“You are. I’m sure you have some hidden from me and the bank.”
Alan moved suddenly. He put his hands around Bliss neck and shoved her against the wall. All the time, he screamed, “You will do as I say.”
Lann exploded through the door and had Alan’s hands off of Bliss in seconds. He swung his fist, and Alan flew across the room. Then he walked to Alan and pulled him up by his shirt collar. He smacked him in the face one more time.
“Please, Lann, don’t hit him anymore.” Bliss’s soft, tearful voice got through the red rage he felt for the weakling in front of him. He dropped his arm to his side and took a step backward. Then he leaned close to Alan’s bloody face.
“If you ever raise your hand to her again, I’ll beat you to a pulp.”
Bern came running into the room. He took one look and gathered Bliss in his arms. “It’s all right, baby.” He smoothed her hair.
Alan had slid to the floor. Lann stood over him, breathing hard. It was difficult to calm himself and come down from his peak once his warrior mode was aroused. He nodded to Bern and left.
Outside, he started to run as fast and as far as he could until his muscles relaxed and breathing became more normal. Finally, he turned back and ran slower on his return.
He walked casually into the kitchen. Alan had a frozen bag of peas on his face. Bern sat across the table from him.
“Bliss is getting her bags and overnight clothes for the children. She called Mrs. Turner. Mrs. Turner will keep them overnight with her, and she’ll get them off to school. The sheriff ought to be here any moment to get Alan and take him to jail.”
Alan raised his head. “Damn it, she knows if she presses charges, I’ll lose custody of the children completely.”
“Good, next you’d be hitting them. You need to learn anger control, and not to hit women and children,” Lann said.
“I don’t hit my children.”
“We’re not going to take a chance on you doing it in the future.” Bern glanced at the door. A pale Bliss walked in.
“I’m ready, and the sheriff is coming down the drive.”
She looked at her brother. “I’m having second thoughts about taking out charges against you.”
“Don’t weaken, Bliss. This is the second time he hit you, and if we hadn’t intervened he might have strangled you,” Lann said.
She bit the edge of her lip, sending hot desire rushing along Lann’s body. When the sheriff knocked, she hurried to the front door.
Lann looked over Alan’s head at Bern and noted his tense muscles. He and his friend were in trouble. They’d fallen for a woman who for good reasons didn’t want a man or men in her life. They’d have to do some fast talking and fancy steps to woo her into their lives.
Bliss came back to the kitchen followed by a tall, lean man with black hair and gray at the temples. A sheriff’s badge was fastened to his shirt. He put out his hand to Lann.
“Hello, I’m Sheriff Devon.”
“I’m Lann Quinlain, owner of the ranch next to Bern’s.”
“I’m sorry to have to meet you in such circumstances. Bliss told me on the phone what happened.” He walked to Alan and got into his space. “What the hell is the matter with you? You hit your sister, and I’d bet that’s why Addie ran away. I never could stand a woman beater.”
“I was upset. She…”
“Enough! There aren’t any excuses for what you did. Damn, man, Bliss gave you two years to get straightened out and this is how you thank her?”
Alan scowled and looked at the floor. The sheriff put handcuffs on him. “I’ll take him to jail. Bliss, you can come in tomorrow morning. We’ll write up your complaint then. He can’t bail out until he sees the judge later tomorrow afternoon.”
The sheriff walked to the kitchen door with Alan. He looked at Lann and Bern. “I’m glad you two were around. You’ll have to tell me how you arranged to arrive at just the right time.” He grinned and pushed Alan on out the door.
“How did you get here so fast?” Bliss asked.
“We were worried about you. We believed he’d strike out at you when you told him you were leaving. So I watched the house and called Bern when Alan came home. Then I sneaked around and peeked in the kitchen window.” Lann shrugged his shoulders. “What can I say? You needed protection.”
“And you and Bern decided you were the ones to keep me safe?”
“Who else?” Bern said. “We knew about the situation, others didn’t.”
“You could say thank you.” Lann raised his eyebrow at her.
“I do appreciate you two intervening this time. But I don’t want you meddling in my business any more than you have. Understand?”
“Then you won’t want the loan we were going to offer you for your shop?” Lann watched her expression closely. Her eyes widened, and a spark of hope flashed in her beautiful purple eyes. But then she realized what his offer entailed.
“You talked to someone at the bank.”
“We did.” Bern stepped closer. “The teller who’s the most talkative.”
“That has to be Sherry. I suppose she told you the bank manager refused my loan.”
“She did.” Lann reached out to pull her close, but she moved back.
“I can’t accept your offer. Keep out of my business. I’ll manage. Alan has been trying to control me, and now you two want to step in his shoes, so to speak. No, no, no. I’m a strong woman who can manage on her own.” She whirled around, grabbed her bags, and charged out the door.
The front door slammed shut. Lann glanced at Bern. “We have a lot of work to do to show her the difference between caring and controlling.”
“As you said”—Bern gave Lann a wry smile—“it wouldn’t be any fun if it was too easy.”
“Did I make such a ridiculous statement?”
“Yes.”
“Well, there’s difficult and hard. She’s going to be really hard to convince.”
As they turned to leave, Bern hit Lann’s shoulder. “Life’s gotten much more interesting since you’ve arrived. I can hardly wait for tomorrow.”
Lann punched in the lock on the door as they went out. He followed Bern to the truck and got in. “I’m not giving up. We’ll find a way to help her, whether she likes it or not. If she gets into trouble with her shop, we’re not going to let her lose it.”
“Any ideas of how to do that?” Bern asked.
“Not yet. But I’ll think of something.”
Bern laughed. “That’s what I’m afraid of, but just keep it legal. I don’t care for jails.”
Lann leaned his head back on the seat. She was the one for them, and he intended to prove it to her.
Chapter Five
Bliss climbed the stairs to her new home, confused and weary. She’d opened the windows when she stopped by earlier today. A cool, clean breeze had blown all the stuffiness out of the air. She set her suitcases in the bedroom and took out clean linens.
Mr. Crowdy had apparently replaced the mattress recently. It didn’t look used at all. Once she got the bed made, she went around closing windows and curtains. Then she showered and put on her warm, flannel nightgown.
Her mind was going a mile a minute. So much happened today since she came into town. She walked through the one-bedroom apartment to the tiny kitchen. I’m glad I grabbed a couple of tea bags and stuck them in my suitcase. I need something to slow me down and help me sleep.
She put the water on to boil and got out a cup. When the tea was ready, she poured a packet of her special sweetener in the cup, stirred her tea and tasted it. The tea was just right, hot and sweet. She carried her cup and walked back to the living room. Then she curled up in the only lounge chair.
The apartment was in good condition. The paint appeared fresh, and the furnishings and floors, counters, and appliances were all spotless. She’d been lucky to get the place and the shop for such a reasonable amount. But could she make it without the loan?
Lann and Bern’s offer had been tempting
. Still, she wanted the shop to be hers and to have no man having a claim to it. She’d work harder than she ever had before to see that it became a success.
Feeling more relaxed, she headed to bed. When her eyes closed, she saw Lann’s and Bern’s faces. Everywhere she turned lately, they were there. Now they were trying to show up in her dreams.
She pushed them aside and closed her eyes envisioning her shop. But at the last minute, as she fell asleep, Lann’s face appeared, and he kissed her. Warmth spread all over her body.
His lips caressed every spot of her face and sucked on her full bottom lip.
Moisture flowed from her pussy, and a fire kindled deep inside her core. His hands threaded through her long hair as he tipped her face to the side and ravished her lips. Lann rolled her toward him and a warm body lay against her back.
“Relax, honey. We won’t hurt you. We want to make love to your soft, sweet-smelling body.” Bern’s sexy voice sizzled along her nerve endings. His fingers pulled her hair to the side, and he kissed her neck. She shivered with a desire building into a tidal wave ready to roll over her and take her under.
Lann pulled down the front of her gown and exposed her breasts. His hands cupped her fullness. “Perfect, every part of you is perfect.” Leaning down, he grazed his teeth across her tightly puckered nipples. He licked and nipped at them as Bern kissed his way down her back.
Her pussy ached. She wanted to throw her arms around them. No! Her eyes flew open. She threw off the covers, and sat on the side of the bed. I’m still hot and wet from my dream. I can’t get them out of my thoughts. Now, they’re invading my dreams when I sleep.
Bliss walked around the room, and then went in the bathroom and got under a cool shower. She was not going to fall in love. Absolutely not. I need sleep so I can do a better job of resisting them tomorrow. Maybe they’d stay away, but she doubted they’d miss being in court to see what happened with Alan.
Bern had always fascinated her, but she hadn’t seen him often. So she had been able to keep her feelings pushed down. But with Lann and him together they were a potent mixture and one very hard to resist. Bliss took out her plans for her shop. If she couldn’t sleep, at least she could make out an order for her first shipment of lingerie and accessories. She wanted to get the store up and going quickly.
Sometime early in the morning, she fell asleep in the lounge chair.
* * * *
Lann twirled his bourbon in the crystal glass and studied the light flashing off of it from the flames in the fireplace. Bern sat across from him, equally quiet.
“We have to get her to bed. Show her how much fun sex can be, and that we won’t try to control her afterward.” Lann looked at Bern to see his reaction to his suggestion.
“I’ve been sitting here trying to think of a way to accomplish getting her in our bed. But if she is a virgin, or nearly one, she may not take quickly to the idea of two men making love to her.
“She might have had a relationship with a man while she was gone from Saddlespurs, but she’s been a loner since coming back. She doesn’t act like a woman who’s ever had a serious relationship. She’s too skittish.” Bern took a swallow of his drink and rubbed his leg. “She has a few close girlfriends, like Sunn Handley.”
“Is your leg hurting?” Lann asked.
“It tends to on cool nights.”
“I’d better let you get some rest. My furniture is due tomorrow or the next day.”
“You’re welcome here as long as it takes, but I know you’re anxious to get settled.”
“Yeah. If we win her, where will the three of us live?”
“I’ll keep this place, but she’ll probably want to stay at the big, new house. It’s all right with me. I can come back here occasionally to be on my own.”
Lann studied his friend. “We’ve both been loners. I wonder how we’ll all work out together?”
“Just fine as long as we each have a retreat. I imagine she’ll want one, too.”
“There’s my house, in California, built on the edge of the rocks looking out over the Pacific Ocean,” Lann said. “You’ve been there. We can take her there together or individually.”
“Good idea. It’ll all work out. I knew the first time she smiled at me that she was the one for us.” He swallowed the last of his drink and stood. “I’m going to bed. Tomorrow is another day to work toward making her ours.”
Lann watched Bern walk off. He limped more tonight than usual. He headed to his temporary bedroom. Hopefully tomorrow night he’d be in his own place. Perhaps Bliss would help him celebrate the new house and furnishings. He’d get her there, and then he’d convince her she was the woman for him and Bern.
* * * *
Bliss got her order off before nine in the morning. She checked the store. It was as clean as the apartment. After drawing out her plans of how to divide the space, she walked around marking off areas with chalk. There was a small office with a half bath. A larger bath for customers, and the rest of the space was open.
She’d hire a contractor to put up a few short dividing walls and to build two dressing rooms. Her second order she’d sent included a chair, small desk, and a computer for keeping track of sales, a cash register, and a clock for the wall.
After the court hearing, she’d drive to the ranch and get her sewing machine. She’d make the curtains for the three front windows and save money. She rang the contractor. He agreed to meet her after five at her business.
“I’m busy today. I can’t come earlier,” the contractor said.
“That works for me. I have a long list of things I need to do, too. See you here at five or shortly after.”
The door opened, and she whirled around. “Sunn, I’m so glad to see you.”
“I’ve heard all kinds of rumors today. I had to find you and ask what the heck has been going on.”
“Probably whatever the gossips have been saying.”
“Addie and her new husbands came to see me today. They want me to be their attorney regarding custody of her and Alan’s children. She said you knew, and agreed I could share information with you.”
“She needs to have full custody with visitation rights for Alan. I hate to go against my brother, but until he gets his life straightened out, he’s in no shape to take care of the children.”
“Did he attack you?” Sunn asked.
Bliss explained the two episodes. “I hate to bring charges.”
“Don’t feel bad. The court will make him go to anger management. Something he obviously needs.”
“Can you get Addie custody?”
“I’m drawing up emergency papers today. She’ll take the children back home with her and get them settled in new schools. At least they’re not too far away. You and Alan can visit.” Sunn hugged Bliss. “I’m so proud of you for taking this step out on your own. I can’t wait to come to the opening of your shop. But tell me, how are you doing with your two rescuers? I understand they stopped Alan from hurting you further.”
“The women in this town have too much time to gossip,” Bliss pretended to grumble. Then she added, “They are handsome, protective, sweet, but much too controlling.”
“There’s a difference between trying to help you and controlling you. Give them a chance.”
“You are a hopeless romantic. Go away.” She teasingly pushed Sunn toward the door. “We both have important work to do.”
“You’re right. See you in court.”
Bliss locked the shop and went to the grocery to get food. She’d have lunch in her apartment, and then it would be time to face Alan and the judge. Later she’d ride out to the ranch.
Sherry, the bank teller, ran into Bliss as she turned the corner to go down another aisle in the grocery store. “Hello, Bliss. I heard you’re opening the lingerie shop. I can’t wait. I have a new boyfriend, and I’d like to impress him. When will you open?”
“Soon. I’ve sent in my first order. There’ll be a grand opening. I’ll send you a special invite to t
he preopening, the night before I officially open. At least, I will if you promise not to tell Bern Aznar and Lann Quinlain any of my business in the future.”
“I’m so sorry. Please don’t tell Mr. Black. He might fire me. I need the job. They’re just so handsome, and my mouth starts flapping.”
She couldn’t not laugh at Sherry’s words. “I have no intention of speaking to the bank manager, unless it happens again.”
Sherry grabbed Bliss’s hand. “Thank you. It won’t. I promise. Will I get the special invite?”
“Yes.” Bliss got away before Sherry started asking her about the latest gossip of which Bliss was the main person involved. Once home she put her groceries in the fridge and the rest in the cupboard.
There was just time to eat a quick sandwich, shower, and change into a dark-purple suit she hadn’t worn in a long time. She pulled her hair up in a twist and looked in the mirror.
Bliss Meades, businesswoman. She liked her new appearance. Well, it was the way she used to dress, so not totally new. She slipped on black heels and took her small black purse. Her heart raced, and her hands were cold. But she was ready.
* * * *
The gossip had brought a crowd to the courtroom. Bliss spotted Addie and her husbands. She walked down to the front and sat with them. All eyes were on her, and buzzing started when she sat down.
“You’ve shocked them all sitting with us,” Addie said. She squeezed Bliss’s hand. “We heard about last night. I’m sorry it ended so ugly. Your friend, Ms. Handley, has talked with the judge about letting the children come home with us today. She thinks he’ll agree. I’m so excited.”
“You were always a good mother. They’ll be happy to be with you, but they also love their dad.”
“We won’t talk bad about him.” Addie looked Bliss in the eye. “I promise, and they’ll get lots of love and gentle guidance.”
Bliss’s eyes watered. “I’m going to miss them, but if I don’t start my business now, I probably won’t.”
“Go for it, and good luck.”
Capturing Our Lady's Heart [Commando Cowboys and Renegade Texans Unite 1] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Polyromance) Page 5