Indulgence (307 page)

Joel followed Josh to the door with Mesa following close on
their heels. A crowd of people trailed behind her. Surely it wasn’t anything
unusual for the Young brothers to fight? With nine of them, it couldn’t be that
big of a deal, right?

“Joel, please.”

“No, Mesa. He’s been asking for this since he came onto you
at the barn this afternoon. He thinks he can do whatever he pleases and there
aren’t any consequences. Well there will be tonight.”

The moment they cleared the parking lot, Joshua spun around
to rush Joel, pushing him up against the side of someone’s pickup.

“Fucker!”

“Kiss my ass, brother, and leave my girl alone.”

“She ain’t your girl, dumbass. You’ve known her what, six
hours?”

Joel pushed Joshua back and swung, connecting with his jaw.
Mesa flinched at the bone jarring sound, not sure if it was Joel’s knuckles or
Joshua’s jaw. Josh took a swing, splitting Joel’s lip. Blood spurted
everywhere.

“You’ll pay for that.” Joel jabbed Josh in the ribs,
doubling him over as he grunted in pain. “I told you I could take you down,
asshole. Just go home.”

“I’m gonna kick your ass,” Joshua wheezed, rolling over onto
his side.

“You can’t even get up, Josh. Just stay down.”

“Fucker!”

“It’s not worth it. Go home.”

“I’ll go when I’m damned good and ready!” Josh rolled to his
stomach and pulled his knees under him as he attempted to stand. One hand
braced his ribs. “You fuckin’ broke my ribs!”

“You asked for it by being a jerk to Mesa.”

“She’s just a piece of ass, Joel.”

Joel swung again, connecting with Joshua’s jaw. The blow
took Josh flat on his back and out cold.

“He’s unconscious!”

“Good. At least he won’t get up again.”

“You can’t leave him like this.” Mesa dropped down on the
ground near Joshua’s head. Josh moaned but didn’t open his eyes.

“The hell I can't!”

“At least call one of your other brothers to come, Joel.
He’s your brother.”

“He deserved it.” Joel wiped at the blood on his lip with
the back of his hand, smearing it across his chin.

“I know he did, but please?”

“Fine.” Joe grabbed his brother’s arm and hoisted him over
his shoulder. “He’s ridin’ in the back.”

“All right.”

“Get in. I guess our night is over.” He sounded disappointed.

Within moments, they were speeding down the road back toward
the ranch with Joshua in the bed of the truck. He’d regained consciousness from
what she could tell by looking out the window, but he didn’t sit up or
anything, just stared at the stars.

“He’ll be fine. Mom will take care of him when we get home.”

“I’m sorry,” she murmured, feeling like shit for causing
Joel and Joshua to fight. Of course, she’d never had two men fight over her
before, much less two who looked like they did.

“For what?” He glanced her way, then out the windshield of
his truck.

“For causing you two to fight.”

“He asked for it, Mesa. Besides, it’s not like it’s the
first time we’ve fought. We’ve done it for years off and on. It’s what brothers
do.” He banged his hand on the steering wheel. “You didn’t do anythin’. He
treated you like shit and I won’t have it. He can be a nice guy when he’s not
drinking, but get a little alcohol in him and he turns into a jerk.” He glanced
her way again. “Why are you being so nice to him? He called you a piece of
ass.”

“I’m not going to let it bother me, Joel. He’s a guy. It’s
what guys do. Since I know it’s not true, it doesn’t matter to me.”

“But what about all the people at the bar? They probably
think we’re having sex.”

“What do I care? I’ll probably never see them again. You and
I know we aren’t.” She placed her hand on his thigh. “They are people. Nothing
more.”

“You’re a better person than I am then. I don’t like
worrying about what other people think but it’s in my nature, I guess. I’ve
always had to fight to be an individual since I’m a triplet. It’s hard to make
people realize you are who you are rather than just one of the Young boys and a
troublemaker.”

“I suppose you got into trouble a lot as a kid?”

“Sometimes. I’m the middle of us triplets so it was pretty
rough.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Nothin’ to be sorry for. It’s how it was.”

They pulled up to the gate of the ranch, the headlights
reflecting off the wrought iron fence. Joel punched in the code and the bulky
piece of metal slowly slid open.

“Where are we?” Josh asked from the back while they bumped
along the road toward the house.

Joel slid the window on the back open. “Home, you jackass,”
Joel called from inside the cab. “You’d better apologize to Mesa. What you said
was totally inappropriate.”

“Sorry, Mesa.”

“I accept your apology. You know, if you act this juvenile
when you drink, maybe you shouldn’t drink.”

“Wait a damned minute. I don’t act like a kid.”

She raised an eyebrow and smirked. “Are you sure?”

“All right maybe a little, but it’s only in fun.”

“It’s not fun when someone’s feelings get hurt.”

“Did I hurt your feelings, Mesa?”

“It’s not important.”

“Yes, it is. If Mom found out you acted like an idiot, she’d
tan your hide,” Joel answered even though the question wasn’t directed toward
him.

“I’m too old for a whuppin’.”

“Not from Mom. You know how she is about disrespecting
women.” Joel stopped the truck before he went around to open her door.

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Opening my door.”

“Sorry. I don’t think about it. It’s been ingrained in us
since we were old enough to know manners.”

“It’s still a nice gesture and I appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I’m headed to my place. If Mom sees me, she really will tan
my hide.” Josh touched his chin. “Damn, dude! Did you have to hit me so fuckin’
hard?”

“Don’t think I’m not tellin’ her what you did and yes I did.
You were an ass.”

“I already apologized, Joel. Let it go.”

She placed her hand on Joel’s arm to get his attention.
“It’s fine. He did apologize.”

Joshua kissed her cheek before he headed off toward what she
assumed to be his house. She could see a small, cabin like structure outlined
in the distance. She’d have to check it out in the daylight although she didn’t
want to encourage Joshua, only Joel. “Let me clean up the cut on your lip.”

He touched it and winced. “You don’t have to. It’ll be
okay.”

“You were gallant in standing up for me the way you did.
It’s the least I could do.” They walked toward the main lodge in companionable
silence. She really wasn’t sure what to think with Joel. He acted like he was
attracted to her, but then he wouldn’t go against the rules of the ranch it
seemed. They could be friends only, she supposed, although she wanted him hot
between the sheets.

As they walked in the side doorway, she caught a glimpse of
a cowboy walking out through the front door and wondered who he was. She
thought she’d met all of those working the ranch during dinner. “Do you have
someone not in the family working as a wrangler at the ranch?”

“No. Why?”

“I thought I saw someone I didn’t recognize walk outside.”

Joel shrugged. “It was probably one of my brothers.”

“Maybe. He looked older.”

“My dad?”

“Could have been I guess.”

“Let me grab your key from the office. Your room is
upstairs.”

“Sure,” she answered although he’d already walked away. A
chill raced down her back and she rubbed her arms.
Weird.
It’s still
like seventy degrees outside even though her watch read eleven when she glanced
at the dial.

Joel came back with a grin on his face but frowned the
moment his lip started to bleed again. “Damn Josh. My lip hurts.”

“Poor baby. You’ll be fine. He got the worst part of the
deal, I think.” She grabbed his hand and said, “Lead the way.”

They walked toward the wooden staircase at the back of the
room hand in hand, but she stopped to look behind her for a moment.

“Something wrong?”

“I thought…” She shook her head and started walking again.
“Never mind.”

He led her up the first flight of stairs to the door in
front of them and handed her the old fashioned key on a tag. “Wow. I haven’t seen
one of these in a long time. I didn’t think anyone used these anymore.”

“We do. We don’t have the fancy credit card sliders like
most other hotels and motels. This is a small, family run dude ranch.”

“I wasn’t critizing, Joel. I think it’s cool you guys are
regular country people.” She slipped the key into the lock and opened the door.
Mesa walked over to turn on the lamp on the bedside table, bathing the room in
soft, muted light. Dominating the smaller room stood a double bed with a
beautiful wedding ring comforter. Her clean clothes sat in a nice neat pile by
the pillows. A wooden dresser sat at the end of the bed and to the right. The
single large window overlooked the garden behind the house. Something she would
have to explore tomorrow. She loved gardens. Right now, it looked spooky bathed
in moonlight but romantic at the same time.

“The garden is my mother’s favorite place to hang out. She’s
got lots of flowers back there, a sitting bench, a swing, and a barbeque. We
throw parties out there during the cooler months.”

“Texas does get warm in the summer.”

“It’s been pretty here this week. Not too hot and not too
cold.”

“Just for me.”

He laughed. “Maybe.”

“Except for the rain shower today.”

“Those are normal for this time of year too.”

“Just my luck.”

“If you give me the keys to your car, I’ll grab your
suitcase and bring it up.”

“All right.” She handed him the keys. “On one condition. You
let me wash the cut on your lip.”

“Yes, nurse.”

She startled a little, and then smiled.

“What?”

“I always wanted to be a nurse.”

“Then why didn’t you?” He held up his hand. “Wait to answer
that until I get back.” A moment later, he closed the door behind him,
disappearing from sight.

Mute voices drifted through the wall.
Must be some other
guests in the room next door.
The man’s voice rose in anger. She cringed
knowing where those tones usually led. She heard a slap, and then muffled
crying a moment later. The sound died away after a few seconds as if it had
never been there in the first place.

Mesa frowned, rubbing her arms as the room dropped in
temperature like the air conditioner kicked on, but it hadn’t. She shook her
head and went to the connecting bathroom to fetch a warm washcloth to clean
Joel’s lip. The bathroom was decorated in the typical old-fashioned way with
wood accents. A claw foot tub with a shower curtain to one end, and a large
showerhead reminded her of the rain showerhead she had at home. Maybe tomorrow
night she would take a long soak in the huge tub. A soft knock on the door
brought her out of her musings.

She quickly grabbed a washcloth from those hanging on the
rack, stuck it under some hot water and went to answer the door. She opened it
to find no one on the other side. After she leaned out, she glanced down the
hallway to both the left and right without seeing anyone nearby. “All right,
Joel. That’s not funny. You’re scaring me.”

“What are you talking about, Mesa?” he asked, coming up the
stairs in front of her. “Who are you talking to?”

“Uh. No one, I guess.”

“I’ve got your suitcase.”

She stepped aside to allow him into the room. “Just set it
on the bed and I’ll unpack it in a minute.” She told him to sit on the edge of
the bed as she took a spot between his spread thighs. She exhaled forcibly
through her lips so she could focus on the task at hand and not his hard thighs
now encasing her lower half. The cut on his lip didn’t look too deep. With her
finger inside the cloth, she dabbed at the cut.

“Ouch.”

“Sorry.”

“It’s okay. I know you didn’t mean to hurt me.”

He winced as she dabbed again. It had to hurt, she knew but
all she could think about was kissing those full lips. She wanted to see his
eyes dark with desire. Feel his hands on her bare flesh. Have those lips on
other places of her body like her breasts, her nipples, or her clit.

“You okay?” he whispered, glancing up through those
impossibly long eyelashes.

“Yeah.” Her heart pounded behind her ribcage.

“Your pulse is fluttering.”

“I know.”

“Why?” His voice continued in a soft, coaxing tone reminding
her of how he spoke to the horse while she gave birth to her foal.

“It’s nothing, Joel.”

“Do you want me to kiss you?”

She closed her eyes and licked her lips.
God, do I ever
want you to kiss me. More than my next breath. More than a winning lottery
ticket. More than…

The next thing she knew, he had twisted her around so she
lay flat on the bed with him hovering over her. He bent down and brushed his
lips against hers so softly she wasn’t sure if he’d actually kissed her.

“You shouldn’t be doing this.”

“I know.”

He kissed her again, this time with his tongue softly
brushing her lips as if to ask for permission to deepen it. Her lips parted of
their own accord without her even thinking beyond how his lips felt against
hers. The dip of his tongue tore a moan from her mouth. She tangled her hands
in the front of his western shirt, wanting nothing more than to remove the
barrier between his skin and hers.

The fire burning in her gut prompted her to return kiss for
kiss, touch for touch. The caress of his fingers against the side of her breast
brought her straight up on the bed, breaking the kiss.

“What’s wrong?”

“I…uh. We shouldn’t do this. Remember your mother’s rule.”

“I know, but I can’t help but want to touch you. Kiss you.”
He ran his fingers down her cheek. “You’re a beautiful woman, Mesa. I’m not sorry.”