A Four-Gone Conclusion: Lone Star Lovers, Book 5 Read online

  And have some yahoo make a comment about Indians and their liquor? Johnny knew his limits. His sour mood guaranteed he’d be hauled to jail after a fistfight. “No. You can come back later, by yourself, if you wanna drink.”

  “All right. I give up.”

  Thankfully the trip home was quiet. Darkness fell with the quickness of light blinking out.

  Rolling up to the garage, Johnny noted the twins’ truck parked at an angle in the center of the driveway.

  “Guess they were in a hurry. Must have got lucky.”

  Johnny didn’t reply. For a short while as they’d killed time in the Feed and Seed, purchasing supplies while waiting for the diner to close, he’d felt lighter, anticipating an evening spent with a warm, willing woman. An attractive woman with rosy cheeks and a sharp-eyed gaze. Now he’d have to listen to the sounds his brothers made as they entertained a girl. And it would be a girl, he thought sourly.

  He and his brother piled out of the truck and walked through the breezeway and straight into the mudroom off the kitchen.

  Voices sounded from the living room. One voice in particular caught his attention, the feminine edge so familiar his body grew instantly taut.

  “I am not sleeping with you! Get it out of your head right this minute.”

  What the hell was Ellie doing here? And with the twins? And what the hell was she talking about—not sleeping with them? Had Mace and Jason succeeded where he’d failed? He glanced back at Killian whose eyebrows rose high.

  “Is it because of our reputations?” Mace sounded like he always did—on the brink of laughter. “Not all of it was earned, I swear.”

  “And that’s supposed to make me feel better?”

  The edge of sarcasm in her voice pushed him into action. Women went soft and giggly around the twins. However, Ellie wasn’t treating them any differently than she had him and Killian.

  Johnny slammed through the swinging door—and ground to an abrupt halt.

  Ellie sat on a kitchen chair, her hands behind her as though bound. When her head swiveled his way, her eyes snapped with anger and a furious blush colored her cheeks.

  Johnny’s head felt ready to explode. “What the hell is goin’ on?” he shouted.

  Mace and Jason glanced up from where they knelt beside her, tying another knot.

  “She tried to bolt and take the truck back to town,” Mace said cheerfully.

  “Why the hell is she here?”

  Ellie’s chin shot up, her mouth thinning. “She wasn’t given a goddamn choice!”

  Jason shrugged. “We asked nicely. First. But she said she was busy.”

  “Maybe you should have believed her.”

  Killian swept past him and circled behind Ellie. “Nice knots.”

  Ellie sputtered. “Nice knots? Do you know how many charges I could bring against these two idiots?”

  Johnny’s anger cooled in an instant. He narrowed his gaze on the disheveled woman. “Law’s not comin’ anywhere near them,” he growled.

  Her eyebrows lowered and her lips pushed into a stubborn pout. “Untie me now.”

  Johnny glanced at Killian whose expression was bemused. His brother cleared his throat and knelt at her side. “You know they don’t mean any harm,” Killian said, his tone even and for once without a hint of sly humor.

  “That doesn’t excuse the fact they kidnapped me,” Ellie said with a firm nod.

  Johnny strode forward and gripped the arms of the chair and turned it hard, jerking it to face him directly. Then he bent so close he was nearly nose to nose with her. “What has you maddest? The fact they kidnapped you? Or the fact that it wasn’t Killian and me?”

  Mace’s eyebrows shot up. “It was you she was gettin’ busy with?” He started chuckling.

  Jason’s laughter was full-bodied, and he hugged his belly and dropped onto his ass on the floor.

  Johnny shook his head, waiting for them to quiet while his fingers tightened on the chair’s arms.

  Mace held up a finger. “We’ll stop…promise. Gotta hear the rest of this.”

  He felt a tic pulse beside his eye. Anger and frustration, even a little fear for the twins, bubbled up inside him.

  Her frown eased and her hazel eyes widened, staring at the tic. She wet her lips with the tip of her tongue.

  Silence enclosed them at last as the twins’ laughter faded. He knew they all stared at him, waiting to see how he’d solve this problem. His focus narrowed as he loomed over her. This was between the two of them. Regardless of how it had happened, this moment had been inevitable. For once, the right words spilled out. “Maybe they didn’t go about it right, but it doesn’t mean this has to end bad.”

  Her gaze locked with his.

  His trailed down her body.

  Her chest moved with her shortened breaths. Her nipples beaded against the thin tee stretched taut by the position of her arms.

  “I don’t approve how they got you here, but you’re stuck here now. Until we figure out a way to make this right.”

  She snorted, but her expression softened as though she wasn’t quite as self-assured as she’d been moments ago. “You wanna make this right?” she said softly. “You take me home now.”

  Killian eased closer and pushed a mussed strand of her hair behind her ear. “Tell the truth, Ellie,” he whispered. “You kinda like this, don’t you?”

  Her head pulled back. “You’re all insane.”

  Killian tapped her nose. “The truth now. This is the most fun you’ve had, isn’t it? Or it could be.”

  More than a little shocked at the implications, Johnny fought the sudden surge of heat roaring through his body. The sight of her, trembling with rage, tied and vulnerable, shot lust straight through him. What the hell did that say about the kind of man he was?

  He cleared his throat to get their attention. “Ellie, we’re already in too deep now. Look at me.”

  Her head hung for a minute then slowly lifted. Moisture filled her eyes, but her chin firmed again as she met his glance.

  “They went about this all wrong. But they don’t mean any harm. None of us do.”

  “What do you want from me, Johnny?” she asked, her voice husky.

  His throat worked as he drew moisture into a mouth gone dry. Christ, he was really gonna say this. “I want anything you’re willin’ to give.”

  She gave a soft gasp.

  The impulse was there, and since he was already damned, he didn’t resist. He bent toward her, satisfaction blazing through him when she raised her mouth to meet his.

  Chapter Three

  Ellie drowned in that kiss, pulled under by the ebb and flow of his firm lips.

  Already breathless with excitement over her unusual predicament, the way he’d waded into the room, taking command of the situation, and of her, melted her resolve.

  What woman could resist? Seriously?

  Four handsome men hell-bent on having her? Ellie Harker? If this were a romance novel, like the naughty ones she preferred, the heroine’s resolve would wilt beneath their strong wills right about now.

  Why did she think she had to fight? How could she now? His lips circled on hers, tugging at her mouth, pausing to bite her lower lip until she gasped and opened. Then he was inside her, stroking deep. Every bit as determined as the hard edge of his jaw had appeared as he’d strode toward her.

  Why not surrender?

  The thought seeped into her mind, eroding the walls she’d erected around herself when she’d thought they only toyed with her, flirted with her like they would any other woman, not meaning it.

  When his tongue stroked hers, teasing her in a sensual play no one else could see, she was sorely tempted to give way.

  But then where would she be? A single sordid night with the Logan boys? A soiled reputation with little hope of finding a decent man willing to overlook the stain? She clamped her teeth around his tongue and bit, then opened her eyes.

  He grunted. His eyes slammed open.

  “She just bite
him?” one of the twins said then laughed.

  Johnny’s hands clamped on her shoulders, giving her a firm but gentle squeeze of warning.

  She opened her jaws and let him retreat.

  A kiss pressed against the side of her cheek. Killian tipped her chin his way and gave her a wink. “She’s just reminding us she’s got choices even if she is tied to a chair, aren’t you, sweetheart?”

  Johnny pushed away from the chair and straightened, his tall, thickly muscled frame looming like a dark shadow.

  Ellie dragged in deeper breaths, relieved he wasn’t so close he clouded her mind.

  “Our intentions are purely honorable, you know,” Killian murmured.

  She gave him a wide-eyed glare.

  “As it so happens, we’re in need of a wife.”

  “A wife?”

  The twins shared a glance then burst into dirty chuckles.

  “How about we do a trial run?” Killian said, his tone cajoling. “You can see what we’re like to be around. Then you can choose.”

  “A trial run…” she parroted dumbly. Had he really just said that they wanted her not as a plaything but as a wife? “Choose?”

  “Which one of us you marry.”

  She shook her head. “You’re crazy.”

  “But the thought isn’t a huge surprise, is it? Tell me that we haven’t tempted you.”

  She turned her head, taking in the sight of the men—the grinning twins, Killian’s wicked half smile, then last, Johnny’s quiet glower. Her gaze darted back to the twins. Safer territory, or so she told herself. “What if I don’t choose any of you?”

  One of Killian’s dark reddish-brown brows rose. “Then we all walk away. We won’t bother you again.”

  She grunted, not believing his easy charm, as glib as any used car salesman trying to unload the lemon on his lot. “You say that, but you seem pretty sure I won’t.”

  His expression softened. “Sweetheart, you’re full of sass, but I’ve seen the way you look at us. The way you looked when Johnny kissed you.”

  He’d noticed that? Lord, she’d all but melted into a puddle. “You must think I’m a big whore to even consider your proposition.”

  “If you were a whore, you wouldn’t have been our first choice. We want children, and we want to know they’re ours.”

  Despite his assurance, she felt more than mildly insulted. “Let me guess. It’s all about my pies.”

  Killian’s smile stretched wide. “That’s where it started. But the way you’ve handled this, us…now that’s even more of a turn-on.”

  Ellie relaxed against the hard back of the chair and closed her eyes. For privacy. Since they’d allowed her none. She knew they awaited her answer.

  She knew what her answer should be, what a good girl would say, but then she’d be back to square one—wondering when the rest of her life would begin. And this felt like a new beginning. Even though she told herself this was probably just an elaborate, sexy trap to lure a woman into a foursome, hope stirred inside her.

  Would this be the start of something wonderful or was she going to make the biggest mistake of her life?

  She opened her eyes, seeking Johnny’s gaze first, as though it was natural to look for his approval.

  “Untie me,” she said quietly.

  He let out a deep breath, his mouth twisting, but strode toward her again and slipped behind her. The knots eased instantly, and she pulled her hands in front of her, rubbing her wrists although they didn’t really hurt.

  She stood shakily and all the men stood and backed up a step, their expressions, for once, all looking consistently grim. “I’m hungry. I haven’t had my dinner yet,” she said. “Show me the kitchen.”

  Johnny leaned his butt against one of the counters, watching as Ellie took control of the kitchen, stepping up like a general as she called for pans and pots and ingredients, which the men eagerly leapt to provide.

  Not him, though. He watched, staying silent. Tense inside, because he was fighting arousal. Someone, maybe several someones, would be sharing her bed once she’d made her choice. He understood that she was asserting herself now so they’d know she wouldn’t be pushed into anything she didn’t want.

  He was fine with that. At least, she’d stopped harping on bringing them all up on charges. Not that a night or two in jail wasn’t a bad idea for his two younger foster siblings. Mace and Jason had gone too far. As they always did. Pushing the limits of folks’ tolerance for their free-spirited shenanigans.

  And yet, Ellie seemed at ease with them, had them hanging on her every word and gesture like puppies eager for a pet or a scratch behind the ears.

  Which of them would she choose in the end? How would the contest be decided? Would it come down to who was best in bed? Who was kindest? Who treated her most like a queen?

  He’d lose for sure because he couldn’t be any other way than how he was. For her, however, he yearned to be the better man. He wanted to be the man who called her “wife”.

  Killian stood at the stove stirring a creamy sauce for a stroganoff while Mace and Jason cut vegetables for a salad.

  Ellie glanced up then gave him the look. The one that had the other men scurrying to do her bidding.

  He arched a brow.

  “Maybe you could set the table,” she said, sounding breathless.

  She’d worded it as a request rather than an order. He shoved away from the counter and gathered plates and utensils. In minutes they were all seated at the table and tucking in to the meal she’d created from scratch. Sam would have no complaints about her cooking.

  “Sam’ll have no complaints,” Killian said around his food, echoing his thoughts.

  “Sam’d have all our hides for what those two yahoos did,” Johnny muttered.

  “Sam’s your foster father?” Ellie asked, a tentative note in her voice.

  Johnny nodded, hoping she wouldn’t continue down that particular road. He wasn’t comfortable talking about how he’d come to be here. It was past. Better not revisited.

  “Sam never adopted you all,” she continued when no one jumped to answer her question.

  Mace glanced at Johnny.

  Johnny knew that if they had a hope in hell of getting her to stay that they couldn’t keep shutting her out. He shrugged his acceptance.

  Mace cleared his throat. “He couldn’t adopt. We all had living kin.”

  Her hazel eyes darkened. “Your…kin…never wanted…”

  “No,” Johnny said tersely. “We took Sam’s name after we each hit eighteen. Outta respect. And because he was more of a father to us then we ever had.”

  “I’m sorry about that,” she said softly.

  “I’m not,” he bit out. “Sam’s a good man.”

  Her chin shot up. Her eyes glittered with challenge. “I meant, I’m sorry your families weren’t ideal.”

  “Was yours?” Killian asked, deftly diverting her.

  Her mouth relaxed into a small smile. “It was. My mother’s still living. In Dallas near my sister.”

  “How’d you end up here?”

  She lifted a shoulder. “Dallas is big. Fast-paced. I didn’t go to college, so it wasn’t like I was going to have a career. I packed up one day. Headed to the Hill Country. I worked in a German restaurant in Fredericksburg for a while then decided to move on.”

  “Why?” Jason blurted.

  Her head dipped, and she twisted her fork around an egg noodle. “Because I broke up with my boyfriend. It wasn’t pleasant staying there. Everyone knew him and sided with him.”

  “They had to take sides? He cheat on you?” Jason asked.

  Johnny could see how uncomfortable she was and gave his brother a quelling glance.

  Ellie set aside her fork. “Yes. As a matter of fact, he did.”

  “We’d never do that,” Mace said, sitting forward, his expression earnest.

  A brow arched. “That supposed to be a selling point?”

  “Just sayin’—we’d never do that to a wom
an.”

  Ellie shook her head, her gaze locked with Mace’s like he’d mesmerized her. “Never say never,” she murmured. “You might fall in love.”

  Jason choked on his iced tea.

  Killian rolled his eyes. “Those two don’t believe in love.”

  Jason set down his glass. “Bein’ friends, enjoyin’ sex—why does it have to be about love? It’s just hormones.”

  She straightened her shoulders. “I guess I understand what you mean. I’ve never felt that connection some women talk about when the subject of love comes up. Maybe you have a point.”

  Johnny didn’t like her agreeing with that sentiment. He’d want her happy. Satisfied with her life. If she fancied herself in love, she might stick around longer. Not that he believed in a roses and promises kind of love either. Love of family, now that he believed in. He had that now.

  Killian gave her a smile. “So how’d you end up here?”

  Ellie grinned, looking a little sheepish. “I ran out of gas.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Yeah, right on Main Street. I wandered into Katie’s Diner and asked for the nearest station. Katie sent Ole Win with a gas can to get me fixed up, served me a meal, and by the time I was done, offered me a job. Katie had been desperate to find someone to take over for her. The hours were long and she wasn’t up to it, not fighting morning sickness and swollen feet. And her husband, Cutter, hovered over her. ’Bout drove her crazy. It was sweet, but he was driving her nuts.”

  “So it all worked out,” Killian said.

  She nodded. “Yes. I like Two Mule. It’s small. You get to know people. I’ve never really had that.”

  “Bein’ on a ranch is smaller,” Johnny said.

  Killian gave him a frown then gave Ellie an easy smile. “We have hands and they come and go, but it’s the same guys, seasonal work. No women around.”

  The way they all homed in on her had her twitching in her chair. Now she knew for sure she’d be the lone woman among a pack of lonely men.

  “A woman might get lonely for girl talk,” Johnny said, ignoring Killian’s warning glances. Ellie had a right to know, up front, what it would be like.

  “I’m not much for girl talk,” she said.