Gage, Ronna - Three Hearts One Love (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (5 page)

“I have some papers I need you to sign. I’m sending Grayson’s boy to you. He says he can be there this evening if you’re free.”

Bertha bellowed, the loud painful cry alerted Dylan to her stall.
 
“She is presenting her water bag, Daddy.”

“It’s not going to be long now, is it, son?”

“No, sir.” Warm feelings of giddiness filled Dylan. The arrival of a newborn calf gave his feet wings with pride. “I feel like this is my own child about to be birthed.”

“In a way, it is,” his father said.

“I wonder if I will feel this way when I become a father.”

“Not even close. You’ll think this is a slight hiccup of emotions compared to your own flesh and blood being born.”

Dylan smiled at the forming image—he and Karma having a child together. His throat constricted with the desire it brought to his heart.
 

“Should I tell Grayson to hold off on the papers?”

His father’s question derailed his chain of thought. “No, sir, he can come over this evening. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Okay, son. Keep me informed.”

“I will, Daddy.”

Dylan shut off the power to the phone. He looked back at the heifer’s pen. He let his mind wander and soon thoughts of Karma filled it. The soft touch of her hands on his skin—the same ones which tendered to an animal in her veterinary clinic—gave him the most pleasure. The strong strength of her fingers kneading into his flesh during sex; the heat of her breath on his neck when she came; and then his tongue almost tasted her sweet and salty nectar when she was aroused—just before they made love. His cock grew firm with a semi-erection. He exhaled a strong breath to clear his mind and gain control. He rested his hands on the pipe of the pen. Stamping down a nonexistent mound of dirt, his heart clenched and ached with thoughts of a future with her. “Karma, what do you feel for me? Are you playing the games of a free spirit, or are you real in your feelings when you say you love me?” Bertha’s soulful bellow recaptured his attention. “I know, girl. I feel the same way, too.”

He pulled out his phone, hit the number for Karma’s cell phone, and waited. He hated to break their date, but he saw no other choice.

* * * *

Deep in thought, Karma almost missed the phone call coming in on her cell. She picked it up and smiled at Dylan’s picture displayed across the LCD screen. She pushed the green button. “Hello, you crazy-sexy man.” She purred into the receiver.

“Hello yourself, you smooth talker.”

Karma liked the occasional role switches. “What are you doing tonight?”

“I have to break our date.”

“Another woman?”

Dylan chuckled. “Sort of. Bertha is about to calf, and I think I should be around.”

“Good idea. Why don’t I grab some Chinese takeout, some DVDs, and meet you at your place. I can be there in case you need me for a difficult birth.” She waited for his protest, his debating the issue, even his downright refusal, but the silence that followed unsettled her. “Hello, you there?” she questioned, hoping he hadn’t been cut off with a dropped call.

“Yeah, I’m here, but I’ve got some personal business to take care of this evening.”

“Someone I know?” Karma joked, but her guilt suddenly took hold of her.

Another unsettling silence nagged at her gut before he spoke.

“No, my father is sending a friend over to sign some papers. He will be stopping by this evening.”

Friend? Papers? What is going on?

“Ah heck, if you want to come by, that’s fine. I can use the help with the birthing.”

“I will go home, change into clean scrubs, pack some gloves into my medical bag, grab a movie or two, some dinner, and meet you in…let’s say, an hour and a half?”

“That will be about six thirty. Sounds good.”

“See you then!” Karma pressed the red button and ended the call.

She pulled into the parking lot of her condominium and parked in the private garage. She sat in the car and focused on Dylan’s qualities—thick, dark hair, amber-colored eyes, the physique of a manual laborer with the mind of a scholar. His caring personality encouraged her to follow her dreams, to be all she could be in whatever she did. A giving lover through all their encounters, she found herself thinking of him most times. “He’s almost perfect!” she sighed. Her heart palpitated rapidly. “Is he the one I love with all my heart, or is he just the one filling my mind?”
And vagina.

The question warranted a thoughtful answer. She considered all the things she found most appealing about Jaxon Hollister. She didn’t have to concentrate too hard to picture him in her mind. A devastatingly handsome man with blond hair appeared immediately. The bluest eyes in the world locked in her vision and took her breath away. His gaze penetrated her soul. She recollected the last time he made love to her. Large hands cuddled and massaged her after a long day. The sultry way his whispered comments floated from his lips to her ears. The heat of his breath on her neck, breasts…Karma gasped at the building desire for him. She turned her attention to his sense of humor. His adventurous nature readily introduced a new position or idea in the bedroom. The latest was her breasts and cunt covered in whipped cream, as well as other parts of her body, his tongue lapping it off inch by sweet tortuous inch. When he finally reached her lips, his kiss tasted of the sweet, rich cream. Shaken by the image, she looked down to find herself gripping the steering wheel and panting. From the first time she met Jaxon, he sent her world soaring in laughter, delightful adventures, and gentlemanly manners all wrapped up in one man. “He sounds perfect, too.”
 

Her heart sank. “Do I choose Dylan or Jaxon?” Unable to choose, she pushed the task aside. Right now, she had to meet Dylan at the ranch. Besides, it was no use in guessing. This wasn’t an easy decision for her to make, but she knew the longer it took, the more hurtful the outcome.

“Why do I have to choose? What right does society have to tell me how to live my life? I love them both. I can’t see my life without either of them. God, if only someone would make this decision for me. With some kind of workable happy ending.”

Chapter Five

“Mr. Hollister.”

Jaxon looked up at his assistant. “Yes, Mrs. Palmer?”

“I cleared your schedule for this evening as you requested,” she informed him when she entered the office.

He smiled at her efficiency. “Thank you. I appreciate you doing that for me.”

“No problem, sir. Is there anything else I can do for you?”

Jaxon looked at the stacks of papers piled neatly on his desk. He picked one up and handed it to her. “I need this copied and filed.”

She took the proffered papers. “I’ll get right on it.”

     
“No, it can wait until in the morning.”

“Are you sure?”

The shocked look on his assistant’s face almost made him chuckle. “Yes, call it a day. I will finish up here and close up the office.”

“This is a treat! Paul will be pleased.”

The excitement in Gloria Palmer’s voice warmed Jaxon’s heart. She worked so hard for him every day without complaint. If he could give her a short workday now and then, he was glad to do so. “Enjoy. I hope the two of you have a wonderful time.”

“Thank you, Mr. Hollister.”

Jaxon gave her a wink. “My pleasure.”

She turned to leave but did an about-face. “By the way, Dr. Rodden called. Unfortunately, she has a potential emergency and will not be available this evening.”

Jaxon nodded. “I see. Thank you, Mrs. Palmer. I will call her back later this evening.”

Gloria smiled. “Have a good afternoon. See you bright and early tomorrow,” she said and then all but ran out of the office with her stack of papers.

Jaxon sat back in his chair, piled his hands on top of the other, and laid his head into his cupped palms. He thought about the last-minute change of plans that transpired—Karma wasn’t available this evening. Her image toiled through his head. The way her long blonde hair fell over his chest. Her soft body fit his form perfectly. Firm, perky breasts filling his hands, the sweat of her body covering his while they made love. He inhaled a quick breath with the nagging but mild discomfort of an erection he sported as evidence of his imagery. “God, what am I going to do about her? I think of her when I’m not with her. I dread leaving her when I am.”

His phone rang. Absently, he answered. “Hello?” His best friend’s voice returned the greeting. “I’m sitting around thinking about life, love, happiness…” Jaxon chuckled. “That’s a stereotypical comment. Sometimes, lawyers do think about such things!” He leaned forward and scanned the file on top of his desk. “I can do that this evening for you. I have a few more details to add to that idea we had last week...I think we should talk it out before we present it to the third party…Great, see you then.”

Feeling tired and weary, he stood up and stretched. Looking at his watch, he noted the time.
I have some time on my hands before dinner, might as well get in a few laps at the pool
. He grabbed the papers he needed to take home, locked the desk drawers, and then made his way to the outer door, turning off the switches and buttons as he passed them. Leaving one small lamp on, he closed and locked the door.

Karma and the advancing relationship weighed on his heart. What did he really feel for her? Was it love? If so, why not talk to her or see for three weeks? “I should have kept in touch.” He hit the unlock button on his car. His best friend’s voice echoed in his head. Other than Karma, there was no one else he could discuss this delicate subject with.
 
“This is a good night to talk with friends, about love, and other life changing interests.” Jaxson settled in his car. “This could be the beginning of the rest of our lives, Karma. I hope you want me.”

Chapter Six

Karma pulled her small pickup into the private drive leading to Dylan’s ranch. She looked at the clock on the dashboard. Precisely six thirty. One good thing she could say about herself,
I am punctual
. Grabbing the bags of food, her tote bag, and medical bag left her with one option to closing the door. She bumped her hip against the door, and on the first try, it shut. She looked around the pastures. Cattle grazed not too far from the main house. She walked up to the door and noticed it opened. Through the screen, she saw Dylan on the phone. He looked up and came toward her. He opened the door, held up a finger to his lips, and then kissed her on the cheek.

“Yes, I have a heifer about to deliver, but that isn’t a problem. Any time is good for me.”

Karma dropped her tote bag and medical bag by the door. She smiled at the pride she heard in Dylan’s voice. Setting the take-out bags down on the counter, she sat down and waited for him to finish his call.

“Hey, I gotta go.” He looked over his shoulder at her. “The vet is here, and I need to fill her in on the progress so far.” Karma tried not to eavesdrop, but he didn’t actually keep it on a low key either. She busied herself with unpacking the take out. “Yes, that’s right…I will…Oh, now who’s starting sh—stuff?” Dylan laughed, and Karma’s heart raced. To see his smile lit up her world. The sexy and cocky lopsided grin set off the motion of longing inside her. “Okay, see you later. Bye.” He hung up the phone and turned to Karma. “Sorry about that. An old friend who needed to talk about a personal issue.”

 
“Not a problem, How is our patient?” she asked, handing him a foam tray.

“The birth sack has presented. Her bellows are calmer now, and she is circling her stall.” Dylan updated her and then took a large bite of the sweet-and-sour chicken. “This is the best food. I haven’t eaten all day.”

Karma lifted one eyebrow. “You better eat up. Bertha may need your help in a little while.”

Dylan smiled. “Oh, before I forget, my friend is coming by this evening. I have to sign some papers for my dad.”

Karma felt an uneasy feeling and shifted positions slightly.
Who is coming over? Is it someone I know? Is the friend a woman, man?

“Are you all right?” Dylan asked.

“Yes. Why do you ask?”

“You seem…uncomfortable.”

She shrugged her shoulders in attempt to ease both their minds. “No, just the usual case of nerves before a delivery. I get them all the time.”

“Why are you so nervous? You aren’t delivering.”

Karma laughed. “No, but I’m hoping Bertha will deliver on her own. The natural process will be better for all of us.”

Dylan’s eyes turned serious. “And if she can’t?” he almost whispered.

She rested her hand on his forearm. “Then we will make that decision when we come to it. For now, finish eating, and then we can check in on her.”

* * * *

Thirty minutes later, dinner take-out cleared and with refilled cups of tea, Karma followed Dylan to the pens. In the corner stall, Bertha looked back at the two of them wide-eyed and frightened.

Karma, quiet and slow as not to disturb the animal, opened the pen door. “Stay here for a second,” she requested in a low voice. “I need to calm her.” Dylan closed the gate. Karma eased her way in. “
Shhh
, it’s all right, girl. I’m here to help,” she soothed the laboring cow. She placed her hands on the protruding belly of her patient. “I think you may have a bull in there, girl,” she cooed. She looked over her shoulder at Dylan. “It’s a large calf.”