by Delilah Hunt
“She was there. Yeah. Why?”
“No reason. Curious was all. I’m sure she’s going to fill me in on the details I don’t want to hear at work tomorrow.”
Owen glared at him then looked at Lexie. “Why aren’t you concerned about the women I was with last night?”
“Because I don’t work with any of them. I work with Anna-Sue, and she’s always running off her mouth about Connor. And FYI, I’m pissed at all of you for not inviting me to your party. There, I’m a big girl, and I said it.”
Logan growled as if he was tired of their banter. “Lexie. Sometimes there are things that you don’t need to know a reason for, and this is one of them. Connor isn’t interested in your little friend, and that party was held for a specific reason. Get it out of your mind.”
Owen nodded. “He’s right. We didn’t do it to hurt you.”
Lexie sighed and looked between them again. “Is this how it’s going to be? You guys issuing out orders and I just have to accept them. What’s going to be the ultimate goal of this relationship? A couple of days, weeks, months with me until I’m no longer the It Girl? Then who’s going to want me after everyone finds out I was used up by the Kincaid brothers and thrown aside?”
“We’re not going to toss you aside. It’s for keeps. You’re the only woman either of us has ever wanted so badly. We’ll always remain faithful to you as long as you do the same for us. Isn’t that right?” Connor asked, lifting his brows at his brothers.
“That’s right,” they both whispered thickly.
She tapped a finger to her lips and Connor bit back a smile at her look of mock concentration. “All right. So, let’s pretend I was offering up my body as a virgin cowboy sacrifice. Am I on limited time or something to get between the sheets?”
“We’re grown men. We’re not going to attack you as soon as you move onto the ranch,” Logan asserted.
Her mouth opened wide, and she held up her hands. “Hey, wait. Who’s saying anything about moving? I’m perfectly fine inside my own place.”
Owen lifted an eyebrow and grinned. “Lexie, how else do you expect to be available to us? If I wake up at two in the morning and decide I want a quick fuck, I’m walking down the hall, not halfway across town.”
Connor watched her reaction to his brother’s statement. Her eyes widened then lowered gently, and she shifted on her seat. Bingo. They were wearing her down. Her pussy had to be wet.
“He’s right,” Connor said. “You’ll have to move out to the Circle-K. That was our intention all along. We’ll need you there at all times.”
Slowly, she shook her head and whispered, “Oh, my God. What am I doing? Why am I even thinking about this? It’s insane. I can’t have sex with three men at the same time. I can’t live with you guys and be some sort of sex toy.”
“Is your answer no?” Logan asked, a bit too brusque for Connor’s liking. He wanted to slap his brother across the head.
Lexie looked away and mumbled, “It should be no. And then I should sue all three of you for sexual harassment.” She scanned the quiet restaurant. “I bet you guys chose this empty place so there’d be no witnesses to confirm my side of the story either.”
“Lexie…” Logan warned.
She waved a hand. “Hush. Relax. I was just messing with you guys. In all honesty, my answer is I need some time to think this over.” She leaned back in the chair. “Fact of the matter is, as much I thought I disliked you all, I’m a bit…intrigued. Yep, it’s true, Kincaid.” She gazed at them, and Connor knew she was using their last name to refer to them collectively. He couldn’t hold back the grin.
“You guys are attractive, and I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t turned on by the idea. But to actually go through with being your go-to girl, I need to wrap my mind around it some more.”
Her answer was better than he’d expected to hear but still not what he wanted to hear. Deep down, he had imagined her leaving the restaurant and going home with them, maybe even showing off that delectable pussy to them, giving them a glimpse of what was in store.
Since that wasn’t going to happen, he had to find out her plans for the time being. “What are you going to do tomorrow and the day after? You just admitted that you hadn’t eaten since yesterday. Why is that? Isn’t your boss paying you?”
Her jaw tensed, and for a second, Connor wondered if he’d screwed it up by butting into her business, but he was concerned about her, and as of now, anything having to do with Lexie was their number one priority. She played with the straw in her drink and shrugged. “My boss pays me. I used the last of it to give to Frank. I won’t get paid again until next week. I gambled on someone’s honesty and lost. Lesson learned. I’ll be fine.”
“How will you be fine?” Connor asked, grateful that Logan and Owen kept their mouths shut this time.
She gave a wan smile. “Not sure about that, but it seemed like the thing to say.” Her lips spread even wider. “Don’t worry about it, boys. I got myself into this mess, and I’ll just have to ride it out until then. Won’t be the first time.” She winked at them with all the bravado in the world.
But it will be the last time you have to do it alone. He was going to have to take a gamble of his own. “I know you don’t trust Warren, for good reason—but what about us. Do you trust us?”
Suspicion flickered in her eyes, but she nodded all the same. “Yeah, why?”
“Since you’re unsure about whether or not to agree to our arrangement, I think it might be a good idea for you to give us a week. You can come and stay at the ranch for a week, no strings, nothing. Just us hanging out and showing you what we do. You can get to know us better, but most of all, I’d be able to sleep at night without worrying about you.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Is that the distinct sound of pity I hear, Kincaid?”
“Swear to God, no.” He held up a hand to reassure her. “Call it a selfish move if you must because I hope by the end of the week you’ll be begging to stay with us.”
She laughed quietly. “Begging, huh? And what about you guys?” She looked over at Logan and Owen. “Do you want me there? Although I didn’t agree to have sex.”
“We don’t just want you there. It’s where you belong.”
She laid her hand on the table and smiled. “All right. I’m game. So, who’s going to give me the first ride?”
Connor groaned, and from the look of Logan’s taut jawline and Owen rubbing his temple, he knew it was going to be a very long week.
“On a freakin’ horse, I mean!”
Connor scratched his brow. This was going to be one long, horny week spent jacking off if Lexie didn’t watch what she said.
Chapter Five
“Five more minutes,” Lexie whispered beneath her breath. All throughout the evening, Anna-Sue and Marissa regurgitated the details from the party. Thanks to the girls, she knew exactly what each of the men wore, entire conversations that took place between them and the Kincaids. Not to mention she now knew the private life of half the residents in Oak Creek.
“Walking home alone again tonight, Alexa?” Marissa nudged Anna-Sue with her elbow while waiting for her to answer.
Lexie pushed an empty box aside. “Why, you offering me a ride?”
Anna-Sue rolled her eyes at that. “Doesn’t anything ever upset you? You walk around the store and the entire town acting as if you couldn’t care less, but everyone knows it’s just a front.”
Smiling, Lexie cocked her head to the side. “Gosh, I had no idea I took up that much space in your head. What can I say? Anyway, if we’re sharing a bit of honesty here, then I have to tell you ladies I’m not walking home alone tonight. Connor Kincaid is picking me up tonight. I'm going to hang out with him and his brothers.” She winked at the girls, uncaring if she sounded like a slut. It was all worth it just by the bug-eyed look on both women.
“That’s such a fucking lie,” Anna-Sue yelled, stomping behind her.
Lexie pushed opened the door, and sure enough, there
was Connor behind the wheel of his F-150 pickup truck. Behind her, she heard the sound of indrawn breaths.
“How do you even know him?”
“We had lunch yesterday.”
Without waiting for Anna-Sue and Marissa to pick up their jaws from the floor, she climbed into the truck and threw her arms around Connor for good measure.
“Shit. You really hate them, huh?” Connor asked when they drove away.
“No, those bitches are more annoying than anything else. Sometimes they’re more of a comic relief.”
Connor chuckled. “I doubt that’s their intention.”
“I know,” she said quietly. Anna-Sue and Marissa didn’t come from rich families, but Lexie supposed it made them feel better because they were slightly above her in the pitiful social ladder of Oak Creek.
When they made the turn onto the ranch, Connor parked the truck and led her toward the front door.
“Logan already dropped by your place to pick up the suitcase you left in the living room.” He grinned at her. “I don’t see any smoke coming from the roof, so I think we might have dinner tonight.”
Once he opened the door, Lexie felt her nerves taking a hold of her. What if this turned out to be a big mistake and ten minutes into her being there they’re ready to call it off. Oh God, that means I actually do want to give this a chance.
Connor shouted for his brothers, and she saw Owen striding into the living room with what looked like specks of flour dusting his jeans. He looked past Connor directly to her, and a huge grin broke across his face.
“I thought you’d never get here.” He grabbed her up into a big hug and brushed his lips with an agonizing slowness across her cheek. Heat spiraled into her lower belly at the feel of Connor’s eyes on her back, witnessing the kiss from Owen. I’m as twisted as they are.
“Where’s Logan?” Lexie asked, looking around.
“Logan is right here.” A rich timbre sounded from the staircase.
She whipped her head to the side. Logan looked so good standing there in white, loose-fitting pants and a blue button-down shirt. His hair looked damp and slightly ruffled, as if he’d just gotten out of the shower.
“Hi,” Lexie greeted, baffled by the sudden huskiness to her voice. Connor and Owen made her feel at ease, but something about Logan made her feel almost insecure, girlish, more so now that she was on his turf.
“Are we going to eat or what?” Connor asked.
They took off into the large dining room where it looked as if Owen had been busy prepping the table for dinner. Breaded chicken served with mushrooms and rice.
Sitting with the men, Lexie observed in silence as they went off into discussion about what each of them was doing or planned on doing for the week. She understood the first sentence until they mentioned cattle branding. She was utterly lost by the time they launched into talks of machinery, making her question her decision by the second. What on earth would she have in common with them? The only thing they had in common so far was that all four of them owned a pair of boots.
She cleared her throat and tapped a finger on the table. “Who am I sleeping with tonight?” That’ll get their attention.
Their eyes collided with hers. Lexie groaned inwardly, and her pussy clenched. There was no virtue in forced celibacy. None at all, especially when the solution to her curiosity was within reach.
“Would you like to see your room?”
Ah, yeah, Logan. “I would. It’s not in the basement, is it?”
Logan glowered at her and Lexie grinned. “You have got to lighten up. I was only joking. I know Connor and Owen have my back.” She glanced over at the two. “Am I right?”
“We could always shove Logan down there if it would make you feel better,” Owen teased.
Logan rolled his eyes and pushed out of his chair. “Follow me, Lexie.”
Lexie wagged her finger at Owen and Conner. “That’s a shame. I happen to like your brother. No one’s going to throw Logan in the basement as long as I’m around.”
She looked at Logan and saw his lips twitching as if he was fighting back a smile. “That’s kind of you. I’ll have to remember your defense of me for future records.”
“I hope you do.” She followed Logan up the stairs and down the same hallway he’d led her to a week ago to his office. Along the way, Logan pointed out which room belonged to each of them.
“This one’s yours.”
The door opened, and Lexie drew in a breath. She wasn’t sure what to expect, but whatever it was, this was a hundred times better. An oversize bed stood in the middle, nightstand tables on either side, each decorated with a vase of fresh flowers, the scent filling her nostrils. The best, the bed linen was in her favorite shade of purple— lilac. Did they know?
“Whose room was this?”
“It belonged to no one before you. It was a guest room that’s never really been used.”
“What about the sheets? Lilac is my favorite color.”
Logan blushed, and it warmed her right down to her toes. “The three of us went out and bought some items to decorate the room for you. You always wear that lilac clip in your hair, and you had some things in your house…” He coughed into his fist. “It was a lucky guess.”
Without thinking, Lexie rose up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his for a quick kiss. “That was very thoughtful and sweet.”
Nodding, Logan stepped away as if he was uncomfortable. Lexie tried not to smile. Instead, she decided to speak in earnest. “I’m going to kiss Connor and Owen, too.” Despite the fact that they all seemed to be in agreement with sharing her, Lexie had to see for herself if they were going to be dealing with issues of jealousy or become angry with her for dividing her attention, if she agreed to it.
His lips quirked and a firm hand brushed along her cheek. “I have no problem with you kissing them, honey. Just don’t expect me to do it, too.”
Lexie giggled. “Not my type of kink.”
Logan gave her a full-on smile and, God help her, a wink. Biting her lips, Lexie knelt in front of her suitcase, popping it open. Logan was making her blood boil, meaning she needed to put some space between them.
“Did it make you feel special that I trusted you with the key to my house?” She looked up at him and saw the smile still in place. That had to be the longest she had ever seen Logan look anything other than ill-tempered.
“It did, but I’d like for you to trust me with a lot more than the key to your house.”
She pulled out the camisole and shorts she usually slept in. Peering up at Logan, she grinned, “Uh-uh. You want me to trust you with my heart and body, Logan?”
His eyes darkened, and he gave her a deep, penetrating look. “I’d like nothing more.”
Lexie gulped. Logan was staring at her as if he could see right down to her soul. Terrifying and thrilling.
“Is that what your brothers want from me, too?”
“You can ask them yourself, but I have no doubt they feel the same about you as I do.”
She stood with the clothes bundled in her hands. “All these years I had hoped for just one decent guy to ask me out, and now it looks like within twenty-four hours, I managed to get my hands filled with three.” Lexie pressed her hands to Logan’s chest. “Fact of the matter, Kincaid, is that I can see myself being attracted… No, scratch that, I am attracted to all of you. How far that’ll go? I’m not sure. Can I promise love? I don’t know. That emotion and I parted ways a long time ago. It’s going to take a while for us to get reacquainted. What I can promise you, however, is to give this a real shot. Obviously, that doesn’t mean I’m about to spread my legs for you guys tonight, but as of right now, I feel less empty than I’ve felt since my mom died.”
Logan circled his arm around her waist and kissed the top of her head. “Tonight will be a good night for us—with you here. Get some sleep, honey. Connor and Owen will show you around the ranch in the morning.”
“You’re not coming with us?”
; She heard him chuckle above her and felt his huge chest expand. “I take care of the business end of the ranch and the factory. My brothers make sure everything on the ranch runs smooth each day and manage the ranch hands. That’s not to say those two can outride me. I wish I had more time to spend out there, but most days I’m up to my neck in paperwork.”
“Oh.”
Lexie felt bad for him. While Connor and Owen got to bask in the fresh Wyoming air, doing what they loved, Logan had to be alone inside working to ensure everything stayed on track.
He cupped her chin, urging her to look at him. “Do you think I’m boring compared to my brothers because I’m not out there sweating and working with my hands?”
Lexie rolled her eyes. “Yes, so boring, in fact, that I was contemplating to ask you if you needed help with all that boring paperwork. You know, to save you from yourself.”
His eyes narrowed and he released her chin. “You want to help me in the office?”
She lifted a shoulder. “Yeah, sure. Why not? It’s not like branding cattle or roping a steer appeals to me anyway.” She moved away from him and threw herself on the bed, arms folded behind her head. “Plus, if we close the deal on our arrangement, wouldn’t you like to have your little pet by your feet calculating figures or whatever it is you business types do?”
Logan rubbed his jaw and stared at her, his gaze heated. “That’s quite a suggestion. I’m surprised I didn’t think of it first.”
She leapt off the bed and charged in front of him. “Get that off your mind, Kincaid. There’s no fucking way I’m going to sit by your feet while you work. Not even in your dreams.”
He smiled again. “I was giving you a taste of your own medicine,” he said, lowering his head to press his lips to hers. “I’ll expect you to kneel in front of me while I work. Goodnight.” The door clicked behind him.
Lexie stood with her mouth agape staring at the spot where he’d stood. Dear God, why the hell was she disappointed he hadn’t gone into explicit details with her? Sick, Lexie. You are one sick and horny woman.