by Lexie Davis
“They’re in town for a few days. Something about traveling through to the Austin rodeo. I can tell them to stay at a hotel,” he stammered. “I’m sure they won’t mind.”
She stared at him. A hotel was probably the best option. She did not want to relive the past, and bringing them here would only make her life more complicated.
“No.” She held up a hand. “We’ll make room. They have to pay the regular rate, though. This is a business after all, and it’s not like they can’t afford it.”
Rory snorted. “You’ve boinked them all, haven’t you?”
She picked up the nearest item and threw it at him. “My sex life is none of your business.”
He dodged the flying arsenal, chuckling. “Whatever. The whole town is going to go crazy. Blaine is a superstar, you know. I heard he had money coming out the wazoo.”
She glanced down at the papers covering her desk. Her father left the ranch to her with the hopes that it would stay in the family. What he didn’t tell her was how much financial debt he had. Lien after lien on the property made it nearly impossible to pay the bills on time and keep a steady income flowing from the ranch itself.
“Don’t mention anything about the financials, Rory. I don’t want them to know.”
“Why? Everyone in town knows. It’s bound to come out sometime. Gossip travels faster than wildfire around here.” He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the doorjamb.
She sat in her seat and brushed her hair from her face. “Just keep your mouth shut.”
He waved her off and left the room. Erin closed her eyes, realizing she was panting. When had it become so hot in here? She leaned back and thought about their last night together. It’d been so long ago. Would they remember? Would they even care? After the dirty deeds they did, could they go back to just being friends?
She forced herself to focus on work. Coming up with money to keep the ranch for at least another month should be the highest thing on her to-do list. The rest of her worries could wait until later.
* * * *
Kade jumped out of the truck with his duffel bag in hand and grabbed Rory in a hug. Growing up, Rory had been a kid brother to them all. With an asshole of a father, two sisters, and a mother, Rory needed male role models to look up to. Kade, of course, taught him all the wrong things, but, nevertheless, he thought a lot of the kid.
“How have you been?” He wrapped an arm around Rory’s neck. “You’ve grown up on us.”
Blaine grabbed his bag from the back of the truck. “Haven’t you had enough manlove for today? After kissing that waiter’s ass to get some girl’s number, one would think you’d be lighting a cig and calling it a day.”
Kade flipped him off.
“Leave him alone, Blaine.” Dierks grabbed his back from the truck and slammed the tailgate shut. “We all know what goes on in that trailer between you two. You two fight like you’re married.”
They both flipped him off.
Rory chuckled. “Top floor is yours. Pick your rooms before Scotty and Devin get here. They can have the rooms in the stable house.”
All three men took off toward the front door with Kade in the lead. They fought their way up the staircase, pulling and tugging at the railing as they struggled with each other. Everyone knew the best room in the house was the one at the end of the hall, cleverly called the boat room. Rory’s mother had decorated it with a sea theme for the male guests that came to stay. The private suite featured its own bathroom and the softest mattress Kade believed he’d ever slept on.
They pushed and shoved, running to the end of the hall and up the second flight of stairs to the third floor. Blaine was slightly ahead of him before Dierks tripped him and set him back a few seconds. Kade fought with Dierks all the way up to the third floor, trying his best to gain the upper hand. Blaine grabbed their shirts, tugging them backward and shoving forward to gain the advantage.
“What the hell?”
All three men stopped. Kade smiled to himself before he even turned around. Only one person had the power to make his cock rise within seconds, just from the sound of her voice. The memory of how those sweet lips felt around him made his cock stir even more inside his jeans as he glanced over his shoulder to see a very annoyed and possibly frustrated Erin.
“It’s been five years since you’ve been back and you are just the same as you left.” She blew out a breath. “Juvenile.”
Kade knew the right thing to do would be to give up his spot as the lead and go hug the hell out of her. Or better yet, grab her hand and lead her upstairs where they could finish where they left off. Standing there, she was pretty damn tempting too. She’d pulled her long blonde hair back and secured it at the crown of her head. Her bright green eyes sparkled as she stared at them. It surprised him that she wore work clothes—overalls and cowboy boots—but nevertheless, the smudge of dirt marking her cheek was pretty damn sexy.
He turned completely and headed down the stairs toward her. He didn’t care about the damn room anymore. Somehow, Blaine and Dierks sensed what he wanted to do, and raced toward her. Before she had time to brace herself, Kade grabbed her and lifted her into his arms.
Erin was home for him. He thought coming back to Dirty Money Ranch would give him the rest he needed to heal his back after the injury, but what he needed most was to see her smile, to hear her laughter. He thought it was cute how she always bit her lip in worry or licked them when she was turned on. God, he missed her. He didn’t realize how much until he held her in his arms again.
“You’re still as gorgeous as ever.” He kissed her lips and sat her down in front of him.
She looked slightly dazed. “And I see you’re still full of shit.”
Blaine and Dierks chuckled, reminding him they were there. Kade rubbed her arms. He didn’t want to stop touching her. “How have you been?”
She smiled. “Fine.” She moved away and greeted Blaine and Dierks with a hug. “I’d love to stay and chat, but I need to get my work done.”
“Work?” Blaine asked. “Make your scrawny brother get his ass out and do some work.”
She smiled. “I’ve missed you, Blaine. You too, Dierks.”
Kade stared at her. “What about me? Did you miss me?”
Erin glanced over her shoulder. “Not really, no.”
Blaine and Dierks laughed, and for a second he thought she was serious. Then she smiled. Kade forced himself not to tackle her again. The overwhelming urge to kiss her until they both panted for breath came over him. How could he make it a few days without touching her again?
“I’m kidding. Of course, I’ve missed you. Even though you’re an asshole for not calling me in five years.” She glanced between all three of them. “That last part goes for all three of you. Where are Scotty and Devin?”
Blaine shrugged. “We haven’t seen them since the airport.”
“They probably went to Grandma Sutters. You know how much they like apple pie.” Dierks hugged her to him and kissed her forehead. “Have you mastered the art of cooking yet? ’Cause I know some traveling cowboys that could sure use something good to eat.”
She shoved at his chest playfully. “Ham and cheese is in the fridge. I’m lending you a place to sleep, but you’re on your own if you want to eat.”
“I thought this was a bed and breakfast?” Blaine asked.
She smiled. “Bed is upstairs. Breakfast is at six. You’re on your own all other times.”
“Bed’s downstairs? You’re letting me stay in your room? Sweet. That is so nice of you.” Dierks grabbed her hand. “See you later, fellas.”
Erin shook her head as Dierks led her down the hall a few steps. “Some things never change.” She pulled her hand out of his grip. “Upstairs, moron. Go fight over the third-floor master suite, and all of you, stay out of my bedroom!”
She left them in the hall staring at her ass as she walked toward the stairs. Kade licked his lips. She hadn’t changed much either. At least not from what he could t
ell with the baggy clothing. He really needed to get her naked to do an accurate inspection.
Blaine slapped Kade’s arm. “Get that goofy grin off your face.”
Kade rolled his eyes. “You’re just jealous that I kissed her and you didn’t.”
He turned toward the stairs leading to the third floor. Blaine and Dierks followed behind. He no longer cared about getting the third-floor master suite, and Blaine and Dierks didn’t seem to either. No, they wanted the main master suite on the first-floor family quarters. And each of them wanted Erin by their side.
* * * *
“There ain’t no fucking way you can lift that.” Blaine came around the corner with a glass of tea in his hand and spotted Erin tugging at a hay bale off to the side of the barn. “It’s at least seventy-five pounds.”
She paused and brushed the sweat from her face. She wore dirty work gloves to cover her delicate hands. It surprised him to see her managing the ranch. Even though her father passed away, he figured she would have let Rory run the place.
“I do it every day.”
“Where’s Rory?”
She snorted. “He’s got a hot date. Something about staying in Austin for the night.”
He watched her tug and scoot the bale, dropping a good amount of hay on the barn floor. Once she got it to the wheelbarrow, she took a breath then bent to lift it the best she could.
“Stop it.” Blaine came toward her. “You’re going to break your back or something.”
He bent and picked the bale up and sat it in the wheelbarrow for her. He watched her blow out a breath, almost like she was mad at him for helping her.
“Thanks.” She turned her back and struggled with another one.
He grabbed her arm. “What are you doing?”
“I need two more.”
He pulled her back and handed her his drink. He lifted a bale of hay in each hand and met her eyes. “Where do you need them?”
She pointed to the stalls on the other side of the barn. Blaine headed in that direction and sat them in the last three stalls on the right side. He dusted his hands off and reached for his glass.
“Why don’t you take a break? I think you more than deserve it.”
She shook her head. “No. I have work to do.”
He grabbed her gloved hand. “I’ll help you make up your work. Sit and talk with me for a minute.”
A long row of benches sat in the center of the barn, separating the two sides of stalls from one another. Blaine led her to one of the benches and sat beside her, sipping his drink.
“So how’s the rodeo, superstar?” Erin asked, pulling her gloves off.
“Fine.” He contemplated telling her about his plans to quit but thought better of it. She didn’t really seem all that interested in his life.
“Rory said you were passing through, heading to the Austin rodeo, I think.” Erin rubbed her sweaty hands against her legs.
Blaine didn’t know where she was going with this. “Yeah. Austin is the big one. Only the best of the best. Dierks and Kade are riding in it as well. We all made the cut this year.”
She nodded. “So why did you stop here now?”
He sensed a hint of anger in her tone. She was still pissed at him—probably them all—for not calling or coming to visit in the past five years. “We all needed a break. Too much glitz and glamour with being famous.” He glanced over at her. “Why are you working so much? You should be laying your sexy ass out in a damn skimpy bikini, baking in the sun.”
She pressed her lips together. Yeah, she was mad. “Work has to be done. Ever since Jed died, I’ve had to take on his workload.”
Blaine felt like shit. Her father had passed away nearly a year ago and he didn’t even call. She had every right to be pissed off at him, and Blaine was pretty sure she was.
“Sweetie, I’m sorry I never called…”
“Don’t worry about it. You had better things to do.” She avoided his eyes. “How long are you staying?”
“How long will you let us stay?” When she didn’t respond, Blaine sat his drink aside and reached for her hand. He tried pulling her onto his lap, but she refused. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
He brushed a strand of hair from her face. “You can’t lie to me.”
“What’s it to you, Blaine? Just because you’re here, you suddenly care?”
“Erin, I’ve always cared about you. That’s never changed.”
“You moved away. After that night…you didn’t call or stop by for five years. Excuse me if I’m skeptical of your efforts to show how much you care.” She stood with her gloves in one hand. “I’ve got work to do.”
Blaine stood and grabbed her hand. He spun her around to face him. “Don’t walk off from me. Erin, you are the only person that can get under my skin so damned easily, and it should annoy the hell out of me. It makes me hot as hell as much as it pisses me off.”
She scoffed and pulled her hand away from him. “Go back to your buckle bunnies, Blaine. I’ve got nothing for you here.”
She walked away from him, and it took all his restraint to let her go. He would find a way to make up the past five years. He didn’t know how, just yet, but he would find a way. He needed her in his life. Now more than ever.
Chapter Two
Erin escaped to her room, narrowly avoiding her guests, after finishing her daily chores. She simply couldn’t face them right now. In the barn, with Blaine, had proved that much. He wanted to pretend nothing had happened in the last five years, and so much had. He didn’t understand, not that she expected him to.
She locked her bedroom door and slipped out of her overalls. She stared at herself in the mirror wondering where that girl Blaine spoke about had gone. She hadn’t put on a bathing suit in nearly two years. Assessing her state of undress, she scoffed that her undergarments came from Walmart instead of the classy boutique shop in Austin.
It was depressing to look at, and the pity party that came with her gawking annoyed her. She shouldn’t care. It wasn’t like any one of the five men staying with them would see her in her underwear anyway. That ship had sailed a long time ago. She needed to let the past go and move on. They’d obviously had. Erin headed into the bathroom and turned the shower on. She needed to relax. Maybe she’d hang out by the pool. Read a book or something. She blinked a few times, feeling warm moisture in her eyes. She didn’t have time for that luxury. The pressure of keeping the ranch from sinking into financial debt limited all the free time she did have.
She undressed and tossed her bra and panties in the nearby hamper. Damn Blaine for reminding her of what life had been. So simple, so innocent. She’d been a different person back then who had big dreams about what she wanted to do with her life. She climbed into the shower and closed the glass door. Those dreams were so far from reality it hurt.
Erin allowed herself a moment to relax. The hot water pelted against her tired skin, massaging aching muscles. She used to wear cowboy boots for fashion. Now, she despised them for work. She pushed the water from her face as she stood beneath the spray and reached for the coconut shower gel. The scent was intoxicating, filling the shower with the fresh, clean fragrance. She poured a generous amount onto a bath sponge and smoothed it over her body. Something about washing the dirt of the day off her skin made her feel better, despite her shitty mood.
“There’s something about seeing a wet, naked woman touching herself that makes me hard every fucking time.”
Erin jerked her head to the side. Even with the shower door fogged from the steam, she knew it was Blaine’s voice. She rubbed some of the steam from the door and narrowed her eyes. He leaned against the double vanity, boldly staring at her figure. “Damn it, Blaine, get out of here!”
“Not on your life.” His gaze traveled along her body, boldly taking in her naked form. She had no idea how much he could really see from the angle, but the thought if it made her pulse jump. The look in his eyes said it all. “You want me to scrub your back?�
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“You are such a bastard.” Annoyed, Erin tossed her sponge to the shower floor and shut the water off. She knew he wouldn’t leave and she wasn’t about to shower in front of him. She opened the shower door and reached for a towel. “This is the one fucking time I get to myself and…”
She would not cry. Even as pissed off as she was, she would not get emotional about it. She wrapped the soft fluffy terry cloth around her wet body and tucked the ends of the towel between her breasts. She forced herself to take a few calming breaths.
“How did you get into my room? I locked the door.” She stepped out of the stall to face him.
“I came in through the patio.” He pushed away from the sink. “You didn’t have to stop showering. It’s not like I haven’t seen you naked before.”
“I’m not showering in front of you. If you were any sort of decent human being, you’d leave so I could bathe alone!”
She didn’t know why she yelled. It wasn’t really that big of a deal. For the most part anyway. She watched his face. His expression didn’t change, nor did his stance. He had no intention of giving her space.
“Rory told me that you spend a lot of your time alone. I think the last thing you need is more isolation.”
“Rory needs to keep his damn mouth shut.”
Blaine stared at her, almost giving her a look of pity. “Erin, I want you to talk to me.”
She scoffed. “About what?”
“Everything.”
“Everything is none of your business.” She stalked toward him and tried to move past his bulky frame. He didn’t allow it. “Move.”
“No.” His arm stretched out in front of her while half of his body blocked the door. “Not until you talk.”
“What do you want me to say?”
“Are you pissed at me for not being here when your father died?”
She crossed her arms and turned away from him. “You hated my father.”
“But I love you.”
She whipped back around. “Don’t fucking say that. Don’t you ever say that to me again.”