Cameron, Paige - The Billionaire Rancher Buys a Wife [Wives for the Western Billionaires 2] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) (11 page)

Her hazel eyes were greener tonight, with specks of gold. He hugged her softness, enjoying the feel of her. “You’re beginning to know me. I can’t understand why you’d have any questions about what I say.” He frowned at her, pretending to be offended.

She giggled into his neck. He loved when she let down her defenses. He saw in a quick moment how she must have been as a young girl. He kissed her neck where he knew she was ticklish. She lifted her shoulders to get away from him and giggled again.

“I hate to end this, sweetheart, but we have to get back to the main cabin.” He lifted her off him. “Another minute, and I’d have had to take a cold shower.”

With his hand at her back, he followed her down the hall and back to her seat. He waited at her side to see her belt was fastened.

Brent quirked an eyebrow at Drake, when he sat in the chair next to him. “I thought I might have to tell the pilot to circle,” Brent whispered, a gleam of mischief in his eyes.

“Hush up,
little
brother, and fasten your belt,” Drake said, and laughed at Brent’s frown.

Janice had opened her purse and hopefully missed Brent’s teasing remark. For a modern, independent woman, she still had a slightly puritanical way of thinking. Drake grinned, but he was making inroads in changing her ideas.

The plane dipped to the east and began to descend. He hadn’t been home in almost a year. He couldn’t wait to see his folks and Ty, the youngest brother.

Also, he had to call
Jackson
and see if the papers for the sale were going to be faxed to him. His surprise for Janice was almost complete.

* * * *

A tall, broad-shouldered man with salt-and-pepper, short hair, waited beside a large silver truck. Janice saw the resemblance to Drake and Brent right away.

“Glad to see you boys home,” their father said. Both sons stepped forward and hugged him. “Who’s this pretty lady?” He smiled at Janice.

“Dad, this is Janice Dedrick. Janice, my dad, Joseph Terrell.”

She put out her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, sir.”

Joseph Terrell gave her hand a yank and pulled her into his arms for a hug. “We don’t stand on formality around here, and if my boy has brought you home, then you’re important to him. Just call me Joe.”

Mr. Terrell smelled of horses and cigars. He kept one arm around her shoulder. “My missus is going to be tickled pink to see you,” he assured Janice. “Get those suitcases loaded up. Momma’s waiting with coffee and sandwiches.”

Drake and Brent put the luggage in the back. Drake helped Janice into the back seat of the truck. His father drove with Brent in the seat beside him.

“I hope Mom made one of her famous lemon meringue pies,” Drake said.

His father threw him a glance over his shoulder. “Do you think she’d miss baking one with you on the way home?” All three men laughed.

Janice felt off-kilter. Drake’s family was so demonstrative and big, and overwhelming. Her mother and father were reserved at all times. Sometimes she’d longed for them to be spontaneous in some way. It never happened. Vacations were planned down to the last minute. Lives were orderly and moved in an expected direction.

She’d been coached through life to excel in all areas. When she came home, her mother greeted her and brushed a cool kiss on her cheek. Her father smiled and told her he was glad to see her. She knew they loved her, but too much emotion had been frowned upon.

“Are you all right?” Drake bent his head to see her face. “You’re very quiet.”

“I’m absorbing all my initial impressions. Your father is sweet,” she whispered into Drake’s ear.

Drake chuckled. “Don’t let him hear you describe him that way.” He draped his arm around her and pulled her close to his side. “Everything’s going to be fine. Relax and enjoy your visit.”

“I will, I am.” But she knew she’d stiffened in his father’s arms when he’d hugged her, and Mr. Terrell noticed. He’d raised an eyebrow questioningly, smiled, and let her go, except for the one arm over her shoulder. She hoped he didn’t feel she’d responded coldly.

Drake’s finger ran across the frown line between her eyes. “Don’t worry,” he repeated. He tipped her chin and brushed a soft kiss on her mouth. “Taste good, feel good, can’t beat it.”

“You two behave back there.” Mr. Terrell spoke in a light tone.

Janice looked into the rearview mirror and saw his warm smile. When she glanced at Drake, the same smile reflected back at her. “Two peas in a pod,” she mumbled, but Drake heard her and laughed out loud.

Lights blazed from the farm house. Janice saw a woman standing at the front door waiting. Her muscles tensed. More introductions to get through. She was so tired. She wanted to fall into bed and sleep all night and part of the day. Pulling away from Drake left her feeling cold and alone. Hopefully, her hair and clothes weren’t too messy.

Drake took her hand. “You’re beautiful.”

“Right, in the middle of the night with rumpled clothes and my hair mussed.”

He squeezed her hand as the truck stopped in front of a wide, open porch.

Mr. Terrell turned. “Welcome to our home, Janice.”

“Thank you.”

Brent and Drake got out and Drake reached for Janice. He scooped her up and carried her toward the porch.

“Put me down.” She pushed at his chest. “Your mother will think I’m a weakling.”

He set her on her feet. “There. Come meet her.” Taking her hand, he led her toward the door and the small woman, who was welcoming Brent with a hug.

His mother turned to Drake and frowned. “It’s about time you came home. Ten months is too long not to see your family.”

“I agree, Mom. But I brought home a surprise for you. Meet Janice Dedrick. Janice, my mom.”

Mrs. Terrell gave her a once-over before a big smile covered her face. “Welcome.” She opened her arms and Janice accepted another hug. Mrs. Terrell was shorter than her, about five and a half feet tall, and her sons and husband towered over her. She had golden brown hair sprinkled with gray and startling bright blue eyes.

“Let’s all go to the kitchen. Food’s ready to be eaten.”

She opened the door and motioned them inside.

Janice had an impression of large rooms, cream-colored walls, and shiny wood floors. They first entered a living room with a huge fireplace, then passed a dining room and went into the big eat-in kitchen. A table with six chairs sat beside one wall. Along two other walls were all the modern conveniences a woman could want.

“Sit and start eating. Ty will be along in a minute.”

Two plates loaded with sandwiches sat in the middle of the table. Mrs. Terrell brought over a bowl full of hot vegetable soup—the tantalizing scent hung in the air. She poured coffee for the men.

“Tea or coffee?” she asked Janice.

“Tea would be nice, if it’s not too much trouble.”

“No trouble.”

Drake walked across the kitchen to one of the counters. “Hmm, a chocolate cake, and a lemon meringue pie.” He smiled at his mom and picked her up, whirling her around.

“Put me down, right this minute.” Although her voice was firm, she had a smile on her face.

Drake did as she said, and then bent to kiss her. Something caught in Janice’s heart at the sign of such open love between Drake and his mother.

“Don’t hog her, Drake.” Brent moved behind his mother and hugged her. “The chocolate cake is for me.”

The sound of the back screen shutting had all their attention turned to the tall man standing in the doorway. He was slimmer than Drake or Brent, but not thin. Golden strands shone through his lighter brown hair. Dark blue eyes surveyed the group. Worn jeans covered his lean hips and long legs and a blue plaid shirt and wool vest kept his broad chest warm.

His eyes surveyed the room, stopping at Janice. A slow smile curved his mouth.

Another good-looking man, but he appeared more serious, less inclined to laugh or hug, she thought. He strolled across to the table.

“I’m Ty Terrell, and you are?”

“Janice Dedrick, a friend of Drake’s.”

“Ah, the one in danger.”

“Yes.”

He nodded and walked to the coffeepot to pour a cup of coffee. Drake and Brent joined him. Janice watched the interaction. Still much affection, but on a subdued level. Interesting, one brother so different than the other two.

Their father came in after Ty and joined his wife and Janice at the table. Seeing their father, Drake, Brent, and Ty quickly came to the table, and everyone began to eat the delicious soup and sandwiches. Janice was almost too tired for food, but did enjoy the warm soup.

She was relieved when they’d all eaten and Mrs. Terrell offered to show her upstairs to her room. Drake walked to the kitchen door with her, kissed her, and watched her start up the steps.

Mrs. Terrell showed her to a room off to the left at the top. She turned on the light. A white wrought iron bed was placed against the far wall. The bedspread was white with a gathered skirt hanging to the floor. White curtains with tiny pink roses hung on either side of the two windows and the white bedside tables had pink lamps. An open door, to the right, showed a small bath done in pink and white.

“This was to be my girl’s room, but after having three boys, we decided to give up, wait, and hope for granddaughters. Candice, Ty’s wife, stayed here a few times before their marriage.” She ran her hand across the bedspread. “Seems such a long time ago.”

Janice heard the sadness in Mrs. Terrell’s voice. “I didn’t realize any of your sons had married. Drake never mentioned a sister-in-law.”

“She’s gone.”

“They divorced?”

“Oh, no.” His mother smiled faintly. “The men in the Terrell family marry for life. She died in childbirth, lost the baby, too. Ty hasn’t been the same since.”

“I’m so sorry. I don’t know why Drake didn’t tell me so I wouldn’t say the wrong thing.”

“Honey, don’t you worry. You’ll be fine with us. I see the sweet love in your eyes when you look at my Drake. That makes you all right in my book. But the reason he probably didn’t mention the death is because we lost her four years ago. We all remember her and the baby, but we’ve gotten over the worst of the grief. Ty hasn’t. Well I’m sure you’re tired. I’m going back downstairs. If you need anything at all, just holler.”

She gave Janice a hug and hurried out the door. Janice heard her footsteps going down the stairs.

A quick bath and she planned to crash. The bright white and rose colors in the bathroom glared into her tired eyes. She turned on the warm water and let it pour along her body.

After what seemed only a few minutes, a masculine hand reached in and turned off the water.

“Honey, you’re about to go to sleep on your feet.” Drake wrapped a big, soft towel around her, dried her briskly, and carried her to bed. He sat her on her feet for a second while he pulled back the bedspread and top sheet, and then he lifted her onto the violet-smelling linens. Her head sank into the luxurious pillows. Drake ran the soft towel along her body, massaging her tired muscles as he went down her arms, back, and legs. Warmth followed in his wake. Her eyelids were so heavy.

* * * *

Drake smiled when he heard her gentle snore. He’d hoped his massage would help her go right to sleep. She’d been exhausted, mostly from all the strange incidents happening to her. Possibly he was partly to blame for his energetic lovemaking. He smiled at the thought. She was such a contrast. His demonstrative family had been a little overwhelming for her. Not surprising, knowing her father.