Monroe, Melody Snow - Brittany's Destiny [Pleasure, Montana 4] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Read online

  “Come here.” He pulled her to his strong chest and rubbed her back. The strength of his hand took the edge off her anxiety. “I never told anyone. It’s for you to tell, not me.”

  She leaned back and looked up at him. “Why? They’re your friends.”

  He lowered his gaze and seemed to drink her in. “Yes, but not the kind of friends we were. Friends don’t gossip. I figured if you had to be stripped of everything, I didn’t need to make it worse.”

  “I think I’ll love you for the rest of my life for that sacrifice.”

  His grin came out bigger than the whole mountain range. “I’m going to hold you to it, darlin’.” Then he sobered. “And the child?”

  His concern seemed sincere. “He was stillborn. The umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck at birth.”

  Sparks dragged a finger down her wet cheek. “I’m sorry.”

  “Me, too.”

  He hugged her tighter. “I can’t imagine how tough that must have been for you.”

  She sniffed. “My grandmother was my rock.”

  “At least you had someone. What about your parents? How did they react to the baby’s death?”

  “If you’re wondering if my mom flew out to comfort me, the answer is no. My folks aren’t the touchy, huggy types.”

  “Going it alone must have torn you up.”

  “Yeah. I was just a kid and felt lost.”

  “I’m sorry I couldn’t have been there for you.”

  She took hold of his hand. “You are too sweet.”

  “You’re a good woman, Brittany Davenport.”

  Hearing him say it almost made it seem true. They sat in silence for a moment, as if he was letting her remember and grieve. Regret slipped in. If she’d shared her problem with him, she might not have had to handle everything by herself.

  He cleared his throat. “At least you’re here now. That’s all that matters.” He sat her back up and stood. “I think I’ll have one of these beers I saw. Care to join me?” Gone was the softness in his voice, replaced by a gruffness that he seemed to have grown into.

  “Sure.”

  Perhaps it was the fact that the baby was part Brody’s, or maybe it was because the life she’d carried would never see the joys of the world, but the pain of the infant’s death still lived within her, and she suspected always would.

  Sparks returned and handed her the bottle. “So why didn’t you come back after you lost the baby?”

  “I couldn’t. I didn’t want to face anyone and have to explain.” Besides, my parents weren’t ready to forgive me.

  “Not even to Brody?”

  “No.”

  “You didn’t think you should have told him he’d almost been a dad? Don’t you think he’d have done the honorable thing and married you?”

  “That’s the problem. I know he would have. He deserved more than to be shackled to a wife and baby. That’s why I really broke up with him.”

  “He loved you. He wouldn’t have considered it being shackled.”

  She wished she could believe him. “And when the baby died? Would he have run?”

  He dragged a thumb down her cheek. “I can’t answer for Brody, but if it had been me instead of him, I would have rejoiced being with you, with or without the child.”

  The intensity of his gaze made her heart hitch. Was he serious or just saying that to make her feel better? “Thanks.”

  He leaned his head back and looked to the ceiling. “I guess if I had been Brody, I would have appreciated being given the option of deciding what to do.”

  “I couldn’t chance he’d do the noble thing and sacrifice his football scholarship.”

  “Maybe you’re right.” He turned toward her. “So why come back to Pleasure now?”

  For Brody, Evan, and you. “I needed to. I hadn’t been back to see my parents in forever, and my mom is having some health issues.” That part was true. She’d never forgive herself if her mom died without them reconciling. “Also, my grandmother passed away a few months ago and left me her estate. There was no reason to stay in California.”

  “So you going to tell Brody he had a baby?”

  Her cackle sounded evil to her own ears. “Have you spoken to Brody in the last seven years? He may have loved me back then, but as of today he hates me.” She shrugged. “I don’t see how it would do any good to dredge up the hurt.”

  Sparks rubbed his jaw. “Well, I admit Brody has more anger in him than the winter clouds have snow, but I think he’s still hurting from the sting of your rejection. It might do him some good to understand why you walked away.”

  She inhaled and went over what he said. “Are you saying he still really cares for me?” Sparks was delusional.

  He tugged her close again. “When you took off, there was a hole in all our hearts as big as Palmer’s Lake.”

  She didn’t need him to heap on another dose of guilt. “Even if I hadn’t been pregnant, I would have left for college.”

  “But you never did go to France like you said.”

  “No. I’d been accepted to California State, so I went there. My mother told everyone I’d gone to France so they wouldn’t try to contact me. Evan said Brody took the Princeton scholarship.”

  “Yes. Evan and I had both been accepted to Montana State in Bozeman, but decided to go to school in Missoula instead. We wanted to get far out of town.” Sparks finished his beer and kept his gaze on her face.

  The silence unnerved her. He probably wanted some answers, but she wasn’t ready to discuss her future. It didn’t help that Sparks’s manly appearance had surprised the hell out of her. As for Evan, he’d been so kind, she wasn’t sure whether she wanted to spend her spare hours in bed with him, or just holding him tight. Her thoughts needed to be sorted out before she made any decisions. “So you going to help me paint or what?”

  His eyes sparkled. “What do I get in return?”

  She punched him in the shoulder. “Sparks Langston. What are you implying?”

  “I’m just saying, I need a reward.”

  My God, he was flirting with her. “I’ll reward you, all right.” She laughed and jumped up to go back to work. Sparks helped her spread out the cloths, open the paint can, and tape off the windows and ceiling. “I can’t remember the last time I painted a room,” she said.

  “I wish I didn’t remember. A few weeks ago, my mom wanted her living room done. I spent two straight days painting. I think I got brain damage from the smell.”

  “You’re a good man, Charlie Brown.” She laughed. “Just so you know, I got low VOC paint, so there’s little smell.”

  “Thank God.”

  “If my memory serves me right, I was twelve when I decided to change my bedroom color. I picked purple with white stripes. Can you imagine?”

  He grinned. “I don’t see your mom being okay with that if your house in New England was anything like the one they have in Pleasure.”

  “Worse. I can still see the horror on her face. She made me use two coats of primer to turn the room back to white.”

  “Well, let’s see if we can do a better job with this living room.”

  They both got to work, he on the south wall, she on the west.

  Halfway through his wall, he stopped. “Did you get the plumbing items the inspector suggested?”

  “No.”

  He put down the roller and walked over to her side. “Was that because you couldn’t figure out what to get, or because you didn’t want to run into Brody at the store?”

  She placed her roller in the pan. “Why does everyone think the world revolves around that man? Yes, he was in the store. Yes, I saw him, but the plumbing stuff was overwhelming. That’s why I didn’t get it.” Not because he kicked me out.

  “How exactly did he react when he saw you?”

  She was surprised Evan hadn’t given him the details. “Let’s just say he didn’t pick me up, swirl me around, and plant a big one on me.”

  He shrugged. “I’m not surprised. So
metimes the first woman you love never leaves your mind for long.”

  From his wistful tone, he sounded like he was talking from personal experience. “I don’t want to talk about Brody Thomas anymore.” She ran a hand down the front of his flannel shirt that was tight across his broad chest. “I figured maybe you could help me pick out the right plumbing supplies for the kitchen. Evan said you were very handy.”

  “I am very good with my hands.” He winked, damn him, as if he were implying something else. “But I’m serious about compensation. You’re not just using me, are you?”

  “No!”

  She wasn’t quite sure if he was kidding or not. He must have known she’d gone out with Evan, but did he know they’d kissed? Was she being fair to Sparks by letting him help if she only planned to date Evan?

  You want to be with Sparks, too.

  “Just name your price, and I’ll pay.” That would put the ball in his court.

  “Oh, I plan to.”

  He walked back to his side of the room, picked up the roller, and began using even strokes on the wall.

  She, too, went back to work, but his words about first loves rattled in her heart. Certainly, Sparks couldn’t be implying he loved her. They’d shared their dreams. At the time, she’d only had eyes for Brody. But Sparks had changed. Not only was he incredibly sexy, he listened better than anyone she knew, and he seemed wiser now.

  “When I finish this wall,” he said, “I’ll make a list of what I need to fix up your kitchen.”

  “I’d really appreciate it.”

  “But I don’t come cheap.”

  “Never thought you did.” She turned her head to see if he’d winked, but he was already back at work. “How much do you charge, by the way?”

  “Depends on who’s asking.”

  Why was he playing ring-around-the-rosy with her? “Just name your price.” Was he still talking about something more than money? Was he even considering exchanging the work for a few dates?

  She wouldn’t mind, but she couldn’t string both men along for long. That wouldn’t be fair. She’d have to decide soon.

  By the time they finished with the first coat, night had cast its shadows all over the room. She glanced upward. “I think I need to install some ceiling lights. It’s dark in here.” Had the room turned more romantic because of the beige-khaki paint color or because there was a sexy man so close?

  “This cabin is too rustic for ceiling lights. They’d cheapen the place. I know of a store in Bozeman that has some nice lamps that might fit the style.”

  Her energy perked up. “Do you think I could find, say, a freezer in Bozeman, too?”

  “I bet I could help you with that.”

  Guilt swamped her. “You do know Evan and I went out a few times while you were at your conference?” She held her breath. She didn’t want him to help her on the assumption she’d wasn’t seeing anyone else. She was interested in Sparks, but she also wanted to spend more time with Evan.

  “I heard you had a great time.” She detected no jealousy. Maybe she’d misinterpreted him.

  “We did.”

  He came over to her and ran his hands down her shoulders. “Evan and I don’t mind sharing you. In fact, that’s what we prefer.”

  “Share me? Like a library book?”

  She knew what he probably meant, but she wanted him to be more specific. Had she not grown up in Pleasure where ménages were common, she might have misunderstood.

  “Share, as in both of us loving you at the same time kind of share.”

  Her heart hitched. “I’m not sure I’m ready for that.”

  He smiled down at her. “All I ask is that you give us the chance to prove to you we can make you happy.”

  The whole concept of being with two men at the same time overwhelmed her. None of her friends in California had ever experienced anything like that, but she didn’t want to hurt his feelings by turning him down right away.

  “I’ve been gone a long time, and away from the permissive lifestyle in Pleasure. It’ll take time to get used to the idea.”

  He ran a finger down her cheek. “I think you’ll find I’m a very patient man.”

  Oh, boy. Now what am I in for?

  He kissed the top of her forehead, picked up his brushes, and disappeared into the kitchen.

  She followed him in. He cleaned his brushes, then set them on a paper towel to dry. “Might as well take a peek at your plumbing situation.”

  She needed his help, and he understood where she was coming from. There were no guarantees.

  He stood at the sink and played with the faucets. She wedged in next to him and washed her hands. In the process, their hips touched. She had assumed the initial interest might have been leftover lust from when she’d kissed Evan. But after being with Sparks all night, she realized how often her mind turned to kissing him. This man oozed sex appeal. Why in high school had she considered him a science geek? Back then, he was a cross-country runner and an outstanding skier, accomplishments she’d admired. Had he been this good-looking, and she’d been too blind to see it?

  “Ah, darlin’? If I’m to get at the plumbing, you gotta move your sweet ass.” He tapped the cabinet she was blocking.

  Once again, heat assaulted her face. What was up with these flashes of embarrassment? Nothing Sparks ever said or did in the old days ever bothered her.

  “Sorry.”

  He squatted in front of the cabinet and opened the doors. His thighs bulged from the motion, and for a moment she wondered what other surprises his jeans held.

  He stuck his head back out. “I think I see the problem. You got a wrench?”

  Wrench? “Let me look in my makeup bag. No, I don’t have a wrench. Do the women you date carry one in their purse?”

  Oh, my God. She hadn’t meant to be snippy, nor had she implied this was really a date, but to be honest, she wouldn’t mind if it were.

  Thank God he burst out laughing then stood. “Come here.”

  She was beginning to really love that phrase.

  “You really do need my help.” He wrapped his arms around her. “I can see I’ll be spending a lot of time getting this cabin up to speed. How many bedrooms did you say you had?”

  Her body tensed. He wasn’t thinking of moving in, was he? “Two?”

  “That a statement or a question, ’cause if you want me to sleep with you, I’m game.”

  She slapped him on the arm. “Funny man. You had me going.”

  His face lost all cheer. “I’m serious, darlin’. Sharing a space with Evan is convenient, but if you want me working here every night, I’d rather spend the night with you. It’ll save me travel time.” His brows rose. “On the other hand, if you want to give me and Evan a try together, let me know.”

  He was moving way too fast for her. “Can we take it one day at a time?”

  “Sure thing, darlin’.” He winked again. “Next time I come, I’ll bring some tools and some basic plumbing supplies. I’ll cut the PVC to fit what you need.” He lifted her chin with a finger, leaned in, and stole a kiss.

  Her head swam. His lips were demanding yet sensitive at the same time, almost as if he’d been wandering the hot desert for weeks and she was his oasis. As her body melted into his, her hands clasped his arms. Muscles flexing, he pulled her tight. This was Sparks, her friend. They’d kissed once in high school on a dare, but she certainly hadn’t expected such overwhelming excitement to sizzle through her body. Her damp panties attested to how much she enjoyed it.

  He pulled back and smiled. “I’d say that was worth painting all those walls.”

  Her heart skipped a beat. She couldn’t believe the need that had been simmering all these years. Hope rushed into her pores and electrified her body. She wanted more. Her hands wrapped around his strong back. Then she slid them down to his round ass. The moment she touched his rear, she realized she was traveling to a place she was afraid to go. She jumped back. “Sorry.”

  He grinned. “Nothing to be
sorry about, darlin’. Remember, if you want something, you just have to ask.”

  She glanced to the floor for a moment. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “I have to work tomorrow, but when I get off, I’ll head on up here. Evan has the day off though. If you need anything, give him a shout.”

  Since they were the two forest rangers, it made sense that they would stagger their workweek. “I really appreciate you helping me.”

  “My pleasure.”

  He nibbled her ear, and once again, lust caught up with her. She wanted to stay in his arms forever but understood the risk would be too great. “Tell Evan if he still wants to show me the mountain tomorrow, I’m game.”

  “You got it.”

  “Does Evan have the same philosophy on sharing?”

  She needed to understand the ground rules before she got in too deep.

  “Absolutely.”

  Her pulse raced. “Even with having Brody for a brother?” She couldn’t imagine the grief Brody would give Evan if she slept with him.

  Sparks grinned. “Don’t you worry your sweet ass about Brody. He’ll come around in due time.”

  He wasn’t thinking of a ménage a quatre, was he? Her heart stopped at the thought.

  Chapter Four

  Brittany yawned. She hadn’t slept a wink last night. She couldn’t get the image of being with two men out of her mind. She wasn’t a total prude, but being with both didn’t sit quite right with her. But given the way she melted when she was around Evan and Sparks, there might come a day when she gave in.

  When she’d gone shopping, she’d spotted several groups who appeared to be together. They all seemed happy, and no one was looking at them strangely. Besides her own issues, she bet her parents would freak. No telling what learning that her daughter wanted two men would do to her mom’s fragile condition.

  Stop obsessing and get to work.

  Yes. Work. Thank goodness Doc Trumble had told her she didn’t have to start at the clinic until next Monday. That would give her a whole week to get her cabin fixed up the way she liked it. Today she wanted to give her living room walls a second coat of paint. Just in case Sparks was serious about sleeping over for a few days, she put clean sheets on the bed in the guest room. Until she figured out what she wanted to do, she didn’t want to rush into a relationship within days of coming to town.