Seth’s lips twitched.
“Why do I get the feeling that Leonard is here playing more than poker?”
“Because he is,” Seth said. “I’m not telling you anything that those boys haven’t already figured out. Hell, I told Sheriff Ray I’d talk to Tom on Monday.”
“Sheriff and his boys are back there, too.”
“Are they building a fire, roasting marshmallows, and singing camp farewell songs, too?”
“Maybe they should be if you’re planning on sending them down the river.”
“I don’t want any trouble,” Seth assured her.
“Then this is one time that you’d better listen to me, Seth. Turn around and walk away. If you can’t do that, at least go home and get your brother. They’re packin’, hon. And if I know Bonzo, he’ll draw on you as quickly as he’ll draw on any other.”
“He may want to think that through. The sheriff in town owes me a favor.”
She laughed. “Yeah, I heard.”
“Word travels fast around here.”
“How long will it take for the sheriff to work off this favor?”
Seth smiled. “I have a feeling he’ll be wanting to scratch my back for at least eighteen years or longer.”
“You think?” She shook her head. “Man doesn’t have a lick of sense.”
“Apparently his wife doesn’t either. Whole town knows what’s going on.”
“Honey, she knows what’s going on. She’s waiting for the proof. That’s why you’ve got an ace in the hole. Sheriff Ray doesn’t want his wife to see pictures because she’s the one with the money. She inherited a chunk from a great uncle here a while back. Apparently, the uncle thought the world of Sheriff Ray, too. He was mentioned in the will and receives as much as she does each and every month.” She leaned over the bar in a conspiratorial fashion. “And get this—the only way that the money is cut off—even if they divorce—is if proof emerges and an adulterous relationship can be proven.”
“Well what’d ya know?”
“That’s right,” she said, nodding and grinning. “You never know just how hard you can put the screws to someone until all the evidence is on the table, huh?”
Seth took a deep breath and stared at the closed door. “Believe it or not, but I’d rather make a friend than earn an enemy.”
“Then hon, you’d best keep right on walking. The men back there in that room, all they care about is the almighty dollar. You can trust that. They don’t give a shit about you. They damn sure don’t care about me. If you learn anything from me in this lifetime, learn this—there’s something to be said for the adage of money is the root of all evil. It is. I should know. I work for the kind of man who would slice a woman’s throat before he would let her go.”
“Then he’s met his match,” said Seth. “He will let Lindsey go. She came here because she thought she didn’t have any other options. Turns out, she had two right next door and didn’t know it.”
“You’re like your daddy,” Sharon said. “He’d be real proud of you boys.”
“I hope you still feel that way in about fifteen minutes,” Seth said, thumbing the door. “Buzz me back?”
She reached under the bar and winked. “It’s my pleasure. Give ’em hell, kid.”
Chapter Nine
“So then in walks Seth Stallard. And I look at him and think, ‘Shit, here comes trouble’ and then I remembered somethin’ my old lady said once and I thought to myself, ‘Trouble would’ve been in front of ya if Beck had been walking this way’ and I gotta tell you boys, that was a bloody damn fact. Now don’t get me wrong, Seth ain’t a walk in the park, but he ain’t his brother Beck.” Sheriff Ray rambled on and on.
Seth crept along the wall and then peered around the corner. Sheriff Ray, his attorney Tom Leonard, Deputy Bright, and Bonzo were crowded around the poker table. A few other fellows were playing pool.
“I reckon if you’d dealt with Beck, you wouldn’t be here to tell about it,” Bonzo said, puffing a cigar. “Some say the fucker is so obsessed with Lindsey that he only dates women who could pass as her double.”
Seth had heard that rumor, too. Since he’d met some of Beck’s exes and his one-night stands, he called bullshit on that lie.
“So are you planning on letting her out of her contract?” Tom asked, throwing in his hand.
“What contract?” Bonzo laughed until he snorted. “Hell, I misplaced that damn thing soon after she signed it. I swear I’ve looked high and low for it. I reckon she’s got a copy, but she doesn’t know I don’t have one so…yeah buddy, I’m holding her to it.”
Seth chose that moment to make an appearance. “Then I suggest you produce your copy and prove that she signed it.” He forced a smile. “Because from what I understand, she never gave her verbal okay and she damn sure didn’t sign a worthless contract.”
“Seth Stallard.” Bonzo looked as if he’d seen a ghost.
“Bonzo Maldeni.” Seth was staring at the devil.
“What brings you out here today, Seth?” Sheriff Ray focused on his cards. “I figured you’d be banging a broad about right now.”
Beck probably had that covered. He didn’t say as much. “I’m here to talk to the banker who lied to Lindsey.”
If the tight frown lines in his forehead were any indication, Bob Callaway was facing his sixties with very little optimism. “I was let go.”
“Fired?” Seth asked, arching his brow.
“That’s right,” Bob said.
“I see.” Seth pulled up a chair and sat next to Bob. “So I take it you won’t show up for the Christmas party this year and your SUV won’t be parked around back at the home office a day or two after the sale. Right?”
“What are you driving at, Stallard?” Bob was the kind of man who had played the game and learned the rules well. If his weathered skin was any indication, he’d chalked up his share of losses more than wins.
“Well, as you can imagine, I’ve done my homework. My brother and I have friends all over the state and we found out something rather interesting about you.”
“And?”
“And you have a real habit of tying up farmers during their last hours of ownership. You make them believe that there’s no need to seek assistance from other farm lending programs or banks because Farmer’s Lending has every intention of refinancing. Does that sound vaguely familiar?”
Tom flashed a quick grin. He’d undoubtedly found out all sorts of information just by joining in on the Saturday afternoon poker game.
“Are you making an accusation?”
“Sounds like it. Don’t it?” He was country to his core then. Leaning back in his chair, he rested his dirty boot on his knee, bouncing it enough to shake off the cow crap that was caked on the bottom. When a large piece fell to the floor, he turned to Bonzo. “It’s hell when you have to clean up after other people. Isn’t it?”
“What do you want, Stallard?” Bonzo gritted his teeth. “You’re interrupting a high-stakes game.”
“Hmm. Is that right?”
“Want to gamble for something in particular?” Bonzo asked, challenging.
Seth gripped Bonzo’s thin shoulder. Giving him a firm shake, he said, “There’s no need now. My woman is staying with me and my brother. She isn’t on your payroll now and she won’t be in the future.” He stood then and glanced at the sheriff, noticing how he seemingly slumped in his chair.
“Here’s the thing, Bonzo. The sheriff is in your pocket and whatever arrangement you have seems to be working well. He’s happy, satisfied in fact, but he faces tremendous danger.” Seth smirked. “His wife is a valuable member of his financial support group and he needs her in his corner. You know where I’m going with this.”
Bonzo nodded once. “Now I can’t do anything about the outstanding debt owed against Lindsey’s farm, but I can stress two things here today. One, you won’t enforce a contract that you don’t have and two, if you try to, then your sheriff here will have a very unhappy home life. W
e wouldn’t want that for the good sheriff now. Would we?”
Bonzo cursed under his breath and then turned to Seth’s attorney. “Leonard, show yourself out and take your client with you.”
“We were just going,” Tom said, collecting his money and jacket.
Right when they reached the door, Bonzo called out, “She’s in the clear here, but when her property is auctioned, know this, I’ll steal away with it and do it with a smile.”
“You might wear a smile,” Seth said. “But it’s gonna cost ya.”
Chapter Ten
“Beck! Lindsey!” Seth rushed upstairs and threw open the door. Ready to share his exciting news, he was taken aback by what he found.
He’d never seen a woman ride a man with such enthusiasm. She cupped her breasts and gave him a come-hither stare and Seth was pretty sure he ripped out his zipper trying to strip away his jeans. He shrugged off his shirt and lost his hat and boots along the way, too.
“So I see someone didn’t wait for me,” he said, smothering her lips as she rode Beck without an inch of forgiveness.
“I’ve been keeping her busy so she doesn’t have time to think about things.”
“It’s all going to work out,” Seth said, certain now that they could deal with anything. Even if Bonzo had tried to hold her to that contract, he and Beck would’ve paid the five grand. It would’ve hurt like hell to pad a crook’s pocket, but Lindsey was worth it.
His eyes hazed over with the new lust rising. Fuck, yeah, she was worth it.
Beck gripped her hips and she leaned back. He moaned in pleasure as he rubbed her clit, lifting his head off the pillow so he could stare down at their connection.
“That’s hot,” Seth rasped, grabbing her hair and lifting her mouth to his. Giving her a savory kiss, he whispered, “I have a surprise for you.”
“We’ll talk business later,” Beck said, biting his lip and dragging her forward. He fucked her then without a smidgen of mercy.
Lindsey cocked her head and crooked her finger. “I want to try both at the same time.”
“Try both?” he asked, laughing. “You make us sound like we’re the flavors of the week.”
“But you are,” she teased, winking at Beck.
Seth felt like the odd man out for a minute. Rather than stand there gawking, he pulled her off Beck’s cock.
His brother moaned, but he quickly made adjustments. Seth rolled a condom over his prick as he watched Beck seduce their woman. The kissing and petting was absurd, but the good loving was straight ahead.
He lay back on the bed and pulled her to him. Kissing her breasts, he drew one nipple between his teeth and watched her for a reaction. When her heavy eyelids fluttered over those moist baby blues, he thrust inside her with a deep stroke that mattered, one which stretched and prepared her for the hard loving to come.
Beck took her hips and pushed her forward. Leaning over her back, he bit at her ear and whispered, “Get ready for some good times, baby.”
“I’m yours,” she said.
Seth laughed. “Honey, you’ve been ours since the day you were born. We just couldn’t let you know before now.”
“Don’t blame…Hmmm God bless!” She closed her eyes and opened her mouth.
“Don’t blame what?” Beck asked, pumping his cock inside her.
“Me,” she whimpered, rolling her body back and forth to accommodate them. “You wanted experience.”
“Did we?” Seth watched her undulate in their arms and he wondered if maybe she was right. Had they stayed away so they could gain knowledge or had they kept their distance because they were afraid they might push too hard and scare her away.
“Didn’t you?” she asked, tossing her hair back and arching her neck.
Beck’s tongue traveled up and down her slender trunk. He pinched her nipple and her pussy clenched around Seth’s cock. “We wanted experience for sure.”
Seth grinned at the thought and gripped her waist, thrusting inside her again and again. His cock stretched and his balls jiggled. He wanted to empty his cum inside her without protection, without anything to stop him from sealing a more permanent deal.
“Fuck me,” he whispered, concentrating on the beauty riding him.
Her tousled hair and that freshly fucked look was one he would undoubtedly see often. As Beck slapped her ass, he slammed inside her, pushing her to unfathomable limits as she groaned and grunted, moaned and whimpered.
“Come baby,” Beck said. “Show us what you’ve got.”
The seesawing motions began as they rocked her to and fro. Beck hollered. She cried out. Seth bit back an outright scream.
Lindsey collapsed on top of him as Beck excused himself. And as Seth wrapped his hand in her warm hair, he couldn’t help but think that they were on the verge of something great.
Sure, they would face obstacles, a lot of them in the near future, but when the business matters were satisfied and Lindsey’s home was protected, he planned to sit down and have a serious talk with this buxom beauty.
He wanted her in his bed. He needed her in his life.
When the farm matters were over, he would ask her the million-dollar question. Could she ever see herself falling for him, loving him? If so, would she love him enough to become his wife?
Chapter Eleven
Two Months Later
Lindsey was a nervous wreck. It seemed like yesterday, just a few hours ago, when the sheriff and his men had ordered her off her farm. Now, here she was standing next to the auctioneer, signing papers and awaiting the absolute auction.
She glanced around the crowd, but didn’t see any recognizable faces. Where were Seth and Beck? She had spent the morning with them and they’d started their day the same way they started every other day—with a round of hot, ravenous sex.
Now, when she needed them most, where were they?
“There’s my girl.” Aunt Lisa’s voice filled the air. “Look at you standing there all grown up.” She kissed one cheek and then the other. Turning to the beast of a man at her side, she forced a smile and said, “Lindsey, you remember Nathaniel. Don’t you?”
“Of course,” Lindsey said. “It’s been a while, Nathaniel. Always good to see you.”
“You too, darlin’,” Nathaniel said, seemingly uneasy. “Where are those boys of yours?”
“You mean my men?” She waggled her brows to taunt her aunt. “I was about to call them. They should’ve been here by now.”
“Well don’t you worry yourself silly,” Aunt Lisa said, looping her small arm through Nathaniel’s. “I’m sure they’ll be here soon.”
About that time, the crowd hushed. The investors from Farlow’s Real Estate Group pushed through the throng of people with Bonzo leading the way. Nathaniel looked like he could rip a few heads off and he snarled as several of Bonzo’s men passed.
“Now, now, hon. Don’t get your undies in a bunch.” Aunt Lisa waved her hand in front of her face. “You know how possessive he is. He’s still pissed off that I had company when he was out of town.”
“No, I’m pissed off because you had to bring out my shotgun. Why, if you’d fired the first round, you would’ve been flat on your back. That thing has some kick to it. You could’ve hurt yourself.”
“Well then it’s a good thing I didn’t have to fire it, huh?” She winked at Lindsey. “Find me after the sale.”
“I will,” she said, wondering why her aunt was in such a chipper mood.
The auctioneer took the microphone and climbed in the back of a pickup. “We’re going to start off with an attempt to sell the property as a whole. The bank needs $758,000 to clear the debt.”
“Wait a minute,” Lindsey said, waving her hand in front of the auctioneer. “That’s not what was owed on this property.”
“Of course it wasn’t,” Beck said, breaking through the crowd and taking long strides to reach the auctioneer. “But a few folks down at Farmer’s Lending felt like we might be able to get our hands on half a million. They wa
nted to start the bid high enough to keep it out of our reach.”
“Beck, no.” Lindsey grabbed his wrist, but he patted her hand and gently moved her aside.
Seth joined her. “He knows what he’s doing. Stay put, Linds.”
“I can’t let you guys do this.”
“Why not?” Seth squeezed her hand. “It’s not like the property isn’t worth it.”
“I can’t let you,” she reiterated, feeling a surge of guilt as she watched Beck take his place by the potential bidders.
Leaning into her, Seth cupped his hand and whispered, “Don’t test us here, hon. Beck and I have the money and we know what we’re willing to pay. Now either stand there quietly and watch this unfold or go on back to our place. We’re not going down without a fight and I don’t think that damn investment group was ready for us.”
“And here we go now,” the auctioneer sang. “We’ll start with eight hundred big ones. Who’ll give us $800,000?”
Beck threw his hand in the air. Bonzo, apparently bidding for the investment group, tossed up his paddle. Smug as usual, he shot Lindsey a wink and a smile, but she barely noticed him after that.
The sale went quickly, the bidding war continued, sometimes jumping a few thousand dollars and sometimes increasing in 10,000-dollar increments. Five interested parties stayed steadfast in their bidding until the auctioneer hollered out, “Any takers at a million five?”
“Got it,” Beck said, throwing his hand up.
“Over here,” Bonzo said.
They went back and forth for a minute or two. Eventually, the auctioneer said, “Gentlemen, remember this is a cash sale or you’ll need to produce a bank letter today.”
“Covered,” Bonzo said.
“Two million,” Beck said, glaring at Bonzo. “And so you know, I’ll never let you have this place for under five. If you want it, come get it.”
“Fuck,” Seth muttered. “That’s like calling out the devil.”
“Going once,” the auctioneer said.
Tap That (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 6
