by Jane Jamison
“It’s Colby Trayner. I remember because it’s such an unusual name for a girl. Don’t you think so?”
Mrs. Ratlin’s friends chimed in, all of them chatting at the same time, discussing whether or not Colby was a family name.
If they didn’t get moving, she’d be gone before they could meet her. Darton widened his eyes at Jax, prompting him to hurry.
“The rumor is that she’s planning on running the ranch. Can you believe it? A little thing like her thinking she can handle a ranch? Shoot, she doesn’t know a damn thing about ranching.”
“She won’t last long,” added Mrs. Sherrot. “I heard Rick Broat had been trying to get Lawrence to sell his ranch for quite a while. He’ll be after her to sign on the dotted line before she can get a decent night’s sleep.”
Rick was everything Darton despised. He was the typical money-hungry Black Dradian dragon, a prime example of what Darton never wanted to become. If he was after Rushing Water Ranch, then there had to be a damn good reason. One that would gain him a lot of profit.
“I think the other girl is Asian.” Once again, the other two ladies chimed in, confirming Mrs. Ratlin’s statement.
Darton shifted his weight from one foot to the next and then back again. They’d gotten the information they’d needed. Why were they hanging around?
“Her name is different, too. For an Asian girl, I mean. Melly, I think. Don’t you think that’s an unusual name for an Asian girl?”
“Maybe, but it’s a nice name.” Jax, the politically correct one of their trio, brightened his smile and took her hands in his. “Thanks. I appreciate your help.”
“Yeah, thanks, Mrs. Ratlin.” Darton didn’t bother with any more pleasantries. Still, he hadn’t made it five feet closer to Colby Trayner before Jax and Ed gripped both his arms and directed him in the opposite direction.
“Are you two crazy? Let’s introduce ourselves.” Darton would have to shift if he had any chance of breaking free of his friends’ hold, but he couldn’t change in front of so many people. People who included humans who knew nothing about the existence of shifters.
“Not here, man. There’s a reception at her house. We’ll meet her there and tell her how sorry we are to hear about her father.” Jaz pushed him ahead but stuck close enough to grab hold of him again.
But Darton didn’t want to wait. How could they be so close to her and not want to meet her? “Why wait? She’s hot, and we’re ready to find a mate. Why waste time?”
“What do you want to do? Jump her right here? Why not throw her on top of her father’s coffin and fuck her?”
He glared at Ed. “Don’t be an asshole.”
“Back at you, man. Give her some space.”
“Let’s get to the reception, all right?” Jax jerked open the driver’s door to his dark blue Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Darton had to admit they had a point. If he met her right now, he might not be able to control himself. What if she was the one they’d waited for? Maybe they were jumping to assumptions. He had to see her, to talk to her. Would she remember him? If she did, would she remember him as a stupid, crass drunk? He hated to think she would. But if so, he’d have to make it up to her. No matter what he had to do, he’d do it.
“Shit. Look.” Jax slammed his door as his friends piled into the vehicle. He pointed toward the graveyard. “It looks like Rick’s already after her.”
Darton let out a growl. His inner dragon wasn’t fond of the rancher, either. Rick Broat owned a large spread adjacent to the Trayner ranch. As a Black Dradian dragon, the man lived up to his clan’s reputation. He was money-hungry and would do anything to increase his wealth.
“I’m sure we can all guess what he’s up to.”
No love was lost between Ed and Rick. They’d been at each other’s throats from the first day Ed had come to town. Darton and Jax weren’t excluded from disliking Rick. Half of Brimstone wanted to run the bastard out of town while the other half owed him money and pretended to like him so he wouldn’t call in their loans.
“Damn it. He’s going to hit her up on selling the ranch now? Minutes after burying her father?” Jax slammed his hand against the steering wheel. “What a lowlife son of a bitch.”
“That’s another reason we need to meet her.” Darton had his hand on the door handle when Ed planted a hand on his shoulder.
“Two wrongs don’t make a right. Just because Rick’s an asshole doesn’t mean we should be assholes, too.”
Sometimes he wished Ed wasn’t so big into thinking. Then again, he’d gotten Darton out of more scrapes than he could remember with his calm manner. “So we let Rick talk her into selling?”
“Nah. Of course not. Besides, he’s not going to ask her today. Not even Rick’s that low. Not with her father having passed,” offered Ed.
“You’re giving him way too much credit. The dick doesn’t have a sensitive bone in his body.”
“True enough, but he’s smart enough to know asking her to sell at her father’s funeral won’t fly.” Jax turned the ignition key. The motor hummed to life. “He’ll give her time. All the while he’ll keep dropping by her place and asking her how he can help out. He’s slick, and he knows what he’s doing.”
“He is, but I think his greed will win out over his smarts.” Darton’s dragon rose to the surface as the world turned red through the red eyes of his beast. A tendril of smoke wafted toward the ceiling of the Jeep. “We have to keep him from taking advantage of her.”
“Hang on.”
Damn it. Doesn’t Ed get tired of being the voice of reason?
“What if she wants to sell?”
“She probably does. From what I heard, she spent time as a kid on her father’s ranch, but she stopped coming once she hit her teens. Figures. Not a lot of girls who didn’t grow up on a ranch would pick spending the summer here instead of back home with their friends. Most likely she had a boyfriend to keep her there.”
Ed added to what Jax had said. “Plus, there’s the fact that the ranch is headed downhill. I don’t think Trayner made a profit the past three years. The bank’s been after him, too. If she doesn’t sell, the bank will end up taking it.”
The weredragons in Brimstone had known Trayner was having a tough time of it. Being good neighbors, they’d tried to help the man out. But Trayner had been as hardheaded as they came. They’d finally given up.
“It makes sense that she’d want to unload the place as fast as she can.”
Darton snarled. “The way you two are talking, we should help Rick out. Or make her an offer, too.”
“Don’t go getting your tail in a bunch, man.” Jax held up his hands, palms out, at Darton’s hot glare. “And watch the shifting. You tear up my Jeep, and I’ll tear up your ass.”
Darton pushed his animal back down and kept his attention locked to Colby and Rick. She was listening and nodding every so often. Was she already making a deal to sell?
He was thankful when her friend took her arm and pulled her away. The two women walked arm and arm to the sedan.
“Mrs. Ratlin’s more than likely in charge of throwing the reception. Knowing her, she’s laid in more food than an army could eat.” Jax threw the Jeep in reverse. “Might as well take advantage of the grub.”
“Not to mention the chance to talk to Colby.” Darton relaxed, settling back into the seat. In only a matter of minutes, they’d meet the woman who could become their mate. Would they meet her in time to keep her here? Or did she already have one foot out the door?
Chapter Three
Colby wished she were anywhere other than standing at the entryway to the living room greeting mourners. She nodded and shook hands with people she didn’t remember ever having met as they said all the right things. At least her father had the foresight to arrange the details for his funeral. Local women had taken charge of the reception, leaving her with nothing to do. Having a task to perform might’ve taken her mind off the dismal state of affairs of the ranch. After only breaking the surf
ace delving into her father’s financial accounts, she knew enough to make her uneasy. The ranch was close to going under. The bank had already sent notices to her father, warning him that, unless he paid past due bills, they’d take ownership. The only reason he’d managed to stay afloat so far was money trickling in from an old oil lease. But the lease’s term was ending soon.
She shook an elderly gentleman’s hand and thanked him for coming. Melly stood nearby, ready to help her and enduring a lot of stares. With her hair and tats, she stood out from the others.
The ranch wasn’t like she remembered it. Not having visited since she was a teen, she hadn’t been ready to see the rundown barn or the peeling paint on the old two-story framed house. Everywhere she looked, she saw the need for more and more repairs. Repairs she had no clue how she’d be able to afford.
The two hired hands her father had employed had stayed on, generously working for nothing more than sleeping in the bunkhouse and eating with her father. But even they had finally started looking for other jobs and had quickly found them. She and Melly were alone on the sprawling ranch. If a neighbor hadn’t lent a hand taking care of the livestock, she didn’t think she could’ve made it through the first night.
She’d been foolish to think she could run a ranch. What did she know about horses and cattle? Rob had been right, which made accepting her limitations even harder. Closing her eyes, she hoped she could make it through the rest of the day. She’d think about everything else tomorrow.
Way to channel your inner Scarlett O’Hara.
“I’m sorry for your loss, Miss Trayner.”
The deep voice reverberated through her like sound waves through air. She opened her eyes and sucked in a breath, unexpected heat swamping her.
“Oh hell yeah.”
She started to tell Melly to be quieter, but what was the use? Melly said and did as she liked. However, her friend had spoken the truth. The man still holding her hand was drop-dead gorgeous. Hotter than hot. Testosterone oozed off him and flowed over her body, sending I’ve-got-to-have-you signals to both her mind and her libido.
His green eyes could hold her attention for a lifetime. The color of dark moss on the north side of a tree, they were spellbinding. Not only the color but also the intelligence and the knowing she saw there. His face was a chiseled mask as though it had been carved out of stone and softened just enough to make him appear human. His thick brown hair was tousled and a little shaggy, but it made him even more handsome. Like a gentleman, he held his cowboy hat in his other hand.
She lowered her gaze to their hands. As she would’ve expected from a rancher, his hand was rough against her palm, textured with calluses earned through hard work. Her gaze lifted, unable to stay away from his face for long. Along the way, she took in his hard chest and broad shoulders confined in a too-tight suit jacket.
I’ll bet—
She took another dive south to confirm her suspicions.
Clean boots, silver buckle, and new jeans. Yep. He’d dressed up cowboy style.
He dipped his head slightly as the edges of his strong mouth tipped upward. A strong mouth that was perfect for the cleft in his chin. “Are you all right?”
She felt the warmth rise to her cheeks. “Oh. Yes. I’m fine.”
“He’s more than fine.”
She blinked as his gaze darted to Melly and back. “Hi. I’m Colby Trayner.”
He still hadn’t turned her hand loose, and that was just fine and dandy with her.
“I’m Jax Lambert. I’m sorry about your dad. Lawrence was a good man.”
“But not a nice one.” She sucked in a hard breath. His surprise matched her own. “I don’t know why I said that.”
“Don’t worry about it. To tell you the truth, most of us felt the same way. I don’t mean to talk about bad about him, but he would’ve been the first to admit he could be cantankerous at times.”
Another man bumped into Jax’s shoulder, making him finally release her hand. Her attention shifted.
Two handsome men. What are the odds?
She’d always had a thing for cowboys, but these two put every other cowboy she’d ever seen to shame.
“Miss Trayner—” Strange silver eyes sparkled at her.
“Please, call me Colby.”
“If you call me Ed. Ed Rogers. Call me Ed.”
She would’ve giggled at how many times he’d said his name if she could’ve thought past how amazing he looked. Dressed the same way as Jax, he had a calmer air about him, one that wouldn’t be misconstrued as ambivalence. His energy didn’t ride on the surface of him the way Jax’s did, but it was just as captivating as the other man’s.
She jumped her focus from Ed to Jax.
Slow and steady was Ed.
Fast and hard was Jax.
Both ways could be wonderful, depending on a woman’s mood.
“I’m sorry we had to meet on a sad day like this. How are you doing?”
She liked Ed’s demeanor. He was soft-spoken, but there was no doubt he was strong. A truly strong man could afford to be soft. “Thank you. I’m okay. Or I will be. I haven’t seen my father in a few years, so…” She stalled, unsure why she’d wanted to confide in him.
A third man came between Jax and Ed, wrapping his arms over their shoulders. “Colby, I’m Darton Traverton. You remember me, right?”
At first, she couldn’t find her voice. Of all the men she’d thought she’d never see again, he was at the top of the list. “Darton? From Vegas?” Why bother pretending she didn’t remember him? She’d seen his face in her dreams more times than she could count.
His face lit up, breaking out laugh lines around his black eyes, eyes that could dive deep inside her and bring out every sinful thought she’d ever had. “Great. So you do remember. Great.”
“You said that already,” joked a bemused Jax.
Darton shoved his friends aside. “This is terrific.” What he’d said must have hit him. “Sorry. I don’t mean about your dad. About seeing you again.”
“You know this guy?” Melly flattened her palm against her chest. “Hi, I’m Mellissa Chan, but you three can call me Melly.”
Jealousy, pure and hard, hit Colby. They didn’t need to look at Melly so intensely. Relief flooded her as their gazes shifted back to her. “Melly’s my good friend. She came with me to help me out.”
“It’s always good to have a friend by your side in times like these.”
“Don’t you know it, Ed.” Melly leaned on Colby and feigned a serious expression. “Colby’s my girl. What are good friends for, right?” Her grin, however, broke through soon enough.
“You’re right as rain,” answered Jax.
As much as Colby would’ve liked to talk only with the men, the others in line waiting to express their condolences were getting antsy. Chatting, especially with Melly grinning as though she’d been offered the biggest chocolate cake in the world, seemed out of place. “Um, it was nice to meet you, Jax, Ed. It was good to see you again, Darton.”
Jax beat Darton to taking her hand. “Can we talk to you after things calm down? It’s important.”
“Important?”
“Yeah, but it’ll take more than a few minutes. How about after the crowd thins out?”
“Okay. Sure.” They hadn’t even left the line, and she was already excited about seeing them again.
“Good. We’ll hang around. When you’re ready, give us a heads-up. Sound good?”
“Uh-huh. Okay.”
Disapproving looks made her uneasy. Especially when Melly stuck out her hand. An awkward pause followed until Ed took her hand. Melly slapped her other hand on top of his, capturing his between hers. “I’m hanging around, too.”
Ed pulled back, almost having to yank his hand away. “Good to know.” Again, his gaze found Colby’s. “Again, we’re sorry for your loss.”
They moved away, three men who were so alike yet so different, too. Their looks made them stand out among the others, but it was the sens
ation she got whenever she glanced their way that had her wondering how long before she’d get a chance to talk to them again. If she could have, she would’ve run everyone else, including Melly, out of the house. Instead, she went back to shaking hands.
* * * *
An hour later Colby was sure her hand would fall off and her face had frozen into a permanent smile. She shook her hand, trying to get some of the feeling back. “I’ve got to take a break.” Her whisper to Melly sounded loud, but none of the people coming toward her seemed to hear her. Or were they merely being polite?
“Your father had a lot more friends than I would’ve thought from what you’ve told me about him.” Melly winced. “Sorry. I didn’t mean it the way it sounded.”
“No. I get it, and I was thinking the same thing.” She stepped back, doing her best to slip away. Yet she wasn’t going anywhere without saying something. Instead of taking the next person’s hand, she smiled as politely as she could. “Thank you, everyone, for coming. But if you’ll excuse me, I need a little time to myself.”
Murmurs of well-wishes drifted around her as she hurried down the hallway away from the combination dining room and living area where the mourners had gathered. Most were busy talking and nibbling on the food ladies like Mrs. Ratlin had brought. She wasn’t sure, but from the growing din of their voices, she thought the punch had been spiked. Melly followed her, playing guard against those who tried to waylay her in the hallway.
At last, she made her way into the small bedroom in the rear of the house. The same bedroom she’d slept in whenever she’d come for a summer visit. Exhausted, she plopped down on the twin bed and fell backward. The lumpy mattress felt the same as it had all those years earlier.
“This is some turnout.” Melly took the wooden chair at the small desk.
Colby stared at the ceiling where the star stickers had been stuck long ago. She used to pretend she was flying in a spaceship to a far-away planet. “It’s more than I ever imagined would show up. My father wasn’t known for his sparkling personality. But it’s nice, right?”