Leather and Lace

The Callens 1

Leather and Lace Wade and Heath Watson, two ranchers in Intrigue, Wyoming, have yearned to make Samantha Callen their own for years. When they find her bleeding to death by the side of the road after rustlers shoot her, they make a pledge to take care of her. Getting the feisty women to let them help, however, is no small feat. Only when more cattle are stolen and her barn is set on fire does she turn to them for aid. As their passions flare, they tell her she needs to get comfortable with her feminine side or chance losing them. She fears if she acts too sexy, she'll lose the respect of her ranch hands and maybe even her ranch. How can she find a way to keep the men she loves and still be a successful rancher in an industry dominated by men? Note: There is no sexual relationship or touching for titillation between or among siblings. Genre: Contemporary, Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Western/Cowboys Length: 40,850 words

LEATHER AND LACE The Callens 1

Melody Snow Monroe

MENAGE EVERLASTING

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Ménage Everlasting

LEATHER AND LACE Copyright © 2012 by Melody Snow Monroe E-book ISBN: 1-61926-581-8 First E-book Publication: March 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

Letter to Readers Dear Readers, If you have purchased this copy of Leather and Lace by Melody Snow Monroe from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

Regarding E-book Piracy This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book. The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment. This is Melody Snow Monroe’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Monroe’s right to earn a living from her work. Amanda Hilton, Publisher www.SirenPublishing.com www.BookStrand.com

DEDICATION To my wonderful husband who helped wonderfully with Sam’s growth arc.

LEATHER AND LACE The Callens 1 MELODY SNOW MONROE Copyright © 2012

Chapter One “Samantha Jane Callen. Are you listening to me?” No. She’d been off in space thinking about how to stop those damned rustlers from stealing any more of her cattle. They’d gotten about a half dozen head two nights ago, and she was livid. No, it was worse than that. She was as pissed off as a stepped-on rattler. At six hundred and fifty dollars a head, she was downright sick to her stomach. She could no more afford to lose fourteen thousand dollars than a shelter could stand to run out of food. She looked up and gave her father the sweetest smile she could muster. “Yes, Daddy. You were talking about how important it was to get the right kind of feed for the cattle.” At least she hoped that was what he was talking about. Of late, it was the only thing he spoke of. “That’s right.” His tone softened considerably. “You just go down to the feedstore and they’ll fix you up fine.” “I already went there last week, but everyone was too busy with other customers to help me. I swear, it was like I didn’t exist.” Sometimes it sucked being a female ranch owner, but she was determined to overcome the prejudice and be a success. “Samantha Jane. You gotta let him know you’re as important as anyone else. If you need me to talk to the owner, I will.”

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Oh, God. “No. I can handle it.” But if the thieves kept taking her cattle, she wouldn’t have to bother with feeding any animals. “Don’t you worry about me.” “If there was ever a woman who could make it in a man’s world, you’re the one.” It was so not fair that she couldn’t be herself, but that was the way it was in the ranching world. Regardless, she was determined to jump those hurdles if it meant her ranch would be a success. Which was why she didn’t dare tell anyone about the theft. Besides, she didn’t want to spoil her daddy’s sixty-eighth birthday party. Her mom, three of the four older brothers, and both of her younger sisters had spent months planning the two-day affair. Sam really couldn’t afford that much time to be away from her ranch, but for her dad’s birthday, she’d make the exception. Too bad the event came in the middle of a crisis. Her mom got up from the table. “I think it’s time for cake and your father’s presents.” They all moved from the dining room table into the large living room. Her mom brought out the lighted cake, and they all sang “Happy Birthday.” After her dad blew out the candles, her mom cut everyone a piece of cake. Dustin, her oldest brother, gave her dad the first present. “Happy birthday, Dad.” Her father shook the contents and furrowed his brows. “I can’t imagine what it is.” “Open it before you break it.” “Okay, okay. Hold your horses.” He peeled back the paper. Dustin’s gift was a new watch. Perfect. Her dad was notoriously late. “This is just what I need.” Her mom chuckled. Sam handed him her gift. “From me.” He held it up and grinned. “I bet I can guess what this is.” Given it was a bottle of scotch, it was hard to wrap so he couldn’t

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figure it out. When he pulled off the paper, he winked. The gift had been expensive, but her dad was worth it. “Now, that’s what I’m talking about.” He looked over at Mom. “Veronica, would you pour me a glass?” “You know what the doctor said. Only one drink a night.” Dad had already consumed a few glasses of wine. “Fuddle. It’s my birthday.” No surprise, her mom gave in and poured him a small shot of scotch but not before adding a lot of water and ice. He scrunched up his face then drank it in one gulp. Each family member took his turn handing him a present. He seemed genuinely pleased with each gift. Around midnight, her mom got up. “Come on, Josh, it’s time for bed, and we have a big day ahead of us tomorrow.” He waved his glass of scotch, as if he expected her to get him another. This was already his third tonight. “It’s my birthday.” She planted a hand on her hip. “You know what the doctor told you.” “Damn doctors. What do they know?” He tossed back the rest of his glass and stood. “All right, dear.” He faced the rest of them. “I want to thank all of you for a wonderful birthday, and I look forward to spending more time with you all tomorrow.” Sam hugged him good-night as did her two sisters. Once he left, fatigue grabbed her. Her mom had insisted they all stay at the house tonight. She said she’d wanted it to be like old times. “I’m going to hit the hay, too.” Sam had a lot on her mind and needed to sort through a few details. “Good night,” her twin brothers said in unison. She thought she’d drop right off to sleep, but instead spent the first few hours tossing and turning, trying to figure out how not to lose her ranch to those thieves. By 5:00 a.m. she’d given up any hope of dozing off, so she got up. When Sam stepped into the kitchen, she was the first one there. That was a change. Her mom was often up by now. Her dad’s favorite

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breakfast was chocolate chip pancakes, and she wanted to surprise him with a batch. Even though he was borderline diabetic and probably shouldn’t indulge in something so sweet, one time wouldn’t hurt. Hmm. Her mom made pancakes from scratch, whereas she was used to having the mix come in a box. She didn’t know the first thing about making pancakes with flour. Maybe her mom had a cookbook that had breakfast recipes. Her mom bustled in. “Oh, my. What are you doing here?” Sam smiled. “I came to help.” Her mother said nothing for a second. “What’s the occasion?” She wasn’t that bad, or was she? “It’s Daddy’s birthday breakfast. I want to make him some pancakes.” “I’m guessing chocolate chips will be involved?” Her mom grinned. While still a beautiful woman, she’d aged a lot after her cancer last year. Sam didn’t want to regret going through life not having spent enough time with her mom. As it was, Sam had spent her youth riding horses, not learning to cook. “You know it.” “Okay, then. Put on an apron, and let’s get started.” This was going to be fun. Since the kitchen renovation, her mom had moved everything around. Sam had no idea where she kept the aprons, but the pantry was the best bet. She headed to the back of the kitchen. “The aprons are now in the bottom drawer here.” Oh. She found one and put it on. Now she felt like a real chef. “What now?” “Go into the pantry and get a bag of all-purpose flour. You do know what flour is, don’t you?” Her mom’s eyes twinkled. “Yes, Mom. I do cook, you know.” It just wasn’t that often. This was like being twelve again, which might have been the last time they’d spent a lot of time together. That was when her mom had taught her to play the piano. Unfortunately, between May and October,

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Sam abandoned her practice regimen for riding horses and learning how to rope and shoot. After a bit of searching, she managed to locate the bowl and wooden spoon. Her mom turned on the griddle. Guess she figured operating a stove was too much for her twenty-seven-year-old daughter. Following her mom’s instructions, she mixed the ingredients and poured the batter on the hot griddle. “So tell me, Mom, what’s the secret to your wonderful marriage?” Sam had no idea why she asked, but since she’d gotten her mom alone, she might learn something. “Be a good listener. Agree to everything he says then do it your way.” That made her laugh. “I like it.” Sam waited until the pancakes bubbled before flipping them. When they turned brown, she removed them and stacked them on a plate. For an extra touch, she got out some cream and sugar and made whipped cream. Then she piled some on top of the pancakes and topped the display with some cinnamon and a few chocolate chips. Her mom came over. “Why, Samantha. That’s beautiful. You’re a natural in the kitchen. With a little practice, you could be a star.” Her praise meant a lot. “Thanks.” She had to admit the presentation was impressive. “We should do this more often.” “I’d like that.” Too bad she had a ranch to run. Besides, there was no need to be a gourmet cook when she only made meals for herself. With the bacon ready, she carried the plates of food into the dining room. The twins, Max and Ian, were already seated. Her dad came in next. The rest straggled in. They took their usual seats at the large wooden table while Mom served. Throughout the meal, her mom jumped up and refreshed the coffee, got more syrup, or offered to cook another batch of bacon. Sam wondered if her mom ever regretted giving up her music career

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to be a rancher’s wife. As soon as they finished, the doorbell rang, but no one moved. The front door opened, and suddenly the house was filled with more chatter. “Sounds like all of your dad’s family has arrived,” Mom said. Dad’s two brothers, their wives, and a few of the cousins poured into the dining room. Each of the three brothers owned a twenty-fivethousand-acre ranch, which were situated next to each other. “Happy birthday, Josh,” Uncle Spencer said. They carried presents. “Something smells good.” “It’s probably the coffee,” her mom said. “Why don’t you all go into the living room and I’ll bring some out.” Technically it was her dad’s birthday today, but they’d celebrated the immediate-family portion of his birthday last night because her oldest brother, Dustin, and younger sister, Jenny, had work or school obligations to attend to today. Sam stayed behind to help clean up. “You don’t have to do the dishes, hon. I’ve been cleaning up for close to forty years.” “I know, but I feel like helping.” She enjoyed being close to her mom for a change. Her mom smiled. “Maybe you should go ahead and get dressed for the party.” Sam looked down at her outfit. While the large plaid shirt was a bit oversized, it was clean. “I’m good.” “You have a closet full of cute tops that you left. Go put one of them on. And put on some makeup, too. Heavens, ever since you took over the ranching business, I swear you dress like a man.” She opened her mouth then shut it. “If my ranch hands saw me in a cute top and shorts, they’d never respect me.” “Oh, pooh.” Her mom didn’t understand and never would. They’d had this conversation too many times.

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They worked in companionable silence, washing, drying, and putting the dishes away even though Sam did need some guidance as to where everything went. Once they were finished, she headed into the living room, where the laughter blended with the oohs and aahs. She spotted a new box of cigars, a Cross pen, and a new hat. She bet her dad was pleased with those gifts. Uncle Damon looked up. “So how’s the ranching business going, Sam?” Both of her uncles and her dad were three of the five most successful ranchers in the three-state area. “Good.” Uncle Spencer stubbed out the cigar he was smoking. “The men giving you enough respect, little lady?” The endearment grated against her nerves. It was hard to prove to everyone she could do a man’s job. “Of course they do.” She gave them her best grin. “They don’t dare challenge me. They know I can beat them at hog-tying and roping.” She puffed out her chest then laughed. “I bet being a good shot helps, too.” The group laughed. “You always could handle those cutting horses better than my boys,” Uncle Spencer said. He winked at his two sons, who knew better than to come back with a retort. “You’re damned right I can.” It wasn’t often that she got to spend time with the whole family, and she loved being with them. The activities for the rest of the day had been planned for months. All the kids wanted to make this special for their dad. Her mom had said that since the children were getting older, she didn’t know how long it would be before their lives got so busy that having everyone together would be impossible. After a barbecue, croquet game, darts contest, and shooting pool, it was close to midnight when Mom announced it was time to shut down the celebration. As much fun as they’d had all day, she couldn’t wait to sleep in her own bed. She hugged her dad good-bye. “Love you, Daddy.”

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“Back at you.” She said good-bye to the rest of her family and left. The moment she stepped outside, she shivered from the unexpected cold. Even for late May, the weather hadn’t warmed yet. The brisk air should have woken her up, but from all the partying, her eyes started to droop halfway home. She had to yawn just to get enough oxygen in her brain. When she turned down the road leading to her ranch, her headlights picked up two large trucks blocking the road. She slammed on her brakes. Shit. The cattle in the road meant rustlers. Her heart rattled in her chest, drumming up enough anger to keep her pulse pounding. Before she got the chance to back up and get the hell out of there, yellow bursts of gunfire blasted her truck. Her heart stopped and the engine died. Fuck. The windshield shattered. Fearful for her life, she twisted behind her and grabbed the rifle off the rack. Needing some protection, she opened the truck door and partially hid behind it. The shots kept coming. Christ. She couldn’t see in the dark, but she got off a shot right before heat, and then pain seared her arm. She stumbled backward and her spine rammed against the doorframe. Her knees buckled and her head smashed against metal. Tears streamed down her cheeks and blood poured down her arm. Her mind turned fuzzy, and her world turned black. **** Wade Watson jerked up in bed. He swore he heard gunfire and jumped into action. He threw on his jeans, a T-shirt, and a jacket. As soon as he stepped into his boots, he grabbed his sidearm from the nightstand and ran out of the room. “Heath. Get your ass out of bed!” Wade was halfway to his brother’s room when Heath rushed out, armed and fully dressed. “Where did the shots come from?” “Fuck if I know, but if it’s rustlers, it has to be from Harper’s

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Lane.” Given the night sky was relatively clear, the gunshot they’d heard hadn’t been a lightning strike. They sprinted out of the house toward the barn. He debated taking the car, but if the rustlers had scattered, a horse would allow them to get anywhere on the property. They were saddled and ready to go in less than six minutes. Wade didn’t mind riding at night. He and Heath knew every dip and hollow on their property. Not wanting to give their presence away, they rode in silence. As far as the noise from the horses’ hooves pounding across the ground was concerned, it was not out of place given the number of wild horses they had. Wade pulled to a stop and pointed toward the lights near the road. Heath edged close. “You think it’s the rustlers?” “Doubt it. They’d need large trucks. Look how low that light is above the ground. I’m betting that’s a car or truck.” “Let’s check it out.” They cautiously headed in the direction of the seemingly stranded vehicle. One headlight and an interior light shone across the road. When they got close enough, Wade recognized the truck. “Shit. That’s Sam’s.” The front windshield was blown out, and bullet holes had dotted the hood. Adrenaline coursed through his body. They raced to the fence, dismounted, and hopped over the wooden barrier. Keeping an eye out for an ambush, he sprinted to the truck. When he spotted Sam’s body on the ground, his heart nearly stopped. Her hand was covered in blood, and there was a hole in her sleeve. She’d been shot. His gut nearly heaved as he dropped to his knees. “Sam?” He shouted in the hopes of rousing her. She didn’t move. Damn. Answer me. He leaned in closer. “Samantha, can you hear me?” He cradled her in his arms and prayed she wouldn’t die. She was, after all, the woman Heath and he planned to marry.

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Chapter Two Sam opened her eyes and squinted away from the bright light leaking in the window. I’m alive! Next to her bed was a bag of clear liquid hanging from a stand with a tube running into her arm. How did I end up in the hospital? She remembered the barrage of gunfire, and then getting shot. She’d hit her head and passed out. Who found me? When she tried to press down on the bed to sit up, she met with resistance. She looked at the source of the restriction. “Oh, shit.” Her arm was in a pink cast from her forearm to halfway up to her shoulder. Her elbow was now immobile, making even simple tasks difficult. This sucks. “You got shot and broke your arm.” Her heart nearly stopped at the sound of the voice. She whipped her head around. Someone was leaning against the doorjamb, but he was bathed in a shadow. He stepped forward, and she blinked to clear her vision. Her heart lurched. It was Wade Watson, her neighbor who owned twenty thousand acres of the most beautiful, pristine land in Intrigue, Wyoming. “What are you doing here?” She looked down to make sure her gown hadn’t gaped open. He was one of those guys who had everything—money, a smile that could charm a criminal to go straight, and a body a Chippendales dancer would crave. As if he could tell conflicting thoughts were swirling in her head, he smiled and seemed to float toward her. He dragged a chair to her bed and sat down. “Heath and I found you, and we wanted to make sure you were going to be okay.” Not her choice for a savior, but if they hadn’t come by when they

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did, whenever that was, she might be dead. “Thank you.” She’d been building up her image for years to be taken seriously, and she certainly didn’t need to be viewed as being romantically linked to these two men, or any man for that matter. Her hired hands, as well as some of her suppliers, would think of her as merely a little woman and not as their equal. Her mouth tasted like chalk. She reached for the water, but once again couldn’t extend her arm. Wade must have seen what she wanted, for he sprang into action, located a Styrofoam cup, and poured her some water. He held the straw near her lips, but she refused to act the invalid. With her left hand, she took the proffered drink. “Thanks.” Again. The cool water soothed her dry throat. Given the brightness of the day, she’d been out of it for many hours. “Have you been here the whole time?” “Heath and I have been in and out.” He said it as if it wasn’t a big deal to spend a good part of the day watching a woman sleep. Then again, he, Heath, and her two older brothers were good friends. Now that she got a better look at him, he hadn’t shaved and his eyes were a bit bloodshot. Those facts, however, didn’t detract from his cowboy-calendar good looks one bit. Her fuzzy brain tried to recreate the event. She remembered the rustlers. “I must have scared them off.” Wade nodded. “I found your rifle and noticed the chamber was empty. Did you get a good look at any of them?” She forced her mind back to the last thing she recalled. “No. I couldn’t see a thing.” This was so not good. “Please don’t tell my family. I don’t need it broadcasted that I’ve been losing cattle on and off for the last ten days.” She’d never heard of anyone in her family ever getting rustled. He leaned forward, his forearms dangling over his knees, looking way too sexy. “Tell me what you do remember.”

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She told him about returning home from her parents’ house late last night. “When I turned onto Harper’s Lane, two large trucks blocked the way. As soon as I saw the cattle, I knew these were the men stealing from me.” His jaw dropped. “You confronted them? Are you crazy?” “No. I’m not stupid. I put the truck in reverse to back out when all hell broke loose. I was lucky I didn’t get shot before I could grab my rifle.” “Could you tell the number of men?” Her head hurt from the interrogation. “No. Everything happened too fast. I told you, it was dark. I saw maybe two figures. There could have been a lot more.” A sharp pain in her head blasted her. “Ow.” Wade jumped up. “You okay? You want me to get the doctor?” “No. I must have banged my head when I hit the ground. I’ve got gunshots and jackhammers going off inside.” “Ouch. I’m not surprised. You were out cold when Heath and I found you. You had a concussion.” She rubbed the back of her head. “I can tell.” “When you fired the shot, do you know if you hit anything?” “I just shot toward the back of the first truck. I wanted them to know I was armed.” She didn’t know how long the rustlers took to load the cattle, or how long before Wade and Heath arrived. “Did you see them take off?” “No. It took Heath and me a few minutes after we heard the shots to locate you.” Pushing with her non-casted hand, she succeeded this time in sitting up. Being helpless went against her very nature. “Did the doc say when I can get out of here?” “No, but before you can leave, the sheriff will need to talk with you.” Oh, crap. The gun exchange and resulting wound had to be reported. That meant her dad would find out. “Shit.” “You always have such a potty mouth?” He chuckled.

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What was up with this guy? “I bet you’d swear up a storm if someone raided your cattle then shot you when you were trying to stop them.” “Fucking A.” He grinned, and his cheeks dimpled. Her stupid body heated up. The last thing she needed was to be attracted to him, especially since she’d worked so hard these last six months to avoid him and his brother. Why of all people did the Watson brothers have to find her? She knew what they wanted. They’d made it clear enough over the years they both wanted a wife. And they’d picked her. She surmised their fascination with her was based on their desire to combine both lands. Being good friends with her brothers probably added to their decision. Someone knocked on the hospital door, and Heath popped his head in. She hadn’t seen him in months, but he must have been working out a lot because his muscles bulged under his tight T-shirt. She wanted nothing to do with either brother, but she had to admit Heath was hot. It was his eyes that did it for her. They were a smoky gray that would darken when he was aroused. Before she was in business to be a rancher, she’d danced with him and learned firsthand just how fast those eyes could smolder. Okay, Wade was equally attractive, but good looks did not a mate make. Besides, she wasn’t into the ménage lifestyle like they were. She had a cousin who married two men and loved it, but that didn’t mean it was for her. Nope. Marriage just didn’t fit into her plans. “How are you doing?” Heath tipped his head down and raised his gaze. He did look concerned. “You got about an hour?” He smiled. “The bottom line is that my head is killing me, and I don’t seem to be able to move my fingers all that well.” She held up her cast. “The doctor told us you had brachial nerve damage.” Her heart stopped. Even though she didn’t know anything about that nerve, she needed every body part fully functioning to run her ranch. “Will it get better?”

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“The doc said in time you should make a full recovery.” That was a relief, but she’d be out of commission for too long, which might affect her bottom line. Her next biggest dilemma was how to hide the incident from her family. Telling them she’d run into the rustlers and almost died would freak them out. There was no way to stop them from learning about the broken arm. “Knock, knock.” Sheriff Sutton stepped in the crowded room. “Hey, Will.” Now for a second interrogation. Will Sutton was a family friend. While he was only a few years older than she was, he had the respect of everyone in Intrigue. “Samantha.” He nodded to Wade and Heath. Wade stood. “I’ll let you have at her.” “Stay. The doc said you found her. You might have seen something.” For the next twenty minutes, all three told the sheriff what they knew, which wasn’t much. The sheriff closed his notebook, and as he stood, Sam reached out to stop him. “Do me a favor, Will?” “If I can.” “Don’t tell my dad about the cattle being stolen or about me getting shot. I know I’ll have to let him know about the broken arm. I’m good with that.” He cocked a brow. “You think he’d hire some bodyguards for you or something?” She wasn’t sure exactly what he’d do, but she wouldn’t like it, whatever it was. “Or something.” Bodyguards would make her appear weak to her hands. “You’re no longer a little girl. There’s no law requiring me to tell your daddy anything. But if he asks, I won’t lie.” “Didn’t expect you to. Thanks.” Will told them there had been no other gunshot wounds reported. “I’m guessing that means I didn’t hit anything.” Too bad. Though if she had killed someone, she’d have nightmares for the rest of her

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life. The sheriff tipped his hat and strode out. She looked from Wade to Heath. “Do you think one of you could find that doctor so I can get out of here?” Heath sat in the chair recently occupied by the sheriff. “With that concussion, you know they’re going to wait a good twenty-four hours to make sure your brain doesn’t swell.” She didn’t need the image. “Right.” Disappointed, she dropped her head onto the pillow. “In that case, how about giving a girl some privacy so I can rest?” No one could sleep with these two hotties watching her every move. They eyed each other. “We could use some shut-eye, but we’ll be back tomorrow to check up on you. When the doctor gives the okay, we can take you home.” “I’d appreciate it.” She certainly couldn’t call anyone in her family to come get her without getting everyone in an uproar. As much as she wanted to be alone, as soon as the two men left, it was a bit lonely. Sure, the nurses came in regularly to check on her, but being in a hospital was so not her style. The food would probably suck, and the pain in her head still throbbed. Around 7:00 p.m., the doctor entered, picked up the chart at the foot of her bed, and looked up but didn’t smile. “And how are we feeling?” We? “My head hurts.” She wouldn’t have told him that much except she wanted some sleeping pills for the night. “That’s to be expected.” He jotted some notes. “I want you to stay another couple of days.” “I have a ranch to run.” She wasn’t that hurt. She bet if one of the twins had been shot, the doctor would have released him the next day. “That may be, but you’re too weak to be running around. Gunshots aren’t something to be taken lightly.” Damn. Maybe she ought to sneak out. The hospital couldn’t make her stay. “So day after tomorrow?”

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“We’ll see. Do you live with someone who can help you get around?” “No, but I can take care of myself.” “You’ll need to find someone to stay with you for a while. You’ll find it difficult to get dressed with your arm basically out of commission. You won’t be able to drive until the cast comes off.” He held up a finger. “And absolutely no riding.” Her mind rebelled. “I can’t do that.” Her day consisted of mucking stalls, ordering supplies, and riding the range. She couldn’t afford to hire someone to do those chores. The rustlers had already cut into her profits big-time. “I’m sorry, but if you want full use of that hand, you’ll need someone with you for a while.” “I’ll figure something out.” She looked off to the side. “That wasn’t a suggestion. There could be complications, and I want you watched.” She didn’t like the sound of that. “What kind of complications?” She’d just gotten a little hole in her arm. “The bullet nicked part of the bone, which might have been why your arm bone broke when you fell. The surgeon said he tried to get out all of the chips, but no telling if one of the pieces will get lodged someplace else and do some damage.” If he was trying to scare her, he’d succeeded. “Okay.” She could ask her sister to stay with her, though that would be a tough sell. Better yet, one of her men could check up on her during the day. That should be good enough. “You’ll have the cast for about four to six weeks, and then you’ll need therapy to get full use of the arm. The nerves might take longer to get back to normal.” Wasn’t he Mr. Cheer? “Can I have a sleeping pill?” “No. We want to monitor your concussion.” Could this get any worse? “Fine.” The next two days went by agonizingly slow. Wade and Heath

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stopped by for an hour or two. She understood and appreciated the sacrifice they made by being away from their land for so long. The hospital was an hour away. On the third morning, the two hunky Watson brothers strolled in, looking refreshed and oh so clean. “You ready to go home?” Music to her ears. “Did the doctor give the all clear?” Her pulse sped up. The nurse had been in several times during the night, but not the doctor. “Yup. Get dressed and we’ll drive you home.” They both disappeared so she could change. She sat up, and from the quick movement, her head spun. Easing to a stand, she went to the bathroom and groaned at her reflection. If those two had ever entertained getting her in bed, one glance at her appearance this morning would surely make them change their minds. She washed the best she could with one hand then searched for her clothes. As soon as she placed her outfit on the bed, she realized her dilemma. She couldn’t put on a bra with the use of only one hand, but she decided she didn’t need one. Her shirt was thick enough and would cover her tits quite nicely. She did manage to take off the gown, but even putting on her panties took forever. Damn it. Not wanting to get exhausted before she left, she rang for the nurse, praying the female attendant would be the one to come in. To her delight, she got her wish. Sam waved her casted arm. “Can you help me dress?” “Sure, honey.” Even with the nurse’s help, it took twice as long as normal. How was she going to stay this helpless for four to six weeks? She had to find a way to get back her independence. Her new jacket, a birthday present from her mom, was ruined, so she threw it out. Not only was there a hole in the sleeve, but blood had stained the inside. Good thing the nurse said it was in the midsixties and she’d be warm without it. “I’ll be right back,” the bubbly nurse said. “I need to get you a

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wheelchair.” She would have argued but knew it was standard procedure. This accident was getting worse by the minute. “Here we go.” The nurse pushed her out to the lobby. The men helped her out of the wheelchair. She was about to wave them off when she got another head rush. She stilled for a moment, waiting for her heart to pump faster. Once she was steady, she let them lead her to their car, which one of them had parked at the curb. “Sit in front,” Heath said. This time she wouldn’t argue. She couldn’t wait to get home and take a bath. To her surprise, they didn’t pummel her with questions about how she felt. Instead, they talked about a big Fourth of July party they were planning to throw, and how their foreman’s wife was expecting their first child. Listening to everyday events helped calm her and made her want to get back to the business of ranching. When they pulled into her drive, her heart sped up. “I am so happy to be home.” They both smiled, but from the way Wade glanced in the rearview mirror at Heath, they were up to something. Her stomach soured. They wouldn’t be her concern in another few minutes. Wade wrapped an arm around her waist and helped her inside. “Why don’t you sit?” He led her to the sofa. Heath hovered over her. “Can I get you a drink?” This was her house. She could get her own food. “I’m good. I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done.” “You’re welcome. We’ll let you rest, and then we’ll help you pack.” Her body froze. “Pack?” “Wade and I want you to stay with us so we can look after you.” His serious face made her laugh. That caused her head to pound, which in turn sent an ache up her arm. “I’m not going anywhere.” If anyone learned she needed help, she’d lose any respect she’d ever gained.

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Wade sat down next to her and took her good hand in his. “Babe, you’re going to need help to cook, shop for food, dress, and get clean.” Her head swam at the image of getting naked in front of him. “I’ll have my sister help me.” “You sure? You might let it slip that you got shot. I thought you were trying to keep that incident a secret.” Damn. He was right. “I’ll figure something out.” Wade looked over at Heath then back at her. “Are you sure we can’t convince you to come stay with us?” “No.” She lifted her head, hoping they’d believe she could deal with the injury by herself. They both stood. “Then we’ll be seeing you.” She couldn’t believe they gave up so quickly. “Thanks for bringing me home.” They both nodded and left. Okay, then. First order of business was to get clean. Getting in and out of the tub might be hard, but if she wrapped her arm in plastic, a shower might be easier. She found a garbage bag to protect the cast and a scarf to tie it closed. Feeling proud of her ingenuity, she headed to the bathroom. Only then did she understand how difficult it was to take off her clothes. Her frustration built with each tug, but eventually she got undressed. Now she had to drag on the garbage bag and tie it tight to keep out the water. She had to use her teeth and her free hand to seal the plastic bag. She was sweating by the time she stepped into the shower. At least the warm water soothed her aching muscles. The hardest part was holding the heavy cast up so that the water dripped downward off the plastic. The next obstacle was washing. Her soap came in a bottle. She had to turn it upside down, squeeze out the liquid goo on her leg, then rub the soap onto her palm. She squeezed shut her eyes, almost wishing she had Wade and Heath to help her, but that went against

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everything she stood for. Just deal. The hair washing didn’t go any easier. By the time she turned off the water, she was mostly clean and totally exhausted. Since her fingers on her right arm didn’t move very well, drying her hair tried her patience. Maybe she should just walk around naked with tangled wet hair. It would make her life easier. Because she needed to let Jake, her foreman, know she was back, she had to dress. She’d finishing putting on sweatpants and a sweatshirt when the doorbell rang. Maybe Jake saw her return and wanted to check up on her. She pulled open the door. “Hi, babe.” She was speechless as Wade and Heath barreled in with a suitcase each. “What are you doing here?” “Well, if you won’t move in with us, we’re willing to compromise. We’ll move in with you.”

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Chapter Three Samantha couldn’t believe their audacity. “You can’t stay here.” Her body wanted them, but there was no doubt these alpha males would try to make all the decisions. She couldn’t let her ranch hands see any weakness or she’d lose too much traction. Heath stepped closer, and she could smell his aftershave. Involuntary tingles shot up her body. Damn him. He knew full well what his yummy smell would do to her. He ran a finger down her good arm. “We’re just following the doctor’s orders. Besides, we want to make your life easier.” He tilted his head and his lips formed a small pout. Why did he have to sound so sincere? Wade tapped her cast. “Don’t worry. We’ll put you to work. We know you can’t drive, so leave the shopping to us, but you can make all the ranch-running decisions.” As if she would ever let them take charge. She studied Wade to see if he was telling the truth. She doubted it. He just said that to confuse her. What he really wanted was to get in her pants, and that would never happen. “Fine.” They both grinned. “In fact, I was on my way to the kitchen to scrounge up some food. Maybe you can help me.” She wanted to see how much latitude they were going to give her. “We’d be delighted.” All three went into the kitchen. She sat down at the table, ready to watch them work. Her dad would be helpless there, and she expected the same from them. Wade cocked a brow. “What are you doing?”

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“You said you wanted to cook for me.” “We do, but you need to help. There is no slouching here.” She pushed away from the table, happy for some control. “We could make grilled cheese and tomato sandwiches, or possibly a tuna salad sandwich.” Wade didn’t look very excited. “You got any meat? I like a nice hamburger.” Meat she had. “Sure.” She opened the refrigerator and pulled out the ingredients. When the plate she was holding tipped, Wade was there to help. “I got it,” he said with a wink. She tamped down her frustration. “There are buns in the pantry somewhere.” Heath fired up the grill. Together the three of them managed to whip up a meal. Making lunch went better than she ever expected. Once they were all done, Wade picked up the dishes. “Why don’t you just sit and we’ll clean up? With your hand, you’d suck at washing.” He smiled, and her chest caved a bit. She couldn’t quite get a handle on their agenda. First, they wanted her to participate, and now they wanted her to sit back. Did they want the control or not? Bottom line, she decided this whole live-in thing wasn’t going to work. They had just finished cleaning up when someone knocked on the door. “It’s probably Jake. He’s my foreman. I haven’t seen him yet.” They followed her out to the living room, acting more like bodyguards than helpers. She didn’t want Jake to see the Watson brothers. Before she opened the door, she spun around. “I don’t need you hovering. In fact, I would prefer if you didn’t. Jake and I need to talk in private.” She was pleased she didn’t come off as bitchy.

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Once Wade and Heath made themselves scarce, she pulled open the door. Jake stood there with his back straight and his chest puffed out. Oh my. He’d shaved and had on a fresh shirt. Yes, he had on chaps over his jeans, but it looked like he went out of his way to clean up. His eyes widened. “Sam, you okay? I’m so sorry.” He nodded to her cast and seemed genuinely concerned. Maybe she’d forgotten to tell him about the broken arm when she’d called. “Come on in, and I’ll tell you.” He was the one who’d spotted the rustlers last week when he was passing by late last week. He’d gone to get his horse so he could catch them, but by the time he got back, they’d taken off. She led him into the living room and motioned he take a seat. She wasn’t sure where her bodyguards were, but she was glad she could talk in private. He sat next to her and rubbed her hand. Unlike when Wade or Heath had gotten close, Jake’s touch unnerved her. In the six months she’d owned the ranch, he’d not tried to put the moves on her, though from the way he was looking at her now, he wanted to. Jake leaned forward. “Did you recognize any of them?” “No, but I don’t think they’ll be coming back.” “You can’t be sure. You should hire a few guys to come at night for a while.” “I can’t afford that.” “You can’t afford not to. We’ve already lost twenty head. Hell, you could have three men at a thousand each to patrol a couple of times a week and you’d save yourself a ton of anguish.” She quickly did the math in her head. “Maybe you’re right.” “Hell yeah I’m right.” Wade and Heath came out of the kitchen and Jake jumped up. “What are they doing here?” He narrowed his eyes and stared down at her. “How do you know they aren’t responsible for the rustling?” Heath held up his hands. “I can assure you we did not steal Sam’s

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cattle. We got hundreds of our own to deal with.” She believed them. “They drove me home from the hospital.” Jake ground his teeth. “They’re not going to stay here, are they?” She never lied. “For a bit.” His breaths came out too rapidly. “I would have volunteered to help you. Don’t you know that?” Her heart squeezed. My God, he was interested in her. It was the only thing that made sense. “They’re just helping me cook and clean. I need you to help herd the cattle and to see that the men do their jobs.” His shoulders lowered. “You know I’ll handle the ranch hands for you.” “I appreciate that.” Even though they hadn’t discussed anything about the ranch, Jake turned tail and stormed out. Wade smiled. “That went well.” She rolled her eyes. “He takes his job seriously.” “Never said he didn’t.” She wasn’t sure how having the Watson brothers at her house was going to work out. She needed to work with Jake, and she didn’t need a spitting match every time he stopped by. Maybe she’d have to make a point of seeking him out first. “If you’re determined to stay here, let me show you where the linens are. The bed in the guest room is made up already.” By the time she got them settled, she was exhausted. “I’m going to take a nap. You okay by yourselves?” “Don’t worry about us,” Wade said. “Good.” She went into her bedroom to lie down. After she struggled to get her boots off, she was too tired to undress. When light speared her eyes, she was shocked to find she’d slept away the night. Showering would have to come after she ate something. She washed her face and brushed her teeth then headed into the kitchen.

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Only Heath was there. “Hey.” Heath spun around and smiled. “You’re up. Sleep well?” “Too well. I didn’t realize I was so exhausted.” “Can I fix you something? I bet you’re hungry.” “That’s for sure. I’m starving.” She poured herself a glass of juice and watched Heath fry a couple of eggs and bacon. He brought over the plate. “I was looking at what you have in your kitchen, and it’s sorely lacking in vegetables. Once you finish eating, do you want to tag along with me to the farmers’ market in town?” During the summer, the farmers sold their wares in town once a week. After spending all that time in the hospital, she’d like nothing more than to get some sun. “I’d love to.” She glanced down at her grungy outfit. “Let me put on something a bit more appropriate.” Heath was dressed for the warm weather, so he didn’t need to change. Once she finished eating, she went into her bedroom and pulled out a few outfits, all of which required a bra of some sort. She found something cool enough and tried it on. Her tits peeked through. Damn. She tore off that top and dragged on another one. It wasn’t any better. Exhausted, she dropped onto the bed. A knock sounded on her door. “You okay in there?” She glanced at the clock. She’d been there for over twenty minutes. Not good. “Just a sec.” Grabbing the bra, she held it tightly over her breasts. She looked down and saw that nothing showed. “Can you come in for a minute?” Heath pushed open the door and craned his head forward. “You sure you want me in here?” Samantha turned her back. “Can you do the back of the bra for me? I can’t reach it.” He had the nerve to chuckle. “Sure.” His warm fingers caressed her skin as he slowly hooked the bra. “There. Anything else I can do

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for you?” Damn him. He was enjoying her helplessness. “Just stay there.” She went over to the bed and picked up one of the discarded tops. Her mom had made this one for her birthday. The front of the T-shirt had the Circle Bar emblem on it, but she’d had to ditch it when she wasn’t wearing a bra. She pulled the soft tee over her head. Threading her hands in the sleeves normally took effort, but an extra set of hands guided her fingers through. She turned around. He smiled. “You look good.” “Thanks.” It was just a T-shirt. Heath’s eyes were warm. As he leaned closer, his lids lowered and his lips slightly parted as if he was going to kiss her. Noooo. She ducked out of the way. “I’m good now.” “You wearing those sweatpants? You might get hot.” Damn. “No.” She lifted the pants she planned to wear with her good hand. They were skinny jeans and would require a bit of tugging. “Can you close your eyes?” This was going to be tricky, but she did need his help. “Sure.” He did as she asked. With her left hand, she grabbed his left hand and placed it on her right hip. She inhaled. “I need to get out of these. Now tug.” Together they got her pants off. That wasn’t so bad. She stepped out of them. The next part would be harder. “Now what?” “I need to put on my jeans. Can you get on your knees?” When he did, she swore her pussy got moist imagining what it would be like for him to have his mouth on her. Stop it. Getting involved with either man would ruin everything she’d worked so hard for. His lips lifted. Damn him. She dropped the jeans and they hit his hands. “Can you thread them over my feet?” She lightly tapped his knee with her toe so he knew where she was. He looked like he was fighting to keep from smiling. “I can do

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that.” As if by magic, he aligned her leg with the jean opening. He did the same for the other leg. Now the jeans pooled at her feet. “I can pull up one side if you do the other.” She hadn’t thought the maneuver through, because when she bent over to lift the pants, her lips were inches from his. She bet he could sense she was close. Kiss me. She jerked her head back. What had she been thinking? In tandem, they got her jeans up and over her hips, but she’d had to jump up and down to get them on. Without asking, he zipped her up and snapped the jeans together. His fingers seared her skin where they made contact. “Can I open my eyes yet?” Since she was dressed, she was fine with that. “Yes.” His gaze ran the length of her body. He was only four inches taller than her, but he seemed to tower above her. At five feet nine inches, it wasn’t often she had to look up at a man. “Shoes?” he said with a lift to his brow. “What about them?” He chuckled and quickly drew a hand down his chin. “You plan on wearing them?” “Oh!” Now she felt like a fool. “Yes. The socks are in the second dresser drawer. I’ll get my boots.” How had a simple act of dressing turned into her wishing she was no longer a ranch owner, but a carefree woman who could get naked with him? She needed to get a grip as her senses had overloaded. She remembered one May a few years back when Wade and Heath had come home from college and were over visiting her brothers. She’d just graduated from high school, and the Watson brothers suddenly announced they were going to marry her someday. She laughed, as did her brothers, but those words always stayed with her. Then two years ago, both Wade and Heath asked her out. They

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went to a few parties together, but when they put the moves on her, she’d freaked. They were sophisticated college graduates who owned a huge ranch. These two always seemed to know what they wanted. They’d hinted they were the kind of brothers who liked to share, but she wasn’t ready for that and refused to go out with them anymore. They kept trying for a few months, but eventually gave up. Is that why they were here? To try again? “I don’t do ménages,” she blurted out. Oh, shit. What if Wade and Heath really weren’t interested in her anymore. Now he was going to think she was conceited or at best presumptuous. Heath’s eyes darkened, and he closed the gap between them. Oh, shit.

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Chapter Four Samantha must have felt the sexual tension between them or she wouldn’t have spoken her mind. A ménage required all parties to drop their protective shields, and at the moment, she didn’t seem willing to do that. Heath understood full well that all three of them would have to connect on a level of who they really were. There was no place for pretenses. Sam had told him she always believed she needed to compete with men because it was a man’s world. Too bad she had no idea how beautiful her inner being really was. If only she could understand that he and Wade saw the whole woman underneath the façade, she might be willing to let them into her life. When they first met her, she wore sexy clothes and makeup. Not that they cared what she wore or how she dressed, but Sam seemed more herself when she let her femininity show. “Don’t worry. We’re only here to help you heal.” The seduction would come later. She stepped back, and a bit of hurt cut him deep inside. “Right.” She glanced down at the floor as if her outburst embarrassed her. “I really appreciate you two being here, but I’ll be able to figure out this dressing stuff in a couple of days.” “I know you will. In the meantime, we’ll be here for you.” He took hold of her good elbow. “Come on. It’s time for some shopping.” He wondered when was the last time Sam had relaxed enough to be herself. He’d asked around to see if she’d dated anyone, but no one owned up to going out with her. One guy said he was intimidated by a woman ranch owner. Tough luck for him.

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He and Wade had both driven over to her place because they agreed it would enable them to come and go. He’d brought his fiveyear-old Cadillac convertible in case he needed to drive Sam someplace. He held open the door for her. “You okay with the top down?” She hesitated for a minute. “I’ll need to pull my hair back.” She picked up her purse and pulled out a hair tie. He wondered how long it would take her to realize that two hands were needed for that chore. To save her from having to ask, he held out his hand. “Let me.” Another hesitation, but she finally gave in. “You know how?” He’d tied a ton of horses’ tails and watched his sisters do it enough times. “How hard can it be?” She turned her back, and he lifted her flowing mane. “Your hair’s really thick.” His cock got hard touching her. “I know. It’s a pain sometimes, especially now that I have to wash it with one hand.” “Well, I like it.” She might have blushed, but with her back to him, he couldn’t tell. His sisters did some twisting maneuver first. He pulled her hair back with one hand and placed it on the tie. Then in one quick move, he pulled the tie around and over. He let go and the ponytail fell. She laughed. “You have to twist the tie two or three times.” “I guess I’m a bad judge.” On the second try he got it. Then he separated the tail into two parts like he’d seen his sisters do and tugged. Looked good to him. She spun around and touched his handiwork. “It’s perfect. Thanks.” Actually, it was a bit lopsided. He couldn’t expect to get it right on his first try. Since she wouldn’t be getting her cast off for a while, he figured he’d be an expert by then. “Hold on a sec.” He threaded his hands around her face to straighten it. He was pleased she didn’t flinch. To him, that

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represented progress. “All set.” She pulled down the visor and glanced in the mirror. “You are good.” Her praise meant a lot to him. They arrived in Intrigue fifteen minutes later. The courthouse sat at one end of town. On the front lawn, a band had set up and was playing country music. Some families were wandering about while others had their lawn chairs and picnic baskets all ready to go. Maybe after they purchased the vegetables, Sam might like to listen to the music. He parked down Third Street, one block past the blocked-off street where the vendors sold their goods. “Ready for some shopping?” “Absolutely.” Her color improved as soon as she stepped outside. She lifted her head to the sun, and when the light fell on her face, she never looked prettier. Because it was crowded, Heath took her hand. They wended their way to Second Street where the booths went for four blocks. Some sold vegetables, but others sold nonperishable items. Sam pointed to the booth two from the front. “Look, there are two kids selling lemonade.” “You want some?” “Sure.” He’d never seen this side of her. She seemed relaxed and happy for the first time since her accident. He paid for two lemonades and continued down the row. Across the road he spotted his foreman’s son, dressed in a Boy Scout uniform, selling homemade chili. The twelveyear-old was with four others. “Let me say hi to Tommy. He’s my foreman’s son.” They made their way through the crowd over to the stand. “Hey, Mr. Watson.” He looked around for Wilt, his foreman, but there didn’t appear to be any adult supervision. “Where’s your dad?” Wilt was a single father who was as dedicated to the job as he was to raising his son.

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“He’s buying more meat. We never thought we’d have so many sales.” Heath smelled something burning. “You forget to stir the pot?” He nodded to the big pan on the portable gas stove at the back of the booth. Tommy’s eyes widened. “Oh, crap.” He rushed back to take care of it. He expected one of the other Boy Scouts to shoot up to the seller’s table, but Tommy’s friends seemed more interested in throwing beans at each other and goofing around than helping out. “You need a hand, sport?” Two more people came up to the table wanting to buy a bowlful. “Sure.” He leaned over to Sam. “You know anything about chili?” She smiled. “I’m no great cook, but chili is my specialty if you like it hot.” He had to grin. “I love hot.” Especially if it came in the female variety. Sam stepped over to the stove. “Can you find me a plastic spoon?” There was a whole container of them next to Tommy. He picked up two and returned to her side. “Here.” She tasted the mix, licked her lips, and glanced to the sky. What he wouldn’t give if she licked his cock that way. His balls tightened. He was helping the Boy Scouts, for God’s sake. He didn’t need to be thinking about having sex. That was almost sacrilegious. “It needs more onion, salt, and some cayenne pepper.” “You’re in charge.” He had to ask one of the helpers where to find the pepper. Only Wilt’s son was taking the selling seriously. Sam added the spices. “Can you chop up the onion?” She held up her hand. “I’m kind of handicapped.” “Happy to.” It took about three different tries, but eventually she seemed pleased with the result. Tommy came over and got three more

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bowlfuls. A red bean hit Heath in the head. He looked over at a wide-eyed kid. “I’m sorry. I was aiming at Sara.” That seemed to be a sister of one of the boys. Heath picked up two uncooked beans and lobbed them at each of the kids. They giggled. The food fight started. Heath ran after one of the kids who shrieked. Behind his back, Sam’s laughter reached him. It was a beautiful, light tone that sent his heart soaring. She was having fun. The kids must have taken a whole pack of beans, for all of a sudden, the bean missiles started flying everywhere. He ducked and dodged. Only a few actually hit him. “Ow.” His body froze for a second. He turned around and Sam was rubbing her face. He held up a hand. “That’s it, kids. Fun’s over.” He raced to her side. “You get nailed?” “On the cheek, but it didn’t hurt. The bean took me by surprise.” With a hand around her waist he led her outside the booth. Wilt rounded the corner and was jogging toward them when he waved. He got to them a bit out of breath. “Hey, you two.” He held up a package in his hand. “I had to get some more meat for the chili.” Heath guessed it was his way of apologizing for leaving the kids without supervision. “Tommy’s doing a great job. Sam and I were lending a hand until you got back.” “Appreciate it.” He looked down at Sam, whose cheeks were flushed. “Come on. We need to get those vegetables.” There was a new energy in his step. He and Wade had been so busy these last few years getting the ranch to a point where it was on a more even keel that they hadn’t spent a lot of time looking for a mate. Being with Sam confirmed she was the one for them. She slowed down in front of one stand and picked up some tomatoes. “These look amazing.”

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She was the one who looked amazing, but if he didn’t want to scare her off, he needed to take it slow. “Get a few.” He spotted some onions, carrots, and zucchini and picked them up. From the way Sam was sorting through the offerings and making all sorts of cute oohs and aahs, she didn’t come here often. “Find anything else you like?” She looked up and grinned. His groin tightened. “This place is amazing. I forgot how wonderful this weekly market was.” They went to four more booths and bought more than they could possibly eat in a month. “Let’s put our purchases in the car then listen to some music.” When she hesitated, he thought his fun adventure would be done. “Sure.” He was a bit surprised at his relief. Today couldn’t have gone better. Once they placed the food in the car, he pulled a blanket from the trunk. “Ready?” Heath expected her to balk when he took her hand, but she was the one to tighten the grip. It was as if she’d tossed her I-am-rancherwoman persona out the door. He bet a week ago, she’d never be seen in public holding hands with a man. That would show weakness in her mind. Heath wanted to savor this moment and hoped she’d be herself more often. Sam found a spot off to the side of the lawn. “This good?” She could have picked the middle of the crowd and he would have unfurled the blanket there. “Sure.” He spread out the blanket. “You want a drink?” He nodded to the stand selling water, soda, and some fruited–crushed ice concoctions. “I’ll take the crushed ice drink.” “What flavor?” “You pick.” Wow. She was giving him control? Something had gotten into her. Maybe it was the beautiful June day, all full of sunshine, or she’d had

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time since her shooting to reevaluate what she found important. He hoped he and Wade fit into the important category. There were several choices of flavors, but she seemed like a strawberry type to him. Just in case he misjudged her, he got the blueberry flavor so they could swap. One of his ranch hands was in the local band that was playing. He’d never heard Rusty play the guitar before, but the guy was good. Heath dropped beside Sam. “Strawberry or blueberry?” She glanced from one to the other. For a second, he pictured both he and Wade naked on both sides of her, asking her to pick one over the other. His gut churned. While he’d never be jealous if Sam and Wade hooked up, he desperately wanted the three of them to be together. “Blueberry.” He chuckled. “I picked you for a strawberry girl.” She narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips but her eyes twinkled. “Which is exactly why I didn’t pick it. It’s too girly.” That was the core of her issues. “What’s wrong with being a girl?” He took a gulp of his drink. He was curious if she was even aware of her I want to compete in a man’s world attitude. “Girls don’t get any respect. Men do.” He shook his head. “People earn the respect.” “Men earn respect.” She leaned back on her elbows. “Let me tell you what happened two months ago when I went to Dunkirk’s lumberyard.” “Mike’s a good man.” “Well, I didn’t get waited on by Mike. I don’t remember who it was, but I needed to replace one of the panels in the barn. Frisky had had a fit and knocked it down.” She waved her casted arm. “Anyhoo, when I asked for the price, he told me some number above retail. When I challenged him, he said that particular wood was in short supply.” “I never heard of any of Mike’s men doing that.”

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“Wait. It gets better. Just as I was about to rip him a new one, Jake shows up.” “Nice mouth.” She smiled sweetly. “Jake talks to this guy for about ten seconds, and suddenly, I get this awesome deal.” “So what you’re saying is that if you’d been a man, this worker wouldn’t have tried to take advantage of you.” “That’s right. I run into that kind of stuff all the time.” He ran a hand down her arm. “I’d be mad, too.” “So you see why I have to drink the blueberry one?” He laughed. She looked so adorable until she punched him in the arm. Heath leaned back on his elbows. The day couldn’t get any better. There was wonderful weather, families having fun, and the perfect woman next to him. “Can I try the strawberry?” Her voice came out so soft he barely heard her above the twang of the guitar. He leaned in front of her, and her eyes got wide as if she thought he might kiss her. The thought banged around in his head, but he decided not to take the chance and ruin everything. “I’ll block everyone’s view in case someone sees you taste it.” He couldn’t help but grin. She stuck her tongue out at him, leaned over, and sipped his drink. The idea of having her lips where his had been created havoc in his pants. When she closed her eyes after taking a sip, he nearly lost it. He must have groaned for her eyes sprang open. “Something wrong?” “No. Nothing.” Shit. He’d almost blown it. By the time Rusty’s band took a break, Heath’s stomach was grumbling. That fruity drink made him thirstier and hungrier for some real food. “You up for some corn dogs or pizza? That’s real man food, just so you know.” He winked. She grinned. “I’m not that bad.”

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“You dress like a man and are afraid of being seen kissing a man in public. You even said you’re concerned about your image.” Yes, he was goading her, but he wanted to make her see what she was missing by focusing so hard on being something other than who she was deep inside. The old Samantha loved being a woman. He wanted her to find her old self. She stuck out her chest. “No one would mistake me for a man.” He couldn’t help himself. “Hmm.” He leaned to the right and left. “I don’t know. You’re as tall as your foreman. Okay, the hair does give it away.” He reached over and pulled off her hair tie. Her beautiful hair flared out. “Now you look like a woman.” “Funny.” She held out her hand. Since she couldn’t pull her own hair back, he tossed the tie to her. Heath jumped up and held out a hand. “Come on. I’m hungry.” He wanted to find a booth that served something a bit healthier than corndogs. From now on, Sam had to focus on getting better. This time of day, the streets were crowded. They must have stopped to talk to a dozen folks. He wondered if they’d ever make it to a booth. Every time they ran into someone Sam knew, she pulled her hand out of his and straightened her shoulders. He watched her closely. There seemed to be a fear inside her that they’d judge her for having fun or something. If she didn’t get a handle on dealing with others, she might end up alone and unhappy. As soon as she finished her conversation, he drew her near. “I think we’d be better off whipping up some food at home. This place is getting too busy. You okay with that?” Her face was a bit pale. “Sure.” Damn. He should have taken her home as soon as they bought the food. Listening to the bands, then spending an hour chatting seemed to be taking a toll on her. “When we get home, I need to get you into bed.” Her eyes widened for a second, and he realized how she’d misinterpreted his comment. She didn’t tell him to go to hell, so maybe there was hope.

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Chapter Five Every part of Sam’s body ached. Getting shot had sapped her energy more than she was willing to admit. “Go take a nap and I’ll fix us something to eat,” Heath said. If she could rest for a few minutes, she’d be as good as new. She went into her bedroom and kicked off her boots, and once again didn’t bother taking anything else off. Undressing had become such a chore. She closed her eyes and smiled. Taking a trip to town had really changed her opinion of Heath. He was a good man. She loved how he volunteered to help Tommy and the Boy Scout troop with the chili sales. Never would she have expected him to participate in the bean fight, let alone help her make the chili for the kids. That had been so much fun. She also enjoyed hanging out and listening to the different bands. Heath seemed to know someone in each group. From the number of people who came up to chat with him, all of Intrigue thought highly of him. The only comments that still gnawed at her were the ones about her acting like a man. Maybe she had gotten away from dressing up and showing her feminine side for fear the men who worked for her would see her only as a woman and not as someone they could take orders from. She was so confused. Today, she’d not worried once about being a ranch owner, but instead was just herself. She loved every minute of her time with Heath, but if she got too caught up in having fun, she might lose leverage with her men. Aargh. She forced her mind to think of something else, and finally she fell asleep. When she awoke the light coming through the window

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had darkened. Her stomach grumbled. Heath was making her a late lunch and she’d slept through it. She went into the bathroom and brushed her teeth before heading out to the kitchen. No one was there. “Heath? Wade?” How strange to be alone. She went to the fridge and spotted a note attached with a magnet. Wade and I needed to do some prep work for our party at our ranch. I grilled a piece of chicken and some zucchini for you. We’ll be back later. Hope you had a good sleep. Heath. How sweet of him to do that for her. She pulled out the container and laughed at the pink bow on top. She guessed he thought all women did bows. Or maybe he was telling her to wear more pink. She sat at the table thinking about how she never had to act tough around Heath, and yet he seemed to respect her needs and wishes. As she ate, she let her mind wander. She pictured what it might be like to be with him. The first thing that came to mind was touching his hot body. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d gone out with a man, let alone had sex. Heath would be a gentle and considerate lover, she bet. Too bad, the small town would be rife with rumors if she slept with him. And then there was Wade. Despite the two men being brothers, they were quite different. The Wade she knew wouldn’t have considered going shopping or sitting on the grass listening to local bands play. As far as getting to touch his body, he’d be the type to tie her hands behind her back and lick her pussy until she screamed his name. Then he’d slam her against the wall and take her hard and fast. “Hello?” Heat raced up her face at her lurid thoughts. “In here.” She picked up her plate and placed it in the sink.

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They both came in looking way too sexy. The front of Wade’s hair was windblown and Heath looked like he’d gotten a bit too much sun today. They smelled like fresh air. “You eat?” Heath said. “I just finished. I conked out and just got up. The grilled chicken was wonderful. Thanks for the pink bow.” She laughed. Wade looked between them. “A pink bow?” “Long story,” she said. Heath pulled meat from the refrigerator. “I figured the grilled lunch needed a feminine touch.” “Ah.” Wade looked tired. He pulled out a beer and sat with her at the table while Heath prepared a meal. “I just ate, so only fix food for you and Wade.” Heath nodded. She turned to Wade. “How are the party preparations coming?” “Good. We ordered the fireworks along with one of those inflatable bounce houses for the kids to play in.” She bet the kids of his hired hands would love that. “How many people are you expecting?” “We’ve got twenty workers. If you count their spouses and kids, I’m betting close to eighty.” “That’s a big affair.” Heath turned around and waved a pancake turner. “That’s why I wanted it catered. I don’t mind doing the grilling, but I’d suck at potato salad.” That was very nice of them to have a party for their workers. When she was growing up, her mom used to throw parties like that, too. In no time, Heath had grilled two steaks and some vegetables. He placed the food on two plates. “Want to eat in the living room and watch a movie?” Wade looked at her. “You okay with that?”

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“Sure.” They went into the living room. The most comfortable seat was the sofa, so she sat on one end and Wade took the other. Heath sat across from them on the overstuffed chair. Wade handed her the remote. “Your house. You get to choose the movie.” She laughed. “I’m not that demanding, am I?” Their brows rose. That wasn’t good. Not that she wanted these men, but she didn’t want to come off as a woman who had an impenetrable wall built around her. “Absolutely not,” Heath said with a damn smile on his face. Possibly to test them, she found a romantic comedy. “This okay with you boys?” They both shrugged. She honestly didn’t remember much of the movie for she kept dozing off. The sound of the television clicked off and a strong pair of arms lifted her. She cracked open an eye. Wade was carrying her into the bedroom. Being in his arms was comforting, but a bit disconcerting. That image of him making love with her against a wall flashed in her eyes, but she was too tired to resist. He placed her on the bed. “We need to take off your boots and get you out of some of your clothes.” She would wake up in a deep sweat if she slept all night in these clothes. “Okay.” He clicked on the light then tugged off her boots and socks. “You need help with the pants?” She’d been through this routine before. “Yes.” Her underpants were as covering as a bathing suit bottom so it wasn’t like he’d really be seeing anything. Wade wouldn’t make a move unless she gave him the okay. He unhooked her belt then unbuttoned and unzipped her pants, never once touching her skin. He was all business. “Lift your butt.”

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She did and he pulled the pants over her hips. Fortunately, as soon as she felt her panties slip, she grabbed hold. With his eyes averted, he pulled off her pants. She sat up, ready to get rid of the top. “Can you go into my top drawer and pull out a T-shirt?” She liked wearing something simple to bed. “Will any one do?” “Not too thin.” She caught the slight upturn to his lips. He pulled out one that would cover her quite well. “This good?” “Sure.” He handed the top to her. “Now close your eyes.” “Sugar, looking doesn’t hurt anyone.” She laughed. “You think I’m going to get naked in front of you?” He sat on the edge of the bed. “I don’t know what you think of me and Heath, but you have my word that as long as you’re incapacitated, we won’t touch you.” If what he said was the truth, her recovery would go a lot smoother. That way, they could help her dress and wash without all this eye-closing stuff. “Fine.” She lifted her arms for him to help her out of her top. In one quick movement, the top came off. Now came the tempting part. She turned her back. “Can you unhook me?” With one pinch, the bra came undone. How did he manage to remove her clothes without laying a hand on her? She pulled down the bra and tossed it aside. She picked up the top and threaded both hands through the short sleeves by herself but couldn’t get it pulled down without his help. Without asking, he tugged it into position. She refused to address the fact that she was a bit disappointed when, once again, he made no contact. She faced him. “Thank you.” “Need anything else?” “No.”

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Wade stood. “Holler if you need anything.” She tried to stay awake for a bit because she needed time to think about Heath and Wade. Her body had other ideas, and she crashed. When she awoke, not only were her covers tucked in, but it was light out. She sat up and checked her injuries. Her fingers on her right hand were a bit swollen, but she was able to wiggle them. That was progress. Her goal for today was to wash her hair, and maybe convince one of the men to let her go for a short ride. She’d need help saddling her horse, but she figured she could mount the horse with only her left hand. The dumb doctor had no idea how well she rode. When she got out of bed she noticed she was only wearing her underpants and a T-shirt. The image of Wade taking them off flashed in her mind. Darn. No way would she waltz into the kitchen dressed like that. Despite Wade’s promise, she wasn’t in the mood to test either of the men’s willpower. She pulled out a pair of rather ugly sweatpants and tugged them on. Boots were out of the question, so she settled for sandals. After she washed up, she went in search of food. Heath was in the kitchen looking mighty fine in his tattered jeans and tight T-shirt. He turned around and smiled. “How did you sleep?” “Great.” That was the truth. “You have good timing. I was just about to wake you up. Breakfast will be ready shortly.” With his back to her, she couldn’t tell what he had planned. He hustled between the cabinets, the refrigerator, and the stove. A few minutes later, he brought a plate of food, along with a cup of tea. “May I have some coffee?” “That’s not good for you. I brewed some green tea. It’s full of antioxidants to help with the healing process.” “You have to be kidding. Where did you get the green tea?” He certainly hadn’t found any in her cabinets, in part because she never drank the stuff. She needed hard-core caffeine in the morning.

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“I went shopping early this morning.” “You didn’t have to go to all that trouble for me.” “You’re worth it.” Both Heath and Wade kept throwing her off-kilter. Just when she thought she’d figured them out, they did something unexpected. She studied what he’d put in front of her. The combination of food seemed odd. He’d made an omelet along with a bunch of broccoli placed next to several different kinds of nuts. “What is all this?” She was more of a bacon, hash brown, egg girl. “I did a lot of research last night on how to build your immune system. From now on it’s healthy living for you. I made sure you’d have the right balance of protein, carbohydrates, and fats. From here on out, there will be no processed food.” “That’s not going to work.” “Try it, and then decide.” He pulled out a chair and sat. Apparently, she wasn’t going to get out of tasting the food. He’d made an egg white omelet with something dark inside. She broke open the end. There appeared to be spinach, mushrooms, and zucchini inside. She took a bite. To her surprise, it was delicious. “This is great.” He raised his brows. “Did you think I’d serve you something terrible?” She laughed. “I usually eat what’s convenient, and I don’t pay much attention to nutrition.” “That’s going to change. Not only will you be on a regimented diet, but I want to build up your stamina.” Her mind shot straight to having sex for hours with him. Stop that. “What did you have in mind?” “Short walks at first followed by some light weight training.” “You have to be kidding.” “I’ve called a physical therapist friend of mine. As soon as you get that cast off, you’ll need a lot of work to get your arm back to full strength.”

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Heath and Wade were taking her recovery so seriously. “I appreciate that.” While she finished her healthy breakfast, Heath read the paper. He must have picked one up when he’d gone to the store. “Where’s Wade?” Heath lowered the paper. “He had work at the ranch to attend to. He’ll be back in a bit.” “You don’t have to babysit.” He cocked a brow. “Ten bucks says if I’m not here, you’ll get one of the hands to help you ride. Since they aren’t aware of your restrictions, they’ll saddle your horse for you.” Damn him. How did he always know what she was thinking? She didn’t bother answering him. “Since you’re going to make sure I stick to all the doctor’s orders, how about helping me wash my hair?” Instantly, an image of them naked in the shower came to mind. He put the paper down and smiled, but his fingers gripped the paper a bit too tightly. “I’d like nothing better.” She couldn’t quite reconcile the smile with the clenched hands. She polished off her antioxidants. In truth, the green tea was nice, but she still missed her coffee. Placing her cup on her plate, she carried it to the sink. While she couldn’t wash any dishes, she might be able to put them in the dishwasher. She appreciated that Heath let her do as much as she could. “I guess you’ll have to do the rest.” “After we wash your hair.” She wondered if he’d take any liberties with her. Am I hoping? No way. “I’ll get my stuff and meet you in the guest bathroom. That’s the only one with a tub.” She had no intention of getting naked in front of him in the shower, though if he got naked, too, it might be nice, but that would only happen in her dreams. When she returned with her shampoo and conditioner, Heath had the water running. This bathroom had a handheld showerhead and

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was perfect for washing her hair. “You ever wash anyone’s hair before?” “No, but how hard can it be?” It was cute that he was willing to try. Most men would have told her to call up a girlfriend to help her. But not these two. Both Wade and Heath didn’t live their lives in a stereotypical way. Given the prejudice she’d faced in the last six months, their attitudes were a refreshing change. She got on her knees, leaned the top part of her body over the rim, and dropped her head. “I don’t care if the shirt gets wet.” “Tell me if this water is too hot.” He ran the spray over her head. “It’s perfect.” Before he wet her hair, he placed a towel on her back, partly covering her neck. That might prevent soaking her shirt. When he poured the shampoo onto her head, his fingers went to work, but so did her mind. She kept her eyes closed and pictured his hands on other parts of her body. Fantasizing never hurt anyone as long as she didn’t act on it. His fingers were strong but gentle. “You have such wonderful hair.” The awe in his tone sent a shiver down her spine. “It has its drawbacks.” Damn. Why couldn’t she just accept the compliment? “Time for rinsing.” He spent a long time making sure he washed away all the shampoo. “How much of this conditioner do you use?” “That’s hard to say. I need a light layer throughout the hair.” “I’ll do my best.” Since he was leaning next to her, his hips rubbed against hers, and his arms constantly brushed against her back. How was a girl not supposed to picture what it would be like to be in his arms? She’d misjudged both of the men. Two years ago when she’d gone out with both of them, she’d been so focused on being afraid they’d try to take her to bed that she never took the time to get to know them. He slathered on the conditioner. “You’ll need to leave it on for a

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few minutes,” she instructed. “Can I help you wash something else while I wait?” From his tone, he was kidding. At least she thought he was. “Funny man.” In truth, if he were this thorough washing her hair, what would he be like cleaning her body? “Do you make a habit of saving damsels in distress?” She added a slight chuckle to her question so she didn’t appear to be prying. “You’re our first.” Really? “You can rinse me now.” He ran the water over her head while he rubbed her scalp. He shut off the water. She held out her hand. “Towel?” He handed her the one from her back. She placed it on her head, but had a hard time twisting the front to make a turban. “Let me.” Heath did the best he could drying her hair. “I’m good. Thanks.” She stood up and glanced in the mirror. She looked like Medusa. The curls and tangles stuck out at odd angles. She picked up her brush and worked through the ends. Heath’s cell rang. “Yeah? Now? Okay.” He disconnected. “Wade needs me at the ranch for a bit. You okay by yourself?” “Absolutely. Don’t worry about me.” “I shouldn’t be too long.” Take your time. She continued to detangle her hair until Heath left. The moment the door closed, she rushed to her bedroom. She might look funny riding around in sweatpants, but her need to get out on the range overrode her appearance. After she pulled on her boots, she rushed outside to the barn. Jake was in there talking to one of the hands. Good thing her foreman had no idea about the doctor’s orders. “Hey, Jake?” He cut short his discussion and jogged over. “You’re feeling

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better?” “Completely.” She lifted her cast. “Could you saddle him for me?” Jake puffed out his chest. “Sure.” She was glad he didn’t comment on her messed-up hair. While she waited, she practically bounced up and down. She hadn’t ridden since the accident and couldn’t wait to ride around the ranch and check out the property. “There you go.” Jake held out his hand. “Need help getting up?” He acted like he hoped she would. Showing weakness would not be good. “I’m good.” She placed her left foot in the stirrup, held onto the horn, and swung her leg over. God, it felt good being in the saddle again. She rubbed her horse’s flank and headed out. The sunshine and clean air bolstered her spirits. Who needed to eat antioxidants when she could ride and get strong? For the next hour, she raced around, checking with her men and enjoying the feel of being in charge again. While it took some concentration to maneuver the horse with one hand, she adapted well. She was checking the fence between her property and the Watson’s when the sounds of a galloping horse approached. She turned around. Wade was on her before he knew it. His clenched jaw made her steel her body against the impending assault. “What the fuck are you doing?” That did it. “I’m running my ranch.” “The doctor told you not to ride.” Before she could tell him to back off, he swung his horse next to hers, wrapped an arm around her waist, and dragged her onto his horse. “Hey.” She wanted to kick and scream, but she knew it wouldn’t do any good. He had her good and tight. Wade took off with her back smashed against his chest. He was going so fast, she didn’t dare jump off.

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“Hold still.” He yanked his arm tighter around her waist. As soon as they stopped, she was going to tell him to go to hell.

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Chapter Six Riding double dug into her pussy, not that Wade seemed to care. Couldn’t he tell the jostling was doing more damage than if he’d let her ride alongside him? He pulled to a stop in front of her house, jumped off, and eased her to the ground. He got his nose within an inch of her face. “What part of don’t ride didn’t you understand? Didn’t you know that if you’d fallen, you could have seriously injured yourself?” Her mouth gaped open. She planted her good hand on her hip. “I’ve been riding since I could walk, and I’ve never ever fallen off a horse.” The nerve of him to tell her what she could and couldn’t do. The man was impossible. She spun around and headed inside. The jerk followed her. “From now on, you’re grounded.” She stopped dead in her tracks and waited until her breaths evened out before facing him. “You are a guest in my house. I’m not married to you, so you can’t boss me around.” That seemed to freeze him. In fact, the color in his face partially drained. “You think that marriage is a ball and chain? That when two or more people wed, the man, or rather the men, have a right to tell the wife what to do?” He acted like that never happened in society. “Yes, in a way.” “Babe, it’s not always like that.” Why was he trying to confuse her? “It doesn’t matter. You have no right to tell me how to run my life.” “Until you get that cast off, Heath and I will be here to protect you against yourself. While I’ve never known rustlers coming after the

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owner, we can’t be too sure what they’ll do until they’re caught.” He acted like the rustling was personal. “You think they’re targeting me?” He ran a hand across his head. “None of your neighbors have been hit. Just you.” “Maybe because I’m a woman.” He shook his head. “My gut tells me you’re wrong.” She didn’t want to think about who might be after her. As far as she knew, she didn’t have many enemies. “I can’t let that stop me from running my ranch.” He approached. This time, the fury had subsided and something else filled his eyes. He tilted her chin up and her pulse flared. “If you get on a horse before your cast comes off, I’ll spank your behind until it’s a bright, rosy red. Got it?” The image of being naked on his lap dampened her panties. Surely, he wasn’t thinking along those lines. “Got it.” “I have work to do. Can you behave or do I need to lock you in your room?” Why was he being so frigging possessive all of a sudden? “I can be good.” “One of us will stop in periodically to check up on you.” He lowered his hand and stomped out. “Well, that didn’t go so well.” That reminded her of when Jake had stomped out. Men. Frustrated, she picked up her Kindle from the coffee table and stretched out on the sofa. Once she was able to wrap her head around what happened, she’d figure out a way to do her job. **** Over the next few weeks, the claustrophobia was almost too much to bear. The best she could do was go for long walks, but there was no replacement for getting in a good ride. Jake came over a couple of

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times a day to see if she needed anything and to give her updates. That helped, but she yearned to get on a horse and even muck a few stalls. Most of her time was spent paying bills and keeping track of expenses and income. She was making money, but not enough to afford hiring more hands. Once winter came, she’d have to find a place to keep her cattle, but she had time before she had to put that into action. She dropped her head back and closed her eyes. Running a ranch was a lot more tedious work than what she’d expected. Maybe she should try some other line of work. If she did, it would have to include horses. Riding was her life. If only she could find a way to run a ranch and not have deal with the damned cattle. Too bad, they were needed to make money. She wouldn’t let Heath or Wade see her frustration. She didn’t need their input. They still spent the night, but after her recent horse riding, Wade mostly stayed away. His attitude slowly improved as he became convinced she’d remain out of harm’s way. As angry as she had been at him, not seeing him every day hurt more. If he’d broken his arm, she bet he’d have been on a horse the next day, with or without the doctor’s permission. On a positive note, the nerve damage had all but disappeared, and she could finally use her fingers again. That allowed her to get dressed pretty quickly and not rely on her men. As for cooking, Heath would fire up the grill and make a week’s worth of meat for her, along with a ton of vegetables. Preparing meals was not an issue. The only bad part was that since he was the one who went to the store, he refused to buy coffee or any other greasy or sweet food. Good thing Jake put no such restrictions on her. He snuck in lots of unhealthy stuff for her to eat. She poured herself a drink and went into the living room to read. The Fourth of July was fast approaching, and she had wanted to have a party for her men and their families, but without being able to drive,

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she couldn’t organize the affair. She could have asked her sister, April, for help, but she didn’t want to impose on her time. “Hey!” She jerked her head up. Heath was looking down at her. “I didn’t hear you come in.” “I figured. You ready?” “Ready for what?” “Your doctor’s appointment.” She hadn’t kept track of time. In a way, it seemed like yesterday that she’d been shot. “Oh, yeah. I forgot.” Being with Heath was nice. He never lectured her like Wade did. Her only issue with Heath was his insistence on her eating healthier foods. As much as she loved her coffee and sweets, she was feeling better after following his meal plan. She must have read three magazines by the time the doctor called her in. He X-rayed her arm and studied the bone. “You’ve healed well. I’m going to take off the cast. Mind you, you’ll be very stiff.” “I figured.” She hadn’t bent her elbow in weeks. Heath had promised to help her recover fully. The doctor cut off the cast and the cool air was a welcome relief. She attempted to straighten her arm, but the immediate pain took her breath away. “Easy now. Take your time. You won’t get full use for a day or two.” He checked out the bullet wound. “Everything looks good as new.” Her ordeal was almost over. The first thing she was going to do was take a nice hot bath. Heath was reading a magazine when she came out. He jumped up and grinned. “You’re back!” Sam held out her bent arm. “I will be as soon as I straighten the dang thing.” She tugged a little, and her arm moved a bit. Heath wrapped an arm around her and led her to the car. “Don’t

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worry. We’ll have you roping and riding in no time.” She blew out a relieved breath. “I can’t wait.” “Tomorrow is the fourth. Do want to ride downtown with me to see the parade?” She wasn’t sure if she could drive, so that sounded like a good idea. Her parents wouldn’t be going, so catching a ride with Heath seemed the best. “Sure.” “You know what would help you move that arm the fastest?” She’d try anything. “What?” “A whirlpool.” She blew out a breath. “Where would I find one of those?” “Just so happens, we have one. How about you grab a bathing suit and you can soak your arm for as long as you wish.” She had no desire to owe the Watson brothers anything more, but a whirlpool was too good to pass up. “I’d like that.” He pulled into her drive. “I’ll wait here.” Sam rushed in, feeling free for the first time in weeks. It took a bit of searching to find her suit. She didn’t go swimming very often. She brought a towel and another change of clothes for when it got colder later on. It was nice to be able to grab a handful of clothes and not worry about dropping them. Once back in the car, Heath took off. When they pulled into his drive, she was surprised by the number of cars in the drive. “You having a party today?” “These are the pre-planning party people. Remember, I’m grilling, but the rest will be catered. We also hired a company to put in one of those blow-up jumping pens for the kids.” “That’s right, you did mention that.” “Even our father is flying out to celebrate.” Heath seemed excited. She’d heard his mom had died a few years back. A bit of envy seeped in. Family was so important to her. Because they’d just thrown a big bash for her dad’s birthday, her folks decided to forgo the usual Fourth of July picnic on their ranch. Instead,

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they were driving to Cheyenne to see some friends. Sam hadn’t been in the Watson ranch house before. While she’d seen it from the road, the one-story home was larger up close. Heath cut the engine, got out, and rushed around to open her door. “Let me show you where you can change.” Inside, the house smelled like rich cedar and leather. There was a sunken living room with leather sofas and chairs. One wall was mostly glass and overlooked the range and mountains in the distance. “This is beautiful.” “I’m glad you like it.” Heath took her hand and led her down the hallway. “You can change in here.” When he pushed open the door, her breath caught. She never expected such a feminine room. “I like it.” “It’s pink.” She turned around. “I see that.” “I thought you didn’t do pink. That it’s too girly.” Heath had picked out her cast color when she was sedated. She’d gotten used to the feminine color. “I can appreciate some frill.” She didn’t ask why two men would have such a feminine room. Maybe they liked to entertain women, and this was their way of letting the women know they had a feminine side. He smiled and nodded as if he didn’t believe her. She ducked in and quickly changed. The problem was that she hadn’t been this naked in years. The suit had been a present from her younger sister who insisted that every girl needed a sexy two-piece. Now, Sam regretted not buying something more concealing. Using the towel she brought, she wrapped it around her body. She might look stupid, but she didn’t care. When she stepped out, Heath wasn’t around. She found her way back to the living room. Heath came out of the kitchen carrying two drinks in large plastic cups, wearing board shorts. Her breath hitched at the sight. His rippled abs and broad chest made her heart race.

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“Ready?” She expected him to comment on the towel, but he didn’t. “Yes.” “Follow me.” They exited onto a large, raised, wooden deck, which took them down some steps. At the bottom sat a large pool with an attached whirlpool. The view from there was stunning. Heath set down the cups and held out his hand. “Ready for some therapy?” She inhaled and dropped the large towel. Despite it being July, there was a bit of a chill to the air. Heath moved toward her. His eyes got that smoldering, molten look to them. Uh-oh. She dropped her gaze and let him lead her into the water. “Whoa. That’s hot.” “You’ll get used to it in a minute. Your arm will love it. Remember, we’re doing this for medicinal purposes.” Two workers were about two hundred feet away installing the inflatable house. Given there were people coming and going, she’d be safe. She did have that moment when she wanted to rub her fingers over his rippled abs. “Okay.” When she got to the middle of the whirlpool and dropped into the water, her arm burned. The skin was sensitive from being in the cast for so long. Heath reached out and massaged her fingers. “Go sit on the bench and let me work your arm.” “I’m game.” There was a recliner in the whirlpool with a headrest. She slipped onto it, leaned back, and gave Heath her arm. He was kneeling next to her, rubbing her fingers, and then massaging her arm. She couldn’t think of anything better right now. “You got your cast off! Mind if I join you?” She jerked up at Wade’s voice. He was dressed in boots and jeans so she was sure he just wanted to see her reaction. “Sure.” It was his house. Wade kicked off his boots and socks, shucked his shirt, and unbuckled his pants. “You need a suit.” Panic gripped her.

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“Why?” That was a stupid comment. “You can’t get in here naked.” “Darn. Here I thought you’d come over here to seduce us, and I was willing to oblige.” He probably was only kidding, but his tone held a bit too much cheer. “That’ll be the day.” His laughter came out full-bodied and oh so sexy. He took off his jeans and stood there deliciously in his boxers. She tried to look away but couldn’t. He had the same rippled abs as Heath and shoulders just as broad, but Wade’s torso was a bit longer. She skipped over the middle portion of his body and checked out his bulging thighs. Oh, my. “You need more time to study my body, babe? I can give you a personal showing if you want.” Her face heated up hotter than any whirlpool water. “No.” She looked back at Heath, who was smiling. “Maybe I should leave.” Heath stepped between her and Wade. He looked over his shoulder at her. “I’ll keep you safe.” “Said the fox to the hen.” Both men chuckled. Wade stepped into the water, and she imagined his cock was vividly outlined, though her view was blocked by Heath. “Let me see her arm.” Heath stepped aside. Sam wasn’t sure what he planned to do, but running a finger from her shoulder to her wrist wasn’t it. The bubbles tickled, but Wade’s touch ignited another part of her body that had been dormant for years. Part of her wanted him, but her reasonable half told her to stay away. She slowly withdrew her arm from his grasp. “What’s wrong? Can’t handle a real man’s touch?” His challenge raised the hairs on her neck. About ten retorts formed on her lips, all of which would get her in trouble. “I trust Heath more.” He looked over his shoulder, shrugged, and stepped back. Damn.

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She thought he’d ignore anything she said. Stupid. Heath took his place. “Don’t worry. I’ll protect you against the big, bad wolf.” They were playing her. “I don’t need any more protecting. I can handle your brother.” She sat up and puffed out her chest. Wade stepped out of the whirlpool. When he turned around, his large cock tented his nearly see-through boxers. Not even if someone yelled fire could she drag her gaze from his huge weapon. “I’ll see you tomorrow, babe. We’ve got a lot of catching up to do.” He swooped down and picked up his clothes. She didn’t blink until he’d disappeared inside. Heath laughed. “You’ve got it bad, darlin’.” His words registered. She was in big trouble now.

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Chapter Seven Heath was good enough not to tease her about her reaction to Wade practically being naked in the whirlpool, but she couldn’t erase the image of him looking down at her with such lust in his gaze. If she had to pick a man or two to have sex with, she wouldn’t mind having it with either man, but she saw no reason to ruin her reputation with these two. After working hard to build the trust on her ranch, Jake was responding to her requests and the men did as she asked. She didn’t need to have the two Watson brothers sniffing around and ruining everything. Once she was able to straighten her arm, Heath brought her home. The heat had done wonders for the healing process. “Thanks for letting me use the whirlpool.” “My pleasure. The parade starts at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow. Can I pick you up at 9:00 a.m.?” She had no other plans. “Sure.” Heath waved and headed back to his car. Even though she’d been in a whirlpool for close to an hour, she needed to wash her hair and shower. Being able to fully use both hands would be such a high. But first, she wanted to see her horse and take a ride. Racing over the grounds would renew her spirits like none other. When she approached the barn, Jake was talking to two men she’d never seen before. They took one look at her, nodded, then headed out. She sidled up to Jake. “Who was that?” “Two old friends. Hey, I see you got your cast off.”

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“Can you believe it? Finally. I can’t wait to ride.” “Let me help you with the saddle.” She normally would have done it herself, but her arm hadn’t completely regained its strength. “Thanks.” Once her quarter horse spotted her, he snorted and pranced. He was probably in as much need of a gallop as she was. She mounted and walked her horse outside. He was a bit skittish, and she warmed him up slowly. As she headed across her property, she inhaled the clean air, loving being in the saddle again. There was nothing more exhilarating than being in the refreshing Wyoming air surrounded by the mountains. As she rode toward the Watson property, she relived her whirlpool experience. A bit of heat raced up her body. At the image of Wade proudly standing before her, her pussy gushed again. Both men excited her, but she knew a relationship with them would never happen. There was something about her running a ranch that bothered them. Well, too damn bad. After an hour, she was beginning to fatigue and headed back to the barn. She was pleased at how well her arm was holding up. Her strength had returned more than she would have guessed. Once her horse got within sight of the place, he sped up. “Easy, boy.” She walked him into the barn. Jake was there. “How did it go?” “It was great to be back in the saddle.” “I’ll rub him down for you.” Why was he being so nice? “I can handle it.” “Never said you couldn’t. Just thought I’d do something to help.” If he was offering, why not? “I appreciate it.” “Say, are you going to watch the parade tomorrow?” Was he asking her out? She couldn’t lie. “Heath is picking me up.” That was safe to say. It wasn’t a date per se. “You need to watch those two.” She so didn’t want to get into a spitting match between those guys.

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“Thanks for the warning. Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow there.” “You bet.” That was an awkward exchange. This was precisely why she shouldn’t date anyone. Not that going with Heath was a date, or so she tried to tell herself, but rumors might fly. Once she got home, she charged into the shower. Getting to wash her own hair without having to wrap her arm would be freeing. The hot water pulsed over her body. She scrubbed every inch, including her arm. There was a scar where the bullet penetrated, but in time, the redness should go away. To her, the injury was a badge of honor. It showed she was a survivor. After she ate the food Heath had prepared, she headed to bed. It was strange being in the house by herself. While she didn’t always interact with the men, especially if they came in late, she felt calm knowing one of them was there in case something happened. Between the whirlpool relaxing her muscles and the hour-long ride, she fell asleep right away. Morning came all too soon. She’d slept better than she had in weeks. Having the cast off was incredibly helpful. Since the sun was shining, she figured it might be hot standing around watching the parade. Instead of her normal jeans, she pulled on a thin pair and tugged on a short-sleeve T-shirt. In case the festivities went late, she decided to bring a denim jacket along. She’d just finished breakfast when the doorbell rang. Heath was early. She jogged to the door and pulled it open. Wade came instead. “Where’s Heath?” His hand slapped his chest. “You wound me. Heath’s busy and sent me instead. Can you handle that?” She couldn’t tell if he was challenging her or not. “Sure.” “You ready?” “Let me get my wallet.” She rushed back inside. In case she wanted to buy something, she wanted cash. As she walked out, she pulled her hair into a ponytail. It was great to be able to fix her own hair for a change.

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“How about leaving it down?” From the way his eyelids lowered, he wanted her to be more feminine. Maybe she should not worry about image so much and start acting herself. “Sure.” She pulled the tie out and threaded it over her wrist. She stopped short when she spotted his motorcycle. “You drove that?” He shrugged. “It’s easier to park. The entire town will be there and finding a spot will be hard. We can take your truck if your arm isn’t strong enough to wrap around my waist.” She clasped her hands together and tugged. “It’s good. As long as you don’t go too fast around any dangerous curves, I’ll be fine.” “Super.” He handed her a helmet. “Put your jacket on. It’ll give you more protection.” She wasn’t sure about riding into town on the back of Wade Watson’s bike. He was considered a bad boy by some, despite his excellent track record of being a successful rancher. Wouldn’t the rumors spike if Jake saw her. Who cared? She hopped on up. “You ever been on a motorcycle before?” Once. “Sure.” He cocked a brow. “Hold on tight and lean the same way I do.” Lean the same way I do. He acted like she was ten and clueless. She slid behind him and grabbed hold of his waist, trying not to touch him too much. He took both of her hands and overlapped them. His rough palms scraping against her skin sent her senses soaring. For a split second she imagined what it would be like to have those palms on her tits. Stop it. Focus. Purely for safety reasons, she locked her fingers. Now her chest was pressed tightly against his back. Could this get any more embarrassing? Or exciting? As soon as he started the engine, he took off, and she had to tighten her grip. The dirt road leading out of her ranch jostled her

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around and her muscles tensed. As soon as he swung onto the main road, she was able to relax and take in the scenery. While she got a thrill from galloping across the plains, there was something exciting about racing around the road on a motorcycle. As they got closer to town, he had to slow down because of the traffic. She spotted Jake’s red truck ahead on the road and prayed her foreman wouldn’t spot her in his rearview mirror. She wasn’t sure why she didn’t want him to see her holding on to Wade, but she felt too much like a woman behind the powerful man. Wade found a parking spot in no time. He helped her off and pulled a bag out of his saddlebags. He held out his hand. “Come on.” The parade would begin at the courthouse and proceed the fifteen blocks down Main Street. The sidewalks were already packed with families, so they had to weave their way to the start point. She wasn’t sure why they had to be at the beginning of the route, but there was no use questioning Wade. He had a mission, and nothing was going to stop him. When they arrived on the grassy area in front of the courthouse, she spotted his foreman, Wilt, standing in front of a bunch of grocery store carts wearing a Groucho Marx mask. He looked ridiculous. Wade pulled her closer. “You ready?” “For what?” He tugged on her hand to bring her closer. From the bag he took from the pouch, he lifted two Groucho Marx masks and handed her one. “Put this on.” “No way.” He slipped his on. “Why not?” Wade looked outrageous but somehow managed to look sexy at the same time. She couldn’t help but laugh. “Someone could see me.” He took the mask from her hands and placed it over her face. The big nose and mustache tickled, and the glasses sat lopsided on her face.

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He grinned. “You look cute.” From the stack in front of Wilt, Wade pulled two grocery carts toward them. “We’re pushing these.” She tore off the mask. “There is no way in hell I’m going to walk down the street like this pushing that cart.” “You afraid people will see you as weak?” What was up with these guys? They seemed to think she had problems with her self-image. “No.” She was fine as long as none of her men saw her do this. Maybe no one would recognize her in this disguise. Since none of her workers had seen her with her hair down, maybe she’d go unnoticed. The music from the high school marching band began. Wade leaned over. “It’s showtime, babe.” “I’m not your babe.” “Ouch.” He winked. The man was insufferable. She should rip off the mask and duck into the crowd, but then someone was sure to spot her. She was probably safer looking like the fool. Who would guess Samantha Callen would walk down Main Street in a mask, pushing a grocery cart, looking almost like a homeless person? He elbowed her. “Here we go. Happy Fourth of July.” “Why are you so cheerful?” “I love America.” Now she was speechless. He waved to the crowd, and then he turned his cart into hers. “Hey!” She banged his back. The two of them got in a pissing match, smashing their carts against each other. Wade started laughing, which got her laughing. There were about fifteen Groucho Marx wannabes, all of whom worked for Wade. As they followed the group in front of them, they got sillier and sillier. Wade even started acting like Groucho and quoting the man. “You are so annoying.” She slapped his arm. “Here’s another one. ‘Only one man in a thousand is a leader of

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men. The other 999 follow women.’” She rolled her eyes, though she had to admit she liked the phrase. They were halfway to the end of the parade route when Wade veered to the right. She followed, though she had no idea where he was going. “What are you doing?” Everyone was looking at them as they left the parade. Wade wheeled his cart around a few people until he reached the sidewalk. “Excuse us.” She debated ducking back in line behind Wilt, but she was curious what crazy Wade was going to do next. She’d never seen him act like this. In the past, he’d been more reserved, as if he, too, didn’t want anyone to see him be anything other than the boss man. He stopped in front of the grocery store and went into the entranceway. “Leave the cart here.” She was happy to get rid of that encumbrance. “Now what?” “The best part.” He checked his phone. “It’s time for the tobacco spitting contest over on Fourth Street.” When Sam was a little girl, her dad liked to watch that event, but she’d forgotten about it in recent years. Once more he clasped her hand in his as if they were a couple. This sudden change of heart confused her. Yes, he was seductive in the whirlpool, but ever since she went riding on her own, he’d been distant, almost as if he feared she really would get reinjured. Did he like her? Nah. His statement all those years ago that he and Heath would claim her as their own one day had surely been a comment to make her squirm. A large group was gathered, cheering the competitors. Tape had been placed across the road with distance markings on them. There was a second area taped off, too. “What’s the other group doing?” “Accuracy contest.” “Only in Intrigue.” He faced her. “Are you kidding? This is a national pastime. I heard there’s one in Missouri that has us beat.”

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A roar went up. Wade swung her in front of him, placed her back to his chest, and pulled her close. She seemed to melt into his arms. The security of having him surround her took her by surprise. It was nice for a change not to be in charge. “Look at that.” Wade pointed to the brown spit on the twentyfive-foot mark. She laughed. “This is a necessary skill because?” “It’s a man thing. You wouldn’t understand.” He leaned over her shoulder. “Or would you?” Enough was enough. She swiveled in his arms. “In case you haven’t noticed, I am not a man.” He was goading her, but she didn’t care. She’d had enough of the man comments. He leaned close. “I guess you’ll just have to prove it.” Her face burned, and she swiveled back around. She recognized the next man up. He worked in the lumberyard. “Go, Nathan.” Wade tugged her waist and laughed. Damn him. Once the competition was over, they wandered back to the parade, which was close to the end of the route. “Is Heath here?” They hadn’t run into him. “No. He wanted to organize the party at the house. Speaking of which, we ought to get back and help before the crowd descends. You mind?” “No.” In fact, being around so many people made her a bit claustrophobic. “I’ve got to set up the fireworks.” She stiffened. “Isn’t that dangerous?” He looked down at her and smiled. “You worried about me getting hurt, babe?” Yes. “No.” If anything happened to him, she’d be devastated. He chuckled and led her back to the bike. To avoid the crowds, he took the back streets out of town. She was relaxed enough with Wade that she could enjoy the ride back even more. Too soon they arrived at his house. He parked in front and helped her off the bike.

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He took the helmet from her and she shook out her hair. “You should wear it down more often. You’re beautiful.” Had Wade Watson said those words? Ever since high school she’d dreamed of catching his attention. It wasn’t until he announced his ménage plans for her that fateful day that she’d blocked him from her mind. Or at least she’d tried to all those years. She’d mostly succeeded at keeping the image of her with the two brothers at bay until her accident. Now he and Heath never left her thoughts for long. “Thanks.” She nodded to the fire truck parked in front. “What’s that doing here?” “I asked Shane to help me with the fireworks. In case anything gets out of hand, he can save the day.” Damn. Shane, a local firefighter and arson investigator, was her brother’s best friend and roommate. She needed to do some damage control before word got back to her family. Wade led her inside and walked her straight through to the back of the house. There must have been fifty people bustling about getting ready for the party. Tables were set up next to kegs of beer. American flags were hung from every perch. She spotted Heath. “I’m going to see if Heath can use my help.” “Sure.” He sounded a bit disappointed, as if he liked hanging out with her. Was he really interested? Now that her cast was off, his job as protector was done, though despite their differences, they’d built a strong connection between them. She wandered across the yard. “Hey, Heath.” He spun around, and she nearly melted on the spot. He was wearing cargo shorts and a tight T-shirt. He looked so GQ. “You came! Sorry about the switcheroo. I thought I had everything under control, but at the last minute, a couple of people cancelled.” Initially, she hadn’t been happy that Wade took his place, but she’d had a wonderful time. “I lived.”

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He leaned over and kissed her forehead. “I’m glad.” Her pulse rate dove. She wanted him to really kiss her, only she didn’t have the guts to make the first move. “What can I do to help?” He lifted her chin. “I can think of a lot ways to help me, but why don’t you see about the kids’ area.” He lowered his gaze. “You do like kids, don’t you?” His chest inflated, almost as if he was holding his breath. “Yes. I’ve got six siblings, remember.” He grinned. “How many are you planning on having then?” What was he getting at? “I haven’t thought about it.” “Then you better start.” He winked. “Now go make sure the kids’ area is safe.” Someone called to him, and he trotted off. Her feet remained glued to the ground. Why did he want her to think about how many kids she wanted? Was he volunteering to be the dad? Sam inhaled and headed toward the large, inflatable house. Both Heath and Wade had been acting strange since her cast came off, but she didn’t have time to ponder their actions today. As she headed across the lawn, she wiped the sweat from her forehead. She couldn’t remember the last time Intrigue got into the mideighties. She hoped this wasn’t an indication that the rest of the summer would be as hot. As she got near her destination, she spotted Shane by himself clearing the area for the fireworks. Since Wade wasn’t nearby, she sauntered over to him. “Hey, Shane. What’s going on?” “Sam. What are you doing here?” She wanted to know the answer to that question herself. “Helping out.” “Good.” Shane was probably the least emotional person she knew, which made him a great firefighter, but she wasn’t convinced he wouldn’t mention her being here. “Do me a favor and not mention that you saw me to Cody.”

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He shrugged. “Sure.” She smiled and eased away. Shane was as good-looking as Wade and Heath, but he held himself back way too much as if he was afraid of letting loose. She could almost see invisible fingers pointing at her, as if she, too, had put a wall up around her. “Not true.” She quickly glanced to make sure no one heard her talk to herself. She’d promised Heath she’d check on the jumping house. The workers turned on the air pump, and she got to watch the house grow to its full ten-foot height. Once it was inflated, the men went on another part of the property. She stuck her head inside. The odor of plastic was rather intense. “Want to try it out?” She spun around. “Wade.” “Come on. Take off your boots.” Dare she get in the enclosed area with him? He tugged his shoes off. It was now or never. As soon as she removed hers, he pulled her inside. A bubble of laughter escaped. When was the last time she got to act like a kid? Okay, at the parade, she was totally silly. Growing up, she’d felt she needed to set a good example to her younger sisters. His first jump made her stumble, but he caught her before she tumbled on her butt. Wade held her hands. Together they jumped up and down until laughter took her breath away. He lifted his legs, tilted backward, and landed on his butt and back. He let go of one of her hands, but the force was still enough to drag her down. She landed next to him and bounced. She’d landed on her injured arm, but surprisingly she felt no pain. Wahoo! He pulled her on top of him and the world seemed to stand still. His lips parted and his eyelids lowered. Cupping the back of her head, he pulled her closer. The moment their lips touched, every nerve exploded. Wade shifted, and his cock settled between her legs. Oh, my. She expected tension to ripple through her, but instead, a strong desire to experience him swept through her. Go for it. She ran her

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tongue along the seam of his lips. He groaned and opened up, but it was his tongue that took charge. Their breaths came out fast and furious, and his hands ran all along her back. “I want you.” He moaned and captured her mouth again. “Me, too.” Dear God, I never should have said that. It just came out. Her panties got wet thinking about what it would be like to have Wade Watson, man extraordinaire, inside her pussy, pumping hard. She arched up to get a good look at him. He was a gorgeous, hot, hunky man. Sam shut off her brain and thought only with her body. His hand cupped her breast and lightly squeezed. “So you are definitely all woman.” She rolled off him and punched his arm. “You can be such a jerk.” He still seemed to think of her as a guy. Is that why he kissed her? He wanted to see her reaction? Well, she’d show him a reaction. She laughed at him then kissed him quick. He clasped her shoulders and looked up at her, his intensity off the charts. Uh-oh. If they didn’t stop right now, there was no telling what she might do. She could definitely imagine what would happen if they were buck naked. Most likely a bunch of kids would arrive early and have a different kind of show. Kids’ giggles registered, and he sat up. “Come on. We’ve gotta get out of here.” No kidding. After they put on their boots, the masses descended. “Just in the nick of time.” He straightened and pinched her butt. “We’ll continue this later.” Her stomach did a somersault. When he walked off, she wondered if she’d just made the mistake of her life.

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Chapter Eight For the next several hours, Sam monitored the jumping house. Finally, one of the mothers came over to relieve her. “Go get something to eat. I’ll make sure the kids behave.” As much as Sam liked listening to the children laugh and screech, she didn’t mind taking a break. Throughout her chaperoning duty, she’d only spotted Heath and Wade periodically. Since both seemed incredibly busy, she decided to wander about and enjoy the atmosphere. She was hungry and tried out the food. Everything was fabulous. Heath had spent quite a long time grilling up barbecued ribs, chicken, and steak. A local shop had catered the rest of the food. The beer flowed freely, and there were groups of men tossing a football, a few playing a bean toss game with their children, and others milling about. All in all, the party seemed to be a huge success if the laugher was any indication. She wandered over to the pony trail. It was getting dark, but Wade had set up torches to keep the place well lit. Two men seemed to be in charge of walking the ponies around in a circle. The black pony in front carried a four-year-old, and the one in back had a kid who looked about eight. She loved listening to their excited shrieks and watching their eyes go wide as they traveled around. Heath’s question about wanting children came back. She did want kids, but there was no way she could manage a new ranch and have a family at the same time. Marriage would have to wait, not that anyone was asking. Two hands clasped her waist. “You ready to watch the fireworks?”

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Her shoulders relaxed, and she turned around. It was Heath. She smiled. “Sure.” “Wade’s doing the honors and Shane’s supervising.” Kids had been running around with sparklers all afternoon. Now that the sun was setting, it was time for the big festivities to begin. Intrigue was having an event of its own, but this private affair would be cozier. Heath had a blanket and spread it out near where most of the families sat. She dropped next to him. He lifted the hair off her neck and kissed her below the ear. “You have a good time today?” Her breath caught. What was up with these men? They’d been on their best behavior since the accident, and now that she was healed, they were coming at her at rapid-fire speed. Her brain and heart didn’t know how to handle the stimulation, but the part between her thighs knew exactly what she wanted. Did they really mean it all those years ago when they said they liked to share their women? Could she handle making love to both men? Try it. You’ll like it. “Yes.” Heath moved behind her and pulled her back so that she was leaning against him. She looked around to see if anyone had noticed. Before she scoured the entire group, she decided she didn’t care who noticed them. These two men made her feel special, and that was all that mattered. She’d worry about her actions tomorrow. As soon as the sky darkened, the ground display went off. Wade had Shane there if anything went wrong, but she still worried something bad could happen. Heath took her mind off of everything but him the moment his fingers started exploring her body. At first, he kept to the outside of her shirt, but soon his hands slipped underneath the material. Given everyone’s gaze was focused on the sky, she didn’t think anyone would notice. His thumb touched the side of her breast just as the crowd let out delighted gasps. She

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wanted to watch the display, but she could only concentrate on what he was doing to her body. By the time the grand finale went off, her panties were sopping wet. Heath’s hard cock had to be bursting, but it served him right for rubbing his hands all over her. The loud clapping and hooting signified the night was drawing near. Heath leaned her onto the blanket, hovered over her, and kissed her. “I gotta do my duty. Don’t go home.” She had no intention of leaving without tormenting him and Wade. She folded the blanket and went to see if Wade needed her help. “Nice job,” she said to his back. He turned around and grinned. “You like the display?” He winked and heat raced up her face. There was no way he could have seen the two of them together. “Totally.” “Good. Once everyone’s gone, maybe you can stay and help me clean up.” She was convinced more than cleaning would be involved. “Sure.” When he finished packing what was left of the gear, he took her hand. “It’s not going to rain, so we can leave this stuff out here until tomorrow.” Shane walked up to them. “Another successful outing. If you don’t need me, I’ll be taking off.” “You didn’t see anything you liked?” “I’m picky.” She couldn’t believe they were talking about finding a woman. Most of the folks at the party either worked for Wade or were spouses, so she wasn’t surprised he didn’t find anyone who interested him. “Too bad. Thanks for your help.” They shook hands. “Anytime.” She watched Shane walk off. Sam felt a little bit sorry for him. Cody said he didn’t date much. When he did, his relationships didn’t

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last long. That was no way to live. Not that she was one to talk, but she hadn’t been looking. “Come on. I need to say good-bye to the stragglers.” Was he in as much of a hurry as she was for them to be alone? A few of his men made a fuss that they had to leave, but their wives and cranky kids seemed all for going. Around eleven, the place finally turned quiet. Heath and Wade surrounded her, and for the first time today, she tensed. Heath fingered her hair. “I’ve got to put the leftovers in the fridge. Why don’t you and Wade put the ponies away?” “Whatever you need me to do, I’m game.” Uh-oh. That didn’t come out right. Wade tugged her hand. “Come on.” They untied the two ponies and led them into the barn. “Mind giving them a quick brush down?” She didn’t know what he planned, but she wanted to help. “Sure.” After she finished unsaddling, watering, and caring for the ponies, she went in search for Wade. He was next to the tack room raking hay into a pile. The moonlight coming in from the top window silhouetted him. He put the rake down and came toward her. Her mind raced. Taking her two hands, he led her backward. Without a word he leaned over and kissed her hard, as if he’d been waiting hours to capture her mouth. Her pussy exploded with need. Not letting her mind talk her out of anything, she wrapped her hands around his neck and pulled him close. He stepped back. “I want you at my mercy.” Her brain couldn’t comprehend what that meant until he produced a rope from behind his back. He dropped it on the pile of hay then slipped her T-shirt over her head. While it wasn’t cold in the barn, the air cooled her damp skin. “I’ve wanted to taste you forever.” The desperation in his voice turned her inside out.

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She lifted her chest and he unclasped her bra. In a second, his mouth ravished her breast. His hands cradled the sides as his thumb rubbed across the other nipple. Never had she experienced anything so erotic. Her hands found his hips, and she wanted to strip him naked and suck on his cock. When she tried to unhook his buckle, he lifted her up and lowered her onto the hay. “I want to tie you up. If you touch me, I’ll explode.” His voice dripped with anguish as he jumped behind her. “Let me know if your arm hurts. I wouldn’t want to do anything that doesn’t feel good.” “Okay.” He produced the rope and tied her hands over her head faster than she’d ever roped a calf. “How does that feel?” She tugged on the rope, but her arm felt fine. “It’s good.” He walked back around. “I want to savor your body for hours.” Oh, God. “I want that, too.” He tossed off her boots and socks then lowered her pants. Her eyes had adjusted to the darkness, and she could see his lids lower. His lips moved as if he were saying a prayer. Wade got on his stomach, spread her thighs, and leaned in close. Through her panties, he sucked on her pussy. “You’re so sweet.” Even though there wasn’t total contact, his tongue managed to elicit sparks of need in her so great she tugged on the rope to touch him. “I want you.” Too bad she couldn’t touch him. Why was he torturing her like this? “You like it when I touch you here?” He dragged a finger on top of her panties. From her moan, he could guess that she did. “I’d like it better if there wasn’t a barrier.” He sat back up. “That can be arranged.” Cool air kissed her wet pussy as he dragged her panties down her leg. “Keep your legs spread or I’ll have to find a way to rope them wide.”

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His voice oozed richness and sex. “I’ll try.” Though at the moment, she wasn’t capable of controlling her body. His tongue licked her inner thighs while his fingers massaged her nipples. “You smell good.” He inhaled. “I’ve wanted to eat your honey for years.” He had? His tongue stabbed her folds. If she’d thought the fireworks he set off before were grand, this beat all expectations. “Ooh, yeah.” He continued to suck and lick. Her pussy kept gushing liquid. Even she could smell her own aroma. He tugged on her bush with his teeth. “We are going to have so much fun together.” Did that include Heath? She was about to ask, but she forgot the question the moment Wade slid up her body fully clothed. His right hand cupped her mound, and a finger slid into her just as his mouth captured a nipple. The double sensation wreaked all sorts of havoc. Her mind splintered as she wiggled her ass to get his finger to go in deeper. “If you want my cock in your ass, keep on moving. If I might make a suggestion, wait for Heath.” He nipped her other nipple. “That’s his specialty.” Her mind spun. Heath liked anal sex? So Wade was thinking of having a ménage relationship. A bit of fear collided with intense desire. She wasn’t sure when it happened, but sometime in the last few weeks, she’d grown to love both of them. Maybe she always had and never wanted to admit how much. Wade’s teeth nipped her nipple, and his finger continued to plunge into her. She wanted more. “I see I came at the right time.” Heath stood over them with a big grin on his face. Wade looked up. “What are you waiting for?” “I want to ask first. You okay with this, Sam?” Once she said yes, she’d be turning her heart over to them.

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Wade dipped a second finger into her pussy. No way could she say no even though the sight of Heath’s huge cock scared her a bit. “I think so.” “Babe. I won’t lie. I want you. Heath wants you. We both want you together, but you need to be sure. We promise we won’t ever hurt you.” His speech took her breath away. “Then yes.” Please let this work. Both men grinned. Heath took no time disrobing. In seconds, he was naked in front of her. “Let’s get her out of these constraints. We need her flexible.” What did that mean? Wade’s words of what Heath liked came back to her. She’d never had anal sex, but she didn’t fear it, especially if it was with these two men. Heath undid the ties. When she lowered her arms, they ached a bit. “Wade, aren’t you going to get undressed?” “Not yet. Once I’m naked, I’ll have to take you, and you’re not ready yet.” Her heart rattled against her chest. His passion overwhelmed her. She reached out to touch him, but he took her wrists in one hand and brought her knuckles to his lips. He gently kissed each one, and her heart melted. Wade placed her hands to the side as he slid down between her thighs. Heath slipped onto his stomach, his body making a T to hers. Propping himself up on his elbows, he leaned over and kissed her. While not as demanding as Wade, Heath’s kiss was more thorough. It was almost as if he loved being connected to her. She threaded her hands over his head and pulled him close. At least Heath didn’t seem to mind being touched. Their lips met lightly at first then increased in pressure. His mouth parted, and she took the opportunity to explore him first. He tasted of beer and ribs. Heath was all male. He cupped her face and inhaled, almost as if he needed to be with her to live. Wade dragged his tongue across her pussy, and her breath caught.

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Her thoughts split between the two men. How could she concentrate with both of them stimulating her? Heath pulled back. “Sam, get on your hands and knees.” She wasn’t sure she was ready for what Heath had in mind. “I’m not ready for that.” He rubbed her back. “What did Wade tell you?” “That you liked to have sex in my ass.” She caught the glance between them. “You’re safe with me for now. I know you aren’t ready to handle my big cock. That will take some time. Do you mind if I do a little exploration?” Every time Heath touched her, she liked it. “Okay.” Wade swung his legs toward her and pulled her on top of him. His buckle scraped her stomach. “Can you take off your belt? It’s biting into me.” “We can’t have that.” He rolled her to the side and took everything off. Her eyes widened at his size. She didn’t dare touch him, believing him when he said he might explode. Heath lifted her hips and Wade pulled her forward until she was straddling Wade. If she lowered her body a few inches, she could sit on him. Her juices squirted thinking about the delicious event. Heath knelt behind her, but she trusted he’d behave. He plunged a finger into her pussy and she nearly catapulted forward. “You are so frigging wet.” That was because she was so frigging turned on. Wade pulled her head down and kissed her hard and fast. He dragged his lips lower, captured her bottom lip, and tugged. “I could spend eternity with these lips.” Really? Every time he said something like that, a bit of her heart cracked, and she fell more in love with him. Heath dragged her pussy juice up her crease. Without warning, he dipped his finger into her forbidden hole, and she clenched her ass. Heath tapped her behind. “None of that. This can be pleasurable if

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you let it.” “It feels different.” She had to admit, it was more pleasant than she’d expected. “It will at first. Just relax and trust me.” Easy for him to say. She was about to shoot back a retort, when Wade lifted his head and captured a nipple in his mouth. Her breath rattled in her chest as a torrent of ecstasy shot through her. What these men were doing to her defied description. Heath had one finger in her pussy and the other in her ass. He worked the two together, pulling out and plunging in. She wasn’t sure which finger was more erotic, but together, her walls clamped down on him and her breaths came faster and faster. As if someone had flashed some signal only Wade and Heath could see, the two men switched positions. Heath took the front position and dropped on his back so that his cock sat directly under her mouth. How nice was that? Wade knelt behind her and wrapped an arm around her waist. He dragged his cock over her opening. “I want you so bad.” Foil tore and the snap of latex confirmed he’d donned a condom. Heath waved his cock. “Put that pretty little mouth on me, darlin’.” When she bent over to lick him, Wade positioned the head of his cock over her opening. Thunderbolts of desire sped through her. Holding herself up with one hand, she grabbed Heath’s cock with the other. She squeezed tight and drew her hand up and down until his eyes nearly rolled back in his head. Wade must have been waiting for her to take a taste of Heath before he entered her. Her pussy was putting out juices as she leaned over. She wanted both men so badly she didn’t have the patience to take her time. She licked the underside of Heath’s cock. His moan spurred her on. She pumped her fist and captured the head of his dick with her lips. She slowly let her teeth drag across the tip. “Wait,” Heath said between gritted teeth. “Slow down. I don’t

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want to come before you do.” As she let go, Wade threaded his cock into her slick pussy. So exquisite was the sensation, she squeezed her eyes shut. She must have grabbed Heath’s cock and tightened her grip too much because a moment later he took hold of her wrist. Wade dove in halfway and stopped for a few seconds, probably to allow her to adjust to his large size. His palms clasped her rear, and he pulled out a bit, sliding across her clit with exquisite slowness. “You are so fucking tight.” She clamped down on his cock. That must have been the go signal, for he drove in to the end of her channel. He gasped at the same time she did. Heath let go of her wrist and her attention refocused on him. Loving both men confirmed that being with two men made her feel like the woman she’d been running from. Wade slid a hand under her and, with his thumb, flicked her clit back and forth. Pulses of chaotic need sizzled down her belly right through her gushing pussy. “Oh, yeah.” Heath reached under her, too, and caressed her nipples, slightly pinching and pulling until the tips hardened and swelled. She leaned over to take Heath in her mouth, but that changed the angle of Wade’s cock. Each of his thrusts catapulted her closer to the point of no return. She leaned her butt back to take in more of him as she sucked harder and faster on Heath. All three of them thrust, sucked, and pounded until her bundle of nerves exploded. Blood pulsed in her veins. “Oh, God, I’m coming.” Her climax tore through her. Wade’s response was to press harder on her clit. Her own hand pumped up and down, matching Wade’s speed. Just when she took the leap into ecstasy and got washed into oblivion, Heath exploded. His warm cum pummeled the back of her throat, and she had to lean back to swallow his salty brew. That increased the friction in her pussy. Wade suddenly expanded, taking her breath away. “It’s too big.” He didn’t seem to be able to stop as the condom stretched and

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grew to accommodate his massive release. All three of them panted in unison as she relived what had just happened. Wade dropped his head on her back and kissed her shoulder. “Babe, that was amazing.” She couldn’t agree more. Only now did she hear the horses snorting in the background and feel the chills travel over her damp body. Wade pulled out first and dragged his underwear across her pussy. That little act of kindness made her realize what an amazing man he was. Wade wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her backward. He rolled her over and kissed her thoroughly. Already her pussy was missing him. “We need to get you inside and really cleaned up.” Both men helped her stand. In no time, they were dressed and in the house. She wanted to hold and cuddle them, but she figured they weren’t the type to want her to stay around. “I want to thank you for a fabulous day. I won’t ever forget this explosive day.” Wade dragged a finger down her cheek. “If you think we’d let you out of our sight, you’re sorely mistaken.” Uh-oh. What did that mean?

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Chapter Nine As soon as she entered the house, Heath and Wade led her to the bedroom. Heath lifted a piece of straw from her hair and waved it in front of her. “What do you say to a shower?” “I could use one.” She’d have to put on the same clothes, but at least the dirt from the barn would be washed clean. They led her into a large master bath. There was a garden tub next to a huge tiled shower with two showerheads. “This is beautiful.” Wade turned on both showers to get them warm. “I only need one.” He smiled. “That’s true.” Without saying a word, they removed her clothes and piled them neatly on the counter. She wasn’t used to the special attention, but today, she’d forget about her image and enjoy being a woman. This luxury didn’t come often. As soon as she was naked, she stepped into the warm water. She dipped her head under the shower and was about to pour shampoo on her head when Wade and Heath stepped in next to her. “You can’t be here.” She’d never showered with anyone before. “Oh, yes we can, babe.” They descended on her. Heath took the shampoo bottle from her hands while Wade grabbed the bar of soap. In seconds, Heath had her hair all lathered up. Wade didn’t seem interested in getting her clean, just in tormenting her by sliding the bar up and down her tits. “There’s more to me than one body part.” “Don’t you worry. We have plenty of hot water. I plan on taking my time with each of your body parts, starting with those perky tits of

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yours.” Heath tipped her head back. “Close your eyes so I can rinse your hair.” When she did as he asked, Wade drew the bar of soap down her belly right between her pussy lips. “Oh.” “Gotta get you clean.” She straightened and opened her eyes. Wade was inches from her face. “Two can play at this game.” She reached out and grabbed his cock. “My, but you have a large cock.” “Better to fuck you with, babe.” He kissed her hard. Just as she was getting hot again, Heath nudged her rear with his dick. She spun around, not sure when he planned on initiating her. Heath kissed her. “I didn’t want to be left out.” She smiled. “Never.” Wade’s hands slipped over her tits again and rubbed the soap into a lather. He spun her around. “I think you were about to do something before Heath interrupted us.” She laughed, loving the play between the two men. After she wiped the soap on her palms, she proceeded to get Wade clean. Once he was hard, she rinsed him before bending over to suck his cock. She couldn’t wait to see what he tasted like. As soon as she slipped the mushroom head into her mouth, Heath slipped a soapy finger into her ass. She didn’t jerk this time. Instead, she let go of any apprehension and trusted the experience would be exciting. “I love your ass, darlin’.” She wiggled her butt for him, only to be rewarded with a second finger. He scissored his fingers open and closed to stretch her out. When Heath pressed in farther, he hit some sensitive nub and her pussy clenched. How was that possible? For one, she’d been satisfied beyond her wildest dreams. There should be no way she was getting excited again, especially since he’d delved into her forbidden hole. Maybe it was the fact that she had wonderful Wade’s pulsating cock in her mouth that had every touch exciting her, no matter where

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it was. She cupped her hands over his balls and rolled them in her palm. He took hold of her wrist and squeezed. “Maybe you should give Heath a ride before I explode.” How could Wade be ready again? Heath spun her around, turned off the shower water, and planted her back against the wall. “I want you. God, do I.” In one quick move, he lifted her up. “Wrap your legs around my waist.” Thrilled beyond belief, she did as he asked. His hard cock found its mark, and he slipped into her wet pussy. Joy shot through her. He cupped her ass to keep her from slipping and drove into her. Her already-swollen pussy tightened around his cock and each thrust magnified the thrill. His lips captured hers, and she invited him in. Their tongues dueled. He pulled back. “What you do to me. You are so exquisite.” His heartfelt words made her heart pulse faster. As if he remembered Wade behind them, he swung her around. Wade’s hand found her tits as he nipped her shoulder with his teeth. He rubbed her already-engorged nipples, sending spikes of electricity skittering across her wet skin. Like a volcano about to erupt, heat built in her core as Heath moaned, groaned, and thrust his cock into her. She squeezed his shoulders and shut her eyes as her climax slammed into her with a wild fury. “Heath!” She held her breath until the molten waves of passion ebbed. He held on tight, lifted her off, and set her down just as he spewed and gushed his hot lava upward. She had no idea what Wade was doing, but his cum blasted her back. When her breath calmed, four hands were cleaning her again. Even the lightest touch turned sensitive. Heath lifted the showerhead off the hook and washed them down. Then came the towels, and more

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rubbing ensued. Next thing she knew she was cradled in Wade’s arms and carried her to their bed. They both kissed her good-night. She knew she’d never be happier. **** Taking Sam home the morning after the party might have been one of the hardest things Wade had ever done, but he knew she needed time to think about how her life had changed. His had, that was for sure. “You sure you’re ready for a commitment?” Wade asked Heath. “I think I’ve been in love with Sam since we knew her in school.” “Same here.” They would have called her earlier, but there seemed to have been one emergency after another they had to take care of. They’d both wanted to make time for her, but then realized that she needed time to figure out what she wanted. If she was to be with them, she couldn’t live with them and keep her persona of being the toughest woman around. She’d have to choose. “I’m a little surprised that she hasn’t called us since the party. It’s been three days.” “I think she’s waiting for us to make the next move. That’s why we’re taking the initiative.” “You don’t want to call her first?” Heath was putting the finishing touches on the picnic they’d planned. “No. If we call Sam, she’ll say she’s too busy with the ranch. It was one thing being at her house after she got shot, but acting like we’re on a date might upset her.” “You’re right. Since no one should be around this early in the morning, she can sneak out without being seen.” The sun was just coming up. “I hate that we have to resort to this, but we need to be with her, to

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show her how much we want her in our life.” They planned on driving west into the mountains. Wade had found a wonderful spot overlooking the Grand Tetons in the distance. It was secluded and beautiful. They took Heath’s Cadillac as it afforded the most comfort. Wade insisted they keep the top up as it was a bit chilly, and he wanted to make out with Sam in the backseat in private. The moment they pulled into her drive, his cock got hard. The homestead looked peaceful, but the house blocked the view of the plains in back. They piled out and rang the bell. They figured she might be asleep, but they would enjoy waking her up. She pulled open the door a few seconds later dressed in not only her working outfit, but a light jacket, as if they’d caught her just in time. Her eyes widened. “What are you two doing here?” Wade wasn’t up for twenty questions. He pulled her outside and spun her around. The thrill of having her in his arms ignited his funloving side. “We’re going on a picnic.” He set her down and kissed her. She pushed him back. “We can’t be kissing here.” Both Heath and he laughed. “Why not?” “The men should be arriving soon. I don’t want them to see me in your arms.” “I get it. The men won’t respect you if they see you acting like a woman in heat.” He swore she blushed. “Maybe.” “Forget about that for one more day. Come with us.” Heath stepped forward. “I packed a picnic.” An acrid smell swirled around the house and Wade stilled. He handed Sam to Heath. “Hold on a sec.” He jogged around the back of her house toward the barn. Something wasn’t right. “Shit.” Smoke poured out the barn doors. “Heath, get over here.”

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Wade sprinted toward the black billowing fumes. A man stumbled out carrying a fire extinguisher and dropped to his knees. The trapped horses’ whinnies nearly tore his heart out. Footsteps sounded behind him. He glanced back. Both Heath and Sam were barreling toward him. “Go,” Heath shouted and waved. He knew one or both would see to Jake’s care. Hopefully, the other would help with the horses. Sam only had about six animals inside. The smoke clogged his lungs, and he had to cover his nose with his arm. He could barely see through the smoke. No flames flickered, but the place was thick with burnt matter. He didn’t need to know this particular barn to know where the animals were. They were kicking and snorting to get free. “Go left,” Sam shouted as she followed him in. There was a combination of fear and control in her tone. He was proud she was keeping her head. In less than a minute, they had the doors to the stalls open and were leading the horses outside. From the way they raced off, they’d live. He couldn’t imagine what must have been going through her mind. Her ranch was her life. They both coughed as they stepped outside. Heath was on his knees talking to Jake. His brother looked up. “I called 911 and told them to get the fire truck and an ambulance over here.” Just because there were no flames didn’t mean a fire wasn’t building underneath the straw. Sam dropped to her knees. “Jake, what happened?” He swiped his eyes with the back of his arm, but that smeared the black soot across his face. “I wanted to get an early start. I parked near the corral and was going to the barn when I smelled smoke. I raced into the barn and the hay bales were on fire.” “Who set the fire?” she asked. It broke his heart to see the anguish on her face. Heath had caught

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one of the men they’d just fired try to set fire to their barn. Fortunately, Heath stopped him before any damage had been done. “I don’t know. I was so focused on putting out the fire that I didn’t realize what had happened until some horse’s hooves registered in my brain. I raced outside and saw someone go toward Harper’s Lane.” That would be toward the road that divided his ranch from hers. He prayed she didn’t think they had anything to do with the arson. “Could you tell who it was?” Her voice cracked. “No. I would have ridden after him, but then you would have lost everything, and he was so far ahead, I might never have caught him.” She sat back on her haunches. Wade wanted to gather her in his arms and give comfort, but Sam would have fought the overture. By the time the ambulance and the fire truck arrived, Jake was on his feet. However, the paramedic insisted they bring Jake to the hospital. “I’m fine.” He shrugged off the man’s attempt to help. “Sir, the smoke could have done some damage that you can’t see for another twenty-four hours.” Jake fought some more until Sam stepped in. “Please, for my peace of mind, go with him.” Jake shrugged and climbed into the back of the ambulance, grumbling the whole way. The paramedic asked Sam and Wade a few questions, but since they weren’t exposed to the smoke for longer than a minute or two, the paramedic let them remain. Shane descended from the fire truck. “Tell me what happened.” Sam did a good job recounting what Jake had told her. “We’ll make a thorough investigation.” She opened her mouth then closed it as if she was about to ask Shane not to tell her brother about the fire. Wade wouldn’t be surprised if one of the family members arrived in a few minutes. After all, they did live next door, and he bet the smoke could be seen for miles. Shane and two of his men went to work inside the barn.

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Heath wrapped an arm around Sam. This time, she didn’t jerk away. “Come on. How about we all get some water.” She looked up at him and gave him a faint smile. Maybe they could sit out back and have their picnic. He suspected none of them were in the mood for celebrating today. **** It was close to 9:00 a.m. when Shane rounded the corner behind their house. Sam looked up. “What did you find?” Always in control, Shane pulled out his pad and gave his report. “I found a gas can in the back of the barn. Is it yours?” “It’s like the one we use, but I have a separate shed for stuff like that.” Her brother raced around the corner. Cody was dressed in a suit. “Are you okay?” “I’m fine. The horses are fine, but the interior of the barn needs a bit of airing out. What are you doing here?” He should have been at the Intrigue Sun. “I was at my desk and called Shane to ask him a question, when he told me about the fire. I had to see you were okay.” “I’m good. Go back to work.” She glanced to Shane. What exactly had his roommate told him? That she’d been burned or something? Cody looked to Shane. “What did you find out?” “Someone set the fire. I’ll send the can to the crime lab in Cheyenne and see what they can come up with.” That might not help. “That might be the same can I used the other day to fill the mower. My fingerprints will be on the can as well as probably Jake’s.” He jotted down some notes. “I’ll give Dad a call to let him know what happened.” She didn’t need the whole family showing up. “Don’t worry him.

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If Heath and Wade hadn’t shown up so early, the whole barn might have burned down.” Cody stiffened and glanced from one to the other like a parent did when his kids were in danger. Wade, Heath, Cody, and Dustin had been best friends in school. She held up her hand. She didn’t need another lecture about how to keep her ranch safe or how these two men weren’t right for her. “We were going on a picnic today, so they were picking me up.” Cody’s shoulders relaxed, but his brows rose. “Really?” She wanted to rip the smile off his face. God, she so didn’t need a lecture on the danger of dating Wade and Heath Watson. “Really. Shouldn’t you be heading back to work?” The grin only seemed to get bigger. “Heath, Wade. We need to have lunch soon and chat.” This was not how she wanted the day to go. “Good-bye, big brother.” Cody trotted off, acting like he’d caught her in bed with those two. Had she invited the Watson brothers inside, Cody might have. She prayed the rest of the family wouldn’t descend on her. She was confused enough.

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Chapter Ten Ten days later, Shane stopped by and dropped off a copy of the arson report. “The accelerant used matched the gas in your can. The fingerprints had all but been wiped clean, so we don’t have much to go on.” “If I had been the person setting the fire, I would have used gloves and left whatever prints were on the can. That would at least point the finger at me or Jake.” “I know I asked this, but do you remember if anyone besides you two used the can?” She shook her head. “Any one of the hands could have touched the can for a variety of reasons, but I wouldn’t have known.” “Thanks. I’ll be in touch.” “Thanks, Shane.” No sooner had he left, when Heath showed up. “What did Shane want?” “He gave me the arson report.” “Does he have any suspects?” “No, but he wouldn’t anyway. That’s for the sheriff to find out.” Heath rubbed a hand down her arm. “Do you think someone is out to get you? You’re the only one around here who has had the cattle stolen of late.” “I know, but I have no idea who would gain from me losing my ranch. My two uncles and my father are to the east and west of me. They don’t have any desire for more land. The twins have a piece of Dad’s land like I do. And then there’s you and Wade.” He led her over to the sofa and had her sit down. “Is anyone

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jealous that you’re successful?” “Why would they be? I’m not rich.” Heath and Wade were the successful ones. “Come here.” Heath opened his arms and she slid across the sofa into his comforting grasp. He leaned over and placed a light kiss on her lips. Given her agitated state of mind of late, she hadn’t expected her pussy to sit up and take notice, but it did. Sam opened her mouth to invite him in when someone knocked on her door. “Who could that be?” Had Wade been able to get away and come over? The three of them hadn’t made it to his picnic spot because of the fire. She pulled open the door and her pulse slowed. “Jake.” He stepped past her and stopped short. “What’s he doing here?” She didn’t like his attitude, but she wasn’t in a confrontational mood to tell him it was none of his business. “He wanted to find out about the fire. I just got the arson report.” So that was a lie. It was none of Jake’s business to know she was dating both of her neighbors. “Did they figure out who set the fire?” Jake glanced from Heath to her. “No. What can I do for you?” She’d rather make love to Heath than deal with some emergency Jake should be handling. “I found another breach in the fence. I thought you might want to take a look at it and decide what you want me to do.” Heath slid behind her. When he kissed the back of her neck, Jake’s eyes darkened. “I’ll let you get back to work,” Heath said. “If you need anything, give me a call.” Though he was behind her, his voice implied he was smiling. Just what she didn’t need with Jake around. As soon as Heath closed the front door, she faced Jake. “Show me.” They saddled up and headed to the fence along Harper’s Lane. He dismounted and picked up a plastic tie wrap. She got down to

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investigate. “What do you make of it?” “I’m thinking the rustlers cut the fence. After they stole the cattle, they did a quick repair with these. That’s why when we rode the perimeter, we didn’t see the breach.” “Smart.” “I agree. What should we do?” “They haven’t been back since I shot at them.” “You mean after you got shot.” She didn’t need his reminder. “Whatever.” “Here’s the thing. I was in town at the Raging Bull Saloon and overhead someone talking about doing a job Friday night.” A million questions ran through her mind. “What kind of job?” He wasn’t making sense. “Rustling.” Her heart nearly crashed. “Did you see who they were?” “No. By the time I edged my way through the crowd, the men had either changed the conversation or had disappeared.” “Did they say when they were going to do this job?” “Not specifically, but I figure I might drive by for a few nights and see if I can catch them in the act.” She recalled how they’d blocked the road and had a lot of firepower. “That’s too dangerous.” “I’ll be careful. Since I know where they’ll be, I can hide.” “I appreciate you wanting to help, but remember how upset you were when I suggested I wanted to ride out at night to find them.” He stood taller. “You’re a woman.” Her fists clenched. “A woman who can shoot as well as you can.” His lips pursed as if he was trying to control saying something he’d regret. “Let’s get back.” It was the smartest thing he’d said all day. “Did you report this to the sheriff?” Will was a good man. When she’d spoken to the sheriff about the fire, she asked about finding the rustlers. He said he had nothing more to report, but that he was still looking into it. After all,

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someone needed to be responsible for almost killing her. “No. My facts aren’t concrete.” She agreed that overhearing a conversation wasn’t enough. Besides, he couldn’t identify the speakers. “You’re probably right.” When she arrived home, she spent the next few hours cleaning the stalls and racking her brain for who might be out to get her. She was a small-time rancher and no threat to anyone. The only logical conclusion was that she’d overlooked something in her finances. Had she been late paying someone and they wanted to take it out on her? Desperate for some answers, she went into her office and evaluated everything she’d purchased since opening her ranch. Nothing jumped out at her. By dinnertime, she was drained and wanted nothing more than to soak in her tub with a glass of wine. That wasn’t totally true. She wanted Heath and Wade. Maybe if she called them, they’d be up for some popcorn and a TV movie. She dialed Heath’s number, but all she got was his voice mail. She inhaled and left a message that if they wanted to come over after dinner, say around eightish, that she’d be up for some company. In the meantime, she wanted to relax in the tub. Once she gathered her wine and poured the bubble bath powder into the tub, she dropped in to soak. She’d been in for less than five minutes when the doorbell rang. It wasn’t even dinnertime, so it couldn’t be her men. It probably was Jake, but she wasn’t in the mood to talk to him again. The front door wasn’t locked, so if something catastrophic occurred, he’d barge in. She moved the bubbles over her body to cover herself just in case. She’d closed her eyes when she heard voices. That meant either a few of her siblings or Heath and Wade had decided to come early. She reached behind her to pull down the towel when the bathroom door opened. Breath held, she dragged the towel over her body, but the water drenched it so fast, it outlined every bump and curve.

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Wade smiled. “I didn’t know it was my birthday.” She laughed. “It’s not eight.” “We know, but we couldn’t wait. We brought over some ribs and vegetables. We thought we could make some dinner before our movie night.” “Sounds wonderful. Now if you two gentlemen would excuse me, I need to rinse and change.” “I can help with that while Heath fires up the grill.” Heath stepped around his older brother. “Dinner can wait.” She was in for it now. No telling when she’d get a meal. She stood up and wrung out the dripping towel. As the garden tub had no curtain, her naked body was in full view. “Can I rinse you?” Heath said with a gleam in his eye. “Sure.” He turned on the overhead shower, waited for the temperature to be right, and ran the water over her body. Somehow he felt the need to rub his hand across every inch of her. Once he seemed satisfied she had no more soap on her, she stepped out of the tub. Wade had a towel ready. Heath picked up a hand towel, as the second bath towel was wet. Heath moved behind her and rubbed her back. Wade’s eyes glistened as he patted the water off her shoulder, her tits, and finally her pussy. He spent a lot of time between her legs. When she glanced to his crotch, his cock had hardened. “How about taking this someplace more comfortable, babe?” Heath tapped her butt. “I’ll light the coals and be right in. I have a present for you, Sam.” She spun around. “I like presents.” Wade led her into her bedroom where she’d fortunately changed the sheets last night. He leaned over to kiss her when she stopped him. “How about letting me torment you first?” He held her gaze. “Will you be kind?” “About as kind as you’ve been to me.” She loved having the

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power over him. “Okay.” “Here are the rules. You can’t touch me or I’ll have to rope and tie you to the bed.” He laughed. “I’d like to see you try.” “I’m sure if my calves could talk, many of them would have said the same thing. Trust me, I always win.” He chuckled as he placed his clasped hands on top of his head. “I’m all yours.” Oooh. She loved his sexy voice. “Can you take off your boots for me?” “I thought you wanted to do all the work.” “So, you’re going to be that way about it, huh?” She led him backward until his knees hit the bed then gave him a little shove. The whole time he held his hands high. She had to get on her knees to pull off his boots. They took some tugging, but eventually, the first one came off. “If you straddle my leg with your ass facing me, and hold on to my boot, I can press forward. The extra force should get that boot off.” “Like I’m going to show you my ass.” He laughed. “I think you have me confused with Heath, though I’ve been known to enjoy the back door.” These men always had a comeback. After she got the boots and socks off, she unbuckled his belt. Since he was lying on his back, getting the pants off might be hard. However, she only needed to lower them a bit for what she had in mind. With the belt unhooked, she unbuttoned and unzipped his pants. “Lift your ass.” “Now you want me to work.” “If you want my lips on your cock, you’ll do as I say.” “Now we’re talking.” His hips lifted enough for her to pull the pants down to his thighs.

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“Oh, my. We seem to be missing some underwear.” “I came ready for action.” “I can see that.” Her grin nearly split her face in two. She stuck her hand in his pocket and pulled out a few condoms. “Planning on a long night?” She couldn’t have been more pleased. “I know you like variety.” In her men, she did. Alternating between Heath and Wade was what she’d always dreamed of. Sam crawled on the bed and grabbed his cock. He lowered his hands as if to stop her. That wasn’t going to happen. If he lost control and climaxed too soon, that was his problem. She grabbed the thick shaft and squeezed tight. His inhale seemed to stop in midstride. She leaned over and licked him slowly. His salty, masculine flavor turned her on something fierce. The long vein that ran his length pulsed purple, and she took her time moving up to the rippled ridge bordering his cock’s head. Using her teeth, she lightly nipped her way around the perimeter. Wade clasped her upper arm. “You know the old saying. ‘What comes around, goes around.’” “I can handle any torture you two can dole out.” He laughed. The back door clanged closed, implying Heath was on his way in. “I see you started without me. Good. Is she wet?” Apparently, he wasn’t going to wait for his brother to answer. Heath slipped a hand between her pussy and dragged her pooled liquid up her butt crack. “Seems to be.” She slipped her mouth over Wade’s cock, loving how every time she ran her mouth down his dick, his stomach muscles fluttered. Teasing him was so much fun. Heath was behind her, and she figured he’d be getting naked. Instead, she heard foil rip. Maybe he was putting on a condom, thinking that if Wade was receiving a blow job, he’d be the one to get her pussy. Worked for her. Both of Heath’s palms clasped her rear. He leaned over and trailed

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kisses up her spine. Tingles followed each peck. “Are you ready for your present?” She figured his big cock was the gift. “Yes.” A sound of a jar opening took her by surprise. The air scented with cinnamon. What was he doing? Then his greased finger rubbed circles around her anus and she realized the smell was flavored lube. Pricks of excitement shot into her. She was finally going to have anal sex. “We need to stretch you out. I bought a nice dildo for you.” A few of her friends had used the anal dildos, and she’d heard only positive comments. “Go for it.” Heath laughed. In the meantime, she returned her attention to Wade, who’d scooted back on the bed. “Let’s give Heath some room.” She repositioned herself by straddling Wade’s leg, presenting her ass to Heath. He rubbed her butt cheeks a few times then dipped his finger in her puckered hole. She was more used to the odd sensation this time. “Got anything bigger?” Heath tapped her ass. “Be patient or I’ll impale you myself. I promise you won’t be asking for anything bigger once you try me.” She loved bantering with these two. “You are so all talk.” “Only because I don’t want to make you in the least bit uncomfortable, I won’t prove to you that you’re wrong.” He kissed her ass then placed something hard and cold at her entrance. “If you want me to stop, let me know.” She wouldn’t be stopping him. This is what she wanted. Her two men with her in bed. She leaned over and resumed sucking on Wade’s cock. His thickness and length made it impossible to take him all the way in her mouth. Heath’s right hand massaged her butt while his left pressed the large object in her hole. Instinctively, she clamped down on it. The quick slap came as a surprise and caused her to sit up. “What

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was that for?” “Relax. Let those muscles welcome this dildo. Picture it being my dick.” From the size of the plastic object, it was way bigger than his cock. “I’ll try.” She resumed her position over Wade. Heath rotated the dildo in a bit then let go, as if her body needed time to acclimate to it. She couldn’t imagine having something that large in her ass, and at the same time have one of their cocks in her pussy. She might be tall, but her pussy was tiny. Wade seemed more interested in her finishing her blow job for he held on to her shoulders. Wanting him to enjoy what she was doing as much as she was, she sucked, nipped, and licked faster and faster. The more she got into the experience, her ass muscles loosened, allowing Heath to press the fake cock all the way in. So far so good. But when he pulled it out again to reseat it, he must have hit a few nerves, and her pussy gushed. “I like that.” “I thought you would. Why don’t you straddle Wade and fuck him hard? I’ll work this end.” She’d like that idea, too. Wade fumbled for a condom and handed her one. She tore open the package, and with as much care as she could stand, slid the condom over his cock. The latex stretched thin. She rose on her knees and positioned her pussy over him. His two fingers found her opening before she could mount him. He rubbed her clit until she moaned out loud. “I want you now.” She sounded desperate, probably because she was. He slipped out his fingers, and she opened her pussy lips. Her wet walls allowed her to take him in with one long slide. Her breath caught the moment he was fully inside her. Having the extra cock in her ass took up too much room. Good thing it wasn’t actual size or she’d never be able to accommodate both men. Taking her time, and fully aware of having little room inside her,

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she rode Wade’s cock up and down. The erotic pleasure built fast with each thrust. Heath placed a hand on her back. “Lean over some more.” Without giving his comment a thought, she did as he asked. When he pulled the fake dick partially out of her ass and slid it back in again, a whole new world opened up to her. Wade grabbed her hips and held them still. “Let us do the moving. Close your eyes and enjoy the thrill.” Giving up total control was not her usual mode, but with these men she was willing to do it. Heath and Wade began by alternating the dildo with Wade’s cock. One went in while the other went out. The rhythm was soothing but highly stimulating at the same time. She needed more. Sam tried to take the control back by opening her legs wider and dropping onto his cock, but Wade held her still. “Don’t fight me, babe.” Since she was so inexperienced, she figured they might know what was best. She relaxed her body and cleared her mind. With her eyes closed, she concentrated on how their hands held and caressed her. They seemed to know when to go fast and when to take it easy. She opened her eyes, leaned over, and kissed Wade. Changing the position that little bit created a whole new set of nerve ending explosions. Wade pumped up into her as he devoured her mouth. Heath stood behind her, and from the way he was moaning and groaning, he must have been picturing it was his cock inside her. Streaks of pleasure blasted her as her climax slammed into her. “Oh, my God.” Her head lifted, and she squeezed her eyes shut and panted as wave upon wave of ecstasy washed over her. Wade flipped her over so that he was on top and continued to pump into her. The dildo was deep inside her, freeing Heath to come to the side. His cock was out, all big and purple. She reached out to touch him. She closed her fist around him and he pushed into her tight grasp.

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She swore both men came at the same time. Heath’s flow hit her arm and the rest landed on the sheets. Heath dropped onto his elbows acting like he’d finished a double marathon. Wade’s hot jism warmed her inside. “Babe, you are the best.” His head dropped on her chest. She glanced at Heath, who was panting hard but smiling wide. “Anyone up for a shower?” Wade asked. Oh, yes, today was a good day.

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Chapter Eleven “Do you think she’ll like it?” Usually Wade was very decisive in what he wanted, but when they went to find an engagement ring for Sam, he couldn’t make up his mind. “Yes, though I think the one we found in Cheyenne was just as nice.” “By going to Denver, we got to visit Tom and Julie.” Heath had felt a little guilty that their sister lived a little less than three hours away and yet they rarely visited. “True.” Julie had made them a great dinner and insisted on showing them pictures of their trip to France. He was thrilled to see his sister so happy, but it was past 11:00 p.m. when they finally left. “We should have spent the night.” Wade slapped the wheel, probably to keep himself awake. “Then we would have missed the auction tomorrow morning.” They planned on buying a few more head of cattle. “I know.” By the time they passed the Intrigue town limits, it was close to 1:00 a.m. and he was beat. All the lights were off in Sam’s house. “Do you think we should wake her up?” Wade chuckled. “I’m so tired, I’d be bad company.” Amen to that. They drove toward Harper’s Lane, and their headlights illuminated two curious things. Something that looked like Jake’s truck was off to the side, and the other oddity was that there was a plume of dust hanging in the air as if something had disturbed the area a few minutes before. “Pull—” Wade was a step ahead of him. He’d hit the brakes and cut the

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engine before he finished the word. Wade jumped out and Heath raced behind him. When they reached Jake’s truck, there was a dark lump on the ground. “Get the flashlight out of the glove compartment,” Wade commanded. Heath ran back and retrieved the light. He turned the lamp toward Harper’s Lane. The dust had mostly settled. The image of two cattle trucks flashed in his mind, as did the vision of seeing Sam shot. He prayed Jake hadn’t met with the same fate. Heath shone the light on his brother. Jake was sitting up rubbing his head. “What happened?” Heath asked. “I got a tip that some rustlers were going to hit Sam’s place. I was waiting for them.” That was stupid coming out alone. “You didn’t let the sheriff in on this operation?” “No. I’d come out for an hour or two for the last few days. No one showed up until tonight.” “How’d they get a jump on you?” Wade asked. “I don’t know how. I was parked here, but I wanted to see if I could identify them. I crept along the fence. I can’t imagine how one of them got behind me, but he did.” He removed his hand from the back of his head, and his fingers were coated in dark blood. “How long has it been since they were here?” Jake shook his head. “I don’t know. I passed out. When I opened my eyes you were over me.” Heath commented on the kicked-up dust from the road. “I’m calling 911.” He wasn’t sure what the sheriff or his deputies could do, but he wanted to send in the report. Wade helped Jake up. “We’re taking you to Cheyenne. A concussion’s nothing to sneeze at.” “I’m good.” “If anything happens to you, and I didn’t do something, Sam

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would have my head.” Jake fisted his hands. “We don’t need Sam to learn about this.” “Sure thing.” Heath knew that wasn’t going to happen. As the owner, Sam had the right to know that someone was threatening her livelihood. Again. By the time they got him to the hospital in Cheyenne and got back home, it was almost time to get up. Heath decided he needed his sleep before he did anything else. He crawled into bed for a short nap. Wade shook his shoulder. “Come on. Get up.” “Give me another hour.” Somehow Wade never needed sleep as much as he did. “I want to follow up with the sheriff, but first I want to bring Sam here.” “She won’t come.” “It’s not her choice.” Heath scrambled out of bed. Wade would give him max five minutes before taking off. **** Sam was putting her breakfast dishes in the sink when she saw Wade pull up. While she’d like nothing better than to lounge around all day making love to them, she had a ranch to run. In fact, they did, too. She pulled open the door before they reached her stoop. “Hey.” Wade took her hand and led her inside. “We need to talk.” She didn’t like the serious tone. Her stomach churned. “What happened?” She looked over at Heath, whose pinched brow turned her heart even heavier. “Jake’s okay, but we had to take him to the hospital last night.” Jake. Hospital. Last night. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” “We just got back.” They told her they’d been in Denver visiting their sister and were

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coming home when they spotted Jake’s truck. “Did he get a look at his assailant?” “No, but we’re betting it was the same men who took the cattle before.” “I need to ask Chad to count the cattle.” Wade pressed his hands onto her shoulders. “That can wait.” “What’s more important than figuring out what they stole?” “Heath and I think someone is out to harm you.” That made no sense. “No one has come after me personally.” “I think they want to drive you away. Between the cattle rustling and the fire, maybe they think you’ll quit.” She’d drawn that conclusion, too. “They won’t succeed.” Heath took her hand. “We’d feel a lot better if you moved over to our house.” She stiffened. “Just until we get these guys. We just finished speaking with the sheriff. He and his men came out this morning and found some evidence the rustlers left behind.” “What was it?” “It was a flashlight they used to hit Jake on the back of the head. He said there were prints on it.” “Good luck finding the offenders. Their prints might not be in any database. Bottom line, I need my cattle back.” “He promised to tell anyone planning on buying cattle to be on the lookout for anything that has your brand on it.” That plan had yet to work. “They’ll probably take the cattle across state lines and we’ll never find them.” Heath wanted to rub away her frustration. “I know, but this time the sheriff has contacted the surrounding state agencies. Something will turn up.” “How’s Jake?” “I called the hospital this morning and spoke with him. He’ll be released soon. Don’t worry.” She didn’t know what she’d do if she lost him. “I’m glad.” Wade stepped closer. “Come on, we’ll help you pack.”

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She’d been through this before. “I’m not going anywhere. I don’t know how long Jake will be out of commission, so I’ll need to double my efforts.” Heath rubbed her back. “Darlin’. You know Wade. If you don’t come to us, we’ll have to come to you, and you know how crowded that queen-size bed can be.” He had a point. “Fine, but I’m spending most of my days here.” Wade smiled. “That’s all I ask.” “You don’t need to stay and watch me work. I promise I’ll be over by dinner. Okay?” “If I can get a kiss, I’ll be on my way.” When she stepped toward him, he looked like he wanted more than a kiss. She had work to do, but touching Wade and Heath would help her get through what happened. She kissed them both then shooed them out. “I’ll have my cell phone with me. Call if anything comes up.” As soon as they left, she saddled her horse and went out to find Chad. All of her hands, except Jake, of course, were there. As she ran into each one, she told them of the attack on Jake and the resulting theft. Chad was the last one she located. “Can you count the head and call me when you know how many have been stolen?” “Yes, ma’am.” She liked that he treated her with respect. Before she went back to the barn, she surveyed the fence along Harper’s Lane. Sure enough, the thieves had come in the same spot they had before. They’d carefully hidden the plastic tie wraps by painting them gray like the metal fence. “Damn.” She hated that they were that smart. She called the sheriff’s office and asked to be patched through to Will. He answered a few minutes later. “Hey, Sam. Sorry to hear about the attack.” “You have any news?” She didn’t know why she thought he might be successful this time when he hadn’t found a clue the last two times.

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“As a matter of fact, I’m tracking something down as we speak. Can I call you back?” “What did you find?” “I might have found your rustlers, but I need a judge to sign the warrant before I can check their trucks.” “I appreciate this, Will.” She disconnected. Even his news didn’t cheer her up. There had to be something she was overlooking. On her way back to the house, she saw Chad again. “We’re eight head short.” Christ. These men were willing to assault a good man for eight head of cattle. This was so wrong on many accounts. “Thanks. By the way, I’ll be staying over at the Watson ranch at night. They don’t think it’s safe for me here.” “Good. Jake mentioned to me on several occasions that he didn’t think a woman should be alone out here.” Did he now? “You have my number. Use it if you need to.” He nodded and rode off. Somehow, managing the ranch had become more difficult as the months went by, but she was going to conquer this business one way or another. Whoever was after her wasn’t going to succeed, unless she decided to change things. She had a lot of work to get done before she went over to the Watson place. She was almost finished packing when someone knocked on her door. Heath or Wade probably decided to see what was taking her so long. “I’m coming!” She rushed to the door and pulled it open. “Jake!” She pulled him in. “How are you feeling?” He waved a hand. “It was nothing.” He turned his head to show her where the hospital staff had shaved his head and placed the bandage. “Ouch.” He walked into her living room and sat down. “I’m working on a plan to stop these bastards.”

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He sounded like Wade and Heath, always ready to be the hero. “The sheriff said he was working on a lead.” Something indescribable flashed in his eyes. “What was it?” She saw no reason to mention the warrant. “He didn’t say, but he seemed optimistic he’d catch the thieves.” He nodded to one of the suitcases she’d put in the entranceway. “You going somewhere?” “Wade and Heath thought it wise if I stay with them.” “You don’t have to do that.” “They think I might be in danger.” “I could sleep on your sofa and protect you.” She smiled. “That is so sweet of you, but I don’t want to put you in any more danger. You’ve gone over and above the call of duty.” He stood. “Fine. Let me know what the sheriff finds.” She attributed his abrupt change of attitude to jealousy. There was nothing she could do about that. “I will. And keep out of danger. No more midnight raids on the rustlers.” He managed a smile before leaving. Something about Jake bothered her, but she shrugged it off. Maybe losing the cattle upset him more because he failed to stop them. She finished packing and headed over to the Watson ranch. She probably should have stayed at her parents’ house as it was only slightly farther away, but then her dad would lecture her on how she needed to be tougher around town. He’d probably suggest she invest in microchips for her animals instead of branding. She did plan to as soon as she had enough money. When she knocked on Wade and Heath’s front door, they met her with a glass of wine. The lights were dimmed and the aroma of something spicy and possibly Italian wafted in from the kitchen. Heath leaned over and kissed her. “We’re so glad you decided to come.” She chuckled. “If I hadn’t, I imagine the two of you would have driven over, plucked me from my bed, and carried me here.”

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“You got that right. Dinner is almost ready. Take a seat.” She had been a little late. “Sorry that I took so long.” “All that matters is that you’re here.” Heath brought in a wonderful dish of lasagna, fresh grilled portabella mushrooms, and a green salad. “Wow. You made all this?” He shrugged. “The lasagna came frozen at the grocery store, but I did grill the mushrooms and toss the salad.” “I like it.” They talked about everything but her recent problems, and for that she was thankful. By the time dinner was finished and cleaned up, it was close to eleven. She couldn’t help but yawn. “I’m sorry to eat and hit the hay, but I have a big day tomorrow.” “We totally understand. Good night.” She was halfway down the hallway when she realized she had no idea where they intended for her to sleep. She turned around and practically bumped into both of the men. “We’ve put you in the guest room, but you’re more than welcome to visit me or Heath during the night.” “Only if I sleepwalk or have nightmares. Thank you for keeping me safe. I appreciate it, but I still don’t think anyone is after me personally.” “As soon as the rustlers and the arsonist are caught, we’ll release you back into the wild.” She kissed them each good-night and trotted off to bed. She washed up and crawled under the comforter. To her surprise, she fell asleep right away and woke up refreshed. It was slightly past six when she got up. Maybe she could pay them back by making breakfast. It wasn’t fair for Heath to always be the one to do the work. Now that she had two good arms, she could cook breakfast. Finding the pots and pans was easy. By the time Wade and Heath rolled in, the coffee was brewed and she had a stack of eggs in the oven keeping warm.

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Heath wrapped his arms around her waist. “Thank you for cooking, but you are our guest.” “You cooked last night. It’s the least I could do.” She’d just served them the food when her cell phone rang. Caller ID said it was the sheriff. “Hey, Will.” “We found your rustlers.” The relief slammed into her. “That’s wonderful. Who are they?” “A couple of out-of-towners. I think you should come into town and hear what they have to say.” “What is it?” Her joy evaporated. “I’ll give you the details when you come in.” “I’ll be right there.” Heath reached out and clasped her hand. “What’s wrong?” She told the about the conversation. “We’re coming with you. Let’s go.” They had work to do and didn’t need to be bothered with her. “I can go alone.” Wade pushed back his chair. “This isn’t an option.” She knew when to fight and when to give in. “Suit yourself.” They drove into Intrigue together, but she wasn’t much in the mood to talk. Her mind swirled with a lot of questions. Were these the same men who shot her? Why were they targeting her? When they entered the department, the receptionist told them to go down the hall. The sheriff’s office was last door on the right. She’d been here before, but never in this capacity. Will was seated when they came in. He didn’t even blink at the fact both Wade and Heath were with her. He motioned they take a seat. “I have some disturbing news.” Her pulse raced. “What is it?”

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Chapter Twelve Will looked down at his notes. “I’m going to tell you what the two men told me. I’m in the process of corroborating their story now. They said that your foreman, Jake Hansen, hired them to steal your cattle.” She almost laughed. “That’s ridiculous. What proof do they have?” He slid a photo over to her. “Apparently, they didn’t trust him, and one of their friends took this shot as proof.” It showed Jake accepting money from them. “All this shows is that he knew them.” “Apparently, he had these men steal the cattle from you, knowing they’d get little to no interference from you. He got half the proceeds.” Her stomach flipped over many times and bile rose in her throat. She shook her head. “Jake got injured the last time. You’re telling me that was planned?” “No. Jake was trying to stop them.” “You see? How does that make him guilty?” Heath leaned forward. “Will, these are serious accusations that even I find hard to believe. How are you going to prove Jake is behind all this? It’s basically their word against Jake’s.” Will put the photo back in the folder. “I know. We’re doing a check on his finances now to see if his account got some infusion of cash around the same time the animals were taken.” He turned to her. “Sam, did you have other thefts besides the ones you reported?” “Not that I’m aware of, but I only learned about the thefts because

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the number of cattle reported went down.” Her mind spun. Had the stealing been going on longer than she’d realized? “Other than needing money, why would he do this to me? I truly thought he liked and respected me.” Wade leaned back in his chair. “He does. That’s why it makes perfect sense. I should have seen it earlier.” “You’re the one who’s not making sense.” “I don’t know what they call it, but it’s the I want to be a hero to win the girl syndrome.” “Huh?” Now wasn’t the time for him to be funny. “Do you remember the first time Jake found out we were staying at your house after you got shot?” “He got mad.” “Yes. How would Will have responded if he’d come and learned we were going to protect you?” She didn’t have to think twice. “He would have been happy that he didn’t have to send someone out to keep watch.” “Yes. Don’t you see? Jake was jealous of us.” She glanced between all three men whose gaze was focused on her. “I believe that’s true, especially when I think about everything he’s said since I got injured. But you’re basically accusing him of paying someone to steal my cattle so he could capture them and be the hero?” “Precisely,” Wade said. “When you didn’t let him take care of you after you got shot, he set a fire in the barn. He wanted to put it out then rush in and tell you how he saved all the horses.” Oh, shit. “But the smoke got to him before he could save anything.” “Right.” The pattern fit. “That’s why when I got shot, he told me he was sorry. It was like that wasn’t supposed to happen.” “No one could have known you’d be coming down Harper’s Lane so late at night.”

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“It was my dad’s birthday party and we stayed up to celebrate.” The pieces fell into place. Maybe that was why nothing like this had ever happened to a man’s ranch. Wade leaned forward. “When the fire starting backfired, he had the rustlers steal your cattle again. Only this time, he tried to stop them. For him, it was time to be the hero.” But he failed. She looked up at Will. “Jake is at my ranch now.” “We’re bringing him in for questioning.” Her head spun. “I need to use the bathroom.” She got up and rushed down the hallway. She managed not to throw up, but her stomach wanted to heave. She splashed water on her face, which somewhat helped calm her. What had she done wrong? She never showed any interest in Jake. If she had, would he have acted differently? It was too late now to second-guess herself. She walked back to Will’s office, trying to pull herself together. Wade and Heath were shaking the sheriff’s hand. Will looked upset that he’d had to deliver such bad news. “I’m very sorry. I’ll let you know if we have to charge Jake. If he did hire the men to steal the cattle, he’ll be responsible for your shooting, too.” Could this get any worse? The ride home was solemn. She was now one man short. Chad was young, but she trusted him to lead the other men. If she ever had to start again, she’d only hire women. In fact, she should consider starting again. If only she could figure out how to run a ranch with no cattle. Even though the threat to her life and her ranch was gone, the men tried to convince her to stay the day. She wasn’t in the mood. “I really need to regroup. I’m sorry.” “We understand. Let us know if we can do anything.” Heath gave her a comforting hug good-bye. Wade brought out her suitcases. “Don’t be a stranger.” He winked, which brought out a smile.

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Once they dropped her off at her place, she was more determined than ever to win. **** It was close to a month before Jake and the two rustlers were brought to trial. As sick as it made her feel, she wanted to watch the proceedings. Maybe Jake would provide some sense of closure for her. The trial had already started when Heath slipped next to her. “What are you doing here?” She welcomed having him here, because the tension that filled the air caused her stomach to roil. “Making sure you’re okay.” That was sweet. Both he and Wade had been so supportive during this whole Jake affair. They’d even offered to help her interview other hands to replace the vacated position, but she’d had to decline when it came to the actual interview. No worker would respect her if they thought the Watson brothers were really in charge. She had gone to them for advice about her options for winter grazing. At least these two never lectured her, unlike her dad who suggested she sell the place and move back home after someone leaked the truth about what happened. Only Wade and Heath seemed to really understand that her life was all about being outside and riding the range. The defense attorney was interrogating Jake on the stand. He kept looking her way, but she found it hard to make eye contact. Jake had already pled guilty to hiring the men to steal the cattle, but he never said anything about using guns, and swore up and down that he never told them to shoot anyone. “Mr. Hansen. Why did you hire these men?” She held her breath. Heath took her hand in his. “Because I wanted to prove to Samantha Callen that she needed a man by her side. I wanted that man to be me.” Her breath whooshed out. Wade was right. Jake wanted to be a

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hero, but to do that he needed to set up something to save—her ranch. She’d had enough. “Let’s go.” The courts would provide the proper judgment. She’d liked Jake, just not in the way he wanted. As they walked out, the chill in the air took her by surprise. “It almost feels like it’s going to snow.” “Could be.” They’d driven separately, which was too bad, as she was in the mood to spend time with Heath. He walked her to her car. “Wade and I would like you to come over for dinner tonight. We want to talk to you about something.” “What about?” The three of them had been brainstorming a lot of ideas about how to improve the running of her ranch. “You’ll have to wait and see. Oh, and wear a dress.” He grinned. “A dress?” She hadn’t worn once since she became a ranch owner. “Is this about the ranch?” If so, why did they expect her to dress up? “Six o’clock. Be there.” He kissed her quickly and strode off. That was a bizarre conversation but one that intrigued her. She hopped in her car and took off, running a bunch of different scenarios through her head. She wasn’t in the mood to do much after the sickening trial. The men were up to something, and she didn’t want to disappoint them. She had two hours before meeting the men, so she stopped off at her parents’ ranch to look through her wardrobe and pick up her makeup case. She used to love dressing up, but the whole ranch experience had suppressed those desires. Once she got back home, she washed her hair and actually put on makeup for the first time in forever. Wouldn’t they be surprised? Promptly at six, she arrived at their front door. Instead of entering like she often did, she rang the bell and waited for them to answer. Both Wade and Heath ushered her in. “You look radiant,” Heath said. He greeted her with a kiss. “Beautiful,” Wade responded.

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This time she accepted the compliment. They had a fire going in the fireplace, and the warmth helped calm her. The trial had done more damage than she wanted to admit. She needed to be with them tonight. Heath disappeared and came back with a glass of wine for her. “So what’s going on?” She’d thought of many things but discarded them all. “Did the sheriff call with the trial results?” The prosecutor hadn’t even presented his case yet when she and Heath had left. “No.” Wade led her over to the sofa. He sat on one side of her, Heath on the other. “We’ve been thinking about making a change.” Her heart nearly stopped. Change often wasn’t a good thing. “What kind of change?” She prayed they weren’t considering leaving Intrigue. Heath and Wade slid a hip off the sofa and faced her. Wade handed her a blue velvet box. She took the box with a shaky hand. This couldn’t possibly be what she hoped it might be. “Open it,” Heath urged. She gasped. Inside was a large diamond ring. There was one stone in the middle, bordered by two smaller ones on the side. “It’s gorgeous.” “Try it on,” Wade said. She slipped the ring on her finger and held out her hand for inspection. Its glistening gems seemed to complete her. “Does this mean what I think it means?” She was ecstatic but concerned at the same time. “It means Heath and I want to marry you.” “Uh-oh. Does that mean you want me to give up my ranch?” Would they want to combine the two properties? Would they let her be a part of the decision-making process? “No. We’d never ask that. We know it’s in your blood.” The air in her lungs whooshed out. “Then what?” “Why do you think there’s a catch?” “Because you looked to the side for a moment. I know you. It

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means there’s something you’re not telling me.” Wade glanced at Heath who nodded. “Here’s the thing. When you’re in ranch mode, you never want to be seen kissing us in public. We’d like that behavior to stop. If we want to kiss you and show the world that we love you, then so be it. We know that you used to love dressing like a woman. Like the way you are tonight. We want you to embrace the real you.” “I gave that up when I bought the ranch.” Tingles bombarded her body. “You do know I love you both very much.” “We know you do. You show it every time you make love to us. It’s when you’re talking to your men that you seem afraid to show your feminine side.” She wasn’t quite sure she understood. “You want me to wear makeup all the time?” “No. You’re beautiful the way you are, but we want you to show everyone who you really are on the inside.” She was shocked. “I’m not that bad, am I?” She had to think about what they were really saying. “My ranch hands and suppliers won’t take orders from a woman, so I have to try my damnedest to act like one of them.” “We don’t buy that. There has to be something you can do to earn their respect besides acting super tough.” “I’ve tried. What do you suggest?” They both watched her for a bit, never breaking eye contact. “Change the rules of the game,” Wade said. “Do something different. Think of something outside the box. Bottom line is that we don’t want to marry a man. We want to marry the woman that’s inside of you waiting to come out. Understand that we’ll help in any way we can.” “If I’m such a man, why were you ever attracted to me in the first place?” “Because we see past that tough façade. We see the woman on the inside, and you’re beautiful, wonderful, and loving. We want that person to shine through all the time. We want you to be proud of

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loving us, not ashamed.” “I’m not ashamed. It’s just that I can’t be that loving person in public and run a ranch.” They didn’t know what it was like to be her. “Ranching is what I know and ranching is what I love.” Wade cupped her face. “That’s who you are on the outside.” She pulled out of his grasp, stood, and set down her wineglass. She pulled off the ring and placed it back in the box. “Here. When you want a strong woman who knows how to run a ranch, let me know.” The tears were brimming on her lashes as she raced out. She expected them to rush after her, but she didn’t hear them move an inch. Damn them. Outside, the cold air blasted some sense in her, but not enough to make her turn back. She strode toward her truck and crawled in. She started the engine, but then dropped her head on the wheel and cried. When neither of the men came out to say they were sorry, she took off. It was the worst night of her life.

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Chapter Thirteen All the next day, she waited for Heath and Wade to come by and say they’d take her the way she was. They never did. With each minute that passed, her heart broke. She loved them and wanted to be with them. Why couldn’t they see she needed to be tough to succeed? Close to dinnertime, she decided to stop by her parents’ house. Her mom always had a way of seeing the truth. Too bad coming home was close to admitting defeat. As soon as Sam walked into the kitchen, her mom put down the ladle and gave her a hug. “What’s wrong?” “Got an hour?” She’d already spent time talking on the phone after Jake was arrested for his involvement in the cattle rustling scheme. “Oh, Sam, dear. Let me finish chopping the carrots and zucchini and putting them in the stew and we can sit in the living room and have a nice, long talk.” “I can help.” “I’d like that.” While Sam peeled the vegetables, she told her mom about Jake and the trouble he’d caused. “That’s terrible, but he’s in jail now. Losing close to thirty head is a shame, but you can recover. Your dad has lost that many in one year due to illness or bad weather.” He had a lot more cattle than she had. “That’s not the worst of it. Wade and Heath asked me to marry them.” Her mom smiled. “Both of them?” In Intrigue, ménage relationships were well accepted, so she

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didn’t think she’d get any flak on that account. “Yes.” “So what’s the problem? Your cousin adores both of her husbands.” “They think I’m not feminine enough.” She held up her hand. “That’s not quite true. In public, I’m not affectionate because I fear the men won’t take orders unless I’m tough.” “Hmm. That is a problem. What are you going to do? Give up the ranching business?” “No. They told me to think outside the box. If only I could replace my hands with women, I’d be all set.” “That might be tough when you need someone to set a fence pole or pull a stuck cow out of the mud.” She was aware of all the constraints. “Hey.” Her sister, April, popped in. “What are you doing here?” She came over and gave her a hug. “Looking for advice.” “Hit me.” April was the younger, quirkier sister. Maybe she could come up with a solution. Sam detailed her dilemma. “Oh, my God. That’s awesome. Heath and Wade are total hunks.” “I know. I love them and want to marry them, but how can I be flirtatious and relaxed in public? My men will eat me alive.” “Why do you have to be a rancher?” “Ranching’s in my blood.” She held up her hand. “You could turn the ranch into something else, something that would showcase how cool it is to be outdoors.” “I don’t get what you mean.” April moved closer and waved her hands. “You could have schoolkids come to the ranch and ride horses, go for hayrides, hike in the hills, and all sorts of cool stuff.” Sam laughed. “I can’t imagine doing that.” It was so different from raising cattle. April might be right. After all, she was a middle school teacher, or would be come this fall.

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Mom came over. “Do you remember me talking about Rebecca Clemens?” “She’s one of your writer friends, right?” “Yes. She and I studied music together for a bit in New York before your father proposed. Now she wants to write Westerns, and she’s always asking questions about cattle and cowboys.” April grabbed Sam’s shoulders. “That’s it. You could have writer retreats for people who know nothing about the West.” “The chance to teach people about the wonderful outdoors would be cool.” April was practically jumping up and down. “You could have cowgirls helping you.” “What would I do with my cattle?” Her mom placed a hand on her shoulder. “Didn’t you just say what a pain they were? Get rid of them.” The money from the sale could start a whole new adventure. “I’ll have to think about it, but the first dilemma would be where would the people stay when they came to the ranch?” “Talk to Mr. Sanders at the Intrigue Hotel. I bet he’d be thrilled for you to permanently rent a block of rooms for those visiting your ranch.” April’s eyes shone as if the ideas were ready to pop out. “You could sell a line of clothing with the Circle Bar ranch insignia on it.” “That idea is so out of the box it just might work.” Sam kissed both her mom and sister good-bye. “I have a lot of details to work out if this is going to work.” For the first time in days, her spirits soared. Without the need for cowboys, she could be herself. While she wouldn’t be riding a horse in a skirt, she could buy some decent-looking clothes that would be considered sexy. When she was out in public with her new husbands, she could kiss them silly because she wouldn’t care if her hands saw her. They’d all understand. How cool would that be not to have to deal with prejudice anymore?

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Once she got home, she sat down and drew up a business plan to see what would be feasible and what wouldn’t be. She could have called Wade and Heath, but she wanted to make one bold move toward a different independence before she consulted them. The first step was finding out about accommodations. She’d worry about transportation to and from town later. She put on a rather feminine outfit and headed into Intrigue. Fortunately, the manager was there and was able to meet with her. After an hour discussion, and some creative suggestions, they both agreed her plan could work. “Thank you. As soon as I know a start date, we’ll be in touch.” The next step was selling her cattle. She could bring her head to the weekly auction or see if her father or either of her two uncles was interested in a good deal. That would make the transaction cheaper for them and easier for her to herd them to the neighboring land. She called each of them on her way back home, and they all agreed to purchase one hundred head each. They even said they’d come and get the cattle. All that was left was letting her hands go. Since her uncles and father now had a bigger herd, she bet they’d be hiring. The last step was getting clients. She figured Wade and Heath would love to help her brainstorm a marketing plan. To make sure they were home, she called Heath. “Sam? That you?” She was sure the caller ID confirmed it. “Yes. I was wondering if I could come over and talk to you two about my new plan.” “Absolutely. Wade should be in shortly. Can you give us an hour?” “Sure.” “You sound excited.” “I am, but we’ll talk about it when I get there.” She only had an hour to look like a real woman. Oh, boy. That was going to take some doing. She had the perfect solution. She called April.

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“What’s up?” “I have a fashion emergency.” She told her what she needed. “Can you come over and help me?” She told her sister which outfit to bring over. “Can I pluck your eyebrows and put false eyelashes on you?” “Ah, maybe not that far.” “You’ve really let yourself go, sister dear, in the last few months.” She spoke the truth. “Okay. I’ll give you free rein.” April giggled. “I’ll be right over.” It took her sister about fifteen minutes to gather the needed items. When April pulled out the low-cut tops, she knew Wade and Heath didn’t stand a chance. Even Sam couldn’t quite believe the transformation. The clothes were hers, but April had a unique way of putting the pieces together that really showed off her figure. Sam had on three-inch heels and a top that showed a ton of cleavage. At least her little sister agreed the tight black jeans worked. By the time Sam actually made it to the Watsons’ front door, her nerves had gotten the best of her. What if they didn’t like the new look? She debated turning back. She must have pressed the doorbell or else they were watching out the window for her, because both men opened the door. “Holy shit. That really you, Sam? Come in.” She had to guess from the way their pupils dilated that they liked what they saw. Wade guided her over to the sofa. “I’m blown away by what you’ve done. Does this mean you’re willing to change your lifestyle a bit?” “You could say that.” Heath handed her a glass of wine. “Tell us.” She went through her whole thought process right down to the selling of the cattle. “I can’t believe it, babe. You’re going to be an outfitter of sorts.”

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“A local one, yes. I thought maybe in the winter, I could take people skiing and hiking. I’m not sure, but when I ran the numbers, I really only need to be occupied for about six months during the warmer months to make ends meet.” Wade picked her up from the sofa and spun her around. “I can’t tell you how happy that makes us. Is this really what you want to do? We don’t want you to compromise for us.” “No. This is so perfect. I never liked dealing with the stupid cattle. I wish I had come up with the solution six months ago.” “Then we need to celebrate.” “Absolutely.” Wade carried her into the bedroom and placed her on the bed. Heath picked up the blue box from the dresser. “You want to wear this while we consummate our engagement?” “That would be wonderful.” He took out the ring and placed the diamond on her finger. She wiggled her fingers, admiring the stone once more. Wade unhooked her belt buckle. “You look so hot that I hate to take this off.” She laughed, loving how a change of clothes and a bit of makeup—okay a lot of makeup—boosted her morale. “How about I strip you two for a change?” “We get to go first.” “Okay.” Heath pulled off her heels while Wade tugged off her pants. Once she made up her mind to change her ranching plans, she’d bought some very sexy underwear. Last week, she’d gone with April to get her pussy waxed. She hoped her men liked the new her. Wade pulled down her panties. “Babe, this is the best present in the world. I’m going to suck on your pussy for hours.” Heath elbowed him. “I get her, too.” Wade grinned and pulled her top over her head. Heath slipped next to her. “Now that’s what I call a bra. Too bad I have to take it

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off.” She was naked in seconds and had both men sucking on her tits while Wade rubbed her bare pussy. She had to admit being totally exposed between her legs excited her. Her pussy was already on fire and ready for a lot of action. Tonight she was going to have some new experiences, and she couldn’t wait to get started. Sucking their cocks had to come first or she’d lose it fast. “Wait. I need you naked.” She sat up. They climbed off the bed and held up their hands. “Go for it, babe.” She started with Heath, letting Wade simmer. “Can you take off your boots?” They always proved difficult. “Anything for you, darlin’.” Pulling his pants down gave her a thrill, especially since he conveniently didn’t put on any underwear. “Were you expecting someone to come and suck that big cock of yours?” “As soon as you called, I got prepared.” Heath grinned. “I like a man who thinks ahead.” Both she and Heath laughed as she lowered his pants to around his ankles. She held the material steady as he stepped out of them. Yes, he still had on a shirt, but his big cock was begging to be licked. Without using her hands, she dragged her tongue along the underside of his dick. She’d stroked him twice when Wade knelt on the bed behind her and lightly pinched both of her nipples. “As long as you’re busy, I might as well enjoy myself.” He pulled the tips taut and twirled them in his fingers. Spikes of excitement raced up her spine. Her pussy got in the act, too. For a moment, she stopped licking Heath. “Focus, darlin’.” He was right. She had to learn how to move even when the stimulation became intense. She slid her mouth down his cock, but barely managed to encompass half of his length. She swallowed to open her throat, and she was able to accommodate a bit more. She

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massaged his balls, rolling them from one hand to the other, and loved it when he moaned. Heath clasped the back of her head and pumped his cock down her throat. She tightened her lips and sucked on him hard. He pulled out. “I don’t want to come yet. I’ve been dreaming of your sweet ass for too long.” She smiled up at him, turned around, and crawled next to Wade, who’d gotten onto the bed. “Got anything that might fit in my mouth?” He grabbed his cock in his hand. “I’m not sure you can handle this one.” “We’ll see.” While she was loving Heath, Wade must have been too impatient for her to undress him, because he was already naked. That worked for her. She crawled onto the bed, leaned over, and drew him into her mouth. She’d clasped her hand around his girth and pumped her hand up and down twice before licking the tip. He gasped. Guess he wasn’t able to act indifferent. That pleased her to no end. Heath moved behind her. She didn’t jerk this time when he slid a greased finger into her ass. When he wiggled his finger, he struck a chord, and her ass sang. “Oooh, I like that.” “Then you’re going to like my big cock better.” She loved when they talked dirty to her. “I can take it, cowboy.” Returning her attention to Wade, she sucked on him harder and faster. He threaded his fingers through her hair and pressed tight as if he was working to control himself. “I love your wicked mouth, but take it easy on me.” She wouldn’t have given in, but she wanted to fuck him so bad, she let up. She needed him on the brink, desperate to take her. Heath pressed three fingers into her hole and she gasped. He hit about ten sweet spots all at once, and there was an explosion of need so strong she almost came. “I want you, Sam.” Heath’s words came out in several breaths, as

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if he, too, were on a thin line of control. “Take me.” She lifted away from Wade’s cock to give her full attention to what Heath was doing. The tip of his dick stretched open her puckered hole, and she realized she’d never had anything like this before. The dildo he’d used had been small compared to him. A quick stab of apprehension took hold, but when he rubbed each cheek and kissed her back, she relaxed. “That’s right, darlin’. Just give in to the pleasure.” She widened her legs, and Heath pushed in an inch. He stopped, probably to let her adjust to his size. Wade got on his knees in front of her and rubbed her back with one hand while he played with her tit with the other. His touch was gentle, yet urgent at the same time. No doubt, he knew what having Heath inside her would do, and how her entire thoughts would be concentrated on her ass. Heath reached under her belly and slipped a finger in her alreadywet pussy. At the same time, he crawled down her back channel another inch. Her mind splintered. Having him in her ass and his finger in her pussy sent her near the edge. Heath leaned over her back and ran a tongue over her ear and down the side of her neck. The multiple sensations were driving her wild. He pulled his cock out a bit then slid in farther. New areas exploded with need. “I need you all the way in me.” “God, but I love you.” He pressed in harder as she tilted her hips back to take in all of him. When his balls slapped her pussy, she knew he was fully seated. She stilled, needing a moment to get used to having something that large and full inside her. Heath leaned back, removed his fingers, and clasped onto her hips. “I’m going to lean you backward so Wade can fuck that sweet, naked pussy.” She looked up and Wade grinned. “First, I’m going to taste your wonderful honey.”

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All she could think of was having Wade’s mouth on her clit, sucking and nipping her, bringing her to a new precipice of joy. “Here we go,” Heath said as he tilted her backward. He must have uncurled his legs because she dropped hard onto his cock, further impaling her. Her breath left her body, and her heart rattled in her chest. Heath rubbed her back. “Take it easy, darlin’. Just breathe.” She did as he said and the stretching subsided. Wade leaned on his stomach and plied open her pussy lips. “I can’t tell you how much I’ve wanted to do this.” The first lick nearly made her volcanic. His tongue flicked over her opening, going back and forth until her pussy got hot. Real hot. Wade found the little hood on her clit. He squeezed it tight and she bucked upward. Heath must have been prepared, for he lifted his hips upward. Sparks shot out everywhere as Wade went to work on her needy pussy. She’d stayed away from them for too long. That was her fault, but she had to figure things out. Wade stopped sucking long enough to dip in another finger. He must have hit every nerve ending, for she overflowed with pleasure. Heath lowered his hips, reached around her, and tweaked her nipples. He stroked his hands down the sides. “I love your tits.” The swollen tips ached, but the pain from all his rubbing morphed into pleasure. He rubbed and caressed them until electric bolts shot straight to her core. Molten desires bubbled within her. She was close to exploding. “Wade, I need your cock.” “My pleasure.” He got on one knee, took hold of his cock, and dragged it across her opening. Why was he teasing her so? Couldn’t he tell she was about to explode? “Lift up, darlin’.” Heath placed his hands on her hips. “Hold still and let me and Wade fuck you until you burst.”

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“Yes, yes, yes.” Her mind had lost all sense as Wade threaded his cock into her wet channel. A riot of pleasure shot through her as he edged in. The combination of Heath’s cock in her ass and Wade’s dick in her pussy filled her to epic proportions. “It’s too much.” Wade stopped. “We’ll take it easy.” Her body relaxed a bit. Too bad the need to go higher drove her. She pumped forward to get Wade to enter some more. He took the hint and drove in all the way. His face was inches from hers. His lids lowered and his mouth parted. He kissed her with more passion than she’d ever known. When she opened her mouth, his tongue raced in and mated with hers. He matched his mouth exploration with the movement of his cock. He’d thrust and parried with intensity. Her heart beat faster, and her mind lost control. It was when Heath pulled out of her ass then rammed it in again that her circuits overloaded. The two men must have sensed her whole body and knew what she needed. It was as if the three of them were one unit. At first Heath would withdraw and Wade would enter. As her juices flowed and her breaths increased, they began to enter at the same time. Maybe it was when her nails dug into Wade’s back that he knew she was close to her breaking point. No man should have been able to last this long, but clearly they were holding back for her. Their love transcended anything she’d ever known. Both pushed in at the same time. It was like there was an electric charger in her body set to explode, and the final push sent every part of her body to a different planet. “Wade! Heath! Oh, God.” Their cocks expanded, stretching her to the max. She lost her breath as wave after wave of exotic carnal delight flowed over her. She clamped down hard on both of their cocks, tightening her hold on both men. Just as her climax sent delicious flames up her body, both men pummeled her with their life fluid.

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She didn’t remember the next few seconds, except she couldn’t release her hold on Wade. Both men pressed against her and held her tight. Her legs weakened, and she dropped onto Heath’s lap. Wade cupped her face and kissed her again. “I love you, babe.” She didn’t have the strength to respond. Both men eventually pulled out. She didn’t remember who got up to get a cloth, but Wade wiped her clean. It took a few minutes to regain her strength. “If we do that every night, how can I run my new enterprise?” They both laughed. Heath pulled her on top of him. “We’ll help.” Those were the sweetest words she’d ever heard.

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Chapter Fourteen Six months later April stepped back from straightening Sam’s veil. “You are the prettiest bride.” “Stop.” “Seriously. I don’t think the men will last the entire wedding ceremony before sweeping you off your feet.” April always was the romantic. “I probably should have waited until the winter season to get married. I have three excursions going on simultaneously this month.” “Sandra is perfectly capable of handling the details.” April adjusted the bouquet in her hands. “You’re only going away for a week. Your group of leaders can handle anything that comes their way.” “I know.” She’d hired six fantastic women to run the program, along with two capable men, who fortunately didn’t have a prejudiced bone in their bodies. All of them shared the same goal—to make the client happy. “The next group consists of ten authors, mostly female. They want to experience the West, and I hope my leaders understand their needs.” “They will.” April smoothed out her long dress. “Don’t worry. I’ll check on the tour every day.” “You sure you don’t mind?” “No, I’d love to do that for my big sister.” “I love you so much.” She gave April a hug. A knock sounded on her former bedroom door. Her mom peeked

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her head in. “You ready?” “Yes.” Surprisingly, she had no doubts that marrying Wade and Heath was absolutely the best choice she could ever make. Taking a deep breath, she walked downstairs into her parents’ living room. There was a makeshift altar in front of the fireplace. Heath and Wade stood to one side, along with their foreman and his assistant. On the other side, her four brothers and two sisters looked prettier than any Norman Rockwell illustration. Her father moved alongside her as her mom began to play the wedding march. Her heart swelled. She’d asked for a small wedding, but somehow between the aunts, uncles, and cousins, there had to be fifty people in attendance. The reverend was the same one who’d married her cousin in her ménage marriage. Officially, she’d be marrying Wade since he was the oldest, but in her heart, she’d be with both. Her father took hold of her arm and walked her forward as the music played. Her eyes watered. It had been a long time since she’d heard her mom’s music. Both Wade and Heath were smiling broadly. She couldn’t help but take a quick glance at their crotches. She swore their cocks twitched just for her. April pressed a piece of paper into her hand. Sam had almost forgotten her vows. She’d spent hours last night making them just right. When she stood in front of the preacher, the music stopped and Wade and Heath stood on either side of her. “Would you read your vows, Samantha?” “I, Samantha Callen, do take Wade and Heath Watson to be my lawfully wedded husbands. You turned my life around and made me put my face to the sun and absorb the light. You jump-started my soul and made me realize who I really was and who I wanted to be. Thank you for allowing me to find myself again. I will stand by you for the rest of my life.” Both Wade and Heath took her hand. Since she was officially

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marrying Wade, he’d say the vows for both of them. “I, Wade Watson, take you, Samantha Callen, to be my lawfully wedded wife. You brought light into our life when there was not enough. You reached into our souls and showed up what true love was like. We promise to protect and cherish you for as long as you shall live.” The preacher said a few more words, then announced, “You may now kiss the bride.” She kissed Wade first. “Hey, it’s my turn.” Heath pulled her out of Wade’s grasp and gave her a mind-blowing kiss. “That’s long enough.” Wade pulled her away, and so began at least a minute of tug or war. “No fighting, remember.” She gathered them close. “When we are on our honeymoon, I promise there will be a ton of kisses.” Wade wrapped an arm around her waist. “I hope there will be more than that.” He winked. She laughed. Her mom played again, and the reverend announced it was time for the father-daughter dance. “If you’ll excuse me both.” She swung around and found her dad. She felt like she was ten years old again when he’d attempted to teach her to dance. She’d been a terrible student then, and she hadn’t improved much over the years. She did the best she could to keep up until the number mercifully ended. So that her mother wouldn’t be stuck at the piano all night, they put in a CD, and the festivities began. The men thought honeymooning in Hawaii would be an ideal location, because she couldn’t take off and check on her ranch. Heath handed her a glass of wine. They each had a beer and held them up in a toast. “To the most wonderful and sexy woman alive.” She’d come a long way since meeting them, and she didn’t miss those damn cattle one bit. Being able to show people the beauty of the land suited her just fine.

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They touched their glasses. “To the two best husbands a woman could have.” They spread out and talked to each of the guests and ate a ton of food. They weren’t scheduled to leave until tomorrow morning, but she had a lot of things to take care of before they left. Around eleven, both of her husbands made her hug her parents and guests good-night. “We have plans for you tonight.” “I have to finish some paperwork.” “Paperwork that can wait until you return.” “Maybe, but I’m not totally free of my obligations until I step on that plane.” They escorted her outside. “I think Heath and I have something to say about that.” She had to laugh. Marrying them meant a good deal of her time would be spent in bed. No woman could complain about that.

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: Pleasure, Montana 5: Taming Tammy Ménage Everlasting: Pleasure, Montana 6: Bella’s Bad Bikers

For all other titles, please visit www.bookstrand.com/melody-snow-monroe

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