by Vanessa Vale
“Who the hell is she talking to?” Liam asked, his breath puffing out in a white cloud.
I didn’t respond because how the hell should I know? She didn’t look too happy though and that, I knew, was what Liam was talking about. Whoever it was had a frown marring her pretty face.
“Bringing our girl down is so fucking wrong,” he added.
“Probably her dumbass—and deadbeat—brother,” I grumbled.
Liam gave another grunt of agreement. He was more familiar with Tommy Murphy than I was since he’d been picked up a number of times, but had yet to need someone from the District Attorney’s office. I knew that was only a matter of time though. He was twenty, no longer a kid and those apron strings connecting him to Jill needed to be cut. With their family history and Jill’s kind heart, that was going to be a hard task.
Jill ended her call and we watched as she tossed the cell into her purse and climbed from the car. When she rounded the hood, she smiled at us.
I’d come from work, parked down the block to meet Jill for dinner. Liam had texted me saying he’d gotten the same invite, which gave us both hope. He’d walked from the sheriff’s office the next block down.
“That just made my day,” I said as she stepped up onto the sidewalk. I held out my hand to help her over a small patch of snow. While she had on mittens, I could feel the heat of her hand through the wool.
She looked up at me with her dark eyes that twinkled in the street lights. Being a foot shorter, she had to tip her head back to look at me. It only reminded me of how fragile she was, although I didn’t dare say that to her. She could take care of herself, sure enough. She’d proven that over the years, but why should she have to?
“Oh?” she asked, stepping close.
“Your smile, sweetness.” I stroked a finger over her cheek. “Just what I love to see.”
Her grin spread across her face and she looked away, suddenly a little shy. Even in the darkness, I could see her cheeks pinken. “That smile isn’t just for you, Porter Duke.”
Liam took hold of her hand and tugged her gently toward him. He lowered his head and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. “That’s right, some of that sugar’s for me, too. Right?”
Jill looked up at him, nodded. I wasn’t holding my breath, but I felt like my entire body exhaled. It was the first time the three of us had done anything together and the fact that she kissed Liam in front of me was a good sign. Was tonight the night she agreed to share herself with both of us?
“That’s our girl,” he said, then took her hand. “Everything all right?”
An orange hat covered her head, her dark hair trailing long down her back. With her thick, black coat going down to her knees, I could only see a bit of jeans tucked into boots. No colorful scrubs, so she must have changed at the doctor’s office before meeting us.
Her smile slipped a little and she sighed. “Just talking with Parker.”
Ah. She’d been working in my office for two months and had tried to stay out of whatever the hell Liam and I were doing with Jill. Not very well. Clearly, she was working on Jill. I just had to hope she was trying to get our girl to admit she was into both of us.
“Talking about good stuff, I hope,” Liam said.
“I hope,” she murmured, taking a deep breath and smiling brilliantly. “I’m starved.”
I nodded, took her hand. “Then let’s get you fed.”
Then maybe, after we talked and finally got her to admit she wanted both of us, we could get her to my house and feed her something else. Like our cocks.
3
LIAM
* * *
I was used to interrogating suspects, working them for answers, getting them to admit the truth. My knuckles showed the scars from fighting when I was younger, when I liked to use my fists to solve problems. But the badge on my chest considered that kind of dispute resolution illegal, so I got good with my words. As the county DA, Porter was, too. But Jill Murphy wasn’t a suspect, and there hadn’t been any hard evidence to prove that she wanted us both. Until now.
She’d asked us to meet her for dinner, which she’d never done before. We’d taken her out separately, never together. I’d been bold out on the sidewalk and kissed her, and she’d let me. With Porter watching. She wouldn’t have let me do that if she hadn’t been okay with it, if it hadn’t screamed I want both of you!
I had it bad. Completely pussy whipped and I hadn’t even had any of her pussy.
Jill was so fucking good. Honorable to a fault. She wasn’t sneaky, dating two men secretly. Not that it was possible in a town the size of Raines, but I’d known women to try it. Guys, too. Ended up going on a few domestic calls for just this reason.
But being honorable didn’t mean she was all sweet and pure. No woman who wanted two men could be. She had to know what it would be like, that two sets of hands, two mouths, two cocks were better than one.
At twenty-six, she definitely wasn’t a virgin. And while all she’d had were kisses the past two months, it didn’t mean she didn’t dream of more. Didn’t slide her hand in her panties and make herself come. Pull a vibrator or big dildo from her bedside table and get off thinking of me and Porter. She could play all she wanted, but it would be nothing like the real thing. I was bigger than any dildo she could buy and while Porter and I had never shared a woman before, I had no doubt he’d ruin her for any battery operated boyfriend.
But the table between us wasn’t in an interrogation room. Jill wasn’t a suspect. She was my future wife. I wouldn’t force the words I wanted from her.
No, she’d give them to me. To us.
I’d never shared a woman before. Never considered it. Not until Jill. Yeah, it might be a little awkward at first getting naked and fucking her with Porter in the room. Hell, in the same bed, and eventually at the same time, but it was all about Jill. We’d been friends long enough, shared enough experiences to know we wanted to make a life with her together.
The scent of burgers made my mouth water and country music came from the jukebox in the corner. Cassidy’s was busy, filled with a lingering happy hour crowd and those who wanted a dinner out. It was too early for the heavy drinkers. I didn’t give any of that my attention. I was focused solely and completely on Jill. With her expressive dark eyes, heart-shaped face, full lips and gorgeous brown hair, I couldn’t look away.
Jill had been leading things with us up until now. It was time for us to take over. Ironic it was here at Cassidy’s since this was the first place I laid eyes on her. The place where I decided she’d be mine. That Porter and I would share her. I glanced at him, and he gave me a slight nod.
We couldn’t force a confession, but we could definitely try to coax one from her.
“How was work?” I asked, starting off easy.
Porter and I were too big to fit comfortably in one of the booths along the walls, so we were at a four-top table. We’d piled our outerwear on the empty chair beside her. Her hair was a little mussed from tugging off her hat, but I liked it that way because it made me think of what it might look like after a long night of fucking. Winter clothing didn’t show a lot of skin, and Jill’s pale pink sweater covered her from neck to wrist. But it didn’t hide her soft curves as she sat across from us.
She took a sip of her beer, set the pint glass down on a coaster. “Fine. I’m just glad it’s Friday and I can sleep in tomorrow.”
I hoped she’d want to sleep in because we’d keep her up learning how soft her skin was, what made her whimper and beg, what she sounded like when she came. Then we’d do it all over again.
“You work too hard,” Porter said.
Her dark eyes met his and I saw a mixture of agreement and defiance. She shrugged. “I don’t plan on working two jobs forever. Trust me.” She sighed and rolled her eyes. “A year left on my mother’s medical bills, then I’ll hit my student loans hard. But that’s not important. What about you, did you close that case?”
She looked to me with her usual open and intere
sted gaze, clearly wanting to change the subject. She didn’t like to bring up that she was in debt, that she was struggling to stay above water financially, even working close to sixty hours a week. To offer her money would be bad. Really bad. It wasn’t like I was rich—being sheriff wouldn’t make me a millionaire—but the family ranch was partially mine and I didn’t need much. Jill wouldn’t take charity, wanting to work for her keep. I respected the hell out of that, but she’d work herself into an early grave if she kept it up. Being with her meant her burdens were our burdens, that she wouldn’t have to work so hard. Hell, she wouldn’t have to work at all if that was what she desired. It wasn’t, I knew, but she could let Porter and I support her.
One thing at a time.
I offered her a nod. “I did. It’s in Porter’s hands now.” As the District Attorney, he would work with the guy’s lawyer to either make a deal or take it to court.
His dark brow went up. “The Monroe case?”
Low-level drug dealer caught with a stash of meth in the trunk of his car. Possession. Intent to distribute. “Yup.”
“With the evidence against him, it’s open and shut,” Porter added. “Something to celebrate. Is that why you called to have dinner with both of us? Are we celebrating, sweetness?”
Jed Cassidy came by then with our meals instead of the waitress who had taken our orders. At well over six feet and a retired pro rodeo rider, it was an adjustment seeing him running a bar instead of on the back of a bucking bronc. But, he loved his second career—and there was no chance of breaking his neck—and I couldn’t fault him that.
“Good to see you finally claimed these two for yourself, Jill.” He winked at her and her cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink.
Her gaze flicked to me, then Porter. She licked her lips, clearly a little nervous.
“You finally got your heads out of your asses and got her between you,” Jed continued, glancing our way. He didn’t have it right, but I wasn’t going to correct him. “Kaitlyn will be thrilled to know you’ll all be joining us at some Duke get-togethers.”
Jed had claimed Kaitlyn, the town librarian, with Porter’s cousin, Duke. Jed, like me, was tangentially connected to the Duke family.
Parker Drew, my old boss and the previous sheriff, had told me all about the Duke dinners. Since she was happily linked to Gus Duke, another one of Porter’s cousins—he had four—as well as the other two vets in town, Kemp and Poe, I’d gotten plenty of info on that family.
After the election and I’d taken over her job, Parker had coincidentally taken a position as a lawyer in Porter’s office, so I had no doubt she’d probably been pestering him about getting together with Jill. On a daily basis.
As for the Duke weekly get-togethers, I hadn’t joined Porter at any of them—he didn’t get to every one himself—but I had a feeling we would soon, just as Jed suggested.
Jed set a plate loaded with a cheeseburger and fries in front of Jill. “You’re going to make some ladies around here pretty mad taking these two off the market.” He angled his head toward us.
“I…” Jill began, continuing to glance between me and Porter. I couldn’t help but smile, enjoying how she was flustered. Jed was helping us along without even realizing he was doing so.
He set down Porter’s plate next, then mine. “I have to thank you, by the way,” he continued, pointing at Jill.
“Oh?” she asked, clearly a little flustered.
“Because of you, I won twenty bucks. Duke figured it would take them another month to claim you.”
I should have been insulted, but definitely wasn’t.
Jill’s mouth hung open and she looked at him wide-eyed. “You bet on me?”
Jed shook his head. “Not you. Them.” He hooked his thumb at us.
“Well, Jill?” Porter’s words had her turning his way. “Has Jed won twenty bucks?”
I reached out, took her hand. “Have we claimed you?”
I held my breath, waiting for her answer. Porter was a catch. A solid job, owned a house with land, had no real debt, came from a strong, supportive family, had all his hair, and by what the women in town said, was hot as hell. There had always been a little bit of me that wondered, why me, too? What did Jill see in me? I could see her happy with Porter. Just Porter. If she wanted us both now, would she change her mind later?
“Wait, I thought it was a done deal,” Jed said, but we didn’t look his way. He had his girl, it was time for us to get ours.
I stared at Jill, who looked a little panicked and a whole lot nervous. Waited.
“Well?” Porter asked.
“Shit, guys, did I step in it? I’m sorry. But, Jill, tell me I won twenty bucks,” Jed added.
As if Jed cared about the twenty bucks. He just wanted to gloat and hold it over Duke.
I didn’t hear the music or the chatter of those around us. I didn’t even breathe as I waited for the one word I’d longed to hear.
Of course, right then, her cell rang.
4
JILL
* * *
Shit. Shit! They were asking me, point blank, if I wanted both of them. Jed had even helped me. I’d been so nervous to say the words. So guys, I happen to want both of you. Not that you’re not enough individually, because you’re both amazing, but heck, my pussy gets wet for the idea of double dick.
A guy’s ego was only so strong. Would they think I thought less of them because I needed two men? Jed had pretty much said I’d claimed them and they hadn’t stormed off. In fact, they looked at me with open expressions. Eager ones. As if they were hoping for me to say yes. The moment had come. The answer was on the tip of my tongue, so of course my cell would ring.
“Sorry, I’ve got to check on this.” I tugged my hand from Liam’s hold. “A co-worker at the hospital, well, her daughter is having a baby—her second—any day now, and I volunteered to babysit the two-year-old so they can all be with her. I’m on standby.”
The men looked at me, didn’t say anything. Waited patiently, like usual. Jed offered a small wave and went back to work.
“Hello?”
“Jillian Murphy?” The man’s voice on the phone was deep and one I didn’t recognize.
“Yes,” I replied.
“This is Bob at the Jumping Jack Pawn Shop in Clayton.”
All the eagerness I’d had all day for my date with Porter and Liam was gone. The anticipation of answering them with a very blatant yes was shot to hell.
I flicked a look at Liam and Porter, and I held up a finger to tell them this would take a minute.
Why did this have to happen now? Now! I had an idea of what the guy was going to say. It was going to be hard to be excited about anything after this because any mention of my brother, Tommy, these days was all bad and always involved another mess for me to clean up. My appetite for a greasy cheeseburger and fries was gone.
“Yes, hi.” It was rude that I didn’t sound very excited to talk to Bob, but I couldn’t help it.
“I’m guessing you know why I’m calling,” he replied.
I leaned back in my chair, closed my eyes for a moment. “What did my brother pawn today?”
I held my breath.
“A TV and a rhinestone brooch shaped like a butterfly.”
My mother’s pin.
I gripped the cell so tight I was sure my knuckles were white. I envisioned it being Tommy’s neck.
“While you might want a chance to get your TV back, I figured I’d give you a call about the brooch.”
We’d done this once before. Last year, Tommy had taken my mother’s silver tea set in and pawned it. I’d discovered it missing when I’d been cleaning. I’d confronted Tommy about what he’d done and raced to the pawn shop in the hopes of getting it back. Fortunately, there wasn’t a big rush for tea sets, and it had still been in a display case. He’d been kind and sold it back to me at the amount he’d given Tommy. I had it hidden away now in the linen closet behind the sheets. It wasn’t like Tommy ever changed his, or
slept on them anymore.
While my twenty-year-old brother still technically lived with me in the house we’d grown up in, I rarely saw him. He’d never had any ambition to go to college. Hell, he’d barely finished high school. He had zero work ethic and held a minimum wage job with a now-familiar irregularity. Most of his time was spent at the casino off the highway. I had no idea where he slept at night.
“Thank you,” I told the pawnbroker. I was thankful.
My anger morphed into sadness. Yes, the brooch meant something to me. Besides the house and the ancient car I drove, there wasn’t much that had belonged to my mother and held sentimental value. I’d had to sell quite a bit to pay for her funeral expenses, and I loved that brooch.
I cleared my throat, but couldn’t say anything yet.
“I’ll sit it in the back,” he continued. “If you want to come in, you can have it for what I gave your brother. Fifty dollars.”
Fifty dollars. Tommy was giving away one of the last pieces of our mother for a measly fifty dollars. To do what? Gamble it away at the casino. The money was probably already gone on a hand of blackjack or the spin of the roulette wheel.
“Yes, I’d love it if you’d hold it for me. I can come in tomorrow.” I didn’t have extra cash before payday, especially for something like this, but I could take it out of the food budget. It seemed it would be PB&J until next Friday.
I thanked him and ended the call, tossed the cell back in my bag.
I looked up at Liam and Porter. “I’ve got to go.”
Liam frowned. “Stay. Talk to us. Whatever’s going on with your brother, we want to hear about it. We want to help.”