The Manning Sisters

  Christy hurried into the bedroom, then reappeared a moment later. She walked shyly up to him, then placed her hands on his chest. Cody gazed down at her as she slipped her arms around his neck and kissed him soundly.

  Cody’s response was immediate. He cradled the back of her head as he returned her kiss—and then some. Soon she was weak and pliant in his arms.

  “What was that for?” he asked when he found his breath.

  “Because I’m so happy to be your wife.”

  Cody locked his hands at the small of her back and glanced longingly toward her bedroom.

  Christy reached up, kissed his cheek and deftly removed the Stetson from his head. Cody frowned when she tossed it Frisbee fashion across the room. It landed on a chintz-covered cushion as neatly as if he’d set it there himself.

  Next her fingers were busy working loose the knot of his tie. “Christy?” Her name tumbled from his lips. “What are you doing?”

  “Undressing my husband. I’ve decided I don’t want to go to a hotel room, not when we’re both here. Not when I can’t wait another minute for us to act like a married couple.”

  “You’re sure?” He didn’t know why he was questioning her; he wanted her so much that he was trembling.

  “Very sure.” After discarding his tie, she began to unfasten his shirt buttons.

  Cody’s hands roved her back, his fingers seeking and not finding a zipper.

  She peeled open his shirt and lightly ran her long nails down his bare chest. Shudders swirled down his spine as she nuzzled his neck, nibbling and sucking and licking her way to the throbbing hollow of his throat.

  “Christy,” he pleaded, his hands on her bottom. “Where’s the zipper to your skirt?”

  Smiling, she broke away long enough to remove the suit jacket and kick off her heels, which went flying in opposite directions. She twisted around and unfastened the button at her side, then slid the zipper open so the skirt could fall past her hips and pool at her feet. Stepping out of it, she reached behind her for the row of buttons that ran down the back of her silk blouse.

  “I can do that,” he said eagerly. His fingers fumbled awkwardly with the tiny buttons, but he managed. Her blouse and her lacy bra followed the path of his shirt, landing on the carpet somewhere between the sofa and television.

  Unable to wait a second longer, Cody kissed her, his tongue surging into her mouth. The minute she leaned into him, Cody felt his body heat rise to the boiling point.

  Slipping her arms around his neck, Christy let her head fall back, grazing his bare chest with her breasts.

  He groaned, fighting the rising flames of his passion. She was slowly, surely, driving him out of his mind.

  “Christy,” he begged, not knowing exactly what he was pleading for. Not for her to stop, that much he knew. More, he decided. He needed more of her.

  Tucking his arms behind her knees, he lifted her up and carried her into the bedroom. The only light was the soft illumination from the single lamp in the living room.

  Gently he placed her on the bed, and they hastily finished undressing each other. Cody looked down on her, nestled in the thick folds of a lavender comforter. She was so beautiful that for a moment he was lost to everything but the woman before him. He longed to tell her what he felt, and knew it would be impossible to put into words.

  Lightly he ran his hands over her breasts and smiled….

  Afterward he lay on his back with Christy beside him, her head on his shoulder, her arm draped over his chest. Cody sighed as she cuddled her body intimately against his.

  Her eyes remained closed, her smile dreamy. “I guess I’m not a good girl anymore.”

  “Oh, yes, you are. Very good, indeed…”

  “What are you doing now?” Cody murmured.

  He was half asleep, Christy saw as she caught his earlobe between her teeth. “I’m making a citizen’s arrest.”

  “Oh, yeah? What’s the charge?”

  “I’ll trump something up later.”

  “Christy, hey, what are you wearing?”

  “My new silk nightgown.”

  “I like you better with nothing on.”

  Ignoring his complaints, she straddled his hips and leaned forward to kiss his chin.

  “Mmm, you smell good…flowers, I think.”

  “Remember, you’re the one who emptied an entire bottle of bubble bath into my tub.”

  “You didn’t object.”

  “How could I? You were doing your husbandly duty and pampering me…only…” She paused and drew in a soft breath as he closed his hands over her breasts. “I didn’t realize it could be done in a tub.”

  “It?” he teased.

  “Cody, I was supposed to be the one arresting you, remember?”

  “Say it.” He raised the silk gown high on her leg and began to caress her thighs with both hands.

  “It embarrasses me to say it…Cody,” she whimpered as his finger executed the sweetest of punishments.

  “You are going to say it.”

  She couldn’t utter a single word. She hadn’t known her body was capable of giving her any more pleasure than it already had.

  “I love it when you blush,” he murmured.

  Christy rested her head on his chest, listening to the steady, even beat of his heart. “Are we ever going to sleep?” she asked.

  “Nope. The way I figure it we’ve got about forty-eight hours before my plane leaves, and at the rate we’re going we can make love—”

  “I’m too tired.”

  Christy felt him smile against her hair. “I am, too.” he said. “We’ll make up for lost time in the morning.”

  “In the morning,” she echoed as her eyes slowly drifted closed.

  A horrible racket woke Christy several hours later. She bolted upright and glanced at her clock radio. Just after 4:00 a.m.

  Cody was already out of bed and reaching for his pants.

  “Christy?”

  The slurred voice belonged to none other than her brother Rich. She’d given him an extra key to her apartment. He stopped in often, but had always phoned first.

  “It’s my brother. He has a key. Stay here. I’ll get rid of him.”

  “Your brother?”

  “Shh.” She grabbed her robe, then kissed Cody before hurrying into the living room.

  Rich stood by the door, looking like an errant schoolboy. “Hi,” he said, raising his right hand.

  “I don’t suppose you know what time it is?”

  “Late,” he offered.

  “How about early.”

  “How early?”

  “Too early,” she told him, praying he wouldn’t notice the two sets of clothes spread from one end of the living room to the other. She marched across the room and gripped his elbow, turning him toward the door.

  He gave her a hurt look. “You’re sending me back into the cold?”

  “Yes.”

  “I didn’t drive here. I couldn’t,” he said. “I know you probably can’t tell, but I’ve had a teeny bit too much to drink.”

  “I noticed.”

  “I was hoping you’d make me some coffee, listen to my woes and let me sleep on your couch.”

  “I have to be at work in a few hours.” A slight exaggeration. Besides, when she didn’t show up at the office, everyone would assume she was still home with the flu.

  “Pamela cheated on me,” Rich blurted. “I need some advice and I need it from a woman. Just hear me out, okay?”

  Not knowing what else she could do, Christy moved into her kitchen and started making a pot of coffee. Rich pulled out a stool at her kitchen counter and plopped himself down. “Apparently she’s been seeing him all along.”

  “Who?”

  “Pamela.”

  “No, who’s she been seeing?” This conversation was frustrating Christy.

  “Hell if I know his name. Some jerk.”

  “It isn’t like you were crazy about her.”

  “Maybe not, but I always though
t she was crazy about me. What is it with women these days? Isn’t anyone faithful anymore?” he said plaintively.

  “Ah…”

  Rich squinted into the darkened living room. “Hey, what’s going on here?” Standing, he walked over to the chintz-covered chair and picked up Cody’s Stetson. He glanced back at his sister.

  “I can explain,” she said in a weak voice.

  Frowning, he returned to the kitchen and carefully placed the Stetson on her head. Several sizes too large, it rested well below her hairline in the middle of her forehead.

  “Is there something you wanted to tell me?” he asked.

  Twelve

  “Who the hell are you?” Rich demanded.

  Christy shoved the Stetson farther back on her head to find Cody walking out of the bedroom.

  “It sounded like you might need a little help explaining things,” her husband said casually.

  Rich pointed at his sister and his mouth fell open. His eyes had narrowed, and disdain and disbelief marked his handsome features.

  “It’s not as bad as it looks,” Christy said, ignoring his censure. Acting as nonchalant as she could, she poured him a cup of coffee.

  Swiveling his gaze between Cody and Christy, Rich shook his head. “It looks pretty darn bad, little sister.” He stared at the trail of clothing on the living-room carpet. His mouth twisted with disgust as he started toward the front door. “In fact, I don’t think I’ve got the stomach to listen to you.”

  “You’ll listen to her,” Cody warned grimly, striding toward Rich. The two men stood no more than two feet apart, glaring at each other ferociously.

  “And who’s going to make me? You?” Rich’s sarcasm was sharp. “If that’s what you think, I’ve got news for you, cowboy.”

  “Rich, shut up,” Christy said. “The least you can do is hear what I have to say.”

  “I don’t listen to—”

  “Don’t say it,” Cody interrupted, his words so cold they almost froze in midair. “Because if you do, you’ll live to regret it.”

  Rich mocked him with a smile. “Listen, Mr. Marlboro Man, I’ve taken about enough from—”

  “Stop it, both of you!” Christy marched out from her kitchen. She stood between her husband and her brother, a hand on each man’s chest, and glanced up at Rich. “I’d like to introduce you to my husband, Cody Franklin. Cody, this stupid oaf is my third-youngest brother, Rich.”

  “Your husband!”

  “My husband,” she echoed softly. She dropped her hands and slipped her arm around Cody’s waist, leaning against him, needing his solid strength.

  “I’ll have you know,” Cody muttered, “you interrupted my wedding night.”

  “Your husband,” Rich repeated a second time, stalking across the room. He retrieved Christy’s bra from the floor and twirled it around on one finger. “I don’t suppose James knows about this?”

  Christy snatched her underwear out of her brother’s hand. “As a matter of fact, he doesn’t.”

  “This is getting even more interesting.” Sitting on the sofa, he picked up Cody’s shirt and made a soft tsking sound with his tongue. “What about Mom and Dad?”

  “They don’t know, either,” Cody said forcefully.

  “Aha,” Rich snickered, “the plot thickens.”

  “I’m so pleased you find this amusing.” Christy moved hastily about the room, picking up pieces of discarded clothing, more embarrassed than she could ever remember being.

  Cody poured himself a cup of coffee and joined Rich, sitting on the opposite end of the sofa. “I’m a good friend of Russ Palmer’s,” he said by way of explanation.

  Rich nodded. “So my dear, sweet sister met you when she was in Montana visiting Taylor?”

  “Cody’s the one who drove her to the hospital,” Christy added. She sat on the side of the sofa and curved her arm around Cody’s broad shoulders.

  “Then this was what you’d call a whirlwind courtship.” Rich studied the two of them. “Exactly how long have you known each other?”

  “Long enough,” Cody answered, making it plain he didn’t much care for this line of questioning.

  “We didn’t mean to fall in love so fast,” Christy continued, wanting to untangle any doubts Rich had about her relationship with Cody. “It just happened.”

  “You might have mentioned it to James.”

  “I probably should’ve phoned and told him while I was still in Montana, but it seemed wrong to break the engagement over the phone, and then when I got home—”

  “The surprise engagement party,” Rich said, groaning loudly. “I can see that you were trapped. Mom put her heart and soul into that party. You couldn’t back out without humiliating her. Not at the last minute like that.”

  “I wanted to tell James right away, but that didn’t work out, either.” The hopelessness of the entire situation nearly overwhelmed her. “The Mulligan trial was called early, and he’s immersed himself in the most complicated case of his career. He’s got to be emotionally and physically at his peak for that.”

  “Yeah, that’s right,” Rich commented. “I’d forgotten about that.”

  “The timing couldn’t be worse. I can’t tell James about Cody and me until he’s through with the trial. And yet…”

  Rich released a long, sympathetic sigh. “You do seem to have your problems, little sister.”

  Cody leaned against the back of the sofa. “You can imagine how I felt when I learned she’d been roped into that engagement party. To complicate matters, she set a date for the wedding.”

  Rich did a pitiful job of disguising a smile. “November 12, wasn’t it?”

  “That’s not funny, Rich, so cut the comedy, will you?” Christy playfully punched his upper arm.

  “You have to admit, it’s kind of amusing.”

  Christy found very little of this amusing. She was deliriously pleased to be Cody’s wife, but he was flying out of Seattle in another day, and she’d have to return to her job and live a complete lie with James and her parents. She wouldn’t be able to keep up this charade for long.

  “Perhaps this predicament is comical to someone else,” Cody said grudgingly, “but trust me, it isn’t if you’re one of the parties involved.”

  Rich was quick to agree. “So the two of you decided to take matters into your own hands and get married.”

  Christy nodded. Her eyes met Cody’s, and they exchanged a loving look. His fingers linked with hers. “It must sound crazy.”

  “Hey, it works for me,” Rich said, “but I wouldn’t be in your shoes for all the tea in China when you tell Mom and Dad what you did.”

  “Why not?” Cody asked with a dark frown.

  “They were cheated out of one wedding when Taylor married Russ without a single family member present. I can only speculate what they’ll say when they hear Christy did the same thing.”

  “They’ll skin me alive,” she muttered. In all the excitement, in all her enthusiasm, Christy had forgotten how much her mother was looking forward to planning her wedding—which would be far more elaborate than the engagement party. As they left the Eagles Hall that dreadful night, Elizabeth Manning had been filled with ideas and opinions and excitement.

  “Your parents won’t do any such thing,” Cody insisted.

  “Cody, you don’t know them.” Christy felt a return of the nausea that had overtaken her at the party. Elizabeth Manning might never forgive her, and she’d always done what her mother thought best. Until now.

  “They won’t say a word,” he said softly, “because I won’t let them.”

  “But you don’t understand—”

  “If your parents are looking for someone to blame, they can deal with me. I was the one who insisted you marry me now. You just went along with it.”

  “Because I’m crazy in love with you and because I want to be your wife more than I’ve ever wanted anything.”

  “Hey,” Rich said, raising both hands, “if both of you want to stand in front o
f the firing squad, I’m not going to stop you.”

  A chill descended on the room. “I take it there was a reason for this unexpected visit,” Cody said pointedly.

  “I was having woman problems,” Rich mumbled.

  “I thought there was something bothering you the night of the party.” Although Rich hadn’t enlightened her with the details, Christy should’ve known something was amiss. Otherwise he would have noticed how upset she was that evening.

  “I may be having a few problems,” Rich continued. “But they’re nothing compared to what you two are facing. Married to one man while engaged to another—that, little sister, takes the cake.”

  “How kind of you to point it out.” Yawning, she covered her mouth with her hand. “I’ll make you a bed on the sofa and you can spend the rest of the night there.”

  “And interrupt your honeymoon?”

  “It’s already been interrupted,” Cody reminded him. “If there’s any justice in this world, I’ll be able to return the favor someday.”

  “No chance of that. I’m swearing off women. The whole lot of them,” Rich said with an emphatic shake of his head.

  “Oh?” Christy had heard that song before.

  “It’s true. They’re fickle, money-hungry, materialistic—”

  “Thank you very much,” Christy said, standing.

  “With a few exceptions.” He eyed his sister and smiled in apology.

  “Now where was it you said you wanted to go for dinner?” Cody asked, reaching for his suit jacket.

  “What’s the matter with eating here?” Christy asked, not wanting to leave the apartment. Everything had been idyllic, and she was almost light-headed with happiness. To walk outside these protected walls might well invite trouble, and she’d had enough of that to last her a lifetime.

  “I thought you wanted to dine out?”

  “Not really.” At the time he’d made the suggestion, Christy hadn’t been able to think of an excuse. Now her mind overflowed with them, only she doubted Cody would consider any of them sensible.

  She checked her freezer and extracted a package of pork chops. “I could wrestle us up some grub in no time.” She turned around and grinned. “Am I beginning to sound like a Montana woman?”