“Did you find her?” Luc asked, his annoyance coming through loud and clear.Damn the perfect digital cell phone signal.In the old analog days, he could have pretended he hadn’t heard. “Yeah.” Deke had found Kimber, all right. And just like she had at seventeen, she’d tied his gut up in knots so crazy an Eagle Scout with Houdini ancestry couldn’t get them undone.“You’re going to apologize for scaring her off and make sure she doesn’t get into trouble,” Luc reminded.Deke didn’t want to. He didn’t. But as Luc had rationally pointed out, scaring the crap out of Kimber was only a temporary solution to a problem that wasn’t going to just go away because he wanted it to. Kimber was too tenacious to simply give up. She’d track someone else down to help her in her quest to catch Jesse McCall—someone who, at best, would cause her discomfort because they didn’t know what the hell they were doing. At worst, they would take total advantage of her and hurt her.The Colonel would kill Deke if an
“I don’t mind. Shoot.”“Okay”—He shrugged—“Yesterday, when Luc and I had you naked and spread across our kitchen counter with our mouths on your—”“Stop!” she gasped, feeling furious heat dash up her cheeks.The brother whose name she couldn’t remember chuckled in her ear. Deke smiled smugly. Bastard! He’d come to fight dirty and had gone straight for the jugular. Why hadn’t she seen that coming?“She belong to you and Luc?” Adam asked Deke.“Yes.”“Hell no!” she blurted at the same time.That muscle in Deke’s jaw began working again. “Come outside with me so we can discuss this.”Did the man just not know when to quit? “I don’t belong to you and your cousin, I’m not coming near your kitchen counter again, and I’m certainly not going outside with you.”“I came here to say something I think you want to hear.”“I’m not interested in being just another wet hole to you, and I’m too pissed to care.”One second, Deke stood two feet away, not touching any part of her. A blink later, he crowd
“So I’m not just another wet hole?He grimaced. “No.”“Okay, um… I just finished nursing school, so I’m free. I’ll need to study for my exams, but I can do that anywhere. Let me grab a bag tonight. I can leave a note for my dad that I’m visiting a…friend. He’s out of town right now, anyway. I can be back tomorrow and—”“Wait. We have one rule.”A rule? There were rules about a three-way? “Like…?”“I don’t do virgins, so there won’t be any fucking your pussy.” Kimber bristled. She didn’t like his blunt language, but was used to that. What bothered her more was his tone, as if virginity made her a lower life-form.“I think I made it clear earlier that I wanted to save my virginity for Jesse. So that won’t be a problem.”“I just want you to remember that when things get hot.” He grabbed her face in his hands and leaned his taut body closer. The intent glow of his eyes said that he was desperately resisting the urge to kiss her. “And Kimber, they will get hot.” A sizzling shiver stole thr
“Wow,” Kimber breathed. “This is gorgeous. Luc has wonderful taste.” Why did women always say that? Normally, men with “wonderful taste” were gay, but he knew firsthand that Luc was as straight as he was.For the first time in ages—no, ever—Deke regretted Luc’s heterosexuality. If not for that and his interest in Kimber, Deke might find a way to have her all to himself, legs spread from one end of the bed to the other while he alone climbed between them and fucked her.No! In all the ways that mattered, she was his worst memory come back to life.Not that she actually was Heather, but…close enough. Like he had for the past twelve years, since that terrible summer, he was going to share the woman and just be happy for the great sex.“Luc enjoys decorating and cooking and shit.”“He’s wonderful.” Her hazel eyes lit up as they traveled the room.Deke shoved aside a prickle of irritation. Luc was damn good with cooking and decorating, so of course, she was going to be impressed. But she’d
To her right, the bed dipped again. Heat blasted her, coming closer with each second, until another hard male body plastered itself against her side. Luc.Shirtless, she discovered as she reached out to touch him.Her fingers encountered skin as soft as suede over steelhoned muscles. Then his midnight hair, gloriously loose and hanging around his wide, bronzed shoulders.Luc planted a series of soft kisses on her cheek and down her neck as he worked a hand in between her and Deke, until he found the hard point of her nipple through her shirt and caressed her. A sweet ache pooled there, tingling, lingering.Moisture gushed between her legs. Oh wow!Deke tore away from his possession of her mouth long enough to taste the skin of her neck, nibble on her collarbone.A shaky sigh escaped her lips. Her eyes fluttered open, settling on Luc and his boiling chocolate eyes melting her, watching her, inviting her to sin. She threaded her fingers through the loose, inky hair. Luc looked like a ge
The sensations matched those he’d incited before, but felt more intense. Kimber filled with need, as if she’d never come at all. Only this time, the pleasure was stronger. Her body was primed, his mouth determined, and his will iron. She would come for him again. He would not take no for an answer.And she watched, the visual of him feasting on her aroused her nearly as much as his actual touch. Within moments, the question of whether she’d come again ceased to be, morphing into a question of when. Kimber knew from her tensing body, the thickening pleasure, the way her legs spread wider all on her own, inviting Deke in deeper, that the when would be soon.“Her taste?” Luc asked his cousin against the underside of her breast before he dragged her nipple into his mouth for a long, sensual suckle.Kimber’s breathing climbed, hitched.“Fucking sweet,” Deke muttered, lapping at her again like a treat. “Christ!” Elation soared at his words. He approved. No, he enjoyed. His rough voice and u
She felt exquisite and tasted better. But she’d had all the excitement she could handle for one evening.And she’d called Deke’s name out in her passion. Not his. Deke’s.Swallowing a boulder-sized lump of envy, Luc reminded himself it was all for a good cause and turned to gaze up at his cousin.Deke stood frozen over Kimber’s prone body, half-hard cock in his fist, satisfaction relaxing his features. He let go of himself on a long sigh, his shoulders falling, his breathing returning to normal, his eyes damn near rolling into the back of his head. Still, he stared at her.He’d come—hard—holding nothing back, which was unusual in itself. But if Kimber could do that to Deke without his dick actually being somewhere inside her, Luc could only imagine the fireworks that would ensue if Deke allowed himself to make love to her. To admit that Kimber was more than a play toy. To confess that this woman mattered to him. And she did. Luc could see that all over his cousin’s face.“What the fuc
“Neither.”Something of a nonanswer. And damn it, Luc’s face gave away nothing. All of Kimber’s pleading… Luc hadn’t been working his way inside of Kimber when he’d peeked in on them— but he also hadn’t stayed for the grand finale. Had he…?“You didn’t fuck her.” Deke stated his question as fact, hoping that could somehow make it true.“What’s eating you?” Luc asked. “If you want her this morning, she’s all soft and rumpled and wet. And she’s still in bed. Go. I’ll babysit the coffee.”Deke hesitated. Show that he could resist or march down the hall—by himself—and get as much of Kimber as Luc had? If he could, he’d take even more.He’d take everything.The coffeemaker beeped, and Luc extracted the fresh pot off the burner and poured a cup, wearing a faint smile, as he knew exactly the options Deke was weighing.This game playing was bullshit, and he didn’t want to be on either team.“Fuck! This isn’t going to work. Kimber has to go.”“Keep your voice down or she’ll hear you,” Luc gra
Ava gave Hannah an arch look. “Besides I know how damn good the man looks in chaps?"“Smartass. But really, what’s the point after Chase’s meltdown last night?”Her heart seized, thinking about how Chase had lost it on live TV. She’d wanted to jump through the screen and drag him off to comfort him. Assure him that not every wreck would have the same outcome as Ryan’s. Assure him she’d be there for him no matter what.“I know you can hear me, Ava, so stop ignoring—”“Ssh… They’re giving the injury report on Dirk.”The camera cut to an interview with the head of the sports medicine team. When he finished detailing the bull rider’s injuries, the announcer asked his opinion on Chase McKay’s comments about mandatory safety helmets. The doctor looked directly into the camera and said, “Helmets save lives. Period.”The camera returned to the main announcers. Their on-air banter circled to rider standings on tour and current matchups with bulls for the final round. When the list of the fifte
Ava gave Hannah an arch look. “Besides I know how damn good the man looks in chaps?”“Smartass. But really, what’s the point after Chase’s meltdown last night?”Her heart seized, thinking about how Chase had lost it on live TV. She’d wanted to jump through the screen and drag him off to comfort him. Assure him that not every wreck would have the same outcome as Ryan’s. Assure him she’d be there for him no matter what.“I know you can hear me, Ava, so stop ignoring—”“Ssh… They’re giving the injury report on Dirk.”The camera cut to an interview with the head of the sports medicine team. When he finished detailing the bull rider’s injuries, the announcer asked his opinion on Chase McKay’s comments about mandatory safety helmets. The doctor looked directly into the camera and said, “Helmets save lives. Period.”The camera returned to the main announcers. Their on-air banter circled to rider standings on tour and current matchups with bulls for the final round. When the list of the fifte
“After a few years, we started having you boys and… Well, my life was busy. Good. Happy. But I never forgot about that sweet baby boy I held in my arms for one short hour. Not a single day went by that I didn’t wonder about him. Pray his life was good. Pray he was loved.”*****Gavin’s eyes were on the shot glass he rolled between his fingers.“So I was shocked when your Aunt Kimi confronted me after your grandpa Jed died. She said one night Jed was loopy on pain meds and he told her that my father told him that I was pregnant. My father bragged to Jed I’d rather give the baby up than have it raised in a godless home as a McKay. Which was a total lie, but Jed must’ve believed it. After Kimi told me that, I finally understood why Jed never liked me and why he refused to live with us.”“Aunt Kimi never told Uncle Cal?” Chase asked.“No. But she told your Aunt Carolyn.”Gavin said nothing.“When did you tell Dad?” Ben asked gently.“Right after Quinn and Libby got back together.” She loo
Quinn? Yes.Ben? Yes.His folks? Absolutely.And probably any other McKay relation he called.They were just that way. They might fight like cats and dogs, but when it came down to it, family was everything. And he would do everything to reclaim his place in his family.“Chase?”“I’m here. Just figuring the logistics. If I leave now, I can be there by noon tomorrow. Is that early enough?”“You’re really not gonna compete in the final round and you’re coming home?” Ben said with total shock.“Hard to believe, but yeah. I’ve realized there are more important things than those eight seconds I spend on the back of a bull. I ain’t gonna be the one who lets Mom and Dad down.”Ben was very quiet.“What?”“You have changed. I’m looking forward to seein’ you. Drive safe.”Immediately after Chase hung up he called Elroy.“You’d better not be calling me to bail you outta jail, McKay,” Elroy barked.“Good morning to you too, sunshine. I’ll keep this brief. I have a family emergency in Wyoming and
“Me.”“And who are you?”Gavin took a deep breath. “I believe I’m your son.”****The crowd roared behind him, ready to party at the PBR on a Saturday night.Chase braced himself. The PBR’s newest female reporter, a fiery redhead named Lissa, stuck the microphone in his face as soon as he cleared the contestant gate. He’d been expecting it since he’d avoided an on camera interview last night. To ensure his cooperation, the cameraman blocked him in. Bastard.“We’re here with Chase McKay after that amazing ninety-one point ride on Devil’s Due. Congratulations, Chase, that’s gotta feel good to be back on top.”He focused on the woman and not the camera. “It does. Especially after an extended break and such a poor showing in Dallas.”“Tell us about the ride.”“Well, Devil’s Due is an ornery little cuss and highly unpredictable, so I wasn’t sure if he’d go into spin mode tonight or hopscotch around. Luckily I was able to stay with him no matter what he did.”“So the past few weeks you’ve b
“Okay. Thanks.”“And if that doesn’t work? Go with plan B.”Her mother, businesswoman extraordinaire, always had a backup plan. “And what is that?”“Track him down, tie him up and force him to listen to reason. It helps if you’re naked. And holding beer.”“Ah, Mom. I don’t think that will work.”“It sure did with your dad. Good luck, sweetie, keep in touch.”Ava packed her bag and booked a commercial flight to LA.“Why am I so nervous?” Ava asked Hannah, two days later.“I’ll tell you what I think after the audition.” Hannah straightened Ava’s miniskirt for the third time.“That’s not helping my nerves.” She tried not to think that Chase would know exactly what to say to her to calm her down. The door to the conference room opened and a long-legged blond strolled out. “We’re ready for you, Miss Cooper.”Ava squeezed Hannah’s hand and followed Corporate Casting Barbie into the conference room. Well, at least this production company didn’t have the clichéd casting couch. Ava chose the c
“No. And here’s fair warning: that is not a topic of discussion. With you. Or anyone else.”“Never thought I’d be happy to hear you say ‘no comment’ and mean it. Warms the cockles of my cold PR heart, McKay.”“You’re a riot. What else?”“The PBR is picking up your transportation expenses. You’re in New York now?”“Yeah.”“I can’t get you to Wichita directly—”“Book me into Omaha. I left my truck there. I’ll drive to Wichita.”“Done. What day you wanna leave?”“Today. As soon as possible.”Ava stared at him with shock.“The event isn’t for another couple days.”“I’m aware of that. But there are other things I need to take care of first.”Elroy sighed. “Fine. Contact me when you get to Kansas. And I don’t gotta remind you no press unless you’re escorted by a PBR media liaison.”“I get it. I’ll keep in touch.”“Good.” Elroy hung up.Chase returned to the bedroom and picked up his bag.“You’re leaving? Just like that?”“Yep.”“No discussion. No yelling, no hashing it out?”“What is there
Evidently he hadn’t realized she’d set up a goddamn camera in their room either.He hit the pause button, his head spinning, his gut churning, his thoughts focused on one awful thing.Betrayal.Yes, he knew she’d been taping all the fucking time, but he had no idea she’d been making a goddamned movie. The whole time they were together. To think he’d invited her to share his experiences on the road. He froze. Wait a second. He hadn’t invited her. She’d invited herself. Offering a convincing argument about wanting to see real life outside her poor, privileged upbringing.But Chase sure as hell hadn’t encouraged her to creep around, sticking that camera in everyone’s face. Capturing their private moments. Having no shame in using them for her own gain. For a woman who claimed to hate the intrusion of paparazzi, she’d become damn good at acting like one of them. She’d promised him she wouldn’t show her home movies to anyone.A new thought chilled his blood. Did Ava have footage of Ryan’s
“So I’ll think of you whenever I wear it.” Like I’ll ever stop thinking of you. Ava tried really hard not to cry, but a couple of tears slipped free. The last man who’d given her jewelry had been her grandfather.“Ava?” Chase tipped her face up. “Ah, hell. Don’t cry. I told you that you can take it back.”She made a sound half-laugh, half-sob. “No way am I taking it back, McKay. It’s beautiful. Perfect. I love it. Thank you.”The guardedness in his eyes vanished. “You’re welcome.”Chase paced in the hotel room, glaring at his phone. He hadn’t minded that the fucker hadn’t worked at all yesterday, since he and Ava had spent the whole day in their room, most of it in bed after they’d returned early in the morning from the penthouse.Dammit. He needed to access his email. Nothing was showing up on his phone. And he’d been in such a hurry to get away from the sorrow in Nebraska he’d accidentally left his laptop in his truck at the Omaha airport.His gaze landed on Ava’s computer on the de