Double Her Pleasure (6 page)

She glanced at both of them. “Don’t forget the security
guards are at both doors. Go somewhere they won’t see you. You don’t want them
talking about you two and your little...” She rolled one hand in a circle.
“Fighting thing.”

Reverse psychology never failed to work on Trey and him.
Their mother had used it all their lives. “Baby.” Garret tugged her into his
arms. “You’re so damn transparent, it’s cute.”

“Transparent.” Her lips curled into a smile. “Am I?” She
glanced at Trey. “You think so too, cowboy?”

“Yeah.” He trudged over to her and squeezed her ass. “But
you know there’s only one thing that can keep hotshot and me from fighting.”

“Is that right?” She wiggled her whole body.

Garret’s cock jerked in his briefs. “Wanna help me break in
my new office?”

Trey looked at the clock. “Food’ll be done in about
fifteen.” He gestured toward Garret’s office. “We’ll make it a quickie.”

****

After a hot, all-oral fifteen minutes, they ate Inez’s
delicious tamales while looking at the county map. As they made a list of
possibilities, the phone rang, announcing the sheriff’s arrival.

Megan spent the next two hours with her men, Derrick, and
Sheriff Boyd. Her anxiety increased as the time spent brought them no closer to
figuring out where her stalker was hiding out.

“I’m going to contact my supervisor tonight.” The sheriff
stood. “Get some help out here first thing tomorrow. We’ll start patrolling the
perimeter of the ranch, canvass the town with Hines’s picture, and get
bulletins out to surrounding towns.”

Trey stood. “He’s got to be somewhere around here. He knew when
Garret and Megan were in town for supper that night, he left a rose on Garret’s
car.”

“And he must have known we were going into town this
morning.” Megan looked at the sheriff. “How else would he have found me?”

The sheriff looked at Derrick. “Unless there’s someone on
the ranch communicating with him.”

Derrick and Garret stood.

“Not possible.” Derrick’s neck turned red. “Everyone on this
ranch has been vetted. There has to be another explanation.”

“We’ll sort it out, Derrick.” The sheriff looked at her.
“Stay close to these guys.” The look in his eyes told her he was serious.
Deadly serious.

Things had escalated with Hines, and he might finally get
tired of hiding. “I will.” She stood. “Thank you.”

He left and the four of them sat again, staring at the map.

“I’m calling my man at the Rangers. See if we can get air
support, someone to fly over the area surrounding the ranch.” Derrick got to
his feet and walked to the refrigerator. “This has gone on too long.” He pulled
four beers from the fridge.

“None for me.” Megan held up a hand and stood. “I need to go
talk to my parents.”

Hauling the beers to the table, he hefted out a breath. “You
probably should. They wanted to come up earlier, but Patty talked them out of
it.” He gave her a sorrowful look.

“I owe her a bottle of wine for that.” She tried to smile,
but the thought of facing her parents after what her mother had witnessed in
the coffee shop made her stomach flip.

“I’ll go with.” Garret stood.

“If you don’t mind, there are some things we need to talk
about.” Derrick looked at his sons. He pulled a paper out of his pocket. It
bore the ranch’s brand; a diamond-shaped square surrounding an M and a G which
were separated by a sideways double S.

Megan gestured to the door. “I’ll take the security person
with me. It’s Jeff, right?”

Trey nodded. “Don’t leave his sight.”

“I promise.” She opened the door and stepped out of the
house, onto the porch. Gray clouds moved slowly across the endless sky.

“Ma’am.” Jeff touched the brim of his white hat. His dark
eyes shifted around the landscape. His white uniform top and black pants seemed
so formal, but his job was very serious. A pistol grip showed in his hip
holster.

“Think it’s going to rain?” She sniffed the air, but didn’t
detect that sweet, moist scent that preceded a heavy downpour.

“No, ma’am. This’ll be a dry one. We might get some thunder,
but it’s not likely.”

Just like the dry storm circling above her, she felt a
hopeless urgency. The need to run wild, shouting at the world to leave her be.
She looked at the driveway. Two ranch trucks sat next to Trey’s ATV and
Derrick’s red pickup. “Jeff, I’m going to ride the four-wheeler over to the old
homestead.”

She smiled at him, faking a confidence she didn’t feel. If
Trey and Garret saw her, they’d stop her, and tuck her safely into the truck
next to the man with the gun. “Will you follow me in the truck?”

His brows dropped. “Ma’am, wouldn’t you prefer riding in the
truck with me? It might be—”

“No.” She skipped down the steps and half-ran to the ATV.
“Thanks, though.” Before he had a chance to narc her out to her men, she jumped
on the four-wheeler and slid Trey’s sunglasses on. She started the motor, and
shifted into gear.

Megan cranked the throttle on the four-wheeler and let the
warm air rush through her hair. The road sloped downward toward the river, and
as she picked up speed, she let out a loud, “Woo-hoo!”

When she came to a turn in the road, she stopped and glanced
behind her. Trey and Garret stood on the porch, and Jeff, in the ranch truck,
sped along the road to catch up to her.

She waved to her guys.

They didn’t wave back. She grinned and headed over the
bridge, then along the road running parallel to the river. They couldn’t
begrudge her this little slice of freedom. Hell, she’d be sandwiched tight
between them for God knew how long until Hines was caught. A thought that
brought heat rushing to sensitive spots between her legs.

A few ranch hands waved and she smiled and returned the
greeting.

The three-mile trip went too fast, and in minutes she pulled
up to the guesthouse at the old homestead. Jeff parked next to her and got out,
literally keeping her in his sights. On the far side of the house, Patty bent
over a raised bed, planting flowers. She lifted her trowel. “Howdy.”

Megan slid off the ATV and walked over to her, pushing the
sunglasses up on her head. “Hi.” Dozens of colorful flowers in tiny pots waited
to be planted. “Will these grow here?”

“They’re indigenous wildflowers, so I’m hoping.” Shoving her
trowel into the ground, she pulled off her gardening gloves. “What brings you
by?” She glanced toward the four-wheeler and grinned. “And on such an
unconventional mode of transportation.”

She bit her lip. “The guys didn’t say I
couldn’t
take
the ATV.”

Patty laughed. “Good for you. Have a little fun, forget the
heavy stuff for a while.”

Megan turned and met Jeff’s stare. “Hard to do with an armed
guard shadowing me.”

“Yes, I bet it is.”

“I came to talk to my parents.” The words came out on a
sigh. This was not going to be easy. Even at thirty years of age, she hated
disappointing them.

Patty stared at her. “C’mon.” She gestured toward the metal
shed. “I’ve got something to show you, first.”

Megan followed Patty’s determined steps. Once they were
inside the old cabin, Patty pulled out the bench from beneath the table. “Sit.”

She did, and Patty grabbed the copy of the ancient journal
and plopped down next to her.

“Derrick showed me this last night.” Patty set the book on
the table and paged through it. “Here it is.
They’ve been gone for three
days. I’m alone and afraid. The ranch hands they left behind to guard me are
good company during the day, but the nights are lonely without them.”

“Was this when they first arrived here?” Megan leaned over
to see the perfect cursive on the page.

“Yes, two months after they got the buildings finished. The
boys’ great-grandfather and his brother were out rounding up Longhorns.”

Megan wasn’t sure why this was relevant to her. “She sounds
desperate.”

Patty’s finger skimmed down the page. “Here.
I love them
so much, I can’t imagine life without either of them. Please, dear, merciful
God, watch over them and care for them. They are my life
.” She looked at
Megan.

She couldn’t have heard that right. Must have taken the
words out of context. It sounded as if the woman was in love with both men.
“What do you think that means?”

“Exactly what you do.” Patty closed the book. “Derrick had
me read this. He thinks the same thing. One...” She held up her hand and ticked
off her points. “They all three lived together in Virginia. Two, they were
wealthy there, but sold everything to move way out here...” She lifted her
brows. “Where they could be alone.”

“But do you really think that means they were...the three of
them?”

Patty touched another finger. “Three, the brother never
married and was never known to date. Four, one of the children was named after
him.”

Megan glimpsed a flash of white as Jeff paced outside the
metal shed. “That’s really incredible.”

“Derrick was wondering if it’s a genetic thing.” Patty
tipped her head. “You never know, right?”

“Genetic. Has anyone else in the family...” She waved a
hand. “No, that’s none of my business.”

Patty stood. “Not that Derrick and I could figure out, but
the crazy old coot did admit he’d love to have a second wife who could make a
steak without frying it into shoe leather.”

Megan smiled. “Well, that settles it, then. It is genetic.”
She rose and together they set the heavy bench back under the table. “Okay if I
tell Trey and Garret?”

Patty handed her the book. “Please do. And you can have this.
There are other copies in the safe at the main house.”

She hugged the book to her chest. “Thank you. I’m going to
read this from cover to cover.”

“I bet you are. And you’ll be looking for clues in every
phrase.”

“I will.”

“Megan, I have to ask you. What do you intend to do once the
stalker threat is gone?”

She looked Patty in the eyes. “I really don’t know. It’s too
soon.” But her heart didn’t know that. “Whatever it is between us, it’s
unconventional. But for some reason, I’m falling for them both.”

“Scares you?”

“A little.” A whole hell of a lot!

“I know my boys pretty well.” She rolled her eyes. “Or I
thought I did until yesterday.” She fluttered her hand in front of her face.
“But what I’m trying to say is, I think they love you.”

Megan coughed out a breath. “No, they don’t love me...” They
talked about long-term, but she figured that meant “until things cool off in
the bedroom,” as if that could ever happen—for her anyway.

“Why else would they bring you here? Why else would they
speak of you so highly?” Patty crossed her arms. “Derrick and I want you to
stay and make the boys happy.”

Megan read between the lines. “You want Garret to stay on
the ranch, and I’m the lure that’ll keep him here.”

Patty tipped her head and looked at the floor. “At first, that
was what I was thinking.” She met her gaze. “But now that I’ve watched the boys
around you...I see that it’s more.”

She turned off the light and the two of them exited the
buildings. “All I’m saying is, whatever your parents tell you, whatever they
hit you over the head with, keep in mind that you’d break those boys’ hearts if
you left.”

A bubble of emotion made her speechless. She nodded.

Patty looked over Megan’s shoulder.

Jeff stopped back a few feet.

Megan smiled at him. “I’m going into the house to see my
parents. I don’t think I’ll be long.”

He nodded. “I’ll wait on the porch.”

“There’s water in the cooler up there. Help yourself.” Patty
winked at the young man.

Megan bit back a grin. Had she gotten Patty thinking about
introducing an extra man into her life?

They walked back toward the house, and Patty gave her a
quick squeeze. “Good luck. I’ll be out planting if you need help with them.”

Megan envisioned Patty running into the house, brandishing
her trowel to keep Vonnie and Brian Lanfrow from physically hauling their
daughter back to Alaska. “Thanks. I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

When she stepped into the kitchen, her parents, sitting at
the table, looked up from their mugs. “We heard you drive up.” Her mother
looked pale. “We’ve been wanting to talk to you since...” She dropped her head.

Megan poured a glass of water and sat across the table from
them. “I’m sorry it took me so long to get here. The sheriff just left.”

“We know, dear.” Her father reached for her hand. “Tell your
mother she didn’t see what she thought she saw.” His eyes looked red-rimmed.

“Let me explain.”

Her dad pulled back his hand.

“It didn’t start out this way. I met Garret, then Trey, and
I was drawn to both of them.”

Vonnie pulled a tissue from her shirtsleeve and dabbed at
her eyes. “You know this goes against every tenet we stand for.”

How could she volley that bomb?

“Dear girl.” Her dad used his counseling voice. “Whatever
has gone on can be forgiven. We’ll just work through it together and you can
start anew.”

This was where she needed to leave behind her juvenile
reactions and become the strong woman she needed to be. “Sometimes, the heart
knows what’s best for it.” She sounded like a bad greeting card. “I didn’t mean
to fall for both of them, but they’ve won me over. I love them. Both of them.”

The impact of that truth shattered her fears. She, Trey and
Garret, could build a life together. They could make this work.

“Doesn’t the stalker’s presence here confirm that what
you’re doing is wrong?” Her mother spat the words, her eyes narrowed.

Megan fought to keep herself from shriveling beneath her
mother’s glare. “What I’m doing is not wrong. It’s right for me, and for my
men. The stalker being here isn’t some kind of karmic judgment.” They’d told
her nearly the same thing when Hines had stalked her at college when she was
barely twenty.

“We didn’t raise you this way.” Her father rubbed Vonnie’s
arm. “How can you do this to us?”

She had barely seen her parents over the last thirteen
years. How had this become personal for them? Megan bracketed her hands on the
table. “Who is being harmed?” Her voice increased in volume. “Who are we
hurting by loving one another?”

“You dare to use that defense?” Her mother nearly shouted.

“Vonnie. That will do.” Her dad’s voice calmed her mother.
He looked at Megan. “We want the chance to take you away from this. Let you
ponder your situation without the coercion of the...physical presence of those
men.”

She could go on fighting them with no happy conclusion, but
her dad’s offer was one of the things she wanted to talk to them about. “I
don’t need time to ponder, but I do have an idea. A way for me to catch Hines,
and it involves my going back to Alaska with you.” A way to ensure her men
stayed safe and out of the way.

Her mother’s face broke into euphoria. She clasped her hands
and bowed her head.

Megan forced herself not to roll her eyes. “Here’s my plan.”

****

Trey sat on the guesthouse porch next to his dad, who had
fallen asleep in his chair. Jeff patrolled the house, stopping every few rounds
to talk to him or his mom, who was ferociously planting flowers.

An hour ago, when he’d seen Megan take off on the
four-wheeler, he’d been tempted to haul ass after her and spank her sweet
behind for her wild behavior. Garret and Dad had talked him into letting her
have her head.

Hell, after the day she’d had, she needed to run a little
wild. And only a little. That’s why he was here. After Dad filled him and
Garret in on some plans he had for updating a few things on the ranch, Trey had
snagged a ride back to the guesthouse with Derrick.

Megan had been inside talking with her parents for a half
hour. Trey stayed close, just in case, but while he heard voices, no screaming,
no crying, and no threats filtered out.

His mom finished the last of the flowers, straightened up,
and stretched her back. “Whey-doggies. Gettin’ too old for this kind of work.”

Beside him, his dad grumbled but fell back into his rhythmic
breathing.

Trey stood and jumped off the porch, heading to the raised
bed full of plants. “Nice. You plannin’ on staying a while?”

She shook her gloves at him, sending dry clods of dirt his
way. “You plannin’ on evicting us?”

He glanced toward the house. “Not you. Maybe them.”

“They’re not so bad. Well, other than their whole ‘censuring
you three’ stuff.”

He laughed. “Is that all? Shit, it’d take a lot more than
loving someone to doom us.”

“Loving?” She stretched the word out on a sing-song
question. Her brows rose.

Had he just said that out loud? Man, was he getting mushy
lately. Had to be all the trauma and drama going on. Since he’d met Megan, his
life had gone from dull, backbreaking work to wild and crazy experiences.

“Just a term, Mom. Don’t get too excited.”

The smile on her face seemed too cocksure. “I had a feeling
you were feeling the ‘L’ word. And your brother, too?”

“I’m not joking, woman. Don’t read too much into my words,
and do not say anything to Garret.”

“But son, if you feel—”

“Right now, nobody needs this.” Trey turned to walk away.

“Maybe this is the perfect time for it.” She said it
quietly, but he heard it, and it rattled down into his soul. He stomped back
toward the house and paced, nearly running into Jeff as he came around the
corner.

The door to the kitchen opened and Megan walked out.

Trey gave his mom one last warning glare.

She lifted her hands, giving him a wide-eyed, innocent look.

Megan tiptoed down the steps, leaving Derrick sound asleep.

Trey strode to Megan. She stood holding a book against her
stomach. “Hi, Trey.” Her voice chirped like a guilty bird.

“Hi, Megan.” He used the tone his father had used on his
errant young sons. Trey crossed his arms, waiting for her explanation of the
manic ride on the ATV.

“Am I in trouble?” She batted her eyes at him.

“Some.” He took her hand and led her toward the ATV.
Plucking his sunglasses off her head, he nodded to Jeff. “Follow us.”

“Yes, sir.” The guard headed for the truck.

Patty smiled as Megan and Trey walked past. “Have a
love
ly
evening.”

Trey grunted. Megan looked confused. He slid the glasses
over his eyes and jumped on the four-wheeler. She hopped on behind him, settled
the book between them, then wrapped her arms around him. “Take me home,
cowboy.”

“My pleasure, Ms. Megan.” He raced along the road toward the
house, loving how she was plastered against his back, hot and soft.

A crack of thunder rattled the air.

Megan jumped and squeezed him tighter.