Black Hills Angel (Black Hills Series) (33 page)

"Nora, everything will be fine. You will see." Lacey tried to soothe her daughter, but it only won her an annoyed shake of a dark head. Andy looked out of her depth, but she and Nora had become fast friends. Soon they would be as thick as thieves given that she and Matt would be staying near home.

"Mom, how can this be right? It's Saturday afternoon and we don't have enough chairs for everyone to sit during the ceremony! Where are we ever going to get more? And the flowers! Oh don't get me started on the flowers!" Nora raved like a mad woman.
Maybe brides were a bit crazy.
Matt chuckled at his errant thoughts.
Maybe Andy and I should just elope.
One glance at his father and Matt got a discretionary head shake like Travis knew what he was thinking.
Damn!

"Nora, dear, I will make some calls. We will handle it. Can we put this all away for now and meet everyone for dinner?" Lacey pleaded, looking more annoyed by the minute. Two ticked off Johnson women! Matt looked at his dad again and noted a hint of humor from the older man. Randy pulled out his cell phone and looked at the screen.

"Your mom's right, sweet pea. My family will be waiting for us to get there and maybe a few drinks couldn't hurt, huh?" Randy's attempt at humor only resulted in narrowed eyes and half groan from his fiancé. Matt stepped forward to intercept Andy and pulled her into his side. She melted into him and all he could think about was kissing her senseless.
Oh, how I'd love to hide out in the barn for a few minutes and teach Andy what it's like to be a country girl.
Green eyes watched his face and caught his eyes as they came back to her face. The slow smirk told him she knew exactly where his mind had gone.

"Think we could slip away for a half hour? I don't think they'd miss us." Matt lowered his head and whispered in her ear. She gave him a flirty smile and patted his chest with her hand.

"Now, now, we have hogged enough of their moment by announcing our engagement. This is Randy and Nora's time to shine." Andy nodded at the couple ahead of them. "Or it might be their time to have a complete meltdown."

Matt looked to where she gestured. Nora was fair to screeching and Randy looked bewildered by the shrewish behavior. Matt groaned in a pitiful way.

"Please, please promise me you won't be a bride like that!" Matt stuck his lip out, pouting like a small boy who is hoping to get his way. Andy smiled and shook her head.

"What? You mean like bridezilla?" She laughed at his wide-eyed mocking impression of being shocked. Matt couldn't continue the charade for very long.

"Yes, exactly that. I might have to reconsider this whole marriage thing if you change into that." Matt indicated his sister, who now looked to be close to tears. It really was a sad sight.

"No, if I even get remotely like that, you have my permission to pull me into your arms and kiss me until I cannot think straight." She grinned impishly and Matt fell for her all over again. That little dimple in her cheek set his heart to skipping. Andy paused beside him, her eyes searching his. He was lost. Lowering his lips to hers, he savored the sweet taste of her lips and held tightly the knowledge that this woman would be with him his entire life. Come hell or high water, there would never be another love for him.

"Hey you two, are you riding with us?" Travis called from their truck. It took a second for Matt to realize that not responding to the shouts, his dad had started to honk at them.
Sheesh!
Andy pulled back out of his arms, a dazed expression on her face. He felt desire unfurl in his stomach and set flame to his groin. He wanted to create that expression on her face many times over and in many different ways.
Too bad you don't have the time right now!
He groaned.

"No, we will take my truck." Matt said as they walked up to his parents' truck just as Garrett pulled up in his black Dodge. Garrett rolled down his window.

"Sorry, Andy, but Matt has to come with me. We are headed back up to Rapid City to pick up some more chairs. Got a guy that owes me a favor or two. If we don't leave now, we can't get them." Garrett shrugged at Matt's irritation. Andy took it in good grace. He didn't want to leave her on her own for the evening, but it didn't look like much could be done about it. It was Nora's wedding after all.

"Sorry, babe. I'm going to stay with Garrett and Randy tonight." Matt kissed her cheek and opened the door to his parents' truck for her. Harper was already inside all strapped in. She looked disappointed, but so was he. It couldn't be helped.

"I'll see you later then." Andy said and climbed up into the seat. Frowning a bit, he closed the door and climbed in with his brother. A small wave and the two vehicles pulled out of the drive.

***

Andy sighed as she crawled into bed and slid her bare feet under the comforter. She was exhausted and not just physically. Her brain felt like it was mush inside her skull. Thankfully the day had been a long one for Harper too and the baby was sleeping peacefully in her playpen. Nora had finally passed out in the living room after another drink. Andy had quit counting after the seventh. Nora would probably be a bear in the morning, but at least it stopped the incessant nitpicking. Andy really hadn't seen that side of Nora before and if she thought a bit more about it, she wondered if it was Nora's insecurity floating to the surface. Getting married was a big deal!

Scrunching her toes in the sheets, Andy reached across the small wood stand and clicked the lamp off. It was dark except for the soft moonlight shimmering through the window. Resting her head on the pillow, Andy took a deep breath. The bed still smelled like Matt. Her stomach squirmed. She wanted him so much beside her that it was making her feel sick. After accepting his marriage proposal today and believing that they'd never spend one more night apart, being alone tonight was definitely not ideal. She flopped onto her side and closed her eyes.

She wanted her naked body to be pressed up against his. She wanted to feel his work roughened hands scrape her soft skin. She loved the way his heart beat strong underneath her palm. Smiling into the dark, she remembered the way he would pull in a sharp breath when she'd slide her fingertips along his ribs. He'd run his hands down her stomach and across the flare of her hips. Squeezing her eyes shut, she could almost feel him there. Blinking into the darkness, Andy felt her phone vibrating underneath her pillow. Pulling it out, she squinted at the bright screen and then smiled.
Matt.

@Matt: Are you in bed yet? I wanted to wish you sweet dreams...of ME!

@Andy: Just crawled into my empty bed. I'd rather have you than sweet dreams.

Andy giggled and snuggled under her comforter further. The South Dakota nights were cold. She waited for the next message and couldn't contain the smile that spread across her lips.

@Matt: If I were there, my love, you'd get very little sleep. I want your body!

She shivered after reading his text. Her senses already in overdrive and now they begged for his touch. Every nerve ending tingled at the thought of his body pressed to hers. His lips leaving a trail of fire as they paid homage to her skin.

@Andy: Don't tease me. It's cold and I NEED you!

There was almost an immediate reply.

@Matt: How badly do you need me, baby?

Andy felt like smoke was going to come out of her ears. She was nearly boiling over and the cold was the least of her concern. A loud thump made her jump and she lay there listening intently. There were no other sounds. Nora must have decided to move to her bedroom instead of sleeping on the couch all night.

@Andy: I need your lips on my breasts. They ache for your touch. I'm fairly melting for some attention a bit lower (if you know what I mean).

Andy grinned wickedly, her head spinning at her thoughts. If she knew what was good for her, she would stop this hot and HOTTER conversation. It would only lead to acute sexual frustration. Her phone buzzed again in her hand.

@Matt: Ah, fuck me! I know exactly what you mean. I'm as hard as a rock for you.

Andy groaned and rolled onto her back. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath trying to stop the wall of heat that threatened to overwhelm her. Texting Matt like this was amazingly erotic. Now if she only knew what to do about it. She wasn't versed in satisfying herself. She blushed at the thought. Still she couldn't stop replying to him.

@Andy: I'm sorry. You had to go be a good brother and left your fiancé here all alone.

She knew she was taunting him, but she couldn't help it. This was addictive.

@Matt: I like the sound of that.

Andy felt like she had missed something. Her brow furrowed in confusion.

@Andy: Huh?

@Matt: My fiancé. I like that sound of that. How plastered is Nora?

Andy chuckled at his sudden concern for his sister. Nora was pretty trashed.

@Andy: Enough that she might sleep through a train wreck inside the house! She definitely won't be in the best of moods tomorrow. (Sad face)

Poor Nora. It wasn't a good sign to have to drink your fears away the night before your wedding.

@Matt: Do me a favor. Make sure the front door is locked. I'd feel better knowing you are safe.

Good idea! She had forgotten to check that out. She wouldn't sleep a wink until she knew that the doors were locked.

@Andy: Will do.

Andy grimaced as she got out of bed. Her feet touched the cold wood floor. Skirting the playpen and narrowly missing the door jamb with her toes, Andy tiptoed out into the living room. Nora wasn't on the couch anymore.
She must have gone to bed.
Reaching her hand out to the door and finding the dead bolt, she threw the lock into place. Satisfied that it was secure, she turned to head back to the sunroom. Just as she rounded the couch, a heavy arm pulled her back swiftly against a solid chest and before she could scream, a rough hand clamped over her mouth. Her heart hammered, her breathing shallow as she tried to think of what to do.

"Shh, Andy, it's me." His voice wiped all fear away. The relief fell on her like a ton of bricks. She sagged against him and tried to settle her breathing, but it was soon apparent that fear wasn't driving her mad pulse. Matt took his hand away from her mouth and moved it down her neck to her breasts. Nimble fingers tweaked each nipple through her nightshirt causing scorching heat to flare to every part she had. Andy groaned. Getting satisfactory reply to his questing fingers, Matt slid his palm down her stomach and beyond her waist. The nightshirt did very little at covering her body. It really wasn't all that long.

It didn't take him long to pull her sleeping attire high enough to skim her naked thighs and brush against her lace panties.
Sweet Lord!
Andy didn't think that she could stay upright much longer. Her legs were starting to feel like jelly. She squeaked softly when he pressed his fingers into her core despite the thin barrier of her underwear.

"Mmm, you are very wet. You really do need me." His innuendo didn't go unnoticed and she felt like she was going to go up in flames. Pivoting in his arms, Andy threw her arms around his neck and pressed her lips against his. She was ruthless. She was starving for his touch. She was taking no prisoners tonight. Matt was caught off guard at first by her boldness, but he was soon groaning into her mouth. Grabbing her at the backs of her thighs, he lifted her body so it rode his hips. Her very wet and aching core was pressed firmly to an eagerly insistent erection. Carefully Matt moved them into the sunroom, past Harper's sleeping form, and to the queen size bed. Not so gently he dropped her onto the bed. Without ceremony, he divested himself of his clothes as she removed what little she wore as well. There was no preliminaries. The texting foreplay had done its occupation well and they were both on fire for the other. The minute Matt sank hilt deep into Andy, they were lost to the world of unlimited possibilities.

Chapter Twenty Eight

Andy woke up to Harper fussing in her playpen. The morning sunshine lit up the inside of the room and despite very few hours of sleep, she smiled. Matt held her tight against his chest with his breath ruffling her hair. Another outraged cry from Harper and Andy decided it was time to get out of bed. Nora would have a splitting headache this morning and a baby screaming wouldn't do anything but poke the dragon.

"No, no, I will get her." Matt said sleepily, pulling her back down into the mattress. Andy didn't argue. How often did she get to burrow back down into the warm covers? Matt swung his legs out of bed, threw her a cheeky grin as he pulled his jeans up over his naked hips.
Oh that body! My very own cowboy!
She couldn't help the answering grin that wreathed her face. He was just too yummy.

"What in world are you doing here, Matt?" A croaky, bridezilla voice came from the doorway. Andy ducked under the covers.
Too late!
She missed the
shit-eating
grin that Matt gave his sister as he lifted Harper into his arms.

"You didn't think you could keep me away from my fiancé, did you? Besides what were you doing being trashed last night?" Matt asked her pointedly, turning the tables effectively. Nora didn't like it one bit and her glare was as frosty as her retort.

"That has nothing to do with you either." Nora stomped as loudly as a person with a hangover could and left the room. Andy came out from under the covers just as Matt shook his head.

"I guess it means she is actually going to go through with the wedding this time. She hasn't been trashed for any of the others." Matt sat on the edge of the bed and Harper rubbed her eyes with her pudgy little fists. Andy wondered what Nora was thinking too. Maybe it wasn't too late for a heart to heart with her
soon-to-be
sister in law.

"What time is it anyway? My cell phone died last night after some very interesting texts." Andy wrinkled her nose and grinned. Matt lifted his chin in acknowledgement. He looked at his phone on the stand.

"It's just after nine. We should probably get moving, although I would much rather jump back in there with you." Matt held Harper up and the baby thumped her little feet on the covers. Andy tickled Harper's chunky little thighs. It was a sweet picture. Andy couldn't help but applaud the fact that her daughter would have a father now. A man who definitely wanted to be a father. Andy shook herself out of her muse and blinked the beginning of happy tears from her eyes. It was far too early in the morning to cry. Matt met her gaze and winked at her.

"Come on, Harper. How about you and your daddy get some breakfast!" He got up from the bed and clutched Harper to his chest. Her little head bobbed as she looked excitedly around. Once they were out of the room, Andy felt the tears slip down her cheeks.
Guess there is time after all. I love that man.
Swiping at her eyes with the corner of the sheet, Andy was determined to figure out what was going on with Nora. Sliding from the bed, she pulled on a pair of sweats and a long-sleeve t-shirt. Deciding that the best approach was a direct one, she went immediately to Nora's door.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"Nora, it's Andy. Please may I come in?" She waited, wondering if she was barking up the wrong tree. She wasn't married to Matt yet and Nora wasn't really her sister.
Maybe I'm overstepping.
Just then the door opened and Andy tried not to look surprised to see a red nose and blotchy cheeks from crying. Nora stepped away from the door and allowed Andy inside. The bedroom looked like it had been ransacked with clothing piled and strung everywhere. Magazine clippings hung on one wall and Andy almost smiled at all the images. Brides, dresses, rings, flowers and cakes were randomly plastered to the wall.
Having the perfect wedding really does matter to Nora.

"Oh, Andy! What am I going to do? I can't get married like this." Nora whined as soon as the door was closed. She sniffed, but it did little to relieve the stuffiness of her nose. Andy's heart went out to the poor girl. Andy also cringed at the mess Matt's sister was.

"Why are you like this, Nora? That might be a better question to answer before I tell you what we are going to do." Andy searched for a place to sit, but every surface was covered with stuff. Deciding that the bed had the least amount covering it, Andy pushed back some clothes and sat on the corner. Hands in her lap, she waited for Nora to answer.

"He wants children. He wants me to change my last name." Nora closed her eyes, her hands balled at her side. She wore a top and bottom pajama set with her frumpy old robe thrown over the top. Her hair was pressed flat on one side and after the wreck crying and being drunk had made her, Nora was not all that attractive. Still Andy figured if they could solve some of her problems, then getting her righted might be that much easier. She looked at Nora again.
I hope.

"You have Drew. Would more children really be that hard?" Andy asked, keeping her voice soft and soothing. Nora pressed her lips together and started to pace. The clutter didn't seem to get in her way.

"Yes, I have Drew, but his father left me to raise him alone. What if I have a child with Randy and he decides I'm not worth sticking around for? What if Drew wants to call Randy his father, will he let him? I keep rolling this around and around in my head." Nora gestures emphatically and Andy can finally start to see inside the mass of self-doubt. She might have wondered the same if Matt hadn't made clear his feelings. Perhaps that was Randy's problem. He hadn't been clear about what he wanted or expected.

"Nora, Randy loves you. He has waited five years for you to marry him. Have you asked him about Drew? Has Drew asked you if he could call Randy his father?" Andy remained seated, but Nora paced.

"No. Drew hasn't asked and I haven't been able to bring it up to Randy either." Nora sighed, her voice quivering. She really had worried herself into a tizzy.

"Well what about changing your last name? Was that something unexpected?" Andy tried to be patient, but marriage to her meant changing her last name.
Most women did, didn't they?
Nora started pacing again and randomly picking up some of the clutter as she went. It might have been a good diversion had it really made a difference!

"I don't want to change my name. Drew has my last name. If I change mine, he will feel out of place." Nora's hurried sentences and mesh of emotions was making Andy's head hurt. It wasn't that she didn't make sense or that she didn't have a right to be worried, but why did it have to come down to the day of the wedding? This was five years in the making, unless Nora had never taken it seriously before now.

"Listen, honey, I know you are feeling overwhelmed and probably desperately hung over, but you have to get a grip on yourself. These concerns need to be worked out with Randy. As for your last name, if you are worried about hurting Drew and Randy, compromise. Johnson-White. Lots of people hyphenate their names. Then there are no questions about Drew and you still feel married to Randy in the traditional sense." Andy got up from the bed and took Nora's hands in her own. "Call Randy. You will feel better." She raised a brow when Nora looked to be wavering. "Do it or I will tell Matt to call him over here."
That did it!
Nora went searching for her phone and Andy left the room. She really hoped Nora would call him and work it out. The wedding was less than six hours away.

***

Matt heard voices coming from his sister's bedroom and silently he applauded Andy's wish to help. He knew Nora well enough to guess that she was having second thoughts. It was a very good chance that this attempted wedding would end up like the others and if that happened, he was afraid Randy would give up. There were only so many rejections a man could take before he threw in the towel. Randy has had five years of them! Harper sputtered and spit out the last bit of cereal Matt had given her. He wrinkled his nose as he met those blue eyes. He put the bowl on the table and smiled at his little girl.
His.
His heart swelled with that now familiar emotion. He loved Harper and he loved her mother too.
Could anything go wrong now?
He heard the bedroom door shut and footsteps moving down the hall. One look at Andy's face and he cursed.
No wonder people said not to say that!

"How bad is it?" Matt asked her, trying to sound less interested than he was. He wanted only happiness for his only sister, but she always seemed to be standing in her own way.

"It's not good. A few unanswered questions are going to sink this ship before it ever gets out of the harbor." Andy sighed as she leaned over the back of one of the kitchen chairs. He could see the worry deep in those expressive green eyes. He smiled at her, covering her hand with his own.

"Well what should we do? I don't want to see Nora unhappy. I'm afraid Randy might give this up if she doesn't walk down the aisle today." He shook his head and got up to put the dirty bowl and spoon away. Grabbing a wet cloth from the sink, he wiped Harper's hands and face while she squawked loudly. Andy giggled at the fight her daughter was putting up.

"I told her to call Randy and talk to him. All of her questions are valid, even if worrying about them has only made them larger than they should be." She bit her lower lip in her distraction. Matt loved the effort she was making to resolve his sister's problem.
Family really does matter to her.

"It must be a female thing." Matt slid his eyes to Andy and tried not to laugh at her narrowed eyes.

"What do you mean by that?" She growled, annoyance flaring at him.

"Women worry entirely too much about things. They don't trust their male counterparts to help them deal with the issues." Matt wrinkled his nose at her and pressed his lips together before he smiled. She was rolling that answer over and over. He could almost hear the wheels turning. She finally raised a brow and tilted her head to the side.

"Alright. Say you have a point, what would you do?" She was throwing the gauntlet down now. He should have seen this one coming.
Trust Andy to put you in your place!
He finally chuckled and sat down next to her. Leaning back against the back of the chair, he took out his cell phone.

"At first instinct, I would suggest we stay out of it and let them work it out." He looked up at Andy and realized he had better continue on before she decided to turn a caustic remark his way. "But she is my sister and they have tried this wedding thing several times. So I say we interfere and call Randy ourselves. If he knows what is going on, maybe he can head it off at the pass." Pointedly he punched in a few numbers on this phone and waited for it to start ringing. Andy softly drummed her fingers on the wood table. He wasn't sure Randy was going to answer.

"Hey Matt." Randy's smooth tenor voice came on the line.
Finally!

"Randy, has my sister called you this morning?" Matt felt a bit awkward in meddling in his sister's personal life, but it had to be done. If nothing more than to put Andy's mind at ease and he could get back to enjoying his own bride-to-be.

"Yeah, she's on the other line. What's going on? Nora sounds a bit out of it." Randy asked, his curiosity piqued.
Unfortunately that is an understatement, Randy!

"I wish I could tell you it's the hangover talking, but she's got some questions that have gotten out of proportion." Matt grimaced as he waited for shit to hit the fan. He really liked Randy and if truth be told, he thought of the guy as his brother already. He looked to Andy and she sat there with her brow furrowed in worry. Deciding that he didn't have all the information, Matt gave Andy the phone. She looked shocked, but she took it.

"Uh, Randy this is Andy. A quick recap for you and I will let you sort all of this out." She took a nervous breath and Matt squeezed her knee. "She wants children, but subsequently the last time she had one the idiot walked out. She wants to hyphenate her last name so to spare Drew the questions about his last name later. She is also worrying about Drew needing a father and whether or not you would want to fill that void." Andy closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Matt smiled and took the phone when she offered it to him.

"It's up to you, Randy, what you want to do with the information. Let me know if there is a change of plans, otherwise I will keep everyone on schedule." Matt nodded when Randy answered in the affirmative and hung up. Clicking off the phone, he set it down on the table. Andy shook her head when he looked at her and he pulled her into his arms. Ironically he thought Andy would have the same questions and concerns as his sister if Matt hadn't made it clear that he wanted both mother and child. He hoped Randy could find the words to ease Nora's mind too.

"So what do we do now?" Andy asked as she wiggled free of his arms. He couldn't deny to himself that he was disappointed by it. He shook his head.

"Go on as if nothing has happened. Hopefully Randy and Nora will work things out before three this afternoon. Otherwise there will be a whole lot of dressed up people with nowhere to go." He grimaced. He didn't really like getting all dressed up. Luckily Randy had asked the guys to wear blue jeans with white collar shirts and a black jacket.

"Oh that might be easier said than done! I should go get in the shower and start getting ready." Andy got up from her chair and he couldn't help but put his hands on her hips. Pulling her back into him, he ran his hands down the front of her thighs suggestively.