* * * *
“So what do you think?” Eric asked Ben and Charlie as they walked outside to the porch.
“I think she’s beautiful and seems like she knows her way around a kitchen,” Charlie stated.
“Yeah, it seems that way, but I was most impressed with how she handled Chuck. That was damn funny,” Ben said.
Charlie laughed, and Eric let out a sigh as he shook his head.
Ben and Charlie stared at him.
“You and Max got awfully serious about her kind of quickly, huh?” Charlie inquired.
“Yeah, it happened really fast. We both realized she was special immediately. You know we’ve been hoping to meet someone to share our lives with.”
“And how does Stacy feel about that?” Ben asked.
Eric shrugged his shoulders. “She seems receptive to it, but she does have a lot on her plate right now,” Eric replied as his cousins asked some questions. Eric told them about the recent phone calls and some of the details Max explained.
“That’s really scary and fucked up. Do you think this guy will head here looking for her?” Charlie asked, filled with concern.
“As far as we know, he doesn’t know where she is, but Max and I aren’t willing to take any chances. It’s part of the reason why we wanted her to come work as our cook. That way there will always be one of us around to watch her.”
“That’s also a good way to get to know her better,” Charlie responded.
“I heard she entered the chili and pie contests for the fair on the Fourth of July,” Ben stated.
Eric chuckled. “Yeah, she kind of got thrown into that her first night in town. I have no idea if she can cook chili or not, but I’ll vote for her,” Eric stated.
“What about Betsie Whinston?” Charlie asked, and Eric shook his head.
“That woman is crazy. Thank God she hasn’t come sniffin’ around the ranch lately,” Eric stated.
“What are you talking about? She was just here the other day. Wearing some short, tight one-piece pink halter dress and talking about her pies and needed us to taste her chili. She was rubbing her hands up under her breasts as she spoke and even over the material covering her pussy. She’s dying to sink her nails into a Cantrell and especially you, Max, or Wyatt,” Charlie replied.
Eric shook his head. “Just as long as she doesn’t come around Stacy and bother her,” Eric added.
“Bother her? Shit, Eric, Betsie’s already been asking questions about Stacy in town. She knows she’s her competition and wants to know how she can get to her. You know how Betsie is? I say you tell Stacy about her and give your woman some warning,” Ben stated.
“I don’t know why that woman doesn’t get the hint that none of us are interested in her,” Eric said as he leaned against the post on the front porch.
“If you recall, we all kind of flirted with her at first, and then Ben went and kissed her,” Charlie stated, directing some annoyance toward his brother.
“What? I drank too much, and I was horny. She cornered me, and hell, beer goggles cause shit like that to happen,” Ben replied with an attitude that told all he really didn’t give a shit. Eric knew his cousin well, and Ben was a bit of a playboy with the ladies.
“You slept with her?” Eric inquired, sounding shocked and disgusted.
“Fuck no! I just made out with her and felt her up a bit. She’s not my type at all. She doesn’t have the goods I crave,” Bed replied then winked.
“The goods you crave?” Charlie asked.
“Yeah, like Stacy in there. Man, cuz, she’s got the nicest ass and the best set of—”
“Excuse me?” Stacy stated loudly as she opened the screen door and entered the porch. Ben, Eric, and Charlie straightened their backs and all looked shocked at her sudden appearance. But then Ben leaned back against the post and eyed Stacy some more. Eric felt his temper flaring and knew that Ben was purposely pushing his buttons. He would be doing the same thing if Ben, Wyatt, and Charlie found their woman. The three of them also were searching for that perfect mate to share their lives with.
Before Eric could say something to Ben, Stacy did. Her hands were on her hips and her expression stern as she looked Ben over from head to toe, just like he had done to her. Eric had a feeling that Stacy didn’t realize how sexy and feminine she looked. Would Ben take her seriously, or would he tease her back?
“I haven’t decided to take the job as cook yet, and I think I may have misunderstood the requirements for this job,” she stated, looking at Eric for an explanation. She actually looked hurt. What was she thinking?
“I apologize, Stacy. I didn’t mean any disrespect. I was just trying to get Eric riled up,” Ben apologized then walked off the steps.
Charlie looked at Stacy and smiled. “Thanks for helping Chuck out. I hope you take the job. We could use some good cooking around here,” Charlie stated then walked off in the direction Ben left in.
Eric watched Stacy as she crossed her arms in front of her chest and glared at him.
“What did I do wrong?” he asked.
She began to walk past him, but he snagged her around the waist and pulled her up against his chest.
She gasped at the sudden move then released a sigh of relief.
“What’s going through that head of yours right now?” he asked while he adjusted his legs and leaned back against the railing. He continued to hold Stacy in an embrace between his thighs.
“I don’t think I understand what it is you and Max want from me. I mean, I thought it would be just me, you, and Max.”
“Oh, honey, it’s just our cousins and a few of the ranch hands every now and then. You can handle five men. The hands will only be over now and then, and you’ll get plenty of notice to prepare.”
Stacy’s face looked like it turned a shade of white.
“Your cousins? The ranch hands every now and then? I can’t do that. I’m not that kind of woman. I shouldn’t have slept with you and Max. It was a mistake. This is a mistake,” Stacy stated then tried to pull away from him. Eric felt confused and as if he was missing something in this conversation.
“Why don’t you think you can handle it?” he asked as he gently glided the palm of his hand over her ass cheek.
“Sex with five men and then some? Are you crazy?” she yelled at him, and finally he got it. She thought that he and Max were going to share her with their cousins and the ranch hands.
“Oh, damn, baby, you’ve got it all wrong. I was talking about cooking for them, not having sex with them. Shit! You belong to Max and I only. If another man even makes eyes the wrong way at you, I’ll rip his head off. Shit, Stacy. What the hell kind of men do you think Max and I are?” he asked then hugged her to him. He heard her release a long sigh then chuckle as she cried. Was she laughing, or was she crying? He wasn’t certain.
He pulled back to look her in the eyes.
“Honey, are you okay?”
She shook her head as her cheeks reddened along with her eyes.
“I’m making a mess of this. I’m sorry. I’m just no good at relationships with men.”
“Nonsense. You’re perfect, and Max and I wouldn’t want you any other way. Don’t ever pretend to be something you’re not, Stacy. We’re falling in love with you, and it’s not just the sex,” he told her then smiled as he wiped the tears from her cheeks.
“Really?” she asked so innocently and as if she hung on his every word and would believe him because she already trusted him.
“Yes, and Max agrees a hundred percent. You can ask him tonight at dinner.”
She lifted up on her tiptoes and kissed his lips.
He kissed her back, and before long, they were exploring one another’s mouths then bodies until they heard the whistles. Immediately Eric pulled her against his chest and looked around for the culprits. His cousin Ben was standing near the barn with some of the ranch hands. He shook his head and caressed Stacy’s shoulders.
“Why don’t we head into town for some supplies after lunch? I can’t wait to see what you whip up for dinner.”
“I don’t know what everyone likes yet.”
“They’re hungry men that will eat anything that isn’t cooked well done.”
“Okay, and while we’re there, I need to pick up some ingredients for the chili. I have a week before the contest and I haven’t made chili in years.”
“I’ll be happy to be a taste tester, and so will the rest of the guys.”
“Okay, but no promises.”
“Oh, baby, I’ve got lots of promises, like showing you my bedroom when we get back and how firm and big my mattress is,” he teased then kissed her quickly before turning her around and walking her toward the doorway to the living room.
Stacy smiled and turned a shade redder. He loved how easily he could make her blush. He looked forward to later on when he would cause that blush to cover her body as he had his way with her.
Chapter 10
Claire felt sick to her stomach. She took another shower, trying to wash the disgusting feeling off of her body. She was married to a monster, and the realization hit her hard. She knew that Barry was unfaithful, yet she still loved him. She had never been self-confident and hadn’t dated much before Barry, so she trusted him. It wasn’t until after they were married that she realized it was all a scam to get into her father’s company. Sex had never been good, and what she thought were new-bride jitters and a case of inexperience grew stronger instead of weaker. She had never thought she would be the one to use an excuse of a headache or cramps to not have sex with her own husband. She was a virgin when she married Barry and saved herself for her husband. She couldn’t help but wonder if she had more experience, then maybe she would be open to his ideas of fun sex. She dried herself off with the towel, being sure to gently rub between her legs and her anus. Both were so sore she had trouble getting out of bed. Again she felt the feeling in her stomach of disgust. She had already thrown up to the point of dry heaves. There was nothing left. As she thought about that, she knew that there also wasn’t anything left in their marriage. Then came the fear of facing her father. Jack Mercer was a stern man. He had worked hard, had barely witnessed her childhood, never mind had a decent relationship with his own wife. He would look at Claire as a failure. But how could she go on like this? How could she stay married to Barry? The sound of her cell phone ringing brought her out of her current thoughts, and she carefully walked into the bedroom to get the phone.
“Hello. Yes, this is Mrs. Weiner.”
She was stunned to hear from Jerry, an old friend of the family. He had always been such a nice man and worked as a corporate attorney. That was who she should have married. But he was taken now, married to a gorgeous attorney with four kids. That jealous feeling hit her in the gut.
After some small talk, he informed her for the reason behind his call. She was speechless and so embarrassed she began to cry. Her husband Barry was calling in favors to get information on Stacy Porter. That was the woman who claimed that Barry had attempted to sexually assault her in an office at work. She was the one who broke Barry’s nose.
“I appreciate you calling me about this, Jerry. Unfortunately I’ve come to realize that my husband has been unfaithful for quite some time. I’m not certain what I will do.”
He told her that he felt sorry for her and that she deserved better. Then he said if she felt that the marriage could be salvaged, then she might consider talking to her husband and clearing the air. She thanked him then hung up the phone.
Her life was over. Everyone would know about Barry’s affairs and his despicable behavior in the bedroom behind closed doors. Now that she allowed him free will in their own bedroom, he might tell others that she liked that kind of thing. He could tell her father. Feeling shameful, the tears rolled down her cheeks, and she lay on the bed. Claire wondered what she was going to do about Barry. Perhaps a private investigator was in order. One specific person came to mind. She reached for the phone and made the call. If she was going to ask for a divorce, then Barry would end up with nothing. By the time she was done with him, he would be living on the street or maybe not living at all.
* * * *
“Well, what did you find out?” Barry asked Curtis as Barry sat behind his desk at the office.
“Not much. I can tell you that she changed her number again.”
“Get it,” Barry replied, not even bothering to look up from the file on his desk.
“That will be too difficult for me to do. There are investigators from the DA’s office involved.”
“What do you mean, investigators? What for? They don’t have shit on me, and the last detective, that asshole Belogio, was a moron,” Barry replied.
“Yeah, well, my sources said something about some other woman coming forward and wanting to press charges against you,” Curtis stated.
Barry looked up from the file and leaned back in his chair. Who would be so stupid to do that?
“What else do your sources say?” Barry asked.
“I hear that the DA has contacted Stacy Porter. I’m not sure what they think they’ll get from her, but obviously they find her of interest to a possible case against you.”
“That’s bullshit. I want you to find out where Stacy is. Hire someone if need be, but find her. I can’t stand living with my wife anymore. She disgusts me,” Barry stated then looked back at his file again.
“No problem. I’ll get on it right away. Also, do you want me to book the night at the Waldorf for you and Teressa?”
“Yeah, sure. For Friday night.”
Curtis left the room, and the moment the door closed, Barry leaned back in his chair and glared at the door. What was going on with Stacy and the DA? Who was this woman that appeared out of nowhere with accusations that could land him of interest to the DA? He felt that nervous sensation in the pit of his stomach. There wasn’t anything he could do until he was notified or charges were filed. In the meantime, if he could locate Stacy, then he could grab her and head out of the country. If the cops couldn’t find him, then they couldn’t charge him.