Читать книгу Convenient Cowgirl Bride - Silver James - Страница 13

Five

Chase watched Tucker tease Savannah, surprised at the burn in his chest. His cousin and the woman he planned to marry had spent the previous afternoon picking out a pickup, a fancy horse trailer, getting her added to his credit accounts with a checking account of her own and into the hotel’s security system so she could access his apartment. He’d spent the day auditioning some new showgirls, dealing with a situation on the casino floor and listening to his big brother rant about how stupid Chase was being. That was easy for Chance to say. He’d found and married the girl of his dreams. True, Dad had done his best to break them up, but Chance told the old man off and went merrily on his way. Chance didn’t have the old man breathing down his neck, complete with a forced marriage looming.

If he had to take the plunge, Chase was darn sure he’d be doing it on his terms, not his dad’s. He studied the woman he’d be marrying within the next twenty-four hours. This morning, he had a conference call with investors and the architect of the new hotel project in the Bahamas. He’d need to rent a car for Savannah to drive until the new pickup and trailer were ready. Kade was due to arrive in the morning, and she’d be out at the fairgrounds all day with the ranch foreman and the new horses.

He planned a fast trip to the Clark County Marriage License Bureau, an office open 24/7 due to Vegas’s reputation for quickie weddings, for later in the afternoon. They’d get married Thursday night so it was a done deal before the old man hit Vegas on Friday.

“Hope you don’t mind.”

Chase pulled his head into the conversation and stared at Tucker. “Mind what?”

“That I’m taking Savannah to Leather and Lace.”

Savannah choked and coffee spewed out her nose. She grabbed a napkin, coughing, while Chase thumped her on the back. “Can you breathe?” When she nodded, he still watched her to be sure, but answered Tucker. “I don’t have a problem with that. See about getting her some custom boots. They won’t have them ready before she heads out, but we’ll have them here the first time she comes home.”

“Uh, hello. Right here. I don’t need boots. Or anything else...leather.”

Both men glanced at her and Tucker chuckled. “L and L is the premier Western store in the area. The few things you found in the boutique downstairs won’t go far.”

Chase nodded. “We need to fill up your half of my closet. And Tuck’s right. You need new clothes.”

Her face turned red again, and she pushed out of her chair, all but spitting mad. “What’s wrong with my clothes?”

It was totally perverse of him to enjoy her anger but dang if it wasn’t fun. “Darlin’, those jeans are nothing but holes held together with a prayer. You need new work boots. You need new boots for the arena and—” he propped one booted foot up on the table “—I know how comfortable custom boots are. As my wife, you need to upgrade. It’s expected.”

She sputtered and spit and shoved his foot off. “You musta been raised in a barn, boy. Don’t you know better’n to put your feet on a table with food?”

He grinned and was almost sorry she’d be taking off soon. He’d like the chance to get to know her better and do a whole lot more teasing. He liked her curves, and the way her expressions revealed her thoughts. Maybe he would do a little seducing along the way. Before he could think too deeply on that urge, Tucker’s phone pinged.

“Courier from Chance is here.” Tuck left to meet the person Security was escorting up.

Chase leaned back in his chair and studied Savannah. He hadn’t missed her quick inhalation or the widening of her eyes at the mention of the arrival of the prenuptial paperwork. “Second thoughts, kitten?”

Her eyes wouldn’t quite meet his when she replied. “No. Yes. A little.” She squared her shoulders and met his gaze. “What about you? You can walk away and not be stuck with me.”

“Something tells me I’m getting the better deal.”

He realized he’d said that out loud when he saw the surprised look on Savannah’s face. But before he could add anything, a very feminine squeal filled the air, and a bundle of feminine curves landed in his lap.

“Chase! I’m so glad Chance sent me. I’ve been wanting to see you for...like...forever.” The girl in his lap cupped his cheeks and plastered kisses all over his face. He would kill his brother the next time he saw Chance. “I’ve never been to Vegas. I took some comp time so I can stay a couple of days, and you can show me around and we can—”

He cut off her babbling by clamping his hands around her waist and lifting her out of his lap. A glance at Savannah made him wince. She tried to hide her feelings, but she wasn’t quick enough. He saw anger, and was that a little hurt, too? She definitely wasn’t happy, and he couldn’t blame her.

“Where’s the paperwork from Chance, Debbie?”

“Darla. My name is Darla.” The girl huffed in displeasure, one hand on her hip, the other holding a manila envelope.

“Oh, yeah. Right. Whatever.”

Tucker relieved Darla of the sealed envelope. Using a pocket knife, he slit it open while Darla glowered. After a few moments, her eyes flicked to Savannah.

“Who’re you?”

“This is my fiancée,” Chase answered before Savannah could.

Savvie wasn’t very happy when Darla bent over from the waist, laughing hard. She started to tamp down the remark on the tip of her tongue and then gave up on being circumspect. That wasn’t really her style. Reaching over to take Chase’s hand, she put her best snooty face on. “Chase, darlin’, you really need to stop screwin’ the hired help. They get so pushy and all uppity when you do.”

Tucker lost it. He laughed so hard tears squeezed out from the corners of his eyes. Chase stared at her, biting his lips, but his eyes danced with amusement.

“Oh, my God. You can’t be serious, Chase. She’s...she’s...”

Chase flicked his gaze to the girl, and Savannah was really glad he wasn’t looking at her with that expression on his face. “She’s the woman I’m marrying, Darla. You’d be wise to remember that. I’ll call Chance about sending the papers back. For now, I suggest you head to the airport and catch the first flight back to Oklahoma City.”

“But...but... I flew out here in the company jet.”

“The company jet is reserved for family and employees. Effective as of right now, you are neither.”

Savannah couldn’t prevent her jaw from dropping. She squeezed Chase’s hand and started to say something, but Chase shushed her with a look. She clamped her mouth shut and waited.

“I’ll show you out, Darla.” Tucker took the girl’s arm and tugged her toward the door. A few minutes later, he returned and shut the door. “Security has her. They’ll escort her to the airport, and make sure she’s on a plane. I’ll call Chance, fill him in.”

“Hey.” Savannah quietly asked for Chase’s attention. “You didn’t need to fire her.”

“Yeah, I did. You’re going to be my wife, Savannah. Legally and binding. No one talks to you that way. No one makes that kind of assumption.”

She studied his expression. He was serious and being truthful. Wow. Who knew the guy had some depth, and maybe a modicum of honor, after all? “Okay. But just so you know, I’m pretty good at taking care of myself.”

Chase and Tucker exchanged looks, then both burst out laughing. “Hired help,” Tucker sputtered.

“Pushy and uppity.” Chase snorted, and laughed harder.

Savannah crossed her arms over her chest. “Dang. It wasn’t even that snarky.”

“Finish your breakfast, wildcat. Tucker wants to go all metrosexual and pick out a wardrobe for you. Let him.”

“Okay.” Savannah chewed on her bottom lip a moment.

“What?”

“What what?”

Chase’s gaze lasered in on her mouth. “You look like you want to ask something. What is it?”

“Oh. Just...uh...wondering what you’ll be doing today while I go spend gobs of your money?”

“Running my empire.” He leaned in to whisper in her ear. “And I doubt you’d spend my money at all if I weren’t forcing it on you. Just be back by four this afternoon. We need to get the marriage license.”

Her breath caught, and her body went a little haywire, not that she would let her reaction show—especially since they had an audience. She’d be smart to remember that Chase Barron was a rascal—a very sexy one who used women without a shred of guilt. Pushing back from the table, she retreated. The expression on his face told her he knew what she was doing. She didn’t really care. She needed space.

“Before you go, we both need to sign the prenup.”

“Oh, right.”

* * *

Tuck watched her go through the racks. He was flirting with the salesclerk, but he also made note of what Savannah was doing. Every time she checked the price tag of an item, he snagged it and told the clerk to hang in it the dressing room.

“Stop doing that, Savannah. If you like something, try it on. If you want it, it’s yours.”

“Yeah, easy for you to say.”

The negligent lift of one shoulder indicated he didn’t care about her feelings on the matter. “Look, hon, my cousin very often leaps without considering the consequences. I read the prenup. I know what you’re getting out of this deal. I’ve also spent time with you. You aren’t comfortable with this. I don’t know what your reasons are but they have nothing to do with Chase’s money.”

It was her turn to offer a desultory shrug. “People are still gonna talk.”

“Yes, they will. You need to be prepared for that. Especially since Chase won’t always be around to shield you.”

“What does that mean?” she faced Tucker and asked. “Shield me from who?”

“His family. The media. Anyone familiar with the Barron name.”

Chase would deal with his family so that wasn’t a concern. The media? Yeah, that would suck. “Maybe I can fly under the radar. I won’t use his name when I enter my events.”

“Sorry, babe. That won’t work. The Barron name will be plastered all over your truck and trailer. And Chase isn’t exactly shy and retiring.”

That got an eye roll. “No kidding.” She closed her eyes and tilted her head back in an attempt to ease the tight muscles in her neck. After taking a deep breath, she opened her eyes and offered Tucker her I’m-gonna-do-this face. Then she spoiled it all by asking, “He’s not going to be monogamous, is he?”

Tucker’s expression was full of sympathy. “I doubt it. But you’ll have to be.”

She laughed at that. “I haven’t had a date in two years.” Heading to the dressing room, she left Tucker standing there with his mouth hanging open.

Four hours later, they walked out of Leather and Lace with bags and boxes and more clothes and pairs of boots than Savannah had owned in her entire life. Tucker had convinced her to change from her jeans and T into a dress that reminded her a little of traditional Choctaw garb. Embroidery, ribbons, a full skirt, all in natural colors that Tucker insisted set off her golden-brown skin and dark hair. And new boots. Expensive new boots that fit her feet like gloves. The boot maker in L and L had spent an hour measuring, drawing and discussing leathers, heels, colors and stitching designs. Tucker refused to let her see the bill but she’d seen the price tags. Who in their right mind dropped almost twenty thousand dollars on clothes? Oh, yeah. Chase Barron and the women he was used to dating, for sure, but not plain ol’ Savannah Wolfe.

The last person she expected to see was Chase leaning up against Tucker’s sleek Mercedes SUV, looking all fashion-model perfect in his tailored suit, starched shirt and designer tie. The slow grin lighting up his face did all sorts of things to her bits and pieces—which she needed to ignore because she was not letting Chase get under her skirts. Skin. She meant skin. And he was just slick enough that he could charm his way right there if she gave him any room at all.