Chloe's Double Draw [King's Bluff, Wyoming] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour)

by Fiona Archer

  “The place looks great. The high school kids did a fabulous job decorating.” Purdy swept a curl out of her eye. “Mom told me Noah and some other King family members are paying a social worker to be here for the kids and to run the program.”

  The muscles in Chloe’s stomach dipped and flipped at the mention of Noah. Tall. Commanding. Strong. That was Noah. And, then there was Flynn. A scoundrel who’d have her trussed up in rope quicker than she could scamper away. Uh-huh, now she just had to breathe.

  She grabbed the next DVD in the pile and flipped over the cover, paying little attention as her mind wandered. Noah and Flynn chasing her into a barn, Flynn twirling a lasso in the air, the cinch of the rope as it landed around her chest and—

  Her mind snapped back to the cover in front of her. Was that…? Oh, yeah, it sure was. She choked on a burst of laughter, then darted her gaze around the room. No looks. Phew.

  “What?” Purdy raised her brows.

  Mindful of any passing teenagers, Chloe slid the DVD case facedown over the carpet to her friend’s lap.

  Purdy scanned the cover before she, too, laughed aloud.

  Chloe leaned forward and whispered. “I know this is a freewheeling town, but somehow I don’t think ‘The Story of O’ will make Reverend Nicholl’s list of acceptable teenage entertainment.”

  “Hey, you never know what goes on down in the vestry after dark. It’s probably his copy.” Purdy snapped her fingers, triumph shining bright in her eyes. “I know! I bet it belongs to Pete Jenkins. He and Marge had a fight last week. She’d cleaned out one of their spare rooms. He was in the diner, whining about it when I went in for a slice of pie last night. Ha! I’m guessing she just threw it all in the box.”

  “Well, it can’t stay here. So, you’ll return it to him?” Please lord, she’d die if she had to do it herself.

  “Nope, I’ll hand it over to Marge. She’ll blackmail him for sex to get it back.” Purdy stuffed the DVD into her handbag then returned to sorting the piles.

  Chloe could only shake her head. Such was life in King’s Bluff.

  “So, we haven’t had a chance to catch up since the dance…” Purdy’s voice held the thread of anticipation.

  Here it comes. Chloe watched her friend studying CD covers. “Yeah, well I guess we’ve both been busy.”

  Like trying to do a month’s worth of lesson plans in one week. Anything to distract her from thinking about two cowboys…

  “Uh-huh. Well, you were certainly busy Saturday night after I moved away and left you alone with Noah and Flynn.”

  “Well, we talked.”

  “Oh, come on.” Purdy leaned forward, eyes bright. “They sat you down, surrounded you, and did everything but hog-tie you to keep you there. And don’t think I was the only one who noticed. The whole town’s talking about how they wouldn’t leave you alone.” A big smile lit up her face.

  Great. This was all she needed. “Well, sorry to disappoint everyone, but there’ll be no more announcements on the dating life of Chloe Morgan, at least not for a while.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Just that. I have no plans to date Noah and Flynn, either together or separately.” So why did her words leave a hollow ache in her chest?

  Purdy reached over and gave Chloe’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “Sweetie, if you’re worried about what people might say, then don’t be. As if Noah and Flynn would tolerate anybody bad-mouthing you, not that I can imagine that happening. I’m guessing the guys told you how accepting people are here?” After receiving Chloe’s nod, she continued.

  “You wouldn’t be the first woman here to date two men. And you’ve seen the men and women living in same-sex relationships, right?”

  “I have,” Chloe said. “But no, that’s not it, at least not entirely. I admit I was curious about the whole ‘this is a relaxed town’ thing,”—she waved her hand—“so I visited Reagan at the library Monday afternoon, and she showed me the town’s charter and some articles written by citizens over the decades. And, okay, if your choice of lifestyle doesn’t hurt anyone, is fully consensual, and you’re prepared to live by the rules, King’s Bluff puts out the welcome mat. It all sounds great.” Chloe shrugged.

  “So what’s the problem then?”

  “I just don’t want to date right now.” Wow, that sounded pathetic even to her ears. What could she say? She couldn’t run the risk of them finding out her past. Yeah, that would work. Avoiding Purdy’s gaze, she watched students stack shelves with donated books and magazines.

  “You’re fobbing me off, girlfriend.” All signs of teasing were wiped from Purdy’s face. “I know we’re relatively new friends, and I recognize you keep your cards close to your chest, but I think enough of you to say something. Bear with me here, okay?”

  Oh, she so didn’t want to do this, but how could she back out without hurting Purdy’s feelings? At her friend’s encouraging smile, Chloe gritted her teeth and nodded.

  “May the Lord strike me down if I’m wrong, and you can deny it all you like, but even a blind man could see the attraction Noah and Flynn feel for you was mutual. Why don’t you allow yourself to see what develops? You never know, honey. You just might find these men are exactly what you’re craving.”

  “Some cravings are bad for you, remember?”

  “Yeah, but these boys are like chocolate, just different side effects. Rich and sinful for sure, but instead of putting the pounds on, they’ll be taking them off with all that catch-me-if-you-can play time.” Purdy’s laughter spread across the room. A group of teenagers looked over, and the blonde pixie waved them away with a smile.

  Chloe rolled her eyes. Nothing was going to stop Purdy’s digging until she threw her friend a bone. Taking a breath, she dived right in.

  “You’re right. I’ll admit on the surface, I’m attracted to them both.”

  Purdy opened her mouth.

  “Stop.” Chloe held up her hand and waited until her friend settled back down, pout and all. “But, past the packaging, they’re a little too ‘alpha’ for me, too commanding. I don’t like my men or my coffee that strong.”

  As soon as the words were out, Purdy’s face broke into a smile. “That’s not the impression I got. I’d have thought they were just right.”

  “Well, Goldilocks, your impression was wrong,” she snapped before she could stop herself. “Not everybody likes to be under the control of a couple of sexy Dominants.”

  “Dominants…interesting choice of words. You’ve been researching, huh?”

  Oh, yes. Thank God, their friend Reagan, the town librarian, pointed her in the right direction. Then again, like Purdy, she’d grown up in this town. “Reagan mentioned that’s what Noah and Flynn were known as, and that the woman they would want was termed a sub. I downloaded stuff from the Internet. I’m not that woman, Purdy.”

  “You’re right about one thing, they are sexy Dominants. However, you’re either delusional or flat-out lying to yourself if you think you’re not the submissive for them. From the beginning, I spotted the connection. But hey.” She paused, lifting her hands up in mock surrender. “I’ll let you find that out for yourself. I’ll stand by whatever decision you make.”

  Chloe mulled over her friend’s words. Purdy had scored a bull’s-eye in guessing Chloe’s submissive tendencies. Fantasies of herself overpowered and dominated by one, or even two, masterful cowboys were one thing. Living it out in real life was just too much.

  Chloe’s mind snapped back to Noah’s dark warning in the parking lot. A shiver raced along her spine. If they had their way, it wouldn’t be long before Noah and Flynn took that choice away from her, turning fantasy into reality.

  Chapter Four

  Chloe took another sip from the lumberjack-sized mug of coffee that was the standard at Penny’s Diner. The rich, warm liquid helped to chase away the chill left from the cold November winds. She breathed out a gentle sigh and settled against the red horseshoe-shaped booth.

  Anticipation of her ri
tual Saturday morning eggs and mushrooms made her mouth water. She glanced at her watch. Nine-thirty and the diner’s rush crowd had cleared. With a sip of her coffee, she surveyed the other customers. A few recognized her, nodding or smiling their greeting. She smiled in return. The warm glow of hope spread in her chest. Acceptance was earned in a close-knit town. It would come. It had to.

  She picked up her copy of the King’s Bluff Gazette and scanned a story on the Youth Café. The reporter highlighted the work of the volunteers and raved about the café. She had to stop herself from yelling out a hoot of joy. Such publicity could help—

  “Morning, Chloe, mind if we join you?”

  Her head snapped up. Noah stood next to her table, tall and proud. He stared at her with a kind of fixed energy, as if she was the only person in the room. Her mouth went dry. A hot streak of awareness shot through her body. Jeez, one look and she was toast.

  She forced herself to look away. There was no reprieve. Her gaze collided with Flynn’s. Eyes the color of a turbulent sea studied her with a burning intensity, as if they could see through to her soul and strip away her secrets with the same ease as he’d peel the skin off a piece of fruit. A slow smile spread over his face. It did nothing to soften the overall image of a lethal predator. Her pulse leapt up a gear. She licked her lips. Where was her glass of water?

  Without giving her a chance to reply, the men moved with that deceptive grace she’d come to recognize, sliding their large frames into either side of the booth, blocking off any avenue of escape.

  Cornered. A flare of panic jarred Chloe.

  “It’s bad manners not to wait for an answer.” She lifted her chin. Damned if she’d roll over like an eager puppy.

  “We call it a preemptive strike.” Flynn’s mouth twitched.

  She narrowed her eyes as she tapped the toe of her booted foot against the floor. Would she dare? A kick to the shin might be childish, sure, but—

  “Whatever you’re thinking, little one, you’d best stop right now.” Noah lifted one eyebrow. His powerful stare ignited a throb of need between her legs.

  “What are you talking about?” She made a fuss of folding the Gazette. How could he know? His indigo gaze was too perceptive for her peace of mind. But that didn’t stop her from noticing how it matched the blue in his checked flannel shirt.

  “Your face gives you away, Chloe. Don’t forget, my life depended on my ability to read people’s reactions. Same goes for Flynn. You’d do well to remember that, luv.”

  “Look who walked into my diner and made themselves welcome at Chloe’s table no less. Seems I’ve lost two admirers. Coffee, boys?” Penny Gordon, chief waitress and owner of the diner, along with her two husbands, Ryan and Parker, winked at Chloe and placed mugs on the table. She poured more of the rich brew from the pot in her other hand. Sixty, if she was a day, with ruby-red hair teased to withstand a tornado’s fury and wearing enough blue eye shadow to put a showgirl to shame, the woman possessed one of the biggest hearts Chloe had ever encountered.

  “Penny, you know if it weren’t for those two ugly buggers you call husbands, Noah and I would carry you off quicker than a bride’s nightie.” Flynn’s eyes twinkled and his smile, the way it curved up at the corners of his mouth, made a girl want to lick his lips with the tip of her tongue and—

  Okay, stop!

  She snapped her eyes shut and counted to ten. What an idiot. They’d invaded her breakfast and now she wanted to get up close and personal with Flynn?

  Penny’s hearty chuckle dragged her back to the conversation. Opening her eyes, Chloe could feel Noah’s watchful gaze where he sat on her left. She refused, absolutely refused, to look his way.

  “You’re a born charmer, Flynn. I swear, given half a chance you’d have every woman in town following you like you were some Casanova Pied Piper.” Penny turned to face Chloe. “You need to watch these two, honey. Flynn here will distract you with his charm while Noah sneaks up and captures you before you have a clue what’s going on.” The older woman’s gaze sharpened, flicking from Chloe to both men. “Then again, my advice might be a little too late.”

  Chloe’s heart rate spiked. Captured by Noah? It was bad that her nipples turned hard at the thought, right?

  “A woman’s not caught until she raises the flag of surrender, Penny. I don’t see a white handkerchief flying above me.” Chloe wanted to punch her fist in the air. Strong voice, no nervous crackle. Amazing what scrunching your toes and hoping for the best could do.

  “Careful, luv, you don’t want to pull the tiger’s tail. He may bite back.” Flynn’s steely threat made her pussy tingle. There it was again, her damn traitorous body doing its own happy dance at his dominant tone.

  She opened her mouth and was about to tell Flynn where the tiger could shove its tail when a childlike yelp of delight carried across the diner. Calliope Gordon, nine years old and as precocious as they come, scampered toward Chloe’s booth.

  Chloe smiled at the pigtailed munchkin who, like all of her students, had wormed a spot in her heart.

  “Miss Morgan, you came for breakfast. Grandpa Ryan told me you’d come.” Eyes wide with excitement, Calliope whirled around and faced a man who followed with a tray laden with plates of food. “You were right, Grandpa. She’s here.”

  “Yep, she sure is and sitting right between your two favorite surrogate uncles.” Ryan smiled, his expression indulgent as he gazed at his granddaughter. Ryan and Calliope were so alike, with brunette hair and warm chocolate brown eyes that were always welcoming. The dash of gray at Ryan’s temples propelled him straight into silver fox territory.

  “Hey, Calliope. Gosh, you look so pretty in your pink outfit.” The little girl beamed in delight at Chloe’s compliment, running her hands over the matching pants and top. “You’re helping your grandparents today?” Calliope’s father, Jackson, a widower, worked as a doctor at the town’s clinic.

  “Uh-huh, I’m spending the weekend. I get extra money for helping and um, stuff.” Her elfin face broke out into another smile. “Hi, Uncle Noah. Hi, Uncle Flynn. Hey, you sat with Miss Morgan at the dance. Are you her boyfriends? That’s so neat.”

  “Absolutely.”

  “You betcha.”

  “No!”

  Oh, God, just kill me now.

  Chloe’s face burned red hot. She snapped her gaze between Noah and Flynn. They stared back, neither showing the tiniest bit of shame. Figures. After a deep breath, she faced the still smiling nine-year-old. It didn’t help that both grandparents wore grins the size of Texas.

  She needed to say something before the child ran off and told half the town. “Calliope, I’ve just met Noah and Flynn. I’m not dating these men and they’re not my boyfriends.”

  Flynn fixed her with a hard stare. “Not yet.” He turned to face Calliope. “Come here, I haven’t gotten my hello cuddle.” He scooped the child close and dropped a kiss on her forehead. Amidst giggles and pleas for mercy, he tickled her side before allowing the little girl to break free.

  “G’day, squirt.” Noah wrapped his arms around the bundle of mischief and kissed her cheek.

  Super tough guys reduced to gentle giants by a munchkin. There were so many facets to these men. Face it, girl, you haven’t begun to scratch the surface.

  Noah whispered something in Calliope’s ear. The imp giggled and her cheeks turned as pink as her outfit. She nodded her head in silent agreement. To what, Chloe could only guess. Why did she have the sneaking suspicion it didn’t bode well for her?

  The next moment Calliope looked up at Noah with such trusting adoration, it stole Chloe’s breath. To have such faith in another person, what would that be like?

  Calliope turned a gap-toothed smile toward Penny and grasped her grandma’s free hand, swinging it idly as they stood together. Every few seconds she’d glance at Chloe, then to the men, before gazing at the floor and smiling. Oh yeah, not good. Not good at all.

  “Calliope, let’s leave these fine people to their breakfast. You
r grandpa’s standing around with their order.” With a wave, Penny and Calliope headed back to the counter.

  Ryan stepped in, placing food before all three occupants. Chloe pushed the newspaper to the front of the table. Her stomach growled as her order of scrambled eggs and mushrooms sat before her, with hot buttered toast on the side. Monday to Friday’s breakfast consisted of yogurt or cereal. No contest as far as her taste buds—

  Hang on. Had she missed something? She glanced at the meals in front of Noah and Flynn.

  “You have your orders already?” She studied two plates piled high with eggs, bacon, sausage, grilled tomato, and toast.

  Ryan’s soft chuckle snagged her attention. He slid the paper further away from Chloe, making way for a small jar with no label, its contents nearly black in color. “Guys, if I didn’t have a kitchen to run, I’d stay around to watch how this turns out. I reckon Chloe might give you a run for your money.” With that, he turned, leaving his two friends to face her on their own.

  Noah sprinkled pepper over his eggs, his moves unhurried. “Ryan knows our usual order. And before you ask how he guessed we’d be stopping by, we’d arranged for him to ring us when you came in this morning.”

  “You planned this?” Shock and, if she was honest, excitement filled her, warring with her constant need for distance.

  “Right.” Noah scooped some egg onto his fork, then lifted his gaze to hers. “We’re a couple of stubborn bastards, Chloe. Best you know that from the start.”

  “We plan to wear down your resistance one way or another.” Flynn nodded before taking a bite of his bacon.

  “Well, in the interests of full disclosure, maybe you can tell me how many people in town you’re going to involve in whatever scheme you’ve devised to get me on a date.”

  Noah lowered his knife and fork and captured her left hand in both of his. He turned her hand over, exposing the soft cushion of her palm. His finger circled her sensitive flesh. His touch was firm. He wanted her to feel his strength. Somehow, she found that reassuring even as her pulse went all giddyup.