“I see where you’re going with this.”
“Maldeni wanted her land but he may have wanted Lindsey as well.”
“He may end up with the first but the latter is off the table.”
“If you need backup, you know where to find me.”
Beck laughed. “Just make sure I don’t find you cuddled up with one blue-eyed honey. If I miss out, we’ll have a problem.”
“Then you might want to hurry home.”
* * * *
“Are you sure it’s okay if I stay here?” Lindsey didn’t feel comfortable. She’d been to the Stallard home on countless occasions, but she’d never been upstairs. Now, there she stood with bag in hand, willing herself to act grateful and yet finding it was all she could do to stop herself from lashing out.
“You’re welcome to stay as long as you like.” Seth squeezed her shoulder. “Besides, it’ll be nice to have a woman around the house.”
“I’m not the domestic type.” She might as well put that out there. “I wouldn’t count on gourmet meals at dinner or waffles and pancakes to start the day.” They’d be lucky if she didn’t burn the toast.
“And here I’d meant to buy you a checkered apron and have it monogrammed and everything.” Seth grabbed her bag and set it on the floor. He hesitated before he said, “So if you aren’t the domestic type, what are you, Linds?”
Too much play existed in his voice. Too much sincerity lingered in his eyes. He looked at her as if he were familiar with her in a more intimate way. At twenty-one, Lindsey hadn’t had the luxury of a romantic relationship. She’d been strapped to hard work and debt beyond measure. She often saw the Stallards working their land next door, but other than a friendly hello or a few minutes of meaningless chitchat, she had kept to herself.
“Hello?” Seth waved his hand in front of her face. “Still with me?”
“Yes.” She shook off all the thoughts that were leading her down a trail filled with regrets.
“Tell you what, you think about it and let me know.”
“I’m…I don’t know what you mean.”
Seth shrugged. “Maybe I don’t mean anything at all. Maybe you’re still too young to know what you want or what type you are.”
Not in the mood for soul-searching, she rubbed her temple with her fingers. “I’m tired. Maybe I should just go to bed.”
“Maybe you should,” Seth agreed, quickly closing the space between them.
She backed up against the high four-post bed, half expecting her knees to buckle, which would’ve forced her to sit. At five feet, four inches tall, she didn’t catch wood or mattress behind her knees. In fact, as soon as she glanced at the bed fit for a king, she felt small by comparison.
An uncomfortable silence followed. Seth stared at her as if he didn’t know what to do with her and that’s when she said, “We’ve been here before. Haven’t we?”
“Not in this particular room,” Seth casually pointed out. “But yes, Linds. We’ve been in a similar situation before.”
“I was drunk.”
He laughed. “You were that.”
“Why haven’t you ever mentioned it?” Surely he realized how embarrassed she’d been. She remembered her twenty-first birthday like it was yesterday. Against her better judgment, she’d gone out on the town with several girlfriends. They landed at the town’s only bar and it hadn’t taken long for Lindsey to decide that the bar scene wasn’t her cup of tea. Perhaps a lot of that had to do with tolerance, too. On that particular day, she learned two things. She couldn’t hold her own with the bottle and she didn’t have patience for a drunk, herself included.
“It was your birthday. Your friends claimed you’d never had a drop of alcohol and—”
“And you thought I wouldn’t remember it.”
“Right,” he admitted, frowning.
“I remember,” she said, wishing she’d kept her mouth shut.
“Then maybe you should’ve said something.” Seth scratched his face, dragging his fingers across his angular jaw. It was unnerving how he looked at her then. His full lips twitched ever so slightly and he ran his thick tongue across those perfectly straight teeth. “You should’ve said something, Linds.” His dark gaze met hers. “I wanted you to remember.”
Lindsey could’ve sworn her stomach turned somersaults at that precise moment. She tucked her hands behind her hips and pinched the comforter behind her. She willed Seth to go away, to say goodnight and leave her alone.
Until she had time to think about what had happened at her place, she couldn’t cope with anything more. She didn’t want to talk about their kiss at the farm or the one he delivered on her twenty-first birthday. “You should’ve said something then.” A beat later, she added, “But it’s not important now.”
“It is, Lindsey. And you’re right. I should’ve mentioned it. I was the sober one.”
“Come on, Seth. Is that the best you can do?” Beck Stallard leaned against the doorjamb with his thick arms folded across his chest. “My brother didn’t want to cut off the hand that might later feed him.”
As soon as Lindsey’s eyes met Beck’s heated gaze, she was sunk. Beck Stallard wasn’t just a man. He was a woman’s man and definitely knew it. He seemingly worked his natural swagger without even trying. “Beck. I didn’t see you there.”
“How ya doin’, baby?” He shot her a sexy wink and it was all she could do to keep from groaning. Beck Stallard was the typical man-stud with a cocksure grin and million-dollar dimples.
“What kind of question is that?” Seth snapped.
“One I want Lindsey to answer.” Beck studied her with deep concern marring his brow. “I heard what happened. Can we do anything for you?”
“You’ve done enough,” she assured him, trying to steady her quivering voice. The last thing she wanted was a shoulder to cry on. On second thought, the last thing she needed was a shoulder to cry on and a man to cling to. She was very much aware of the Stallard brothers’ reputation. “Thank you for giving me a place to stay.”
“It’s our pleasure.” Beck grinned. “It’s the least we could do. We should’ve done a lot more.” He shot his brother a quick glance. “Anything you need, all you have to do is ask.”
Seth grunted. “Beck, you could start by being a gentleman. Go put some clothes on. You’re making her blush and she’s shaking like a leaf.”
Jerking, Lindsey cursed her insecurities. Since when did she tremble at the sight of a man? Taking a deep breath, she hoped for some semblance of courage. “I’m sure it will all work out.” In spite of herself, she let her gaze travel, following his trunk-like neck down to well-shaped pecs and abs. Holding at his belt, she took a deep breath before she stole a glance of the tight package bulging in his worn jeans.
The man had it going on. No doubt existed there.
“Yes, it will all work out,” she whispered, perhaps referencing the men instead of her farm.
“They’re planning to auction your place off. How’s that gonna work out, Linds?” Seth asked.
“It just will,” she said quietly. Without faith, a woman had nothing. Without a man, she had to rely on herself. After a good night’s sleep, she would regroup.
Maybe a local bank would take over the loan. Perhaps Bob Callaway would magically reappear and Farmer’s Lending would honor the repayment proposal. Worst case scenario? Tom Leonard and his team of lawyers would drag this thing to court and she’d end up with a legal bill on top of farm debt, but she’d still have her home.
Beck’s narrowed eyes were almost slits. Rubbing his boxed, thick jaw, he sat on the bed. Turning to Lindsey, he asked, “Do you really think you can make enough money by stripping to pay off a farm debt?”
“Man, fuck.” Seth dragged his hand through his hair. “What are you doing?”
“I’m asking Lindsey a question,” Beck said, never averting his eyes.
“First, I never planned to strip and didn’t apply for a stripper’s job. Second, it was a lapse in judgment. I
made a terrible mistake by walking in that godforsaken club, but I didn’t go there for an exotic dancer’s job.”
“You didn’t?” Beck crossed his muscular, tan arms and studied her with fierce intensity. “Why were you in that ‘godforsaken’ club in the first place, Lindsey? It’s no place for a lady.”
She wished she could take it back. She’d possessed one fear when she’d gone there. She had been terrified that the Stallard brothers would find out what she’d done.
Apparently they’d known all along.
“Let me guess. You missed the green neon sign out front, the one that reads Live Strippers Tonight?”
“I was applying for the dead positions,” she said, never cracking a smile.
“What are those?” Seth laughed.
“I can’t wait to hear this.” Beck sniffed. “What do those positions entail, Lindsey?”
“They have barmaids. A friend who works there said that if I could learn to sling drinks that I’d stay so busy that I wouldn’t even have to socialize with the customers. According to her, the bartenders go unnoticed. They aren’t harassed like the dancers.”
“Have you ever heard of a bartender without a good personality?” Beck asked.
“I haven’t,” Seth replied.
“Guys who frequent the club aren’t there for the bartenders. They pay their cover charges for the strippers. They barely notice the gals behind the bar.”
“Oh I don’t know about all that,” Beck said, pointing at Seth. “He used to plant his ass at the bar every Saturday night. Bartender at the time was twice his age and wouldn’t hold a candle to you, but the fellas lined up for her. Every damn night she had a crowd in front of her and more offers than she could juggle.”
“I wasn’t interested in anything more than a job. From what I understand, bartenders earn almost as much as the strippers.”
“And that’s what you want to do?” Beck balked at that. “Work in a club for the rest of your life?”
“I wanted to pay off the farm debt,” she said tightly. Her goals and dreams were on hold. One day she would go back to college. For now, she had to work as hard as she could to save her home.
“Lindsey, I’m not one to judge. We all do things to protect those we love and the things we cherish most, but when you went to Bonzo Maldeni, you went to the wrong damn man for a job.”
Beck was right and she couldn’t argue her case when she already realized she’d made a mistake. “I screwed up. A friend told me that Bonzo didn’t care about experience. I thought as long I could mix up a good drink and keep the pace, he would hire me.”
“How’d that work out for you?” Seth asked.
“Clearly you know what happened.”
“Yeah, buddy,” Beck muttered. “Why would Bonzo hire someone who looks like you and stick her behind a bar with her clothes on? Uh-huh, baby. Bonzo doesn’t roll that way.”
She’d gathered that much right after she’d met Bonzo. Their interview had consisted of a lot of questions. He’d wanted to know where she lived, how many relatives she had in town, and what hours she could work. He’d asked for a list of past boyfriends and had wanted to know if they would present future problems. Then, he’d asked the question that had set off all sorts of alarms—would anyone potentially prohibit her from doing a good job at the club?
The Stallard brothers had immediately come to mind.
“I didn’t take the job,” she quickly assured them, shaking off the fear that Bonzo had instilled.
“That’s not the word on the street,” Beck said.
“I don’t care about gossip. I’m not working there. And that’s all I have to say on the matter.” She turned to Seth. “Thanks again for the hospitality. If you guys don’t mind, I’m gonna turn in for the night.”
“Not yet.” Beck leaned over and turned on the clock radio. He then tilted his chin up in a come-hither kind of gesture. “Dance for us.”
Seth looked surprised. “Beck, don’t be a jackass.”
“I don’t like it when someone lies to me,” Beck said stubbornly. “Bonzo was boasting about the new girl and she’s gonna need practice if she’s planning to strut across his stage. Half-a-million dollars is owed on her place. That’s a lot of pole sliding and lap dances.”
Lindsey wanted to run and hide. On second thought, she wanted to dive off a cliff just to make sure she hit head-first. She needed some sense knocked into her.
“Go on, baby,” Beck said. “Show me what you’ve got.”
“You’ll be lucky if I don’t punch your lights out.” She had every intention of fleeing, every right to run. The men she’d admired for most of her life now knew what desperate measures she’d taken. They also knew how much money she owed, how much it would take to save her home. Still, that’s not what bothered her most.
Beck undoubtedly thought she would do anything necessary to save the farm, even strip off for a bunch of heathens. How did she tell him that the guys who frequented that club were nothing more than whoremongers? She had no intentions of taking her clothes off for them. That hadn’t been her goal when she’d asked Bonzo for a job. Once she realized the trickery in play, she’d even told Bonzo that she wouldn’t show up for work.
With tears in her eyes, she bolted across the room and grabbed her overnight bag. “This was a bad idea.”
“Don’t even think about it,” Beck said, stepping in front of the doorway. “You’re not going anywhere.”
In that moment, she prepared to face her greatest fears, ignoring her racing pulse that made her feel so alive. She’d long since recognized Beck and Seth Stallard as two men with the potential to really screw up a woman’s life plans.
Aware of what kind of man she’d drawn out, Lindsey said, “You have a reputation for taking what you want.” Beck never budged. She wasn’t telling him anything he didn’t already know. Clearly he cherished his MO. “But right now, you’re no match for me.”
“Is that right?” He seemed amused. “I think you may have that backwards, sweet thing.”
“Beck, she’s had a long day,” Seth said. “Move.”
“Not this time,” he grated out. “Imagine my surprise, Linds, when I stopped in at The Beer Well and was told that my pretty little neighbor had applied for a job.” He rested his hands on those low-riding jeans. His taut veins stretched as he flexed his arms. And at that moment, the bare-chested cowboy looked more like a god than a man.
“Where I work is none of your business.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Lindsey. See, you are my business. You have been since the first day your momma brought you over here and asked me to teach you how to ride a damn pony.” He wrapped one of her natural blonde curls around his index finger. Giving it a tight pull, he grinned and she winced. “I had no way of knowing it then, but I understand everything now. I taught you to ride so that one day—now as an example—you’d know exactly how to tame an unreasonable stud.”
Chapter Four
Beck had always feared it would one day come down to this. He’d avoided time alone with her out of self-preservation.
Whenever he saw Lindsey Leland, Beck had this absurd need to protect her. He wanted to keep her safe until…He grimaced then and cursed under his breath.
He just downright wanted her.
The protective nature of their relationship went way beyond friendship. And he was ready to acknowledge it.
His brother and Lindsey watched him curiously. Hell, he might as well fess up, if not to them at least to himself. He’d always looked out for her, even if it was from afar, because down deep he’d known that one day he’d let his agendas be known.
He cared for his sexy neighbor and wanted her for his own.
Grabbing a decorative pillow, he tossed it aside and turned down the bed. He then kicked off his boots and stretched out on the mattress, tucking his arms behind his head. Crossing his ankles, he stared down the length of his body, swearing that his cock twitched whenever she looked at him.
&nb
sp; “What do you think you’re doing?” Seth asked.
“What does it look like I’m doing?” Sometimes his little brother had a hard time keeping up. Two years behind him, Seth would turn twenty-five in another month, but he didn’t look a day older than Lindsey.
“Seth, thank you for your generosity,” Lindsey said, avoiding eye contact with Beck. “I should probably go stay with my Aunt Lisa. She has a guestroom and would be offended if she realized I needed a place to stay and came here when I should’ve gone there.”
“You’re not leaving,” Beck said, wishing they already had the first kiss behind them. Not one to miss opportunities, he hopped up and stood before her. “Lindsey, you’ve had a rough night. Let us spoil you.” He took one step and then another. Cupping her nape, he dragged her forward. Brushing his lips across hers, he added, “Let us make you forget.”
She gasped but didn’t move. Without a delayed start or a pause in between, he lowered his lips to hers and took the first of many ravenous kisses, the kind of kisses that were destined to lead them into a round of heavy petting, a night of endless fucking.
Behind them, Seth cleared his throat. Halfway expecting Seth to interrupt them but not necessarily cut in, Beck was shocked when Seth pulled Lindsey away from him and wrapped his arms around her.
As if it were the most natural thing in the world, she curved her arms around Seth’s neck and laid one on him. She was the one to initiate the kiss and it didn’t stop with a simple meeting of mouths. She arched in Seth’s arms, rubbing that full rack against him.
Grating back a round of cursing, Beck ogled her backside, wanting to grab a handful of ass and just grope the hell out of her. His ideas turned into actions when his brother stopped abruptly. “Where do you see this going, Linds?”
Maybe she’d had time to think about the Stallards and nights like these. Perhaps she’d heard the gossip and realized what kind of women they enjoyed. Then again, perhaps Beck was overthinking this, too.
Perhaps all she sought then was comfort. Maybe she only wanted to spend one night alone with them. If that were the case, he wondered if she realized she was playing too close to the flame, standing too close to a fire destined to burn out of control.
Tap That (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 3
