Brokenhearted Beauty(Divine Creek Ranch 19)(13)

James drew her attention and said, “Honey, you’re not saying anything that’s a big shocker to us. We’ve wanted you in our lives for a while. Hearing you say that…it makes me want you even more. Would I want for Patterson to be with us? Of course. But I think that his absence shouldn’t stop us, either. You telling us that is more of an encouragement than a presumption.”

She looked from one to the other of them. He had to strain to hear her at first. “I miss him. I miss him so much. I took all his impromptu visits to the store for granted.”

James shook his head. “You’re not that type of girl, Leah. I doubt he ever thought you took his affection for granted. More like you just didn’t know what to do with the three of us. And even he would admit he was a pushy bastard at times. If I was a gal, I might’ve held the three of us at arm’s length, too.”

Leah snorted, the first sign of amusement he’d seen that evening. “So glad you’re not a girl, James. You’d be even more intimidating to me if you were. I’m glad you’re all man.” His body reacted to her softening, sultry tone.

She flicked her eyes downward and when she realized where her hand rested on Vincent’s thigh, she tried to pull it away, but he stopped her.

The tension shifted and she looked back and forth between them. She inhaled three rapid breaths, the residual of her subsiding crying jag, and said, “I don’t sleep well at night.”

“Sleep with us and we’d change that, fluff,” he said, realizing too late that was a thought he probably should’ve kept to himself, but she continued on as if his words hadn’t quite registered.

“I wish I could make the nightmares go away. I’ve been running from the hurt and avoiding dealing with it. The store distracts me from the pain.”

“That’s not healthy,” James said.

“I’m driving to Abilene on Monday. Dad wants me to think about taking over the store he recently bought there. It’s a big opportunity and more responsibility than what I have now.”

Vincent knew that was coming. “You’ll work even harder than you are now, too.”

Leah shrugged.

It was a big opportunity for her and another step up the family business ladder, which he knew was important to her. But he wanted her to know what she’d be giving up if she took the job. The determination in James’s eyes told him he felt the same.

Vincent shifted so that he was down on one knee in front of her. “You don’t go into work until midmorning tomorrow, right?” At her nod he continued. “Give us a chance to show you how it could be between us, doll. For our sakes. For your sake. And I might be a bastard for bringing it up, but you know Patterson would want you to stay with us tonight. Let us show you what you’d be missing if you move to Abilene. At least then, if you decide to go, you’ll know what it would’ve been like. Let us have this night with you.”

Eyes wide, Leah looked between them, and then her face clouded again. “But if I do that, it’ll just make it even more painful.”

Vincent took her hand in his. “You think we’re not already in pain at the thought of you leaving?”

James took her other hand in his. “We’ll take good care of you. Let me and Vincent at least attempt to make you want to stay in Divine.”

Because it needed to be said, Vincent spoke up. “We have condoms and everything else we’d need. We’re clean. We’d take care of you if you’ll trust us.”

She waged an internal battle, emotions flitting across her face. Temptation as her cheeks turned pink, and fear in the way she wrung her hands together. After a few moments, she let out a little breath and said, “Use condoms.”

That sounds like a yes.





Chapter Three




Leah wasn’t sure what to do now that she’d finally said yes to them. She shut the door firmly on that ugly little voice that kept murmuring that she should’ve said yes sooner.

Vincent rose from the spot he’d been kneeling and James stood as well. Vincent held out his hand, and with a racing heart, she put her hand in his and let him pull her up from the couch.

James, with his soothing touch, brushed the hair from her shoulder and kissed her cheek. He’d rubbed her shoulder earlier, and even though she’d been completely overwrought, there had been wonderful comfort in his touch. She hadn’t realized how sore and knotted up those muscles had become.

As she walked behind Vincent, she caught a glimpse of herself in a mirror across the room. Looking as bedraggled and unsexy as she did, she couldn’t imagine what continued to draw them to her. It sure wasn’t her looks…or her prowess.