by Paige Warren
“Are you excited about tonight?” Elodie asked.
“Yeah, and a little nervous I think. I’m scared I’m going to say or do something to scare them off. It’s been a while since I’ve been on a date, I mean a real date. I usually just pick up men in bars and we jump right into a relationship. We sort of miss the whole first date step.”
“What if Synclair and Ryan want a relationship?” Elodie asked.
“I don’t know. They’re both… They make me feel unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. My heart races, my palms sweat, and I feel like they’re the center of the universe when I’m in a room with either of them. It’s a little scary to be so focused on someone.”
“I felt the same way about your cousins, so I understand. Are you just going to let nature take its course?”
Gemma laughed. “Are you trying to ask if I’m going to come home tonight?”
“Maybe.” Elodie cast her a sly look. “Two hot men and you aren’t even the slightest bit tempted to take them for a test drive?”
“Maybe I’m worried I’ll decide to keep them.”
Elodie’s expression turned serious, her brow creasing. “There isn’t anything wrong with that, Gemma. Just because you’ve dated a bunch of duds doesn’t mean there aren’t some winners out there. You know how great your cousins are, and I’m betting your brothers are the same way. Is it so hard to imagine there being other men out there who are just as wonderful as your family? Men who know how to treat a woman right?”
Duds. That was one way to refer to them. If anyone knew the horror that Trevor had put her through… no, she wouldn’t think about it. If she were honest with herself, she’d admit that she was worried that being with two men at once might cause her to have a panic attack. She hadn’t told anyone about the night Trevor drugged her and invited his friends over to play. She’d been helpless to do anything to stop them. Yes, she should have called the police, but she’d been too afraid to do anything.
That nightmare lived on in her memory. She couldn’t remember every detail of what happened that night because of the drugs he’d pumped into her system, but she remembered enough to be scared, and disgusted. Would Synclair and Ryan still want her if they knew the truth? Or would they call her a whore and turn their backs on her? That’s part of what held her back from telling her family. She knew her brothers would want revenge, just because they felt they should stand up for their sister, but what if they were also disgusted with her? What if they felt she deserved what happened to her? She didn’t think she could handle that, knowing that she had disappointed them so much.
She hadn’t told Elodie or her cousins, but Trevor had called several more times since she’d arrived in Grizzly Pines. She’d ignored his calls the first two times, but he’d left her hateful voicemails, so she’d answered the next time he called. Not that it had done much good. Telling him she didn’t want to see him anymore that she was moving on with her life didn’t do anything but enrage him. He’d figured out that she’d moved, but he didn’t know where and she wondered how long it would take him to find her, or if he could. Surely her parents wouldn’t hand that information out? Maybe she needed to have a conversation with them about keeping her whereabouts secret.
“I’m just saying you should keep your options open,” Elodie said. “If it makes a difference, they never really teased me or gave me a hard time. I don’t think Ryan even knew I existed. And Synclair…”
“Was too busy whoring himself out to pay attention?”
Elodie flushed. “Yeah, something like that. Look, I know he has a past, but so do you. Obviously you wanted to change, to make yourself into something more. Maybe he feels the same way.”
“I’ve known men like Synclair my entire life. They never change, not for long anyway.”
“Really? Have any of them ever sent you flowers before?” She arched a brow.
Okay, Elodie had a point. Gemma couldn’t remember the last time she’d received flowers from anyone. All right, so that wasn’t entirely true. Her brother, Nick, had given them to her a few years ago, just because he’d been thinking about her. For that matter, she’d never received flowers from a guy she wasn’t related to. How pathetic was that? Synclair and Ryan had changed that with one simple gesture.
No matter how much it scared her, she needed to go into this—whatever it was—with both eyes open and a willingness to just let things happen. She knew the smart thing would be to back away from the brothers and keep her distance if she wanted to keep her heart in one piece, but she was drawn to them like a moth to a flame. When she’d met Synclair, the air had felt supercharged, as if she could feel the energy crackling along her skin. And then with Ryan, she’d felt his presence long before he stood beside her, had just known that someone important to her was in the building.
How crazy was that? How could they possibly be important to her when she’d just met them? She knew nothing about them, except for their names and where they worked. Thanks to Elodie, she knew their parents were deceased, but that didn’t really tell her anything about them. What kind of music did they like? Did they prefer watching movies or reading? And how on earth was a relationship going to work between the three of them? She assumed they each had their own place and she was staying with her cousins, so where would they go if they wanted to be intimate?
Just the thought of Synclair and Ryan standing before her, without a stitch of clothing on, was enough to make her pulse race and her breathing pick up until she felt like she was running a marathon. She’d bet Synclair’s inked body would be artistic perfection. Did Ryan have any tattoos? With a tattoo artist as a brother, surely he had at least one or two. She was anxious to find out.
No. She needed to slow down. No getting naked on the first date! What in the world would they think of her if she allowed them to break down her defenses over one dinner? She’d always been told anything worth having was worth fighting for. Maybe that’s where she’d gone wrong all her life, she’d given it up too easily. If she made them work for it, would they want her even more? Or would they lose interest? She wasn’t sure she wanted to take the risk.
Gemma took a deep breath and let it out. One thing at a time. Dinner. If things seemed like they were going to progress further, she’d stop and analyze the situation then. It wasn’t like they were going out for drinks and dancing. She was going to be sober, which meant she could keep her wits about her.
Chapter Eight
Gemma smoothed her hands down her skirt and blew out a breath. She’d seen an SUV pull up in front the house just a moment ago and was waiting on someone to ring the bell. No way would she rush out onto the porch, looking as eager as she was. Just because she couldn’t wait to see them didn’t mean they had to know that. She’d had plenty of time to give herself a pep talk. She’d decided this date would be part of her new bright future, a future without losers like Trevor.
The jackass had called again while she was getting changed upstairs. He hadn’t said anything new. Stupid bitch! I’m going to find you and when I do, you’ll be sorry. Same thing he’d said the last time he’d called. She had to admit it sent a frisson of fear coursing down her spine. What if he did find her? She’d called her parents and asked them not to disclose her whereabouts to anyone looking for her. They’d wondered why she was being so secretive, and she’d had to confess that Trevor was harassing her. After that, they’d agreed easily enough. She still hadn’t told the cousins about the continued phone calls from Trevor though. She knew Cody wanted her to file a restraining order, and maybe she should, but she was worried it would make it easier for Trevor to find her. As long as he didn’t know where she was, she was safe.
The bell rang and Gemma pulled the door open, smiling at Ryan and Synclair. They’d both dressed in button-down shirts, but where Ryan’s was a plain blue that nearly matched his eyes, she’d swear Synclair was wearing a white Affliction shirt, or something that looked similar. She’d had a boyfriend previously that was obsessed with those clothes
. His ink was mostly hidden and she was a little sorry that she couldn’t see more of it. Ryan wore dark wash jeans that looked new with black cowboy boots, while Synclair’s were a pale blue and nearly worn through in several places and what looked like biker boots. They both looked edible, even if they were complete opposites.
“Ready?” Ryan asked.
Synclair raked her from head to toe with his heated gaze and she felt her nipples tighten in response. When his eyes met hers, he gave her a wicked grin that made her toes curl in her boots. He was definitely lethal. She had a feeling Ryan would ask for what he wanted, but Synclair… he was the type that would just take it.
She licked her lips. “Yes, I’m ready.”
Ryan held his arm out and she looped her arm through his, placing her fingers on his forearm. There was strength in that arm, more than she’d realized when he was dressed in a suit and tie. His muscles might not be quite as big as Synclair’s, but he was no less powerful. The thought of stripping his shirt off him and running her fingers up his chest and down those impressive arms was enough to make her panties damp. Synclair smirked at her, as if he could read her thoughts. Lord but she hoped he couldn’t!
Ryan settled her into the front passenger’s seat and then walked around to the driver’s side. Synclair climbed in back. Gemma could feel his gaze on her and fought the urge to turn around. After she buckled, Ryan pulled down the long driveway and turned onto the two-lane highway toward Hollis Springs. It took about twenty minutes to reach the small town, and when they reached the restaurant, finding a place to park was interesting. It seemed the place was busier than she’d have thought with it being a weekday.
Once inside, Ryan requested a table for three, asking if they had a U-shaped booth. It turned out they did. Ryan slid in first, tugging Gemma in behind him and then Synclair slid in beside her. Sandwiched between them, the heat from their bodies pressing against her, she willed her heart to slow its frantic beat. Synclair stretched his arm out behind her along the top of the booth and Ryan placed his hand on her thigh. She was never going to make it through dinner at this rate. All she could think about was the three of them, and a bedroom. Clothing optional.
A waitress came over and took their order, giving her men the once-over. Gemma wasn’t sure she liked the look in the woman’s eyes and glared at her. These were her men and no way was anyone going to try and entice them away from her. They placed their drink order, with Gemma and Ryan ordering sweet tea and Synclair asking for a beer. There must have been something written across her face because Synclair took one look at her and changed his order to match theirs.
“I take it you have something against drinking?” Synclair asked after the woman had moved away.
“No, not really. It’s just… I’m a recovering alcoholic. Being around people who drink is still hard for me. I’ve only been sober about a month.”
His gaze softened. “You should have said something. I never would have ordered it if I’d known.”
She shrugged a shoulder. “It isn’t something I broadcast. My cousins still drink sometimes but they try not to do it around me. The beer in the fridge calls to me, but so far I’ve been able to avoid it.”
Synclair toyed with her hair. “It just shows how strong you are.”
Ryan eyed the blonde tresses his brother was playing with. “Did you get a haircut?”
Her hand lifted and she smoothed a lock back into place. “Just a trim.”
Ryan’s expression said it looked like more than a trim to him. It seemed Elodie had been right. They were attracted to her hair. She’d had compliments on it before, but she’d never thought much of it. Now she was questioning those five inches that had come off earlier.
They perused the menu and, when their drinks arrived, they were ready to order. Having munched on lettuce and chicken for lunch, Gemma was starving and ordered a burger and fries. The guys ordered a few appetizers along with their meal, asking if she liked this or that. Once their order was placed, the waitress left them in peace. Gemma wasn’t sure that was necessarily a good thing. It meant she had to talk about herself, and she hated talking about herself. Mostly because there wasn’t anything interesting to say.
“What brought you to Grizzly Pines?” Ryan asked.
“My cousin, Beau, came and said that I was invited to stay with them as long as I wanted. I’d hit a low spot in my life and was ready to accept a way to better my situation. I needed to get away from Dallas and couldn’t refuse his offer.”
Synclair narrowed his eyes. “Why did you need to get away from Dallas?”
Gemma wasn’t sure how much she should divulge. If they were going to run because of her poor choice in men previously, then it was better to know now than later, she reasoned. Taking a breath, she told them about Trevor. Not everything, but enough to paint a picture of what her life had been like. They asked a few questions, but mostly let her get the tale out there.
“I’m sorry you went through that,” Ryan said. “But I’m happy it brought you to us.”
“Do you still hear from him?” Synclair asked.
She shrugged. “He’s called a few times. I try not to answer the phone when he does.”
“Why don’t you change your number?” Ryan suggested. “If you want, we could take you by a phone store on the way home. I’m sure if you told your provider about the issues you’re having, they would be happy to issue you a new number.”
“It’s a pay-as-you-go number,” she said. “I’d have to buy a new phone to get a new number, and I just can’t afford that right now. As it is, my cousins are paying for pretty much everything for me.”
“So you were serious about working for me?” Synclair asked. “Because I could use the help, and it sounds like you could use the cash. It only pays ten dollars an hour, but you can work as many hours as you want. I mainly would need you from eleven in the morning until one in the afternoon, to set appointments. I have that set up as my time to work on sketches for clients, and getting interrupted by the phone or a walk-in kills my creative flow.”
“I was serious about helping, but only temporarily. I have a project I’m working on that I want to finish and, if I’m working full-time, it will take me longer to complete my task.”
“I’m intrigued,” Ryan said. “What’s this secret project of yours?”
She felt her cheeks flush. “I’m writing a book.”
“That’s incredible,” Ryan said, his eyebrows lifted. “I’ve never met an author before. What’s the book about?”
She felt her face heat even more. “It’s a western romance.”
Ryan grinned. “Have a thing for cowboys, do you?”
“It’s a popular genre,” she said defensively. “Lots of women want a cowboy of their own.”
“Settle for a tattoo artist and a lawyer?” Synclair asked with a smile.
“Technically, I am getting a cowboy,” Gemma said. “I’ve seen the rodeo pictures in your brother’s office.”
“Don’t let Synclair fool you,” Ryan said. “He may look like a tough city guy, but he knows his way around horses and cattle. We used to spend summers at a friend’s ranch, helping with the animals, cutting the fields. He can rope and ride just as well as I can.”
She eyed him. “You? In a cowboy hat?”
Synclair nodded. “’Fraid so.”
“I don’t think I’d survive seeing that. It might make me melt into a puddle of goo at your feet.”
“In that case, I may just have to pull it out.” He grinned. “Although, I don’t want you in a puddle. Now, kneeling on the other hand…”
She gave him a playful smack on the leg. “Behave. We’re in a restaurant.”
“But if we weren’t?”
She fought not to smile. “You’d still need to behave. This is only our first date.”
“As in you’d be agreeable to a second one?” Ryan asked. “Because we could set one up right now.”
“I’ll tell you what. Why don’t you come out to the
ranch tomorrow and show me some of those cowboy moves the two of you have?” she suggested, a smile curving her lips.
“You just want to see me in a cowboy hat,” Synclair teased.
“Maybe.”
Ryan smiled down at her. “It’s a date. It won’t hurt Synclair to close the shop for a while. And goodness knows I never take any vacation time. A day off sounds like just the thing.”
Their food arrived and the waitress gave Synclair a flirty look again. To his credit, he ignored her. Gemma was itching to smack the woman. How rude could she be, ogling Gemma’s dates as if she weren’t even there! If it were up to her, the woman would get a very small tip. Knowing the guys, they’d take one look at the woman’s curvy figure and give her double what they would normally leave. Men were so typical. Although…Synclair had ignored her. Maybe there was hope after all.
The food was good, the conversation even better. The guys were big flirts and she did her share of flirting right back. Between the casual touches on her shoulders and thighs, their fingers playing with her hair, and sweet words whispered in her ears, she was one hot mess by the time the meal came to an end. And she wasn’t ready for the night to be over yet.
“Would it be presumptuous to take you back to our place?” Ryan asked. “Because I have to admit, I’m dying to see what you’re hiding under this sexy outfit.”
She felt her cheeks warm. “I promised myself no sex on the first date. I’ve always given in so easily before, but I’m trying to change my ways.”
“So what about sex after the second date?” Synclair asked with a grin.
“You’re incorrigible.”
“Hey, I’m a guy. I’ve thought about sex every thirty seconds since I saw you in this outfit. You have no idea how much restraint I’ve used tonight.”
