Journey of the Bride Read Online Free Page B

them again. “ Is this my cook? ” he asked, his gaze roving over her slowly.
     
    “ No, ” Paul said, his voice holding caution as he spoke.
     
    Courtney chose that moment to move toward the men. She smiled up at Brandon with as much sweetness as she could manage, and was glad that he seemed to appreciate what he could see. “ My name is Courtney le Brush, ” she told him. “ I am your wife. ”
     
     
     

Chapter Four
     
     
     
    The reaction to her statement was instantaneous. “ What? ” Brandon snarled, his appreciation dying in a wave of anger. His nostrils flared and he looked at his brother. One moment he stood next to Courtney, and the next he had his hand wrapped around his brother ’ s throat and the man pinned up against the door of the ranch house.
     
    “ What did she say? ” he snarled. Paul choked on the air around him.
     
    “ Brandon! ” Courtney snapped. She hadn ’ t expected him to hear her, but she had to try. She was surprised when the large man turned his head, letting her know he was listening to her. “ Put him down. ” He growled and tightened his grip. “ Now. ” She put her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes at him, unafraid of him.
     
    He laughed at her, dropping Paul and turning around to look at her. She didn ’ t flinch as he stalked closer to her. She tipped her chin up in defiance, wondering if he ’ d hurt her. Somehow, she didn ’ t think he would. God, she wanted him to kiss her though — and more.
     
    His eyes roamed over her once more. “ Did you put him up to this, Miss le Brush? ” he asked.
     
    She stared at him, appalled at his accusation. “ Excuse me? ”
     
    A smirk crossed his face. “ Did you put my brother up to this? ”
     
    “ No! ” she cried. “ I would never —” He turned away from her before she could finish her statement.
     
    “ Paul, what kind of a joke is this? ”
     
    There was tightly-held anger in his voice, and Courtney noted how he kept clenching his fists as if he really wanted to hit something. Or someone, she thought wryly.
     
    For all that he was smaller than his brother, Paul didn ’ t back down. Instead, he grinned at Brandon. “ You needed a woman to help you out around the ranch, Brandon. You need a good woman who will warm your food — and your bed. ” There was a smug grin on his face when Courtney glanced back between the brothers. Even Brandon eyed her from the corner of his eyes. Her knees felt weak again, but she refused to show it before the two men. She ’ d forgotten about that possibility. When she signed the paperwork and became Brandon ’ s wife, she ’ d installed her obligation to wifely duties like sex.
     
    She held her breath, looking up at Brandon with wide eyes, refusing to back down. He turned away, facing Paul again. “ I don ’ t need a wife, and I don ’ t want a wife, Paul, and you know why. ” His words came out between clenched teeth, as if he was fighting the urge to bite off his own tongue.
     
    Courtney crossed her arms over her chest. “ Enlighten me then, ” she snapped. “ Because I was never informed. ”
     
    Brandon spun around to face her once more, but then he glanced up, at the crowd of hired hands gawking at the spectacle they were creating and he cursed under his breath. Without another word, he took Courtney by the arm and led her into the house, shouting behind him for Paul to follow.
     
    The door banged closed behind them, and Courtney yanked her arm out of Brandon ’ s grasp with a huff. She glared up at him, rubbing the spot where he ’ d grabbed her. He hadn ’ t hurt her.
     
    On the contrary, his hold had been rather gentle despite his anger. It had scorched her though, and she knew it wouldn ’ t take much to entice her into his bed. Already, she wanted this argument said and done. She longed to stand on the tips of her toes and brush her lips against him. She wondered if his beard would tickle when she kissed him, wondered if he ’ d