“Sorry,” I mumble and drag my feet forward across the old hardwood planks.
He chuckles as I walk away, obviously not flustered by my peeping Tom act. If he was worried, he would’ve had the door shut tight. I can’t help but wonder if he wanted me to see him. If he wanted me to stare.
I try to push the thoughts away and focus on the tasty supper waiting for us downstairs. However, all I can think about is my sweet, decadent dessert.
Chapter 3
I linger on the stairs, making my way down to the wafting scent of a delicious meal as I try to properly soak in my surroundings. I need to take in this place, not just the guys who run it. After all, at the end of this little adventure, I’m going to have to turn in my assignment, and as much as I’d love to watch Mr. Wilcox’s face as I describe Chase, Levi, and how they reduce me to a quivering puddle of aching need, I also like having a job. What can I say, I’ve gotten used to the whole having money to pay for food thing.
I’m trying to write an opening paragraph for my article in my head. Something about down home hospitality. Something about taking in time to revel in quaint beauty and simple pleasures.
Thump, thump, thump.
I turn toward the unexpected sound and see Levi bounding down the stairs toward me at a breakneck speed. For a second, I think he’s going to knock into me and we’ll both tumble to the bottom like a snowball that rolls into a giant avalanche.
“Race ya!” he calls out with a boyish grin on his face that I can’t help but smile back at. Who can take themselves, or anything else for that matter, too seriously with him looking at them like that?
Immediately I start plowing down the stairs with him like a kid speeding down to the Christmas tree at the crack of dawn on December 25. My smile transforms into a silly grin as my feet pound against the old wood stairs, and Levi and I race, neck and neck, to the bottom. I’m pretty sure I’m going to beat him, but then he takes a flying leap when we still have four steps to go and lands with a thud in the entryway.
I follow him down and can’t help but return his infectious smile. There’s something so refreshing about a man who still makes time to have some fun. I try to remember the last time I cut loose like this in the city…but I’m drawing a blank.
“You kept up pretty good.” Levi sounds like he’s actually impressed.
I swallow hard as his tight, clean shirt seems to get tighter when he runs his hand through his lush, blond hair.
“I guess I’ve got a competitive streak,” I admit, twisting my own hair around my hands before letting it fall back down to my shoulder.
“Nothing wrong with that.” He steps toward me and I breathe in sharply. “Sometimes, when men and women get competitive, that’s when they have the most fun.” His voice is deep and rich and it makes every cell in my body come alive. It’s as if, on a genetic level, my very DNA is awakened by his sexy, soothing voice. Not to mention his body.
Rap-rap! Rap-rap!
Levi and I both jolt as if waking from a dream and turn toward the front door to the house behind us. He grabs the handle and jerks the door open, facing a concerned looking boy with dark, tousled hair and worry etched on his face.
“Eric? What’s up?" Levi’s lips press into a thin line and the boyish charm twinkling in his eyes disappears.
“Sorry to interrupt your evening, sir. I just wanted to keep you up to date that Ginger seems to be in the early stages of labor now.” The young man rubs his hands down his deeply tanned arms as he speaks.
“Really? Great! Thanks for the update.” Levi smiles and nods at the boy.
“Yes, sir.” Eric bends his head and then walks away as Levi closes the door.
“All right, I don’t know about you, but I’m starving.” He jerks his head toward the end of the hallway. “Let’s grab some grub!”
My stomach growls in agreement as I follow him toward the intoxicating scent of a home-cooked meal. It’s been a long time since I’ve eaten much more than takeout or TV dinners, so I’m more excited than I should be to sit down and eat a meal that I didn’t have to pop out of some kind of box for once.
As we round the corner into the dining room, my watering mouth drops open. I can’t believe the incredible spread of food and perfectly placed settings on the table. My eyes ping-pong back and forth over the baked ham, the platter of roasted veggies, the gravy boat, and the buttermilk biscuits.
“Wow.” I drag my eyes from the incredible meal.
“Sit down. Let’s dig in.” Levi sweeps his hand toward one of the high-back chairs at the table and I take my seat.
“This is incredible,” I manage to speak despite the fact that I might drool on myself. I can’t believe how amazing all the food smells as the guys sit down on either end of the table and pass me dishes.
“And it will taste even better. Levi is a talented cook.” Chase nods over at Levi.
“You made all this?” I ask incredulously.
“It was nothing.” He appears shy for a second and I’m pretty sure my heart is going to burst from how cute it is.
“All right, bon appétit.” Chase fills my glass with wine and I pile my plate high with food.
“Thank you.” I lift my fork full of potatoes and a little slice of meat to my lips and am pretty sure my taste buds explode with the flavor.
“Make sure you leave some room for dessert.” Chase reminds me with a smile as I devour my supper.
****
“Honestly, guys, that was the best meal I’ve ever had. So good.” I gulp the last mouthful of wine from my glass and notice the men exchange a little look.
“Thank you.” Levi lifts the bottle of wine from the table and goes to pour some more, but there are only drips falling into his empty glass.
“I’ll get some more.” Chase stands up and grabs my empty plate from in front of me. “It’s nice to see a girl who actually eats for once. Not like all those chicks who nibble on salad and try to convince you it’s a meal.” He chuckles.
“Nah, that’s never been my style.” I smile up at him, the warmth of the wine spreading over my cheeks as I relax a bit. “Here, let me help you clear the table.” I slide my chair out, but both of the guys raise their hands in protest.
“No way, you’re our guest. Sit tight, we got this.” Levi shakes his head and grabs the platters and plates from the farmhouse table.
“Yeah, just relax, we’ll be right back,” Chase agrees.
Honestly, I don’t mind chilling here while a couple of hunky cowboys wait on me. There are worse ways a girl could spend an evening. True to their word, they both return quickly, Chase holding another bottle of wine and a bowl of whipped cream, while Levi carries in an almost empty pie tin and some fresh plates and forks.
“And dessert is served.” Levi smirks at me as he lays the pie plate on the table.
I raise an eyebrow at the two big slices left in the tin. Don’t get me wrong, they look delicious. They smell amazing. But, after the big production of a meal, I guess I expected a full cake or something. Not a pie that’s obviously already been munched at all week.
“Nothing quite like a sweet slice of pie, is there?” Chase fills all of our glasses with wine and then takes his seat beside me.
“No, I can’t think of anything I’d rather have in my mouth than that,” Levi agrees, placing plates in front of each of us.
I smirk at their banter. They know exactly what they’re doing. I’m not ashamed to say it’s working. The idea of them sampling my own cherry pie, both of them, together, has got me more tipsy than this wine. And I must say, the wine has me buzzing pretty good.
“Oh yeah?” I tilt my head and peer at each of them slowly from under my eyelashes. “What kind of pie are you guys eating tonight?” I circle my finger over the edge of my wine glass as my nipples pebble under my clothes.
“Peach.” Chase smirks and I blush furiously. That man can eat my juicy peach any and every day.
For a flash of a second I imagine myself up on the big tab
le, spread open before both of them as they push each other out of the way, both trying to be the first to taste my juices. Both trying to be the first to eat my pie.
Levi plops a big slice down on my plate and I give my head a shake, bringing me back to reality.
“But, there’s only one slice left.” I look at the tin quizzically and then up at each man.
“That’s okay.” Levi flashes his dimples at me again as he smiles. “We don’t mind sharing, do we, Chase?”
“Not at all,” his partner agrees and they split the last slice between them.
A shiver of longing trembles down my spine as the meaning of their words isn’t lost on me. My pussy grows slick with a deep need I never even knew I possessed before this trip. The need to be fucked, to be claimed, to completely surrender to two men at once. I bite my lip as my heart flutters at the thought.
“Would you like some cream?” Chase nods at the bowl of fluffy whipped cream in front of me. Still, my cheeks burn with fiery heat as I think about how much I do want cream. From both of them.
“Uh, sure,” I agree, not able to meet his eyes as he dollops some down onto my pie. A little gets on his finger and he slowly sucks it off while I try not to stare, but I’m failing.
“When you have a business like this, where you live with your partner most of the year, you get used to sharing just about everything, don’t ya, Chase?” Levi interrupts.
“You don’t just get used to it, when it comes to some things.” Chase gives me a pointed look. “You enjoy it even more.”
I don’t know what to say. My body is going to explode with the anticipation of feeling these two on me. I pop a forkful of pie into my mouth so I don’t say anything stupid like “Enough already! Fuck me here and now. Both of you!” These two are more than just sex appeal and handsome faces. They’re pure seduction and I’m enjoying every second of their little game.
“I’m sorry to interrupt.”
All of us whirl around in our chairs toward the young man intruding on our moment. I didn’t even hear him come in here. However, to say I was distracted would be an understatement.
Standing in the dining room doorway is the same boy who talked to Levi at the front door earlier. His dark, shiny hair is disheveled and he’s holding his hat in his hands, toying with it nervously.
“What is it?” Chase frowns at him, clearly not impressed with his timing.
“It’s Ginger,” the young man answers quietly. “She’s foaling, sir, but the foal is breech. I’m sorry to interrupt, but if we don’t get some help out there right now, I don’t think either will make it.” He meets Chase’s eyes.
“Okay, let’s go.” Chase drops his fork and pops up from his chair quickly with Levi on his heels. All of the guys disappear from the room in seconds, not giving me a second glance. I hope the horses are okay. I don’t know the first thing about them, but I’m guessing these guys can help her give birth properly. They seem to have a good handle on that kind of thing.
I sigh deeply and stab my dessert with my fork, taking another bite. So much for watching the guys eat pie tonight.
Chapter 4
“Rise and shine, Lacy!” I can hear one of the guys yelling outside my bedroom door as I throw my hands over my head in a full body stretch and groan.
“Ugh, what time is it?” I mumble and glance at the still-dark window in the room. I never get up before the sun rises. I’ve certainly stayed up that late before, but that was for entirely different reasons.
“It’s already four. We let you sleep in as late as we could. If you hurry, you can grab some breakfast before we hit the trail,” Levi says. It took a second to recognize his voice, but I’m sure it’s him.
“Okay, okay, I’ll be down in five minutes,” I begrudgingly answer. I would’ve preferred to wake up next to Levi, not as a guest in his house, but a lover in his arms. And I would’ve definitely preferred if I had Chase with his own strong arms draped around me from the other direction.
Now there’s a thought to spring me out of bed. I flick on the light in the small room and shuffle my clothes around, searching for something somewhat appropriate to wear. I let my skirts and swimsuits fall through my fingers as I finally settle on my outfit. It’s not ideal, but it will do.
Changing quickly, I pack a small bag of sunscreen, bug repellent, my notebook and camera and notice the small bottle of KY. How did that get there? My lips twitch up into a half smile as I let my imagination run wild and free. It doesn’t hurt anything to bring it, but it could hurt quite a bit to leave it behind. I toss it in my bag with my other belongings and make my way downstairs.
“Whew,” Chase whistles between his teeth as I pad down the stairs and I can’t decide if he’s coming onto me or teasing me for my bright pink hot shorts and skintight tank top.
“You’re gonna get too much sun dressed like that, not that I’m complaining.” He smiles. “Not to mention chaffing.”
“I didn’t exactly pack right for the trip,” I admit. “It was either this or a tiny dress.” I run my hands over my clothes and peek up at him from under my lashes.
“I see. Well, I don’t mind lending you a shirt, just for today, though.” His bright blue eyes size me up. Like I’m going to commit a petty shirt theft just for kicks.
“I’d appreciate that,” I murmur.
“All right! Lacy! There’s a plate fixed up for you in the kitchen, so go eat.” Levi bursts into the hallway like a hurricane. Yesterday he was so chill, it’s weird to see him all buzzing with energy.
“Sure, I’ll do that.” I free Chase from my gaze and make my way to the smell of bacon and toast.
I have just enough time to scarf down some food and slurp back some of the strongest, blackest coffee I’ve ever drunk when Chase appears in the doorway with a red plaid shirt.
“This is the smallest one I own.” He holds it out sheepishly and I walk across the floor and pluck it from his hand.
“It’s huge.” I marvel and slide it over my arms.
“I hear that a lot.” He smirks and I laugh even though I’m blushing. I walked right into that one. Besides, I’m sure he does hear that a lot. I’ve only seen the outline pressed against his pants, but it was, in fact, huge.
“Here, let me help you get this all fixed up.” He tugs at the sleeves and quickly rolls them up so they aren’t dangling off my arms like a kid wearing her daddy’s shirt.
I button down the front and tie up the bottom so it’s snug around my waist. Otherwise it would be flapping around my thighs like a dress.
“Perfect,” Chase whispers as he finishes helping me with the sleeves. For a moment, his hand lingers on the fabric and he doesn’t move away. We both stand perfectly still, inches away from each other.
Is he going to kiss me? My heart thuds hard in my chest and I blink quickly. My body is urging me to step forward, to close the remaining gap between us, to stand up on my tiptoes and kiss him. But I don’t move.
“You two ready?” Levi marches up behind Chase and distracts us both from the moment we shared.
“Uh, I am.” I get my senses back.
“Good,” Levi continues and Chase puts some space between us, stepping back out into the hall, “because there’s something pretty special I want to show you before we go.” His green eyes twinkle and, to my surprise, he grasps my hand and leads me to the front door. I stop only long enough to put my shoes on and then let Levi escort me outside and off the front porch over to the barn at the side of the house.
He opens the door and leads me into the massive red structure and before my brain has a chance to register what is going on I see it.
The foal.
The mama and baby are nuzzled up to each other tight, perfectly content and, well, just perfect. I’m not the kind of girl who tears up at a wedding or goes crazy over people’s babies, but something about this scene. Something about the purity and simplicity of this moment makes my throat choke up and little pinpricks of tears spring to the corners of my eyes.
“They’re so beautiful.” I try not to sniffle, not quite sure where this surge of emotions is even coming from.
“A beautiful family.” Levi nods at the horses. “A beautiful morning.” He looks out the open barn doors toward the big, pink sky. “And a beautiful girl.” He looks at me and I swallow hard. “What more could a guy ask for?”
For once, I have no idea what to say. And this is from someone who writes words for a living. I feel the same intense longing for Levi’s lips to cover mine in a sensual, slow kiss that I just yearned for with Chase.
I can think of one more thing he could ask for. Something they could both ask for and I’d gladly give it to them.
Me.
Chapter 5
So much for a beautiful day. As the sun climbs to the highest point in the sky and we continue to trudge down the hard dirt path on horseback, all I can think about is how much I hate this. When I said I wanted to cover a story with heat and sand, this is not what I had in mind. My horse decides that right now, at my peak moment of absolute misery for the day, is when she should just strut along and take a shit as she goes.
Lovely.
Whoever romanticized this whole cattle drive adventure should get a medal in advertising. Clearly they could sell soda cans filled with turpentine and convince people it was just water from the fountain of youth, because this, riding out in the heat, with a stinky horse, with no entertainment, with no real scenery to speak of, this is NOT romantic.
It’s not that the boys haven’t been trying. They’ve both told me more stories than I could ever fit in my article. We had a beautiful picnic lunch in what I believe has been the only shady spot on this entire trip. It’s all been as good as a cattle drive can get, I guess. Once upon a time I would’ve enjoyed this more. Back when I used to spend my summers barefoot at my grandparents’ farm. Back then, I would’ve died if you let me ride a horse all day. Back then I would have never even noticed the heat. But, it turns out a lot has changed from those days. I guess you can take the girl out of the country and you can also take the country out of the girl.
Night Time Rendez-Vous: 3 sizzling novellas that will keep you up all night Page 14