Fractured Hearts

by SJD Peterson

  Kegan had thought about that same question since first learning that Trevor had met Charlie. When he was younger, he had always dreamed of sweeping Charlie off her feet, marrying her and spending the rest of his life loving her.

  Things had changed. His dreams were different and his idea of a perfect life wasn’t just him and Charlie anymore. It was the three of them together.

  I think I have grown to need it too.

  Trevor’s words kept playing in his head. It was one thing to talk about the two of them settling down with one woman, but totally another to actually do it. Was it fair to chase Charlie when he was so unsure of where he and Trevor were headed and what they wanted?

  Kegan could admit to himself that he could in fact share Charlie’s heart if he could ever win it back. What he wasn’t so sure of was whether he should try to or not. He wasn’t willing to give up Trevor for Charlie, but what if she asked him to? As much as he wanted a life with Charlie, as much as he wanted to make up for all the pain he had caused her, he didn’t think he could do it at a price as high as losing Trevor.

  Kegan finished the rest of his beer, then answered. “I could share Charlie with you, body and heart. I hope that she could grow to love us both, but I don’t want us going after her if you’re not committed to having more than just sex with her. She never has been nor would she ever be just a one-night stand for me.”

  Kegan cleared his throat. This last part was the hardest. “You’d have to be committed to both of us.” He kept his gaze locked on the empty beer bottle, afraid to meet Trevor’s gaze.

  “I’m already committed to you, Kegan, have been for a long time. The only thing missing from our lives is the one woman we can both care for. I would like the chance to find out if Charlie is that person, but if she isn’t—”

  The sound of the back door opening had them on their feet and staring at Charlie as she came outside. She looked tired and a little dazed. “Would you mind taking me home, Trevor?”

  Trevor walked over and put an arm around her waist. Kegan was relieved when she didn’t flinch or pull away.

  “We both will.”

  She looked up at Trevor, then met Kegan’s eyes and nodded. “Thank you.”

  * * * *

  The ride back into town was quiet. Charlie sat rigid between them and stared straight ahead.

  Kegan should say something, tell her how much he wanted her to stay with him and Trevor. Hell, he was ready to move her in tonight, but she was far from ready to hear that. Thankfully, Trevor seemed to be deep in thought as well and wasn’t pushing.

  Trevor could be a bloodhound on a scent when he wanted something. He didn’t take no for an answer and pursued what he wanted until he got it. Trevor kept his hand on her thigh, though, his thumb stroked absently as if he needed the contact with her. Kegan fought his own urge to touch her. He didn’t want to scare her any more than they already had and she seemed to draw comfort from Trevor’s touch.

  If only she could feel the same way about his.

  He had seen how wary she was of him and knew it would take time for her to accept him. He had seen the distrust and he deserved it, he just had to figure out how in the hell he was going to convince her that he was someone she could count on.

  As they drove into town, Kegan realized he couldn’t let Charlie know that he already knew where she lived. It would probably freak her that he had spent many of his evenings staring up at her windows. “Which way now, Charlie?”

  She turned and blinked at him a couple of times. “Oh…um…turn left there on Main Street. It’s the fourth house on the right.”

  He pulled up in front of the large Victorian home. “Wow, this is your place?”

  She looked at the house and nodded. “I have one of the upstairs apartments.”

  He stepped out of the truck and offered her his hand. She stared at it, seemed to consider it for a moment, then finally decided to accept his help. He hated the way she hesitated to touch him.

  Charlie slid out of the truck, her hand rested in his for a moment longer before she pulled away. To Kegan, it was a small victory.

  Trevor jumped out from his side of the truck and came to stand next to them, then slipped his arm around Charlie’s waist. “C’mon, we’ll walk you to the door, and then you can invite us inside.” He winked at Kegan.

  So much for not pushing her. Kegan fell in step behind them as Charlie allowed Trevor to lead her to the side entrance and up the stairs to her apartment. Once at the top, she stopped and drew out of his hold.

  “I’m sorry. I really do need some time alone if you don’t mind.” She looked back and forth between him and Trevor and sighed. “You two are a little overwhelming, and it’s hard for me to think when I’m around you.”

  Trevor brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear and stroked her cheek. “Then don’t think, Charlie. Sometimes it’s better to just feel.”

  She looked up at Kegan as if pleading with him to understand her need to be alone. He leaned toward her and gently brushed his lips against her temple. “It’s okay, Charlie. You don’t have to invite us in tonight, but will you think about seeing us again?”

  Her brilliant green eyes locked on his, and he could see the battle swirling in them—confusion and wariness, but also need and desire. He took that as a small hope that she would see them again. He kissed her cheek and stepped back.

  Trevor placed a chaste kiss to her lips. “That’s the second time today you’ve gotten a reprieve.”

  He kissed her again, turned, then made his way down the stairs, Kegan close behind. “Remember, Charlie, it’s only a reprieve, not a pardon.”

  Chapter Eight

  “Oh. My. God. You mean to tell me that two hot, sexy as hell cowboys want to make you the third in their sandwich and you had them bring you home?” Rae shook her head in obvious disappointment. “Please tell me you are at least thinking about taking them up on their offer?”

  “Dammit, Rae, do you ever think with anything above your waist? I swear if I didn’t know better, I’d think you had a dick between those legs of yours.”

  Of course, Charlie had thought the same thing when both Trevor and Kegan had been kissing and touching her. They had heated her body to burning and stolen her ability to think past the need for their touch. Her entire being had craved them. The only thing that had stopped her from giving in to what her body begged for was the stronger need to protect her heart.

  “Charlie, why can’t you, just once, enjoy something without having to overthink it? You act as if men are the only ones allowed to enjoy the pleasures of the flesh. I swear the stress you put on your brain is gonna cause you to stroke one of these days.” She flopped down on Charlie’s couch, beer in hand, and patted the seat next to her. “And I won’t be the one to push you around in a wheelchair or wipe the drool from your chin.”

  Charlie sat down and snuggled into her friend. Rae always tried to make light of most situations, but she knew that she could always count on her to listen. “It’s not as simple as just enjoying the moment. You know how I felt about Kegan and it’s hard to just forget all those years of uncertainty and anger.” She looked at Rae. “I wish I knew how but I don’t.”

  “I know it’s hard, babe, but maybe this is what you need. Perhaps you need to take control over them and that will take away the power you think they have over you.”

  Could it be that easy? Would she be able to handle both of them? If she could figure out how to leave her heart at home—oh, and her traitorous body—she might have a chance.

  “I don’t know, Rae. In theory it sounds simple, but when I’m around the two of them, it’s like my brain is on vacation and I can’t seem to think.”

  “Yeah, but from what you’ve told me, both times you’ve seen Kegan, it was more of a surprise you weren’t prepared for. Certainly all the times you’ve seen Trevor he’s been in control. So next time, you set the scene—control the place, time and amount of contact you will allow. I know you care about Kegan and
you have some obstacles to overcome where he is concerned, but you won’t ever know if it can be defeated if you don’t at least take a chance.” Rae pulled at her hair playfully. “And if you can’t control them and it gets to be too much, call me and I’ll take them off your hands. It would be the least I could do for a friend.”

  They both cracked up laughing. “Oh God, you’re just too much.” Charlie was glad she had called Rae instead of sitting alone to worry and fret. She was still uncertain but at least she no longer felt miserable. “So tell me, Dr. Rae, in your professional opinion, how does one go about controlling two very overwhelming and smokin’ hot cowboys?”

  “It’s really quite simple, actually. As you so eloquently put it, men think with their dicks first, their smaller brains second. The challenge for you is to keep them off balance. Keep them so full of lust and need that they will do anything just to catch a whiff of your scent.” Rae clinked her beer against Charlie’s. “Then you blow their minds and make them beg for more.”

  Charlie was just about to ask what to do if it was her mind that got blown, but the ringing of her cell phone interrupted. She checked the caller ID to see Dr. Stone’s number. “Hello.”

  “Good evening, Charlie. I hope all went well at the ranch today.”

  Shit! She had been such a mess after Kegan and Trevor had dropped her off she had forgotten to check in with him. What was it that Trevor had said? Something about a sick colt? “Uh, yes, sir, everything went fine, false alarm.”

  “Good, glad to hear that. Listen, the reason I am calling is, why don’t you take the next couple of days off to get your stuff packed? I can pick you up on Friday to take you out to the ranch.”

  “Pack my stuff, sir?”

  “You do remember I told you that you will be required to work as an on-site doctor during the birthing season?”

  “Oh right. Yes, sir, I remember. I thought I would be going out next Monday, but this weekend is fine.”

  “Good. I know it’s a little early, but this will give you time to get settled. Mr. Kingsington is worried that one of his mares is likely to go early, so he requested that you come this weekend.”

  Charlie’s pulse quickened as panic started to overwhelm her. “Mr. Kingsington?”

  “Yes. I send a resident out to their ranch every year. I do believe we talked about it. You’ll get more experience there than anywhere else in this area. You’ve already been out to the Trev-Ke, so you shouldn’t have any problem settling in. Look, Charlie, I have another call. I’ll see you at nine on Friday.”

  “Wait! Dr. Stone… Hello?”

  Charlie gasped for breath as she turned to Rae. “I hope you have a Plan B because Trevor just took control again.”

  “Breathe, Charlie. It’s okay. Just breathe and tell me what happened.”

  “No, it’s not okay. You told me to take control of the time and place and that bastard took it away.” She took a few deep breaths, tried to ease the panic coursing through her. “Take one guess where I’ll be living come Friday night?”

  * * * *

  The first streaks of gray streamed through the small kitchen window as Charlie sipped her first cup of coffee. Sleep had been a rare commodity the last couple of days, with last night being the worst. Her first plan after learning she would be staying at Trev-Ke Ranch was to run. Hell, even running away to join the carnival or a convent had both been briefly entertained. Yet here she sat, waiting for Dr. Stone to arrive.

  She really couldn’t say she was still mad at Trevor so much. Hadn’t she sat in this very room making plans to control him and Kegan? What pissed her off was that he had beaten her to it.

  Damn cocky cowboy.

  She liked being in control, had spent most of her life learning to rule her emotions. Control meant order and without it chaos, which she couldn’t tolerate. After the panic had subsided, Charlie had begun to plan. The last two days had been spent trying to figure out how to regain some of the power those two cowboys had over her. Since leaving her body at home wasn’t an option, she had decided to take a little of Rae’s advice.

  Now she sat with a suitcase full of the sexiest clothes she owned and an entire collection of new undergarments that made her blush.

  They might have won the battle, but they certainly wouldn’t win the war for control.

  Since Trevor seemed to have such command over her body, she was going to use it against him. She had known since puberty the effect her body had on men, that she had been blessed with a long lean body and curves in all the right places.

  A smile curled her lips as she brought the coffee to her mouth. When she was done with him, Trevor would have to redefine the meaning of cocktease.

  She downed the rest of her coffee, her mood turning sober when her musings settled on Kegan. He owned her heart and he wasn’t really anything she should play with. Though he told her he had missed her, it wasn’t an admission of love.

  The thought of allowing him back into her life only for him to leave her again scared the hell out of her. If she could just keep her heart off her sleeve and hidden away from him, then maybe…

  Maybe nothing! It will kill you and you know it.

  Charlie sighed as she took her cup to the sink and, resting her hands on the counter and staring out of the window, watched the sun finally rise. Well if she couldn’t keep her heart out of it, then maybe she could at least show Kegan just what a fool he had been for walking away from her.

  * * * *

  “Wakey, wakey.”

  How in the hell does anyone sound that fucking cheery in the morning? He was so not a morning person, but Kegan obviously was today if his happy voice was any indication. “Sleep,” Trevor grumbled and snuggled deeper into the bed, hoping to get a little more shut-eye.

  “Get up. Do you know what today is?”

  “Yeah, the day I kick your ass if you don’t go away and let me sleep.”

  “C’mon, Trev, don’t make me pull your sorry ass out of that bed. We got shit to do before she gets here.”

  Trevor pulled the covers over his head and groaned. “I am getting shit ready. I’m making sure I have my strength for when that little hellcat gets here. You know she’s going to be major pissed that I pulled strings with John to get her out here early.”

  “I’ve already done the morning chores, freshened up her room with flowers, showered and shaved. So if you want Charlie to see just how damn ugly you are in the mornings on her first day here, then it’s no skin off my ass.”

  Damn, the man was like a gnat you just couldn’t swat away no matter how many swipes you took. “What time is it?”

  “Eight-forty-five.”

  “Fuck! Why in the hell didn’t you say that in the first place?” Trevor jumped out of bed and nearly hit the floor as he tried to get the covers unwrapped from around himself. “Dammit, Kegan, why did you let me sleep so late?”

  “Hmm, let me think about that. Could it be because you’re such a sweetheart early in the morning? I’ll meet you downstairs. Coffee’s ready.”

  Trevor stumbled into the bathroom. He used the facilities then adjusted the shower, and stepped in. He lathered the shampoo into his hair and ran the soap over his humming body, eager to have Charlie close.

  She’d finally be at the ranch where she belonged and he could stop taking so many damn cold showers. He’d been worked up since she’d been with him the last time, and he was getting damn tired of trying to control his lust.

  He ran his soapy hands down his body and cupped his balls in one hand while he ran the other up and down his growing erection. He should be hurrying to meet Kegan in the kitchen, but he was as hard as granite and doubted he could make it through the day with Charlie around and not relieve a little pressure first.

  God, she makes me like a fucking green lad.

  Trevor could still imagine her scent and the way her body trembled when he touched her. He stroked harder, the vision of Kegan watching as he caressed up and down her luscious body filled his mind. His han
d tightened. He imagined it was her delicious mouth wrapped around him, sucking him hard.

  Trevor’s knees began to buckle and he reached out and placed one hand against the tile wall as he felt heat race along his spine. He thrust hard into his hand as his balls drew up tight. He threw his head back, swallowing a silent scream as the first burst of his release shot from his body. He had to bite down on the inside of his cheek to keep from yelling out as his body jerked with each pulse of his orgasm.

  “Get your ass moving!” Kegan banged on the door as the last drops of cum dripped from Trevor’s still-throbbing cock.

  Trevor chuckled to himself as he rinsed off. “Fuck off.”

  Kegan had his preparations to take care of and Trevor had his.

  Chapter Nine

  Trevor and Kegan said their goodbyes to Dr. Stone as Charlie stood in the front foyer of the Trev-Ke home, suitcase in hand, and tried to calm her raging emotions.

  This was such a bad idea on so many different levels. Why in the hell had she even thought that she would be able to control anything about these two?

  The moment they’d pulled up in front of the house, Charlie’s gaze had settled on Kegan and Trevor as they’d stood on the front porch waiting for her, and her body battled her brain for supremacy.

  Kegan was dressed in tight-fitting jeans and a white button-up shirt stretched across his massive chest. The first two buttons left undone showed off his smooth, sun-darkened skin, and his light hair brushed the tips of his shoulders, framing the amazing dimpled smile that stretched wide across his face.

  Trevor was the dark contrast to Kegan’s blond boyish good looks. He was dressed in those damn loose jeans that hung low—did the man not realize how sexy and inviting they were? He had to know that they begged a hand to slip down the front of them. A tight plaid shirt accentuated his equally impressive chest. The stark difference in their appearance was even more pronounced by the looks on their faces.