by Jane Jamison
“What am I supposed to call him? Mr. Northman? I don’t think so. That’s not conducive to romance.”
She twisted around to gawk at him. “Romance? What are you talking about? Kid, are you interested in one of them? Because if you are, I can tell you that you’re not their type.”
“Why not? Because I’m big and beautiful?” He chuckled, the sound being almost as loud as his laugh. “Yeah, I know. They’re as straight as they come, all right. That, my girl, is a damn shame.”
“Will you try and remember why we’re here?” It was a reason she needed to remember as well. Why had she agreed to stay with them?
“I will if you will.”
“Don’t even go there, Kid. I am not attracted to these guys in the least.”
“Uh-huh. And I don’t love me a big old juicy steak.”
That was their one bone of contention. After learning how the animals were treated at the processing plant, she’d given up eating anything that had a face. But Kid still loved his burgers and steaks.
He caught the way she glared at him. “Yeah, yeah. I know what you’re thinking. I believe in everything you do, but I still recognize that I’m a meat eater and I’m not giving that up. All living things have a purpose in life, to provide food, shelter, or whatever.”
“And our purpose is to keep them safe.” They’d had the same argument a hundred times before, but she’d never give up trying to make him see the light. She had a feeling she’d be the same way with the Northman men.
“Now that’s what I call a house.”
She followed Kid’s gaze to the huge two-story, columns-in-the-front, Gone-with-the-Wind-style home that was up ahead. The sunlight made the white exterior of the home even brighter against the manicured bushes lining the house and the long driveway that led up to the wide steps ascending into the home.
“Good, God, Scarlett, did we just arrive at Tara?”
She couldn’t answer. She was too busy admiring the house. But her admiration shifted when she saw Rick and Gunner striding out of the huge red barn that was several hundred feet away from the house. The barn, although nothing as spectacular as the house, was well-kept.
Kid pulled the van up to the front of the home and waited for the Northman men to reach them. “Is it just me, or do they remind you of that old billboard ad? You know. The one where the rugged cowboy’s lighting up a cigarette?”
“Down, boy. Remember—”
“Yeah, I know. Remember why we’re here.”
Rick and Gunner sauntered over, then without pausing, waved them on to follow them into the house. Kid and she took one glance at each other, then hurried after them.
She hadn’t given any thought to what she’d expected the interior of their home to look like. Maybe with a grand staircase and large paintings of their ancestors? Instead, she saw rustic furnishings that spoke of easy comfort. She paused inside the foyer and did a circle to take in the rest of the place. The staircase wasn’t grand, as it led straight up to the second story. Although the furnishings seemed overly large, there weren’t a lot of pieces. The living room spread out in front of them while two open double doors led into a dining room and a sunlit kitchen. The dining room boasted a long wooden table and an assortment of chairs, while the kitchen was in need of updating from the seventies.
The strange current of energy that had caught her by surprise simmered over her again. Gunner was beside her, and although he was speaking to Kid, he had his attention fixed solidly on her.
“You guys can take the first two rooms at the top of the stairs and to the right. Rick’s room and mine are down the other way toward the end of the hallway. Feel free to freshen up. Rick and I need to get back out and take care of the horses.”
She wasn’t about to let the chance get past her. “How about if I come along? You know. For research.”
“So you think we’re abusing our horses, too?”
She liked the lift of the corners of Gunner’s mouth. He was teasing her, and yet, she didn’t mind. She had a feeling that she’d like anything he did. Both to and with her. “That’s why I’m here, isn’t it?”
“Is it?”
What did that mean? When she looked into his eyes, those amazing brown depths threatened to consume her, and she knew exactly what he meant. She dropped her gaze, almost afraid that he could control her without saying another word.
“Follow us, Mallory.”
“Mal.”
He stopped as he headed toward the door, followed by Rick. “What?”
“People call me Mal. Short for Mallory.”
Rick shook his head. “Naw. That won’t work.”
“I’m sorry?” Was he trying to tell her that her name wasn’t any good? “Um, yeah. That’s my name.”
“Mal’s not good enough. Or pretty enough.” He sized her up, taking her in from the top of her head down to her toes. “I’m going to call you Mallory. That fits you better.”
All at once, she wished that she was dressed in something better than an old faded T-shirt and worn jeans. She felt the heat rise to her cheeks as she tried to smooth the wrinkles out of her shirt, then heard Kid’s chuckle.
“Whatever. I won’t be here long enough for it to matter.”
“If you say so…Mallory.” Rick smiled that shit-eating grin that both irritated her and thrilled her.
Gunner’s laugh was almost as loud as Kid’s as the men headed down the front porch and out to the barn.
The aroma of horses, hay, and a myriad of other smells hit her as soon as she entered the barn. Another set of double doors was open at the opposite side allowing air to circulate from one end to the other. After seeing a few other barns, she had to admit that theirs was well-maintained and clean. Large stalls with plenty of room for the horses to move around dominated two walls with a wide strip of land between them. Two rooms were on either side of the back doors that she assumed led into smaller rooms where more gear as well as medications and other supplies were stored. Saddles and bridles hung from hooks or were neatly arranged on shelves. Food was clearly labeled and protected in metal containers from insects and marauding vermin.
“Does it meet with your approval, Oh, Mistress of Animal Treatment?”
She’d quickly found out that Gunner was the jokester and Rick was the more serious of the two. The fact that Kid found Gunner’s jokes entertaining didn’t help. But she had to admit they were funny. Sometimes. “I don’t know yet. Let me give it a good looksee first.”
Rick made a scoffing sound, then let out a short whistle. A bark answered him as a black and white Sheltie darted around the last stall and ran toward Rick. As soon as the dog got close enough, he jumped into the air and landed in Rick’s arms. The dog greeted his master with lots of whines and licks, and it was easy to see that Rick returned the love.
“This is Rebel.”
Rebel squirmed in Rick’s arms, then hurled his body at Gunner. Gunner caught him in midair and went through the same loving greeting that Rebel had given Rick. By the time the dog leapt out of Gunner’s arms to the ground in front of her, she’d already fallen in love.
She knelt down and let Rebel give her a few kisses, too. “You are such a sweetie. Is this your home, boy? Oh! Okay. Now that was a wet one.” She wiped away the slick of wetness from her cheek as Rick whistled, drawing Rebel back to him.
“Sorry about that. Rebel never met anyone he didn’t like.”
“I don’t mind. I love dogs. I just wish my apartment complex allowed pets.”
Rick motioned for her to follow him. “That’s too bad. I’d hate to be without a dog. Most of us don’t like dogs much, but we’ve always had at least one.”
“Yeah, me, too. But until I decide to buy a home, that’s what I have to deal with. Besides, I’m gone too much to have a pet.”
She narrowed her eyes, suddenly aware of what he’d said. “What did you mean about most of you not liking dogs? Don’t a lot of ranchers have dogs?”
“Sure.” Rick shrugged,
averting his eyes. “I didn’t mean anything by it.”
She wasn’t quite sure why, but she didn’t believe him. Still, it wasn’t a big enough deal to keep questioning him.
She leaned against the first stall that Rick went into. The beautiful bay horse lifted his head and nickered at his arrival, then butted his muzzle against the man, obviously asking for a treat. Rick dug into his pocket and pulled out a small chunk of carrot.
“Here you go, Skipper. Hey, now. Don’t get greedy.”
Rebel scampered after Gunner as he went into the stall on the other side. Gunner took off the saddle and started brushing the horse she’d seen him riding. Kid leaned on the railing of that stall, but kept most of his weight off it. More than once, he’d ended up breaking whatever he was leaning on.
She studied the stall and the rest of the barn again. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t find fault with any of it.
“Do you ride, Mallory?” Rick bent over to examine the animal’s horseshoes.
A second before she’d started to correct him, to tell him to call her Mal again, she stopped. Her mother had named her Mallory and she’d never liked it much. It had seemed too girlish. But coming from Rick, the name sounded pretty good.
“I do. I took equestrian lessons when I was in my teens.”
Rick straightened up, his eyebrows lifted, and an amused expression on his face. “Equestrian lessons, huh? Folks around here just call it riding. Did you do the fancy jumping stuff and put pretty bows on your horse?”
He’d caught her slip up. Or had she wanted to impress him? Most of the time, especially when dealing with Texas ranchers, she preferred to keep her past hidden. As soon as they found out that she’d grown up with wealthy parents, they tended to disregard her opinions. She didn’t flaunt her wealth, which is part of the reason she’d taken the cashier’s job at the bank. Aside from giving to many charities and funding her research on animal cruelty, she stuck the rest into investments. She wasn’t even sure how much she was worth any longer.
“It’s called dressage and the fancy jumping stuff is called hurdles racing. And yes. I put pretty bows on my horse, but only for competitions.”
“I bet you wore the black coat and the little black hat, too.”
She let out a sigh, resisted the urge to face Gunner, then gave into it. “Yes, that’s kind of a requirement, especially when you compete. Go on. You can make fun of it all you want, but you have to be a damn fine rider to do the hurdles.”
Rick finished checking his horse over, then left that stall to walk toward the back of the barn. Tilting her head to the side, she watched him, enjoying the lazy way he walked. His butt was a fine thing to study.
Kid cleared his throat, breaking into her trance. She rolled her eyes at a grinning Kid and hurried after Rick.
“Have you ever done any cattle drives or barrel racing?”
“No, but how hard can it be?”
Rick shook his head and strode out of the barn to a large pen. A number of cows plodded around the arena, stopping every once in a while to munch on a patch of dry grass. “Harder than you’d think, I bet. Sitting a good saddle isn’t enough. You have to know the animals you’re dealing with.” He gave her a stern, piercing look. “Do you know cattle, Mallory? Or are they just big dogs to you?”
He didn’t give her a chance to answer and she wasn’t sure she would’ve known what to say. Instead, he opened the gate, then waved her toward the cattle. “Feel free to check them over. Make sure we haven’t beaten or starved them. I wouldn’t want you to misrepresent us.”
“Trust me. I’ll tell it straight.”
One look around told her what she needed to know. None of the animals appeared neglected. If anything, they looked healthier than most she’d seen on other ranches.
“As you can see, we take care of them. We make sure they get the best feed and the medications to help them stay healthy.” He pushed his hat back and found her eyes. “I love my cattle, but I understand that they’re not pets. Cattle ranchers supply a necessary service to help feed people, but we make sure their lives and their deaths are handled the right way. Got any questions?”
The only questions she wanted to ask were about him. She couldn’t do that. “No. Not yet.”
If she’d dared, she would’ve asked him if he felt the same sizzle that she felt. But if he did, then what? Did he feel the same urgency? An urgency to grab hold and make him kiss her until her legs gave out? Did he feel the urgency to thrust her chest against his and fondle her breasts?
She wanted him and his brother more than she’d have thought possible. It didn’t make any sense, but the compulsion was there. It went crazy inside her. If they’d given her half a reason, she’d have let them strip her clothes, leaving her naked and vulnerable. Even with Kid standing nearby.
The world swayed around her as another flash of energy—is it lust?—swept over her. She had no choice but to reach out for anything—him!—to keep from falling over. Her hand fisted in Rick’s shirt as her hand disobeyed her mind.
“Mallory?”
Somehow, she’d ended up in his arms. Her heart pounded in an uneven rhythm. Her breath hitched in her throat. Her knees still felt weak, barely able to keep her standing.
“Are you all right?”
She lifted her gaze and found his mouth. His lips were firm, yet she had reason to think they’d be soft at the same time. She wanted, hell, needed to kiss him. Like a deep sea diver, she needed his kiss like it was air to breathe.
It wasn’t until her eyes found his that she lifted her other hand and took a hunk of his hair. Tugging his mouth to hers wasn’t professional, but to turn him loose wasn’t an option. If she didn’t have his lips on hers, she had no doubt she’d die.
His groan echoed the yearning inside her as his mouth crushed against hers. The groan flowed inside along with his tongue. He yanked her into his arms, forcefully molding her body to his. Answering him with a moan of her own, she nibbled on his lower lip until he tilted her head and deepened the kiss. The breath his kiss had given her was gone in the next moment as he stole it away. She welcomed his tongue inside, skimming hers over his to draw up more of his taste. Strong, girder-like arms enveloped her, bringing her onto her tiptoes. She reached up even more and bent him low over her body.
She thought she knew how to kiss and be kissed, but she was wrong. Until Rick had put his mouth to hers, she’d only been fooling herself. Other men’s kisses paled in comparison. What she’d believed to be desire before now diminished into a child’s fantasy. This was so much more, yet she couldn’t find a word that could describe it. Rick kissed her like a woman should be kissed, with power and control dominating her until she wanted to beg him to kiss her between her legs. She had to have more kissing and, God help her, more everything.
“Mal?”
At first she didn’t recognize her own name. Rick had called her Mallory and now nothing else seemed to fit. She was lost to him, ready to sacrifice the life she’d known for a few more moments of his kiss.
Someone cleared their throat and she dismissed it. Who cared what else was going on around them? Who cared if anyone else was alive?
“Are you having fun, man?”
Gunner.
At once, her body and mind was at war. She wanted Rick, craved him, and yet there was another she yearned for just as much. Could she have both of them?
It was Rick who finally broke the kiss and held her away from him. A rush of emotions overwhelmed her. Disbelief gave way to disappointment, and anger came and went in blistering speed, to be replaced with humiliation.
Gunner and Kid stood in the shade of the barn, staring at her. She would’ve expected Kid to be stunned at her behavior, but he wasn’t. Like Gunner, he had on a knowing smile that changed into a smirk that said “I told you so”.
“Hell, yeah.” answered Rick. He tipped his hat at her in a “thank you, ma’am” kind of way and stepped back from her.
“You’re all right, ar
en’t you, Mal? You didn’t like inhale too much horse shit and have a stroke, did you?” At her narrowed eyes, Kid attempted to cover a chuckle with a cough.
She wasn’t about to stand there and let Gunner and Kid make fun of her. Putting her head down, she marched past them. “Come on, Kid. Let’s get moved into our rooms.”
Yet when she was halfway down the middle aisle of the barn, she couldn’t help but overhear Gunner’s teasing words.
“Would you like my brother to meet you in your room and finish your, um, research?”
She didn’t dare turn back. If she did, he’d seen the blush on her face. Instead, she did the only thing she could think to do. She lifted her hand in the air, then stuck her middle finger toward the ceiling. Their laughter followed her all the way back to the van.
* * * *
Gunner pulled Rick away from the grill. “Don’t you think you’re pushing it?”
Rick pretended ignorance, then flipped one of the juicy burgers. Flames leapt upward as the grease dribbled on the coals. The other side of the grill contained thick pieces of steak. “What are you talking about?”
“Cut the crap. You haven’t cooked out in over a month. Now that we have Mallory here spouting animal cruelty, you’re dying for a good, all-beef hamburger? You’re baiting her and you know it.”
Rick flipped another burger. “Yeah. So what? I like seeing her all riled up. Besides, we eat meat, plain and simple. The faster she figures that out, the better it’ll be.”
“Fine, but I’m heading for town once she gets a whiff.” He’d let his brother catch her wrath. Afterwards, maybe she’d be more receptive to talking—or kissing—him instead of his brother.
“Coward.”
He didn’t clue Rick in on his plan. “Yep. I’ve got a big old yellow stripe running down the middle of my back.”
“That’s a load of crap, but if that’s how you want to play it, then that’s fine with me.” Rick slid two of the burgers onto a nearby plate. He shot a cocky glance at Gunner, then went back to manning the food. “Did you pick up anything unusual about her?”
“Damn it. I knew it. You felt it, too.” Gunner had sensed the connection from her the moment he’d dismounted and seen her big, green eyes. He’d assumed his brother had felt it, too. At least, he’d hoped he had. That was the way it was most of the time, but even as rare as it was, sometimes the woman both werebears wanted as their mate didn’t feel the instinctual bond with both men. If that had happened, it would’ve devastated them.
