Page 52 of Make Me Crazy (Loco, Texas 2)

“If your brother says he’s his and he’s claiming him, I’m not putting any doubt on him or that little boy and neither will you,” his mother said firmly.

“Rand and I were going to get married this weekend,” Jake said tiredly.

His mother’s joyful cry about busted his eardrums. “Lord be praised! Wait this weekend? That’s not nearly enough time to organize a proper reception.”

“Mom, we just want to keep it simple and small. Nothing crazy.”

“Well, it’s you that’s plum loco if you think I’m letting my baby get married without having any say in the planning.”

“Really, it’s more like a business arrangement than a real marriage,” Jake said.

His mother scoffed on the other end. “If I really believed that, Jacob Hansen, I’d be putting my foot down, but I know better.”

The trouble was, Jake did too. His friendship with Rand felt deeper than anything he’d ever experienced with another woman, but he wasn’t ready to admit what that might mean.

“Like I said, we want simple and intimate,” he said.

“Oh, you don’t know what you want. Better make it next weekend though. Just leave everything to me. It will be perfect.”

Rand woke up alone and heard the shower going. Slipping out of bed and getting dressed, she cursed herself for being a sentimental fool and went

out to feed the animals. It was frustrating as hell that she’d let her mouth run away with her.

You’re just afraid to be vulnerable.

Well, hell, who wouldn’t be? Red was right about one thing; Jake’s affections weren’t the most reliable and she was crazy is she didn’t remember that. Unless she wanted to be left broken hearted when Jake said good-bye.

She was brushing her horse Sun when she heard the barn door creek open. She glanced over to find a still pale Jake leaning against the stall door.

“Good morning,” he said, grinning at her and she tried to quiet the stomach flipping joy that seemed to be constant whenever he was near.

“Morning. You feeling better?”

“Yeah. Going to take the day off and head back in tomorrow. Talked to my mom this morning.”

She stopped currying Sun’s side long enough to ask, “What happened?”

“Well, she’s thrilled about the wedding, so whatever you wanted to have, you should probably voice now or forever hold your peace.”

She finished brushing Sun down and dropped the brush into the bucket, mulling over his words. “Why do I get the feeling you’re trying to tell me to be afraid?”

“I am. Very afraid.”

She came out of the stall silently, heading for the tack room with him trailing behind her. She hung the bucket on one of the wall hooks and went to wash her hands in the sink. As she dried them off, she turned to find him right behind her and his arms came around her waist.

“Thank you. You took really good care of me this weekend.”

Her hands rested on his arms, and felt them flex under his plaid shirt. For some reason, his close proximity helped her relax and she teased, “Hey, I need you healthy. At least for the next year. After that, you might just be on your own.”

“Might, huh?” He leaned down and his mouth found her bare neck, nuzzling the skin below her jawline. “Are you thinking about keeping me?”

Rand caught her breath. He had no idea how close to home his joke hit and she started to pull away. “I didn’t say that.”

“Hmmm.” His mouth moved up to the shell of her ear, and when he ran his tongue along the edge, she held on for dear life as her knees turned to grits.

He slid his big hands down and grabbed her butt, lifting her against him so she could feel how much better he was, if the hard length of his cock was any indication. She couldn’t stop the moan that escaped from her lips as she arched closer, her hands slipping up, over his shoulders to rest behind his neck.

“Ehem.” Someone cleared their throat and Rand stilled, her gaze shifting to find Andy standing in the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest.

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