“No, but my new truck managed just fine,” Sebastian said proudly. “Besides, we’re going fishing later. We would invite you to join us, Dane, but I’m sure you can think of other ways you’d prefer to spend your time.”
Dane smiled as he glanced down and met Sienna’s gaze. “Oh, yeah, I can definitely think of a few.”
The power had been restored and a couple of hours later, after eating a hefty breakfast of pancakes, sausage, grits and eggs, and drinking what Dane had to admit was the best coffee he’d had in a long time, Dane and Sienna were wrapped in each other’s arms in the king-size bed. Sensations flowed through her just thinking about how they had ached and hungered for each other, and the fierceness of their lovemaking to fulfill that need and greed.
“Now will you tell me what brought you to the cabin?” Sienna asked, turning in Dane’s arms and meeting his gaze.
“My wedding band.” He then told her why he’d come to the cabin two weeks ago and how he’d left the ring behind. “It was as if without that ring on my finger, my connection to you was gone. I had to have it back so I came here for it.”
Sienna nodded, understanding completely. That was one of the reasons she hadn’t removed hers. Reaching out she cupped his stubble jaw in her hand and then leaned over and kissed him softly. “Together forever, Mr. Bradford.”
Dane smiled. “Yes, Mrs. Bradford, together forever. We’ve proved that when it comes to true love, it’s never too late.”
* * * * *
Looking to settle down, Alaskan CEO Garth Outlaw thinks he wants a convenient bride. What he doesn’t know is that his pilot, Regan Fairchild, wants him. Now, with two accidental weeks together in paradise, will the wife he needs be closer than he realized?
Read on for a sneak peek of
The Wife He Needs
by New York Times bestselling author Brenda Jackson,
the first book in her Westmoreland Legacy: The Outlaws series!
CHAPTER ONE
“So, when is the wedding, Garth?”
Garth Outlaw raised his eyes from studying his cards. Was his brother playing mind games to mess with his concentration?
“And just what wedding are you talking about?”
Garth glanced around the table and saw the smirks on the faces of all four of his brothers. Even Jess had made a trip home from the nation’s capital for a week long visit.
“Is anyone going to answer?” Garth asked.
Jess grinned as he threw out a card. “I heard it from Dad the moment I walked through the door. He claims you’ve gotten over Karen Piccard, decided to settle down and do whatever needs to be done for the benefit of the company, which includes getting a wife and making babies to guarantee the Outlaw dynasty. Those were his words, not mine.”
“We heard the same thing,” Cash said, with Sloan and Maverick nodding in agreement.
Garth didn’t say anything. Being the oldest son of Bartram “Bart” Outlaw wasn’t easy, especially when his father liked spreading information that wasn’t true. However, in this case, it was. At least partly. He was planning to do what needed to be done for the company. But he seriously doubted he would ever get over Karen. She would always have his heart.
“No wedding date has been set because I haven’t chosen a bride.”
His brother Cash sat up straight in his chair. “Are you really thinking about settling down with a wife and making babies?” he asked, as if the thought of doing such a thing was as unheard of as living in outer space.
Garth threw out some chips. “Why not? I don’t see any of you guys rushing to the altar to continue the Outlaw legacy. Not even you, Jess, and you’re the politician in the family. You of all people should be thinking about acquiring a wife.” A couple of years ago, Jess had gotten elected as a senator from Alaska.
A grin touched Jess’s lips. “No, thank you. I’m not ready to fall in love.”
Garth shrugged. “Who said anything about falling in love?”
“You’re thinking of marrying a woman you don’t love?” This question came from Sloan.
“For me there’s no other way.”
There was no reason to explain what he meant. They knew.
“And you’ll do it because Bart says it needs to be done?”
Garth rolled his eyes at his youngest brother, Maverick, who’d been quiet up to now. “No, I’ll consider doing it because I think it’s about time I settled down. I’m thirty-eight, and dating gets old.”
“Speak for yourself,” Maverick said, grinning. “I happen to enjoy dating a lot of women.”
Garth shook his head. “And Walker got me thinking. Look how long he was a loner before he got married. If he can do it, then anyone can.”
Walker Rafferty was Garth’s best friend. A couple of years ago, Walker had met his current wife and now they were parents to twins, a boy and a girl they’d named Walker and Westlyn. Nobody thought Walker would ever remarry after losing his first wife and son in a car accident. Surprisingly, ten years later, Walker had fallen in love again. Garth was happy for Walker, and inspired to settle down, but honestly, he couldn’t see himself falling in love. He was convinced Karen was the only woman he was meant to love.
He and Karen had met in the Marines. They’d fallen in love immediately and made plans to marry after their enlistment. They’d dated six months and then one morning during a routine border check in Syria, her military chopper had crashed, killing everyone on board. He’d never even gotten the chance to bring Karen to Fairbanks and introduce the woman he’d loved to his family.
“Walker certainly does seem a lot happier these days, thanks to our cousin,” Cash said, intruding into Garth’s thoughts.
Garth nodded as he studied his cards. Yes, Walker had become the Outlaws’ cousin-in-law after marrying Bailey Westmoreland. Bailey was a cousin they hadn’t known existed until it was proven that the Westmorelands and the Outlaws were
