What She Needs: Cape May, Book 3 (8 page)

Tory took another sip of her coffee and desperately tried to come up with a logical reason why she couldn’t spend the evening with the lovebirds, when the phone rang. Ah, saved! Tory set her cup back down and stood. By the time she’d reached the living room, the phone had rung twice more. She grabbed it from the cradle and said, “Hello?”

“Hey, sugar. What’s up?”

Tory smiled as a little tingle skated down her spine. She’d recognize that devilish voice anywhere.

One of her best buds, Devon Mason. Sweet, funny, cute as hell and just ornery enough to make her forget the little pity party she’d been throwing herself. “Hi, handsome. Not much, just talking to Summer.” Tory walked back into the kitchen to find Summer rinsing her cup and setting it in the sink.

Devon groaned. “Is she still trying to get you to go to her place tonight?”

“Yes,” Tory bit out, as she picked up her own cup and brought it to the sink.

“Nothing quite like watching new lovers to make you feel like a total loser during the holidays, huh?”

Tory turned and leaned against the counter, Summer’s gaze glued to hers. “Uh, yeah. Something like that.”

“So, how about you come with me instead?”

Instantly perking up, Tory asked, “You’re going to Con’s party?” Their mutual friend Con Walker held an annual Christmas party. The event was talked about for weeks beforehand and months afterwards.

No expense was spared when Con threw a party. She’d gone every year and always had the time of her life.

This time around, she had no date. Going alone seemed…beyond sad.

She heard what sounded like shuffling papers in her ear, then Devon said, “Wouldn’t miss it.”

Summer motioned to the other room, indicating she was going to the bathroom. Tory nodded. Once alone in the kitchen, she asked, “And you don’t have a date? That surprises me, Devon.”

Devon made a tsking sound into the phone. “I wouldn’t ask you if I had a date.” He paused, then added, “And why should that surprise you? It’s not like I’m a player, Tory.”

Okay, now she felt bad. “That’s not what I meant. It’s just that you always have a date at Con’s Christmas Eve Gala.”

“So do you, sugar. But I figured since we’re both available this year, it couldn’t hurt to go together, right?”

It did sound like fun. Tory always enjoyed Devon’s company. And Con, though not as playful and flirtatious as Devon, made for some damned interesting company, she admitted to herself. Where Devon tended to be the impulsive jokester, Con’s personality leaned more toward quiet and intense. Together they never failed to entertain her. As Summer came back into the room, Tory made her decision.

“What time are you picking me up?”

She heard Devon chuckle. “Be ready at seven, sugar.”

“Okay.” A little shiver ran through her. Crazy as it seemed, she was nervous.
It’s not a date. He’s one of your best guy friends, nothing more. Get a grip.

“Good. And Tory?”

“Yeah?”

“I have a feeling this is going to be a Christmas Eve we’ll both remember for years to come.”

Devon’s warm voice uttering such a wicked promise had Tory frowning and staring at the phone.

What was that about? By the time she managed to think up a witty reply, all she heard was a dial tone.

“You’ve made plans, haven’t you?”

Summer’s soft voice tore Tory out of her musings. She clicked end on the phone and placed it on the counter beside her. “Devon is taking me to Con’s. He’s picking me up at seven.” Tory mentally ran through her entire closet and cursed.

“What is it?”

“I don’t have squat to wear. I need to go shopping.” Tory grinned and bobbed her eyebrows. “Want to hit the mall?”

Summer clapped her hands together. “I see cappuccinos and sexy dresses in our very near future.”

Tory laughed. “Sweet. Let me get changed and we’ll see if we can’t find something that’ll knock the guys right on their asses.”

“Guys? You and Devon are just friends though, right?”

That stopped her. Friends. “Of course. I just meant, you know, if there are any single guys at the party.”

“Uh-huh.”

Tory turned and nearly ran from the kitchen. She was going to a party with a friend. She’d have a few drinks, laugh a little, then come home. A nice evening out. That’s all there was to it. A little voice in the back of her mind kept blathering on about Devon’s sensual voice and the promise he’d uttered.

That little voice needed to shut the hell up already.

Devon sat back in his chair and stared at the phone, a sense of anticipation stirring his blood. Tonight would be the night. It had to be. He’d waited long enough. He picked up the phone again and dialed another number.

“Tell me you have good news.”

Devon smiled at the frustration in Con’s voice. “She’s coming,” he said, putting his friend out of his misery. “I’m picking her up at seven.”

He heard Con let out a breath. “Damn. I can’t believe it’s finally happening.”

“Easy, Con.” Devon felt compelled to issue the small warning. “She’s only agreed to accompany me as a friend. Nothing more.”

“I know, but I’m still trying to think positive here. Don’t piss on my parade.”

Devon chuckled and crossed his legs at the ankles. “No one is pissing on anyone’s parade, but we need to take this slow. I don’t want her hurt.”

“And you think I do?”

Flicking a glance at his office door, ensuring no one was around, he replied, “No. It’s just that Tory is going to be shocked when she finds out we
both
want her. That we’ve both ached to be more than her good buddies for the past three years. If I had to guess, I’d say she’s never been with two guys at once. Much less two guys she’s viewed as mere friends.” The more he thought about it, the more his gut churned. “Christ, she’s so damn innocent.”

“Especially compared to the two of us, is that what you’re saying?”

Con’s anger seeped through the phone. “We’re a hell of a lot more experienced, and you know it.

Already I feel like the big bad wolf luring the sweet little girl with the promise of candy.”

“Damn it, Devon, we’re not wolves and she’s not a little girl. This isn’t about getting laid. It’s about finally having Tory all to ourselves. This is the best opportunity we’re going to get.”

Love takes courage. Loving two men takes twice as much.

The Boys Next Door

© 2010 Sierra Dafoe

At seventeen, Tommy Ambinder was Annie Parsons’ first love, the center of her world. Almost.

There was a secret spot reserved for Judah, Tommy’s elder brother. On the day she discovered Judah wanted her, as well, the aftermath drove Annie out of town—and a wedge between the men she loved.

Now, haunted by guilt, Annie has returned to Melgrove, Montana with one hope in her heart—that twenty years has overcome the rift between the Ambinder boys. If they’ve mended fences, maybe she can repair her own life too.

Tommy’s missed Annie all these years, but he never realized how much until one glimpse reignites the passion that time hasn’t quenched. Something else hasn’t changed, either—half of her heart still belongs to Judah.

Now, with Annie poised to run again, history is threatening to repeat itself—unless one of them has the courage to break free of the pattern and blaze a new trail that’s wide enough for all three.

Warning: This book contains all the volcanic intensity of first love, searing-hot sex scenes, and two brothers sharing the one woman they love!

Enjoy the following excerpt for
The Boys Next Door: Judah froze in shock as Annie buried her face against his chest, her arms wrapped around him so tight he could feel her heart thudding. “Oh God, Judah!” Tears were streaming down her face as she babbled, “I thought you were gone, I didn’t know what happened, the house was all empty and I didn’t know where you were!”

She looked up at him finally, a frantic sort of happiness shining in her eyes. “How are you? How’s Tommy? Is he okay? God, I’ve missed you!”

He wanted to shake her. He wanted to hit her, almost. For twenty years she’d been gone, vanished off the face of the earth, and now here she was smiling at him, telling him she’d missed him?

How in twenty years could she have changed so little? She was still as impulsive, still as heedless of consequences, blissfully unaware of how her actions affected others.

He wanted to kiss her so badly he almost couldn’t breathe.

He held himself rigid, not returning her embrace. Uncertainty bloomed like a shadow in the hazel depths of her eyes, and she dropped her arms, looking away.

Judah felt his heart lurch back into motion as her gaze released him, the sudden rush of blood making his head spin.

Annie Parsons. If she’d changed at all in twenty years, he couldn’t see it. Oh sure, there were a few wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, and the lustrous brown hair which her mother had always kept neatly trimmed now hung in a careless shag cut he wasn’t sure he liked. Unthinkingly, he started to reach out and brush the dust from her hair—then Judah stopped himself, fisting his hand at his side.

What in hell did he think he was doing?

Gritting his jaw, he jerked his chin at the hillside. “Came over to see what spooked the livestock.

What are you doing here, Annie?”

She gave him a quick, almost guilty sidelong glance, then shrugged, her gaze tracing the low, weathered hills. “I just…wanted to see how you were, I guess. I’m sorry I panicked. When I saw the house…”

He nodded to himself. He knew that panic. It had flared in his own gut the day she’d disappeared, making him push past her crying mother and storm up the stairs, determined to see for himself.

Her abandoned room, her empty closet, had hit him like a hard punch straight to the stomach. Even now, the memory could still rock him if he wasn’t careful.

“It just got to be too much to keep up, after Dad died.” His terse explanation didn’t begin to carry the weight of grief of those days, the way everything had seemed to fall apart all at once. Even her parents had moved away shortly thereafter.

But Annie must’ve caught an echo of his emotion anyway—she looked at him, soft concern showing in her hazel eyes. “When did it happen?”

It was his turn to shrug, looking out over the pastures. “Fifteen years ago.”
Five years after you left.

Where did you go, Annie?
He kicked at a clump of dried leaves clotting the porch, making them rustle. “It’s amazing how quick things go to pieces out here.”

She was still watching him, her gaze seeming to cut straight through the wall he was trying so hard to keep between them. The warm compassion in her eyes stroked him in a way that both angered and soothed him.

Damn it, Annie, stop looking at me like that.

“I’m sorry, Judah.”

“Yeah, well…” He nodded briefly, pushing away her sympathy. “Ma’s doing all right. She’s sixty-three now, can you believe it? Sixty-three and still gets up at five a.m. to feed the chickens.”

“And Tommy? How is he?”

Judah froze at the question. Annie’s eyes were wide, direct, the concern shading their hazel depths not only for him now. Her voice was so gentle, damn it, asking about Tommy. As if she still loved him. As if she still cared.

Anger flared inside him, along with the old, twisted jealousy. If she’d ever truly loved Tommy, if she’d cared about him at all, she would never have let Judah kiss her beneath the bleachers. Never would have let him touch her as he’d dreamed of doing. Never would have run to his arms in the night…

Judah cleared his throat. Against his will, his gaze flicked downward, tracing the line of her thighs through her faded jeans. “He’s all right. He’s in Washington these days. Bought a farm there. He’s married now.” He watched Annie closely, wanting to see her reaction.

If his words surprised her, she hid it well. “That’s great. When was this?”

“Seven, eight years ago. Something like that. He’s got kids,” Judah elaborated. “Two boys and a girl.”

Something flickered briefly in her eyes, but she only smiled. “That makes you an uncle.

Congratulations.”

“Yeah, I guess it does.” He cleared his throat again.

“And you?” she asked. “How about you?”

Her eyes were too soft. Too warm. Too lovely. Judah shifted uncomfortably and pushed back his Stetson. “Me? I’ll never leave Montana.” He snorted. “You know me.”

“Do I?”

Two words, one little question, and suddenly it seemed like there wasn’t enough air for his lungs.

Never mind the vast blue sky above them, or the miles of open, rolling hills all around. Judah moved closer, his voice dropping half an octave. “I’ll always be here, Annie. You know that.”

Her gaze rose to meet his, full of shadows. Maybe longing. Something thrummed in the air between them, and Judah stepped away quickly.

Christ, what was he
doing
?

“So, how long you in town for?” He leaned against the porch railing, absently noting the flaking paint.

Ought to do something about that
, he thought, then:
Why bother? It’s not like it matters.

But it still broke his heart.

Annie shrugged. “Just overnight, really. I booked a room at the boarding house.”

He nodded. “You drive out here?”

“Yeah. I parked up on the ridge. I…I didn’t want anyone to see me.”

Which was probably smart, Judah admitted. Even thoughtful. Maybe Annie had changed, if only a little.

Suddenly, he wasn’t so happy with the idea.

Then he pictured her sliding pell-mell down the slope, sending dirt flying and scaring the cattle half to pieces. He had to fight to suppress a smile. Yeah, that was the Annie he remembered, all right.

“Well, come on,” he said, straightening. “I’ll give you a lift.”

She was silent as he drove down the long, dusty ranch road, hopping out without his asking to open the livestock gate at the far end. Her hair hung in her face, and in the afternoon light she looked as slim and

nimble as she had at seventeen. She grinned at him as she climbed back into the truck. “Thought I forgot that, didn’t you?”