Bad Bride Good Cowboys (11 page)

Mickey exchanged a look with Brady then shoved back his chair and walked over to where she leaned against the counter. He brushed a dark long ringlet back from her cheek and smiled. “Brady’s right, come back home.”

Long lashes fluttered and when her gaze met his, he noticed the big fat tears waiting to spill over her lashes. “I want to. I want to come here; I want to have a life here with the horses and both of you. Do you know what’s like knowing I can have you both and not have to choose?”

Brady chuckled. “Actually, we do.”

She peered around Mickey and her full lips curved into a smile as she glanced at Brady. “I guess you would.”

Mickey pulled the belt of her robe and drew her in close. Again, her gaze met his. “I could use help on the ranch. If you come home, then Brady can help me and you can hopefully find order in the disaster pit he calls an office.”

“He’s right,” Brady chimed in. “You’d be happy, in our arms, in our bed and a huge help. Plus, you can figure out what you want to do.”

A nervous expression crossed her face and she darted a glance
at Brady. “I already know.” She worked her bottom lip between her teeth and hesitated. “I want to write children’s books.”

Okay, didn’t see that one coming.

He studied the woman only inches away from his body. “For real?”

She met his gaze with a sheepish expression. “Yeah, as impractical
—and to borrow a word from my mother…
flighty
—as it sounds.” She heaved a heavy sigh. “I have this little porcupine character in my head, who’s different than other kids and over a series of books, he makes friends and gains confidence and—”

“That sounds adorable.”

Mickey grinned. He couldn’t agree more with Brady. “He’s right.”

Felicia darted her attention between them and the threatening tears dissipated and a smiled again crossed her kissable lips. “You both think so?”

“Definitely.” Mickey tightened his hold on the belt of the robe and pulled her in for a brief kiss—at least that was his intention.

His mouth covered hers and heat ignited his body. He slipped his tongue between her lips and tasted her coffee on her tongue. Her arms laced around his neck and as crazy as it was, the simplest gestured stirred his cock. Mickey begrudgingly ended the kiss, but wrapped his arms around her waist. “Come home.”

She scanned his face, shot a grin to Brady who sat smiling at the table then met Mickey’s gaze. “Silly, cowboy, I already am.”

And we’re never letting you go.

The last two days of Brady’s life had been damn near perfect. He was back outdoors and working the ranch with Mickey. Felicia, despite dealing with Clarissa every few hours
, re-hashing the same argument, was happy and had already found part of the desk in the office. The place looked a lot better and the accounting software on the computer treated her better than it ever had him.

Not to mention, the nights were nothing but pleasure for them all. He no longer lived the lie. He had both the man and woman he loved in his bed and his life on a daily basis. Brady still had some guilty feelings where Collin was concerned and he knew Clarissa would blow a gasket if she knew what was happening under her parent’s former roof.

He was grateful for the way both Mrs. Morgan and her parents had treated him after the car accident that took both his parents and made him a multi-millionaire. They had treated him like family.

Yet, he couldn’t be beholden forever.
He had to live his life.

He and Mickey had not only kept up where Clarissa’s father
, Keith, had left off, with a bit of extra money from his inheritance and the instinct to know what horses to breed, he and Mickey had turned more profit in a few years than Keith could have ever dreamed of.

It was a mighty good thing too, considering
their love of buying Felicia nice things. Neither he nor Mickey ever complained and there was never any argument over the last three years—what the doll wanted—the doll got. Hell, half the time they’d see something she’d love and had to get it or she’d want to take a trip so they could see Collin and of course, she always needed a vacation. They never wanted her to go without anything—and she didn’t—except for them.

Grief
swamped his heart for a fleeting moment, as he remembered her drunken state and the heartache she’d gone through. If they’d only known earlier what they did now. There would be no Paul, no high expectations and the woman they loved would’ve had happiness sooner.

“You okay?” Mickey asked walking into the stables.

He nodded and grinned from where he stood in front of one of their newest additions, a black and white Gypsy Vanner with tobiano markings. “I’m better than okay. Actually life is great.”

Mickey shook his head. “No
, there’s something more.”

He inhaled deep and nodded at the other cowboy. “I don’t want this to end and I wish we would’ve had her here with us sooner.

His friend studied him as he stepped toward him, and placed a hand on his shoulder. “We can’t change the past and all three of us are much happier.” A smile tore across his mouth. “I admit, seeing her happy, laughing smiling, neither of us has seen her like that in a long time.”

Brady agreed. Over the last few years, Felicia’s laughter happened less and less. A month ago at lunch, though she was as beautiful as ever, all joy had been drained from her and sadness filled her doe like eyes. “I’m pretty much done here, I can hardly wait to show Felicia her new present.” He glanced at the horse and Mickey stepped over. She loves Gypsy’s and she’s going to adore her.”

Mickey studied the horse then turned and grinned at Brady. “Do I want to know what she cost?”

He threw his head back and laughed. “Do you care?”

Mickey chuckled and darted another glance to the five-year-old mare. “Nope. Lets head up to the house and see if she’s found more of the desk. Then bring her down to see her new baby.”

Brady nodded and they walked out of the stables and turned toward the direction of the house. “Despite her being happy, have you noticed she is looking a bit tired.”

The other man sighed. “Yeah, I’m wondering if we’re wearing her out.”

He grinned and turned to his friend. “I thought that’s what she was doing to us.” His groin stiffened of the memories flashing through his mind of their sex. “I don’t think she’s sleeping well.”

Mickey’s brows furrowed. “I don’t think so either, both mornings she’s been up before us and…” the other man came to a halt and stared at the drive. “What the hell?”

Brady turned and spotted Paul’s black BMW parked next to the Lexus and his heart froze. “Christ! What the hell is that asshole doing here?”

“Let’s go find out.

Chapter Seven

Mickey’s heart pounded against his chest. Never in a million years did he think the dick attorney would ever show up out here. The one time he’d been out to the modern ranch, he’d considered it beneath him. He questioned if leaving Felicia in the house alone had been wise.

Brady beat him up the steps and ran to the door.

“I don’t give a rat’s ass how sorry you are! Get the hell out of this house!” Felicia’s voice all but screamed.

“You have to marry me.”

Temper roiled within Mickey as he stepped into the office. “The lady asked you to leave.”

Paul spun around and glared at him and Brady, who entered the office and stood next to Mickey.

“I’m not leaving here without Felicia and I wouldn’t go calling her a lady in that outfit.” He turned to Felicia and growled. “You look like a farmhand in those cut offs.”

“Fuck you!” The doll swiped the stapler and both he and Brady dodged as the heavy metal went airborne.

“You’ll be sorry for that!” Paul bellowed at her.

“I’m sorry I ever met you.” Felicia reached for the ceramic mug and Mickey intervened. In two quick strides he crossed the floor. His arms went around her and prevented anything else from hitting the asshole attorney. By the rage stewing in her dark depths, he had a good feeling the ceramic would make contact with Paul’s head. “He’s not worth it, doll.”

Brady stepped up to Paul. “Allow me to show you out.”

Paul however stared at Felicia, who made no effort to remove herself from his hold. “Are you fucking him?”

“It doesn’t matter if I am or not. Get out.”

Paul laughed maliciously and shook his head. “I thought these two farmers were a couple; who knew one of them liked women? Jeez, you have a lot of nerve saying anything about me cheating—tell me Felicia, are you fucking one or both?”

“That isn’t any of your business,” Brady told him calmly. However, Mickey’s eyes burned like the fires of hell and Brady guessed it took every ounce of self control not to knock the dick attorney’s teeth out.

Paul glared at Brady. “She’s my fiancée. I have—”

“You have no rights,” Felicia hissed like a snake. “Get the hell out or Brady will boot fuck you through the door.”

“So you are screwing both?” He shook his head. “I don’t care. I still love you, no matter how many women I screw.”

Felicia stiffened and inhaled a deep breath. “I don’t love you.” Her voice carried an eerie calm. “I love Mickey and Brady and I don’t care what you or anyone else thinks.”

Stunned. Mickey was stunned. He knew the doll loved them, but it was the first time she had openly admitted it to someone other than them.

Paul blinked in shock. “I bet your mother will love to hear this one.” Another malicious laugh escaped his begging-to-be-punched mouth.

“She’s going to find out soon enough when I move out of the condo and move back here.”

“You really are a whore.”

Brady grabbed Paul and threw him against the wall. Mickey released Felicia and bolted over as Brady wrapped his hand around the other man’s throat. “You’re the stupid whore,” he roared.

“We’re going to show you to the door and you’re going to get in your car.” Mickey pulled Brady off the idiot who just proved he was never for one second worthy of the doll. “You’re going to leave and stay the hell away from this property and Felicia.”

Paul glared at Mickey. “This isn’t over.”

“Sure it is.” Brady told him and grabbed him again, this time by the arm and pinned it to his back. He walked Paul out of the office and Mickey followed.

Mickey opened the door and Brady threw the son-of-a-bitch over the threshold. “Leave or we call the sheriff.”

Paul stormed off the steps to his car and didn’t look back. He opened the car door and sent them a lethal stare. “Like I said, this is far from over.” He got in his car and in record time tore down the drive.

Brady slammed the door and locked it, then cast Mickey a bleak expression. “We got here just in time.”

Mickey agreed. “We need to call the sheriff and warn him there might be trouble.” He walked back in the office with Brady and glanced to Felicia. “Are you okay?”

“I love you both, so much.”

Mickey smiled and nodded. “We know.”

Brady stepped closer to her and brushed his lips lightly against her full mouth.
“You could have any man you want. Why us, doll, how did we ever get that lucky?”

She offered a weak smile, but the gesture didn’t reach her eyes. She lifted a shaky hand and caressed Brady’s cheek. He turned and placed a kiss in her palm before she lowered her arm.

“First it was you then Mickey then you, again. Somewhere along the way I lost track who I loved more.” She sat back down in the wooden office chair. Defeat registered in her pretty features. “Mickey changed his mind about women more than you did. I always thought…”

“We know what you thought.”

Mickey exchanged a questioning expression with Brady then both men glanced back at the disheveled and distraught doll.

Her expression took on a distant and fatigued expression.
“I want to be able to tell you when things shifted. Only one day you were Collin’s friends. The next, Mickey held my heart and you were so involved with the Patterson girl, and Brady gave me pennies every time something went wrong, how could I not give him my heart?”

Tears filled her eyes and grief overtook her, and
Mickey’s heart broke. All three of them knew that Paul was already was on the phone to Clarissa or headed to her house in town.

“
Then when I was in High School, Mickey you knocked out Todd Reynolds for spreading rumors that weren’t true after we broke up—which was because I wouldn’t put out. He broke your arm but he was in the hospital for three weeks, because you broke his nose and his leg in three spots. The world clouded over. All I knew is Brady stood by us both…”

Hot tears streamed down Felicia’s cheeks and Mickey swore this was hell.

“Doll…”

She turned
her face up to him and blinked as tears streamed down her cheeks. “No. There’s nothing you can say…My brother didn’t care and every time I turned around, I had you and Brady. You were so much more than Collin’s friends. I survived high school and college and hated every woman either of you dated. I’m sorry you hate Paul but I have never loved him like I love both of you. There are times in Los Angeles I can’t breathe. I swear I’m dying slowly.” Her dark ringlets shook as she tossed her head from side to side. “He is nowhere close to half of one of you and I’m blessed with you both.”

Mickey lost all the air from his lungs and rational thought fled. Her honesty was slowly killing him.

“
Like moments ago, when Paul was here, all the breath was sucked from me, not because I love him—I don’t think I ever truly did—but because I was scared. I thought this perfect life might be over. Up until he came here today, I had the life I wanted and it’s more than I could’ve dreamed. No, this is not conventional and Collin will lose his ever-loving mind. I’m terrified of what my mother is going to say because you know damn well Paul is going to go running to her.”

Felicia shivered and she shook her head. “
God, don’t you think I lay awake and feel anxious over the possibility of losing my brother? But the sad truth is, I never had him.” She blinked fat tears and remained silent for a minute. “That was such a harsh reality to realize. I never had a brother—only a sibling.”

“Doll, if I had a penny
right now.” Brady knelt by the side of the chair where she sat.

“The pennies are perfect.” More hot tears streaked down her cheeks. “But they are
usually held in your hand.” She sniffled and Mickey’s heart ached.

“I get mad, upset and you both hand me the cure—no matter the cost—the remedy on a silver platter.”

She turned and faced Mickey, though her long slender fingers curled around Brady’s strong hand. “It’s always been the pair of you. I can’t remember anything but wanting my big brother…yet he was never there…Instead I had you both and I can’t let that go.” A sob tore from her lips and she buried her head in her palms. Brady flinched as if feeling the anguish Felicia endured and Mickey’s heart broke.

“I should
’ve looked at you as Collin’s friends, but I didn’t. You were my knights in shining armor, where he failed; I knew with you, I’d always be okay. I was safe.”

“We’d give you the world.”

She sniffled at the words and met Mickey’s gaze head on. “You’re both mine.” She shook her head and Brady gently wiped her tears away.

“Don’t cry, doll,”
Mickey said, trying to comfort her.

She turned and stared at Brady. “Why would Paul even matter to me, when you both know I hate pink?
You both know I don’t like vinegar. I can’t hold my liquor and every time I take a breath it’s at least one of you I think of to find courage.”

Mickey’s heart constricted. Felicia meant every word. Truly, it had always been him and Brady.  She’d said the words, but seeing her like this, after the confrontation with Paul
, confirmed every theory Brady and he had.

“Mickey taught me to ride a bike and
a horse and, next to gram, taught me how to cook.” She turned to Brady. “You listened to everything that went wrong from the time I was eleven.” She smiled faintly. “That’s a lot of pennies.”

He glanced
at Brady. The man reached up and wiped the hot tears running down her cheeks, then cupped her pretty face. “You don’t have to hurt anymore.”

A sob broke from her and she buried her face. “I do because I’m in love with two men, which isn’t right or normal and God knows I don’t care.”

Mickey’s heart broke on the spot. She loved them. Beyond breath, sanity, and propriety. “Don’t cry, baby doll.”

“I’m so tired. I just want people to be happy that I’m truly happy and no one other than Jen will be.”
All Felicia did in response was sob. Brady shook his head and rose from where he knelt by the chair. He scooped her up as she cried. She clung to his friend and lover as if life support.

“Don’t leave me.” Her watery plea broke Mickey’s heart
, but at the same time, strengthened the heartbeats.

Brady met his gaze. His blue eyes filled with storm clouds. He turned to Felicia. “You’re safe love.” He darted another glance
at Mickey.

Mickey knew Brady wouldn’t be able to take much more. The good Lord knew he himself was on the edge—and though his protectiveness over Felicia ran deep, Brady’s
, over the years, had become even fiercer.

Mickey
was man enough to admit that as much as Brady loved him, Felicia was the air Brady breathed. “Get her upstairs. She needs to rest.”

Brady nodded. “I know.”

He hoisted the sleep deprived Felicia in his arms and walked to the entrance of the office. Her body relaxed in his friend’s hold almost immediately. “I hate them.”

“Me too,” Brady confessed and repositioned the now
almost sleeping Felicia in his arms. “Fuck Collin, Clarissa and everyone else. She knows who loves her.”

Mickey’s heart ached. “Put her in our room.”

Brady grinned. “She doesn’t belong elsewhere.”

The silent exchange with his lover of seven years confirmed all of his thoughts. Felicia was everything to
both of them. “You’re right.”

Felicia woke with darkness around her but right away both Mickey and Brady’s scents penetrated her senses.

I’m safe.

She burrowed her face into the lush feather down pillow.
She had slept deeply. For the first time in days she felt somewhat rested and clear headed. Brady and Mickey were her future and she needed to sort out the past and leave behind the things and people who tried to steal her happiness. The two cowboys were her heart and life and nothing could ever bring back her life as it had been. Hell, she didn’t even care what Collin thought. How could he resent Brady and Mickey when all they did was love her? She was their everything, and down in her soul, she knew it.

Collin had failed her and, in some ways, he’d failed them—her men. Weren’t friend’s always supposed to be there for you? Her brother had gradually become a stranger—a void, not only in her life—but Brady and Mickey’s. They hadn’t acted on their feelings because of loyalty to him and her family.  In return, Collin had placed unreasonable responsibilities on the two men she had always loved.

She knew to the depths of her soul that her grandparents wouldn’t have been upset over her choice. They loved Mickey and Brady so much. It was both of them there when her grandfather died, the two of them who gave up the rich boy routine to help her grandmother run a ranch she had always trusted to her husband. It wasn’t even eight months later when she joined her husband and, as her mother didn’t care about history, family legacy, or all grandpa had worked for, Brady and Mickey took over and preserved the things her grandparents had built..

Collin was overseas, digging up the land on foreign soil. His message to Brady and Mickey, “take care of Felicia.”