Libby felt the heat rush to her face when the Cade twins grinned and slid out of the large corner booth. They might as well have been holding up a sign that read We fucked Libby Wild.
Alex gave her a nudge in their direction, muttering, “Nothing we can do about it without making a scene. But when we leave here, you’re gonna tell me exactly what’s going on with you and those two men.” The note of disapproval in her voice was unmistakable.
“Nothing,” Libby whispered. “There’s nothing going on.”
Alex gave her a skeptical look. “Right, and if a frog had wings, he wouldn’t bump his ass.”
“Alex. I am telling you, it’s nothing.”
“Maybe not, but they look positively predatory.”
“Huh. They can look any way they want; that doesn’t mean I’ll fall victim to either one of them.”
“More like both of them, if what I hear is true.” Oh yeah, she’d definitely heard the rumors. She’d have a cow when she finally found out.
Archer rose and gestured to Alex to scoot in beside him, while Bodie moved over and Ty urged Libby onto the bench beside his brother, sliding in beside her. Ty leaned in and whispered, “Just like the creamy center of an Oreo cookie.”
“How original.”
“Aw, don’t be a crab, Lib. Aren’t you glad to see us?” This from Bodie, who’d had his fingers deep in her ass.
Oh God.
Her chin jutted stubbornly. Just because he’d saved her from that bull and helped give her a mind-blowing orgasm, she was supposed to be happy about being put on display? She didn’t think so. He was too damned confident in his own charm. Both of them were, and Libby was of a mind not be charmed. So what if they’d fucked her into a nerveless heap. They’d manipulated the situation with the pack trip, forcing her to accept them as guides, and that kind of high-handedness didn’t sit well with her.
“As glad as I’d be to see a plague of locusts.”
Bodie slapped his hand over his heart. “Now, Libby, I’m hurt. I truly am.”
Alex came to her rescue by smacking Bodie on the head with her menu. “That’ll be enough of that. Libby’s had enough teasing from you boys to last a lifetime.”
Bodie immediately sobered. “You’re right enough, Alex.” His hand snaked out and captured Libby’s and squeezed gently. “Sorry, darlin’.”
Libby simply gave him a terse nod and snapped open her menu.
Archer cleared his throat. “So, how’s old Walt doin’? Still makin’ liars of the doctors?”
“Tryin’ his best,” Alex answered. “But he had some news for Libby. Seems he’s leaving her the ranch.”
“Really?” Arch said.
“Well, it makes sense, in a manner of speaking. Libby spent most of her summers up there. Walt always doted on her. They’d camp and fish, he always kept lots of film around for her, and they’d go on photo excursions deep into the Shoshone National Forest.”
Libby smiled wistfully. “He was probably my best friend when I was growing up. It’s hard, seeing him waste away like that.”
Ty patted her knee. “I’m sure it did his old heart good to see you, though. You’re gonna be a land owner. You’ll quit that damn jet-set job and stay home where you belong.”
“I’m hoping she will. I’d sure like her to stay,” Alex said.
“Me too,” Bodie concurred.
“Of course she will. She has family here, obligations,” Ty said, with a confidence that grated on Libby’s nerves. “Libby’s a good girl, comes from good Wyoming ranch stock. She don’t belong with all those fakes and phonies. She belongs here.”
The group sat, silently waiting, and Libby couldn’t move a muscle.
“I . . .,” she croaked. Her throat closed up, and she struggled to breathe, on the verge of hyperventilating. Synapses fired, and the words “obligation” and “good ranch stock” bounced around in her skull.
Oh God, why couldn’t everyone just leave her alone? Why was she always the one expected to give up her dreams? Her father had been so pissed when she chose to go to college in LA, and even madder when she majored in photojournalism. He’d demanded she move back home, study range management and business, so she could help keep the ranch growing and prospering. When she’d defied him, he’d refused to pay for her schooling and cut her out of his life. Then he and Mama died in that accident before she could make amends.
Libby shoved Ty. “Let me out, I need air.”
“Lib—” Ty protested, but she cut him off.
“No! Just let me out.” When he didn’t move, she growled with frustration. “Fine, don’t move, you asshole.” She swiveled on the bench, drew her feet up under, and climbed out over the back of the seat. Shocked by her behavior, no one spoke as she bolted from the restaurant.
* * *
Libby heard the crunch of gravel under boot heels and knew one of them had found her. She leaned against the back of the building, bent forward with her palms on her thighs.
“Libby,” Ty said. “What the hell was that all about?” He started toward her, but she held up her hand, warding him off.
“Don’t. Don’t crowd me.” She took a side step, shaking her head. “It’s too much, Ty. You and Bodie, Alex wanting me to stay, and now Uncle Walt and the ranch. I can’t . . . I don’t . . . I live the way I do because I’m not responsible to anyone but myself. I pick and choose my assignments; I go where I want, when I want. That’s the way I like it. I don’t like . . . I don’t want people needing me.”
Ty folded his arms over that massive chest, and a ripple of desire shot through her, so strong she would have fallen to her knees had the wall not been holding her up. He was a danger to her, him and his brother. She had to remember that. Remember who they were.
His voice was disdainful when he spoke. “Don’t you mean you don’t like needing people? Your family, Bodie, and me?”
Anger coiled deep in her belly and struck. She pushed off the wall. “You think you know me, Ty Cade? You don’t know shit! You don’t know how hard I worked to earn that jet-set career you’re so scornful of. Or the danger, or the heart-wrenching agony of those poor people in Africa. Of the soldiers I faced down to get those shots. All you see, all anyone sees, is the end result. And I did that! Me. By myself, with no help from a big, strong man.”
He thought she needed him and his brother? It would be a cold day in hell before she ever put herself at the emotional mercy of the Cade twins. “You and your brother are the last people in the world I need.” She took a deep breath and continued, righteous anger boiling her blood. “You might have convinced me to let you guide me through the backcountry. Maybe even to play your little sexual games, but if you think I’ll ever need you, you’re plumb crazy. You and that brother of yours? You’re toys for me to play with, nothing more. And rest assured, when I’m done with you, I’ll toss you aside and go back to my real life. Need you, my ass. I don’t need anybody.” She straightened and gave him her back.
He came up behind her, wrapped her in a bear hug, and lifted her off her feet.
“Did you forget the other day, sweet thing? Hmm? Did you forget the way you shoved your pretty little pussy against my face? The way you fucked our fingers when we had ’em buried in your cunt, in your ass? The way you begged us to take you, to hell with the fact we were practically in your backyard? That was you down by the Little Rocky, howling at Bodie to fuck your ass harder while you came all over my dick.” His breath was hot on her neck, his erection long and hard against her bottom. “You can lie to yourself all you want, but by God, you won’t lie to me. Throw us away? I don’t think so, honey. When we’re done with you, you’ll be on your knees beggin’ to stay!”
She wanted to punch him, but her arms were pinned to her side, so she flailed her legs and kicked him hard several times. “Turn me loose, you motherfucker!”
His laugh was harsh, mean. “Such language, Libby. Even you oughta know I’d draw the line at fuckin’ my mother. But I won’t draw it at fuckin’ you. I
n fact, maybe I’ll just shove you up against this wall and give you what you’ve been beggin’ for.”
As he swung her toward the wall, she kicked again, connecting with the stacked heels of her cowboy boots, grunting with satisfaction when he hissed in pain.
“You little hellcat,” Ty snarled. “You’re nothing but a spoiled, selfish brat, never thinkin’ of anybody but yourself. Someone needs to paddle your ass, and I’m just the man to do it.”
Libby was beyond distraught now; she was so pissed, she thought her head might actually explode. Spoiled? Selfish? She howled in anger, leaned forward, then slammed her head back, bashing Ty in the face.
“Ow! God damn it, Libby!” He released her and raised a hand to his cheekbone.
Blood. Had she done that?
“That does it. I’m gonna—”
Libby scuttled sideways as Archer’s strong hand clamped down on Ty’s shoulder. “You’re gonna go on back into the restaurant and clean up, little brother. Calm yourself down.” His gaze swiveled to Libby. “You okay, buttercup?”
Libby nodded but didn’t say a word. Just continued to glare at Ty, wishing she could be like that kid in Firestarter and set his hair on fire. Damn him.
When Ty was gone, Libby let Archer put an arm around her and lead her to his truck.
“Let’s you and me take a little ride, darlin’.”
He opened the passenger door and handed her inside. “Why, and what about Alex?”
“Because I reckon you need to get away from all those folks that wanna make demands on your time. And as for Alex, I expect she’s taking strips of hide off Ty as we speak. He was out of line, and I don’t hold with anybody manhandling a woman.”
Libby sighed as they pulled out of the parking lot. A few miles west of town, Archer pulled into the Buffalo Bill State Park and killed the engine. Libby looked at him with an eyebrow cocked. “So, did you bring me here to go fishing? Because you’re a mite long in the tooth to be bringing me to your old high school make-out spot.”
Archer threw back his head and laughed. “I always did like you, Libby; you say whatever’s on your mind, and consequences be damned.” He released his seat belt. “But that long-in-the-tooth thing kinda hurt, buttercup. I’m not that much older than you.” He opened the door and stepped out. “Come on, let’s take a walk down yonder trail, set a spell, and talk.”
Libby followed reluctantly. “I really don’t want to talk about your brothers, Arch.”
They walked side by side as they started up the trail. “I know you don’t, honey, but you’re about all they’ve been talking about for the last five years. Has Alex heard from you? When are you coming home for a visit? Are you involved with anyone? Like to drove me crazy.”
Libby’s brow puckered. “I don’t get it. They hated my guts in high school. Seemed like they went out of their way to make my life a misery.”
Archer wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “I know, and I’m real sorry about that. I should have done something, but I had my hands full runnin’ the ranch and tryin’ to keep ’em alive, what with the folks dyin’ like they did.”
“Not your fault, Arch, and I don’t think you could have stopped it anyway. Those boys sure hated my cameras. Never was able to figure that, with them being so pretty and all. And why is it so important that they make up for it? It’s water under the bridge.”
They wandered off the trail and perched atop a flat slab of granite. “Is it? I mean, you haven’t been home in all these years, Libby. I reckon the twins figure into that somewhere.”
Libby stretched out on the sun-warmed granite and studied the clouds, pondering Archer’s question. The Cade twins had been a big reason why she hadn’t come back, but so was the unfinished business with her father. Truth to tell, she’d been afraid she couldn’t handle it. The memories of growing up here. Her daddy’s booming laughter, and the bitterness of his anger when she chose photography over the ranch. Her parents’ death in a fiery crash that ended any hope of reconciliation.
“I won’t say they weren’t part of it, but there were other reasons too.” She looked up at him and smiled. “I just got used to the travel, the money, the luxury. I mean, you have to admit it’s a cake job.”
Archer chuckled. “I reckon it is if you’re into all those mud baths and herbal wraps. But as for what changed the boys’ minds, it was those pictures you took when you were freelancing. I bought the book, and when they saw those photos, something in them changed.”
“What?”
Archer shook his head. “Ain’t my place to tell, buttercup, but I’d consider it a favor if you’d give ’em a chance.”
“Yes, but they want—”
“I know what they want, honey, and you don’t have to do that if you don’t want to. They’d never force you.”
Libby shook her head. “It’s not even that, not really. It’s the pressure everyone’s putting on me to stay. Bodie and Ty, Alex, and now Uncle Walt. I haven’t made a commitment to anything but my career for a long time.”
Archer hopped down off the rock and held out his hand. “Well, maybe it’s time you thought about it. Come on, gal. I reckon everyone’s about settled down now. You hungry? Gotta get your strength up for your trip tomorrow.”
Libby let him swing her down off the rock. “I could eat.”
Chapter Eight
There was a distinct chill in the cab of the truck as Bodie drove through Sylvan Pass and up to the east entrance to Yellowstone. He checked the rearview mirror to make sure Ty and their crew were still behind them with the other stock trailers, then cleared his throat.
“He didn’t mean to upset you last night. Ty, I mean. No one did.”
Libby kept her eyes on the road ahead. “Everyone seems to think they know what’s best for me except me.”
“It’s just that we—”
She gave him a talk-to-the-hand gesture. “I really don’t want to talk about this, Bodie.”
Bodie glanced at her from the corner of his eye. Her jaw was clenched so tightly, he figured it would take a crowbar to pry it open, and her usually flawless posture was rigid as a spinster’s on her first date. He’d thought they were making some progress, but it was evident last night’s incident with Ty had set them back. Do not pass go, do not collect two hundred dollars. She’d changed over the years, gone from a wide-eyed teenager who wore her heart on her sleeve to this hard-nosed woman who kept her thoughts to herself. He was out of his depth with a filly like Libby Wild, and that was the bald-faced truth of the matter.
“Look, Libby.” He hoped he’d injected the right amount of patience into his voice. “You have to talk to both of us sooner or later; otherwise it’s gonna be a long two weeks.”
Libby folded her arms over her chest. “I guess it’s going to be a long two weeks, then, because I have nothing of a personal nature to say to either one of you.”
It was Bodie’s turn to grit his teeth. The Cade charm was lost on a woman who could hold a grudge the way this one could.
“Fine. Have it your way.”
She turned then, giving him a smug little smile. “I always intended to.”
Bodie cursed fluently under his breath as the entrance to Yellowstone Park appeared. He eased forward and pulled off and leaned over to reach in the glove box for the packet of backcountry permits they’d secured for this trip, inadvertently brushing his forearm across Libby’s breast. He didn’t miss the quick intake of breath from his passenger at that accidental contact and smothered a smile. So, Miss Elizabeth Wild wasn’t as immune to him as she’d like him to think. Interesting. He’d be sure to explore that little fact before they were too far into this trip.
“I’m gonna check in and leave our itinerary with the rangers. Be right back.” She didn’t comment, but her eyes flicked in his direction. Bodie hopped out of the truck, grinning when his back was to her.
Ty approached with his packet of information. “What’s so funny?”
“Nothin’, dude. I just don’t th
ink she’s as mad as she’d like us to believe.” He quickly filled Ty in on what had happened.
“Huh,” Ty mused. “I guess Arch must have done a better job of talking her down than we figured. Gonna have to take it slow, though, finesse her some.”
Bodie shook his head as they walked to the ranger station. “I don’t know. Might be best not to let her get too entrenched in her indifference. Break down those walls quick.”
“How?”
Bodie handed the ranger his paperwork and asked him about any backcountry conditions they needed to be aware of. After a brief discussion, he headed back to the truck with Ty, resuming their conversation.
“I say we just take her, like we did in the pasture and at the creek. There’s no one scheduled at the campsite, so we set up camp and let her get some pictures taken as the sun goes down, then fix her a real nice supper and just go for it. She wants us; we both know it. All we have to do is show her how much. We’ll figure out how to explain things once she’s accepted the way things are going to be between the three of us.”
Ty chuckled. “Sounds like a plan. I, for one, can’t wait to hear her screams echoing off the mountains when she comes.”
Bodie grinned. “I hear that, brother. Let’s head out. Nine Mile Trailhead awaits, and the crew’s anxious to unload and get back.”
They parted ways, and Bodie climbed back in the truck to find Libby glaring at him.
“I don’t know what you two have planned, but you can just forget about it. This trip is about work, not play.”
Bodie chuckled. “Darlin’, you are too suspicious. We were just conferring on the best way to get to the campsite. Columbine Meadow is only good for one night, so we figured on bypassin’ it for Meadow Creek. Both are hollerin’ distance from Yellowstone Lake, so I figure that’s about as good a place to start as any.”
“Fine. Just don’t go getting any ideas that I’ll be indulging any of your prurient, adolescent male fantasies.”
“Prurient, huh?” He raised an eyebrow. “That one of those hundred-dollar college words, Lib?”
Forbidden Passions Page 6
