Welcome Home, Tessa [Allure, Wyoming] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour)

by Madison Maxwell

  “I had the best day of my life today, Rance, thank you. Drive safe.”

  Tessa closed the door and turned the dead bolt then she watched Rance as he walked back to his truck to leave. Damn, she could watch him walk for hours. His swagger made her ache with need all over again.

  Rance couldn’t believe he had let things go that far. He hadn’t been alone like that with a woman for nine years, but that hadn’t been a woman, that had been a girl. A mistake he made when he was sixteen. He didn’t want to think about that night. He only wanted Tessa and her touch in his thoughts and memories. He hadn’t even had sex for several months. His brothers thought that when he went to Casper on the weekends that he was at the club fucking any willing sub he could find. They didn’t know he had been working as a dungeon monitor. They wouldn’t understand the feelings he had, the need to protect. That had started when he was in the Marines. Those four years had taught him a hell of a lot about control. When he was at the club it was his job to monitor the scenes that Doms and subs were involved in and that they weren’t taken too far. Many times a Dom that hadn’t been trained correctly or at all wouldn’t know what signs to look for, that the sub was unable to say their safe word, that they were too far into sub space to stop the scene. He had seen women pushed too hard, had seen Doms not respect their hard limits, and many didn’t understand the importance of aftercare. Those Doms weren’t allowed back in to the club unless they agreed to go through training with Master Xavier, the owner. When Master Rance was working the club, he would make damn sure that all subs were safe. That was the only thing he could do to try and make up for the mistake he had made when he was sixteen. Tessa was getting to him like no woman ever had and it scared the hell out of him.

  Chapter 7

  Tessa’s alarm went off at seven thirty. Four hours of sleep wouldn’t normally be enough, but she was so worn out she had fallen into a deep sleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. She stood and stretched, feeling the muscles in her thighs and butt. She was sore from the ride on Lady Luck yesterday, but it was so worth it. Tessa went to start the coffee before she took a shower and as she reached the bottom of the stairs she noticed an envelope taped to the inside of the front door. She hadn’t noticed it when Rance brought her home so maybe Brad left it for her earlier this morning. Curiously she ripped it open.

  My beautiful Tessa,

  I’m not happy with you for spending time with those perverted Collins boys. You are better than that. You were meant for me, I knew it the moment I saw that you were back in town and then again at The Spur. You have changed so much since you’ve been gone, changed perfectly for me. You should have danced with me and then those boys would never have dirtied you. What would your daddy think if he knew what you were up to letting all three of those boys touch you? I saw you. I watched as they each took their turns kissing you, groping you like a common whore, and staying out until after 2:00 a.m. is unacceptable. You stay away from them, Tessa, or I’ll make sure they won’t ever be able to come around you again. I’ll be in touch.

  All my love is with you always. I’ll be watching.

  Tessa felt her hands shaking as she slid down the wall and sat on the floor. Someone had been in her house while she was asleep. She heard the lock on the door click and as the handle turned and as the door pushed opened she screamed.

  Brad pulled her to her feet and put his arms around her. “Tessa, it’s me. What’s wrong, little girl?”

  Tessa was shaking so bad and crying so hard she couldn’t answer him. Brad picked her up and moved her to the kitchen, sat her in a chair, and gave her a glass of water.

  “Tess, take a drink and try to calm down, sweetheart. I’m right here, you’re not alone,” he told her as he knelt in front of her, rubbing her arms trying to calm her down.

  Tessa took a sip of water then realized the letter was still in her hand. She handed it to Brad and watched as he read it.

  “Where did you get this, Tessa?”

  Tessa took a deep breath and told him how she had found it taped to the back of the front door when she came down the stairs. “I thought maybe it was from you. No one else has a key except Ally. Oh God, Brad, someone was in the house while I was asleep.”

  “It’s OK, Tessa, I’m here now and I’m not gonna let anything happen to you.” Brad took out his phone and called the sheriff and told him what happened. He said he would be there in fifteen minutes. Then he dialed Mitch’s number.

  “Morning, Brad, what’s up?” Mitch said as he answered the phone.

  “I’m at my parents’ house with Tessa. Mitch, someone left her a note. She’s pretty upset. Whoever it was somehow got in the house. The sheriff is on his way.”

  Brad didn’t even get a chance to say more before Mitch interrupted him saying, “We’ll be right there.” Then he hung up.

  “You shouldn’t have called him, Brad. He has nothing to do with this.”

  “The hell he doesn’t! Mitch and his brothers are mentioned in that note, Tessa. They need to know what they’re causing.”

  “Don’t you dare blame this on them!” Tessa said getting to her feet.

  “I should have put a stop to this at The Spur when I saw Mitch kiss you. You don’t need this, Tessa. They might have a different idea on how they want to live their lives, but you are not going to be involved in it.”

  “Bradley, don’t you dare tell me who I can or cannot see. I’m not a little girl and I will make my own choices! Just because some sick-ass dickhead has decided that I belong to him, doesn’t mean it’s the Collins’ fault.”

  “You’re wrong about making your own choices. Go pack your stuff right now. You’re going to come and stay with me and Annie so I can keep an eye on you until we get the locks changed and figure out who is trying to hurt you.”

  “Oh my God! Do you hear yourself? You are not my father, Brad. I can see who I want to and live wherever I choose. I’m not going home with you and you sure as hell aren’t telling me what to do!”

  Right then Mitch walked into the kitchen. “Tessa can stay with us. We won’t let anything happen to her,” he told Brad who glared back at his friend.

  Mitch walked over to Tess and pulled her into his arms. “Come here, darlin’. Are you OK?” He held her tight, scared that someone could have hurt her.

  “I’m fine, just a little shook up. You didn’t have to rush over here.”

  “Sure we did,” Sam said pulling Tessa into his arms next. “Rance told me to tell you he was sorry he couldn’t be here, but we’ve got two more mares delivering right now. I’m just glad we were already on our way into town to get supplies when Brad called,” Sam said kissing her forehead.

  There was a knock on the door and Brad went to let the sheriff in. “Tessa, you remember Lucas Montgomery? He’s sheriff now.”

  Tessa looked at the handsome man in front of her. Lucas had blond hair, blue eyes, and reminded her of a younger John Schneider from The Dukes of Hazzard, an old show her parents watched reruns of all the time. Even as good looking as Lucas was, and in uniform, he still didn’t compare to her cowboys. “It’s good to see you again, Lucas, I mean Sheriff. I saw you last Saturday night at The Spur. Sorry I didn’t get a chance to talk to you,” Tessa told him as she shook his hand.

  “It’s fine, Tessa, you can call me Lucas. So where’s this letter that was taped to the door?”

  Tessa took it from Mitch, who had just finished reading it, and handed it to Logan. “I’m sure it’s just some sort of prank and I just overreacted, and I probably forgot to lock the door. I’m sure you have more important things to do.”

  “You locked the door, Tessa. Rance said he heard it click before he left.”

  Lucas looked at the letter and asked, “Did this come in an envelope?”

  “Yeah, I think it’s by the front door.”

  Lucas went to find it as Mitch wrapped his arms once again around her. “I want you to come and stay with us out at the ranch until we know what’s going on, darlin’. You c
an have any room you want. I just want you to be safe.”

  Lucas came back in with the envelope before Tess had a chance to answer. “I don’t think this is a prank and I think whoever this is knows your dad. Has anyone approached you or made you feel uncomfortable since you’ve been home, Tessa?”

  Brad answered before Tessa could. “Alex Decker wasn’t taking no for an answer Saturday night at The Spur and Mitch and I had to set him straight.”

  Lucas wrote notes down as he listened to Mitch and Brad recall what had happened with Alex. “I can only imagine how you set him straight and it’s about time someone did. Anyone else, Tessa?”

  “There were a lot of men trying to get me to dance with them. Some were really pushy. The only other person that’s made me feel uneasy was, oh never mind, it’s silly.”

  Sam took Tessa’s hand and turned her toward him. “Tessa, it’s not silly, who is it?”

  “Your foreman, Tim Landes. He was trying really hard to get me to dance with him and was getting kinda forceful before Mitch took me to the dance floor, and when I was at the ranch yesterday he held my hand longer and tighter than I was comfortable with. It’s probably nothing, but he’s the only other person I can think of. There were a few others wanting to dance with me and had asked me several times, but I don’t know all their names.”

  “Both those men know our dad, too,” Brad said. “Hell, everyone in town knows him. Tessa, I’d feel much better if you’d come and stay with me and Annie, at least until Ally gets home this weekend. Then she should probably stay with us, too.”

  “No, I’m not gonna be run out of my house. I’ll be fine. Are we done, Sheriff? I need to get ready for work.”

  “Yeah, I think I’ve got everything for now. If you think of anyone else or see anything suspicious, call me. I suggest you get the locks changed and maybe think about installing an alarm system. I’ll be in touch.” Lucas handed Tessa a card with his number on it and left.

  “Tessa, go pack a bag and I’ll take it with me when I leave,” Brad told her.

  “And I told you, I’m not staying at your house.” Tessa turned and went to get ready for work.

  Brad looked at Mitch and Sam. “She can’t stay here. She’s gotten so damn stubborn. I liked it much better when I could boss her around.”

  “Yeah, from the sounds of it she’s not gonna stay at our place either. How about if one of us stays here with her?”

  “You really think I’d like that idea? I already told you how I feel about her being in a relationship with you three and now look what’s happened. No, she’s gonna come home with me, even if I have to fucking carry her stubborn ass.”

  Tessa walked in and stopped Brad before he could say anything else. “I already told you no, Brad, so drop it and don’t stick your nose in my business. I will date whoever I want to date. Don’t you dare blame this on them. God, Mitch has been your best friend for twenty years, you really think he or his brothers would do anything to hurt me? This is my choice, Brad. No one else will make decisions for me. I love you but you need to back off.” Then she turned to Mitch and Sam. “And you two can walk me to my car while I set you straight also.” She kissed Brad on the cheek telling him to “lock up, not that it will do any good apparently,” and walked out the door. Mitch and Sam followed right behind her.

  “Darlin’, be reasonable. It’s not safe here by yourself and we couldn’t handle it if anything happened to you. Just come out to the ranch at least until Ally gets home.”

  “No, I’m not doing that. I’m staying here. I’m not letting anyone run me out of my home.”

  “Fine, then how about one of us stays here with you? We can sleep on the couch and I promise we’ll behave,” Sam said as he waited for her answer with a sweet, innocent smile on his face.

  Tessa couldn’t help but smile back at him. “OK fine, I will think about it. I’ll call you later. I’m really late and I have to go.” She gave each of them a kiss then got in her mom’s car and left.

  Brad was standing on the porch shaking his head. “Well, that went well. Never thought I’d see the day a woman would tell you no.”

  “Yeah well, that ain’t just some woman and you know it as well as we do. Besides, she didn’t say no, she said she would think about it. Look, Brad, I sure as shit don’t want to argue with you about Tessa. I can promise you that we would never hurt her or push her into doing something she isn’t comfortable with. She told us last night she wanted to give this relationship a try and we told her we would take it slow. But she’s not gonna have the last word on this. One of us will stay here tonight even if we have to sit in our trucks all night long, or she can choose to go to your house or ours, period. I’ll let you know later what she decides. I’m planning on taking her to dinner tonight. She just doesn’t know it yet.”

  “All right. I guess there’s no point in arguing over this. Call me later.”

  As Mitch and Sam headed back to the ranch, Sam said, “I saw the way Tim looked at her yesterday and I didn’t like it.”

  “Yeah, I noticed it, too. I could tell Tessa was uncomfortable. I’m gonna have a chat with him when we get home. I’m also gonna go see Tessa this afternoon and let her know that, one, she is going to dinner with me, and two, she isn’t staying by herself. I think it would be a good idea for each of us to spend some time separately with her anyhow.”

  “That works for me, but what about Rance? You know how he is. He never spends time alone with any woman.”

  “I’ll talk to Rance. That’s gonna have to be his choice, but she did get to him last night. Did you notice it took him over an hour to get back from taking her home? He spent some time with her alone, that’s a start. But one way or another, she’s not getting rid of me tonight.”

  * * * *

  Tessa apologized to Kathy for being late and luckily no one was waiting for her. She opened the pharmacy then called Lanni and Heather on three-way to tell them what had happened. “Oh, Tess, do you want me to come and stay with you or, better yet, you come stay with me?” Lanni asked.

  “No, I don’t want to get you involved in this and I’m not sure it’s safe. I think I’m gonna have to give in and let one of my men stay with me or I’ll have to stay with Brad, but I don’t want to bring any trouble to his family. With Sophie there and Annie pregnant I just wouldn’t feel right.”

  “One of your men? What the hell, Tessa, you need to fill me in on what’s going on,” Heather told her.

  Tessa told both of them about the day she had spent out at the Collins’ ranch and how Mitch and Sam had shown up before the sheriff did this morning.

  “So you went from not dating to dating three brothers at the same time? Damn, girl, you’re good, I’m so proud,” Heather told her and laughed.

  “Seriously though, do you think it’s bad, Heather? Do you think I’m making a mistake?”

  “Let me ask you this, do you feel bad when you are with them? Do you feel like you’re making a mistake? Remember what we’ve always told each other, we don’t give a shit what anyone thinks as long as we’re happy and not breaking the law. Go with your heart, Tessa.”

  Then Lanni chimed in. “Tessa, I’ve never seen the Collins boys act the way they did with you at the bar. They’re interested in more than just a one-night stand, and you’ve always had a thing for Sam and you said you have feelings for the other two so why not do what makes you happy? I, for one, don’t think any less of you although I am a bit jealous. I couldn’t have that kind of a relationship.”

  “Yeah, you’re both right, and I love you both. I’ll let you know what I decide for tonight. Right now sounds like I’ve got a customer. I’ll call you both later.” Then Tessa realized what Lanni had just said, that she couldn’t have a relationship with more than one man. That was something she would need to discuss with her friend later.

  Tessa hung up her phone and walked out front to the counter and came face-to-face with Alex Decker.

  “Morning, Tessa, I was hoping to talk with you
for a second.”

  “I don’t have anything to say to you, Alex. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got work to do.”

  Tessa tried to walk to the back but Alex reached across the counter and grabbed her by the wrist. “I just wanted to tell you I was sorry about Saturday night, Tessa. I didn’t mean to upset you, it’s just that, damn, you’re so pretty. I just wanted to get to know you better. How about you let me take you out to dinner this evening.”

  “Let me go, Alex!” Before Tessa could get loose, Alex’s hand was ripped from her wrist. She looked up to see Henry had a hold of Alex’s wrist.

  “I believe the lady said to let her go and that she didn’t want to talk to you.”

  Before Tessa even saw him coming, Mitch grabbed Alex by the throat. “I told you to never touch her or look at her again, Alex. You just don’t listen very well. Tessa’s mine, you understand me? I will break your fucking neck if you ever come near her again. Get the fuck out of here,” Mitch told him as he released his neck and dropped him to the ground.

  “Darlin’, you OK? Did he hurt you?” Mitch asked as he reached across the counter and pulled Tessa right into his arms.

  “I’m fine. Henry stepped in to help.” Then she turned to Henry. “Thank you so much, Henry.”

  “Yeah, thanks, Henry. I appreciate you helping my girl out,” Mitch said as he reached his hand toward Henry to shake it.

  “No problem, glad to have been here to help. I know Alex. He’s usually pretty harmless. I’ve never seen him be so aggressive before.” Then he looked at Mitch as he held Tessa close. “I didn’t know you two were together, that’s surprising.”

  “Not really, me and Tessa go way back. I’m just thankful she’s back home where she belongs,” Mitch said as he kissed her forehead.