Acres, Natalie - Sex Addict [Cowboy Addiction 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) (3 page)

“No. I’m not,” she deadpanned. “I’m taking off to spend some money.”

Behind her, Morgan snorted. Holly wheeled around and glared at the culprit behind the outburst. Morgan shoved a magazine in front of her face and pretended to read with overwhelming interest what looked like a farmer’s periodical on crop-growing techniques.

Fabulous. The little darling was probably growing marijuana somewhere on the Keesling spread. She started to address the kid sister but decided the effort would prove pointless. Kit and Kemper wouldn’t ask
her
to exit the premises.

“I could’ve sworn you said she was leaving,” Kemper said.

“Don’t provoke her or me,” Kit warned. “I’ve already explained why Holly needs to reside somewhere else.”

“Oh so you mean, you want me to move out but you’d prefer it if I move, say, down the street?” Holly asked, studying her fingernails.

Kit glared straight ahead. “I won’t meet with a realtor on your behalf if that’s what you think.”

Well, it was worth a stab in the dark to see what he was thinking. There for a minute, she believed he perhaps needed some space and maybe bought her a place a few blocks away. An intrusive thought crossed her mind. Did he want her out of the house to save face? Was he suddenly ashamed of her?

She studied Morgan. The family had certainly endured more than their share of embarrassments.

“Too bad, Kit. This morning, I toured a spacious three-bedroom down by the lake. Someone said the owner is in dire straits. I believe you can pick it up for about a quarter million. It’s a great investment, a super hideaway to tuck away a mistress you don’t want anyone to know about.”

Kemper smirked. Apparently, Kit possessed high standards his brother didn’t share. Either that or her original thoughts on Kit and Kemper were correct. Kemper fell in love at first sight and Kit would never love anyone except himself. If her assumptions were accurate, then she imagined her past stung Kit much more than her history bothered Kemper.

Kit wouldn’t be able to stand the thought of mere strangers touching her. The one time they’d spoken of past relationships, he’d gone pale when she’d told him she was actually in love once.

“I didn’t stutter when I told you to leave,” Kit told her firmly. “I want you out of here before daybreak tomorrow. When I cut ties, I don’t like loose ends so make sure you take everything that belongs to you. Understand?”

He left his poolside chair and strolled toward the terrace doors, imitating a true cowboy’s walk, slow and steady. She followed him, the clickety-click from her high heels alerting everyone around to the obvious.

She wasn’t the kind of woman any man could easily shun.

Behind her, Kemper said, “Oh boy. This should be a barrel of laughs.”

To her left, Morgan lowered her magazine.

“Kit Keesling, let me ask you something,” Holly bellowed.

Kit froze with his hand on the doorknob. “I’m not interested in your questions and I’m unwilling to provide any answers to your inquiries. If you want money, you’ve had plenty at your disposal while you were here. You’re a smart gal. You should’ve saved for a rainy day.”

She’d done just that in the beginning and cherished her nest egg, but this disagreement wasn’t about the cash she’d tucked away. “I don’t care about material things and you know it, you arrogant ass.”

Kemper stood, easing his way around the patio. She caught his reflection in the glass and wondered why he acted so suspicious. Did he really think Kit could hurt her?

Hell. She wasn’t afraid of a cowboy, especially one with the last name Keesling.

“Did you ever ask me about my past?” she demanded.

“What difference does that make?” Kit asked, shooting her a glare as chilly as his icy blue—and quite beautiful—eyes.

“Well, did you?”

“No.”

“Exactly,” she said, holding her shoulders back and feeling quite satisfied that she’d just made her point. She hurried by him. “Then we have nothing left to talk about.”

As if the devil made him do it, he reached out and snatched her wrist. Once he secured his grip, he pulled her against him. His cold eyes were suddenly on fire, his anger as evident then as his fury had been the day a wild bull kicked him in the nuts.

She still shuddered when she thought about that horrid day. Kit had been so furious he’d taken a gun and used the black beast for target practice. Considering the bull was a prized Keesling possession, thank God Kit was a lousy shot.

“How many?” he demanded.

“How many what, Kit?” she asked, squirming away from him. With a hard jerk, she freed her arm, and he glared harder then, narrowing his eyes on her breasts until she felt certain her nipples spiked under the scrutiny.

Maybe that should’ve been her first clue. If arousal struck at that very moment, something was definitely the matter.

The Keesling men maintained a high sex drive which was part of the reason she initially stayed with them. She’d had instant chemistry with both men. She and Kit were certainly in tune with one another, but this was hardly the time or place to start acting all hot and bothered. Things weren’t looking too swell for the home team.

“How many men have you fucked?” Kit wasn’t about to let this go.

She blinked. How dare he embarrass her in front of his sister!

Kemper stood beside her then. “Don’t answer that.”

“I’m not going to,” she assured him firmly. “If you planned to issue job applications and interview applicants for your bed, then you should’ve handed over the paperwork before I experienced the pleasure of your company.”

“I think I should go,” Morgan said, finally standing.

“Sit down, Morgan,” Kit demanded, immediately redirecting his attention toward Holly. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Morgan acted like she didn’t know whether to stay or leave.

“You figure it out,” Holly replied, pushing by him.

“I said I want you out!”

She nodded her head toward Kemper. “If he tells me to leave, I’ll go. Until then, this is my home as much as it is yours.”

“Like hell it is!” Kit called out behind her.

“Talk to your attorney, Kit,” she sang, thinking her remark would send him reeling. “When you moved me here and you insisted that I sell my residence in Nashville, I became your common-law wife.”

“My what?”

“You heard me,” she said flippantly. “Now, I’ve got to run along. I’m meeting some friends at the club and then we’re shopping on your plastic. My treat.”

Before he could object, or steal away with her credit card, she slipped inside the house and locked the door. Waving at them through the window, she hurried away. She had men to see and money to spend. Well, scratch the men.

The two best fellows in the South were right there at home. She wasn’t about to lose them without putting up one hell of a fight.

Chapter Three

“Did you fail to read the e-mail I forwarded you?” Kit asked, taking a gulp from his water bottle before shuffling through cattle orders scattered across the glass-top patio table.

Morgan slipped away out of sight without so much as a wave good-bye. Kemper was glad she didn’t stick around to hear their brother’s rant. Later, Kit would probably live to regret his tantrum. “Answer me. Did you see the forwarded text?”

“I saw it,” Kemper replied.

“She was a hooker.”

“No, she was a professional escort.”

“Same difference.”

“I think she danced at the club more than she turned tricks on a street corner.” A beat later, he said, “From what I read there, Kit, she was more or less going home with clients. I don’t think she worked for a pimp.”

“What?” Kit screeched, tossing aside a feedlot bill. “You act like this is somehow okay!”

“Did I say that? No. All I’m saying is that I think Holly spent more time giving lap dances than puckering up for blow jobs on Kitty Kat Alley.”

“I should hope so!”

“I don’t know,” Kemper taunted him. “Come to think of it, that lap dance I enjoyed the first night we met was so intense, I wanted to break the house rules, unzip, and slide right in.”

“Well, seeing as we’re housing a woman who’s been around the block, I don’t think she would’ve objected to the advances if you’d decided to penetrate her in public.”

Kemper liked that idea. In fact, they’d never performed in front of an audience, and public sex acts appealed to him. Exhibitionism had always been one of his dirtiest hard-core fantasies.

“She could’ve slept with hundreds of men for all we know.” Immediately, Kit somewhat retracted his statement. “Then again, maybe she didn’t fuck that many fellas.” He bowed his head and looked ashamed of himself.

“She may have been a little loose at one time, but who cares, Kit? I mean, really? We weren’t taking her home to momma.”

“That’s because we don’t have a mother anymore, you moron!” Kit yelled.

“We never had one to speak of best I remember,” Kemper reminded him. “Why are you being so rough on Holly anyway?”

“I’m not,” Kit replied. “I’m encouraging her to leave so I won’t tear her down.”

“Hmm,” Kemper drawled. “What a nice parting gift. If she goes quietly, you’ll let her walk away without ripping apart her self-esteem. Imagine that.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Do you want me to say it?”

Kit’s nostrils flared.

“Fine,” Kemper said, thinking it was about time he told Kit how his actions often caused a whirlwind of events. “You and your unreasonable expectations pushed one woman out of this house once. Don’t make the same mistake twice.”

“I never shoved Morgan away. She chose to leave here. Besides, this is different. We’re talking about Holly. She’s in our bed. Morgan was the kid sister we tried to protect from everyone else.”

“Yeah and look how well that worked out,” Kemper told him, rolling his eyes. “She ended up in bed with our two best friends.”

“With pals like Blake and Grant, we sure don’t need enemies,” Kit said, his nose twitching as he resisted a smile.

“Look on the bright side,” Morgan said, returning to the patio without a moment to spare. “If you had a team of best friends, they’d all be invited to the party.”

“Party, hell,” Kit grumbled. “A trio isn’t exactly a big shindig in my book.” He winked at Morgan. “When are you gonna move in with Grant and Blake anyway?”

“As soon as they ask me, but don’t tell them I said that. I want the idea to be their own.”

Kemper snickered. He’d love to tell his kid sister that her fellows were already working on a plan to sweep her off her feet once and for all. Instead of blowing the whistle and ruining their surprise, he asked, “What do you think about Holly anyway?”

“Holly?”

“Yeah. You know the one. She stands about an inch or so shorter than you, has big boobs, long auburn hair, big boobs, high cheekbones, and did I mention the boobs?”

“Yes, Kemper, I caught the part about Holly’s large chest.” She tilted her chin toward Kit. “So he’s pissed at her I take it?”

“That’s putting it mildly,” Kemper informed her.

“What’d she do this time? I mean outside of spending the money she thinks you’ve already earned.” She fluttered her eyelashes. Apparently she hadn’t missed a beat. Without a doubt, she knew exactly what tied Kit’s briefs up in knots.

“About that,” Kit said, focusing on the source behind Holly’s unlimited spending and enormous bankroll. “Since when do we put our women on a ten-thousand-dollar monthly allowance?”

“We always gave Morgan about that much.”

Morgan arched a brow. “Uh, I think not. My check was missing a zero, maybe two.”

Kemper grinned. “What can I say? I’m pussy whipped.”

“Anything but that,” Morgan grumbled, waving her hand as she started toward the stables. “I’m gonna feed the horses and then head out.”

“Where are you off to?” Kemper asked, forever worried one slip could set Morgan way back. She’d come a long way in beating her meth addiction, but part of the reason she’d overcome her dependency was because Grant and Blake forced her accountability.

“Don’t worry,” she replied. “Grant is waiting down by the barn. We have a lunch date.”

“Where?” Kemper asked.

“I’ll never tell,” she replied, giggling.

After she departed, Kit said, “That means they’re doing the nasty in a public place.”

“I figured as much,” Kemper remarked. “One of these days, the locals will kick this family out of Blountville.”

“I don’t worry about that,” Kit said. “With all the drug use in the area these days, the cops have more to do than worry about who enjoys a blow job in a community parking space.”

Kemper shook his head. “Believe me, when I take Holly out to show off in public, I’m gonna want a little more than my cock down her throat.”

Kit shuffled some papers. “Then you’d better hop to it. Today is Friday. Take her out tonight and spank her in front of a crowd for all I care, but tomorrow morning, she’d better be out of here.”