The Cowboy's Triplets by Tina Leonard Page A

weren’t in the mood for marriage.”
    â€œThe birdie was smart.” She frowned. Why was Pete telling her he was going to marry her if Sam was going to be the fall guy for the family? “Will Sam move away after he gets married?”
    â€œNo. He’ll live at Rancho Diablo, just like always.”
    â€œWhat about the rest of you?” Her curiosity was killing her.
    â€œWe’ll look for wives.”
    That didn’t sound good. And Judah didn’t look all that unhappy about the prospect. “Why the sudden matrimonial urge infecting you men?”
    Judah laughed. “Whichever one of us has the biggest family gets the ranch. The race is on for all of us.”
    Jackie stiffened. Pete had left out that little detail. Pete was competing with his brothers, as if he was in a rodeo, and Pete had a head start on Sam because she was already pregnant.
    â€œThat rat,” she said. “That lowdown, no good rat!”
    Judah grinned. “You must be talking about Pete.”
    â€œI—” She hesitated, before realization hit her. “If you’re telling me this, you’re not exactly keeping it a secret.”
    He shrugged. “No reason to. It’s best to toot your own horn if you’re selling something, right?”
    Every female within a hundred miles was going to set her cap for a Callahan cowboy, including Pete.
    It shouldn’t matter. Nothing had changed betweenher and Pete—no matter what that stubborn cowboy thought.
    â€œJudah,” Jackie said, inspiration hitting her in breathtaking fashion. “How would you like to come to dinner tonight?”
    He raised a brow. “What’s cooking?”
    â€œNot what. Whom. Your brother,” she said sweetly. “And Darla will be there.” She hoped Darla didn’t already have dinner plans. But having extra people around would foil Pete’s plan to press her about marriage. She wanted no part of the Callahan marriage derby.
    â€œSure,” he said, “I’d love to watch my brother slave over a stove.”
    â€œGreat. See you around five.”
    He grinned. “Thanks.”
    â€œNot at all. It’ll be fun.”
    Maybe it wouldn’t be fun for Pete, but it was going to be fun to watch him stew. “I’m turning into Fiona,” she told her friend when Darla sailed back into the bridal shop with her coffee.
    â€œIs that a good thing?” Darla asked.
    Jackie looked at the magic wedding gown, still hanging on its hook, and thought how wonderful it would look on her friend. Clearly the wrong signals were being sent between Darla and Judah, a problem easily fixed by a casual dinner among friends. “We’ll find out,” Jackie said. “Darla, I think I’ll have a small dinner gathering tonight to celebrate our new business venture. Do you have plans?”
    â€œI’m free,” Darla said. “I’ll bring dessert.”
    Jackie smiled. “Just bring yourself.”
    Â 
    P ETE HAD PLANS—BIG PLANS . He’d cooked up a storm, a romantic meal that would impress even the most reluctant of women. And he hadn’t stopped there. Jackie’s sofa, the scene of so many of their wonderful nights watching television, was sprinkled with red rose petals. There were candles glowing on the table. And the pièce de résistance—him. He’d found a tux and had himself suited up like a waiter. He planned to serve her like a princess, shower her with attention and spoiling and everything her heart could possibly desire.
    He had on his lucky boxers, too.
    â€œLucky, lucky.” He took Fanny out of the crate he’d put in Jackie’s living room, not far from the television, and carried the puppy outside for a fast piddle. Absolutely nothing was going to destroy his quiet evening with Jackie. She needed to focus solely on him—the new him.
    So he wasn’t particularly pleased when Judah’s truck came to