by Vella Day
Cade left the bed but returned moments later with a warm, wet cloth. This time, she welcomed him cleaning her.
On his knees, Cade faced her and brushed her hair out of her face. “Was it okay for you?”
“It was more than okay. It was fantastic, brilliant, amazing.”
He grinned, and she knew she’d made the right choice. Two was definitely better than one.
Stone tapped her nose. “Anyone up for brownies?”
“If I can feed them to you both, I’m game.” She smiled but had no energy to even move. Oh, boy.
* *
After making love with Amber the previous night and having Cade join in, Stone wanted to race to the highest mountain and shout about the wonderful Amber Delacroix. But now he was worried about bringing her to Katie’s birthday party. His dad could be tough. No doubt his father would question her about what she did and where she grew up. Both of his parents could be a little overzealous sometimes, but he believed she’d win them over as soon as they met her.
For years, his mom had tried to find him a woman even though he’d told her he and Cade shared. She’d been shocked at first, but eventually, she’d come to accept that lifestyle, especially as more people in town embraced the concept.
Cade had driven separately to the birthday party. Given the nature of his job, he said he was more comfortable having a car in case an emergency popped up. Because Stone didn’t want anything to interfere with his time with Amber, he agreed.
She tapped the present she held on her lap. “Do you think Katie will really like what you got her?”
He thought it cute that she worried. “She’ll think it’s wonderful. Katie lives each day like it’s her last. You’ll love her.”
The trip to the edge of town didn’t take long. His family’s home wasn’t grand by any means, but the land it was built on had a wonderful view of the mountains. Dad owned a few horses, some cattle, and even raised chickens for family consumption. Stone hoped his mom didn’t mention the occasional slaughter to soft-hearted Amber. She’d be too sympathetic about them eating the livestock.
He pulled in front of the house and she sighed. “It’s lovely.” Sincerity rang from her voice.
“I’m sure you lived in a bigger home growing up.”
“Bigger but more sterile. I love log cabin style homes.”
Dust billowed behind them as Cade pulled in next to them. Stone retrieved the package from Amber’s lap, and together the three of them marched up to the front door. They then had to fight their way through the balloons attached to the handle.
Amber looked up and smiled. “I like your family already.”
He could only hope. Stone pushed open the door and let Amber go first. Cade stepped in behind him.
“Mom?”
Footsteps sounded, and his mother rounded the corner. As expected, her gaze latched onto Amber. She smiled and rushed toward her. The hug seemed to take Amber by surprise. Damn. He should have warned her how affectionate his parents could be.
His mom held Amber out at arm’s length and ran her gaze down her. “Well, well. You must be Amber. I’m so happy to meet you.”
“You, too, Mrs. Benson.”
“Call me Ellie. Everyone does.” She reached out for the presents he and Cade were carrying. “Let me take those from you. I’ll put them on the sideboard with the rest of the gifts. Stone, bring Amber into the living room. Everyone’s here.”
Everyone? They rounded the corner and to his delight his younger brother Craig was standing there. “Hey, little brother.” The two embraced. “Let me look at you. Philadelphia seems to agree with you. You didn’t tell me you were coming.”
“It was a surprise for Katie.” He stepped to the side and hugged Cade, too. After all, Cade had been there for Craig as much as Stone had been.
Katie stood and wrapped her arms around him then held out her hand to Amber. “I’m Katie.”
“Amber.” Her eyes sparkled when she smiled.
Christ. Where was his head? He should have introduced her to everyone, but seeing his brother took him by surprise. He wrapped an arm around Amber’s waist. “The old fart on the chair is my dad.”
She lightly punched him and tossed him an adorable pout. “That’s a terrible thing to say.” They walked over to his father, and Amber held out her hand. “I’m Amber Delacroix. Stone helped one of my family members, and I’m eternally grateful.”
“Nice meeting you, Amber. What do you do for a living?”
Stone didn’t want his dad to grill her. “You can put her through the grinder later, Dad. Let’s let her relax for a second.”
His father harrumphed. “It’s not everyday I get to meet a beautiful woman.” He glanced over at Mom. “Present company excluded.”
His mom smiled.
Katie sidled up to them and nodded to the sofa farthest from the television. “Come sit with me, Amber. The testosterone level is strong enough to wash you away.”
Amber smiled. “Nice meeting you, Mr. Benson.”
“My pleasure.”
Stone watched Amber follow his sister to the sofa. “Don’t tell her any lies about me, Shorty,” Stone called out.
Katie grinned. “I make no promises.”
Leaving them alone might not be smart, but he wanted to catch up with his brother. After learning about Craig’s newest camera, he nodded to Dad. “How about you and Cade keep him company, while I make sure Katie doesn’t tell Amber anything that will make her bolt?” Sure, he was exaggerating, but he wanted to spend time with both her and his sister.
“Will do.”
Stone crossed the room.
“—hand puppets,” Katie said.
Stone came in on the tail end of that conversation. “What about hand puppets?”
His sister faced him. “Don’t you remember when I was so sick in the hospital and you made me a hand puppet? Even sewed on eyes out of buttons and made a mouth out of an old scrap of cloth.”
Amber looked over at him. “That’s so adorable.”
He groaned. Being adorable wasn’t his life’s ambition. He’d rather focus on what his sister did for him. “Remember the time I broke my leg racing my bike, and you spent hours painting flowers on my cast?”
Katie grinned. “I heard you got an endless amount of shit from everyone in school over those designs.” Instantly, her hand clamped over her mouth, and her gaze shot to Mom.
He laughed. “It’s okay. She didn’t hear you swear.”
A few minutes after their mother ducked into the kitchen, he decided to give her a hand. Stone stood and wagged a finger at Katie. “Only good stuff, okay?”
Katie crossed her heart. “I promise.”
As soon as he left, he knew his sister would be extracting as much information from Amber as she could. Poor Amber.
“Need help?” he asked his mom.
“You can turn the burner to low and cook the gravy.”
He stepped to the stove and sniffed to see if he could figure out what was cooking in the oven. “What are we having?”
“What we have every year. Meatloaf. It’s Katie’s favorite.”
He loved how she cherished tradition. He picked up a wooden spoon to stir the sauce. “So what do you think?”
“About what?” His mom continued to dice the salad ingredients.
She knew what he was talking about but apparently wanted to make him ask directly. “About Amber.”
She stopped chopping. “She’s lovely. The real question is what do you think about her? You and Cade have never brought a woman home before.” She faced him. “You and Cade are both dating her, right?”
“For an old-fashioned mom, you’re all right.”
She grinned. “Now answer my question.”
He couldn’t get anything past her. “Yes.” He inhaled. “I’ve only known her a month, but I can’t stop thinking about her. She’s good, kind, compassionate, an—”
“Oh, my. You have it bad, don’t you?”
There
was no use in denying it. “Yes.”
The oven timer dinged, and she removed the meatloaf. “If the sauce is warm, pour it into the gravy boat and set it on the table. Then tell everyone the food is ready.”
Once he did as she asked, the family took their regular seats but left enough room for Amber to sit between him and Cade. After his mom said grace, they passed around the food. Amber smiled the whole time, intently listening to whoever was talking. When he thought back to the way she described her family, he was glad to show her a family who interacted with love and compassion.
The meal, as usual, was delicious. The conversation was directed equally between Craig, Katie, and Amber. The more they conversed, the more comfortable she appeared.
Finally, when they’d finished, his mother stood. “As soon as I clear the plates, we’ll bring out dessert and then we can open the presents.”
Amber pushed back her chair. “I want to help.”
His mom smiled. “I’d like that.”
Normally, Katie would have volunteered, but it was a rule in the house that on a person’s birthday, he or she didn’t have to lift a finger. His mom and Amber carried the first load into the kitchen.
He nodded to Cade. “Let’s help. It’ll go faster.”
Cade cocked a brow. “Me?”
“You want my mother filling Amber’s head with what a jerk you can be?”
Both Craig and Dad laughed. Cade pushed back his chair and picked up some plates. They moved between the kitchen and dining room so swiftly that his mother wasn’t given the chance to tell Amber anything bad about either one of them.
When they finished, his mom brought out a lit cake and they all sang happy birthday. Amber’s voice was clear and on key—probably the only one in the room who was.
As Katie blew out the candles, he leaned over to Amber. “I’m guessing her wish is to be here next year.”
Amber swallowed then smiled. “She will be.”
That was what he wanted to hear. The chocolate cake seemed to taste better this year, most likely because Amber was sharing it with them.
His mom stood. “Let’s open the presents now. I’ll pick up the plates later.”
They all convened back into the living room where Katie received a protective cover for her laptop from Craig, a gift certificate to the Apple Store from Dad, and a pretty scarf from Mom.
Katie shook the present from Cade. “What’s this?” She glanced at his roommate.
“Got to open it to find out.”
Stone hadn’t even asked what it was.
When she unwrapped the small box, her eyes went wide. “Oh, Cade. It’s gorgeous.” She held up a green stone pendant.
Amber moved next to Katie. “This is amazing.”
When Amber fingered the well-crafted item and smiled, Stone tried to remember if he’d ever seen her wear jewelry like that. He didn’t.
Cade grinned. “Trish Duggen is now making jewelry.”
“Next time I see her, I’ll have to thank her,” Katie said.
“Open our present,” Stone nodded to the remaining gift. “This is from me and Amber.”
Amber twisted toward him and slightly shook her head. He smiled. He wanted her to feel part of the family. Katie picked up the package and shook it. “I can’t imagine what it is.”
“Open it.” This came from Amber.
His sister ripped the paper, and he loved watching Amber wince at seeing her artwork torn to pieces. When Katie held up the canvas bag and lifted the flap she gasped.
She glanced between them. “I can’t believe it. Mom, look!” She pulled out the yarn and showed her the needles.
“That’s wonderful, dear. Why, you haven’t crocheted anything in years.”
“I know, but I’ve been thinking about picking it back up again. It really relaxes me.” She leaned over and hugged Amber.
At first, Amber stiffened, but after a moment, she hugged his sister back. Stone’s heart both warmed and ached at the lack of love Amber had in her life. He vowed to make it better if it was the last thing he did.
Chapter Nineteen
After the birthday party, Cade and Stone took Amber riding. It had been a long time since she’d been on a horse and now every inch of her body was sore. Part was because of her activity with her men last night, but the rest was because of the need to hold on for dear life. She used muscles she hadn’t needed in years.
Cade had spent so much time at the Benson ranch he’d learned how to ride well, though not quite as expertly as Stone. Several times, the two had raced in front of her, turned around, and then hauled ass back. She never was quite sure what the bet had been, but they had her laughing with their antics.
After two hours of showing off, they must have been able to tell when enough was enough because they guided her back to the barn at a leisurely pace. Once they brushed the horses down and put them in their stalls, she made them promise to take her out again.
While her time outside had been wonderful, she was ready to get home and relax. As Stone pulled in front of her house, she unbuckled her seatbelt and faced him. “I’d love for you to come in, but I need—”
He smiled. “I know. You need a little down time, not only to think things through, but to rest.” His gaze dropped between her legs and heat rushed to her cheeks.
She laughed. It was dumb to be embarrassed after their amazing love session. She still couldn’t believe these men wanted her.
He clasped her hand. “Let me walk you to the door.”
“As long as I get a goodnight kiss.”
“Promise.” He helped her out of the truck and escorted her up the steps. After she unlocked the door, she faced him for her reward.
Stone dragged a knuckle down her cheek. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
She slipped her hands around his neck. “You better.”
Stone leaned in and brushed his lips across hers then tapped her nose. “I can’t get started, or you know what will happen.”
Wetness had already pooled between her legs. She had it bad. “That I do.”
She waited at the steps until he entered his car. As soon as he drove off, she went inside. Needing some girlfriend time, she called Jamie. It always helped to have a sounding board. Amber had called her yesterday morning and told her about birthday shopping for Stone’s sister and the party. While Jamie already knew she’d been with Cade, Amber hadn’t divulged she’d slept with them both, yet.
Jamie had told her Ben would be playing poker tonight with some of the other pharmaceutical techs. Apparently, one of the men’s brothers was some gambling pro, and he was here for a visit. Personally, she didn’t see Ben as the type to play cards, but maybe he was ready for a guy's night out after everything that had been going on at the hospital.
She called and Jamie answered on the second ring. “Hey, girlfriend. How did the birthday party go? Hold it. Why aren’t you with your men?”
“I’ll see them tomorrow.” She let out a laugh that sounded fake even to her ears. “I needed a break to digest all that’s happened.” Wasn’t that the truth? Witnessing how a real family acted had given her pause. Ellie’s warmth only served to highlight how cold her mother was. The hugs, the smiles, along with everyone’s willingness to help clean up showed her what she’d missed growing up. Yes, she’d had Chris, but he had his own friends, his own dreams.
“I can only imagine.” Jamie’s comment mentally brought her back.
“Want to come over for some girl time?” She swiped the tear threatening to spill, praying her voice hadn’t divulged the extent of her dark thoughts.
She should be ecstatic right now. After all, she’d watched Stone and Cade interact like they were teenagers again, and the sex they’d shared had been beyond her wildest dreams. But in the back of her mind, she kept waiting for the proverbial shoe to drop. Everyone in her life had abandoned her—her dad, her mom, and then Rich. Why should anything be different now?
“Are you kidding? Hell yeah. I’ll even bring th
e popcorn.”
“Give me half an hour. I have to shower.” And gather my thoughts.
“Perfect.”
Refusing to let her pity party ruin her visit with Jamie, she forced herself to think only positive thoughts. Once Amber stepped into the shower, she let the heat pour over her body and soothe her aching muscles. Being with the Benson family had been amazing and eye opening. Riding with her men had given her a tremendous sense of freedom that she cherished.
As she scrubbed clean, she daydreamed about having made love with two men. Given how her mother had raised her, she should be embarrassed for wanting two men, but she wasn’t. The incredible sensations still ran through her veins.
When the water cooled, she shut off the valve and stepped out. Jamie would be here in a few minutes. Amber wanted to chill, so she tossed on flannel pajamas and slippers and went back to the living room to gather the needed items for the evening—wine and cheese.
The doorbell rang within minutes, and she ushered Jamie inside. “Thanks for coming over.” She wrapped her arms around her, glad for the company.
Jamie waved the popcorn. “How about we pop first and then you spill?”
“Spill?”
“You haven’t had a chance to tell me what happened with the birthday present shopping.”
That seemed like forever ago. They walked into the kitchen. “Stone knew nothing about crocheting.” Amber told her about picking out a really cool bag and all the accessories. “Then we went grocery shopping, and Stone and I made dinner together.”
“That’s so romantic.”
“I know.”
“Did you two talk about Cade?”
“More or less. Stone insisted he wasn’t upset and said he was happy Cade and I had patched things up.”
The microwave dinged signaling the popcorn was done. Once she’d dumped it in a bowl, they walked into the living room where she curled up on the sofa next to Jamie. Amber handed the bowl to her. “So after we ate, one thing led to another.”