Two Times the Trouble

by Mellanie Szereto

  Ivan raked his wet fingers through his hair. He deserved worse than a bed of ants for what he’d done. Pushing up from the bank of the stream, he took his time walking back to the hidden alcove to gather his clothing and get dressed. As he tucked is dick inside his shorts his hand came away sticky. Aw, fuck.

  Never in his life had he gotten so swept up in a woman that he forgot to use a condom. Until Jolán. Was she on the Pill? Not likely, considering her family lived in self-contained commune with gardens, greenhouses, and great grandmothers.

  What if he got her pregnant? Not only would he jeopardize his friendship and brotherhood with Liam, he’d risk their partnership and the job. He’d lose everything but Jolán—if she agreed to marry him.

  Marriage? That word wasn’t part of his vocabulary with other women, and for God’s sake, he was only twenty-three years old. Not that he wasn’t ready for that kind of commitment with the right person. But a baby? He had zero experience with kids. The one positive parenting role model in his life had been Liam’s dad.

  Ivan raised his eyes to the golden globe hanging above the horizon. People acted crazy during the full moon, didn’t they? He lowered his eyelids, but the bright glow filtered through, turning his vision red. The hair on his arms and neck stood on end, and the sensation of being watched had him jerking his head toward the trees. Spots dotted his sight as his pupils adjusted to the shadowy darkness.

  Nothing moved. Unable to shake the uneasiness, he aimed for the walkway back to the mansion, pulling on his shirt as he walked. The interior lights were off when he reached the camper, so he opened the door as quietly as he could.

  “Quick date.”

  His heart tried to jump out of his chest. “What’s with lurking in the dark tonight?”

  Liam moved out from the black depths at the base of the new wing. He shrugged, but with the moon at his back, Ivan couldn’t make out his facial features. “I had some thinking to do.”

  The usual smartass retort didn’t come. Ivan resisted the urge to roll the tension from his shoulders and neck. “Yeah? About what?”

  “One of us needs to be in the office to work on bids for the next project. I don’t want to end up with nothing lined up when this job’s finished because we’ve both been gone for six months. I’m going to call Wes in the morning. He can—”

  “You’re quitting?” A mix of anger and disbelief surged through Ivan’s blood. “You signed the goddamned contract! You’re not leaving me here to follow through because you decided you’re ready to move on to something else.”

  Liam shook his head and strode past Ivan. “Seems to me moving on is the only choice I have.”

  Grabbing his brother’s arm, Ivan yanked him to a stop. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

  Liam jerked away. “Fuck off. Oh, but then you already did, didn’t you?”

  He knows. A cramp stabbed through Ivan’s gut. “Shit.”

  The night sky lit up Liam’s face, revealing contempt, hurt, and something Ivan had never seen from his brother, friend, and partner before. Distance. Then Liam continued toward the trailer. “Yeah.”

  Chapter 6

  The smell of ham, eggs, and hash browns permeated the hall between the kitchen and the dining room, but the aroma of strong black coffee convinced Liam that he could survive eating breakfast with Ivan and Jolán. He aimed for the nearest empty seat, resisting the urge to scan the table for the couple. Seeing them together would ruin his appetite, and he needed all the energy he could muster to spend the day working on a roof in the blistering sun. He hadn’t slept worth a damn after last night’s X-rated show and the argument with his stepbrother.

  Just a few more days.

  “Good morning, Mr. Pattison.” Romána Macska nodded at him as she walked toward the head of the table.

  “Good morning, ma’am.” His ingrained manners saved him from asking what the hell was good about it.

  One of the younger women stopped at his chair with a carafe in her hand. “Would you like a cup of coffee?”

  “That’d be great. Thanks.” He took the offered cup and inhaled the fragrant steam.

  “Can I get an IV of that coffee?”

  Ivan’s teasing tone sent a muscle spasm through Liam’s shoulders to settle in a tense knot in his neck. Since Ivan hadn’t slept in the camper, Liam could only assume he’d spent the night with Jolán. Half of him longed to hear her lyrical voice, while the other half wanted to plug his ears.

  “Plywood doesn’t make a very comfortable mattress.”

  Plywood? Ivan hadn’t held her in his arms all night?

  The girl with the carafe giggled and poured another mug. “No IVs, but I’ll be sure to refill your cup often.”

  Ivan sauntered to a seat near Romána. “Perfect. Thanks. Morning, ma’am.”

  “Good morning, Mr. Janokov. Are you in need of a bed?”

  Liam’s jaw tightened at Romána’s question. He had no desire to discuss his and Ivan’s disagreement with his client.

  “Nah. I felt like sleeping under the stars last night instead of in the camper. Mm, that’s good coffee.”

  Staring into the liquid caffeine, Liam separated the layers of voices as more of the Macskas entered the dining room. He recognized several from yesterday’s conversations, but none matched Jolán’s distinct musical timbre. Several women set platters of food on the table before taking their seats.

  Half an hour later, he laid his napkin on his empty plate and pushed his chair back to stand. “Time to get to work. Thanks for another delicious meal.”

  His words sounded stilted to his own ears, but he couldn’t muster any real enthusiasm for the food churning in his stomach, the job he longer wanted to do, or the company he could do without.

  Amalric rose, following Liam to the door. “Ranulf and I will bring casks for drinking water.”

  So you can keep an eye on the trespassers? “Great. I appreciate it.”

  Not waiting for a response, Liam strode out of the room and down the hallway. Rather than cutting through the kitchen to the back door, he headed for front door. He rolled his shoulders to loosen the tension as he rounded the north corner of the mansion. It didn’t help. The sooner he finished the roofing part of the contract the better.

  He dug his cell phone out of the case clipped to his belt to dial the employee he’d put in charge at the nearly completed remodel job in town. After four rings, voicemail picked up. “Wes, this is Liam. There’s been a change of plans. Call me as soon as you can.”

  Rubbing his neck, he slipped the phone back in its holder and continued toward the new wing. Just what he didn’t need—a delay in planning his escape. Even working from daybreak to sunset seven days a week, the earliest he could leave would be two weeks from today. The roofing portion of the contract entailed laying eighty sheets of sheathing, nearly five thousand square feet of felt, and installing almost fifty squares of shingles. He and Ivan had to flash around four chimneys and numerous vent pipes. They’d never built the equivalent of two to three roofs at one time with only a pair of guys on the job.

  Shit. What was I thinking when I put in a bid for this monstrosity?

  Steady income and enough money to keep everybody on the payroll through the winter had been on his mind. He hadn’t expected a woman to come between him and his business partner, especially the first day on the job.

  He buckled on a safety harness before hanging a hammer in the side loop of his pants. Footsteps sounded behind him, but he didn’t turn.

  “When’s Wes coming?” Ivan grabbed the other harness. “You planning on selling off your half of the business to him, too?”

  The sarcasm hit close to home. Liam had mulled over the idea asking Wes whether he might be interested in a buyout during the sleepless predawn hours. “Got his voicemail.”

  “And?”

  “I don’t know.” Silence followed Liam’s admission, and he walked to the extension ladder to ensure his stepbrother didn’t get the chance to berate him for con
sidering ending their partnership. “Let’s get to work.”

  * * * *

  Ivan rubbed his arm across his forehead, wiping at the sweat dripping in his eyes. He and Liam had spent the last three hours carrying sheathing from the lift to the exposed rafters and tacking them in place. Conversation had been nonexistent except for the occasional remark about the spacing and placement of the plywood. None of the usual easy banter. No joking around. A simple yes or no and nothing more.

  Grabbing the T-shirt he’d hung on the rail of the lift, he mopped his face and neck. Not that the soaked cotton could absorb much moisture. With the high humidity, it wasn’t drying in the hot sun in between uses. He needed a bath towel or two.

  Liam swung his leg over the top of the ladder. “I’m going down for a water break and some shade.”

  Grunting in response, Liam followed. Even with the safety belts, passing out from heat exhaustion and dehydration wouldn’t be a good thing to do almost forty feet above the ground. He’d worked off his breakfast long ago anyway. Lunch was probably waiting for them in the slightly cooler basement level.

  With at least a dozen rungs to descend, each step set off a new cramp in his legs, sending pain shooting through his calves and thighs. He paused to suck in a couple slow breaths. The burning sensation eased enough to finish the climb, but fluids and relief from the sun took on new importance.

  He lowered his left foot to the ground, stumbling as he gained his balance. Shade. Water. The ladder leading into the foundation blurred then cleared and blurred again. Closing his eyes, he grasped the metals sides and focused on finding the first step with his work boot. The thick sole landed on something hard. Taking a chance, he put his weight on that foot while he maneuvered the other over the concrete block wall. He managed five steps before his muscles turned to rubber, and he fought to hold on with his gloved hands as his feet dangled.

  His fingers went numb, losing their grip. Ah, floating.

  “Don’t feel so great.” The floor rose to smack him in the back, knocking all the air from his lungs. He blinked, but the world went black.

  * * * *

  Thud!

  Jerking his head around, Liam dumped the cup of water down his bare chest. His stepbrother was lying on the floor next to the ladder. Had he fallen?

  “Ivan, you okay?” Liam hesitated for a second before rushing to the limp, unmoving form. “Ivan?”

  His brother didn’t twitch.

  Shit, what do I do? What if Ivan had hurt his back or neck? Placing his hand above his stepbrother’s nose and mouth, Liam waited for a breath to warm his palm. There! He’s breathing.

  The clank of shoes on the rungs of the ladder had him looking up—up Jolán’s long skirt at her shapely legs. His brain got stuck for a moment. “Help me. I don’t know what to do.”

  She halted midway and peered down at him. Her eyes widened. Rushing the rest of the way to the bottom, she pushed him out of the way and pressed two fingers beneath Ivan’s jaw. She nodded and lifted one of his eyelids. “What happened? Did he fall? Or did he pass out from the heat?”

  Liam swallowed the mix of panic and sexual desire flooding his veins. “I’m not sure. I heard a thud, and he was on the floor. Is he hurt? I was afraid to move him in case something’s broken.”

  Her hands moved to Ivan’s neck, then on to his arms and legs. “He’s clammy like he’s overheated. I don’t think he broke any bones. Get some water and a cloth.”

  Hurrying to the cask, he yanked the bandana from his back pocket and wet it. He returned to Jolán and squatted next to her while she dabbed at Ivan’s forehead and cheeks. “We’ve done jobs in heat like this, and he’s never collapsed. Something’s wrong.”

  “Have you both been taking breaks?”

  Liam nodded. “Company policy on hot days. Water and rest for at least five minutes every hour. Jesus, he could’ve fallen from the roof.”

  Nausea threatened as he imagined the closest thing he had left of family plummeting to the ground from a three-story building. He leaned against the block wall and held his head in his hands, his heart pounding in his chest.

  “We need to cool him off faster. Help me with his boots and jeans. We can run the shower over him.” Jolán untied one shoelace then loosened it. She tugged at the heel, but it didn’t budge.

  Guiding her out of the way, Liam gave a pull on the boot. “Get the water going. I’ll take care of undressing him and carrying him to the shower.”

  With both boots tossed out of the way, he unbuttoned Ivan’s carpenter pants, thankful for the baggier version of jeans. Peeling them off was less of a struggle than regular button-flies would’ve been.

  Liam considered the best option for hauling his brother to the spray across the room. “Are you sure I won’t hurt him if I pick him up?”

  “I don’t think so. He wasn’t lying in an awkward position. I’m more concerned about getting him cool and hydrated.” She kicked off her shoes and then skimmed her skirt past her hips. Seconds later, she stood in her tank top and panties, setting off a reaction in his cock. “Bring him over. While I sit with him in the shower, you can unpack the lunch basket I brought. I don’t want you sick from the heat too.”

  Ignoring the surge of pleasure from the thought that she might actually care about his well-being, Liam bent to heft Ivan over his shoulder. Now wasn’t the time to get a hard-on. He straightened, hoping she knew how to deal with his brother’s illness.

  She sat under the spray, the water streaming down her long, dark hair and molding her shirt to her tits. Two perfect points pushed at the wet fabric. Spreading her thighs, she patted the floor between her legs—right where he wanted to be. “Put him down so his back is to me.”

  He obeyed her instructions, settling Ivan against her. Liam’s gaze locked on hers as he blinked water droplets from his eyes, the urge to kiss her so strong he almost forgot his task. Her tongue snuck out to lick her lips, and he had to remind himself that she’d already moved on from their life-altering encounter yesterday morning. She’d had sex with his brother last night and seemed to have left him in her dust as well. Why was he still so drawn to her?

  Shaking the water from his hair and face, he turned to search the vast basement for the basket she’d mentioned. He spotted it near the base of the ladder, where she must’ve dropped after coming to his and Ivan’s rescue. At damn near half her size, he couldn’t help but wonder how he’d missed the woven carrier when he’d looked up at her.

  “What are these red spots on his legs?”

  Liam frowned as he glanced toward the shower. “Spots? I didn’t notice any marks when I took off his pants.”

  She reached around Ivan to point to a welt on his knee. “They look like bug bites of some sort. Maybe spider bites. Is he allergic?”

  Striding back to the edge of the spray, Liam studied the polka-dot pattern. “Not that I know of. He’s been stung by wasps and bees and never had a bad reaction.”

  The color drained from her face, and she nibbled on her lower lip. “What about ants?”

  “Ants? We haven’t been anywhere to bother an anthill today.”

  She grimaced. “Last night. We, um, accidentally, um, sat on an anthill. The ants that live in this area don’t usually bite, but those did. Could he have a sensitivity to ant bites?”

  Last night. She and Ivan had been lying on the ground while they were fucking each other for all they were worth. Liam’s stomach knotted. “I don’t know.”

  Spinning away from her, he returned to the lunch she’d brought, focusing on sorting through the selection of food. He unwrapped a sandwich and bit off a mouthful to avoid talking anymore. While he chewed, he pulled out a container of sliced cucumbers, carrot sticks, and cherry tomatoes. Lifting a bag of cookies from the basket, he tried to decipher the kind by the sweet, buttery smell instead thinking about what the scene he’d watched unfold by the willow trees. Something with cinnamon.

  “A poultice will draw out the poisons, but I’ll need to go to the
herb garden for a few ingredients. Will you turn off the shower and help me lay Ivan down?”

  How can I ignore that sexy yet innocent voice? Setting down his sandwich, Liam walked to the faucet controls on the wall and shut off the valves. Careful not to touch her, he held his brother up while she scooted out from behind him.

  Before he realized what she meant to do, Jolán peeled her top over her head and squeezed a puddle onto her bare feet, leaving her beautiful tits naked for him to devour with his eyes. He eased Ivan to the floor, never taking his gaze from her—not that he could’ve if he wanted to. Pert, rosy nipples taunted him, and his dick went from half-hard to petrified in less than two seconds.

  Chapter 7

  Struggling against the hormones demanding she strip off her panties and find sexual satisfaction at that very moment, Jolán slipped her tank top back on and reached for her skirt. Whether Ivan’s body chemistry didn’t like the ant bites or her family’s enemy had found a way through the protection spell to hurt him, she had no idea. Her only purpose in life at that moment was to make him well. Mate or not, she had a duty to uphold.

  She stepped into the yards of thin muslin, adjusting the elastic at her waist. “I’ll be back as quickly as I can.”

  Her attention focused on the ladder, she avoided looking at Liam. He’d already rejected her once. She’d be a fool to give him another opportunity to tell her he wasn’t interested.

  As soon as she cleared the top of the wall, she sprinted toward the gardens, consulting the catalogue of ingredients in her brain for what she’d need to make a proper poultice. Chamomile flowers and aloe gel would ease the inflammation, but what plant would absorb the toxins from the bites?

  Aloe vera absorbs toxins and reduces swelling. Another possibility was black cohosh since it could be used for snakebites. Rubbing marigold flowers on bee stings—