Chapter 11 #2
"Did you happen to see your mother and Brian still in the salon?"
"Which one?" He started stripping off his clothes and kicking them out of the way. "I came straight up here from the mudroom. I was filthy. We had to clean out the feeding troughs and there was a busted pipe in one of the cottages. Why do you ask?"
"I left them there. They seem to have hit it off."
He glanced over at her as he tugged the shirt over his head, his brow quirked.
"You sound displeased."
"No." Finishing the last twist of her hair, she gathered them all and snapped on a rubber band to hold them in place on top of her head.
"Brian can be very charming, and he took it upon himself to give your mother the full works.
They barely noticed I was at the dinner table.
I've never seen your mother smile before. "
"I'd say that's a good thing. If he's concentrating on my mother, he won't have time to have his hands all over you."
She gave him an arched look as she rose, slipped off her robe, and climbed into bed.
"You cannot possibly be jealous of Brian. Darling, he's gay."
"Is he?" Bryson muttered, feeling like a complete idiot. "It didn't seem that way when he was touching and kissing you. I wanted to hurt him."
Julianne laughed, eyes twinkling.
"It's not bloody funny." He sat to take off his socks, tossing them with the pile of clothing heaped on the floor.
"It kinda is. And cute too."
"Nothing cute about the way I imagined rearranging his pretty face." Standing, he slipped out of his underwear and had her staring. No matter how often she saw him, she would never get used to how magnificent his body was.
"Stop looking at me like that," he murmured, voice turning husky. "I'm trying to hold out for the wedding night."
Dragging her eyes away, she leaned back on the pillows and closed her eyes. "Go, then."
He stood there for a few seconds and was sorely tempted to climb into bed and slide into her.
Shaking off the need, he scooped up his clothing and went into the bathroom.
Adjusting the temperature, he stepped under the jet spray and closed his eyes, allowing the water to work out the kinks of weariness in his body.
In another two days he was getting married.
In two days, Julianne was going to be his wife, bear his name.
He could not wait. With a rueful laugh, he opened his eyes and was immediately reminded of the last time he had stood under the shower.
She had come up behind him and blown his mind with her hands. Just her hands.
He stood there with the water beating down on him and half expected her to turn up again. In fact, his body instantly started yearning. He did not have to look down to know the reaction to his thoughts. He was already hard.
He was going to have to switch to a cold shower, he thought wryly. Adjusting the temperature again, he endured the icy cold water on his skin and waited until he had shriveled enough before stepping out and reaching for a towel.
She was fast asleep. For a stunned minute, he stood at the side of the bed and stared at the sleeping woman. She was snoring softly, hands clasped under her cheek and in her usual fetal position, with her knees drawn up almost to her chin.
While he had been torturing himself in the shower, thinking and hoping that she would make an appearance, she had fallen asleep. With a rueful chuckle, he pushed back a lock of hair that had fallen over her forehead before striding to the dresser to take out something to put on.
Sliding into bed, he slipped his arm under her shoulder and eased her into his arms. With her scent in his nostrils, he soon fell asleep with her tucked securely against him.
Bryson felt himself stiffening as the man came to stand next to him. He had left Julianne still sleeping, and after a hurried gallon of coffee, had been at it for the past two hours. He had assumed the man would be busy either charming his mother or chatting with Julianne.
"He looks spirited."
Ignoring him, Bryson called out to the stable hand. "Loosen his reins a little. That's it. He needs to know who's in control. Not so fast. Take him through his paces."
"McNab."
"Lewis," Bryson murmured in a scrupulously polite tone without glancing at him. He issued more instructions to the man handling the horse.
"Julianne suggested I take a spin around the property."
"There are horses in the stable. Pick one. Just don't get lost. We're too busy today to search for you."
Brian grinned, not in the least bit offended by the scathing remark. "As much as I want to take you up on that, I don't ride."
Bryson turned his head to give the man a look of surprise. "Why the hell not?"
Brian shrugged, sliding his hands into the pockets of his elegant slacks.
He was not dressed for the rough outdoors, but he refused to lower himself into wearing denims, which seemed to be the preferred uniform of the various cowboys he had seen since he left the ranch house.
That included the decidedly sexy and magnificent specimen standing next to him with one booted foot propped up on the railing.
"Never had the desire to climb on one of those magnificent creatures. I have a plane, a yacht, several cars, but horses are not my thing."
"You're missing out."
"Says the typical cowboy. How about a nice four-wheel-drive jeep? Julianne said you would take me."
"Julianne is mistaken. I have work to do and really don't have the time to play tour guide."
"I'm sure she would love to hear that her darling man refused to entertain her best friend," Brian murmured, turning to watch the horse buck and paw the air. "He seems upset and ready to bolt."
Hissing out a curse, Bryson turned towards the stable hand. "Put him through his paces again and cool him off. Let's go," he snapped at Brian. Without waiting to see if the man was following, he strode towards the garage.
"My God." Brian breathed the sharp, sweet air filling his nostrils. "It's spectacular. How does it feel to own all of this?"
"It's a hell of a lot of work." Bryson was still steaming that the man had used Julianne to manipulate him.
"I'm sure it is." Brian tore his eyes off the rolling green hills, the cattle dotting the horizon and the sight of the men out and about doing various activities.
And it was not just men; he had spotted several women picking fruits or hanging out linens.
Leaning back in the passenger seat, he stretched his long legs out and relished the breeze sliding through his blond hair.
"You're pissed that you have to be doing this. "
"What gave it away?"
Brian chuckled. "She has a hold on you."
"What?"
"Julianne. You love her to pieces and bits."
"I don't know what the bloody hell that means. We're approaching the slaughterhouse. Want to take a look?"
Brian shuddered delicately. "Not even if I was held at gunpoint. I keep forgetting that you supply beef to the public. So, those nice and amiable-looking bovines will soon be on people's plates. Thank God, I've decided to do away with beef."
"What about chicken?" Bryson asked with a snicker. "Because we have several coops for the specific purpose of gracing people's dinner plates."
Brian turned his head to give him a dirty look. "You're enjoying yourself, aren't you?"
"Immensely. I was reluctant to do this at first, but now I'm the one being entertained."
"I'm happy to be the butt of your very sick mind. It's cold."
"You should have had the good sense to put on something other than a flimsy expensive jacket," Bryson told him in an insensitive tone. "And check the bloody weather."
"It would help if you put the windows up."
"You're allowed to put yours up. Me? I love this kind of weather. Had enough?"
"You're a cruel man, McNab."
"Just a very elated one at the moment. We'll take a run to the orchard and then turn around. I have things to do."
"You lied to him." Julianne was enjoying a late breakfast in the small informal dining room when Brian made his appearance and told her where he had been. Barbara had already left for the morning to attend several meetings.
"I used your name, which is magic where that man is concerned." He poured a cup of coffee and stacked a plate with flaky croissants and poached eggs. He had eaten already, but zipping through the cold, bracing air had made him hungry.
"Bryson is a very busy man, and I'm almost certain he did not appreciate you coercing him to take you on a tour."
"Oh, he paid me back in spades," Brian told her wryly as he pulled up a chair and sat next to her.
"He had me freezing and told me some gruesome stories about slaughtering and whatnot.
And he just happened to pass by the section where the branding was going on.
It was inhumane." He shuddered. "I'm sure he was expecting me to puke, but I have my dignity and held on until he dropped me off at the front door and left.
Dear Barbara's stunning white rose bushes got watered with my stomach lining. "
He lifted his plate. "Hence the second breakfast. Your man is a heartless one and I would try to persuade you to rethink the wedding, but I fear you're too far gone." He sent her a baleful look when she burst out laughing. "It's not funny."
"Serves you right for baiting him like that and lying to him."
Brian shrugged, choosing a homemade strawberry compote to coat his croissant. "It seemed like a good idea at the time." His mood lightened, and he grinned at her. "The man knows his business."
"He does," Julianne concurred proudly as she rose to get some more tea. Sitting back down, she cradled the cup, her expression pensive. "I'm getting married tomorrow."
"How do you feel?"
"Wonderful and a little scared."
"I suppose that's a normal reaction. It's a big step. And you love him."
"Like crazy." She laughed softly. "And cannot wait to be his wife." She blew out a breath. "I never thought I would say such a thing."