Love in Montana

by Lexi Buchanan

  “I’m tired.” Aiden sighed. “When I’m over there it’s constant. No privacy and, in truth, I hate that part of it.” He threw his head against the back of the sofa and stared up at the ceiling. “I think I’ve finally grown up, Eric. I think I’ve finally had enough of living out of hotel rooms. Of not being able to take a woman on a date without having cameras shoved in our face. I think I’m starting to want peace, and the only place that I can think of getting it is Montana.”

  “I don’t know what to say.” And he really didn’t. Aiden had always been the one brother that he thought would never throw in the towel. But he guessed none of them were married, so what the hell did he know.

  “I might feel differently after I’ve spent time at home, but only time will tell.” Aiden drained his coffee and leaned forward to place the empty cup onto the coffee table. “I’m going to head off. My flight leaves in a few hours. I just wanted to see you first.”

  Eric stood and pulled his brother up and into his arms for a brotherly hug. “You know where I am if you need me, right?” he whispered.

  “Yeah,” Aiden replied, his voice strained. He cleared his throat, and added, “Go after your woman, Eric. Life’s too short to let things slip by.”

  After Aiden had left, it took a long time for him to settle with his brother’s words still ringing in his ears.

  Chapter Six

  Sylvia tried to stretch out her aching muscles while she sat on the yoga mat in the living room of her apartment. The small space was shared with her best friend, Talya, but it never felt cramped like it was right now. She just needed to clear her head of the note she had found in her locker last night, which had been forgotten once she’d been with Eric.

  Finding the note had shocked her because it meant that whoever had slipped it into her locker had easy access to backstage. At first, the notes hadn’t bothered her, but with the frequency they were arriving, they’d started to frighten her. The writing that had started neat, had begun to look scrawled as though he was angry with her. Talya urged her to tell Yuri, but she hadn’t.

  At least her worry over the note had managed to take her mind, albeit briefly, away from Eric and her mad dash to get out of his apartment this morning before he woke. The night they’d spent together had been amazing—the best sex she’d had—but when she’d woken up¸ it hadn’t looked good, and her heart had felt battered. No matter how much she wanted it, she knew she’d just become another notch on his bedpost. Or had she? Eric had seemed awfully pissed and possessive over her job at Poles, which gave her pause as to what he really did want with her.

  Her head spun with everything on her mind as she tried to relax in the child’s pose position; drawing in deep cleansing breaths as she did. Nothing was working to clear it.

  She just needed sleep to hopefully put everything into perspective.

  Sliding into the downward dog position, her head pointed toward the floor, she caught sight of her friend coming out of her bedroom with a yawn hidden behind her hand.

  Talya was her best friend and confidante, and she just wished that Talya would confide in her as to what was bothering her. Sylvia had a feeling it was Yuri, the Russian owner of Poles and a few other businesses around Lexington.

  Her friend wouldn’t talk until she was good and ready, though. She’d always been like that. Talya had admitted once that it all stemmed from her upbringing, which she never spoke about.

  “So,” Talya drawled, stretching out on the sofa, “what happened to you last night? Or should I ask who?” She grinned.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She pulled out of the stretch and sat down on the mat, bringing her legs up into the lotus position as she returned Talya’s grin. “Eric happened,” Sylvia admitted. “It just happened. One look from him incinerated my panties.”

  Talya sighed. “I know that feeling.”

  Sylvia raised a brow. “Oh, you do? Something you want to tell me?”

  “Nope.”

  “Let me rephrase that. Something going on between Yuri and you?”

  The teasing of their earlier conversation seemed to leave the room as quickly as the happiness faded from Talya’s face.

  The silence stretched until Talya turned to face Sylvia. “Nothing is going on between us, other than us wanting each other.”

  Sylvia moved and sat on the sofa next to her friend’s hip.

  “You know that we’re both Russian, and that’s the problem. Our families used to be friends and something happened a long time ago that made my otets, father, spread hate for Yuri’s family throughout ours. I grew up knowing that hell would come down on me if I had anything to do with their family. He’d be so angry if he knew that I was working for Yuri, but my father’s reaction to anything else happening between Yuri and I is unthinkable.” Talya wiped at a loose tear running down her face.

  That was the most she’d told Sylvia about her family, or even Yuri. It left Sylvia at a loss for words. Sylva had heard the words muttered in whispered conversation about Yuri and his family, but after she’d met him, she thought that’s all it had been—talk—but maybe not.

  “I’m sorry, Talya. I had no idea.” Her words sounded so lame even to her own ears.

  “I hadn’t told you so how could you have known? It’s okay really. Most days I manage, but recently, we’ve seen each other a lot more than normal and it’s getting to me.” She sighed. “I’ll be okay.”

  “If it’s any consolation, I’m ninety-nine percent sure that Yuri feels the same for you.”

  “I know he does. I might not feel as wretched if I thought he didn’t like me, but knowing that he cares about me as much as I do him hurts when we can’t be together.” Talya shook her head and pulled her legs up to her chin as she curved her arms around them. “Tell me about Eric, please.”

  Sylvia knew her friend was ready for the subject to be changed so she allowed it. She wanted to talk to her more about her problems, but Sylvia could see just how much talk of Yuri had upset Talya. “I’m not sure what, if anything, is happening with Eric. I had an amazing night with him, but I don’t think he’s looking for anything permanent,” she admitted. “He did seem jealous and possessive when he questioned me about working at Poles.” With a heavy sigh, she snuggled down into the sofa, and told her friend, “I want to think that he’ll be back to see me, but I really have no idea. I’m not even sure that I want him to because he’ll only hurt me in the end.”

  “But what if he doesn’t, Sylvia. I’ve only seen him the once, that night at Kenza. He sure as hell was hot for you, and it obviously hasn’t dimmed in the months since. I’d say to give him a chance if he shows up because you might live to regret it if you don’t.” Talya shuffled from the sofa into the kitchen with her Minion slippers on her feet.

  Sylvia smiled as she watched her go, and sighed. She knew without a doubt, if Eric showed up, she’d go out with him again, or just back to his apartment for more hot sex.

  * * * * *

  Sylvia groaned as she walked out of the building to the bright sky outside. The weekend had flown by and the work week had quickly gotten underway. As predicted, she’d been slightly late for work and had to forgo her morning Starbucks. But after her grumpy mood all morning, Sebastian McKenzie had sent her out for a break, and he’d stipulated for her not to return until she had caffeine in her system.

  Which was why she walked across the square to the Starbucks. The Lexington summer had been hot, but as they were getting toward the end of October, she found the temperatures to be more comfortable. It was still warm but the cool autumn mornings and evenings made her ready for pumpkins and hayrides. She could tell from the crispness in the air that they’d be getting snow soon, which she looked forward to. She loved the first snow of the season and being out in the fresh weather.

  She smiled as she stared down at the fair skin on her arms…even in winter; she had to make a morning ritual of slathering on factor 50+ sunblock. That’s what happened when you are gifted with pal
e blonde hair, and fair skin. The freckles that she used to be teased about at school were always more prominent during the summer months, as well. She still wasn’t sure how she felt about that, even after all these years.

  She pushed the thoughts away as she approached her favorite coffee house chain. The store had called her name all the way to her office on the fifteenth floor since she walked in the door.

  Pushing through the door, she closed her eyes and inhaled. A sigh of pleasure escaped her lips. Home.

  “That’s a pretty sigh.”

  Her eyes snapped open.

  “What are you doing here?” she stumbled over her words, surprised to see Eric standing just inside the door.

  He was a handsome man, and he made her heart beat rapidly in her chest with a nervous kind of excitement. Dressed in navy blue slacks and pale blue shirt with his tie already pulled loose, and his sleeves rolled up, he looked extremely sexy. Knowing what he hid beneath his clothes made her mouth water.

  “The same as you,” he replied as a frown marred his brow.

  She stared blankly.

  “To buy coffee,” he clarified, his lips twitched at the corners as he waved his large cup filled with coffee in front of her nose.

  “Oh, um. Okay.” She avoided his searching gaze and knew that her embarrassment would be clear for him to see with the blush she felt creeping up her neck. “I’ll see you around.” She tried to pass but he stepped into her path.

  “Trying to get rid of me?” He cocked a brow. “I’m going to start thinking you no longer like me, although I recall making you scream as you came.”

  The blush darkened her skin even more at his blatant reference to their one night together. She decided to ignore him, and answered sharply, “I haven’t got all day.” She moved toward the line, and looked up at the menu board. Every day she would glance at the menu but then she would order a Latte or Frappuccino.

  “Have you got five minutes to sit with me?” Eric whispered the question against her ear, causing goose bumps to break out along her arms as she jumped in surprise. His lips tickled against her neck before she turned to face him, and found him close. Their lips would meet if she drew in a breath.

  “I don’t—” she started to refuse, still unsure as to what she wanted to do with Eric.

  “Please, Sylvia. Five minutes.”

  How the hell could she refuse him?

  She nodded, and offered a wry smile as he moved slightly away while she ordered her drink.

  Pumpkin spiced latte in hand, she smiled and watched Eric from under her lashes as he led her outside to a table in the shade.

  Eric held a chair out, and once she was seated, he dropped into the one beside hers. She had expected him to sit opposite, but she should have known better.

  “How old are you?”

  Her eyes widened in surprise at his question, but she answered, “Twenty-five.” She took a long drink, and asked, “How old are you?”

  Eric smiled. “A lot older than you,” he sighed, “not just in years.” Something dark passed across his face. “I’m thirty-seven,” he admitted. “Too old for you.”

  He hadn’t sounded too happy about that. Age hadn’t stopped him from taking her with him the other night. Sylvia felt like they’d had a real connection and it wasn’t just sex. With thoughts of that night fresh in her head, she teased, “Twelve-years older isn’t a lot…besides, think of all the things you could teach me.”

  She smirked knowing he hadn’t expected a comeback from her. Everyone thought of her as ‘soft Sylvia’, when she was anything but. Eric should know that by now considering the night they’d spent together.

  “Seen much of Ramon?”

  She was surprised by his drastic change of subject. But as she watched him, he sat back and looked relaxed. She didn’t miss the flex of his fist as he rested his hand on top of his thigh.

  So he wasn’t as relaxed as he’d like her to think.

  He spread his legs and knocked into Sylvia’s. Instead of moving out of the way, she stayed against him and enjoyed the feel of his thigh against hers, and what that did to her body. The tingles shot up her thighs and exploded between her legs.

  She wiggled to ease the ache he’d created and felt like smacking him upside the head when a satisfied grin appeared on his handsome face.

  “I’ve seen Ramon.”

  Eric didn’t have to know that Noah was with him as well.

  “He came to my apartment for dinner a couple of nights ago.”

  Eric turned to look at her, and his eyes burned. He made her nervous when he was like that. No one had ever looked at her as though they wished she belonged to them. She guessed he looked at her as though he was jealous.

  Sighing, she knew she’d have to tell him the truth, at least if she wanted to encourage him. She stared into his eyes and decided that she did. He sometimes appeared vulnerable, and the way he looked at her, although it frightened her, she found it, and him, was exciting.

  “I shouldn’t be here.” Eric stood and hovered over her. “I wish…I wish…” he turned away. “It doesn’t matter.” He turned back and that one look told her she’d hurt an amazing man. “Be careful, Sylvia.”

  She didn’t think, “Wait!” she exclaimed and jumped up after him, grabbing his arm. “There’s nothing between Ramon and me,” she rushed out. “There never really was. When he told me about him and Noah, I wasn’t upset. If anything I was really happy for them. I’m being honest with you, Eric.” She sighed. “He isn’t the one I can’t get out of my head.”

  She held his stare as he stepped into her. He curved his arm around her waist, as she reached up and held on to his biceps, they quivered under her fingers.

  A shiver raced down her spine when he rubbed his whisker-covered jaw against the side of her face, and her panties melted when he whispered, “All I’ve been able to do since the other night is taste you. And smell you on my sheets. I spent the rest of the weekend hard as fuck.”

  She let her lips caress his jaw. “Mmm…did you finish yourself off? Because I would have watched.”

  As his breath caught, she placed a kiss to the strong jaw.

  “You’re playing with fire, little girl,” he growled, tugging her closer.

  She smiled against his heated skin. “There’s nothing little about me,” she rubbed against his erection, “or you.”

  “Fuck, Sylvia.” He turned and dropped his forehead against hers. His hands flexed on her body as she plastered herself against him. “I didn’t intend on putting my hands on you again, but, I can’t resist. You’re too sweet for me.” He looked pained.

  “You’re just the man I need,” she countered. How could he think she was too sweet for him? Eric was in need of someone sweet to take care of him—his ‘manly’ needs. But he was getting under her skin to the point that she’d like to be more than a notch on his bedpost.

  Eric took a deep breath, and then another, before he pushed her away from him. She glanced down and saw the hard ridge in his slacks. He gave a kind of choked laugh, and rearranged himself. A slight blush coated his cheekbones.

  “Go out with me tonight,” he asked.

  Sylvia couldn’t decide whether he wanted her to accept, or not, with his abrupt demand.

  It was the look that quickly passed across his face that decided her answer. “Yes,” she whispered in agreement, unable to refuse him anything. She wanted to spend time with him. She wanted to just be with him. But now that she’d agreed, she wanted him closer. Stepping back into his space, she entwined her fingers with his. She reached up and kissed him—all too briefly—on the lips. Trying to step back, he refused to let her go, and with eyes that sparkled with lust, pulled her against him.

  “Not so fast.”

  His head lowered and her heart felt like it was about to jump out of her chest.

  “Looks like someone’s hot and bothered.”

  Eric cursed, and slowly stepped back. Sylvia found it difficult to meet Ruben’s knowing smirk.


  “Thanks for that, Ruben.”

  Ruben patted Eric on the back. “No trouble.” He turned to her. “Sylvia, we meet again.” He grinned.

  She blushed.

  “Ruben, we really need to stop meeting like this.” She straightened her dress for something to do and met the amusement dancing in his eyes.

  “Yes, we should.”

  “Don’t you have something better to be doing,” Eric grouched at him.

  “Nope. I’m fine right here.”

  Laughing, Sylvia picked up her latte and pushed in her chair. She glanced toward her office building that she’d escaped. She’d told Sebastian that she’d be ten minutes and she’d been gone for thirty.

  “Well, I think I’ll be off.”

  Eric frowned.

  “I still have a few hours of work before I call it a day…So, Ruben, Eric, enjoy the rest of your day.”

  “Bye, Sylvia. You too,” Ruben said.

  Eric added, “I’ll be up to see you soon.”

  Her heart fluttered at the prospect, but she couldn’t keep the grin from her face at the thought of spending the night with the handsome man.

  Chapter Seven

  Hanging up his cell after he’d talked to his brother—Dante—Eric felt unsettled. He’d always managed to stay in touch with his brother, even when they were kids and Dante was away at school.

  Being the eldest, Dante had always tried to keep Eric and their other brothers together, but it wouldn’t always work. They’d been a restless group of boys who’d longed for adventure.

  For the first time, he felt that there was something really bothering his brother, and he had no idea how to help or what the problem was, which was why he felt unsettled.

  Dante was a priest in a small town outside of Denver, and he loved it there. Even though Eric had convinced himself that Dante loved the place he lived more than he did the priesthood. Dante had always been the religious one out of all of them. Much to their mother’s delight, Dante had been an altar boy and always seemed to shy away from girls. Eric didn’t think that his brother was gay, Dante just never seemed interested, but he also didn’t have any inclination to date. It surprised them all when he went off to a private school for boys after their mother had died. He hadn’t lived in the family home since then.