Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off (20 page)

Was that a compliment from Mister Cranky Pants? “Thank you."

"Can you grab me a soda out of there?” Heath did not look up as he piled sandwiches and eggs on his plate.

"I'll carry it over for you.” She followed him to his seat. He was already shoveling the food in his mouth before walking away. He sat across from Buck and Jan. He gave Buck the evil eye before he continued eating.

A moment of sympathy passed through her, and she felt like patting him on the back or just giving him a hug. Heath seemed lonely and grumpy too often, but because he was so manly, she doubted he would appreciate any show of affection. Still, she opened the soda can and placed it in front of him.

He gave her a suspicious look and sniffed the finger sandwich before eating it.

"I didn't poison the food. Really Heath, how could I know which ones you would eat?” She laughed, and he shifted to keep from smiling. On some level, she knew he enjoyed being teased. It had to be hard being the oldest and then to have his youngest brother taking charge of things. Hopefully, after all her research and planning, she would make life more agreeable on all fronts for this family.

"Stop touching him, you're making me ill,” Heath said to Jan.

"Not ill, jealous."

"You're my sister. Why would I want you touching me?” Heath said.

"Gross, you want Jan to touch you? She has cooties,” Jack said as he entered the room. “Oh man. Heath, you ate all the tomatoes."

"Here.” She handed Jack his plate already made.

"For me?” he asked with sheer delight on his face. God was she glad Rafe told her what to put on there.

Bethany nodded.

"Thank you, sweetheart.” Jack stepped closer and kissed her sweet, slow, and long.

"Now, you're making me ill,” Heath commented.

"I'm definitely not touching you.” Jack looked at Heath, and Heath's face began to turn pink. He was not a happy man.

"I'll touch you,” Buck said. “Come on, Heath."

Then, Buck made a fish-like kissy face. Heath's face, however, could have pushed steam through his ears it was so red. “Why you little..."

"Now, now.” Rafe re-entered the room. “Be nice to each other, gentlemen. We have at least an hour to spend in this room together, and I don't want to break up fights or remove BBs from another man's ass again in my lifetime."

"You helped him out?” Heath asked.

"He was about to marry Jan. I couldn't have him hobbling down the aisle.” Rafe walked to the stove and picked up his plate with tomatoes on it. He was the only person besides her to pick up her cheese and crackers. Good grief, they were a lot alike. No wonder she got along with him so well.

The front door opened as Rafe sat down, and shortly after it clicked closed, an old man appeared in the doorway.

"Now, your granddad would be thrilled to see this sight right here,” he said. “You must be Jack's bride."

"Yes, I'm Bethany, please come in. Would you like some lunch?” She greeted the old man with a handshake. He looked her over and nodded approval.

"Sure you're not married to Rafe?” he asked. She paused, shook her head, and continued on without acknowledging the comment. Jack, however, acknowledged it. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She watched Heath nudge him on the shoulder as she stepped around to stand behind him. Placing her hands on Jack's shoulders, she smiled.

"I am definitely married and committed to Jack Johnson.” She squeezed his shoulders and realized how tense he was. His body always seemed tight, but she thought it was because the only time she touched him was during sex. Right now, she realized he could probably use the same hug and attention Heath needed. Gently, she let her fingers rub and caress his shoulders as she waited for the old man to take a seat.

"Well, let's get to it.” He plopped a briefcase, which looked about a hundred years older than him, on the table. “Here are the forms. You'll need to sign where I have it highlighted."

Rafe passed the forms down to Jack who handed them up to her. “Wait a second; this is page 12, 24, and 36. Where are the rest of the pages?"

Everyone laughed, and Jack reached back to pat her hand. “Sweetheart, granddad practically wrote a book with his will. Those are the forms applying to you."

"Well, I'm not signing them until I see the rest.” She patted his hand in the same placating way he had just patted hers. Did they think she was stupid?

"Here.” The old man pulled out a stack of paper. Two inches thick and bound with a plastic spiral cord like a notebook. “A little light reading, my dear."

"That's his will?” she said in shock.

"See why no one reads it all?” Jack asked.

"No.” She shook her head and made her way for the book. “Are you telling me no one here has read this?"

"I have,” the old man said and seemed to be getting uncomfortable as she stepped nearer. “And he wanted things done a certain way, missy."

"I have no doubt about it, but as you want me to sign a legal document, I am sure you understand my need to review all of the information included.” She placed her hand on the will. “Is this the only copy?"

"But you only need to sign and in three months..."

"In three months, you return to review our marital status. It doesn't say here Jack gets his money in three months.” She handed him the documents. Just skimming them, she realized something was definitely wrong with this arrangement.

"Well, now there are conditions, which must be met.” The guy grew more nervous and fidgeted with the briefcase.

"I understand, and I am sure those conditions are listed on pages thirteen or maybe twenty-five.” She hoped she was not coming off as a bitch, but really, how could she enter a contract and not know the terms?

"And you're sure you're not married to Rafe?” The old man laughed nervously. “He always told me Rafe would marry a smart one, and Jack would be the last to get hitched."

"I am married to Jack.” Bethany clarified and felt offended on Jack's behalf. “And after I read this ... book of a will, I will sign the documents for Jack's benefit."

"No, you won't.” The old man winked, and she felt very uncomfortable. Mumbles broke out about the table. “But you will come see me."

Paul, the old lawyer, stood. “Congratulations, Jack, you got a smart wife here. Hope she sticks around."

"I'm not going anywhere.” As she said it, she knew it was true. No matter what the will said, unless getting money hinged on getting divorced, she had no intentions of ever leaving Jack.

"That's right, sweetheart,” Jack announced. “And if she wants to read the whole thing, it's fine by me. Hell, someone should have done it long before now."

"Mom should have done it,” Heath said and stood.

"You can't leave, Heath. I have the plans all set to go over,” she pleaded. Then, she wanted to kick him as he stretched, adjusted himself, and then sat back down.

"I wasn't going anywhere.” He smiled in triumph.

"Good Lord, someone grab a camera the man is smiling.” Jan gasped in faux shock.

"Stop it, Heath, you're making me ill,” Buck teased.

"So, where are the plans?” Rafe asked.

Picking up the will, she headed for the living room toward the loft. “Be right back. Jack, don't let them leave. I need everyone here for this."

"They aren't going anywhere, sweetheart,” Jack said seriously as he looked at the will she held.

Bethany gulped and ran to the loft. Her first big meeting and she had a lot to cover. It was just like they trained them at school. A board meeting with all the high power executives, only they had no idea how much power they each held. With only a few hours of research coupled with the plans Heath had made a year ago, they could be up and running as soon as they chose to be.

"You can't be serious.” Jack knew it was the best decision, but it hurt like hell to hear it.

"Yes, I am. I know you've been managing the books, and I commend you on the job you've done, but Heath's the oldest, and he already has a business license. We can modify it to include all of you, no problem, but he has it now. The ranch is close enough to some ski slopes I think you can open it whenever you please. Summer is almost over, so if you do it now, things could be tight to get scheduled, but there's no reason people can't be here now unless the cabins aren't ready, and you know some of them are."

Bethany was amazing in full business mode. All her charts, graphs, and visual aids outlined the ranch, what each section could be used for, who should head up what section, and how it could happen right away. The woman he married a week ago was telling him how to make his dreams come true, and she was leading his entire family down the same path.

"They don't listen to me. Never have.” Jack watched Heath as he crossed his arms and leaned back. It was probably the best day of his life in all honesty. A woman was not only validating everything he had been telling them the past two years, but she was selling the entire family on the plan. There lay the crux of it all. Heath was right. They were not about to listen to him any longer. He had been a bear all throughout childhood, and he was not about to boss them in their adult lives.

"But we are listening to you,” Rafe pointed out, and Jack felt like kicking him for stealing his line!

"I agree, sweetheart, you seem to have a good grasp on delegating without, let's say, being a tyrant.” He winked, and she smiled. He knew she had to be nervous about giving the reins over to Heath and what he would think of the idea, but it made sense. Heath knew more people and had a better reputation than Rafe or himself. Rafe had been known for horses all his life, and Jack was known for wild antics and women. Heath had always been a cowboy, and he was always like a rock. Sturdy and dependable, he had worked on almost every ranch around by the time he was seventeen.

"That's a lot of pressure for her, don't you think?” Jan spoke up.

"She can handle it,” Buck spoke to his wife. “You've been trying for years to be a full fledged part of your brothers’ plans, honey. Don't get scared now."

"I'm not scared. I thought maybe it was a lot for Bethany. I mean, she's been here a week. She doesn't know about ranching, horses, cattle, or anything else going on around here.” Jan was obviously nervous and rightfully so. Bethany had made big plans to incorporate her on equal turf with them, and Jack knew as much as she would not admit it, Jan had become comfortable in the role of baby sister.

"You're right, Jan. I don't, but I know about business, and I know about profits and marketing and staffing. I know about the health codes and technicalities of running a dining facility. I know about insurance and investments. I know the four of you are sitting on a lucrative opportunity. What I don't know is if you're all ready to take this opportunity and make it into something.” Bethany still spoke in business tone.

She had her shoulders back and her eyes directed at Jan. Jack hadn't had trouble keeping himself in check around women until this moment. He could feel his heart pounding and his groin tighten. Something about her called to him on a basic level. There in the kitchen with his entire family sitting around the table, he was getting a boner just watching his wife.

"Chicken?” Heath teased Jan.

"Yeah, Jan, are those feathers sprouting over there?” Rafe joined in.

"What about school?” Buck came to his wife's defense. “How much time is the website and newsletter going to take? This is her last year. She's worked too hard to just stop."

"It won't interfere with school. It's important she finishes her degree. It will be vital to running the kids’ camps in the summer to have an educator on board. In the meantime, Heath or I can help her if it gets to be too much.” Bethany nodded.

"Heath?” Jan asked.

"Well, yes. I mean he has a degree in..."

"Bethany!” Heath smacked the table, jarring Jack from his daydreams about Bethany being all businesslike in the bedroom.

"Don't yell at my wife.” Jack nudged his older brother and took a good look at him. Heath was blushing, full on red face. “What the hell are you embarrassed about?"

"How did you find out?” Heath asked Bethany as he shifted in his seat, looking more uncomfortable than Jack ever remembered seeing him.

"It was on the loan application. You have a bachelor's degree in business; it shows. You should be proud of it.” Jack watched his big brother squirm even more as his wife complimented him. Too much a man to take much more, Heath got up and walked around the kitchen grumbling under his breath.

"What did I say?” Bethany sounded confused, and who wouldn't be?

"Nothing, sweetheart. Are we good for today? It's a lot to digest.” He turned his attention toward her. She looked hurt by Heath's reaction.

"You did good,” Rafe praised her. Damn him! He seemed to always be communicating with her. Jack totally understood now how Heath went off the deep end when Chance had come to him with the news of her acceptance into a culinary arts program. They were friends, and she was going to surprise Heath but could not keep the secret bottled up. Now, Rafe seemed to have a friendship with Bethany, and it grated his nerves.

"Yes, sweetheart, you did very well.” So lame. Even to his own ears, it sounded like he was just trying to reinforce Rafe. “Don't you all have someplace else to be now?"

"Jack.” Bethany had a surprised look on her face. It was rude, and he knew it, but he was aggravated with his brothers, and Buck surely had to get back to work soon.

"What? You fed them, set out a plan for the ranch, it's going on six now, and I'd like some time with my wife before I hit the sheets.” Shameless, he meant every word. He wanted his family out of his house.

"Come on, Rafe. You can stay at my place,” Heath offered.

"I'm all set. Savanna has a test in the morning. I can still get there and help her study.” Rafe got up, grabbed his hat, and headed out. “See ya in the morning."

Bethany began clearing the table of plates, and he wished he could help her, but if he stood, the rest of his family would not be pleased with him.

"You're welcome at our place for dinner.” Buck offered Heath, a monumental statement coming from the kid. One of her most important points was there had to be a truce. If the family could not work together, the whole ranch would fall apart. Jack held his breath waiting for Heath's reply.