“I’m not willing to let that happen.” Tucker’s eyes narrowed. “So don’t even think about backing out.”
Jake raised his hands. “Me? You were the one I was sure would say hell no.”
Tucker nodded toward the door. “Let’s get this place locked down. We have a woman to go see.”
“Yes, we do.” Jake followed Tucker. “The sooner the better.”
Tucker came to a halt so fast, Jake ran into him. “Oh, hell.”
“What?” Jake asked.
Tucker cursed again. “I forgot.”
“Forgot what?”
“We have that damned garden club benefit for the women’s shelter tonight. We promised Sandell and Rutherford we’d be there.”
Jake pushed past Tucker. “Those old busybodies won’t notice if we’re not there.”
“No. But we promised,” Tucker insisted.
Jake cringed. Nothing he could say would sway his brother. Tucker stood by his promises, even when made to the president and vice president of the Temptation Garden Club.
“Look,” Tucker said. “All we have to do is make a showing. Then we can leave.”
Jake turned back to Tucker, grinning. “Maybe we can take Molly on our first date as a threesome.”
Tucker’s face brightened. “That’s a great idea. I bet she’s going anyway. It would show our unity by asking her to go with us.”
Jake pulled out his cell phone and dialed Molly’s number, and then hit the speaker button so that Tucker could be in on the conversation as well.
“Sean speaking,” a deep, male voice answered.
“This is Jake,” Jake turned to his brother.
Tucker stared at him and then added quickly, “and Tucker Maddox.”
“What can I do for ya?”
“Is Molly there?” Jake asked.
Sean paused and a muffled yell came across, “Is Molly here?”
A moment later, Sean came back on the line. “Nope. She’s out on a date with Dusty Cramer.”
Jake stared at Tucker, a lead weight settling in the pit of his belly.
Tucker leaned over the phone. “Thanks, Sean. Could you tell her we called?”
“Sure, but aren’t you going to the benefit tonight? You can tell her yourself. That’s where she and Dusty went.”
“Thanks we will.” Tucker hit the END button and stared across at Jake. “We have to do some damage control. Molly might have changed her mind.”
Jake’s gut clenched. “After the ruckus we raised last night, she might not want either one of us.”
“Damn.”
“Well, let’s get going.” Jake clapped a hand to Tucker’s back. “We have a benefit to attend.”
“God, I hate these garden party fundraisers with tea and finger food,” Tucker muttered. “I’d skip it if I hadn’t already committed.”
“We can’t skip, now,” Jake said. “Dusty’s moving in on our girl.”
Tucker’s jaw tightened. “And we’re not about to lose her to someone else.”
“No.” Tucker headed for the plane. “We’re not.” He secured the tie-down straps and checked over the craft in preparation for the next day’s sortie.
Jake double-checked the helicopter. When all was locked up and secured for the night, the two men drove home.
“Tonight’s event is formal,” Jake said as he hurried up the steps of the front porch.
“I’m wearing my jeans.” Tucker headed for his room while Jake entered his.
“The hell you are,” Jake called out. “Wear your suit.”
“Fuck. I hate suits.”
“You might hate them, but women love them on a man.” Jake pulled his one and only suit out of the closet and shook off the dust. The last time he’d worn it had been to his uncle’s funeral. Well tonight he’d wear it for another good cause. Winning Molly back from Dusty Cramer. Damned claim jumper.
*
Molly walked into Mrs. Rutherford’s garden on Dusty Cramer’s arm, wearing a dress, high heels and lipstick—three things she hated most. They ranked right up there with hairspray and tiaras. Not Molly’s style. Oh, she didn’t mind dresses as long as she could go barefoot or wear her cowboy boots with them. But mostly, she didn’t like getting all dressed up to attend a stuffy social function.
But the cause was good. The money raised with the silent auction would benefit the women’s shelter, which, along with the rest of the town was slowly recovering from a twister that had touched down over a year ago. She couldn’t complain too much since she was helping out Dusty, whose elderly mother was also a member of the Temptation Garden Club, by showing up as his date.
Molly glanced up at Dusty. “Why didn’t you bring a real date?”
“I would if I could find one. In case you haven’t noticed, a lot of the women in Temptation are taken. And I’m picky. I don’t want to date someone just for this event. It wouldn’t be fair to the young lady when I don’t call her ever again.”
“Why is it so important to show up at the fundraiser with a date?”
“I hope by bringing you, my mother will get off my back about getting married and having children.” He nodded toward a woman sitting at a bistro table on the back patio. “See that woman?”
Molly nodded. “Mrs. Rheinhardt.”
“She’s the problem.”
“How so?” Molly knew the woman. She was nice enough and had a huge family that lived in and around Temptation.
“She constantly brags about her daughters and all her grandchildren. She has half the mamas in the county badgering their sons and daughters to get married and produce.”
“Oh.” Molly smiled and waved at Mrs. Rheinhardt. “I see your problem. But won’t your mother be disappointed when I don’t show up with you at any other event?”
“She’ll get over it. At least for tonight she won’t give me hell.” He pulled Molly’s arm through his. “Now put on your happy face. Here comes my mother.”
Molly pasted a smile on her face and greeted Mrs. Cramer.
“Molly, darlin’,” Mrs. Cramer exclaimed. “So happy to see you. Why, I remember when you were a little bitty thing, following your big brothers around at the Fourth of July Barbeques. Your mother and I used to be such friends, bless her soul.” She pulled Molly into a hug and squished the air from her lungs.
When she finally let go, Molly felt awful. Not from the bear hug, but from lying to one of her mother’s old friends. “Nice to see you again, Mrs. Cramer.”
Mrs. Cramer turned to Mrs. Rheinhardt, urging Molly forward. “Winnie, honey, look who Dusty brought with him this evening. Why, it’s Molly O’Brien.”
Mrs. Rheinhardt squinted up at Molly. “Oh, yes. The youngest of the O’Brien clan, God bless her mother’s soul. When is your father coming back from Australia?”
Like Molly had told her brothers, everybody knew everything about everyone. “He’ll be back in a month or so.”
The older woman glanced from Molly to Dusty and back. “Is this something new? Are you two a couple?”
Mrs. Cramer laughed. “Oh, Winnie, don’t rush the young folks. I’m sure they’ll make up their minds soon enough.”
Molly was herded away, dragging Dusty with her. She’d be damned if she let him off the hook with his mother making a show of the woman her son brought to the big event.
She was on display with Mrs. Rutherford and Mrs. Sandell, the president and vice president of the Temptation Garden club, when Jake and Tucker arrived. Molly didn’t have to turn around to know they were behind her. She could feel every nerve ending come alive, and her core tightened.
Schooling her face to calm, she turned slowly as though she were admiring the roses in Mrs. Rutherford’s garden, her gaze connecting with Tucker’s and then Jake’s.
Their smoldering blue gazes captured and held hers so long she felt a little lightheaded and didn’t hear Mrs. Rutherford’s question.
“I’m sorry,” Molly turned back to the older woman. “What was it you were saying?”
>
“I asked when you’re going to marry and settle down,” Mrs. Rutherford frowned. “Are you all right, dear? Your face is flushed.”
“You should have a seat.” Mrs. Sandell led her to a chair by a wrought iron bistro table and pushed her into it. “I’ll get you a glass of cool lemonade.”
“No, really, I’m fine.” And she’d much rather have a beer. Whiskey would be even better. A glass of lemonade was slapped into her hand, and she forced herself to smile, thank Mrs. Sandell and then sip the tart lemon-flavored water until her mouth puckered.
Mrs. Rheinhardt leaned close to Mrs. Sandell. “You know, my body ran hot when I was in the family way.”
Molly was in mid-sip when she overheard the older woman whispering to her friend. She choked on the liquid and spewed it out, all over Mrs. Rutherford’s prize grandiflora roses.
“Oh, dear!” Mrs. Rutherford raced forward and stood between her roses and Molly. “If you’re going to be ill, please, feel free to use the bathroom in my house. But above all, spare the roses!”
Molly lurched to her feet, teetered on her heels and grabbed for Dusty’s arm. “Get me out of here,” she whispered into his ear. “Now.”
“If you’ll excuse us, I’ll help Molly into the house.” Dusty guided her into the Rutherford home.
Once inside the air-conditioned entrance, Molly turned on Dusty. “I am not in a family way and I don’t like lying to those old women. Before you know it, they’ll have me married off and pregnant with triplets.”
Dusty laughed. “You can’t let them get to you. But now you see what I’ve been dealing with. My mother and the ladies of the Temptation Garden Club have nothing better to do than gossip.”
“Well, I don’t like being the source of their gossip.” Molly stepped away from Dusty. “I’m going to splash water on my face, and then I’ll be ready to leave. Go out and mingle until then. I can’t face them.” She snorted. “Pregnant. Me! Ha!”
Dusty left her to find the bathroom on her own.
After splashing water on her heated cheeks, careful not to smear her mascara, she patted her face dry and stared at her reflection.
Pregnant.
Molly ran her hands over her flat belly, thinking of how happy Audrey was carrying Jackson’s child.
Sure, Molly had thoughts of being pregnant some day. She could picture a dark-haired, blue-eyed little boy running around the yard, or a pretty green-eyed girl riding bareback across the pasture, her hair flying out behind her. Yeah, she’d like to get married and have kids, but she had to have a husband first.
Jake and Tucker flashed through her mind. Maybe she was wrong asking them to share her. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t pick one over the other. Austin was looking like the only alternative that would work. Her family was not going to like it, and frankly, she’d miss her father, brothers, Audrey, Jackson and all the people she knew and loved.
Temptation was a small community and the people were pretty close. In Austin, she’d be a little fish in a big pond, out of her element and lost in the crowd. Then again, she’d be away from the gossips and busybodies.
With a sigh, she stepped out of the powder room and ran into a solid wall of muscle.
Molly squeaked and backed up so fast she tripped over her damned high heels.
Hands reached out, grabbed her and slammed her into those muscles again, holding her tightly. “Hey, darlin’.”
Her knees melted and she looked up into Tucker Maddox’s blue eyes. “You have a way of knocking a girl off her feet.”
His chuckle rumbled against her chest, vibrating her breasts where they smashed against him. “I’m a man with technique.”
Warmth stole into her cheeks and her fingers curled into his shirt. Yeah, he had technique. When his tongue flicked her... Molly stopped right there. She couldn’t think about Tucker and the way he made her crazy. Not when she was there as another man’s date.
She pulled back, straightened her dress and shoulders. “Tucker, I’m surprised to see you and your brother here. A garden party doesn’t strike me as your kind of thing.”
“I’m all for a good cause.” His brows puckered. “Look, Molly. Dusty isn’t the guy for you.”
Molly’s brows furrowed. “And you know this because?”
“He’s just not.”
“And you are?” She pushed past him. “I’m sorry, but I’m with Dusty tonight. Not you and your brother. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t interfere.” Though she wanted to fall into his arms and beg him to take her away from the frumpy women with their gossiping tongues, Molly left the house and headed straight for Dusty, a smile pasted to her face. “I think I’m not feeling quite well.” Let the biddies make what they would of that. “Could you take me home?”
Dusty’s concerned frown made Molly feel guilty, but she couldn’t stay with Dusty when she wanted to be with Tucker and Jake. It was best if she left. If the Maddox brothers wanted her, they’d have to come to her on her terms. But not until her date with Dusty was over.
She passed Tucker and Jake on her way out, keeping her head down, refusing to make eye contact with them.
As she cleared the gate, she removed her heels and ran to Dusty’s truck as fast as she could in the thigh-constricting dress. She couldn’t play the games required of her. For one, Dusty deserved a woman who loved him. Secondly, Molly wanted two men but would be forced to leave them both to keep the peace.
Her life sucked.
Chapter Seven
Jake backhanded Tucker in the gut. “What did you say to her?”
“I don’t know.” Tucker ran a hand through his hair. “All I told her was that Dusty wasn’t right for her.”
“Did you tell her that we’d agreed to share her like she wanted?”
“She didn’t give me a chance. She said she was with Dusty and not to interfere.”
“Fuck.” Jake clapped a hand over his mouth when he noted Mrs. Rutherford glaring at him. He gave her a weak smile. “I mean fudge.”
Her frown lightened, and she turned back to her conversation with Mrs. Sandell.
Jake grabbed Tucker’s arm and led him through the garden gate to the street.
“We can’t leave,” Tucker protested. “We just got here.”
“We’re leaving. I don’t give a rat’s ass what those old ladies think. Molly gave you the brush off. We’ve reached a critical point in our relationship with her. We have to do something fast or risk losing her forever.”
Tucker paced out into the street and back to the curb. “What do you suggest?”
“We have to do something drastic. Something that proves to her we’re serious.”
“We have to get her away from Dusty,” Tucker stated, his tone flat.
“That, too.” Jake took his turn pacing out into the street. A crazy, absolutely insane idea popped into his head, and he stopped in the middle of the street. He stared across at Tucker.
“Uh oh. I’ve seen that look before.” Tucker held up his hands. “It almost got us thrown in jail when we were teens.”
The idea blossomed and a grin spread across his face. “I know what we have to do.”
“Yeah, I’m afraid to ask what.” Tucker shook his head. “Whatever your idea is, my answer is no.”
Jake frowned. “You haven’t even heard it yet.”
Tucker stood tall, his shoulders back, his chin high. “The answer is still no.”
Jake grabbed his brother’s arm. “Come on, we can’t let anyone hear what it is. If we want this to work, we have to keep it secret.”
Tucker resisted all the way to Jake’s truck, but climbed into the passenger seat. “So what’s the big idea? Not that I’m agreeing to it.”
Before he revealed his epiphany, Jake shifted into drive and pulled away from Mrs. Rutherford’s house and onto the road to home.
He drove to the edge of town before he shot a glance toward Tucker. “We’re going to kidnap Molly and take her away to our hunting cabin in West Texas.”
“It’s the only way we can get her away from all other distractions and show her that we can get along and share her the way she wants.”
Tucker continued to chuckle, though the sound faded as time passed.
Jake glared at his brother. “You got any better ideas?”
His brother’s laughter stopped completely. “No.”
“Did you like seeing her with Dusty? I heard the old ladies were speculating about her being pregnant before they’re even married.”
A ruddy red flush crept into Tucker’s cheeks and his jaw tightened. “I like Dusty, but he’s not the right man for Molly.”
“Damn right, he’s not.” Jake slapped his own chest. “We are.”
“Yes, we are.” Tucker sat forward, his eyes narrowing. “How do you propose we grab her?”
Jake’s pulse leaped. “She rides her horse every afternoon before she goes to work at the Ugly Stick.” Jake’s foot pressed hard on the accelerator and they flew toward the ranch. “We can take her then. What do you have on the books tomorrow?”
“A morning flight to Austin,” Tucker said. “I’ll be back by noon. The rest of the weekend is free.” Tucker glanced at Jake. “What about you?”
“My booking cancelled. I’m free until Monday.”
“Perfect.” Tucker nodded. “While I’m gone, you can gather what we’ll need for two days in West Texas. Food, water, clean sheets for the beds, the usual stuff we take when we go hunting, minus guns.”
“And plenty of condoms and lubricant.” Jake grinned. “We’ll have to take the helicopter to get in, grab Molly and get out.”
“I could land the plane in one of their pastures.”
Jake shook his head. “We can’t risk snagging a fence.” His hands tightened on the steering wheel, his mind made up.
His brother nodded. “The helicopter it is.”
Jake stuck out a hand. Tucker took it and they shook. “Tomorrow.”
*
After Dusty dropped Molly off at the ranch, she spent the night pacing her bedroom floor, wishing she could pick up the phone and call Jake and Tucker. But what would she say—I want you. Please choose to be with me? It wasn’t in her nature to beg, and now wasn’t the time to start.
Every Which Way Page 17
