Branndon Jr. (4 page)

“Is
it okay if I bring April out in about fifteen minutes to brush one of the
horses?”

He’d
been so deep in thought that he hadn’t even realized that she’d slipped the
mittens on his hands. Now he looked and felt like a complete dork.

A
rodeo rider wearing his hat, boots, homemade-knitted scarf and fucking mittens.

“Sure,
that will be fine,” he said, just wanting to get out of the door before some
other indignity was thrown at him.

“Oh,
I almost forgot. Maddie said to tell you that Brody would like you to go see
him because there’s something he needs to talk to you about.”

“Me?”
said Branndon, pointing to himself, but realizing he couldn’t because of the
mittens. Brody wanting to talk to him. Could that mean trouble? “Okay, I’ll try
and get there tomorrow.” He hurried Jackson outside.

“You
mind if I get a photo of you?” asked Jackson.

“I’d
ditch this stupid scarf and these fucking mittens if it wasn’t for the fact
that she’ll be out in the stables soon and know I’m not wearing them and
probably humiliate me some more.”

Jackson
burst out laughing. “She might spank your butt, but maybe you’d like that.”

“What
are you talking about?” he asked his brother as they headed down the path to
the stables.

“I
see the way you look at her. There’s a gleam in your eye I’ve never seen
before.”

“Gleam
in the eye is from all the abuse I’ve been taking. I had to watch a kid’s show,
had to sing along with some weird looking dog and cat, and Pa’s got me roped
into crayoning with her tonight. And if that’s not bad enough,” he said as
Jackson slid the door open. “Did you hear what she said? Brody wants to talk to
me about something. You think Maddie’s finally told him about the joke I played
on her?”

“It’s
your own damn fault. I like jokes, but that one went a little too far. She’s
going to be our sister-in-law for shit’s sake.”

“I
know that now, but I can’t take back what I did to her.”

Jackson
put his hand on Branndon’s shoulder. “When he’s well enough he’s probably going
to beat the shit out of you, but you’ll have to take it like a man … especially
dressed like that.” Jackson burst out laughing, this time doubling over.

“At
least my horses don’t make fun of me,” said Branndon. He hadn’t seen them since
the day he’d left to go to the hospital, and he’d missed them like crazy. Why
would a man need a wife and kids when he had horses? They started fussing and
making that noise he loved to hear as soon as he turned the corner in the
stables.

“They’re
happy to see you,” said Jackson.

Branndon
walked over to the brown one he used most of all for his rodeo riding and ran
his hand over his back and mane.

“Kalispell,
it’s so good to see you, old buddy.”

The
other two grew impatient for his attention.

“Okay
guys, I’ll be right with you.”

He
and Jackson began cleaning out the stalls and then putting fresh straw in them.
By the time they were done, Susanne and April were standing there watching them
finish up with the chores.

Branndon
put his hands in his pockets so she didn’t see he was now mittenless.

“They’re
so pretty,” said Susanne.

“You
ride, don’t you?” asked Jackson.

Susanne
shook her head.

“Get
Branndon to give you some lessons while you’re here.”

Wow, this really
was surround Branndon and rope him up day.

“So
which horse can April brush for you?” asked Susanne.

“I’d
go with Cody here, he’s real gentle and likes a lot of fuss,” said Branndon.

He
handed April the brush and pointed to the black and white horse.

She
tried to reach up but was way too short. He didn’t know why, and when he felt a
twinge in his back, he knew he’d been foolish, but he lifted her up so she
could brush Cody’s mane.

“You
okay?” Susanne asked him. “You’re going sort of red in the face.”

“I’m,
well, my back is a giving me some trouble again.”

“Here
let me hold her,” Susanne said, taking over from him.

“He’s
pretty,” said April.

“Maybe
you’ll have a pony one day,” said Jackson.

“Yeah,
I want a pony,” said April.

“You
always did have a big mouth, Jackson,” said Susanne. “Okay, sweetie, I think
that’s enough and I think we should get back inside where it’s warm and dry.
You, too, Branndon.”

“Yes,
Branndon, you go back to the house and I can finish up here,” said Jackson.

“You
want to stay for supper?” asked Branndon. “Susanne’s a great cook.” He hadn’t
forgotten about trying to get these two together.

“No,
I have a date.”

“In
the middle of the week?” asked Branndon. “Anyone I know?”

“Don’t
think so. Now into the warm, big brother. We don’t want you ending up back in
the hospital.”

****

Susanne
still couldn’t get the image of Branndon singing along to the children’s show
out of her head. Even when she sat opposite him at the dinner table. It had
been so odd but refreshing to see another side of this hunk of a cowboy. She
sat spellbound, watching his big hands engulf the knife and fork. The dimple in
the chin just like the one both his dad and brother possessed, too. The broad
shoulders that she’d loved to put her arms around. She could go on and on just
like her mind had back in school. He had a bad-boy edge to him and she’d always
felt compelled to reform him one day. Several times today she’d seen a
weakness, a dent in the armor he’d always worn. Today she finally believed she
could reform him and turn him into a mere pussycat.

He
looked up from his meal and directly at her like he knew what she was thinking
and plotting.

“I
have some…”

She
was interrupted when the doorbell rang.

“You
expecting anyone?” she asked.

“Nope,
not tonight.”

“You
want me to go answer it?” asked Susanne.

“Sure,
and while you do that I’ll take all the dishes to the sink.”

Oh yeah, he’s
already turning into that domesticated pussycat.

Susanne
heard the female voices way before she opened the door to them. Five young
women stood on the doorstep with one holding a bottle of what looked like
champagne, in her hand.

“Hi.
Who are you?” asked the tallest of the bunch.

“I’m
Susanne, Branndon’s live-in nurse.”

All
five of them whistled at the same time. “Girls, I think we have ourselves some
competition. Maybe we should have dressed in nurse’s uniforms and shown
Branndon our nursing skills.”

“I’m
assuming you’re here to visit him?” asked Susanne. She was going to tell them
he was resting and couldn’t see anyone, but he’d probably hate her for it.

“We
sure are,” said a red-haired, young woman in a short, black dress.

“Guess
you better come in because it must be really cold standing there in such a
small amount of clothing.”

One
of the women made the sound of a cat meowing as they stepped inside. Maybe that
had sounded sort of catty.

“Wait
here and I’ll tell him you’re here,” said Susanne.

She
heard them whispering among themselves as she turned and walked toward the
kitchen. Branndon was rinsing dishes, handing them to April who then loaded
them into the dishwasher.

Wow,
that was a scene she never expected to see.

“So
are Smudge and Muggles on TV every day?” he asked April.

“It’s
Mudge and Snuggles,” she corrected him.

Susanne
wondered if he was getting it wrong on purpose.

“Monday
and Wednesday.”

“And
they’re your favorite TV characters?”

April
nodded so hard, Susanne thought her head might fall off. “I asked for them for
Christmas but Santa didn’t bring them to me.”

Susanne
bit her lip. She’d been short on cash what with setting up the business and the
puppets had been out of their budget.

“Maybe
you’ll have to ask him again,” Branndon said, handing her another plate. “In
fact, I’d do just that. Sometimes Santa’s hard of hearing.”

The
sound of the girls talking brought Susanne back down to earth and reminded her
why she’d walked into the kitchen.

“Branndon,
some of your fan club members are here to see you,” said Susanne.

He
turned and wiped his hands on the dish towel. “Guess I should go see them
before they get too rowdy,” he said.

He
walked by her and soon she heard the women’s voices getting louder and more
excited.

“There
he is, the hero of the day.”

“Good
evening ladies, why don’t we go to my room and we can have a nice visit
together?”

His
room. There were five of them. With him, that made six. Sort of small for that
many. Surely they’d be more comfortable in the living room. The room where she
could see them from the kitchen and check what they were up to with him. She
bit her lip. Shit, she was envious. No, she was downright
jealous
. She had no reason to be because she was his nurse, not his
girlfriend. He had every right to entertain who he wanted. Entertain? Is that
what they were going to do in his room? The way the women had dressed, she
seriously doubted just conversation was on the agenda tonight.

“Mommy.”

“What?
Sorry honey, mommy was thinking about something else.”

“When’s
Brannon going to color with me?”

“Soon.
He’s talking to some of his friends and he’ll be right with you. Why don’t you
get out your coloring book and crayons while you’re waiting?”

In
fact, she’d go along and try and hurry him up because April had to go to bed
soon. It would, in fact, give her the perfect excuse to go check on him. She
walked along the hallway, hearing the women giggling long before she got to his
door, and despite it even being closed. She put her ear onto it.

“When
are you going back on the circuit?”

“I
hope to take part in the contest in Dallas in late March,” said Branndon.

“You’ll
need to get back in shape and maybe we can help you get a workout.”

“Now,
ladies, I’m not up to having sex quite yet. My back is still sore, but I’ll
definitely let you know when I need a workout.”

“Then
maybe we can give you a hand job while we’re here,” said one.

“Even
a blow job. You know how much you like those,” said another.

Susanne
bit her lip again and before she knew it, she’d burst into the room. All five
women and Branndon looked at her.

“You
need something?” he asked her.

“Yes,
I need for all of you to leave because Branndon has to take his pills and he
needs his rest.”

“My
pills…” he asked.

“Yes,
come on girls, up you get, and you can visit him again when he’s convalesced some
more.”

All
five took turns to kiss him, not on the cheeks but the lips. Susanne glared at
them and they glared back at her as they filed out of the room.

“Night
Nurse Rachted,” said the tall one.

Nurse
who? Susanne then remembered that had been the name of the bitchy nurse in
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
.

“I
don’t like her one little bit,” she heard one saying to the other four as they
made their way out.

“What
was all that about?” asked Branndon.

“I
thought they might be tiring you out.”

“I’m
fine and I don’t think that’s the reason for you bursting in here like the
kitchen was on fire and then getting rid of them so quickly. I think you’re
jealous.”

“Me,
jealous? Why would I be jealous of five women who look like they…”

She
didn’t want to say the word hookers in case that crossed the line a little too
much.

“Then
if you’re not jealous that must mean you’re a prude.”

“I’m
a prude?”

“Shit,
Susanne. Would you stop repeating everything I’m saying?”

She
wasn’t aware she was doing it. She’d never done that before. “April has her
coloring book and crayons ready.” There she’d changed the subject.

“Okay,
let’s do some artwork and hope that doesn’t tire me out too much and I have to
take a pill for it.” He stood, gave her the sort of grin that only Branndon could,
and left the room.

Chapter Four

Good
thing he was concentrating and focusing on coloring because he was sexually on
edge. Not that he had any feelings or any connection to the women who’d dropped
by, but living under the same roof as Susanne had somehow stirred up his
libido. Each time he looked at her, he was feeling something he couldn’t quite
put his finger on. And now that he knew she’d been jealous of the women who’d
come calling, he guessed she felt something for him, too.

Susanne
leaned against the sink, coffee mug in hand, watching them work together to
fill in all the colors on the drawing of the house and garden. The kid had a
good eye for what color should match what object. If he remembered correctly, Susanne
was a pretty good artist herself. Kids had often knocked her sketch book out of
her hands as they ran by and called her names. Made reference to the fact that
her dad was the town drunk and often was arrested for passing out and sleeping
rough on the steps of one of Riker Creek’s businesses.

He
looked over at her again. That had been so wrong of all of them, him and
Jackson included. She’d obviously not found happiness in a marriage either. The
fact that she was raising April on her own intrigued him. She hadn’t even
mentioned an ex, and April hadn’t said one word about her dad.

“April,
a few more strokes and then you have to get ready for bed,” said Susanne.

Strokes.
The word made him think of the hand job Susanne had denied him. It would have
brought him release and now he’d probably have to jerk off again once he got to
bed.

“We
can finish this some other time,” he told April. It hadn’t been as bad as he’d
imagined.

April
closed the book and then she left with Susanne. Branndon stretched and yawned.
He had to go to see Brody tomorrow and maybe face the music. Guess being beaten
by a lady’s angry fiancé wouldn’t be much fun, but seeing how they were
brothers might ensure that Brody would go easy on him.

He
got up and headed to his room. Maybe he’d think about installing a TV in there
so he could watch some late night movies. Branndon sat on the bed and picked up
some of the magazines the women had brought him.
Rodeo Rider, Horse and Ranch.

He
looked up sensing he was being watched. Susanne stood in the doorway.

“Thank
you,” she said.

“For
what?”

“For
coloring with April and for letting her brush your horse.”

“Any
time.”

“It
means a lot to her because what with having no father around and no male figure
to hang out with … well, it’s sort of like she’s missing out.”

“I
take it you’re divorced.”

She
shook her head. “Never married. April’s the result of me misreading a man’s
intent,” she said, lowering her voice. She shut the door and then walked over
to the bed and sat beside him, close to his thigh. “However, I love her with
all my heart and don’t regret her coming into my life.”

He
smelled perfume on her. Not the cheap sort the women had worn, but spicy and
classy. He liked it.

“What
happened?” asked Branndon. He’d been dying to know and as she’d now opened up
the conversation to the topic, he didn’t feel like he was prying.

“I
met a man who I thought was perfect, but he turned out to be very imperfect. He
told me he didn’t want anything permanent. When I found out I was pregnant, he
took off like there was no tomorrow.”

“I’m
sorry to hear that. Does he ever see her?”

“No,
he’s never set eyes on her.”

He
couldn’t imagine any guy abandoning his own flesh and blood like that. “And she
never asks about not having a dad?”

“Once
or twice, when she’s seen other kids with their fathers in the playground.”

“What
have you told her?” asked Branndon. Suddenly his heart ached for the kid.

“That
she doesn’t need one because I’ve got enough love for her that I can be both a
mommy and a daddy to her.”

That
was the sweetest thing Branndon had ever heard.

He
touched the back of her hand before wrapping his fingers around hers and
squeezing. He felt her almost pull away and he wondered if he’d done something
wrong, crossed the line maybe.

“About
earlier.” Susanne made circles on the bed with her fingers.

“What
about it?” asked Branndon.

“When
I sent the women away.”

“Oh,
yeah, that.”

“I’m
sorry because I shouldn’t have done that. I was sticking my nose in where it
didn’t belong.”

“Maybe
you had my best interest in mind.” He wondered if she detected a touch of sarcasm
in his voice. He hadn’t really intended it to come out like that, but sometimes
his mouth worked quicker than his brain.

“I
could give you hand job.”

Shit.
Where had that come from? She’d suddenly turned scarlet and, her lower lip was
shaking. “Well, do you want me to or not?” she asked.

Oh
yeah, he wanted her to. He was already getting hard with her sitting this close
to him. “I do, but only if you want to. If you’re not comfortable with doing
that sort of thing then I’ll…”

She
pulled back the blankets, no doubt seeing that it wouldn’t take much for him to
get rock hard. “Pull down you PJs for me.”

He
loved the sound of her voice. Sort of like a whisper, but at the same time
being somewhat commanding. Branndon lifted his butt and dragged his pajama bottoms
down over his thighs. Susanne’s hand was on him in no time.

“You
remember what I said to you while you were in the hospital?” she asked him.

Yeah,
he knew. A guy never forget an insult about his prized possession. “About my
dick?” he asked.

Susanne
nodded as her hand moved up and down his shaft, turning him harder than he’d
ever been.

“I
was messing with you.”

“I
knew that.”

“It’s
big and gorgeous,” she said, picking up intensity and almost making him go
cross eyed.

He
took a deep breath, sensing he wouldn’t last long. Who would have thought Susanne
knew all the right buttons to push when it came to hand jobs? Branndon closed
his eyes, grabbed the sheets and pulled them up to him.

Take it easy. Take
a breath, last a little longer.

 
But she was making it too difficult to do
that. One last movement of her hand and he groaned, finding such a sweet
release that he was almost embarrassed at how quickly he’d come. He opened his
eyes and looked at her. “I can assure you I last a lot longer when I’m inside a
pussy.”

She
colored again.

“Usually
when a lady’s done this for me, she kisses me,” he added. He’d lied. Sometimes
women didn’t kiss him after, but he wanted to feel Susanne’s lips on his mouth.

Susanne
didn’t say anything but leaned over and put her lips on his. He tried to slip
his tongue over them, but she suddenly pulled away and stood up. “I’m sorry.
I’ve made a huge mistake.”

Were
there tears in her eyes as she fled the room? He hoped not because in his
opinion no mistake had been made.