nodded. “Later.”
He watched as she walked back to the cluster of women who hovered near the cake table, at least half of whom had already asked him to dance.
His gaze went to his beer. He had all of three swallows before later arrived and he had to make good on his word to all of them. Then again, if he took small sips, he could stretch it out to a good six or seven.
“Come on, stud. Let’s dance.”
“Sorry, darlin’, but I’m still working on this—” The words died as Jack turned to find his new sister-in-law smiling up at him, looking every bit as beautiful in white as he’d imagined when he’d gotten word that Jimmy was finally tying the knot. She had long, dark hair, bright blue eyes and a figure that had undoubtedly lured his brother like a bee to honey. But Jack had no doubt it had been her intelligence and the sympathetic glimmer in her gaze that had caught ole Jimmy for good.
“It’s a law,” Deb told him. “You have to dance with the bride, particularly if the groom is busy talking new breeding techniques with his new stepdad at the bar.”
Jack’s gaze went to the trio standing a few feet away—Jimmy, his mother and an older man with a gray handlebar mustache. The man slid his arm around Jack’s mother and she smiled.
“She’s had a permanent smile on her face since the two of them walked down the aisle a few months back. She looks happy, doesn’t she?” Deb asked, her gaze following Jack’s.
“Very.” A welcome sight because the last time he’d seen his mother, she’d been dressed in black, a tear-dampened handkerchief clutched in her hand as she’d watched his father’s casket lowered into the ground. A heart attack had taken the elder Mission several years ago while he’d been out riding fence. His mother had taken it hard, but just as his dad would have wanted, she’d eventually started to live again. He smiled. He couldn’t think of anyone who deserved a little happiness after so much heartache. “Red seems like a good man.”
“He is, and speaking of men, I’ve danced with everyone here with an X chromosome, except Jupiter Daniels, and word is down at the VFW that his X is questionable. That leaves my new brother-in-law.”
“So I’m a last resort, am I?”
“Maybe I saved the best for last.” She took the bottle from his hand and downed the last few swallows with one gulp. “Now you’re all done. Let’s go.”
“Nice wedding,” he murmured once they were moving around the dance floor. He caught the faint scent of apples and cinnamon and half-turned, only to see the redhead a few feet away, a serious expression on her face, her full lips moving as if she were counting each step. She was so stiff, he had the insane urge to haul her into his arms just to see if he could loosen her up.
It certainly had nothing to do with the fact that she had the fullest, softest looking lips he’d ever seen. And it certainly wasn’t because he actually wanted to feel those lips against his own.
It was the principal of the thing. They were at a wedding. A happy occasion. She ought to be enjoying herself.
“That’s Paige Cassidy.”
“That’s nice.” He forced his attention back to Deb and away from the numerous ways he could loosen up the wholesome looking redhead. Ways that wouldn’t leave her the least bit wholesome by the time he finished with her. Even if the very last thing he needed was to touch or kiss or even think about a woman like Paige Cassidy.
No matter how much he suddenly wanted to do all three and a whole helluva lot more.
“She works at the newspaper for me.”
“That’s nice.”
“She’s pretty, isn’t she?”
His gaze narrowed. “Get those notions right out of your head, little sister.”
Deb shrugged. “What’s wrong? You don’t like girls?”
“Not that type of girl.”
“And what type would that be?”
“The marrying kind.”
“And what’s wrong with the marrying kind?”
“Not a thing. They’re just not my kind.”
She gave him a knowing look. “You like those freedom-loving singles, huh?”
“They have their finer points.”
“Yeah, they get hives just thinking about commitment.”
He grinned. “Say, has Jimmy been giving you lessons on meddling? Because you’re really good at it.”
She gave him a pleased smile. “You think so?”
“You could have been born to it.”
“Thanks, but flattery isn’t going to shut me up.” She eyed Paige. “Don’t you think she’s pretty?”
He shook his head. “I plead the fifth on that one.”
“She is pretty. And she’s smart. And as nice as they come. And I think those glasses make her look sort of sexy, in a Katie Couric sort of way. Don’t you think?”
“You’re not getting anything out of me.”
“Come on, Jack.”
“No way. If I agree with you, you’ll haul me over there right now, and if I disagree, you’ll probably stomp my foot.”
“I’ll do that anyway.”
He grinned. “Either way, it spells trouble and I’ve already had more than my share.”
She gave him an exasperated look. “You need to meet a nice woman.” As if she’d just realized what she’d said, she shook her head. “God, what’s happening to me? Freedom was my middle name. I’ve been married a measly five hours and already I’m the spokesperson for marital bliss.” She shook her head. “You find your own woman. Just make sure she’s nice.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And smart.”
“Yes, boss.”
“And pretty.” He gave her a knowing look and she shook her head again. “Okay, okay. I’ll stop. So how long is the prodigal brother sticking around for this time?”
He arched an eyebrow. “How long until you get back from your honeymoon?”
“Two weeks.”
“Then I’d say about two weeks and an hour or so to pack.”
“Smart-ass.”
“I’m being truthful.”
“I know. That’s the problem. You don’t have to run off the second we get off the plane. You could stick around for a little while.” When he gave her a here-we-go-again
