Knight, Kayla - Her Long Hot Surrender [Raw Texas Heat 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (11 page)

“Thank you.”

The atmosphere between them felt supercharged as she sat down. Her skirt rode higher up her thighs and she smoothed it back in shape with her beautifully manicured fingernails. Madi looked pure woman, and as he continued staring, her perfume assaulted his senses. Just being in the same room as her was intoxicating.

At a loss for what to say, Tyler came to his rescue. “Madi’s brought two bottles of wine with her.” His brother held out the bottles. “One red, one white.”

“As I didn’t know what we were having, I thought I’d bring both to be on the safe side. It smells great, by the way.”

Tyler smiled. “Let’s hope it tastes as good. Why don’t you pour the wine, Gabe, while I bring the food out?”

Glad for something to do, Gabe stood and took the wine from his brother. He went over to the table and began opening them both. “I see you’ve finally put the house up for sale.” He’d noticed the real estate sign when he’d passed by her property yesterday.

“I thought long and hard. In the end, common sense won through. That house is much too large for a woman on her own.” She sighed. “Unfortunately, it has to go.”

Gabe placed the opened bottles of wine on the table. “It sounds like you don’t really want to sell up.”

“I don’t. It’s such a beautiful house.” Madi leaned back against the sofa beginning to relax in his company. She looked around the room. “You have a beautiful home too, Gabe. It looks different from how I’d imagined.”

Their choice of furniture was an eclectic mix of old and modern. It hadn’t been planned. Pieces that had caught their eye had been added over the years to produce a pleasant, calming atmosphere. After a long day working the ranch, it was a great place to relax and chill.

“Thanks. We don’t have fancy carpets for obvious reasons, but we do like quality things.”

Madi stood and moved over to the bookcase. It rose from floor to ceiling, and was filled to overflowing with books. Her fingers drifted over the spines until one in particular caught her attention. She pulled it from the case.

“
The Last Lion: Winston Churchill
.” Madi looked at him. “Have you read this?”

Gabe could honestly say, “I’ve read every single one of them. I love reading.”

She replaced the book and scanned the bookcase. “
Eisenhower: The Whitehouse Years. The Wright Brothers
.
Yeager: An Autobiography.
President Nixon: Alone in the Whitehouse
.” Madi shook her head. “I’m beginning to think I know very little about your lives. I thought you just rode horses and fixed fences.”

“Yeah, we do that, too, but Gabe’s the one who likes to read. My hobby is elsewhere.” Tyler came through the door with a tray of food. He placed their plates on the table and then went back into the kitchen. “I hope you like Mexican food. I’ve made chicken enchiladas with mole sauce and a couple of side dishes. Dig in, before it gets cold.”

Gabe slid a dining chair out for Madi, allowing her to sit at the table. “This looks fantastic.”

“Tyler’s a great cook. Mexican food is his specialty.”

Madi took a mouthful of the Spanish rice before placing her fork back on her plate. She called to Tyler in the kitchen, “Mmm, Tyler this is just delicious. You’re a man of hidden talents.”

“Red or white?” Gabe held a bottle of wine in each hand.

“Just a small glass of the red please.” She held her finger and thumb about an inch apart. “No more than this.”

Tyler returned with another tray of food and then seated himself at the table. Gabe raised his glass. Unable to take his eyes from their beautiful dinner guest, he said, “To friendships, old and new.”

Chapter Eleven

Their glasses chinked together as they all echoed the sentiments. “To friendships, old and new.”

Madison spoke first. “I’m intrigued, Tyler. What hobby do you have, apart from cooking?”

Oh God, her knickers felt wet through. Just being in their presence sent her sexual arousal into overdrive. She took a sip of wine to steady her nerves. The two brothers were experts in the art of lovemaking. Just what could they do for her if she went along with their little fantasy?

The image of being sandwiched between them both seared into her mind, making her hand shake as she placed the glass back on the table. Surely she needed to get a grip? These were cowboys she was talking about. Her inner self won through.
Yes, but they’ve impressed you already.
She hadn’t thought they’d have a bookshelf full of superior literature, and their home simply looked stunning. Everything about it felt relaxed and lived in. Fine pieces of old antique furniture sat comfortably alongside the modern designs. It was a mix she found fascinating and refreshing.

Tyler smiled, his amber gaze holding her captive. “I’ll show you my hobby after dinner.”

“Now that’s just teasing me.”

All through dinner, Madison couldn’t take her eyes off them. Gabe wore a simple green gabardine shirt which complimented the color of his amber eyes, showing their vibrancy to great effect. The collar was undone and his sleeves were rolled up, exposing the dark masculine hair on his forearms. Every so often he would run his fingers through his jet-black hair, brushing it away from his forehead as he spoke.

Tyler looked relaxed and at ease. His white shirt brought his healthy tan to her attention. His collar was undone, too, though his sleeves were rolled down, enhancing his long fingers, and the gold watch around his wrist.

There was no doubt they were full-blooded males in their prime. They made her feel incredibly feminine just being in their presence. When the meal was over they moved to the living area.

Gabe spoke, “Would you like a coffee, Madi?”

“Yes, please, that would be lovely. The perfect end to the perfect meal.”

“Tyler tells me you’ve been sorting through your mother’s possessions. I know from experience with Pa, that’s very traumatic.”

“Yes, it is. Holding things in your hand that once belonged to someone you loved. It’s the little things, Gabe, which made me cry. You know, silly little things, like her reading glasses, her brush. The cardigan she left on a chair.”

Madison breathed in. “I found a lot of things that surprised me. Things that made me reassess who I am, where I came from.”

“Do tell,” Gabe urged.

Madison couldn’t help smiling at him. She didn’t feel like throwing her stiletto at him anymore. For the first time since discovering the lie, she actually felt fine about it. Maybe she’d finally come to terms with it, or perhaps the three glasses of wine she’d had at dinner were beginning to take effect. “Just before my mother died she admitted she wasn’t as well connected as she’d always let me believe. It turns out her mother and father were simple ranchers. Born and raised in a small farming community near Lubbock.”

Gabe leaned forward in his chair. He seemed genuinely interested. “So this was all news to you? You must have been surprised.”

“Yes, very. I was shocked, to say the least. Mother had always insisted she was born in New York. My grandparents were high-flying, eminent doctors, or so I was told. My grandfather was supposedly descended from the Russian aristocracy. It’s little wonder I thought I was better than everyone else at high school. Particularly as Mother constantly told me that I was far too good for any of the local boys, and that I should set my sights high.”

Gabe rubbed the back of his head, and she remembered throwing the shoe at him screaming the words,
“I’m prime stock. I’m descended from the Russian aristocracy, and don’t you forget it, cowboy.”
At the time of uttering those harsh words, she’d already known they weren’t true. Madison had never felt so embarrassed. She could feel a blush rise from her neck to stain her cheeks. He grinned, and she knew he was enjoying her fall from grace. She supposed now was as good as time as any to apologize. “I’m sorry I lost my temper, Gabe. I hope my stiletto didn’t hurt you too much.”

He grinned again, theatrically rubbing the back of his head. “No need to worry yourself, baby. It was my entire fault. I guess I scared you a little.”

“You did.” Madison could feel herself tense. The subject had finally swung around to ménages.

She needn’t have worried, because Gabe expertly changed the subject. “Lubbock you say?”

When Madison nodded, Gabe stood and went over to the bookcase.

Tyler laughed. “Now you’ve done it, Madi. You’ve given him an excuse to get one of his books out.”

Gabe returned and sat next to her. Even though he was several inches from her, she could feel his heat, and smell his heady aftershave. He opened the large volume. “Have you ever heard of the dust bowl, Madi?”

It sounded familiar. “History was never my strong suit, Gabe.”

He licked a finger and flicked the pages. “Ah, here we are. During the thirties, large swathes of the country were overfarmed. Drought followed. The earth became dry and grass couldn’t grow. The roots are what hold the soil together. When the strong winds came they ripped the earth from the ground and blew it away in massive dust storms. It left the regions affected totally devastated. The communities were on their knees. People starved. This could be the type of environment your mother’s parents had to survive in. It took decades to overcome. Poverty was rife. I’m sure your mother wanted to forget her early childhood. Maybe that was why she invented this wonderful and fanciful past for herself.”

If what Gabe described was true, Madison could see why her mother had embellished her past. To put aside those painful memories might have been her way of coping. Or maybe she had done it to curry favor with her father. She guessed her mother had spotted his potential even way back then. Perhaps the real reason she’d lied was not to deceive, but to win the love of her man. If that were the case, then she couldn’t blame her.

Gabe handed her the book. “I’ll get you that coffee.”

Madison turned the pages. Old black-and-white photographs captured the terrifying dust storms. They portrayed the harrowing event like mere words could never hope to do. Huge walls of dust looked ready to swallow whole towns. She traced her fingers over the images. “I’m taking a trip to Lubbock this weekend. Maybe I can unearth some more information. It’s really quite fascinating.”

Gabe returned and handed her a large cup of steaming coffee. “I’ve always wanted to visit Lubbock. I’ll come with you. That’s if you don’t mind.”

“Thank you. That’s really sweet of you, Gabe, but I’m planning on staying a few days. I’ve employed a man to research my family tree. I found him on the Internet and decided to give him a call. He tells me he’s traced my mother’s line back more than a hundred years. I’m interested to know where I really came from.”

“It sounds interesting.”

“Count me in too, Madi,” Tyler added.

Madi eyed them suspiciously, wondering about their motives. Were they coming along on the off chance that she might weaken and consent to a ménage with them, or were they genuinely interested in her family history? Either way, it would be nice to have some company for the trip, though she really had to put them in their place first.

“That would be great. I’ll book an extra room for you guys, because you won’t be sharing mine.” Her hand shook as she placed her cup on the saucer. She looked at them in turn. They both stared at her as though she was their next meal. “Still want to come, boys?”

It came as a big surprise when Gabe answered, “You bet, baby. We wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

* * * *

“Thanks for a lovely evening, Gabe.” She stood on the porch, ready to leave. “I’ve really enjoyed it.”

“You’re welcome, baby.”

Madi kissed him on the cheek and then began walking down the steps to her car. Tyler put his arm around her shoulder, and began guiding her toward the barn. “Before you go I’ve got something to show you.”