Acres, Natalie - Sex Club [Cowboy Sex 5] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (34 page)

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Brock arrived soon after two rescue squads and several cop cars sped through the Cartwell gates. Graham watched as the brute of a man approached. Wearing a black leather jacket, polished snakeskin boots, and a misplaced cowboy hat that didn’t necessarily mesh with his style, he stalked forward as if he were a man on a mission.

Brock Sheldon looked pissed off and ready to kill someone.

“How’s Pete?” he asked, looking over Graham’s shoulder.

“The paramedics say he’s lost a lot of blood but he should be all right. Pete must’ve turned sideways when the shot was fired. The bullet grazed the skin. When we first arrived, because of the amount of blood, I was pretty certain the slug was already lodged inside his belly.”

“He’s lucky,” Brock remarked, his brow furrowing. “What did he tell you?”

“Jordie Anne dropped by claiming she was a Cartwell friend. She gave him Mae Leonard’s name. Pete said she was immediately on guard when she saw him but probably didn’t realize he’d recognize Mae’s name. He mentioned Marion, Virginia, and the rest is history.”

Brock rubbed his chin. “What else?”

“He fucked up, in my opinion,” Elliott said, joining the conversation as he walked toward them. “Our local Barney Fife said he had some sort of strategy. What his plan of action was, I couldn’t tell ya. As far as I’m concerned, he said too much. That’s for sure.”

“That’s Pete for ya,” Brock remarked. “What did he tell Jordie?”

“He told her you sent Trixie out of town, mentioned she had sisters, and even told her this place here belonged to Trixie’s parents,” Elliott said, frowning.

“Jordie must’ve realized this was Cartwell property, but I hate like hell that she knows we sent Trixie out of town. The information may provoke her. I need her to keep our scheduled meeting on Monday so the locals can apprehend her. We don’t want her wandering around the city, but if she goes into hiding, we’ll never know when she plans to strike next.”

“That’s true,” Graham said. “Tristan mentioned you were supposed to meet her, but she may not show now, Brock. She’s liable to think you betrayed her.”

“That’s what I’m thinking,” Brock grumbled, turning toward the car. “What’s Ansley doing here?”

“You know Ansley,” Elliott said, shaking his head. “She’s supposed to feed the animals while her parents are out of town, and she couldn’t let us do it without her.”

“I’ll talk to her. Until Jordie is arrested, I don’t want her here or at Clink. Is that understood?”

“Yeah, Brock,” Graham replied. “We hear ya, but the thing is, you can’t tell Ansley a damn thing. You ought to know that much.”

Brock looked him up and down. Graham felt like he was under his judgmental eye, and the condescending brow he arched made him feel like less of a man. “Maybe the two of you can’t control her, but I have a feeling Tristan and that other bartender can.”

Elliott scoffed at his remark as Brock stomped toward the Jeep. “Who the hell does he think he is, talking to you like that?”

“We’ve been around the family too long to worry about Brock. You know how he is. He loves Ansley and wants her safe. If he didn’t have her best interests at heart, I might be tempted to knock his lights out, but he’s looking out for her. I respect a man who’ll go the extra mile to keep those he loves safe.”

Elliott shook his head. “He’ll end up getting Ansley killed if he doesn’t lead that nut job to another meeting spot.”

Unsure of what he meant, Graham studied his brother. “How do you figure?”

“Ansley may act like she’ll listen to us, but I’m here to tell ya, she’s not playing by anyone’s rules. She realizes she’s only on Jordie Anne’s radar because the woman believes she’s Trixie. If I know Ansley, and we both
understand
the way she thinks, she’ll put herself out there as bait in order to protect her sister.”

“You’re right,” Graham agreed. “Trixie has two children, and Ansley is crazy about those kids.”

“Exactly. She’ll lure Jordie Anne to the club even if it means driving around Asheville and Fletcher with a sign on her car that reads: Jordie Anne, follow me.”

Graham frowned. “Then I guess we need to keep her distracted.”

“I have a few ideas of how we can entertain the pretty little vixen.”

“I’m right there with ya,” Graham said, instantly recalling their recent extracurricular activities.

Elliott slapped him on the back and walked away. Graham stared off in the distance, watching as Tristan and Brock shook hands. Ansley barreled out of the vehicle and threw her arms around Brock, giving him a quick peck on the cheek.

Graham felt a smile tug at his lips as Brock hooked his arm around her shoulders and rubbed her head with a closed fist, acting like she were his little brother rather than his sister-in-law. She gave him an elbow to the ribs and looked pleased when he held his side and moaned.

Good God, Graham loved her more and more every day. Everything about Ansley made his heart tick a little funny. Thing was, he wanted a future with her, and after spending the night with her, Elliott, and two more, he was uncertain of what tomorrow held in store. Fate changed their course, the plans he and Elliott previously made.

Now, Graham couldn’t help but wonder about the direction in which they were headed. Would Tristan stand in their way, or would he willingly share the woman he and his brother had always adored? And what about Bailey? Where did he fit in Ansley’s life? Did Ansley want four men? That was the real question, and only one person knew the answer. Knowing Ansley, she’d keep them in suspense.

Chapter Eighteen

Later that evening, Brock called to let them know Pete was okay. As the rescue personnel had stated earlier, the bullet only nicked his flesh.

Pete was a lucky man indeed.

Staring out the window at the beautiful Grove Park Inn gardens, Ansley longed to talk to Kimberly. She’d meant to keep the mushy details of her pending affairs private until her sister and best friend returned. Now, she didn’t see why she shouldn’t let them share in her excitement.

Besides, after what happened to Pete, there was always that slim chance she wouldn’t be able to talk to them again. Deeply saddened and unable to shake the terror rising within, she punched the
one
key. Kimberly was programmed there for a reason. She was first in Ansley’s life.

No matter how much Ansley loved her parents, Trixie, and her niece and nephew, one fact would always remain. Twins shared a sacred bond. Their relationship was a friendship and siblinghood only other twins understood.

“Hey stranger!” Kimberly sang. “I thought you’d forgotten all about me! Where have you been? How come you haven’t returned my calls?”

Ansley smiled. Kimberly was obviously having a good time. It was great to hear her sounding more like herself. “I’ve been sort of busy.”

“So tell me, twin girl. Who is he?”

“You know better.”

“Yeah,” she said, sighing dramatically. “I do. Who are
they
?”

“Want to guess?”

“Hang on. Patience is standing here. Let’s put her on the line and see if she can help solve the mystery.”

“You’re on speaker,” Kimberly told her. “My vote is with the Killian brothers. Patience placed her money on Bailey and Tristan.”

“Hey, Ansley,” Patience said. “How’s everything?”

“Great. Are you having a good time?”

“The best. Wish you were here!”

“Well, as it happens, my best friend and sister left me behind. And I’ve gotta let you in on a secret.”

“Yeah? What’s that?” Patience asked, nearly mocking her.

“You can leave me behind anytime!”

Patience and Kimberly laughed. Ansley joined them. When the mirthful celebration ended, she said, “All right, girls. I have good news and bad. Which would you like to hear first?”

“I can’t wait to hear what’s kept you so tied up that you haven’t been able to call us. Let’s go with the good news first.”

“I’ll agree,” Patience said, quickly adding, “so long as the bad news isn’t something like the entire staff walked out and you’ve hired nothing but former Hooters girls. Don’t think I could stand the competition when my fellas are in town.”

“Of course you couldn’t. You wouldn’t be able to survive if someone walked in Clink with a bigger rack than you flaunt around.”

“That’s a fact,” Patience said, giggling. “So tell us. Who ya bangin’?”

“Where to start,” she sang.

“How about with Graham,” Kimberly suggested.

“Or Tristan,” Patience said.

“No,” she teased. “I can’t start with both of them. Who would I choose?”

“Get out!” Kimberly exclaimed.

“That can only mean one thing,” Patience stated flatly.

“You got it,” Ansley told them proudly.

“You are not fucking four men,” Kimberly said, processing more than asking.

“Not exactly.”

“Clarify please,” Kimberly said.

“Well, it happened for the first time last night, or should I say in the wee hours of the morning. The sex was…oh my God, I can’t even begin to describe the good time the five of us had in bed. But I don’t know what to make of it, you know?”

“What do you mean?” Patience asked. “Surely you don’t think they used you just for sex.”

“It’s not that, exactly, but I can’t help but shake the feeling that I’ll have to choose between pairs.”

“Pairs?” Patience asked.

“Yes,” Ansley replied. “Tristan and Bailey are brothers.”

“What? Since when?” Kimberly asked.

Ansley laughed. “Think about that question.” A beat later, she admitted, “I asked the same thing. I never suspected they were related. It’s a long story, and I don’t even know all of it, but apparently they’re on the run. They’ve had to change their appearances, move around a lot, and more or less hide in plain sight. It’s the first time they’ve taken a chance on living in the same town in more than five years. It’s a crazy life they lead.”

“And that scares you?” Patience asked.

“It should,” Ansley admitted. “Only I’ve had so many other things on my mind I haven’t had a chance to evaluate the possible dangers that loving them might bring.”

“Did she just say the l-o-v-e word, Patience?”

“I believe she did, Kimberly,” Patience replied. “Care to elaborate, Miss Ansley?”

“Yes, you must spill everything!” Kimberly exclaimed. “You lucky girl, you.”

“I don’t know if I’m fortunate or damned. If I’m forced to choose, I’ll have to walk away from all four of them. And that might just break my heart.”

“Honey, listen,” Patience said, her nurturing instinct coming to the forefront. “Men who share their women in a committed and loving relationship don’t ask their partners to choose between them.”

“She’s right,” Kimberly agreed.

“Maybe, but we’ll discuss this later. There’s something else I need to tell you,” she said, stretching her neck and studying the four hunks in the living room. Verifying they were still watching a baseball game on television, she recounted the last few days and the events leading up to the arrival of Jordie Anne Colony.

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