by Starla Kaye
He frowned, muttering under his breath about what a problem she was.
“What did you say?” Daniel asked, facing him. “Are you back to complaining about her?”
“I’m just wondering when she’ll decide to leave. And it will be her choice, not mine. She’s made that pretty dang clear.” His stomach clenched. He didn’t want to think about her heading off somewhere alone, to help some other rancher. To maybe draw the interest of some other man.
Daniel’s hand settled on his shoulder, and their gazes locked. As always, just the man’s touch calmed him, excited him, too. “I think she belongs here.”
Blinking in surprise, he worried his friend wanted to change what they had together. That he believed he no longer would be happy with being his lover, that he wanted Ruby. He did desire her. But he would not, could not give up Daniel.
As if sensing his distress, Daniel stepped in front of him. He cupped his beard-roughened cheeks and pulled Calhoun toward him. When their mouths met, everything settled inside him once more. This wasn’t a good-bye kiss. It was a you’re mine one.
After several long seconds, Daniel moved back and his eyes spoke volumes about his feelings. “How about we see if the lady will stay here…with us?” he asked in a gruff voice.
“Us?” His chest filled with hope, with even more love for this man who understood him so well.
Daniel nodded. “I’m drawn to the woman for many reasons.” He hesitated. “I might be sexually interested.” He pulled in a breath and looked serious. “How would you feel about that?”
“You already mentioned the matter. I’ve thought about it.” He moved in for another kiss, saying, “As long as you still want me, too, I’m fine. If the lady is okay with the idea of having two men wanting her in their bed, that is.”
Their lips barely met when someone knocked on the front door. They moved apart, and he grinned at the other man, remembering a déjà vu moment. “Seem familiar?”
Daniel chuckled and led him to the foyer. “Our lady has the worst timing.”
As he opened the door to Ruby standing on the porch, she gave them a curious look. “What lady?”
He smiled and tugged her into his home. “We were talking about a certain pint-sized blonde who’s as stubborn as they come.”
Ruby stared up at the too-dang-handsome cowboy with the sexiest grin. He was teasing her, and it felt…comfortable. She’d been lying in her bed in the trailer, trying to sleep. Her traveling home didn’t seem right. She missed the comfortable bed in the guest room. But she’d missed the enormous bed in his room more. Mainly, she’d realized she flat-out missed her men. So, she’d mustered the courage to come face them, at least once more. All she’d hoped for was to maybe stay another night, maybe have one more round of sex with the big rancher. She could leave the ranch with enough stored up memories to last for a while.
“We’ve got a question to ask you,” Daniel said, interrupting her musings.
She shifted focus to him, and her heart skipped a beat. Good Lord, he was a gorgeous devil. The way he studied her…. Oh, my! Her woman’s place was doing all kinds of quivering.
Calhoun shut the door and reached for her coat. She’d been warm in it, but, still wearing it inside the house, she’d become hot. The intensity in his gaze, the promise of….
“You want me, don’t you?” The words were out of her mouth before she realized she’d spoken.
“Yeah, I do,” he admitted at the same time Daniel said, “Yes, I believe I do.”
Her eyes widened, and she did a little happy two-step dance, barely noticing her aching wrist. “Best day ever!”
Her men chuckled and hugged her together. When she squirmed out of their breath-stealing embrace, she pressed, “Your question?”
They looked at each other, and Cal said, “Would you mind staying on the Circle C a while longer? Maybe for a good long while?”
Tears misted her eyes at the unexpected invitation, one that tugged at her battered heart. “Live here? Make this my home?” Unbelievable. Yet she wanted this desperately.
Daniel thumbed a tear trickling down her face. “Make your home with us.”
They both tensed, seeming to hold their breaths. She didn’t care how the sex issues worked out—with one or the other, or with both. Both? Hmmm. Okay, she could be game for such a possibility.
“I’ll drive you crazy at times,” she hedged, heart racing as she fought not to just scream out “Yes!”
Cal’s grin matched the amusement in his eyes. “No doubt about that.”
“You’re all right with me butting heads with you on occasion? Like when you’re wrong.”
“I’m never wrong,” he countered only to receive an elbow in the stomach from Daniel. “Well, not often anyway.”
She played in her mind the choices of keeping her nomadic lifestyle and being lonely versus taking a chance on having a home with two sexy men. No choice at all.
“So, who’s going to help me cart my stuff inside?”
~A Letter from Starla~
I have been drawn to cowboys since I watched my first Western movie years ago and I have known a few over the years. As a writer, I have long enjoyed writing Western romance with my versions of the hunky, rough-edged, stubborn man in faded blue jeans, chambray shirt, scuffed boots, and a Stetson. And I have great fun matching my cowboy up with someone who will be a challenge to him.
My cowboy in this story, Calhoun, first appeared in The CEO and the Cowboy, where after a surprising turn of events for him, he ended up finding a Happily-For-Now with Daniel.
But in the back of my mind their story wasn’t ready to end there. They needed someone who would come into their lives, shake it up, and weave her way into their world…someone neither could resist, Ruby.
You can visit Starla at:
http://starlakaye.com
Maggie’s Secret Wish
Maggie’s boring workaholic life and focus on her obnoxious ex is grinding her down. A friend’s advice sends her to Madame Evangeline’s high-end dating service 1Night Stand. She hopes to find some fun, a date, and va-va-voom sex…not necessarily in that order. At least she will get out of her apartment for one hot night! Because, yes, she is just that desperate for a change, and there is that secret fantasy she’s been wanting to try out….
As Ian turns forty, his day job as writer of steamy erotica and night job as part-time Dom has him worried he will never have a “normal” relationship. With his particular kinky quirks, what woman would consider him husband material? Madame Eve is pretty good at her own job, are these two a match in a million or just a one night flash in the pan?
Starting Over
Virgin gay man, Corbin is ready to ease into his new lifestyle, still, making the move scares him shitless. He’s spent years fantasizing about embracing his true self, but what possessed him to agree to a 1Night Stand? As he nears the long, lean man with shaggy, graying hair, a hard on pushing at the front of his swim trunks, and a sexy-as-hell grin, the dreams pale in comparison, and easing in takes on a whole new meaning.
Though tired of being lonely, Matt considers changing his mind about the one-night arrangement until a tall, well-built man strolls across the pool area toward him, then all thoughts of leaving flee. Those broad shoulders, the amazing pecs, the spattering of dark hair on his chest…all of it calls to Matt. He wants to touch it, play with it. He forces himself to calm down. Matt will be his date’s first male lover, and he intends to find the inner strength to take his time.
Intense physical attraction and Madame Eve’s magic ignite a sexual fire, but will it be enough for two men starting over?
The CEO and the Cowboy
The whole thing about relationships and feelings confuses the heck out of Calhoun. He’s a simple cowboy and he’d been planning to marry a long-time friend for a while. When he finally realizes it doesn’t feel right, he lets her go. He probably shouldn’t have gone to her wedding to another man, but she wanted him there. But that’s when he really
gets confused. His eye is drawn to a seriously hot businessman…and that sure does unnerve him…and yet….
Emotionally burned by the last man he thought he’d loved, Daniel isn’t anxious to replace him. But there is something about the proud, bedroom-eyed cowboy who shows up at his friend’s wedding. The CEO isn’t even sure if the cowboy’s gay, although the heat firing between them makes him wonder….
What he does know is that he plans to find out.
