Heather's Challenge [Cattleman's Club 4] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Jenny Penn

“Ask if he’s heard about my engagement yet?”

  “Tell her I already have a gift picked out.”

  “Okay, then. I’ll talk to you later.” Before GD could snarl anymore commands at him or Heather ask another one of her obnoxious questions, Konor snapped his phone closed and met Heather’s glare with a smile.

  “What?”

  “You know, you’re cute when you’re mad.”

  Actually, she kind of glowed with a flush passion that made him hard, but Konor figured that revelation wouldn’t aid his case. So he went with the universally sweet ‘cute’ comment, which only earned him a dirty look.

  “Come on, we’ve got croissant dough to make.”

  “Croissants? Cool.”

  Konor loved croissants.

  * * * *

  Konor didn’t cease to amaze Heather. She was sure his enthusiasm for croissants would fade as soon as he realized that he had to pound down large bricks of butter into even, rectangular slabs no thicker than a quarter inch. It was a daily ritual at the bakery, though normally she’d soften and whip the butter before forming it into the long, lean pads, allowing it to refrigerate overnight before turning it into the dough the next day, but there hadn’t been time to prep the sheer quantity of butter they would need to make enough dough to fill all the pasty orders for the holiday.

  Not that it seemed to bother Konor in the slightest to have to beat cold butter. In fact, he seemed to revel in the work-out. Smiling and chatting the entire time, he barely worked up a sweat as he conveyed his enthusiasm for learning how to bake. Apparently, that wasn’t a talent he’d picked up during his childhood. Cooking, on the other hand, had been daily task for him as his mother had worked late most nights.

  When Heather asked about his father, Konor just shrugged and explained that he hadn’t been around much. Neither had his mom from what Heather could gather, but it that didn’t change the depth of Konor’s devotion to the woman. Sadly enough, though, the woman had passed away several years back from cancer. That’s why he’d learned to make ice cream, Konor explained.

  In the final stages of her disease, his mom had started to waste away and the custard used to make the ice cream contained both protein from the egg yolk and high concentrations of sugar that provided an easy energy source needed to keep her going. Her favorite, he explained, had been chocolate mint, a flavor he hadn’t made since she passed. Heather was touched by the emotion she could sense beneath Konor’s casual tone.

  It proved that when he cared, he cared deeply. To be loved like that, to be loved by him like that…Heather sighed, unable to fight the warm tendrils beginning to curl around her heart. Her defenses were down, weakened by Sandy’s revelations about the depth of Alex’s feelings for her and the realization that the past was not as she’d always believed it to be.

  That had her re-evaluating everything as she realized that she could dare to trust him again. If she didn’t, she’d only be repeating the mistakes of the past, and Heather believed herself to be smarter than that. So, she allowed the warmth in and found herself charmed by the sensation, and laughing over Konor’s stories about his experiments in the kitchen as he explained how use to dream of being a world-renowned chef.

  “So how did you end up becoming a fireman instead?” Heather asked as she worked on fitting pie dough into the small, single serving tins that would be baked in the morning and then filled with the fruit she had simmering in different pots on the stove.

  “Because it seemed cooler,” Konor tossed back with a smile as he paused to glance over at her before shaking his head and turning the croissant dough he was still working on. “Honestly, I enjoy the sense of belonging that comes with being part of a team that is as tight as most firehouses are.”

  “I guess I can understand that,” Heather allowed, but secretly working on team didn’t appeal to her. She liked to be in charge of things, to know they were getting done right.

  “Then, of course, I get to help people,” Konor continued on. “I get paid to work out and the hours are great. They certainly beat that of a chef. I mean, you appear to work twelve hours a day.”

  “At least.”

  “And you never take a day off,” Konor pressed as he slapped the last of the croissant dough back onto its tray and quickly sealed it with plastic wrap before picking up the tray and heading for the refrigerator.

  “I take days off.” Heather frowned after him, her voice rising as he walked off. “I just took yesterday off.”

  “You stopped by here on the way home from the camp,” Konor shot back.

  “Just for a minute.”

  “More like an hour or two.”

  “It wasn’t two hours, and I don’t see why you care.”

  “I care because I don’t want you working yourself to death,” Konor retorted, returning empty handed from the refrigerator. Without asking, he cut off a chunk of the pie dough she had out and started rolling it out even as he continued to criticize her. “You work too much. You worry too much. You’re going to put yourself into an early grave at this rate.”

  “I highly doubt that.” Or, at least, it was a little early in her life to be worrying about dying. “And you make it sound like I want to work this much. I have—”

  “—a son to support,” Konor finished for her as he began to press the pie dough he was working on into one of the small tins stacked between them. “I know, but you also have an assistant manager, who can run this place for a day without you.”

  “Tina doesn’t know how to make the dough.” Not that the other girl hadn’t asked to learn, but Heather had been too afraid to teach her. What if Tina learned and then went started her own business? What if she became competition? Heather hated herself for thinking those kinds of thoughts, but that didn’t stop them from coming.

  “Well, I know how to make the dough now.” Konor glanced pointedly over at her as if he could read her thoughts. “Between Tina and me, I bet we could run this place just as good as you.”

  Konor and Tina in charge? There was a thought and not a happy one. What if they hit it off? They already got along fabulously, what if a spark started? What if—

  “Yeah, that’s what I thought,” Konor muttered as he cut off another chunk of pie dough.

  “What?” Heather blinked, beginning to wonder now if he really could read minds. “I didn’t say anything.”

  “You didn’t have to. I could see the panic in your eyes.”

  “Konor—”

  “Don’t.” He shook his head at her. “Don’t bother with the excuses or the lies. We both know that the only thing that will change your mind is time, and I know eventually you’ll see that I’m right. That I can help you carry this load. That I want to. That I want this to be a part of my life. I want to be here working with you.”

  Heather didn’t know what to say to that, but, for a change, she didn’t bother to argue or reject his comments. Instead, she accepted that he was right—only time would tell whether or not things worked out. Right then, though, she would enjoy the moment.

  It was a good moment and thanks to Konor’s help she actually managed to get everything prepped by one in the morning. They had all the different types of doughs resting, the pies, pastries and cookies ready for the oven, and all the delivery boxes built. More importantly, they’d had fun. Then again, Konor was a funny guy. Funny, charming, interesting, and he still looked sexy as hell in a hair net.

  Heather was half-temped to ask him if the frogs and crickets were still in the mood to sing as they finally locked up the store. The stars were certainly shining and it wasn’t like she was planning on getting much sleep anyway. Her father and son were, no doubt, already in bed and wouldn’t notice if she came in late…or not at all.

  Heather smiled as that thought had her growing warm. It would be the first time she ever snuck a night to herself behind their backs. There was something deliciously wicked and forbidden about that thought. It unleashed the lust and want that had been simmering in her blood all night.
They flared hotter as she cast glance over at Konor.

  He did look good and there wasn’t any reason she couldn’t start her own vacation a day early, or in this case a night early. Apparently, Konor had the same idea.

  Trailing her to her car, he trapped her against it in a moment reminiscent of their very first encounter, only this time Heather wasn’t even trying to pretend to resist his advances. Instead she turned in his embrace to wrap her hands around his neck and lift herself against him in an open invitation that was echoed in the husky, suggestiveness of her tone.

  “Was there something you wanted?”

  “Oh, yeah.” Konor matched her grin as his arms tightened around her, flattening her curves against his hard length as his head dipped low enough for her to feel the brush of his lips against hers. “The only question is whether you’re going to make me prove that you want it, too.”

  Heather didn’t answer, but lifted her lips, pressing them against Konor’s in a soft kiss that he returned with equal gentleness, allowing her to control the moment. Fisting her hand in the silken strands of his hair, she held him still as she leisurely explored the intoxicating textures of his mouth. He tasted of tea and sugar and something primal and male, a narcotic mixture of flavors that lit up her senses with a euphoric buzz that had her desperate for more.

  The kiss quickly spun out of her control as she strained against him, frantic to feel his body grinding against hers. Curves and mounds crushed against hard ridges and planes—they fit so perfectly together, moved in perfect rhythm as they swayed in an erotic dance that had her shifting to arch her hips and cradle the long, thick length of his erection against where she ached to feel him most.

  She’d have begged him to take her then and there if she could have just torn her lips away from his. Again and again, he took her mouth, tormenting her with deep, hungry kisses that only fed her need building in her cunt to be taken just as savagely, to be penetrated just as ruthlessly as his tongue ruled her mouth. The very idea of feeling that warm, velvety tormentor stroking over her sensitive flesh had her pussy swelling with a hot wave of cream that scented the air with the proof of her arousal.

  Heather’s hands dropped to Konor’s waist, slipping beneath the edge of his shirt as she gave into the need to feel him. He was hard and hot, his skin pulled taunt across the thick muscles rippling beneath her touch. She could feel the quiver of his response as she slid her hands up his back, marveling at the feel of him beneath her palms.

  Konor shifted as she ran the tips of her fingers tips back down the wide crease of his spine to dip them below the tight band of his jeans. When she dared to tease the tip of the divide that separated the hard cheeks of his ass, he shifted pressing more of his weight against her until he had her pinned against her car. Only then did he finally lift his head to gaze down at her with lust filled eyes.

  “And what do you think you’re doing, Miss Lawson?”

  Dizzy with delight, Heather couldn’t help but giggle over the rough, strained sound of his tone. “Just letting you know that if anybody is going to end up naked this time, it’s going to be you.”

  “Is that a fact?”

  “As long as we’re standing here.” Heather nodded before sliding her palms up his back to hold him tight against her as she lifted up onto her tiptoes and began peppering little kisses up his neck. “Of course, if you want to go someplace more private…like, say, your bed…”

  “Alex will be there,” Konor reminded her and Heather could hear the hesitant hope in his voice even as he appeared to steel himself for her reaction, but she didn’t even hesitate.

  “So?” Heather leaned back to smile up at him as she felt him relax against her. “If he’s not in the mood to play, he can always just watch.”

  Konor growled, a feral, hungry sound that sent a wicked thrill through her as his hands tightened their grip. He came back for another kiss, one that had her clinging to him as his right hand slid up her side to close firmly over her breasts. Heather broke free of his kiss, panting out little gasps as he kneaded her swollen flesh, pinning the hard tip beneath his thumb and rolling her nipple until the pleasure had her crying out and digging her nails into his shoulders.

  Who knew what would have happened then, if the shrill shriek of a siren hadn’t cut through the quite night air? The sound escalated as a patrol car went rushing down the street, flooding the small parking lot with a wash of red and blue strobe lights as it went flying past. It was enough to break the moment, even if it wasn’t enough to break the mood.

  “I think we better—”

  “Yeah.” Konor nodded agreement, but still hesitated to release her. Slowly, as if every inch were agony, he eased away from her, stepping back with clear reluctance. A visible tremor ran through him as he took a deep breath and forced a tight smile. “I guess we better.”

  Deprived of his heat and strength, Heather felt her own knees weaken as she swayed on her feet, uncertain if she could wait until they got back to his place. The deep throb of emptiness causing her cunt to pulse and weep demanded satisfaction. It wanted now. The very idea of waiting was intolerable. The possibility of getting caught—electrifying.

  Heather eyed Konor, wondering just how kinky he could get. She had her answer when he backed up and shook his head at her.

  “I think we’re going to need a new rule for you, sweetness.”

  “Yeah? And what’s that?”

  “No taunting in public…not unless you are willing to suffer the consequences.”

  Heather smiled, knowing just what to say. “Challenge accepted.”

  That caught Konor off guard but after a moment he tipped his bed and laughed, the glint in his eyes softening into true twinkle. “Well then, why don’t you just follow, little kitten, and we’ll see how much I can challenge you to accept.”

  “Fine,” Heather agreed easily, not the least bit intimidated by that suggestion. Just the opposite. “But you’re going to remember our previous agreement. No toys, not until I get to play first.”

  “Honey, I don’t need toys to make you moan, scream, or beg,” Konor assured her as he opened her door for her, waiting until she slid into her seat before bending down as he ran a lecherous eye over her. “And, trust me, you are going to be doing a lot of all three before the night is out.”

  “In your dreams,” Heather shot back, playing along with him.

  “More like in ten minutes from now,” Konor corrected, before straightening up. “Now go!”

  With that he slammed her car door, leaving Heather both breathless and quivering. Her hands were literally shaking as she fumbled with the key, finding it harder than she should have to fit it in the ignition. She forced herself to relax and take a deep breath but it didn’t help. Her stomach only wound tighter as she pulled out of the parking lot with Konor’s truck trailing behind her.

  She was taking a big step and Heather knew it. The nerves causing her heart to race and pound were proof enough that this wasn’t just about sex. This was about something so much more, and no matter how much that thought scared her, Heather still turned toward Konor and Alex’s house because the attraction was undeniable.

  She wanted him, them, both Konor and Alex.

  The excitement, the pleasure they brought into her life was worth this risk, even if a part of her felt certain this would end in disaster. That negative little voice whispered that she was lying to herself again, wanting to believe in a fantasy that was thirteen years too late to make into reality.

  That doubt only grew as she pulled to a stop in front of Konor and Alex’s house to find a yellow convertible parked in their driveway. The canary-colored car stood out like a beacon and Heather recognized it instantly. Only one person drove a car that obnoxiously colored—Gwen Harold, and there was only one reason she’d be there at two in the morning.

  Chapter 23

  That negative little whisper began to roar at Heather to get back in her car and flee, a new voice joining the chorus. This one screamed in panic,
seconding the motion to run. She should escape now before her confusion hardened into pain, becoming a festering wound that would never heal.

  Still, Heather couldn’t stop herself from heading up the driveway, driven by a need she couldn’t explain. All she knew was that this time, there would be no doubt. She would know the truth.

  She barely spared a glance at the fuzzy pink fur wrapped around the steering wheel that assured her this was Gwen’s car, and not some distant relative who had come to stay for a spell. The sick feeling in her stomach churned as even more voices joined in demanding she flee.

  Heather ignored them all as she turned up the path that led to the front door. The ranch’s windows cast no light over the walkway. Neither did the sliver of moon overhead offer much illumination. Instead, the eerily silver glow highlighted the shadows with a menacing caress that felt both cold and mysterious.

  The shadows themselves seemed to close in on her, making her very steps feel heavy, as if the air itself had thickened around her, trying in vain to hold her back. Heather made it to the front door, though. There she stalled out, uncertain of what to do.

  She glanced down the road, looking for any sign of Konor, but the street was dark and in the night silent. There wasn’t even a distant hum of an engine to indicate that he was even close by, not that she was surprised. She’d seen him get caught running a red light by one of the deputies not napping at this hour and could still be a while, but Heather wasn’t patient enough to wait.

  Instead, she reached out and turned the brass knob in front of her. It wasn’t actually shocking when it gave. Most people in town didn’t bother locking their doors. In fact, in the spring and fall when the weather was more pleasant and the air fresher, it wasn’t uncommon for people to leave their windows wide open.

  Pittsview was just that kind of town, and Alex was the sheriff. A person would have to be a real dumbass to break into his house. It wasn’t fear of being arrested, though, that had Heather hesitating over the threshold, but the complete silence that greeted her as she stood there, staring into the shadowed living room that had been turned into a home gym.