Cowboy Rescue [Men for Hire 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (9 page)

“Aw, man. That’s not fair. Mike’s already—”

Brad’s hard glare slid to Jack. “I said hands off. Got it?”

His brothers grumbled their agreement. He just hoped they’d keep it. Another look at Maria had him wondering if he could keep the promise, too.

* * * *

“Does anyone need anything else?”

Jack jumped away from the window of the second bedroom as Maria appeared at the door. He couldn’t help but think how beautiful she was in her shorts and T-shirt. Other women had to get all dressed up with expensive gowns and jewels to look half as lovely as she did in plain old hangin’-around-the-house clothes.

“No thanks. We’re okay.”

He started to tell Brad to speak for himself, but doing so would’ve made his older brother suspicious. As far as Jack was concerned, he’d never be okay until he got Maria into bed. And, despite what he’d promised, he was determined to make that happen as soon as possible.

He’d tried to tell himself to keep the promise Brad had forced him to make. Had, in fact, repeated the promise more than once to his brothers and even to himself. But damn it, a man could only take so much. And once he met the woman of his dreams? He could take even less.

Brad swung his legs off the bed and started toward the door with Jack not far behind him. “Mike’s going to take the first watch, then me, and then Jack. That way one of us will be awake at all times in the living room. Unless, of course, you’d like one of us to stay in your bedroom. You know. If it’ll make you feel safer.”

Fuck. Why didn’t I think of that? Talk about a perfect excuse for getting into her room. Alone. All night with her.

Maria’s emerald eyes darkened, signaling her yearning. He took a slow inhale, moved to the door, and, sure enough, drew in the scent of her arousal. If she said yes, he was ready to pounce on the chance to be that man standing guard in her room.

“Uh, no thanks. I’ll be okay knowing you three are taking care of me.” She stepped back, crossing the narrow hall to place her hand on the doorknob to her room.

“Okay, then. I guess we’ll be hitting the sack, too. Mike, you’re up.”

Mike heard Brad’s call from the living room. He lifted a hand that held one of the many sandwiches he’d already eaten during the evening. “I’m on it. Just helping myself to a bite to eat.”

“Don’t eat her out of house and home, bro,” admonished Brad.

“No, it’s okay.” She waved a hand at Mike, who lifted his sandwich in salute. “I want all of you to make yourselves at home. Feeding you is the least I can do.”

Jack inhaled, loving the way her usual spicy scent mixed with the heat he imagined coming off in waves from between her legs. Her nipples were pebbled, ready to be touched. All he had to do was reach out and skim his thumbs over them.

“Well, then, good night.” She gave them one of her perfect soft smiles, opened her bedroom door, then eased into her room.

Jack craned his neck trying to keep her in sight as long as he could. She’d already pulled the sheets down on her bed. Was it an invitation? Or was he making more of it than was there?

Brad shoved him against the doorjamb. “What the hell, man?”

“Don’t even think about it.” Brad put his face an inch from his. “She needs protectors right now. Not sex partners. Once we’re through with the job, then we bring up the idea of her and us together. Until then, keep your hands off.”

“She’s the one.” Jack shoved his brother away. “The more I’m near her, the more I’m sure of it.”

Brad grabbed him by the collar of his denim shirt and pushed Jack into their bedroom. “Get some sleep, little brother. If you’re lucky, you’re going to need the energy.”

Brad realized his mistake as soon as he’d finished speaking. “To catch the creep that’s bothering her. Not to show off your moves in bed.”

“Sure. Of course. I promised, didn’t I? I wasn’t even thinking such a thing.”

Brad shot him a scornful look.

“Yeah, I know.” He couldn’t help but grin. “I took it a step too far. Even I didn’t believe what I just said. But you can’t blame a guy for trying.”

“Yeah, I can. You just remember your promise.” Brad shoved Maria’s laptop at him. “Get on her e-mail and Friends Place page, and see if he tries to contact her again. I’m going to make sure Mike’s going to keep his word, too.”

Jack flopped into the armchair next to the bed. The furniture wasn’t anything special, just an inexpensive bedroom set that could be found at any local discount store. It was a match to the furniture in the rest of the apartment. If he hadn’t already known it from her file, he would’ve guessed that Maria had rented a furnished apartment.

At least it had made it easier to get that bitch Sharron out faster.

He clicked on Maria’s inbox, but nothing new came up. Not that he had any intention of prying through e-mails that weren’t from the creep. After asking her to let them keep her computer, she’d already turned on an auto-reply message so he didn’t have to worry about her drawing attention by her absence online.

I should get some sleep.

Yet he was too geared up and ready for action to do that. Brad would come back to bed and conk out in less than a minute, but he’d never been able to pull that off. Instead, he often lay on his back staring at the ceiling, his thoughts racing as he waited for the morning light. If he wasn’t on a job, he’d go for a ride to help ease his nervousness, but he couldn’t do that tonight.

He couldn’t wait to get back to the ranch. Once he did, he’d take a sleeping bag and ride out to his favorite spot next to an old, dried-up creek bed and look at the stars until he drifted off.

As he’d expected, Brad came back, grunted a few words warning him not to download any stupid games to her computer, then flopped onto the bed and was sound asleep fast.

Shit. I downloaded a game one time on a client’s computer. How was I to know it came along with a virus? I screwed up once, and he never lets me forget it.

Brad’s snoring irritated him, making it even harder to sleep. He sat with the e-mail program running and let his mind drift back to Maria.

She had to be the one they’d waited for. They’d never had the same intense feelings toward any other woman. Plus, since getting with her, Mike had seemed different, more mellow, even content. Like he’d finally found the key to a happy life.

A burn churned inside him, urging him to do what nature intended. But how? Brad would have his head if he went to her. His gaze drifted to the open bedroom door.

But would Mike?

He placed the laptop on the dresser as he hurried as quietly and as quickly as he could from the room. Mike jumped, whirling to face him, a kitchen knife in his hand and ready to do bodily harm.

“Easy, bro. It’s just me.”

Mike went back to making yet another sandwich. “What’s up? Can’t sleep?”

His brothers were used to him getting up during the night due to his insomnia. “Nope. I’ve got something on my mind.”

Mike caught on fast. “Something? Or someone?”

“You know me well, dear brother.”

“Too well for my way of thinking.” Mike offered the sandwich he’d just made, but Jack refused.

“Then you’ve got to know what I’m wanting to do.” Jack leaned his back against the kitchen counter. “All I need is for you to look the other way. Just in case anyone should ask.”

“No way. I’m not taking flak from Brad for letting you break your promise.” Mike strode toward the blinds, peered out, then made his way back to the kitchen.

“Come on, man. What’s the big deal, anyway? You’ve already spent time with her. Now it’s my turn.”

“Like I said, we both promised to leave it be until this is all over.”

“Yeah, well, it won’t be the first time we promised to do something when Brad hounded us to and then turned around and did it anyway.” Jack grabbed hold of Mike and pushed him against the counter. “You owe me.”

“How the hell do you figure that?”

He’d saved useful information for a good time, and this was it. “I know who took Gabriel’s last bottle of whiskey.”

Mike shook his head, but it was obvious from his expression that he knew his denial wouldn’t work. “Naw, man. You’re wrong. Besides, you don’t have any proof, so you can’t blab to Gabriel.”

“Yeah, I can and I will. And you know how pissed off Gabriel gets when someone steals a bottle of his best booze. Once we’re back at the ranch, I’ll send him a video I made of you sneaking out of his office.”

“Shit. And you call yourself my brother?” Mike narrowed his eyes and jerked Jack’s hands off his shirt. “Besides, you helped me drink that booze, so you’d catch as much hell as I would.”

“Yeah, maybe, but it’d be worth it. Although I don’t think Gabriel would get as mad at me since I had the sense to buy him a case. It’s being shipped to him as we speak.”

“Little brother, you are one sneaky bastard.”

“Sneaky and smart. But I tell you what. If you can keep your trap shut about me and Maria, then I’ll tell Gabriel you went in on the case with me.”

Mike laughed and shoved his brother out of the way and started toward the hallway. “Deal. But how about we make this a threesome? We need to get her used to the idea of having all of us anyway, right?”

Jack hurried to block his way. “Now you know I’d love to have you join us, but someone’s got to stand guard. Not only in case the e-mail jerk decides that this is the night to meet Maria, but to let out a warning if Brad wakes up.”

Mike snarled but stayed where he was. “Fine. But while you’re getting to know her, start broaching the subject of all four of us having sex. Maybe then Brad won’t have such a stick up his butt once he finds out. And you know he’ll find out, one way or another.”

“Will do, bro. Will do.” Jack did a two-finger salute and headed for Maria’s door.

He stood, his hand on the doorknob, trying to decide whether to knock or just go ahead and enter, when the door opened.

His jaw dropped. “Holy shit.”

“I’ll say it again.” Jack’s gaze hooked hers. “Holy shit.”

Maria’s heart pounded as she stood, buck naked, in front of a very surprised Jack. Unsure of what to do, she didn’t respond to his initial reaction, but waited for him to make the first move.

His eyes were huge as he slid his gaze down her body, pausing at her breasts and then her mons before finally bringing his attention back to her face. “You must have read my mind.”

She swallowed. Would he react badly once he found out? “Um, I, uh, thought Mike was the first man on watch.”

He blinked then frowned. “I see. So do you want me to go and get him?”

She started to answer, but he put his hand up, halting her.

“Don’t make me do that, Maria. Unless, of course, you want to make it a group thing.”

Did she? She blushed, yet the thought of having Mike along with Jack sent a rush through her. “I know this sounds terrible, but I wouldn’t mind.”

His dark eyes lightened, his pupils growing larger. “We talked about it. Mike and me, I mean. Especially since we know you were with him earlier. But it’s safer if he stays on the alert.”

She nodded, then stepped back. His gaze dropped to her taut nipples, and, instead of covering herself as she normally would’ve done, she pushed her shoulders back, bringing her breasts higher. She bit her lip to keep from smiling when he looked like he was about to drool.

“Of course. You’re right. We shouldn’t take him away from his duty.” The way he looked at her, his focus squarely on her eyes, made her feel special. Like he wanted more than just her body.

“So it doesn’t bother you that Mike and I…That we were together earlier?”

“Hell, no. We’re very close as brothers and share a lot of things. But the one thing we’d like to share the most is a woman like you.”

“Really? But what do you mean by a woman like me?” Did he mean a woman who’d let any man between her legs?

“Maria, that’s a compliment. We’ve never met any woman like you, and we want to know you better. It’s not just about sex.”

“It’s not?”

“Don’t get me wrong. The sex is part of it. But not the real reason.
You
are the reason.” Jack’s face lit up.

“You sure talk a good game.” But was he playing with her? Or did she dare believe what he said?

“Does that mean I can come inside?”

He glanced back at the open door of the bedroom where Brad was sleeping. Brad’s snores were loud, meaning he was sleeping soundly. “We wouldn’t want to wake up the sleeping giant.”

She giggled, then took him by the collar and tugged him into the bedroom. “Get in here.”

He grabbed her then as he’d been dying to do from the first second he’d seen her. Lifting her off her feet, he tossed her to her bed, then started pulling his shirt off.

She tugged the sheet over her body then pulled her knees to her chest. “Hey, hold up.”

He paused, his face still showing through the neckhole of his half-off T-shirt, his expression aghast. “Please, do not tell me that you’ve changed your mind.”

She bit back a laugh. “Nope. But I was thinking. I’ve already given you a show, so how about you give me one?”

He groaned and pulled his shirt back on. “Because it would take too long.”

She pouted and saw his gaze drop to her lips. “Pulease?” She reached over and punched on the iPod in its docking station connected to two little speakers. Keeping the volume low, she made her pout even bigger. “For me?”

She’d never acted so brazen before, but there was something about these guys that took her inhibition and dropkicked it to the curb. Thing was, she loved how that made her feel.

“Okay, but keep the music low. It takes a lot to wake Brad up, and he’s a damn bear when someone disturbs his beauty sleep.”

Jack began moving, at first in short, stiff movements, but the more he got into the tune, the looser he moved. The music had a good rhythm, and before long, she found out that he had rhythm, too. He swayed to the beat as he took the hem of his shirt and worked it side to side. She bent her head and tried to get a good peek at his ripped abdomen as he flashed her brief glimpses.