by Chloe Lang
“You sure have the lines, Heath. I bet you call all the girls in town that.”
He rubbed his chin, and his eyebrows shot up. “Actually, I don’t. Weird. It would be a good line.”
She had to smile at his transparency. “Well, now you can start using it, of course, on someone who you actually have a chance with. That wouldn’t be me.”
He cupped her chin. “Why not you?”
She gulped. Ever since meeting this Strong brother, she’d had the strangest thoughts shooting through her head. One moment she absolutely wanted to be free of him, and the next she found herself staring at him as if mesmerized by him. It was ridiculous, but Heath had something about him she couldn’t quite put her finger on…
“Heath, I’m kind of seeing your brother Drake.”
He removed his hand. “Really?” he asked in a way that told her he already knew more than he was letting on.
“Well, not ‘seeing’ actually. We…Well, we’ve spent a little time together.”
“I see.” He grabbed her hands and brought them up to his face. “No ring?”
“Of course not. I’ve only been here a few days.”
“So, you two are exclusive?” Heath was clearly baiting her, but she didn’t know how to be free of his word trap.
“You know we’re not.”
“Then you’re available. Besides, you do know that my family practices plural marriages, too, just like your cousin’s new setup?”
“I’ve been told that you Strong brothers are divided into two sets of three. True?”
“Sure, but I’d recommend the team I’m on for you. We’ve got the maturity that I know you would respond to quite well long term.”
Charly smiled. He’d just handed her a quiver of words to shoot at him. Thank you, Heath Strong. “Long term? Do you mean marriage? Is that what you’re proposing?”
He squeezed her hand and gave her a sexy grin. “Charly Wynn, you should carry around a sign that says ‘handle with care.’”
“I’ll consider having one made. We barely know each other, and you think you’ve got me figured out, cowboy?”
“I thought I did.” His eyes narrowed. “You’re not like the women around here. I’m looking forward to learning more about the secrets you keep inside that pretty little head of yours.”
Secrets…
Charly pulled her hands free of his grasp and then slipped on her heels. “I’m headed to the casino.”
“Ah, the post party.”
Charly had learned about the party from Michael, who seemed to be more in the know than any outsider of the town should be. Well, that’s Michael for you. The younger wedding attendees, including Jessie and the grooms, were all planning to have some drinks at Sneaky Pete’s after the reception wound down.
“Thank you for the talk, Heath. I’m ready to head back to my room to change into something more comfortable.”
“I’ll be happy to escort you back to the Cactus.”
“No, you won’t, Heath.” Drake’s angry tone shook her to the core. “That’s my job.”
Chapter Three
Charly opened the door to her room at the Hotel Cactus. Drake stood beside her. He hadn’t said two words as he walked her to the hotel. He was pissed, but she wasn’t sure if his anger was directed at her or Heath. Either way, she didn’t like being treated like she’d done something wrong.
“I can take it from here, Mr. Strong.”
“Sure you can. I’m not leaving you—” His cell phone buzzed. He looked at the screen. “Damn it.”
“What is it?”
“Not what, who. Tobias.” He punched the green button. “Hello…shit. How many? Fuck. Dads, too? Fine. I’ll be there in twenty.”
“What’s wrong?”
“A bunch of heifers are off the ranch and on the highway. I’ve got to go. You stay put here until I get back, understand?”
“Who do you think you are, Drake?” She recalled Heath asking her about a ring. “You’re not my husband, not even my fiancé. I will do whatever I want to do.”
“Don’t make me tie you up, sweetheart. I will.”
She trembled, wondering if he actually would. “Fine. I’ll stay put.”
“Good girl.” He leaned in as if to kiss her, but she turned her head. “You think that will stop me?”
“Yes.”
“Wrong.” He pulled her close with one hand at the back of her shoulders and turned her chin with the other.
Drake’s lips crashed down on hers like cannonballs—hot and explosive. There was anger in the kiss, but also a ton of passion. She felt her knees go wobbly, and then suddenly his embrace ended.
He stepped back into the hallway and glared at her. “Don’t you dare leave your room until I get back, Charly.”
She wanted to argue, but the taste of his kiss still on her lips restrained her. “When will you be back? It’s already past ten, and I want to see Jessie at the after-party.”
“I don’t care. If I get back in time, we’ll go to the casino. If not, we won’t. Period.”
“Go take care of your cows, cowboy. Make it fast.”
“You’re something else, Charly Wynn.” Then he turned and left.
She shut the door and walked to the window. The view was amazing. The longer she stared at it, the more beautiful it became. The full moon gave a silver hue to the mountains of Northern Nevada. She imagined Drake and his brothers working to get the lost cattle back to safety. The guys would surely all be on horseback, especially Heath.
Why am I thinking about Heath? She knew why. He’d gotten under her skin. He’d also made it clear that he was going to pursue her no matter what.
She slipped out of her bridesmaid dress and put on jeans, tennis shoes, and her favorite sweater. If Drake did make it back, however unlikely, the air would mandate something a bit warm to keep the chill off her skin.
She sat down on the bed. Her bridesmaid dress was stretched out beside her on the mattress. Drake was being ridiculous. She wanted to see Jessie one more time before the bride and grooms headed off on their honeymoon to Tahiti.
A knock on the door shook her from her thoughts. That can’t be Drake already? Heath? Fuck-fuck-fuckity-fuck.
She looked through the peephole. It wasn’t either cowboy. She opened the door wide.
“Michael?”
“I’ve been sent by the bossy bride to find you and bring you to her.” Jessie’s ex smirked. If there were gay men in Wilde, they were in a whole bunch of trouble with this handsome devil slinking around their town. “You coming?”
Drake had no hold on her. Besides, what trouble could she get into with a crowd around her?
“Of course, I’m coming. This is my cousin’s wedding night.”
Then her cell rang. Glancing at the screen, she recognized the number for the mechanic in Elko.
“I need to take this. Go. Tell Jessie I’ll be there in less than five minutes.”
“You better or I’ll be back with a posse.”
“Hello, Harry. Can you hold on a second? Thank you.” She kissed Michael on the cheek. “I promise I’ll be there.”
He smiled and left. She closed the door.
“I’m back. I hope you have good news.”
“I don’t.” The mechanic’s voice was soft. “Your car won’t be ready in the morning. I’m sorry.”
“What you mean?” Charly Wynn clenched her jaw so tight that her head started to pound. “This is not acceptable, Harry.”
“I’m sorry, Ms. Wynn.” Lucky for him that he was an hour’s drive away or she would’ve pounded him in the face. “I’m still waiting on the part from Reno.”
“That’s not going to work. The wedding is over. I need my car delivered to me ready to go first thing in the morning. I’ve got to be in Malibu at 9:00 a.m. day after tomorrow.” She didn’t like being so pushy, but her world would fall apart if she didn’t make the interview. “There’s got to be other places you can get the part.”
“There are,
but it still will take time. Plus, it would be more money, and you told me to keep the cost down. Is that still the case?”
Fuck-fuck-fuckity-fuck! Does it always come down to money? “Whether I can afford a price up or not doesn’t matter since you can’t get it sooner. What is the earliest you can have my car running? Please, tell me tomorrow. Make it happen, Harry, and I will owe you big-time.”
No answer.
“You still there?” she asked.
“I am.” He sighed. “Let me see what I can do. I need to make a phone call. At this point, it is a long shot though, Ms. Wynn.”
“But you will try, right?”
“Yes.” There was something strange about Harry’s tone to her.
The mechanic seemed pensive and somehow different from the other day when she’d met him. Then, he’d been very helpful and open. Now, he seemed to be holding something back. What, she didn’t know. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“I’ve told you everything. I’ve got to go. Check with Drake Strong. He might be able to help you out with your trip. Good luck, Charly.”
“Please make this work, Harry.”
“Like I said before, I will do my best. Good-bye, Ms. Wynn.”
The line went dead.
“How am I going to make this work?” she asked aloud. Why did he suggest I ask Drake to take me? Likely just to get me off his back.
But there was something in the way Harry had suddenly brought up the idea that didn’t sit quite right with Charly. Asking for favors wasn’t something she was comfortable with, but her options were dwindling.
* * * *
Charly looked at her cell to check the time. It was twelve thirty. She hated to be late, but she definitely was now. The phone call to the garage in Elko had delayed her, but it was necessary. Sneaky Pete’s was really close to the hotel. Even though the sleepy streets of Wilde looked harmless, she still walked quickly.
She had the oddest feeling that someone was watching her from the shadows. Paranoia, no doubt. I’m from the South Bronx. What am I afraid of?
When she walked through the doors of Sneaky Pete’s, Wilde’s local casino, most of the gamblers looked her way, making her nervous. So many sexy cowboys in one place would make any woman a wreck. Thankfully, most quickly turned back to their games of chance. The few that continued to stare, though unusual for her, would be disappointed to know she was here for a party, not a hookup.
Calling this place a casino was like calling a Chihuahua a Great Dane. The room couldn’t have been more than thirty-five feet deep and about the same wide. A few tables for blackjack and poker were scattered around the room. There was a wall filled with slot machines. To her right was a long bar with a few tables for the thirsty gambler to take refuge. At one of the tables sat the party she was looking for.
Charly grinned at Jessie and her five husbands. Around the table were the other bridesmaids, Michael, but no Strong brothers. The bride was about to down a shot of something.
When Michael spotted her standing in the middle of the casino, he waved her over.
As Charly took the seat next to Michael, she said, “Sorry I’m late, Jessie.”
“Sharly,” the bride slurred. Jessie looked at everyone around her and pointed at Charly. “This is my cousin. I love her, and I think…she’s falling for our little town, too.”
“That’s enough tequila for now, Mrs. Wilde.” Jackson put his arm around Jessie. “We don’t want our bride sick tomorrow.”
“You’re so good to me, Jackson.”
Michael touched the back of Charly’s hand. “I was about to come looking for you. That call really held you up. Your mom?”
He knew about her mom’s illness. It was sweet of him to ask. “No. Not her. The mechanic in Elko says my car won’t be ready.”
“I’ll be happy to have my pilot fly you to…Where were you going for that job interview?”
Heath came up from behind Charly and took the empty seat on the other side of her. “She’s going to Malibu in the morning.”
Suddenly feeling nervous, she asked, “Shouldn’t you be rounding up cows with your brothers and dads?”
“Tobias gave me a pass. Since he’s running the ranch for the week, I took him up on it.”
“How about Drake?”
“He won’t be back until midday tomorrow. He, Seth, and Dax have to chase down some calves in some rough country on one of our parents’ ranches. It’s quite tough to ride. On some of the paths, you have to dismount just to make it through.”
“I should call him.”
“There’s no cell service up there.”
Charly wondered if Heath had somehow set this all in motion. Now I’m really getting paranoid. “Did Drake send me a message?”
Heath shrugged. “He might’ve, but I didn’t see him.”
“Check with Aunt Maude,” Dallas offered.
Heath glared at his cousin, which seemed odd to Charly.
The Wilde brother continued. “Mom told me that Aunt Maude drove Seth and Dax up to the pass to meet up with their dads and their other brothers. She probably saw Drake, too.”
“I will.” It was too late to call tonight, but tomorrow she would first thing in the morning. “Thanks, Dallas.”
Heath put his arm around her, causing her to melt a little inside. “Not much of a drinker, are you?”
“Not really,” she admitted.
“How about an early breakfast at Norma’s?”
Food did seem like a good idea. She’d not eaten much at the reception. “Are they open?”
“We may be a small town but we do have a twenty-four-hour diner. What do you say, gorgeous?”
“Hey, cowboy.” Michael grinned mischievously. “If she’s not interested, I am.”
Heath laughed. “So I’ve heard. I’ve got my eyes on one prize, and it ain’t you.”
Her body tingled with the prospect of having breakfast with Heath. And with his arm still firmly around her, she was having trouble focusing her thoughts. Was he just trying to best his little brother? Were they in some kind of tug-of-war and she was the proverbial rope? “Thanks, but I’m not hungry,” she lied.
“Come on. Do me the favor. Besides, have you tried the biscuits and gravy at Norma’s?”
“No, but I have had the pancakes.” Her stomach rumbled as she recalled consuming those delicious discs. “I think they call them King Cakes here.”
Heath unwrapped his arm from her shoulder. Then he reached and touched the top of her hand, and a charge shot from his fingers up her arm and through her body. It was a strange, new reaction for her.
“If you’re worried about what my little brother will think, don’t. It’s just breakfast.”
She bristled. “Why should I worry about what he thinks? He’s not my boyfriend.”
“I like the sound of that.”
Charly shook her head. Was she walking right into Heath’s trap? “I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m not ready to go on a date with you––dinner or breakfast.”
One of his eyebrows shot up, and he cocked his head. “That’s kind of presumptuous of you, Charly.”
Jerking her hand back, she wondered if she’d misread his intentions. Clearly, she’d never had much intuition in her life. Facts worked best for her. Always had. Still, she had thought he’d given off signs of being interested before. “Am I?”
“Just biscuits and gravy.” With his finger, Heath traced an X over his chest. “Cross my heart.”
“Well, if it’s just breakfast, then I’m game.” But she wondered. She wasn’t much of an expert in understanding the male psyche. She understood the Strong brothers even less.
Chapter Four
“I love a woman with a healthy appetite.” Heath smiled, but his gut was tight. Things were getting more complicated with the game than he wanted, and the reason sat across from him.
“You saying I’m fat?” Charly frowned.
“No, honey. You’re just perfect.”
&nb
sp; She sighed and shook her head. “You say that to all the girls I bet.”
He smiled. “Not true. How was your meal?”
“Mmm. Amazing.” She looked down at her empty plate. “I guess I was hungrier than I realized.”
“I knew you were.” Heath’s own plate was only half eaten, which was very unusual for him, but he just couldn’t stop looking at Charly during their meal.
“Thank you for insisting I come.” She sipped her coffee with her lush, full lips.
Everything about her made his lust stir and his cock lengthen. But it wasn’t just her curves that called to his need to take and conquer. She had a spark of adventure and a curiosity he’d never seen in any other woman. She’d asked about his family, about the ranch, about his life growing up. Charly had an ease about her that was charming and seductive. The more she probed for details, the more he wanted to open up to her, but that wasn’t possible for him with the ancient sins he carried.
No wonder his little brother was smitten with her. What man wouldn’t be?
Well, thanks to the help of Tobias and the loose heifers, Heath had Drake off the playing field for another few hours. His window of opportunity was cracked open only slightly and would slam shut very soon.
“So, you have an interview in Malibu day after tomorrow?”
She frowned. “Yes.”
“What’s wrong, Charly?” Heath already knew.
He’d learned that she didn’t have wheels after talking with Harry, the mechanic in Elko. Harry had shared with him about his deal with Drake to slow the repairs on Charly’s vehicle. The plan was for Drake to take her to Malibu for her interview. The drive and the overnight stay would give Drake more time with her. Heath thought that was pretty smart of his little brother. So smart that he decided he would be the one to take her to California, not Drake.
“My car isn’t going to be ready in time. I’m going to ask your brother to take me.”
“That’s not going to work out, Charly.” He loved when his strategies worked, and this one was working quite well.
Her pretty eyes widened. “Why not?”
“He won’t be back for another day or two, kiddo.”
