Page 67 of Gentle Persuasion

“Not on your life, Sis,” Cole said softly.

Everyone laughed, except Debbie. She was starting to get a guilty conscience. She opened her mouth. Cole saw the look. He braced himself. It never came. Buddy sauntered into the room.

“You’ve got nerve,” Debbie said, as she wrapped her arms around Buddy’s neck and gave him a kiss. It was the first time she’d seen or spoken to him since her incident at the airport.

“I rather like to think of it as…initiative,” Buddy claimed, and took the kiss as his reward for brilliance.

Cole grinned. “Your initiative almost got me shot, little brother.”

“You look all right to me,” Buddy remarked. And then he stared intently at them both before walking away. “In fact, if I didn’t know better, I’d think you looked married.”

Debbie nearly fainted. Is he psychic too?

For once Cole was speechless.

Everyone stared at them, waiting for them to deny it.

“Buddy!” Lily’s shriek woke her baby. She sent Case a look that had him hastening to retrieve their son while she waited for her brother to reappear.

“You woke Charlie,” he accused as he stuck his head around the corner.

“Why did you say that?” Lily asked.

Buddy rolled his eyes. Sometimes his family was too dense for words. “I said you woke him because I can hear him crying,” he said distinctly. “Before he was quiet. Now he’s not. Understand?”

“I think I’m going to kill you,” Lily said shortly.

“Won’t do any good,” Morgan said. “I think he’s cloned himself in that damned room. If you hurt your brother, two more like him will come in his place.”

Debbie wanted to hide. Cole slid his arm around her shoulders and pulled her gently against him. For better or worse, they were now in all this family mess together.

“I wasn’t talking about my son’s sleeping habits,” Lily said shortly.

Buddy waited.

Lily wanted to strangle him. She’d forgotten how maddening he could be.

“I wanted to know what made you say what you did about Cole and Debbie.”

“About what?”

Lily screamed. It was unlike her. She was a lady, always. She never lost her cool. Never. Unless Buddy was around.

“Why did you say Cole and Debbie looked married?”

“Oh that!” Buddy pointed. “I saw the rings. It’s rather obvious, don’t you think?”

Everyone gaped. For once, Buddy had them cold. He leaned against the wall and watched his family come to attention. They were a fascinating species.

“It’s true.” Lily was floored. “She’s wearing rings.”

“That doesn’t necessarily mean—” Cole began.

“Cole, stop it,” Debbie said softly. “No more.” He wrapped her in his arms. “You’re right,” he said. “No more. Not from any of you. Yes, we’re married. Not because I wanted to leave any of you out of the ceremony, but because I’d waited long enough for Debbie to be part of this family. I nearly waited too long. I wasn’t taking any more chances.”

“Makes sense to me,” Case drawled as he walked back into the room carrying his son. “Taking chances on women is deadly stuff. I can vouch for that.”

Lily smiled gently.

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