Espino, Stacey - Her Cowboy Triple Team [Ride 'em Hard 4] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (12 page)

He kicked his boot through the side slats of a packing crate, feeling bitter and angry that he wasn’t the one to have returned Kayla’s sweater last night. Would he have been as willing to share with Grant as Ben had? Maybe he wouldn’t have cared about anything else if she’d invited him to her bed. His nights were filled with explicit thoughts of Kayla doing very unladylike things with him. While he expected she’d never be the lusty vixen he envisioned in his dreams, Ben just confirmed she was willing to push the boundaries sexually.

The farm hands pulled into the driveway an hour later. Ben still hadn’t returned. After delegating the work to be done,
Austin
saddled his gelding and decided to take a ride to clear his mind. Riding was his drug of choice. With the wind flowing through his hair, taking his breath away as he galloped the fields, he felt he could do anything. He felt free, unencumbered, no worries or responsibilities. Since his daddy was getting up in years and not in the best of health, all the pressure landed squarely on
Austin
’s shoulders since he was the eldest son. It wasn’t easy being the one looked upon to bring the family business out of ruin and into the next century for future generations.

And what of the next generation? Ben was more concerned with a shapely ass and nice rack than the notion of love and children.
Austin
wasn’t in much better shape, trapped in a male-dominated town. Almost all his father’s friends had sons, the same as him. The only woman Austin and his brother had grown up with was Angel Garner, and nobody even thought of her as a potential mate. She’d essentially been one of the guys, and now even she was a married woman.

Austin
leapt the creek and followed the riverbank at a steady canter. An assortment of birds frolicked at the water’s edge, scattering as he rode by. The day was perfect, not a reflection of his gray mood. The sky was a mix of blues, as wide as the ocean. There had been a high-pressure system in their area for weeks now, no rain in sight. It was one of the many reasons they’d decided to experiment with the new grain. They’d nearly lost the shirts off their backs last season when disease and drought decimated their crops. If it weren’t for their cattle, they’d have lost everything.

The Richmonds were often snubbed by the locals, even by men they called friends. It was jealousy, plain and simple. Since they appeared to have things easier than others and had the largest acreage, people assumed they lived soft, easy lives. It couldn’t be further from the truth. A bigger operation just meant more work. Their momma was ill and their daddy committed to caring for her. It was just Austin and Ben in charge of a massive ranch with an office full of log books, fields as far as the eye could see, and a healthy herd of cattle that needed tending. As with many farmers in the area, wheat was their staple.

Austin
had decided to try the bio-grain. The dealer promised prosperity and worry-free farming, both too tempting to resist. The modified grain was patent and supposedly drought and disease resistant, which would promise year after year of abundance and easy living. But there was always a price to pay. Their friends and neighbors protested their choice, claiming the new wheat caused allergies and other ailments. They said it was tampering with nature and God himself would be sure to punish them.
Austin
knew they were more concerned with their own crops. They’d been certified organic in the past, too, but where had that led them? Nearly into the poor house. There was too much competition out there in neighboring provinces. Some farms in
Saskatchewan
were producing record amounts of wheat since they switched to bio-seed. The Richmonds were just keeping up with the times. He hoped he hadn’t made the worst decision of his life.

He slowed his horse when he neared the dip in the land. There was someone under the oaks by the waterfall.
Austin
steered his horse closer so he could investigate. When he saw it was Kayla sitting on the grass with a framed canvas on her bent knees, he smiled. She said she liked to paint. But why was she here now? He shouldn’t even care after what Ben and Grant had done with her.

“Ms. Roberts. Is that you?” He dismounted his horse and approached, hopping over the shallow creek to join her. His gelding knew not to roam too far.

“Sorry. I didn’t think I’d be spotted way out here.” She pulled the canvas straight so he couldn’t see what she was painting. It was adorable how she had the little jars lined up on the grass beside her. Her shirt was stained with several colors, her hair up in a damp, messy ponytail. Even disheveled he wanted her.

“Actually I was just out for a ride to blow off steam. Never planned to venture out this way.” He stepped closer. “Can I see what you’re painting?”

She bit her lower lip, tilting her head to the side as if pleading with him not to make her show him.

“Come on now. I promise I won’t laugh.” He crouched down next to her and waited. This sweet, deceptively innocent woman had bedded two men last night. It seemed surreal now in the light of day as he looked in her big, dark eyes.

“It’s not finished—”

“Darlin’, let me see.”

She exhaled, her eyes crinkling as she offered him a view of her picture. He couldn’t help but smile. Kayla was so worried he’d judge her art, but it was already taking shape. The background of the golden fields and green oaks was starting to come to life, and there was a blank patch where the waterfall would be added later. He could already envision what it would look like when she was finished. She had talent, that’s for certain.

“Now why on earth wouldn’t you want me to see that? It may not be finished, but it’s clear as day you’re skilled with a paintbrush.”

“Not many people have seen my work. I guess exposing my paintings is like revealing a private piece of myself.”

He wanted to know more about her, wanted her to reveal who she was under the surface. Wasn’t this a good start? As much as he hated to admit it, Ben was right. He didn’t care that Kayla had fucked Grant and his brother.
Austin
wanted her no less, even though he should probably be steering clear.

“What’s wrong with sharing who you are? I know I’d like to know more.” He swallowed hard. This was essentially the first time he’d showed interest in her, even though he’d been pining over her since he first met her at the feed store. Unlike his younger brother, he followed his father’s example on how to respect a woman. He planned to take things slow but obviously didn’t move fast enough.

“I’d bore you. Besides, you never showed any interest before. You’ve come in the office a hundred times and this is more than you’ve ever said to me at once.”

“Would you believe I’m shy?”

She giggled, setting her paintbrush in the cup of water. “No, Austin. I wouldn’t believe you. I’ve heard the stories about you and Ben.”

He shifted to sit beside her, legs outstretched. The sun filtered down through the leaves and branches, warming his bare arm. “Don’t believe every story you hear. Half of them are lies or twisted truths.” Then he thought about what she’d done last night. It was the same thing she accused him of doing in the past. “Sex doesn’t demand much of a person. For those few hours, you can play another role, hiding the real person safely under a mask.”

“A few hours?” She cleared her throat. No doubt Ben had fucked her good but not thoroughly like a woman deserved. He was too passionate and impulsive.
Austin
had tried to teach him the art of lovemaking when they’d shared in the past, but it was no use. He wanted physical release, never caring much about the women they chose.

Austin
would love to take his time with Kayla, explore every inch of her body with his tongue and hands. “I’m guessing last night was over too quickly?”

Her face blanched, her lips parting. He wasn’t trying to be an asshole, to make her feel embarrassed or ashamed. It was just something that had to be dealt with if he was going to try and start a relationship with her. Everything had to be in the open. If not, resentment could fester before they even had a chance.

“Ben told you? I can’t believe he told you.”

Austin
shook his head. “He’s my brother. Don’t be mad with him. We’re used to sharing everything. There aren’t many secrets between us.”

Could they share Kayla? He didn’t think so because, unlike their past women,
Austin
wanted Kayla for keeps. Ben was still playing games, so their intentions collided. He wouldn’t let his brother share her body if he had no plans on committing.

She set her painting to the side and attempted to get to her feet. He stilled her, gently but firmly. “Don’t go. Don’t be mad. What you did was natural, between consenting adults. Nothing wrong with that.”

“There most certainly is.” She bent over her knees, hiding her face. “That’s not the kind of person I am. At all. I don’t go around having threesomes with random cowboys, I assure you.”

“I know that, darlin’. You don’t have to convince me that you’re a good woman.” He wanted to stop right there, but he’d failed before by not expressing his true feelings. It was time to risk a little before it was too late. “You wouldn’t be on my mind every day if I thought you jumped into bed with every man.” He spoke slowly, emphasizing that she was on his mind. Would that be enough?

“And now?”

“I’m not judging what you did with my brother. I just want you to know that I’ve noticed you. I may not have said much when I came into the office each week, but I wanted to.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“I wasn’t lying when I told you I was shy. This is me with no mask. Just like you and your art, I’m feeling a bit vulnerable right now.”

* * * *

How could a big, gorgeous hunk of man like
Austin
feel shy or vulnerable—with her? Surely he could get any woman he wanted, but here he sat telling her he was interested. She’d screwed things up so bad, first with Grant, now with another man who probably thought less of her now after her ménage experiment. It had been so good and right at the time, but now she began to doubt her sanity last night. She should never have agreed to the threesome, but at the time all she could think about was getting fucked.

“You shouldn’t be. You’re Austin Richmond, one of the biggest catches a woman can get.” Was he looking for an ego boost, or was he being genuine?

“But I don’t want just any woman.” He stared at her with unblinking focus, making her heart pump faster.

“So you go for out-of-shape, middle-aged brunettes when you could have a blonde bombshell with a snap of your fingers?”

Now who was feeling vulnerable?
It was her birthday, and she already felt old and alone, her youth slipping away faster than she could hang on. She really didn’t have time for games or false hope from a man she could only dream of having.

He scowled. “I hope you’re not describing yourself. Didn’t a man ever tell you how beautiful you are?”

A frog developed in her throat. No man she’d dated had been worth remembering. She’d been called so many insults that she started to believe them. Kayla shook her head.

“You’ve never been told how your eyes are so dark a man could get lost in them? That your lips have the cutest heart shape when you’re not smiling?” Then he lowered his tone slightly. “That your curves could make a grown man forget his name?”

They stared at each other, only the warm, gentle breeze reminding her she was awake and not dreaming. “The only good men I’ve known are my father and brother, and Clay’s the only one left.” She shrugged. “Compliments from him don’t count for much.”

“Then I’ll tell you. Every day, if you’ll let me.”

What did that mean? Was that an invite to date him? Let him court her? She had no clue what step to take in fear of overstepping his welcome.

He took off his Stetson, tossing it lightly to the side. When he leaned closer, his weight on one forearm, she froze. He closed the distance between them, kissing her lightly on the lips.

“I’ve been wanting to do that for weeks now. You have the prettiest lips.”

Another kiss, this one slightly deeper. She closed her eyes, wishing she could get
Austin
to sign a contract that he wasn’t using her, but all she had to go on was blind trust. This kiss was sweet, sensual, everything rolled into one. Ben hadn’t taken the time to kiss her like this, kiss her at all. What they’d done was physical release, a joining of the bodies, not the souls.

She reached up and cupped his face, prickly with stubble. He felt like a man, smelled like one, and it enticed the woman within her. His lips were warm and thick, his tongue gently flicking out to taste. Everything was slow, patient, addicting.

Austin
pulled away first, a smile on his lips. “That was nice.”

Kayla couldn’t agree more. She nodded, awaiting more, but nothing else came. He seemed content to sit close to her, not ruled by his cock like most men.

“I’m curious. For a man who can kiss like you can, what do you have to be shy about?”

“You have your insecurities, and I have mine. Maybe that makes us kindred spirits.” He smiled.

“What could you have to be insecure about?” The man was a god, and she couldn’t find a visible flaw no matter how hard she tried.