Page 65 of Make Me Crazy (Loco, Texas 2)

“I gotta tell you, cousin, I am so glad that you got married. The thought of having to deal with this place has made me break out in a cold sweat every night for weeks.”

Rand tried to smile at her cousin, but it was definitely an effort. His wife and he had flown down for her wedding at his insistence since he was the only family she had. Even though she thought he was a bit of a yuppie, she appreciated the gesture. “Yeah, well, now you can rest easy. I’ve got it handled.”

“Of course the money from the sale would have been nice, but the hassle would have done nothing for my nerves.” The girly man actually looked like he was growing faint just thinking about it.

Being around you is doing nothing for my nerves. That would have been Rand’s response any other day this month except for today. Today she was jittery as a June bug and it had everything to do with the gorgeous man surrounded by a flock of fawning women. Jake looked up right then and sent her a look so full of heat she felt like a muffin right out of the oven. It had already been three hours and the party was still going strong, although Earl had cut out after dinner. She couldn’t really blame him, since her first inclination was to send everyone packing so she could get the hell out of this devil contraption of a bustier. She was starving, too afraid to eat in the beautiful white dress and not sure she really could if she tried, the damn bustier was cutting off circulation and oxygen.

She would have changed out of the dress hours ago, but Jake hadn’t changed out of his tux and he looked so handsome she couldn’t bear to change into her normal gear and have people whisper. She watched Jake excuse himself and cross the room, slipping his arm around her waist and giving her a hard kiss. “How’s my beautiful bride?”

“She’s starving and ready to shut the party down,” Rand said honestly.

“I understand exactly what you mean, darlin’. It will be over soon.” Jake looked up and smiled. “Red, did you get enough to eat?”

“I did, but I realized I forgot to do something. I haven’t kissed the bride.”

Before she could protest Red’s mouth swooped over hers and her “oh” of surprise got a quick sweep of his tongue before he was pulled back by a scowling Jake.

“I love you buddy, but if you kiss my wife again, you’re going to be hurtin’ bad in the mornin’.”

Jake almost sounded jealous, really jealous. Serious about hitting his best friend jealous. Her mind tried to wrap it’s way around that while Red slapped Jake’s back. “Ah, Jake, no need. Just wanted to give Rand one last chance to pick the better man.”

The women that had moments before been surrounding Jake were giving their excuses. One of them looked at Rand and said sincerely, “Congratulations, Miranda. You’re a lucky woman.”

Rand looked at Jake, whose scowl had dissolved into a tolerant half smile as Red teased him and she said simply, “Yeah, I guess I am.

Jake couldn’t wait to get the well-meaning folks of Loco out of the house so he could get a little time with Rand alone.

Right now Mrs. Donaldson was schooling him on the proper care of a marriage, and he listened with only half an ear as his eyes devoured Rand laughing with his mother, Red’s sisters, and Jamie across the room.

Her eyes lifted and met his. All the fire and anticipation must have been shooting out of his eyes because she turned away with flaming cheeks.

When Mrs. Donaldson took a breath, Jake patted her shoulders and apologized, “I do beg your pardon for interrupting, Mrs. Donaldson, but I have barely gotten to kiss my bride all night. Would you oblige me?”

Mrs. Donaldson smiled knowingly and said, “You go on darlin’. I remember my own wedding. My Carl couldn’t wait to get me alone.”

As disturbing as the image was, he thanked the old gal anyway and strode across the room to pull Rand against him and whisper next to her ear, “Is it time for everyone to leave yet?”

He felt her warm breath against the skin of his neck as she responded urgently, “God, I hope so. I haven’t been able to breathe or eat with this damn corset on.”

The image of Rand standing in front of him wearing nothing but her skin sent him into a cold sweat and he turned to address the remaining guests. “Alright folks, I hate t

o kick you out, but my sweetheart has just informed me she can’t wait to rip my clothes off.”

There were plenty of gasps and disapproving looks and a hard sock to his stomach by said eager bride. “Oh alright, so it’s just me. Can ya’ll blame me?”

No one seemed to, especially the men who gave Jake good natured back slaps.

Dustin, carrying a sleeping Luke, leaned over to kiss Rand’s cheek. “Congratulations you two. Let me know if this guy steps out of line.”

Jake hugged his brother, careful of Luke and before he could stop himself, he ran a hand over the boy’s soft hair.

Dustin gave him a look of understanding, but didn’t say anything.

His mama kissed Rand’s cheek. “I am so happy to finally have a daughter. We’ll have to plan a trip to Dallas, do a little shopping or lunch. Whatever you want.”

He knew Rand was trying to cover up her horror at the word shopping. She could barely stand to shop for groceries, let alone clothes. “I’d like that, Mrs. Hansen.”

His mama shook her head. “Now you can call me mama or Karen, but I don’t ever want to hear you call me Mrs. Hansen again, you hear?”

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