CHAPTER TWELEVE
LACE & VELVET
BREA
Brea sat in Mable’s office and tried to hold herself together. She’d cried herself out. Time to figure out what to do now.
Mable sat down at her huge oak desk. “Brea, honey…” she started, then she sighed and clasped her hands together on her desktop. “If you were with Jet I would be helping you to pack your bags for sure. But you ain’t. This is Cole and he’s always been the sweetest most responsible boy. All of his life.”
Sniffling, Brea nodded. “I know.”
“Well, I hope so. You just need some time to yourself and time to maybe, realize things. He made a mistake and Jet helped in that part.”
“I know all that. It’s just…”
“Yes?”
“He didn’t tell me about it. I mean he was married before? And he just proposed too!” Flashes of chocolate cake, M&M’s and laughter floated through her tired mind. She clenched her hands together. NO MORE CRYING!
“I think he answered that question too. He’s in love with you. I haven’t ever seen him care for a woman like he does for you.”
“Really?”
She nodded. “Really. So, I think maybe you should move into the Cook’s Cottage with Maggie if you need some time.”
“You mean leave his room?”
Cole’s mother nodded. “If you’re that mad at him and well, if you find that you can’t forgive him, you will have to move even further away.”
Brea stood up. “You mean never see him again?” Her voice rose with panic.
Mable s leaned back in her seat, a smile edging at her lips. “It may come to that. Then, I suppose he would have to honor his agreement with Valeen.”
Brea sucked in her breath as her fists clenched. “Over my dead body!”
Mable looked serious now. “It’s all up to you, but…”
Brea looked afraid. “But what?”
“I love my son and while I don’t kin to him suffering. I do think he needs to earn your trust back. I mean...let’s tell the truth here. You ARE going to take him back.”
Brea’s lip trembled as she slowly sat back down. “Yes, I probably will. I mean just look at him!” Her gaze shot up to Mable’s face. “I never thought a man like him would want a—”
“Stop right there missy!” Mable leaned forward. “I once felt like that, until I met Cole’s dad. If you think those boys, get their looks from me? Then, you’re plumb crazy! Cole does want a girl like you…just like you.”
“So, what do I do then?”
“You move in with Maggie. Might be a good idea anyway seeing how my other son can’t seem to keep his hands off her. Then, I want you to not give in so soon. You need to hold your ground for a day or two at least. I don’t mean for you to tell him never, but you should find a way to…well, have him woo you. Court you like the old days. Lord knows, this family could use some of that, instead of this hop in and get to it attitude.”
Brea bit at her lip to keep from smiling. “Well, if you hadn’t brought such hunky men into this world, then maybe women could resist doing that.”
Mable’s eyes rounded, then she tilted her head back, releasing a huge laugh.
Brea tried to smile, but she couldn’t quite pull it off and she stood up. “Okay, I will try it. But what if he just gives up?”
Mable’s laughter halted. “Are you daft, girl? Didn’t you hear anything he said at dinner?”
Brea nodded. “Yes, I suppose so.”
“He has no choice in it. He will do everything he can to get you back. Okay, I will send your bags over. Then? I would expect a panicked, huffing and puffing cowboy at your door soon after that!” Mable started to laugh again. “I want you to stand tough, girl. It’s not every day when a man like Cole has to fight for a woman.”
Brea shook her head. She wasn’t so sure about this, but Mable did know her own son, right?
She headed out and walked up the path then stood at the cottage door. Hearing voices, she wondered if she should just wait…Then, there was silence. She eased the door open and stepped inside. She knew that voice it was Jet for sure. Dammit, what if they were…No, Maggie was hopping mad before. I would sincerely doubt it. She crept forward.
“I more than want you. But, we are gonna do this right. I won’t be doing you until you believe me.”
Brea sucked in a breath as she heard Jet’s declaration.
He then said something about dreaming, and Brea moved back toward the kitchen. She ducked behind the corner wall until she heard the front door shut. Peeking out through the window, she watched the twin to her sweet cowboy moving up the walk to the Big House. Again, she crept forward, stopped at the bedroom door and peered inside. Gasping, she ducked her head back. Maggie was completely naked. Jet left her that way? Untouched? ‘Won’t be doing her till she believed him…’
“Dammit!” Maggie yelled from inside the bedroom.
Bern stepped inside. “Um, Mags?”
Maggie sat upright, a pillow tucked to her chest. “Oh, holy moly, did you hear all that?” Her face glowed with a rosy pink hue.
Brea shrugged as she moved in further. “Just the last part. What the hell are you doing, Mags?”
She looked frustrated. “I was calling his bluff!” she fumed. “I laid myself out like deli meat on a hoagie bun at Subway and he just—just…”
“Resisted?”
Maggie nodded. “I just don’t understand him! I mean a hot to trot cowboy sundae like him? He should have jumped on me like white on rice.”
“Cowboy sundae?” Brea asked with a slow smile. “Yeah…all chocolate covered, topped off with M&Ms…” Cole, dressed just like that drifted through her mind.
Maggie stared at her. “Well, I wouldn’t go that far. I mean—yeah...” Her animated voice slowed down as her eyes almost glazed over. “…Add some whipped cream and I will just bet the fudge would melt as soon as it hit his skin…Then, placing the cherry on top would be…” She cleared her throat and shook her head as if she just came back from a mind trip to Cowboy Sundae Land. “Talk about dishing it up!” Her eyes seemed to clear and then widen as her shocked gaze rose up to Brea. “You actually had a cowboy sundae like that?”
Brea blinked her eyes and focused her stare at her little sister. Her cheeks were heating up. “Well…” She sat on the bed. “He baked a chocolate cake for me and then he used M&Ms to spell out, ‘Will you marry me Brea?’”
Maggie put her hand over her mouth. “Oh, lord that is so dammed sweet! What a guy!”
Brea’s eyes filled with tears. “He had the ring on the question mark and I jumped right up on him.” She laughed through her tears. “We were covered in chocolate frosting and we…” She started to weep. “It—was—the happiest moment of my liiffe!” she sobbed out.
Maggie scooted forward and patted her on the back. “It will be okay Brea. He really does love you. Anyone can see it!”
Brea sniffled as she tried to get herself under control again. She stood up and gazed down at her sister. “Well, I think the same can be said for his brother. I mean he has changed overnight. All because of you.”
Maggie looked nervous. “I’m too afraid…”
Brea sighed. “I was too, and I still am. But, even though what happened tonight tore me up? It would be worse if I never saw him again. You need to take a chance Mags.” She walked over to the door.
“Where you going?”
“I’m sleeping in the next room, okay?”
“So, you—you left Cole?”
Brea halted at the door. “In a way. But we will see what happens.” She then went out and down the hall to the small bedroom there. It would have to do. All her clothes were in—in Cole’s room.
Her lower lip quivered. I suppose I will just sleep in my undies, after all, Maggie wore nothing! She almost smiled. That girl is something else, stripping down and tempting Jet. Brave thing to do. I never would have…Well, I did brazen it out and come here to get my cowboy, so I guess courage runs in the family. Removing her shoes, shirt and jeans, she got in under the sheets. She was wore out from all that crying. And I ain’t gonna cry no more!
Closing her eyes, she drifted off as dancing M&Ms and the taste of chocolate haunted her.
A little while later, she heard a door slam. Her eyes popped open and there he stood at the end of her bed. She gasped and sat up. She didn’t know what to say as she slowly gazed up at his face.
Cole stood with his fists clenched at his sides. His usually soft looking blue eyes looked raging, the color going to a deep simmering blue.
Brea gulped. He looks angry. I have never seen him look like this—
Silent, he stepped to the side of the bed to scoop her up, sheet and all.
Brea’s eyes widened as he swung around and marched out the door with her in his arms, he opened the front door and carried her through, then slammed it behind him.
She said not a word. She’d never seen him this mad or this fierce, except maybe that one time in the peep closet at the stud ranch when he thought she wanted some of the beef on the stage. Oh Lordy, he did her some sexy justice up against that wall. Her face flushed from the memory.
Cole didn’t say a word either, he strode up the path and into the big house. Opening and slamming that door too.
This is a man with a mission. She wondered what he was thinking and what he planned to do.
Continuing his silent journey, he marched up the stairs and down through the hall, all the while, carrying her like she was a store bought doll in a 6-ounce box. Opening his bedroom door and again with the slam, he carried her over to the bed and sat down on it.
Biting at her lip, Brea waited while being embraced by his strong arms over his solid lap.
Cole let out a huge sigh.
She could feel his chest heaving.
“Never, ever leave me again,” he whispered in a shaky voice.
Brea batted her eyes, he sounded so sad.
“I would just die of a broken heart.”
Tears were stinging her eyes.
“I would never hurt you, if I could have helped it.” His voice fell low.
“Cole—”
“No, let me say this.”
Swallowing hard, she nodded.
“I never want to sleep a night without you. Or, have a day go by without seeing your sweet face. I’m not perfect and I know that. I’ve had three women in my life before you.”
Brea’s body stiffened. She would have thought he could have as many as his brother. But then again, he wasn’t like his brother.
He continued, “Who were they? I don’t honestly remember them that well. One, I thought I could get serious with, but I realize now it was just competition between my brother and I. The other two? I swear, I can’t even remember their names and this Valeen? I don’t even think we did anything, ‘cause I woke up in another room separate from her. When I was twelve, I got into trouble for vandalizing a barn and I actually stole a horse. Ma made me return it, apologize and I had to paint and fix that old barn till it looked brand new. It was the year my dad died. Then when I was fifteen, I went to a—well, a house of you know um—women of the night over in Houston and lost my virginity. I dated a girl in high school and I really liked her but all we did was kiss and make out a little—”
“Stop!” Brea exclaimed.
“I want you to know everything, all of it Brea. So, this will never happen again.”
Brea laughed and tightened her hold around his neck. “No more, okay?”
He sighed, but his body still remained rigid. “Are you gonna leave?”
Brea’s throat closed up as Mable’s sage advice ran through her mind about having him earn her back. This sweet cowboy did that five minutes ago. To think he suffered so much in just the last few hours to affect him like this.
His body trembled a bit when she didn’t answer right away. He buried his face to her neck. “I couldn’t take it Brea…Please don’t leave me?”
“Where’s the ring?” she asked quietly.
His head rose up. “Burnin’ a hole in my pocket.”
“Let me see it.”
Digging into his jean’s pocket, he pulled his hand out. The ring had melty looking M&M’s crushed against it.
Brea stared down at his open hand and laughed.
“I forgot I shoved some in there earlier today.”
She nodded. “And as usual, you’re so hot, they melted.”
He chuckled a little and then leaned forward to scrape away the candy bits.
She extended her hand out.
His eyes rounded and he gazed anxiously at her face.
Nodding her head, she waited.
Cole stood up and sat her onto the bed, then knelt down in front of her. He cleared his throat. “Brea Harmony Plush, will you be my wife and never, NEVER leave me?”
Brea’s throat almost closed up as she stared down at this sweet cowboy who made her world tilt. “Yes, Cole Kincade…I will.”
His eyes glimmered and he slipped the old but gorgeous ring onto her finger. He lowered his lips and kissed her hand with a sweet tenderness.
Brea raised her other hand and swiped a lone tear away from her cheek. “But…”
His head shot up while his eyes rounded at the word.
“Mable said I should make you earn me back and I want to know what you think about that.”
Cole looked surprised as he blinked his eyes. “Well…” He gazed around as if he were contemplating it. “I hate to admit it, but Ma is right, yet again. But I thought I was gonna kill somebody when I couldn’t find you, and then she finally told me that you needed time to think.”
Brea stared at him.
“I didn’t want you thinking I would just give up and let you go.” He bowed his head. “So, I am guilty, because I didn’t want you thinking about leaving either.”
Brea reached out and ruffled his hair. God dammit, he is the sweetest man on this earth.
He raised his head. “I have all kinds of ideas about how I can earn you though.”
Brea smiled and shook her head. “You don’t have to do anything, cowboy. Except stay the man you are. The man who rocks my world.”
He grinned.
Her breath caught in her chest. That smile always made her heart race.
Nodding his head, Cole stood up and turned away.
“Wait, where are you—?”
He opened the double doors on the closet. “I had it brought in here while we were at dinner, ‘cause I didn’t want you to see it yet.” He pulled a hanging garment bag from the bar and swung around.”
Staring, Brea felt curious. “What is it?”
He looked nervous, “Well, I got some help from your mom two days back and then I had my mom find somebody who could—”
“Cole! What is it?”
Still looking anxious, he stepped closer while unzipping the bag.
Her eyes widened…Lace and lots of it.
Then he slipped the entire outfit out, dropping the bag to the floor.
White velvet with a laced design, the dress shimmered in soft luminous folds as it flowed to the floor.
“It’s—it’s a wedding dress!” she squealed. There were gold glittery weaves on the lace at the end of the sleeves. It sparkled like a Cinderella dress. Yes, that would be fitting, Brea thought ruefully. From a hash slinging waitress, to a cowhand cook, then now? I will marry the prince of cowboys!
“I had it made for you.”
Unable to stop it, she started to cry again. “It’s the most…Ohh!”
Cole looked horrified. “You don’t—don’t like it?”
Brea shook her head at the preposterous question and grabbed it from him, to gaze at it. Lined with a pearl plunging neckline and laced sleeves, the rest of the dress was a soft white velvet and it might just be the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen.
“They told me it was the latest design. I knew though that I wanted it to be velvet. Soft like your skin is.”
Brea crushed it to her chest. “It’s—just so…”
“I mean I hadn’t even asked you yet when I did it, but I felt that I would eventually convince you.”
Not wanting to wrinkle it, she eased it away from her chest. Calm yourself Brea. You need to act like a grown up. She knelt down, grabbed the garment bag and tucked it carefully inside. Then she walked over to the closet and hung it back up.
“I mean, we can still have someone make you the dress you want. I wondered if you might think it was too—um, flashy. It isn’t as if—”
“Cole!” she shouted.
Flushing, he shut his mouth.
“So, you thought that you could just have a fancy dress made, do the M&M cake proposal and I would just fall at your feet? Like I’m easy?”
Cole pulled his head back, and then he looked troubled.
“Well, you were right!” Brea exclaimed as she took a running leap and jumped up on him.
With an OOMPH, his tall form tipped back and landed on the bed.
“It’s the perfect dress! The cake was perfect too, something I will never forget. The ring is precious and both of your proposals were the sweetest ever!” She kissed him on the lips and then on his cheeks. “All perfect. I love you Cole Kincade and I can’t wait to be your wife!”
Cole’s confusion cleared and he smiled nervously. “God, Brea! I thought—I…You scared the bejesus outta me!”
Kissing his nose, his mouth, his forehead, she just felt so exhilarated.
“So…Would you marry me day after tomorrow then?”
Brea’s breath caught in her chest as she halted mid kiss to his yummy neck. “What?”
“I thought we could have a double wedding with your Mom and Rand.”
Brea froze. Why would he want to marry her that soon?
“Brea?” he whispered.