Boots and Bareback: Ugly Stick Saloon, Book 3 (12 page)

When Gabe had taken off his clothing, instead of looking away, Isabella had watched with abject fascination, unable to tear her gaze away from all the naked muscles gleaming in the dappled light shining through the trees.

Holy horses! Last night had been a blur, she’d seen his chest and his cock, but the altogether was even more impressive. He was built like a god…hell, he was hung like a…

Isabella swallowed hard, her pussy clenching, throbbing, remembering her shameless behavior at the saloon the night before.

Gabe surfaced, flung back his head and shouted, “Feels great! Are you coming in?”

Isabella hesitated, though her hands rose to the hem of her shirt as though they had minds of their own. What was she thinking? Skinny-dipping with Gabe? It could only lead to one thing.

Shivers of anticipation shimmied across her arms, raising gooseflesh on her heated skin. What if he wanted to pleasure her? What if she couldn’t get off without his brothers to help? Would he think any less of her?

“I promise not to touch you, if that’s what you want,” he called out, floating on his back, his dick rising straight out of the water.

“I’ll take you up on that promise.” Before her feet got cold, she ripped her shirt over her head, toed off her boots and shimmied out of her jeans and panties. In seconds, she dove into the cool water.

She rose to the surface, laughing, her heart lighter than it had been in a long time. “You’re right. It feels great.”

Gabe maintained his distance.

Warmth filled her chest and spread lower. Yet a twinge of self-doubt lingered. Would he be judging her attributes? Would she come up short?

The man had enough manners to allow her to adjust to the water temperature and to being alone with a naked man in a pool. Daniel would have been all over her.

Not Gabe.

Hmm. What if she wanted him to be all over her? Her sexual curiosity stormed every cell in her body, and Isabella pushed aside her insecurities and ducked beneath the surface. She kicked off the bottom, swam hard and fast toward Gabe, grabbed his ankle and yanked him under. So what if she couldn’t get off. Today wasn’t forever. At least Gabe could have a little fun with her and she could enjoy sex without coming. It wasn’t all about her having an orgasm.

Tanner raced across the fields, urging his horse faster.

His brother, Sean, followed, leaning low over his bay gelding’s jet-black mane.

Damn Gabe.

Their father had met them at the barn, a grin on his face. “I see Gabe has the jump on you boys.”

They’d been unloading the supplies and sacks of grain Gabe had sent them to purchase, insisting they go all the way over to the feed store in Hole in the Wall instead of their usual trip to Temptation. He’d said he’d read they were having a sale. When they’d arrived, the feed store clerk had stared at Tanner like he’d grown a second head. What sale?

Now he understood why Gabe had sent them across to the next county. He’d bought enough time to get Isabella out to the ranch…alone. Screw that. How was Tanner supposed to woo the pretty waitress if Gabe stayed one step ahead?

Isabella deserved a chance to get to know all three of them. Then she could choose which one she’d rather be with.

After last night, Tanner was even more determined to win over the beautiful Isabella.

Tanner intended to make sure she got to know him as much as she got to know Gabe. He had a good idea where they’d end up, riding with the temperatures in the nineties.

The creek.

Sun beat down on him, reminding him that the heat would take it out of the horses at the pace they’d set. Tanner slowed his mare to a trot, himself chomping at the bit, wishing he’d opted for the four-wheeler instead. At least then he could have roared across the pasture without worrying about the animals.

Sean rode up beside Tanner. “I can’t believe Gabe would go behind our backs and take Isabella out without us.”

“She doesn’t belong to us.” Though Tanner wished she did. God, last night… All three of them making love to her… His cock twitched, hardening beneath the denim.

“I thought she’d made it clear, she wanted all of us,” Sean continued.

“We don’t know what exactly she wants. That could have been for just last night. Like trying all the candy in the box until she finds the one she likes best.”

“Shoot.” Sean removed his cowboy hat and scrubbed his arm across his forehead. “And I thought… Oh hell. I don’t know what I thought. Once she removed her bikini, my brain quit functioning.”

Tanner laughed. “And your dick did your thinkin’ for you?”

Sean scowled. “I wouldn’t be talking. Seems yours was doin’ it for you too.”

“And Gabe’s was thinkin’ for him. That woman had us all tied in knots.”

“In a good way, you gotta admit.” Sean grinned. He didn’t stay mad for long. “I’d go for it again. I don’t mind sharing, as long as
she’s
happy. Makes me real hot.”

Tanner’s brows narrowed. “I’m not so sure
I
want to share her.”

“Even if it’s the way
she
wants it?”

Tanner’s hand tightened on the reins and his mare danced to the side. “Although what we did last night was…well…incredible…I want her to myself.”

Sean shook his head. “Maybe one isn’t enough for her. Ever think of that?”

“
I
could be enough for her, if she’d give me a chance to prove it.” Tanner didn’t like the way this conversation was going. They all needed a woman, or so their father said. The old man wanted grandchildren, and plenty of them. Hell, Tanner wanted a kid or two. Someday.

If all three of them wanted Isabella, someone was bound to lose out. She’d ultimately choose one.

Tanner’s chest tightened. Would he step aside if she refused to make a decision? Just because he didn’t want to share?

What if there was truth in what Sean was saying?

His thoughts churned on the idea as they crossed another pasture light green with knee-high Bermuda hay swaying in the warm breeze.

What if Isabella didn’t want to choose? If they forced her to, would she leave them all?

Holy hell. Tanner didn’t like sharing his woman with other men, but he would be less hesitant if the other men were his brothers. They loved each other and would do anything to protect what was theirs. Hell, they’d shared a woman before Isabella.

Though that had been a bit different. None of them had been romantically interested in Charli Sutton. Sure she was sexy, and making love to her with their friend, Connor Mason, had been exciting. But now that they’d discovered Isabella, the woman who’d been under their noses all along… Tanner couldn’t imagine making love to anyone else—with or without his brothers in the picture.

But he might consider putting a fist in Gabe’s face for sending them on a snipe hunt.

As he topped the last hill, he reined in his horse. Sean came to a halt beside him.

“Damn.” Sean whistled. “The man works fast. He’s got her in the pool.”

Tanner’s jaw tightened. “And she’s naked.” He dug his heels into his mare’s flanks, sending the horse down the hill, charging toward the creek.

Sean whooped behind Tanner, his horse’s hooves pounding to keep up. From the top of the hill, he could see Gabe tossing Isabella into the air, water glistening on her pale skin. Oh, yeah. He wanted in on that action.

Unlike his middle brother, Sean didn’t care if he shared Isabella with his siblings. As long as she had some love left in her for him. After spending time with her at the saloon, walking her home, flirting with her over the bar and the occasional dance she graced him with, he was convinced, she was the one for him.

She liked horses. Sean liked horses. She loved ranch life. Sean couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. Isabella believed in family and taking care of the people and critters she loved. What more could a cowboy ask for in the woman he planned to spend the rest of his life with?

If sharing her with his brothers made Isabella happy and more fulfilled, that was fine by him. Anything to keep her in the family.

Tanner beat him to the edge of the pool, pulling up so sharply, his mare reared and whinnied, announcing their arrival better than any shout-out.

Gabe and Isabella had just surfaced, rivulets of water running down their faces, necks and shoulders.

Isabella’s breasts bobbed near the surface, shining and wet—so luscious, they looked like ripe melons to be sucked on.

Sean was out of the saddle before his gelding came to a full stop. “Hey, no fair. You didn’t wait for us.”

Gabe glared. “Because you weren’t invited.”

Sean’s brows rose. “We’ll leave if Isabella wants us to.”

“Speak for yourself,” Tanner muttered. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Sean turned the full force of his killer smile on Isabella. “What’s it to be? Do you want us to leave the two of you alone?”

Isabella’s cheeks reddened and she glanced at Gabe, her hands rising to cover her naked breasts.

Gabe sighed. “It really is your choice.”

“I don’t want to start a fight among your brothers,” she said.

“Then tell us what you really want, sweetheart,” Sean urged. “We’re big boys. We can take it.”

The pink in her cheeks darkened and she shot another sideways glance at Gabe, then Tanner and Sean. “You won’t be mad?”

Sean raised a hand. “I promise.”

Tanner dropped down out of his saddle and nodded. “Me too.”

Gabe frowned. “Same.”

She gulped, the muscles working in her throat.

Sean held his breath.

Tanner’s fists tightened.

Even Gabe froze, awaiting Isabella’s response.

“I want all three of you.” She straightened, letting her hands fall away from her breasts, her chin tilting up. “Does that make me bad?”

Sean laughed. “Only the best kind of bad there is. Maybe a little greedy too, but sexy as hell.” He tore open his shirt, tossing it to the ground. Hopping on one foot, he removed a boot and chucked it.

Tanner stood to the side.

“You’re not gonna get a better offer, Tanner,” Sean muttered. “Show the woman some love.”

His scowl slowly dissipating, Tanner reached for the buttons on his shirt. “I guess it’s okay.”

“Damn right it is.” Sean stepped out of his jeans and dove into the pool, the cool water having little effect on taming his arousal. He swam to Isabella and pulled her into his arms, kissing her soundly. “That’s more like it. Come on, Tanner, don’t take all day.”

A loud splash sent a spray of water crashing into him, and Tanner knocked him over. Sean took Isabella with him, submerging in the refreshing pool.

When he came up, he shouted, joy filling his heart.

“Am I the only one who thinks this pool is crowded?” Gabe mumbled.

“No.” Tanner crossed his arms.

Isabella pushed back her dripping hair from her face. She had been afraid of this. By the way Tanner and Gabe were glaring at each other, her own selfishness was causing a rift between the brothers. “Leave, if it bothers any of you. Or better yet, I’ll leave.” She pushed through the water, headed for shore, her heart hammering against her ribs, a sick feeling settling in the pit of her gut, shame flushing her naked body.

“No, baby. Please…don’t go.” Sean cut her off, his hands settling on her arm, work-roughened fingers curling around her gently. “I want you to stay.”

“I won’t come between you and your brothers.” Damn, a tear welled and slipped from the corner of her eye. Another popped up and followed the first.

“You aren’t. We always argue like this.” Sean glanced over her shoulder. “Don’t we?”

Gabe grunted.

Tanner growled.

Sean’s lips thinned. “Don’t we?”

“Yeah.” Gabe and Tanner answered as one.

“Ah, hell, Isabella. We’re all smitten with you,” Tanner admitted.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have let it go this far.” She looked up into Sean’s green eyes, so much like his brothers’. “Let go of me. I need to leave.”

“No, you don’t.” Sean kissed the tear off her cheek. “Let us prove to you that we can play well together.” He thumbed another tear from her chin. “Let us show you how good it can be with the three of us. We promise to make you happy.”

His voice soothed over her like velvet, warming her in places that hadn’t felt warm in a long time. Her logical self argued that no good could come of being with three men, while her heart disagreed, tilting her toward Sean’s chest.

He gathered her in his arms and held her, brushing her wet hair back off her forehead. He pressed a kiss to the tip of her nose, then her lips. “Trust me,” he whispered.

Her arms rose, circling his neck. She should have fought the yearning, slayed the desire and moved back into her lonely existence in her dinky apartment, counting her pennies until she could buy Sundance back from the Circle C. Even with the little over two thousand dollars she’d saved, she doubted it would be enough to convince Daniel to sell Sundance to her. Who was she kidding? Daniel was a bastard, willing to jack the price up just to piss her off.