Cowboy Rescue [Men for Hire 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (8 page)

“Hey, darlin’?”

She didn’t know if she had the strength to do anything more, but she’d die trying. “Yeah?”

“I’m hungry.”

She looked at him with wide eyes. “Do you mean…?” Her gaze dropped lower.

“Not that kind of hungry. Now I’m the pizza kind of hungry.” He laughed and tugged her hands free. After helping her out of the tub, he pulled on his shirt in one easy movement, then slid on his jeans. Snatching up his boots, he gave her a wink and left her alone in the bathroom.

She wrapped the towel around her body and caught a glimpse of her smiling face in the partially fogged-up mirror. Her hair was a mop of wet tangles, and her makeup was gone, but she’d never looked better.

Humming one of her favorite songs, she ran her comb through her hair, then dried it, pushing the long strands back away from her face. She didn’t bother with makeup, but decided to add a little color to her cheeks even though she still had a nice afterglow.

Did her skin appear smoother, brighter because of what had happened with Mike? Or was it the steam from the shower?

Yeah, right. Like it had nothing to do with the steam between us.

She took her time dressing, trying to make sure she didn’t put on anything too dressy.

Dressy. As in the dress that’s on my living room floor right now.

Would she ever stop grinning? She hoped not.

Opting for a pair of shorts that weren’t too short and a simple T-shirt, she took one last check in the full-length mirror hanging on her closet door. She was ready. Ready for Mike and ready for Brad and Jack.

When had she become such an easy lay? Her grin faded. Yet she knew that wasn’t the truth of it. There was something different, something compelling about the men that she found irresistible. But what would Mike think if he knew she wanted his brothers, too?

Beep.

The sound of her computer signaling that she had new e-mail had her whirling toward her bed. Drawing her courage together by telling herself that it was only Lindsey checking to see how she was, she approached her laptop that she’d left sitting on the nightstand. She hadn’t meant to leave it on, especially not with the e-mail program running. Swallowing her fear, she looked at the message that had no subject and clicked it open.

Oh, God. No.

Brad pushed the front door wide along with Jack to find Mike licking his fingers. Mike tossed an empty pizza box on top of the others then lifted his hand in greeting. His hand fell, though, as the tall, model-thin blonde girl that had harassed Jack and him on the street shoved her way past them. She stopped and gave Mike a “who the hell are you?” glare.

His stomach dropped as he and Jack both took a big whiff. From Mike’s oh-shit expression, the scent he’d caught was definitely the aroma of sex. Worse yet, Jack bent over and snatched up the torn panties and dress just as the blonde girl whirled to face them again. Thankfully, he managed to hide them behind his back before she saw them.

“Where’s Maria? And I’ll ask you two again, who are you? What are you doing in my apartment?”

The information Fletcher had sent them said that Maria had a roommate. An ex-roommate, to be exact. But her name—
what the hell was it again?
—wasn’t on the new lease Maria had recently signed.

“This isn’t your apartment any longer.”

Brad was pissed. Pissed at the girl’s attitude and pissed that Mike had gotten Maria into bed. Once he had a free moment, he’d make damn sure that Mike knew just how pissed he was.

“Maria! Get the hell out here!” The blonde fisted her hands as though ready to fight.

As soon as she put her back to them, Jack shoved the clothes behind a large plant.

Anger flared in Brad’s gut. “Look, Miss—”

“The name’s Sharron Watkins.” Her gaze slid over him then shifted to Maria as she came in from the bedroom. “There you are. I came to get more of my stuff, and I find these two cow pushers blocking my way. What’s going on?”

The anger left him as fast as it had come. Maria looked stricken. He rushed to her side and took hold of her. Leading her to the love seat, he shot a warning glare at Sharron, then took Maria’s hand, trying to give her silent support.

“What happened, Maria?”

Fear wafted off her as Mike and Jack crowded near her.

“He e-mailed me again.”

“Where?”

She lifted her hand and gave a feeble wave in the direction of the hallway. “My laptop is on my nightstand.”

“I’m on it.” Mike took off down the hall.

So he knows where her bedroom is. Great.

Brad jerked his focus back to her. That is, he would’ve if Sharron would stop running her mouth long enough for him to think.

“I don’t what kind of kinky thing you’ve got going here, but I’m getting the rest of my stuff.”

Brad’s fury roared to life, clawing to break free and give the bitch something real to worry about. Not that he’d ever hurt a woman. That went against everything he believed in. Unless, of course, she physically threatened someone he loved. Instead, he gritted his teeth, turned, and blasted her with a look that would’ve had most men cowering. “Get your crap and get out.”

Sharron stammered a few incomprehensible words, alarm tightening her features, then hurried down the hallway. He didn’t care where she went as long as she was away from Maria.

Mike returned and nodded. “Yeah. I read his other e-mails. We’ve got one sick love-struck weirdo on our hands. He called her a whore because he saw you hanging around the schoolyard. He says he’s going to have to teach her a lesson. He loves her, so it’s his duty to bring her back to being a good girl. It seems he doesn’t like all the men hanging around her lately, which, I’m guessing, means not only you, but Jack and me.”

Maria made a strangled whimper, and Brad squeezed her hand. “Don’t worry. We’re not going anywhere until we get him. And until then, he can’t get past us. You’re safe.”

She nodded, but he didn’t think she was reassured much. They’d have to show her that what he’d said was true.

Sharron was back, hauling a large suitcase behind her. She pushed Jack out of the way—not an easy feat for such a skinny thing—and waved a blouse in front of Maria’s nose. “Damn it, bitch. I told you not to borrow my things. See? You got a stain on it.”

“But I didn’t.” Maria shook her head, confusion etched in her forehead, then irritation. “You’re the one who takes things. You’re wearing my locket right now.”

Sharron’s hand covered the heart-shaped locket that hung from her neck by a golden chain. “Don’t try and turn this around on me. You lied to me. I know you wore my blouse. You always took my things. Just like you took Richard.”

Maria seemed to gather strength, and, instead of tossing Sharron out of the apartment on her ass like he wanted to, Brad waved Mike and Jack off, letting Maria take the lead. She needed to find her power again, and giving her ex-roomie a piece of her mind would help.

Maria stood and went toe-to-toe with Sharron. “I never tried to take Richard away from you. You and your awful attitude ran him off. And even though he’s the one who came onto me, I shut him down because you were my roommate and friend.” She raked Sharron with a quick glance down and up. “Or so I thought.”

“That’s bullshit and you know it. You probably spread your legs for him just like you’re doing for these manure jockeys.”

Maria gasped, glanced at Mike, then came back at Sharron. “Get out. You’ve got your things, now get the hell out and never come back.” She thrust out her arm, pointing at the door. “Get out of
my
apartment!”

“Fuck you, bitch.” Sharron hefted her bag into her other hand and stalked toward the door. “I hope you get an STD!”

“Sharron. One more thing.”

He had no right to feel that way, but pride surged through Brad as Sharron whirled to confront Maria.

“What? Are you ready to confess your sins, bitch?”

If she called Maria a bitch one more time, he wouldn’t be responsible for what he did to the horrible woman. He fisted his hands and shoved his anger back down.

Maria opened her hand, palm up. “Give me your key to the apartment.”

Sharron’s expectant look morphed in a mask of fury as she dug into her pocket. “Here. Take your fucking key. Keep your sad, old apartment so you can fuck all the men you want.” She hurled the key at Maria.

Brad jumped up and caught it a second before it would’ve struck Maria in the face. He dropped it on the coffee table and watched Sharron storm out of the apartment.

Maria sunk into the love seat. “I am so sorry that happened while you were here.”

“I’m not. I wouldn’t want you alone with that hellcat.” Mike paced to the door and locked the door.

Jack made a snorting noise. “Is it just me? Or did she smell?”

“You mean like BO?” asked Maria.

“Nope. Not that. Some people are just so rotten they’ll nasty away before they die.”

Maria rolled her lips under, obviously trying not to laugh. “That’s not nice—”

“Sorry,” added Jack.

“You didn’t let me finish. That’s not nice, even if it is true.”

They shared a laugh, lightening the atmosphere in the room. Her expression turned sad too soon afterward.

“Maria, are you all right? Don’t let the e-mail bother you that much.” He gestured to his brothers. “Guys, I need to talk to you for a minute.”

She’d regained the color in her cheeks as well as the strength in her body. “Yes, thanks. And again, I’m sorry you had to deal with her. I’ll give you guys some space and clean up the kitchen while you talk.”

Brad caught the look she and Mike exchanged. Mike glanced at the counter then at him and grinned.

Aw, hell, man. Not where we eat.

Jack fell into the seat Maria vacated while Mike pulled the chair closer. Once again, Brad had to force his mind away from what had gone on between his brother and Maria and put it back on business.

“I’ve given this a lot of thought while on guard outside.”

“Me, too.” Jack kept his voice low. One leg bopped up and down with his usual frenetic energy. “There’s only one explanation for how that guy got away from you at the school.”

“He knows the area well.” He’d come to the same conclusion.

“So you think we’re dealing with a local? Just because you couldn’t get him to fast enough? Maybe you’re getting slow in your old age.”

As if thirty’s old.

Brad leveled his gaze at Mike. “Bro, you’re already on thin ice. Don’t go jumping up and down.”

“Yeah, Mike, what’s up with that? You and her? We’re not supposed to bone the clients.”

But Mike wasn’t bothered by their irritation. “I know that, but she’s different. Don’t tell me you haven’t felt it, too.” He glanced at her then back. “I’m thinking she may be the one for us.”

Brad wasn’t surprised that his brother would think so. He’d had the same idea hit him every time he thought about her. And since their first meeting, he’d thought about her a lot. His daydreams of having her on her back, her lovely body exposed for his enjoyment, her hands outstretched for him, had taken his mind off the job more times than he’d like to admit. No other woman had ever had that effect on him. And if Mike had the same feeling, wasn’t that more proof that she was the special woman they’d waited for?

Jack rested his elbows on his knees. “I wasn’t going to say anything, but I’ve noticed how I am around her. It’s like she’s not just another woman. And she’s sure as hell not just another client. She’s more than that.”

“It’s weird, her having the same effect on all of us.” Brad had given it a lot of thought. “But remember how it was between our mother and father? Remember how they always said it was love at first sight?”

The mood grew quiet. They’d lost their parents when they were still kids and had gone to live with their mother’s sister. Being the oldest, Brad remembered their parents better.

“Yeah, but I always figured that was a bunch of lovey-dovey shit. Something they told their kids to explain why they’d gotten married so fast.”

“Me, too, Jack. I kind of had them pegged as having to get married due to Brad coming along unexpectedly.”

Brad looped his thumbs into his pockets. “Naw, you lame brain. Do the math. She got preggers with me six months after the honeymoon.”

Jack’s gaze toward Maria had them all looking at her. “Then maybe it can really happen. The ‘love at first sight’ thing, I mean.”

“Stranger things have happened,” added Brad in a whisper.

They were quiet for several moments, letting the sounds of Maria moving around the kitchen wash over them. At last, Brad ground out a groan. It was a warning not only for his brothers, but for himself.

“We need to get our heads back to the business at hand. According to the info Fletcher gave us, this Sharron girl ended things badly with Maria. And obviously she’s holding a grudge. Whether it’s justified or not doesn’t matter. But Fletcher dug up more dirt on her. Seems Sharron’s been in a few scrapes with previous roommates, too. One former roommate said she burned all her boyfriend’s clothes in the middle of the street then slashed his tires. Just like with Maria, Sharron blamed that roommate for stealing her boyfriend.”

“Great. So we’re dealing with two nutcases?” Mike shifted from one foot to the other, mimicking the way Jack always did.

“What I’m wondering is this.” Brad paused, making sure his brothers paid close attention. “Is there a connection between the e-mailer and Sharron?”

“But how’d they hook up?”

Brad sat back, unable to answer Jack’s question. “Until we find out, we stick close. Fletcher’s still working on tracking the person behind setting up the phony Friends Place page. Once we get that, we’ll have more to go on.”

“I agree. And until then, I’ll stick inside with Maria while you guys get back to your watch positions outside.”

Brad grabbed Mike behind the neck and pulled his face close to his. “Not a chance in hell, bro. We’re all staying inside tonight. And until we get this case figured out, hands off her.”