Double Rugged Trouble: Rancher MFM Menage: Stonecreek Valley

by Katerina Cole

  Double Rugged Trouble

  Stonecreek Valley

  Katerina Cole

  Head Over Heels Press

  Copyright © 2018 by Katerina Cole

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Contents

  Prologue

  1. Jade

  2. Jade

  3. Jade

  4. Dalton

  5. Ace

  6. Jade

  7. Ace

  8. Dalton

  9. Jade

  10. Ace

  11. Jade

  12. Dalton

  13. Jade

  14. Ace

  15. Jade

  16. Dalton

  17. Jade

  18. Ace

  19. Jade

  20. Jade

  21. Ace

  22. Jade

  23. Dalton

  24. Jade

  25. Jade

  26. Ace

  27. Jade

  28. Dalton

  29. Jade

  Epilogue

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  Prologue

  I’m going to tell you a little secret. You can keep a secret, right? It’s a big secret. A really dirty secret. I’m not even sure you’ll believe me. It’s crazy. Just saying it in my head sounds crazy. Well, here it goes ...

  I’ve always wanted two men.

  And I know what you’re going to say…that’s crazy. Who would want two men? Think of the drama. Think of the fighting. How would that even work? What would that even look like?

  You’d have two men in your bed. Wanting you. Craving you. Kissing you. Touching you. Together. Both of them.

  Well? Is the picture any clearer? Is it starting to make sense?

  Still no?

  Ok.

  I get it.

  It’s not conventional.

  But I’ve never been a conventional girl. So I’m going to tell you my story. Shed a little light on how something so outrageous could happen to me. Maybe even to you. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. By the end I think you’re going to be a two-man woman too. And it’s more than just a little complicated. But don’t worry. Anything that’s this much fun is worth a little work and heartache.

  1

  Jade

  “You sure you’ve got that, sweetie?”

  “Yes. I’m positive.” I smiled at Vincent. I wasn’t about to ask him how old he was, but if I had to guess I’d say the short-order cook was close to seventy-five. It was rude to comment on someone’s age, but I was sizing it up in my head.

  “You holler if you need me. I’m going to hang up my apron for the night.”

  “Of course. I’ve got it,” I replied sweetly.

  I heaved the full trash bag through the back door of the diner. The screen slammed closed behind me. The bag smelled horrible. I was careful to keep it from leaking on my shoes, but holding it so far from my body made it awkward to drag it to the dumpster.

  Looking back on that night, I realized it was that stupid trash that kept me from seeing the trouble approaching. If I had only looked up. Just for a second. I would have seen the danger. I would have seen the men descending on me like a pack of wolves.

  I didn’t know any other way to describe them.

  I pushed the bottom of the bag up and over. I wiped my hands on the apron, disgusted by the odor. The sack hit the bottom of the dumpster, but it wasn’t that echo that scared me. It was something that clattered close to me. Way too close.

  Please, God let that be a stray cat.

  I turned. The alley behind the diner wasn’t wide or long. Nothing in Stonecreek Valley was big, including the streets.

  My skin prickled. I could taste the fear in the back of my mouth. Oh shit.

  I counted two burly men at first and then another rounded the corner from behind the delivery truck that had parked overnight. Yep, they looked exactly like hungry wolves.

  “The-the diner’s closed,” I stammered as they approached. “It’s after hours.” I hope my voice sounded stronger the second time.

  I didn’t know if Vincent had already forgotten I existed. It was my first night, but he didn’t have to turn off the lights in the kitchen. It seemed frighteningly clear that I was the only one left at the restaurant.

  “We’re not here for the diner, sweetheart.” A man with a gold tooth smiled crookedly. He wiped the back of his hand across his mouth. Was he salivating? He was disgusting.

  I reached in my pocket for my phone, but remembered with horror that Cookie had a no cellphone policy during shift hours. I had left it when I picked up the bag of garbage. It was inside the office. I looked at the screen door, assessing whether I could make it inside.

  Could I make it in time? Was there any way to barricade myself in the diner?

  Another man stepped forward. “You remember us, don’t you honey?” He wore a dirty flannel shirt. “We sat right up front. Just so we could make sure you brought us plenty of coffee.”

  I did remember, but I didn’t want to acknowledge them.

  The third guy chuckled. “We could stay up all night. You made sure of that.”

  This was not happening. I staggered backward, looking for a place to hide. They started toward me, blocking the entrance to the kitchen. My back flattened against the dumpster.

  “Get out of here,” I hissed. “The diner is closed. Go home. You’re drunk.” I glared. “All of you.”

  They laughed. “We don’t live around here. That’s the thing. We were hoping we could stay with you. In town for work. Just a few days.”

  I shook my head. If they came any closer, I would scream bloody murder. Would it matter? Would anyone hear me?

  “Get out of here,” I warned one last time.

  “Now why would we leave a sexy little thing like you all alone—”

  “Because she said to get the fuck away from her.” A voice rolled through the alley with authority.

  Their eyes widened and my jaw dropped. Standing ten feet behind the pack was the guy from tonight. The tall handsome, stone-sculpted hottie. It was Ace.

  I swallowed. I didn’t know which of these scenarios was the more unbelievable.

  They laughed. “Three of us. One of you. We can do math.”

  “Not well,” another shadowed voice answered, as he walked into view. “Your odds just got a hell of a lot worse.”

  Next to Ace was the guy I ran into yesterday. Oh my God. He was equally as gorgeous and muscled. They looked like quarterbacks and the three men facing me were the team’s kickers.

  “I think you boys need to pack your shit and leave Stonecreek Valley,” he cautioned.

  “Not without her. She’s the reason we hung around this long tonight.”

  I rolled my eyes. The fear that I was about to be jumped was gone. Somehow two hot cowboys had ridden in to my rescue. The tables had turned dramatically.

  “I’m not going anywhere with you.” I spat my words. I felt braver with the cowboys in the alley.

  “Oh yeah?” the one with the gold tooth taunted.

  I screamed when he grabbed my arm and pulled me into the middle of their circle. I wasn’t expecting him to be brave or blatantly stupid. It was probably the alcohol. They smelled like a brewery. I didn’t know if they thought they could flank me and drag me out of the alley, but they tried.

  In no time, all holy hell broke out.

>   Fists flew. Shirts ripped. I yelped when the taller cowboy plucked me from the center and carried me over his shoulder to the door.

  “Go inside. Lock the door,” he ordered in a gruff voice.

  All I could do was nod.

  I closed the door just as he instructed me to, but I grabbed an empty milk crate and perched on top to look through the small square of glass at the top of the door.

  I could see bodies rolling in the puddles, but it wasn’t either of my heroes. That’s what I was calling them in my head. They were the ones doling out the blows. By the time the fight was over, I saw two men crawling away on their hands and knees and one passed out by the dumpster.

  I hopped off the crate and unlocked the door.

  I stepped into the alley with more caution this time.

  “Thank you,” I whispered.

  I walked toward Ace. “Does it hurt?”

  He had a cut just under his eye. There was a small trace of blood.

  “Nah. I’m fine.”

  I smiled at his buddy. “What about you? Any injuries?”

  He chuckled. “I’m good. We’re worried about you.”

  I didn’t realize I had started shaking. The roller coaster of emotions had finally gotten to me. The adrenaline left my body with an uncontrollable shiver. My teeth rattled I was shaking so violently.

  “I-I’m ok.”

  “She doesn’t look ok.”

  “All right. That’s it. You’re going to get looked after.”

  “Wait, no,” I protested, but Ace lifted me into his strong arms and words seemed too hard to put together after that.

  “I’ll tell Cookie what happened tomorrow. She needs to get a camera or something out here. This shit is unacceptable,” he grumbled.

  I felt my body float through the air as they carried me to their truck.

  “I’ll just sit back here with you, darlin’. Is that ok with you?” Ace asked.

  I nodded. It was more than ok.

  Maybe it was crazy that they didn’t scare me. But after running in to both of them over the past two days, I knew they were nothing like the men who tried to attack me.

  They were my heroes.

  If only I knew what I was agreeing to when I rode home with them in the back of that truck.

  2

  Jade

  4 Days Ago

  I can’t believe I’m doing this. Again. Why does this keep happening? One move after another. I can’t stay anywhere longer than six months.

  I taped the top of the cardboard box and stood. I wiped my hands on the back pockets of my jeans. I surveyed the boxes around me. There were more than I could count. If I combined the most important contents of my life together, I knew that most of them belonged in my art studio.

  “Knock. Knock. Jade, are you home?”

  “What’s left of it.” I pouted as my best friend stepped inside. “Hey, Tia.”

  She pulled me into a hug. “Are you ok?”

  “No. I hate moving.” I hid the ugly crying that was about to burst free.

  “I’m sorry, babe.”

  I pulled my shoulders back. “Me too. But I’m out of options. My grandmother’s house in Stonecreek Valley is all I have left. I knew I had it to fall back on.”

  Tia patted my shoulders. “At least you have that. Maybe your studio will take off there. Sounds like a cute and quaint little place.”

  I studied my friend’s face. I knew she meant well, but how could she possibly believe that? The studio had been an utter and complete failure.

  “Have you ever been to Stonecreek Valley?” I asked, knowing exactly how she would respond.

  I waited for her answer.

  “Well…no…but…”

  “I’m sorry, but until you visit you won’t get it. There’s no way the studio will survive there. It is the definition of small town USA.”

  Tia never backed down.

  “Then you’ll do something else. You’ll find something. You’re brilliant and talented.”

  I stacked a small box on top of a larger one. It was strange how everything I owned could be sorted and packed as if it were part of organization contest. The boxes were labeled. My entire life was labeled.

  “You’ll come visit, won’t you? I’m going to be miserable without you.” I pouted.

  “Of course I will. The pictures of that little ranch are adorable. Its’ like something in a DIY magazine.”

  I rolled my eyes. “That’s the problem. I’ll be doing it myself.”

  Tia put her hands on her hips, throwing her long auburn hair over her shoulder. “Your art is beautiful. You are so talented. By the time I drive down for a visit your cottage will be the prettiest one in town.”

  I laughed. “What am I going to do without you to cheer me up?”

  Tia shrugged. “FaceTime me all the time?”

  “I’ll have to if I want to keep any sanity.”

  “You can always call me. Always.”

  I took a step back. “Thank you. I’m holding you to that promise.”

  Tia grinned. “Is there anything else I can do?”

  “No. I think that’s everything. The movers will be here any minute.”

  Her eyes bulged. “So soon? Now?”

  I nodded. It was hard to face. I didn’t know if it was easier with her there, or if it made everything more emotional. The tears welled in my eyes.

  “I have to turn in the keys by five o’clock. You know how Mr. Castle is about the lease. No wiggle room on anything.”

  Tia groaned. “He’s the worst. Can I turn the keys in for you? Would that help?”

  “Thanks, but I’d hate for him to blame me for something. You know?”

  “Right.”

  We were both trying to come up with a way to stall. The inevitable hurt. Neither of us wanted this to happen.

  We’d been best friends since middle school. That was a long time to share hopes and dreams. Crushes. Heartaches and heartbreaks. I knew I’d never have another friend in the world like Tia.

  “Ok. Give me a hug so I can get out of here.” I pulled me against me. “I might as well get my first night in Stonecreek over with.”

  “Call me when you get there?”

  “Of course,” I replied.

  Tia stopped in the doorway. She wiped a tear from her cheek. “If I didn’t have to work you know I’d drive with you. I’d help you set up the house and everything.”

  “I know you would. But don’t be late. You can’t afford to lose your job either.” I faked a smiled. “Go. I’m going to be fine.”

  “All right. All right. But you call.”

  “Yes, mom,” I teased. “I won’t forget.”

  “I can’t believe it.”

  I shook my head. “Me either. You should go before we both cry too hard to stop.”

  “It’s the end of an era,” she whispered.

  “Or the beginning of a new one.”

  It was hard to imagine what was ahead for me, but I wasn’t the kind of woman to sit around and let my life sink into a dark hole. I had to take charge. I had to take control. The only thing keeping me afloat was the small cottage-ranch I inherited. I was going to make it work.

  Tia turned and headed down the front porch steps. She was like my sister, but even better. We also told each other we were closer than family. We were the family we choose for each other. I let the teardrop splash off my eyelash as she drove away.

  3

  Jade

  Two Days Later

  Stonecreek Valley

  I kicked a box out of my way as I walked toward the door.

  “Damn it,” I mumbled.

  I winced at the pain in my shin. Why couldn’t I find anything? I was going to be late for my interview, and I had nothing decent to wear. Nothing. I didn’t want to admit this job was important. It was more than important. It might be the only chance to put a few dollars back in my bank account. I needed a clean outfit at least. I hadn’t done laundry since I moved. I didn’t have a chanc
e to hook up the stackable washer and dryer.

  My clothes were still in the suitcase and in boxes. This place was a disaster. I groaned as I looked for a pair of jeans and a fitted T-shirt.

  It had been years since I waited tables. I thought those days were behind me, but there was nothing like a little humility to put my ass in check. I had to look at it that way. This was my wakeup call. I had to get my head out of the damn clouds and focus on a real life. With real money.

  It wasn’t like I could explain to the credit card companies that I hadn’t sold a piece of art in six months. That the rent went up on my studio space. That I just needed a little longer to get my big break.

  Debtors didn’t really like talk like that. I tucked my hair behind my ear and looked at my reflection in the mirror. My honey blond hair was straighter than it had been in two days. There was something in the mountain air that seemed to calm the frizz right out of it.

  I grabbed the keys and took off in my Jeep. The drive into the quaint downtown wasn’t long.

  I parked in front of the Valley Stop Diner and walked inside.

  “Hi. I’m Jade Ellis.” I smiled at the woman behind the register. “I have an interview with Cookie.” I stopped myself from fidgeting with my hair.

  “Cookie’s expecting you?” She seemed surprised. I saw how she glance at me from head to toe. I already felt out of place.

  “Yes.” I continued to smile. “For an interview. The job was posted in the paper. The Stonecreek Gazette.” I held in my comments about how outdated using the classifieds was. This was Stonecreek. Things were different here. I needed to get used to how things were done in my new home.