Free brides for brothers 03 - cowboy groom by judy christenberry

here.”
    “Oh…that’s good,” Janie said. Her enthusiasm sounded hollow, but Brett didn’t seem to notice.
    Anna hoped no one noticed her reaction, either. It wasn’t that she expected Brett to turn to her if he broke his engagement with Sylvia. Of course she didn’t. It was just that she wanted what was best for Brett.
    Which, of course, didn’t explain the depression that filled her.
    Brett didn’t seem any happier than the rest of them. With a dismal look on his face, he said, “Yeah. Well, I’ve got to find Jake.” He backed out of the door, letting it swing shut behind him.
    J AKE LAY IN HIS BED , his hands behind his head. It had been a long day, but he had a lot to think about. He’d had his doubts about Sylvia Sanders when Brett had announced his engagement. Her behavior tonight had done nothing to improve his opinion of her.
    But if Brett loved her, wanted her, he’d support him to his dying day.
    If what Brett said was true, that Sylvia had apologized and sworn she’d be happy living on the ranch, then who was he, Brett’s brother, to complain? And she’d apologized to Red, too. After all, she was used to servants. He supposed her mistake at dinner was a natural one.
    But somehow Jake wasn’t reassured.
    With a sigh, he settled down against his pillow. The sun rose early in the morning. He couldn’t lie awake all night worrying about his brother’s love life.
    A few minutes later, just as he was drifting off, the turning of his doorknob roused him. But he figured if one of his brothers needed him, he’d make a more strenuous effort to awaken him. In the silence, he again sank into slumber.
    Until cold, slender fingers ran up his back.
    And warm lips traced his spine.
    Man, he was having some kind of vivid hallucination, he thought with a smile. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had such a dream.
    A warm body, ripe and voluptuous, rubbed against him, sending an alert signal all over his body. He was just considering turning over, to really enjoy his dream, when a sexy voice whispered in his ear.
    “Brett? Why didn’t you come? I’ve been waiting for—”
    Jake almost landed on the floor beside his bed. He wasn’t having a dream. Instead, he had a misguided visitor.
    He reached for the bedside lamp.
    “Uh, Sylvia? I think you’ve made a mistake.”
    Sylvia was on her knees on his bed, staring at him in shock.
    Man, she was loaded for bear. Jake couldn’t help staring at her. Her robe was hanging open, revealing one of those black lace teddies he’d seen in the stores. Her breasts were barely covered, and the sides were cut up to her waist.
    “Jake!” Sylvia half screamed.
    “I think you’ve come to the wrong room,” he said, hoping that was the explanation.
    “But—but I counted! He said the second door on the left!”
    Jake blew out his breath and wished she’d cover herself. He didn’t like looking at his future sister-in-law in such disarray. “I imagine he forgot to mention the linen closet. He’s in the second bedroom, but the third door.”
    “Ooh!” Sylvia exclaimed, frustration filling her voice. She scooted from the bed and wrapped her robe around her, then turned to stomp from the room.
    Jake, now that he was alone and thoroughly awake, shoved back the covers and crossed over to close the door. He couldn’t help looking out into the hallway to see Sylvia stomping down it in the direction of her room, not Brett’s.
    He guessed Sylvia wasn’t the only one who’d be frustrated tonight if Brett was expecting a visit from his fiancée.
    S YLVIA DIDN’T APPEAR at breakfast the next morning. Anna didn’t think anyone was surprised. After all, she was pretty sure Sylvia’s daily schedule didn’t include breakfast at sunrise.
    Brett, as he was leaving with the other men, asked Janie and Megan if they would entertain Sylvia today. They both agreed, false smiles on their faces. Brett didn’t seem to suspect how little they were looking forward to that task.