by Jane Jamison
Brandon’s silence had Rick turning to him. “What are you thinking?”
“Maybe we’ve got it all wrong. Maybe Heather and Duke aren’t together socially. Maybe she’s helping him with his bid.”
He hated like hell to admit it, but Brandon’s idea had merit. “That could be. Or maybe she’s putting in a bid of her own. Who better to get a leg up on the other bidders than a friend of the family, especially if she’s a friend of their daughter.” He clenched his jaw. Could their mate really play dirty? Just because fate had brought her to them didn’t mean she was the sweet, lovable, and honest person they thought she was.
“Whichever way it’s going to go down, I want to get a closer look while they don’t know we’re watching them.”
“How are you planning on doing that? Our horses can’t outrun his car and they’re not shod for pavement. Jack would freak if we tried chasing a car with them.” Brandon’s ideas were usually sound, but this one seemed off the mark.
Brandon threw his leg over his horse, dismounting even as he took off his hat and tossed it on the ground. Hurrying to a nearby tree, he looped the reins around a branch then started tugging off his clothes.
“Oh, I get it.” DJ slid off his horse and did as Brandon had done. “As wolves, we can run over that ridge and cut them off before they get to the main road.”
“You’re both nuts. What good’s that going to do?” He let out a curse word but knew it was hopeless to argue. Once Brandon made up his mind, it’d take heaven and hell to change it.
“I don’t know, but I don’t care.” Brandon shifted, the transformation scouring through his body, breaking bones to reform them and letting fur replace skin. DJ was right behind him.
Rick finished undressing and shifted, his groans changing to growls as he dropped to all fours. Letting Brandon take the lead, the brothers ran away from the skittish horses and headed to the rise that would take them to the crossroads.
Their tongues lolled out of their mouths as their pads struck the ground, sending up dirt, leaves, and other debris in a billow behind them. Running as hard as they could, they took the crest of the hill then half slid, half ran down the other side. The Range Rover turned the corner just as they hit the road.
* * * *
Why did I agree to take him out to the ranch? Heather leaned against the door, trying to get as far away from Duke as she could.
“I wish you’d reconsider my offer.”
“There’s nothing to reconsider. I don’t want to have anything to do with you or your land deal. If I’d known you wanted me to come with you to the ranch to ask me to rig the bid, I wouldn’t have given you a minute of my time. Just get me back to my car.”
She climbed into the passenger seat and waited as Duke got settled behind the wheel. Why had she believed him when he’d told her he’d left papers out at the ranch the last time he and her father had met? She should’ve called her father to confirm his claim, but the less she spoke to her dad, the better.
Still, how could Duke think she’d set up the bid process to make sure he won? He’d offered her a kickback as well as asking her out again, flooring her with his audacity.
I can be such a fool. She sat back and stared out the windshield as Duke drove the car away from the ranch. She should’ve known he was up to no good, but since throwing Brandon out of the townhouse, her mind had whirled with confusion.
She never should’ve gotten so upset at Brandon. She hadn’t really been angry at him. Instead her fear of his finding out about the land deal had mixed with her delighted confusion when he’d told her how he and his brothers felt. She’d been thrown for a loop, not once but twice, and the only thing she could think to do was to get him to leave before she blurted out the truth to him. No wonder he thought she’d acted strangely. Once she had the chance, she’d find him and apologize. But how would she ever apologize for lying for so long? Yet the longer she waited, the harder it would be to tell the truth.
My life is a fucking mess. But one thing I know is that I don’t want Brandon or his brothers out of my life.
The Banning brothers had taken her head and mixed her up. But the strange thing was that she didn’t mind one damn bit. After Brandon had left and she’d come to her senses, she’d found herself hoping that he or one of his brothers would call. Her body ached for them when they weren’t near her. But worse, she couldn’t focus on anything for very long before images of the men broke in, turning her brain to mush and her body weak.
Rick, DJ, and Brandon. Damn, what amazing men they are. But did I blow it by acting like a lunatic with Brandon?
They wanted to share her, and, for the life of her, she couldn’t think of a single reason not to do exactly that. Her friend Kelly had taken that leap, and she was happier than ever. Just thinking about the Banning men made her hot between her legs.
“Heather, you are one sexy lady. Have I told you that?”
If only I had my bat right now.
“About a thousand times. And I’d like you to knock it off. I’m not interested, socially or professionally.”
Was she putting out a scent? A sexual, come-and-get-me pheromone? Was that why the Banning men and Duke were all after her? She shot a sideways glance at Duke. His motives, of course, were suspect. But the other men? She couldn’t believe they were faking. Not after the way they’d gazed at her. Not after the tender words of endearment they’d spoken as they’d caressed her body. She groaned and squirmed in her seat. Maybe she should call Brandon and tell him she was sorry? Had she ever thanked him for the flowers?
She wanted them. More than anyone in her life, she wanted them. Her father, of course, would go crazy mad and maybe even disown her. But she didn’t care. She’d never liked following her father’s directives, but she had, thinking that her mother would want her to. But she’d finally had enough. What had she told Brandon? That she didn’t let anyone tell her what to do? Wasn’t it about time that she made her statement a reality?
“Duke, when we get back to Passion—watch out!” Heather cried out a warning as Duke whipped the vehicle around the corner. Three large wolves, as large as the one she’d seen at the lake, were in the middle of the road. Their mouths were pulled back into snarls, exposing long white fangs. Amber eyes glowed in the dimming light as the sun sank behind the hills.
“Fuck!” Duke swerved then corrected the car’s direction and slammed on the brakes when he saw that avoiding the ditch meant he had no option but to run over the wolves.
Heather held onto the door handle and the dashboard, readying herself for impact. But the car never hit the wolves. The two wolves on the end dashed out of the way, moving so fast that their bodies were a blur. The third wolf jumped into the air and landed on top of the Range Rover’s hood.
Crouching low, the wolf managed to cling to the top as Duke brought the car to a stop, jerking Heather forward. She stared at the wolf, who seemed to stare back at her. He was black with only a trace of white at the tips of his ears. The snarl was gone, replaced by his tongue hanging out of his mouth like an overgrown dog who wanted to play rather than to fight. The strange amber eyes sank into her, diving straight into her soul. The now-familiar sensation that she experienced every time the Banning men were around flashed over her.
But that’s nuts. How can an animal give me the same feeling?
“Heather, stay still. Don’t do anything to spook it.” Duke leaned across to open the glove box in front of her.
Although she didn’t want to break eye contact with the animal, she glanced down to see Duke pulling out a handgun. “What’s that doing in there?”
“You never know when you might need one. Like right now.” Duke put his hand on the door handle. “Stay where you are. I’m going to plug this sucker right between the eyes.”
Stunned, Heather was too slow to stop Duke from opening his door. The wolf followed Duke’s movement, his mouth drawing back in a snarl as a low, mean growl rumbled out of him.
“Easy, boy. Stay stil
l so I can get a good shot.” Duke lifted the gun.
Heather held her breath as the wolf crouched even lower. Get away! Go! Why aren’t you running?
She couldn’t let Duke shoot him. The wolf had a hold on her she couldn’t explain. She knew without a doubt that it meant them no harm. Reaching down, she grabbed her purse and drew back her arm.
Is that wolf smiling at me?
Aiming as Duke brought the gun around the top of the car, she threw her purse as hard as she could. The purse struck Duke a second before he pulled the trigger. The shot rang out as the wolf whirled, throwing its body off the side of the car. She sat up, searching out the window to see the wolf dashing up the hill. Once at the top, he joined his two friends, who turned to look at her then disappeared into the forest.
* * * *
Heather looked through the passenger-side window as they pulled into the parking lot of Saddles, still unsure how she would tell the Banning brothers. But she had no choice. She couldn’t chicken out again. From the way Duke was talking, the bid he’d present for the land development company was going to be much larger than the other bids.
Her father had tricked her, and, until Duke had offered her a kickback yesterday, she hadn’t even recognized the real reason her father had put her in charge of the bids. As the one choosing the winner, she had no right to make an offer of her own. He had, effectively, locked her out of any chance to save the ranch.
If only Mother hadn’t died. If she’d lived, my life, my relationship with my father might’ve gone a different way. She closed her eyes, picturing them as a real family living happily on the ranch. But her mother had died, and there was no point in mourning a past that never was.
She sat up straight and forced her mind back to the job she had to do. Duke had asked her to break the rules and give him the inside scoop on the bids, and she’d refused. Now here she was, ready to bend the rules to give the men an edge. She didn’t like doing it, but the thought of Windy Hills and her mother’s grave under the control of a heartless conglomeration that would tear both of those things apart was more than she could stand. She had no doubt that her father had schemed to make sure he’d get the most out of the sale, so why shouldn’t she add her influence?
She’d spent the night tossing in bed, guilt warring with the need to preserve the two things that were the most precious to her. Or were they now two things out of five? Rick’s, DJ’s, and Brandon’s faces haunted her both in and out of sleep. She needed them more than she’d have thought possible. She had to have not one, not two, but all three of them in her life. If they asked her to live out her days with them by her side, she’d happily say yes.
Joe pulled the Bentley into the parking lot then switched off the engine. “Would you like me to come inside with you?”
Ever-faithful Joe. She loved the man who seemed more like a father to her than her own father did.
“No, thanks. I’m not sure how long I’ll be, so if you want to go run errands or whatever, please feel free. I can call you once I’m finished.”
“I don’t mind waiting.”
Leaving her purse tucked under the seat, she opened the door a second before Joe was at her side of the car. He closed the door for her then cleared his throat.
“Yes, Joe?”
He clasped his hands in front of him. “I hope you don’t mind, but I’d like to offer you a bit of advice.”
She glanced at the club and wondered if she had the time to spare. But Joe wouldn’t have stopped her if he hadn’t thought it necessary. “Sure. Go ahead.”
“I don’t mean to step over the line, but I’ve heard that you and the Banning men have been…seeing each other.”
Wow. Is my relationship with the men already on the rumor mill? “Yes?”
“Well, miss, I just wanted to say that, although I don’t know them well, I hear that they’re stand-up men. A woman could do a lot worse than them.” His gaze found hers. “All of them.”
Is he saying he thinks it’s okay to get involved with all three brothers?
“You know what, Joe? I think you’re right.” She’d started to go toward the club when he cleared his throat again.
“Miss? Do you remember what I said about accepting love in whatever form it comes in?”
“I do. But what does that have to do with the Banning brothers?”
He smiled then shrugged. “Maybe nothing. I just wanted to make sure you remembered.”
Without thinking, she reached over and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “You, Joe, are the greatest. Thanks for always being around when I need you.”
Moisture formed in his eyes. “I’m happy to do so. Besides, it’s what your mother would’ve wanted.”
She nodded, fought back the clog in her throat, then pivoted on her heel and strode toward the entrance to Saddles. Once inside, she took a quick look around, and, because the evening was early and not too many people were at the club, she found the men standing together, their gazes already locked onto her. She inclined her head toward the hallway, beckoning them to follow her. Not looking at them again, she made her way through the small group of people on the dance floor. She was almost to the room at the end of the hall, the room she assumed was an office, when DJ grabbed her arm and turned her around to face them.
“Hi, Heather. What are you doing here? Not that we’re not happy to see you, of course.”
Brandon and Rick stood behind DJ, but their questioning expressions were no less intense than DJ’s. An underlying irritation shone behind their looks. Were they angry at her for tossing Brandon out of her home?
“I need to talk to you. All of you.” She started toward the office again but was sidelined when DJ took her arm again and pulled her into a room to the left.
“The room at the back belongs to Rob, the manager. I don’t think he’d appreciate our using his room for a meeting or the fact that we’re taking our breaks at the same time.”
Rick and Brandon joined them in the small room that held only a desk and office chair. The room was devoid of any pictures or other decoration.
“This is where I do the books.” Rick leaned on the desk and crossed his arms. Brandon went behind the desk and settled into the chair.
She nodded, suddenly finding it difficult to speak. The wave of energy wrapped around her, cloaking her in sexual desire. Almost as though she could hear their thoughts, they called to her. Even if they made no sound, their draw pulled at her to come to them, to open her legs to them, was stronger than anything she could have heard with her ears.
“What did you want to talk about, Heather?”
Did Brandon’s voice have an edge to it? She swallowed and gathered her nerve.
“First, I want to apologize to Brandon for the other day. I was going through some stuff and I acted like a crazy woman. I’m sorry I took it out on you.”
He gave her a tight smile and she relaxed just a little. “Don’t worry about it. But I still want to know what was going on with you.” His smile faded. “Tell us, babe. I, we, need to know what’s up with you.”
Instead, she continued with the real reason she’d come. “I want to talk about the sale of Windy Hills.” She’d thrown them, could see it in their eyes.
“What about it?” Rick stepped closer, his body setting her sexual drive into high gear.
“I, uh, I wanted to make sure you’re going to submit a bid. After hearing you talk about Windy Hills, I’d like to see you win.”
Why were they looking at each other so strangely? “You are going to put in an offer, right?”
Brandon shook his head. “No. We don’t have near enough money to make it happen.”
Disappointment wasn’t a strong enough word for what she felt. Devastation was a better word. “But you have to. Remember, it’s not just the amount but the disclosure of what you want to do with the land that counts.”
“We heard.” Rick raked a hand through his hair. “But I don’t think John Cumming is going to care that we want to keep th
e land as it is. That we want to turn it into a working ranch. He only cares how much money he gets.”
“Yes, but he’s not the person making the decision. You have to put one in. At least give it a try. You don’t have a chance if you don’t even give it a shot.”
She ached to reach out to each of them but forced her hands to her sides. Business came first, but after that? Her mouth watered thinking about how amazing it would be to have them push her on top of the desk and make love to her.
“Why do you care, anyway?” Brandon rested his forearms on the desk and leaned forward. “What interest do you have in whether or not we make a bid?”
“I want to keep the ranch the way it is.” She smiled, trying to put them at ease. “Where else can you run into three wolves in the middle of the road? One of them even jumped on top of the car.”
The atmosphere in the room changed, leaving her confused. “What? Is something going on?”
Rick moved closer, his dark eyes flecked with amber. “Were you frightened by the wolves?”
“No. Not really. It was strange, but the one that got on the hood didn’t scare me at all. I even imagined that he smiled at me.”
They act as though they already knew about the wolves. But how?
“We’re glad you weren’t afraid. If you were, that would make things a lot harder.”
“DJ, can it. Now’s not the time or the place.”
What was that look that Brandon gave DJ? “What’s going on? What are you not telling me?”
Rick moved even closer to brush her hair away from her shoulder. Suddenly, she was very pleased that she’d worn the peasant blouse that left her shoulders exposed and the tight shorts that gave her bottom a nice rounded shape. Was it any wonder that she’d skipped putting on any underwear? She could’ve put on a strapless bra, but she hadn’t. Her breathing picked up, and she drew in a long breath. She’d bet she could tell them apart by the way they smelled, even with her eyes closed. She didn’t recognize the brand of their colognes, each one was different, but they all had an underlying musky scent. Was it cologne or something else?