by Jane Jamison
“And to apologize.”
“Yeah. I’m sorry.”
“Fair enough.”
Rent hurried off the steps and over to the hose connected to the faucet on the side of the house. He wanted to get Jazz busy as fast as possible so that he could invite Stormy to join them on the porch. Besides, he knew Beckett would have questions for Ty.
Grabbing a nearby bucket and sponge that he’d placed near the faucet for that exact purpose, he hollered back at his brothers, “Why don’t you two fetch some glasses and lemonade? I’ll help Jazz get started then join you and Stormy. Here, Jazz. Fill the bucket with water then put enough soap in there to get a good lather going.”
Beckett, his face a mask of turmoil, interrupted his heated discussion with Ty. He nodded at Rent then disappeared into the house.
Stormy, who had been in a deep conversation with Jazz, frowned. “Did I come at a bad time? Beckett seemed upset.”
“He is, but it’s not because you’re here. I think Ty just told him about you and him earlier this morning.”
“Oh.”
Damn, but she sure is pretty when she blushes.
“He’ll get over it. In time.” He wasn’t sure if she understood what he meant by that, but she’d find out soon enough. That is, if Beckett had anything to say about it.
They got busy helping Jazz get the spots on the side of the house that were the highest up. After a slow and rather reluctant start, along with a few playful squirts from the hose, Jazz started laughing and flinging soapy water at Rent.
“Anyone want a nice, cold lemonade?”
Rent and Stormy headed to the porch, leaving Jazz to continue cleaning up her mess. Ty and Beckett grabbed the rocking chairs on either side of her, but that was okay. Especially since Beckett’s good mood had returned. They sat, each rocking and sipping on their drinks for a while before anyone spoke up.
“I can’t tell you how sorry I am about this. I didn’t know she was going to make a detour before going to Stacy Tompkins’s home. Needless to say, she’s grounded and not going over to any friend’s house for a while.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Rent lifted his drink to his lips. “She’s learning her lesson now.”
They sat together in silence and watched Jazz work.
“So have you guys lived here long?”
She kept her eyes on her daughter, but even with Beckett sitting between them, the connection he sensed from her was as strong as it had been the night they’d spent together. He could still see her in his mind, stretched out on the bed, her skin glowing, her eyes alive with need.
Jazz’s laugh broke him out of his fantasy. He forced himself not to think about Stormy that way with her child around, but it was hard. But if he didn’t stop himself, his cock would get hard and he’d have to duck inside the house. Thank goodness she was out of earshot, too, in case he said something he shouldn’t.
“We were born in this house,” answered Beckett.
“Really? Wow. I can’t imagine growing up and living in the same place my whole life.” She took another sip and settled deeper into the chair. “Although I love the idea. I wish I could’ve given that kind of life to Jazz.”
“You’re giving it to her now. That’s what counts.”
Rent was almost jealous when she rewarded Ty with one of her wonderful smiles. “Tell us about yourself. About you and Jazz.”
“I told you about us already.” She squirmed.
Was he making her uncomfortable? But there was so much more he wanted to know. “Yeah, the basics. But what about the rest? What do you want out of life? Are you planning on staying in Forever for good? Is Jazz’s father in the picture at all?”
She stopped rocking and he knew he’d pushed too hard, too fast.
“Damn, Rent. Why not get a light, shine it in her eyes, and make it a real interrogation?” Beckett placed a hand over the one she had gripping the arm of the chair.
Rent would’ve sworn he saw the sizzle of energy pass between them. Beckett was the only one who hadn’t spent alone time with her, but even if he didn’t get that chance, they’d have her in their bed soon enough.
“Forgive my blunt brother,” apologized Ty.
“It’s all right. I’m sure the whole town’s curious about him.” Stormy checked Jazz then dropped her gaze to her lap.
“Stormy, if you don’t want to tell us, we’ll respect that.” He felt like a heel for having asked her.
“Jazz’s father hasn’t been in her life much. He contacts her whenever he feels like it, which isn’t often. And then it’s only to show up, shower her with presents, and make promises he doesn’t keep.” Her features hardened. “But that’s what his family does. They buy affection.”
Beckett kept his hand on hers while he and Ty waited for her to continue or stop. Either way was fine as long as she was comfortable with them.
“Jazz’s father comes from a very wealthy family. A very well-known wealthy family.”
“Then Stevens isn’t her father’s name?” Beckett glared at him, but he got the impression that she wanted to talk.
“Why should it be? We were never married.” She took her hand away from Beckett and started rocking in quick, hard thrusts. “C.J. Chandler is his name.”
“Chandler? Why do I know that name?”
Ty looked to him for the answer, and he gave it. “Are you telling us that Jazz’s father is the son of billionaire banker Chad Chandler?”
Anyone who’d been in the financial world and many outside it would recognize the name. The name Chandler was as synonymous with big money as Rockefeller or Trump.
“You got it. Mr. Chad Chandler Sr. is Jazz’s grandfather. His son, Chad Junior, known as C.J., is her father.”
“Holy shit.”
She laughed, but the sound was hard and cold. “You can say that again. I met C.J. one summer when I was underage and sneaking into clubs. He picked me up at the bar and I started going out to meet him every night after that. He bought me everything I wanted, but most of all he gave me what I needed the most.”
“What was that, baby?” Rent had a good guess, but he didn’t want to say it.
“Attention. Love. Excitement. All of the above.” She blew out a breath as though ridding her body of the bad memories. “I was a stupid teenager who thought she was in love with an older boy, a man really since he was twenty. Before I knew it, I missed my period and knew I was pregnant.”
“And he didn’t stand by you?”
She met his gaze, and he saw the pain there. “No. He said it wasn’t his. He called me a whore and said he never wanted to see me again. A few days later, his father cornered me on the street and offered me money to have an abortion. Obviously, I didn’t do that.”
“We’re glad you didn’t. Otherwise, Jazz wouldn’t be here and the world would’ve lost out on a beautiful, smart girl.”
She acted pleased by his description. “I’m glad I didn’t, either. But then my parents kicked me out and I was on my own. It’s just been Jazz and me ever since.”
“Rent’s right. If you’d done what that old fart wanted, we wouldn’t have met you or Jazz with the incredibly proficient aim with eggs.”
Rent laughed along with the rest at Beckett’s joke. Once they’d grown silent, he had to ask, “But you said she’s seen her father over the years.”
“Whenever C.J. feels like playing daddy.”
They grew quiet again, but it was a comfortable silence. Jazz was almost finished washing the eggs off the house.
“Tell me about you three. You grew up here and you’re running a cattle and horse ranch. But have you ever lived anywhere else? Done anything other than work the ranch? I wouldn’t blame you, of course. It sounds like you’ve got it made here. Besides, I respect men who work with their hands and earn their living the good, honest way. Not like bankers who use other people’s money and think they can manipulate everyone else with their power and fortune.”
She made a face. “Gee, aren’t y
ou sorry you asked me to talk? And then I ask you a question but don’t give you a chance to answer. Go on. I’ll shut up and let you speak.”
Rent didn’t bother checking his brothers’ faces. He could guess they were thinking the same thing he was. What would she think of them if she knew he and Ty had taken time out from the ranch to work as investment bankers in New York? Would she paint them with the same brush as Chandler? Did she think all bankers were money-hungry jerks?
They’d done well, making quite a bit of money in a few years, but they’d realized in that short time that their hearts were back in Forever. They’d seen unscrupulous financial wizards and had known they couldn’t treat people and their money the way those men had.
They’d come home and had joined Beckett in running the ranch. By then Beckett had found his real love of writing and singing and was happy to have his brothers help out, freeing him to work on his music career.
“There’s not much to tell. We’re plain, simple guys who love running a ranch.” Rent downed the rest of his lemonade then pointed at Beckett. “He’s the one who has the exciting life. Beckett already has a record playing on the local radio stations. His manager thinks he’s going all the way to the top.”
She leaned forward, her face alight with excitement. “No way. You’re that Beckett Malone? I don’t know why it didn’t hit me before now.”
It was the first time he’d ever seen his brother blush. “Rent’s making it out to be more than it is. The word to pay attention to is local. I’m not exactly making the headlines.”
“Yet. But he will be. I hate to admit it because it’ll make his ego even bigger, but the boy’s damn good.” Rent patted Beckett on the back.
“He’s right. ‘I Did You Wrong Before You Did Me Right’ is amazing. I love it.”
Rent knew an opening when he heard it. “Then you should come to the dance with us. You and Jazz.”
“Yeah. Rent’s got a good idea.” Beckett touched her hand again. “It’s the annual Summer Fun Dance. My band and I are playing. You’ll come. I have to get there early to set up, but Ty and Rent can pick you up.”
“Of course I will. I can’t wait to hear you sing.”
Things were going along better than Rent had hoped when Stormy stood up and searched the yard. “Where did Jazz go?”
They were on their feet a second later, picking up on her urgency. The nicker of a horse sent Rent jumping over the railing of the fence. Horses weren’t normally dangerous animals, but kids like Jazz who had never been around them could still get hurt.
Their group rounded the corner of the house with Rent taking the lead down the dirt path that led over a small rise. At the top, the path broke into two separate channels, with one heading toward the small pond and the other going toward the barn. He couldn’t see Jazz at either the barn or the pond.
“Ty, just to be sure, check the pond.”
Stormy interpreted his words correctly. “She knows how to swim. Besides, she wouldn’t go into a pond. She knows enough to realize there could be snakes in the water.”
“Yeah, but I want to be sure.” He kept moving and reached the barn a second before the rest of them did.
The shaded coolness of the barn was a welcome relief from their short hike in the sun. But seeing Jazz standing outside one of the stalls and not inside it was an even bigger relief.
“Honey, you should’ve told us where you were going.” Stormy slid next to her daughter. “Although I should’ve known. Jazz has had a love for horses her entire life. She used to beg me to buy her a pony.”
“Mom.” Jazz rolled her eyes at her mom disclosing personal information, but her attention soon returned to the horse.
Rent didn’t back off even when Beckett tried to edge his way closer to Stormy. “Funny thing. That horse’s name is Storm.”
Jazz giggled. “Almost like my mom’s name. Why did you name her Storm?”
Rent didn’t mind much when Beckett took Stormy’s arm. They’d share her for the rest of their lives. Plus, Beckett needed to catch up to them on getting to know her. “He was named Storm because he was born during a thunderstorm. Plus, he has a bit of a wild streak in him.”
“I would’ve named him Thunder because of his black color. Or maybe Lightning because of the white streak down the front of his face.”
The girl had the horse bug, no doubt about it. “Those are good names, too. I tell you what. The next foal we have, we’ll let you name it. How does that sound?”
“Cool!”
Stormy smiled her gratitude for making Jazz happy. “That’s nice of you.”
“It’s nothing. Besides, we can use the help with the names. We didn’t even think about Thunder or Lightning.”
“Have you ever ridden a horse, Jazz?” Beckett pulled a carrot out of a nearby box and handed it to her to feed to the horse. “Keep your palm flat and let him take it from you.”
She shook her head, her frown marring her former exuberance, until Storm took the carrot. “No. We’ve always lived in a city. Hey, it tickles.”
“Then you and your mom should go riding with us sometime.”
The young girl whirled toward Beckett. “Really? Can we ride right now?”
He shook his head and held up a hand. “Hey, hold on. First of all, it’s getting too late to ride today. And second, your mom has to say it’s okay.”
“Is it, Mom? Please. Don’t say no. You can’t say no.”
Rent could see Stormy wrestling with Beckett’s offer, but how could she resist her daughter’s pleas? He added his own pleading look to Jazz’s.
Stormy caught his expression. “I guess I can’t turn down a chance for you to ride, huh? Okay, but not today.”
Jazz spun around. “Yay! I finally get to ride a horse!”
“Great. Then how about tomorrow?” Beckett flashed his on-stage smile.
Beckett’s closing in for the sale. He probably wants to use the riding time to get closer to Stormy. Rent stayed quiet, letting his brother take charge.
Stormy laughed along with her daughter. “Tomorrow it is.”
* * * *
Stormy sat on top of the black-and-white horse and watched as Jazz galloped past her. Ty and Rent rode neck and neck with her daughter to make sure she was all right, but she could tell by their shouts of encouragement that even they were pleased with how well she could handle the animal. Her daughter’s long hair trailed behind her and her laughter echoed in the air.
Although Stormy had ridden a few horses in her life, she was by no means an experienced rider. Fortunately, the horse the men had given her was docile and responded to every move she made.
“She’s a natural.”
She settled back in the saddle and held the reins in one hand like Beckett did. “I think you’re right. Thank you again for taking her, for taking us, riding today. That’s the most I’ve seen her laugh in I don’t know how long.”
“Sure. No problem. You two are welcome to come and ride anytime you want. Make it a weekly thing if you like. Hell, a daily thing.”
She thought he was joking until she saw how earnest he was. “Again, that’s really nice of you. But don’t tell Jazz. Otherwise, she’ll be here every day bugging you guys.”
“And we’d love every minute of it. She’s a great kid. You can see that Ty and Rent are having a blast with her.”
They really were. The men were laughing as much as Jazz was. “Thanks.”
“Stormy, if you thank me one more time, I’m going to have to pull you off your horse and put you over my lap.”
She paused as the image of her lying over Beckett’s lap struck her. Heat soared upward from her pussy to sizzle through the rest of her body. “I wish.”
Did I just say that?
Yet she wasn’t ashamed and didn’t regret that she’d said it. Instead, she looked at him from under her eyelashes. “I hope you don’t think I’m being too forward.”
He grinned, the whites of his teeth showing up against his tanned skin.
“You can get even more forward if you want.”
It was incredible how comfortable she was about the Malone brothers. Comfortable in all the good ways. And yet she was uncomfortable, too. Uncomfortable in all the good ways. They made her feel safe and they were easy to talk to, and yet at the same time that something special that clamped onto her libido whenever they were around set her body’s sex drive into fast gear and her mind in a whirl. Comfortable and uncomfortable at the same time was a very good thing.
“Stormy, I know you were with my brothers.”
It was a good thing she felt easy with him. Otherwise, she might’ve fallen off her horse. “You do?” Did he think less of her for it?
“Yeah. And I want you to know that I want to be with you, too.”
Her need for him jumped higher. She squirmed in the saddle and resisted the urge to glance down at her crotch. Her pussy was warm and wet just waiting for him to make a move. “You do? So it doesn’t bother you?”
His blue eyes locked onto her, and, as she had with his brothers, she saw bits of amber appear in them. “Not at all. In fact, that’s the way I want it. The only thing I don’t like is that I didn’t get with you first.”
She let out a small breath. If Jazz wasn’t around, she’d throw her body at him and knock him off his horse. Once she had him on the ground, she’d ride him like the stallion he was. “I’m not sure what to say.”
“Say that we can be together tonight.” He reached out and took her hand.
The heat from him was like a blowtorch striking her skin. Yet instead of getting burned, she got turned on even more. “I don’t know. I already feel like a slut for…you know.”
He squeezed her hands and shot her a stern look. “Don’t ever say that. You’re a good, honest, wonderful woman. What’s going on between the three of us is meant to be.”
“So you believe in The Lightning Bolt of Love, too?”
“The what?”
“Never mind. It’s just something Milly told me.”
“Listen, Stormy, and know this. I’m going to have you. Not only for one night but for as long as you’ll let me.”
She couldn’t think of anything to say. Did he mean it? And if he did, would she take him up on it?