Three Shifters for Sarah (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour)

by Dani April

  Three Shifters for Sarah

  Sarah Winter is on vacation in Montana. During her stay, she falls in love with not one, but three handsome cowboys. One night she spies the men turning into wolves before her eyes and comes to realize that love between a human and three shape-shifters can never be. So fleeing back to her home in New York, she vows to forget the men.

  But the shifters have other plans. They have chosen her as their mate and won’t give up until she surrenders. One by one they travel to New York to make her fall in love with them again.

  TJ Hawkin is eager and headstrong. Lance Bowie has known loss in his life the same as Sarah. Ryan McCloud, the Alpha, has already put his mating mark on her.

  Sarah will have to overcome the different world the men come from. They are cowboys and she has a life in Manhattan. They are shape-shifters and she is only human.

  Genre: Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Shape-shifters, Western/Cowboys

  Length: 60,316 words

  THREE SHIFTERS FOR SARAH

  Dani April

  MENAGE AMOUR

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

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  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  IMPRINT: Ménage Amour

  THREE SHIFTERS FOR SARAH

  Copyright © 2013 by Dani April

  E-book ISBN: 978-1-62242-315-6

  First E-book Publication: February 2013

  Cover design by Christine Kirchoff

  All cover art and logo copyright © 2013 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

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  THREE SHIFTERS FOR SARAH

  DANI APRIL

  Copyright © 2013

  Chapter One

  Sarah was singed with an instant attraction for the men. Maybe it was because she was on the first day of her vacation and felt giddy and carefree. Or perhaps it was the high altitude of the ranch in Montana she was staying at. Whatever it was, uncharted territory had been entered, and she knew she had never felt anything like this before.

  Three cowboys were in the corral putting on a show for the gathered crowd. A bucking, untamed bronco was giving them the challenge of their life. One cowboy was riding the wild horse while the other two stood by with ropes ready for a strategic lasso of the angry brute. All in all the three cowhands made quite a team, and a whole lot of eye candy in those tight, dusty jeans.

  The cowboy riding the stallion into submission looked at Sarah with the truest blue eyes she had ever seen. She didn’t imagine it. He actually picked her out of the several dozen faces watching him from the crowd. Though he rode the back of a mean animal intent on throwing him off its back, the cowboy’s gaze was steady, and his eyes locked with hers for a second that seemed to go on forever.

  Quickly the horse was brought to obedience under the calm stewardship of the three trusty men. The crowd gave their applause, and the cowboys tipped their hats politely in acknowledgment, one of them offering up the exaggerated bow of a showman.

  The spectacle ended with the horse prancing in high-step fashion along the fence containing the crowd. The kids were even encouraged to lean across and give it a pat or two.

  Sarah approached a young boy who obviously worked there from his white Stetson and the blue kerchief around his neck, the uniform of choice at the guest ranch. “I’m looking for someone who can verify my vouchers from the travel agency that booked my cabin here at the guest ranch. I just checked in, and the lady at the front desk told me I could find the owners down here at the horse show.”

  “Howdy, ma’am.” The young kid tipped his hat in a gentlemanly fashion to Sarah. “Can I help get your bags down to your cabin?”

  “No thank you.” Sarah gave him a smile. “I already got myself settled in. The only problem I have is that I was promised two free nights in the travel package I bought from the agency that booked me here. They gave me these vouchers. But the lady at the front desk said she didn’t know anything about that and suggested I come down here and find the owners.”

  “Sure thing, ma’am.” The boy returned her smile eagerly. Everyone out here was so friendly and polite, making her feel like she had gone back in time to a more gentle and honest era. Sarah loved it, and she had only just arrived.

  The boy pointed straight down the fence. “Those are the owners over there.”

  Sarah did a double take. He had pointed to the three cowboys who had just finished with the show.

  “I’m sure they can fix you right up. Come on over, and I’ll introduce you.”

  “No. That’s all right.” Sarah begged off. “Thanks for your help. I wouldn’t want to interrupt them right now. They seem awfully busy.”

  As if she were a moth drawn to a flame, Sarah walked the length of the fence headed toward the three cowboys. One of them was hamming it up and signing autographs for his newly made fans, the other was seeing to the well-being of the horse that had played such a pivotal role in their show, and the third was shouting orders to some of the cowhands.

  When Sarah got close the men stopped what they were doing and fixed her with three hard stares. Again she knew she was not imagining this reaction from the men. They really were staring at her. For some unknown reason they had picked her o
ut of their crowd of admirers, and now the focus of their world was on her.

  Sarah felt her legs turn to spaghetti as she stepped fully up to them. They were still on the opposite side of the fence from her, and she was just as glad. She needed the wooden shingles of the fence to serve as a barrier between her and the electric energy thrown off those three wild cowboys. Seen up close for the first time it struck her they were every bit as untamed as the stallion they had just bested.

  “My name’s Sarah Winter,” she started. There was a frog in her throat. Her voice sounded too husky, and she felt the need for a glass of water. “Sorry to bother you guys,” she started over. “I was told one of you was the owner of the guest ranch, and I happen to be a guest here. I just checked in.”

  “Welcome to the Circle T, miss.” The cowboy who had ridden the horse reached across the fence and took her hand. It was a simple gesture meant to welcome her to their ranch, but their skin touched for a tad too long, and electric sparks jumped down Sarah’s arm. “My name’s Ryan McCloud and this here is Lance Bowie and TJ Hawkin. All three of us own the Circle T. How can we be of assistance to you?”

  Sarah explained what her problem was with the voucher and the two free night’s stay in her cabin. She felt like a teenager again when she spoke with the cowboys. She stuttered and stammered and could hardly form a coherent sentence.

  “Don’t worry about a thing,” Ryan assured her and put her instantly at ease. “We’ll take care of everything.”

  She tried to hand him over the vouchers, but her palms were sweaty, and she felt embarrassed.

  “That’s not necessary. You have two of your nights here free,” Ryan told her, and Sarah’s vacation had begun. “Welcome to the Circle T guest ranch.”

  * * * *

  The Alpha’s gaze trailed after Sarah’s departing form. The round curve of her ass beneath her jeans drew his attention. Hers was a spectacular female form. A woman like this could be trouble for Ryan and his two Betas. Yet he couldn’t pull his eyes from Sarah’s retreat back across the rolling pasture.

  “Take Black Bart back to the stables, Mac.” Ryan handed the reins of the horse to one of his cowhands.

  “Yes, Mr. McCloud,” the cowhand answered, taking the bridle and leading the horse away.

  “She’s the one.” TJ was full of testosterone and raring to go after her. He and Lance were now left alone with Ryan, the crowd and cowhands having cleared out of the corral.

  “Could be,” Ryan admitted noncommittally and pushed his Stetson back on his brow to wipe at some sweat beading on his skin.

  “That woman isn’t one of us.” Lance was the cautious Beta. Always somewhat of a pessimist, he served as a counterpoint to TJ’s gung-ho personality. “If we get involved with her it will end badly.”

  TJ scoffed at Lance and gave him a rough pat on the shoulder. “Tell me you didn’t want to rip her clothes off her snug little body the moment you caught wind of her scent?”

  “Stop thinking with that big cock of yours,” Lance scolded TJ. “The three of us are in a position of responsibility. We have to think for the pack and not just ourselves.”

  Even though they loved each other like brothers, and actually were half-brothers, Lance and TJ were always at each other’s throats and never agreed on a single issue. Now both men looked to their Alpha to resolve their latest and potentially most important dispute.

  Ryan readjusted his Stetson and nibbled on a bit of prairie grass he had plucked from the soil as he pondered their conundrum. By this time Sarah had disappeared back into the north pasture where the guest cabins housed the tourists. He could think more clearly without the alluring scent of the woman to distract his thoughts now. But his gut still clenched from the sensation he’d gotten when he touched her hand a moment before. It was like Sarah Winter had just fallen out of the big Montana sky overhead and right into their laps. She was so very dangerous for them all.

  “I always told you two we’d meet our mate someday if we were patient. All good things come to the man who waits.”

  “I’m not going to be patient anymore.” TJ pounded a leather-gloved fist into his palm. “I’m tired of waiting. I say we claim her as ours tonight.”

  Ryan ignored his friend’s enthusiasm as his mind worked. Suddenly there were a million problems facing them and a million more reasons why the three of them should not pursue the gorgeous and sexy woman who had just checked into their ranch.

  “She’s going to be a guest out here for the next week,” Ryan reminded TJ. “That gives us plenty of time with her. We’re going to have to be patient a little longer.”

  “I don’t like it,” Lance spoke up. His face was long and lined with worry. “We don’t even know this woman. She’s probably from the city, and city women are the worst kind. They’re opinionated and judgmental and wouldn’t have an inkling of understanding about a shifter-pack Alpha and his two Betas.”

  “So you’re telling me you didn’t feel anything when you scented her?” TJ raised his voice with obvious passion and lust.

  “I know we’re letting our animal sides control us this time just because we’ve sniffed a pussy we’d all like to fuck. Let’s act like men and not wolves for a change.”

  “You haven’t been laid in a long time, my friend.” TJ waved off Lance’s sour disposition with a smile and a laugh. “Maybe you should go into town tonight and visit the whore house so you can remember what it’s like.”

  “I’m a Beta of this pack and so are you. We don’t visit brothels. Get your mind out of the gutter.”

  “Relax, man, it was just a joke.”

  Ryan watched silently as the two went at it. As Alpha his role was often to just stay quiet and listen and then keep his own counsel. His critics in the pack accused him of being the strong, silent type, but he knew that’s what made him an effective Alpha and would one day make him a good mate to a woman.

  Lance claimed his attention with a menacing leer. “Look, Ryan, I’m thinking about the woman. I admit I felt my heart go into my throat when I saw her, too. But that’s why I’m thinking about what would be best for her. She doesn’t want to get mixed up with all three of us. We can’t do that to her. She’s not one of us, and she couldn’t accept us.”

  “I appreciate your concern. You’re a wise man.” Ryan had been swayed more than once by the sensitive side of his dour Beta. “But are you a strong enough man to resist the future we could have if we were lucky enough to win her as ours?”

  Lance looked down at the prairie grass growing around his boots. Ryan could see his countenance shift beneath the brim of his Stetson. “I’ll admit she is very tempting. It would be so easy to let down my guard and fall in love with her.”

  Ryan patted Lance on the shoulder. “As your Alpha I’m giving you permission to care for this woman.”

  “But we’re going to have to keep secrets from her. We can’t tell her everything. If she knew what we were and exactly what we want from her, she would run for the hills.”

  TJ, ever the optimist, approached and threw an arm around both men, a wicked grin exposing his white, shiny teeth. “We have a week to win her. Let’s not waste any time.”

  Chapter Two

  Sarah was surprised when she got a dinner invitation from Ryan that night. Surprised and a little flattered. After all he was not only the owner of the ranch, he was also the cutest cowboy she had ever seen.

  Even so she almost declined his offer. She was from New York City and was just trying to get away from all the hustle and bustle and enjoy nature for a week. What business did she have getting involved with a cowboy no matter how good-looking he was?

  Then she reminded herself it was just a harmless dinner and Ryan seemed like he might be good company. It wasn’t like it was a date or anything. Although it had been so long since she’d been on a real date she didn’t even know if she could remember what form one would take.

  When she got to the big backyard behind the main house all the other guests were present.
It was a barbeque and the aroma of the sauce floated on the fresh evening air of the prairie and made Sarah’s mouth water. The sun was just about to fall beneath the plane of the mountains to the west, and the sky above had turned purple. It was all very beautiful, and Sarah was glad she had come.

  “I hope you don’t mind that these two cowpokes tagged along with me tonight.” Ryan greeted her and indicated Lance and TJ who were trailing him. Ryan gave her a friendly smile and regarded her for a second. “You certainly look beautiful tonight, Sarah.”

  Sarah almost blushed. His compliment was given away so honestly she didn’t know what to say. “Thank you,” she settled on. She had actually worn the best blouse she had brought with her for the occasion, and it was nice someone had noticed.

  Everything was available buffet style. There were ribs, chicken, fish, potatoes, green beans, and coleslaw, and it was all you could eat. Sarah topped off her plate and then sat down at the end of a long table. She sat between Lance and TJ, and Ryan sat directly across from her. Other ranch guests were also seated at that table, but Sarah didn’t notice them. For the duration of dinner her world revolved around the three cowboys, and they heaped every ounce of their attention on her.

  “I’m from New York City,” she explained to them as they began to introduce themselves properly.

  “It must be a great place to live,” TJ told her. She was learning he was the charming one of the three, always joking, never serious, and so generous with his handsome smile that Sarah was sure must have made all the local girls melt. It damn near made her melt.