Espino, Stacey - Hardcore Cowboys [Ride 'em Hard 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour)

by Stacey Espino

  Then her excitement crashed, leaving her breathless as she dropped down on the sofa. A promotion meant leaving all this behind, giving up the hope of a future with the men she had grown to care for. What should she do? Choose the security of a well-paying job, which would help her earn enough to send money to her sisters. Or choose love…or the potential for love. She still wasn’t sure if the brothers were in lust or something deeper. It seemed they’d never let go of the past or turn their lives upside down to accommodate her. Sure, they’d been generous—bringing her to health, retrieving her rental and filling it will gas, feeding her, clothing her, and offering her sexual delights whenever she so desired. But it had been less than two weeks, and the male species didn’t have the best track record when it came to love. As for her, she needed to make a choice fast because she was falling in love.

  The door opened, and Samantha’s heart began to race, as if her thoughts were on her sleeve for public view. She didn’t want the cowboys to know she was contemplating leaving, not yet. But it wasn’t one of them at the door. It was a woman she’d never seen—a young woman in her early twenties. She had long, blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail and big blue eyes. The girl could have modeled for a fashion magazine.

  “Howdy,” she said in greeting. She stomped her boots out on the entry mat and closed the door behind her. “I’m Angel. I live on the next ranch over.”

  Samantha’s heart clenched. Was she that much a fool? This beauty could be one of their girlfriends, and even if she wasn’t, why would they choose Samantha over her?

  “I’m Samantha.”

  The girl waltzed in as if she owned the place, glancing around at the walls and furniture. “This place hasn’t changed a bit.” Then she gave Samantha a stare so cold her skin crawled. “Except you, of course.”

  She passed by, nearly bumping Samantha as she headed to the fireplace. Her jeans were tight, like a second skin over a shapely figure. After picking up a childhood photo of the twins, she smiled and then turned to give her another menacing look.

  “Can I help you with something?”

  “You can tell me what you’re doing here, for one.” She set the picture back in place. “I’ve known the Carson boys since I was a little girl. I’ve never in my life seen them so bewitched. What are you after? Their money?”

  Her mouth dropped open to refute the accusation, but no sound came out. Did the brothers think the same thing? That she was only after their money? God knew she wasn’t a materialistic woman. Yes, she struggled and hated it, mostly because she couldn’t do more for her family. But she’d never choose a man because of money. If that were true, she’d still be with Dave.

  “No!” She shook her head and hugged herself. “They just helped me out when I got stuck in the storm.”

  “The storm’s long gone, but you’re still here.”

  “It’s because—” Why was she still here? She couldn’t live in limbo forever. Decisions had to be made, concrete decisions that would forever shape her future. There was a promotion waiting for her back home, but leaving was the one thing tearing her apart. She didn’t want their money. She wanted them, the men.

  “Like I said, we don’t take kindly to gold diggers around these parts. I’m surprised Wyatt didn’t recognize you for what you are. He’s a big hit with the buckle bunnies. But I’m sure you already know about his success in the rodeo.”

  “I don’t care about their money.”

  “Sure, sweetheart. I may be a woman, and I may be young, but I wasn’t raised a fool.” She stepped closer, nearly toe-to-toe with Samantha and a few inches taller. “I love them cowboys like brothers. I won’t let you hurt them, even if they’re too stupid to see you for what you are.”

  “I—”

  “They deserve better.”

  Samantha’s eyes filled with tears, but she wouldn’t let them fall in front of this stranger. Those words cut her soul deep because it was what Samantha believed, even though Wyatt and the twins constantly tried to reassure her it was bullshit. They did deserve better than her. They deserved one woman for each of them—ones with the beauty, brains, and sex appeal to match their own.

  “You’re right. They do deserve better.” Her body visibly slunk. Her will had died along with the possibility of a future with the Carsons. She would have chosen them over the promotion. She knew it in her heart. Selfishness on her part. “But you shouldn’t judge people you don’t know. You couldn’t have been more wrong about my intentions.” She said nothing more, not willing to argue. Samantha left the room, escaping up the wooden flight of stairs.

  Her heart beat so strong, it deafened her. Why did it hurt to breathe? Samantha crashed onto Cord’s bed, the first bedroom on the second level. She stared up at the water-stained ceiling, trying to blank her mind to alleviate the pain in her heart. It was no use. Now that she was alone, the tears came. She wasn’t usually one to cry. It served no purpose but to make her eyes puffy the next day. Now she cried like she had as a child, deep waves rocking her stomach as she tried to keep quiet.

  Some angel. The woman had delivered news no less detrimental than a demon claiming her soul for an eternity in hell fire. She’d have to go home and play normal, pretend these past weeks never existed. If she didn’t, the memories and dreams of what could have been would eat her alive. She supposed she couldn’t blame Angel if she was truly looking out for the brothers. It must look suspicious—a thirty-year-old, washed-up waitress with and little education suddenly finding herself on a thriving cattle ranch participating willingly in a ménage a quatre. She’d think herself a gold digger, too.

  But Samantha hadn’t come west to look for naïve cowboys to backstab. She came for a journey, an adventure, a reprieve from her monotonous, draining lifestyle. Getting caught in the storm was something she never anticipated, and until now thought it was a godsend because it brought her Wyatt and the twins.

  When she managed to stop crying and catch her breath, she went to pack her clothes in a plastic bag but realized Wyatt had bought everything she wore. She wouldn’t take what wasn’t hers and confirm Angel’s suspicion. Instead, she changed into the clothes she’d come in, now washed and ready. Her car was gassed up and ready just outside the house. When she saved up enough, she’d mail them money for their trouble. She wasn’t sure how to get to the main road, but she’d come this far, so she’d be able to find her way back home.

  One thing for certain, she couldn’t face them. How on earth would she tell them she was leaving, returning to her own life? They’d repeatedly told her they wanted her to stay permanently. But she wasn’t sure what to think. They said they wanted her to stay, but Cord still kept their relationship a secret when friends asked him who she was. The house also remained the same, as if they weren’t willing to accommodate her—or change.

  By the time she padded down the stairs about half an hour later, the blonde was gone. She took a cleansing breath, glancing around the ranch for the last time. For such a short period of time, she had so many memories. Not just sex, which was plentiful, but tenderness, and bonding. They’d allowed her entrance into their private lives, trusted her, and taken care of her. It was everything she could have dreamed of, and now she was kissing it all good-bye. Their friends and family would never believe she was with the cowboys out of love, and in time the Carsons would surely question the abnormal relationship as well. It was stupid of her not to return home the moment she got her car back.

  Once outside, she could hear and feel the hooves from the herd being rounded up on the other side of the large barn. She entered her rental car, started the engine, and didn’t look back.

  Chapter Eighteen

  “Where’s the car?” Wyatt led his mare to the open bay doors of the barn, not spotting the little car anywhere on the property. “One of you move it?”

  “No. You, Cord?”

  Cord had just finished repairing a burst pipeline leading to the feeding trough. “I saw one of the Garner trucks pass by. You tell Chase to move
it?”

  Wyatt continued to secure his horse in the nearest empty stall, but his mind was elsewhere. He was anxious to get back to the house after a long day of rounding the cattle into the new paddock. The snow had melted faster than anticipated, so the cattle had managed to stray farther than expected, searching for uncovered vegetation. Now he wanted to get back to ensure Samantha was fine. If one of the Garner brothers had come sniffing around while they were busy at work, they could have upset her, said or done something ungentlemanly. They’d pay dearly if they did.

  “Samantha!” Wyatt called after opening the door. He didn’t need to wait for a response. He knew she was gone. Why?

  “You don’t think Chase stopped by, do you?” Cord joined him in the entryway, running a hand through his tousled hair. They all needed a shower, a good meal, and a full night’s sleep.

  Val plodded in the door, pulling off his work gloves and looking between the two of them. “What’s going on? Where’s Sam?”

  Wyatt raised an eyebrow. “Sam?”

  Val shrugged, a satisfied smirk on his face. “She said I could call her Sam. She didn’t tell you the same?”

  Wyatt clapped his younger brother on the back. How could he be jealous? Samantha brought them all together, bonded the Carson brothers, providing a guarantee they’d stay together. There would be no more traveling the circuit, leaving the family ranch for months at a time. And the twins would never have to worry about women breaking them apart, not when they were sharing the same one.

  “Guess we should pay a visit to our neighbors,” said Cord, grabbing the truck keys off the hook by the door. “I for one won’t be able to relax until she’s home where she belongs.”

  They all boarded the truck and barreled off the property, spreading gravel and a flurry of snow in their wake. The Garners were like family, but he wouldn’t trust his woman with anyone, especially those playboys he grew up with. He still remembered the look in Grant’s eyes when he saw Samantha in the clothing store. If Wyatt had allowed it, he’d have joined in their ménage without a second thought. But Samantha wasn’t up for grabs or sharing. She was irrevocably taken by Wyatt and his brothers, branded on their hearts and minds no different than their seal on a calf’s rump. He prayed she felt the same way about them.

  The path leading up to their neighbors’ ranch had been cleared of snow. They parked next to Chase’s pickup truck, all exiting the vehicle together, three doors slamming in the hushed surroundings. Wyatt was prepared for anything. He knew how to fight and use a weapon. Fear for his well-being wasn’t in his vocabulary, not after so many years running with the rodeo.

  Trust had to be earned. He trusted his brothers but wouldn’t bet the farm on his trust for Chase, Grant, or Matthew. They may have been good friends with countless memories growing up, but when a woman was concerned, Wyatt preferred to play it safe.

  Cord told Val, “Check the barn. We’ll head to the house.”

  Wyatt followed him to the brick house, a lonely structure on a seemingly endless stretch of flat land. His boots crunched the hard packed earth with each step. Cord had only knocked one time on the wooden door when it flung open, Angel leaning in the doorway.

  “Well, well, well…a devil and a ghost on my door step.” She rested a hand on her rounded hip, swaying in a poor attempt at flirting. Wyatt could never be lured by the young cowgirl. She was like a kid sister and too young and naïve regardless.

  “Angel, stop calling me a devil. Just because I won’t take you on a date doesn’t make me the father of all evil.” Cord brushed past her into the house without waiting for an invitation.

  “And I feel mighty alive for a ghost, little girl.” Wyatt wiped his boots on the mat before stepping inside. His comment irritated the blonde enough to make her scowl and stomp like the spoiled child she was. She retreated into the small house, dropping unceremoniously on the sofa with her arms crossed.

  “Chase! Your dumb friends are here.”

  “If your mommy and daddy weren’t home, I’d put you over my knee, little lady.” Wyatt meant it and implied no sexual connotation in his words. With three older brothers, she was used to getting her own way. He’d like to see her learn some manners.

  “Whatever, Wyatt. Don’t think you’re so smart. I know things.” She raised her chin, and he wanted to wring her little neck. “I know all about your sick fetish. My friends Janice and Beth have firsthand knowledge of your dirty little secrets, cowboy.” She stood now, gaining confidence as she attempted to bring him down a peg or two.

  Her accusations had no effect on him. He never hid from the truth or pretended to be someone he wasn’t. He’d done things he wasn’t proud of, mostly because he hadn’t cared about the women he’d played with. But that was the past and he didn’t appreciate her bringing it up now that his heart belonged to Samantha. If she were here, she could overhear and get upset.

  “I also know about that girl at your ranch.”

  “What girl?” asked Cord, stepping toward her with his brow lowered.

  “That gold digger who’s been pulling the wool over your eyes. All three of you, apparently.” She scoffed. “She’s not even cute. The winter must be messing with your sight as much as your heads…or were you thinking with your cocks?” She smirked now, too pleased with herself.

  Cord grabbed her by the upper arms, giving her a jostle. “Where is she? You talk to her?”

  Val burst in the front door. “Only Grant in the barn. Matthew’s out in fields.”

  Cord and Wyatt ignored their brother. “Answer him, woman!”

  “What?” She attempted to tug free, but Cord held her tight. “You may be a bunch of jerks, but you’re like family. Someone had to watch out for you. Maybe I should have just turned the other cheek and let you get screwed over by a professional.”

  “What the fuck is she talking about?” Val joined them in the center of the room.

  Cord looked ready to rip her to shreds, but Wyatt knew his brother would never physically harm a woman. Their parents raised them never to lay a hand on the fairer sex under any circumstance. It was the cowboy way. “What exactly did you say to her?”

  Chase came down the stairs wearing a hockey jersey and carrying a can of Coke. “What the fuck?” He set his drink on the hall table and stomped toward them. “Let go of her right this minute, Cordell!”

  She cuddled up to in her brother’s protective embrace with a wicked gleam in her eyes for Wyatt and his brothers.

  “Don’t you protect that little weasel, Chase. She’s been to our place and probably filled Samantha’s head with nonsense.” Then Wyatt put two and two together. Samantha’s car was gone. If she wasn’t on the Garner ranch, she was probably on her way back to Toronto, her head filled with lies. “Make her tell us what she told her.”

  “This have to do with that girl from the storm? Why you care what Angel said to her?”

  Val chimed in, his usual calmness left at the door. “Don’t you remember what I told you? We love her and planned on keeping her. Now she’s run off because of your little sister.”

  “What did you say exactly, Angel?” Cord asked after taking a deep breath.

  “I just told her I was on to her. That I knew she was using the three of you for your money and nothing more. I was only lookin’ out for you.”

  “You know nothing about her, nothing at all. She never asked for a thing,” said Cord.

  “That why Wyatt was buying her clothes? My auntee told me all about her hold on you boys. It ain’t natural.”

  Cord and Val kept their tongues in check and headed for the door. Wyatt flinched when the door slammed shut behind them. He could feel their pain because it mirrored his own. “I feel sorry for the man you marry.” Then he turned to leave.

  “You can’t talk to my little sister like that.” He ignored Chase and kept walking. “Wyatt Carson, don’t walk away from me!” He’d pushed Angel behind him, meeting him chest to chest. They were almost identical in height and stature, but where Chas
e had a good family and bright future, Wyatt had painful memories and may have just lost the best thing in his life. The other man must have seen the threat in his eyes because he backed off, his tense posture submitting.

  Wyatt joined his brothers in the truck. Not one of them said a word. Where would they go from here? They had no way of knowing if Samantha was on her way home or just gone into town. Somehow he knew it was over. How would they find her? How many Samantha Browns lived in the largest city in Canada?

  Val broke the silence. “Now what?”

  “Do either of you think she was a gold digger?” Cord nearly whispered the words.

  “She was near death when I found her. She never asked for anything, not even our love. That girl was sweetness wrapped up in the hottest package I’ve ever seen. Now she’s gone,” said Wyatt.

  “Surely she didn’t believe Angel. She knew we never thought ill of her, didn’t she?” Val's eyes looked haunted.

  Cord started the truck and made a three point turn to get off the property. They made their way home to an empty house.

  * * * *

  Tears blurred her vision as she pulled onto the highway heading home. Things looked so different when the windshield wasn’t being assaulted by snow and sleet. The boy at the gas station had directed her how to get home to Toronto, and that’s where she belonged. This fantasy had blown up in her face. Whether her cowboys agreed with Angel’s accusation or not, that woman couldn’t be the only one who thought negatively of her. She should never have counted on a problem-free future with men she barely knew. Three men. What had she been thinking?