Growl for Her

by Jane Jamison

  “You’re being stupid. How can you think you’re in love with two guys you barely know?”

  But lying to herself was hard. Maybe harder than it would be to lie to anyone else.

  She’d found their ranch easily enough. Getting out of the car, however, was a different matter. The indecision was tearing her apart. Still, sitting in the car talking to herself wasn’t going to change a damn thing.

  You have to do this. You have to find out for certain.

  As if she needed another reason for coming. Wanting them had become a full-time obsession.

  I’m going riding. Don’t make it a bigger thing than it is.

  Yeah, right.

  The ranch was the standard style of home for most of Texas, especially the rural areas. Two stories? Check. A frame house painted white? Check. The only difference between their home and the ones she’d passed on the way out to the ranch was the color of the shutters. Most houses had green, black, or red shutters. But not the shutters on the Conroy men’s home. Theirs was multi-colored with red, white, and blue striping the wood.

  “Patriotic much?” She mumbled to herself.

  “Yeah. We are. Besides, we figured we’d be different.”

  She twisted around. David and Darion walked up to her car, the reins of three horses in their hands. “You two have a habit of sneaking up on a girl, you know that?”

  “We do?” Darion tipped his hat back. Another one rested on the saddle horn of a midnight black horse. “I guess it’s just in our nature.”

  “Are you ready to ride?” asked the incredibly handsome David. His steel-cut jaws were etched with stubble, giving him the sexy appeal of a man who did as he wanted, whenever he wanted. The kind of man any woman would melt for.

  “You bet.” Maybe.

  When they’d called earlier that morning, she’d jumped at the chance to ride a horse. Looking at the animal now, however, she wasn’t so sure. Why hadn’t she realized how big horses were?

  Thinking about the men all night, trying to convince herself that she shouldn’t get any more deeply involved than she already was, had only made her wish they were there with her. Leaving them last night had been rough. Rougher than it ever should’ve been, but there it was. Although she’d chastised herself for giving into them again, she’d known the truth. She’d gone out to the pasture, hoping they’d get angry about her standing them up. Angry enough to track her down. Luckily, her ploy had paid off.

  She liked to think she’d done it for the sake of the story, because she had a job to do, but she knew better. The reason, however, no longer mattered. She was there and no force on earth could get her to leave now.

  If she listened to the pounding of the sexual sizzle hitting her, she’d tell them to forget the horses and take her into their bed. She inhaled, forcing herself not to say as much.

  Play it cool. You don’t know for sure what’s happening.

  “Is the extra hat for me?” She slid out of the car, leaving the keys in the ignition and her purse on the seat. “Should I put my things in your house?”

  “Naw, they’re fine where they are.”

  Of course. This is Twisted, not Dallas.

  “You can grab them once we get back. Then we’ll give you the ten cent tour of the house.” David looped the reins over the horse’s neck then put his foot in the stirrup. He was up and on the mount in the next second.

  She’d never understood other women’s fascination with cowboys, but now she did. There was just something about a strong man sitting on a horse. A man in total control of the huge animal was sexy as hell. She wanted to be the animal he rode, the one he’d command with only a flick of his wrist. Or better, a flick of his tongue.

  I’m jealous of a damn horse.

  Darion plopped the cowboy hat on top of her head. “I know it’s a little big, but it’ll have to do until we can get you your own.”

  Her own. As if they’re planning on me sticking around.

  She wouldn’t think about that right then. Not when they were so damn sexy and ready to show her the ranch.

  “Have you ridden before?”

  “No. But how hard can it be?” She didn’t really believe that, but putting on as though she had confidence seemed the right way to act.

  “It depends on the horse and what you’re doing on top of it. Just riding around’s no problem, but herding cattle? Then it gets tricky.” David looked as though he’d been born in a saddle.

  “We’re not herding cattle, are we?” She wanted to be with them, but risking her neck was out of the question.

  “Don’t let him get to you,” said Darion. “We’ll take it easy. Today’s all about you.”

  “Good to know.” She warmed at his words. “Are you okay with taking the time off? I thought ranch work lasted from sunup to sundown.”

  “It does.” Darion held the reins to her horse and gripped the stirrup keeping it steady. “Most of the chores can wait. The others are being handled by friends.”

  Was she really ready to get on top of the large animal? Her gaze slid from the horse to Darion. On top of the man-animal?

  The horse? Maybe.

  The man-animal. Hell, yeah.

  “Rancher friends?” She held onto the back of the saddle as David had done then set her foot in the stirrup.

  “Give a hop and throw your leg over.” Darion put his hand on her ass. “Whenever you’re ready, girl.”

  She grabbed the saddle horn, hopped, and swung her leg over, landing in the saddle. Letting out a sigh of relief, she glanced down at the other side of the horse. The animal seemed even bigger from on top of it. “Okay. I’m up. Although I half expected to go over the side and land on my ass.”

  Darion handed her the reins. “It’s like driving a car. Pull left to go left and right to go right.”

  “If you say so.”

  “Trust me.” He gave her a wink. “But if you do fall off, try and land on your head. God knows it’s hard enough to take the blow.”

  “Oh, ha-ha. You’re so funny. Asshole.”

  Darion chuckled as he mounted his horse then swung it around to get next to hers. “And to answer your question, yeah, they’re rancher friends. Along with men we’ve met doing the rodeo circuit.”

  She didn’t move. Who knew what the horse would do if she did? “The rodeo?” Had her voice wavered?

  David pulled his horse around, maneuvering it in a tight space. “Yeah. We used to ride bulls and do some of the roping events.”

  “Used to?” She would’ve liked to have seen them on the back of a bull.

  “We gave it up when we started ranching full time,” answered Darion. “Here we go. All you have to do is give Buddy a nudge with your heels and he’ll go.”

  “How fast?”

  “How fast will he go?” asked Darion.

  Her palms were sweaty. “Yeah. It’s not like he has a speedometer. I don’t want to break any speed records.”

  He leaned toward her and skimmed his hand along her leg. “Stop worrying. You’re going to do fine. And again. Steer like you would a car. As far as the gas goes, a little kick will get him going slower than a hard one.”

  “What about putting on the brakes?”

  “Pull the reins back. A quick hard pull will get you a quick hard stop. Got it?”

  “Got it.” I hope.

  “Daylight’s a-burnin’, you two. Let’s ride.” David clucked and nudged his horse into motion.

  Darion lifted his eyebrows, silently asking if she was ready. She took a breath then bumped her heels into Buddy’s side. To her relief, he didn’t bolt. Instead, he started following David’s horse at a nice slow pace. The motion of the horse rocked her from side to side in the saddle, but she soon grew comfortable with the steady motion.

  Look at me. I’m riding.

  She giggled softly. I sound like a little kid telling mommy to watch.

  It didn’t take her long before she’d relaxed enough to have fun. Not only did Buddy obey her commands, but the me
n stayed close, making sure she was safe.

  They rode over one pasture and into another, their ranch spreading out before them. They kept the conversation light, talking about Texas, the things they liked to do, and how beautiful the land was. She’d thought the landscape flat and uninteresting when she’d first arrived, but seeing it through their eyes brought out every color in the bushes, the red of the clay dirt, and the sounds of nearby animals. They pointed out places where they fed the cattle and strips of flat land where they liked to race their mounts against each other. David seemed more relaxed than usual, even adding to Darion’s joking manner.

  “And this is where we want to build our new home.” David pulled his horse to a stop.

  She brought Buddy in between their two horses. Strange how, either on horseback or on her feet, she felt safer, happier whenever she was between David and Darion. “But why? I haven’t seen the inside of your house yet, but if it’s anything like the exterior, I’m sure it’s fine.”

  “For one thing, we like the area better.” Darion pointed toward a row of trees. “See? With those trees and the nearby pond, it’s a nicer place. In the winter and the trees have lost their leaves, you can see the pond when it’s frozen over. Add snow and it’s nothing short of amazing. Plus, the house will be set farther off the main road.”

  She could see what he meant. The gentle slope of the land as well more foliage made the spot more serene than where they lived now. “Still, you’ve already got a good home.”

  “We do, but it’s too small,” answered Darion.

  “Too small for just the two of you?”

  “Too small for the family we want to have.”

  “Oh.” She met Darion’s gaze and was instantly thrown by the hunger in them. The same hunger that tightened her abdomen.

  “We want a lot of children,” added David.

  Suddenly, she went from feeling secure to feeling trapped. Everything was moving so fast. She was sure she cared for them, but the idea was still unsettling. Had they thought they’d convince her of the connection by bringing her there? And yet, from the moment she’d arrived at their place, she’d felt the passionate pull, as strong and as exciting as ever.

  “With you, baby. We want those children with you.”

  “Look, guys—”

  “No, don’t.” David reached over and placed his hand on top of hers. “Don’t talk yourself out of believing we’re meant to be together. You know we are.”

  “No, I don’t.” She’d gotten it wrong. It wasn’t love she was experiencing. It was lust. That had to be it.

  “Yes, you do. David’s right. Stop thinking with your head and listen to your heart.”

  She laughed, trying to lighten the mood. “I have to listen to my head. It’s the way I’m wired. And my head’s telling me that this connection thing doesn’t make sense.”

  “It’s not supposed to make sense. Some of the best things in life don’t make sense.” Darion shook his head. “Don’t be afraid. Just let it happen.”

  She didn’t know whether it was fear or anger rising inside her. Maybe a combination of both. “I’m not afraid. I’m being logical. People don’t fall in love in only a few days.”

  Unless the connection is real.

  “Okay, then, let’s look at this logically.”

  David was up to something. But what? “How can I when you’re trying to make me believe in something that defies logic?”

  “Just answer these questions.”

  He’s trying to trick me. “Fine.”

  “Do you feel the connection? Call it whatever you want. A very strong attraction or a vibe or whatever. But don’t tell us you don’t feel it.”

  She couldn’t lie. Maybe if she followed along, she’d make them see it her way. “Yes. I feel…something.”

  “You feel more than just something.” David’s gaze leveled at her. “The sensation you get whenever you’re around us is nothing like you’ve ever felt. You don’t understand it. You don’t even fully trust it yet.” He pointed to his forehead. “Not here, anyway, but you know it’s good and right. Tell me I’m wrong.”

  She gritted her teeth. “No. You’re not wrong. But it doesn’t mean the three of us belong together.”

  “Good. Now tell me you don’t like us.”

  She loved them, but love didn’t pay the bills. Once she left, she’d sort everything out and end up realizing she’d been wrong. It wasn’t love. It was amazing, passion-filled lust. “Yes, I like you. A lot. I don’t have sex with men I don’t like a lot.”

  “Sex, yeah. But would you call it sex or making love?”

  “David, you should’ve been a lawyer, bro.”

  She tossed a glare at Darion then shifted her focus back to David. “It was sex. Freaking awesome, blow-my-mind sex, but it was still just sex.”

  “You’re lying.”

  She opened her mouth to deny it, then stopped.

  Damn it, I am.

  Suddenly, everything had become too serious. Too overwhelming.

  I have to get away. If I don’t, I’m going to tell them I love them. And if I do that, I won’t be able to leave.

  She pulled back on the reins, bringing Buddy’s head up. Yanking the left rein, she spun him around. Without thinking, she brought her heels back, putting them into the horse. Buddy broke into a gallop, almost jolting her off. Somehow she held on.

  The men’s shouts were lost in the roar of the blood pulsing through her ears. Buddy flew over the ground. At first, she was terrified, but when she didn’t fall off, fear soon gave way to unbridled joy. Her hair trailed behind her. She gripped the saddle horn with the reins underneath her palms and bent forward, leaning toward the horse’s powerful neck.

  “Slow down, Kristal!”

  I don’t want to.

  Instead, she gave Buddy his head and laughed. David had told her he’d go home if she gave him the reins. She hoped he was right.

  On they raced. She could hear David and Darion behind her, still calling for her to hold up, but she ignored them. The pounding of their horses’ hooves thundered behind her. Their voices grew louder as they gained ground on her.

  She glanced over her shoulder. They were close, but not close enough. She laughed and faced forward again.

  The ditch loomed before her before she knew it. Buddy reared up, his powerful muscles flexing. In the next moment, they were airborne as her horse stretched out its limbs and hurled its body over the ditch.

  Oh, my God.

  She held her breath, the sensation of flight bringing the moment to a standstill.

  Buddy landed on the opposite side of the ditch, sending a shudder to rack her body. She clutched at the saddle horn, gripping so hard her hands hurt, but it couldn’t save her.

  Letting out a cry, she tumbled backward over Buddy’s rump. Blue sky filled her vision before she landed on her back and sank into the soft mud.

  * * * *

  “Kristal!” David threw his body off his horse and jumped into the ditch. She lay on her back, but her eyes were open and her chest was moving. He went to his knees beside her and pulled her into his arms. “Are you all right? Is anything hurt?”

  Her beautiful eyes met his. “Did you see me?”

  Had she hit her head? “Are you kidding me? Yeah, I saw you fall.”

  “No, not that. Did you see me ride?” A soft smile formed on her kissable lips.

  Relief flooded him. If she’d been hurt or killed, he wouldn’t have been able to live with himself. “Yeah. I saw all right. What did you think you were doing?”

  “I was flying.” For a moment, her smile grew wider. Then she grimaced and moaned. “The flying was great, but the landing sucked. Oooh, I hurt.”

  “Where, Kristal? Tell me where you hurt?” He scanned her looking for any signs of injury. Her legs were straight and not bent at any odd angles. The way she gripped him said her arms were all right.

  “My butt.” She groaned and scrunched her face. “My butt feels like I broke it.”<
br />
  He hated to do it, but he couldn’t resist laughing. “Yeah. I’ll bet it does.” He stroked the hair out of her face. “Don’t worry. If you actually broke your butt, you’d be feeling a hell of a lot worse.”

  The unmistakable sound of a furious rattling hit him, stiffening his body. “Shh. Don’t move. Don’t say anything,” he whispered. Moving as slowly as he could, he shifted his head from one side to the other, but couldn’t find the rattlesnake.

  “Stay still, bro. I’ve got it in my sights.”

  He nodded just barely enough for Darion to know he’d heard him. The gunshot splintered the air. Kristal let out a cry and clutched him even harder. He brought her to him, her face pressed against his chest. If Darion had missed, at least the rattler would’ve bitten him and not Kristal.

  “Got him. You can move now.”

  He let out a breath his brother wouldn’t see. “Never doubted you for a minute.”

  “Yeah. Right.” Darion jumped into the ditch behind him, snatched up the dead snake, and held it up. “Good thing you didn’t land on top of him.”

  “Oh, shit.”

  “It’s okay now. Let’s get you out of the mud.” Thankful that nothing more than her butt and her pride were hurt, David stood, taking her along with him. “I’ll hand her out to you.”

  “Right.” Darion took hold of the roots of a tree that stuck out of the mud wall. After sticking his gun in his waistband, he hauled himself out of the ditch.

  David put her on her feet, but kept hold of her in case she got dizzy. “I’ll push you and Darion will pull you out. Think you can handle that?”

  She nodded then reached out her arms to Darion. His brother took her hands and lifted her out. He followed, using the same tree roots Darion had used to pull himself out.

  She was in his brother’s arms, clutching to him, obviously still shaken. Even so, he couldn’t stop the anger boiling up inside him. “What the fuck were you thinking? You need a hell of a lot more riding experience to run a horse.”

  “David, ease off.”

  But he couldn’t. “You could’ve gotten your neck broken. Or been snake bitten.”