by Chloe Lang
“Thank you, Emmett.”
Hearing her say his name was heaven. “You’re more than welcome, Amber. Okay, you can let go now.” She did, and he grabbed another towel. “Time to dry your lovely locks.”
“Who calls hair ‘locks’?”
“I do. My brothers do. This is rural Colorado. This isn’t Denver.”
“I’m not an invalid. I can do some things myself like drying my own hair.” She winked, and his balls grew even heavier.
“Perhaps, but that doesn’t change that I’m drying you off.” He had no idea why he was coming on so strong. Why not let her towel off by herself? She seemed strong enough to stand on her own. If not, he could stay and catch her. Why not? Because he knew what he had to do. He knew what was best. Always had. Besides, drying her off would be his pleasure, even though it must remain on the up-and-up.
Being right and confident all the time had been his curse ever since losing his parents in the plane crash. The questioning and uncertain boy he’d been prior to their deaths had melted into nothingness, replaced by the person needed to keep him and his brothers together. Necessity had created the man he’d become, but time had grown the roots deep into his soul. Doubt didn’t hold a place inside him—couldn’t. Until Amber.
He toweled her long, lush hair, inhaling its coconut fragrance. Then he moved on to drying her soft, pale skin, imagining what it would feel like to touch such delicate flesh.
Women had a place in his world, and that place was at Phase Four. One day in the future, he and his brothers would choose one for a more permanent arrangement. At least that was what he’d imagined would happen—until her. Such a plan seemed jaded and naïve now.
“You’re sure doing a thorough job, cowboy.”
“I don’t want you catching a cold, Amber.”
Had his fathers selected his mother like some kind of prize heifer at the livestock auction? Of course not. He knew their story well. Before the accident, they’d told it often to him and his twin brothers. What a whirlwind of excitement and passion. Their mother was from Texas, not Destiny. She’d come to teach at the one-room schoolhouse. “It was love at first sight, boys,” Dad Rich had always said, causing Mom to blush and giggle.
“You’re miles away, aren’t you, cowboy?” Amber’s eyes sparkled.
“I guess I am.” He continued stroking her arms with the towel, though they were sufficiently dry. Maybe he was simply unwilling to end this intimate time with her, even though nothing wicked would come of it—couldn’t come of it. He’d lost his faith in possibilities, in dreams, in magic long ago. Facts made sense to him. Plans were his guide. Struggle was its own reward. Love at first sight? For his parents, yes. Not for him.
“There you go again, Emmett.” She smiled, and he knew that she had the power to bring sunshine. “What’s got your mind tied up in knots?”
Great description, though he would much rather see her tied up in his knots. “I’m wondering how long this rainstorm is going to go on for.” The playroom needed to be locked up. No sense in scaring Amber more than she’d already been. He made a mental note to do just that while she was eating her meal. “Almost finished.” He knelt down in front of her. She kept a towel around her as he dried off her silky legs with another. “What’s going through your mind? You seem better than earlier.”
She frowned, which made his gut tighten. The last thing he wanted to do was cause her pain. His question had been an idiotic one. Her mind was not her own. Her memories were gone, and he’d been stupid to remind her of that fact by his inquiry.
“You’re furrowing your brow, cowboy. Your question didn’t bother me, just made me pause for a moment.”
“Sorry, Amber. Too long in the saddle today, I guess. It’s been a long time since this old cabin had a real woman in it.” Loneliness was a constant companion of his. It wasn’t something he voiced aloud to anyone, even his brothers, but it was true. Having her here lifted a gray cloud inside him.
“I seriously doubt that. I did realize that I haven’t lost my entire mind. This is the United States, right?”
“Sure thing. Destiny is in Northwestern Colorado, almost to the Wyoming border. We’re deep in the heart of the Rocky Mountains.” The rain continued outside, reminding him it would be several days, if not a week or more, before he could take her to town. “Let’s get you some clean clothes.” He guided her to sit on the seat of the commode. “I’ll be right back.”
All his mother’s clothes were still at the house in town. He found a shirt and a pair of jeans from when the twins were teenagers, still too big for Amber, but they would have to suffice. He rushed back to the bathroom and found her just where he’d left her. She smiled at him, and his heart was hers.
“You think that will fit me?” she asked.
“It will keep you warm, sweetheart.”
“Thank you, Emmett.” Her voice cracked with apparent sudden emotion. “I’m not sure if I can ever repay you for what you and your brothers have done for me.”
Had he ever met a woman so upbeat and full of life? She was gutsy and brave and definitely not a pushover. She’d lost her memory, but instead of breaking down and crying, she was working hard to regain it. She’d been brave and trusted him and his brothers even when she should have been scared of them. Taming someone like her would be any Dom’s pleasure, but she wasn’t one of the subs at Phase Four. She could be someone’s wife or girlfriend or fiancée. Until he knew, it had to be hands off. That was how it was, whether he liked it or not.
“Sweetheart, there’s nothing you need to do. We’re happy to help.” More than happy. Could he let himself dream? He shouldn’t but couldn’t resist as he helped her on with the shirt.
The conversation with his two dads the week before their unfortunate death came back to him with a clarity that made it feel as if it had occurred a moment ago and not twelve years earlier. They’d spent time with him and his brothers discussing what it really meant for men to share a woman. God, how he would love to share Amber with his brothers. She was so perfect for all of them. Bright. Sweet. Kind. If only he knew if she were unattached or not, then he could know whether to let down his guard and put on the full-court press.
She stepped back and looked at herself in the mirror, tilting her head from side to side, obviously trying to decide what she looked like in the clothes.
Seeing her dressed in a teenage boy’s shirt added to her allure. She gripped the jeans, which were far too long for her to wear anywhere but indoors. “What do you think, Emmett?”
“You look amazing.”
“You’re just saying that, but I’ll take it.”
He looked at her bare feet, delicate and sweet, on the tiled floor. Instead of thinking about getting her some socks, his possessive lust shot up, causing his gut to tighten and his cock to throb.
“Are you hungry, Emmett?” she asked innocently. God, if she only knew what she was asking.
“I am. Are you?”
She turned and nodded.
Silently, he’d craved what his parents had and had listened intently to the fatherly advice all those years ago. Cody and Bryant had been riveted by the discussion, though of course Cody, ever the romantic, had tons of questions for their dads.
His brothers were completely lost to her, acting like cavemen or more like two lovesick schoolboys. Hell, those two were in the kitchen cooking. Cooking? Neither of them had a clue about what went on in a kitchen beyond grabbing a beer from the fridge or nuking something in the microwave for a quick hot meal. What in the world they were going to present to Amber to eat, he had no idea.
When it came to Amber, Cody was going to be hard to rein in, Bryant, a bit easier, though Emmett had seen something in his eyes that might mean trouble. He didn’t want to disappoint his brothers. God knew how much they’d suffered. But he had to be the responsible one. They depended on him. Better to do the right thing and keep the pain to a minimum than to give in to long-buried hopes and be tortured by the loss. Until they knew m
ore, hands off.
“There you go again, Emmett. Off on some thought vacation.” She giggled, and his hard heart melted inside his chest.
Marriage had seemed so distant, in the faraway future. There were plenty of wild oats to sow still. Until Amber.
“Let’s go see what my two brothers have burnt for you.” He grabbed her hand and led her out of the bathroom. Silently, he hoped against all odds that Amber didn’t have a claim on her by any other man.
Chapter Five
Amber inhaled the delicious aromas of the food Cody and Bryant had prepared for her before actually seeing the meal. “Wow, this is quite the meal, fellows.”
Cody smiled and pulled out a chair from the kitchen table. “Sweetheart, this is for you.”
“Thank you.” The table was filled with trays of eggs, prepared in every fashion possible—scrambled, fried, sunny-side-up, poached, and even boiled. On another tray was a pile of crisp bacon that couldn’t dare hold another piece. Fresh biscuits were in a breadbasket next to a bowl of cream gravy. Three kinds of jam sat next to her bone-white plate, the only one on the table. A pitcher of orange juice was paired with a carafe that she guessed was filled with hot coffee. “This is way too much. Are you going to make me eat this all by myself?”
Emmett shook his head. “Dumb-asses, you forgot to set plates for us. I thought you were starving.”
Cody punched his eldest brother in the arm. “Ladies first, or have you forgot your manners?”
She sat in the chair Cody was holding for her. “Seriously, I would like you guys to join me. It would be strange to eat while you watch.”
“I, for one, am starving. I can’t believe you two pulled this off,” Emmett said, opening the cabinet closest to him and pulling out three plates.
“I know it’s dinnertime, but breakfast foods are my specialty,” Cody said, taking the seat next to her.
Bryant smiled and sat in the seat opposite her, leaving the other side for Emmett.
Amber stared at the feast. “Thank you so much.”
“Enjoy,” Bryant said, motioning her to dive in.
She did, loading her plate to the brim. Emmett filled her juice glass up with the OJ, and Cody poured her a cup of steamy coffee.
They didn’t move to fill their plates, but instead were staring at her like a jury of three.
“Cowboys,” she mocked. “I never knew they were so demanding. I suppose you won’t fill your plates until I’ve at least taken a bite. Is that it?”
“Smart girl.” Cody grabbed her hand and squeezed. “And you can’t imagine how demanding we can be, sweetheart.”
“That’s enough,” Emmett growled. “Let her eat her meal in peace, Cody.”
What was it about these two that kept them on edge? Was it something about her? She wasn’t sure, but the tension was thick between them.
Hoping to relax the strain, she took a bite of the biscuit she’d placed on her plate. It was flaky and warm. “Yummy.”
Bryant grinned and Cody nodded. They had clearly been worried about what they’d put in front of her to eat. She found that so very sweet of them.
Then like a pack of wolves, they filled their plates and began devouring food at a breakneck pace. She’d finished about half her plate and they were all refilling their plates.
“Not bad, guys,” Emmett said. “You two have been holding out on me. Who taught you to cook like this? Wait. I remember.” His face darkened with an apparent heavy weight.
Cody frowned. “Mom.”
“Right.”
Bryant pushed his empty plate forward. “Saturday mornings.”
“She would’ve been proud of this spread, guys.” Emmett grabbed the carafe. “More coffee, Amber?”
She didn’t know what had happened to their mom, but it was obvious to Amber they all missed her very much. “No, thank you. I’m so full. It was amazing. Thank you, guys. I can at least manage the cleanup.”
“Not a chance,” Cody said, standing. “We’re going to wait on you, princess.”
“I agree.” Emmett brushed the hair out of her eyes, causing a little tingle to shoot up her spine. “You’ve been through quite an ordeal, Amber. Give it a few days before you try to get back to normal.”
“What’s normal for me, cowboy? I sure don’t know what that is.” In her mind, the wall she’d imagined earlier appeared again. It mocked her, keeping her from her memories, which were just on the other side. How to get over the wall?
“Sweetheart, you have to be patient.” Bryant’s tone was firm but comforting. “We all have to be. I’m sure whatever is locked away in your pretty little head won’t be for long. Trust me.”
“I wish something would trigger a memory.” She thought about how their demeanors had changed when they’d been talking about their mother. What about her family? Maybe if she asked them questions, it would help her recall something. “Do you have a picture of your parents? I’d like to see what this woman who taught you guys how to make such an amazing breakfast looked like.”
“That’s a great idea.” Cody grabbed up the empty plates and placed them into the sink. “Bryant, go get their wedding picture. It’s on the bookshelf in our bedroom.”
“Got it.” He jumped up and headed down the hallway.
“What was your mom’s name?” she asked Emmett, who was still sitting next to her.
“Beverly,” he said with a tinge of awe. “She was from Texas.”
“Did your dad meet her there?”
Before he could answer, Bryant was back with the framed photo. He handed it to her.
She stared at the picture. An auburn-haired bride stood between two men in tuxedos. “Which one is your dad?”
“They both are,” Emmett said flatly. “This is Dad Rich.” He pointed to the man to the left of his mother. “And this guy is Dad Trevor.”
“I’m confused. You have two dads?”
“Had. Yes, sweetheart. Have you ever heard of plural marriages before?”
Her muddled mind was able to call up a single word that told her she did. “Bigamy.”
Cody continued to clear dishes from the table. “That word usually implies something different than what we grew up with. There were no secrets between our dads and our mom.”
“Amber, things are quite different around here than in the outside world.” Bryant’s eyes were fixed on her. He clearly wanted her to understand what this picture she held meant to him. “Love comes in every shape, size, and configuration in Destiny.”
“Destiny? You mean your hometown?”
“Yes. Our dads were brothers. Our granddads were brothers, too. Even our great-granddads. Sharing a wife isn’t abnormal here. In truth, it is the customary practice.”
She gazed down at the smiling faces of their parents in the photo. “They sure look happy.”
“They were.”
She wasn’t about to ask these cowboys if they planned on the same kind of family as their parents had had. It made sense they would. How could a woman deal with such an arrangement? What about jealousy? She wasn’t sure but couldn’t deny how joyous their three parents had looked in the black-and-white picture.
She set the photo down on the table and turned to Emmett. “When did they die?”
“Twelve years ago. A plane crash took all of them. It also took our friends’ parents. The Knights and the Colemans.”
The air grew thick with the apparent ancient grief of the three cowboys. “You must’ve been only teenagers.”
“I was eighteen and the twins were fifteen. The whole town grieved with us. The O’Learys took all the orphaned teens under their wings. They’re a local wealthy family. They’re like grandparents to us now.”
“It’s not the same as having your own parents.” Her heart ached for them. What a loss at such a young age. “I’m so sorry.”
“It was a long time ago, Amber.” Emmett stood. “We survived. I think you should get back in bed.”
Even though his suggestion was harmless, she fel
t her cheeks burn as she imagined what it might be like with these three cowboys, her rescuers, surrounding her in a bed. They’d proven they would care for her every need already. Attentive was an understatement.
“Look at her eyes,” Cody said. “She is tired.”
Her eyelids did feel suddenly heavy.
Emmett helped her to her feet. “I insist, Amber. Sleep. We can talk more in the morning.”
“But I have more questions for you guys. Lots more questions.” Before she could continue her argument to remain with them, a long yawn escaped her mouth.
“That’s it.” Emmett lifted her up into his arms. “Bed. Now.”
She placed her forehead into his chest. “Yes, Sir.”
* * * *
Emmett looked at the golden liquid in his glass. Whiskey sometimes was the best medicine, and he sure could use some right now. His body was tired, not ill, but his mind was troubled. Cody was not about to back down when it came to Amber, and that definitely meant trouble. He’d seen him around women many times—at Phase Four, here, and a thousand other places. When Cody was attracted to a female, he was pedal to the metal. But this time was different. His brother was holding back, for him at least. Bryant, too, was acting different around Amber. He didn’t want to see them get hurt. Not again.
“You’re deep in thought,” Cody said, placing his empty glass down on the table.
“Yep.”
Bryant knocked back the rest of the contents in his glass.
His gut tightened. Since Amber’s arrival, the twins’ conduct had troubled him. He was concerned for her, for them, for himself—though the latter wasn’t a luxury he could afford. “That’s number three for you?”
“Yes it is.” Bryant stood. “And it won’t be my last.”
