Love Under Two Introverts [The Lusty, Texas Collection] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Cara Covington

  “We’ll give you a lift to the clinic,” Caleb Benedict said. He patted Gord on the shoulder. “I’m glad you’re not arguing with her about that. A word of advice from a man who’s been married forty-one and a half years. Never argue with your woman when she fusses over you. Because that fussin’ can change to feudin’ if you do.”

  “Yes, sir, Uncle Caleb,” Gord said.

  Mike Murphy stayed behind to take part in the investigation. Like Caleb, he was a retired cop—although Tasha was beginning to suspect there was no such thing as a retired cop.

  “Bernice has been saying lately that she wants to spend more time with your kids,” Jonathan said to Clay. “We’ll pick them up from school and have them over for dinner, if that’s okay with you. Give the three of you a little time together to decompress.”

  “Thanks, Uncle Jonathan. I’d appreciate that.” Then he turned and winked at Tasha. She didn’t need his words to know he was thinking of that hot tub—and that “talk” he’d promised Gord.

  From the front seat, Gord’s sigh of relief made her smile. If the Doctors Jessop said he was okay, then Tasha intended to lavish the man with as much pampering as she could muster.

  * * * *

  “Good thing you have a hard head, cousin,” Robert Jessop said. His brother David, Lusty’s other young Doctor Jessop, sat on a stool in the corner and snickered.

  Robert had just finished giving Gord a very thorough checkup. The only test he hadn’t run was an MRI. But the doctor promised he would, if Gord presented any lingering symptoms.

  Gord grinned, and then winked at Tasha. “So you’ve always said, Robbie, although this is the first time you’ve meant it as a compliment.”

  Robert grinned right back at him, and Tasha could feel the bond of familial love that tied these two men together. Then Robert’s expression turned serious. “You lost consciousness and that’s always a concern.” He turned his attention to Tasha and Clay. “Y’all need to keep an eye on him for the next forty-eight hours. Nothing stressful for him—sorry, Tasha—and aspirin for his headache.” He looked back at Gord. “And don’t tell us you don’t have one, because I know you do.”

  “So do I,” Tasha said.

  “You’re not going to let me get away with anything, are you?” Gord asked her.

  “No, not a single thing—not when it comes to your health and well-being.”

  Gord’s gaze held hers and she felt such love coming from him that her heart nearly melted.

  “Good. I guess I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  “Do we need to wake him up occasionally?” Clay asked.

  “Yes, I think it’s a good idea if we take that precaution. Wake him every quarter hour for the first two hours, then every half hour for the next two hours, and then once an hour after that. If he seems aware and lucid, you won’t have to do that tomorrow.”

  “Hell, Robert, is all that really necessary?” Gord ran a hand through his hair. “Aside from that very mild headache, I feel fine.”

  “It’s necessary if the doctor says it is,” Tasha said. “We’re not taking any chances with you, darling, so deal with it.”

  “Seriously,” Robert said, “if I didn’t know I could trust these two to take care of you, I’d strap you down here and wake you myself. You have no idea how important you are to all of us, Gordon Jessop.”

  “You tell him, Robert.”

  Tasha grinned as Grandma Kate stood at the doorway of the exam room, with Jillian standing right behind her.

  Kate waited for Robert to nod to her before she came in and went straight to Gord. Jillian came into the room, too, and arranged herself between her two husbands.

  Kate cupped Gord’s face in her hands. “My sources told me you suffered a nasty blow to the head and one to the pride as well. I decided to come and see for myself. I know from my many years of being a nurse, that often the latter can be worse to endure than the former in the long run. Are you okay, sweetheart?”

  Gord gave the older woman a soft smile. “I’m okay, Grandma Kate. You’re right. Having to pretend to be afraid of that…person nearly made me sick to my stomach.”

  Tasha bit back her smile because she figured Gord had substituted the word “person” for something much more profane, in deference to his elderly relative.

  “I’m not going to tell you that it’s better to suffer a little residual nausea and embarrassment than to be shot dead by that sick bastard. I reckon Howard and Joan raised you smart enough to know that already.”

  Gord met Kate Benedict’s gaze and Tasha saw the moment he relented. He blinked and then chuckled just a little. “Yeah, you reckon right. Thank you for reminding me of them, Kate.”

  “You’re welcome. You’re just as strong and capable and macho as the rest of the men in this family, Gordon Jessop. You’ve simply hid it better ’n most of them all these years.”

  Gord blushed. “Aw, hell, Kate, I thought that was my secret.”

  Kate gave him a stare that let everyone in the room see her steel backbone. “Young man, the only one in this family who has secrets is me.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Kate turned her attention to Clay. “You look none the worse for wear, darling. I hope you’re not blaming yourself for any of this?”

  Clay looked to be fighting a smile. “No, ma’am. I mean, I did, for a few minutes. But Gord and Tasha set me straight on that one.”

  “Good. We aren’t, any of us, responsible for the actions of other people. Nor are we responsible for whatever happened in someone’s life that made them let go of reality—or good moral judgment. We’re only responsible for ourselves.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Kate nodded, as if satisfied with the respectful response from both men. Then she grinned. “I’m looking forward to dinner with my great-grandchildren tonight. I’m going to challenge them to a Wii tournament after dinner.” She lowered her voice and gave them a saucy wink. “I’ve been practicing.” Then she turned to Robert Jessop. “He’s all right, then, Robert?”

  “He has a mild concussion. Clay and Tasha are going to wake him through the night. I don’t anticipate any problems. But”—Robert turned his attention to Gord—“if you have any of those symptoms that we discussed, you get your ass back here, ASAP. A head injury isn’t anything to fool around with.”

  Gord looked at Clay, and then turned his attention to Tasha. He reached out and ever so gently and ran his hand down her arm, then threaded his fingers with hers. “I promise, Robert, that I’ll let you know if I do.”

  “Good. Okay, then, get out of here.” Robert Jessop grinned as if to soften the effect of that command.

  “Oh, you betcha.” Gord eased off the exam table, where he’d been sitting. He kept hold of Tasha’s hand and then said, “Let’s go back to my place.”

  “Best idea I’ve heard all day,” Clay said.

  Tasha met Jillian’s gaze, and then she turned to look at Kate. It had been more than a few days since she’d given Jill that manicure. So far, she hadn’t heard any noises about anything.

  She looked over at Kate. “You know, Grandma Kate, you really aren’t the only one who has secrets.”

  Kate waved her hand. “That’s not a secret to anyone except for two clueless Doms.”

  Robert and David both jerked as if they’d been jabbed by a needle.

  “What are we clueless about?” Robert asked.

  Instead of answering, Tasha looked at Jillian. “I thought they were going to run tests on you that Monday.”

  “Mmhmm. But when they didn’t even notice my big clue, I burst into tears, and they promised not to run those tests after all.”

  Clay looked at Gord. “Do you have any idea what’s going on here?”

  “Not a clue, buddy.”

  “Sweetheart,” Kate said to Jillian, “sometimes you have to just come out and tell them.”

  “Tell us what?” Now Robert and David both looked every inch the dominants they were.

  Jillian
chuckled. “You’re right, Grandma Kate.” She looked at her two husbands. “I’m pregnant.”

  “You’re…” David sat back down on his stool as if his legs had just given out on him. But his eyes…oh, his eyes glowed with happiness.

  Jillian held up her hands. “I was sure you’d get this—blue for boys and pink for girls!”

  “Come here, sub.” Robert hauled his wife into his arms, and a moment later, David pressed behind her, enclosing their woman in their embrace.

  Tasha, her men, and Kate said nothing, just stepped into the hall and closed the exam room door behind them.

  Tasha sighed. She knew she’d have to curtail all the plans she had for hot, steamy sex with her men. Maybe it was best to get things completely settled between them, first, anyway. The situation with Blair Creswell, as frightening as it had been, had at least served the purpose of making Clay realize his true feelings.

  “Are you ready for this?” Kate asked as she led the way away from the exam room.

  Tasha didn’t know what the woman meant, until they rounded the corner into the reception area of the clinic. The room was packed with people, and everyone began to clap the minute Gord stepped into view.

  Tasha knew the name of every person who greeted them, each one of them there out of concern for Gord. She’d heard it said once or twice that if one of theirs was hurt, everyone showed up. She swallowed the sudden lump in her throat.

  “You’re a popular guy,” Clay said to Gord.

  “No, I really am just Gord. This is what you could call a family tradition.”

  “I think it’s a wonderful tradition,” Tasha said.

  “It is,” Clay agreed.

  Clay’s Aunts Bernice and Abby hugged all three of them, and Tasha thought that was very nice. Samantha Kendall was there, too, along with her husbands. Tracy and Julia, and Tracy’s mother Heather were there, as were Rebecca and her husbands, Greg and Cody. Carol’s mother-in-law Anna, and her daughter, Nancy, were there. She saw Maggie, Richard, Trevor, and Kevin Benedict, and Susan Evans-Magee stood with her sister-in-law, Penelope Primrose-Benedict. All of Clay’s uncles were standing together closer to the door. Both Carson and Michael slapped Gord on the back a little less enthusiastically than they did Clay. Tasha was relieved that she got hugged instead.

  When they’d brought them to the clinic, Jonathan and Caleb had asked Clay for his car keys. Now Jonathan held them out to him. “Your car’s right outside the door, son.”

  “Thanks, Uncle Jonathan.”

  There were just a few more people to hug on their way out. Tasha had already spoken to Chloe when they’d first learned that Gord was missing. She’d told her to stay with Clay, and not even think about coming back to work that day, period. Now here she was, tears in her eyes as she hugged first her, and then Clay and Gord.

  “I’m so glad you’re okay, Gord. I was so worried for you.”

  “Now, you get rid of those tears, Miss Chloe, else your men here will be after me for makin’ you cry.” Gord grinned.

  “No, we won’t, cousin.” Grant Jessop stood just behind his wife, and, with his brother, Andrew, shook Gord’s hand.

  “Chloe’s got a tender heart,” Andrew said. “It’s one of the things we love best about her. We’re not surprised she’s a little watery on your behalf.”

  “Thank you all for coming to see about me.” He bent down and placed a kiss on Chloe’s cheek.

  Gord didn’t have to tell Tasha that he was unused to being the center of so much attention and caring. His slight discomfort and blush told the tale.

  “I guess we should get out of your way and let y’all get on home where you can rest,” Grant said. “You’re looking a mite flushed there, Gord.”

  Gord just chuckled. “The two of you are the biggest jokesters in the family. I expected more of a ribbing than that.”

  Grant shrugged. “Well, we have to go easy on account of your being an invalid and all.”

  “You’d certainly know what that’s like,” Gord said.

  Family around them just laughed. Tasha knew Gord was referring to the year before when Grant had gotten banged up pretty good during smoke-jumper training.

  The firemen opened the doors for them, and they exited into the late afternoon sunshine. “Let’s blow this popsicle stand,” Clay said.

  “We’re going to have to sit down and write out all your unique sayings,” Gord said. “I like that one.”

  “So do I,” Tasha said. She waited until Gord got into the backseat of Clay’s car and then slid in next to him.

  Gord brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it. “Take us home, please, Clay,” he said.

  Chapter 22

  “Uncle Jonathan, can we go down to the stables and see the horses?”

  Kate smiled. Little Bonnie fairly vibrated with excitement. It always seemed to her that little girls tended to be more horse mad than little boys.

  “I don’t see why not,” Jonathan said. He looked at his wife. “How long until supper, sweetheart?”

  “The roast needs another hour in the oven,” Bernice said. “There’s plenty of time for you to take the children over to the ranch. I’ll call Steven and let him know you’re on your way.”

  By car, it was a two-minute drive to the ranch, where Steven, Matt, and Kelsey made their home. When Jonathan had retired from ranching, they’d turned over the running of the place to Steven. But they all kept their hands in—Kate had conceded to family pleas, and no longer rode out alone. She was in her nineties, after all. She took great pride in the fact that she could still sit a horse. Her weekly rides with her son, Jonathan, were a great source of pleasure to her.

  She thought back to the previous fall, and her visit to Divine. Oh, how she’d loved that Harley ride with Seth Carter! I wonder which one of my grandsons I can talk into getting a Hog? Kate tucked the thought away to bring out later, but she thought that either Henry or Peter would be happy to oblige.

  Bonnie’s squeals of delight brought her back to the present.

  “Are you in, Mark?” Caleb asked.

  “Sure. The ranch is real cool.” Kate wondered if Mark had inherited the Benedict love for the land. Only time would tell.

  Kate turned her attention to her oldest great-grandson. She’d seen the rebellion on his face the moment he’d stepped into the house a few minutes ago. Her heart ached for him. He’d had a very difficult time this past year. “What about you, Shaun?” she asked. “Do you want to go with them to the ranch?”

  “No.”

  Kate raised one eyebrow. She didn’t need to look into a mirror to know the expression she wore. It was the same one that often found her children and grandchildren scrambling to backpedal, fast.

  Shaun held her gaze and didn’t even flinch. Her respect for the young man increased, but she couldn’t let that prevent her from saying, “I beg your pardon?”

  Shaun finally looked down. “No, thank you. I don’t want to go to the ranch.”

  “Fair enough.” Kate nodded.

  She’d forgotten how much noise two small, excited children could make as they headed off for an adventure with her sons.

  But with the closing of the door, silence returned. It wasn’t a particularly comfortable silence, either. Shaun still stood, ramrod stiff, his gaze cast to the ground.

  The men had expressed the opinion that they shouldn’t tell the children what had happened today, but Kate didn’t particularly agree with that. Perhaps some teens Shaun’s age needed special coddling when it came to reality and the truth.

  Kate didn’t think this particular teen did. What he needed, in her mind, was a little more respect, and a bit larger of a worldview.

  Kate looked at Bernice, who nodded. She felt particularly blessed to have a daughter-in-law who understood her so very well.

  “I’m going to go make us some hot tea.”

  Once Bernice left the great room, Kate said, “Come and sit with me, Shaun. I need to speak with you. Something happened today.”r />
  Shaun jerked his head up. Alarm sharpened his features and widened his eyes. “Dad!”

  “No, sweetheart, your dad is fine. But your uncle Gord has had a very close call.”

  Shaun kept his gaze on her as he sat down. Kate didn’t gloss over, nor did she elaborate overly much. She told him what had happened, as best as she knew the details of the events of earlier.

  Then she told him that Gord was going to be fine, but that he’d had a concussion, and needed to be watched.

  “We’re to take you over to Gord’s after dinner. Your dad and Tasha wanted some time alone with him to make sure he was feeling all right.”

  “What about that son of a bitch who kidnapped him?”

  Normally Kate didn’t tolerate swearing from children, but she figured she’d let this one pass—especially when Shaun blushed and looked away, acknowledging his slip.

  “He has been taken into custody. Adam took him to Waco, where they have better facilities to see to his needs. He will be dealt with, have no worries about that.”

  “Good.”

  Kate grinned. “Your Uncle Gord got his licks in, apparently. He pretended to be meek and afraid, while he worked at untying himself. He waited until he knew reinforcements set a distraction in motion, and then he took that son of a bitch down. Broke his nose, I was told.”

  Shaun finally lost that defiant look. “Uncle Gord, meek and afraid? Man that must have burned his butt to have to act that way. But he broke the…guy’s…nose. So I guess it’s all good.” Shaun met her gaze. “He’s really all right, Grandma?”

  “He really is. Of course, your dad and Tasha were very frightened while it was happening. You know that your dad and Gord have been really good friends, since they were, oh, about your age, if I remember correctly.”

  “Yeah. He came to visit us a few times. I remember Mom said he was like Dad’s brother.”

  “Exactly so.”

  “So…Adam found Uncle Gord pretty quick, then?”

  “He did indeed. You know how, when you first came to town you and Mark and Bonnie were all given cell phones as gifts from us?”