Espino, Stacey - Corralling the City Girl [Ride 'em Hard 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (11 page)

Besides his feelings of indifference to Jane and Brad’s new status, he had to worry about the actual job. His brothers would laugh him out into the fields if he came home without getting paid. They’d warned him the roundup was probably a scam, but he insisted it was legit. He had to make sure he completed his job, got him money, and returned to his real life.

Jane was just a fantasy. A beautiful city girl used to glitz, glam, and men doting over her like a princess. She wouldn’t get that from him. She probably bought and sold men like him every day. When he decided to settle down, if he decided to settle down, it would be with a woman who had a balanced head on her shoulders. She wouldn’t be scared of hard work, would know how to handle livestock, and wouldn’t give him a headache every time she opened her mouth.

Jane.
Why the fuck couldn’t he stop thinking about her? She was everything he didn’t want in a woman, and she’d willingly bedded another man without hesitation. He needed to steer clear of her for the next week or so.

“Don’t look at me like that! Are you a saint, Chase Garner?”

“No, but I know when something’s fishy. It just seems too lucky for three cowboys lookin’ for money to come across a too-good paycheck
and
a gorgeous city girl willing to submit to them.”

“You think I’m gorgeous?”

“Obviously. You’re the cutest little thing I’ve ever seen.”

She bit her lip and rubbed her legs together. He hadn’t lied. Chase liked his women petite and curvy. “I’m not here to hurt anyone. I just want to get my uncle’s herd moved by the deadline, pay you each your ten thousand, and be on my way.”

It sounded good to him, if it were true. They’d worked themselves to the bone all morning. Chase craved a good meal, comfortable bed, and a bottle of Molson while he watched a game on satellite. Those days would have to wait. Now, the most he could hope for was getting a decent fire started so they could prepare some beans and coffee.

“Don’t worry about Chase. I don’t plan on refusing you.” Dawson stripped off his shirt and used it to wipe the sweat and dust from his face. The drifter was heavily muscled with numerous scars marring his back, no doubt from being gouged on more than one occasion. His neighbor, Wyatt, had similar scars from travelling with the rodeo for over a decade.

As the other man crouched down beside Jane, Chase’s ribs felt as if they were clamping down on his heart and lungs, making it difficult to breathe. He didn’t want Dawson to take what he wanted, but was too proud and cautious to take.

“Never said I was refusing her.” He began to unbuckle his Wranglers, eager to connect with the beauty on the ground now that he’d mentally committed to taking her. It felt foreign to share or have other men watch, but then again, last night had been one of the most titillating experiences of his life. Even if she accepted him, their intimacy wouldn’t go anywhere, it would just be sex. But right now it’s all he could think about.

“Then we’ll share her,” said Dawson, a determined gleam in his eyes.

* * * *

Jane wanted to feel all three men—to touch their muscles, feel the sweat glistening on their bodies—and allow them to ride her hard. But even being denied the orgasm which had loomed on the cusp of release, she began to feel like a piece of meat, and didn’t like it. The other two cowboys had converged on her, stripping off their shirts, and making it harder to say “no” to them.

She scooped up her clothes, danced into her jeans, and returned to her horse.

“Hey, where you going, darlin’?” Dawson called after her.

“Like Chase said, this isn’t why I came here. I think I had a bout of temporary insanity, but it won’t happen again.” She dug in the saddlebag to search for something to nibble on. It was hard going without her Starbucks latte every morning, and she missed her berry yogurt. The diet during a cattle drive left little to be desired. She consoled herself with the idea that she’d probably lose five pounds by the time she returned to the city.

Jane looked up at the sky, noting the sun still high and unrelenting. She wished the days could pass quicker so she could get the hell away from these men. Her past relationships had been brief, but she’d never willingly participated in a one-night stand. Something about these cowboys made her eager to toss her standards just to experience what they could give her. She wanted more, too, but had to get her act together. The whole point of this trip was to fulfill the stipulations of her uncle’s will. Once she succeeded she could quit her miserable job and have some security in her life. If she blew her chance by flitting away time consorting with her crew, she’d only have herself to blame.

She could worry about other long-term concerns like relationships once she returned home. Not having a job to worry about would give her more free time to meet men.
Men like Brad, or Chase, or Dawson?
Jane shook her head to dismiss the idea. None of these guys had long-term potential written on them. They were too hot, no doubt players with countless cowgirls sniffing around them when they weren’t trapped out on the fields. Jane couldn’t deal with another deadbeat. The whole commitment, open-yourself-up-to-your-partner thing—it just never worked for her. Exposing her inner thoughts and fears would set her up for pain and disappointment. She’d witnessed how much her mother suffered over the years, and she refused to be like her.

“I’m sorry. Are you mad?” Brad touched her shoulder from behind making her jump. She hadn’t realized how affected she was by everything that had just happened.

“No. I’m just disappointed with myself. That wasn’t like me at all.”

“I don’t think any less of you, if that’s what you’re thinking.” He stilled her hands as she fidgeted with her horse’s saddle. “Jane, look at me.”

Why was he doing this to her? He’d gotten what he wanted. “What!”

He laughed and pulled her against his chest as if she were his. “Still feisty.”

His calm, gentle nature soothed her, but also brought her emotions to the surface. She looked to the side. Dawson and Chase were standing in the clearing, out of earshot. “I came here to conduct a business arrangement. I wanted to keep professional, to present a certain image, and I failed royally.”

Brad draped his arms around the small of her back. “It’s a cattle drive, sweetheart. There ain’t no room for fancy arrogance. Just be yourself…because that’s the kind of girl I could fall in love with.”

Her eyes darted up to his. “You did not just say that.”

He kissed her forehead, ignoring her comment. “We best get moving. We have to push the cattle another two miles before we settle for the night.”

Jane watched him return to the other men. They already got along so well, talking, joking, and working together like a well-oiled machine. When the three were grouped together they emitted so much testosterone that she couldn’t think straight. What would it feel like if they played games with her again like last night? What if they went further this time? She craved to submit to Dawson again, to feel Brad’s fingers probing her virgin ass, and she wanted to know Chase intimately. Her pussy sparked to life again, demanding to be touched and fucked.
Get ahold of yourself, woman!

Jane mounted her horse, ready for two miles of torture with her pussy rubbing against the Western saddle once again. She began to doubt her choice in rejecting Chase and Dawson and their promise of sweet relief.

“Darlin’, we’re heading out. Follow behind us,” called Brad after he saddled up. His smile had a direct effect on her mood. She responded with feigned irritation because it’s what they’d expect from her by now. But, on the inside, her body glowed every time he gave her a bit of attention—a smile, a touch, a kind word.

Hours later, when they had the cattle settled and grazing, the three cowboy riders rode back to meet her. Her heart went out to them. Even though she planned to pay them very well, the job was taxing. Each man was sweaty, weary looks on their faces, and clothing dusty and dirty.

Dawson dropped down onto two booted feet, his spurs ringing. He brushed his hat across his leather chaps, and then stretched out his long, lean-muscled body. “A chuck wagon would be a welcome sight about now,” he said.

“I’m starving, myself.” Chase dismounted and led the horses to the small patch of trees on the vast, open land. “I’ll get a fire going and we can heat up what we have.”

“We should try and snare a rabbit when we reach the Highland Forest tomorrow. Some fresh meat would do us a world of good,” said Brad.

Dawson sat on the grass and tugged off his boots, then removed his chaps. She watched, awestruck, from her perch on her horse as he slipped his shirt off and dropped down to his back. “Rather than frolicking around the prairie while we work, you should be preparing our meals like a good woman.”

She knew he was goading her, and it worked. “A good woman? I guess I’ll never be one then. Barefoot and pregnant, living in the kitchen, is not the life for me.”

“
Right.
The city girl’s too good for country living,” said Chase, now creating a makeshift fire pit.

“I never said that. But just because I’m a woman doesn’t mean I should be expected to cook. I don’t even cook for myself at home.”

“You sound like my sister.” Chase shook his head in mock irritation. The mood wasn’t heavy, but calm and tranquil, despite their little spat. The sun was setting, and the heat less intense.

She finally slipped off her horse once the men had the fire roaring and a couple pots positioned over the flames. Her stomach was beginning to grumble. Every step she took crunched the dry grass beneath her shoes. It was all golden, scorched, unlike the prairie near her uncle’s ranch.

“Hope you’re not too good for beans and dry bacon,” said Dawson, now lying on his side facing the fire. He poked the flames with a stick, his eyes dreamy and distant. The man didn’t have an inch of extra fat. Too bad she felt like throttling him half the time.

“Stop saying that! You make me feel like a bitch.” She twirled her sweat-streaked hair up in a loose roll and secured it with the hair tie she kept around her wrist. The gentle breeze on her moist neck felt heavenly.

“Hot, sweetheart?” Brad rose from his crouch beside the fire and approached her. “You’re dressed too heavily.”

“Don’t get excited, cowboy. I don’t plan on getting naked again.” She sat down cross-legged a few feet from the fire. The heat was slightly uncomfortable, but the scent of food and coffee was pleasant. Maybe tomorrow she’d try and do some of this herself. The men looked so exhausted, and couldn’t relax because they had to care for themselves.

“Even if you were, I don’t think I’d have the energy.” Brad winked, and sat next to her. As the sun lowered on the horizon, the quiet hush around them increased, leaving Jane slightly on edge. She shifted closer to Brad, feeling a sense of comfort and protection from his presence.

The little cowdog appeared from seemingly out of nowhere, whining near the fire. Brad reached into one of the leather bags on the ground and pulled out a piece of dry meat, tossing it in the air. The dog caught the food with ease, and slunk off to enjoy its meal in peace.

“I almost forgot about him,” she said.

“He’s there when I need him. Butch had a long, hard day, same as us. He’ll sleep like a log.” Brad suddenly put an arm around her shoulders, tugging her enough that she’d lean against him. She tensed at first, but thought better and relaxed her muscles. The rise and fall of his chest, and the sound of his breathing, it all lulled her after a long day under the sun.

Chase passed her a metal cup filled with black coffee. Normally she’d never touch the stuff without milk and sugar, but anything looked appealing about now. “Thank you.”

“Tell me, Jane Williams. Why the whole roundup? You don’t seem the type itching for a wilderness adventure. Did your uncle leave you these animals?” Chase cupped his own mug as he dropped down to his hip and elbow. Dawson looked like he’d fallen asleep, a forearm draped over his eyes as he lay a few feet away on his back.

“They’re mine.” Almost. “I wanted to experience a real cattle drive for myself. Just the once.”

“Doesn’t sound like you, sweetheart.” Chase eyed her suspiciously, but dropped the subject.

Darkness crept in, making the firelight appear brighter, and the periphery of their little circle more menacing. “Are you going to move up here and take over your uncle’s ranch?” asked Brad.

She scoffed. “Are you kidding me? I’d die if I had to live out here. No stores, no people, just acres of nothingness and mindless animals.”

“I don’t know.” Brad patted his lap, signaling her to use him as a pillow. With her eyelids heavy, she shifted down to her side. He ran his fingers through her hair. She drifted, savoring the feel of his touch as she listened to the crackle of the fire and chorus of crickets. “I could see you as a country girl. The prairies grow on you. You may just have a change of heart over the next week.”