by Becca Van
He might have stopped trying to persuade her to make love with him, but it hadn’t stopped him from seeking out other women. Turned out nearly everyone else knew he was sleeping around but her.
After another two months of dating, she’d decided that she was ready for a deeper commitment and had gone over to the house Brad was sharing with three other guys. The last class of the day had been canceled because her teacher had taken ill. She’d knocked, and the door had opened as if it hadn’t latched properly. Even though she felt guilty for doing so, she’d entered the house and called out, but no one had answered. That had been strange because Brad had told her he didn’t have any plans and was going to catch up on some studying.
She’d been to the house before and knew where Brad’s room was, so she’d decided to seek him out. Her world had turned upside down. Brad’s bedroom door had also been ajar, and she’d caught him in bed with one of her supposed friends. She’d been so shocked she’d turned and walked away.
Eliza had taken one look at her face when she’d gone back to her dorm room and told her that Brad had never been monogamous.
The tears had come later and from that moment on, she’d vowed that her studies would always come first. She hadn’t even found the courage to confront Brad or Janine because she’d been so humiliated. She’d avoided them, but she knew that Eliza had to have said something to them because Janine had never looked her in the eye again, and Brad had avoided her like the plague.
Cat had stopped socializing altogether. She was civil and spoke when spoken to, but she’d kept everyone at an arm’s length. Once college had been over, she’d never looked back. She poured all of her energy into finding a job and building her career. She’d finished all her classes and had been looking forward to the graduation ceremony, but that was supposed to have been on the Monday after finding her parent’s bodies. Although she no longer cared about that, she hadn’t had the chance to find employment either. She was supposed to have interviewed for a job a couple of days after graduation. Nothing was normal, and she wondered if it ever would be again. Her whole life had been turned upside down, and it was all because of her greedy murdering uncle. He’d taken so much from her, and she hoped she lived to see him pay.
Sometimes Cat wondered if she was cursed. Everything she touched seemed to turn to dust. The only time she’d ever been truly happy was when she was spending time with her parents and now she couldn’t even do that.
They were gone and no wishing would bring them back.
She pushed the awful memories aside, turned off the faucets, got out of the shower, and dried off. Not wanting to put the clothes back on and remembering that everything else was soiled, she wrapped the towel around herself and was about to exit the bathroom when she spied a large fluffy robe. She pulled it from the hook on the back of the door and put it on before hanging the towel on the rail. When she’d blow-dried her hair and brushed her teeth, she entered the bedroom.
“Feeling better, baby?”
Cat gasped and spun around to find Barry just entering the bedroom with his arms full of what looked like her clothes, clean and folded.
“Yes, thank you.”
“I brought your clothes. They’ve been washed.”
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“I only folded them. David is the washing machine expert.”
“Thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank us all the time, Cat. We like doing things for you.” Barry placed her clothes on the end of the bed and turned to face her. “You need to take the robe off, baby.”
Cat’s mouth gaped open, and she backed away from him. He immediately stopped and held his hand up.
“I’m not going to hurt you, Cat. I need to change the bandage.”
She felt like an idiot for overreacting, and her cheek flushed with embarrassment. “Sorry. Can you give me a few moments to get dressed?”
“Sure. Come on out to the kitchen when you’re ready. The lights better out there, and I need to put some more antibiotic ointment on your wound.” Barry smiled at her and then left.
Cat sighed and slumped down onto the side of the bed. She was always acting so awkward around men. Maybe one day she would be able to feel normal around the opposite sex, but she wasn’t about to hold her breath. Especially around Barry, David, and Hank.
She pushed her thoughts aside, dressed, and walked toward the kitchen. Barry was leaning against the counter sipping a mug of coffee.
“Do you want some?” He held the mug up and quirked an eyebrow at her.
“I can get it.” She moved farther into the kitchen.
Barry shook his head. “No, you need to rest. When you’re back to full strength, you can help out. Take a seat.”
Cat walked toward the stools he pointed at and sat by the kitchen counter, watching him as he moved about. He was so damn tall. At least four or so inches over six feet. He had wide shoulders and even though he had a T-shirt on, the material didn’t hide the way his muscles bunched and flexed as he moved. Perusing down his body to his ass. The muscular cheeks were showcased perfectly in the dark blue jeans he was wearing, and while she tried to stop herself from looking at him, she couldn’t seem to help herself. His legs were big with strength, and long. When he began to turn around, she quickly averted her gaze, not wanting him to catch her checking him out. All the Heritage men were tall and brawny as well as handsome, but it was the gentle strength in their gazes that seemed to draw her to them.
Barry set the full mug on the counter in front of her and then collected a few things from a box he pulled from the cupboard above the fridge before skirting the counter and sitting on the stool next to her.
“Can you turn around for me, baby?” He held up a tube of ointment and a packaged waterproof bandage. She mentally cursed her choice of T-shirts and wished she could go back in time a few minutes so she could choose a different one. One that wasn’t as fitted in the arms or had long sleeves.
She was about to suggest changing her top, but Barry spoke before she could.
“Can you pull your arm out of the sleeve, Cat?”
She nodded, albeit reluctantly but grabbed hold of the sleeve’s edge and tugged her arm from the sleeve, before lifting the hem of the T-shirt until the bandage on her upper arm was exposed. She knew she had to be flashing flesh at him, but she was careful to keep from flashing too much.
Barry bent over, his face close to her arm as he gently pulled the clear outer edge of the bandage. It didn’t hurt, but the touch of his warm fingers on her skin sent tingles of awareness straight to her pussy. Her clit began to throb, and her internal muscles clenched, forcing moisture out onto her swelling folds. Her breathing escalated, but she breathed shallowly and as quietly as possible, hoping he didn’t hear the effect his proximity had on her awakening libido.
A shiver raced up her spine when she felt his warm breath caress over the skin of her arm. He lifted his head and met her gaze, his nostrils flaring and his pupils dilating.
“Are you okay? I’m not hurting you?” Barry asked.
Cat shook her head and held her breath, only exhaling when he finally lowered his head again. Once the bandage was removed, he applied ointment to the stitch site and then covered it with a fresh bandage.
“All done, baby. Are you in any pain?”
“It’s bearable.” She frowned when her voice came out husky and breathless, but concentrated on getting her arm back into the sleeve without exposing anymore of her body than she had to. She remembered that he, Hank, and David had already seen her nearly naked, but she hadn’t been aware of it at the time. She didn’t want to give him a show now that she was awake. Somehow, she managed to tangle the sleeve and couldn’t get her arm back into the armhole.
“Let me help, Cat.” Barry stood, untangled the sleeve, and held it up and away from her body as she pushed her arm back into it.
“Thanks.”
He grabbed the stool, pulling it closer to her before sitting back down. �
Cat bit her lip and shook her head. She knew exactly what he was talking about but wasn’t sure she wanted to admit it. If she did, she was worried he and his brothers would have her at a disadvantage.
Barry cupped her face between his hands, holding her still as he gazed into her eyes. “You can lie if it makes you feel better, but I can see it in your eyes. We all can.”
His gaze moved to her lips, and then he began to lean forward and down toward her.
Cat knew what he was going to do and though he gave her plenty of time to stop him, she didn’t. She unconsciously licked her lips, making him groan, and then his mouth was on hers.
His lips were warm and soft but also firm. He brushed them back and forth over hers before angling his head and deepening the connection. When his tongue licked along the seam, she gasped, giving him the perfect advantage. He took control, sliding his tongue into her mouth, up along hers before swirling around, tasting every inch of her cavern.
Heat formed, liquefying her insides and pooling low in her belly before coursing up through her veins and melting her muscles. She didn’t know when she moved but knew she had when her hands curved over his muscular shoulders before moving up the back of his neck and into his soft, brown, silky hair.
He groaned, the rumble vibrating from his chest into her own, and she whimpered when her hard, sensitive nipples brushed against him. They pebbled even more into tighter points, and she pressed forward, savoring the firmer contact.
He caressed up and down her back, before moving to her sides, smoothing over her hips and then to her ass. He squeezed her ass cheeks, massaging them before grasping them in his hands and lifting her closer to him as he pulled her onto his lap.
She could feel the heat emanating from his body and the taut muscles in his legs each time they flexed under her ass and thighs. One of his hands released her butt, stroked up her side, and then covered one of her swollen breasts.
Cat shifted on his lap and moaned when she felt the hard ridge of his cock against her denim-covered pussy. Her walls clenched again, sending more moisture onto her quickly dampening panties.
A disappointed sigh left her mouth when he broke the kiss, but then he began to lick and nibble on her neck.
Cat knew she should call a stop to his lovemaking, but it felt so good, so right to have his mouth and hands on her, she couldn’t seem to draw away from him, or make herself speak the words that would halt him, before things got out of hand.
She began to wonder if she was in her right mind.
Chapter Five
Barry was lost at the first taste of Catalina. She tasted so fucking sweet, so right, yet he knew he shouldn’t have started kissing her, because once he had, he couldn’t seem to make himself pull away.
The moment their lips parted he started licking and nibbling a pathway down her soft delicious-tasting neck, and the quiet gasps and mewls she made in the back of her throat just seemed to egg him on.
He heard the backdoor open and close but still couldn’t force himself to move away from her. That was until he realized her hands were no longer clutching at his shoulders but trying to push him away. He lifted his head, and when he saw the embarrassed, horrified expression on her face, his heart ached. The pain that pierced the organ caused him to draw in a deep, ragged breath. After a quick glance at Hank, he turned back to look at Cat, but she’d lowered her gaze. Her small delicate hand covered her mouth, and her cheeks were a bright red hue.
“I’m sorry.” Barry took a couple of steps back as he ran his fingers through his hair.
“Me, too,” she whispered after lowering her hand.
Barry didn’t know what to say, and the pain from her rejection was almost too much for him to handle, so he spun on his heels and hurried out without a backward glance. After quickly saddling up his stallion, he jumped into the saddle and took off. Hopefully Cat would find it in her heart to forgive him for pushing her. He just hoped he hadn’t fucked up any chance he and his brothers had for having a relationship with her.
However, her reaction to his kiss said otherwise. With a curse, he nudged Lucifer into a gallop heading toward the north-west pasture and the cattle that needed to be rounded up, but sighed when he glanced up at the sun. He didn’t have time to move them today. He would have to do it tomorrow. It would take him all day to get them closer to the house but right now, he would just enjoy the ride.
It would give them both time to cool off.
* * * *
Hank wondered if Cat would find the gumption to meet his gaze, but from the way she’d dropped her head and was using her hair as a shield, he knew he was going to have to make the first move.
“How are you feeling, Cat?” He moved farther into the room, heading straight for the fridge. He’d been outside all morning, and his mouth was dry with thirst.
“Okay,” she answered just above a whisper.
“Is your arm hurting?” He turned just in time to catch her gaze on him, and while her face pinked up again, he ignored it. “Do you want some iced tea?”
“Is it sweetened?”
He shook his head.
“Then yes, please.”
Hank put the jug on the counter, turned toward the cupboard, removed two glasses, and poured them both a drink. When he had both glasses in his hand, he walked around the counter and placed a full glass in front of her.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Hank lifted the glass to his mouth, draining it quickly before he reached for the jug and filled it again. He plopped down onto the stool beside her, swiveling so that he was facing her. “You didn’t answer my question.”
“I’m fine.”
Hank cocked his head and perused her face. Her eyes were narrowed, little lines of pain near the corners and now that the embarrassed tint had left her face, he could see that she was a little pale. “I don’t like to be lied to.”
“I’m not lying,” Cat said indignantly, scowling up at him. She licked her lips and swallowed when he raised an eyebrow at her. “It hurts a little, more like a dull ache, but nothing like it did before.”
Hank rose from his stool without a word, got the ibuprofen from the cupboard, and handed them to her. “When was the last time you ate?” He moved to the sink and washed his hands, but he kept his eyes on her.
She shrugged and glanced away.
He sighed before turning to the fridge, grabbed an apple, and passed it to her. “Dinner will be ready in about an hour. Do you think that will tide you over?”
“Yes, thank you.”
Hank nodded before removing ingredients from the fridge for dinner. He knew she was watching him because his body tingled everywhere her eyes lingered. When he felt her gaze on his ass, he cursed under his breath. His cock began to pulse and fill with blood and because he was bent over, it was uncomfortable. In a surreptitious move, he adjusted his growing erection before snagging the bag of bell peppers from the vegetable crisper.
After placing all the ingredients on the counter, he grabbed a knife and the chopping board and began to cut up the veggies.
“Can I help?”
“No, you need to take it easy.”
“I’m fine.”
Hank lifted his head and met her gaze with a scowl. “You are not fine, damn it. I want you to take care of yourself.”
“Arrogant prick,” she muttered under her breath before taking a bite out of the apple.
Hank chuckled and then began to laugh when her eyes widened with guilt. “I might be an arrogant prick, but I only have your best interests at heart. The doc said you needed to eat regularly and rest up. You’ve been through a lot, sweetheart, and until the doc says you’re back to normal, get used to being waited on.”
Cat didn’t say anything but took another bite of the apple.
Hank’s mind was rolling over what Cat had told the sheriffs and something kept nagging at him. “How did your uncle know about the money your parents won in the lottery?”
“The media.”
“Had he been around much before they won the money?”
Cat tilted her head to side as she thought about her answer. She was so damn beautiful. Her neck was slim and graceful, and all he could think about as he stared at the creamy expanse was getting a taste of her like Barry had. Remembering her reaction to being caught kissing Barry made him realize that they hadn’t even told her they were attracted to her, or that it was normal for more than one man to have a relationship with a woman in this town, but first things first.
“No.”
“Did your parents leave him money in their will?”
Cat lowered her gaze as she nodded. Hank heard her audibly swallow and hated himself for bringing up painful memories, but the more information he could get, the safer she would be.
“Yes.”
“Do you know the amount?”
Cat cleared her throat, slid from the stool, walked toward the trash, and dumped the apple core in the bin. She washed her hands at the sink and then moved back around the counter.
“The sheriff in Coeur d’Alene found out that he would get a hundred thousand if they passed and I was still alive.”
Hank’s gut knotted and anger began to permeate his blood. He had a feeling he already knew the answer to his next question, but he had to know for sure. “And if you died?”
“He’d get it all.”
“Son of a fucking bitch.” Hank slammed the knife down on the counter so hard it was a wonder it didn’t break. He felt like a real bastard when he saw Cat startle and nearly fall off the stool she was sitting on. “Sorry. I’m not angry at you.” He pulled his cell from his pocket and dialed Luke as he walked into the living room.
“Hank, what’s up?”
“She’s the sole beneficiary.”
“Yeah, I know. I just got off the phone with the sheriff in Coeur d’Alene.”
“He’s not going to give up, is he?”
“No. He’s in debt up to his eyeballs. His only way out is to get his hands on that money.”
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