Chapter 14 #2
It turned out that they did not need to make up an excuse to leave early.
The dinner party included some associates and their wives from Texas who had arrived in town and were staying at the ranch for a couple of days.
The men were interested in acquiring some cattle and discussing long-term investments.
Two of them were oil barons, with wives young enough to be their daughters.
They spoke with an exaggerated Texas drawl that had Julianne being entertained the entire time.
Even when they insisted on calling her "little lady," she could not take offense. She found them adorable and harmless. Even though she was heavily pregnant and happily married, they insisted on flirting with her.
"How far along are you, little lady?" Blake Farrady asked her as soon as they adjourned to the living room where the fire was blazing inside the hearth.
"Is that a polite thing to be asking?" she murmured teasingly. He was a big brawny man with a reddened complexion and a head of shaggy white hair, and his eyes were a twinkling blue.
"I'm told by my children that I'm the soul of indiscretion.
" He had planted himself next to her and insisted on being her server.
He was also ignoring his pretty blonde wife who was staring daggers at her.
He patted her knee. "You remind me of my Rachel.
She's my youngest and is on her second child.
" His expression turned wistful. The others were standing or sitting across the room, including her husband, who had tried to get her to leave early.
"They approve of my wife." His gaze drifted briefly to the obviously bored woman who was sipping her wine with a resentful look on her face.
"When my Mary died, I swore I would never marry again. "
"Then you fell in love and changed your mind," Julianne said helpfully.
Turning his head to look at her, he grinned boyishly. "You're making fun of me. No." He shook his head. "I fell into lust." He laughed loudly as she lifted her brows. "And I know what you're thinking."
"That you could have enjoyed the benefits without putting a ring on it?"
That made him laugh even louder, drawing the attention of the others in the room.
"I like you a lot," he announced, squeezing her hand. "What are the chances of you leaving that handsome cowboy and running away with me?"
"Slim to none." She patted her belly. "Even if this wasn't a factor, I'm afraid I'm completely in love with that handsome cowboy."
"Such is the pity." He looked genuinely regretful. "The next best thing I can do is invite you both to my ranch. Open invitation of course." Leaning over, he kissed her on the cheek. "You've made this visit a wonderful one."
"Are you planning on running away with Farrady?" Her husband asked her mildly as he smoothed the cream on her belly. "If that's the case, I'm afraid I'm going to have to kill him."
"He does have a loft in New York that overlooks the Statue of Liberty," she answered, pretending to consider it.
"I have three apartments in Manhattan."
"Any of them overlooking the Lady?"
He shot her a retiring look as he continued to smooth the cream into her skin.
"No, but I have the distinction of being younger and quicker on my feet.
Which means that I can chase that man to the ends of the earth and kill him with my bare hands.
He was constantly touching you. His wife is going to have him paying heavily. "
"His wife is a vapid blonde with big boobs and into him for the money. She will take whatever he dishes out."
Capping the bottle, he put it away and wiped his hands on the towel he had brought with him. "You like him."
She shrugged and pulled down her nightgown. "He's sweet." She smiled at him. "He did ask me to run away with him."
His eyes glittered. "And you said what?"
"I'd give it careful consideration." She caught his hands as he was about to move away. "I also told him that I'm completely and utterly in love with my husband."
"You might have just saved his worthless life," he growled.
Her expression sobered. "You never have to wonder if I'm interested in anyone else." Her hands lifted to cup his face. "You're it for me. Somehow you've managed to worm your way into my life." She grinned at the way his brows lifted. "I love you completely."
"You'd better," he warned hoarsely. "Because letting you go is not an option." His mouth seized hers in a kiss that had her clinging to him.
Christmas came with stark cold and a leaden sky, but Julianne was determined to make it special.
Not only for the family but the staff and the ranch hands as well.
There were food and gifts for the kids, a festive and roaring bonfire in the middle of the grounds in front of the barn, and gallons of hot chocolate to keep everyone warm.
There was also singing and an impromptu concert.
Everyone was given a pass that day where they were allowed to participate.
She had also insisted on Bryson driving her to the various children's homes to dispense gifts and food.
Jack was reluctantly roped in to play Santa, an idea that had him balking at first, but as Bryson told him dryly, he had a difficult time saying no to Julianne.
"You're a grown-ass man; all you had to do was say no."
"When have you ever been able to say that word to that lovely little lady?
" Jack growled back, glaring at himself in the mirror.
He looked ridiculous, with pillows stuffed under the red and white costume she had picked out for him.
"That woman's smile is like the touch of an angel.
You want to say no, actually feel the words coming, but they remain stuck inside your throat and something else comes out instead.
" With a defeated sigh, he wriggled his attached white brows experimentally.
"Should I be threatened that you're in love with my wife?" Bryson's voice was deceptively mild.
"Most of your men are. She's not only beautiful.
Most of the women you went out with in the past had that distinction.
Ms. Julianne has a rare quality. She's kind and compassionate and does not put on airs.
" He tested the belt holding the pillows in place and sighed again.
"All right, it's time to go and make a fool of myself. "
"You do look like an idiot, so it should come naturally."
"I can still kick your ass."
"I want to see you try." With a grin, Bryson clapped him on the back as they headed out the barn.
But he had to admit that his wife had the right idea and that Jack was right in his summation of her.
She had left nothing to chance. He had been concerned that she was doing too much in her condition, but she had insisted.
Lights were strung from one end of the property to the other and twinkled gaily.
Even though the weather was icy cold, children wrapped up in their layers ran around the huge bonfire under the watchful eyes of their parents.
And when they were not running around and shouting, they were gathered around Julianne. She was a natural. She was not like the other women who went out of their way to avoid the children's sticky fingers or pretended to be listening when they weren't. She really listened. And they adored her.
He felt his heart swelling as he continued to stare at her. Brian had come for the holidays and was helping to hand out gifts. The man was annoying as hell and said the most inappropriate things, but he was growing on him, Bryson mused with an inward smile. Wonders never ceased.
"I brought you a cup of hot chocolate."
The voice had him tearing his eyes away from his wife to look at his mother.
"You didn't have to do that."
"I wanted to." She handed him the steaming cup and looked over to where Julianne and Brian were surrounded by kids. "She's a natural."
"I hope you don't mind her taking over the usual holiday activities."
"No." Barbara shook her head hastily. "This is even better. It's what I had in mind when I first came to the ranch. I wanted to plan something special for the children, but your father shot down that idea. I just stopped trying after that."
Bryson touched her hand briefly in shared sympathy. "He wasn't a man who welcomed changes."
"No. He hated it. Your wife is bold and confident. Of course, it helps that you support her every step of the way."
Bryson smiled at that. "I can't see Julianne allowing me to stop her from doing something she sets her mind on." He grimaced wryly. "She's a very stubborn woman. It's her least attractive quality."
His mother turned to look at him, and what she saw on his face had her heart twisting. "You love her very much, don't you?"
"More than my life," he responded simply.
"I never had that." She shook her head when he opened his mouth to speak.
"No, it's fine. At least now, I can look back and realize that I let myself be led into a direction I didn't want to go.
" She turned to look at the laughing woman seated on a chair, with children gathered around her.
And admitted at last that what she had felt for Julianne was envy. It was still there, but not as potent.
"It's no use wishing that things were different, that I had behaved differently, that I had stood up to that insufferable man.
" She squared her thin shoulders. "I'm finally letting myself be happy.
" She smiled as her gaze touched on Brian.
He was in part a reason for her turnaround.
He brought out a joy in her that she never knew she could feel.
It wasn't sexual, heaven forbid! The man was younger than her son.
It was a genuine friendship that had sprung up between them.
Linking her hand through her son's arm, she suggested, "Why don't we go and join in the festivities? I see that Jack is about to hand out gifts to the children."
Tugging her arm, he turned her to face him. "I love you, mother."
Her eyes darkened with moisture. "I love you too, son. Now let's go before I disgrace myself and start crying all over you."