by BJ Wane
The closest she’d come to an exciting, memoir-worthy experience was that fifteen-minute, voyeuristic, eye-opening ogling episode that had landed her in trouble and then out here in the wild west. Coming upon a gurgling mountain stream, she sat on a fallen log, waved to the two men sitting on the opposite bank with fishing poles in one hand and a beer in the other, a secret grin curling her lips. Her life up to that point two weeks ago might have been dull, but she would swear those few minutes were worth the hassle of being exiled out here in the middle of nowhere. Her dreams since that night were more electrically charged and lust inducing than any of her four affairs. Sorry guys. She figured it served them right for not sticking around.
Kelsey took a few minutes to wonder what there was about fishing that some people found enjoyable. She wrinkled her nose as one man reeled in a writhing, silver fish, wrestled the hook out of its throat and then tossed the slimy critter back into its watery home. What was the point? Finding no answer to that riddle, she stood, brushed off her seat and turned back to the path that had led her to the oddly soothing spot.
As she started back toward the buildings still within her sight, her thoughts returned to those erotic scenes she’d spied on two weeks ago, and from there to her two hosts. She had no trouble picturing Greg or Devin in the roles of those dominant men, or herself as either man’s plaything. A ripple of taboo lust coursed through her at the images popping up in her head. Yeah, I wouldn’t mind being labeled a plaything for the right man, for a short time. For someone who valued her independence, that was a startling admission, but one she refused to shy away from. After all, what else did she have to look forward to for the next month other than her fantasies?
Kelsey was so immersed in her thoughts, she didn’t see the tree stump until she went sprawling over it. A quick twist of her right ankle sent a shaft of pain up her leg and brought tears to her eyes. Shit, shit, shit! Struggling upright on her left leg, she took a moment to lean against a tree, catch her breath and adjust to the ache throbbing in her lower joint. Just what I need to endear myself to the two men who don’t want me here. Shaking off her frustration, she hobbled along the path, putting as little weight on her right leg as possible.
By the time she emerged from the woods, the sun had lowered to a narrow, burnt-orange sliver on the horizon, sweat rolled down her spine and her jaw ached from keeping it tightly clenched against the discomfort. A quick scan of the surroundings showed no one was around to witness her humiliating hobble across the wide, green lawn between the cabins, barns and the guy’s cabin home. Just as she reached the steps leading to the porch, the front door swung open and Greg’s frown turned to a look of concern as he took in her awkward stance and pain-filled face.
“What the hell have you done?” He trotted down the steps and stopped to gingerly examine her swollen ankle.
“Ow,” she drawled with sarcasm, refusing to screech or whimper like a damsel in distress. “It’s fine. I just need an icepack and to elevate it tonight.”
Shaking his head, Greg rose and pinned her with a narrow-eyed glare. “You need something all right. Come on.” Before she could grasp his intention, he swooped her up in his arms, cradling her against that wide, muscled chest.
Pressed against his hard frame with the strength in his arms bunched under her legs and behind her back, those pesky, panty-melting fantasies returned in Techni-color. Too bad they were obliterated as soon as they entered the great room and she encountered Devin’s derisive look of censure.
He took one swift glance at her ankle as he moved by them, tossing out, “That needs to be wrapped,” without pausing on his way to the hall stairs.
Kelsey couldn’t help it. She was hurting, in more ways than one, and he was being a prick. Without thinking, she stuck her tongue out at his back, not taking notice of the mirror until Devin turned slowly and regarded her with a cool gaze and one raised brow. “Careful, baby. My bark is just as bad as my bite.”
Greg sighed and lowered her onto the sofa, his green eyes full of reproof. “Little bit, you need to tread more carefully through the woods and around here.”
“Or what? Will you send me home?” she asked with a hopeful look and tight twist of her heart.
Running one broad palm down her hair, Greg’s face softened as he stepped back. “The McAllisters are worried about you. It’s not right to challenge their motives for sending you away when you know it’s for your safety.”
Guilt trickled through her and she leaned back with a nod. “You’re right, but Devin doesn’t want me here.”
“No, he doesn’t, so don’t push him. Stay put while I get a wrap and ice pack.” Pulling over a stool, he lifted her leg onto an ottoman and pushed up the bottom of her jeans with a low whistle. “Let’s hope you didn’t do more damage by walking on it instead of calling me to come get you.” He pivoted and left the room before she could form any kind of reply to that rebuke.
Greg returned carrying his supplies, a frown creasing his forehead as he looked down at her propped-up foot. “What?” Kelsey asked, her eyes going to his hands. A shiver danced down her spine as she imagined those long fingers touching her again. Coupled with that potent green gaze, she prayed she could keep her thoughts from veering into those lustful fantasies that now included his and Devin’s faces.
He nodded toward her ankle. “If that swells any more, you won’t be able to get your jeans off.” His look turned sardonic as he stated, “You can either let me cut the leg up the middle, thus ruining them, or take them off now. Your choice.”
A chance to get his attention on her semi-clad body? Why not? Kelsey grew warm at the thought, the girls and slutty bitch saying yes, please! Cocking her head, she gave him a small smile as her hands went to her waist. “We’re both adults with a modicum of restraint, right?”
His lips twitched as he looked her over from his towering height. “I am, but I’m not so sure about you. You look like you’re about twelve.”
Kelsey lifted her hips and shoved the jeans down as she wrinkled her nose. “If you knew how tired I am of hearing stuff like that, you wouldn’t tempt my annoyance by repeating it. I’ll have you know I turn thirty in a few weeks, on October second.”
His shoulders stiffened and then a wry grin lit up his eyes. “I turn thirty-eight on the first and Devin on the third. That puts you in between us.” And won’t Devin just love that coincidence? Greg shoved aside thoughts he had no business thinking about Kelsey and stooped before the stool.
Being as gentle as possible, he worked her jeans off and set them aside to wrap her ankle. Even swollen, she had dainty joints and feet. But, damn, the girl sported a pair of killer legs. It took every ounce of his considerable control to keep his eyes on his task and to stifle the urge to glance up those smooth legs to peek under the hem of her blue blouse. Panties or thong? That was a question best left unanswered if he intended to keep her out of his bed, which he did. He couldn’t help but be amused by the taunting curl to her soft lips as she had shimmied the jeans down her legs, or note her lack of embarrassment, proving she wouldn’t let her unhappiness about her circumstances keep her down.
“You okay?” he asked gruffly, noting her wince and twirling thumbs as he pinned the end of the wrap.
“Yeah, thanks. It’s sore, but I’ll manage.”
Laying the icepack on her ankle, he pushed to his feet, wishing there was more he could do. “It’ll be fine in a day or two if you baby it. Devin and I will be gone most of the day tomorrow, starting early, so you’ll have the place to yourself and can get plenty of rest.” Greg tried not to let the flash of hurt on her face get to him. For all her outward bravado, she still possessed a thread of insecurity that tugged at his dominant urges, and that was something he refused to give in to. “I’ll get you a plate at the buffet. Anything you don’t like?”
Kelsey glared at her propped-up foot, as if it was her appendage’s fault she couldn’t join everyone at the social hall. “No, I eat everything. And thanks, again.”
Chapter 4
“The girl is trouble already.” Devin glared at Greg as he entered the social hall and the two of them headed to the buffet. He tried keeping his annoyance from showing since their guests were scattered around the tables and in front of the fireplace enjoying the evening meal, but damn, it was difficult. Not here a full day and Kelsey was already proving to be a nuisance. It sure as hell didn’t help she wasn’t shy about revealing her disgruntlement with his attitude, or that his hand and cock both itched to connect with her soft flesh.
“Cut her some slack,” Greg replied, grabbing a plate at the front of the food line. “She just twisted it. By morning, I suspect the swelling will be almost gone and she’ll only have to baby it for a day.”
“We’ve got the all-day excursion tomorrow, so you better hope she sticks close and keeps off her feet since you won’t be around to watch her.” Devin scooped a large serving of pulled pork onto his plate, smiling at Mary as she came out of the back kitchen carrying a tray of pies. “For me? Mary, you shouldn’t have,” he teased.
“And I didn’t, so don’t get any ideas. One piece until everyone has a chance to get theirs.” Setting the tray at the end of the row of dishes, she shook her salt and pepper, curly-haired head and her finger at him. “I mean it, both of you. The guests come first.”
Greg added a spoonful of mashed potatoes to his plate, winking at their motherly employee. “Of course, Mary. We always put our paying customers first. This plate is for Kelsey though, so I get dibs on getting a second piece for me when I return from delivering her dinner. She hurt her ankle earlier and is sitting up at the house with it propped up.”
“Oh, the poor dear, what a way to start her vacation. Here, I’ll take it and introduce myself. You sit down and eat with Dev.”
Devin shrugged at Greg as Mary plucked the plate from his friend’s hands. “You know it’s easier to let her have her way.” Short and round, they both watched her waddle across the room to the doors, noticing she added the largest cut of cherry pie to the food Greg had piled on her plate. “I doubt that girl can get through half of that, and then Mary will be upset over the waste.”
Greg picked up another plate and started filling it as he replied, “I wouldn’t bet on it since she told me she eats everything.” He nodded toward a table that still had two empty chairs. “Let’s join the Colters.”
Devin followed Greg to the table, hoping acting the dutiful host would help keep his mind from shifting to the petite blonde with the wide blue eyes who was sprawled on his sofa. Since he didn’t plan on getting friendly with Greg’s guest, he sure as hell had no business picturing her in his bed or tied down over a spanking bench at The Barn.
Three hours later, Devin straightened from sinking the eight ball in the corner pocket and winning a game of pool against the Colter brothers who were new to their ranch this summer. The retired professors enjoyed fishing, hiking and shooting pool with him, swearing one of these evenings they would beat him.
Returning his cue stick to its slot on the rack, he said, “Sorry, fellas. I’m calling it a night. You’re signed up for the trail ride in the morning, aren’t you?”
Jed, the oldest by a year, smirked. “Yes, but we don’t need as much beauty rest as you.”
Devin returned his grin without touching that remark. “Good night.” Lifting his hand as he pivoted to leave, he noticed the room had cleared out and the buffet was cleaned up. Stepping out into the star-studded night, he spotted Greg by the firepit, along with a few guests and Mary’s husband, Les strumming his guitar along with Tom. Their poker game would have to wait until another night; entertaining the guests always took precedence. Greg nodded as Devin jerked his thumb toward the house, indicating he was turning in. The longer trail rides left at the crack of dawn.
The faint strains of guitar picking tunes followed him along the path, but his mellow mood evaporated as soon as he noticed Kelsey sitting on the front porch, her foot propped on the rail. Seeing her looking so alone as she gazed toward the small group around the fire tugged at something inside him he had no intentions of acknowledging, let alone delving into.
His displeasure at finding her still up came through in his tone as he climbed the steps to the porch. “What are you doing up? Considering the long day you’ve had, you should have been in bed two hours ago.”
Tilting her head back as he stood over her chair, her sarcastic drawl slithered under his skin. “Gee, Dad, I’m sorry. I didn’t know I had a curfew.”
Devin wasn’t into age-play, but damned if her words didn’t conjure up a scenario that had no business popping into his head. Narrowing his eyes, he growled, “Be careful, little girl, or you just might find yourself on the receiving end of ‘Daddy’s’ ire, and it won’t be your ankle left aching.” Spinning on his heel, he stormed inside before she could taunt him into another unacceptable response.
Kelsey’s pulse jumped and tingles raced across her buttocks as she watched Devin enter the house. She didn’t know what came over her every time he revealed how undesirable he found her presence at his ranch. Maybe she goaded him to hide the hurt his cool indifference evoked, or maybe he just got to her on the same sexually aware level as his friend and partner. Whatever the reason, she’d better get a handle on it before he made good on that threat. Then again, considering the tight pucker of her nipples and the quick spasm between her legs his irritated line produced, there could be worse ways to pass the time here than provoking the one who didn’t like her while cozying up to the one who did.
She’d enjoyed meeting Mary earlier as much as she had the older woman’s cooking. Without a doubt, the pulled pork, smoked turkey, coleslaw, corn and pie were the best she’d ever eaten. Either that or her trek into the woods along with the continuous fantasies weaving through her head all day conspired to build up her appetite to the point anything would taste like the best she’d ever eaten. Mary told Kelsey about her husband, Les and their jobs that included cooking the food for a morning and evening buffet for a maximum of twenty guests and taking reservations. In the fifteen minutes she spent with her, Kelsey learned the cabins were booked solid during the summer months and that the ‘boys’ were the best employers anyone could work for.
The surprisingly soothing guitar music ceased and she glanced toward the glow of the firepit to see the small group dispersing. Lowering her foot, she stood and hobbled inside, making her way to her room and her lonely bed.
Kelsey awoke with the remnants of another bad dream about a man falling to his death before her eyes still troubling her, dashing her hopes the change of scenery might set her mind at ease from feeling responsible for her assailant’s demise. The quiet house and still throbbing ankle didn’t improve her mood. Less swelling apparently emphasized the discomfort but she managed to work her jeans back on with little effort, her thoughts straying to the way Greg had taken great pains to avoid looking at her bare legs as she’d sat in front of him in her panties and top. She didn’t know whether to take that resistance as a compliment or an insult. Thank goodness she’d had enough wherewithal to resist the urge to taunt him by spreading her legs. But, damn, the temptation to do so had been there in spades.
Shaking her head at the sorry state of her wayward thoughts and needy body, she glanced out the window, hoping the sun provided as much warmth as it appeared to by early afternoon because she had no intentions of staying holed up inside, alone all day. But first, coffee and work. Limping into the kitchen, she was wondering how many cupboards she would have to snoop through to find a cup when she smelled the rich aroma of a freshly brewed pot. A warm fuzzy spread around her chest as she hobbled up to the counter and saw the note propped against a coffee mug next to the full carafe.
A serving of this morning’s breakfast casserole is in the oven and Mary will bring you lunch around noon. Stay off your foot. G
The warm fuzzy disappeared as she read that last line. She was a grown woman, damn it, perfectly capable of knowing if her ankle required continued babying by this afternoon. If it did, she would keep it up and risk going stir crazy. Greg telling her that rubbed her the wrong way and it took reminding herself they were doing a huge favor for her foster parents and she needed to respect their turf. If she didn’t care so much for Jordan and Theresa and weren’t so grateful for the way they’d taken her in and continued to be there for her after she had aged out of the foster care system, she wouldn’t have agreed to come here in the first place. I mean really. I’m a nobody, always have been. Why they would think that man was after me specifically is beyond me. But they had insisted and she was stuck here for the time being. She may as well make the best of it.
Now, why did her head dive into the gutter at that last thought, as if making the best of this situation meant trying to lure one of her hosts into her bed a few times?
With effort, Kelsey switched gears and focused on work as she downed breakfast and carried a refilled cup of coffee to the desk in her bedroom. Arranging the chair in front of the computer so she could prop her foot on a small stool, she settled down to concentrate on numbers and get her mind off her hormone-driven lust.
By mid-afternoon, Kelsey’s work was done for the day and, other than a dull ache and a little puffiness, her ankle was much improved, and so was her mood. Shutting down the computer, she slipped her feet into her sneakers and bent to lace up just the left one, leaving the right loose to accommodate the leftover swelling. Picking up the plate Mary left with her, now empty of the thick ham and cheese sandwich, she made her way slowly over to the social hall. She glimpsed several hands through the big barn’s open doors, their laughter echoing in and out of the cavernous building. Shielding her eyes, it was easy to pick Greg out of the small group of riders winding their way through the herd of lowing cattle out in the pasture. He sat a head taller than anyone else on a horse that appeared large enough to carry a man of his size with ease. Even with the ranch activity taking place, she found the area quiet compared to early afternoon in downtown Philly.
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