brides for brothers 04 - cowboy surrender by christenberry judy

Author:christenberry, judy [christenberry, judy]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises
Published: 2011-07-14T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

B.J. sucked in a deep breath.

Jake spoke before she could think of what to say.

“Nah. There’s nothing wrong with your blood, Toby. They just meant we’re not kin to each other. You know, like you and your mom.”

“Oh.”

B.J. desperately sought a change of subject. “How did you do in school today, Toby? Did you learn to write any new words?”

Her little boy turned and frowned at her, his look distracted. “Mm-hmm. Mr. Jake?”

“Yes, Toby?”

“How—?”

“Toby, did you know the Randalls are having a Halloween party?” B.J. asked, hoping to distract him again. She didn’t think it would be a good idea to pursue the idea of Toby being Jake’s son.

This time she was more successful.

“A Halloween party? With masks and everything?” Toby demanded. “Can we go?”

“It’s bad manners to invite yourself to a party,” she gently reminded him.

“Don’t worry about it, Toby,” Jake assured him. “Of course you’re invited. And you can wear a mask.”

“I’m going to be a monster!” Toby assured his hero. “Right, Mommy?”

“We’ll see,” she said, offering a mother’s standard fare.

“You won’t scare me, will you?” Jake asked, pretending to shake in fear.

“Nah,” Toby replied, imitating Jake’s way of answering. “’Sides, you wouldn’t be scared. Maybe Mommy would.” Toby cut his gaze toward his mother, a grin on his face.

B.J. was willing to play along, as long as it kept her son happy. “I just might be. Promise you’ll tell me it’s you?”

“Yeah, Mommy.”

“And if she gets scared, I’ll comfort her,” Jake added, and shot a teasing look at B.J.

The thought of Jake’s big arms wrapped around her, his hands stroking her, sent shivers through her body. His brown eyes caressed her over Toby’s head, and she broke away from his gaze.

“I won’t scare you, Mommy,” her son promised.

“Doggone it, Toby, why’d you promise that? I was going to get to hug your mom.”

“I saw Bobby’s mommy hugging.”

B.J. frowned, unable to follow her son’s comment. Before she could ask about his words, Jake did.

“Was she happy about it?”

“Uh-huh. She was hugging Bobby’s new daddy.”

“Good for her,” Jake said, smiling at B.J. over Toby’s head.

“Yeah. Bobby says he’s his real daddy. But they don’t have the same blood. Do they?”

“Probably not,” Jake agreed.

“Then how come he’s his real daddy?”

B.J. could think of nothing to derail the conversation. Even the subject of Toby’s monster costume probably wouldn’t distract him.

“Because his mom married the man. That would make him his daddy.”

“Even if they don’t have the same blood?”

“Well, he wouldn’t be his real daddy, but he’d be his stepdaddy.”

“Oh.”

B.J. decided the all-male conversation had gone on long enough. “Did you tell Jake that Aunt Mildred is making cupcakes for the class for your birthday?” she asked. “And that she’ll make one for Jake, too?”

“No. Do you like chocolate cupcakes, Mr. Jake?”

“You bet. I’ll be looking forward to one of your cupcakes. Maybe I could come over and eat it for breakfast.”

“Yeah!”

B.J. breathed a sigh of relief. At least Toby didn’t seem upset about anything. She took a deep breath and leaned back against the seat.

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