Lyndee's Saviors [Men of Montana] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (13 page)

“I’m not laughing at you, honey. I just realized I have taken many a bra off a woman, but I have never put one on one.”

A hand came out to slap him upside the head and he was surprised to find it was Trey’s. “She doesn’t need to hear about our past dalliances with the opposite sex, you moron!” the younger man chastised.

Placing her hand on his arm, Lisa looked up at Trey. “It’s all right. I know you guys haven’t waited around your whole lives for me to show up. I know there have been other women, and to tell you the truth, I’m happy that you had those times because it helped you know what you like and don’t like. Not like me who apparently doesn’t know anything about sex.”

With a smile that he hoped would touch her soul Austin lifted her chin to gaze into her eyes. “But from what I’ve seen so far, little one, you have done a good job at satisfying us. There are no complaints and we’ll have a long time to discover what you like and don’t like. It’s all trial and error. Just like life.”

Unexpected by Austin, Lisa jumped up into his arms, hugging his neck while her legs circled his waist. He had noticed Trey stepping forward so she wouldn’t fall from him before he got a good grip on her. Austin grasped her ass willingly, just to be able to hold those luscious globes within his hands, while Trey’s ran up and down her spine in a loving, soothing gesture. He knew he wanted to make sure she knew how much she meant to them, but he didn’t want her to think this was all about the sex. He was surprised when after a few moments, Lisa pulled her head back a bit to look into his face before she kissed him. Her tongue searched out his briefly before turning and doing the same to his cousin. When she ended the kiss, she let go of her grip around his neck, and he and Trey guided her back down to her feet before they finished dressing her.

Barefoot was the theme at the moment as the men removed their boots and all three padded back to the kitchen where they found Storm and Doc Anderson talking about horses and their therapeutic attributes to disabled kids. Storm must have told Doc he knew of a few people in Colorado who had set up programs on their ranches for such a purpose and were having great success. “I’ll get in touch with my friend in Denver who sets up excursions for the kids in the area to one of the ranches outside the city. Perhaps he can let us know what we would need to get set up.”

A gasp resounded in the room and Austin turned to Lisa, who was pale, her pupils in her eyes so dilated that her color was gone.

It was welcoming to be sitting outside in the warm sunshine without being a “working” woman who was dressed for business with obnoxious makeup, hair, and perfume. Like any respectable man really liked that, but that was what the business was about. She hated it, but it was her job. The women weren’t that bad. Friendships weren’t something that you trusted in her line of business as it was a cutthroat one. Everyone wanted the one job that they thought would rescue them from this low-end life, but for most it never materialized. For many, it was a death sentence either by the pimp or by the addiction of the bottle or the drug of choice. For a few, the death sentence was that they never escaped from this life and continued to do their job until their bodies were old and worn out. Occasionally, one died from diseases that they weren’t protected against. Shameful that so many women took this road in life.

Sitting across from her was John. A cryptic phone call stating to meet him for coffee sent her happiness scale soaring. Knowing it was going to be a few hours of reprieve from everyone else in her life at the moment had her smiling like she had just won the lottery. Coffee the way she liked it was sitting in the open place at the table as she arrived, and as a gentleman, he rose until she sat and then he returned to his seat. She shook his hand in case someone was watching her before she sipped from her caramelized hot beverage.

“How’s it going? Anything interesting?” he asked, taking one of her hands in his and running his fingertips along the palm. He was old enough to be her father. Black hair with gray at the temples, kept cut short. No facial hair. He had piercing green-blue eyes that reminded her of water in the Caribbean that she had seen in pictures, under black eyebrows that always seemed to be looking deep inside of a person, which was probably why he was good at his job. Thin lips that always reminded her of how her mother pursed her lips when she was angry with her, but when he smiled, he made you feel comfortable. Strong chin and a Grecian nose highlighted the rest of his face. She knew that he knew how to treat a lady by how he always stroked her hand when they would meet up. That he always had her favorite coffee ready was also a good sign in a man.

Leaning toward him as if she was going to kiss him, she lowered her voice. “I’m supposed to meet up with Alexander Markova. I’ve never met him.”

Running his hands through her hair, he said, “He owns a trading company, a software company, and several other ventures. He’s been a bane to our existence because he avoids everything. It’s almost like he has someone on the inside.”

“He’s having a party out at his ranch tonight outside of Lyon, near Crater Lake. A bunch of us girls are supposed to be going. A limo is supposed to pick us up at six to head up there.”

“That’s another one of his ‘charitable’ uses of his ranch. He has a foundation setup there that lets physically and mentally challenged children go out there and ride the horses. It’s supposed to be therapeutic for them. Be careful. You know how to get a hold of me.” Standing, he leaned down and kissed her on the lips chastely, which she always hated but had to do.

Watching him walk away, she finished her coffee. As she was getting ready to stand, she felt as if someone was watching her. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end and a chill ran up her back while fear gripped her. She had to wonder who it was but acting as normal as possible, she stood, tossed hers and John’s cups in the trash can, and began to walk back to her place of employment.

* * * *

Her hands were at her temples as the pain struck with the extended memory. Austin and Trey, who were still at her side, caught her as she began to sink to the floor, sobs racking her body. Fear and frustration ran through her as a long, pitiful, hurtful wail escaped from deep within her. It hurt to remember but it was getting to be that she didn’t want the memories as she was afraid they would take her away from her men. The flashes were so confusing that she couldn’t make heads or tails of them. She just wanted them to stop.

* * * *

Austin bent slightly and put his arm under her knees, pulling her up against his chest, and followed an already retreating Trey down the hallway. In her room Trey began pulling the new clothes from the bed, tossing them into the closet while Austin laid her on the bed. Storm and Doc were right behind them, the black bag already in the doctor’s hand. He pulled out his stethoscope and listened to her heart and then checked her eyes for dilation. Pulling a syringe from his bag, he again filled it from a vial and flicked the plastic before pushing up and letting a small bit emerge from the thin needle. He injected the needle into her arm as the trio stood looking down at her, their tiny, fragile woman.

Austin looked at Doc pleadingly before getting a quick nod of approval from the man and then he lay down next to her. Pulling her against him he wrapped his arms around her, letting her head rest on his bicep. Beginning a gentle rocking motion, he put his mouth near her ear. “Hush, little one. We’re here for you. It’s going to be okay.”

* * * *

After administering a sedative, Lisa’s body gave into the medication as her eyes closed. He knew she had been fighting the pain for too long now. Doc saw her body begin to go limp, her sobs begin to subside as she lost the fight to stay conscious. Standing, he put his tools of the trade back into his bag and then left the room. The brothers followed him out, turning off the light as they closed the door behind them.

In the living room the doctor went over and poured himself another drink. Downing half of it, he turned to the concerned men. “She’s still in a lot of pain from the head trauma, but she’s trying to be strong and not take any of the medication. She told me that she’s afraid to take it because she is afraid when she wakes up she might not remember any dreams she has. I don’t think it’s the dreams that are getting her. It’s the normal conversation that is triggering her memory and it’s hurting her.”

“She thinks she is a hooker. She’s not. That much was proven this morning,” Trey said. “I put some feelers out there and there are arrest records indicating she is. She has a criminal record, but I can’t believe any of it. She’s ashamed of what she is.”

“That’s not what’s hurting her,” Doc said, downing the rest of his drink. “I mean it is literally hurting her. When she has a flash of memory, it’s like hitting her head over again. Either we need to get that memory of hers back or we’re going to have to keep feeding her painkillers.”

Sitting down in one of the recliners, Doc ran his hands up over his face and through his hair in frustration. Storm sat in the other recliner while Trey sat on the leather couch. It was a few minutes before anyone spoke.

“I need to get up to the cabin tomorrow and check it out. Since we found her up that way I have a suspicion about that place,” Storm thought out loud, then turned to Doc. “If we take an ATV up there, can she go with us? Perhaps it may trigger another memory.”

Thinking briefly, the doctor sat back, crossing his leg across his knee. “I think I would enjoy a ride up the mountain with you guys. Since tomorrow is Sunday, I don’t have anything to do so do you mind if I ride along? I could be useful if Lisa has any problems.”

Storm patted the man on the arm. “Of course you can come along. You don’t ever have to use her as an excuse to get an invite. You’re welcome out here at any time. Now, let me check on supper.”

“Does this mean you are going to stay tonight, Doc?” Trey asked.

Nodding, he smiled. “Yes. Do you have a spare room?”

“You’ll have to sleep in Austin’s room. He’ll probably stay the night with Lisa. We’ll change the sheets before you head to bed. There’s a TV in there attached to the satellite so you can make yourself at home. We’ll get you a set of clothes also,” Storm said from the kitchen as he pulled the casserole out of the oven.

* * * *

Lisa’s steady breathing was welcoming to Austin as her sobs from earlier broke his heart. The love for this woman filled him so contently that he thought his heart would burst within his chest, but the pain she was in sank to the opposite level and he was surprised that a human heart could take such a toll. He had never been a violent person, but right now, he couldn’t wait to find out who had hurt her physically and mentally and beat the shit out of him, if not more.

With a light hand, he smoothed her lovely long blonde hair down her back as he still rocked her. He knew a relationship was more than sex, and even though his cock wanted to be embedded deep within her, he relished just holding her, to let her know he was there for her no matter what. Thinking back to just a little while when she declared her trust in them caused him to smile. Little Lisa had come into their lives so unexpectedly but had turned their lives upside down. He knew they all loved her and he hoped she would soon reveal hers to them, as her mouth might not have declared it, but her body and emotions had.

Later that evening Storm brought Austin a plate of food, some water, and a soda, turning the small bedside lamp on so he could see. Explaining Doc’s presence in the house and their planned excursion for the next day, Austin said he’d have her up early and ready to go.

* * * *

Near dawn Lisa stirred, her body stretching out against the hard, warm, muscular body of one of her men. Feeling her nipples pebbling beneath the sheet when she moved, she became aware that someone had removed her clothes. The room was dark so she wasn’t sure who was behind her, but their arm was draped over her waist, their clothing still on as she could feel the shirt sleeve against her skin. Turning over, she faced the man sliding her hand up his chest to where his shirt opened into a V. The skin was smooth beneath the material and she knew Austin was embracing her. Leaning up, she let her lips lightly touch the skin and felt a shiver rush through him.

In a flash she was on her back and he was poised above her, resting on his forearms on both sides of her head while his knee insinuated itself between her legs. His long black hair fell in a curtain on both sides of her face, providing an intimate setting. Smiling down at her, he whispered, “I’ve been waiting all night for you to wake up. Are you all right?”

“Yes. The pain was so bad and the memory was so shocking. They keep coming more and more and they scare me,” she said lowly, ashamed she wasn’t able to control her thoughts.

“Why? Are they that bad?” he asked, letting his mouth caress her ear.

“No. Not bad. They’re confusing. Plus, I’m frightened of them.”

“What do you mean?” he whispered, his tongue sliding down her neck toward her shoulder.

Moving her head aside and giving him more access to her delicate skin, she moaned in delight. “I’m afraid you won’t want me if you find out who I really am, and I’m afraid the memories will take me away from you.”

Nipping the sensitive spot where neck and shoulder meet, he chuckled. “That will never happen. We don’t care what or who you were in the past. We see who you really are when we look in your eyes. You will never disappoint us and we won’t let the past take you from us. I promise you that, little one.”