by Starla Kaye
“I’d love to.”
Her excitement ended his hopes, yet he found he didn’t really mind the idea after all. He’d watch over her, not let that old busybody pick at her too much. “I’m warning you now, Samuel will try and learn everything about you. He’ll sound gruff, but he’s got one hell of a big heart…but there isn’t a person around that is more of a snoop. He doesn’t know anything about personal space.”
She laughed again. “I think I can handle him.”
Resigned, he said, “I’ll pick you up in a half-hour, forty-five minutes tops.”
* * * *
Rose tried not to fidget on the seat of Doug’s fancy truck. She’d survived walking into First Presbyterian on the arm of one of the hunkiest, most sought after cowboys in the area. Just holding onto his arm, feeling the muscles bunching in his biceps had made her heart race. Drawing in the scent of his earthy aftershave and of the man himself, had made her insides quiver. But having what seemed like half the town staring at them as they’d walked to the front of the sanctuary to the pew where a number of his family and ranch hands sat had been nerve wracking. And the speculative gazes the group had given her had nearly had her running back out of the church. Doug’s calming pat on her cold hand had soothed her. He’d kept hold of her hand for a long time after they’d sat down. She wasn’t sure who had needed that more, her or him. Now they were headed to his family’s home.
Her stomach tensed as she thought about what she might face. She barely noticed as they turned onto the gravel road leading toward the main part of the ranch. “Maybe this isn’t such a good idea.” Had that sounded cowardly? “I mean, I don’t want to intrude on your family’s time together.”
He glanced at her, a gentle smile on his face. “It’ll be okay.”
When she’d decided to tell Doug and Camden that she needed to get to know them before she seriously considered their proposal, she’d wondered if they would simply want to forget the whole thing. She wasn’t a one-night stand kind of woman. She didn’t want them to get the wrong idea. The ménage thing intrigued her, especially with two such amazing men. Yet she wasn’t stupid. Hopping into bed with a man she didn’t know was a bad move. Doing that with two men she had no real sense of was dangerous.
“Trust me, sweetheart.” He looked at her again, his eyes serious. “I’ve got your back. There won’t be one Grayson here today that will even think of crossing me.”
Even though her thoughts had been on the other matter, his firm reassurance about watching over her with his family made her feel better. She did trust him. It was something instinctive rather than learned. She settled back on the seat and relaxed.
“You’re right, there isn’t anything to worry about. This is your family. They love you and they’ll act mannerly to whoever you bring into their home.” She smiled at him when he looked in her direction.
He didn’t appear confident about what she’d said. “Samuel did try to pound good manners into all of us, but,” he shrugged, “they’ll be curious, maybe even a little protective of me.”
She thought that was sweet, clearly he didn’t. “That’s the way families are supposed to be.”
He gripped the steering wheel tighter and pulled up close to a huge, two-story stone house. Several other vehicles were parked in front of the large lawn now turning brown before winter hit.
“Not all families feel that way,” he said bitterly. “But the Graysons do. We’re tight…in our own odd way.”
She was dying to question him about what he meant, certain it had to do with why he’d ended up as one of the Grayson adopted sons. Yet she held back. He was a private man and she had to respect that. Still she ached for him. She’d grown up with a loving family, had no experience with any other kind.
Her gaze shifted to a tall, white-haired man who had just walked out the front door and looked straight at them. Even from this distance she had a feeling that he was sizing her up. It was definitely an odd situation, being taken home to meet someone’s family, when you barely knew each other. She could only imagine what her parents would think if she showed up with either Doug or Camden, or with both of them.
Again she felt uneasy with her strong attraction to the brothers. She focused on Doug once more. He was so handsome and yet she’d been around other good-looking men. None of them had ever made her body throb just from looking at them, made her yearn to…
Stop that! Stop thinking about wanting to strip down right here and now and have your wicked way with this cowboy. Let him have his delicious way with you. If ever there was a wrong place and wrong time, this is it. Her heart pounded as she tried to listen to her internal lecture and ignore her body’s desire.
While she sat there attempting to control her thoughts, Doug seemed to be wrestling with his own. It took a couple of seconds for him to recover from whatever unhappy memories he’d had. When he released the steering wheel and turned off the truck, the tension eased from his body. His shoulders appeared less stiff, a vein pulsing in his neck stopped being noticeable.
He faced her with the sinfully sexy smile she was becoming familiar with. “Ready to meet the great Samuel Grayson?”
Her gaze moved past him to the older man now standing next to the truck. “I guess I have to be. I think he’s here.”
As Doug turned his head, the man scowled at him. “Get her out of the truck, boy. I’m getting older by the second.”
She couldn’t help smiling in amusement and then she opened her own door, not waiting for Doug to come around. She ignored his disgruntled look when she walked around the truck and stopped next to the two men.
A cool fall breeze swept around her, fluttering the skirt of her dress around her knees. “The famed Samuel Grayson. I’ve been dying to meet you, sir.” He didn’t look anything like what she’d imagined. He was in his seventies, she knew that, but he still appeared hardy and fit enough to handle whatever life threw at him.
He’d been studying her with somewhat narrowed eyes, but suddenly he smiled. With a quick glance at Doug, he wrapped her in a bear hug. “You’re even prettier than I’ve heard, Miss Rose Myers.” He released her and grinned in mischief at Doug. “Too pretty for the likes of you. Too sweet as well, I imagine.”
Samuel put his arm around her shoulders and started to guide her to the house.
Doug caught up with them, looking unhappy. “I brought her here,” he protested.
“And I am taking her inside, planning to show off the new librarian myself.” Samuel kept right on leading her away.
Doug grumbled under his breath, which both amused and pleased her. She felt sorry for him and stopped, forcing Samuel to stop, too. “Maybe I should go in with Doug. It only seems right.”
Samuel frowned, but his eyes mirrored approval as he let her go. “Fine. Just don’t be letting this scoundrel have his way all the time. It ain’t good for him.”
Was that a growl she heard? She moved next to Doug and he immediately threw his arm around her, tucking her close to his side. She liked it, liked feeling the heat of him, the strength of him. Then she said gently, “I’ll let him have his way this time.” She grinned up at him. “But not every time. Your father is right. Giving in to you every time wouldn’t be good for you…or me.”
He looked down at her, his eyes darkening. Evidently holding her this close was affecting him, too. Maybe it would be better if she moved away from him. But when she did, he tugged her back. As her breath caught, he lowered his head and kissed her, obviously forgetting they had an audience. Or maybe not caring. When his lips met hers, she forgot about everything but him. He took control; she let him. She was lost in needing him, aching for him.
And then Samuel broke the magical moment. “Enough of that! The family is waiting and the food is getting cold.”
Doug eased his mouth from hers and grumbled about interfering old men. When he lifted his head, he looked every bit as dazed as she felt. As he glanced at Samuel striding off, he said huskily, “I want more of that. A hell of
a lot more.”
So did she. And then she felt a twinge of guilt. What about Camden? He’d kissed her, too, and it had been spectacular. She wanted him, too.
“Camden…” she said awkwardly, feeling the heat of a blush.
Doug sighed and some of the happiness left his eyes. “Yeah, I know.” He took her hand and led her after Samuel. “Right now, though, you’re with me.”
* * * *
“I heard from Victoria that you were a ballerina,” Maggie said as she passed the potatoes to Rose. “In New York City, right?”
Doug watched the smile on Rose’s face fade. She stiffened and focused on putting a scoop of mashed potatoes on her plate. He sensed this wasn’t a subject she wanted to discuss. He tried to help her out. “I heard you’re starting a children’s story hour at the library. One of the ranch wives mentioned it.”
Maggie gave him a curious look, but it was Rose’s grateful glance when she handed him the bowl that made him glad he’d spoken up.
“Several young mothers asked me about it,” she admitted, relaxing in her chair. “I’m starting one next week. Do you have children, Maggie?” She glanced around the childless table curiously.
Now it was Maggie who looked uncomfortable and Tyler’s facetookonahardexpression.Dougknewthiswasasoresubject with them, but he thought Maggie had brought it on herself.
Samuel came to the rescue. “As it is, none of my boys—or girls—have blessed me with grandkids. Yet.” He looked from Maggie and Tyler to Amy, Lee’s wife, to Doug. “I’m expecting that to change in the near future. I need grandkids.”
Rose met his gaze and bravely took him on. “I’m sure that will happen when it is right for them, not necessarily for you.”
“What about you, missy? Don’t you want a family?” He pinned her with a pointed look. “Why hasn’t some man taken you for his wife? World’s full of damn fools, I guess.”
She blinked at him and her cheeks reddened. “The right man and the right time haven’t come along yet,” she said quietly.
He opened his mouth to question her some more, but Doug nodded at the platter of meat in front of Samuel. “You planning on sharing that roast with the rest of us?” He narrowed his eyes to silently warn the man away from pestering Rose anymore.
Thankfully Samuel took the hint and picked up the platter. “You all make sure to save some for Camden. I suspect he will be dropping those boys off with Graham any minute now.” He passed it to Tyler on his right. “Then he’ll be walking in here hungry as a bear. He’s never been one for eating at a campout.”
Rose shifted uneasily and Doug reached under the table to pat her leg. “He’ll be pleased to see you here.”
As for him, he wasn’t exactly sure how he felt about Camden showing up. He’d come to think of this as his time with Rose. Now he’d have to share her. They’d talked about sharing her in a whole other way, but sharing her with his family was different.
She reached under the table and covered his hand, gently squeezed it. She lowered her voice so only he would hear her. “I’ve enjoyed spending time with you this morning. Getting comfortable with you.”
“What you saying over there, girl?” Samuel interrupted, always determined to know what was going on and being said at his table.
Again, she looked directly at him. “None of your business.” She nodded toward the bowl of green beans in front of Tyler. “Would you mind passing those please?”
Tyler’s mouth quirked up in approval at her putting Samuel in his place. “Yes, ma’am.”
Maggie gaped in astonishment at her daring and Doug imagined she wished she’d had the nerve to do that at least a time or two.
Across the table from him, Amy studied Rose curiously.
As for Samuel, Doug watched him raise a gray eyebrow and a hint of amusement flickered in his eyes. He knew in that moment that she’d fit in just fine with the family.
Doug pulled his hand away and concentrated on cutting up his slice of roast beef. The thought of her mixing well with his family made him uneasy. He never planned on getting married which meant she could only join the Graysons by marrying Camden. But Camden had vowed never to marry. So that meant she would never be a part of this group of people he cared so much about. And that depressed him.
* * * *
Camden was sore from sleeping on the hard ground last night. He felt grungy, too. He should have gone back to his place for a shower and then crashed in bed instead of coming to join his family for Sunday lunch. But something had kept him from doing that. He’d felt drawn here, as if he’d be missing something if he didn’t show up. So he parked his truck next to Doug’s and ambled toward the house. He was a little surprised to see Doug here since he’d said he was coming here to eat last night. Doug didn’t take a lot of meals with the family, preferring to eat in the bunkhouse with the men.
As soon as he opened the front door and stepped inside, he was met with the smells of roast and potatoes and…. He sniffed the air. Pumpkin pie. He let go of his frustration about the strained night he’d had with four grumbling boys who weren’t all that excited about camping out. He put off thoughts of cleaning up and getting some decent shut eye. Instead he followed the smells to the dining room, wondering just which of his family members had managed to show up today. Besides Doug, that is.
Hearing a soft, familiar laugh, he stopped outside the doorway. Rose. Even more of his previous night’s troubles faded away. He wanted to see her smile, get closer to better hear her laughter. And then he realized she must have come here with Doug. Strangely that idea was unsettling.
“You coming in here, boy, or not?” Samuel called out, obviously having spotted him.
Everyone looked in his direction. When Rose noticed him, he, again, wished he’d taken the time to clean up. She was so pretty sitting there in a pale blue dress, her hair hanging soft and loose around her shoulders. Sitting there next to Doug, his best friend. He wasn’t exactly jealous, just wanted to be there with her, too.
“How’s your arm?” she asked and gave him a concerned smile.
Sore as hell, but he wouldn’t tell her that. He grinned. “Couldn’t be better.” But he didn’t do anything special to show her, to prove his words, because he’d probably end up wincing and looking the fool.
Doug lifted an eyebrow but didn’t comment. He knew Doug could tell he was lying through his teeth. He was worried, too. Camden saw it in his eyes.
“I took Rose to church this morning,” Doug said as Camden sat on the other side of Rose.
He figured every last person in the congregation had probably watched them with nosy interest the entire time. He took the platter of roast that Tyler handed across the table to him. “Sit with some of the family?”
“Maggie and Tyler,” Doug offered. “A couple of the ranch hands, too.”
Camden looked at Rose, saw her continuing to study him. He didn’t want her looking too hard. He had a couple of new scrapes and bruises. “So what do you think of the ranch?”
She glanced down at her plate and picked up her fork. “It’s big.”
So she hadn’t been paying attention as they drove out here. Big wasn’t much of a description.
“Almost nine hundred acres big. Prime land, too.” He got an idea. “How about I take you back to town? Maybe show you around the ranch a bit first.”
“She came out here with Doug,” Samuel stated. In disapproval? As a challenge?
Rose looked uncomfortable and uncertain how to respond.
Doug gave her what looked like a reassuring glance and then met Camden’s eyes. “You need to get cleaned up first. Then, if it’s okay with her, it’s fine with me. I need to work on that tractor Graham said quit working the other day.”
* * * *
A couple of hours later Rose sat in Camden’s dust-covered black pickup feeling both good and bad. Bad because she’d started out the day being with Doug and odd about now being with Camden. Although Doug had said he was fine with the idea, there had been some
thing sad in his eyes when she’d told him good-bye before climbing into Camden’s truck.
Yet as she glanced over at Camden and he gave her his big, sexy-as-hell grin, she felt good. They had driven all over the ranch before finally heading toward town. He’d proudly pointed out the various buildings and explained what they were for. He’d shown her a range dotted with over a hundred head of cattle, another one with some prime horse stock, and finally he’d driven her by his small log house. It was all very impressive. But not half as much as the cowboy driving her home. He’d told her stories of growing up here and of some of the mischief he and the other Grayson brothers had gotten into. Samuel must have the patience of a saint. He’d put up with a lot over the years and continued to do so.
“This new group of Samuel’s troubled boys,” Camden said, pulling her from her thoughts, “is a real handful.” He gave her a grin. “Thought they could get the better of me last night.” He chuckled. “Not damn likely.”
“You like helping with the boys, don’t you? I can hear it in your voice.” She studied him, saw him give a shrug as if it wasn’t a big deal, but she knew better than that. It would take a man with patience and a wealth of caring to take on troubled kids. Of course, he had personal experience to draw from.
“Most people wouldn’t even bother with them. Society’s troublemakers. Just send them to Juvie and forget about them.” He looked straight ahead, his brow furrowing, jaw tensing.
“Samuel ain’t most people, though.”
She sensed his frustration. “Neither are you.”
He shrugged again. “I just help out however I can.”
She could tell he didn’t want to talk any further about the subject. But she’d learned enough to understand that this was a good man. Maybe he wasn’t ready yet, but she imagined that he would make a good father one day.
He focused on the highway leading into town and said casually, “So, Rose, how the hell did you end up in a place like Evergreen?”
“Long story.” She fidgeted with her seatbelt, tugging on the shoulder part that suddenly felt too tight. “Life doesn’t always go as smoothly as you thought it would. But I’m adjusting.” She looked back at him, noticing him studying her. “I like it here, more every day.”