by Eileen Green
Her destiny had been this town from the moment she had gotten on her bike back in late June. Even though it wasn’t a destination on her itinerary, she was brought through here, rescued, and then brought here to recover from her ordeal. Finding two men who were interested in her was something beyond her wildest expectations.
Determined to be the best boss she could possibly be, she was also determined to live her life and enjoy it. It was something that she knew she needed to do once she had been rescued. It just came with two added benefits, or at least she hoped so.
Stepping forward in her decision for her future, she would need to let them know she was here permanently, and that they were the ones who would have to decide what they were going to do.
“I bought some property just south of here and am having a house built. I was down there meeting with the interior designer, since the outside walls are up, when I got the call I had an emergency.” When she made her announcement, she saw the surprise in the men’s eyes.
“So, you’re here to stay for a while, then,” Frank surmised.
Nodding, she pressed her lips together, hoping they weren’t already thinking of leaving. A smile spread slowly on his lips, and through her peripheral vision, she saw the same thing happening on Bradley’s.
Bradley pulled her closer to him, hugging her shoulders. “I’m so glad you said that, Brooke, because right now, we are both homeless.”
Confusion flashed through her with his words. “Huh? Homeless? What do you mean?”
“We’ve both given up our apartments, baby,” Frank responded as he scooted closer to the edge of the chair he occupied. “Our belongings are on their way here.”
“What do you mean?”
“As of right now, we are residents of Kalispell even if we are living in a hotel.” Bradley turned toward her gingerly. She could tell he was in pain. “I have already given my notice at work. The shooting gave me reason to reassess my life.”
“Was it that bad?” she asked, finally ready to hear about it. Unless of course, it was classified.
He was silent for a bit, as if thinking about his response. “I had never been shot before, even though we are trained for it. All I kept thinking about when it happened was I wanted you by my side. I want to be here with you and see where this leads us.”
Bradley took her hand in his, raised it to his mouth, and kissed the back of it. The gesture was tender but loving, touching her heart. “That’s sweet,” she said, her eyes lowering. Then she looked over at Frank. He was watching them, a serious look on his face. “What about you?”
Frank chuckled at her question. “I am technically on vacation, but I am waiting on a transfer. I if it doesn’t come through, then I will be looking for a new job. I want to be here with you, Brooke. All I can think of is you.”
“But what if it doesn’t work out between us?” Brooke asked before she knew it was going to come out of her mouth.
Frank was on his knees before her in an instant, pushing the coffee table away for the couch. “We will move slowly with you, sweetheart, after what you’ve been through, but we both still want to be with you. The more we talked to you, the more we wanted to be with you. When I got the news about Bradley being shot, I too thought about the hole it would leave in our hearts if we lost him. But we want to take you out on dates. We want to woo you to see if this is what all three of us want, though I’m pretty sure we both know how we feel about you.”
All of a sudden, her heart felt as if it was a dainty bud that had blossomed open with their words. She had already developed feelings for both of them, and the thought that she could have lost one of them was painful. Wanting to live her life to the fullest, she knew what she wanted.
“I would like that,” she whispered. “But I am working long hours right now since we’ve just begun production. You’ll need to be patient with me.”
“That’s fine, love. We’ll need to find a place to live and then woo you properly. Also, we have friends to visit. But first, I want a kiss.” Brooke loved his British accent. It did funny things to her insides, especially her core.
Leaning up, she cupped his cheek with one hand as she pressed her lips to his. She did love his mouth with his mustache. She had to wonder what it was going to feel like when he made love to her with his mouth.
Heat rose within her as she opened to his inquiring tongue and let her own slide against his. His kiss was intoxicating, as if he was stealing her breath from her. A hand touched her shoulder, but she knew it wasn’t Bradley’s.
As she kissed one, the other wanted a connection with her. Now she knew how her new friends felt with their men. She wanted more of this.
Bradley pulled out of the kiss, peppering her lips a couple of times before her face was pulled toward Frank. His hand was gentle as he guided her, and then his lips were over hers.
He began slowly, letting his lips move seductively on hers. When she felt Frank’s hand move around to the nape of her neck and hold her still, his mouth opened wide and his tongue seemed to pry hers open. Then, his tongue swept across hers and she let him in. She savored the experience as they performed a tango in her mouth.
A buzzing sounded, breaking into Brooke’s thoughts. It took a moment for it to register that her office phone was calling to her. She knew there was an interview she needed to conduct for a public relations position, and most likely Raven was buzzing her to remind her about it.
Pulling away from Frank, she pecked him several times. “I’m sorry, guys. I have an interview to conduct. Can we perhaps meet up for dinner?”
“Of course,” both men answered in unison, smiles on their faces. Brooke was certain they would be upset.
“What hotel are you staying at?” she asked as she moved to stand. Frank was on his feet in a second and helped her to her feet.
“We’re at the Kalispell Grand Hotel on Main Street. Do you know it?” Bradley had risen to his feet, a wince on his face as he spoke.
Brooke let a laugh escape her. When quizzical looks were exchanged between the two men, she explained, “That’s where I’m staying also.”
“Great,” Frank said as he stepped away from her, giving her room to move. “Are you staying there until the house is finished?”
“It’s my plan.” She shrugged. She could have rented a house, but most places wanted a six-month to a year’s lease, and she wasn’t going to commit to something like that when her house wasn’t going to take that long to have built. “What were you guys planning on doing?”
“We’re actually going to stay with Andrew, Jake, and Gwen, but we weren’t sure when we were going to get in, so we came here first.” Bradley was looking down at her as he spoke, that smile she had come to love so much on his lips.
“They had offered to put us up whenever we decided to come back for you. It was just a matter of time, baby,” Frank said, his voice husky. “We thought we’d stay here for a couple of days before we head down there.”
“Well,” Brooke began. “Meet me in the lobby of the hotel at six, and we’ll figure out where we want to go eat.”
A knock at the door interrupted them, letting her know they were out of time. Both men kissed her on the forehead, Frank first, followed by Bradley, and they made their way to the door in the same fashion. As they stepped out, Raven stepped in.
“I’m sorry, Brooke, but the interviewee is in the conference room already waiting.” Her assistant was apologetic, but she seemed to be watching the men walk toward the elevator. She rushed into the room and over to Brooke. Excitement oozed off her. “Are those the men who have been sending you flowers?”
Heading for the door, Brooke let a giggle escape her. “Perhaps,” she said as she walked out and toward the conference room.
Chapter Three
The conference room Gigi had been led to was a bit more classy than the typical ones found in office buildings around the world. A long table in a cherry finish sat in the middle of the room. There were three legs that crossed underneat
h it, one on each end and one in the middle. The ends tapered down a bit.
Eight chairs sat along each side while one sat at each end. Quality had been chosen for them as they were black leather with aluminum arms and legs. The aroma of the leather was still pungent, giving to the newness of the room.
Cabinets that matched the wood on the table ran along the wall under the large window that faced the mountains to the west. The cabinets ran wall to wall, providing quite a bit of storage in the room, though she couldn’t fathom why.
Today, she had dressed in a more conservative attire than she was used to. A gray pencil skirt clad her hips and thighs, much longer than her normal length, while a red blouse was hidden beneath a blazer that matched the skirt. Only a small area of red showed on her, and she had never felt so overdressed in her life.
The door opened, and a woman wearing blue jeans and a pink western designed blouse, which wasn’t tucked in, walked in. A pair of white running shoes were on her feet, and her golden-blond hair was pulled back in a ponytail, some wisps looking windblown.
Judging her to be a secretary, Gigi remained standing, waiting for the boss to arrive. Perhaps this woman was going to sit in on the interview.
Surprise struck her when the woman extended her hand. “Hello, I’m Brooke Alton. I am the owner of SmartTab Computers, a subsidiary of Alton Industries.”
Gigi slid her hand into Brooke’s and pumped it several times, noticing that the other woman’s grip was much stronger. Being a woman of refinement, Gigi had been always taught to shake a hand like a woman. “Gigi Rainier. It’s nice to meet you.”
“That’s a nice accent you have there,” Brooke complimented.
“Thank you. I have worked hard trying to Americanize it so it is not so strong.”
Pulling her hand away from Brooke, she smiled nervously, surprised that Brooke was the boss. She wasn’t what Gigi expected. She should have dug up a picture of Brooke instead of just reading the reports of her kidnapping, for she was beautiful. Beautiful and rich. For the first time in a couple of weeks, Gigi worried about this plan of action.
Brooke motioned with her hand for Gigi to take a seat as she herself sat at the head of the table. Following her lead, Gigi sat in the chair closest to Brooke on her left, her back to the window.
Remaining quiet, Gigi waited for Brooke as she opened the file folder before her and glanced at the top paper.
Finally, Brooke spoke, “This is an impressive resume, Ms. Rainier. You’ve worked for several influential firms, both here in the US and in Europe. I’ve checked your references, and everyone spoke very highly of you. My biggest question is why would you want a job here in Montana?”
Gigi let herself blush, a reaction she had to work on for a long time to get it right. At a young age, she had worked on her acting skills, honing her emotions to react just right. A five-year stint on a French soap opera began her professional acting career, and now she always deferred to that for the jobs she pulled off now.
“My boyfriend has recently been transferred here for his job. I didn’t like the idea of a long-distance relationship, so I decided to move here. I’m sure we will be married soon.” She gave a slight shrug as she spun her lie, giving some credence to her story. And she did intend to marry the man.
“Well, I know how that is. I just recently moved here myself. I’m hoping my relationship will blossom myself, but will have to wait and see,” Brooke said with a smile. “Now, the candidate I am looking to hire will need to be able to start immediately. The gentleman who had the position had to move back to Atlanta as his mother had a terrible fall and broke her hip. He’s the only family she has, so he needed to take care of her. Will you be able to begin immediately if offered the position?”
“Yes, I will,” Gigi responded. This had to work.
* * * *
“Thank you for coming in, Ms. Rainier. I’ll be making my decision by tomorrow morning, so you can expect an e-mail from us by the end of the day tomorrow,” Brooke said as she escorted Gigi to the lobby. With one last handshake, she watched the beautiful French woman exit the building.
With her dark hair cut in a bob, it was a sharp contrast to her alabaster skin. Her body looked out of place in the business suit she wore, and there was something about her that made the hairs on the back of Brooke’s neck stand up a bit. Since the kidnapping, she was beginning to be able to read people.
There was something off about the woman, although she looked perfect on paper. Even all her references checked out, so Brooke wasn’t sure what to make of Gigi Rainier. She was going to have to think long and hard on this matter, causing her to wonder if she should go out to dinner with Frank and Bradley.
There was another conundrum. It was hard to believe that they both had upturned their lives and moved here without even consulting her. Yes, she liked them. A lot. But there hadn’t been a lot of face-to-face time with them. What if they found they didn’t like her as much in person as they did talking on the phone, or Skyping?
“Miss Alton?” she heard in the distance. “Miss Alton, are you all right?”
Coming back to her senses, Brooke found herself still standing at the double glass doors, staring out into the parking lot. She noticed that both Harleys were now gone. Turning toward the reception desk, she found both women sitting behind the piece of furniture watching her intently.
Jessica sat watching her, a smirk on her lips. She had transferred out here from Atlanta from her father’s offices to begin a new chapter in her life. The redheaded woman was in her mid-thirties and had recently gone through a divorce and had taken it hard.
It had been a blessing that many of the office employees she had working for her had transferred here from the main offices back home. Jessica knew the phone system, so there was only one other receptionist needed, and Tammy had been a local hire. She had taken to her job with enthusiasm and quick learning.
Clearing her throat, Brooke had to look professional to her employees. “I’m fine, Jessica. Thank you.” Brooke headed for the stairs but stopped at the beginning of the hallway and turned to the reception desk. “By the way, who did those bikes belong to?”
She noticed a twinkle in Jessica’s eyes, and Tammy had a smidgen of adoration in hers. “They belonged to those two gorgeous gentlemen who came to see you, Miss Alton,” Jessica responded, looking a bit confused at the sound of her own voice.
Brooke knew the woman was dying to ask her who Frank and Bradley were, but right now, Brooke wanted to keep that information to herself. Giving a nod of thanks, she made her way up the stairs to her office. Silently, she walked past Raven’s desk even though the woman looked like she wanted to talk to Brooke.
Locking herself in her office, Brooke sat at the desk that faced the mountains to the west. She was falling in love with the area and was pleased she could build on the lake. Pine trees populated several areas of the spread of her property, which was a new development, and she knew she was going to be happy there.
Atlanta weather was much easier to deal with in the summer and winter. Hot and humid during summer months, and cooler but not too cold in winter. Here, Brooke looked forward to lazy days by the fire and watching snow fall outside in the colder months that would arrive in about four months, and kayaking or jet-skiing on the lake during the summer, which would soon be upon them. Now, even though it was warm, she just hadn’t had the time to enjoy the joys of the area as she had been too busy setting up the production line.
She had also been falling in love with two men who had been occupying her mind so much since she had been rescued from the produce truck where she had thought a lot about her life. The attention they had been showering on her was welcome after she got used to the idea, but she had often wondered was it just the novelty of them, or if she had really developed feelings for them.
Their surprise arrival today had her mind kicking into full gear. They were here to stay after making the effort to move themselves here without discussing their future with her. B
radley was even willing to give up his job, all so they could be closer to her.
Was this something she wanted? Her heart told her one thing, while her mind warred with itself over the whole scenario.
Eleven months ago, she was out for an adventure before going to work for her father in Atlanta when she was kidnapped. She had her whole world planned for herself. After she returned from her journey, she was going to take the reins of SmartTab Computers, as that was the division of the company her father was going to give her. Brooke was to run it until Tom Alton’s retirement when she would take control the company he had built up from nothing when he was her age. SmartTab Computers was a way for her to gain her experience.
Her life had changed when she sat in her prison in the hot, smelly truck. When it was quiet, she prayed that someone would find them, though she held little faith that they would, especially after Andrew Collin’s friend was shot.
Lies had fallen from her lips every time one of the children asked if they were going to be all right. She tried her best to tell them that someone would come for them and save them, however, how could she get them to believe it, when she didn’t believe it herself.
Freedom was granted by many people from a community unknown to her. They had gathered together, friends of different backgrounds rallying and putting their own lives on the line to rescue captives they didn’t even know.
Two men had stood out once she exited the truck, fear embedded within her as gunshots were still sounding. Tall, blond, and wearing their individual agency’s jackets, they both seemed to zoom in on her specifically, as if they had been assigned to take care of her. She quickly discovered differently.
Bradley and Frank came on strong, and they wouldn’t let her dissuade them. The few days she spent here after her rescue, they had doted on her, telling her that they had fallen in love with her picture. They informed her that they wanted a ménage relationship with her as they had been learning about sharing women from their new friends. After she had gone back home to Atlanta, they had continued to pursue her, continually assuring her of their intentions of sharing.