
Pleasure, Montana 5
Taming Tammy
Tammy Richards is about to lose her ranch, and the bank sends Tank, the one man she's always wanted, to start foreclosure proceedings. When her horse needs medical help, she turns to Tank's best friend, Aiden, the sexy town vet. Too bad she can't afford his services. In spite of her need for independence, she barters for his aid.
Tank enlists the help of his cousin, Jake, to rebuild her half-burned-down home in exchange for Jake's room and board. Those two come up with a solution to help solve her financial problems. When she finds out they've gone behind her back to save her ranch, she's furious they don't think she can manage alone. How will she be able to find love and have a fulfilling ménage relationship with these three hunky men when her pride and need for independence get in the way?
Genre: Contemporary, Ménage a Trois/QuatreLength: 44,098 words
TAMING TAMMY
Pleasure, Montana 5
Melody Snow Monroe
MENAGE EVERLASTING
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK
IMPRINT: Ménage Everlasting
TAMING TAMMY
Copyright © 2012 by Melody Snow Monroe
E-book ISBN: 1-61926-376-9
First E-book Publication: February 2012
Cover design by Les Byerley
All art and logo copyright © 2012 by Siren Publishing, Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
PUBLISHER
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
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DEDICATION
To my amazing husband who is a master at seeing the big picture and pushing me to achieve.
Pleasure, Montana 5
MELODY SNOW MONROE
Copyright © 2012
Chapter One
Ten months ago
"Come on, Tammy. One more drink. It's my birthday." Her good friend was great at convincing everyone to stay around and party. "You need to wait until the storm passes anyway. It's too dangerous to drive." Jan's pout almost convinced her to stay.
She glanced at the wall clock. "I gotta go." It was already close to 1:00 a.m. "I know my mom. She'll be waiting up for me." The guilt was already eating at her.
As if her mom was sending her a message, a loud burst of thunder quickly followed a bolt of lightning and nearly stopped her heart.
"That was close." Her friend waved a hand. "Okay, go."
Tammy hugged Jan good-bye and raced out, hoping to get to her van before another bolt struck. Fall thunderstorms could be dangerous, but this one didn't come with any rain, so driving shouldn't be tricky.
Maybe it was time to get a place of her own so her parents wouldn't worry every time she was a few minutes late coming home. One time, she'd fallen asleep on Aiden's sofa after helping him with a sick animal, and she never heard the end of that. It didn't seem to matter she was twenty-six.
Tammy pulled out her cell and dialed home, hoping the call wouldn't wake them. When the answering machine clicked on, she left a message in case they woke and wondered where she was. Since no one was on the road, she sped up. Another bolt of lightning streaked across the sky. The thunder instantly rattled her van, and she swore the hair on the back of her neck stood up from the electrified air.
Tired and apprehensive, she tore down the dirt road that led to her half-mile-long driveway. A bright light caught her attention to the side of her house. Her mind couldn't comprehend what she was seeing.
Sweet Jesus. The barn was on fire, and the grass leading to the house just burst into flames. She stopped the vehicle and jumped out.
"Mom! Dad!" Her throat turned dry. She charged into the house, thinking maybe her parents were still asleep.
When she saw the their bedroom was empty, she ran outside, her heart in her stomach. Two horses ran out of the barn, galloping toward the range. Others inside whinnied. As she sped toward the inferno, heat blasted her.
"Mom? Dad?" She prayed they weren't inside saving the animals.
No answer. Tears streamed down her face. Then she heard voices. Her mind screamed. "Mom?"
Dear God, they'd never survive in those flames. She raced as far as she could go until smoke clogged her throat and blurred her vision. She'd gotten partway in, when the roof collapsed fifteen feet in front of her. Her knees nearly gave out at the blocked path. She searched for a way to help the animals and her trapped parents, but she couldn't get to them. She screamed their names then coughed, gasping for air. The hair singed on her arms and her chest couldn't expand.
The few standing beams creaked. She had to get out of there. Using her arms to cover her face, she turned around. Just as she reached the outside, the rest of the barn collapsed, sending sparks and flames everywhere.
The grass had caught on fire and had reached the house.
Everything was going to be lost. Tammy pulled out her phone and dialed 911.
"What is the nature of the emergency?"
She wasn't sure how she detailed what happened, but the dispatcher assured her she'd send not only the fire department, but an ambulance and the vet to check on the remaining animals. Fearing she'd be trapped in the house if she went inside, she watched it burn.
A blast of cold air crept up her shirt as a torrent of rain arrived. The water shed was too late. Her parents were dead and the ranch destroyed. She didn't even have the presence of mind to get out of the cold. Tammy stood there as the roof on part of her house fell. The barn smoldered.
She honestly didn't remember much after that until the paramedic ushered her into the ambulance.
"I'm fine. I didn't go into the house. If I had come sooner I could have helped my parents." Tears cascaded down her cheeks. "They died because I was at a party." She dropped her head in her hands and sobbed.
Aiden Stanton, Pleasure, Montana's vet, cradled her in his arms. They'd been friends since high school, and he was always her rock. "It's going to be okay, Tammy."
"No. No, it's not."
He must have nodded to the paramedics, because they released her. Aiden led her into his truck. He wrapped her in a blanket, and once she stopped shivering, got in and drove her away.
"You're coming home with me. I don't want you to be alone tonight."
Alone. She'd always be alone. She should have died in the fire, alongside her parents.
Supporting her by the waist, Aiden ushered her into his house. She realized she couldn't sit on his lovely furniture and not ruin it. She was covered in soot and probably smelled.
"Can I have a towel to sit on?"
"Just use the blanket. I'll get us some tea."
She hadn't even realized she was still wrapped in the blanket. Her mind wasn't functioning.
She remembered the soothing tea he'd prepared and how he held her all night, but the emotional toll erased most of what happened.
"You'll rebuild the ranch," he said.
She had no idea how she was going to accomplish that fact. She'd have to let the ranch hands go and start anew. But how? For her parents' sake, she was damn well going to try to rebuild everything they'd spent their lives creating.
Present day
"Sorry, Tank, but you got the short straw." Bill Ransdyke, his boss at Chase Bank of Pleasure, Montana didn't look the least bit sorry. Bill no doubt chose him to deliver the bad news because he was the new guy.
Tank Harrison wanted to give his plea one more try. "We all know times are tough. Can't you give her a break?" He might have been gone when Tammy Richards's barn, and then her house, caught on fire, but he'd heard about it as soon as he'd returned home to Pleasure.
"Sorry. The bank's a business. We're here to make money, and she's four months in arrears on her mortgage payment. You know the rules."
"Yeah." He'd hope a bank in Pleasure would give someone like Tammy a break. She'd been through so much.
Bill dropped his gaze back to his computer screen. Dismissed like some rookie, he left Bill's office, wracking his brain for a way to help Tammy out of her dilemma. If he'd had the money, he'd have chipped in something, but with his dad's illness, there'd be medical bills to pay. He'd grown up believing the people of Pleasure helped their neighbor. Apparently, Bill never got the memo.
Might as well get this over with.
He hopped in his truck and headed down Route 247 toward Tammy's ranch. He debated giving her a heads-up he was on his way, but he feared she might make herself scarce. Maybe if they hadn't dated in high school, this meeting might go easier, or if he'd treated the then sixteen-year-old with a little more respect and not dropped her right before his senior prom, he wouldn't feel like such a shit.
He hadn't seen her since he left for college. Add on the four years he spent in the military and two more working in Philadelphia, and he calculated they hadn't crossed paths in about ten years. Maybe she'd forgotten all about him, or better yet, wouldn't remember him at all.
Fat chance of that happening. He'd heard from friends that she'd been royally pissed he'd broken their date so he could take someone else. Man, had he been a jerk or what?
He brushed lint off his monkey suit. He probably should have gone home and changed to make him appear less intimidating, but Bill would want an in-person report at the end of the day.
Her ranch sat about ten miles outside of town. During the trip, he rehearsed what he wanted to say to the girl who'd gotten away, but all the phrases that filled his mind sounded too insincere. Before he could figure out a good approach, her driveway appeared. As he turned down the bumpy, dirt path to her place, he rolled down his windows. While he couldn't smell the fire, the remains of the devastation were visible. The charred side of her house was boarded up. Tank expected to see more activity for a one-thousand-acre ranch, but except for some cattle milling about and the free-range chickens in the front yard pecking the ground, the place looked abandoned.
He pulled to a stop and cut the engine, dirt billowing up behind him. From behind the house, an old man emerged carrying a bottle of water. No way that would be Earl. The guy should have retired years ago.
Tank pressed the brake pedal and got out.
"Earl? That you?" He shielded his eyes from the glaring sun.
The man took off his hat and looked around. His eyesight must not be too good, or maybe it was his hearing, because it took him a moment to locate who'd called.
He hobbled on over and studied him a bit. "That you, Tank?"
"Sure is. How are you, old man?"
Earl shook his hand and slapped him on the back. "Don't you old man, me." He ran a gaze from head to toe. "You lookin' good, boy. Heard you got a few medals overseas."
He did what any soldier would have done. "I earned a few."
"You here to court Ms. Tammy again?"
He wished. No, he'd burned that bridge a long time ago. "Just need to speak with her."
"She's out in the barn. But be careful. Her mare's about to give birth, and Tammy's as antsy as a proud mama." Earl handed him the bottled water. "She asked me to get this for her." He looked around. "Since you're here, I might as well get going."
Tank waved the water. "Good to see you."
He'd heard she'd sold most of her cattle to rebuild the barn. Good for her. This was definitely not a good time to be giving her bad news, but if he came back without making contact, his new job might be history, and he couldn't afford to look for another one. Pleasure was too small to have a lot of job openings, and his dad's failing health dictated he needed to be here.
As he stepped into the barn, the familiar scent of hay and horse took him back to the good times growing up. He missed living on a ranch. Too bad his dad sold the place a few years back. He said without his wife, the ranching life held no appeal. That was one of the reasons Tank hadn't come back to work here. Without the ranch to run, he figured he'd be better off in a big city.
Once he neared the stalls, he stopped and listened. Locating Tammy was easy since she was cooing at a horse. He peered over the stall door. Wow. He held still and was able to study her profile since she hadn't noticed him yet. Though still petite, Tammy Richards was now all woman. He couldn't tell from her crouched position, but from the length of her legs, she still couldn't be much bigger than five foot two.
There might be some straw in her long, brown hair that she'd pulled back into a ponytail, but from the way those jeans hugged her body, the girl he'd known had grown into a beauty.
He must have made some noise because she jerked her head up then whipped around.
"What are you doing here?" Tammy's skin bristled.
She'd heard Tank had returned home and had gotten a job at the bank, but this was the first she'd come face-to-face. Much of Tank's physical appearance had changed, but there was no mistaking those chiseled cheeks and that strong jaw he was known for. Given that he'd served in the military, it came as no surprise that he'd packed on a ton of muscles. Most would say he was better looking than any cover model. To her, he was the ass who stole her virginity then dumped her.
She knew why he was here. News of all newcomers traveled faster than the Internet. He was the bank messenger, come to harass her about the late mortgage payments. The bank didn't seem to care that her parents had bought the property twenty years ago, and that this was her home now. She'd already explained to Mr. Ransdyke that she would pay them back just as soon as Jasper Cummins paid her.
Ransdyke wasn't swayed by the fact it hadn't been her fault lightning struck the barn and caught it on fire. The knowledge she could have helped her parents save the animals before the barn crushed her folks still haunted her. She had yet to come to grips with the fact her parents died because she'd wanted to have a good time.
"You look good, Tammy." He had that damned cheeky grin that still caused lust to shoot straight between her legs. Not good.
"What do you want, Tank? This isn't the best time for me." Good. Her comment came off confident but not completely bitchy.
Dixie, her prized mare, whinnied and rolled onto her side. The poor girl had been struggling to give birth for hours, and Tammy feared that if her rapid breathing was any indication of distress, she might not make it this time.
Tank's demeanor changed faster than a bullet. He was on his knees next to her. "How long has she been in labor?" His concern cut through her anger.
"I don't know. Too long."
He lifted the tail. "Shit. Looks like the foal is breach."
"I know. I've called Doc Stanton. He should be here shortly." Not that she had the money to pay him either. "Dixie's respiration has been getting faster and faster. I'm worried."
Tank moved to Dixie's head. The horse sat up, huffed then rolled back down. He rubbed the quarter horse's forehead. Tammy couldn't believe Dixie wasn't freaking out having a stranger in the stall with her. But then again, Tank always did have great hands and a soothing voice.
"Tammy?" The shout came from the barn entrance.
Thank God the vet had arrived. "In here, Aiden."
Aiden Stanton jogged in with his bag in hand. "Hey, Tank. Didn't expect to see you here."
In a moment of weakness she'd confided in Aiden that she was behind in her payments, and that she expected someone from the bank to tell her they were seizing her property. Tammy knew he and Tank had been best friends in school, and since they both went to Princeton, they must have kept in touch. Her stomach churned again at the potential foreclosure.
She hadn't wanted to enlist help from anyone even remotely connected to Tank, but Aiden was the only big-animal vet in town. She had no choice but to use him.
Be honest.
Aiden was hot and single, and she'd had a small crush on him forever. Even in high school, she'd dreamed about him from afar. Half the women in the Pleasure felt the same way about the sexy doc, but so far, none had captured his attention. He'd wanted to go out with her right after the fire, but she'd turned him down. That might have been stupid, but she believed he'd asked only because he felt sorry for her.
"Let me move where you are." He settled behind Dixie and Tammy moved over. He checked the mare's heart rate and did a quick survey of her condition.
Tank seemed to have the sense to get out of the stall. "I'll let Aiden do his deed. Tammy, but we still need to talk."
She didn't have the words to respond to the implied threat, despite the fact his tone came out with a touch of caring. All she could do was nod. Dixie whinnied again, drawing her attention back to her horse. When she looked up again, Tank had vanished.
A wave of depression settled on her shoulders. She'd have to find a way to give the bank some money so they'd stop bugging her. She had a jewelry show coming up next week. That should pay for part of one month's mortgage payment. If Dixie and her foal pulled through, she made a silent pledge she'd stay up the rest of the night to work on her jewelry line. The Montana women seemed to crave her designs, but too often she hadn't the time to make enough.
"How does she look?" Tammy failed to keep the fear from her voice. If she lost Dixie, she'd have no way to keep the ranch going.
"I see the legs," Aiden announced with a hint of excitement. "Talk softly to her. She needs to hear your voice. Assure her."
Thankful for something to do, she quietly moved to Dixie's head. "Good girl. You can do this."
Squatting, Aiden tugged on the foal's legs. His gentle approach melted her heart. He cooed to Dixie, urging her to relax. How had he and Tank remained friends? One man was gentle and the other thought he was better than everyone else. Men. She'd never understand their relationships.
Despite the cool temperature outside, sweat had beaded on her forehead. She swiped a hand over her face with the back of her sleeve. Aiden's stern concentration helped calm her, and she renewed her murmuring efforts. Slow and easy like the spring-fed creek bordering her property, the foal gave up its struggle and left the warm world inside its mom.
Relief washed over her when the black beauty's lungs filled with air. Aiden got on his knees and peeled off the afterbirth.
"The foal's beautiful." The young one was sleek and black. "I can see some races in your future, little one." Steam rolled off the baby in waves. Tammy wanted to touch the newborn but knew mom needed time to bond.
Dixie turned her head to look at her progeny, but she seemed too tired to move. Aiden gently dragged the newborn closer to the mare's face. Once the foal was in sight, Dixie started to lick her baby.
Aiden smiled. "I think we did it!" He came over and stood next to her. "Watching a horse give birth never fails to amaze me."
Despite the looming foreclosure, she smiled. "I couldn't agree more."
They must have stayed there watching the miracle for thirty minutes without saying anything until the foal struggled to stand.
Aiden stepped forward, looking as if he wanted to help. "Come on, big boy, you can do it."
After about five tries, the foal stood on wobbly legs. Tammy might be more proud than Dixie right now. Her only regret was that she'd already sold the beautiful colt to another rancher for his daughter's tenth birthday.
Aiden peeled off his gloves and turned them inside out. Moving closer, he slipped a hand around her waist. "Let's give them some privacy. I'll check on them before I leave. But first, I need to wash up." He had blood on his shirt, arms and jeans. Gloves only covered so much.
"Come on inside. I'll make us some cocoa." The temperature had dropped and the sun had disappeared looking like it might rain. Even for the end of August, it was decidedly cool.
She hadn't had time to tidy up the place, but even if she had, the plywood boarding the side of the house destroyed any illusion she had a nice home. She hadn't had the money to rebuild the ranch house to its former glory. As it was, the place was barely inhabitable. With winter approaching, she had to figure out some way to keep the house warm or chance freezing to death. Literally.
Tammy wasn't sure why her heart was pounding when she walked through the kitchen alongside Aiden. Maybe she didn't want him to feel sorry for her when he saw how she had to live.
She waved to the kitchen sink. "Help yourself. I'll wash up in the bathroom."
They both probably smelled like horse, but the earthy scent represented all that was good in life.
He chuckled. "A shower would be best, but I'll settle for a little hand washing."
Damn him. The image of her being naked with Aiden in the shower, all wet and soapy, flashed in her mind's eye.
Don't go there.
As a compromise, she'd been about to suggest he take off his shirt so she could wash it for him, but decided she didn't need the temptation.
After she cleaned up, she came back into the kitchen to make the cocoa. Aiden was leaning over the sink wiping the blood off his shirt. The poor man ruined a perfectly good shirt in order to help her. Why he hadn't changed before coming to help, she didn't know.
"Let me get you some hydrogen peroxide."
He looked up. Before he could comment, she dashed back into the bathroom and retrieved the large brown bottle. She poured the liquid on some cotton balls and rubbed the bloodstains. He smelled of her lavender-scented hand soap. Only a man secure with his masculinity wouldn't complain.
As she tended to his shirt, the intimacy struck her, and she swore her knees weakened. Damn. She should have given him the task. Being this near to him knocked her off kilter. It hadn't helped that her heart had already flipped once at seeing Tank.
The spot bubbled up white, and his eyes widened. "That's cool."
She was sure he knew the trick of how to get the blood out of his clothes, but he was nice to pretend like this was new to him.
She continued to find more spots on his shirt and cleaned them with care. When her gaze traveled to his jeans and saw a few more blood spots close to his cock, her face heated up. "Here, I'll let you finish up."
Needing to make the promised cocoa, she moved to the cabinet and got out the pot. By the time she poured in the milk to heat, her composure had returned. She couldn't delay any longer. She had to tell him about her inability to pay.
"Aiden, listen. At the moment I'm a little strapped for cash, but I expect quite a windfall soon. Someone owes me a fair chunk of change." Something flashed in his deep blue eyes, but she couldn't name the look.
He waved a cotton ball. "Don't worry about it."
Now he made her feel bad, like she was some charity case. "I will pay you." She just wasn't sure when. "I'm having a jewelry show next week. I can pay you---"
"I have a better idea. I saw that your stalls were almost empty."
Because most of the horses died in the fire, and except for Dixie, I had to sell the ones my parents saved. "So?"
"What would you say to boarding some of my sick animals? My small shed behind my office is totally full. It would really help me out."
She studied him for a second, her heart jumping in her chest. Was he telling the truth? If so, it might be a way for her to save face. If Aiden would benefit, all the better. "That sounds great."
He smiled and her body melted anew. "I'll provide the feed. All I need is for you to keep an eye on them and call me if any one of the animal's conditions worsens."
"Are they contagious? I can't have them near Dixie and her foal."
He ran a finger down her jaw. "I'd never do that to you. For the most part, these animals have something physically wrong with them and just need to be exercised. I'll keep the weakest ones."
Could she feel any more like a fool for suspecting he'd put her in a bad position?
"Oh." A hint of burnt milk reached her, giving her an excuse to walk away.
She rushed over to the stove, lifted the pot off the burner, and poured the liquid into the best two cups she could find. Too bad the best still had cracks in them. After adding the cocoa and stirring, she handed him the drink. She would have suggested they sit in the living room, but it was getting chilly in there because of all the gaps in the wall. The only room to escape the fire had been her bedroom, and she certainly wasn't going to suggest they sit in there.
"Let's take a seat at the kitchen table." This conversation was not how she imagined their first up-close-and-personal interaction since the fire to be. She'd been out of touch with people for so long she seemed to have lost her ability to make decent conversation.
"Tammy." He encircled the cup with his large hands. "I've been meaning to ask, how are you holding up? It's got to be tough going it alone."
She appreciated the sympathy in his voice, but it almost bordered on pity. "I'm fine."
He reached across the table and squeezed her hand. "You know us Montana folk are always willing to lend a hand."
It took all her willpower not to rip her hand from his. "I don't need any help. Once the money comes in from Jasper, I'll have enough to fix up the rest of the house, and I'll be good to go."
"And after that?"
Why was he digging so deep? Did he really care? Surely, he was acting the role of the kind country doc. It didn't seem to matter he was but two years older than her.
Ever since the fire, she'd tried to keep to herself for this very reason. "I'm selling some of my handmade jewelry on a regular basis. The extra income helps. Not to mention, I'm cooking at the Mountain View Bar & Grill twice a week."
"Sounds like you have your hands full." He seemed to study her for a long time before finishing the cocoa. He pushed back his chair. "Thanks for letting me clean up and for the drink. I'll be in touch about bringing over the animals." He placed his cup in the sink. "And Tammy?" He moved closer to her.
"Yes?" She, too, stood, not comfortable having someone a foot taller tower above her.
"There's nothing wrong with asking for help."
Easy for him to say. She'd been in his house. While not huge, the one-acre spread had a neat lawn and a house that sat back from the road, surrounded by tall pines.
She probably should have defended her need for independence, but he ran a hand down her arm, tossed her a small smile, and left. Long after his truck disappeared down her drive, she went to check on Dixie, wondering if maybe the decisions she was making might cause her downfall.
Chapter Two
Determined to finish as many pieces of jewelry as she could, Tammy fell asleep on the sofa around 3:00 a.m. Light streamed in through the cracks in the sidewall and woke her a few hours later. When she realized where she was, she was chilled and thirsty. It was almost 6:30 a.m., time to get up and check on Dixie and her newborn again.
Glancing at the coffee table, she counted she'd made three necklaces last night, each of which should bring in about fifty bucks profit. Not bad for an evening's worth of work. She picked up her favorite and studied it. She'd used a large piece of purple agate wrapped in a silver wire for the centerpiece, and surrounded it with Chinese azurite beads.
Her shoulders sagged. "Crap." Today was Tuesday, which meant she had to work the late shift at the restaurant. Tomorrow night she would be showing the ladies in Pleasure her own jewelry line. Her body ached thinking about the late hours and lack of sleep.
With a hot coffee in hand, she headed out to the barn. The wind whipped around her shoulders, and she rubbed the goose bumps with her non-coffee-holding hand. Winter would be setting in a couple of months, and she had to figure out a way to finish off the house or else be willing to freeze each night.
Earl rounded the corner. "Hey, Tammy."
Bless his soul. The old man worked for free, claiming he enjoyed puttering around, taking care of the chickens and doing odd chores. She told him to take as many eggs as he wanted. Someday, she'd pay him all she owed him. Given the times he'd counseled her, she'd have to win the lottery to come close to even the score. "Good morning, Earl. How's your daughter doing this morning?" She'd been down with a cold.
"Getting better. Now that the great grand kids are starting school, she should be able to get some peace and quiet."
"That's good."
"How's Dixie doing?"
"I was just coming to check her out." He followed her into the barn. Dixie and the young one seemed to have fared well. "Hi, boy." She didn't dare name the colt as she didn't want to get too attached.
"I better get to my chores."
Earl was so like her dad. He never stopped moving and loved every living creature.
Once she finished her coffee, she took care of Dixie's needs. When Aiden brought over his animals, she would ask him to check out Dixie. Her eye roamed to the empty stalls. Her heart ached thinking about all the cutting horses that had died in the fire. The ones that had survived, she'd had to sell to keep the ranch afloat. All that was left after her parents' death was ten head of cattle and six chickens. She prayed the money from Jasper would come in soon.
Her stomach grumbled, and she strode back into the house to eat then shower. As long as the sun shone and heated the solar panels on the roof, she wouldn't feel guilty about using as much hot water as she wanted.
No sooner had she wrapped her wet hair in a towel and pulled on her jeans and an old, grubby sweatshirt, when someone knocked on her door. Who the hell would come this early in the morning? She'd just spoken to Earl.
"Coming." Maybe Aiden was here with his animals. The thought of filling her barn with all that life thrilled her.
She pulled open the door and stilled. "Tank."
He was dressed in low-slung jeans and a plain white T-shirt. He couldn't have looked sexier if he'd tried. Was that his plan? It would do him no good to attempt to seduce her. She couldn't cough up the money if she tried.
Or was he looking for sex? Didn't he realize that even if he were the last man on earth, she wouldn't succumb to his charms again? Did he actually think that if he dressed casually, she'd let down her guard?
Absolutely not. Never ever.
Liar.
"May I come in?"
She didn't want to say yes, but she had little choice. "Sure."
He glanced around, and from the way his eyes slightly widened, he was a bit horrified at her home. Well, too damned bad.
"Let's sit in the living room," she suggested. The space was cold and damp. Perfect. She didn't want to make him comfortable.
She couldn't detect any more reaction when he spotted the plywood walls. He took the chair opposite the sofa, and she sat as far from him as possible. If only her damn body would stop reacting to him, she might be able to have a civil conversation. Her father preached that the best defense was a good offense.
"I know why you're here, Tank. I owe the bank money." She held up a hand. "I will pay what I owe just as soon as Jasper Cummins pays me for the cows I sold him."
His lips thinned. "You didn't hear?"
His solemn tone made her stomach clench. "No. What?"
"Some of my coworkers were talking about it. Mr. Cummins had a heart attack last week and is in the ICU up in Bozeman."
Her mouth turned dry. "Heart attack? He can't be more than sixty-five."
Tank shrugged. "It's a real shame." From the way he glanced at the ceiling for a second, the news saddened him, too.
Her mind reeled. If he died, she might never see the cash. Probate could take months, if not years, to clear. Dear God. She had to believe his children would honor their father's debt, but since they lived out of town, they might not even know of the transaction. "Do you know his prognosis?"
"No."
With her shoulders straight, she faced him. "Somehow I will find a way to repay the bank."
He cast his gaze downward for a moment. "I believe you. As an employee of the bank, however, I need to tell you that once you fall six months behind, the bank will begin foreclosure proceedings. I'm sorry." He might look contrite, but did he really care about tossing her out?
While she'd suspected this to be the bank's reaction, hearing it firsthand ate a hole in her gut. She stood. "Thank you for letting me know." She couldn't look him in the eye. Pity killed the soul.
He got up and stepped toward her. She couldn't handle it if he hugged her, so she held up her hands. "Just go."
Her tone came out harsh, but she was lucky any words escaped.
"Tammy, please. Let me see---"
"Don't."
He shrugged then strode out of the living room. The kitchen door closed softly. Her legs caved and she dropped onto the seat cushion.
Don't cry.
Jasper had to pull through. He just had to.
Talk about feeling like crap. While he and Tammy hadn't been close in years, it hurt Tank to see anyone in need go it alone. He was a little surprised the building inspector even let her live in the burned-out shell. While the structure seemed sound, the walls would barely protect her from the elements. Perhaps if he and Aiden put their heads together, they could come up with a plan to help her.
Since it was still early, he had time to change then stop at the Mountain View for a roasted coffee and a bagel before work. He wanted to prepare what he was going to tell Bill. Tammy seemed to have a plan in place whereby she could pay the bank back. If Jasper died, or if Mr. Cummins had to use the money he was planning to give Tammy for his hospital bills, she'd be out of luck.
Before he headed inside the bank, he called Aiden. His friend was in the middle of loading his animals in a trailer. "Can I call you back?"
"Just calling to see if after you get off work, you want to meet at Mountain View for a drink?"
"Great. Say six?" Aiden's breath came out ragged.
"Works for me, but call in case you get tied up." Tank knew a vet's job was unpredictable.
They disconnected and Tank headed into work. His boss found him within ten minutes of his arrival. He told Bill that Tammy had a plan to pay her back payments.
"Just see that she does." With that, Bill stomped off.
What was stuck up his craw? Maybe Bill and Tammy's parents had interacted poorly in the past. Some people just didn't understand how important it was to forgive and forget. There was nothing more he could do about her situation. Maybe Aiden could come up some way to help her. His friend already told him how he'd bartered to keep his animals at her barn in exchange of payment. Win-win solutions were always the best.
The rest of the day sped by. He read his manuals, as he needed to get caught up with his licenses specific to Montana. His plan was to get his broker's license so he could move out of loans and into investments.
He'd actually lost track of time when his cell rang. He rubbed his eyes and checked the screen. It was Aiden.
"Hey, man."
"I can be showered and changed in an hour. Can we change the time to 7:00 p.m.?"
Tank couldn't believe it was already six. If Aiden hadn't called, he might not have emerged for hours. Maybe because it was still light outside that he hadn't realized it was so late. "Sure."
After cleaning up his desk, he left. He wanted a quick shower and a change of clothes before going out. Good thing he lived so close to work. He got to the bar and grill about ten minutes to seven. Luke, one of the owners, came from behind the bar. He hadn't seen his friend since his return.
"That you, Tank? Shit man, you packed some muscles on that scrawny frame of yours."
Luke was four years older, but his mentor had stayed around after high school to help out with the wrestling team. Tank had been stocky back then, not scrawny, but compared to Luke, he hadn't stood a chance on the mat.
Tank patted his flat belly. "Age does that to you."
They caught up a bit until Aiden sauntered in. After Aiden and the owner exchanged pleasantries, Luke went back to work behind the bar. Tank and Aiden found a table in a quiet corner. The patrons didn't need to be privy to Tammy's troubles.
Tank told Aiden how he'd stopped over at her place this morning. "I can't tell you what horrible condition her house is in."
"I know. I was in there. At least the barn is new, but it could use a camera system to keep an eye on the animals."
Tank and he ordered two beers. "You know, this is the first time I've been not spent my evening with my dad." He figured one night away wouldn't hurt. Besides, his dad probably wouldn't remember he didn't show up anyway.
"How's he doing?"
"His memory's fading fast. The doctors say part of his problem is his bad heart is preventing the needed oxygen to reach the brain."
"I always liked your dad. He was a good guy."
"That he was."
The beers arrived, and the first taste hit the spot. "So give me the lowdown on Tammy. I know she still resents me, but what's her story?"
"What do you want to know?"
"Last I saw her, she was sixteen and basically a tomboy." He smiled. "She's changed. Any men in the picture?" He was surprised how important Aiden's answer was.
Aiden laughed. "Not that I know of. I asked her out a few times, but she always turned me down. Even before the fire, she was too proud to go out with anyone."
"I see she hasn't changed much since high school." Tank leaned forward on his elbows. "Does she remind you of anyone?"
Aiden's gaze shot off to the right. "No. Who do you have in mind?"
"I can think of a few. Tammy is unique, I'll grant you that, but her feisty attitude reminds me of some of the women we've shared."
Aiden guffawed. "I see where you're headed, but you have to be kidding. She'd never go for that lifestyle. I wouldn't be surprised if she were still a virgin."
Since he and Aiden had shared a lot of things, there was no reason to keep quiet about this secret. "I know for a fact she isn't. I was the cad who took her virginity. Remember when I dumped her for Eileen Turnbell?"
Aiden whistled. "Ah, yes. Good ole Eileen."
He'd regretted that move every since. Tammy was pure and honest, and he'd fucked it up all because Eileen said she liked bondage. His eighteen-year-old dick had fallen for her line. When it came time to tie her down though, she'd balked. She, along with his guilty conscious over what he'd done to Tammy, had ruined his senior prom.
"I wasn't the brightest guy back then."
"I recall the details. You definitely were an ass to Tammy back them. When I walked into the barn the other night, and you two were on your knees soothing Dixie, it seemed like she'd forgiven you."
"She only tolerated me because I was helping her horse." He told Aiden about the foreclosure deadline.
His friend cocked a brow. "You think she fell for the big bad wolf act?"
"I'm afraid it wasn't an act. I wish it were. I do have to huff and puff and maybe blow her house down if she doesn't pay."
Aiden swigged half his beer. "Christ."
"I know. It sucks." He quenched his thirst. "Let me ask you. Knowing Tammy like you do, do you think there's any chance she'd change her mind about me?" The waiter stopped by to take their dinner order. He hadn't even looked. "Give us a minute, will ya?"
The young man nodded and hurried to another table.
"Not unless you paid off her mortgage, and even if you did, she'd resent you so much, she'd probably kick your ass to the curb."
That's not what he wanted to hear. "I was afraid of that. I just can't get her out of my mind. There's something about her that sets my dick on fire."
Aiden looked around, probably to make sure no one had heard. "Mine, too. Maybe if I can convince her she wants to be with me, then you can come in and join us."
Tank smiled. "Thanks for the visual. Now I won't sleep tonight dreaming about having her spread-eagle on the floor of her barn and me doing her."
"Don't forget I get the back door."
"You wish."
Aiden shook his head. "We'll think of something."
"That something better come pretty quick. She only has eight weeks."
Tank checked out the menu items and waved the waiter over. They both ordered. Two friends from high school happened by and sat with them throughout dinner. By the time their two football buddies left, Tank's eyes were drooping.
Aiden checked his cell phone. "I really need to get going. I need to get up at five. Sorry, we didn't get a chance to talk much."
He was an early riser, too. "We'll do this again." He stood. "By the way, did you ever deliver your extra animals to Tammy's barn?"
"This afternoon. I'm getting her to check up on the animals for me. I'm hoping there will be some late-night calls." Aiden winked.
"Ah, I see the genius to your plan."
As they walked out, Aiden wrapped an arm around his shoulder. "I didn't get my medical degree for nothing."
"I'm pulling for you. But if you do get lucky, don't forget me."
"Never."
Once Tank got back to his apartment, he climbed the steps instead of taking the elevator to clear his head. He needed time to think of a plan for getting Tammy to forgive him for all of his transgressions.
At the top of the stairs a man was pacing in front of his apartment. Tank slowed. He'd only been in town a week. Who even knew where he lived?
"Can I help you?"
The tall, blond man turned around and opened his arms. "Tank, man, how are you?"
Holy shit. In two steps he had his cousin, Jake, in a bear hug. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"It's a long story. Can I come in?" There was a flash of desperation in his face.
"Sure." Tank unlocked his door and Jake followed him in. "Beer?"
"No, thanks."
He wondered what that was all about. Whenever Jake came to visit him at Princeton, they partied hard. "How about a Coke?"
"Water's good." Jake dumped his backpack on the ground.
Tank went to retrieve the drinks. "So what are you doing in Pleasure?" Last he'd heard, Jake lived in South Carolina. His uncle had told Dad that a drunk driver had killed Jake's wife two years ago, but other than a quick call, they'd not discussed the tragedy. Maybe that was what prompted the no-drinking rule.
"You know I'm in construction, right?"
"Heard that."
"I owned my own company for a couple of years, but with the housing market going in the toilet, I got out."
Tank handed him a glass of water and popped the top off of his Coke. "You just visiting?"
Jake swiped a hand over his rather shaggy, blond mop. "No. I thought I'd come out west for a new start. I always loved the area and had fond memories of Pleasure when we visited."
Something didn't quite add up, but it didn't matter. He was glad Jake was here. As if the proverbial light bulb went off, he figured out the answer to Tammy's problems and maybe Jake's.
"I have a great idea that I think you just might like."
Chapter Three
Tammy had spent a large part of the day making sure all of Aiden's animals were well fed and exercised as per his instructions. He'd left a detailed list of what medicines each animal needed and when to give them the doses. As promised, he'd left feed for each animal. In all, Aiden now boarded four horses and two cows. She enjoyed having the activity at the ranch again and was thrilled she was helping out Aiden while paying off a debt.
Satisfied the animals, as well as Dixie and the foal, were well taken care of, she went in to shower and get ready for her jewelry presentation. Only when she met with the wealthy ladies did she dress up. It wouldn't do to come in ragged jeans and T-shirt. Unfortunately, nice clothes cost money. She'd spent her hard-earned dollars on two different JP Nesters Western Wear outfits. Their fit was impeccable and gave her the added look of class. She only owned two of their ensembles, but it was the one or two days that she knew she looked good.
She'd just finished applying her makeup when a knock sounded on the door. Goose bumps crawled up her skin. She'd just spoken to Aiden about the animals, and Earl was on his way home. She didn't have any other creditors beside the bank.
Her heels smacking against the hardwood floors, she passed through the living room to the kitchen to answer the back door.
Tank, along with a good-looking blond man, was standing there. "Tank." Despite wanting to slam the door in his face, she'd been brought up to show some civility to all. She knew he wanted money. Money, she didn't have. Why couldn't he get that through his thick skull?
She motioned them inside. Instead of bringing them into the living room, she remained in the kitchen. He could talk to her here, then leave.
Tank's gaze never left her face. "You look beautiful."
She almost laughed. She'd been about to ask why he sounded surprised, but the truth was, he had only seen her twice in the last ten years, both in the last two days. Once was when she'd been rolling in the hay, and the other when she was in her sweats. Neither time had she fixed her hair or had on makeup.
"What can I do for you?" Besides give you my mortgage payment, which I don't have.
"This is my cousin, Jake Harrison."
Jake held out his hand. "Nice to meet you, ma'am."
She cringed at the endearment. "Call me Tammy, please." He seemed like a gentle soul.
"Tammy it is." His grin came out genuine. She refused to address the heat creeping up her face.
Tank stepped forward. "Can we talk? I think I might be able to help you out."
Right. Since when did Tank Harrison have her best interest in mind? He'd used her before. There was no reason not to think he wouldn't use her again.
She checked the clock on the wall. "I have a showing in town in forty minutes. Can you keep it brief?"
"I'll try."
Without invitation, he walked over to the kitchen table and sat down. His cousin followed suit. Not to look like an idiot, she, too, pulled out a chair. "So tell me how you're going to make my life easier."
"Jake just arrived in town last night. He used to be in construction in South Carolina, and he's come to Pleasure to start over."
While it was a nice story, she had no idea what it had to do with her. "I hope everything works out for you, Jake." She meant that. The man might be related to someone without many scruples, but she shouldn't hold it against Jake that he had Tank as a cousin.
Tank leaned back in his seat. "Seems to me you need to have your house rebuilt."
She glanced to the ceiling. "There are a lot of things I need. Like money to pay off my mortgage." She shrugged. "Actually I need Jasper to pay what he owes me."
"Winter's coming, and if you stay here, you're going to be mighty cold. Even a wood stove won't take the chill out of the air with thin plywood separating you from the weather."
She slapped a hand on her hip. "I'm well aware of that. I don't need some hotshot banker to point out my inadequacies."
Tank leaned his elbows on the table. "That came out wrong. What I'm trying to say is Jake needs a place to stay, and he can help you heat up the place."
Her mouth gaped open as she glanced from Tank to Jake. "I'm not sharing my bed with any man." It didn't matter that this one was hot with a capital H. Or was Tank trying to pawn his cousin off on her so he wouldn't have to deal with the man? Either way, the answer was no.
"Darlin', what Tank is doing a bad job of explaining, is that if you'd be so kind to give me room and board, even if it's in the barn, I'll build you the best dang house in Pleasure, Montana."
She had to laugh. "For free." No one offers that.
Tank reached over and clasped her hand. Her initial instinct was to pull away, but the comfort spread through her.
Don't let him fool you again.
She took back her hand.
"You'd have to buy the materials, but Jake's labor is free."
"Why would he do that?"
"It's for selfish reasons," Jake said. "If the townspeople of Pleasure see my handiwork, I can build my business again."
The idea intrigued her, but there was one major problem. "That's great, but remember, I have no cash."
"I bet Brody would give you the lumber on credit," Tank said.
Brody owned the local hardware store. He also sold lumber. Her parents hated borrowing, except to buy the property, and so did she. "Can I think about it?" She stood. "I really have to go."
They both shoved back their chairs and stood, too. "Tammy," Jake said, "the real problem is that I have no place to stay. I really don't mind bunking in the barn, at least until winter."
Her heart went out to him. "I can't have you sleep in the barn, but I only have one bedroom. The rest of the rooms burned down in the fire."
"I can sleep on the couch. I don't mind. Trust me, I've slept on worse."
She looked over at Tank. "Why can't he stay with you?"
"I, too, only have a one-bedroom. The difference is that you need a house built and I don't. How about if Jake stays here tonight and we can discuss the details tomorrow?"
If she didn't have to leave right now, she would have given it more thought. "Fine, but I have to go. Lock the door when you leave. Linens are in the hall closet."
Jake's smile was wider than her ranch was long. "You won't regret this, darlin'."
"I hope not."
With that she hurried out. On her way out, she picked up her jewelry case. In forty-five minutes, she had to focus on the show and not on some poor guy who had no place to stay. By tomorrow, he'd probably be gone after he checked out the less-than-ideal accommodations. It would be a moot point anyway. Thomas's Hardware Store would surely turn her down, and Jake would have to find something else to build using someone else's money.
Too bad his blue eyes seemed so open and pure, and that he appeared to be an honest and nice guy. At this time, all that was really important to her was keeping her ranch.
She made it to the host house with about five minutes to spare. She always allotted thirty minutes to set up, but already a few friends of the hostess had arrived. Damn. She shouldn't have let Tank in. She'd lost valuable time.
Once she spread out the jewelry, and set out the order forms, she began her spiel. Between trying to sell the goods and the women filling out the purchase forms, it was close to 9:00 p.m. before she could pack for home. She hadn't done the math, but this client and her friends purchased quite a lot. Tammy estimated she had enough for a quarter of a monthly payment. Add in the fact that Aiden had delivered more feed this morning than was necessary, and Dixie and her foal could eat their heart's content for free.
The lights were on in her house when she drove up, but Tank's vehicle was gone. Only now did it hit her that a complete stranger would be sleeping within yards of her. Not since her parents' death had anyone else been in the house at night.
With the jewelry case in hand, she opened the kitchen door. She expected her stomach to lurch and the hair on the back of her neck to stand up on end, but nothing like that happened. Jake seemed to emit this calm aura.
No noise came from the living room. Was he even here? If he were, the television would be blaring.
"Jake?"
"In here."
A bit of relief washed over her. It was silent, so maybe he'd already gone to bed. She followed his voice and halted at the sight. Jake was sitting in one of the kitchen chairs at a makeshift wooden table he'd place along the sidewall of the living room. He turned around and grinned.
An expected jolt of lust shot through her at the intimacy. She shook the erotic cobwebs from her brain and focused on the new addition. "Where did that come from?"
He tapped the table. "I found two saw horses in the barn that didn't seem to be in use, and I got some scrap lumber from the side of the house. Hope you don't mind that I requisitioned them."
His setup was brilliant. "No. I had no plans for any of that stuff."
"You want to see what I've been working on since you've been gone?" There was such excitement and hope that she had to check it out.
She stepped next to him. Using computer paper he'd taped together, he'd drawn a sketch of someone's house. "Whose is it?"
"Why, it's your new home." The sparkle in his eyes dimmed. "I can change anything. This is for you, and it's your dream. I'm just the conduit."
His sketch overwhelmed her. "How did you know the size? Or how many rooms I wanted? From her quick glance, he'd drawn her dream home. Her brain couldn't wrap itself around any of this. She'd given up on miracles so long ago that she didn't know how to react.
"I measured the slab of the original house. I know you don't have much money to buy a lot of lumber, so I kept it the same dimensions."
Joy pulled her lips upward. "You really think you can do this?" Her heart slammed against her chest. She'd been without hope for so long, she didn't want to believe this could work.
"It's the one thing I'm good at."
She doubted that's all he was good at. He might talk with a sexy, Southern drawl, but she had no doubt the man could charm a snake. Her thoughts shot to Tank. Maybe she had been a bit premature in judging him. While he might want to help out his cousin, she bet there were a lot of other ways to use the man's talent than have him build her house. She'd shied away from men most of her life, but there was something about Jake that might make her change her mind.
"I haven't been a good hostess. Can I get you a beer or something?"
"Don't touch the stuff anymore."
She hadn't expected that answer. Most of the men in Pleasure loved to party. "How old are you?"
"Twenty-six."
Same age as her. "How about a soda then?"
"Water works best for me." He patted his flat abs. "I try to keep away from sugar."
Who was this guy? "Be right back."
Confusion swirled inside her. There was more to Jake Harrison than met the eye. It would all be a moot point after Thomas's Hardware told her no, and he'd have to find some other home to build.
She brought the drink to him.
He drank half. "Now, have a seat, darlin', and tell me your dreams."
Her dreams? She must have looked confused for he chuckled before elaborating. "I want to know how many bedrooms you want. I've drawn three, but that can be changed. I need to know if you're partial to an open floor plan, or do you like a lot of small cozy rooms? Are you thinking of having a ton of kids or should I focus on a large master that acts as a retreat?"
Kids? Retreat? She'd been too focused on staying alive, let alone finding a mate. Though the idea of having someone to share in the struggle might be nice. For her, not for him. "Two?"
"Two kids." He scribbled notes. "So at least three bedrooms. You a front-porch type of girl or the screened-in, back-porch type?"
Was he serious? "I just need to have the wall fixed." She nodded to the plywood siding.
"Getting free labor only comes once in a lifetime. You might as well take advantage of it. Remember, I want the town to see my work. Once they do, I'll be in high demand."
She didn't doubt that. For tonight then, she might as well let her dreams come alive. They discussed various options. Jake was great about how much the material would cost for each of her options. Once Jasper paid up, she could cover the cost of rebuilding the house and pay off the mortgage a few months in advance. Wouldn't that be awesome?
She snapped her fingers. "Maybe you could put in a separate entrance, and I could rent out this space." She waved a hand around.
"Whatever you want, darlin'."
The added income would help reduce her monthly payments.
Jake leaned back in his chair. "How about we bring two chairs out front and pretend we're on a porch. It'll give you an idea of what might be nice."
She never gave in to whimsy, but somehow his suggestion seemed right. "I say, let's do it."
An image of more than just talking came to mind. Don't even go there.
Chapter Four
When Tammy awoke the next morning, sounds came from the living room. Her body shot to high alert until she remembered she now had someone living in her house. She draped a hand over her eyes, thinking how much things had changed in twenty-four hours. Until late in the evening, Jake had regaled her with stories of him and Tank. Even though Jake had grown up in South Carolina, he and his parents had visited Pleasure when Jake was a kid because their fathers were brothers. Tank seemed to be a good kid when he was young. Too bad he'd changed in high school. Maybe his mother's death hit him harder than she knew, and he was looking for recognition from the wrong sources. Tammy had been two years younger than the hot senior and totally naïve back them. She never should have let him go all the way. Stupid, stupid.
Jake also talked a bit about his construction company and how he'd grown his business from a one-man operation to having over fifty employees. When the work dried up during the downturn in the economy, he decided to walk away. He didn't mention anything of a personal nature, but then neither did she. He seemed to avoid speaking about his relationships, but she got the feeling that even if he had someone special in his life, no kids were involved.
He asked a lot of questions about the house, and what it looked like before the fire, as well as how the fire started. He seemed pleased faulty wiring hadn't been the cause because that would require remodeling the part that had survived the devastation. At least he hadn't asked where she was when the fire started. The guilt still assaulted her.
She rolled out of bed and headed straight to the shower. Her clock read 7:30 a.m. Damn. She'd overslept.
Given the only bathroom was attached to her room, she didn't want to take too much time getting ready. Jake would need to use the facilities, too. If he stayed around, she'd have to make room for his toiletries and set up a time for him to share.
The whole idea of having someone live here was a bit unsettling. What if she wanted to date someone? Could she bring a new man around with Jake sleeping on the sofa? Probably not. Why that thought occurred to her, she didn't know. No one would want a woman with so much debt anyway.
Taking less time than usual in the shower, she wrapped a towel around her wet hair, and pulled on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. There was no window in her room as a result of the fire, so she couldn't tell what kind of day it was outside.
Once she tugged on her boots, she stepped into the living room. The wonderful aroma of bacon and eggs made her stomach grumble. Jake cooked? She loved to experiment with different recipes and did well enough to get a job as a chef, but she had little time to indulge in her hobby at home.
When she strolled in, he was standing by the stove. "Good morning." His T-shirt clung to his muscled back. Last night, she'd mostly been focused on his face and soothing voice. His slightly bagging flannel shirt had clearly hidden a boatload of muscles.
Turning his head, he flashed her a grin. "Good morning to you. Coffee?"
She could definitely get used to this service. She couldn't remember the last time anyone took care of her. Be honest. When was the last time you let someone?
"Sure. Black, no sugar." He hadn't asked, but for some reason she wanted him to know they shared at least one thing in common.
He placed breakfast on the table, along with her coffee. "I hope you don't mind that I helped myself to the food."
"Not at all." She meant it.
"Here ya go. I figured since you had mushrooms and onions in your fridge, you liked them." The omelet had those ingredients, along with sundried tomatoes.
She took a bite. "This is delicious."
He joined her at the table, and a sense of calm surrounded her. Maybe she had been lonely and not even recognized it. She waved the cup of coffee. "Do you want to come into town with me? Before I get my hopes up, I want to talk with Brody about getting the lumber on credit."
"Sure. If you have the time, maybe you can help me pick out a used truck." A flash of pain crossed his face.
They hadn't talked about his finances, but she guessed he was almost as strapped as she was. Though how someone went from owning a company to being almost homeless wasn't something she was comfortable bringing up.
"Sure. I have a friend who works at Wilson's Automotive. They're honest and they check out the vehicles before they sell them."
"Perfect."
They had almost finished breakfast when Aiden popped his head in the kitchen. "Knock, knock. I came to check on the animals." He stepped in and walked over to Jake. "You must be Jake. Tank tells me you're moving to Pleasure."
She hadn't known Tank and Aiden were still such good buddies, but the possibility made sense. Now she knew.
Jake studied the doc. "I think we've met years ago. Aiden's not a common name." He snapped his fingers. "I was maybe ten when a bunch of Tank's friends went to some stream where there was a tire swing. I think you were there."
Aiden glowed. "Oh, yeah. On the edge of Palmer's Lake. Sure. I remember you. I'd never seen anyone with such white hair before."
They laughed and chatted a bit about the good old days.
"You want some coffee?" she asked.
"No. Just stopped by to see how the animals were doing. I have another call at Clete Knight's place, so I stopped in. We can talk later."
He seemed in good spirits. Clearly having another man live with her didn't faze him. Damn. Here she thought he was interested in her. Though Tank probably told him about the forced arrangement.
Jake pushed back his chair, stood, and carried his dishes to the sink. "Let me wash up and then we can head to the hardware store."
They opened at eight o'clock, so the timing worked well. When Jake returned from the bathroom, he'd shaven and changed into a long-sleeve shirt. No doubt about it, the man was hot. Not as broad-shouldered as Tank, but he was taller than either Aiden or his cousin. Why she was comparing him to the other two men, she didn't know. Perhaps because she was always running into all three, and each time one of them managed to mess with her mind. Her whole life she'd had the ability to focus on the job at hand. Tank, Aiden, and Jake show up, and they'd scattered her thoughts. She had to work on her self-control.
"Ready?"
"Yup." She should be nervous she was in the company of such a sexy man, but he didn't seem to want anything from her other than to prove to the town that he had skills.
He angled toward the driver's side. "You mind if I drive? I need to learn my way around town."
"No problem." She tossed him the keys, almost glad for one less thing to occupy her mind.
She hated for anyone to do her a favor. Asking Brody for credit upset her stomach. If Jasper hadn't been in a hospital so far away, she would have visited him, but he might think she only came to see about her money. To her, she'd be no better than Tank.
Focus on today, not the future. She twisted toward Jake. "You have the list of what we need?"
He lowered his gaze. "Wouldn't be much of a contractor if I didn't."
True. Like he belonged in her large van, he followed her directions, never exceeding the speed limit or taking the curves too fast. Jake was nothing like Tank. When Tank was a teenager, he disregarded all rules of the road. She wondered how long it would take before Tank got his first speeding ticket? While a fair man, the sheriff enforced the rules.
In no time, they'd arrived in town. Jake pulled in front of the store. "Just remember, you're helping the hardware store by buying a large quantity of lumber. They're making money off you."
"If I repay them."
Jake stayed her with his hand. "Darlin', you've got to have a more positive attitude. Send out those good vibes and good things will happen to you."
She stopped her snarky response. He was super upbeat, but it didn't seem to do him much good. The downturn of the market had taken his livelihood away just like the lightning had hers.
Regardless, if she didn't get over her issues and ask, worse things might happen. "You're right."
Before he reached her door handle, she hopped out. Two customers were exiting the front door as they were going in.
"Darlin', why don't you find the owner, and I'll check out what they have in the way of lumber?"
"Sounds good." I can do this.
As soon as Jake headed off, her pits started to sweat. What reason could she give Brody for asking for credit? The small town seemed aware of everyone's needs. While the bank would never tell anyone she hadn't paid her mortgage in four months, by selling most of her cattle, the townsfolk must have concluded she wasn't financially strong. Yes, they'd all brought food and offered to help after the fire, but her intense grief prevented her from accepting anything other than necessities from them.
Breathe. She'd been to Brody's office before. In a way, she hoped he wasn't there, and she could put off facing her problems for another day.
No such luck.
She knocked and Brody looked up and grinned. He and his two best friends had recently married Brittany Davenport, a new nurse in town. Maybe it had been the nuptials that put him in such a good mood.
"Tammy! What can I do for you?" He motioned she take a chair.
The worst he can say is no.
"I've come into a little bit of luck." There. That seemed positive. Jake would be proud.
"I'm happy for you."
She told him about Tank's cousin and the money Jasper owed her. "Right at the moment, I don't have the cash, so I was wondering if I could buy the lumber on credit?" Her damned voice wobbled.
His smile reached his eyes. "Not a problem. Your parents always paid their bills on time."
That was her parents who had a large, working ranch. Now they were dead. Even if she sold her ten head of cattle, she couldn't pay him back. And if she did sell her cows before they gave birth, how would she make money?
Wait a minute. Had he really said yes? "You do realize we need a lot of lumber to rebuild the house." Perhaps she hadn't made herself clear.
"I know, but no one should have to live in substandard conditions. I know you've been working a lot of jobs to make ends meet. I've always believed we need to help each other. You never know when you yourself will need the help back."
What an incredible philosophy. She didn't remember him being so open. The last time they'd really interacted, he'd been moody and unhappy. Perhaps meeting Brittany had changed his world.
"I can't thank you enough."
"Just invite me and my family over for a celebration when the house is finished."
"Will do."
Tammy walked away lighter than she'd felt since the fire. Maybe her life was turning around. Her nose led her to the lumber department. She loved the mixture of fresh-cut pine and the tang of rough-hewn cedar. Jake was in deep conversation with one of the helpers. Not wanting to disturb him, she sauntered over to the bathroom area, dreaming of granite countertops and tiled showers. Seeing how expensive everything was, she'd settle for anything that worked. Discouraged by how much this house was going to cost, she went back to Jake, not wanting him to get carried away.
"Hey," she said.
"We good?"
The words failed to come out. All she could give him was a big grin and a nod.
"Great."
She waited patiently while Jake discussed what he needed. The clerk told him he should come back tomorrow and pick up the wood.
Jake shook hands with the clerk then faced her. "If I can't find a truck to purchase today, I bet we can borrow Tank's truck to haul the stuff to your house."
"If you take out the back seats, you can use my van."
"The truck will be easier."
"You don't think he'll mind?" She had no idea if Tank was the type to lend his possessions. Guess she didn't know him that well anymore.
"Not in the least. Tank's a good guy."
"If you say so."
Jake wrapped an arm around her waist and tugged. "Don't be that way."
"I'm sorry. Tank and I go back a long way. It's hard to forgive."
His bitter chuckle caught her off guard. "Tell me about it."
He had skeletons in his closet, too? "Care to elaborate?" She didn't think he was speaking of Tank. Someone must have done a number on him.
He lowered his arm and faced her. "No."
Ooookay. "You still up for car shopping?" She wanted to return the favor of him offering to work on her house.
His face transformed with a grin, but she could tell it took effort to pull off the smile. "You bet."
Jake thought the car shopping went well, in large part because Tammy worked her magic with the dealer. He almost felt bad getting such a good deal, but then again the truck was ten years old. He paid cash, which seemed to surprise her, but getting a loan instead didn't sit well with him. He'd debated using his trust fund money to upgrade to a newer model, but he was determined to find success on his own. It was one of the things he found they had in common. Both were fierce about their independence.
Yes, he'd implied to Tank he was down on his luck, but he hadn't painted the whole picture. Jake was determined to get a new start on life and forget about his wife's death on his own terms. His mom's dad had died and left his parents a lot of money. Tank knew that much. What he didn't know was that Grandpa also left Jake with enough to rebuild his construction company. Only he didn't want the new start using someone else's dime.
When he'd arrived at Tank's apartment that first night, he'd planned on renting an apartment, but his cousin started in about how he wanted to help Tammy Richards, the girl who got away. His passionate plea really got to him. Jake never got the chance to explain that he didn't need any handouts. Now he was glad he'd kept his finances a secret.
He followed Tammy back to her place. Even though purchasing the lumber on credit seemed to go against her core beliefs, he noticed a renewed excitement in her once she made the deal. Her face sparkled and her energy increased. She had this infectious sense of adventure, and he knew that he needed to make her new home a reality.
Even his own sense of listlessness had lifted a bit. In fact, his cock seemed to have come alive, a side effect he never anticipated when he signed up for this gig. After his wife's death, he'd resigned himself to being alone, but there was something in the way Tammy shared his core beliefs about life that got his juices flowing. Maybe Pleasure would live up to its name.
Chapter Five
The hardware store called the next afternoon about the delivery of the wood.
"I'll tell him." Tammy imagined it would take many trips to get the wood here. Maybe she could help by also driving her van. "He'll probably come over now to pick some of it up."
Having someone else around twenty-four-seven should have bothered her. But there was something about Jake that brought life to the ranch. In fact, she looked forward to their discussions every night. Jake Harrison was quite an amazing man. He might be young, but his attitude about living life to the fullest was contagious.
She found Jake in the barn talking to Dixie.
"Hey, Jake?" He turned around. The smile she expected didn't materialize. Instead, his brows were pinched. "Something wrong?"
"I'm no vet, but Dixie doesn't look so good."
She rushed over, her stomach in knots. Her mare's eyes were slightly glassy, and the feces in the stall was runny. "Shit."
"That's what I was worried about."
He wasn't making a joke. "I'm calling Aiden." She feared Dixie had colic. Both her and the foal had free reign to graze outside. While much of the area was grassy, leave it to Dixie to find patches of dirt to eat.
A small smile returned. "Don't worry. Her condition can be treated."
"Treatment costs money." Without her mare to rebuild the stables or provide animals for sale, she'd have to get out. "If she needs surgery, I won't be able to help her." Her eyes watered.
Jake stepped over to her and pulled her into a warm hug. "Don't worry. Aiden will be able to fix her." He lifted her chin with a finger. "I came along when you were on down on your luck, remember?"
"Yes, but I can't ask the universe to help me twice." Brody's unexpected kindness should count as a second blessing. "Oh. That reminds me. Thomas's hardware called. The lumber's in."
"Good."
She expected him to rush out and pick it up, but he didn't move. "You're not going to get it?"
"And leave you with a sick animal? Never."
How sweet was that? "I'm calling Aiden right now." She dialed his cell, but it went straight to voice mail, so she left a message. Now what was she going to do?
"Let's walk her," Jake said.
Duh. Why didn't she think of that? Dixie seemed calm around both of them, so they slowly brought her outside. They walked the animal around the property until Dixie's gait improved. Her cell rang. It was Aiden.
"Hey. Thanks for getting back to me." She explained Dixie's symptoms.
"There are a ton of different causes of colic. If, as you say, she's doing a little better, do you mind if I finish up with another animal? I'll come over around six if that works for you."
The fact he'd make time for her after hours made her fall for him a little more. "Sure."
She disconnected and told Jake.
"Great." He ran a hand down her arm. "She'll be okay. Don't worry."
Easy for him to say. It wasn't his livelihood. They walked Dixie back to the stalls and filled her feedbag with grain.
"I'm going stay here with her."
"Then I'll get the lumber."
He'd leaned over and acted as if he was about to kiss her good-bye, when he abruptly straightened. His eyes glanced downward as if he'd mistaken her for another woman. Damn. She wondered about the real story behind the man.
Holy shit. Jake had almost kissed her. Being with her these last few days had made him realize what he'd been missing in his life. There was something about Tammy that stirred his soul. But making a move this soon in the relationship would be stupid. Tammy needed time to figure out what she wanted in life. She needed to learn that love was a two-way street and that to give was just as important as to receive. So far, she needed to work on the receiving part. If only he could convince her that teamwork made for a better life, he'd be set.
He'd called ahead to the hardware store, so a guy was waiting for him in the back. His truck wouldn't hold all that much, but it would be a start. Tank had called and said he could drop off a load after work. Between the two of them, they should have most of her supplies stacked, ready to go, in no time.
When he passed the Mountain View restaurant, he decided to check if they did takeout. He bet Tammy would appreciate a good meal, and he wasn't certain what supplies she had at home. He thought she'd mentioned that she worked here as a chef twice a week. A parking spot opened up in front and he went inside. After he introduced himself as Tammy's builder, the chef, Chelsea, came out. He was surprised she was still working given how pregnant she was.
The sight of her belly nearly socked him in the gut. He and his wife always talked about having children, but she'd died before that ever happened. He'd been heartened to learn Tammy thought two kids would be a nice addition to her life. He couldn't agree more, though if she wanted five, he'd be good with that, too.
Whoa. Bury that thought. She hadn't indicated she found him attractive, and she sure hadn't acted like she was looking for a mate. Move on.
Once he found out which menu items were Tammy's favorites, he ordered three different meals so she could have her choice. He assumed Aiden would be there to help Dixie. Mostly likely the vet wouldn't have stopped to eat, and he and Aiden could eat the two meals she didn't pick.
By the time Jake got on the road, it was near six anyway. Aiden had already arrived when Jake rolled into the drive. He put the dinner in the fridge and headed on out to the barn. The panic in Tammy's voice reached him before he heard the words. He slowed. Apparently Aiden was explaining the options to her.
Colic, he knew, could be nasty depending on where the obstruction occurred. Aiden must have discovered something. When Jake walked up to them, they were standing next to Dixie, watching her eat some grasslike substance.
"How's it going?"
Both looked back with worry written on their faces. Aiden shook his head. "Dixie could have a bacteria issue or purely a digestive problem. I'm feeding her psyllium husk in her feed. I'm hoping the fiber will help her pass whatever it is that's blocking her digestive tract."
Jake didn't ask Dixie's chances for survival. Tammy looked ready to break. "I brought dinner for all of us. You want to come in to eat?"
She shook her head. "I want to stay out here with Dixie to see if there are any changes."
No surprise Tammy would put the horse's health above hers. "You have to eat."
"I will. Later."
Jake glanced to Aiden. He caught the slight nod acknowledging that Jake was right. Aiden wrapped an arm around Tammy's waist and moved her toward the barn door. "Why don't we wash up and get a bite. Then we can come back. It'll take hours before we notice any difference in her condition."
Tammy swiped a tear from her cheek. Jake wanted to rush next to her and hold her. She'd been through so much. She didn't need her horse to fall ill. Since Aiden seemed to be able to calm her, he stayed back.
"You think?"
Aiden kissed her forehead. "I know so."
To his surprise, Jake wasn't jealous of the tender act. In fact, he appreciated that Aiden had Tammy's best interest at heart.
After they washed up, Jake pulled out the food and set the table. While it reminded him of his family back in South Carolina, there was something extra special about a diverse group of people sharing a meal.
"Aiden, you want a beer?" Jake asked.
"Sure."
"Water for me," Tammy said.
When the food was served, they discussed Dixie's condition. Jake appreciated that Aiden went out of his way to reassure instead of scare. Jake remembered the stallion his dad owned. He'd gotten colic and died, despite an oil treatment that was meant to cure the horse. Some living beings were only meant to be alive for a short period of time.
Aiden polished off his beer. "Tammy, if money weren't an object, where would you like to see your ranch in say five years?"
The question seemed to take her aback. "I guess it depends on how much help I had. My parents had four ranch hands, and they really helped out. If I could hire them back, I guess I'd have cows and cutting horses. I loved riding and training them."
Jake finished his food. "So you like to ride."
A calm passed over her face. "I don't think there's anything better than to feel the wind in your hair and having control over the powerful beast below you."
From that comment, he surmised she wouldn't be a great candidate for being tied up and ridden. That was a shame. He could picture him, and even Aiden or Tank licking her clean while they brought her to the most intense climax in her life. He knew Tank was a pussy man, while he loved a woman's ass. And Tammy had sweet cheeks.
Stop. She's too innocent.
As if he'd been caught with his hand in the cash register, he pushed back his chair and began clearing the table.
"Jake, leave it. I can do that later."
"You need to tend to Dixie. Don't worry. I'll take care of everything."
His words seemed to soften the look on her face. He bet not too many men had offered to lighten her burden. From the way Aiden acted around her, he'd be the first to volunteer. Too bad sharing responsibility seemed to go against her grain.
Aiden stood. "Jake's right. We should get back to her."
Tammy hesitated. "Thanks."
She put Dixie first. That meant her priorities were in the right spot.
When he and Tammy got to the barn, Dixie was worse, not better. Her abdomen was distended. Aiden didn't want to alarm Tammy, but he needed to be more precise with his diagnosis. "I'll be right back. I need to get something from my vehicle." He didn't want to get into the details, as anything he did would seem invasive.
He returned and did a complete exam. The results were inconclusive. There was a blockage, but he wasn't ready to suggest any radical solutions. Surgery was the last resort and was very expensive. Tammy would never be able to afford it.
"I want to try more of the psyllium, but if we use it too often, Dixie will get used to it and start depending on the added fiber."
Unfortunately, Dixie wasn't in the mood to eat, even though Tammy coaxed the horse to do the best she could.
She faced him. "Now what?"
"The amount she ate might help. Now we wait." He was out of options.
He sat down and leaned against the barn wall. Dixie's recovery might take all night, but he needed to be there in case her situation worsened. He raised an arm, welcoming Tammy to join him on the pile of hay. He wasn't sure she would. From what he remembered of her in high school, Tammy wasn't the adventuresome type. Tank dumping her hadn't helped.
She hesitated before stepping over to him. She sat down, and he drew her near. He expected her to pull away, but she didn't, boosting his confidence. Maybe it was because she was preoccupied with Dixie and wanted the comfort. She leaned her head against his shoulder, and a sense of well-being descended on him. Aiden had dated a lot of women. Some he'd shared with Tank. Most were the aggressive type and were with him for what he could provide. Whether it was his big dick or his potential fat paycheck, the women seemed to be drawn to him. Honesty and openheartedness weren't traits of the women he attracted. That is, until he decided that Tammy was the woman for him. Tank was right. If they played their cards right, they might be able to convince her to love both of them at once.
The image of Jake popped up. He was a good guy and someone who had a positive effect on her. While Aiden had never had a three-way, he was open to the idea.
He snuggled her closer, knowing the night temps would drop to the mid-forties, even in August.
For the first hour, she watched Dixie and asked him questions about the horse's condition. While he told her horses could die from colic, the fact he was there would hopefully prevent her death.
The colt was making soft noises in the next stall as if he, too, was worried about his mom. About an hour into their vigil, Jake stopped by.
"Thought you guys could use some hot tea." He brought a thermos, two cups, and a handful of tea bags.
She smiled. "That's so thoughtful."
"I figured since you two seemed determined to spend the night here, I also brought some blankets."
"Thanks, man."
Dixie sat up, looked around, then settled back to the ground.
"I'll stop by later and check to see if you two need anything."
Without waiting for an answer, Jake took off. He liked the man. He seemed decent and respectful.
Sometime during the night, Tammy had fallen asleep in his arms. As slowly as he could, he lowered himself to the hay. Bunching some straw for a pillow, he rested her head on his chest and pulled the blankets on top of them. Having her in his arms was so relaxing that he, too, must have dozed off until Tammy wiggled and woke him. She was still asleep, yet her hands were rubbing his chest. His cock reacted in a most inappropriate way. It wouldn't do if she knew how much her presence turned him on. Even though they'd been in the barn absorbing the smells, her scent was still provocative. She smelled of pine and fresh air, a combination he found enticing.
To help settle her down, he kissed the top of her head. Wrong move. Her leg slipped over his thighs as if he were some big body pillow. He couldn't help but tug her tighter and imagine making love to her. He didn't know which body part he'd start with. Should he devour her lips, lick her sweet pussy, or torture her perky tits? One thing was for sure, he'd end up packing her full of his cock. Man, do I have it bad or what?
Tammy settled for a bit, but as the night air filled the barn, internally she seemed to know it was cold. She shifted her body and crawled on top of him. Now she'd know what he was thinking. His cock was pressing into her stomach. As he lifted her hips to slide her off him, she moved upward and kissed him. He was too shocked to respond.
"Tammy?"
"Hmm."
"Maybe I should check on Dixie."
She snuggled closer. "I'd know if she were in trouble."
He listened for Dixie's breathing to see if her respirations were more rapid. The opposite seemed to be true. He could only slightly make out her outline, but Dixie was on her haunches instead of lying down.
Then as if Tammy's voice had healed her, Dixie got to her feet. He needed to, too. So as not to fully rouse Tammy, he slid out from under her. Patting the ground for his flashlight, he picked it up, and shone the light toward the ceiling to illuminate the stall. He wrapped the blanket around Tammy, got up, and checked the horse thoroughly. Evidence indicated Dixie had passed her problem. Now, Dixie needed time to heal, and he needed some sleep. He'd figure out a new eating regimen for her later.
"Tammy, we need to go inside," he whispered.
She didn't respond. With the flashlight in hand, he scooped her up into his arms and carried her to the house. Other than a small whimper, she was limp in his arms.
Given it was 3:00 a.m., he had no plans of driving home at this hour. She'd told him Jake slept on the sofa in the living room. That left her bed. They'd shared the stall. Hopefully, she wouldn't mind if he slipped into bed with her and kept her warm for what was left of the night. He might as well enjoy having her in his arms for a few more hours.
He took off her boots as carefully as he could and removed her jacket. She didn't wake. Stripping her of her jeans might cross her line of propriety, but not only was straw stuck to her rear, but dirt as well. The sheets might get ruined.
You're rationalizing.
"Too bad," he whispered to his nasty conscience.
His fingers nearly got burned when his knuckles scraped her bare belly. The soft skin drove his mind wild with desire. One snap opened her pants. The zipper teeth slid down easily. Now to get them off. After her pulled the material over her hips, he tugged on her pant legs.
"Mmm."
He stilled when she nearly woke. "Shh."
When she didn't jerk away, he continued taking off her pants. The shirt was probably still clean. Leaving her socks on, he drew back the spread and placed her under the covers. Removing his clothes took seconds. Not to make her feel self-conscious, he, too, left on his shirt, but discarded his jeans.
Once he'd settled them both in, he gathered her in his arms. Muscles relaxed, his mind spun on how he could tempt her to invite him to stay on a more permanent basis. Tammy Richards was the woman for him.
Chapter Six
Tammy tried to roll over when something large prevented her. The image of Dixie being so sick roused her, and she cracked open an eye. It took a minute to realize she wasn't in the stall and the object blocking her was a man. The only light in the room came from the glow of the clock and a small night-light near the bathroom. From the cut of his slightly shaggy brown hair, it was Aiden. They had fallen asleep watching the horse to make sure her condition didn't worsen. So how had she magically been transported to her house?
The clock read 6:00 a.m. In the ranch world, that meant it was time to get up. She tapped him on the shoulder. "Aiden?
He rolled over and pulled her close. Eyes closed, his snores came out soft. She wished there was more light in the room so she could better study him. His nose might be his best feature, next to his broad, kissable mouth.
Stop it.
She was in debt to the top of her head and had no business seducing someone just for the gratification of having sex.
Take joy when you can. Her mom's words came back to her.
Tank might have ruined her for wanting a long-term commitment, but maybe she'd be able to think more clearly if she enjoyed herself for once. Aiden was the perfect man. He was incredibly gentle with the animals, and she bet he'd be amazing in bed. Given she hadn't had sex in forever, as in years, he might be the right one to break her in, so to speak. She almost giggled at that image.
Never one to be the aggressor, she wasn't sure how one went about seducing one of the hottest men in Pleasure. Both Jake and Tank's image flashed in her mind's eye as equally handsome, but she understood Aiden better. Tank clearly was off-limits. He was a womanizer, or at least had been. Jake was too mysterious for her, despite his friendly nature. He seemed to guard his privacy tighter than a locked barn door.
Aiden stirred, drawing her attention back to him. He always kept the front of his hair longer than the back, and the desire to feel its silkiness made her overcome her inhibitions. What he didn't know wouldn't hurt him, right?
She reached out and gently ran her hands over his head. The silky ends slid under her palm. Her heart beat faster at entering this forbidden territory. Touching a man was novel. And dangerous. He had the cutest ears, all tight and compact against his head. With the tip of her finger, she traced their shape, mesmerized by them. Since he hadn't stirred she decided to explore further. When she moved closer, the comforter shifted, exposing the bulge under his briefs. Oh, my.
The urge to touch the tip overwhelmed her. As gently as she could, she squeezed the head a bit then pulled back.
"Honey, if you want to see all of me, you just have to ask."
Her heart literally stopped for a second and her breath caught in her throat. Getting caught stealing might be the only thing worse.
He opened his eyes and grinned. She expected him to chastise her for taking liberties. Instead, he pulled her closer and kissed her so gently that she nearly melted into his chest.
"You know what I've been dreaming of all night?" he asked.
She wasn't sure she should ask. "What?"
"Getting you naked and licking you all over."
"Aiden!" The thought both excited and scared her at the same time. What if she sucked at sex?
You should have thought of that when you started this not-so-innocent exploration.
"Do you know what happens when little girls play with fire?"
She would have bristled at his words, but she knew he was only kidding. "What?" Why was she inciting this riot?
Because you want him.
"This."
Aiden grabbed her and rolled her on top of him. The comforter twisted around her legs and turned her into a burrito, yet even through the material, his hard cock managed to press against her pussy. Only then was she aware of her state of undress. "How did I lose my pants?"
"You don't remember that we made mad, passionate love last night when we came in from the barn?" He kissed her nose. "Dixie, by the way, is fine."
She giggled. The relief nearly drenched her. Her animal should have been her first concern, not her enjoyment. If she lost her horse, she'd be finished.
"No, and I'm glad."
In one move, he rolled her over and rested on his elbows to keep his weight from smothering her. "This comforter has to go." He whipped it away from her, leaving her skin to skin with the hot Dr. Aiden Stanton. Was this really happening? She'd said no to him in the past because he always acted like she was some charity case. As of late, their relationship had been building. It was so much more real now after they'd shared the soul-deep connection of seeing him deliver the colt. The experience had made them closer.
"If you don't remember us making love, I'll have to refresh your memory." He slipped his hands along the side of her head and drew her near. His kiss was like nothing she'd known before. It was strong yet tender, almost as if he'd been waiting years to taste her.
The kiss wasn't enough. She opened her mouth as an invitation, and he delved in. His moan vibrated in his throat, and his cock did more than move. With a slight shift in his hips, he wedged his covered cock between her legs.
"I won't lie. I want you, Tammy." His desperation shocked her. Why would he want her?
Stop thinking and just feel.
Following her own advice, she wrapped her hands around his back, loving how the muscles flexed and shifted with the slightest move. She dared to widen her thighs to make more contact. Aiden tilted his head to the side and dragged his kiss down her neck.
"I love how you taste," he said.
His kisses traveled lower, over her throat and downward. When he reached the edge of her shirt, his hands skirted along the bottom of the hem. He moved back onto his knees and pulled her shirt over her head. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the flannel floating to the floor. Cool air caressed her chest.
He leaned over and clicked on the side table lamp. "I want to see all of you."
His voice sent shivers down her spine. Every one of her insecurities screamed for her to stop him now, but her heart wanted him too much. His head dipped and his tongue caught the top of her breasts. Oh, my God. Sparks of need raced over her body. She ran her fingers over his bulging biceps, amazed at his strength.
She pressed her chest upward, indicating her willingness for him to take what he wanted. She was ready to be ravished and to ravish him. He must have read her mind. With a flick, he unhooked her bra. Peeling the straps down over her shoulders, his eyes widened when her tits popped out. As if the tips were fragile crystal, he touched one with his fingertip. His sense of awe made her panties wetter. He returned to her nipples and licked each one with care.
"Harder." She wanted the pressure, wanted the near pain that bordered on pleasure.
He obliged. He nibbled and sucked on each nipple until the tips turned tender and swollen. But she wanted more. Too bad patience had never been in her genes. When she wanted something, she wanted it immediately.
Wrapping her legs around his waist, she lifted her rear and ground against his cock. She got scant satisfaction.
"Hold on, honey. I'm getting there. You're so delicious. I want to savor every inch of your body."
He talked so nice that she relaxed a bit knowing her time would come. In the meantime, her hands seemed to have a will of their own. They traveled over his head, down his nose to his full lips. He nipped her finger.
"Be careful." He smiled and her heart sang.
She laughed as joy spread through her. All those touches, licks, and grinds set every nerve ending on fire. Places she never knew were erotic had come to life under his hands. Suddenly, he slipped lower and dragged her panties around her knees. He was on her pussy faster than a starving man could devour a free meal.
The first lick brought her off the bed. "Oh, my God."
"Hold on there. I have a long ride in store for you."
She wouldn't be able to last. Already her juices were flowing. His teeth grabbed hold of her clit, and he tugged. A carnal desire sharper and more intense than she'd ever felt before flooded her. "I want your cock."
"Don't you worry. I'll get to fucking you soon enough."
Her smile must have stayed on her face for minutes. His slightly Western slang, full of dirty words, made her want him all that much more.
His tongue went to work, licking, sucking, and plucking. Her sex perfumed the air. She wanted to touch him and explore his body, but the sensations roaming through her body were too divine to ask him to stop. Her rational mind turned off, taken over by the god of love and lust.
When he rolled off her, she pushed up on her elbows. "What happened?"
"Got to get some protection." He pulled a condom from his wallet, one that had made a dent in the leather. She hoped it had been there for a little bit, just not too long for it to lose its strength.
"Can I put it on?"
He shook his head. "I'm so far on the edge, one touch by you and I'll explode. You're lucky I've lasted this long. Next time, I promise, I'll let you do the honors."
Next time?
Could this get any better? Instead of him impaling her right away, he slipped a finger inside her slick pussy.
"Ah, that feels good. Aiden, please."
He crawled up her body and nibbled his way to her lips. He tasted so good she wanted him to stay there forever. His fingers worked her pussy with abandon. With each stroke, the small tingles grew larger, until they turned into bolts of electricity tripping up her spine. She bucked until she nearly crushed his arm between them.
His fingers disappeared, but his kisses continued to ravish her lips. His covered cock knocked at her entrance. She wanted him so bad her fingernails dug into his shirt. "I want to feel all of you."
She wanted his bare chest pressing down on her breasts. A small groan escaped. He leaned back, tossed off his shirt, and returned to his prone position. His kisses turned harder as he dove in.
She gasped. Nothing could top this. Widening her legs to take in all of him, she grabbed his ass to press him down. He didn't budge. Aiden seemed determined to go at his own pace.
"Patience," he said on a whisper, as if he, too, were on the edge of control.
He seesawed in for a bit, then must not have wanted to wait either for he plunged in fully, driving her to the highest peak. "Oh, God. Aiden." She'd practically shouted his name.
His hands clasped her shoulders as he pumped in and out, his large cock stretching her. His moans and groans excited her like never before, and her pussy spewed her juices to slick the way.
Her hands tripped across his back and traveled down to his beautifully sculpted ass. She grabbed the muscled orbs and squeezed. Aiden leaned over once more and kissed her hard. He slid his face to the side.
"Come for me, Tammy," he whispered.
His plea broke loose all of her resolve, and her climax pummeled her. Spasm after spasm rained down on her. She captured his cock, wanting to keep him inside her forever. Her breath caught in her throat as his cock expanded. He closed his eyes and stiffened as he shot his cum into her.
Out of breath, and slightly damp from exertion, Aiden collapsed onto her. Someone knocked on the bedroom door just as she was basking in the aftermath of their lovemaking. Shit.
"Sorry to disturb you all, but I really need to use the bathroom." Jake grinned and strode right on by.
How embarrassing was that? The strange thing was that Aiden didn't react in the least.
The bathroom door clicked closed. She tapped his back. "Didn't that bother you?"
Good thing Aiden's body covered hers, so she wasn't exposed, but still. Jake had to know they were making love. Good Lord. The two of them were making more noise than his nail gun ever did.
Uh-oh. Now she felt bad. Poor Jake shouldn't have had to endure listening to a couple go at it when he was all alone. "I think I'll apologize to him."
Aiden lifted his head. "Why? Do you think we should have invited him to join us?"
The thought was preposterous. It didn't matter that many of the townsfolk enjoyed a ménage relationship. She wouldn't be one of them.
Chapter Seven
After Jake walked in on her and Aiden making love, Tammy was convinced his easygoing attitude had suddenly changed. True, she'd been the first one to avert her gaze when she and Aiden were at the breakfast table and Jake had walked in fresh and clean from his shower. Admittedly, he sounded upbeat, but their breakfast conversation had been strained. She'd thought about apologizing, but Aiden wouldn't appreciate her saying they should have not made love at that moment.
Aw, hell. She sucked at relationships. Liking two men made it all that much more difficult.
What about Tank?
Don't even go there.
Three days had passed, and she had hoped they'd go back to being friends, but so far that hadn't happened. The closeness hadn't rekindled perhaps because they hadn't spent much time together since her lovemaking with Aiden. Those easy nights when she and Jake would talk about their dreams no longer occurred because he worked every waking hour on building the house. He acted as if the mortgage deadline was meant for him. Winter was creeping up he'd reminded her, so maybe he wanted to get finished before the storms came and then move on.
Too bad, she liked him. Actually, she more than liked him. There was something hurting inside him, and she wanted to discover what it was. She'd always had this need to make things right, whether it be to heal animals or patch the human soul.
Before the incident, they'd gotten to know each quite well. One thing for sure, he wasn't anything like Aiden. Aiden was open, pure, and dependable. His tender touch and passionate ways turned her on whenever he came near. She yearned to have a repeat of that wonderful night in her bed, but every time he stopped by, he had to treat some animal. There never seemed to be the right moment for them. Either Tank or Jake hovered. Yes, they still kissed and hugged when they could, but she wanted more.
Another problem was that Jake also stirred urges in her. Unfortunately, he'd become more withdrawn and mysterious of late. While he still could pour on the charm, he'd become focused, as if the building of her house meant the world to him.
Ever since Jake had entered her life and she'd made love to Aiden, her body had woken up after being dead for so long. Having had the taste of loving a man, she was determined to find more time for love.
To keep her mind off her hormonal urges, she did her ranch chores, but with Aiden tending to the animals, she often ran out of things to do. Earl took care of the chickens, and the cattle seemed content to roam and eat all day long.
She did channel some of her frustration on creating more jewelry designs. If she did say so, her work was improving. In fact, after the last showing, word must have gotten out about her creations since a few buyers called and asked if they could take a look at her collection at the house. How cool was that? They were coming to her! In the last three weeks alone, she'd made enough to pay one mortgage payment. That extended her do-or-die deadline by another month. If her luck held, Jasper might get better and pay her back for the sale of the cattle.
She had spoken about the old man's condition to his son who lived in Oregon. He said his dad was holding his own, and that the doctors were slightly optimistic about his recovery. She hadn't wanted to bring up the issue of the owed money when the poor man was close to dying.
Her life had gone from depressing and boring to exciting. If she could pay her bills at the end, she'd consider herself the luckiest woman in the world. She stood outside the house surveying the spread. Her ranch hummed with activity. If Jake wasn't pounding away on the frame, Aiden was bringing over more animals. She'd offered to check on them, but he said he had no problem coming by daily to tend to them personally. Even Tank was stopping over at work. In fact, he'd been at the ranch at least four nights out of seven helping his cousin hammer and nail.
She was in the kitchen when both Jake and Tank waltzed in.
"I think the clerestory windows will let in light without the heat," Tank said, acting as if she wasn't even there.
"But is the cost worth it?" Jake pulled a glass out of the cabinet and filled it with water from the fridge.
This deciding without asking her stuff had to stop. "You know, this is my house. Don't I have a say-so?"
Jake walked over and wrapped his arms around her. The tension swirling around them since she'd been with Aiden seemed to disappear. He leaned back and looked down at her. "You are our first concern. We know money is tight, and after we've weighed the pros and cons, we were going to present you with your options."
Now she felt like a fool. "Oh."
He kissed her forehead, like a father did to his daughter. They were the same age, so he must think of her as a sister. Darn. While she adored Aiden, and making love again with him had been on the forefront of her mind, she wanted to know Jake intimately, too. Was that so wrong?
Tank stepped forward. "I have a client who is a window distributor. I could ask him about what would work best. Does that work for you, Tammy?"
She appreciated that he included her. His sincerity melted her heart. Maybe ten years had softened him. "Sure."
Jake had brought with him a rolled-up piece of paper, and he spread it on the table. It was the drawings for the house. While she fixed them water and a Coke, the two discussed wiring, the thickness of the Sheetrock, and the duct work. She gave them their drinks and headed off to her bedroom to work on her jewelry.
About half an hour later, the banging resumed. They must have figured out their next phase. By dinnertime, the banging hadn't stopped. Those two had to be tired, and her head was starting to throb from all the noise. When she walked outside to ask them when they'd like dinner, she saw Aiden's truck in the drive. Maybe she'd be able to steal a kiss, or more. She was halfway to the barn when Aiden called to her. She spun around. He had to be kidding her. All three were on the roof grinning.
How had Jake conned these two busy men into helping him?
"Aiden, what are you doing up there?"
"They needed an extra hand."
She knew Jake wouldn't fall, but she had no idea how comfortable Aiden was so high up. "I'm fixing some spaghetti and meatballs for dinner. When will you all be done?"
"When you call us, we'll come down," Jake said.
Then she had better get cooking. Feeding three hungry men would take some doing. The sooner the food was on the table, the sooner the hammering would stop.
Supper was all cleaned up, and Tank and Aiden had left for the night. Jake strolled out of the bathroom freshly showered, looking relaxed and sexy. He was a driven man, and she was determined to find out what made him that way. She'd already poured a glass of water for him and an iced tea with lemon for herself.
"Care to join me outside on our porch?"
She didn't have a porch yet, but they used to pretend she had one.
He nodded. "My pappy told me never to disappoint a lady."
That brought a grin to her face. He followed her out. The air was crisp, but the wind calm. The stars had yet to appear.
He sat next to her and stretched his long legs out. "So what do you think of the house?"
"I can't believe how fast it's coming together."
"We should be able to put on the siding tomorrow. Then it will look like a real house."
"That's wonderful." She sipped her tea. "You really seem to take pleasure in building things."
"I do. I guess I'm the type who likes to measure my success in what I can see."
She chuckled. "I'm the same way. I count every horse, every cow and every chicken I own. The more I have, the closer I am to my dream."
"That's important to you."
"Yes." Only why? "After the fire, I wanted to prove to myself that I could make a go of it. Now, I'm not so sure."
"You never told me what really happened."
His voice came out strangled, almost as if her answer were terribly important. "Lightning struck the barn and ground and caught both the building and the surrounding grass on fire. I don't really know the exact chain of events that led up to my parents' deaths, but I can guess." Her eyes watered. "I wasn't here when it happened." The last sentence came out soft.
He took her hand and rubbed her palm with his thumb. "I meant the real story. You sound guilty that you survived."
Was that what it was? "I do believe that if I'd been here, I'd have been able to help get the animals out of the barn faster. Maybe my parents wouldn't have been inside when the roof collapsed. So, yeah, maybe I do feel guilty."
"Didn't anyone notice the flames?"
She tried to catalogue what she'd been told. "The neighbors did, but I'd come by at the same time and called 911. By the time help came, my parents were dead. At least the firemen were able to save half the house." The rain had helped, too.
"I'm so sorry. Not being able to help someone you love can eat you alive, make you wish you were dead."
Her heart nearly stopped at the pain emanating from him. "Did something like that happen to you?" Was that the reason for his intense drive?
He gulped down half his water. "Three years ago, I'd promised my wife I'd take her to a church gathering."
Oh, my God. She didn't know he was married. Surely, if he still were, she'd be here with him. "What happened?"
"A bunch of my buddies convinced me to play one more round of pool. Instead of paying attention to the time, I went ahead and played."
From the way his jaw tightened, he truly hadn't meant to stand up his wife. She could guess the rest. "Did she figure you weren't going to show and take off?"
He dropped his head. "Yes. When I rounded the corner to our home, I saw her drive away. I raced after her. She arrived at the four-way stop before me. She came to a stop, took off, and was in the middle of the intersection when a drunk driver hit her." He dragged his hands down his face. "She died in my arms."
How horrifying. She moved close and placed a hand on his leg. "It wasn't your fault."
He looked up. "I didn't hit her, but if I'd been ten seconds earlier, she would have spent some time getting into my car and we might have gotten to the intersection thirty seconds later."
What could she say other than she truly understood. At that moment, she felt so close to him, she wanted to weep with him. He lowered his hands and stared at her.
"You do understand, don't you?" His words were desperation floating on a whisper.
"I wish I didn't. Even if what you suggested is true that I'm suffering from survivor's guilt, it doesn't seem to help even if I'm able to pin a name on my problem."
"I know."
She leaned back in her chair. Only now did the mooing of the cattle register, along with the stiffness of the breeze. The sky had darkened to a point where the stars were twinkling. Without taking his gaze off her, Jake stood and held out his hands palms up.
She didn't have to think, only react. Lacing her fingers in his, she stepped closer so that the space between them warmed. She loved how his hair fell over his forehead, and his broad shoulders strained the buttons on his shirt. He was so very strong yet inwardly fragile at the same time.
He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. Shivers of delight spread down her arm. Her whole body vibrated with need, as if she'd cease to exist if he didn't touch her everywhere. He lowered their hands and unthreaded his fingers only to tuck an errant hair behind her ear. The gentle touch simmered in her blood. He was her kindred soul, a little lost, in search of understanding. She wanted to meld with him, to make both of them whole.
The moon peeked out from behind a cloud, illuminating the strong slant of his nose and his long lashes. His golden hair was backlit against the inky sky. Their breaths mingled, and at that moment, she wanted to breathe his air and touch his heart.
Jake leaned over and slanted his lips across hers, tasting of tomatoes and cheese. Lifting her head to meet his mouth, she pressed her breasts against his flexed chest. His hands cupped her shoulders, and she wrapped her arms securely around his waist. She pulled him closer to show him she wanted what he had to offer. The wind stilled and the animals became quiet. Nothing seemed to exist except them.
So absorbed in his taste, feel, and touch that she didn't remember how her shirt disappeared or her jeans got unbuttoned. He spun her around and backed her against the wall of the house. He traced a line over her chin and down her chest. The moment her bra landed on the ground, his mouth latched on to her tit.
"Oh, God."
His desperate capture of her nipple sent a torrent of ecstasy down her body. Her pussy moistened, and she wanted more. No, she wanted all of him. Her hands groped the front of his shirt until she managed to unbutton it. As fast as she could, she dragged the material down his arms.
He stopped touching for as long as it took him to thread his arms through the sleeves. His bare chest was a vast field of tactile sensations. The hair on his pecs prickled her palms, and she ran her hands across the hard planes of his chest. Being this close to him excited her like never before.
As he suckled and plucked her nipples, she got to do what she'd wanted to since the moment she met him. She ran her fingers through his silky hair. Arching her back to give him more, she spread her legs, silently willing him to lose himself in her.
As if he read her mind, he slipped her jeans down her legs, but her boots blocked their removal. Cool air streamed across her abdomen, but the drop in temperature balanced the heat radiating from her body.
She held on to his shoulders as she kicked off her boots. So as not to stand on the pebbled ground, she dragged her jeans backward and stood on them. Jake dropped in front of her and captured her panty-clad pussy with his mouth.
His groan joined hers as if they were one. His fingers scraped down her legs, taking her now-wet panties with them. She stepped out of them and widened her stance, presenting her proud pussy for him. Take me.
"I've wanted to taste your sweet honey since the moment I saw you."
The smooth admission warmed her soul. I've wanted to have your cock in me from that time, too. She wasn't ready to state that just yet.
He swiped his tongue up and down her opening, banging against her clit with each pass. The bliss built stronger and stronger. She wanted to pull him to a stand and wrap her legs around his waist, riding him like a new cutting horse.
Instead, all thoughts disappeared when he stabbed two fingers into her wet pussy. Her breath caught as spikes of pleasure coursed up her body. She cupped his head tight. "That's what I'm talking about."
When his tongue joined his two fingers, she almost floated off the ground. Deliciously wicked flames of passion caught hold and raced down her channel. She needed him as much as she needed to breathe.
"Please, Jake."
He stepped away and her eyes clouded over with desire. He stripped in seconds, managing to produce a condom from his back pocket. She'd been about to ask if she could do the honors, but he slapped it over his huge cock before the words came out. In a flash, he lifted her up and settled her gently over his cock. With a wiggle, she sucked the head into her channel. Legs wrapped around his waist, she pressed her tits against his chest and lifted her head for a kiss.
His hands raised her first then lowered her, driving his dick deep into her.
She stilled. "Give me a second to adjust." Her walls were pressed outward by his bulging cock.
He lowered his head as if in prayer. "You smell so good."
With her back supported by the wall, he used his hands to drive her crazy. He trailed his fingers from her waist to her tits. Using his thumbs, he rubbed the tips until they stood on end. She pressed upward with her feet. She wanted the control, to be the one to make love to him. Releasing the pressure, she dropped back down, opening her pussy wide.
Their mouths caught and heated rapture slammed into her. They couldn't get enough of each other. Her blood pulsed fast as she bucked up and down, taking in all of him. Her tongue entwined around his and captured him in an embrace. As their breaths mingled, so did their hearts.
The faster she pumped, the higher she soared. Her climax slammed into her, robbing her of all sanity. He drove in farther until his cock expanded and shot his warm liquid into her. She couldn't hear. She couldn't breathe. And she sure as hell couldn't think.
His strong arms remained wrapped around her body for close to eternity. Slowly, her fingers tingled as the blood returned to her body. She lowered her legs to the ground, forcing him to uncouple.
Naked, she stuck her feet into her boots and picked up her clothes.
He did the same. "Did we really do what I think we did?" There was a chuckle in his voice.
"I think we did."
"Good. Now let's have some hot tea, crawl into bed, and do it again."
She couldn't think of any better ending.
Chapter Eight
Tammy lay awake for most of the night, wondering if she'd made a mistake by making love with Jake, despite enjoying the hell out of the experience. It was only 3:00 a.m., too early to start the day, so she rolled over. The sex last night had been stupendous, and the connection she'd felt with Jake was unparalleled. At that moment, she'd wanted nothing more than to make love to him, be one with him every day for the rest of her life. His pain blended with hers, and together, they'd forged new boundaries into understanding each other and maybe even themselves. Being in his arms seemed so right, but so had being in Aiden's. How could she want two men? Had something genetically altered in her body to make her change from wanting one man to two?
Aiden was gentler, sure, but he was just as explosive a lover. She'd never slept with two men within a week or two of each other. Hell, she'd waited a least a year after breaking up with someone before she had sex with someone else. She should be bombarded with guilt, but at the moment there was none. The biggest problem she faced was how she was going to move forward. Who did she want to be with? Jake would be working side by side with her for the next few months. She couldn't avoid him. Aiden seemed to make a daily appearance and loved to steal kisses whenever he was near.
What would happen if Aiden saw her kissing Jake, or heaven forbid catch her in the act of making love to him? Never once last night had Jake mentioned Aiden's name. Even after they made love, he didn't ask her about her future plans.
Damn. Could she stop Aiden if he wanted to make love again, now that she'd felt this way for Jake? Would she feel any different being in Aiden's arms again?
No, and that was the problem. She wanted both of them.
Aargh. She planted her face in the pillow, hoping for enlightenment. None came. Jake didn't seem to be troubled with these issues. He was puffing out soft snores. A half hour ago, he'd twisted in his sleep and reached out for her. Pressing her rear to his cock, he snuggled against her. Her ass heated, and her pussy began to act up, wanting a repeat of the night's interaction. She debated rousing him and giving him a blowjob, but he needed his sleep too much. When he awoke, maybe she'd lick him senseless and tease every part of his body just as he'd done to her.
Having Jake's strong arms around her must have finally forced her body to give up and sleep. When she opened her eyes, her back was cold. She rolled over. Jake was gone. How had she not heard him get up?
The running shower clicked off, and the pipes sent out a groan. She smiled. Jake was wet and naked. She debated getting out of the warm covers and charging in the bathroom, but there was no telling what he'd do, and there were chores to be done.
Earl always came early to feed and take care of the chickens. He rarely needed to come into the kitchen, but with her luck, this morning would be the one time he had to. At least she could count on there being a bucket of eggs on the front stoop when she went to fix breakfast. She wished the ranch made a profit so she could pay Earl, but he insisted he loved puttering around and taking care of the animals. He lived in a cramped apartment in town and said being able to smell the fresh air and move about was enough pay for him.
She rolled out of bed just as Jake opened the bathroom door. Steam piled out. His head was bent as he rubbed his hair with a towel. Buck naked, he walked around the bed.
When uncomfortable, she often made light of the situation. "You leave me any hot water?" She knew there was almost an endless supply, as the sun heated the pipes.
"If you'd gotten your sorry little ass out of bed, we could have shared." His grin came out wide and sexy.
Her flirtatious retort bubbled up and shot out before she could put a sensor on it. "If you hadn't snored all night, I might have fallen asleep faster."
He moved to the bed faster than a nail gun could drive in a spike. All cheer had gone out of his face. "Oh, darlin', why didn't you wake me?" His concern warmed her heart.
"I was only kidding. I loved listening to you snore."
He cocked a brow and rubbed his hands up and down her arms, studying her. "Well, next time, roll me over."
He wanted a next time? Was he planning to take up permanent residence in her bed? What about Aiden? Hadn't he said the same thing? Dear Lord, what was she going to do?
After she washed up, she ambled into the kitchen. Jake had finished eating two hard-boiled eggs. As she fixed her own breakfast, he packed a thermos of coffee. She would have liked to share a meal with him, but she guessed he wasn't going to abandon work for a little romance.
Jake gave her a quick kiss good-bye and headed outside. Once she ate her meal, she went out to the barn to check on the animals. Earl was mucking out the stalls. She wanted to tell him to let her do the heavy work, but that might hurt his feelings.
"Morning, Earl."
He looked up. "Ms. Tammy."
He was unusually cheerful this morning. She prayed Jake hadn't said anything about making love to her last night. If Aiden found out, there was no telling what he'd do.
A car engine roared up the drive then died. A minute later, Aiden waltzed in.
"Hey, hey. Look who's here?"
He put down his gear and gave her a big bear hug. She expected her body to tense, but instead she melted into his arms. Did she have no loyalty to either man? Why did their mere touches make her so happy?
When he kissed her, his lips lingered. Aware that Earl was in the stall behind them, she pulled away. "Morning to you, too."
"How's our crew today?"
"I just got here, but I'll be happy to make rounds with you." She wanted to spend time with him. His caring and thorough examinations told her he was a man who would never walk away from a woman. Unlike Tank.
While they were examining the animals, Jake's power tools went to work. "I'm surprised the animals aren't spooked by the noise," she said.
He smiled. "Animals are amazingly adaptive. I think they have the ability to tune out those kind of things, kind of like kids."
Wasn't that the truth. "I wish I could."
Another car sounded in the drive. Earl leaned the rake against the stall. "I'll see who that is. This place is getting mighty busy." He strolled out. Now there was a man who'd learn to take one day at a time after his wife of forty years died last year.
The newcomer was probably Tank given it was Saturday. He spent not only most nights helping out, but much of his weekend, too.
"Tammy?" Earl sounded excited.
She squeezed Aiden's arm. "Be right back."
A strong breeze shot through the barn. She inhaled, loving the smell of the ranch world. Standing next to a new car was a well-dressed woman she didn't recognize. Tammy wiped her hands on her jeans, trying to remember if she'd touched any other animal besides Dixie. She didn't think so.
She shook the woman's hand. "What can I do for you?"
"I've been admiring some of the jewelry a few of my friends have purchased from you. I didn't know how to contact you or when you were going to have another showing. I hope you don't mind that I dropped by."
"Absolutely not. I'm thrilled." Tammy glanced up at a shirtless Jake. My, but he looked good. "Let's go inside. It might be quieter and I can show you what I have."
The woman stepped around the chickens. She should have known wearing high heels to a ranch might not be the smartest fashion statement.
"Excuse the mess."
"Don't worry. I'm in the middle of construction myself. My husband insisted on ripping up our den. Said it was a small, quick job." She waved a hand and laughed. "There's dust everywhere."
"I feel your pain. I, too, am constantly wiping down the counters, which is why I don't do showings in my home." She gave the woman her most sympathetic smile. The three other women she'd suggested stop by, had been friends of her mom's. "Have a seat at the kitchen table and I'll bring out my case."
The woman nodded. Yikes. She had maybe three completed pieces and needed to get to work on more creations. From the bedroom, she packed up the case and carried it out.
"What colors are you looking for?"
In the gem world, the choices were endless. They talked a bit about the woman's tastes and the kind of jewelry she liked.
"You don't have a catalogue?"
That would cost money. "Not yet, but soon maybe."
A tingle of excitement drove through her. She always thought of herself as a ranch girl, through and through, but maybe she should focus more on being a businesswoman.
The woman took out her checkbook. "I love these two, but I would one like this one using the rose quartz, and another one like the first one in turquoise. I'll pay you now, if you can deliver the pieces I need by next Thursday. It's my anniversary on Friday and I really want to look extra nice."
Tammy couldn't believe her luck. "No problem."
Once the woman left, Tammy sat there, half stunned. Each piece took hours to make. With all the hammering, drilling and banging, she'd never be able to concentrate. To make matters worse, Tank pulled up.
Maybe he'd climb up the ladder and not bother her.
"Knock, knock." Guess not. He pulled back the screen door and entered.
She had to admit he looked good. Sexy even, but still not the man for her. She liked stability and honesty. She didn't know about Jake's stability, but he was honest.
Tank was dressed in hiking gear and didn't look like he was ready to climb on the roof. "What's up?"
"I thought you could use a break today."
"That's sweet, but I have work to do." She waved the woman's check. She explained how, out of the blue, this lady came to buy her jewelry.
"That's terrific." He held out his hand.
She laughed. "Oh, no you don't. I can't cash this until I deliver the goods." She swiped a finger across the table, coating the tip. "I can't work here either."
"That's the beauty of my plan. Pack up your stuff and let's get out of here. I know of a place where we can have total quiet."
Even though it was Tank she'd be going with, the idea sounded wonderful. "Where do you have in mind?"
"Someplace I've always loved. It's maybe twenty miles from here in the forest. I have a ton of reading to do, so I need to concentrate. I'm taking a test to get my license in Montana."
"Works for me."
"Do you think we can make some sandwiches to take with us?"
"Absolutely." This plan intrigued her. Side by side they gathered what they needed. He filled up two water bottles while she finished slapping the meat on the bread.
She went back into the bedroom, threw on her hiking boots and grabbed her backpack. Back in the kitchen she packed up her gear. "I'm ready."
He held open the door. Outside, she stepped back from the house and shielded her eyes to find Jake's location, not that the noise didn't tell her where he was.
"Hey, Jake?"
His back remained to her and his gun didn't stop spitting out nails.
Tank touched her back and unexpected tingles raced up her spine. Oh, boy. "I'll tell him."
While Tank was informing Jake, she wanted to tell Aiden she'd be gone for part of the day. As she walked into the barn, her stomach lurched. She'd have to tell him she was going on a quasi date with Tank. She dreaded the potential confrontation, but that conversation wouldn't be as uncomfortable as when she told him she'd slept with Jake. Sure, Pleasure was open-minded, but she figured the people around here had limits. If Aiden had told her he was sleeping with another woman, she'd freak. The double standard didn't elude her.
Aiden was checking the teeth on one of his animals.
"Hey."
He turned and smiled. "You bored today or what?"
It was true, she usually didn't wander in and bother him this often. "I wanted to tell you I'm going to be spending a few hours away from the banging." She told him of the commissioned jewelry order she'd gotten.
"That's great."
"Tank's taking me."
His smile didn't dim. "Good. You'll be safe."
Not the reaction she expected, but she was glad she didn't have to explain anything. Maybe he knew she'd never again succumb to Tank's charms.
Happy to get away from the ranch for a few hours and work on her designs, she left. Tank was already in the truck, and she hopped in.
"Where exactly are we going?"
He grinned. "It's a surprise."
His dimpled cheeks brought back all the memories of them together, at least when they were kids. She'd had plenty of time to get over him, so why hadn't she? Her damned pussy had the nerve to react to his flirting. Didn't her body know she had enough on her hands?
It was just a smile, nothing more.
Unfortunately, her body didn't listen.
It took about forty minutes to reach the end of the road that wound through the mountain. Throughout the trip, whenever he turned the wheel, his forearm muscles flexed. Tank was even sexy driving. His strong profile was without unneeded curves or flaws.
He stopped the truck at the end of a road.
"I've never been to this area before."
"Good. Are you ready to see something cool?"
"Absolutely."
Tank led the way, but he checked on her every few minutes to make sure she was keeping up and doing well. Thirty minutes later, the roar of water reached her. He led her down a path with towering pines on one side and a large granite slab on the other. When they worked their way through some bushes, a magnificent two-hundred-foot waterfall appeared.
Her pulse raced. "It's beautiful."
He grinned. "I was hoping you'd like it." He grabbed her hand and picked his way to a section of flat ground. "Let's work here."
He pulled out two foldable seats and placed them on the ground. He'd also brought a blanket.
"I can't believe I've never been here."
"It's one of my favorite spots." He glanced to the ground for a second. Maybe he felt guilty for not sharing this spot with her before. "Let's eat, and then we can work."
Tank was thrilled to see how Tammy's eyes sparkled in response to this special place. He planned to take his seduction slow and easy, and he figured what better than to remove her from her element. She'd never have agreed to be with him if both of her lovers were nearby. When Jake called first thing this morning to tell him they'd had the hottest sex in history, Tank knew what he had to do.
Even now, he was surprised a jealous rage hadn't tormented him. Instead, he was glad he might have his dream come true. To his way of thinking, it was two down, one to go. Once all three of them had captured her affection, they'd find a way for all three to love her at once.
She spread the meal on the blanket then squatted on the ground to sit in the ground-level seat. Neither said anything while they ate. The beauty and serenity of the cove seemed to appeal to her on a cellular level, like it did to him. With his hectic schedule at work, and his trying to find time to study after he worked a few hours on the house, he needed this time of quiet perhaps more than Tammy did.
He took out his book, leaned back, and read the chapter on mortgages. He would much rather study the chocolate-haired beauty sitting next to him, but he needed to think of his future. Though if he had his way, he'd marry Tammy and spend his days working the ranch instead of dealing with bank business.
She spread out her jewelry supplies. He'd never seen how she made the pieces, and he was fascinated. She had bags upon bags of different colored stones and beads, along with small pieces of wood and wire. Then she pulled out something that looked like a soldering gun.
"What's that for? Are you going to lash me to a tree with wire and solder the ends together so I'll be helpless and at your mercy." You wish.
That got a laugh out of her. The sound resonated in his body. He had a new goal. To hear that sound as often as he could.
"Don't you wish?"
Yes. If Tammy ever loved on him the way he wanted to love on her, he'd sacrifice his possessions to the greater good. He thought about telling her how he wanted to claim her for his own, to love and protect her, but then she'd pack up and leave. Earning her trust again would take planning and patience, the latter being in short supply.
Since she had a deadline, he didn't ask her to explain her process. He left her to work in peace. She arranged the beads and stones one way then rearranged them in a different pattern. Her sense of style was remarkable. Soon she began the assembly process. With incredible care, she wrapped the stones in the wire and added beads for another touch of decoration.
When she seemed done, he put down his book. "Why do you want to save your ranch, when your real talent seems to be creating this jewelry? You know, with the right marketing, you could make a ton. Why, you could go national. Have a website."
Chuckling, she held up a hand. "I'm just a local artist."
"Now, but we could take this bigger."
She leaned back in the seat. "I'm not sure I want that. I love the ranch, love training cutting horses." Her eyes closed for a second as if she were reliving some wonderful moment. "When I'm on my stead, the power beneath me gives me this sense of control like none other. I do love to make the jewelry, but I'd never leave the ranch even if I make money with this."
Her passion brought home his desires. "I know what you mean. When dad sold the ranch, a piece of my soul was lost. I think that's why I decided to enlist. Being in Pleasure, and living in an apartment, wasn't my style."
"But you live in one now."
"That's different. I have to be here to take care of dad in his final days."
She stilled. "He's that sick? I thought he just had Alzheimer's."
"Just? If the disease doesn't kill him, he'll do something to cause it. I've noticed of late that he's forgotten my name a few times. I wouldn't be surprised if he crossed the street without looking, forgetting that getting a hit by a car can kill you."
Her hand went to her chest. "That's terrible."
"It's a matter of time. Three days ago, I found him walking down the road with no destination in mind. When I've corralled him into the car, he didn't remember leaving the house."
Tank didn't like talking about the depressing topic, but she deserved to know what was going on in his life.
"You're a good son."
A flicker of hope licked his gut. His one attribute wouldn't be enough. To her, he was still a cheat and someone she couldn't trust. Or had his imagination gone wild? Maybe she understood that people can change, and that he was one of those people.
His sad remarks made him search the sky for answers. Clouds had rolled in, and he hadn't even noticed. Since he didn't feel much like reading anyway and Tammy had completed two remarkable pieces, it might be time to go. "Maybe we should head back. I don't want to get caught in a rainstorm." And have to cuddle with you under a tree while we wait out the storm. I'd want to make love, and you'd turn me down and rip out my heart.
She looked down to the ground after she packed, as if something heavy was weighing on her mind. He stepped over to her and lifted her chin. "What's wrong?"
Her eyes seemed to water, and her gaze latched on to his as if he were a lifeline. The need to kiss her slammed into him. He took the chance she wouldn't rebuff him. Not wanting to scare her with his need, his kiss was gentler than he'd wanted.
He swore he heard a groan escape from the back of her throat. She leaned closer and kissed him back. Encouraged, he pulled her tight to his chest.
Without any cause, she shoved him back. "What were you doing?"
Where the hell had that response come from? "Kissing you?"
"Why?"
Because I love you? "I wanted to, and I thought you did, too."
"Well I don't."
Her tone bordered on rudeness. That really pissed him off. "What? I'm not good enough for you? You fucked both Aiden and Jake, but you can't even give me a kiss?" He hated how his breath came out too fast, and that she'd reduced him to being a gossip.
Her mouth opened. "That's not how it is."
"Then explain it to me."
Chapter Nine
Tammy hadn't wanted to push Tank away, but the carnal lust coursing through her veins stunned her. It was bad enough she believed she might be in love with Aiden and Jake. She didn't need this complication.
Her breaths wouldn't calm down. "I'm already confused. I don't need you in the mix."
"It is because of what I did to you your sophomore year?"
The way he said it made her about-to-be-made claim seem petty. "Maybe."
He moved closer. She didn't have the heart to move away this time. He'd seemed stunned when she'd said no.
"Babe, I've changed."
"I know, but you're the banker. It would be a conflict of interest for you if we had sex." Lame.
A small smile came to his lips. "That's a stretch, and you know it. Secondly, I was thinking more in the line of making love to you, not just having sex."
"A rose by any other name is still a rose." She turned out of his grasp and picked up her backpack.
"Mark my word, Tammy Richards. You will love me."
She whipped around. "You arrogant SOB." A trickle of happiness had slipped in with her anger. Damn. The man had a way of twisting her insides like none other.
He ran the back of his knuckle down her cheek. "You're in heat right now. Once you've been double-teamed, you'll want all three of us."
Her face colored at his comment. "I won't sleep with two men at one time." While she'd entertained the idea briefly, she refused to accept the fact since her morals wouldn't even allow it.
"Have you ever tried a ménage?"
He had to know she wasn't the type to have done something like that. "No."
He had the nerve to grin. "Your future is going to look real bright once you discover the glory of having so many hands all over your tits and pussy."
Heat flooded her face. "You shouldn't talk to me that way."
He tossed her an exaggerated frown. She waited for him to apologize, but instead of receiving one, he packed the gear, saying nothing more and headed on down the trail, never looking back. She couldn't believe he had the nerve to walk away after what he said. Jerk.
A part of her wanted to stay behind so she wouldn't have to be around him. Reason intruded. She didn't know her way back, nor did she have a ride home. She raced after him for that ride. Damn. If he thought she'd ever make love to him, he was highly mistaken.
Frustrated beyond belief, Tammy worked hard to get through the next few weeks. She managed to keep all three men at arm's lengths, but thought of nothing other than them. She forced herself to think about the coming months, and the looming mortgage payments.
As September neared the end, Tammy had been fortunate to have more women randomly stop by the house to look at her collection. Some placed orders, others merely browsed, but before they left, they all commented on the house addition.
One of her well-heeled customers looked over at Jake, who was working on a window installation. "We've had workers remodeling one of my bathrooms for three months now. Why, your man has nearly finished a whole house in less time."
"He's had some help."
"Well, I'd like his business card. We have a good friend who's looking for a top-of-the-line builder."
Tammy suspected this gal liked the way he looked as much as Jake's fine craftsmanship. Tammy told herself she wouldn't get in the way of a potential client despite the jealousy beating its way through her body.
"Let me get you his card. I'll be right back." He kept a stack of his cards on the kitchen table. She brought one back out to the woman. "You won't be disappointed."
Just don't touch his body.
The woman smiled and left. Tammy shouldn't be so possessive, especially since Jake hadn't come into her bedroom since their one encounter, but she couldn't help it. She felt bad not asking him into her bedroom. Part of her hesitation stemmed from her inability to come to grips with her emotions. One minute she and Aiden were watching Dixie, and the next minute they were in bed. That morning had been the only time they'd made love. She was so confused! Should she be focusing more on Aiden or on Jake? Aargh. And then there was Tank. Confusion beat against her.
Her life at the moment had to remain on hold. Mountain View had hired a full-time chef to replace the wife of the two owners, so they asked if she could just be on standby. She'd been upset at first at the loss of income, but then realized she could put the time to good use by making more jewelry. However, if anything else needed attention, she'd go further into debt. Her motto now had to be to take one day at a time. Having men in her life took too much time away from making money, even if she didn't entertain them in her bed.
As for Tank, he continued to come around despite her snit with him by the waterfall two weeks ago. Fortunately, he hadn't asked her out again, which was fine by her. Or so she kept telling herself. Right now, he was up on the roof helping Jake and had been for the last two hours.
Both he and Jake must have decided to take a break, because one minute they were banging on the walls and the next they were gone. Jake's truck was still in the drive, but Tank's wasn't. Hmm. Jake usually let her know when he was going somewhere.
Maybe they'd decided to hang out and have fun for a change. That was fine by her as long as Jake kept his dick in his pants. Tank could do what he wanted.
An unexpected tightening of her chest took her by surprise. Surely, she wasn't jealous if Tank saw someone else. No.
Stop obsessing.
Like that was going to happen when three men kept sliding in and out of her life.
She blew out a long-held breath. All was quiet for a change. Good. She spread out her jewelry-making gear and got to work. About halfway through stringing some beads, Aiden knocked on the door and came in. He waved a bottle of wine. "Since everyone's gone, I thought you might like to take a little break."
Her fingers needed a rest, and she could hardly say no to him. "Sure." He was the only man who didn't give her grief.
He got two glasses from the cabinet and poured the wine. "You want to sit in the living room?"
The living room contained one sofa, which was now Jake's bed. She almost felt as if she was intruding on his space, but since he wasn't here and it was her house, she decided they should visit in the most comfortable place in the house. "Good idea."
He followed her in and sat next to her on the couch. She slipped off her boots and curled her feet under her, a little uncomfortable with this potential date. It didn't seem to matter that they'd been intimate.
He held up his glass. "To saving the ranch."
She liked that. "To the ranch."
He polished off half his glass. "Can I ask you something?"
She wasn't sure she liked the seriousness of his tone. "Sure."
"Have you wondered why in six weeks we've only made love that one time?"
Her stomach lurched. She wasn't ready for this conversation. Since there were a lot of ways to answer his question, she picked the safest one. "You were busy?"
"We all were busy, but no."
When he didn't say anything, he must be waiting for her second guess. "Were you waiting for me to come to you?"
He leaned back. "That would have been nice, but still not the answer. I'm not sure you can guess." He swiped a hand over his mouth. "I'll tell you. I didn't approach you again because I couldn't figure out a way to tell you about my lifestyle."
Her blood pressure rose. "You're bisexual?"
His laughter filled the room. "No. Far from it." He finished the rest of his drink almost as if he needed the fortification. "I like to share, and I'm into some alternative methods of lovemaking."
She'd lived in Pleasure her whole life and knew about alternate lifestyles, but she never pictured Aiden as being someone who would be involved. "You like to tie up your women?"
"I do, but it's always with their pleasure in mind."
He leaned forward, obviously waiting for her to respond. She tried to give him an honest response. "I'm not sure I could share."
"Technically, we'd be sharing you. But you knew what I meant." He took her hands in his and her pulse raced. "Why does the idea of a ménage scare you?"
"I've never tried it."
"That's good. Do this for me. Close your eyes."
Feeling very safe in his presence, she followed his instructions. "Now what?"
"I want you to imagine having four, or maybe six, hands all over your body. Add in three mouths, and can you imagine the heightened level of sensuality?" This was close to what Tank had mentioned.
She squirmed in her seat. The thought of having both of her nipples teased while someone was feasting on her pussy was almost too much to bear. Her mind continued to imagine the scenario when his lips found hers. She opened her eyes. Aiden's lids were half closed and his cheeks slack. When his hand delved between her thighs, she knew she wanted what he was offering.
"Oh, Tammy."
His kisses traveled up to her eyes and down to her ear. His nibbling made her pussy wetter. She reached for his pants and got as far as unbuttoning his jeans, when he pulled away.
"Can you hold that thought?"
She had no idea what he meant, but she didn't want to deny him anything. "Sure."
He rebuttoned his jeans and ran outside. What could he possibly be doing? The picture of being tied down came to mind. Was she ready for the teasing assault? If she wanted to keep him in her life, she had to give his lifestyle a chance.
He returned with velvet-covered handcuffs, each attached to a long chain with a metal cuff on the other end. He also carried a small box. Her imagination ran wild, and goose bumps skittered up her arms. The restraint looked like it wouldn't hurt, but if she went along with his plan, she'd be at his mercy. Could she do that? She'd never let a man control her completely before.
Damn. Her pussy got wet thinking about what he could do if she let him take over.
The box was a mystery, but right now she wasn't ready to have him show her what was inside. He went into the bedroom and came back out a few seconds later without the gear. Pulling her to her feet, he began kissing her again. Only this time, he increased the pressure and used his hand to travel up her shirt to capture her breast.
"I want you naked," she said with a newfound boldness.
His lips sucked on her tits over the shirt. "I decide who gets naked and when. You have to trust me."
"I do."
That must have been the magic word, for he swept her into his arms and carried her into the bedroom where only the side lamp was lit. He placed her on the bed as if she were a flower ready to be taken apart, petal by petal.
"From here on out, I control what we do, unless there is something I do that makes you uncomfortable. Then stop me."
Excitement sizzled in her veins. He knelt over her and unbuttoned her shirt with agonizing slowness. After peeling back the material, he gazed at her lace bra. The air turned heavy as the scent of sex perfumed the air. His thumbs grazed the skin above the cup.
"I could play with these for hours."
So intense was his voice that all she could do was smile. Lifting her up to a sitting position, he took off her shirt and unhooked her bra. She expected him to enjoy the bounty, but instead, he pulled off her pants and her panties and tossed them on the floor.
He grinned, and sparks of need pinched every nerve. With precision that only could come with practice, he snapped the cuffs on her wrists and attached the other end to the bedpost. While he gave her some slack, she couldn't move her arms low enough to touch him or cover herself. The lack of movement actually turned her on if that was possible. Never did she think she'd enjoy being tied up. What was happening to her?
Her mind had wandered, and she hadn't even noticed that he had two more sets of cuffs. He immediately snapped them over her ankles and dragged her legs wide enough for the end to reach the metal post. My God, but she was totally exposed. He repeated the action with the other leg.
"Are you okay?"
I'm afraid I won't be able to follow through with this. "I think so."
He shook his head. "I don't know where to begin. Your pussy is calling to me, but I want that sassy mouth of yours on mine. Then there are those delicious tits. You see why there should be more men so none of us will run out of places to love?"
She looked around. "I only see one man here, so I guess you'll have to do double, or even triple duty."
"Then I'm going to help myself to the smorgasbord of carnal delights."
Fully clothed, he dropped on top of her and nibbled her lips. When he ran his tongue along the seam of her mouth, she opened up wide. He tasted of wine and smelled a bit like hay. Her hands automatically lifted to wrap around him, but then she realized she was tied down. Frustration bit at her. At the same time, a spike of lust blasted her. Maybe she could get used to the idea of being restrained.
"I love how your lips are so full and lush, and you taste so sweet." He ducked his head and delved in, his tongue tangling with hers. "I want more."
He slid down to her breasts and devoured her nipple. He plucked and sucked until the crest became swollen. Every lick and touch sent her higher, and she knew this was only the beginning of a long, torturous lovemaking adventure. Her pussy ached for his touch, but he seemed content to lavish attention only on her breasts. While his mouth feasted on one tit, his hand kneaded the forgotten one. One bite and she nearly flew off the bed.
He sat back. "I have the perfect thing."
Perfect for what?
He leaned over and reached for his box. Her gaze focused on the contents. He pulled out what looked like two pink reading lights shaped like clothespins held together with a turn screw. "What are they?" She couldn't tell why he had them.
"Vibrating nipplette clamps. There's a small battery in each one that sends a current through them, making them vibrate."
The description didn't help much, except the word nipple struck a cord. Uh-oh. "You want to put that on my nipples?"
He grinned. "You will go wild over these. You are so sensitive that these will take you right over the edge. I'll be able to concentrate on other parts of your anatomy while these babies are sending you on a flight of their own."
Was he trying to show her that for total ecstasy she needed multiple men? "You sure about this?"
"Yes. Let me know you how you like them."
She could stop him. In fact, she should stop him, but if this experiment would free him up to give more attention to her pussy, she was game. At least, she believed she was ready. When he put the first clip on her nipple, not only did her breath catch, but the swollen tip sent a current of pain straight to her brain despite the pressure being rather light. She was about to tell him to take the clamp off, when the ache lessened. Interesting. When he added the second one, the same order of sensations occurred. She wasn't sure what this device was supposed to do, but Aiden seemed convinced she'd like it.
"Are you ready?"
Maybe. "Yes."
He twisted a dial on each one and suddenly they vibrated and twisted, creating all kinds of havoc to her body. "Oh, my."
"I can intensify the current if you like."
Intensify? Why was she so clueless about all these sex toys? Maybe because she had no need to use them in the past. Or rather, she never had the courage to try them out before.
He must have taken her lack of response as assent because he moved the dial again. This time, the shocks raced across her tits and dove straight to her pussy. The immediate shock of pain turned into pleasure, which surprised the hell out of her.
As the assault continued, Aiden slipped between her thighs and separated her pussy lips with his thumbs. With renewed passion, he sucked on her clit, sending her libido into another world. The double assault of Aiden on one end and the clips on the other blasted every cell in her body. She arched her back, deciding that she loved the clamps, but she loved Aiden more.
He slid his fingers into her hot pussy and kissed her stomach at the same time.
"Oh, oh, oh."
"You like that, hon, don't you? I love how sensitive you are."
He alternated using his tongue and his thumb to stimulate her clit. She nearly came. He seemed to sense when she was on the brink and stopped. She opened her eyes.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?"
Jake stood in the doorway with the biggest grin she'd ever seen.
Oh shit.
Chapter Ten
Jake's cock got rock hard seeing Tammy spread-eagle and naked on the bed. This picture of her would never leave his brain. If Aiden had been able to get her to submit, maybe he could convince her to let him stretch her out in her ass. While he loved her sweet pussy, coming in the back door would be the ultimate high.
Aiden kept licking her pussy as if his being there was as natural as could be. Worked for him. Now if only he could convince Tammy to let him join in the fun. He walked to the end of the bed and unclipped the leg shackles.
"How about we turn this beauty over."
Aiden sat up. "I think those nipples are done, too." He reached over and unhooked the clips.
Her mouth gaped open as if she'd lost her best friend. His balls squeezed tight. Then her gaze bounced from one to the other, as if she wasn't sure if she wanted both men in the same room. Too bad. He wasn't leaving. Tammy would love what he had in store.
"I can't believe how tender my nipples are. They're still vibrating."
Jake could tell if her hands had been free, she'd be rubbing the swollen crests. Since he needed her on her hands and knees, he undid those cuffs holding her wrists. She lowered her arms slowly as if they'd almost gone to sleep. Aiden needed to pay better attention, especially if they were going to share her for good.
As expected, she rubbed her tits and winced a bit.
"Here, let me help you, darlin'."
Before she could guess the effect, Jake slid next to her and took the tip into his mouth. Her hardened tips were red and almost raw. When he sucked hard, she grabbed his shoulders and gasped.
"That's so intense."
"Easy, now, little one. The ache should turn to pleasure in a moment." Jake went back to sucking one then the other. With each pass, she moaned as if she needed his touch more than life. He couldn't be happier.
Aiden returned to devouring her sweet pussy. Her perfume filled Jake's nostrils, making him harder than the granite he was installing in her new kitchen. He didn't want to stop making love to her magnificent tits, but if he wanted to have a long-term relationship, he had to begin stretching out her virginal ass. He'd enjoy her sweet little body later.
He motioned for Aiden to flip her over. In a second she was on her tummy. Since he wanted Aiden to have access to her perky tits, he lifted Tammy onto her hands and knees.
"You're going to like this, darlin'."
"I want some cock."
She thought he was going to drive into her pussy from behind. Wouldn't she be surprised when he plied her with a large glass cock instead? He dragged a finger over her dark hole, and as expected, she jumped. He tried to calm her with a hand to her lower back. "Shh. It's all good."
"What are you doing?" Her voice was tinged with fear, but he detected a hint of excitement mixed in.
"Something that will allow me and Aiden to both love you."
She twisted her head to the side. "I don't understand."
No surprise there. "You will."
From his pocket, he pulled out a tube of lube and squirted a line of goo onto his finger. With his other hand, he reached under her and scooped up her pussy juices.
"Yes."
He loved how she responded to the merest touch. He slid the slippery fluid across her crack and up to her hole. She clenched her rear.
"That won't do." He lightly tapped her butt.
"Please don't spank me anymore." She didn't sound serious. In fact, her tone came close to a plea. "It makes my pussy drip."
"Darlin', if you wanted me to spank you, you just had to say the word. I can tell you long to feel the heat of my hand on your hard ass." Unable to resist, he spanked her with some force.
"Ouch. Maybe not so hard."
"Now don't tease me no more or I'll have to really punish you."
"It feels hot." She lifted one hand and rubbed her ass. She sniffled, but the action seemed totally fake. He'd have to remember her wish in a bit.
"Good hot or bad hot."
"Let's just say my pussy is feeling the effect."
"I guess that's a good thing. You want me to slap your ass some more?"
She wiggled her butt. "Yes, but I think maybe I will try it harder this time."
He didn't want to hurt her, but when his palm met her ass, she groaned. His cock thickened.
Aiden moved to her side, reached under her body, and massaged her tits while he nibbled on her neck. Delicate moans escaped. She was as ready as she was going to be.
Carefully, he slid the tip of his finger into her pinkened ass.
"Jake?"
"Darlin', just trust me." Working in slow, circular motions, he pushed in farther then waited for her body to adjust to the new addition.
"I'm not sure about this."
Aiden must have had a sixth sense and knew when and how to distract her. He dragged a hand down her head, lifted her hair, and leaned in close. "You smell good."
Jake took that opportunity to press his finger in all the way.
She clenched those white globes again. "It feels funny, Jake, but in a good way."
"You'll learn to love this even more. I promise." Wanting her to enjoy the experience, he added a second finger and twisted them inside her. His cock twitched. She was so tight he yearned to take her now, but that would be a mistake. He had to wait until her body could accommodate his large size.
The glass plug he'd brought sat on top of the dresser. So far she hadn't noticed it. If she had, she might have freaked. He pulled out his fingers, took a step back, and grabbed the plug. When he returned, he figured she'd want to have her pussy played with to help relax her. With his right hand he pinched her clit and drove in three fingers.
"Oh, yeah. Please, I need more."
Her panicked pleas made his balls tighten into rocks. He'd have sunken his cock into her inviting pussy, but Aiden had been here first. When sharing, he obeyed the rules of first come first served.
In order to lube up the fake cock, he had to pull his fingers out of her sopping wet pussy. He knew she'd love having the plug in her ass once she got used to the feeling. He slicked up the glass then pressed the cock to her tight bud. Before she could protest, he did a twist-push maneuver, designed to move past the muscled ring. Her chest expanded but didn't deflate. She might expect pain, but there wouldn't be any. Her tensing resulted from a bit of fear of the unknown. He rubbed her lower back to calm her.
"That's it, Tammy, exhale and try to relax."
When she obeyed, he pushed in the glass plug another inch, gritting his teeth against his own throbbing need. If he wasn't careful, he'd come in his jeans. Now that would be embarrassing.
Aiden helped by talking softly to her. Tank and the vet were best friends and had gone to school together. He knew for a fact they'd shared women before, so it was no surprise Aiden knew what to do. Tammy was lucky to have Aiden as her second lover. He had a gentleness about him that Jake knew would appeal to her sensibilities.
When Tammy's body relaxed for a moment, he drove the small plug in all the way.
"It's so big," she said with a slight whine.
"I know." Apparently she never imagined what it would be like to have his cock fill her to the max.
"Does it feel good?"
She wiggled her butt. "Ooh. It hit something that sent tingles down my body."
Then she'd really like his cock.
With the plug in place, he and Aiden exchanged places. Before Aiden took up the rear position, he extracted a condom from his jeans' pocket, stripped his clothes, and slipped the condom in place.
Jake kept a hand on her back and dragged his knuckles up along her spine. "You are so good." He lifted the hair that had fallen. "And so beautiful." The tension in her shoulders and ass lessened.
Aiden rubbed her rear. "Do you want me to fuck you hard, Tammy?"
"Oh, yes, please."
Her desperation nearly did him in. Jake squeezed shut his eyes and toed off his boots for more comfort. If he didn't have at least her mouth on his engorged cock, he'd go crazy. With a flick, he undid the buckle then unzipped his pants.
Aiden pressed his cock to her opening and drove in. He performed a seesaw motion with his cock, diving in before pulling out. Each time he repeated the motion, Tammy's breath caught. She was riding high.
Jake couldn't wait any longer. "Darlin', I need you."
She gasped. Aiden must have hit a sensitive spot. She arched her back and his cock twitched. Dear God. He didn't know if he could hold out much longer. From the way she was moaning, she'd be coming soon. No doubt, Aiden was on the edge, too. Any male with a breath left in him would be straining to make Tammy his own.
As fast as he could, he stepped out of his pants and presented her with his cock. She turned her head and opened her mouth. His chest vibrated with a growl. Placing his hand on the back of her head, he guided his cock into the cave of salvation. Her wet tongue wrapped around him.
"Jesus, Tammy."
She sucked harder, and his fingers twisted in her hair. He leaned closer to feel more of her. Since she was on her hands, she couldn't grab him. Such a shame. Soon, he'd have her kneel before him so he could drive his cock as far as she could handle it.
She pulled back and took a breath. "Aiden, it's too much. There's no room with two cocks in me."
The way she said it was so cute he had to smile. Aiden grabbed her ass and brought the two cheeks together, which would make the fake glass piece feel bigger. What he wouldn't give to be that cock right now.
When she turned toward Jake again, he pressed the head of his cock to her lips. She licked him up and down. Damn her. She was driving him mad on purpose. Then she had the nerve to nibble on the tip before she encapsulated his cock in her mouth. He should have pulled out of her reach, but he needed the contact. She slid him out then clamped down on one ball. He nearly exploded.
"I'm going crazy." He couldn't figure out a way to pay her back other than to twist and rub her already sore nipples.
"Ah, ah."
She moved to his other ball and clamped down hard. He let go. Her action had breached the pleasure-pain threshold. Thank God, she let go in time for him to let out a yell. Needing release, Jake took hold of his cock and threaded it once again into her mouth. She closed her lips around him to form a seal, causing a lot of friction when he pulled out and went in again. He pumped in and out of her time and again, dreaming of being in her small-channeled virgin ass.
"Tammy, Tammy, Tammy. Heaven help me." Jake knew he was a goner. It took only seconds for him to shoot his seed into her warm, womblike mouth.
No matter what happened, he'd never forget the sensational experience of being with her while Aiden fucked her pussy.
She swallowed all of his cum, and just when he reveled in the release, she licked him clean. He jerked with each touch of her sexy tongue.
Aiden pounded her pussy harder and harder. She closed her eyes and opened her mouth as if to draw in more air. "I'm coming. Oh, my God, I'm coming."
Aiden growled and plastered himself against her ass. From the way Tammy jerked, Aiden had shot his wad, too. He took at least a minute before he withdrew from her pussy. On unsteady legs, he staggered into the bathroom, and returned with a towel.
"Let's get you cleaned up."
Good thing Aiden had the energy to swipe her clean. All he wanted to do was lie down and hold her, but with her bed only being a double, there wouldn't be much room for all three. Tomorrow, he'd have to see about getting a bigger one.
Jake held Tammy throughout most of the night. She dozed here and there, but with Aiden's large back to her, she had no room to move. In the middle of the night, she had to pee. Both men woke as she wiggled her way off the bed.
"Darlin', you okay?"
Didn't men have to go in the middle of the night? "I'll be right back."
They must have understood, for Aiden's snores reached her before she'd left the room. The damn plug was wreaking all sorts of erotic havoc in her rear, so she twisted and turned to get it out. After cleaning it, she set the huge glass plug on the sink and crawled back to bed. She snuggled back against Jake's hard-on. Men. They always seemed ready to go.
No sooner had she fallen asleep than Jake shook her awake. "Get up, sleepyhead."
"Huh?" Her brain fog cleared a bit. "What time is it?"
"Eight thirty."
She sat up and looked back to the bathroom. She never slept this late. "When did Aiden leave?" He wasn't in the shower. The water wasn't running.
"I was curled up with you and enjoying myself too much to notice, but I'd say maybe two hours ago."
What was happening to her? She knew. She'd crossed the line by sleeping with two men at once. A small smile lifted her lips. Aiden had been right. Having two men see to all her needs had been pretty spectacular. So many questions filled her brain about how to handle both of them, but right now she needed coffee to make her mind think clearly. To eke out the last bit of relaxation, she rolled over and planted her face in the pillow. Aiden would see to Dixie and the foal, so she didn't need to hurry. How wonderful was it to have others share in the responsibilities of running the ranch? However, she needed to make it clear to both men that, even though she was sleeping with them, she made the decisions on her ranch.
Jake patted her butt. "You took it out?" His tone had a surprisingly rough edge to it.
She faced him. "Yes. It's not really comfortable."
"Darlin'. You don't understand. I know what you need. We need to put that back in. Where is it?"
"In the bathroom." Did he think she'd be able to muck the stalls and bring feed to the cattle with that thing stuck in her ass all day?
He came out waving the glass plug. "You'll be happy you had this when I take you."
Sitting on the bed, he pulled her over. She thought he was going to kiss her or hug her. Instead, he dragged her facedown onto his lap. The first spank caught her by surprise.
She planted her hands over her ass. "What was that for?"
"For disobeying me."
Disobeying him? "Are you kidding?"
Another spank landed. "Does it feel like I'm kidding?"
He pressed her hands against the small of her back and held them tight so he had access to her rear. He smacked her again.
"That hurt."
"It's supposed to hurt."
By the time the fifth spank descended, a strange sensation occurred. Her ass must be bright red, but the heat generated actually turned from pain to almost pleasure. She'd never understand how that happened.
"This is only the beginning." The next spank came down harder.
"Ouch." It did hurt, but her pussy sure seemed to like the intensity. In fact, she felt a dribble down her leg.
Footsteps sounded and the bedroom door slammed open. "What's going on?"
"I'm taming Tammy." Damn him. She could hear the smile in his voice.
Her ass was facing the door, but she knew who it was. "Tank, get out of here."
He had the gall to chuckle. "I see our little lady didn't obey."
"That she didn't. Hand me the tube of lube on the dresser. And look in that box and find the biggest one you can. I need to teach her a lesson."
Dear God. He had another plug? Something bigger? No way Jake would do this with Tank watching. "Let me up."
Her needy pussy sat wide open, exposed to Tank's view.
"Not on your life, darlin'."
Tank came closer. "I can hold her down if you want to get dressed."
Tank trailed the back of his hand over her ass. His fingers were cool, and they moved gently over her body. She had wondered what he'd be like now as a lover after ten more years of practice, but could she expose her heart to him again? He'd broken it once.
You won't know if you don't try.
Jake stood up with her in his arms. With one arm cutting across her pussy and the other between her breasts, he placed her facedown on the bed and strode away. Tank dragged her by her hips to the edge until her feet were on the ground.
"Are you sure I can handle a bigger plug?" She wasn't sure when she'd decided, but she wanted to make love to both men.
"I'll be gentle. It'll fit."
Really?
"I want you, Tammy." His voice softened. "I was a real jerk all those years ago. Trust me when I say I've regretted what I did to you more than you know. Will you give me a second chance?" His plea tore her stomach to a shred.
"Why should I?" She wanted to know how much he cared.
"Because I love you?"
"For real?" Her pussy was facing him. He'd say anything.
"Can I show you?" The ache in his voice made her believe him.
"You can try."
He knelt behind her and kissed each of her ass cheeks.
His gentle touch relaxed her. One hand rubbed her thigh before cupping her pussy. His hand tightened, and she knew she wanted him. It didn't matter she also wanted two other men. Jake and Aiden had deeply lodged themselves in her soul and heart, but she had room for one more.
His finger stroked her slit. Then he touched her swollen bud. From all the loving last night, everything was extra sensitive. His tender touches shot her libido to new heights.
"I see you like that, babe."
"Yes." She couldn't deny him any longer.
He pressed two fingers into her opening. Curling his fingers, he touched another sensitive spot. She lifted her hips off the bed. "That's so good."
"Easy, now. We have something else to do before I pack your pussy with my big cock."
She giggled. She loved when he talked dirty. Using his finger and thumb, he spread her rear. Automatically, she clenched.
"Relax, now. This will feel so much better than the first one."
"How?"
He didn't answer. Instead he pressed the too-large plug to her tight-muscled hole. There was no way something that big was going to fit in her. Yet somehow, after he rubbed her rear, the plug magically slid in an inch.
"You're doing great."
His fingers located her pussy again, and like playing the piano, he plucked, teased, and stroked her to the point where her head was swimming in desire. She opened her thighs wider. "I want you."
"Not yet."
He worked in the plug to a point where her ass was stretched too much. "That's all I can take."
"Babe, you've seen Jake's cock, and you're about to feel mine. Surely you can tell this little thing ain't nothing like the real deal."
He was right, but could this plug help stretch her enough to accommodate them? "Okay." In truth, her fear caused most of her concern, not the size of the dang thing.
Tank removed the plug partway before pushing it in again. This time it went in farther, stimulating some pleasure spot. Ooh. As he worked her pussy with her magic fingers, her mind drifted to a nicer place, and the plug seemed to go in on its own. She shifted her position, and erotic sparks sizzled inside her. Who knew a plug could be so stimulating?
Tank flipped her over and pulled her up on the bed. "I can't tell you how long I've waited for this moment." His brown eyes turned dark and molten as he climbed on top.
His lips captured hers. She expected the disappointment from years ago to slam into her. Instead, lust grabbed her. His shoes clunked on the floor. With one hand he pulled out a condom and tossed the package on the bed before slipping his jeans over his hips. Somehow he managed to discard his pants in a flash.
"Since when did you stop wearing underwear?" He had changed in ten years.
"Didn't have time."
His passion spurred her on. He kissed her hard, demanding entrance to her mouth. Her love came flooding back. This was the man she needed, the one who'd helped teach her how to love all those years ago.
She didn't want to wait for anything. "Please, Tank."
Her plea must have gotten to him, for he nudged her legs wide. With dexterity that defied belief, he slipped on the condom with one hand. Hovering over her, he placed the tip of his cock at her entrance. He held still for what seem forever. Damn him for teasing her. Did she have to beg again?
As his lips traced a line to her ear, his warm breath caressed her cheek. She had to touch his skin. Threading her hands under his shirt, she thrilled to the movement of his muscled back. Slowly, she moved her hands downward, loving how his body tensed under her fingertips. When she found his ass, she pressed him toward her, and he plunged in.
"My God. That's heaven." The pain from him driving down her swollen channel morphed into intense pleasure.
"You're so fucking tight."
When he pulled out and plunged in again, the plug in her ass must have hit a sweet spot. Not only was her pussy riding high, but her ass was sending a torrent of pleasure signals to the brain. "Oh, yeah."
His speed increased to a frenzied state. All of a sudden he pulled out. She'd been about to complain when he flipped her over again.
"Get on your hands and knees."
She didn't care how he positioned her. She had to have him. His hands found her tits, and he rubbed her sore nipples. When his cock took her again, the triple sensations overwhelmed her. The combination of him pressing hard on her nipples, the glass plug in her ass, and his huge cock in her pussy drove her higher and higher. Blood pounded in her head as the tsunami wave of ecstasy slammed into her. Her climax rocked her world. With two more thrusts, Tank grabbed her rear and shot his hot liquid into her. Her breaths came out in pants. Tank didn't move.
Devoid of almost all thought, she collapsed on the bed. Tank managed to keep his rigid cock inside her.
"Happy birthday, babe."
Oh, my God. "I totally forgot."
"Well, I didn't."
Chapter Eleven
Tank patted her butt. "Let's shower. I have a surprise for you."
She hadn't remembered Jake had disappeared into the shower until the water stopped. A minute later, he strode out with a smile on his lips. He winked in their direction, but she wasn't sure if it was aimed at his cousin or her. She wouldn't be surprised if this triple seduction hadn't been planned from the start. If these three men thought they could manipulate her like that, they had something else coming.
Or not.
She needed time to think about what happened. When she entered her small bathroom, she hadn't expected Tank to join her.
"You need to leave."
"Come on. After what we just experienced together, you can't toss me out."
He had a point. "It'll be tight."
"My kind of shower."
"Fine." He followed her in and they were practically chest to chest in the small enclosure. She might have complained, but seeing him fully naked thrilled her.
She tapped his chest. "You can stay, but no sex in the shower." There were many reasons for the request. Not only was there no room to move, but her pussy was plain worn out. She picked up the shampoo bottle.
"Can I wash it at least? You remember how much I love to touch your silken hair."
Did guys want to do that? "Really?"
"Babe, anytime I get a chance to get my mitts on part of your body, my hormones jump for joy. We've spent ten years apart, and I want to make up for lost time."
Tank had changed. In high school, between wrestling and football, he was the school jock that every girl wanted. He was wild. Spontaneous. She'd spent hours trying to figure out how he and Aiden became best friends. Her only conclusion was that after Tank's mom died, Aiden had been there to help pick up the pieces, and the bond formed never broke.
She turned around, tilted her head back, and dunked her head under the shower. Instead of him waiting until she was ready for the shampoo, he poured liquid soap on her tits. She opened her eyes and jerked back. "That tickles."
"Get used to it."
She faced the shower. "Wash me, master."
He laughed. Clearly, he had no idea how much shampoo was needed to clean her hair, for it took five doses before he got any sudsing action. "This is hard work," he complained.
"Tell me about it."
When Tank rubbed her scalp, doing her hair turned to fun. He made sure every strand was thoroughly cleaned. "Turn back around, bend over, and I'll rinse you."
"How about taking out this plug, too. I can't walk around with it in."
"If you insist."
Leave it to Tank to give a few twists, shoves, and general messing with her before the plug released and came out with a pop. He rinsed it and set it next to the shampoo. Did he want her to keep it there as a reminder of her debauching ways? Maybe.
She took over and washed the soap out of her hair. Tank tried to help, but all he did was get in the way. "I'll do the conditioner." She dropped a handful on and rubbed it in. "Now I wait a few minutes and rinse."
"I can use this time to clean you."
"Go for it." He wasn't the only one who got to rub his hands down a slippery body. She soaped up, too, and grabbed his cock.
"Hey."
He acted like she wasn't allowed to return the favor.
She laughed and ran her hands up and down his length. He hardened right under her fingertips. She decided not to tempt fate and let go.
His fingers darted out and rubbed her pussy. The leftover soap on his palm stung her sensitive area. She must have winced, for he didn't linger. Instead, he moved to the cleft between her cheeks and washed her inside and out. This time his finger created excitement instead of fear.
She dropped her head back and rinsed out the conditioner.
The bathroom door opened, and both Jake and Aiden popped their heads in. Twenty-four hours ago she would have covered herself. Now she stuck out her tongue.
"You're wasting daylight, darlin'. Tank, get her out of there."
Tank lifted the handheld showerhead off the hook and sprayed both of them down. "Let's go."
She wasn't sure why everyone was in such a hurry, but she agreed she didn't need to be spending the whole day lounging around, even if it was her birthday.
From her closet, she put on jeans and an extra-nice top that showed off her tits. Tank dressed quicker and was out the door before she'd gotten on her boots. What was up with that?
The smell of pancakes reached her. They must be making her a birthday breakfast. How sweet. Thrilled they cared so much, she put on a splash of makeup and headed out to the kitchen. All three were seated and smiling. On the table sat a stack of pancakes, along with a plate of crisp bacon. They'd made her tea for her, while they had coffee.
"Sit down, babe. We're going to serve you."
"You better not be thinking of feeding me or you'll find these gooey pancakes stuffed down your pants."
They all laughed. "Like we'd ever let you get that near, darlin'."
That was one disadvantage of being a female. Men inherently had the power because of their superior strength. Some things just weren't fair.
During breakfast, they talked about her jewelry and her potential clients. Aiden told her how his business had picked up since his customers could come straight here and not have to board the animal near town.
Jake gave her the lowdown on when he might be finished with the house. "With Tank, and sometimes Aiden, helping me, we've really shaved off a lot of time. I'm aiming to finish next month."
"That's awesome." They hadn't let her do a walk through. Jake said he wanted to surprise her. She wondered what part of her being the owner he didn't understand.
Regardless, she was thrilled. If the house was nearing completion, she needed to stop by Thomas's Hardware to figure out a payment plan. Whatever money wasn't spent on food, she'd split between paying for the lumber and her mortgage. While she was in town, she might stop off at Jasper's home. He needed to understand that he had to find a way to start paying her now.
Aiden reached over and took her hand. "Since it's your birthday, we all chipped in and got you something."
Her heart sang. "No way. You didn't have to do that."
"We know, but we wanted to make you happy."
I already am happy. "What did you get me?" Another giggle slipped out.
All three stood. "Come on. We'll show you."
"Where are we going?"
"It's a surprise."
They led her out of the house. Jake pulled a clean bandana from his back pocket. "We want this to be a complete surprise." He placed the blindfold over her eyes.
This was a little over the top, but she didn't want to ruin it for them by protesting. They twirled her around and around until she lost all sense of direction. With someone's hands on her shoulders, they guided her forward. She didn't have to see to know she was in the barn. The aroma of hay and animal couldn't be missed.
Someone halted her and another removed her blindfold. In front of her stood a beautiful quarter horse. He must be one of Aiden's animals. "I don't understand."
"He's for you. He's a four-year-old gelding. He's a cutting horse."
Her heart nearly burst. She shrieked. "You really bought this for me?"
"Yes," they said in unison.
Realization dawned. "I can't accept this. He's too expensive."
Aiden turned her to face him. "Why can't you graciously accept the fact that people do nice things for others. You don't always have to pay them back."
"Because---" She couldn't think of a good reason. Her parents always taught her to pay her own way and not to let others control her life.
"He's all saddled," Jake said. "Why don't you take a ride and see what you think?"
Her body tingled in anticipation. "What's his name?"
"The owner called him Playboy with a Twist."
That was a strange name. "I think I'll call him Twister." Excited beyond words, she led the horse out of the barn. Being a gelding, he'd be less high strung. She appreciated that whoever did the purchasing thought that far ahead. Talking softly to Twister, she calmed both the horse and herself before climbing aboard. It seemed like forever since she'd ridden. Her dream was to train cutting horses, but that would take a miracle to get her ranch into full swing again.
The men watched from the barn as she took off toward the field. She maneuvered the horse right then left, trying to judge the level of the horse's dexterity. This one was a keeper. He'd been well trained. Having control over such a powerful animal put immense energy back into her spirit. Not wanting to keep the men waiting, she only put Twister through a few trials before returning.
She got off and Aiden took the reins. "I'll rub him down for you."
She kissed each one of her men thoroughly. "This is the best birthday I've ever had."
Jake said he needed to get back to work. Even though it was Sunday, Tank claimed his licensing test was coming up at the end of the week and he really needed a place with no distractions so he could study. She assumed that meant anywhere where she wasn't.
Aiden finished with Twister and came out. "You should treat yourself in town. Do something just for you."
Wouldn't that be nice? "I would like to spend some time at the gem store for more supplies."
"I was thinking more in the way of a manicure, or whatever women do, but shopping works for me."
Totally content for the first time in a long time, she climbed in her van and headed into town. Her first stop was the hardware store to see about paying something to Brody now. He shouldn't be saddled with any interest charges because of her. She went straight to his office hoping to find him.
Instead of Brody, someone else in a Thomas Hardware shirt sat at the computer. Darn. She knocked anyway. "Hello?"
The man smiled and waved her in. "What can I do for you?"
"I'm looking for Brody."
"He's out until late afternoon. May I help you?"
She really didn't want to deal with him, but as long as she was here, she might as well give him her first installment. "I'm here about my loan."
His fingers flew to the keys. "Name?"
She told him. After he pushed the enter key a few times, he faced her. "You don't owe anything."
Her pulse skipped a beat. "That's not possible. I bought enough lumber to build my house, and I need to start a payment plan."
"I notice handwritten notes have been scanned in. One says a Tank Harrison gave his personal guarantee that the loan would be paid back, and the---"
Pricks of anger crawled up her spine. "When was that?"
He told her the date. It was two days before she and Jake even asked for the loan. "And the other note?" Her throat turned bone dry.
"Three days ago, your account was paid in full."
While she should have been thrilled, the massive injustice slammed into her. She wanted to be the one to pay it off. "Who paid it?"
He tapped a few more keys. "Jake Harrison."
Shit.
She swallowed to wet her mouth. "Thank you." How could he afford to do that, let alone help pay for a horse?
Keeping her back as straight as she could, and her gaze straight ahead, she walked out, willing herself not to cry. Seeking vengeance, however, was not beneath her.
When she left the parking lot, she was too upset to buy her gems or visit Jasper. She didn't want to subject him to her misery. Instead, she drove home, breaking the speed limit and not caring. Only Jake's truck was in the drive, and he was on the roof.
Instead of waving and chatting a bit with him, she dashed inside and poured herself an iced tea, not ready to confront him. She couldn't believe these men would lie to her and take away her chance to redeem herself. Her parents had given their lives for the ranch. She owed them to keep this place going. She'd specifically told each of them about her need to pay back Brody herself. Despite that, they settled her debt. Or at least Jake had. Was he getting his repayment by enjoying her body? Was she just a convenient fuck to him?
Tears streamed down her face. She wiped them away, embarrassed she'd let them convince her how much they'd cared.
Jake and Tank were clearly in cahoots, but what about Aiden? Brody's assistant never mentioned anything about him. Aiden had been straight with her, or so she believed. She thought about calling him and asking if they could meet, but then he'd want to know what was wrong. Right now, she needed a hug rather than give an explanation.
Jake's gesture might have seemed nice from his perspective, but to keep what he did from her meant he didn't respect her enough, or understand her enough to know she needed to be independent. By paying, he'd shredded her self-worth to bits.
Instead of letting him know she'd come home, she left quickly and headed to Aiden's office.
Chapter Twelve
Tears burned the back of her lids the whole way there. Tammy had been betrayed. That's all there was to it. How could Jake and Tank not tell her what they were planning to do? Hadn't they seen her work hours on end to make jewelry so she could pay back her loan? Did they have such little faith in her that they believed she was incapable of doing this herself? She'd told them time and again that the money from selling her cattle would more than pay for the lumber. But did they listen? No.
When she arrived at Aiden's office, she wiped dry her eyes. Christ. She pulled down the visor mirror and gasped. Red rimmed her eyes, and there were puffy bags underneath her lids. It didn't matter. Aiden would understand once she told him what Jake and Tank had done.
Trying to act as upbeat as possible, she spoke with the receptionist.
"Dr. Stanton is in the barn out back."
The poor man had to tend to all of his animals and then deal with the overflow at her place. She wondered how he'd had any time to help Jake or spend time with her. She walked out the side entrance and headed to the barn. As she stepped inside, she expected to see all twenty stalls filled with animals. Her heart lurched. Only two stalls were full. Yesterday, he'd brought over another animal to her place.
"Aiden?"
"Just a sec."
She couldn't see him. His head popped up from a stall a second later. "Hey! What are you doing here? Is Twister hurt?"
"No."
He rushed over to her and tilted her chin up. "You've been crying. Let me wash up. I want to hear all about it." At the sink, he washed and sanitized his hands. Once he towel dried, he came back over. "So tell me." When he smoothed the errant strands behind her ear, her frustration lessened.
The problem was she wasn't sure what or how to tell him. She prayed he wasn't involved. When he cupped her face and kissed her forehead she caved. "Jake paid Brody what I owed him for the lumber after Tank gave his guarantee that the loan would be repaid." There, she'd said it.
He leaned back and studied her. "That would be bad, why?" His expression remained blank.
"They did something behind my back. That means they don't trust me or know me very well."
"I don't see why that's---"
"What? A big deal?" She swept a hand across his barn. "It is to me. Don't you see? It's my house, my ranch, my responsibility. Shouldn't they have let me know they wanted to do this?"
"And if they'd asked, what would you have said?"
"No, of course. Strangers shouldn't do something like that."
He pressed his lips together. "Oh, sweetheart. They aren't strangers. And secondly, did it ever occur to you they wanted to?"
This wasn't going as planned. He must have been in on the deception if he was so calm about it. She waved a hand to the mostly empty stalls. "Then explain to me why there aren't any animals in here. You said you needed extra room. Was that a lie, too? Did you consider me a pity case? Is that why you told me your barn was overflowing?"
"No. That was the truth at the time."
He would twist everything to make him the good guy. Given time, he'd find a way to make her believe it was all a big misunderstanding. Not waiting for him to explain further, she spun around and ran out of the barn.
"Tammy, wait!"
She didn't want to hear his excuses. She managed to reach her van and hightail it out of there before he could get to his truck. She drove around, taking random rights and lefts as if she was some criminal trying to lose a police tail. The problem was she had no place to go. Home wasn't an option just yet. She couldn't face the Jake. The Mountain View Bar & Grill came into view. She was comfortable there. Everyone was nice and supportive.
Making sure Aiden hadn't somehow figured where she went, she looked up and down the street before ducking inside. She picked a table in the far corner and ordered a hot tea and a chocolate chip cookie. She didn't usually do sweets, but her body craved an indulgence. Taking her time with each sweet mouthful, she went over the facts. No clarity came. Damn.
Now what should she do? Here, her birthday had started out so brightly, and now the light had dimmed.
Aiden probably had already let Jake and Tank know she was onto their little scheme. All three men would no doubt be waiting for her when she got home, but she wasn't ready to talk to them. Her reasoning had some holes in it, and she needed to think about what happened. If she wasn't prepared with her arguments, they'd convince her to see their side. At the moment, she wasn't ready to forgive.
She was sipping on her tea when Earl came in. What was he doing here?
He squinted in the dark light. She waved, and he shuffled over. "Ms. Tammy, fancy seeing you here."
She rarely left her ranch except when she worked here or when she gave her jewelry presentations to the local women, so she understood his surprise. She could use a friendly face. "Care to join me?"
"I'm meeting my daughter, but I'll sit a bit until she shows."
"That works for me."
The waiter came by and Earl ordered a glass of ale. He studied her for a moment. "What's wrong?"
She had to get this off her chest. She told him what the three men had done.
"Well, that's mighty nice of them."
Men. They stuck together. "You don't understand. These men lied to me. They didn't use words, they used actions. You of all people know how I've wanted to save this ranch by myself. I would have, too."
"Sure you would have, but I've been watching them these past few months."
"They had no right to take away my sense of accomplishment." His comment sunk in. "What do you know about this?"
"They care for you."
He would see it their way. "Possibly, but they didn't give me the courtesy of asking me if I wanted their help."
He took a long drink of his beer. "You know, they might have done it for themselves."
Likely story. "Meaning?"
"Take Jake. If he hadn't paid off your debt, Brody might not have given him any more credit. No credit meant no more wood. Your house wouldn't have gotten done."
She could fill in the blanks. "All the people who've seen his work would think he wasn't able to complete a job."
"Exactly."
"I don't know. I don't think Jake needs any more wood." He still should have asked if she wanted to be saved. "What about Aiden? Why did he keep bringing animals to my barn even when his barn was no longer full? Surely, he'd gotten his money back from the birthing fee."
Earl scratched his stubbled chin. "He did tell me his barn was overflowing at first. When people learned about your place, he said they preferred coming to our ranch. Aiden was probably thinking your place was good for business. Plus, he got to be near you. Ever think of that?"
"No."
"Besides, it didn't hurt you none, now did it?"
"No again." In truth, his actions didn't prevent her from saving the ranch. "And Tank? See if you can find a reason why he said he'd pay if I couldn't."
"That's easy. He's sweet on you. Always has been."
That's why he dumped her for that floozy cheerleader. Tammy finished her tea and asked for another one. "I feel like the men and I aren't on the same page. Clearly, they know nothing about me as a person." They only knew every intimate detail about her body.
"Listen to me. I've known you since you were born. If they'd tried to confer with you, you being the most stubborn lady I know would have told them no. They not only did it for themselves, but also for you. Sometimes a man's got to do what he needs to in order to get the job done. It's called cooperation. One person adds a little bit here and the other person adds the there. Together they got the all. From my point of view, that's a good thing for everyone involved."
She had to chuckle at how Earl saw things, confusing as they were.
His daughter came up to the table. "Hey, Dad." She looked over at her and smiled. "Hey, Tammy. I'm not interrupting anything am I?"
"No. Your dad was telling me his philosophy on life."
His daughter rolled her eyes and tapped him on the shoulder. "I thought you promised me dinner."
"I did at that."
Tammy didn't want to interfere with their bonding time. She pulled out her cell phone and noted the time. "I need to get to the gem store before it closes." She said her good-byes and left, unsure if she was any closer to a resolution than before.
For the next hour, she wandered the streets, not wanting to go home. She did pick up a few stones from the store, but she mostly tried to get her head around the men's motives. They surely believed what they were doing was right for her, but she didn't appreciate them taking away all her control. It was one thing to do so in the bedroom, but another to do it with her life.
When the stores finally closed, she sucked up her courage and drove toward home. To her surprise, when she arrived none of the men's vehicles were in the drive. Aiden was probably still in town, and since Tank didn't live here, it made sense he'd not be here. But what about Jake? Usually, he worked all night on the house. That was one thing she loved about him. Jake was as driven as she was.
She should have been ecstatic she had the house to herself and that she would be left alone, but the house was lifeless without one of them. Unless Aiden spilled the beans, neither Jake nor Tank should have any idea what she'd found out, so they wouldn't know how pissed she was. Damn. It deflated her anger a bit that she couldn't vent.
It didn't matter. She wanted to make the decisions herself and now she had the chance. After she put away her jewelry case, she sauntered into the kitchen to fix dinner. Even the small decision of what to eat overwhelmed her. When planning the meals, she took the men's likes and dislikes into consideration. Now she only had herself to satisfy. Making the easiest meal, she chose scrambled eggs along with some heated leftover veggies.
Sitting at the kitchen table, she listened to the comforting sounds of the farm, but everything was too quiet. No banging, no laughing, no nothing. Just the way she liked it.
Liar.
Throughout dinner, she focused on being happy. She failed. True, she had Twister, but should she keep him? Was it even right to receive a gift so valuable without giving back in return?
She sighed. Having Jake come and go, along with Tank and Aiden, made her life more full, but she'd been alone before. Tonight, when Jake came back from wherever he was, they'd talk. Keeping her frustrations bottled up never served anyone well.
Wanting to be around something alive, she headed to the barn. As soon as she walked in, she noticed something different. Half the animals were gone. Oh, God. Had Aiden taken her comment to heart and returned the sick animals to his barn? She wasn't aware he had a trailer big enough to transport that many animals in one run.
Dixie appeared content, but Twister looked antsy.
"You want to go for a ride?" It was getting dark, but she bet he'd appreciate a romp in the field. Riding always cleared her head.
After saddling him up, she led him outside. The air was cool and fresh. Once mounted, her attitude improved. She put Twister through the maneuvers, making him go around in circles and back up on command. Someone had done a nice job training him. He was good about keeping his head down and his ears forward. Once he was warmed up, she increased the speed. The gelding's responsiveness was a thing of beauty. After a half hour, she walked him back to the barn. The entire time, she'd forgotten about her problems.
"Good job." She patted him on his flank.
After making sure he was brushed down and watered, she went back inside.
She stopped in the bathroom to wash up and saw the note pinned to the mirror.
Darlin'. Don't worry about me. I'm staying over at Tank's.
She appreciated he let her know, but that didn't mean she'd forgive him. Not in the mood to spend the evening watching television, she continued to work on her jewelry. Ever since Aiden had taken over the care of the animals, there hadn't been more than a few hours a day of work to do on the ranch. For her, the jewelry collection had been her salvation. Not only did it give her an income, small as it was, it got her in touch with her creative side.
By midnight, her eyes were so strained she had to close the lid on the case and head to bed. When she'd shared her bed those few nights with one or two of her men, there was little room. Now she felt like she was in a sea of blankets, floating alone. Unfortunately, her mind refused to turn off and sleep eluded her. Or so she thought.
When she cracked open her eyes, it was nearly 8:00 a.m. How was it possible that she'd slept in? Jake should be hammering or doing something that wreaked havoc on her rest, but all was quiet.
She crawled out of bed and trudged to the bathroom hoping a shower would get her out of her funk. The warm water cascading over her body helped, but not enough. Once dried, she threw on her clothes and went in search of breakfast.
Other than Earl's beat-up VW, neither Aiden nor Jake had arrived. That worked for her. After she ate, she gathered her gear and went to town. Working at Mountain View allowed her to be away from Jake and keep her focus on making money. Jake was the worst offender of the three, though Tank came a close second. Jake would arrive soon, and when he did, she didn't want to face him.
She'd worked for a few hours before the former sous chef came in with her newborn. Chelsea, the wife of both owners, smiled and came over to her.
"How are you doing?" she asked.
"Good." That was a lie, but most people really didn't want to hear her troubles. "Your baby is adorable. What's his name?"
"Mitchell, but we call him Mitch."
The familiar pang drove through her. What she wouldn't give for a child or two of her own, but now that would never happen.
Chelsea pulled up a chair. "I've heard you're doing well with your designs."
"I'm not earning a living with it, but it's okay."
"You know, Jonas Nester could really use this in his store."
His store carried only high-end merchandise. "You think he'd be interested?" That would be too good to be true.
"Why not? Your work is wonderful."
"Thanks. I might ask him."
The baby began to fuss and Chelsea stood. "I need to feed him." She smiled. "Good luck!" She took a step then turned back. "You wouldn't reconsider coming back to work one day a week, would you? Our customers would love it."
She chuckled. "I thought you'd hired a full-time cook."
"We did, but now she only wants to work four days a week, instead of five."
"Let me get back to you." Right now, she had too much on her mind.
After Chelsea left, Tammy ordered lunch. Earl's words came back to her about people helping themselves while benefitting others. If Mr. Nester showed her goods, they both might make more money. Not wanting to take up the extra table after she finished eating, she packed up and decided to seek out her potential employer.
When she walked into the store, the smell of leather blended with a hint of sandalwood. The rich wooden floors and chrome display cases made for a classy place. To her surprise, no one was shopping. A young man approached her.
"May I help you?"
"I'm looking for Mr. Nester."
"He's in the back. I'll get him."
While the clerk went in search of the owner, she sidled over to the women's department and noticed he didn't have much in the way of women's accessories.
"Tammy, that you?"
She hadn't seen Mr. Nester since the fire. "Hi."
He checked her over, almost as if he expected to see scars on her body. "What can I help you with?"
"I wanted to talk about a business deal."
Chapter Thirteen
Tammy couldn't believe Mr. Nester thought her idea of displaying her jewelry in his store was a good idea. After they talked a bit, he suggested she make jeweled belt buckles for the women.
So here she was, once again sipping her tea and scarfing down more chocolate chip cookies at Mountain View, hot gluing gems onto the metal backs. Mr. Nester said he had a man who would supply the leather.
She said she'd make him five to test the waters. Fortunately, the designs weren't as intricate as her necklaces and earrings, and she was able to finish all five by 4:00 p.m.
The store didn't close until 6:00 p.m., so she headed over to see if he liked what she'd created. When she went inside the store, there were five woman huddled around the case. To her delight, Mr. Nester already had a few of her necklaces on display.
Mr. Nester rushed up to her with a big grin. "Thank you."
"For what?"
"Several women have already come in to see your collection. While they were here, they bought quite a lot of clothing. This is truly a wonderful partnership."
She couldn't believe her good luck. "I've brought more buckles."
"Let me see." She opened the case on the counter. He picked one up to examine it. "This is marvelous. I'm sure we can get at least $250 for each one."
Her cost hadn't been more than twenty-five dollars. "That's wonderful."
"See what happens when we work together? You benefit, and I benefit."
He sounded like Earl. "I'll bring in more as soon as I make them."
He drew up a receipt and she left. Her mind swirled with what he'd said. She was better off working with him. Maybe trying to do everything on her own wasn't always the best path. That didn't mean she was ready to completely forgive Jake or Tank for what they did. As for Aiden, he might have seen a chance to promote his business and taken it, but discussing the option with her would have been a better solution.
When she got home, she saw that Jake had completed the outside of the house, but his car wasn't here. There were paint cans in front of the new part of the house where none had been there before, so he had been here. He must have gone to Tank's or maybe he'd driven to Bozeman to look for the appliances.
She really wanted to check on his progress, but he kept the door locked. He'd told her he wanted to surprise her when he was done with the inside.
That was something else that bothered her. Didn't he think the customer should have a say-so in the types of countertops or what to put on the floor? It shouldn't matter that he'd paid for the wood. It was her house, not his. Why couldn't men communicate? A few words would have sufficed.
Out of sorts on many accounts, she wanted to take Twister out for a jog to clear her head. The poor animal was meant to be ridden and worked out. After saddling him, she walked him out of the barn. He huffed and stomped until she got him under control.
"None of that behavior, mister. I've had a somewhat shitty day, so don't give me any attitude." Her dealings with Mr. Nester had been the one shining light.
Twister didn't answer, which made her feel better. After a slow warm up, she put him through his paces. Both seemed to feel better for the workout. She certainly did. Once she brushed him down, she went in to eat. Here she'd promised Jake room and board, and he hadn't taken advantage of either one all day.
Stop being such a wish-wash. Either you forgive him or you don't.
She was a mess not knowing what she wanted. Her pride was damaged because of their actions, but none of them had harmed her. Now it seemed as if she'd pushed them away.
Two car doors closed, and she rushed to the window. A mixture of excitement and anxiety collided as she watched all three of her men strode toward the house. They had something in their hands, and they all were laughing.
Their joy would end just as soon as she had her say.
They bustled in. Jake gave her a hug, but she didn't return the affection.
"What's wrong, darlin'?"
"Would you mind taking a seat at the table?"
They shrugged, acting like they didn't have a clue what was going on.
"Are you mad I didn't come home last night?" Jake looked like he'd been caught cheating on a test.
She glanced at Aiden, but he wasn't making eye contact. Maybe he hadn't said anything to them. "No. I stopped by Thomas's Hardware Store to draw up a plan for repayment of my loan." Her throat turned dry as they whipped their heads toward her.
She stepped over to the refrigerator and pulled out three beers and handed one to Aiden and one to Tank. For Jake, she poured him a glass of cold water. She took a sip of her drink to wet her throat. Tank and Aiden looked at Jake.
"What did Brody tell you?" Jake acted as innocent as a new colt.
"He wasn't there. I spoke to his assistant who told me some interesting things." She detailed the events that led up to the payment of the loan.
"Shit. You weren't supposed to find out." Jake gripped his glass so tight his knuckles turned white.
She took a few deep breaths. "Did it ever occur to you that I wanted to be the one to pay off the loan myself? That I take pride in doing things myself?"
His brows rose and a smile filled his face. "Who said you weren't going to pay off the loan?"
He didn't get it. "Brody's assistant said you paid it off."
"That part is true, but when you paid him, he was going to give the money back to me. Tank and I didn't want Brody holding the papers on the lumber and have his credit limited. That's bad for business, so basically I bought the loan." He leaned forward. "Did you think you wouldn't have to pay me back?" His eyes widened.
Oh, my God. She'd totally misjudged his actions. "Maybe?"
He pushed back the chair and approached her. He put his glass down and wiggled his fingers. "You will suffer for that." A sly grin crossed his face, and the image of his hand on her bare ass came to mind.
Her pussy got wet thinking about the delicious punishment to come.
Jake placed his hands on her shoulders and leaned over, getting close to her face. "I know how independent you are and how much running the ranch alone means to you. I'd never take that away from you." He tossed her an exaggerated frown.
He gets me. He loves me. Her pulse raced. "I can't thank you enough for that, but where did you get your money? I thought you couldn't even afford to rent a room when you came here." Was his whole presence another lie?
"Yeah." That came from Tank.
Even the cousins had secrets.
Jake stepped away from her, picked up his glass, and gulped down a few mouthfuls of water. "Tank, you assumed I needed a place to live. I didn't, but when I heard about Tammy's situation, I didn't want to let you down. You were so excited about helping her that I couldn't say no. I have money. In fact, I have a lot of money, but I don't want to use it on myself. When my grandparents died, they left over a million dollars to me, my two brothers, and my parents. But, like Tammy, I wanted to build my business myself, with my own hard-earned money."
His pride might have surpassed hers. "But you had no problem using the funds for someone else?"
He winked. "You got it, sister."
Wow. She wouldn't have had the discipline to go it that alone. Here, she complained they didn't really know her that well. Turns out she didn't know them!
Her big dilemma now was how she was going to pay him back if she didn't get the money from Jasper. She faced Aiden. "Why did you move so many of your animals to my barn after your place became available?"
"I was trying to tell you when you stopped by, but you ran off. I thought that if the barn was full, it would give you something to do all day and make you feel like the ranch could live again." His gaze stayed focused on her. "I know how much you like to be in control, except in the sack."
She opened her mouth then closed it quickly. More of her fell in love with him.
She cleared her throat and wiped her palms on her pants. "So, Tank. I know you must have had a good reason for saying you'd pay back my loan if I couldn't come up with the cash." She was ready to swallow the last bit of anger.
"You won't believe me if I told you."
Now she would. "Try me."
"I didn't want you to lose the ranch for selfish reasons."
He had her intrigued. "I don't understand."
"You know that I grew up on a large ranch."
"Sure."
"I loved everything about it, from the horses to the cattle to even mucking out the stalls. My father wanted me to get an education so that someday I'd come back and run the ranch. When I graduated high school, I headed out to Princeton mostly because Aiden was going there." He glanced at his friend.
"I know how close you two were after your mom passed away." Poor Tank.
"We were. I got my degree in business like my dad wanted, and I thought all was well, but he sold the ranch right after I graduated. I didn't figure it out later that his Alzheimer's had set it off. He claimed he sold the ranch because he missed Mom, but I think he couldn't keep the finances straight. I was so torn that I went into the service to figure out what I wanted to do with my life."
"But you came back."
"To help my dad. He refused to go into some facility, so I said I'd drive him around and help him out." He glanced down for a second. "And to see if I could get a second chance with you."
Her pulse skyrocketed. "With me?"
"Tammy, don't you know I've always loved you? I was an eighteen-year-old idiot when I gave you up. I had a lifestyle that was not like most teenagers. After my mom's death, I went wild, desperate for something to give me my life back. I learned I liked to share, to tie up a woman and have hard sex with her. I didn't want to drag you into my world and hurt you."
He put that much thought into it? "I never knew."
"It wasn't something I wanted to advertise."
She could see why. He still hadn't answered the question as to why he'd told Brody he'd back the loan. "What did you hope to gain from making it possible for me to get the loan for the lumber?"
He watched her intently for a few moments. "Don't you get it?"
"Clearly, I don't."
He came over to her and gave her a hug. "I've never wanted to be a banker."
She twisted in his arms. "No?"
"No, I want to get my hands dirty and work on a ranch. This ranch. I knew you were mad at me for what I did all those years ago, but I was determined to win you back."
"You did." He cupped her cheek and held her close. She'd never felt more secure in her life.
"I wanted the house built in the hopes maybe someday I'd be living here."
She looked up at him. Was that a proposal? She couldn't handle the rejection if he said no, so she kept quiet and enjoyed the comfort of his body next to hers.
She leaned against his chest, stunned at much how she'd misjudged all three of them. "We make a great team, don't we?"
Tank squeezed her waist.
"That we do," Jake chimed in.
The four of them working together was like her work with Mr. Nester. They both benefitted more by being together. Jake benefitted by making sure the lumber supply wouldn't stop. Tank would get to live on a ranch. By having an additional location for his customers, Aiden's business flourished.
Tank scooped her up and carried her into the bedroom. Aiden and Jake followed behind. Tank lowered her to the bed. The intensity of his eyes allowed her to see deep inside him. The pain, the love, and the regrets in his life all showed clear. Here was a man she truly loved.
Jake slipped off her shoes while Aiden lifted off her top. Jake sat next to her on the bed. "The first thing that needs to change is the size of the bed. In the new house, maybe we'll tie two queens together to give us enough room."
Sparks of joy ignited her body. Here was another mention of them remaining together, and she couldn't be happier.
Tank dragged her higher on the bed and covered her with his body. "I can't tell you how long I've been thinking about loving you. It's been too long."
It had only been a few days, not years like he implied. His lips captured hers with such passion that her entire body melted under him. Her focus stayed on Tank, and she opened her mouth to invite him in. He played with her tongue and seemed to want to taste all of her. His cock ground into the top of her pussy, and she yearned to have all of him in her.
"She needs to be punished for pulling away, Tank." Jake's tone came out intense.
Oh, shit, Jake hadn't forgotten.
Tank was up in a flash. "For the good of all, I'm stopping, but it's taking all my control to let her go." His gaze never left her face.
Maybe to delay the spanking or to understand their reasoning, she asked, "What crime am I being accused of?"
All three chuckled. Jake let out a sigh. "You're procrastinating. The fact you decided to stay in town all day long to avoid us is one major infraction. The fact you didn't trust us to know what was best for you is a second infraction. Do I need to continue?"
Wow. Was she that transparent? "No."
Jake took two pillows and placed them in the middle of the bed. At once, the three of them flipped her over and placed the pillows under her stomach. One spread her legs and held them wide while Tank grabbed her hands with one of his and held them above her head. Jake lowered her panties to mid thigh.
"You, darlin' have the best ass in the world. Once I make those glorious round orbs bright red, I'm going to sink my cock in you until you explode."
Her damned pussy got so wet, she was sure she'd stain the spread. "Be gentle."
The first spank was so hard she nearly cried.
"We decide when you need gentle and when you need rough."
Her eyes watered at the ache radiating down the sides of her rear, but she knew in a moment, pleasure would sneak in, and she'd be begging for more.
"Maybe I should get a horse whip."
"Aiden! Don't you dare." He wouldn't, would he?
Aiden tapped her butt. "Then be good."
Oh, she was going to be real good from now on.
"Let me touch her sweet ass, Jake." Tank's hand delivered no less of a strike, but this one was the bridge where pain met ecstasy.
She wiggled her butt.
"That's all for now, darlin'."
Damn him. The moment she asks for more, they stop. These men were here to torment her. A tongue licked her pussy and her world nearly exploded. Without warning, they flipped her on her back.
Aiden smiled down on her. "You didn't let me explain myself when you stopped by, but that's only made me want you more."
He planted his chest on the end of the bed, widened her thighs, and went to work. His flicks started out light, driving her crazy. Had Tank not been holding her hands over her head, she would have rubbed his head and pressed him closer.
"This bra has gotta go, darlin'."
Jake slid a hand under her back and unhooked it. Tank released her arms long enough for Jake to thread her arms through the straps. She expected Tank to hold her down again, but apparently they both wanted to feast on her tits instead.
Jake went to one side and Tank to the other. Their heads bobbed up and down, sucking on her nipples and driving her wild. When Aiden nipped her clit with his teeth, it was like the power had suddenly come on after a big storm had downed the lines.
"Easy, hon." There was nothing easy about the way he was sucking on her clit.
At the same time he explored her with his tongue, Aiden dragged a finger around her opening, circling like a hungry lion ready for a feast. Then he plunged the tip into her, and she involuntarily clamped down on his finger. "More."
Aiden had the nerve to laugh. "We've got all night."
That wasn't fair. She'd deprived herself of her men for days, and now she wanted all of them. It was then that Tank bit down on her nipple before drawing it taut with the suction of his mouth. The pleasure was shooting at her from all directions. One man at a time was a lot easier on her senses than having all those hands and mouths on her, but she wouldn't exchange this for anything.
"I love your pussy. You're so tight," Aiden said.
He proved his claim by curling his fingers and hitting a spot so sensitive, electric currents sizzled up her channel, hit the end, and returned to the sender. "Oh, yeah."
Tank's mouth drifted from her tit up to her throat to capture her mouth. His hand replaced where his mouth had been. He rolled the swollen tip between his thumb and forefinger and pressed down hard. Shards of delight sped up her body.
The pressure of Tank's kisses increased then softened to a whisper. "Tammy Lynn Richards, I love you and always will."
A groan bubbled up inside her from her love trying to escape. "I love you, too." It sounded so trite, but at the moment, his kisses had stolen her breath just like he'd stolen her heart so many years ago.
Jake's free hand slid under her body and slipped between the crack in her butt. She stiffened, not because she didn't want him to be there but because she'd forgotten his desire to take her in the ass.
"I want, you, Tammy. I'm going to fuck that sweet ass until all you want is for me to enter through your back door day after day."
"I can't wait." Her breathy response surprised her.
The men must have motioned to each other because she was on her hands and knees in a heartbeat, her head facing the foot of the bed. Like musical chairs, they switched places. Jake moved behind her, Tank at her head and Aiden to her side. Her mind swam with the possibilities.
Aiden cursed. "The damned bed is too small. Can't suck on my honey's tits without falling off."
She wished for more room also. All three stepped back and shucked their shoes and jeans. They all looked so handsome in their cowboy attire, but their naked state was definitely better. Aiden's cock was the first to reach her. He lifted it to her mouth, and she willingly drew his hard dick in. Her tongue swirled around the tip before she sucked him deep into her throat.
"Jesus. That's so good." A groan rumbled in his chest.
She so wanted to use her hands, but they were busy holding her up. Jake nudged his knees between her thighs and widened them until she couldn't stretch anymore. He dipped a finger into her wet pussy and dragged her juices up her divide.
"I've waited for this for so long. When you feel my dick inside you, you'll know why we had to stretch that tight little ring like we did."
"Now you're scaring me." Not really, but she loved the banter.
Tank moved off the bed and tossed Jake something over her head. Tank returned to his position. He scooped her hair behind her ears and ran the pads of his thumbs down the edges of her ears.
"They're so delicate." If the thickness of his voice was any indication, his compliment was sincere.
Between Aiden making her tits sing and the joy she got from Tank caressing her body, she'd temporarily forgotten Jake was behind her until he dragged gooey lube down over her forbidden hole.
She wasn't sure if she was ready for the real thing, but if Jake was in control, she knew she was going to like it. His slippery finger found its target. He pressed into her tight ring and twisted the digit until her muscles relaxed. But when he worked in another finger, her muscles rebelled and she involuntarily clenched down.
"Darlin', you have to relax. Here, I'll help you."
Confusion filled her until his hand came down on her already sore rear. "Ouch."
"I won't stop until you do as I say."
The fingers returned, and this time she didn't tighten her muscles as he'd commanded. Her mind was on the heat spreading down her body and assaulting her pussy. He slipped both fingers into her rear and twisted, opened and plunged until he was able to widen the ring. Her pussy was sending OHout SOS signals, but Jake seemed focused on giving her joy someplace else.
No sooner had his fingers disappeared, when the head of his cock nudged her muscled ring. The tip of his dick was bigger than the width of the fingers he'd just removed. No way would he fit. It didn't matter if the slippery glass plug made it in. He didn't stand a chance.
Jake must have recognized that this might be difficult, so he slipped a hand between her legs and pinched her clit. She was so distracted by the heated sparks shooting through her that he was able to push his cock in an inch.
"It's big."
He rubbed her back. "Feel me sliding down your hole. Experience the nerves coming to life for the first time. Love the novel lust bursting to take you to higher places."
His eloquent dialogue had the desired effect because her muscles opened up and welcomed him in. Jake took hold of her hips and guided his cock down her long passage, stretching her wide. He moved back and forth a bit to work his way in when all of a sudden his promise came true. A rolling contraction worked its way up and down her dark entrance and stimulated newfound nerves.
"That's my girl."
This was amazing. She loved having her pussy packed full, but getting it in the ass brought a whole new dimension to lovemaking.
Aiden stepped back. "I'll be back in a moment."
"I'm sorry." She was so involved in this new event, she forgot all about sucking his cock.
How the men communicated she didn't know, but Jake took hold of her waist and pulled her backward until she was facing Tank. Jake's legs straddled her and his dick impaled her completely. She held her breath, as his large sheath hit new limits. Waves upon waves of shocks radiated throughout her body.
Tank leaned forward. "Breathe."
She did, and the feeling of being full relaxed a bit. Jake shifted his weight. Since he'd been driving her wild, she purposefully clenched her rear muscles to milk him.
"Jesus, darlin'. I'm having a hard enough time controlling myself."
Making him squirm thrilled her. Tank moved to his knees in front of her, his huge cock waving in front of her opening. "I can't tell you how much I want you."
She wanted him, too. Jake held onto her hips and lifted his, driving his cock up her ass even farther until her pussy met Tank's cock. Tank dragged a thumb over her opening and rubbed her clit. The double assault almost made her lose her mind. Sparks ignited and waves of pleasure bounced inside her. Tank aimed his cock over her opening and slipped in an inch. Both he and Jake held still. The fullness registered.
"There is no way on earth both of you can fit." Her voice didn't come out in a panic, just matter of fact.
"Leave the loving to us." Tank leaned over and kissed her with such tenderness that she knew all would be fine.
He slipped in further, rubbing her swollen clit as he passed by. Both men held her tight and controlled the speed. When one went in, the other retreated. Their movements were almost tactical in nature but designed to please her.
Tank took over and increased his rhythm. Bubbles of pleasure burst forth along both love paths. She clasped onto his biceps to keep from falling backward. With each thrust, his arms bulged, elevating her sense of pride that he loved her. How she'd managed to land these three men she didn't know, but she'd never question them again.
Any possible answer got erased when both Tank and Jake drove in at the same time. She panted little moans, trying to catch her breath. The newness overwhelmed her. When both cocks packed her to the hilt, her mouth opened.
Aiden returned and stepped forward to offer her his cock. She immediately took advantage and licked him. His groan made her want to suck him dry. Letting go with one hand, she cupped Aiden's balls and rolled them.
"Tammy." That seemed all he was capable of saying.
Joy spread through her at the incredible love these men possessed for her.
Jake squeezed her cheeks tight. She pressed down on him, presenting him with the tightest road possible.
"I'm coming, darlin'."
His warm seed shot into her ass. A second later, he pulled out, probably to give Tank more room to maneuver. Only then did she realize Jake hadn't used a condom. Since all of her men had been tested and were free of STD's, she'd be thrilled if she had his baby. In fact, it would be a dream come true.
Tank rubbed his palm over her nipples as Aiden plunged his cock in and out of her mouth. He held her head and closed his eyes. A moment later, warm liquid love pummeled the back of her throat, nearly drowning her tonsils. He let go in time for her to swallow his salty brew.
Tank pinched her nipple and drew her attention back to him. He was holding a breast while rubbing his thumb over the sensitive tip. "God, I love you."
With that, he drove in, his balls slapping her rear. Jake's cum dribbled out her ass, wetting either Tank or the spread. No one seemed to mind. Jake got on his knees and supported her back with his chest. He took over massaging her tits and nibbling her neck right below her ear. His chest rippled with each movement, and Tank's cock drove her mad. The carnal need slammed into her with full force.
Her breath came out in short spurts as Jake plucked and tugged on her nipples. Blood whooshed in her veins as her climax shot through her. "Tank!"
He took her hips and drew her near. His cock pulsating, he doubled in size, and stretched her to the max. His jism came out like cannonballs and pounded her pussy.
Aiden kissed her while the other two held still. Never had she experienced anything so intense in her life.
Slowly, Tank withdrew. Aiden disappeared and returned with a wet towel to wipe her down.
"Here," Aiden said. "Don't get too comfy because I'm coming for you." She must have looked dazed because Aiden smiled. "I know you've had a long day, and because I'm a great guy, I'm willing take a rain check. Promise not to make me wait long."
"Promise." She crossed her heart and held up three fingers.
My, oh my. She couldn't even imagine what life would be life without these three virile men in her bed.
Chapter Fourteen
Jake fixed breakfast for all four of them the next morning. "Darlin', would you mind working on your designs in town for the next couple of weeks?"
"Why?" She turned on the burner to boil water for her tea.
He stroked a hand down her cheek. "We want to put the finishing touches on the house, and it would be better if you weren't around to see us load pieces of furniture into the place."
"You're still not going to let me see anything?" She'd begged and pleaded to let her get a walk-through before they added the finishing touches, but all three said they wanted it to be a surprise.
"No, but I promise if you don't like something we pick, I'll change it personally."
"Fine." These men sure were stubborn, but it was something she'd have to get used to.
She packed up her gear and drove into town. She'd even offered the bar owners money to allow her to sit there and work, but they said it brought in business. Once people got wind that she was at the Mountain View, they loved coming in and seeing what new items she'd created.
Two weeks after the first amazing ménage experience, she was sitting in the restaurant when her cell rang. She didn't recognize the number.
"Hello?"
"Tammy, this is Jasper Cummins's son, Will."
He sounded rather upbeat, so the news hopefully wasn't too bad. "How is Jasper?"
"He's hanging in there. That's why I'm calling. He was finally lucid enough to tell me he owes you money."
She had to suck in a breath to keep from hyperventilation. "He remembered?"
"Yes, so if you give me your address, I'll put the check in the mail."
She wet her lips and gave him the information. "Tell him thank you." Could this nightmare almost be over? She would pay back not only her mortgage payments, but maybe a few in advance, too. As for paying Jake, she'd give him what she owed him and maybe buy another horse with the rest.
Super excited about how things were working out, she went back to her designs and grinned. Life was good.
Aiden blindfolded her. "Now remember, if there is anything you don't like, you speak up."
She was sure everything her men had picked out would be perfect. According to Jake, Aiden had a big hand in deciding which furnishings would be best. Tank did most of the painting, while Jake had decided on the fixtures for the kitchen and bathroom.
Aiden grabbed hold of her shoulders and led her into her new home. He lifted the blindfold. Tammy looked around and couldn't have been more stunned than if HGTV's Extreme Makeover team had done the design.
The walls were a lemony beige and gave off an air of calm she so loved. Dark hardwood floors and crown molding made the place classy. They'd decorated the room in an authentic Western style, complete with turquoise accents, her favorite color.
"This is amazing. I love it all, and I especially love the open concept." She walked over to the kitchen. "We can all sit in here comfortably." She was shocked at how well her men knew her tastes.
"There's more," Jake said.
He took her hand and led her into another room. If the double king-size bed was any indication, this was the master bedroom. "Oh, my. It will hold all four of us quite nicely."
Tank grinned. "You've got to see the bathroom."
She giggled as he led her into the huge room. "My God, there are four showerheads. That's insane."
Aiden snuggled behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "We want to be with you as much as possible."
She liked that, but she might be walking around with a sore body for the rest of her life.
They toured a few other rooms. In all, Jake had built an addition with three bedrooms and two more bathrooms. Words failed her.
Tank motioned she return to the living room. "There's a present for you on the coffee table."
"I don't need anything else. You've all done so much."
"Go on, babe. Open it. It's as much for us as it is for you."
There was a small box, wrapped in gold foil on the table. Excited, she ripped off the paper. Inside was a blue velvet box. She lifted the lid and gasped. Never had she seen such exquisite work. "This is beautiful." There was a ruby in the middle surrounded by four diamonds.
All three men moved in front of her. Tank stepped forward. "As the oldest by three weeks, it is my duty to ask. I, along with these two goofs, would like permission to marry you."
Her knees weakened and her breath caught in her throat. "You do?"
"We do. You know the rule. You marry the eldest, but we all will be your husband in every sense of the word."
"Then I say yes!"
Her men closed in and enveloped her in a hug. Kisses abounded.
Jake clasped her hands in his. "So when do you want to get married? And where?"
She hadn't had time to assimilate anything yet. "We could have the ceremony here, but I'm thinking it might be nice, and maybe easier, just to rent out the Mountain View. We could have it catered and save us a lot of work."
"Perfect," Jake said.
Tank ran a hand down her arm. "I've asked Reverend Jeffers if he'd do the ceremony, and he agreed."
"You've been busy men."
Aiden smiled. "We plan on keeping you just as busy."
The next three weeks were insanely busy. She had to get a dress, invite people to the wedding, and buy linens and dishes for the new house. The only calming event in her day was riding Twister. At least her horse didn't demand anything other than food, shelter, and a chance to run.
Aiden came into the new bedroom looking incredibly handsome in his tux. "You ready to be my wife?"
"Yes." She looked around. "Where's Tank and Jake?" She thought that all four of them would drive into town.
"They're taking care of last-minute details. Nothing can be too good for you. I heard Chelsea is coming out of her motherhood retirement to make you the biggest and best wedding cake Pleasure has ever seen."
"That's so sweet."
Aiden escorted her to the truck. Despite the fact that most of the trees were now bare with winter being so near, the drive to town was beautiful. She couldn't believe how far she'd come in only a few months. Jake had grinned ear to ear when she paid him off, and Tank couldn't stop bragging that he would be the first one to kiss the bride.
When they drove down Main Street, there was a banner over the road that read, Congratulations, Tammy, Tank, Jake, and Aiden. Best wishes.
"That's awesome."
Aiden grinned. "That's Pleasure for you."
She wasn't really sure how this wedding thing was supposed to go down, but as soon as she walked into the bar and grill, someone at a keyboard began playing "Here Comes the Bride." Earl slipped next to her, threaded his arm through hers, and motioned she head toward the bar where the Reverend and her soon-to-be husbands were standing.
The sight took her breath away. There weren't three more wonderful men in the entire state of Montana. Earl delivered her to the men, and Tank eased next to her. He took her hand and squeezed.
She and the men had written the vows, making the ceremony that much more special. The ceremony was quick, but the three kisses that followed made her toes curl and her pussy desperate for release. They were anything but quick.
For their wedding present, the two bar owners, Luke and Preston, had hired a band to play. Tank was the first to escort her to the middle of the floor. It was a slow dance, and Tank took every opportunity to pull her close and kiss her hard.
Though her feet had started to ache, Jake and Aiden had insisted she dance with them. She had to say yes. They each kissed different parts of her body while they led her around the room. Other than a few cat whistles, the guests gave them room.
The song ended. "I need something to eat. I'm starving." She'd been too nervous to eat before the wedding.
Chelsea and a few of the other cooks had outdone themselves. The hors d'oeuvres were the best she'd ever tasted. There were plates of meats, cheeses and finger food. Half the town seemed to be in attendance and most were huddled near the feast.
The band stopped playing long enough for the cutting of the cake. She didn't recognize the photographer, but he took pictures from every possible angle. The wedding had been a dream come true.
Jake held up a piece of cake for her to eat. She took a bite, and then managed to get most of the piece she cut for Jake into his mouth.
He leaned over. "When we get home, we'll have to take a shower together to get clean." He winked and her body melted.
"It's a deal."
Both Aiden and Tank barreled toward her. "Now it's our turn to feed the bride."
Oh, boy. She could tell this was going to be a messy affair, but she wouldn't trade it for anything.
Epilogue
Six months later
Aiden couldn't believe what a fantastic job Jake had done designing and building a new office for him next to the ranch's barn. "This is beyond my wildest dreams." Jake hadn't let him see the final touches until it was done.
Jake slapped him on the back. "I had an ulterior motive. I want one of us to be here at all times, especially with Tammy in her condition."
"I agree."
Tammy rushed in, the bulge in her belly making Aiden swell with pride. "Come take a look. My office might be nicer than the house." Aiden puffed out his chest. "Of course, that's because I'm important."
She slapped his arm. "You're conceited."
A loud commotion sounded outside. All three stepped out of his office to see what was happening. Tank had arrived. He'd driven the truck with the attached trailer into the corral.
The only downer since their marriage was that Tank's dad had passed away peacefully in his sleep. With the inheritance money, Tank purchased something special for the ranch.
He opened the back door and led out six beautiful horses and grinned. "What do you all think?"
Aiden examined each of the beauties from outside the gated area. "They're spectacular."
Tammy frowned. "We can't afford these."
"Sure we can. My father's estate finally cleared, and we now have enough to bring this ranch back to its glory."
Aiden groaned. "I'd planned on spending two days a week here and three days in town. If I have to tend to all these horses, I might have to switch my schedule."
They all laughed. Tammy wrapped an arm around his waist. "I wish you'd stay here seven days a week."
"If you want to support us all, I'm game."
She patted her stomach. "I'm thinking my days of training the cutting horses might be limited, but I can always sell my jewelry."
He knew that her business was growing as fast as her stomach. "If you give us another dozen, we can get a lot of free ranch-hand labor."
"I'm so not having twelve. Three or four, five at the most." She grinned.
Since she seemed to love making love as much as any of them, he bet she'd have at least a half dozen in the next ten years.
Tank jogged over to the fence. "You know, I've been thinking."
"Uh-oh," Tammy said.
"What do you think of changing the name of this farm to the TPT Ranch."
Aiden had no idea what he was talking about. "What's that stand for?'
"Tammy plus three."
They all chuckled. His life was right where he wanted it to be.
"I think we should name it the SH Ranch, for Stanton-Harrison."
"Oh, no you don't." This was so typical of Jake, putting up a fuss just to get the group going.
He and the three Harrisons battled about which name should go first. He didn't care really, but he loved to rile the ones he loved the most.
"I think Tammy should get the final say. After all, it is her ranch."
She grinned. "Thank you, Aiden. That makes me so happy to hear you finally acknowledge that."
Tank and Jake would gang up on him tonight for that suggestion, but he wouldn't change places with anyone. He was the luckiest man alive.
THE END
WWW.MELODYMONROE.COM
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Unlike most other authors, I started writing late in life. Writing stories in high school and college was not for me. Only after I graduated did I fall in love with romance novels. For the next twenty years, I read voraciously. It got to a point where my book-buying habits cost as much as my groceries. At that point, my husband suggested I write a book. Hey, it looked easy, right? All the stories started in the same spot (hero and heroine at odds) and ended the same way (happily ever after). Only it was anything but easy. Eleven years and fifteen completed romantic suspenses later, I finally published. I never would have gotten that far had it not been for two local chapters whose generous members shared their amazing wealth of knowledge.
Also by Melody Snow Monroe
Ménage Everlasting: Pleasure, Montana 1: Chelsea's Pleasure
Ménage Everlasting: Pleasure, Montana 2: Lydia's Passion
Ménage Everlasting: Pleasure, Montana 3: Destiny's Desire
Ménage Everlasting: Pleasure, Montana 4: Brittany's Destiny
Ménage Everlasting: Fantasy Resort 1: Three Hired Lovers
Ménage Everlasting: Fantasy Resort 2: Undercover Fantasy
Ménage Everlasting: Fantasy Resort 3: Hidden Fantasy
Ménage Everlasting: Fantasy Resort 4: Deception Fantasy
Ménage Everlasting: Fantasy Resort 5: Fantasy Ranch
Siren Classic: Verdict
Available at
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www.SirenPublishing.com

