by Unknown
The rough clearing of a throat brought his attention back from where he'd been drowning in Emma's eyes.
"I've called the tow truck, Emma," Alex said, stopping next to them.
Beau wanted to hurt Alex for interrupting the charged moment between him and Emma. The need and desire swimming in Emma's gaze fascinated him.
"Thanks, Alex," she replied, breaking contact with Beau and stepping back. "Can I use your phone so I can call my dad?"
"Here. Use mine, Emma," Beau said, pulling the phone from his pocket. "It's the least I can do."
"Thanks. I'd use mine, but it's buried on the floor of my truck somewhere. I was talking to Becky when the accident happened."
"You were on your phone?" Alex asked, narrowing his eyes. "You know it's illegal to be on your phone."
"I had her on speaker, Alex, so it wasn't illegal. I wasn't texting or anything. I don't do that."
"I'll have to put it in my report though."
Her eyes narrowed, and Beau hid his smile. "Well, make sure you qualify it with all the facts."
"I will, but you know your insurance company might have problems with it."
"It wasn't my fault, Alex. Beau admitted he didn't see the stop sign."
"Here," Beau said, showing her how to operate his phone with a touch to the screen. "Now you can dial regular."
"Thanks again," she said before she moved away.
Several moments later, he could hear her trying to explain to someone on the other end.
"No, I'm fine, Dad. There isn't any need for you to come out here. They'll be towing the truck into town in a few minutes. The tow truck just got here."
A lapse in conversation made him wonder what her father said on the other end, but Beau's attention drifted away the moment her eyes met his. Pull your head out, man. She's just another babe—and I hope to hell she's nowhere near jailbait, but with women these days, a guy has to be careful.
Beau shook his head and walked over to the tow truck driver to see about getting the bus towed into town or somewhere they could get it looked at. Brandon had abandoned the party for the inside of the bus the moment the police officer finished with his statement, leaving Beau to deal with everything. Figures.
"So. Are you going to be able to tow the bus, too?" Beau asked the driver as he hooked up Emma's truck.
"Nope." The man wasn't forthcoming with information, and he continually glanced Emma's way.
"Do you know Emma?" Beau asked when he saw the man look at her again.
That got the driver's attention. "Yeah. Known her since she was a little girl. Why? You know her?"
Beau shrugged and said, "Only since I hit her truck."
"You were drivin'?"
"Yes. How bad are the damages to hers?"
The man squinted and then spit a string of tobacco juice at the ground, almost hitting the tip of Beau's boot. "Bad enough her daddy's gonna have a few words for ya. The drive train's probably busted, and the radiator and engine are cracked, if I had my guess, by the fluid on the ground under it. I'd say several thousand dollars in damage. You're just damned lucky she ain't hurt. You don't want to mess with the Weston bunch. I'm kinda surprised her brother Cade ain't out here yet." They both looked behind the bus as a large diesel pickup came screeching to a halt on the road behind them. "Spoke too soon."
"Emma Leanne Weston!" the man driving the truck shouted the moment he cleared the door.
"Aw shit," Emma said, walking back toward Beau. "Here's your phone back. Thanks." She turned back around and met the guy halfway. "Chill, Cade. I'm fine." The man wrapped her in a hug and then stepped back.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"It's just a bump on the head. I suppose Daddy sent you out here."
"Of course. I was on my way back to my place when he called me on my cell." The man she called Cade glanced over her shoulder and locked his gaze on Beau before he glanced back down at his sister, frowning. "What the hell did you do, Emma? You couldn't hit somethin' smaller like a stop sign. You had to hit a bus?"
Beau took the moment to approach the pair, noticing the similarities in their coloring. They shared the same hair color and penetrating blue eyes. "Hi. Um, listen. It wasn't her fault. I ran the sign. I just didn't see it."
Cade looked at him and then back at Emma. "He looks awful familiar. Isn't he the guy you have plastered all over the walls of your bedroom?"
The look on Emma's face almost had Beau laughing. Color bloomed on her cheeks and spread down her neck. Surely there weren't that many shades of red.
"Actually, no, I wouldn't be the guy. Name's Beau Tucker," he said, holding out his hand. "The guy on her wall is probably my brother Brandon. We're twins. He's the singer. I'm the bus driver. At least today I am."
Shoulders back and eyes narrowed, Cade gave Beau the once over and then pushed his hat back on his head and held out his hand. "Nice to meet you, Beau. I’m Cade Weston, Emma's older brother."
"Did you have to embarrass me, Cade? Jesus. I have one damn poster," she snapped throwing up her hands. "You can tell Gabrielle and Dad I'm fine, and I'll be home after they finishing towing the truck in."
"No can do, sis. If I go back there without you, I'll never hear the end of it. I won't even be able to hide at my house, because Nat will harp on me about it too."
"God, I love my sister-in-law," Emma said with a chuckle.
The cell phone in Cade's pocket rang. "Excuse me a sec." He opened it and held it to his ear. "Yeah, I know. I've already told her."
The murmurs on the other end of the conversation sounded like an irritated mother to Beau. He knew all about them, since he dealt with his own parents. Whenever Brandon's face got plastered all over the tabloids about this escapade or that, Beau got to explain it and make excuses for his twin's reckless behavior. Their folks didn't seem to understand Brandon was a big boy and could take care of himself.
"Well, there is a bus involved, Dad." Cade rolled his eyes. "No, not a school bus or anything like that. It's actually a musician's tour bus." A few more murmurs and he said, "All right. I'll ask, but I can't make any promises. They might be busy or on their way somewhere. Bye, Dad."
"Don't tell me," Emma grumbled.
"You know Gabrielle, Em," Cade replied and turned toward Beau. "My Dad is requesting your presence at the home place for dinner. It's the least we can do, since you've been inconvenienced by this whole thing."
Excitement zipped down Beau's back and settled in his balls. He could actually spend a little more time with Emma if he and Brandon took the invitation. Brandon would kill him, but right now, he didn't care. "I accept on behalf of myself and my brother. We'd love to have dinner with your family. Plus, it would give me a chance to apologize to your father about getting his daughter into an accident."
Emma glanced at him and frowned, although her eyes blazed with heat. Maybe he read her wrong. Maybe she wasn't attracted to him like he thought. He cocked an eyebrow and then glanced down at her chest. Nope, no mistaking the tips of her nipples poking out. Lucky for him, his dick had calmed down a little since he'd stood so close to her, but if she didn't stop looking at him like she wanted to eat him alive, it wouldn't take long for it to rear its head and point right at her.
"Can I talk to you a second?" she asked, taking his arm and pulling him along until they stopped several feet away from the crowd.
"Is there somethin' wrong, darlin'?"
"Listen, you don't have to come out to my dad's place. He likes to get all friendly and stuff."
"But I'd like to."
"Why?" she asked, putting both hands on her hips.
"I'd like to spend a little more time with you. You know, get to know you a little better. I know we didn't meet under the best circumstances, but maybe fate stepped in."
She stepped back and put her hand up to her throat. "I…You…Really?"
"Yeah, really. I'd like to find out what makes you tick. What better place than at your family's house?"
The door to the bu
s opened, and Beau rolled his eyes. Great. Just what I need—Brandon out here again.
"Beau, can I talk to you a minute?"
"Stay right here, Emma. I'll be right back."
They moved several feet away, and he could tell Brandon was gonna blow. He'd probably heard Cade issue the invitation even from inside the bus, since they'd had the side windows open while they drove.
"I'm not going to anyone's house for dinner, Beau. I want to find a decent hotel in this shithole town, drink until I'm numb, and then pass out."
"You mean like you do every night?"
"What's it you? You get paid to keep everything straight."
"Maybe I'm tired of being your pansy, Brandon, and digging your ass out of a jam every time we stop somewhere and you get an itch for some pretty thing in the front row. Personally, I don't care whether you go out to Emma's dad's place or not. I'm going, once we get the bus settled. It's getting too late to be doing anything this evening anyway, and it would be a nice reminder of home, having dinner with an ordinary family. I bet they'd even treat you like you were normal, Brandon, and not some high class musician."
He pushed past Brandon, but stopped a few feet away and turned back to face his brother when it dawned on him why Brandon didn't want to go out there. "I get it. This whole not wanting to go out there is because Emma isn't fawning over you and kissing your ass. In fact, she's so pissed at the way you've been acting, she broke one of your CD's and tossed it into the field over there. It's got your goat that you just lost a fan, and you don't know how to handle it, much less the fact she's gorgeous. You're attracted to her too, aren't you? We're usually attracted to the same type of woman, and I bet this is no different."
Brandon rushed to his side and hissed, "All right, fine. She's hot. Okay? And I don't like her drooling all over you and not me. I'm the star here, and it should be me she's gettin' all hot and bothered over, not you. I saw the way she got all gooey when you brushed your thumb over her lip."
"You know what, Brandon? You’re an ass and a jerk, just like she said. Maybe she likes nice guys instead of assholes. I aim to find out, whether you come along or not. But let me warn you, if you do go out there with me for dinner, you better take a step or two back and remember how our parents raised us. Lose the megastar attitude and at least pretend to be a nice guy for a change." Without waiting for a reply from his open-mouthed brother, he walked back to Emma and Cade and said, "Why don't you give me the address, and once we get the bus settled, I'll take a cab out there."
"Is Brandon coming?" Emma asked, and Beau wondered why.
"I don't know."
"Yes, I'm coming, and thank you for the invitation," Brandon replied, walking back to where they stood near the back of the bus. "And I promise to behave," Brandon replied with a smile.
Emma scowled, and one dark eyebrow shot up. Her apparent irritation with Brandon made Beau feel much better. Maybe he wouldn't have to compete against his brother for a woman's affection this time. Maybe Emma didn't really want Brandon after all.
"It's settled then. We'll catch a cab and—" Beau said.
"Nonsense," Cade replied. "I'll take everyone into town, and then once everything is settled, we can all ride out to my parents' place together. I'll call Nat and have her meet us there with Alan."
"Beau, why don't you ride with the tow truck driver now that the bigger rig is here to take the bus into town? I'll ride in with Cade and Emma," Brandon said with a satisfied smirk.
Beau wanted to punch him. "But I—"
"You need to handle all the details, brother. You know more about those kinds of issues than I do. Of course, we'll be right behind you, right Cade?"
The arrogant asshole attitude Brandon wore like a suit jacket, shined brightly for all to see as Brandon shoved Beau out of the way and situated himself in close contact with the beautiful Emma.
"Uh, yeah," Cade said with a frown and a strange look as he ushered Emma towards his truck.
"Don't, Brandon."
"What?" Brandon asked, with a wide-eyed innocent look Beau didn't believe for a second.
"Just don't, or I'll kick your ass," Beau snarled. He spun on his heel and headed for the front of the bus.
Chapter Two
Emma watched, openmouthed, as Brandon charmed every one of her sisters during dinner. If she didn't know better, she would have sworn Brandon and Beau had switched personalities in the time it took for them to get the bus situated, and for Cade to drive them all back to the home place.
From the moment they'd stepped into the house, Beau had snarled and snapped, while Brandon smiled and suckered every female in the house into loving him. In another words, he turned into the Brandon Tucker Emma fantasized about with every breath she'd taken since he'd burst onto the country music scene some five years before.
With a shake of her head, she pulled open the sliding glass door between the living room and the back yard and stepped out into the night's cooler air. Orange streaks painted the evening sky while the sun fought gallantly against the coming darkness. She loved Montana evenings in the summer. They always seemed so romantic—given you were spending them with the right person. For Emma, the right person had yet to come along, but she couldn't wait to find him.
Outside lights flicked on as the sun disappeared, bathing the backyard in a soft blue glow. Tonight's full moon and the clear night sky would make an awesome backdrop for a couple of lovers. "Yeah, right," she murmured.
"Emma?"
She spun around to find one of Tucker brothers headed in her direction. From this distance, she couldn't tell whether Brandon or Beau had stepped outside. Earlier, she'd noticed they both wore distinctive and different colognes, making it easy for her to know who was who if they were standing close enough, since she didn't know them very well…yet.
"Brandon. What are you doing out here?" She tipped her chin up and folded her arms over her chest. "I'm sure the other women of my family will miss your company."
"Will you mind if I go back inside?" he asked, stepping close enough to touch.
The warmth of his breath on her face made her shiver, and she didn't like her reaction at all. "What do you care?"
"I care. You're a very beautiful woman, Emma." One finger skimmed down her cheek and then slipped along her jaw.
With a sharp jerk, she pulled her face away from his touch. "Don't play games with me, Brandon. I'm not fooled by your change in personalities. You were a total jerk at the accident."
"I know, and I wanted to apologize to you. I don't usually act so arrogant."
She didn't believe him for a second and the small snort she released told him so. His earlier behavior screamed arrogance and righteousness.
"I see you don't believe me."
"I didn't say that."
"You didn't have to. I could see it in your eyes."
Her body went into overload when he stepped close again. Goosebumps rose on her arms, and a shiver raced down her spine as the spice of his cologne wrapped around her senses and the warmth of his skin called to her.
"You have beautiful eyes. They remind me of a crystal clear lake." His fingers slipped down her cheek in a soft caress. "I wonder—do they go dark like sapphires when you're aroused beyond rational thought?"
His voice trailed off into a whisper, and his mouth came close enough that if she leaned in, she could feel the firmness of his lips and find out if her fantasy Brandon was anything like the real thing. Did she dare? He'd be gone in a heartbeat when the bus got fixed, but what if she let herself pretend he could fall in love with her? What about Beau?
"Your lips look so soft, Emma. I need to taste you."
Her eyes slowly closed as he nibbled at the corners of her lips and then trailed kisses back toward her ear. His teeth nipped at the soft skin of her neck, sending her thoughts scattering to the wind.
The moment his mouth brushed hers, she couldn't think—couldn't breathe. Everything revolved around his lips and his oh-so-wicked tongue as it pushed into her m
outh, demanding she give in to her desire. Without thought her arms went up around his neck, and she returned his kiss lick for lick, nip for nip, and sigh for sigh. Brandon the fantasy and Brandon the real man merged into one. She could no more resist him than she could go without breathing.
The feel of his hand skimming up under her shirt and then cupping her breast drove a whimper from deep inside her to the surface of her lips. The calluses on his fingers from playing the guitar were rough and exhilarating at the same time. A soft mewl escaped her mouth when he lifted his head.
"That's it, darlin'. Give in. You know you want me," he murmured as his lips trailed down her neck.
"Can't do it, can you Brandon?"
Beau's voice, coming from her right, slammed into her like a cold rain—bitter and freezing. Desire cleared like a fog bank cut by the early sun, and she stepped back out of Brandon's arms to face a very angry Beau.
"Beau, listen—" she started, but he cut her off.
"Don't, Emma. It's fine. I'm sorry I read more into the attraction I felt for you. I thought you might have really liked me for me, and not because I'm Brandon Tucker's twin."
Irritated beyond belief, she tried again to make him listen. "No, Beau, you don't understand. Let me explain."
"I do. Really. We go through this a lot, don't we Brandon?" he asked his brother, while Brandon just shrugged and examined the fingernails of his left hand.
"You what?" she snapped. Anger filled her when she realized the whole thing was a game between them. See who could get the girl to give up her panties the quickest. "This is like a game to you two. Is that it? I'm some kind of a fuckin' conquest?"
"Emma, listen," Beau said, stepping closer with his hand outstretched, but she backed away.
"No, you listen. Get out! Both of you. I don't fuckin' care how you get back to town, and I don't want to see either of you ever—and I do mean ever—again." She took two steps toward the door, but Beau grabbed her arm and spun her around. With her temper in full flare, she balled up her fist and connected with Beau's jaw, dropping him to the ground. "Don't touch me," she snarled.