she said primly, not mentioning how the doctor and his nurse, Mrs. Priddy, had both helped her settle in and had recommended her services to patients. She’d been touched by both their responses.
    “Good.”
    She rose from her chair and washed her plate at the sink.
    “How about some cake, now that you’ve finished your dinner?”
    “No, thanks,” she assured him, and turned around, only to discover him beside her, his own dish in his hands. “Red certainly trained you all well.”
    “You bet. He’d wring my neck if he came in here in the morning and found dirty dishes in the sink. And he always knew who the guilty party was.” He shook his head in wonder.
    “Sylvia should be grateful. You’ll be a much better husband.”
    “I don’t much think Sylvia will care. She’ll expect a maid to keep everything clean,” Brett said, grimacing.
    “You don’t like the idea of a maid?”
    “I don’t see how she’ll fit in here on the ranch.”
    Anna knew she should drop the subject. After all, it was none of her business. But she couldn’t help herself. “Surely you wouldn’t give up living with your family?”
    Brett leaned against the kitchen cabinet and crossed his arms over his chest. “I don’t want to. I guess I hadn’t thought too much about the future.”
    “You have time. After all, you haven’t set the date yet.” She started to walk to the door, but Brett caught her arm.
    “Wait a minute. What about you?”
    “Me? What do you mean?”
    “Which cowboy do you have tied up in knots?”
    He was smiling at her, those brown eyes warm, his touch sending chills up her arm. “I—I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    “I’m talking about your love life. After all, we’ve discussed mine.”
    She stiffened. “I didn’t mean to pry.” Tugging on her arm, she kept her gaze down.
    “Hey,” Brett said softly, lifting her chin with his other hand. “I wasn’t complaining. But I’m curious about you. Thought maybe you might have wedding plans of your own.”
    “No.” When he still didn’t release her, she added, “Well? Did you want to know anything else?”
    “Yeah, I can think of several things. Why are you so touchy? And what’s wrong with the men around here?”
    “I’m not touchy. And I’m not looking.”
    “Why?”
    “What is this? Twenty questions?” She tilted her chin in the air and gave him an exasperated look.
    “Red always said I was the curious one. Drove him crazy with that word. Guess I haven’t changed much.”
    “You look grown-up.” She couldn’t help teasing him. He was such an easygoing, likable man. As sexy as any man she’d ever been around.
    And off-limits. For a lot of reasons.
    Suddenly his grip on her arm disappeared, but before she could react, he’d grabbed her by the waist, lifted her into the air and spun around. “Brett!” she protested.
    “Don’t let looks fool you. I’m still a kid at heart,” he assured her, setting her on her feet again.
    She took a deep breath, trying to slow the beating of her suddenly racing heart. “I can see.”
    His hands remained on her waist, and the heat from his touch was spreading all over her. She pulled from his arms and walked to the door. It was time to end this midnight visit. And she would avoid all others in the future.
    “Wait. I’ll walk up with you.”
    She wanted to run from the room, but such behavior would only tell him how much he affected her.
    And he did. She wanted to touch him, to feel his muscular arms around her again. To claim his caring for her own. She was like a plant parched for water being touched by a