by Unknown
Just as she reached the door to the house, Cade came outside and said, "Everythin' okay?"
"No, it's not okay. I want those two out of our house."
"What happened, Emma?"
"Nothin'. Leave me alone. Just get them out of here." Before she could stop them, tears streaked down her cheeks. How could they do this to her? Megastars didn't care about anyone but themselves, and apparently twin brothers didn't either. The lifestyle of a country star must have rubbed off on Beau too.
The moment she reached her bedroom, she threw herself across the comforter on her bed and sobbed. She'd really thought Beau might have been different, and when Brandon had actually started acting like a normal human being, she thought she'd been wrong about him too.
"Emma?"
"I don't want company," Emma mumbled into the blanket.
She felt a warm hand on her hair and the mattress sinking under her as Natalie sat down next to her.
"Honey, I'm sorry things turned out this way."
Wiping the tears from her cheeks, she whispered, "It doesn't matter, Nat. Neither of them are worth the tears."
"So why are you crying so hard?"
"Because I actually was stupid enough to think they might have been different."
"They?"
She turned her head and looked up at her sister-in-law. "Can I ask you a question?"
"Sure, honey."
After a fortifying breath, she asked, "How did things go down with Cade and Kale? I know you dated both of them for a bit."
Natalie bit her lip and slid into the chair next to the bed. "I'm not sure if you really should hear about it." The worried expression on Natalie's face gave Emma pause. Maybe she shouldn't pry. After all, Natalie was married to her brother, and Kale had found his own love with Laurel. "Will you answer a question for me first?"
"Sure."
"Are you thinking you like both of them?"
Emma sat up on the bed, looked up into the gorgeous face of Brandon Tucker on her wall, and sighed as she wiped the tears from her cheeks. "Yeah. It's wrong though. I shouldn't be attracted to both of them."
"Why not? It's kind of hard not to be when they are identical twins."
With a shrug of her shoulders, she said, "But Beau is completely different, or at least I thought he was. He seemed so nice when he helped me out at the accident. Brandon was such a jerk out there, but when he got here, he turned into the guy I always fantasized about—sweet, charming, and hot enough to melt butter."
"You want to tell me what happened outside?"
"Brandon kissed me."
"And?"
"I totally lost myself in him, Nat. I didn't hear anything around me. Nothing penetrated the blood rushing in my ears, except when Beau came outside. The way Beau sounded…" She shook her head. "I felt dirty and used."
"Why?"
"They made it out to be like some kind of competition between them. Who could get in the girl's panties first or somethin'."
"Mmm."
"So please, tell me what happened between you, Cade, and Kale."
Natalie took one of her hands and said, "I came out here to help my gram after grandpa died. I know you've heard about how I ended up in a ditch, and Cade came to my rescue."
"Yeah."
"Well, apparently he told Kale about how he'd run into me, so Kale came over to see for himself. I ended up having lunch with Kale and dinner with Cade."
"Wow," Emma whispered. "You have to tell me. I've heard rumors, you know, around town, but I didn't want to pry."
"The rumors I had sex with both of them?" Natalie asked, pink staining her cheeks as she looked down at her hands for a moment.
"Um…yeah. But it wasn't like at the same time or anything, right?" she asked, totally in awe that someone sweet and grounded like Natalie would date two such different men.
When Natalie lifted her gaze, Emma could see the sparkle in her eyes at the mention of having sex with the two men. "It's true, and yes, it was at the same time."
Shocked and dismayed to find out the rumors she'd heard were true, Emma asked, "Seriously?"
"It wasn't planned or anything, Emma. Cade and I had a huge fight earlier in the day. I was desperate to make your brother pay for his big mouth. The attraction I felt for Kale wasn't anything like I felt for Cade, but saying I was pissed would be an understatement. Your brother had insisted he didn't care if I dated them both, or even had sex with them both."
"He actually said that?"
"Yes. Anyway, I told Kale I wanted to have sex with him, and he agreed. He told me he'd pick me up. Well, when he showed up, both he and Cade were there. They pretty much kidnapped me and took me out to Kale's place. The thought of having both of them together intrigued me, so I asked them if they would, since they'd shared before, and they agreed."
"How was it?"
"Intense, but afterwards I realized I loved Cade, and what had happened wouldn't happen again. Now Kale is happily married to Laurel and has a great family with Kimmy and their new baby, Cody."
"It's not uncomfortable around Kale?"
"No. We're all best friends, including Laurel."
"Does she know about what happened?"
"Yes, and it's something we just don't discuss. It's in our past, and it's not like we ever planned to make it a permanent threesome."
Emma's gaze searched out the poster again. Brandon's kisses outside had turned her inside out, but she wondered if Beau's would do the same thing. The feelings Beau had aroused when they stood so close together out by the bus said yes, but without actually kissing him, she'd never know. Certainly the desire the two of them created in her seemed far more intense than anything she'd ever felt before with any other man.
"I can see those wheels turning, Emma. What are you thinking?"
"I'm not sure. I know how Brandon's kiss affected me, but I haven't kissed Beau."
"You could get burned badly if you're thinking what I think you are."
"I know," she whispered. "And I truly wish I wasn't contemplating having sex with both of them. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity. I hate to think they're competing for me like two little boys fightin' over a toy. If we do this as a threesome, I think it would take the competition thing right out of the equation."
* * * *
The hotel room door banged against the wall as Beau stormed inside and Brandon followed closed behind.
"Fuck!" Beau snarled, tossing his bag onto the couch.
"Easy, Beau," Brandon said, hoping his brother wasn't going to do something stupid like put a hole in the wall.
"Screw you, Brandon. You aren't the one standing here with a goddamn golf ball-sized bruise on your jaw."
"She packs quite a punch." He threw his suitcase on one of the beds and reclined back against the headboard. Emma Weston intrigued him. She didn't fit into the mold of fangirl and she didn't bow to his charms or throw herself at his feet begging for his attention. The attraction definitely sizzled between them. No doubt there, but she wasn't sure what to do with it. He knew what he wanted to do. A quick fling would be right up his alley. But Beau wanted her too. Maybe he should step aside and let Beau have a chance at her? Be the kind a caring brother for a change.
"How did I let you screw this up so bad?"
"Listen, Beau. I'm sorry. Okay? I did instigate the kiss, but I wasn't prepared for the effect of it when she laid it on me."
"Wasn't prepared? How can you not be prepared, Brandon?" Beau threw up his hands and paced like a caged lion. "You've got girls fawning all over you, throwing their bras up on stage, half stripping next to the bus to get a piece of you and all you can say is, 'I wasn't prepared'?"
"Emma threw me for a loop, Beau. She's not like the other women I run into." He rubbed his chin. Women usually came along easy—too easy most of the time, if he were honest with himself—but Emma made him feel. His heart raced, and his palms felt clammy when she stood near. And when he'd kissed her? Oh hell! His brain had refused to function and his body had
gone into overload, shunting all the blood to his dick in an instant. At first it seemed to be the normal reaction he had around a gorgeous woman, but the longer the kiss went on, the harder it was to think beyond the feel of her lips under his and how perfectly her breast fit into his hand. He shook his head to free himself from the fog of desire and said, "How many fans of mine do you know would tell me off like she did, break my CD, and toss it into the field?"
"Not many," Beau agreed, his features still stone cold. "But I should never have made it sound like we were competing for her."
"We usually do."
"And you usually end up with them," Beau grumbled. "But she's different—special."
"Neither of us knows her at all, Beau. How can you say she's special?" Brandon had never heard Beau talk like this about a woman, and it had him a little worried. Yeah, it would be great to get a little piece while they were stuck in Montana, but falling for a woman wasn't in his plans. He needed Beau with him, and if his brother got tied up in knots over a female, it could certainly through a wrench into their immediate future.
Beau grabbed a beer from the six-pack they'd bought at the local market, popped the top, and slumped into the chair by the window. "I wish I knew." Beau opened his mouth to take a swallow and glared at Brandon. "Damn this hurts. I'm gonna need some ice on it pretty soon, or I won't be able to open my mouth at all tomorrow."
"So what are we gonna do to get back into Miss Emma's good graces, huh?" Brandon asked, lacing his fingers over his stomach.
"We?"
"She wants us both, Beau."
Beau frowned and took another swallow. "How would you know?"
"I kissed her, remember?"
"Don't remind me, asshole."
Brandon sat up on the side of the bed and dangled his hands between his knees as he glanced over at his brother. "You're just sore because I got to her first, but I have a feelin' you'll get your chance."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah. I think she's confused. I mean come on, Beau. We've shared a woman or two—"
"One or two or twenty."
Brandon grinned and shrugged at the small smile on Beau's lips. It didn't matter how many they'd shared in the past, he wanted to share Emma. "She responded to me, but she did to you too—out by the bus. I saw the way she melted under your touch."
"Yeah, but I didn't have my lips all over her and my hand on her tit," Beau snapped.
"I didn't mean for it to go that far so fast. It just happened, but I'm not gonna apologize for it, because it was damn nice. Fit perfectly in my palm."
"Fuck, Brandon. Stop already. I'm gettin' hard thinkin' about her," Beau replied, adjusting his cock in his jeans.
"Makes two of us then."
"So what are we gonna do about it?"
"Hell, I don't know." He grabbed a beer and popped it open. "We could always kidnap her. You know, take her on the road for a couple of weeks."
Beau looked at him like he'd lost his mind, and yeah, he probably had. "You aren't serious, are you?"
"No, I guess not, but it's a thought. I mean, she used to be a fan. She'd probably have a great time on the road."
"Oh yeah. Watching how many women throw themselves at us. Goin' from place to place, barely stoppin' to eat." Beau took another healthy drink. "Somehow I don't think she'd be too thrilled."
"But that's our life, Beau, and I won't apologize for it."
"It doesn't mean she'd like it."
Beau frowned, and Brandon started to worry. He knew Beau was getting tired of the road life. They'd talked a lot about settling down, buying some property and finding a good woman, but neither one had found anyone he wanted to settle down with. "What are you thinkin', Beau?"
His brother downed the rest of his beer and stared at the can, twisting it into a mashed mess of aluminum. "I don't know, Brandon. I'm gettin' tired of this life, but we always agreed I'd be there for you, no matter what happened or how long it took for you to reach your dreams."
Brandon took several sips of his beer, contemplating what life had given him. From early on, he'd been able to sing. He'd always been told the baritone of his voice gave women goose bumps, and he'd played on it, using it to get any woman he wanted. After he broke into country music, he'd lived the high life. Money and fame brought things he'd only dreamed of as a kid.
Their parents weren't rich by any means, but they did all right, and with what he pulled in now, he tried to take care of them for a change by having Beau send them money. He glanced at Beau and shook his head. He couldn't imagine being in this life without his twin next to him. Lately, he'd started thinking about what Beau had given up to be with him on the road all the time. Beau hadn't mentioned his dreams recently, and maybe it was time for Brandon to ask. Red Rock seemed to be a town where they might be able to sit for a few weeks and relax. If Emma Weston came into the picture while they were here, then so much the better.
"What about your dreams, Beau?"
"I don't have any." Beau jumped to his feet, tossed the can in the trash, and began to pace.
Brandon watched as Beau paced from the door to the bathroom and back. "Sure you do. I know you do. You wanted to get some land and raise cattle, like Mom and Dad. Find you a pretty woman, settle down and have a passel of kids."
"One problem, brother. There isn't a pretty woman who wants to settle down with me anywhere around here and we aren't done with your career yet."
Silence stretched between them for several moments, but their thoughts were so in tune, they didn't have to speak to understand each other, or at least for each to have some idea of what the other thought. Brandon knew he surprised his brother when he said, "You know what? I think we need to take a break."
"A break?"
"Yeah. The bus is down for at least two weeks according to the mechanic here in town. Let's cancel the four shows we've got coming up. We can reschedule them. I know we planned on stopping by Mom and Dad's on our way through, but I think it's important for us to stay here."
"And do what?" Beau asked, clearly puzzled by Brandon's wish to spend some time in Red Rock.
"Stay here. Find out more about this little town. There's a woman worth pursing right here, and we both want her."
"You've sure changed your tune from this morning, when you called it a town in the middle of bumfuck Montana." Beau's eyes narrowed, like he wasn't sure if Brandon was serious or not. "What if she doesn't want us?"
Not want us? Is he serious? "Are you crazy?" he asked, wondering if his brother had really gone over the edge. The challenge of one Emma Weston called to his blood, and he knew Beau felt it too.
"She may be attracted to both of us, Brandon, but do you seriously think she'd be interested in dating us both to decide if she might want one of us?"
Brandon let a sly smile lift the corners of his mouth before he said, "Who says she has to choose?"
Chapter Three
Emma glanced across the street to check for oncoming traffic and then made a beeline from one side of Main Street to the other as she headed for the diner. Her plan today included lunch with Becky and then heading out to the rodeo grounds to get things set up for the weekend. She knew exactly where the two guys taking up a lot of her thoughts were staying, and she wanted to get the work she'd volunteered to do out at the rodeo done so she could focus the rest of her evening on them.
"Emma Weston."
Shit. "Uh, hi Laurel."
"You know better than to cut across the street," Laurel said, from where she leaned against her patrol car. Laurel wasn't tall for a woman at five and a half feet tall, but she had the muscles to back up her police work. Her red hair and dark blue eyes caught the attention of several men in town, but her temper was all redhead when she got pissed off.
"Sorry, Officer. Won't happen again." Unfortunately, her innocent act wouldn't work on Laurel. She'd been around Red Rock too long to be fooled by it. Laurel had moved to town a few years earlier to help her sister with an abusive husband and ended up married to Cade'
s best friend, Kale. Laurel was usually cool, but very bossy when it came to police stuff.
"Uh-huh," Laurel replied with a cheeky grin. "Where are you off to so fast?"
"Lunch at the diner with Becky before we head out to the fairgrounds. Are you on patrol all day?"
"Yeah." Laurel lifted her sunglasses from her eyes and gave Emma a once-over.
"What?"
"You're wearing that?"
Emma looked down, taking in the white tank top molded to her breasts, the skinny jeans showing off the soft swell of her butt, and the cowboy boots made of the softest leather available on her feet. "What's wrong with my outfit?"
"Plan on ropin' you a man, girl?"
She couldn't stop the little smile on her lips. "Maybe. One or two."
"Two, huh? Sounds like the story I got from Elizabeth might have some merit to it."
"What story? I'm gonna kick her ass for her. I don't care if she is my sister, she needs to butt out."
"Whoa, honey. I'm sure she didn't mean anything by it," Laurel said, placing her hand on Emma's shoulder and squeezing lightly. "She's worried about you."
"There's nothin' to be worried about." She pulled her shoulders back and stuck out her chin with a stubborn tilt. "I'm only out for a little fun while two of the most gorgeous men I know are in town. Once they leave, it'll be back to another small town Saturday night."
The look Laurel gave her said Laurel really didn't believe a word Emma said, but would stand by her, no matter what happened in the end. "Just don't lose your heart, Emma."
"In a few days? Ain't gonna happen, Laurel."
"You comin', Emma?" Becky yelled from the diner doorway.
"Be right there." She turned back toward Laurel and gave her a hug. "Thanks for the advice, but everythin' will be fine. I don't have any intention of losin' anythin' to Brandon or Beau Tucker other than a few hours of my time."
"I hope you're right. Be careful, huh?"
"Always. Catch ya later, Officer." She kissed Laurel on the cheek and turned toward the diner. A moment later, she slid into a booth across from Becky. "Wow, it's warm out there today."