by Ashley Shay
* * * *
By the time of the three of them staggered and roared their way to the back of the house, Carly could see Shane hadn’t exaggerated. Tyler must have invited everyone in Catamount to attend. Tents and tables of food scattered across the lawn like the encampment of a medieval siege. A band played a popular country tune on a stage set up next to the most wondrous pool Carly had ever seen outside of a hotel, and several swimmers frolicked in the water and beneath the small waterfall that cascaded into the crystal-clear lagoon at the shallow end. Other guests, dripping wet in their swimsuits, sipped cocktails from small stools surrounding a horseshoe-shaped bar built in to the side of the pool.
Carly felt a little intimidated by both the environment and the showing. She’d known the Lucas brothers were rich, but their wealth must be staggering to put together such an impressive spread in an afternoon.
Shane swung Suzie down to the ground then leaned closer to be heard over the noise of the guests and the delightful music coming from the band. Carly hoped there might be dancing later. “Tyler wanted to introduce you to everyone who works here on the ranch. We’re one big family here at Cattail.”
“I thought this must be the whole town.” Carly blinked several times. “All these people work here?”
“Well, not all of them. The employees all brought their families, but yeah, everyone is connected to the ranch in some way.”
Suzie lifted her face up to Carly. “I’m going to change into my purple swimsuit,” she announced. “I’ll be right back, gargoyle.”
“I shall await your return.” Carly bowed low, trying to be as subservient as she thought a gargoyle might be. “And would you please bring a parched monster something to drink?”
Suzie giggled and gave her a quick hug around the legs before running for the house. Tyler Lucas strode up to greet them, watching his daughter’s playful skipping. His brows rose as he followed her streak toward the house. The look of wonderment on his face made Carly smile.
“She’s happy.”
“Of course she’s happy, Ty,” Shane said with a laugh. “She has a gargoyle and a hunchback at her beck and call.”
A slight grin teased the corner of Tyler’s mouth. “I have to say you fit the part well, Shane, but Carly doesn’t look at all like a gargoyle.”
“She sure as hell doesn’t.”
Both men gave her appreciative stares, their eyes smoldering like melting emeralds in the bright sunshine. Once again, Carly felt herself blush to the roots of her hair. She hadn’t had as many compliments in her life as she’d had in the last twelve hours. Her body grew hot as she listened to the men discuss her attributes as though she were treasure that had dropped into their lives. Her pulse throbbed so fast and hard in her ear she barely heard half of what they said, but she didn’t need to hear the words to feel the emotions behind them. They liked what they saw. She thought if she blushed one more time, she’d probably spontaneously combust.
Carly turned to find Dustin Lucas strolling up behind them, a bottle of Shiner Bock held loosely between his fingers. His white T-shirt skimmed the waistband of his jeans, but with each step he took, the jeans seemed to slide farther down on his hips. Carly swallowed hard, taking in the teasing glimpses of darkly tanned flesh peeking out between the white-and-blue fabric. More disconcerting, however, was the slender line of golden hair that trickled from under his shirt to disappear inside his pants.
Dusty’s gaze caressed her face, and Carly hoped he wouldn’t notice the fresh blush that stole over her cheeks. “I’d say Carly looks as fresh and pretty as a field of Texas wildflowers tonight, particularly with those eyes. Why they’re the exact color of bluebonnets, wouldn’t you say, Shane?”
“Absolutely. Prettiest eyes I’ve ever seen.”
The blush that had brushed her cheeks blossomed into a full-blown flush and swept down into her neck. She had a sudden urge to wipe sweat from her nape, or at the very least, swipe at the damp curls there.
“Beautiful,” Dusty continued. “Sweet, innocent…and lush. I wish I were a honey bee about now, darlin’, to get me some of that sweet, tasty nectar.”
His words caused a spike of pleasure to travel through her body, rushing straight to her pussy. Her muscles clenched uncontrollably as her breath left her body in a burst. A rush of desire flooded her body. Her panties dampened, and Carly couldn’t stop her hand from raising. Before she knew it, air fanned her cheek because her hand fluttered rapidly in front of her face.
She jerked backward when all three men leaned a fraction of an inch closer to her and drew in a deep breath. She rubbed her damp hands against her thighs, squeezing her legs together in the hopes she could hold in her scent. Mortified, she dropped her gaze to the points of her turquoise boots in an attempt to avoid their faces. How could they possibly have noticed her scent changing? Surely they couldn’t smell a tiny bit of fluid. She’d die of embarrassment if that was the case. She drew in a deep breath and chanced a peek up through her bangs.
Tyler glanced toward his brothers. “Mmm, smell that?”
“Sure smells sweet,” Dusty said.
Carly glanced at each in turn, wishing the earth would open up and swallow her whole. This can’t be happening. Please, God, don’t let this happen.
“Mmm-mmm,” Shane said, closing his eyes in apparent bliss. “Best barbecue I ever smelled.”
Carly released her breath, kicked herself in the butt for having such ridiculous thoughts, not to mention such a completely inappropriate reaction, and gave Shane a tentative smile. “It does smell delicious.”
Tyler took hold of her elbow. “You boys go do whatever it is you do.”
“Sure thing, boss,” Dusty said.
Both men watched them walk away. She knew because she glanced over her shoulder and gave them a little wave. Shane stared back with a smile, and Dusty, apparently the comedian of the family, patted his chest several times then did a pretend swoon, landing gracefully on his back in the lush green grass. She caught herself mid giggle and turned her attention to the strong, silent Lucas brother.
Tyler’s fingers lightly caressed the sensitive skin of her upper arm. It felt like heaven, and she cautioned herself to read nothing into such a commonplace gesture. He was merely trying to steer her toward the crowd. “I hope you feel up to meeting some people, Carly.”
She laughed. “Doesn’t look like I have much choice.”
I’d follow you anywhere, Tyler Lucas.
He walked slowly, but she still had to take two steps for every one of his. She teetered several times, unused to walking in boots with such pointed toes. Each time, Tyler’s hand tightened just a bit on her arm, and she leaned toward him, reveling in the musky warmth of his masculine scent.
“I’m looking forward to meeting everyone. Shane said these are all your employees and their families. Is that right?”
Tyler nodded. “I prefer to think of them as an extended family. Like a colony, part of a larger clan, I guess.”
“A colony. That’s a lovely way to think of your employees.”
All around them, people of all ages, from aging grandparents to tiny tots, smiled or nodded then sidestepped to allow them to pass through. He led Carly to a tent filled with coolers, refrigerators, and tables filled with setups. “What would you like?”
Carly had never been much of a drinker, but decided on a bottle of Shiner Bock beer. She’d seen one in Dusty’s hand, and going native seemed like the best plan. Besides, even though she’d arrived tonight, her duties didn’t officially start until tomorrow. She vaguely wondered who would be watching Suzie in the pool then decided it wasn’t her concern—at least not tonight.
Tyler reached into a standing cooler, pulled out a frosty bottle, and poured it into a chilled glass. She took a long draw from the ice-cold glass. Not bad at all, like everything else she’d encountered since arriving in Texas, from the heat of both the air and the food to the fun clothes and stunning looks of her new employers. It seemed both frightening a
nd comforting how quickly she was acclimating to the relaxed atmosphere and the feel of her new Western clothes. What had taken her so long to find the woman she’d apparently kept hidden all these years?
Tyler steered her toward a group of men that were obviously off-duty guards for the ranch. They were in jeans, boots, and cowboy hats, but their casual Western garb couldn’t camouflage their military bearing or still the watchfulness of their gazes as they scanned the guests and the perimeter of the yard.
“Always on duty, even when relaxing,” Carly observed quietly.
“They take their job seriously,” Tyler answered. “If you ever have any trouble, you get in touch with one of these guys.”
He made the introductions. Each man nodded in acknowledgment of his name then gave her a clinical perusal as though memorizing every aspect of her face and form. The inspections were completely different from those given by the Lucas brothers, which she discovered soon after when she turned around on the path and plowed into a solid object.
Before she could utter a sound, two hands had gripped her upper arms. She expected to be pushed away gently with an “Are you all right?” Instead, those two hands slid around her back, one of them going above her waist and the other sliding down over the curve of her ass. The hands pulled her closer, though there wasn’t an inch between her and the large body. Her breath stuttered in her chest when her nose brushed against the warmth of the soft T-shirt stretched over hard muscles.
She breathed deeply, and her stomach fluttered at the spicy scent of hot, sexy male.
A girl could get used to this.
She lifted her face and found herself staring into another pair of green eyes, but they didn’t hold the mischief and amusement that Dusty’s did. These were filled with mystery and a deep, dark desire. She gulped, trying to push any words from her suddenly dry throat, but her body had a mind of its own. She found herself pushing her hips toward his. The hard length of his cock pushed back, and she felt a soft fluttering against her back, like the feeling of a bird’s wing brushing her blouse. It both delighted and alarmed her.
“Miss Barnes.” His deep voice sent a shiver through her, another thing that both delighted and alarmed her.
“Hello, Jus—Cougar.”
They stared at one another, and Carly had become lost in those mysterious eyes when Tyler’s dry voice cut through whatever spell Cougar had woven around her. “Planning to manhandle the new nanny all evening, Cougar?”
“No.” His arms dropped, and Carly nearly fell over from his absence. Her body leaned toward him in longing. “I have things to do.”
He spun on his heel. Carly watched as he strode toward one of the security guards.
“Cougar handles security,” Tyler said.
Carly stared after him, watching the movement of his perfect ass beneath the denim. She let her gaze roam over all the people having fun, listened to the sounds of the popular country tune being sung on the stage, and breathed in the wonderful barbecue aroma. “But isn’t this a family party? He doesn’t even want an evening off?”
“No.”
“But everyone needs time off.”
“Not Cougar.”
She cast another glance toward him. “How sad…”
Tyler took her arm, and she reluctantly turned around. “Don’t let him suck you in. He’s the way he is, and that’s all there is to it.”
They moved farther down the path toward a large tent, and the air around her stirred with the aroma of spicy Mexican dishes.
A grandmotherly type woman sat in an easy chair, stroking a fat gray cat and watching the festivities with a smile on her round face. She had her black hair pulled back into a comfortable ponytail, and her bright eyes took in every detail of Carly’s appearance.
“What a gorgeous cat.” Carly reached out to pet the purring cat, but the animal reared back and spit at her. She lurched backward, nearly stumbling over Tyler’s foot. He caught her by the shoulders and set her back on her feet.
“Sí, Tomás es muy guapo, but be careful, linda. He can be a real bastardo. He likes no one but me.
“I’ll remember that,” she said, giving a dubious look to the sleek hell on wheels. You must be Rosa.”
Carly extended her hand, immediately liking the woman’s looks.
The woman dumped the cat from her lap with a shooing motion then scooted her rather ample body a bit closer to the edge of the chair and shook Carly’s hand. “No, señorita. I am Lucia.” She bowed her head slightly then lifted her dark eyes to Tyler. They seemed to sparkle with some kind of restrained humor. “She has not met Rosa yet?”
Tyler’s jaw tightened. “No.”
Lucia laughed, the skin around her eyes crinkling and her full cheeks glowing a bright red.
Carly frowned. “Is something funny?”
“Oh no, linda. Es muy interesante, eh, Ty? You shall meet Rosa soon enough. She’s in la casa. Who knows what she might be doing? Always busy, that one. Reservada. Misteriosa.”
“Lucia…” Tyler said. His voice was soft, but Carly heard a warning in that one word.
“Sí, sí, no gossip.” The older woman waved her hand lightly. “Entiendo. It is no matter. Tenemos nuestro—”
“English please, Lucia,” Tyler said softly.
“Oh, sí, sí, Ty.” She slapped her head then smiled. “Mi memoria is not so good. I say, Ms. Carly, that we—Rosa and I—have our own…territories?” She glanced at Tyler who nodded. “Rosa does…no sé lo que. I don’t know what. I mind my own business—”
Tyler made a humph noise.
Lucia rolled her eyes. “I mind my own business and cook for the los hermanos y la niña.” She kissed her fingers and tossed the kiss in the air. “Muy deliciosa, eh, Ty?”
“Sí, Lucia. Muy deliciosa.”
Lucia gestured toward the interior of the tent, and Carly peeked inside to see four tables that groaned with Tex-Mex delights. Her eyes watered just inhaling the pungent aromas. She couldn’t wait to try each and every one of them, though she planned to spread that out over the next few months, not eat it all in one sitting.
“You made all that?”
“Sí,” she said with a wink, “though I have help for the day. Los hermanos take good care of old Lucia.”
Carly sensed they would become good friends during her time at the ranch. She didn’t know why she felt that way, but if she were a betting woman, she’d be willing to place a bet on the odds. Lucia helped Carly choose some of her special dishes, guaranteeing Carly would be encantata by the choices. She ate, relaxing in a chair next to Lucia, her second bottle of Shiner Bock drained by the time she finished her plate. Lucia tried to feed her more, but Carly declined, saving room for the barbecue when it was ready. She hoped she didn’t have to waddle to bed later. Tyler seemed to relax more with every introduction, and Carly realized she was passing an unspoken test of sorts. It was like her initiation into the family, and so far she’d been accepted by all.
* * * *
Evening slid into night, and a huge golden moon rose over the Texas landscape. Families with small children began to leave, and couples began to get cozier. The band played slower songs, and the mood of the crowd subtly shifted gears.
Carly felt warm and fuzzy from the attention of the Lucas brothers and the flowing drinks. She couldn’t remember her hands being empty all evening as three of the Lucas men took turns plying her with plates of delicious barbecue, warm, gooey brownies, and chilly bottles of Shiner Bock. She developed a new appreciation for the wonders of beer and decided on her first day off she’d lounge by the pool and have a few because the relaxation effects amazed her. The fact she was still standing came as a bit of a surprise. She was afraid if she sat down too long she would melt into her lawn chair.
The band slid into an upbeat country boogie, and a small crowd of dancers began lining up side by side. Carly watched with interest, wondering what they were up to. Dusty glanced at her, and his brow rose.
“Haven’t you ever line d
anced, darlin’?”
“No, I didn’t go out much in D—downtown.” Less than four hours into her new life, and she’d almost blown it. Maybe Carly Barnes shouldn’t be drinking.
Dusty took the bottle of beer out of her hand and sat it on the table. “C’mon. You’ll love it.”
“No,” Carly protested, trying to pull away from him. “I’m not much of a dancer. In fact, I’m pretty sure I suck.”
“Sucking is good,” Dusty said, waggling his brows at her.
She slapped at his chest. “I meant I suck at dancing.”
“I got it,” Dusty said. “But you’re in Texas now, so you’ll learn and be a pro in no time.”
He yanked her along, and though she protested, she might as well have struggled with a bear. He didn’t so much as slow down. Holding her hand, he placed them at the end of the line, and a cheer went up from the crowd of onlookers.
The group began to move in rhythm, and it didn’t take Carly long to pick up the dance steps. She couldn’t believe she was having so much fun. She linked her arm with Dusty’s and felt a vague sense of belonging. Dusty leaned over to give her a quick kiss of approval on her lips. He tasted of beer and something spicy and delicious, and she wanted another kiss. She rose on tiptoe to return the gesture, but at that moment, they both stumbled, nearly falling down. Carly couldn’t tell if it was the beer or Dusty making her so giddy. She didn’t care. She couldn’t remember ever having so much fun in her life.
When the song ended, Dusty led her to a table and told her he’d be back with more drinks. “Make mine a cola.” She really didn’t think she could handle one more beer. It wouldn’t be such a good idea for her to get drunk on her first night at the ranch. Tyler might have second thoughts about hiring her, not to mention Gabe would be majorly pissed off if she lost this job.
Shane dropped into the seat opposite her. “So what do you think of this madhouse so far, Carly?”
