“I didn’t know Ethan was workin’ today,” Keegan said as they passed the big black Chevy parked directly in front of the door.
Kaden hadn’t been aware of it either. And since he knew Beau’s mother tended to watch the little ones after church on Sundays, he figured a knock on the door was necessary before they barged in and got an eyeful of husband and husband going at it.
He rapped his knuckles on the door, waited. There was no answer and he knew that could mean one of two things: Ethan and Beau were busy, too caught up to notice the knock. Or Ethan was there alone, had his headphones in, and was working away.
It was a crapshoot as to what they were going to walk in on, but Kaden figured he didn’t have much of a choice.
The keys weren’t necessary because the door was unlocked, so he opened it, listened. When there were no moans or groans to greet them, Kaden stepped inside.
The good news was, Ethan was working, not indulging. Didn’t look as though Beau was there, but Kaden could see Ethan’s expression, knew the man’s brain was hard at work.
“Hey, man,” he said, projecting his voice to be heard over the music in Ethan’s ears.
Either hearing them or sensing them, Ethan turned, tugged the earbuds out.
“Hey.” Ethan planted his hands on his hips. “What’re you doin’ here?”
Kaden nodded at the newest vehicular resident. “Bristol’s car crapped out on her the other night. Told her we’d give it a look, see if we can get it fixed. You?”
“Travis just left. We were talkin’ about Autumn. He wanted to know how she’s doin’.”
Kaden leaned against the car. “What’d you tell him?”
“That she’ll do.” He grinned. “Unless, of course, she makes it her mission to overload us more than she already has.”
Keegan laughed. “She does know how to ramp up business, don’t she?”
“Thank God she’s not afraid to get her hands dirty,” Kaden added.
Autumn had spent quite a bit of time in the shop, helping out. As it was, the woman was probably more knowledgeable about engines than either of them.
“No shit.” Ethan grabbed a tool, turned back to what he was doing. “I hate to see Reese move on, but she’s doin’ a damn fine job. I was actually surprised she was interested.”
They’d never really talked about Ethan’s cousin and Kaden was curious. “Yeah? Why’s that?”
“Big corporate type,” Ethan said, head halfway under the hood, “couple of degrees. I didn’t figure she’d want anything to do with Coyote Ridge again.”
Kaden didn’t know the reason behind that, but he suspected it had something to do with her ex. From the bits and pieces he’d picked up on, they had separated nearly a year ago, although neither had moved forward with divorce proceedings until recently when Autumn officially filed.
“How’s Reese doin’, anyway?” Keegan asked.
“Good from what I can tell. I ran into him at the diner the other day,” Ethan said. “They’re inundated with cold cases from across the state.”
Reese Tavoularis was a good guy. He’d been running Walker Demolition since his return from the air force a few years back. After their older brother Jared got married and moved to Dead Heat Ranch, the place had been in limbo for a bit. Jaxson had filled in for a while, but he said he wasn’t suited for an office job. That was about the time Reese was looking for employment.
It was interesting how things worked around here. It was like a puzzle. Every now and then there would be a hole that needed to be plugged and a piece would be moved in. Sometimes that piece would shift to a different puzzle, fitting perfectly into another gap, and another would seemingly come along.
Not that their world was perfect. Not by a long shot. There was always one issue or another arising, but when it came to family, there was someone there to help out along the way. Kaden and Keegan had fallen into that role on numerous occasions. After all, it was how they had landed this job at Walker Demolition.
Speaking of their job…
“Hey, E, we need to chat about somethin’ important.”
Ethan stopped what he was doing, standing tall and wiping his hand on a rag. “You’re leavin’ to go live the high life on the ranch, huh?”
Kaden could feel Keegan’s eyes on him. He hadn’t yet discussed this with his brother, although they both knew it was inevitable. The ranch would require more time than they had while maintaining full-time here.
“That’s the plan. We haven’t talked to Autumn yet,” he tacked on. “Wanted you to hear it first.”
Ethan nodded. “I figured as much, so I’ve been puttin’ out some feelers.” He smiled. “Turns out, Beau wants to come back part-time. He’s worked out a deal with his mom to watch the kids a few hours a day so he can get outta the house.”
“I heard a rumor that Ryan Brehm’s lookin’ for somethin’,” Keegan added.
That seemed to perk up Ethan’s ears. “Yeah? Who’d you hear that from?”
“Brehm,” Keegan said with a chuckle.
“I guess that speaks to the validity of the rumor.” Ethan laughed. “I’ll reach out to him.”
“We won’t run out on you,” Kaden promised. “We’re here until you’ve got the help you need.”
“I hate to see you go, but I get it.”
Kaden knew Ethan was telling the truth. This was where Ethan wanted to be. It’d been his legacy all along, probably one of the main reasons Travis came up with the idea in the first place. And this place suited Ethan. He’d be the first to admit he wasn’t much of a people person and he preferred his solitude. This gave him both of those things.
Kaden was sure there were plenty more folks in Coyote Ridge looking for jobs. A couple of good heavy-equipment mechanics, perhaps a couple of ranch hands.
The fact that things were changing again wasn’t lost on him.
*
After chatting it up with Ethan for a good half hour, they let him get back to what he was doing while they did a full inspection of Bristol’s car.
“Man, I think this ol’ dinosaur needs to give up the ghost,” Keegan told his brother. “Damn thing’s clingin’ to life as it is.”
Hell, he figured the only thing going for it was the fact that there were so few miles since Bristol didn’t do a whole lot of driving. Then again, it was a Honda, and while he wasn’t a fan, he knew it would likely last longer than most. If they were lucky, the only thing it would need besides a new alternator would be a tune-up.
They spent another thirty minutes doing a rundown on it only to find a variety of things that needed to be fixed or replaced altogether, including, as they’d suspected, the alternator and battery. Plus an oil change, some transmission fluid. That was the bare minimum. New brakes and some new spark plugs would go a long way, too.
“We’ll get the parts ordered,” Kaden said, his head still ducked down near the engine.
“I’m in no rush to get my truck back,” he told Kaden. Most of the time, Keegan let his brother drive him around. It was easier that way. “You wanna let her know? Or shall I?” Keegan grinned. “I noticed the heated text messages between you two this mornin’. She prompted it, huh?”
Kaden stood tall, wiping his hands on a rag. “I didn’t expect it, honestly.”
Keegan hadn’t either. When he’d seen the sexually charged back-and-forth between Kaden and Bristol, he’d been more than a little surprised to see Bristol had been the one to instigate it.
“I like this side of her,” he admitted.
“It’s interesting,” Kaden noted. “Just seems…”
“Polar opposite? An about-face? Not at all like her?”
Kaden smirked. “I was gonna say a distraction.”
Yeah, that, too. Like Bristol was trying to keep them preoccupied so they didn’t have time to think about the important things. Like the fact they were having a baby.
“Not a bad thing, per se,” Kaden added. “I just hope she’s not doin’ it for our benefit.”<
br />
That was a good point. However, Keegan didn’t get the feeling she was playing this up for them. When it came to Bristol, he didn’t see anything fake about her. She was … simple. And he didn’t mean that in a bad way. In fact, he appreciated it because there wasn’t a lot of undercurrent where she was concerned. That, or they hadn’t had time to stir it up yet.
And to think, Keegan had thought she was a prude.
“She goin’ to Curtis and Lorrie’s for dinner?”
“Nope.”
Keegan frowned. “You asked her?”
“I did.” Kaden did not look happy.
Keegan thought back to Bristol’s request that they keep this quiet for a while. He couldn’t help but wonder how long she intended, because there were people he was eager to share the news with. Their mom and dad were going to be over the moon that they were going to be grandparents.
Keegan shoved off the thought. It wouldn’t do any good to remind himself that he was once again some woman’s dirty little secret. Maybe Bristol didn’t see it that way, but she wasn’t on their end of this. It sucked.
“I was thinkin’ we’d head over there,” Kaden suggested. “Hang for a couple of hours before we head back to the house and get to work.”
“No can do. I told Sawyer and Kennedy I’d stop by, watch the kiddos for a bit. They wanted to make a trip down to Cabela’s for somethin’. Sans little ones. They’ll be back in time for dinner. But you should go over there. Spend some time with her one-on-one. See how she reacts to that.”
Kaden nodded and Keegan could see the concern in his eyes.
“It’s fine,” Keegan told him. “I’m not worried about Bristol pickin’ you over me.”
And that much was true.
He was more concerned that she would pick neither of them in an effort not to tarnish her reputation.
Then again, they’d yet to spend any one-on-one time with her. While she seemed more than content to have the two of them together, there was no way to know how she’d feel after she spent time alone with each of them. It was possible she’d find herself reserved again, wishing for the one-on-one that was normal for most relationships. It had happened to them before, women who had been all about the tag team until they got some individual attention. At that point, they’d flocked to one or the other, deciding they would rather forego the threesome. Keegan wasn’t willing to go that route on a permanent basis and he knew Kaden wasn’t either. It was the one thing neither of them had to question. If they found a woman who preferred only one of them, it wouldn’t work.
And while this thing with Bristol seemed to be moving into the serious category, Keegan knew the same would go for her. If she decided it was one or the other, not both, they would have to figure out a new plan.
All or nothing, that was how it was meant to be.
Chapter Eighteen
When Bristol woke up that morning, it had been with a hum beneath her skin. She couldn’t explain it exactly, but it was almost like a steady current of adrenaline was streaming in her blood. Even through coffee with Rex, it had been there, silently wreaking havoc.
It was them, she realized. Kaden and Keegan.
They made her feel different. Made her feel … strong and sexy in a way no one ever had before.
Bristol kept waiting for the feeling to wane, to go back to being the insecure daycare owner who lived her life for the kids who were in her care. Truth was, that was all she’d lived for these past few years. The routine, the monotony, it had become her safe haven. Ever since Baxter had dumped her for Betsy McTitface or whatever. And holding onto the familiar had been what soothed her soul after losing her father. She’d gotten used to it.
Some might even call it a rut.
But Kaden and Keegan stirred something inside her, and she was beginning to crave that feeling like a drug. They’d sparked it that first night they’d kissed her at Alluring Indulgence Resort, again after their first night together in Keegan’s bed despite the undesirable ending. It was still there, even now, after these last painful, lonely weeks she’d spent trying to get over them. Now she was wondering if perhaps she was turning over a new leaf.
In fact, she’d been a bit feistier than she’d ever been before, hence the text messages that had transpired between her and Kaden earlier in the day. It had been a bold move on her part to instigate what she assumed was referred to as sexting. Yes, her face might’ve flamed a few times from embarrassment, but she hadn’t wanted to bury her head in the sand indefinitely afterward.
Now, as she sat on the ugly flower couch in her living room, Bristol debated as to whether she should call Bianca. For whatever reason, her conversation with Rex had her wanting to get someone else’s opinion. Not because she disagreed with him, more so because she could see his point.
And that worried her. She didn’t want to be the girl who cowered and hid from the rest of the world.
She had just made up her mind to call Bianca when her cell phone rang.
Bristol snatched it up, hit the talk button, grinning as she did. “I was just about to call you.”
“Uh-huh. I’ve heard that before,” Bianca grumbled.
“No, seriously.” Bristol twisted on the couch, propping her head on the armrest, extending her legs. “What’s wrong? Why do you sound upset?”
“I’m not,” Bianca said, and Bristol could hear it for the lie that it was.
“Did Jake go out of town again?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Aww. Why didn’t you go with him?”
“Town council meeting’s this week,” Bianca said sadly then perked up quickly. “But I heard it through the grapevine you’ve been passin’ the time with a hot cowboy.”
Bristol frowned, a strange squeezing sensation in her chest. This was her biggest fear realized. “What?”
“Havin’ breakfast with Rex?” Bianca snorted. “I see how it is.”
The relief that slammed into her was overwhelming. It took a moment for her to catch her breath, but she managed to do so without cluing Bianca in to the panic that had nearly taken over.
“Are you havin’ breakfast with other hot cowboys that I don’t know about?” Bianca asked, her tone shifting to prodding mode.
Bristol knew if she didn’t say something, Bianca would harass her until she did, and that always resulted in Bristol telling more than she cared to.
“I’m gonna tell you somethin’,” Bristol said, her tone stern. “But you have to promise to not tell a soul. Not even Jake.”
“Your secret’s safe with me.”
“I’m serious, Bianca. No. One.”
“Jesus H. Christ. Who do you think I’m gonna tell?”
Bristol took a deep breath. “I did it,” she blurted.
“Did what?”
“I had sex with Kaden and Keegan.” The words were shot out of her mouth like a rocket.
There was silence on the other end of the phone.
“Bianca?”
“I’m here. Just … processing.”
“Processing what?”
“Okay, fine. I’m fantasizing.”
Bristol laughed, relaxing a bit.
“Tell me everything. And I mean every single detail.”
Bristol laughed. No way would she tell her everything, but she could certainly give her the highlights.
“Start with the when,” Bianca demanded. “When did this happen?”
“Friday night.” She only felt a little bad that she was leaving out the previous encounter. No reason to share that now. Bianca would only get butt-hurt that she hadn’t revealed that sooner.
“And? How was it?”
“It was ah-mazing. Absolutely, undeniably the best sex I’ve ever had in my life.”
“That tells me nothing. I’d already expected as much. Give me details.”
“Well…” Bristol felt her face warming with embarrassment. “Let’s just say, I learned the reason for that saying ‘hung like a horse.’”
It was definitely a crude
thing to say, but it was also something Bianca would expect. Her best friend had always been hung up on size. To hear her say it, her husband, Jake, had been blessed by the gods where girth was concerned.
“Big?”
“Huge, Bianca. I mean, I thought they would hurt me.”
They both laughed and though Bristol realized how crazy it sounded, it was the truth.
“Any DP action?”
“No.” She wasn’t sure she was quite ready for that yet. Not to mention, if and when she ever decided to go that route with them, she was never going to share those details with anyone. She loved Bianca and all, but come on, there were some things better left unsaid. “But I did have sex with both of them.”
She honestly couldn’t believe she was spilling her guts like this.
“It was … incredible.”
“Bristol? Is it just me, or do you sound … happy?”
“I’m not sure what it is, but I feel different.”
“You know it’s okay to put a name to it. There’s nothin’ wrong with bein’ happy.”
“And there’s nothin’ wrong with some great casual sex,” she countered because she didn’t want to discuss her happiness, or the future. Her friend was well aware of the fact Bristol no longer believed in the fairy tale, or any sort of happily ever after. It didn’t exist.
“That’s what this is? Casual sex?” Bianca didn’t sound convinced.
“Of course.” What else could it be? “And I’m gonna ride it out for as long as I can. No harm, no foul, right?”
“If you say so.”
“I do. It’s all good, Bianca. I promise.”
“Does that mean they’ll be accompanying you to the winter carnival?”
Oh, crap. She’d forgotten all about the carnival, which was next weekend.
“Bristol?”
“I … uh … I don’t know yet,” she said softly. “We’re takin’ this one day at a time.”
“Oh, come on. I am dyin’ to see the look on everyone’s faces when they see you arm in arm with a couple of smokin’-hot cowboys.”
“Bianca, you can’t tell anyone,” Bristol blurted, her panic setting in. “Seriously. I don’t want anyone to know.”
Kaden & Keegan (The Walkers of Coyote Ridge Book 9) Page 25
