Unbridled Temptation (27 page)

“…Eight…nine…” Zane’s voice echoed in the streets.

As a rule they didn’t do this sort of thing at Old West Town, not as a part of the regularly scheduled events anyway. But Clay and Jake had asked, then begged when he balked. Angelica rolled her eyes and shook her head, but it was obvious by the way she looked at both Clay and Jake that she was completely in love with them.

“…Ten!” Zane said loudly.

Clay and Jake both turned, drew their guns lightning fast, and fired their two shots nearly simultaneously. But Jake tripped backward a few steps, groaned loudly, then stumbled a few more steps.

His brother called out. “Fall down, Jake, or I’ll shoot you again.” Laughter from the assembled crowd of Old West Town owners and employees watching the gunfight erupted.

Jake let loose another gut-wrenching groan and fell backward into the dusty street.

The Old West Town park hadn’t quite opened for the day, but it was about to. He’d indulged both Clay and Jake’s wish to participate in an Old Western movie style shootout, complete with ten paces counted down, in the dusty streets.

From down the street, Jake sat up and yelled back, “Next time, it’s your turn to get shot and fall down.”

Clay waved, but approached the wooden sidewalk muttering, “Not likely.”

Angelica laughed. “So do the two of you have this out of your system yet?”

His brother strode immediately to Angelica, kissed her soundly on the mouth, and said, “I don’t think so. It was too much fun.”

Kendall rolled his eyes. “Well the park is about to open, you’ll have to shoot each other another time.”

“Thanks, bro.” He unbuckled the gun belt and handed it back.

Kendall put it back on his hips. “Sure. I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

Clay eyed the gun and holster again. “I don’t know why you don’t like doing this. It’s a blast. See how I made a pun there? I’m funny, too.”

“Yeah? Whatever, Mr. Comic. Come back and tell me that once you’ve done three shows a day for almost a decade.”

Clay smiled. “Point taken.”

Jake came running from down the street. He also grabbed Angelica up in his arms, and gave her a juicy kiss, before putting her back down. “Did you see me, princess? I almost got him. I can’t wait to do this again. Shootouts in the street are fucking awesome.”

“Yes. Both of you are incredible masculine specimens of the macho Western cowboy. So when do I get a chance to face down someone in the dusty streets, count off ten paces, and shoot?”

“Never,” Jake and Clay said at the same time. Clay then added, “You’ve been in enough authentic gun battles to last me a lifetime, sweetheart. I’m not in favor of you playacting one.”

“I’m not either, princess. If you want some Western-flavored authentic drama, we’ll take you down to the saloon. You can dress up as a dancehall girl and entertain us.”

“Very funny. As if.”

Kendall knew Angelica had saved his brother’s life not too long ago. Took a bullet herself to keep Clay from taking one in the head. Then promptly dropped the assassin with a direct shot to the center forehead right before Jake got blasted, as well. His new sister-in-law was quite the kick-ass chick.

What made Kendall even happier was that she and Jocelyn had become fast friends instantly. The two of them had gone off together, leaving their four men behind, and proceeded to whisper, giggle, laugh, and talk like they’d always been BFFs.

“Where’s my wallet and phone?” Clay asked. He’d handed his things over to Kendall for safekeeping during the gunfight.

Kendall pulled the phone out of his inner pocket and gave it to him, but held the wallet out of Clay’s reach. “Wait a minute. How much money do you have again? I forgot to check. I might need a loan.” He opened his brother’s wallet and flipped through a thick wad of cash. There was a folded piece of paper also tucked inside with his money.

“Wow. You’re loaded. And what’s this paper in here? Is this an IOU? Does someone owe you even more cash?”

“None of your business. Give me my wallet or I’ll get my wife to blast you one.”

Angelica laughed. “Sorry. I only blast assassins trying to kill you.”

Kendall handed him the wallet, but at the last minute pulled the slip of paper out. He unfolded the stationary-sized sheet and read out loud. “It says, ‘
Thanks for the very unique experience.
’ Who is this from?” Clay snatched the note out of his fingers, folded it carefully, and replaced it gently back in his wallet, and then socked Kendall hard in the shoulder.

Meanwhile, Angelica had sucked in a deep, surprised breath. She stared at Clay for a really long time. “You saved that note?”

Clay looked at his wife like she was the only woman on earth. “Yes. At the time, it was all I had from you.”

Angelica launched herself onto Clay’s torso, wrapped her arms and legs around him like a monkey clinging to a banana tree, and kissed him like she was about to push him to the ground and fuck him senseless in the dusty streets of the Old West Town park.

“What is that all about?”

Jake grinned. “Clay saved a note Angelica wrote him the morning after the first time they were intimate together. I guess he never told her he saved it.”

“I never knew Clay was such a sappy romantic.” Kendall shook his head.

Jocelyn poked him in the ribs. “Be careful of what you say next.”

“Why?”

“Maybe I saved a certain note left for me, too.”

“Did you really?”

“Yes. And for a very similar sappy sentimental reason.”

“I’d never call you sappy.” Kendall grabbed her in a bear hug, and kissed her hard on the mouth as Logan came up. Jake handed him his gun belt and holster as they kissed.

“What’s going on?”

“Did you know that Jocelyn saved that note we left her?”

“Yes.”

Kendall turned on him. “How did you know?”

“Well, because it wasn’t there on the nightstand after she left. At the time, I’d hoped she took it with her. Recently, I saw it in her wallet.”

“Well, it was all I had with the exception of my memories.”

“Now you have us both though.”

“So I have my sentimental note, my memories, and my dream men. I’m keeping all of them.”

“Good. I’m glad.”

Kendall didn’t know what he’d done to deserve the life he found himself blissfully in, but he intended to do whatever necessary to keep it, Jocelyn, and Logan together from this day forward.

THE END

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Elle Saint James came into being as a clandestine experiment. Having now started a third series, apparently she’s here to stay. Award-winning author of more than forty books, Ms. Saint James consistently hits the top rankings at Siren Bookstrand.  Adventurous readers will fall in love with Elle's Western ménage romances.

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