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

now.
    He’d either feel uncomfortable having her around now that he’d gotten the gold, or Austin would feel betrayed by his brother since he apparently had a crush on her, which she still found hard to believe. He was no less attractive and tempting than his brother. She still remembered how Austin looked in that fitted black tank top. Even though she owed him nothing, she still didn’t like the idea of anyone being upset because of her.
    As Ben walked out of her bedroom, she felt an instant loss. Being abandoned never did sit well with her ever since her parents died. It hadn’t been their fault they left her alone with her brother, of course, but she always had that deep-seated need for acceptance and security in relationships. So far it had eluded her.
    Clay had always been on the road, and her three past boyfriends had all dumped her. She was either too boring, too fat, or too old. Why couldn’t Ben desire a woman like her? She remembered that heated look in his eyes at the corn roast, but it had been just the alcohol, not a genuine attraction. And besides, attraction didn’t equal a lasting bond. She knew nothing about the Richmonds beyond what was common knowledge.
    “Do you want me to stay the night?” asked Grant, still warm beside her.
    She wanted to scream, “ Yes, yes, yes. ” Stay forever, love her, give a shit for longer than a month. But she refused to let her insecurities out. It was better for her to be alone tonight anyhow. Come midnight she’d be thirty, an age she’d dreaded. Her mother never saw her fortieth birthday, so Kayla’s thirties were a reality check that life could end at any time. It was also very sobering knowing she was older than Grant or the Richmonds. She was honestly scared to ask by how much. If they knew the truth they’d probably cringe and find a younger woman like her last boyfriend. Charles stuck around only long enough to bag a better catch—a younger, thinner, sexier version of Kayla.
    “You probably have to be up early, eh? When the rooster crows and all that?” she said. Clay was used to waking early. There was always a ton to do on a working farm. She expected it would be the same for Grant.
    “Doesn’t matter. If you want me to stay, I’ll stay.”
    She had to remember he’d come back to apologize because he wanted something more from her than sex, even though that’s exactly what had happened again. But he could hardly be held responsible. She’d wanted him just as desperately. Things weren’t quite the same now, though. What kind of man would want to settle with her after she so willingly allowed a second man to share her? Her mind was a muddle, and she needed to be alone to think.
    “It’s okay. You can call me on the weekend.”
    Grant sat up in the bed and twisted so his upper body was propped over her. “I’ll call on you,” he said, so close and intense. “I plan to court you proper, too. I’ve messed up so far, but I have plenty of ideas on how to make it up to you.”
    “We’re adults, Grant. Things happen, and I understand that.” Kayla hoped their relationship could grow beyond flirting and sex. If not, there was no hope of a future.

    * * * *

    The next morning Kayla was woken up by the telephone. She jolted up in bed, thinking of Grant immediately. Her bedside alarm clock read ten o’clock in the morning. Shit, I overslept. Then she remembered it was Saturday…and her dreaded birthday.
    “Good morning, sweet girl. You ready to come over to the house this afternoon?” It was Clay. Her brother was hard to rile, steady and reliable. She loved him more than anything. Angel was a lucky woman to be married to Clay. He’d do anything for her now that they were married.
    “You picking me up? It’s a long walk to your ranch.”
    “Course I will. You just make sure you’re ready when I come.” There was a brief silence on the line. “How about you let me buy you that car I was talking about? It’s about time you had a little