cuff the kid for being so careless and would have if he wasn’t so busy being flattered by the attention. Besides, he and James had the boy’s back.
Funny that he considered them all a team. After the other night, Troy knew that James lived to protect the weak and would never let anything happen to Chris on his watch, the same way Troy wouldn’t.
“I’m just glad he’s safe,” Troy said finally.
“I reckon.”
“I’m ready for you to put me to work,” Chris said.
Troy had work in mind, all right, but it wasn’t anything that could be done in the mixed company of his saloon and everything to do with why he wanted the two men in the privacy of his own room, or even at the lake.
Troy had a sudden vision of the three of them together, naked, and had to close his eyes against what he saw because it proved so powerful.
He came around some time later to Chris calling his name and shaking his arm. He couldn’t even be sure of how long he’d been away. It could have been seconds, minutes, or an hour. When he finally opened his eyes to focus on Chris and then James, it was to their concerned expressions—Chris’ wide blue eyes and James deep-set brandy eyes.
He wanted to tell them how much he needed them, but how did he go about it when they were both practically strangers to him, kiss notwithstanding. He still didn’t know how James felt about 86
Gigi Moore
everything or what had transpired between him and Chris other than sex.
“You okay, Troy?”
He stared at James and nodded. He stood straight, then waved a hand and summoned Josie when he saw her descending the staircase several feet away.
She looked as lovely as ever, and he couldn’t help wondering why God had made him the way he’d turned out. Why did he like men instead of women? He could have settled down and easily been with Josie, living together and running a business, and no one would ever bat an eye. The only way he could be with James and Chris would be behind closed doors, in the dark and secret, never walking down the middle of town in the sunlight, holding hands for the world to see.
Wasn’t Troy used to hiding and running by now, though? He had been doing both all his life. From the Indians who wanted him dead, from the law…from himself.
He had stopped running. Wasn’t it time he stopped hiding?
“What can I do for you?”
Troy smiled at Josie’s amiable tone as she stood poised between Chris and James, and that was saying something since they stood so close to each other.
Josie’s floral scent floated around them now, cloying, nothing like the musky, masculine aroma of Chris and James and doing nothing for Troy.
He leaned in nonetheless, and once Josie did, too, he said, “I need a favor.”
“You and your favors.” She threw up her hands as if exasperated, but she had a smile on her face. “What is it?”
“Can you and the girls take care of the bar for me until I get back?”
“And when will that be?” Josie put a hand on her hip and aimed a wink at the two men waiting for Troy.
Three Men and a Bounty
87
Troy followed her gaze, that moment coming to a decision that he knew would change the course of the rest of his life. “I’m not sure yet. If not tonight before closing, then probably some time tomorrow.” He gave her a friendly peck on the cheek and left his cloth on the bar top.
“Yeah, yeah, trying to butter me up for the next time. I know your game, mister.”
Troy chuckled as he came from behind the bar.
Both Chris and James arched their brows at him in question.
“Let’s go for a ride, gentleman. I believe we’ve got some things to talk about.” He needed to get things off his chest in more privacy than the bar or even his room afforded. And he knew just the place to do it.
Troy took the lead and sauntered toward the swinging doors. That James and Chris followed without argument proved a good sign. At least Troy took it as one.
They all unhitched and mounted their horses in unison and
Funny that he considered them all a team. After the other night, Troy knew that James lived to protect the weak and would never let anything happen to Chris on his watch, the same way Troy wouldn’t.
“I’m just glad he’s safe,” Troy said finally.
“I reckon.”
“I’m ready for you to put me to work,” Chris said.
Troy had work in mind, all right, but it wasn’t anything that could be done in the mixed company of his saloon and everything to do with why he wanted the two men in the privacy of his own room, or even at the lake.
Troy had a sudden vision of the three of them together, naked, and had to close his eyes against what he saw because it proved so powerful.
He came around some time later to Chris calling his name and shaking his arm. He couldn’t even be sure of how long he’d been away. It could have been seconds, minutes, or an hour. When he finally opened his eyes to focus on Chris and then James, it was to their concerned expressions—Chris’ wide blue eyes and James deep-set brandy eyes.
He wanted to tell them how much he needed them, but how did he go about it when they were both practically strangers to him, kiss notwithstanding. He still didn’t know how James felt about 86
Gigi Moore
everything or what had transpired between him and Chris other than sex.
“You okay, Troy?”
He stared at James and nodded. He stood straight, then waved a hand and summoned Josie when he saw her descending the staircase several feet away.
She looked as lovely as ever, and he couldn’t help wondering why God had made him the way he’d turned out. Why did he like men instead of women? He could have settled down and easily been with Josie, living together and running a business, and no one would ever bat an eye. The only way he could be with James and Chris would be behind closed doors, in the dark and secret, never walking down the middle of town in the sunlight, holding hands for the world to see.
Wasn’t Troy used to hiding and running by now, though? He had been doing both all his life. From the Indians who wanted him dead, from the law…from himself.
He had stopped running. Wasn’t it time he stopped hiding?
“What can I do for you?”
Troy smiled at Josie’s amiable tone as she stood poised between Chris and James, and that was saying something since they stood so close to each other.
Josie’s floral scent floated around them now, cloying, nothing like the musky, masculine aroma of Chris and James and doing nothing for Troy.
He leaned in nonetheless, and once Josie did, too, he said, “I need a favor.”
“You and your favors.” She threw up her hands as if exasperated, but she had a smile on her face. “What is it?”
“Can you and the girls take care of the bar for me until I get back?”
“And when will that be?” Josie put a hand on her hip and aimed a wink at the two men waiting for Troy.
Three Men and a Bounty
87
Troy followed her gaze, that moment coming to a decision that he knew would change the course of the rest of his life. “I’m not sure yet. If not tonight before closing, then probably some time tomorrow.” He gave her a friendly peck on the cheek and left his cloth on the bar top.
“Yeah, yeah, trying to butter me up for the next time. I know your game, mister.”
Troy chuckled as he came from behind the bar.
Both Chris and James arched their brows at him in question.
“Let’s go for a ride, gentleman. I believe we’ve got some things to talk about.” He needed to get things off his chest in more privacy than the bar or even his room afforded. And he knew just the place to do it.
Troy took the lead and sauntered toward the swinging doors. That James and Chris followed without argument proved a good sign. At least Troy took it as one.
They all unhitched and mounted their horses in unison and
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