Finally a Bride by Sherryl Woods

Author:Sherryl Woods [Woods, Sherryl]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781459294837
Publisher: MIRA
Published: 1995-06-28T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

“Well, if it isn’t little Katie. Just look how you’ve grown up.”

Alone in the backyard where she’d been weeding the vegetable garden, Katie shivered as the sleazily sensual tone and the voice registered. She knew without even looking that they belonged to Tommy Cassidy.

At one time she had tried valiantly to get along with Tommy because Luke had cared so deeply about his brother. But she’d never been blinded to his flaws as Luke had once been. The most offensive had been his tendency to regard all women as targets for his sly innuendoes and advances. Apparently he hadn’t reformed.

Before responding to him now, she drew in a deep breath and considered exactly how she ought to deal with Luke’s brother. Coolly polite seemed like the right approach under the circumstances. She certainly didn’t want to do or say anything that would worsen the situation.

“Hello, Tommy,” she said, turning slowly until she was face-to-face with the man responsible for Luke’s distress and, indirectly anyway, for her marriage. She wasn’t sure yet if that was something she ought to thank him for or not.

Feigning a nonchalance she was far from feeling, she deliberately continued watering the plants. She didn’t want Tommy getting the idea that his arrival had startled her or that she viewed it as being of any consequence. Besides, if he really got out of line, she could always hose him down.

“It’s been a long time,” she said.

“Not long enough, isn’t that what you’d like to say?” he challenged with a considering gleam in his eyes.

Those eyes were a faded shade of the same blue as Luke’s. In fact, everything about Tommy seemed to be a second-best version of his older brother. Maybe he recognized that. Maybe falling short in any comparison was the real problem between him and Luke.

“Why wouldn’t I be glad to see you?” Katie contradicted, forcing a smile. “You’re family now.”

Tommy’s laughter was tinged with bitterness. “Yeah, right. I’m sure you’ll invite me over to spend the holidays this year.”

“You’ll always be welcome here,” Katie insisted, then gave him a warning look. “As long as you don’t do anything to hurt your brother or our son.”

For an instant he seemed taken aback by her directness. “Oh, so you’ve claimed Robby,” he said after a lengthy pause. “I wonder what Betty Sue would have to say about that.”

“I’m Robby’s stepmother,” Katie corrected. “I’d never try to take Betty Sue’s place.”

“Saint Katie,” he said derisively. “Maybe you and old Luke are a match made in heaven after all.”

Ignoring his sarcasm, Katie said, “I’m sure the court will see it exactly that way.” Suddenly tired of the game, she looked Tommy straight in the eye. “Why are you doing this? What’s the point? You’re only going to hurt Robby.”

“He’s my boy,” Tommy said in much the same possessive way he might stake a claim to a car or, in years past, to a bicycle or a toy.

“From what I hear you didn’t care much about that fact six years ago.

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