On My Own [Liberty, Wyoming 2] (Siren Publishing Menage Amour) Page 3

  She looked at first one and then the other. Something inside her split open, and she was too worn-out to fight it. Any control she’d had over her emotions disappeared. Isabel was horribly embarrassed when she was unable to stop the sobs that bubbled up her throat, and tears ran freely down her face. For some reason, she was unable to control her emotions at that moment, couldn’t hold back. She didn’t understand what it was about these men that made her feel safe enough to let go, or God forbid, maybe she was having a breakdown? Extremely embarrassed, she tried to push against Clay, wanting to be by herself and let it out.

  She gasped and couldn’t stop crying when both men surrounded her, murmuring soft words to her, trying to comfort her. When she continued to cry uncontrollably, Clay slid his hand up and down her back, concerned. “Isabel, everything’s going to be okay. You need to stop. You’re going to make yourself sick.”

  She tried to stop, gasping for breath, but this had been building for months. She’d never given herself permission to let go, to grieve. She’d had to stay strong for her son.

  She gasped when both drew closer. Clay leaned over her, wiping the tears that continued to run down her cheeks, looking at her in concern.

  “You doing okay?”

  After several minutes, and quite a few deep breaths, she lifted her head and nodded. She hiccupped, feeling lighter than she had in so long. She knew reality was around the corner, but for now, she felt a sense of relief. She wanted to let herself absorb and bask in it.

  Clay smiled gently at her. His thumb slid over her cheek in a slow caress. “What’s making you so sad? It wasn’t anything we said, was it?”

  She shook her head and wiped the remaining tears from her face. “No, absolutely not. I’m so sorry. It’s just been a long time since I’ve let myself cry. Once it started, I couldn’t pull it back.”

  Clay shook his head. “We don’t like the thought of you feeling like you can’t cry or let your emotions out.”

  Isabel looked at each of them and then her lap. “I’m not a crier normally. It’s just sometimes we all need a release, right?”

  They both nodded and stayed quiet. She became self-conscious and wiggled to get up. She backed away when they both stood and towered over her small frame. She tightened her legs against the trembling she couldn’t control. She wanted to say it was from fear, but she knew that was only a small reason she trembled.

  God, they were gorgeous and men like no other she’d ever met. Both men were extremely well developed, and she could tell they worked hard to keep in shape. Both were in worn, faded jeans, boots, and dark western shirts. The most important thing though, the thing that drew her to them, was their concern and kindness.

  They took a step toward the door. “Royce needs to go out on a call, and I need to check on the horses. I’ll be around, so if you need anything, call me anytime.”

  She only just realized she didn’t know anything about them. “What do you do?”

  “We both own our ranch. We board and train horses, and Royce is also a farrier.”

  Isabel’s gaze roamed toward Royce. “What’s a farrier? I’ve heard the word before but can’t place it.” She absolutely would have guessed they were cowboys. They fit the image to a T. From the hats they always placed on the table when they came in the door, to the faded jeans, to the broken-in cowboy boots.

  “Simplified, I care for horse’s hooves. Shoe them, trim them, deal with any injuries.” Royce’s eyes dropped to her mouth then back up to her eyes.

  Isabel swallowed and took a deep breath. “That sounds interesting.” Her hand pressed against her stomach. As much as she enjoyed their presence, it was almost uncomfortable being in the same room as them. Their masculinity was overwhelming at times.

  “Do you like horses?” Royce asked.

  “Yes, very much. I rode a lot as a child.”

  “I would love to take you out with me some time on a call.”

  Isabel’s heart sunk. She tried to smile but didn’t voice any words. She wouldn’t be here much longer.

  Royce turned his head a bit toward his brother but couldn’t pull his gaze from the tiny woman in front of him.

  Isabel shrugged her shoulders. She knew they probably wouldn’t be here long enough.

  “If you need help, our brother is the sheriff…stop right there.” Royce growled when she turned white and started backing away from them. He stepped forward quickly, grasping her shoulders, holding her in place. “You have nothing to fear from our family or us, not ever, so get that look of fear off your face, now. You are never to fear us.”

  She would have laughed at his ridiculous order if she weren’t so terrified.

  “We can’t talk about this right now, but we’ll be back tonight, and we’ll figure some things out. I’m interested to know why the thought of the law would terrify you.” Royce grabbed his hat and walked to the door, waiting for Clay.

  Clay closed in on her slowly, not wanting to spook her any more than they already had. He slid his palm against her cheek. “It will be okay. Get some rest today, and we’ll come back with supper around six.” He was getting a bad feeling, a tension coming from her that scared him. He used his hand to tilt her head back so he could see her face so that he could see her reaction. “Don’t think about running, because we’ll find you. You don’t need to be on your own anymore. I really think we might be able to help solve your dilemma.” He knew he was right when she flinched. “Give us a chance. We can keep you and Tommy safe. That’s what you want, right?” He continued when she stood mute. “This town and Royce and I are probably your best bet. Just give us a chance to understand.” He pinched her chin and lifted to gain her attention. “We’ll see you tonight.” He snatched up his hat, walked to the door, and pushed a grumbling Royce out ahead of him. He turned back. He had a menacing feeling they had very little time to get her to trust them before she tried to bolt. “Carol said to call her if you needed her for anything. She’ll be in the café all day. We told her we’d check on you so she wouldn’t worry. Lock the door behind us.”

  She walked to the door and locked it, leaned against it, and took several breaths. She listened intently to the men walking down the steps arguing, but she was unable to make out their words.

  She dropped onto the couch, shaking. Their brother was a cop. Allister could find them if their brother ran a check on her. With all of his resources, it wouldn’t take Allister long to get to them. She shivered at the thought of that man anywhere near her son.

  Tommy and I are so tired of running. She wouldn’t be surprised if Tommy was sick because of the stress of traveling, not staying in one place very long, never making friends. She pressed her hand to her chest, trying to ease the tightness as tears ran down her cheeks. Oh god, what was she doing to Tommy? She held back a sob, afraid she wouldn’t be able to stop if she started again.

  Taking deep breaths, she got herself under control enough to think logically. Okay, I’m running out of money, so I need to get a job. We’re both so tired. We need time to rest up. She rubbed the ache on her temple. This town was the first place she felt even remotely safe since this nightmare began. She’d thought she made a friend in Carol already and maybe in Clay and Royce if she could keep her senseless feelings for them under control.

  Keeping them from running a check on her would be her main problem right now. Then there was finding a place to rent, a job, somewhere she’d be able to take Tommy with her. Yeah, she wasn’t asking for much, right? Fatigue pulled at her.

  Isabel yawned. Right now she needed to check on Tommy and then lie down with him for a bit. She knew she needed the rest. Maybe after a nice nap, she could think better, make some decisions.

  Chapter Four

  She was suddenly jostled awake to Tommy bouncing on the bed. She pushed her hair out of her eyes and took a good look at him. She sighed in relief. He looked so much better than he did earlier. “Come here, sweetheart.” When he bounced over to her, she felt his forehead and smiled. “No mor
e fever.”

  He laughed. “I’m better, I’m better, I’m better…”

  She laughed with him and swung her legs over the edge of the bed and stood. She held out her arms. “Is my baby hungry?”

  He jumped into her arms, laughing. “I’m hunry, I’m hunry, I’m hun—”

  Isabel swung him around. She loved seeing him so carefree. “I get it. My poo bear is hungry. Let’s get you to the bathroom and then we’ll get something to eat, okay?”

  “Okay, okay, okay…”

  They were finishing up their small snack when there was a knock on the door. Isabel froze, not used to people coming to her door, and now twice in one day. The fact there wasn’t a peephole made it worse. “Yes?”

  “Hi, hun, it’s Carol. I just wanted to check on you before the supper rush started.”

  Isabel opened the door quickly with a big smile. Carol stepped in and hugged her then turned. “Oh my, look who’s feeling better.”

  They both laughed when he danced around the couch. “I’m better, I’m better…”

  Carol turned back to Isabel and smiled. “You’re even looking a mite better, sweetie.”

  Isabel smiled and nodded. “I am. I took a nap with Tommy, and I actually got some good sleep last night.”

  Carol put her arm around her and led her to the couch. “What are you going to do now?” she asked worriedly.

  Isabel looked at Tommy. “Well, I need to make some decisions on that. I need to get a job but one I can take Tommy to with me and find a place to rent. I’d like to stay in town for a bit. I need to save money, and I’d like for both of us to get some rest.” She looked at Carol. “I hate to ask you, you’ve already done so much for us, but if you could wait for me to get a job, to pay you back for the food and the lodging—”

  Carol frowned and crossed her arms over her ample breasts. She wasn’t going to bring up the relatives she was supposed to visit because she’d guessed at the time it was a lie. “Enough of that, young lady. You have nothing to pay back, and if you try, it’ll make me cry.” She sulked and looked Isabel in the eyes. “Do you want to make me cry?”

  Isabel didn’t know for sure if she was kidding or being manipulative because the woman’s face showed no expression. Not wanting to hurt her new friend’s feelings, she hugged her. “Oh, god no. That’s the last thing I’d want to do, but I don’t want to take advantage of—”

  Carol clapped once with a bright smile. “No need to worry about that, dear. Let me think on a bit on a job for you. I’d hire you to waitress, but Tommy would be miserable sitting there all day. As for a place to stay, you’ll stay here.” She held up a hand when Isabel opened her mouth. “No one is renting this right now, so it’s perfect. Let me think about the job situation. Now I’ve got to go before I’m late. I don’t want to make the bosses mad.” She chuckled at her own joke.

  Isabel walked with her to the door. “I can’t thank you enough, Carol. I wish you could know how much this means to me.”

  “Don’t you dare cry, young lady, or you’ll start me going. Now the boys are going to bring you up supper from the restaurant in a bit, so you don’t have to worry about that.”

  Isabel wiped away a tear that escaped and smiled. “Who are the owners of the restaurant? And are they the bosses you’re talking about?”

  Carol laughed. “Well, honey, that would be my husbands and me, so no worries.” She laughed harder at the shocked look on Isabel’s face. “You should see your face, dear. We’ll talk tomorrow. Gotta go.”

  “Carol,” Isabel called down the steps. “Who are the boys?”

  She started laughing again. “You are going to be so much fun. The boys are Royce and Clay. They’ll be by soon.” She threw a wave over her shoulder and turned at the bottom of the steps. Isabel could still hear her laughing and smiled.

  Chapter Five

  Isabel threw the door open when she heard two sets of heavy footsteps coming up the stairs.

  Royce was the first to her, took her arm, and gently guided her back into the apartment. His eyes slid down her body in a long hot caress before returning to her face. “What are you doing opening the door when you didn’t know who was there first?”

  Isabel sucked in a breath at the anger on his face, shook her head, and took an abrupt step back. “Um, what?”

  Royce scowled when she moved away from him, but he knew given time that would change. “Don’t ever do that again.” He placed a quick kiss on her startled lips and moved around her and carried the bag to the kitchen.

  She touched her fingers to her lips, wanting to yell at him and at the same time wanting to keep the feeling of his lips from going away. She jumped at a gruff cough behind her. She turned to find Clay closing the door and staring intently at her.

  Clay didn’t like the tired, vulnerable, or confused look on her delicate face and would do whatever he had to do to wipe it off. He leaned back against the door before he crooked a finger at her. She hesitated but then moved forward. He smiled when she stood in front of him. “First, I want a kiss.”

  Isabel crossed her arm over her pounding heart, which also helped to hide the way her hard nipples poked through her shirt, and frowned even as her stomach flipped madly. “We’ve only just met, and you guys are touching and kissing me like, you know me.” She threw her hand out. “And I’m not comfortable with that.”

  Clay folded his arms across his chest and studied her closely for a moment, then waited until she started to squirm. “Does it really make you uncomfortable, or is it because you like it too much?”

  Isabel gasped. “What, why would you ask me something like that?”

  “Answer my question.” He lowered his voice, putting in the right amount of stern authority to keep her attention.

  She shook her head.

  “Do you find it disgusting, or does it hurt when we touch you?”

  Her mouth dropped open in shock. “No, absolutely not.” The thought of their hands on her heated her blood.

  “Do you like our touch?”

  Isabel lifted her chin even as a wave of wet heat saturated her tender folds. “Still,” she stammered. “I’m not the type of woman that fools around with a man, much less two men she doesn’t know. Besides, I won’t be here very long, and I certainly don’t have the energy or time for any…” She waved her hand. “You know, hanky-panky.”

  He bit back a chuckle at a term he hadn’t heard since childhood. “I understand that, Isabel. But this is different. This thing between us is special, something none of us have dealt with before, so we kind of have to make our own rules. And the part about leaving we’ll discuss later. Now, answer me. Do we make you feel good?”

  She nodded silently and bit her lower lip as a blush crept across her face.

  Damn, she was adorable. “Then give me one good reason why the three of us can’t be affectionate at the same time we get to know each other. I know from the moment we met, I craved your touch, and had a desperate need to lay my hands on you.”

  Isabel was speechless, unable at that moment to think of any comeback and felt that overwhelming need for their touch also. She stood on her tiptoes, placed her hands on his chest for balance, and leaned in. She touched her lips to his quickly and went to step back when his hands grasped her elbows, keeping her against him.

  He looked her over, taking in her slender frame, long dark braid, and beautiful light brown eyes. She wore another pair of baggy faded jeans and an old pink T-shirt, but she left her feet bare.

  Damn, even her feet were cute. He had a sudden urge to nibble on her cute little toes. Her feet were very small, and no polish adorned her tiny toenails. He’d never seen a more beautiful woman and wanted her beyond anything he’d ever experienced. His gaze moved up over slim hips, tiny waist, what looked like a nice handful of breasts, to her sweet flushed face.

  The sound of Royce’s and her son’s voices in the kitchen broke them apart. He didn’t release her, but he let her step back. He placed his hand on her cheek. God, s
he was so fucking hot. “Hey.” He tried to get her attention. “Royce is right about the door.” He bent his knees a little, bringing his eyes closer to her level. “If you take another chance like that, there will be consequences. Ones you won’t enjoy.”

  Clay’s hands opened when she jerked from him, frowning up at him. Her frown deepened when he stood at his full height, spreading his massive legs apart and crossing his muscled arms over his chest, giving her his full dominant personality.

  There was no expression of fear. He smirked at the heat in her eyes. She was coming to trust them. She’d better get used to seeing it, seeing him like this, because they weren’t going away, and he definitely wouldn’t change.

  Isabel put her hands on her hips and tilted her chin up to give him her opinion of his arrogant attitude. She stepped back when he suddenly stepped forward. She tried to stay brave, wanting to make a point, show him she couldn’t be pushed around. “Excuse me,” she said and cleared her throat nervously.

  “Okay, I’ll excuse you.” His mouth twitched when her anger spiked. It was a sight to see. She tried so hard to be brave, but he could tell he intimidated her and that was fine by him. It might make her think twice about making a bad decision, plus she was so damn cute when she was mad. The few times he’d seen her, she looked like a fairy, sweet and harmless, angry she still resembled a fairy, just mixed with a little brat. His favorite kind of woman.

  She growled, took a step toward him, poking him in the chest with one tiny finger. He looked down, amused that she would think she could take him on. “You’re not my brother, dad, husband, or boyfriend, so you had better understand I don’t have to do anything you say.”

  She knew she’d made a mistake when she saw Clay’s expression harden and become icy.

  Clay clasped her shoulders between his two large hands and bent down until they were nose to nose. “Listen very carefully. You and Tommy are ours to take care of. We know it doesn’t make sense to you, but we’ve claimed you, and knowing Carol, everybody in town knows too. There is no reason you have to be alone anymore. You’ve got people to help. So yes, you’ll obey us, every single time, or there will be consequences.