Aubrey looked ready to faint, purple shadows under her eyes, her skin so pale it was almost translucent. He pushed his way past the three people, dropping the sacks on the coffee table.
Noah held up his hand. “Stop this right now.” He used the best Dom voice he had, and it worked. Silence fell in the living room. He sat next to Aubrey on the couch and put his arm across her shoulders.
“Are you okay, honey?”
She nodded, her eyes shimmering with tears. Noah was going to kick some ass. Her parents were two of the most selfish people on the planet.
“I’m okay. My parents were just leaving.” She put emphasis on the last word.
“I’m not leaving without my daughter. You should be with your mother when you’re sick.”
“Aubrey, tell your mother you’d rather stay with us.” Aubrey’s father stepped up. Noah had never been Mr. Maxwell’s favorite person and he was even less so now. Her father’s expression was one of pure dislike. “Kate can take care of you until you feel better.”
Aubrey’s mother’s face turned an unattractive shade of purple. “Aubrey, tell your father that Kate is not your mother. You want to stay with your mother.”
Noah put up his hands, already tired of their shit. How Aubrey had managed to deal with this for years, he would never know. She was a freakin’ saint.
“Stop this shit, right now, and leave Aubrey alone. She’s staying here with us, and we will take care of her. She needs to rest, so if you would, please leave? She can call you later. If she wants to.”
Her father didn’t look happy. “Who the hell do you think you are? Here’s another question. Why weren’t we informed when Aubrey was hurt? I’ll tell you why. Because you were trying to keep it a secret she was hurt in one of your many barroom brawls. I know all about you and your brother. You drink and party all hours of the night. A couple of spoiled, rich boys, that’s what you are. You’re not good enough for Aubrey.”
Aubrey stood up carefully, holding on to Noah’s arm in case her ankle gave out. “Daddy, stop it.”
Riley stepped in. “Mr. Maxwell, I understand you’re upset. I can assure you we’ve settled down and we love your daughter. We’re going to be good husbands.”
Her mother gasped. “You’ve agreed to marry them? Oh Lord.”
Noah threw his brother an impatient look. Riley was only trying to help, but mentioning making a commitment right now probably wasn’t going to help anything.
Aubrey pressed her hand to her forehead. Her head must be pounding like a bitch right now. Noah’s was and he hadn’t had a concussion.
“Technically, they haven’t asked and I haven’t accepted, Mother. If I do, well, it’s my business.” She straightened up, her spine ramrod stiff. “I was the one that asked them not to call you. I knew this would happen, and honestly I didn’t want to deal with it.”
“Deal with what?” her father demanded.
Kate stepped forward. “This. Do you hear yourself? You’re asking your daughter to talk to her mother when her mother is not two feet from you. Your behavior is ridiculous.”
“That’s right, Milt. You’re being ridiculous,” Aubrey’s mother joined in.
Kate shook her finger. “You’re not any better. You two have spent the last twenty years torturing this poor girl. For shame!”
Noah was about to step between the women, but Riley got there first. They looked ready to do battle, and Noah wasn’t going to let that happen in his home.
“Listen to me very carefully,” Noah announced. “Aubrey is going to lie down, and you all are going to leave. If she wants to call you, she will. If she wants you to visit, she will call you. If she wants to marry us, she will say yes. It’s her business, not yours.”
“She’s friends with the Baldwins. Will you stop her if she marries you?” Mr. Maxwell jeered.
Noah shook his head. “No. In fact, we’re going to hire a historical investigator to find out the roots of this feud and see if we can’t bring it to an end, once and for all.”
Aubrey grabbed his arm, tugging until he was looking into her liquid brown eyes. “Truly? You really want to end the feud?”
Noah shrugged. “You’re right, honey. It’s been going on too long. I doubt we’ll ever be best friends, but we can bring this to an end. For you, babe.”
Aubrey threw herself into his arms with a sob. He chuckled and tipped her chin up. “Easy there. We can’t take all the credit. It was Aaron’s idea, actually.”
She sniffled. “But you’re going to do it. You really do love me.”
Riley groaned. “Well, of course we love you. What have we been saying for the last ten years?”
Aubrey turned her million-dollar smile on Riley. “Five years. The first five you never said it.”
Noah smiled. “You’ve been more than patient. We’ll say it every day for the rest of our lives.”
Aubrey pointed to the front door. “Mom, Dad, please leave. You’re upsetting me.”
Her simple statement seemed to crumple her parents. They hunched over and seemed to skulk out of the house, tails between their legs. When their cars pulled out of the driveway, Aubrey leaned into Noah’s arms for support.
“Thank heavens you arrived when you did. I might have gotten your shotgun from over the fireplace and showed them how you taught me to shoot.”
Riley chuckled, sweeping her into his arms and carrying her to the kitchen. Noah followed with the bags of food, hopefully still hot.
“I’m terrified at the thought of you wielding a shotgun. How about we eat instead? We brought you some of that soup you love so much from the cafe.”
Aubrey’s eyes lit up. “The lemon chicken soup? I love you!”
“Then sit down and we’ll serve you. We brought enough to feed an army if you’re hungry. Then you’re going back to bed.”
Her hand slid up his thigh, and his cock hardened immediately.
Down, boy. Not now.
“Eat then nap. You’re in no shape for what you have in mind.”
“How do you know what I have in mind?”
“Baby, I know your mind because it works much like mine, and I sure as hell know what I’m thinking.”
Aubrey pouted as Riley set a hot bowl of soup in front of her. He tapped her nose.
“No pouting, babe. When you get better, you can have anything you want. Especially, and including, us.”
“Promise?” Her smile made Noah’s heart melt.
“Promise,” he and Riley agreed.
Noah wanted to give her everything in the world. The first thing they would give her would be her safety and security back.
Chapter Nine
Riley tucked into the plate of French toast with relish. Aubrey had been living with him and Noah for the last week, and it was the best damn week of his life. He never thought he’d be saying it, but it was the truth. He loved waking up with her. He loved falling asleep next to her. She was fun, too. They watched movies and cooked dinner, and even played cards. She was a blackjack savant, cleaning both him and Noah out of all the cash they’d had on them. As it was, they owed her a thirty-minute back rub because they couldn’t pay their debts.
Amazingly, they hadn’t argued once. Not a real argument, anyway. Noah and Riley hadn’t gone drinking and gambling all week, and hell if Riley didn’t miss it a bit. He kept getting texts from his buddies, but he wasn’t tempted even once to join them. He still liked having a couple of beers, and he enjoyed playing poker, but he sure as fuck didn’t want to do it every night. He liked waking up without a headache after a few stolen hours of sleep. Craig was right. Growing up wasn’t bad at all. In fact, it was pretty terrific.
They only fly in the ointment was they hadn’t yet identified her admirer-stalker. She bristled each time Riley or Noah had dropped her off at school or picked her up. She’d protested when they’d insisted on driving her into town when she wanted to shop, but they wouldn’t be swayed. They would watch over her until the guy was caught. Nothing would happen to h
er while they were on the job.
Luckily, today was Saturday and Aubrey had made them a delicious breakfast and was planning to mark papers while they worked on the ranch. She was feeling a hundred percent better and had been dropping heavy hints about wanting to go to the club tonight. First they needed to talk to the historic investigator Aaron had hooked them up with. He’d found her through a college friend who had also majored in history.
He felt Aubrey’s toes trailing up his leg. He shook his fork at her with a playful smile. “Behave. Noah and I have lots of work to do today and we can’t be distracted. We’ll have some fun tonight at the club.”
Her lower lip popped out, and it made him want to pull her on his lap and kiss those pouty lips. “A girl just wants to have some fun, that’s all. You’ve been mean to me this week.”
Noah laughed. “Abstaining from spanking and tying up your woman who has been injured is mean? I think you have it backward, babe.”
“I wasn’t all that injured.”
Riley shook his head. Damn, she was a stubborn cuss. “You were exhausted every night when you got home from work. Not that you should have been working but we know to pick our battles.”
“I’m all better now.”
Noah shoved the last bite of French toast into his mouth. “You still have a tiny limp. We’ll be very careful with your ankle tonight.”
Noah’s phone went off, playing “Brown Eyed Girl,” which he’d chosen because it reminded him of Aubrey. Riley’s ringtone was also a tribute to their woman, “You Shook Me All Night Long.” Both songs never ceased to make Aubrey blush when she heard them, much to their delight. When Aubrey blushed, she blushed all over, clear down to her toes.
Noah pressed a few buttons. “Noah McLean.”
“Mr. McLean? It’s Dr. Jocelyn Richards. I believe you were expecting my call?”
Noah nodded. “I was. Thank you for talking to us on a Saturday at this incredibly early hour. When you work on a ranch, the day starts before the sun is up.”
“No problem. I have some details of what you’re looking for, but I’d like to hear from you, if you don’t mind?”
The woman’s voice was soft but brisk and efficient. She sounded younger than Riley had pictured her, thinking she was some gray-haired woman who liked to nose around dusty libraries.
“We’re wanting someone to come to Sanctuary and research how a feud between our family, the McLeans, and the Baldwin family started. If we can find that out, we’re hoping we can put an end to the feud once and for all,” Riley explained.
There was a small silence before Dr. Richards spoke. “And if your family is at fault? Are you going to be okay with that?”
“We will,” answered Noah, his expression grim. “We want to know the truth. We’re sure the truth will be ugly, but we need to know. Right now, we’re driving the whole town crazy with this animosity. It can’t continue.”
“I can come to town in a few weeks. Can you recommend a place to stay?”
“Minnie’s boarding house would be the best place,” Aubrey piped up. “She’ll take good care of you, and it’s in the middle of town. Close to everything.”
“Sounds good. I’ll call you as the time gets closer. I’m going to start doing some preliminary research about your families before I get there. Will I have the cooperation of both families, Mr. McLean?”
Noah was about to say no, but Aubrey held up her hand. “Yes, you will, Dr. Richards. I’ve spoken to my friend, Tatum Baldwin, and she’ll give you access to whatever you need on their side.”
“Excellent.” Dr. Richards was starting to sound excited. “I can send you a list of things I’d like to see first when I get there. Do you have an email address?”
Aubrey rattled off her personal email and took down Dr. Richards’s email address. “When you get here, Dr. Richards, please let me show you around town. You know, take you to lunch or something.”
“That would be very nice.” There was genuine pleasure in the doctor’s voice. “I need to run, but I’ll send that list later today. Thank you for your time.”
“Thank you, Dr. Richards,” Noah answered. “We appreciate your help with this rather delicate matter.”
“I’ll do my best. Good-bye.”
Noah pressed the end button and sat back in his chair. “Tatum Baldwin has agreed to cooperate fully, huh? I guess I should be grateful we’re in love with a woman who doesn’t pay any attention to us when it comes to the Baldwins.”
Aubrey popped a piece of French toast in her mouth and smiled. “You should be grateful. Tatum’s one of my best friends. She wants to end this feud as much as anyone.”
Riley drained his coffee cup, trying to delay heading into the cold for a long day of work. He’d much rather curl up with Aubrey. “We are grateful, babe.” He leaned over and kissed her lips. She tasted like cinnamon and sugar.
Riley stood and put his dishes in the sink, rinsing them off. Just because Aubrey was living with them didn’t mean she was their maid. They’d both tried to pick up after themselves as much as possible.
“We better get going. The sun’s coming up.” Noah stood up and headed for the sink.
Riley groaned, reluctant to leave the warmth of the kitchen. “Another day. Be good, sweetheart, and tonight we’ll go to Consensual.”
“Remember, I’m having lunch with Sophie and Alice today.”
Noah nodded. “You’re safe as long as you’re on the ranch. Are you going to Alex and Mason’s, or is she coming here?”
Aubrey rolled her eyes. “We’re meeting at the pizza place. I just wanted to remind you since I won’t be making you a hot lunch. I’ll leave sandwiches in the refrigerator.”
Riley exchanged a look with Noah. They didn’t want Aubrey off the ranch by herself. She thought they were crazy, but something didn’t sit well with both of them. Thad had said these stalker types usually escalated their behavior. They didn’t want her alone when he decided to do that. Until he was caught, they’d keep a close eye.
“Fine,” Noah said. “I’ll drive you into town at lunchtime. I have some errands I need to run anyway.”
Aubrey heaved a sigh. “I don’t need a babysitter. Who’s going to try something in broad daylight in the middle of the day?”
Riley grabbed his hat from the peg on the wall. “Someone who’s not playing with a full deck. Someone who might steal panties, for example.”
Riley grinned at Aubrey’s pissed-off expression. “You might as well relax and enjoy all the attention you’re getting from me and Noah. It’s what you wanted, right?”
“Be careful what you ask for,” Aubrey muttered, pouring coffee into a large thermos for them.
Noah laughed. “Give us a kiss and I’ll see you later.”
Riley and Noah each kissed her until she was breathless, her face pink, before heading into the damp cold. March in Montana was enough to make your bones stiff. It felt like summer would never come.
Noah started the truck. “I want this guy bad, Riley. I don’t like that we have to restrict Aubrey’s movements. She shouldn’t have to live like this.”
“I hope it really is just some kid. Do you think it is?”
Noah shook his head. “I don’t know. I don’t think kids steal panties, do you? We need to think about who it could be. Thad talked to every teenage boy at the school practically, and we’re no closer to figuring this out.”
“Maybe we should ask Dr. Richards to help with this mystery, too.”
“If only she could. This is one we’ll have to solve on our own. In the meantime, let’s get the chores done since I need to take Aubrey into town later and we all want to go to the club tonight.”
Riley felt a shot of arousal run through him. It had been a week since he’d made love to his woman, and he could hardly wait until tonight. He had plans for the fiery redhead who held his heart in her hands.
Pleasurable plans.
* * * *
“Mom, can I go around the corner now to the grocery
store?” Alice, Sophie’s daughter, was a pretty but serious teenager. She resembled her mother and had an intelligent and inquisitive mind. She was one of Aubrey’s best students and a joy to teach.
Aubrey, her cousin, Sophie, and Sophie’s daughter, Alice, had finished up lunch at the pizza parlor, and Alice looked impatient. She’d listened intently as Aubrey and Sophie discussed relatives she’d never met, but clearly she was anxious to do something else now.
“Don’t you want dessert? Paula has an amazing fudge pie that’s to die for.”
Aubrey was enjoying catching up with her cousin and would happily sit there drinking iced tea and chatting all afternoon. The pizza parlor was buzzing with business, and she’d seen several people she knew, including a few fellow teachers and Principal Barker picking up a pizza to go.
Alice shook her head. “No, thank you. I’m still full from the pizza.” Aubrey was still full, as well, but she wouldn’t let it stop her from enjoying fudge pie. She was a chocolate addict.
“Can I, Mom?”
Sophie nodded, handing her a list and some money. “Thank you, sweetheart. While you pick up a few things, I can talk to Aunt Aubrey.”
Alice scampered from her chair and headed for the exit. “Bye, Aunt Aubrey. Thanks for the pizza!”
“You’re welcome!”
Sophie frowned. “I worry about her when she’s not with me.”
Aubrey ordered the fudge pie and then put her hand on Sophie’s. She shouldn’t have to worry about things like this. She should be young and enjoying her life, not terrified her husband was going to show up and hurt them.
“She’ll be fine. This is a small town. Outsiders get noticed. Or haven’t you figured that out?” Aubrey teased.
Sophie smiled. “I have. I sure got some funny looks when I showed up, but people are very nice here. Sweet and helpful. Doesn’t hurt that I work for the McLean family. Thank you for that, by the way. It’s because of you I was able to hand that money to Alice.”
Sanctuary in Submission [Sanctuary, Montana 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 13
