by Marla Monroe
“You two drinking all the coffee?” Randall sauntered in. He was in the same state of dress, or undress, as Marcus.
What was it with them that they walked around half nude in front of her? She licked her lips and forced her gaze above the waist, but that wasn’t much better. His chest was just as spectacular with the same sprinkling of chest hair across and down to his belt line. He smirked at her when she looked at him again. Her face burned with embarrassment.
“Now, why are you embarrassed?” Randall asked.
Darla’s mouth flew open then closed again. She let out a breath and turned to go back to her room. They could call her when they were dressed. She didn’t need anything else to fuel her naughty imagination.
Thirty minutes later someone knocked on her door.
“Darla? Ready to go?” Marcus asked.
“I’ll be right there.” She grabbed her purse and the grocery list, took a deep breath, and opened the door and collided with both men.
“Whoa.” Randall grabbed her when she stumbled. “Don’t go falling on us.”
Marcus took her hand and pulled her along behind him. “Let’s get on the road.”
She started to climb in the back of the truck, but Marcus stopped her.
“Might as well ride up front with us. You won’t be able to ride in the back on the way back anyway. We’ve got a lot to get this trip.” He grabbed her around the waist and set her in the truck.
Darla didn’t have time to protest as both men slid in next to her and slammed their doors. She was caught between a rock and a hard place—literally. They crowded her. Marcus draped his left arm over her shoulders along the back of the seat. She resisted the urge to relax into him. The drive was going to be a long one in more ways than one. By the time they had made it to town, his arm was resting across her shoulders and his fingers rubbed the top of her arm.
The little town sported two diners, a grocery store, a feed store, a department store, a barber shop, and various other buildings along the main street. Randall parked in front of the feed store.
“Marcus and I will get what we need here. Why don’t you go on down to the department store and find what you need there and we’ll drive down to pick you up in say”—he looked at his watch—“an hour. Will that give you enough time?”
“That’s plenty of time.”
She walked down past the barber shop, an accounting office, and a diner to get to the store. She walked inside, and everyone stopped to see who had walked in. She got quite a few stares, but they soon continued with what they were doing. She made her way to where the jeans were and picked out two pair of jeans in her size and added three long sleeve flannel shirts. Then she looked at the coats and chose a blue one that had a sheepskin lining. The boots were a different matter, though. She wasn’t sure what kind she needed.
“Can I help you?” a woman of about forty asked.
“Um, I’m not from here, but need a pair of boots that would be good for this kind of weather.”
“Work boots or pleasure boots?”
“Work boots,” she said.
“Okay, these are the styles you want. If you’re going to be working outside, you want one of these two. If you’re just going to use them for getting around in, these are fine. She indicated three boots. They all looked about the same to her, but she pulled out a pair and looked them over.
“What size do you need, hon?” the woman asked.
“Size seven and a half.” Darla squirmed when the lady frowned.
“You sure don’t look like your feet are that big.”
“Believe me, they are.” She smiled.
The lady walked to the back room and returned a few minutes later with a box.
“Go ahead and try them on. They run big, so I want to be sure you can’t get in a size seven. I don’t want you to end up with blisters ‘cause they are too big.”
Darla tried them on, and they fit perfect.
“See. Told you a size seven would fit. Boots run big.” She smiled and placed the boots back in the box.
“You’re going to need some warm socks, too. I noticed you were gathering gear for winter around these parts. Believe me when I say you’ll want warm socks.” The woman led her to where the socks were and picked out five pair of thick socks.
“That about got you, or do you need anything else?” she asked.
“No, I think that has me. Thanks for helping me with the boots.” Darla smiled at her. She liked this woman.
“Name’s Sandra Fuller. My husband and I run the store.”
“I’m Darla Moore.” She shook the other woman’s hand. She had a strong grip.
“You’re new here.” It was a statement, but there was a question behind it.
“Yeah, I’m keeping house for the Sanders.”
“Oh, really? They’ve been looking for someone for a few months now. Glad they found you. You need anything, you can ask me.” There was a calculating look in the woman’s eyes.
“Thanks, I appreciate it.”
Darla took her purchases and walked outside. The truck was still down the street, so she struggled with her bags and sat them down by the back door. She wasn’t sure where to put them. The back of the truck was full of sacks of something. She figured it would be feed of some kind.
“What in the hell do you think you’re doing?” Randall stood on the sidewalk next to the truck.
“Did I get too much to take back?” Darla hadn’t really thought about that and winced.
“No, I told you we’d come get you. You shouldn’t have carried all that stuff by yourself.” He shook his head and started loading her things in the back seat. “Next time when I tell you we’ll come get you, wait on us.”
“Okay,” she answered in a quiet voice. She felt about ten inches tall.
“Randall, what are you fussing at her about?” Marcus walked out of the feed store.
“She carried all her bags down here instead of waiting on us to help her.”
“Damn, Darla. Don’t wear yourself out. That’s what we’re for, to carry your stuff.” He took her hand and squeezed it. It took some of the sting out of their fussing.
“Okay. I just didn’t see why you had to drive down there just to pick me up. The grocery store is in the opposite direction.”
“’Cause you shouldn’t walk or carry bags,” Randall repeated. “Come on, let’s get going.”
He picked her up and scooted her into the cab of the truck. He and Marcus joined her, sandwiching her between them once again.
“Time for lunch now, anyway. How about the diner?” Randall asked.
“Which one?” Marcus said.
“Kelly’s.”
“Sounds good to me.”
Darla kept quiet while they debated what to eat. She looked over the menu, well aware they were getting speculative glances from those eating and working in the diner.
“What will it be, honey?” A tall, skinny waitress that could have been anywhere from thirty to fifty stood next to the booth with pen and pad in hand.
“I’ll have the hamburger with fries,” she said.
The men both ordered the dinner plate. When it came out it was meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans. They scarfed it down in no time. She still had half her hamburger to eat. Marcus reached over and snagged a fry off her plate. She scowled at him, but it ended up in a smile at his innocent look. How could she resist their playful antics?
Once they finished lunch, Randall paid the bill, and they climbed back in the truck and drove down to the grocery store. All three of them got out this time. She had hoped to do the grocery shopping on her own. How was she supposed to do her intimate shopping with them along?
She decided to try something. Once they got inside, she split the list three ways and handed each of them a section.
“Get your baskets and we’ll meet up front when we get everything.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Marcus said with a salute.
She shook her head and looked at Randa
ll.
“That okay with you?” she asked.
“Sounds like a good plan to me.” He strode off with Marcus to grab grocery carts and brought her one as well.
Darla tackled her list quickly so she could hurry up and get to the aisle with personal items. She had just picked out her tampons when Marcus and Randall both came around the aisle from opposite ends.
“I found her,” Randall said.
“No, I found her first.” Marcus grinned. “Thought I’d find you over here.”
“What are you doing here? I thought we were going to meet up front,” she all but whispered.
“You seemed to have the biggest part of the list, and we were worried you would need more buggy space,” Randall explained.
Marcus picked up her tampons and looked at them. Then he walked over to where they were on the shelves and picked up two more boxes.
“That isn’t enough. We never know when or how big a snow will be. We might not get back down the mountain for a long time.”
“What else is on your list from here?” Randall asked.
“I don’t believe you two!” she exclaimed. “Can’t you give me some privacy?”
“We’re living under each other’s noses. Don’t see any reason to be all secretive about it.” Marcus spread his hands.
“Fine.” She walked over and picked up two more items with her chin in the air and dropped them into the basket. “Now I’m ready.” She led the way to the checkout stand.
They had another argument over who paid for what. It embarrassed the hell out of her, so she gave in just to get out of the grocery store without burning up in shame. The men pushed the buggies, insisting that she wait inside until they had the groceries loaded in the truck. Marcus came back inside to claim her.
“Ready to head back to the ranch?”
She was more than ready. The checkout girl had been giving her a serious stare the entire time she had been standing there. No, it was more than staring. She’d been shooting daggers at her. Maybe she didn’t like outsiders in town. She noticed the way she watched Marcus, though, and decided it was jealousy. The girl had designs on Marcus. She smiled knowingly at the girl and turned around to walk with him out the door.
The trip back was made much like the trip out had been. Marcus draped his arm along her shoulders this time without starting out on the back of the seat. She tried to relax, but still found it disconcerting. What were they doing to her? She couldn’t help getting aroused when they touched her. It must have something to do about the dream and then how they were dressed that morning. She had to get hold of her hormones before she did something that would mess up the wonderful job she had. It really was the answer to her prayers. She just couldn’t lose the job.
Once they were back at the ranch, the men unloaded the groceries and her things. She put them away while they backed the truck up to the barn to unload the feed. She hoped they got some of the hands to help them. She went upstairs and put away her things next.
After she had everything put away, she warmed up the stew and made more cornbread. She left it in the oven to stay warm until the men came inside. It was getting dark by the time they walked in the kitchen and hung their hats on the pegs by the back door.
“Go get cleaned up. The stew and cornbread are ready.”
“I can smell it,” Marcus said.
The two men left to clean up but returned minutes later. Darla dished up three bowls of soup. Then she cut the cornbread and put it out on the table along with the butter.
“You didn’t give yourself near enough stew,” Randall said.
“I’m not that hungry. The hamburger earlier filled me up.”
“You’re going to find out you need all the fuel you can get in you to stay warm. Plus, you work hard. The living room and hall are spotless. Don’t think it has ever been that way before.” Marcus dipped his cornbread in the stew and bit into it with relish.
“I’ll keep up my strength. I promise you. You two treat me like I’m a weakling. I’ll have you know I can hold my own.”
“It’s different here. The winters get rough, and you’re going to need more meat on your bones.” Marcus wagged his spoon at her.
“Okay. I give up. I’ll eat more, just not tonight. I’m really still full.”
“Good enough,” Randall said.
They finished the meal in silence, and when she got up and rinsed out her bowl, Randall and Marcus did the same.
“Hurry and finish the dishes and sit in the living room with us for awhile,” Marcus said.
“Oh, I think I’ll call it a night. I’m a little tired.”
“You can rest for a little while in the living room with us. Randall’s going to start a fire. You’ll like that.”
Randall laughed for some reason. She furrowed her brow at him.
“Okay. I’ll be in there in a few minutes.” Darla gave up and agreed.
Thirty minutes later she sat on the couch with her feet under her and a blanket around her courtesy of Randall. She really wasn’t cold, but it felt good. Marcus fooled with the fire some then, seemingly satisfied, sat next to her on the couch. Randall took the chair across from the couch. When Marcus eased closer and draped his arm along the back of the sofa much as he had in the truck earlier, Darla began to get nervous.
Marcus and Randall talked about horses and cows between them. Darla kept quiet listening to them in a sort of daze. It felt odd sitting there listening to them. If it weren’t for Marcus’s hand rubbing along her shoulder, she would be comfortable as if she were at home.
Marcus squeezed her. “What are you thinking about so serious?”
“Oh, just thinking about how nice this is.” She realized they might think more considering Marcus had his arm around her. “I mean the fire and all. I love fireplaces.”
“Glad you like it, baby,” Marcus said.
Darla turned to ask him why he called her baby and found herself being kissed. It wasn’t a gentle kiss either. He devoured her mouth. He kissed differently than Randall, she thought. He sucked in her bottom lip, and when she cried out, he plunged his tongue inside her mouth and teased along hers. His teeth nipped at her lower lip then soothed it with his tongue. He kissed her as if he wanted to drink her down. She fought to breathe around the kiss. When he finally leaned away from her, she was panting.
Oh God. What was going on? She risked a glance in Randall’s direction and found him smiling, a look of lust on his face. Eyes, heavy lidded, met hers.
“Kiss him back, Darla,” Randall said.
“How can you say that? You kissed me yesterday.” Darla was totally confused at what was going on.
“I like watching you with him. I’m so hard now I could pound nails.”
Darla stared with her mouth open as he rubbed at the obvious bulge in his jeans with one hand.
Marcus turned her face to him with one finger. “Look at me. Kiss me.”
“I don’t understand. What do you want from me?” she cried.
“You. We want you, Darla.” Marcus guided her toward his mouth.
He kissed her, and she lost the battle to stay neutral. She met his kiss with her own. She sucked in his lower lip and teased it with her tongue. Then she probed his mouth when he opened to her. She sucked on his tongue, and this time he moaned. It spurred her on. His mouth tasted so good. She pulled away from his kiss and found his ear. She sucked the lobe into her mouth and bit it. Then found the pulse at the bend of his neck and kissed it, running her tongue over it.
“Feel what you do to me.” Marcus took her hand and placed it on the bulge in his jeans. His cock filled her hand through his jeans. She raked her nails over the material, and he groaned.
“You’re killing me,” he said. “I’ve got to have you.”
Darla came to herself with this. What was she doing?
“What’s going on? I don’t understand.”
Randall suddenly appeared behind her, rubbing her shoulders and neck. He moved her hair to one side and
kissed the back of her neck. She scrunched up her shoulders. She was ticklish there.
“We want you, Darla. Not just for tonight, but for every night.” Marcus pushed into her hand where it still sat squeezing his cock.
“Both of you?”
“Yes, both of us. We want to share you,” Randall murmured next to her ear.
* * * *
Marcus watched the play of emotions across her face, fear, worry, arousal, curiosity. Finally, she seemed to settle on nervous curiosity. He hid a smile of triumph. They would have her. She hadn’t screamed outrage and jumped to her feet to leave. Hope blossomed inside of him. He looked over at Randall and saw the same thing in his brother’s eyes. She was perfect for them. Now they just had to prove it to her.
“Share me? Like a toy? I’m not a toy. I’m a human being.” Her voice cracked on the last.
“One who turns us on like a hundred watt light bulb,” Marcus responded.
“A sexy, desirable woman we want to make love to.” Randall ran a hand down her arm to clasp her fingers.
“It’s wrong. I mean, we don’t even know each other. You don’t know anything about me.” Darla pulled away from them and stood up.
Marcus stood, too. “We have all the time in the world to get to know each other.”
“Winters are hard here, but they’re long and empty without anyone to share them with.” Randall stood up. “Share them with us.”
“You’re asking me to have sex with both of you. Do you know how crazy that sounds?” she asked.
“Not any crazier than our family is. Randall and I’ve known we would share a woman since we were in high school. We’ve always been attracted to the same woman. It made dating pure hell back then. Now, we’re ready for someone to settle down with.” Marcus ran a hand through his shaggy hair.
“We think that someone is you,” Randall added.
“I…I’m going to bed. Alone.” She eased from between them and left them standing in the middle of the living room floor.
* * * *
“She’s not immune to us,” Randall said.
“I hope we didn’t scare her off and she’s packing her bags even as we speak.” Marcus flopped down on the couch again.