Kansas Flame [Kansas Heat 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Jenny Penn

  It had been transformed into a portal to hell. There, waiting to greet her, were Cooper and Nick’s parents. Lindsay quaked at the sight, certain that things were about to become very unpleasant. After all, what parents would approve of a woman who nearly got their son killed?

  Every time Lindsay thought of what could have happened to Cooper when he ran into that burning cabin chills raced down her spine and all she wanted to do was cling to him. She doubted his parents would approve of that impulse. By rights his parents should have told Lindsay to get out of their son’s house and stay out of his life. They said neither.

  Instead they greeted her with warmth and acceptance as Sally introduced her. Dona and Allen Cooper. It didn’t take long for Lindsay to see the similarities between Cooper and Nick and their parents. As tall as Cooper, as thick as Nick, there was no denying who had fathered both boys. With the same blue eyes and chestnut locks, it was also clear who had given birth to them. The resemblances didn’t end there.

  Lindsay could swear that Cooper had stolen his mother’s scowl while Nick had taken his father’s smirk. There was a knowing twinkle in his eyes that was a perfect complement to the dark glints in his wife’s gaze every time Dona shot Allen ‘the look.’ It was the same one Cooper shot Nick on a regular basis.

  In fact Cooper gave his brother ‘the look’ right before he told Lindsay to behave herself. Before she could come up with some suitably sharp retort, he dropped a kiss on her lips and headed out the front door. Most of the he-men Amos employed followed him, leaving Lindsay alone with Nick and his parents.

  They all stared at each other for a long, uncomfortable moment before Dona mentioned that Sally had a chocolate milkshake waiting for Lindsay to celebrate her release from the hospital. She led the way down the hall toward the kitchen. Lindsay dutifully followed, giving up any dreams of claiming she didn’t feel good and escaping upstairs.

  The urge to flee only grew though as Nick assisted her into one of the island counter’s stools before settling down beside her. As if sitting there facing off against the firing squad that included both his parents and his aunt wasn’t unnerving enough, Nick only made Lindsay more self-conscious when he draped a blatantly possessive arm over her shoulders, making his interest in her as clear as his brother had.

  A blind man would have been able to read their signals. The look in his parents eyes assured Lindsay they were not blind. For a moment she thought she might just throw up right there but it passed when neither of Dona or Allen made any comment on the matter. Instead they stayed focus on their main objective—interrogating Lindsay. Mostly it was Allen who seemed unable to stop asking one question after another.

  How much did she know about her biological family? What family had she been raised with? What kind of hobbies did she have? Did she go to college? Did she want to? What about children? How many of those did she want? Did she like the ranch? Would she like to change anything? Didn’t she think it would be better with a pool?

  It was right about then that Dona rolled her eyes, declared that pools were expensive to maintain and dangerous to have around small children. For a moment Lindsay received a reprieve and a chance to actually enjoy her milkshake as the couple fell into an old argument. Unfortunately it didn’t last long.

  Then before Lindsay knew what was happening, Dona and Sally abandoned her to Mr. Twenty Questions. Supposedly they were off to ready Dona and Allen’s room, though Lindsay suspected they just wanted to go gossip about something other than her. She watched them leave with a sense of panic, feeling certain she might end up stuck in that stool for the next several hours fielding an endless stream of inquiries from Allen Cooper.

  That couldn’t happen. She’d go crazy. What she needed was a plan. Lindsay was trying to figure out her own escape route when Nick finally showed her the way to handle his father. He asked the man a question. Then another one and another until Lindsay figured it out.

  Unlike her, Allen was quite interesting and knowledgeable on many subjects, particularly investments. When he nearly seemed to burst with joy found out that she’d assumed control of her trust but didn’t know anything about stocks or bonds. Seconds later he was ushering her off to Cooper’s study to show some basic things on the computer.

  * * * *

  Nick watched Lindsay trail his father into the library and lagged behind, having no interest in hearing his father lecture on about stocks. Ever since retiring, his dad had become obsessed with the stock market. His mom called it legalized gambling. His dad called it growing his portfolio. Nick just called it boring. That was actually something Nick was more and more lately—bored.

  Sighing over his own thoughts, Nick headed out back to see if Cooper needed his help but got distracted by the equipment Amos’s men were unloading into Lindsay’s less than shinny RV. Drawn by all their toys, he crossed the yard to admire the weapons along with the communication equipment they were setting up inside.

  “That surveillance system is state of the art,” Ethan, Amos’s lead agent onsite, declared as he stepped up into the RV carrying another large case. He set it down next to the rest of the pile and crossed over to where Nick was watching another one of Amos’s agents begin to wire the system together. “It’s got motions sensors, night vision along with infrared, x-ray, and straight-up, old-fashion video.”

  “Nice.” Nick nodded.

  “No expenses spared.” Ethan paused for a moment before not so subtly adding on, “Amos takes good care of his men.”

  “Is that a fact?” Nick could sense the sales pitch coming. Collin, the friend who had put him in contact with Amos, had warned him that the old general was looking to recruit Nick.

  “From housing to health care to generous vacation allowances, he takes care us like we’re family.”

  “I got family,” Nick assured Ethan.

  “Yeah and new budding interest in child development,” Ethan responded in a tone that left Nick in no doubt of what he thought about Nick’s future career.

  “You got a problem with teachers?” Nick asked, turning to confront Ethan head on.

  “I got a problem with cowards.” Not bothering to play nice anymore, the other man gave into the annoyance that had tinted his tone from the beginning.

  “And what the hell do you know about it?” Nick demanded to know, giving free reign to his own irritation.

  “What? You think you’re the only one ever found themselves caught in an nightmare? Or that you’re the only one who had to watch somebody they were sworn to protect die?” Ethan snorted. “Your reputation might precede you but you’re not that special.”

  “But I am that tired,” Nick retorted, refusing to be baited into a fight. “So if you’ll excuse me.”

  “Just think about it, Nick,” Ethan urged. “In the military we could never win because the goals were always so big, but with Amos the goals are simple and direct. Mission accomplished doesn’t actually have to be a joke.”

  He stepped back to let Nick pass but Ethan’s words followed Nick, haunting him through the day and well into the evening. He stayed quite through dinner as his dad continued to tout the benefits of a well-diversified portfolio to Lindsay, who appeared almost enthralled by his father. It dawned on him as he watched her suck in the attention his father lavished on her that Lindsay had never had any kind of positive interaction with a parent before. Whether his dad meant to or not, he was healing old wounds.

  Maybe that’s what he needed to do. Just as Ethan’s comments had echoed through his head, Nick’s own observations plagued him, leaving him silent and withdrawn through the night. Thankfully his parents didn’t make it a long one. Heading off for bed before the ten-o’clock news had finished playing, they granted Lindsay some amount of relief as everybody could see her growing more anxious as the evening progressed.

  No doubt she was worrying over just what bed she was going to be assigned and who would be sharing it with her. Nick didn’t let her stew. He gave his parents five minutes to get settled befor
e whisking Lindsay off the couch and carrying her up to Cooper’s room.

  His brother followed, though he let Nick cart her off into the bathroom alone. He suspected that had more to do with Cooper self-control than out of any consideration for Nick’s feelings. Both brothers had agreed that neither would push Lindsay for any intimacies until she’d fully recovered. While she could speak above a whisper, she still croaked like an old smoker.

  Then there were the bruises. Nick focused on them as he stripped Lindsay down and carted her off into the shower. The ugly purplish blemishes reminded him of the pain she’d suffer. He wouldn’t add to that. Instead, Nick ran his soapy hands slowly over Lindsay’s body, worshipping every inch of her as he silently thanked God she hadn’t been taken from him.

  All he wanted to do was to make love to her but Nick held back. Instead he carried her out of the steam-filled stall and wrapped her up in a big, fluffy towel before sweeping her back off her feet and toting her off to bed. Lindsay didn’t offer up any objections until he tried to tuck her under the covers without giving her a nightshirt.

  Most of her clothes had burned up in the fire, ironically leaving her with only the bag Nick had originally packed for her. Before that could get him into any trouble, Nick retrieved one of Cooper’s T-shirts for her to use as a nightshirt. It probably would be best to keep her covered while they were sleeping. That way nothing would accidently get put where it shouldn’t. Actually it probably would be good for him to put something on, too.

  “I don’t know what I want to do with my life.”

  Nick stilled, casting a glance over toward where Lindsay sat on the bed frowning. She looked sexy as hell with her knees poking out from the hem and the neckline falling down to expose the generous curve of her breast and the interesting shadow of her cleavage. It took him a moment to remember that she’d spoken.

  “What?” Nick blinked, drawing a blank as he tried to remember what she’d said.

  “Your dad has got me thinking…” Lindsay’s delicate features wrinkled into a pensive look as she acted out her comment. When she finally finished, the uncertainty in her tone turned her statement into a question. “Maybe I should go to college?”

  “You’re not leaving.” Cooper stepped out of the bathroom to lay down that law wearing nothing more than a towel around his waist. “You want to get a degree you can do what Nick is going to do and get one of them online diplomas.”

  Lindsay shot Cooper a dirty look for that bit of highhandedness, but Nick’s brother didn’t even notice. With his toothbrush in hand he returned to the bathroom, leaving Nick to help Lindsay sort out the rest, only her attention had shifted.

  “You’re going to get a degree?”

  “I was thinking of becoming a teacher.” Nick shrugged, pulling on a pair of boxers.

  “Huh.” Lindsay studied him with a critical eye, like she was trying to imagine him in that role. He knew she didn’t see it when she shook her head. “And here I thought you were probably plotting to run for sheriff given Rendell seems to have abandoned his post.”

  “Now there’s an idea,” Cooper called out from the other room, proving that he could hear every detail of their conversation.

  “Yeah? Well, nobody asked you,” Nick shot back as crossed the room to join Lindsay on the bed. She didn’t relax back or cuddle into his side as he stretched out alongside her. Instead she sat there chewing her lip as she considered the matter.

  “I think you should do it,” she finally decided.

  “Do what? Become a teacher or run for sheriff?”

  “You’d make a great sheriff…and look very sexy in the uniform.” Lindsay tried to waggle her eyebrows at him, making Nick laugh as he shook her head.

  “Be that as it may, lil’ bit, I’m not sure I’d make a good sheriff.” A part of Nick would like to try, though. As Ethan had pointed out, he might actually, finally, be able to do some good given the goals were so simple and small. Protect and Serve.

  “I think you’d make a great sheriff,” Lindsay argued, stretching out to finally tuck all her luscious curves in nice and tight along his side. She wrapped a protective arm over his chest as she tucked her head in under his chin. “You’re the kind of honest and decent man that should be sheriff.”

  Nick warmed beneath her vote of confidence but Lindsay alone couldn’t vanquish the doubts plaguing him. As much as he wanted to bury them deep inside they bubbled to the surface. “And what if I fail?”

  “You won’t,” Lindsay murmured into his chest before pausing to yawn. “And think how good you’ll feel when you succeed. Your mother offered to go clothes shopping with me tomorrow to replace the things I lost and I’m buying underwear.”

  “That’s fine,” Cooper allowed as he clicked off the bathroom light and came sauntering back into the room. “Just as long as long as you know you’re not going to be allowed to wear it.”

  That started an argument between the two as Cooper crossed the room to join them in bed. Nick didn’t pay any attention to their squabbling. Lost in his own thoughts, he considered just how much faith Lindsay had in him. The knowledge filled him with a strange strength that had him thinking that he could do it. He could handle being sheriff.

  Chapter 35

  August 27th

  Lindsay enjoyed her afternoon escape even if the townspeople eyed her with varying degrees of caution and disdain. At least this time they kept their opinions to themselves and even managed polite responses as Dona Cooper introduced Lindsay as her future daughter-in-law.

  It didn’t seem to matter to Cooper and Nick’s mother in the slightest that neither of her sons had actually asked Lindsay to marry them, or that Lindsay hadn’t yet agreed. Instead Dona treated the whole thing like it was already settled. Just like her oldest son, the other woman didn’t lack for arrogance, a fact that should have annoyed Lindsay. Strangely enough, though, it didn’t.

  Just like Cooper, Dona’s certainty reassured Lindsay more than anything else. It made her feel protected and secure, especially in the clothing store. For the first time ever, Lindsay actually enjoyed shopping. As a child clothes had just magically appeared in her closet. Bland, boring, safe solids, her wardrobe had never been what Lindsay would have called fun, but with Dona and Sally’s help, she was suddenly wearing prints and sundresses cut above the knee.

  Lindsay had so much fun it felt like she was living a dream, or it did until they stepped out of the store and were immediately surrounded once again by poorly disguised bodyguards. While the attention the men drew might have embarrassed Lindsay, Dona and Sally lived it up, acting like they were some kind of superstars and the town’s people gawking at them their fans.

  They played it up all the way down the street and into Lindsay’s least favorite place, The Pitchfork. Sure enough there was Candy Anne Brown waiting to brush air kisses across Dona and Sally’s cheeks. When she came to Lindsay her smile evaporated and her eyes narrowed. The tension between the two started to heat until Dona smoothly stepped in and introduced Lindsay once again as the future Mrs. Andrew Cooper.

  That’s when Lindsay learned two important things. One was that Dona expected her to marry her oldest son and the second was that the Cooper name carried a weight money simply couldn’t buy. Candy Anne might not have been overwhelmingly pleased to hear Dona’s news but she’d accepted it with a grudging respect.

  That was all it took to get them settled into a booth with cool drinks and their orders on the way. More impressively Candy actually offered up some good advice when she overheard Lindsay telling Dona that the thing that most upset her about the fire was that she’d lost all the pictures she’d found in Elton’s place. Apparently there was an old root cellar that had been expanded during prohibition out in the barn. According to Candy, Elton had stored a bunch of junk down in there after Michael had died.

  It had been too hard for Elton to see the stuff everyday but he hadn’t been able to bring himself to throw it away either. So he’d stored it there where it would be s
afe but forgotten. As far as Candy knew Elton had never move the stuff after that so it should be there still, like a hidden treasure trove. The idea so excited Lindsay that she’d demanded her security detail take them out to Elton’s ranch after lunch.

  The men assigned to keeping her safe balked but Lindsay would hear none of it. She was going, with or without them. That threat worked quite well, emboldening her with a sense of power that faded before it could ever really take root. All of Lindsay’s excitement vanished with it as the sight of her charred home came into view.

  There was almost nothing left identifiable accept for the scorched remnants of her generator. The rest of the cabin had been reduced to a pile of ashes. Not a single board or plank of wood remained, proving just how close both Cooper and Lindsay had come to dying that night.

  That sobering thought had Lindsay falling quiet. The two older women with her followed suit as the Hummer rolled up next to the barn where the dirt was still stained with blood and yellow caution tape still fluttered in the barn’s open door. Guilt assailed Lindsay as she stared out the window at the sight.

  It still made no sense to her why Crugman had been there. Whether he set the fire or not, it made no sense. The man had been badly beaten the night before. He should have been recovering somewhere. He certainly shouldn’t have been capable of holding a gun. None of it made any sense.

  “There’s no need to look so grim, dear.” Throwing an arm around Lindsay’s shoulders, Dona offered her a quick squeeze with that reassurance. “I’m sure they have a good reason for being here.”

  That comment struck Lindsay as odd. She glanced over to find the older woman staring off toward the small knoll to where Cooper and Nick sat looking large and formidable on top of their horses. Even at a distance there was no disguising the scowls they wore as they started down the hill.