by Jane Jamison
Other things? Oh, my.
She took him in, more than aware of the sexuality pouring off him. The flash of an image swept over her. Jeff and Kane straddled her over the top of the table, one standing near her head, the other between her legs.
All at once, the temperature in the small diner shot higher. She swallowed hard.
Two men at once. I think little Mikey really did drive me crazy.
“A man doesn’t have to eat here. So pick your ass up and get going.”
“Are you telling me? Or asking me?”
“Take it either way you want, Kane, as long as you disappear.”
“Naw. I think I’ll stick around.”
“Kane, damn it. I’m warning you.”
“Warn away. See how much good it does you.”
She jerked out of the strange semitrance as the sound of chairs scraping the floor brought her back to reality. “What’s with you two?”
They stood, toe-to-toe, then turned to her then, almost as though they’d forgotten she was there.
So much for my ego.
The snarl on Jeff’s face was gone in a second, replaced once again by his smile. “I’m sorry, Alex.”
“Did she say you could call her Alex?”
Oh, for pity’s sake.
“If it’ll make you two stop squabbling like Mikey and his little brother, then you can both call me Alex.”
Kane’s hand was on the back of his chair as he started to sit down again. “You don’t mind if I join you, do you, Alex?”
She didn’t, but she also didn’t have time to tell him that before he was already seated.
“Alexia Martin, right?”
She turned to the pretty young woman standing by the counter. Like the rest of the diner’s customers, the woman watched and waited to see what would happen next.
“Yes?” She stood, ready to take a break from the two men. They were sexy as hell, but she couldn’t handle their rivalry. Besides, she recognized the woman.
“Hi. I’m—”
Alex was over to her in a flash with her hand extended. “Sela Reynolds. I know. Oh, wow, I love your music. Especially your latest song.”
“Thanks.” Her wavy blonde hair bounced around her shoulders. “And thanks for being here to help.”
It seemed everyone in the town was out to thank her. She appreciated the gratitude, and coming from pop star Sela Reynolds made it all the more special. “It’s no problem. I’m glad I could be here to help.”
Sela nodded to Jeff and Kane, who were deep in discussion, then took Alex’s arm. They moved off to a small area of the diner that was set aside for games. “You’re kind of caught in the middle, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, I guess I am.” What are they doing now? Playing darts? How did they go from squabbling to playing a game together?
“Don’t let it bug you too much. Jeff and Kane have always had this love-hate relationship.”
“I can see the hate part of it, but where’s the love?”
Sela’s laughter was as musical as her singing voice. “I know it’s hard to believe, but most of the folks around here think they actually like each other. Down deep, that is.”
“Down deep as in the center of the earth? Because I just don’t see it.”
Sela motioned for Miss Lena to put the burgers Alex and Jeff had ordered on the counter. “Yeah, I know. Truth is, I think they just need a common bond to bring them together. Like two halves to a whole, you know? Like the dark needs the light.”
“If you say so.” Hadn’t she thought the same thing?
Sela helped herself to Jeff’s hamburger. Hungry, Alex took a bite of hers. “Oh, my God. That’s the best burger I’ve ever tasted.”
“It is, right?” Sela took another bite, chewed, swallowed, then closed her eyes in pure joy before opening them again. “I’ve traveled a lot and eaten at places that claim to have the best food, but nothing beats Bob and Lena’s cooking.”
“So what are you doing in Destiny?”
“I live here. With the men of my dreams, by the way.”
It seemed Destiny had a lot of surprises. “Really? I would’ve thought you’d live in LA or New York.”
“Nope. I fell in love with three cowboys, so I live where they live.”
“Did you say three?” Alex hadn’t meant to speak with her mouth full. She covered her mouth and swallowed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound all judgy.” Truth was, she was impressed and intrigued.
“I don’t mind.” Sela, burger in hand, pointed at Jeff and Kane. “All I’m saying is that you should give them a break. They’re both really good guys. They’re men any woman would be proud to call her own. They’re honest, strong, hardworking, brave, and contrary to what you might think watching them right now, they’re intelligent, too.”
She wasn’t sure what to say. Instead, she remained quiet and studied them. Sela was right. She could see those qualities in them.
“Listen, Alex. I have a knack at recognizing when there’s something special between people.”
Kane bumped his shoulder against Jeff’s, knocking him out of the way for his next turn.
“And you think there’s something special between Jeff and me? Or me with Kane?” She smothered a giggle. “Or between the two of them?”
“Oh, you’re a funny girl. I like that. You’re close, but not close enough.” Sela popped a fry into her mouth and moaned. “Man, but the fries are to die for. I don’t get to eat much junk food.” She patted her flat stomach. “Got to make sure I can fit into my stage attire.”
Just once, I’d like to know what it feels like to have a flat tummy.
Instead, she nodded as though she knew exactly what Sela meant. “So what were you saying about them?”
Sela pushed the plate away with two-thirds of the fries and half the burger still there. Alex took another bite and told herself that she’d start a diet tomorrow. Wasn’t it always tomorrow?
“What I’m saying is that I see a spark between you, Jeff, and Kane.”
“You do? I was just kidding before.” Her attention jumped from Sela to the men. She tried to ignore the thrill that fluttered in her not-flat stomach.
“No, I’m not kidding. But you’ve got to do something about their rivalry at some point. Like pushing them to realize that it’s you or nothing. Together, rather than with only one of them.”
Alex couldn’t see it. The possibility that Sela spoke of was only a fantasy. Still, she couldn’t fight the excitement she felt. Jeff’s and Kane’s voice grew louder as they argued over the last point.
“You know what they’re doing, don’t you?”
“They’re arguing over a stupid dart game.”
“Yes and no. They’re playing a game to see who gets you.”
She had to force herself to close her mouth. “Now I know you’re kidding.”
“Nope. I’m sorry to say that I’m not.”
Anger flashed inside her. “What do they think I am? A prize at the county fair?”
Sela put her hand on her arm in an apparent attempt to calm her. “No, don’t go there. It’s wrong of them to do it, but like I said, give them a break.”
But she couldn’t. Men had treated her like less-than-the-skinny-girls all her life. Did they think that competing for her in a dart game would make her feel special? Or were they just that stupid not to know better?
“I’m sorry, Sela. I’ve had my fill of dealing with little children today.” She pushed the plate away, marched over and grabbed her purse. Pausing for a moment, she waited for them to notice her.
They’ve got to be out of their minds. They’re fighting over me, but they don’t even see me?
She waited a little longer and still nothing. It was getting more embarrassing the longer she stood there. Finally, she gave up and strode back to Sela.
“Would you mind giving me a ride back to Miss Daisy’s?”
* * * *
Kane lifted his arms above his head in the traditional victory
salute. “You, bro, have been served.”
“Bro?”
Damn it. He hadn’t meant to say that. It had just come out. “It’s just a saying. Don’t go letting your girly side get the better of you.”
Jeff tossed his remaining dart at the board, scoring a bull’s eye. “Damn. Of course, now I hit it.”
Kane gave him one of Jeff’s own shit-eating grins. “Leave now, loser, while you still have a shred of dignity left.”
“Fuck. Don’t look now but she’s gone.”
Kane had gotten so involved in the game that he hadn’t noticed Alex leaving. “Where’d she go?”
Miss Lena stood nearby with her arms crossed over her nonexistent chest. “You two take the cake, don’t you? While you were busy having your pissing match, that sweet young girl took off. And I don’t blame her one bit.”
Kane’s stomach flipped over. Why the hell hadn’t he noticed? But who’d have thought that she’d leave?
Jeff ran a hand along the back of his neck, and Kane could well imagine the tension setting up shop there. His own neck was getting stiff.
“We’re a couple of damn fools, Kane. There’s no telling if Alex will speak to either one of us ever again. I’d laugh about this if I wasn’t so pissed off.”
Jeff had a point. They’d tried so hard to win her that both of them had lost her. “Shit and double shit. Pardon my language, Miss Lena.”
“Boy, your language is the last thing you need to worry about.” She let out a couple of tisks then spun on her heel and headed back to the kitchen.
“Wait a sec, Miss Lena.”
The sweet older woman, a woman who had never failed to give him the warmest of welcomes, scowled at him. “Yes?”
“She came here with Jeff. Are you telling us that she walked back to Miss Daisy’s?” It was a long walk, but not a hard one. Still, even in Destiny, walking after dark wasn’t the best option for a young woman.
“Sela took her home.”
Jeff was out the door before him, but he wasn’t concerned. Jeff wouldn’t make it to Daisy’s before he would. He’d made sure of that before he’d walked through the door of Sandwiches and Saddles.
Kane slid behind the wheel of his truck then waited a moment. It wouldn’t take too long before Jeff found out about his little handiwork.
“Kane! You lousy son of a bitch!”
He turned the ignition and craned his head around to find Jeff hunched over, staring at his right wheel. Pulling the truck out of the parking space, he rolled down the window. “What’s wrong, bro?”
Jeff straightened up. His usual grin was gone. “A flat tire? That’s pretty damn low. Even for you.”
“Hey, you know what they say, don’t you? All’s fair in love and war.” The whistle that came to his lips was a rare one, but made all the better by Jeff’s predicament.
Yep. This is going to work out just fine.
Ten minutes later, he was still whistling when he pulled in front of Daisy’s place. Only Alex’s and Daisy’s cars were parked in the back parking lot, which meant Sela had probably dropped Alex off and left. At least he hoped so.
He got out of his truck and ate up the distance to the front door. His fist was lifted and ready to knock when it opened wide.
“What do you want?” Alex fisted one hand on her hip.
If he’d ever seen a prettier woman, he didn’t know it. Alex was all round curves and sizzling sex appeal. His cock twitched, threatening to expose how turned on he was. “I, uh, came by to see how you were.”
“I’m fine.”
He stuck his foot in the door to stop her from slamming it shut. If he didn’t get through to her, he’d leave the door wide open for Jeff. The only thing worse than not getting Alex for himself was letting Jeff have her.
“Alex.” He paused and said the words that came so hard for him. “I’m sorry.”
The cold coming off her could’ve made polar bears move to Florida. When she didn’t say anything, he kept going. He figured the longer he kept talking, the better his chances were.
“I’m sorry about playing darts and ignoring you.” Again, he waited, and again, she stayed quiet.
He took a deep breath and took off his hat. Women liked men who were polite, didn’t they? “It was selfish and inconsiderate and rude.” He paused, trying to think of another way to describe Jeff’s and his behavior. “And inconsiderate.”
“You said that already.”
At least she’d finally said something.
“Right. So, I’d like to make it up to you. There’s a barbecue this Saturday on Main Street. All the merchants get together and open their doors. Kind of like a yard sale for businesses. I’ve never actually gone before, but I was wondering if you’d—”
“No.”
Irritation threatened to take over. Couldn’t she see how hard he was trying? He’d never gone to so much trouble to get with a woman.
“Look, I know you’re mad at us, but get over it, okay?”
Her eyes grew wide. “Did you just tell me to get over it?”
* * * *
If Alex hadn’t already been angry, his telling her to get over it would’ve ignited the searing rage inside her. Problem was, he’d also lit the flame to another kind of burn. The kind she’d experienced with Jeff in the pickup.
Kane was like a steaming volcano and just as dangerous. There was lava inside that steely reserve. Lava hot enough to singe off her skin. She knew she should be smart and stay away, but like that volcano, she was too entranced not to draw near and wait for the explosion. He was a sexual fire that could burn her heart away.
Like a drug she was addicted to, she yearned for more of that sexual burn.
I can’t. It’s crazy. Even perhaps slutty?
Yet being with Jeff or Kane, hell, Jeff and Kane, felt anything but slutty. It felt right. Still, that didn’t mean she should act on that feeling.
Damn it. Why does he have to be so fucking hot? Especially when he’s trying so hard to apologize?
What had Sela told her to do? To give them a chance? She’d thought the main word had been chance. But was the important word in that sentence really them?
Strange thing was. She wanted to do just that. She wanted to give them both a chance.
“I’m not good at this kind of thing so I’m going to say it straight out.”
She tried to harden her heart against him, but found that every time she looked at him, all she really wanted to do was grab him by the shirt and crush her lips to his.
“Alex, I think you’re special and I know we could be good together.” He let out a long sigh as though to say that much had drained him of all his energy.
She loved and hated the tingle zipping over her skin. Hadn’t Jeff made her feel just as special? But it couldn’t lead anywhere. She couldn’t allow it to. “You do remember that I’m here on a temporary assignment, right? I’m not staying in Destiny.”
“Yeah. I know.”
Didn’t he see how impossible it was for them to ever have anything? Even if he could get past her weight issue, even if he could make her feel as wonderful as Jeff had, there was still her job. She wanted to point that out to him again, but instead her heart betrayed her head. “A barbecue, huh?”
A smile she knew had to be rare broke his calm yet intense expression. “Yeah. So is it a date?” His smile widened. “And yeah, I am going to call you Alex whether you like it or not.”
Damned if she didn’t like it. “I supposed that’ll be all right. Besides, I told you that you could.”
“Good. Now say yes to our date.”
She heard the little devil inside her arguing with her mother. Her mother raged on, telling her that a man like him would never want her. The devil told her not to care. As often happened just to spite her mother, she listened to the little devil.
“Okay.”
His relief was short lived. She stuck a finger close to the end of his nose. “This is your one and only shot. Got it?”
“Y
eah, I get it.” His dark eyes dove into her, stoking the burn inside her. “And I plan on making the most of it.”
* * * *
Three long days later, Alex couldn’t figure out which outfit to wear to the barbecue. The black skinny jeans Daisy had picked out made her butt look immeasurably smaller, but she wasn’t comfortable in them. She did, in fact, feel like a stuffed sausage.
“You have to suffer to be beautiful.”
At least, that’s what her mother had always said, but her mother had been talking about dieting. Maybe her aversion to pain was why she was heavy.
“You’re beautiful.”
Even now, days later she could feel the press of Jeff’s lips against hers. And against her other lips, too.
She touched her fingertips to her mouth. What would Kane think about what she and Jeff had done? Would it make him angry enough to break the date? Or would his competition with Jeff go into an even higher gear?
She discarded the skinny jeans and pulled on her favorite pair of regular wide-sized blue jeans. Maybe they made her ass more rounded in a not-so-flattering way, but at least she could breathe. Adding a tunic shirt that hugged her curves—then again, what didn’t?—completed the outfit. It’s not like she could drop twenty pounds in the next ten minutes, so why try and hide it? He knew what she looked like.
She hung the skinny jeans back on the hanger. Daisy had pushed her into buying the jeans in a quick girls’ trip into Tulsa, but her friend wouldn’t mind that she’d rejected them for the date. She promised herself that she’d wear them soon enough. Maybe after she dropped a couple of pounds.
She snorted. A couple of pounds. More like tens of pounds.
In a short few days, Daisy had become a good friend. Every night they’d sat on the porch, sharing a glass of wine or a hot toddy, and talked about the day’s events. But their talks usually ended up in a discussion about Jeff and Kane.
Once again, she wondered if she should’ve told her friend what had happened between her and Jeff. But Daisy had accepted the news with a joyful clapping of her hands. She’d assured Alex that, although Kane wouldn’t like it if he knew, he wouldn’t break the date with her.