Dawn, Dakota - Blessed Times Two (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (29 page)

The ground under her shifted. Muddle-minded, she thought she heard her name. Was someone coming for her? Darkness was everywhere. She couldn’t see anyone. But she could feel. He was leaning over her, shaking her shoulders. Shaking her shoulders? If he was shaking her shoulders that meant her hands were free. She wouldn’t let him get her, she couldn’t, she had the twins now. Their love was reason enough to live. A fear-induced howling sound passed her lips as she drew her fist up in an upper-cut just like she’d been taught.
Smack!
Contact. She’d made contact.

“Fuck.”

The darkness still surrounded her, but she’d heard him curse quite clearly. What would he do now? She had to get him before he got her. Drawing her fist up for another hit, she whaled out but he caught her hand and brought it and the other one overhead.

“Branda, wake up, baby. Wake up. It’s Trent. Wake up for me.”

A pleading voice penetrated the fog. It was comforting. She liked it. Her body relaxed. She felt her hands being released. He was family. She knew it. He wasn’t the enemy. The fog kept pulling her down. She was safe now. The body moved and scooted away. She didn’t want him to go. If he left, Roy would come back.

“Stay, I need you. Please don’t go,” she mumbled tiredly, her body drained physically and mentally from the nightmare and the struggle. The body stayed on the bed. She moved closer to its warmth and safety. Snuggling to his back, she murmured, “Don’t let Roy get me.”

“I won’t let him get you. Go back to sleep. You’re safe now. I’ll watch over you.”

The low male voice brought back the comfort she’d been missing lately. Snuggling closer, she drifted off to sleep, feeling safe for the first time in weeks.

* * * *

Closing his eyes, Trent let her snuggle to him. If his brothers didn’t get back soon he was going to go crazy. His left eye still throbbed. She had a hell of an upper-cut. After the episode at the pub and now the nightmare, he knew she needed him. Forcing himself to relax, he followed her to sleep.

* * * *

At six am, Troy walked into his bedroom and stopped short. Trey bumped into him. They had come home early and were looking for Branda. A fierce scowl crossed Troy’s features as he stared at the couple on the bed. Troy took a step in their direction. Trey stopped him.

Motioning him out the door, he waited until Troy was in the hallway. “Don’t go in there half-cocked. We don’t know what happened yet. Think about this for a minute. Trent would never go after our woman. If you’ll notice, he is fully dressed with his back to her. He’s not even under the covers with her. I know it looks bad because she is snuggled up to him, but she always sleeps that way. Let’s wake him up and find out what the hell is going on.”

Going to the bed, Troy touched Trent’s shoulder. He woke up instantly. Confusion then relief crossed his bruised face. Bruised. Someone had given him a black eye. What the hell was going on?

Putting a finger to his own lips, Troy made the quiet sign then motioned Trent out of the bed. Easing out of the bed, he followed Troy out to the hallway.

“Damn, I’m so glad you two are back. Words can’t express how happy I am to see both of you.” Seeing Troy’s frown, he quickly added, “I didn’t have sex with her. Are you kidding me? She’s off limits. I’d know that drunk.”

Troy’s frown eased a little. “What the hell has been happening around here? Why were you sleeping in my bed with my woman cuddled up to your back? And who gave you a black eye?”

* * * *

Trent touched his left eye then flinched. “She did.”

Both twins looked incredulous.

Trent rolled his eyes then winced at the pain in his left eye. “Don’t forget she’s trained now. She clocked me when I tried to wake her up from a bad nightmare she was having.”

Running his fingers through his hair, Trent looked at each of his brothers.

“What’s wrong? Why are you looking at us like that? What’s happened?” Trey’s voice trembled with worry.

“She had a little incident at Gaven’s yesterday, then she had a nightmare last night. I’m pretty sure she thought she was being attacked by that piece of scum again. Anyway, she asked me not to let him get her. She sounded so sad and in need that I had to stay. I don’t think she even knew which one of the three of us I was. She was very scared and confused. I wouldn’t have stayed if she didn’t need me.” Eyeballing the two of them, Trent added, “I’ve decided you two can never leave her again. She missed you two too much and bad shit seems to happen to her when two are gone.”

“What all has happened?” Trey asked in a fearful voice.

“Let’s go to the kitchen, get some coffee going, and I’ll tell you all about it.” Heading to the kitchen, Trent sent up a prayer of thanks that they were back and that they hadn’t kicked his ass then asked questions later.

Chapter Twenty

Dazed from her morning welcome-back sex, Branda wanted nothing more than to cuddle with them for the rest of the day.

“Up and at ’em, sleepyhead. We have to get ready for our trip,” Troy said as he pulled her to a seated position on the bed.

“You can’t be leaving again, not this soon. I can’t live through another separation just yet.”

“No need to look so sad and pitiful. You are coming with us. We are going to Italy for a vacation,” Troy told her as his eyes raked over her naked body.

“Italy! You two just came back from a vacation over there. When are we supposed to leave? Are you sure you want to take me so soon after coming back?”

Trey answered her questions. “We leave tomorrow. And yes we are ready to go back for a real vacation. The last trip was more like a family business trip. Plus, from what we hear, you need a vacation.”

“I’m sure most of what you heard was exaggerated.” Branda slid off the bed and headed for the bathroom. This was one conversation she did not want to have. She hadn’t handled being separated from them very well. She was such as wussy. Rain would be disgusted. If only she was tough like Rain. Sienna was a wussy like her. At least she had that. She wasn’t totally alone in her wussdom.

“Yeah, your weight loss and the dark circles under your eyes tell us you had a great time while we were gone,” Trey said as he followed her.

Twirling to face him, she muttered, “I don’t want to talk about it. Everything will be fine now that you two are back.”

“Damn right it will be.” Trey stepped into her personal space and wrapped his arms around her. “Are you all right,
tesoro mio
?”

Branda let his scent comfort her. “I’m okay now that you’re back.”

“Trent said you did a good job defending yourself against him and Gaven.”

Snorting in self-disgust, she retorted, “Not good enough. I ran like a little girl, and I didn’t win either battle.”

Trey’s arms tightened around her. “You did fine, little one. You are a confident business woman. Now you just need to become confident in your self-defensive skills. Remember, those two are well trained and they love you, so there was no way you could win. But a regular man on the street may not be so well trained. Against him you’d be able to escape. Running is the right thing to do when you are given that opportunity. You did good,
tesoro mio
, but Troy and I will show you a few new moves that will help you take down a more skilled opponent. Now go get dressed. We have a lot to do today. I can’t wait to take care of business here then get you to Italy. You’re going to love it.” Releasing her, he stepped back. Eyes raking over her body one last time, Trey turned and left the room.

Branda was just walking out of the bathroom when she heard Troy talking to someone.

“I think that can be arranged. Trey and I can do our business today without her. She’s yours for lunch.”

Branda cocked her head and looked at him. He was on her phone, and he was making a lunch date for her with someone else. That snake. He had to know she’d want to be with him all day.

“Hold on a moment.” Troy held the phone away from his ear. “Stop scowling, little angel. Your face could get stuck like that. Trey and I have to take care of some business, and Rain wants to meet you for lunch. I think it’s a great idea. We are leaving tomorrow, and you won’t be able to see her for a least a month.”

At his words of wisdom, she caved. He was right. Taking the phone from him, she made plans with Rain for lunch.

* * * *

Sitting at the table, Branda looked at the ever-glowing Sienna and the radiant Rain. They sucked. “You two suck. I’ve been in a rut and working my ass off, not literally, of course. And you two have been on vacation. Sienna is glowing brighter than a thousand-watt light bulb.”

“Sheathe your claws. You’re about to go on vacation to Italy with the hot twins. So that means you suck. We’ll be left here doing the normal day-to-day stuff while you’ll be off in another country lapping up the sunshine and having wild sex with two hot men.” Sienna smiled at the end of her rebuke.

“Well, when you put it that way, I guess I do suck.” Branda eyed her friends. “I’m going to miss you two. I wish we could all go.”

“Me too. Especially since I wasn’t on vacation at all. I was working, remember?” Rain said as she eyeballed Branda.

Branda huffed. “You were in New York. Don’t tell me you didn’t enjoy yourself at all. I know you had to have done something fun. Spill.”

“Okay, I did go to Central Park twice and the beach once, but that was all. The rest of the time I was looking at clothing designs,” Rain confessed.

Branda hooted. “I knew it. You always mix business with pleasure. How did it go?”

“Fine. I picked out a few styles that are sure to sell and one that’s iffy. If you don’t keep a variety in your stores, people won’t come back,” Rain replied with a shake of her strawberry-blonde head.

After sipping her tea, Sienna asked, “Did you get some while you were gone?”

Rain’s gaze darted around the restaurant. “No. I wish I had though. I so need to find a single fuck-buddy. Or maybe a married one whose wife needs a break.”

Sienna patted Rain’s hand. “You want me to find you a man? I know quite a few. Teddy works with a lot of good guys on the ranch. Cowboys are so hot.”

Smiling at Sienna’s sincere question, Rain replied, “Not after that last one you tried to hook me up with. I’ll find my own bed mate, thank you very much.”

Sienna pouted. “You didn’t give him a chance. He was cute and nice.”

Rain blew her hair out of her eyes. “He started talking marriage on our second date. You know I don’t plan on getting married.”

Branda stepped in. “Slight subject change. How did it go with Eloise? Did she snag her man?”

Sienna nodded vigorously. “Oh yeah, how did that go?”

Rain looked as satisfied as a cat licking cream. “As planned, of course. With a little nudging, Ken found his soul mate in Eloise. Her parents are happy, and she’s back at home planning her wedding. Which, of course, you two will have to attend. I’m so going to need the company.”

Sienna looked dreamy. “That’s so romantic. I love a happy ending.”

Rain looked over Branda’s shoulder. “Me, too. My stomach is about to get a happy ending.”

Branda looked back to see the waiter coming with their food. She rolled her eyes. “You are such a faker. You know deep down you’re happy for Eloise and Ken. Plus you should be proud of yourself for getting them together. They would never have gotten together without you.”

“Yadda, yadda, yadda. Don’t get all mushy on me. If they get divorced in a year, she’ll be throwing daggers at me.” Rain’s lips quirked up.

“Well, in that case, it’s a good thing you can move so quickly.” Sienna smirked.

They quieted as the waiter placed their food in front of them. Branda thanked him right before he walked away.

They ate in silence for a few minutes, relishing the food.

Branda broke the silence. “How did your vacation go, Sienna? You look great.”

Sienna’s eyes glazed over. “We had a wonderful time. We stayed in Teddy’s family’s log cabin. It was awesome, and it had a pool and everything. All we did was eat, play, and sleep.”

“As dreamy as you look, I think I know what kind of playing you two were doing,” Rain said with a big grin.

Sienna blushed.

Rain snorted. “Every time I mention sex you two blush like crazy. Give it a break already. Sex is natural.”

“We can’t stop blushing. I would love to stop, but it happens naturally. I wish I was more like you. You never blush,” Branda retorted in self-disgust.

Rain’s tone softened. “You two don’t want to be like me. Your men love it when you blush.”

Sienna looked at Rain. “How is Tamrisk? Is she in the States?”

“She’s doing fine, but she’s not home. She’s covering some fashion show in Holland. The crazy fool told me she bought me some wooden clogs. If she doesn’t stop bringing me crazy stuff, I’m going to have to rent a storage building to hold it all.”

“I like the wild stuff she sends you and the off-the-wall presents she gives us all. I still have that beaded hat she gave me three years ago and the dancing hula girl wearing high heels and sunshades she gave me for my birthday two years ago.” Branda laughed as she thought about Tamrisk’s gifts.