Espino, Stacey - Her Cowboy Triple Team [Ride 'em Hard 4] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (14 page)

She waited at the window, trying to decipher if one of the sounds of nature was actually a quiet whisper. Finally she cranked the window shut and returned to the warm glow of her unit. She wondered if he decided to take her up on her offer and was actually coming around to the front of the building. Her stomach leapt in anticipation.

Kayla opened the door to the stairwell, but all she found was a tiny wrapped box on the stoop. She bent down and picked it up, examining the haphazard wrap job as she listened for footsteps. The distant hum of an engine was her only proof that Grant had come and gone, besides the package she held. She locked up for the night, wondering if it was a blessing or a punishment that Grant hadn’t come into her apartment. If he had, she was certain they’d both have fallen under that familiar sexual spell and ended up in bed together. That must be why he dropped off her gift. He was trying to remain a gentleman. So much for the birthday sex.

She sat down on the sofa, Sepia immediately jumping up to join her. As the cat rubbed against her arm, her strong purr killing the white noise in the empty apartment, Kayla began to unwrap her gift. It appeared to be covered in brown butcher paper with a thin white ribbon securing it together. The thought and effort had already impressed her more than some fancy, flowery paper ever could. She felt a unique satisfaction as she envisioned Grant taking the time to prepare her gift.

Inside the layers of wrap was an even smaller box. She began to think he’d bought her jewelry, which concerned her. Grant shouldn’t be wasting his money on frivolous things. She knew the value of the dollar to a working man. But as she uncovered the navy blue box, she found the most precious pendant she’d ever seen. It was an ornament for a necklace, a miniature palette with each tiny circle of color represented by a different colored gemstone. Red, purple, blue, green, and pink. It had to be one of a kind. At least she’d never seen anything like it.

Her sinuses tingled before she realized how emotional she’d become. A man had actually put deep thought into her gift, providing her something with meaning. Fancy jewelry, expensive trinkets, and common wares had nothing on her little palette. Where had he even found such a thing? There were no shops in town that sold them. She’d walked the main strip dozens of times on her breaks from the feed store. The local jewelry store was a frequent destination. Kayla would admire the engagement rings, not for their monetary value but what they represented. Even though she was no longer a young girl full of unrealistic hopes and dreams, she still yearned for a happily ever after.

After opening her gift she wanted to wrap her arms around Grant and hug him, thank him from her heart, and pepper his face with kisses. Instead she held the pendant, staring at the colored gems as the light reflected through them. She closed her palm as well as her eyes. Whether her future was a ménage or not, it had to include Grant. He was the kind of man she could fall irrevocably in love with.

Chapter Eleven

Austin
hadn’t returned home from the city for several days. It was Wednesday, and all he could think about during the long trip home was seeing Kayla again. He knew it was foolhardy to invest so much of himself in a woman who hadn’t committed to him. But her sweet nature captured his heart early on. She had the patience of a saint when dealing with ranting ranchers and took everyone’s feelings into consideration rather than telling them all to fuck off as he’d be tempted to do. Her skills in diplomacy were unparalleled. She’d make an excellent addition to their team on the Richmond Ranch, and he knew she’d keep their books organized and accurate. Even though he hadn’t dealt with Clay as much recently when it came to business matters, he respected the man in regards to fairness and honest dealings. His sister would no doubt be the same.

He opened the door to the house, not sure what to expect. Ben’s truck was out front, as were two from their laborers. One of his deepest fears while being away was Ben and Kayla growing closer without him. He hadn’t even remembered to tell her he’d be away when she started work on Monday. He’d forgotten all about his trip to St. Albert, where the big rodeo was being set up. There were too many contacts to count meeting up in the city. The trip was essential to stay on top of the latest developments and gain support of other farmers using the GE seed. Austin certainly received no support in their small town.

Austin
found Kayla sitting at the desk in his oak-paneled office. She still hadn’t noticed him, too busy with her calculator and pad of paper. The constant soft clicking was a testament to her skill with numbers as well as art. She was a well-rounded woman, intelligent, and bound in the most delectable wrapper. Her hair hung around one side of her neck, spilling down over her breast. She wore a fitted white T-shirt, which flattered her dark features. He could have stood in the doorway all day, just studying her. It was nice to have a woman in the house, a treat to come home to after each day of hard work.

“Busy working?” he asked.

He startled her, a small gasp escaping her lips as she looked up from her paper. “
Austin
.”

“I’m sorry I’ve been missing. How’ve you been getting along?”

“Um. Good.” Her voice was hesitant, ringing of untruth.

He entered the room, sitting on the wooden chair facing the desk. “Has my brother been good to you, explained everything?”

She took a breath. “Honestly, I haven’t seen him much at all. He gave me a box of old receipts, a few ledgers, and then disappeared. I see him a few times each day, but we don’t really talk much.”

Her words spilled over one another. His damn brother was being an ass and had upset her. He never should have agreed to have her start the job when he was away. How could he make amends for Ben? He’d fucked her, bonding them intimately whether he realized it or not. Now Ben expected her to disappear like all the other women tended to do when he was done with them. Kayla wasn’t a cheap woman Ben could dismiss so easily. Ben knew he wanted her for something lasting. Austin wasn’t even adverse to sharing her if his younger brother would get his head out of his ass. Ben wasn’t getting any younger, and his fast life would soon catch up with him. Kayla was the perfect answer for both of them, but his younger brother probably found a good woman to be a bore.

Right now
Austin
was more concerned about Kayla than Ben. His brother was one hundred percent at fault for starting something with Clay Roberts’s sister, an icon in their town, and expecting to brush it all under the rug.

“I’ll speak with Ben. But I’m here now. Anything you need, you just have to let me know.”

“I did have a few questions. About the bio-grain.”

He internally cringed. Although he’d had a good meet up with other like-minded ranchers in the city the past few days, he didn’t want Kayla to hate him like some of his friends now did.
Austin
was no different than any other farmer. He needed to make a profit, no matter how minimal, and had to adapt to the times, keep up with competition. “What did you want to know?”

“Well…I’ve heard men talking in town, and I found a receipt from an out-of-town distributor.”

“I ain’t hiding the fact we’re going to try the new grain. It was a bad season, our last crop of wheat nearly decimated from Kernel Smudge. The bio-wheat promises a hardier crop, resistant to most disease and even drought.” He exhaled, leaning over his knees and hoping to God she didn’t judge him too harshly. “The stuff’s tested and approved by the government. I wouldn’t use a dangerous product for all the money in the world. I hope you believe that, darlin’.”

“Then why are some of the men against using it if it’s so great? The Garners seem particularly against it.” Right. Grant Garner, one of the men she’d shared her luscious body with. Had he dismissed her the same way Ben had? Had Grant soiled their name and put lies in her head?

“It’s ignorance, plain and simple. It ain’t uncommon for folks to hate what they don’t understand. I was skeptical myself until I was taught all the facts. You have no idea how many foods are bio-engineered, and I’d wager most of the skeptics don’t, either.”

He pulled out some literature and charts from his bookshelf and laid them out on the desk before her. The best way to eliminate any misgivings Kayla may have was with cold, hard facts. He stayed with her for a good twenty minutes, teaching her what he’d learned. After his long trip home, all he wanted to do was hop in the shower and settle in, but Kayla’s acceptance was more important than anything.

* * * *

Austin
had been so accommodating, teaching her, making her feel welcome. As soon as she saw him, all her feelings for him came back in a rush. Would he pick up where they left off, comfortable and intimate, greeting her with a sweet kiss? Or would he be like his brother, who now decided to recoil from her?

She’d been curious about the grain, having learned not to judge people on the word of others. Even though she respected Grant as an honest man, he seemed to carry a blind hatred for men he once called friends. Now everything was starting to make sense. It was ignorance and basic competition. Raising organic wheat was getting more and more difficult, so those farmers resented others who took what they saw as the easier way out. It didn’t make it wrong, just created an inevitable clash. She was sure Grant had his own side to the story, but she was open-minded enough to hear him, too.

It was getting late in the afternoon. Time for her to head back home. Even though Ben avoided socializing with her—probably guilty for using her, or wishing she’d disappear—he’d driven her home each night since she’d started. He also picked her up even though she never asked for the service. While
Austin
was off to shower, she packed up her bag, prepared for the long walk home. She’d only gotten partway down the long, winding drive when Ben’s pickup truck drove up alongside her, crunching the gravel under its tires.

“You’re not walking, Kayla. Get in.”

Why did he care? It made her mad that he could be thoughtful about her walking but still want nothing to do with her otherwise. Was she too old, too boring, too fat? All of the above? Or was he just too much of a player to stick with one woman?

“I can walk.” She couldn’t hide the bitter note in her voice. The past three days she’d been overly attentive, trying to get through his tough shell when she should’ve been pissed because of his standoffishness. Now she’d had enough.

“Get in,” he repeated.

She wasn’t going to argue when he sounded so determined. Kayla rolled her eyes and boarded the passenger side, slamming the metal door behind her. She kept quiet, even crossing her arms and staring out the windshield. He shifted the truck into park, and she could feel his stare.

“I have to drop something off to Mr. Wilder at the feed store before it closes,” she said.

“I’ll come with you.” He shifted into gear and started to drive back to town. Ben made her head spin. She wanted him desperately when she should be running the other way.

They pulled into the parking lot of the feed-store office. She hopped out of the truck in a hurry and rushed to the door. Before she headed in, she heard Ben’s door shutting behind her.

“Kayla, you didn’t forget.” Mr. Wilder was partially hidden by a group of ranchers filling the office. They were loud and blocking her path. Fortunately she was used to shoving her way around men.

“I’ve got your order sheets right here.” She set the papers Clay had given her on the desk.

“You have some nerve showing up here,” grated one of the men behind her. She whirled around to notice them all facing Ben. “Why don’t you take your business elsewhere.”

“Far as I know, this ain’t your shop, Brackworth. My business is just as welcome here as yours,” said Ben. He was younger, stronger, and taller than the ranchers. But there was one of him and six of them. Her heart beat double time as the tension in the small space increased by the second.

“Didn’t you notice Clay Roberts don’t deal in the toxic grain? He’s a smart man.”

“Why don’t you leave the gossip to your wife and mind your own fucking business.” Ben didn’t appear threatened, walking farther into the office, even butting shoulders with one of the men. Why was he here? It was true that Clay wouldn’t distribute the GE seed, but that was only a business move. If he carried it, he’d lose most of his clients. The protests against the new grain had died down slightly since it was introduced to their town, but they were far from gone.

“You have some nerve,
Richmond
.” Mr. Brackworth crossed his arms over his chest.

Mr. Wilder was a sweet older man. He entered the circle of men, holding out his arms. “Gentlemen, this is a place of business. Please keep your personal disputes outside.”

Another man piped in. “We have no problem. Everything was fine until the Richmonds decided to sell out.”

Kayla could see the tic in Ben’s jaw. Her heart went out to him. It hurt to be excluded, to be judged wrongly. She knew all about it. People often wouldn’t give her the time of day, especially men, because she wasn’t the ideal vision of a woman. Judging by appearances or gossip rubbed her wrong, especially since she knew Ben’s side after talking with
Austin
.

“Mr. Brackworth, have you done any of your own research on the genetically engineered wheat? Did you read the studies, the government findings, the testimonials, or look into the grain firsthand? Or are you judging the Richmonds solely on your own ignorance?” She wasn’t afraid. Kayla was used to having a bad-ass brother to back her up, and besides, these older cowboys were all hot air. “If we never progressed, your seedless products would still be seeded and you’d only be selling a fraction. Do you have any idea how much of the produce you claim to be natural is actually hybrid or tampered with by scientists? That doesn’t make it bad.”