Maya was wide-awake now, with images shimmering in her mind of what tucking her into bed entailed. She stretched and Kendall climbed from the truck and came around to open her door and help her down. She loved his old-fashioned manners, a trait he’d had in common with Morgan.
He lifted her luggage from the bed of the pickup truck and escorted her up the stairs. Stepping quietly, hoping they weren’t disturbing his brothers, she followed behind him expecting the house to be dark inside. A dim light was on over the stove in the kitchen, and two big men were sitting with coffee cups at the dining room table.
“Hey. You’re awake,” Kendall said.
Maya looked around the cozy, low-lit interior of the ranch house’s front rooms. The spacious living room did, indeed, have two comfortable-looking couches situated in front of a fireplace. The house was tidy and well cared for, judging by what she could see. She admired a man who was willing to clean up after himself.
“Yeah. We couldn’t sleep. Finally gave up a little while ago and put the coffee on,” Boone said as he and Richard rose from the table. Both were already dressed for work.
Boone’s sensual lips turned up in a smile as he opened his arms. “Hey, Maya. Welcome home.” His husky tone had a touch of sexiness to it that made her nerve endings fire up and take notice. She went happily into his arms and they hugged for a few seconds. His chest was a solid, deliciously-scented wall of heat against her cheek, and his well-defined muscles rippled under her hands as he stroked her back. Boone had grown a beard and moustache, and his sandy-brown hair was shorter than it was the last time they saw each other. His dark brown eyes twinkled as he said, “We’re glad you decided to come, Maya.”
“Thank you, Boone. I’m so happy to see you both.”
Boone released her, and she turned to Richard, who had always been a bit of a puzzle to her. The moment felt strangely discombobulated to her. All their circumstances had changed since the last time she’d seen either of them.
She knew both Boone and Richard had come with Kendall to Morgan’s funeral, but she’d been in too much of a fog to really recall their presence. The last time she’d seen Richard he’d been in love and planning to propose to the woman he thought he’d spend his life with. They had grief over the death of a loved one in common.
Maya could recall feeling intimidated by Richard’s size and absolute masculinity when she’d met him several years before. He had pale blue eyes which seemed to look right through to the depths of her soul. He had a habit of making direct eye contact and keeping it, which she found a little disconcerting, though she knew that wasn’t his intention. His handsome, tanned features were rugged with a square jaw and a chiseled nose. His brows were dark brown, like his short hair and well-groomed beard, and were arched over his haunting eyes.
The smile on his face was tentative but genuine, his eyes slightly hooded as if he were trying to put her at ease while at the same time appearing a little unsure of himself. Her heart went out to him, and she reached for him and hugged him hard. A tremor went through his chest muscles, and she heard him catch his breath. The same manly scent from the jacket in the truck enveloped her, and she held on tight, probably longer than she should, knowing something had just shifted between the three of them.
A slow, muted sigh escaped her lips as a sensation akin to relief washed through her. She was surprised by the lethargy that followed quickly on its heels. She released Richard and looked up at the three of them, all standing so close to her. She was struck by the rightness of the moment, and she smiled, feeling content.
“Look at those sleepy blue eyes,” Boone commented, reaching out to stroke her shoulder. “We’re putting you to bed.”
Again with the comments about the three of them putting her to bed. She’d let them put her to bed, all right. Just as long as she wasn’t alone. She really did feel sleepy again, so she nodded.
Maya wondered if Kendall was going out to the JWB or if he was going to go to bed for a few hours, too.
Answering her unvoiced question, Boone said, “We got a few hours of sleep, so we’ll go by the ranch and check on everything and get the morning chores done before we go out to the Rockin’ C. That way you can get a few hours of shut-eye.”
Kendall acknowledged Boone’s offer with a nod. “Thanks. I think I’ll take you up on that.”
Maya said, “I could do with a nap. I hope you didn’t go to much trouble. I don’t want anyone giving up their bed for me, so you can put my things in Kendall’s room.”
The unspoken communication between the men was not lost on Maya. The look of approval in Boone’s and Richard’s eyes might’ve made any other woman nervous. It had the opposite effect on her. She felt safer here with them than she had in a year.