by Sable Hunter
“Not long.”
When he gazed down at her, the evening shadows made his face look mysterious. Ryder had the oddest feeling, as if she’d met him somewhere before. A sense of recognition.
“Who’s Pepper?” he asked before she could formulate a question of her own.
“My sister. My only sister, but I do have four older brothers,” she said with a bit of a huff to her voice.
“Yes, four brothers. You would have four brothers,” her Greek god drawled. “Actually I’ve heard of the McCoys. Heath is a formidable businessman. We have some things in common, I think.”
Ryder didn’t want to talk business or about her brothers. “Who do you want me to meet?”
He smiled mysteriously, capturing his bottom lip in his teeth. “My brother, Gideon. He’s going to think you’re amazing.”
“I’m sure I’ll like him too.”
“Look.” He pulled her closer to him so she sat more upright, then pointed to the horizon. “Do you see the eagles? They’ve made a nest high in the trees right next to our home. Their taking one last flight before calling it a night. And look at the bulls, they’ve come to greet us.”
She gazed into the dusk, not seeing the eagle clearly but hearing the flapping of his wings. At the fence, she could see the hulking forms of large animals. They did seem to be waiting for something. She could hear their heavy breathing and the way their feet shuffled on the ground. “What do they want?”
He patted his pocket. “I carry treats. Ah, look who else is waiting for us on this side. Nestor, did you decide to come home?” Laughing, he dug in his pocket and took out a nugget. Ryder watched in fascination as he held out his hand until he got close enough for the big, black, prodigal bull to take it from his fingers. “Now, let’s go in.” He leaned over to unfasten the gate. They let the bull go through first, then he nudged Star forward to follow him in.
“Aren’t you going to give them all something? They did come to welcome you home.”
“They’re all beggars. Here, help me.” He gave Ryder a couple of nuggets and they doled them out to the eager bulls, who accepted them like children enjoying candy. She was surprised Star stood so still while being surrounded. The mare was used to cattle, but not this close. Maybe, it was Samson himself. He was big, powerful, and undeniably in charge. Like Ryder, Star probably knew nothing would happen if he didn’t will it to be so.
When one bull licked Ryder’s palm, she laughed. The noise went right straight to Samson’s cock. “Okay, enough. Let’s head to the house. Gideon was about to grill steaks and I’m sure he’ll be able to add one for you.”
“Oh, I don’t want to intrude. You’ve done enough for me. I’ll call one of my brothers to come give me a ride home and someone will collect Star tomorrow.”
Ryder shivered when he wrapped a hand around her neck, collaring her gently. “Not yet. Stay. Just a little longer. I can’t bear to part with you so soon.”
His words sent chills all over her body. What was happening to her? Ryder had dated before, but no man ever affected her the way this one did. “Tell me something about you,” she said quickly, needing to know more before her emotions carried her right over the cliff and into the unknown.
“Well, my brother and I are from Hawaii, originally.”
“You are? How exciting! I’ve never been,” she whispered with envy. “You don’t look Hawaiian.” Or at least she didn’t think so. “I’ll look at you better in the light.”
Samson laughed. “You can look at me all you want to.” He rode up to the barn, then dismounted. “If you’ll let me return the favor. I want to look at you too.”
“Why?” Ryder hoped she knew the answer. “Do you think I’m pretty?”
“I think you’re gorgeous. Now, come here.” He held out his arms and she slipped into them like she belonged there.
She held onto his shoulders until he placed her on her feet. “What about Star?”
“We’ll take care of your horse.”
“Star belongs to my sister. My horses passed away not long ago. Twin palomino mares. They were very old, we brought them from Louisiana. My mother gave them to me before she died.”
“Awww, baby, I’m sorry.” He touched her shoulder gently, then called to a ranch hand inside the barn. “Skeet! Will you bed down Miss McCoy’s horse for the night, please?”
Automatically, a man with salt and pepper hair and a close-cropped beard came to take the reins. “Yes, sir. I’ll take care of it.”
“And get a few men to check out the fence and ride the perimeter. I was able to bring the missing bull back in, but I’m sure another one or two will venture over onto our neighbor’s property if we don’t mend the gap soon.”
The ranch hand took off to obey his boss’s orders.
Ryder touched his sleeve. “Could I borrow a phone? I didn’t bring my cell and I probably need to call my brothers. They’ll be worried, Samson.”
Samson gave her a stern look. “You won’t go anywhere without a cell phone anymore. Do you hear me?”
His concern did two things – it thrilled her he would care, and it also reminded her of Heath. “I don’t need another brother telling me what to do, Samson.”
Her emphatic response to his worry made him laugh. “You can be assured, Miss Ryder. My feelings toward you are not brotherly, in the least.” Without asking permission, he found her hand and tucked it into the crook of his arm. “Of course, I’ll get you a cell to phone home. Let’s go inside.”
Ryder shivered, so aware of the man beside her that she felt weak. “I wish the sun were shining, I’d love to see the grounds.” She peered across the yard, seeing islands of light illuminated by gas lamps highlighting beds planted with a profusion of flowers: purple and blue plumbago, orange peacock flowers, and mounds of purple sage.
“The landscaper did a good job.” He pointed at a fountain. “They even put koi in the water. There’s a stream that leads from that spot and goes all around the house. I asked for a water feature and they built me a damn moat.”
Laughing, Ryder skipped a step or two. She felt so happy. “A moat. How romantic, all of this makes me feel like a princess.”
“Princess,” he playfully scoffed. “In this house, you wouldn’t be a princess, you’d be a queen. But until then…Princess it shall be.”
Ryder stared at him. The man literally took her breath away. When they mounted the front steps, Samson didn’t have to knock, ring a bell or even reach for the knob. As soon as they drew near, the door opened and an older gentleman in a black suit greeted them. “Mr. Samson, Mr. Gideon is waiting.” He nodded at Ryder. “Madam. Welcome.”
“Thurgood, this is Miss Ryder McCoy, she’ll be joining Gideon and me for dinner. Could you bring her a phone so she can contact her family? And bring us a drink.” Samson touched Ryder in the small of the back. “What is your pleasure, sweetheart?”
You. She wanted to say ‘you’ so badly she ached. How had this happened? This man had her wrapped around his little finger so fast she felt like her head was swimming. “A glass of white wine. Not very dry.”
“Bring a bottle of the 2010 German Riesling.”
Thurgood raised one eyebrow. “The Ego Muller-Scharzhof Scharzhofberger Riesling Trockenbeer-enauslese?”
Samson nodded his head. “Yes, Thurgood. That Riesling. Only the best for Miss Ryder.” He hid a smirk. His butler was protective of the five-thousand-dollar bottle of wine.
Once the butler left them alone, she looked up at Samson. “I have no idea what he said.”
Samson threw back his head and laughed. “The wine does have a long name, but I assure you it is wonderful. A fine vintage produced on the banks of the Moselle River in Germany’s Rheingau vineyard.”
She nodded, impressed, but unable to add anything to what he said except for a confession. “I’m afraid I don’t know much about wine.”
“I can teach you whatever you want to know.”
The intense look he gave her made Ryder quiver, she didn’t thin
k he was referring to just wine. “You can?”
“I can and I shall.” He breathed the words right into her ear and she gasped. “This way.” He steered her from the marble vestibule, past a grand staircase, and through a formal dining room. Ryder knew everything she was passing deserved closer inspection, but she couldn’t bring herself to take her eyes off Samson Duke.
“Your wine, sir.” Thurgood was waiting for them in the kitchen. “And a phone.”
Ryder accepted the cell from the butler. “Thank you.”
“You make your phone call and I’m going to join Gideon at the grill to tell him we have company.” He went to a massive French style refrigerator, opened it, and took out a package wrapped in white butcher paper. “I’ll be right outside if you need me,” he said, pointing to a fully equipped outdoor kitchen where she could see another man standing by a brick bar.
“Okay.” Ryder swallowed nervously. She couldn’t help but wish she and Samson were going to be alone.
But this wasn’t a date, she kept reminding herself.
This was just a neighborly dinner.
Pressing the numbers, she placed a call to Philip. She always called him when she thought she might be in trouble. He was, by far, the calmest of her brothers.
“Philip…”
“Where are you?”
So much for calm. “I’m fine. I went for a ride and ran into a neighbor.”
“A neighbor? Who? Where are you, Ryder?”
She heard a louder growling noise. “Give me that damn phone!”
Heath.
“You tell me where you are right this damn minute, Missy, or I’m grounding you for a month of Sundays.”
“Heath, I’m fine. I’m with friends.”
“What friends?”
Her older brother was beginning to get on her nerves. “I’m twenty-one years old, Heath. Technically, I don’t have to tell you who my friends are.”
If Ryder had been nearer a north facing window, she would’ve probably heard the eruption. The growls and grumbles coming from the phone were loud enough. Seeing Samson and his brother heading toward the house forced her to make a quick decision. “I can’t discuss this with you right now, Heath. Just take my word for it, I’m fine. I’m right next door. I’ll call Pepper to come pick me up when I’m ready to come home.”
Click.
Samson opened the door, carrying a platter of grilled vegetables. Behind him, came a very handsome man. The resemblances between the two men were subtle. Where Samson was golden, Gideon was dark. Both were looking at her with unmistakable heat in their eyes. Ryder felt a bit confused.
“Ryder, this is my brother Gideon. Gideon, this vision is Ryder McCoy. I found her and I’m planning on keeping her.”
Gideon held her gaze, then stepped forward to take her hand. “Remember what mother taught us about sharing, brother.”
She didn’t quite understand his sense of humor, but she did love Gideon’s voice. It was deep and husky, making her nerves dance. “Hello, Gideon. Thank you for having me.”
The grin he gave her took Ryder’s breath away. “Oh, when I have you, Ailana wahine nani, you will thank me.” He kissed her hand and bowed in a courtly gesture.
Ryder blushed. Was he coming on to her? Cutting her eyes toward Samson, she expected to see jealousy on his face. But she didn’t. He appeared to be pleased his brother was flirting with her. Did Samson invite her here for his brother?
“I’m not sure if I should stay.” She backed up a few steps.
“Oh, no. No.” Samson took her by the arm. “Please, stay. Don’t let Gideon scare you off. He’s harmless.”
“Yes, my apologies, Ryder. I was merely teasing you.”
Samson and Gideon exchanged a look Ryder couldn’t read.
“Come, let’s eat. Thurgood has brought us a wonderful bottle of wine.” She let the brothers lead her to the kitchen bar. In this fancy home, eating at the more casual spot seemed perfect to her.
Samson filled a plate to place before her and Gideon pulled out her barstool so she could sit. “Are you okay after your spill, Ryder?” Gideon asked.
“Yes, I’m good. If your brother hadn’t come along when he did, I probably would’ve been snake bit.” Ryder shuddered at the thought.
“Sometimes, we’re in the right place at the right time for a reason.” Samson handed her a glass of wine.
“Tell us a little bit about yourself, sweet girl.” Gideon urged her, his eyes warm and friendly.
Ryder searched for something interesting to say about herself. “Well, I’m your next-door neighbor. I live at Highlands Ranch with my sister and four brothers. My father is still alive; he lives in Austin. I graduated from U.T. a few months ago. My degree is in business. I’ve been helping my family by doing some of the accounting for the ranch and I might end up working for Heath at his energy company before it’s all over.”
Samson nodded. “I am sure you would be an asset to any company you chose to work for.”
“I hope so.” She waved her hand a bit self-consciously. “I’m pretty much a homebody. I do a little volunteer work at the local hospitals, but I’m really happiest puttering around the kitchen and working in the flower beds.” Ryder frowned. “I look forward to having a family, I want children and my only real hobby or interest is writing poetry.” She blushed. “Isn’t that silly? I don’t sound very exciting, do I?”
“Nonsense.” Samson took a drink and placed his glass on the bar. “Sounds like some amazing talents – a businesswoman, a philanthropist, an artist, and a caring woman. You sound perfect to me. Doesn’t she, Gideon?”
“I was thinking the same thing.” Gideon leaned forward, seeming to hang onto every word she said.
Ryder felt self-conscious being the full focus of their attention. “Samson tells me you are from Hawaii?” She directed the question to Gideon. Where Samson didn’t appear to be from the island, his brother definitely looked the part.
“Yes, our family owns the Lani Ranch. Much like Highlands, we raise cattle and horses.” He smiled. “We also raise pineapple and have palm trees. The northern boundary of our property borders a volcano and the southern stretches all the way to a sandy beach.”
“I’m fascinated.” Ryder was serious, caring far more about learning about her hosts than eating their delicious food. “Tell me more about your home and your family.”
Gideon seemed pleased to share with their guest. He threw a napkin in his lap and began to cut his meat into bite size pieces. “Well, our mother is descended from Polynesian royalty. She is very beautiful, like you. Her name is Leilani. My father’s name is Kona. I am full blood Hawaiian, while my brother here is half. His father is a man named Solomon Duke.”
“Yet, you have the Duke name also?” she asked. “You were adopted?”
Gideon shook his head. “Our family dynamic is a bit complicated. Suffice it to say that we are one happy family. Protected. Loved.”
Ryder tried to imagine living in such a place. “I love where we live and Falconhead is gorgeous, but why would you leave paradise for this?”
“Work.” Samson answered simply. “Our home on the islands will always be important to us, but we needed to be nearer Houston and other cities that cater to our business needs. Our work is in the space industry and there was a lot of talent and resources here we couldn’t find on the island. We have a home in Houston, but we wanted a taste of the country life too, so here we are.” He winked at her. “And now…I’m more convinced than ever we made the right decision.”
Ryder laughed nervously, getting the point that he was talking about meeting her. “Sounds…very interesting.” She wanted to know more, but she stopped to enjoy a few bites of her meal. “The steak is very tender. Delicious.”
“Are you dating anyone, Ryder?” Samson asked, placing his hand over the one that held the stem of her wine glass.
Ryder didn’t move a muscle, she loved the way their hands looked joined. “No, not seriously. I dated a little in
college. A casual thing.”
“Good…maybe we --.”
Whatever Samson had been about to say was cut off by a horrendous noise coming from the front of the house.
“Sirs…sirs…I need to announce you, sirs.” Thurgood’s raised voice and frustrated tone caused them all to look toward the entrance to the kitchen.
“Where is she?”
“Ryder!”
“Where’s our sister?”
Ryder groaned. There was no mistaking those voices.
“Sounds like a storm’s coming,” Gideon said dryly.
“Hurricane McCoy, I’m afraid.” She covered her eyes, maybe if she couldn’t see them they would disappear. “How embarrassing!” When would they ever realize she was a grown woman?
The familiar sound of cowboy boots crossing the floor made her wince. She was sure their stomping would’ve shaken the kitchen had Falconhead not been a veritable fortress.
“There you are!”
Ryder parted her fingers and peeped through. Heath stood there like a huffing bull. He was flanked on either side by Philip and Jaxson.
“Just three of you? How in the world did you manage to get away without Tennessee?”
As angry as their crashing her private dinner with the Dukes made her, she couldn’t help but see the humor in the situation. Her three brothers reminded her one of those old-timey westerns that featured three brothers like the Cartwrights of the Ponderosa or the Barkleys of Big Valley. In fact, Heath reminded her a little bit of Hoss.
“Headed to Big Bend. He got called out on a rescue mission.” Heath narrowed his eyes, glaring at Samson and Gideon. “Who are you?”
The Dukes were already standing, just waiting for an opportunity to get a word in edgewise. “Samson Duke.” He offered his hand to Heath and Gideon followed suit. “Gideon Duke.”
There was handshaking all around and Ryder felt compelled to finish the introductions. “Samson, Gideon, these hotheads are my brothers; Heath, Jaxson and Philip McCoy. Brothers, be nice to my new friends.”
After being halfway civil, Heath crossed his arms over his chest. “Now, what are you doing here with two strangers?”
Philip stepped up and whispered to Heath. “I think I recognize these guys.”