by Jane Jamison
“I don’t know,” added Steve. “Most folks around here take care of their own chores.”
“I realize that. Most ranchers would. However, I checked and found out that there isn’t a construction crew within miles of Fate. Who builds new buildings? New homes?”
“Other than barns, there aren’t any new buildings.”
She wouldn’t let Steve get her down. “Don’t you think Fate could use new businesses and homes? From what I hear, more people are coming to town and deciding to stay on. Like me.”
“She’s right. We’ve had a few newcomers lately, and most of them are either staying at the Lazy Day Bed and Breakfast or renting whatever house they can find. The apartment building is full up.”
“Exactly my point. So? Would you like me to put your table back together?” How many times would she have to ask to get a straight answer?
Lenore started to speak then paused. Her hesitation didn’t make Arizona feel any better. Did the woman not trust her to fix a little table?
“What would you charge me?”
Arizona was relieved. If Lenore hadn’t trusted her enough to repair her table, then how would she ever get anyone to work for her? “Not a penny.”
“Oh, no. I couldn’t let you do it for free.”
“Sure you can. It’s not that big a project, anyway. Let’s call it a favor between new friends.”
Lenore’s concern softened into something more like pity, which wasn’t much better. “I’d like that. I’m Lenore Charding, and this is my friend Steve Hollander. We’re happy to meet you, Arizona.”
“It’s good to meet both of you. And I’m happy to be here.” Repairing a table wasn’t construction work, but at least it was a way to show people that she knew which end of a hammer to hold. Hopefully, they’d soon realize she could do a lot more.
* * * *
“She’s got a steep hill to climb.” Collin had wanted to step in when he and Will had overheard Arizona talking to Howard and Miles, but Will had held him back.
“True enough, but I doubt she’d appreciate you stepping in.”
“Probably not.” He’d be another man trying to help her out instead of knowing she could stand on her own two feet. As it turned out, she’d done exactly that. “Still, there has to be a way we can help her.” He pulled his brother into the shadows of the alley. “We can help her by telling her what we are and what she is to us.”
“Devin wants to take it slow.”
“I’m fed up with slow.” Collin’s palms itched to touch her. He hadn’t been close enough to see the fire in her eyes while talking to the men, but he could see the tenseness in her body language. Having had his own dealings with Howard and Miles, he knew how they were. They’d no more work for a woman than set themselves on fire. As members of the Garrett wolf pack, they’d be even less inclined to work for a female. Once word got around that Arizona was their mate, no one in the Garrett pack, including Lenore Charding, would go near her. Thankfully, most of the other folks in town wouldn’t mind one bit.
“Come on. We need to get back to the ranch.”
Although Will tugged on his arm, Collin stayed where he was for a few moments. Watching Arizona walk away, her firm butt nice and round, her back strong as she carried the table, and her black hair trailing down her spine was a sight he didn’t want to miss.
“Collin.”
Groaning, he turned away from the tantalizing sight and followed his brother to his truck. “Take it easy. We’re going to have her real soon. Real soon.”
Chapter Three
Arizona stayed in step with Krystal as they strolled down the sidewalk. They’d taken to doing their grocery shopping together. With Krystal working nights at the Wolf’s Den, it was difficult to stay in touch.
“Did you report the attack to Sheriff Hardwick?”
The attack. She hated thinking of what Duke had done to her. Or what he might’ve done if the men hadn’t come along. Putting a label to it was even worse. Every time she remembered what he’d tried to do, she grew angry. Strangely, however, the anger wasn’t directed at Duke. Her anger was for herself.
She was a strong, independent woman. She’d handled other men who had tried to take advantage of her. Why hadn’t she fought back harder? Fury at herself rose inside her, tensing her. She should’ve done more to get free. She knew what would’ve happened if the Brannigan men hadn’t shown up when they had.
As she had before, she forced the memory away. She worked hard to not think about that night. At least, not about Duke. Not thinking about Devin, Collin, and Will was impossible.
“Arizona? Did you hear me? Are you going to report it?”
“No.”
Krystal’s stride broke, causing them both to stop. “Why the hell not?”
“Because it wouldn’t do any good.” Never mind that Devin had said they’d handle Duke in their own way—whatever that meant. “Besides, I’m trying to get the men around here to realize that I’m tough enough to be their boss. If they think I’ll go running for help every time a man gets handsy, then I’ll never get them to sign on.”
“It was more than getting handsy. That doesn’t mean you have to let a man treat you that way and get away with it.”
“He won’t.”
“How do you know?”
“I don’t.” Yet she trusted Devin enough to believe he’d keep his word about Duke. “Look, Krystal, please let it go. We’ve already talked about this for hours last night. Duke was drunk.” Not that being drunk was ever a good excuse. She knew that all too well. “Thanks to the Brannigan men, he didn’t get away with it. Other than a few bruises, I’m fine. Let it go.”
“I will. For now. But if he ever bothers you again, you just let me know. I’ll round up a few of the regulars at the bar and sic them on him.”
Arizona had to get Krystal’s mind off of Duke. “A few of the regulars like, oh, I don’t know, Curt Walton and the Hill men?”
Krystal blushed. “Maybe. Along with the Brannigan boys, too.”
Truth be told, she wouldn’t mind Devin, Collin, and Will coming to her rescue again. In fact, she wished she could’ve thanked them better than she had.
Maybe I can cook them dinner or something. It’s not much of a thank you, but at least it’s something.
Her mind was stuck on the Brannigans when she finally realized that Krystal had shifted the conversation. Relief flooded her. If they kept talking about men, she might say something she’d regret later.
Like how much I want them. And not only their bodies but them. All of them. In every way possible.
“You had to know it would be hard to get men to work for you. First, it’s a new company with no business yet. Then there’s the woman thing.”
Better to talk about the company. Or lack of one.
“The woman thing. Damn, how I hate that phrase. I’ve heard it far too often lately.” Arizona blew out a hard breath. “I know construction, and I work as hard as any man. And I’ve got the experience. A man in my position wouldn’t have it so tough.”
“You’re right, but still, haven’t you noticed how the men in Fate are more…” Krystal paused as she searched for the right word.
“Primal.” And here we are. Back to thinking about the men.
Her friend jabbed her finger at her. “Exactly. Primal in a good, sexy way, though. Not like cavemen, but like men who are still in touch with their animal side. Like one of those hunky werewolves on television.”
Krystal not only loved reality television shows but paranormal ones as well. The shows where the woman fell in love with the romantic lead that also happened to be a supernatural being were Krystal’s favorites. Not that she would admit it but Arizona had her own fantasies about making love to a man who could take her and make her his. Truth be told, after moving to Fate and seeing that ménages were commonplace, she’d had dreams about more than one primal man. Three to be exact.
Talk about wild fantasies.
She forced her mind back
on the reality of her situation. Without warning, the fear, the anxiety that she might not achieve her goal hit her. “This blows. I don’t know why I’m even trying. I’m never going to get any men to work with me.”
“Stop whining. You’re going to make your dream come true, got it?”
Stunned at Krystal’s hard tone, Arizona started to argue that she wasn’t whining then stopped. Wouldn’t that be whining about not whining? “You’re right. I need to stay focused and get the job done.”
“Hey, at least you’ve made Lenore a believer. That’s a step in the right direction.”
“Yeah. As a handyman. Urgh. Let’s use the term handyperson from now on.”
Krystal’s laugh rang out, drawing the attention of a group of men on the other side of the street. “You can call it anything you want, but it’s still the same job. Working with nails and boards and saws. You can have that job, sister.”
“I’m trying. I guess I could always hire out as a handyperson until people finally realize I have the skills.”
“Sure you could.” The deep male voice caught her breath.
Collin.
In the next moment, she was pulled into the alley between the Lick Your Plate Diner and the Wag Your Tail Barbershop. She soon found herself pushed against the hard brick wall with Collin’s face only inches from hers.
“I need to talk to you.”
Be calm. It’s not what you think it is.
If she could only tell that to her body. Her nerves were heightened, her breathing hitching in her throat and the warmth between her legs growing stronger by the minute.
Collin slid his gaze downward, hovered over her breasts for a second, then met her eyes again. “You’re breathing really hard.”
“You took me by surprise.”
The tips of his mouth curved upward into a sexy, naughtier-than-hell smirk. “I’ll take you by surprise or not. Just as long as I take you.”
Oh my stars. Is it really what I think it is?
The heat inside her leapt from a spark into a full-on burn.
Or, rather, what I hope it is?
“Arizona, are you all right?”
One glance at Krystal, however, showed that her friend wasn’t really concerned. Instead, she stayed on the sidewalk. Her face was alight with eagerness and her eyes bright.
“I’m fine, Krystal,” answered Arizona without ever taking her eyes off Collin. In a lower tone, she asked, “I am fine, aren’t I?”
“You’re better than fine, baby. You’re fantastic.”
Had any other man—other than his brothers—said those words, she might’ve laughed. As it was, not only the words but the deep, lusty sound of his voice made her quiver. She should’ve gotten hold of her emotions, but getting hold of her emotions was the last thing she wanted. She’d rather get hold of him.
He pulled her farther into the shadows of the alley. Farther away from her friend and the rest of the world.
“Should I wait for you? Arizona? Are you still there?”
Arizona had the feeling that Krystal was asking the question out of politeness. Plus, that her friend would forgive her if she chose not to go on to the market with her. Again, she kept her voice low. “What’s this about? Will this take long?”
Collin barely shook his head, but it was enough of an answer. “That depends on you.” His gaze lowered again, going all the way down before coming back up. “We can take all the time you want.”
Oh my stars.
She drew in a breath so she could call out. “Krystal, if you don’t mind, I think Collin needs me.” What she’d said hit her as soon as the words were out.
His mouth, so hard, yet so soft looking, curved more. “You’ve got that right. I need you more than I’ve ever needed anything.”
“Okay,” called Krystal. “I’ll call you later.”
Arizona heard Krystal’s footsteps as she moved away but kept her attention on the deliciously sexy man who had captured her between his hands flattened against the wall. “You do? You need me?”
“Damn straight I do. And so do my brothers.”
Was he trying to come on to her? If so, what could she do? What did she want him to do? Her body was telling her one thing, but her mind was shouting warnings all over the place. She had to play it cool.
“You three didn’t act like it at the bar the other night.” Her gaze centered on his lips. She would’ve loved to wipe away his smirk. Not with her hand, but with her mouth.
“You mean before we saved your ass?”
She felt stupid bringing it up now. After what they’d done for her, saving her from Duke, she could hardly complain about them ignoring her inside the bar. “I didn’t mean to sound ungrateful because I am.”
“Don’t worry about it.” His dark eyes sparkled with bits of amber. “We shouldn’t have acted like jerks.”
“Well, there is that.” She smiled, easing the retort.
“Still, you asked for it.”
“What? How do you figure?” She fisted her hands, barely keeping from running her fingers along his broad chest.
“You’re so fucking hot we had to get your attention some way.”
Hot. Me. Oh my stars.
She opted for the truth, even if it was the more dangerous way to go. “You already had my attention. Otherwise, I never would’ve noticed you and those girls. And I wouldn’t have cared if I had.”
He was pleased, his smile widening. “So what do we do about this thing?”
“What thing?” As if I don’t know what he’s talking about.
“This attraction thing.”
“What do you want to do about it?” She was playing along, even though she would’ve rather have tugged him by the hair and yanked his lips to hers. Her body hummed like a bee hovering near a flower.
“I want to do a lot more than I can in an alley off the main street of town.”
“You do?”
His chuckle was deep. She could feel it resonating through his chest.
“I do.”
She dared to step further into the unknown. “And what would you do if we were somewhere more private?”
The smile went away, replaced by a hunger so blatant it made her freeze. She had the crazy impression that, if she moved, if she took a big breath, he’d pounce.
Sensing that, she drew in a long, slow breath.
His gaze jumped to her breasts and returned again. “This.”
His kiss hit her hard, forcefully, taking no prisoners. How any part of his body could be rough and soft at the same time was incomprehensible, but his lips were. She moaned and snuck her arms under his to grip the backs of his shoulders.
He leaned against her and answered her moan with one of his own. Her elation rose as the rumble of the sound vibrated through his chest then against her breasts. She clung to him, careful not to worry about how long his mouth might remain locked to hers. If she did, she’d be all too aware of how time could fly.
He pressed his body against hers, his hands skimming along her arms and down to her fingers. At first, she thought he’d hold her hands, sweetly, but then, all at once, he took hold of them and gripped them tightly.
His hard crotch, his cock already erect under the stiff denim, pushed against her stomach. His tongue lashed into her mouth, taking her flavors.
She no longer cared where they were. She no longer cared who might see them.
Another moan escaped her when his lips left hers then traveled down her neck. She closed her eyes, needing to focus all her senses on what he was doing to her body.
Slowly, Collin traveled lower, kissing her body through her clothes. His hands still held hers tightly, unwilling to turn her loose even when she tried to get free. She ached to touch him, to run her fingers along his body as his ran along hers.
Oh my stars.
When he finally turned her hands free, she was too shocked, yet thrilled. Instead of holding her hands, he started working on undoing her jeans.
Stop him.
> Her mind said the words, but there was no conviction in them. Instead, she remained still, her chest rising and falling with her panted breaths.
This is insane.
For only a moment, her memory flashed back to the night outside the Wolf’s Den and to the horror Duke had put her through. Any normal woman would’ve pushed Collin away at the memory, but she didn’t. The two were not the same. She shoved the thought of Duke away then opened her eyes and looked down at Collin.
What she saw made her knees weak. He’d pulled her panties down along with her jeans. Her bare mons was exposed, glowing pale in the shadows.
“You don’t want me to stop.”
Was it a question or simply the truth spoken out loud?
She didn’t answer. He didn’t give her time to answer. Instead, he parted her folds with his thumbs, sent her a heated smile, and put his face to her pussy.
Her legs threatened to buckle, and she leaned against the wall, supporting herself. The heat she’d experienced earlier ramped into an all-out volcano. Sighing, she spread her legs as far as the jeans puddled at her ankles would allow.
His tongue lashed at her. His mouth feasted on her clit. Two fingers plunged into her pussy.
Her hands flattened against the bricks, steadying her. Inside, however, she’d lost her equilibrium and was spinning. Waves of orgasmic tension radiated outward from her crotch as the climax she’d been unprepared for rushed out of her. The sounds of him lapping up her juices echoed in the alley.
Around and around her clit ran his tongue, then slicking its way to her pussy, where he plunged in and out of her wet pussy. With her body trembling, she had to find something more than the wall to keep her on her feet. She took hold of his hair, her fingers tunneling through its thickness.
He added his teeth to the rake of his tongue, drinking, slurping, nibbling at her until she squirmed her butt against the wall. She had to get away from the decadent torture yet wanted nothing more than to push her crotch hard against his face.
A noise sounding like a growl rumbled against her. The animal she’d sensed he possessed inside had come alive.
