RopeMeIn

by Cerise DeLand

  Jed shook his head as he opened up the new French-style stainless refrigerator and pulled out the salad fixings. He liked her, for certain. What they had been told about her was right. She was sweet and smart. Wary of men though. Her ex’s fault, the asshole. But Jed and his brothers hoped they could win her over with a gentle hand and the lure of three lovers who’d care for her as if she were spun sugar. God knew his cock twitched to savor her every time he set eyes on her. He bet odds that lush little body would fit him and his brothers to a T.

  “Now to find out if you like sex as much as we do. And if you like it often and varied, with a touch of leather on the side.”

  Chapter Three

  “Harry.” Cara grinned at him with her big baby browns alight after tasting his stew. “You are one fine cook.”

  “Thank you, Cara,” he told her, wondering how he could distinguish himself from his brothers in this quest to seduce her. If food was the way to a woman’s heart, Harry would don an apron and cook for her every day.

  “How did you learn this?”

  Harry threw her a winsome look. Keeping his gaze from the dangerous vee of her cleavage in the damn robe had been his challenge for the past hour. Keeping his mind from what lay beneath the fabric had been a war he’d lost. His poor cock, strangled in his skintight jeans, told him so. “Cooking for these two cowhands is demanding.”

  “Hard to please, are they? You could hire a woman, couldn’t you?” she joked with him, her cheeks blushing with the words. “To cook, I mean.”

  Paris and New York had not taken the sweetness out of her basic Texas nature. Neither had a verbally abusive husband. Harry leaned across the table and squeezed her hand, fast and friendly like, just to heighten the effect of all this testosterone appreciating her fine bod and conversation. “We thought about that but we didn’t want to hire a housekeeper who might not like the changes we intend. And truth is, we prefer just us here. I like to cook and these two cowboys demand the best. Our mama was a great cook. So we were raised on fine vittles.”

  “Took him about five years,” Will offered with pain in his eyes, “to perfect Ma’s biscuits.”

  Jed groaned. “They tasted like the Sonoran desert.”

  Will put a hand to his stomach. “And felt like he’d snuck buckshot in the batter.”

  Laughing, she put her napkin to her mouth to keep from sputtering all over the table. When she’d taken a sip of the wine and recovered enough, she said, “You’ve certainly got a swell place to work in. I haven’t seen a kitchen so well appointed since I last watched HGTV.”

  Harry checked Will’s and Jed’s expression, then asked, “Shall we tell her the truth?”

  Will flinched.

  Jed stared at him, horrified.

  Hell, not that much truth! “We saw a few episodes of that and it’s how we decided to renovate.”

  She snorted. “You are kidding me, right?”

  “Not a chance,” Jed confirmed, clearly relieved that Harry’s revelation was about the kitchen. “We go for pretty surroundings. Out on the land, life is raw. A man needs a bit of beauty when he comes home.”

  Jed’s words were not lost on her, because her face lit up like a Christmas tree.

  “Men who watch home remodeling on TV,” she mused. “I am in a new world.”

  Got that right, honey. Harry lifted his chin at her half-finished bowl of his beef stew. “Eat up. You’re a growing gal. And we have apple pie for dessert.”

  “Apple,” she mouthed, her eyes twinkling with the very idea.

  “Pie,” he finished.

  “To eat with you boys, I’ll have to get on my treadmill for twice as long.”

  Harry met her soft brown gaze with his own and drowned there a good long while. “Honey, stick with us and you won’t need that treadmill at all.”

  She stared at him, her mouth dropping open, getting his implication.

  His brothers scowled at him.

  “Don’t mind him,” Jed told her. “He was dropped on his head as a baby.”

  “Harry works better with machines than humans,” Will added, rounding his eyes at him in warning.

  Harry harrumphed. “They’re jealous cuz the best they can manage is to talk to the cattle. Women need more eloquence.”

  Will objected. “Hold on there. I talk a good game. Besides, simple is better.”

  “Yeah,” Jed put in. “That’s why you haven’t been to a library since you graduated Texas Tech.”

  “I have an e-reader. You boys still use that paper stuff.” Will sniffed. “Plus, you have no idea what I have on my bookshelf.”

  Harry winced. “The dictionary would be a good start.”

  “Library is too far away,” Will went on, zeroing in on Cara and giving a fake cold shoulder to Jed and him. “They’re in need of money for repairs and a new librarian. The last one left when she got married to a visiting Fuller Brush salesman.”

  Cara chuckled. “Fuller Brush salesmen are still around? Who knew?”

  “Will is pulling your leg,” Jed told her. “Maria Werner who was our head librarian married a man who came from Austin to investigate the water shortages.”

  Cara tipped her head. “You don’t have water?”

  “The rains have been poor,” Will told her.

  “Half normal deposits,” Jed added. “Creates problems. A lot of them. Some in the county have dry wells. They have to buy their drinking water, rent a motel room so they can take a shower and even take their wash to the town laundromat.”

  “That’s terrible,” Cara said. “I had no idea. Aunt Bree hasn’t uttered a word.”

  Will huffed. “In town, you folks are on the city system and your rationing is not as strict. Out here on the range, ‘water rights’ are fightin’ words. Jed knows firsthand because he’s on the County Water Board.”

  “Jed here is becoming our family legal eagle in action.” Harry decided it was time to take them to the other shortage they had. “We also have a woeful lack of females in this county.”

  “With so many good-looking men?” Cara asked with a winsome look. “How did that happen?”

  “Attrition,” Harry responded with a shrug. “The girls who don’t marry their high school sweethearts run off to college, meet a beau, get a job, have babies and never return.”

  “The Hill Country is rugged land,” Jed explained. “Too much rock, caliche, too little soil and, without water, too little grass. Tough to work the land or raise cattle in the droughts we’ve had off and on the last ten years.”

  Harry frowned that he’d taken them from the subject of female-to-male ratios. “That kind of life, miles away from your nearest neighbor or even the grocery store, is hard to accept for a woman in this day and age.”

  “Unless she really likes staying home,” Cara pointed out. “And in that case, the internet keeps us connected. I’m going to do my part and put my goods up for sale on a website. Knickers!” She put her hands up as if she were erecting a sign. “Bringing French and Italian lingerie to American women.”

  “And men,” Harry joked as he rose and collected empty plates. “You’re doing us all a service. You’ll make a mint. If I had a woman, I’d come buy goodies from you.”

  “Would you?” She sounded so pleased she almost cooed. “Most men would not set their little toe in a store like that. But I’m going to make it appealing to them.”

  Will raised a hand. “Well now. Sign. Me. Up.”

  Harry snickered. “Are you going to have modeling shows?”

  Cara blinked. “Not a bad idea.”

  Harry nodded. “I can be your show manager.”

  Jed snorted. “Oh look out.”

  “Actually,” Cara teased, pointing a finger at Harry, “that’s not a bad idea either.”

  Will rubbed his hands together. “Harry’ll need help.”

  Jed feigned dismay. “You need help.”

  “Now, now,” Cara admonished, “I could find roles for all three of you. How do you feel about getting up
on the runway with the women?”

  Will shook his head. “Count me out.”

  “But you’d be perfect. Tall, dark and hunky.” She waggled her brows at him.

  “You’d have to teach him how to walk right.” Jed laughed. “He’s been on horses since he was four and his knees are bows.”

  “He’s pretty though,” Harry said and got a napkin thrown at him by Will. “But you know, I might give that modeling gig a go. Do I wear boxers?”

  Cara winked at him. “I’d find you something more…brief.”

  Jed choked. “Have to have some manscaping first, there, bro.”

  Harry gave the evil eye to his older sibling. “Fine. I could do that. In fact, I’d like that. The modeling, I mean. I’d be sort of the Texas version of that soccer guy, whatshisname? Married to that skinny little chick? Man, she’s thinner than the shadow of a barbed wire fence.”

  Jed folded his arms. “We like our women with a bit more meat on them.”

  “Be still my heart.” Cara clamped a hand to her heart. “Women with…‘meat’ on them look terrific in fine silk and satin.”

  “I want to agree,” Will offered with a shake of his head. “Haven’t seen too much of any women lately. In fine lingerie or without. Fine by me though. I’ve been waiting for the right woman. Lately, I’ve raised my standards.” He glanced around. “Like two other men I know.”

  Jed got serious. “So what’s your plan for men to shop at Knickers?”

  “I’d have a part of the store just for men. With a female clerk who knows how to translate measurements like these,” in mid-air, she made an hourglass figure, then cupped her hands as if a man knew his woman’s breast size, “into bras and panties that will fit the first time he takes his gifts home.”

  Harry lounged against the counter, listening to her. His fingers itched to cup Cara’s breasts, which edged out of the robe as she spoke. He could see the shadow of one nipple. One large pink nipple. Pebbled too. His gaze fastened to her mouth. So you get off talking about lingerie? I’ll remember that. “What do you say, folks? You do want pie, right?”

  “Bring it on.” She cocked an ear to the drumming of the rain on the roof. “I’ve worn off loads of calories just worrying about this storm.”

  As all the men rose to clear the table and Will started to make coffee, Harry told her Jed had briefed him on her experience with a tornado. “You’re safe here. I’ll get your truck when this clears. Fix it pronto.”

  She went on about the vehicle’s condition. “It’s old, Harry—1981. If it’s damaged badly, the manufacturer might not stock parts for it any longer.”

  “No worries. I’ll make it all better.”

  “He’s not foolin’ either,” Jed put in. “If the vet can’t get here and one of our cows has a breech birth coming on, Harry is our man to turn the calf.”

  “Patient, are you?” Cara asked him, her dark eyes searching his.

  “With cows,” Will clarified.

  “With us?” Jed added, joshing him with bright eyes. “He’s a cat sitting under a bird bath.”

  “These two give me hives. Ignore them. Meanwhile,” he did a ta-dah and presented her with a honker of a piece of his pie, “try this on for size.”

  “Mmm, mmm, mmm.” She dug into his dessert. “I won’t fit back into my jeans.”

  What a good idea. Veering away from the temptation to hover over her, Harry walked away. From across the room, he watched her, spellbound by her enjoyment.

  Her lush lips closed around the fork. Harry could just about taste her goodness. Her eyes drifted closed in ecstasy. Her chin lifted and Harry vowed to make her look like that in bed when he slid his cock high inside her.

  She made little delicious sounds as she dug in for another bite. “But oh, it will be worth it.”

  You. Are. Telling. Me. He cleared his throat and pushed away from the counter. “Milk? Sugar with your coffee?”

  “No thanks. No coffee. I’d be up all night.”

  Another fine idea.

  Distracting himself from jumping her bones, Harry got the kitchen cleaned up and dishes in the dishwasher while Jed swept the floor and Will took out the trash.

  “What can I do?” Cara asked.

  “Sit there and look pretty,” Harry urged.

  “Can I check on my clothes in the dryer?” Cara asked, her fingers securing the thick black terry around her chest and taking away that tempting view of the valley between her breasts.

  “Sure. Laundry room is that way.” He pointed and watched her pad barefoot in that direction, her trim ass in the robe as much a turn-on as the other views of her.

  “You’re just a horn toad,” he chided himself. “Get a grip.”

  “What’s your problem?” Will came in the back door.

  “Beating myself up for chomping at the bit.”

  “’Bout time you called a spade a spade.”

  “You cannot tell me you sat there and did not feel—”

  Jed coughed.

  Harry and Will turned as Cara entered the room. “My jeans aren’t done yet. But these are.”

  Her hands were filled with lacey stuff and her white shirt.

  Harry wanted to howl that she was about to put layers of fabric between her and his ambitions. “Well, why not go put on what you can and come back. What do you say to a movie?”

  “No,” Jed refused. “Takes an hour to agree what to watch. Zombies? Spies? Mel Gibson? Then we have this debate. Did we like it? Was the acting good enough?”

  “Yeah,” Will chuckled. “You’d think we were Cecile B. DeMille instead of ranchers.”

  “Okay.” Cara hooked one hand on her hip. “No flicks. No critiques. How about cards?”

  “Cards?” Harry grew suspicious of the eagerness on her face.

  Cara beamed. “Sure.”

  “Oh no.” Harry checked his brothers’ expressions. “With that smile, we can’t play her. Can’t you see?”

  Will snorted. “I’ll take a chance.”

  Harry made a desperate sound. “She’s a shark.”

  She bared her teeth. “I’m harmless.”

  Harry cursed beneath his breath. “Dunno. I have a bad feeling here, boys.”

  Jed fished a deck from a kitchen drawer and strolled to the table. “Harry has had bad luck betting against ladies.”

  “Really? Why is that, do you suppose?” She led them on with a devilish grin.

  “No common sense,” Will offered.

  “I’m not wily,” he clarified as he hung his dishcloth over the faucet, then dried his hands. “Just one hundred percent me.”

  “A big ham,” Jed told her as he opened the box of cards and set them on the table.

  “And honest,” Will offered. “Why, you could shoot dice with him over the phone and he’d lose.”

  Harry narrowed his eyes at his brothers. “Do not listen to these dudes.”

  “Don’t worry,” Jed assured her with a glimmer in his eyes. “Harry’ll get his belly up to the bar. Always does. No matter what the game is. So, what’s your pleasure, little lady?”

  “Texas hold ’em. Do you do that?”

  “Oh shit.” Harry rolled his eyes. “I am not betting.”

  “Harry’s wallet is a bit thin,” Jed chuckled.

  “Now that is not true.” Harry feigned hurt. “All right. I’ll do pennies.”

  Jed said, “There you go.”

  Will nodded. “Works for me.”

  “So you’ll play with us?” she asked Harry, taunting him.

  An undercurrent of electricity swept through the men.

  Harry felt the zing to the tip of his cock. “Never turn it down.”

  “Tell me, how’d you like the new bathroom?” Harry struck up a conversation as the showdown round began.

  “Distracting me?” she teased. “Hang on. Let me hear your calls.” Cara drummed her fingers on the table, nigh unto tasting her win. The last to reveal her five-card hand, she waited while the men deliberated their moves.
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  Dinner had been the best time she’d had with men in months. Hell, years. They were funny, dear, easy with each other. And her. She caught their surreptitious glances at her cleavage too. The attention was thrilling. Her body seemed to hum with the attention. Her mind, fully engaged, had only occasionally noted the wild rain drilling down on the roof. She still wore Jed’s robe, a necessity or close to it. Beneath it she had put on her white lace bra and matching panties. So what if her breasts seemed like twice the size and hard as concrete with the sly little looks of appreciation she got from the men?

  Damn good thing she had gotten a decent deal with her first two cards. Even now she waited breathless, not wanting the evening to end, but tickled that she could show them her talent at cards. Maybe they’d invite her back for a rematch and she could teach them a few things. Even funny Harry who disclaimed any slyness.

  They each played cards with humor. Will gave no tells. Poker-faced was a term that fit him. Quiet, he concentrated on the cards and the board like a laser. Jed, on the other hand, tried very hard not to give away his thoughts. His efforts at diplomacy showed in a savoir faire attitude that told her he was anxious. Harry had other things on his mind. Her. She stifled a giggle. He concentrated on her robe and the boost her bra gave her breasts.

  “Earth to Harry,” Jed called to him. “What’s your bet?”

  Harry grumbled, then threw in five pennies.

  Jed snorted. Threw in ten.

  “High finance,” Will grunted and scratched his cheek as he deliberated.

  “Yeah,” Jed chimed in. “What do you think of our bathroom design?”

  “Well,” she began with the aspect that had captured her most about it. “It’s certainly big enough for the three of you.”

  “Smart cookie,” Harry said. “Did you make use of the jets and the hand showers?”

  Her cheeks flamed. Her chest rose and fell with rapid breaths. Could they know that she had pleasured herself in there? That the room was made for decadent pleasure? Of course they would suspect. They were savvy about women. And me. And I’ve just spent the last few hours enveloped in their charming company. They designed the bathroom in sumptuous style. Why not for the three of them to enjoy with one woman or more?