The Christmas Twins by Tina Leonard

Author:Tina Leonard
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2006-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Jessie heard a crack and a thump and realized her brothers had not been candid with their reasons for wanting to meet Zach. “You hurt him!”

She rushed forward and knelt beside Zach. “Are you all right?”

“I was better about five minutes ago,” Zach said, rising to his feet. He looked at her brothers with a frown. “Settle your issues, boys, and move along.”

“The issue is Jessie,” one said, but Jessie put out a hand.

“No, I am not the issue. Apologize! Both of you. And introduce yourselves properly. Or I’m not leaving with you.”

They shifted, glaring at Zach. “I’m serious,” she said. “If you’re going to be medieval about this, you might as well go home.”

They took that comment in with frowns. Just when she thought this might be the first time her brothers didn’t listen to her, they each put out a reluctant hand.

“Robert Farnsworth,” the taller of the two said. “This is my brother Cedric.”

Zach nodded. Jessie noticed he didn’t touch his chin, which had to ache, judging by the redness on it and how hard Robert had hit him. “I am so ashamed of you,” she told her brothers. “Zach, I do apologize. They’ve never acted like cavemen before.”

“I’d invite you in,” Zach said, “but you’d probably prefer to say your piece on the porch.”

“Actually, we’ve said all we have to say,” Robert said.

“Excellent.” Zach nodded, handing Jessie’s keys to her. “You know where your car is, Jessie. Glad you have someone to accompany you home. I won’t worry about you.”

He closed the door.

Jessie’s jaw dropped. “Zach!” She wouldn’t reduce herself to banging on a man’s door to get his attention, but her heart jumped wildly inside her. “You did not help the situation,” she told her brothers.

“I wasn’t thinking,” Robert said. “I’m sorry, Jessie. I’ve just been wanting to do that so badly ever since you told me what he did to you.”

“He did exactly what I wanted him to,” Jessie said between clenched teeth. “Oh, Pepper! I’m so glad you’re here.”

Pepper glanced up in the process of hauling a big bag out the door with her. “Hi, Jessie.” She locked the front door and stood. “I’m Pepper Forrester,” she said to Jessie’s brothers. “You must be the reason I had to put a cold cloth on Zach’s face.”

“We should apologize,” Robert said.

“Well, I don’t think it’ll matter.” Pepper lugged the case down the steps. “He’s not in a listening mood. Kind of funny and temperamental that way.”

“Can I carry that for you?” Cedric asked.

“Oh, no,” Pepper said. “We Forresters stick tightly together, so I’ll have to forego the niceties you’re offering. Goodbye, Jessie.”

“Pepper!” Jessie exclaimed.

“This is kind of an odd bunch,” Cedric said, watching Pepper wrestle with her huge bag on the way to her truck. “I feel like I’m on a set of Gunsmoke. Jessie, I don’t know what you saw in that cowpoke.”

Jessie whirled on her brothers. “Let’s just get my car and go. You’ve quite destroyed any credibility with me and worn out your welcome in Tulips.

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