Safe In The Rancher's Arms: Stranded with the Rancher / Sheltered by the Millionaire / Pregnant by the Texan

Unfortunately, only half of her order was on the menu. When she entered the kitchen, she pulled up short, dismayed to find it full of people, or so it seemed. Though the housekeeper excused herself to go tend to the laundry, the kitchen table was occupied. Drew and Jed and a woman who looked strangely familiar were helping themselves to bacon and sausage and eggs as well as pancakes and grapefruit.

“Sorry to intrude,” she said quietly. “I’ll just grab a cup of coffee.”

Drew stood up and pulled out a chair. “Don’t be silly. Join us.” The look in his eyes dared her to disagree.

With her cheeks warm and her legs quivering, she sank into the chair and tried not to flinch when Drew’s hand brushed her shoulder. Had the motion been deliberate? The last thing in the world she had expected or wanted was an audience for their inescapable morning after.

Jed touched the woman’s arm. “Kimberly, this is Beth Andrews. Her house was damaged by the tornado, so she’s staying here at Willowbrook for a bit.”

The brunette smiled. “I know who you are, but you probably don’t remember me. I came to Green Acres several times last summer to buy vegetables. Your heirloom tomatoes were so good.”

“Thank you,” Beth said. “And yes, I do remember you now. You used to come into the bank when I was working there...you made deposits for the dress shop.”

“Yes, I did.”

“So,” Drew said, changing the subject and lifting an eyebrow as he stared at his brother. “I’m always glad to have guests for breakfast, but I’m sensing your visit has a particular agenda.”

Jed looked at Kimberly. She motioned for him to do the honors. Jed took her hand and faced his brother. “Kimberly and I are going to get married.” After noting the shocked silence from Drew and Beth, he continued. “We had planned to do something quick and easy at the courthouse, but obviously that’s out of the question. And we’re not sure it’s appropriate to have a marriage ceremony at all with so many people suffering.”

Jed and Kimberly sat shoulder to shoulder, their fingers entwined. Between them shimmered an almost palpable tenderness. Beth couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy. Jed looked at Kimberly as if she were the answer to all his prayers wrapped up in one lovely package.

Drew cleared his throat, obviously emotional about his younger brother getting hitched. “Congratulations, you two.”

Beth nodded and smiled. “And from me as well. But I have to say, I think a wedding might be the perfect occasion to bring some joy and cheer to what have been pretty bleak days in Royal.”

“You could have the ceremony here,” Drew said. “We’ll invite all our friends.”

“I’d be honored to help any way I can,” Beth said. “Though to be honest, I don’t know much about planning an event like that. But I am pretty organized if that counts for anything.”

Kimberly’s smile held gratitude. “You’re both being very sweet about this, but the thing is...” She trailed off, biting her lip.

Jed picked up where she left off. “The thing is...an affair like that takes time to put together.”

Drew frowned. “What’s the rush, Jed? Can’t Dallas do without you for another six or eight weeks? You could fly back and forth if you needed to.”

Jed’s cheekbones flushed with color. The look he gave Kimberly was so fiercely and intimately personal, Beth felt as if she were witnessing something very private.

“Go on,” Kimberly whispered, her cheeks rosy as well. She gazed at Jed with starry-eyed adoration.

Jed kissed her gently on the cheek before turning back to his brother. “Kimberly and I are going to have a baby. In about six months.”

Beth had seldom seen Drew speechless, but he couldn’t have looked any more surprised if someone had whacked him over the head with a two by four. “A baby? Why didn’t you tell me before now?”

Jed and Kimberly exchanged wry glances. “I only found out myself right before the storm hit. I had just asked her to marry me when all hell broke loose.”

Beth laughed softly. “That must have been some proposal.”

Drew stood up and tugged his brother and Kimberly to their feet, hugging them fiercely. “I’m damned happy and excited for the both of you.” He kissed Kimberly’s cheek gently. “Welcome to the family. Jed’s a lucky man.”

After that, the conversation escalated, everyone talking at once and making plans. Beth glanced at her watch. “Oh, shoot. I’ve got to run. I promised Megan that I’d help her again today.”

Drew’s brows drew together as he frowned. “I’ll take you.”

Beth stood her ground. She needed a little personal space. It was hard to be rational with Drew in touching distance. “It will be better for me to drive myself,” she said. “I don’t know how long I’ll be there. And besides, the three of you have lots to talk about. I’ll be back by suppertime.”

She cut and ran before he could argue. With his brother and soon to be sister-in-law in his kitchen, he couldn’t very well chase after her.

By the time she reached the shelter, she had made a firm decision not to think about Drew for the rest of the day. It was a good goal if she could stick to it.

Megan was delighted to see her. “Beth, you’re wonderful to come help when you have your own problems. How are things going with your house?”

“Believe it or not, and thanks to Drew who got me in with a building inspector, it looks like I may have a check in hand by the middle of next week. Now all I have to do is line up a contractor.”

“You two are being awfully chummy considering your history. Couldn’t you ask Drew to help with that, too?”

Beth shook her head. “I’m sure he could, but I’m not going to let him. I’m a grown woman. My house is my responsibility. Besides, he—” She stopped short, realizing that Jed and Kimberly might not want their business blabbed all over the county.

Megan cocked her head, her arms full of wriggling kittens. “He what?”

“You have to promise me you won’t say anything. I don’t know if this news is ready to go public yet.”

The other woman mimed locking her lips. “I’ll take it to my grave.”

“Drew’s brother Jed is getting married. To Kimberly Fanning. And the wedding will be at Willowbrook, I think. Drew is going to be plenty busy without me playing the helpless female.”

“That’s exciting. But I’m sure no one looks at you as a helpless anything, Beth. Look at how you started your farm from scratch.”

“Well, the tornado took care of that. I’ll bet my pumpkins ended up smashed to bits all over the county.”

“At least you can joke about it.”

Beth shrugged. “I’m one of the lucky ones. I wasn’t injured, and my house is not a total loss. I can’t complain.”

“You certainly have a great attitude about all of this. I suppose it helps to have a handsome rancher in your back pocket.”

“I told you before. Drew is only being kind.” The excuse was not quite as easy to stand behind today. Not with everything that had happened in Drew’s bed last night. She felt her cheeks heat. Her vow not to think about the sexy billionaire was shot already, which didn’t say much about her willpower.

Megan deposited the kittens in front of a large bowl of milk and touched Beth’s arm. “Your new friend has been waiting for you.” She pointed to a cage nearby.

“Oh, Stormy.” Beth’s heart melted. The little dog looked healthy, but his mournful eyes seemed to say he had hoped Beth would come back. She unlocked the mesh door and scooped him up for a hug. “I didn’t forget about you, I swear. You are the sweetest thing.”

Stormy burrowed closer with a bark of happiness.

Megan grinned. “He knows a soft touch when he sees one.”

“Has anyone asked about him?”

“No. I traced the number on his collar and spoke with his owner. Turns out they dumped him on my doorstep because they couldn’t afford dog food anymore. Stormy is an orphan.”