“Hey, little sister.” She got to her feet, and Carrie gave her a big hug. It didn’t matter if they were in a dining room full of relative strangers. The Rhodes sisters never stood on ceremony.
“You should have called and let me know you were coming. I’d have arranged to have the day off.” And she knew, without a doubt, that Kelsey would have accommodated her.
“I didn’t know until this morning that I was going to come. I just…”
“You’re always welcome, you know that. Now, my boss says I’m to see that you eat, and then bring you on back so you can relax in the kitchen until I can get clear.”
Chloe raised one eyebrow. “Sounds like your boss is an angel.”
“She is. Seriously, I love this town.”
Chloe tipped her head to the side. “Do you think I could come to love it, too?”
“Are you thinking of moving here?”
“Yeah. I think I need to start over again. If there’s room—”
“You say no more, Chloe Diane Rhodes. There’s always room for you with me. And I’ve discovered, there’s always room for family in Lusty.”
Carrie watched as Chloe looked around the room, and noticed folks watching—and smiling and nodding, in agreement, Carrie knew, to the words she’d just spoken.
Ginny came over just then and greeted her sister with a big smile. “You must be Chloe. I must say, you two look nothing alike.”
Chloe laughed. “We get that a lot.”
“What can I get you to drink?”
Chloe must have realized that even if she wasn’t overly hungry or thirsty, she wasn’t going to get by without having something to drink and something to eat. “Sweet tea, please.”
Ginny nodded. “Good. Now you get yourself a plate and get yourself some vittles.”
Chloe watched her leave. “For a little thing, she sure is bossy—but in a sweet way.”
Carrie laughed. “Wait until you meet her husbands, two of the most formidable men I’ve ever laid eyes on. She keeps them in line with little more than a smile and a raised eyebrow.”
“Husbands, huh?”
Carrie hadn’t mentioned the alternative lifestyle practiced openly in Lusty. She hadn’t actually thought to—she’d never been a gossip, and within a short period of time, ménage relationships seemed normal to her. And while she might have made a guess at her sister’s reaction, she realized she would have been completely off the mark.
Chloe leaned closer and lowered her voice. “There’s a fair bit of that sort of thing going on back in Divine, too. And since the women involved that I’ve met are the happiest women I’ve ever known, I may keep my eyes open for a similar situation myself.”
Carrie felt her smile spreading. “So, you’re not scandalized?”
“Hell, no. Life is short, and I figure so weird and sometimes downright mean that a body ought to grab at happiness, however they define it.”
She hadn’t realized how tense she’d been about the prospect of introducing Chloe to the cowboys and explaining her relationship. She sighed with relief. It was her turn to lean forward and whisper. “In that case, I can’t wait to introduce you to my two boyfriends.”
* * * *
“Oh my God, talk about eye candy. What do they put in the water around here, anyway?”
Carrie grinned at Chloe’s whispered remark. She had to admit, as those two hunks of hers sauntered—there just was no other word for the way they were walking—from the barn toward where she and her sister stood waiting on the porch, they certainly qualified as Texas grade A prime.
“I’m rather partial to these two cowboys, but honest to God, Chloe, I haven’t seen a single unattractive man in this town yet.”
“You, little sister, are one very lucky woman. I hope they’re treating you right.”
“Like a queen.” Carrie couldn’t help the sigh those words came wrapped in. Even knowing her sister was with her, and they were going to all sit down and share a meal together, her mouth watered for those men.
“Who’s that?”
Carrie shifted her gaze from the Benedicts to the other man who emerged from the barn. She slid a glance toward her sister to see if there was any interest shining in her eyes.
Of course, all Carrie could see was curiosity. Despite her comment at the restaurant earlier, Carrie figured it would be a while before her sister even really saw any man. She was still pretty torn up about having to end her relationship with Beck O’Malley.
“His name is Julián Alvarez.” She nodded. “The guys didn’t give me his last name when I first met him, or else I’d have known why he looked so familiar. He has a brother, Peter, who’s a Fed and is married to Tracy—one of my co-workers—and Jordan Kendall. Julián hired on to help the guys get the ranch off the ground, teach them the ropes of the business, as it were.”
“Get it off the ground? They look like real cowboys to me. Haven’t they always ranched?”
Obviously the men were close enough to hear Chloe’s last question. “No, ma’am. We used to be business executives working in downtown Manhattan.” Brian smiled and then extended his hand to her. “You must be Chloe. I’m Brian. Welcome.”
“And I’m Chase.” He also extended his hand. “We’re glad to meet you. We both hope you’ll agree to stay here, with us, while you’re visiting, as we’ve talked Carrie into staying most nights. We have plenty of room for you.” He slid a sly little smile to Carrie. He knew she wanted some private time with her sister, but as he’d already told her, there was no reason they couldn’t have that private time, and space, here.
“I’m pleased to meet you both.”
Julián nodded to her as he joined them. Chloe said, “So I guess if these two were business execs, you must be the born-in-the-saddle cowboy who’s teaching them all he knows.”
“No, ma’am, he was worse than a New York business exec,” Brian said.
Julián smiled. “They’re just jealous.”
Carrie looked at Chloe and could see that Julián’s smile really didn’t do a thing for her. She guessed she was just going to have to let her sister heal before she started playing matchmaker.
Chloe might not be interested in flirting, but she had caught the teasing bug the men seemed to have come in from the pastures with. “What could possibly be worse than a New York business exec?”
Julián shrugged. “I have no idea. As I said, they’re just jealous. I started out as a trader for a Wall Street brokerage house, and then lit out on my own as a facilitator.”
“That’s one of those fancy words for ‘venture capitalist,’” Chase said. Of course he’d exaggerated his Texas drawl.
Carrie shook her head. “Let’s all get inside and out of this heat.” Then she turned to her men. “Y’all be sure to wipe those cow paddies off your boots before you come inside now, ya hear?”
She snickered, because they both turned widened eyes down to their feet before seeming to get that she was referring to the BS they’d been serving up rather than any they might actually have stepped in.
“Beer all around?” Brian asked as soon as they shut the door behind them.
Everyone nodded except Julián. “Not for me,” he said. “I hope you’ll pardon my absence at dinner, tonight. I’ve been invited to some place called the New House.” He looked at the Benedicts. “I’m to meet up with Peter, Jordan, and Tracy at their place and follow them over.”
Chase clapped Julián on the back. “Ah, a Kendall family skewering…er, dinner. What a nice follow-up to our visit to The Dancing Pony a couple of weeks back.”
Chloe’s eyes went wide. “You went to The Dancing Pony? Over in Divine?”
Carrie wasn’t the only one to understand the shock on her sister’s face. Both of her men were aware that Divine also happened to be where Chloe lived at the moment, having moved to there from Dallas, with Beck. Chase said, “Yes, ma’am, we had occasion to visit the horse breeding operation at the Divine Creek Ranch. Then, later that night, we were treated to a
n evening out by our hosts, the Martinezes. Now, I don’t want you worrying, none. Brian and I were perfect gentlemen, not even looking at any of the women in the place. Of course, Julián, here, had himself a couple of very interesting adventures.”
Chase said that in such a way as to earn a punch from Julián.
Chloe’s eyes widened. “You didn’t get into a fight, did you?”
“No, ma’am.” Julián had taken his hat off and ran a hand through his hair. “I just danced with one very pretty young lady, and then was surprised by the arrival of another pretty lady who’s an acquaintance of mine.”
“Yeah, after the first one was carried out of the bar by another man.”
Carrie hadn’t heard any of this at all. She looked at Julián, whom she’d come to like and respect and raised one eyebrow.
He shook his head, sighed, and sent Chase a look that promised retribution. “The first lady was already spoken for, but I didn’t know that at the time. She’d decided to go to the Pony to kick-start her social life—I learned this later, you understand—after having had a disagreement with the man she really cares for. Apparently, not being the sort of lady who would normally try to pick up a man, she decided to have a few margaritas first.”
Carrie opened her mouth wide, and then closed it again. Chloe said, “Oh, my. Sounds like a definite case of one tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor!”
Julián nodded. “Yes, ma’am. But she behaved in a very ladylike fashion the entire time, right up to the point where she, um, swooned.”
Brian shook his head. “And then we walk in with the Martinezes, who’ve arranged to surprise Julián, here, by having invited another woman to join us—this one a lady he already knew. Now, there were a few moments when no one seemed to know where the two of them had disappeared to…”
Carrie’s lip twitched. “Another woman?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Chase had a habit of thickening his Texas accent when he teased. “Miss Gwen seemed like a fine lady—not that I was paying much attention, mind you. I did nod politely to her when we were introduced. She’s a real cowgirl, and the Martinez men said she has a real fine talent for barrel racing. She seemed right happy to set eyes on the hombre, here.” Chase pointed to Julián.
“I wonder if anyone ever told Miss Gwen that Julián was being an exceptionally fickle cowboy that night? First Miss Jayne, and then Miss Gwen.” Brian shook his head as if he didn’t know what to make of the situation.
“Well, now, I don’t know if anyone mentioned that to Miss Gwen, or not. But I do know someone mentioned the fact to Morgan, Henry, Adam, and Jake Kendall.” Chase smiled when he said that.
“A couple of someones did, actually,” Brian corrected.
Julián sighed, and lowered his head for a moment. Then he looked up and skewered Brian with a stare. “Is that why Jordan’s folks invited me to dinner? So their sons could have ‘fresh meat’ for their wit?”
“Hell, no. Aunt Samantha loves to entertain,” Brian said. “Those Kendall brothers, on the other hand…”
Julián said, “Tracy took pity on me and warned me there’d be a lot of teasing, no matter what. Of course, she didn’t realize that a couple of troublemakers would be stirring that particular pot.” Julián sighed. “She said the secret to survival was to make a good impression on her mother-in-law.”
Brian grinned. “Aunt Samantha is as much a force of nature as is our Grandma Kate.” He thought about it for a moment. “Actually a good game plan would be to impress all the ladies. They’re outnumbered by the men—but only in theory.”
Carrie was as impressed with the fact that her lovers took pity on Julián as she was by this display of Mister Alvarez’s good nature.
Julián nodded. “Thanks for the tip. Let’s see…four women, four bouquets of flowers.”
Brian and Chase both laughed. Julián just shrugged. “I meant to ask Jordan, but didn’t want to sound nosy.” Julián tilted his head as he considered his bosses. “Why do they call the house the New House? Is it new?”
“The New House was actually constructed in 1889,” Chase said, “and is the traditional home of Jessop-Kendall branch of the family—just as the Big House—which was built about ten years earlier—has always been the main Benedict family home.”
“It would have been at the Big House, then, where my ancestors worked,” Julián said.
Brian nodded. “It was. According to all that we’ve read, José, Maria, and Rose Mendez were considered members of the family, even before their children and grandchildren married Benedicts, Kendalls, and Jessops. When they became too old to work, Sarah insisted that they remain in Lusty, in the house they’d always called their home, because as far as she was concerned, this was their town, too.”
Julián nodded. “I have to get myself over to the museum one of these days. I might as well learn as much as I can about my roots while I’m here.” He grinned. “But right now, I better get upstairs and get showered and changed. I don’t want to be late for my own roast.”
Chase grinned. “Have a good time.” Then he turned his attention to Carrie. He leaned in and kissed her. “Hello, sugar. Forgive me for not kissing you straightaway. I was trying to show Chloe that I’m not just a horny guy trying to get into her sister’s pants. I’m glad you’re home.”
Then Brian leaned over and kissed her, too. “Welcome home, darlin’.” He eased back. “Why don’t y’all head out onto the back patio? We’ll bring you out a couple of beers and something to munch on. The two of you can sit and relax for a bit while we get cleaned up.”
Carrie didn’t know if she’d ever get used to their kindness and consideration. They took such good care of her. She felt absolutely blessed.
“Thanks, honey. We’ll sit for a little bit but then I want to get dinner started.”
“Nope,” Chase said. “You cooked all day, today. We’ve got dinner covered. Won’t be fancy, but it’ll hit the spot, guarantee it.”
Carrie grinned. “Are you going to heat up a couple of frozen pizzas?”
Brian tweaked her nose, but lightly. “Oh ye of little faith. You ladies just go on and sit and visit for a spell. We men will work our magic in the kitchen.” He raised his eyebrows together in a suggestive gesture and winked.
Carrie laughed, because she understood the message he was sending her—that it wasn’t only in the bedroom where he and Chase could perform miracles, or only there where they would exert their “bossiness” of her. Since they seemed to have developed the talent for telling her what to do without ruffling her feathers, she guessed the best thing she could do right now was follow their instructions.
“Come on, Chloe. Let’s go relax for a spell.”
Chapter 12
Carrie loved the patio that stretched out at the back of the ranch house. The sun never directly shone down on this part of the yard, as the house shaded the space. They’d chosen a simple wicker set of furniture for out here—three chaises, four chairs, a round table, and a second glider—mainly because Carrie really loved the glider on the front porch.
They no sooner settled down when Chase came out with a tray that held two ice cold bottles of Shiner, a couple of glasses, and a bowl of tortilla chips with salsa on the side. He set them down on the table, then swooped in and gave Carrie a very nice kiss.
She lost herself for just a moment in the flavor of him, immediately wishing for more. When he withdrew and met her gaze, she had no trouble reading the passion in his eyes. He stroked her back, nodded to Chloe, and headed back into the house.
“Wow.” Chloe shook her head, a look of amazement on her face. “Two of them. And both of them hot, hot, hot. I’m impressed—shocked, too—but definitely impressed.”
Something about the way Chloe said that made Carrie really look at her sister. Chloe wore an expression Carrie found she couldn’t interpret.
“Why are you shocked? Is it because there’re two of them?”
Chloe took a drink from her beer—like Carrie, though Ch
ase had brought out glasses for them, her sister preferred to drink straight from the bottle. Then she set the bottle down and faced her.
“No, that you have two lovers instead of one doesn’t bother me in the least. I’m shocked because of that last foster home you were at.” Chloe reached over and stroked Carrie’s hand, lightly. “I knew something bad had happened to you there. It was in your eyes, that first moment I found you. I never asked, and I’m sorry for that. I should have. I should have made you tell me.”
Carrie shook her head. “I wouldn’t have told you, no matter what.” Carrie thought it was a miracle that instead of dread or fear, all she felt inside her at the moment was a curious sort of detachment, wrapped in calm. Maybe she still needed to deal with her past. Maybe she’d think about finding some kind of a counseling service, just to talk everything over with a professional who understood what she’d been through. For now, she felt as if she’d faced a lot of what she’d previously pushed away, just in the talking she’d done with her men. She met her sister’s gaze. “It was all tied up with losing mom and dad, and my anger over that and being separated from you. I acted out for a long time, and by the time I landed with the Lockwoods, I had a bad rep. When…when George attacked me that first time, there was a part of me that thought I deserved what he did to me.” Carrie shrugged because there was no other explanation she could give.
“No one would tell me where you were.”
“I know.” Carrie did know. Chloe had told her that the day she’d found her, and many times that first year they spent together.
“You know I never stopped trying to find you.”
“I know. And you know I got moved a lot. The important thing is, you did find me, and you helped me get out of a very bad situation.”
“So…you’re okay? With the sex?”
Once her sister had found her, the two of them had settled in Dallas, figuring the major city large enough no one would find them. They both could potentially have been in a lot of trouble with the authorities. Chloe had managed—she’d never said how—to get Carrie into school, so that she could at least matriculate. In every way that she could manage it, Chloe had filled the role of parent while remaining her sister.
Covington, Cara - Love Under Two Cowboys [The Lusty, Texas Collection] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 13
