by Vivian Arend
“You’re not upset?”
Ashley waved a hand. “You can make it up to me some other time.”
A couple of the crew called from by the cookhouse, already making their way toward the fire pit. Her and Travis’s time alone was about to come to an end.
“This doesn’t change anything with us. It doesn’t mean we’re not together.” Travis leaned in closer and stroked the back of her neck. “You drive me crazy.”
“I know, and you do a damn good job of making me blissful. But if you get a chance to have some fun with Cassidy, I’m not going to make a fuss.”
He looked confused. “I feel as if I should be telling you not to worry more, but you really aren’t upset, are you?”
“Nope.” Ashley dug down deep, forcing herself to do the right thing. “I like you a lot, Travis. I came back to Rocky because I wanted to spend time with you as well as set down some roots, but most of all I want what’s going to make you happy.”
He nuzzled her neck, and goose bumps rose. “Hmm, maybe later I’ll work on that make you happy business…”
“I’d like that.”
The first of the crew arrived, chairs in hand, laughter ready to break free. Days of hard work led into this time of relaxing and settling in before nightfall, and as the stars slowly emerged in the darkening sky, Ashley played her guitar and sang.
And wondered if she should have been completely honest with Travis about what she thought about him and Cassidy. Because she wanted to watch, yes, but she also wanted to touch.
Be touched.
The next days as they worked dawn to dusk, more of the camp reached the final stages. Ashley caught herself watching the guys on the sly. Seeing if they were still sending out all those not-so-secret messages.
But what she registered more and more was her attraction to Travis and Cassidy. Not watching them as a couple, but them as men individually.
It was midafternoon when she wandered out of her camper toward the residences and spotted Cassidy ducking into the old building they were turning into a sauna. She followed after him, curious.
He glanced up as she entered, a mouthful of nails poking from between his lips. He muttered around them. “Hi.”
“Hi.” Ashley picked up the boards stacked by the door. “You want some help?”
He nodded, pointing to where she could hold the end.
It took a couple minutes before his mouth was empty enough he could speak, a lazy smile escaping first. “Sorry about that, I didn’t have enough hands.”
“Glad I could help, then.” She had to climb up on the wooden bench seat to reach the top of the next board he held. “I have to take regular breaks, or I’d get stuck behind the computer all day, and that would be a sin with how pretty this place is.”
Cassidy hammered in nails as he spoke. “I thought you were working on your art projects. How can you have so much computer work?”
“Mixed media. I’m doing pencil drawings right now on a digital tablet then editing them on the computer.”
He shook his head. “Pencil drawings used to mean a pencil and a pad of paper.”
“I still do that. I have a sketchpad full I can show you.” She wiggled to the side to let him reach the corner easier. “What else do you do, Cassidy? When you’re not fixing things or building things or taking care of horses?”
“I fix things and build things and take care of horses.” He dodged her fake punch. “I’m a ranch hand, Ashley. I do whatever needs to be done around the place to keep it going.”
“Where were you working before you came here for the summer?” She eyed him carefully. “Travis had to get someone to step in for him.”
“Big spread down by Pincher Creek. They always have lots of spare help coming and going. When Karen offered me the job, it was a far better option for the summer. Pays more, and it’s more interesting, even if it’s a short season.” He pounded in another nail then stared at the wall thoughtfully. “Kind of nice to be the one in charge for a change, instead of one of the hands.”
“You like your independence. I hear you.”
“I like playing cards and listening to music.” He glanced her way. “You playing your guitar in the evenings—that’s nice.”
Cassidy made her smile. Not only was he delicious, there was a sense of something else—like an innocence, or an earnest need that made her want to pet him. And other more intimate touches.
She backed up to make room and stumbled.
“Watch out.” Cassidy caught her, wrapping his hands around her upper arms and pressing her back against him.
Warmth rushed her as the sexual tension shot skyward. The full, firm length of him supported her, hard in all the right places, the scent of his soap filling her head. The contact between them was deliciously naughty, and she really hoped he’d make the next move. One little indication that he was interested…
“You’re so soft.” His hand slid down her arm slightly. A gentle caress. He might not have been aware he’d spoken, the words whispering into the stillness.
Ashley rotated in his arms and looked up into green eyes gone dark.
He brushed his knuckles over her cheek, his gaze darting over her face. Wordlessly he leaned in, and Ashley’s heart fluttered as his lips moved toward hers.
Then everything changed. Cassidy snapped upright, his body tense as if a wall had dropped between them. A moment later he’d retreated to the farthest corner from her, hammer in hand as he examined the wall studiously. “Thanks for your help, but I’ve got it from here.”
Whoa. Ashley hesitated. “Umm, okay.”
She stepped back uneasily.
Loud hammering echoed in the small space, and Ashley escaped the noise, rushing from the sauna back into the sunlight.
That had been…weird.
She didn’t know exactly what she’d done, but who knows. Maybe he’d remembered he had some deadline to meet, and getting distracted right then wasn’t the best thing.
But it was still strange, and only got stranger over the next couple days until she felt like a yo-yo. She’d catch Cassidy staring at Travis, and then staring at her before jerking his gaze away, and it wasn’t fun anymore. It was frustrating and confusing.
“You seen Cassidy much lately?” she asked Travis as they crawled into bed.
He shook his head briefly then frowned, a crease between his eyes as he pulled her toward him. “Well, yes, working around the place, but in private? No. He’s always around the crew. Which reminds me—we’re nearly done with the final setup. The entire camp will be ready by the weekend.”
“Wow. Good for you. That’s early, isn’t it?” She snuggled into his arms and laid her head on his chest, needing some familiar warmth to smooth the uneasiness Cassidy had created with his confusing messages.
“Just in time, actually. We got a ton done this past week. But enough about work.” Then he rolled her over and distracted her from her worries like he’d done so many times before.
The weekend campers arrived the next day, filing into the parking lot all morning. They were greeted by the guides and hands, and shuffled off to be geared up. The enthusiasm and excitement of the guests was entertaining, and Ashley watched with amusement from her perch on the stoop roof.
Lunch was served at Base Camp before the group headed up the hill, and Ashley found herself at a table while loud and happy voices rang through the mess hall.
A camper from a group of four guys nabbed the seat opposite her, eyeing her closely. “You a camper or a guide?”
“Neither.” Ashley grinned. “Taking photos. You’ll have to talk to one of the crew if you have any questions about the camp.”
“No questions. I hoped you would be around for the weekend.” The dark-haired fellow stared a little harder, his gaze lingering on her body. “Let me know if I can help you with your picture taking. I’m very photogenic.”
Oh brother. Ashley got ready to cut him off at the knees—gently, since he was a paying guest—but found herself
wrapped in a strong embrace as Cassidy took the seat next to her. He leaned in, turned her face toward him and damn if he didn’t kiss her, right there and then. Hard lips to hers, brief but intense.
Hmm, nice. She was tingling in all sorts of lovely places after that.
Cassidy stared for a moment longer. “Thanks for your help this morning.”
She wasn’t sure what she’d done that morning, but she should really figure it out if it made him react like that. “You’re welcome.”
His hip touched hers, their legs pressing together he sat so close. Their shoulders rubbed as he turned toward the now polite-faced guest seated across from them. “You ready for your adventure?” Cassidy asked.
“Oh, umm, yeah. Looking forward to it.” His buddies joined the table, and the conversation grew more general until their meals were done. The stranger escaped with the rest of his group after sending one final longing glance in Ashley’s direction.
She held her amusement in until the man had turned his back. “Hysterical.”
Cassidy slid away from her like she was contagious, creating a good foot clearance between them.
Okay, that was weird. She peeked at his face. “Something wrong?”
“No.” He checked his watch. “I’ve got to run and make sure—”
“Cassidy.” Ashley caught him by the wrist. “What is going on?”
He examined the room before carefully withdrawing his hand from her grasp. “Nothing. Just thought you could use some help warding off that guy.”
“That’s not the bit I mean. I could have dealt with him on my own, but your kiss did the trick, so, thanks. Only, do you think I have cooties? You jerked away from me as if my touch burns or something.”
Cassidy shrugged. “You’re a good-looking woman. I didn’t want you to feel as if I was hitting on you.”
She thought really hard, but no, that didn’t make any sense either. “Umm, well, if you were hitting on me and I wasn’t interested, I’d tell you no, same as any other guy. And if you want to touch me, I don’t know why you don’t just do it. I mean, I’m getting whiplash from wondering if you’re trying to make a move or trying to run away.”
He lurched from the seat. His gaze skipped away from hers as he mumbled, “You came here with Travis. Maybe you should remember that.”
He took off, the doors of the mess hall swinging shut behind him.
Oh. Well, then.
In the background Ted and Vicki called to each other, packing the final rations as they prepared to head out. All nice, normal camp sounds that she could barely hear over the blood pounding past her ears.
It wasn’t often that she got mad like this—the sensation was unfamiliar.
She didn’t trust herself to be around any of the guests at that point. Hid in her camper and tried to work, but discovered that was an exercise in frustration. So she took her laundry and a sketchpad into the washhouse and did her chores, scrubbing her paint shirt by hand so hard the fabric should have screamed for mercy.
Stupid, idiotic man with his mixed-up, shitty, judgmental attitude. She spent the time waiting for the dryer to finish drawing pictures of Cassidy with a disproportionally humongous head. A green monster with purple spots on his muscular body.
Because she could.
She was still fuming when she made her way to the cabin she shared with Travis, laundry basket under her arm. She’d managed to avoid seeing the crew and the trail riders take off to Second Camp to get settled for their weekend. The entire Base Camp had gone quiet and empty again, and she was glad, because she didn’t want to have to make nice with anyone right now.
Travis slapped her ass as she stepped past him into their cabin. “What’s got that pretty face of yours twisted into a pout?”
“Cassidy gave me hell for being attractive. At least, that’s what I think it came down to.”
“What?” Travis laughed. “That makes no sense.”
“Tell me about it. It’s like he’s pissed off that he’s drawn to me, and so it’s my fault. I’m supposed to remember who I came out here with.”
“He said that?”
Ashley nodded.
“Oh, Ash,” Travis sighed. “He’s trying to treat you with respect.”
Ashley folded a shirt, working to keep bitterness from her voice. “Well, I hope you’re proud of that comment. Must be close to one hundred percent fine-grade bullshit in that one.”
Travis paused. “What?”
Oh jeez. “You didn’t hear yourself?”
“Yeah, I said Cassidy turned you down because he respects you.”
Her fingers mangled the material of the shirt she’d been attempting to fold. “Respects me? Well, considering after that night we all spent together I said I had no issues being with either of you, it seems that who he’s respecting is you. He doesn’t want to touch me because of some macho ownership thing, and Travis? Just so you know for certain, I’ll say it in small words.” Her volume rose. “You. Don’t. Own. Me.”
“Never said I did,” Travis protested. He eyed her cautiously. “You’re awfully pissy today.”
Ashley hit him with the dirtiest glare possible. “You make some smartass comment about that time of the month, or ask if I’m PMSing, I swear I will castrate you with my bare hands.”
He took the shirt from her, tossing it on the bed and cupping her face. “Did I ever tell you it turns me on when you threaten me?”
“Fuck off, this isn’t a joke.” She shrugged out from under his touch, turning to glare up at his six-foot-whatever, darkly gorgeous and stupid-as-sin self. “Not only that, he’s being a jerk to you as well. You should be as upset as I am.”
Travis stiffened. “That’s not the same thing.”
“Bullshit, it’s not. He’s attracted to both of us, and while he thinks it’s wrong for different reasons, he’s still sitting in judgment on himself and then punishing us as the guilty parties. Well, fuck him.”
He tried to back off. “You need some space for a while, Ash? I’m sorry you’re upset, but I don’t see what I can do to make it better. I can’t make Cassidy fool around with us if it’s not what he wants. He’s got his own reasons and the right to them.”
She knew that, but it didn’t make the situation any easier to deal with.
Scream therapy right about now would feel pretty amazing. Ashley tossed back her head and let out a long, loud guttural shriek, up from the belly. When she stopped Travis was staring as if she was insane, which only made her that much more angry.
“You know what? Yeah, I need some room.”
Tension rose between them.
“You going to head back to Rocky? Take off again?” Travis asked.
“Don’t be a jerk. I’m upset, but I’m not running out on you.” Her nerves snapped taut. “God, can’t I be mad without you tossing that in my face? No, I don’t want to go back to Rocky right now, but I don’t like you or Cassidy or anyone else very much at this moment, so excuse me if I kick your ass out of here.”
“It’s my cabin,” he drawled.
She jerked her hand toward the door, not daring to speak again or she’d say something she’d regret.
Travis grabbed his hat and jacket. He paused for a moment, but left without another word.
It might have been melodramatic, but throwing herself on the bed and settling in for a good, long cry seemed like the right thing to do.
Chapter Fourteen
Travis paced outside. He had to find a way to clear his brain. Too much inside threatened to burst out and break him, and the sound of Ashley crying?
He knew better than to go back and attempt to comfort her, but it didn’t make his mood any better.
Cassidy stood at the edge of the paddock putting the final brushes on a horse’s coat—it was natural to wander over and hang on the railings. Soothing to watch the other man move with an easy rhythm as he pulled the comb over the horse’s shanks.
Travis sighed. What the hell should he do next?
“You
two planning on killing each other anytime soon?” Cassidy asked.
“Shut up.”
Cassidy shrugged. “You’re living life damn loud. Good thing we’ve got the place to ourselves for a while—that’s all.”
Travis hadn’t thought about the guests, he’d been too concerned about Ashley. “Didn’t mean to disturb you.”
Cassidy put the brush down. He patted the horse on the rump and sent her back into the main yard before cutting through the gate and back to Travis’s side. “It’s fine. I couldn’t hear all the details, but you’ll figure it out. A little shouting is simply another way of dealing with frustrations.”
Travis growled. “This time was your damn fault.”
“Mine?” Cassidy looked confused. “What did I do?”
Travis crossed his arms. It was on the edge of his tongue, what needed to be said, but hell if he knew how this was going to come out.
Still, he had to try. “Ashley insists there’s no shame in taking hold of whatever it is that meets our needs. Like me wanting some hard, physical pain to scratch my itch. I mean, she wants me to be safe—that was always her biggest concern—but the actual need I have to get smacked around? She has no issue with. Insists that it’s not dirty or perverse or wrong in some fucked-up way.”
“She’s right—to a point.”
“To a point? You’re going to make exceptions and say ‘only if it’s just you involved’ or ‘only if everyone is interested’ or…”
Cassidy stared off into space as if watching ghosts flit about them. He turned back, his eyes guarded, all joking set aside. “It’s not the itch-scratching that’s wrong, T. It’s the fallout I hate. The fucked-up attitudes and cruel situations taking can cause.” He shook his head. “It’s not worth it in the long run to enjoy a minute’s pleasure and have to face a lifetime of hurt. That old phrase about picking your battles was right, only you’ve got to pick your pleasures as carefully.”
Travis hadn’t moved from his perch against the fence. The lost look in Ashley’s eyes haunted him. It was the only reason he had the strength to carry on. “You’re a damn hypocrite.”
Cassidy jolted upright. “What?”