by Jenna Jacob
Sitting at the kitchen table, she scribbled out a grocery list. If Jade wasn’t too busy—or sore from riding Colton all night—Brea planned to beg her friend for a ride to the grocery store. As she skimmed over her list, Brea heard raised male voices coming from the front of the house.
“What the hell crawled up your ass? I came to town early to pick some stuff up for Dad and stopped by for a cup of coffee. If I’d known you were going to start a Spanish inquisition, I would have gone straight back to the ranch.”
“I’m not interrogating you, Nate.”
Brea knew that voice…it was Sawyer’s. Dropping her pen, she rushed to the bay window in the living room and peered next door. Her hunky neighbor was standing toe-to-toe with a man who looked just like him…both wearing frowns.
“It sure feels like it. I was playing bodyguard because I don’t trust LaCroix. He’s a mean son of a bitch. You and Nate might not care how he treats Gina—”
“Don’t turn this back on me, little brother.” His brother…no wonder they look alike. “If she’d needed help, all three of us would have stepped in. But she didn’t. Gina’s been running that bar longer than you’ve been able to drink. She knows how to handle her customers, drunk or sober.”
“I know that. What I didn’t know was whether LaCroix was going to cause her more trouble than he’s worth. And I resent the fuck out of having to explain that to you, of all people.” Nate tossed his keys in the air, then snagged them in his fist. “You know what? Fuck your coffee. I’m going back to the ranch to get my own. At least Ma won’t grill me with a million questions.”
“I didn’t ask you a million questions. I only asked one,” Sawyer barked. “Why are you being so damn defensive about Gina?”
“I’m not being defensive about her but your innuendos. Trust me, if I was interested in a woman, you’re the last person I’d come to for advice. Your track record speaks for itself. Unlike you and Noble, I don’t go around sticking my dick in every woman with a pulse.”
Brea’s stomach took a nosedive. How many women had Sawyer actually fucked? Maybe he and Colton were such good friends because they shared the same man-whore gene.
As if he’d been sucker-punched, Sawyer’s angry expression vanished, replaced by deep frown lines of raw, visible anguish that ripped at her heart.
“Shit,” Nate cursed, trading his defiance for remorse. “I’m sorry, Sawyer. I didn’t mean to—”
“Yeah, you did. And you don’t have to apologize. Every word you said is true. My batting average with women is a minus ten thousand. I’m definitely not the kind of role model you, Nash, or Norris need. But just to set the record straight, I wasn’t accusing you of anything. I just wondered why you went out of your way to protect Gina.”
“Because it was the right thing to do,” Nate muttered.
“Yeah, it was. Sorry I didn’t back you up.”
“It’s all right. You didn’t need to…this time.” Nate glanced at the sun and sighed. “It’s getting late. I need to head back to the ranch. See you there in a few?”
“Yeah. I won’t be far behind you. Save me some coffee, will ya?”
A crooked smile crawled across Nate’s face. “I’ll try.”
As his brother drove away, Sawyer raked a hand through his hair before striding back inside his house.
Brea remained at the window, replaying the tense exchange in her head.
Your track record speaks for itself.
Every word you said is true. My batting average with women is a minus ten thousand. I’m definitely not the kind of role model you, Nash, or Norris need.
Clearly, Nate had ripped the scabs off a wound that hadn’t healed, or maybe it was a wound that never would. Brea found little comfort in the fact that she and Sawyer shared the same track record.
“He’s as much a hot mess as I am. We’re a perfect match made in…heartbreak heaven.”
Sawyer
* * *
After a long, hot shower that did nothing to wash the remorse from his veins, Sawyer dressed, then drove toward the ranch. The tires of his truck hummed on the pavement but couldn’t drown out Nate’s words. They were still stinging his soul. In the span of forty-eight hours, he’d managed to alienate two of his brothers. Sawyer was on a roll…downhill through a pasture of cows who’d just finished a colon cleanse. The shit pile of guilt within wasn’t pretty or fun.
Sawyer thinking Nate was attracted to Gina was buckets full of crazy. As crazy as lusting after a woman with a fucking man ban. One who was deeply entrenched behind walls so thick a case of C-4 couldn’t crack them.
“This is setting up to be a fucktastic day!”
At the ranch, Sawyer kept himself busy in the barn, loading bales of hay to keep his sour mood as far away from his family and the campers as possible. He was certain his folks and brothers knew something was wrong, but thankfully they’d given him space and a kernel of peace to work it out on his own. Still, juggling his anxiety left him feeling restless, raw, and exposed. By the end of the day, Sawyer was beyond ready to go home, but he had one more important chore to take care of.
Wiping the sweat from his brow, he strolled from the hay barn to the horse paddock, where Nate was pouring grain into the long feeder.
“Hey,” Sawyer mumbled, sidling up beside his brother.
“Hey. What’s up?”
“I just wanted to tell you sorry for this morning.”
“It’s all right. I didn’t mean to get defensive. I don’t know why I did, other than I didn’t sleep worth a shit last night.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Fuck if I know.” Nate shrugged. “Just one of those nights.”
Yeah, I know exactly what you’re talking about, bro.
“I’m grabbing a shower then heading to the Hangover. You two coming?” Noble asked as he jogged up to join them.
As visions of Sylvia, Gretchen, and Annette pawing all over him flashed in his brain, Sawyer shook his head. “No. You all have fun. I’m going home. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Without looking back, he climbed in his truck and left.
When Sawyer pulled into his driveway, he couldn’t keep from glancing at the house next door. Colton’s truck was parked on the curb, and like a horny teen, he wanted to knock on the door and say hi to his pal just to catch a glimpse of Brea. Instead, he cut the engine with a curse and trudged inside his house.
After stripping off his clothes, Sawyer glanced at the bed, where he’d had the nastiest dreams of his life last night. Brea had played the starring role, making Sawyer so hard and desperate that he’d shot an oyster in his sheets…something he hadn’t done since he was fourteen. But it hadn’t even taken the edge off. He’d woken with an erection so hard he could have chopped down a fucking walnut tree.
Irked that he had no control over the prickly princess haunting his dreams, Sawyer ripped the linens off his bed with a growl.
After changing the sheets, he took a hot shower and tugged on his clothes. He snagged a cold beer and headed out back to relax on his porch. The minute he stepped from the house, the mouthwatering aroma of seared meat assaulted his senses as a haze of smoke wafted from the grill next door. Sawyer’s stomach growled.
“You wish.” Colton barked a laugh over his shoulder as Brea followed him from the house onto the deck.
The smile on her face dimmed the sun. “You are so full of shit. The only reason he was pouting was I told him the playground between my legs was closed to him forever.”
The sound of her laughter warmed Sawyer like smooth brandy, and her shameless confession made him grin.
“So you dumped the poor kid and sent him home to play with his own monkey bar?” Colton taunted. “You were a mean teen, Brea.”
“I was not! Besides, Allen Wilson needed all the practice he could get. He had no idea what to do with his monkey bar…none of them did, I might add.”
None of them? Christ, how many were there…a couple or a whole clown car full?
<
br /> Unlike the buffoons from her past, Sawyer was fully competent with his playground equipment. He couldn’t shake the feeling that Brea had never had the pleasure of an experienced lover, and it made him want to teach her every sinful delight, over and over again. Sawyer had no trouble picturing her full, pouty lips stretched tight around his monkey bar. Reaching down, he adjusted his reawakening cock.
Colton lifted the lid on the grill. A wave of billowing smoke rolled Sawyer’s way, blocking his view but not hindering the couple’s conversation.
“We were a pair, weren’t we? One thing’s for sure…neither one of us had to worry about being voted most likely never to get laid. What with you educating all the boys and me teaching the girls,” Colton said with a snort.
“Some of the boys,” Brea corrected. “My number pales compared to yours. Hell, if we matched bedmate to bedmate, you’d rank horny devil, while I ranked celestial virgin.”
“You? A virgin?” Colton howled with laughter. “Maybe we should call you Sister Mary-Brea.”
Sawyer felt a little like a voyeur listening to their candid conversation. While he was fascinated by the stories of her past, he was jealous as hell that Brea was sharing such unguarded honesty and carefree laughter with Colton and not him.
He wished Brea could be as open and candid with him, but a part of Sawyer feared the chrysalis morphing before his eyes would spread her wings and fly away before he earned her trust enough to kiss her.
The smoke briefly cleared enough for Sawyer to see Brea flipping Colton the middle finger with a sarcastic smirk.
The man laughed and shook his head. “I’m just glad those days are over and that I finally found Jade. I’m doubly glad you’re with us and away from—”
“Shit-for-brains whose name shall never be spoken in my presence again,” Brea interrupted with a defiant lift of her chin.
“Deal. Though I still want to kill that cocksucking shit-for-brains for what he did to you, I’m triply glad you called me to pick you up from jail.”
Jail? Brea had been in jail? For what? Colton would have to get in line, because Sawyer wanted first dibs on sending—whoever did what to her—straight to hell.
“I don’t want to talk about him, jail, or all the ways I’ve fucked up my life. Let’s stick to reminiscing about high school. I can forgive myself for being young, stupid, and impulsive a lot easier than I can for being adult, desperate, and reckless.”
Colton slung his arm around Brea’s shoulder. Drawing her into a hug, he placed a kiss on the top of her head. “You’re not stupid, sugar. You never have been. I promise not to mention that worthless sack of Angus-puss again if you promise to stop beating yourself up. Like they say, it’s better to have loved and lost than never loved at all.”
Brea scoffed. “I wouldn’t know. I had to end up in jail before I realized I’ve never been in love before. At least not the kind of love you and Jade have. Maybe one day, if I change my ways, I’ll find my Prince Charming. Miracles do happen…or so I’m told.”
“It’s more than love, sweetheart. We’re soul mates.”
“I’ve known that since freshman year.” She poked Colton in the ribs. “But I’m afraid the only S-O-L-E mate I’ll ever find is on the bottom of my shoe…covered in shit.”
“You’ll find your one…one day.”
As Colton closed the lid on the grill, he noticed Sawyer on his porch and waved. Fuck. I’ve been spotted.
“Hey, man. What are you doing sitting all alone? Get your ass over here and join us. We’ve got steaks and beer.”
Brea blanched. Her eyes grew wide. Clearly, she didn’t want him taking Colton up on the offer. But Sawyer couldn’t find the willpower to refuse. He wasn’t about to turn down the chance to spend more time with her.
“You want me to bring some beer?”
“No need. We’ve got plenty. Just haul ass over and join us, man.”
At Colton’s insistence, Sawyer jogged next door. As he stepped onto the deck, the anxiety pouring off Brea had him second-guessing his decision.
“Are you sure I’m not imposing?” He delved into her caramel-colored eyes.
“Imposing? Uh…no. Not at all.” Forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes—now packed with panic—Brea shook her head. “There’s plenty of food.”
“I’ll pop in and ask Jade to set another place at the table,” Colton announced with a grin. “Steaks will be ready shortly.”
Once he was alone with Brea, an uncomfortable silence settled around them. She lowered her lashes, averting her gaze to the wooden floor at their feet.
“Hey,” he whispered. She snapped her head up, and Sawyer saw a million questions roll across her face. “I didn’t mean to crash your dinner party. I can leave if you’re uncomfortable.”
“No. I-I…I’m fine. I mean, you’re fine,” she stammered.
A pretty pink blush blossomed over her cheeks. He wanted to reach out and cup her face to feel the heat but feared one touch and she’d flash-fry him all the way to his boots. As he gazed into her tumultuous eyes, his need to kiss her outweighed the risk of turning to ash.
“Darlin’, I might be fine but you’re a million ways better than that.”
Inching in closer, Sawyer slid a hand around her lush waist and cupped his other to the back of her neck. Leaning in close to her mouth, he inhaled her startled gasp. Her body tensed as it trembled.
“Easy, gorgeous. I only want a little taste.”
When she didn’t stop him, Sawyer brushed his mouth to hers. Brea’s lips were warm and supple, exactly like the heated flesh leaching from under her shirt and singeing his palm. He slid his tongue across the seam of her mouth, lingering patiently, waiting for her to open and let him in. Slowly, her timidness vanished. And like wax under a flame, she melted against his body.
Thank fuck!
She wasn’t immune to the invisible attraction between them after all. As she parted her lips, he deepened the kiss. Her silky moan vibrated over his tongue, and a primal mental howl roared in his head.
He’d had every intention of keeping the kiss tender and light, but one taste of her liquid heat and Sawyer lost all control. Like a brakeless freight train careening down a mountain, there was no stopping the momentum. Gliding his hand up her spine, Sawyer slowly dragged it back down her side, over the dip of her waist and the swell of her hip, branding every lush, feminine curve to memory.
Tossing her reservations aside, Brea met his tongue, and instantly they were dancing a hungry tango. Reveling in the delicious thrill, Sawyer explored every slick, wet dip and crevice of her sultry mouth. Reaching up, Brea threaded her fingers behind his neck, holding fast as he devoured her. Sawyer didn’t miss the shiver rippling through her that matched the magnitude of his own demand.
He’d simply kissed her, and already Sawyer knew he’d never be the same.
His cock was eager, ready, and hard as stone as he skimmed his palms down her ribs, along the swells of her soft breasts, and over the slopes of her hips. Dropping both hands to the luscious cheeks that had taunted him so wickedly last night, he gripped her succulent orbs and pulled her against his throbbing erection.
Her kitten-soft mewls sent liquid fire rolling up his spine.
Their kiss turned raw, savage, and unrelenting.
Her heart pounded furiously against his chest, keeping time with his own thundering beat. Sawyer was lost…drowning in the sublime thrill and blistering passion of Brea. From her warm body and her slick, silky mouth to the arcing, crackling promise of the coming carnal storm.
Tendrils of fear, for how easily she unraveled him, broke loose and snaked their way through the heated desire tumbling through his system. Reluctantly lifting from her lips, Sawyer pressed his forehead to hers as their panting breaths twined together. The sight of her dark, dilated eyes and red, wet swollen lips lessened his angst but increased the demand to toss her over his shoulder, haul her across the yard and straight to his bed.
“Mercy,” she said
in a trembling whisper.
“I know that’s right.” He softly chuckled. “Just like I knew tasting you would be heaven. But that? That was like kissing the moon and the stars.”
Brea swallowed tightly. Tensing, she inched back and out of his arms. “I-I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—”
“Don’t,” Sawyer warned. “Don’t say you shouldn’t have kissed me.”
“But I shouldn’t have.”
“Why? You enjoyed it as much as I did.”
“I did, and that’s the problem.”
Before he could try and convince her it wasn’t a problem at all, Colton and Jade stepped from the house.
“Glad you could join us, Sawyer,” Jade welcomed with a smile. Turning toward Brea, her joy dimmed. “What’s wrong? Are you all right?”
Sawyer’s heart leapt to his throat when he saw the fat tears filling Brea’s eyes.
“We’ll be right back,” he announced.
Wrapping his arm around her waist, he whisked Brea to the side of the house. Placing two fingers under her chin, Sawyer forced her tearful gaze. “I’ve never kissed a girl and made her cry. You’re destroying my ego, gorgeous.”
Her watery grin made him smile.
“Talk to me. Why are you crying?”
“Because I failed,” she sniffed.
“Failed what? Your man ban?” A crooked smile curled a corner of his mouth.
“It’s not a joke,” she angrily spat. “I have to give up men, and I can’t do that when you’re… so…so everything!”
“Why? Why do you have to give up men?” He’d purposely bypassed her everything remark but planned to dissect the fuck out of it later.
“Because I always pick the wrong ones. I’m a loser magnet.”
Sawyer blinked at her confession. “I doubt it’s that bad. We all make mist—”
“I’m not talking about one or two guys, Sawyer. I’m talking dozens.” Her lips curled in revulsion. Though she’d joked about her past with Colton, Sawyer knew she was deeply ashamed of it. “I’m cursed! Just forget I exist, okay?”
