Cowboy Double-Decker (14 page)

“Kaela, I can’t imagine driving across the country with a small child, much less spending a week in a tiny hotel room with Scotty
and
that big lug. I want your company, and you need a place to relax.

Diane and Evie will love having someone their size.”

“But Bryan’s been away for months and Thanksgiving is family time.”

“Bryan has the rest of his life with us,” said Candy. “He wants you here and that’s good enough for us. So say yes, Kaela!”

She rolled her eyes at one of Bryan’s favorite expressions.

“Okay, you’ve convinced me. And thank you.”

“Woo-hoo! Adam can’t wait to meet you. Now put the big guy on the line.”

To give them privacy, she stepped out of the room and shut the door. Then she thumped her back against the wall and sank to the carpet. It only took a moment for tears to leak out.

Why did someone she’d never met welcome her so joyfully when her only relatives hated her? No, not hate. That would take effort and emotion, neither of which they wasted on her. She was sure they’d wanted her trust fund’s annual interest payment more, making her an unpaid servant as soon as she could do chores.

The bedroom door opened. She rubbed her arm over her eyes to hide the evidence, but Bryan dropped beside her and scooped her into his lap.

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“My family are nice people. And if they’re not, I’ll beat up Adam for you.” He hugged her close, rasping his chin on her head as he talked. “Doc will torture him with needles and Candy will flog his naked butt until it turns red. Evie and Diane will do their best to scream him deaf and—”

He stopped when she finally smiled, though it was weak and watery.

“I’ve never been on a farm,” she said, sniffing. “Much less a working ranch.”

“Don’t change the subject. What’s with the tears?”

“It’s in the past. Done and gone.”

He gave her a look that promised they’d continue this later.

“We caught Candy at a good time. They’re off to Missoula for the monthly shopping today, so they’ll take both vehicles and meet us at the airport tomorrow.”

“Airport?” She frowned up at him. “What about my car and your Harley?”

“I already made arrangements to ship my bike. When I took Scotty to visit the local garage, I asked about your rattletrap. They’ll give you a couple hundred dollars for what’s left of it.”

“But how can I bring all of Scotty’s things on an airplane?”

“We box up what you don’t need right away and take it with us as cargo. No worries.”

He made it sound so easy. Perhaps with their money, it was.

“I guess we spend tonight packing,” she said. “There goes your chance to tie me up.”

In a flash he went from Trusting Friend to Hot Shot Lover.

“Unless you sneak up here during lunch. There’s still some whipped cream.”

“You ate the second can, remember? And you got Scotty hooked on it.”

“You gotta admit he looked cute staring cross-eyed at his nose as he tried to lick it off.”

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He pulled her close and kissed her. At first, lightly. Then he snuck a hand under her shirt and bra to stroke her naked breast. Already knowing his touch, it immediately swelled, ready for action.

“Da!”

Bryan sighed and dropped his forehead against hers. His shoulders shook.

“Ah,” he said. “The call of the hungry. You head off to class while I clean him up. Today we’re going on a long walk in the sun.

It’s a heck of a lot colder in Montana.” He stood up and held out his hand. She gave him hers and he hauled her to her feet. “I’ll keep you warm up home.” He winked and turned away. “Scott, my man. Time to rock and roll!”

Kaela watched Bryan jolly her son out of his playpen as she put her bra back in place. He tossed him in the air, both of them laughing.

She loved Scotty with all her heart. And Bryan?
Don’t go there!

She grabbed her backpack and scooted out the door before Scotty saw her and sent up a howl. The instructor had praised her project highly. Today she’d find out if it was good enough to be posted on his website for potential employers to view.

Carpe noctum.
She’d seize the nights and get through the days one at a time.

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“There they are.”

Bryan, Scotty on one arm, pointed at the deep voice echoing through the Missoula airport. Kaela turned to face what must be Adam bearing down on them. Total cowboy from the boots clicking on the concrete floor to the hat that added unnecessary inches, he advanced like a storm front. She noticed a woman with short dark hair waving, but the determined figure striding toward them took all her attention.

The phrase “tall, dark, and handsome” had been made with this man in mind. She gulped at the twinge that shot between her legs. Her breasts immediately tightened. It was as if his eyes sent a jolt to her body, switching her buttons to ON. She’d never experienced the sensation before Bryan. Now that her body understood orgasms, would it sit up and beg whenever a he-man paid her attention?

She gulped, wishing she’d been more careful when she dressed.

She wore the bright blue cashmere sweater Bryan bought to celebrate her project getting second place. She admired it in the hotel shop, but it was so far out of her thrift store price range as to be laughable. He said it matched her eyes and she deserved a reward for her hard work.

She had second thoughts when she tried it on, as it was very tight and low cut. She wasn’t sure who got a bigger reward.

She’d also taken Bryan’s advice on her light blue cotton pants, realizing only when she glanced in the mirror before they left that they snuggled her bottom in a way that suggested more than she intended. By then, everything was packed and it was too late to change. He pretended innocence, but the sparkle in his eyes proved he
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knew exactly what he was doing.

Adam stopped a few feet away, fists on hips, and caressed her body with his eyes, reading her like Braille with invisible fingers.

When he finally looked up, he winked and sent her the same “get thee to bed, woman” look that Bryan often sported.

Bryan set Scotty down and bent so Candy, ten inches shorter, could walk into his open arms. She hauled him into a passionate kiss.

Scotty, eyes wide, hung to Bryan’s jeans at knee level.

Adam watched them for a moment then stepped close, shaking his head. “He’s still trying to prove he’s the best man,” he drawled.

Brown eyes flecked with gold dared her to look away. “Let’s show him up.”

She opened her mouth to say “let’s not” when his lips skimmed over hers. He ran the tip of his tongue along the crease between her lips. She opened her mouth to let him in as if his tongue had unzipped her.

He growled low in his throat, sending shivers down her spine. He grasped her bottom with both hands and pressed her tight against his rather large erection. Surprised and aroused from a week without sex, she moaned and responded like a cat in heat to a man she met only a few minutes before.

He brought the smell of fresh, cold outside air and tasted of the same hot cinnamon candies Bryan liked.

“Hey, you guys, get a room!”

Candy, grinning, slugged Adam lightly on the arm. He released Kaela, both gasping for air. Candy immediately pulled her into a hug.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” said Candy. She winked. “As you just found out, my husband’s excited to meet you. But remember, one word and he’ll back off.” Another hug and she let go, kneeling to smile at Scotty. She handed him a teething toy shaped like a truck.

The boy immediately put it in his mouth.

Kaela had barely caught her breath when Bryan hauled her into his arms. She felt his need just as hard against her belly. Giving some
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of his own back, she rubbed against him. He called her bluff, kissing her so deeply a few cowboys walking past whistled.

When Scotty pushed between them, Bryan let her go. He took off with Adam to get their luggage and put it in the trucks. Kaela knelt beside Scotty to see his present, glad of a chance to catch her breath and stuff her libido back into its box. She didn’t want to know what Bryan and Adam were talking about, but they kept shooting glances over their shoulders, looking way too pleased with themselves.

She changed Scotty and then followed the others into a cold wind.

A few feet from the door Bryan stopped, inhaled so deep she thought he’d burst, and stretched his arms out. After a moment, he resettled his hat and took Scotty from her.

Shivering, her uncovered head down, she followed Bryan and climbed into a black four-door pickup. He stashed Scotty in the well-padded car seat behind her. She was astonished her son didn’t complain, but it was a much more expensive, and therefore comfortable, seat. And of course, anything Bryan did was okay. She looked out the side window at snow-covered mountains while she waited for him to walk around and climb in.

“Cab’ll be warm in a minute.”

Her heart thumped at the unfamiliar voice. She’d assumed Bryan would drive, giving them time to talk. There hadn’t been much of that yet with her class work and Scotty taking up their time. A quick glance to the man on her left made her belly flutter and heat rush to her face. Again.

Adam didn’t speak, so she kept her face averted the first few miles out of Missoula. Scotty soon fell asleep, exhausted from the exciting flight. She clenched her hands together in her lap, forcing herself not to fidget. The sun glinting off Adam’s huge belt buckle, an oval of silver, caught her eye. She gulped and looked away from the massive bulge below.

“Take off your coat and get comfortable. It’s a long drive.”

She warmed up as soon as she realized it was Adam driving but
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hadn’t wanted to draw his attention by moving. Glad to be rid of the extra layer, she peeled her coat off, releasing the seat belt to get it out from under her bottom. She knelt on the seat and by stretching and wiggling, pushed her coat to the floor below Scotty’s feet. The high quality car seat held his head from flopping sideways, unlike the duct-taped version she had to stuff him in while driving west.

Adam cleared his throat loudly, reminding her of his presence.

Face hot, she whirled around, dropped into her seat, and snapped her seat belt on like a shield. More intense than Bryan, Adam overwhelmed her senses. If she didn’t take control, she’d go crazy before they made a hundred miles. She forced herself to look calm and aloof as she faced the sexy wolf beside her.

“Did you say something?”

“Nope. But that photo of your ass didn’t do it justice.
Dayam
, those pants are so tight I can hardly breathe from wanting to see what’s underneath. Bry was right. Curves in all the right places.”

His words made her want to cross her legs to hide any sign of her growing arousal. But she had to stand up to him now or he’d push her around.

“Are you making a pass at me?”

“Damn straight.” He shot her a wink before returning his eyes to the road. “Candy’s my wife and I love her dearly. But I’m a big man with a big heart and there’s room for one more.”

“You mean sex,” she said. “Call it like it is.”

He chewed on her words for a few minutes. “Sweetheart,” he crooned. “When we get naked together, it’ll be a whole lot more than sex.”

“When?” She snorted, though it sounded feeble. “Who says it’s ever going to happen?”

He cruised past an RV, back covered in bumper stickers advertising how many states and provinces they’d visited, before replying.

“You say no, but your body says ‘take me now!’”

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“That’s some imagination you’ve got,” she choked out.

“The way you wiggled your ass leaning over that seat, I almost pulled off the road and took care of your problem.”

“My
problem
?
My
problem?” She choked a gasp. “You’re the one with the pants bulging so you can barely fit under the steering wheel!”

“Noticed, huh?” He grinned wider than she’d yet seen. “I did say I’m a big man.”

“God, men are such…,.” She couldn’t think of a word that summed up what she felt.”

“I wore my Junior Bull Rider buckle just for you. Won it right after high school.”

“Sounds like some of the bull rubbed off.”

“Ooh, you’re quick.” He chuckled. “Gotta warn you that smartassed women hit me like a red flag to a bull.” He checked his mirrors then turned to her, eyes boring into her with arrogance. “Not only am I built like one under that buckle, I know how to use it.”

“Don’t go all modest on me or anything.”

“I keep Candy happy.” He winked, his knowing look sending shivers through her before he turned his attention back to driving.

She crossed her legs and squeezed, but it did nothing for her ache.

She should have told Bryan to set the alarm twenty minutes early so they could have a quickie. She squirmed again, cursing her rising need. She’d barely discovered orgasms and then had nothing for a week. No wonder she was ready to jump any half-decent man who made himself available!

She mentally shook her head.

No, it was just two men she wanted and the wrong one happened to be sitting beside her. She looked at the rugged scenery, fighting the need to squirm in itchy anticipation.

While she’d found Bryan a fun-loving lover so far, she noticed a change when he stepped out of the airport into crisp Montana air.

He’d taken a deep breath and held it. When he exhaled he seemed to grow, as if he’d thrown off his city manners like a dirty coat. She’d
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shivered. Had he returned to the wild predator he’d always been, one he’d hidden from her?

She could see Bryan as a wolf, ready and eager to mate with his females. Taking what he wanted, when he wanted, in whatever way pleased him. The look he shot her as they got off the airplane promised he’d insist on providing those “punishments” he said she’d earned. Instead of scaring her, she had to clench herself hard in order to walk. And the bum knew it, too. He laughed and winked at her.