by Jane Jamison
“So you’ve been on the ranch? I mean, other than when I caught you two trespassing?”
DJ, usually the one who kept a grin on his face, answered. “Yeah. We knew we were trespassing, but we couldn’t resist. Ever since coming to Passion two years ago, we’ve looked for a ranch that we could call our own. Other ranches have come and gone, and we could’ve purchased them. We even tried to buy one once, but that was before we found Windy Hills. Then, every other time we got close to buying one, we’d take a trip out to Windy Hills and forget all about the other places,” added Rick.
Brandon took a strand of her hair from behind her ear, sending her a slash of sexual need. “Rick’s right. It’s like we’ve been dating a girl for years and never committed because we knew deep inside that she wasn’t the right one. At least not until the right one came along.”
“So you’ve all been dating one girl for years?” Although she realized it wasn’t a rational reaction, she couldn’t help the jealousy roaring to life again. She barely knew the men, but she was ready to fight for them if she had to.
DJ’s grin was back. “Shoot, no. Oh, I don’t mean we haven’t dated, because we have. But all that’s over.”
“Why?”
Please tell me it’s because I’m here now. She pushed away the ridiculous idea. She’d known them less than twenty-four hours and she was already expecting them to promise themselves to her. Thinking that way would only get her into trouble.
The brothers exchanged knowing looks. “It’s because you’re here now.”
She was lucky that she was able to put her drink back down without dropping it. Had Rick actually said what she’d just been thinking? “Me?”
Brandon took her by the chin and made her face him. “Yeah, you. You’re special. It doesn’t take a year, a month, or even a week for us to know that. The only thing left is for you to know it, too.”
Her heart rate must’ve doubled as she gazed into his eyes. He meant every word he’d said, and she knew that his brothers did, too. But why? How could anyone know so fast? Was it love at first sight for them? Was it for her? She tore her gaze away from his. The amazing connection she experienced with each brother was special and nothing like she’d ever felt, but was it love? Or just a stronger kind of lust?
“Anyway, that’s what Windy Hills is like for us.” Rick sat back, giving her more breathing room.
She had to get the conversation back on an even keel. Either that or hop on top of the table and say, “Come and get it, boys.”
“What would you do if you bought Windy Hills? Turn it into a housing development? A strip mall?”
Why was she talking about the ranch? She just kept digging herself in deeper. But she couldn’t help herself. She had to know more, wanted to hear them talk about their yearning for the ranch she loved.
DJ coughed then took a big gulp of his drink. Brandon and Rick gaped at her.
“Hell, no. Why would anyone want to take a beautiful place like Windy Hills and turn it into some kind of atrocity?”
She hid her delight at Brandon’s response. “Doing either of those would make you a whole lot more money than running a ranch.”
“Heather, please tell me that’s not what you would do if you bought the place.” Rick’s tone was almost fearful.
She shook her head. “Not a chance. I love it the way it is.”
“Damn. Don’t ever scare us like that again. I thought the world must’ve spun off its axis.” DJ blew out a breath. “I’d rather die than let some asshole dig up that land.”
“Damn straight.” Rick lifted his glass in the air, his dark hair swept back from his forehead. She and his brothers joined in, clinking their drinks together.
A different kind of warmth spread through her. The men cared about her home the way she did. They treasured the land, realizing that a place like Windy Hills couldn’t exist anywhere else. If they could buy the ranch, then maybe losing it wouldn’t tear her apart.
“Do you think you can get it? I don’t mean to pry, but do you think you’ve got enough to cinch the deal?”
Their attention centered on Rick, who shook his head. “You guys know as well as I do that we don’t. Our savings might make a decent down payment, but to buy it all? Not a chance.”
The hope she’d let take hold died a quick and painful demise. “I don’t think my, um, friends are going to entertain any offers that include down payments and financing. I’m sure they’ll get at least a few bids of all-cash payments.”
“So you do know the details behind the sale?”
She diverted her attention to the dancers getting onto the top of the bar. How could she tell them that she was John Cumming’s daughter now? She’d basically given them an insider’s tip on how to make an offer. Knowing that the bid would have to include cash only was a major plus to any prospective buyer.
She had to lie—again. Her chest tightened even as she spoke. “Just a little. Not really anything more than that.”
“Well, any info helps.”
She nodded then pushed against Rick. “Excuse me, but I need to use the ladies’ room.”
Rick slid out, giving her his hand to help her out of the booth. When she stood up, her chest rubbed against his. The spark that she’d felt from the moment she’d seen the Banning brothers flared to a fire burning brightly. He skimmed his palms along her arms, taking the air right out of her lungs.
“Don’t be gone too long, okay?”
She studied the stubble on his jawline and wanted to press her palm against it. Would it be prickly or soft? She swallowed and regained her composure. “I won’t.”
Pushing away from him was harder than swimming through mud. Yet somehow she managed to stagger toward the hallway and the restroom. She shoved open the door and stepped into the well-lit room.
Three sinks lined the wall while another door led to the toilet area. She snagged a paper towel from its dispenser then passed it under the faucet. Letting out a sigh, she held the cloth to the back of her neck.
Yeah, like that’s going to cool me off. She met her image in the mirror. Nothing but getting all three of them into bed is ever going to put out the fire they’ve set. But then they’d just start the heat again. Still, what a way to go!
Caitlyn entered from the toilet area and started to wash her hands. Although she knew she should resist the temptation, Heather couldn’t let the opportunity pass to find out about the Banning brothers. Luckily for her, Caitlyn brought up the subject first.
“You’re a friend of Brandon and his brothers, right?” Caitlyn ran her fingers through her hair then turned her head side to side to check her makeup. “I’m Caitlyn Miller.”
Heather didn’t want to use the fake name she’d given the men. Instead, she smiled and dropped the damp towel into the waste container. “Yeah. I mean, I haven’t known them long, but I’d definitely consider them friends.” She could say she was intimate friends with Rick and DJ and wanted the same “friendship” with Brandon. But why tell Caitlyn?
“They’re great guys. The best.”
Heather stomped down the green-eyed monster threatening to push its way to the surface again. If only Caitlyn wasn’t so damn pretty with her long eyelashes, copper-highlighted hair, and firm figure. “Um, have you known them a long time?”
Caitlyn finished washing her hands then brushed her hair away from her shoulders. Her breasts were perky yet full. Heather found herself disliking the waitress even more even though she knew it was unfair of her to think that way.
“Yeah, a few months. I moved here from Atlanta and they talked Rob into hiring me.” The gorgeous girl turned to face her. “At first, I did everything I could to get one or even all of them interested, but they didn’t give me the time of day. So, I figured, hey, they must be gay, right? I mean, look at me. I’ve never had any straight guy turn me down.”
It may not be right, but there it is. I officially hate her.
She plastered a smile on her face and nodded, hoping to hide t
he seething loathing inside. The men may have turned Caitlyn down, but she hated the thought of the confident, sexy waitress coming on to them every time they worked together.
“But then I found out that they weren’t gay, and I was like, are you kidding me? That’s when Rick finally pulled me aside and told me the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard in my entire life.”
“What’d he say?”
“He said that they were waiting for the right woman. The one that all three of them would love.” Caitlyn fanned her face, keeping the tears from falling. “Sorry, but it just gets me. Why can’t I get that lucky?”
Okay, so maybe I don’t hate her—much. “All three of them?”
“Yeah. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not into the whole polygamy thing, but if I had a chance to have the Banning boys loving me at the same time, I’d take it.”
“Really?” Yeah, like I haven’t thought the very same thing.
“Sure. So then I asked them how they knew I wasn’t the right woman. And you know what they said?”
Heather tried not to shake the girl to hurry her along. “What?”
“They told me that they’d know it the moment they met her. Not by dating her or anything like that. But with their bodies, with their minds, and, most of all, with their hearts. Isn’t that just the most romantic thing you’ve ever heard?”
Heather’s mind raced. Had Rick or DJ said something like that? At least something similar?
“All I have to say is that whoever that girl turns out to be, she’d better buy a lottery ticket, because she has all the luck. Not only are those three guys hotties, but they’re as nice as they can be. No kidding. Every girl that works here, and I’ve heard others as well, thinks they’re the best. Do you know they’ve helped almost everyone that works at this club?”
“They have? How?” Did they help pay everyone’s rent? No wonder they didn’t have enough money to buy the ranch.
“Well, like me, for instance. Brandon’s going to loan me money to help with the rent even though I have no idea when or how I’ll ever pay him back. But they don’t just help out that way. Rick spent an entire weekend at Miss Lucy’s. She was the sweet elderly lady who lived next door to them. He stayed with her when she had the flu, cooking and cleaning for her, while Brandon and DJ drove all the way to Santa Fe, New Mexico, to drag her ungrateful son back home. Sadly, she died the next week, but because of the Banning boys, she died happy with her son at home.”
“Wow. You make them sound like the male versions of Mother Teresa.” She winced. “I didn’t mean that in a bad or skeptical way.”
Even Caitlyn’s laugh was beautiful. “Don’t worry about it. It’s hard to imagine one amazing guy, much less three of them. Most guys who have their charm and sex appeal are too conceited to care about anyone else. But not them. Everyone who knows them would do anything for them. Anyway, I need to get back to work.”
Heather pivoted to follow her out the door when Caitlyn spun toward her. “Listen, I don’t know if you know this, but I saw the way they were looking at you.”
“At me?”
“Yeah, and let me tell you, if they’d looked at me that way, I’d already have them back at my place doing what comes naturally, if you know what I mean. So, if you’re not interested in a long-term thing with them, then let them go now.” Her hazel eyes slid over Heather from top to bottom and back again. “We wouldn’t like anyone hurting them. You know what I mean?”
Heather could barely get a whisper out. “Uh-huh. Thanks for telling me all this.”
“Sure. It’s just that I know about that kind of pain, and it sucks.” Her eyes welled up again, but this time sadness enveloped her. “I’ve dated this guy for a little while now, but I can tell he’s not the one.”
“How can you know for sure?” She reached out and slid her palm over Caitlyn’s arm.
“I just know. I mean, I should’ve broken it off before now, but”—she shrugged—“I kept thinking maybe things would change. Now, after seeing the way the Banning brothers look at you, I’ve got to call it quits.”
“I’m sure the right guy will come along soon.” She didn’t believe that, but wasn’t that what she was supposed to say?
“Oh, don’t worry about me.” She plastered on an obviously fake smile. “Okay, then, back to work. It’s show time.” Whirling around, Caitlyn pushed through the door and headed back toward the bar.
Heather followed Caitlyn back into the crowd and over to the bar. The men were still waiting for her in the booth, but she couldn’t bring herself to go back yet. Not until she could figure out how to tell them her real name. She felt like an even bigger jerk after what Caitlyn had told her.
Maybe if I tell them to keep quiet about the information I gave them, it could work out all right. That and if they forgive me for lying to them. After all, it wasn’t that big of a lie, was it? Just a silly name.
“Heather Cumming, how the hell are you?”
She spun around at the mention of her name—her real name. Duke Simpton, the primary agent for one of her father’s real estate land developers, offered her his hand. She shook it then pulled away as fast as she could.
Duke was an attractive man in his early thirties who had asked her out a couple of times since she’d returned to Passion. He was successful in his business and was pleasant, but she couldn’t get past the impression that she simply didn’t like him. Although he’d worked in conjunction with her father on several purchases, she couldn’t pinpoint any other reason for not liking him. It was just that he put her on edge.
“Mr. Simpton, what are you doing here?” She would’ve never pictured him at a club with line dancing and girls performing on top of the bar.
“Seriously, Heather, how many times have I asked you to call me Duke?”
“O-kay, I’ll try.”
“Good. Besides, I’m here to see you.”
He took her by the elbow and started to lead her away from the bar, but she resisted, tugging her arm out of his grasp. “Why? And how did you know I was here?”
“I happened to be driving by the club when I saw you walk in. I would’ve come in right after you, but I had a few calls that needed to get done. Can I buy you a drink?”
“No.” She hadn’t meant to sound harsh, but then again, she didn’t care that she had. “I mean, thanks, but I’m here with friends.”
“Oh.” He gazed around, but she didn’t feel inclined to point out the Banning brothers.
“What did you want to talk to me about?” Please don’t ask me out again.
He dragged in a big breath. “I’d rather sit down and talk, but if you’d rather not…Anyway, I want to speak to you about the sale of Windy Hills.”
“What about it?” Would her stomach ever stop twisting into a knot whenever someone mentioned selling the ranch? Obviously word was out about the sale.
He leaned closer, giving her a whiff of his expensive yet cloying aftershave. “I was hoping since your father and I have had mutually lucrative dealings in the past that I might get a heads-up on how the bids were going.”
Ah, another reason to dislike him.
Letting information slip was one thing, but expecting her to outright tell him was another. “They haven’t even started yet. And even if they had, I wouldn’t tell you. The bidding is limited and held in a discreet manner. Abrams will send out the directions and rules for the bids tomorrow. So you’ll just have to wait along with the rest of the world.”
“But it’s hardly going to be open to the public, correct?”
“Again, I’m not saying anything more. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to my friends.”
He grabbed her again, his fingers digging into her flesh. “Listen, Heather, I don’t know why you’re acting this way, but I think I deserve more consideration. Maybe I should talk to your father. He’ll tell you—”
“Is this guy bothering you?”
Brandon’s deep voice behind her sent her into action. She yanked her arm ou
t of Duke’s hold, cutting off his sentence. “Hey, guess what?”
Both men stared at her as though she’d lost her mind.
“What?” asked Brandon.
“I just met Caitlyn in the restroom, and she invited me to dance on the bar with them. You wanted to see that, right, Brandon?” Heather took Brandon’s hand, pulling him away from Duke to hurry them over to the side of the bar where she’d seen the dancers get on top of the counter.
“Are you sure Caitlyn meant for you to dance on the bar and not on the dance floor?”
“I’m positive.” Heather grinned as big as she could and waved to Caitlyn, who was lining up with the rest of the dancers. “Caitlyn, I’m here!”
Caitlyn shot her a funny look then morphed the question on her face into a smile when she saw Brandon beside Heather. Taking that as her opening, Heather scrambled onto the mahogany surface.
Holy cow shit, what the hell am I going to do now?
Chapter Six
DJ and Rick followed Heather and Brandon to the bar. DJ brushed by the guy that Heather had spoken to, “accidentally” bumping against the man’s arm. It was a juvenile move, but he couldn’t resist. The guy gave him the creeps. He didn’t wait to see the man’s reaction, but he heard him mumble a curse word.
Smiling, he tried to catch up with Heather then slammed to a stop when she jumped onto the bar. She baby-stepped next to Caitlyn, who leaned closer to Heather to whisper to her. It was obvious that Caitlyn knew as little about Heather getting into the act as he did.
“What the hell is she doing?”
“Beats me.” DJ’s grin grew wider. “But I like it.”
Caitlyn shrugged as the song for their set started. Like the other three girls on the bar, she went straight into their dance routine. Heather looked like a possum cornered by a wily fox as she watched the dancers for a moment then started mimicking their movements. The crowd, knowing that she wasn’t part of the act, cheered her on.
DJ moved to stand behind Brandon. “Was this your idea?”
“Nope. I came over to check out the guy she was talking to, and, before I knew it, she was tugging me along with her. She said Caitlyn asked her to join them.”
