Finding Satisfaction [Satisfaction, Texas 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Read online

  “Shut up, idiot!” Murphy’s words were harsh, but he was laughing as he tried to punch his friend in the arm, and Cole just smiled and dodged as if they did this all the time. “Ignore him, ma’am. But he is right. We were just talking about heading over there for a bite to eat and would be happy to accompany you there and buy you dinner.”

  She should say no, but she found herself hesitating. What would be the harm? She glanced at the Jeep. They money was safely tucked away. And there was no way Lance was going to track her down, was there? These two guys seemed nice, and the last thing she wanted to do was put their lives at risk just because she was feeling horny.

  * * * *

  Cole watched Jess hesitate and noted her glace at the Jeep. Maybe they were going a little fast, but damned if Murphy wasn’t right. They’d often agreed on women they wanted to bed, but had never found one they wanted to keep. Until now. Jess was beautiful, but that wasn’t what it was. Maybe it was chemical? Hell if he knew. The attraction had been instant and seemed to be almost on the cellular level, which made absolutely no sense, but the moment he laid eyes on Jess, he just knew that she was the one, and Murphy seemed to be just as smitten. Maybe once they got to know her better they’d find out she chewed with her mouth open or left the cap off the toothpaste or rooted for the New York Yankees and the spell would be broken, but he didn’t think so.

  “We have our own truck here, ma’am.” He indicated a dusty pickup truck parked not too far away, with the Double S logo on the side. “We could meet you over there. You can ask Candy about us. Murphy and I grew up in Kinsdale, just fifteen miles from here, but we spent a lot of time at his grandfathers’ ranch, so she’s known us a lot of years. Or you can go back in the Whips and Spurs and ask Dace, the sheriff, about us. He’ll tell you we are trustworthy.”

  “Speak of the devil.” Jess chuckled as the sheriff walked out the doors and right towards them. Cole heard her chuckle die at the same time that the sheriff got close enough that they could see his grim expression. He felt Jess move closer to him as if seeking protection. He took her hand and felt her grip his tightly. She seemed almost…afraid.

  “Hey, guys. Big wreck out on 10. I’m heading out to see if I can help. You all drive safe now.”

  And then he was gone and Cole could feel Jess almost sag with relief. Was she on the run from something? Did she need their protection? Did they need protection from her?

  He wasn’t sure how to ask the question. So, Jess. We like you, and we’d both like to bed you and maybe keep you with us forever, but first, are you on the run from the law?

  Yeah. Even if she wasn’t, that question would be a total mood killer. But if she was, they should probably try to find out before they got naked with her, always supposing she wanted to get naked with either or both of them.

  Before Cole could frame a question, Jess’s hand was being pulled from his as Murphy wrapped a long arm around her shoulders and walked her around to the driver’s side. He held the door open and the other Murphy hopped in, walked across to the other side, and settled into the passenger seat, looking out the open window at Cole.

  Automatically, Cole reached out and scratched behind his ears. Her dog liked him. That had to count for something. And surely no desperado would have such a well-mannered, well-looked-after dog, his hamburger stealing ways excepted.

  He gave Murphy one last pat and then walked around to the passenger side in time to see human-Murphy leaning in and giving Jess a kiss on the cheek. Not to be outdone, Cole pushed his friend aside.

  “You’ve had your turn, buddy. See you at Candy’s, Jess?”

  “Absolutely!” Looking down, she put the key in the ignition and gave it a turn, the engine roaring to life.

  “Great.” Leaning in, he pressed his lips to her cheek just as she turned her head to say something else, and his lips brushed hers. It was just for a second, but he felt a jolt of awareness that just had to go both ways. He wanted to deepen the kiss, but when he felt her pull back, he did, too, and then he jumped back as she floored the Jeep and peeled out of the parking spot. He decided, the way he felt now, anything short of murder they could work around.

  “What did her lips taste like?”

  “Heaven.”

  “So, is it just me, or is she scared of something?”

  “She’s definitely scared. When Dace came towards us, she was almost shaking with fear.”

  “Yes, I saw you holding her hand.”

  “Just comforting her, Murphy, because that’s the kind of guy I am.”

  “You… Hell. I can’t even give you a hard time over that because I could see how scared she was, too. I wanted to get between her and Dace and protect her from my friend, from the law.”

  “I know what you mean. But what could she have done? She’s too little to have assaulted someone. She could have stolen something, I guess. Or hit and run. Or embezzling.”

  “Speculation’s useless at this point, Cole. But unless she’s killed someone, I’m willing to overlook pretty much everything else.”

  “Me, too. Of course, she’s just passing through town, Murphy. Are we getting ahead of ourselves? She’s not staying in Satisfaction, and we have no idea if she would want to date one of us, let alone both, even if she was sticking around.”

  “Are you going to let that stop you from trying, buddy?”

  “Hell no! We have a week to convince her to stick around. Now, let’s get over to Candy’s before one of the other single guys in Satisfaction gets there first and tries to steal our woman.”

  Chapter 3

  Jess was relieved to find that the diner had a covered patio on one side. She attached Murphy’s leash and tied the end loosely to her table. She was also sitting with her back to the wall, so no one could sneak up on her and she could watch all the entrances.

  Murphy whined quietly. He hated being tied.

  “Sorry, boy. But you almost got us busted once today. Stealing from a sheriff. Have I taught you nothing? You only steal from the bad guys!”

  Murphy sat and stared up at her, his big brown eyes looking soulful, but she held firm, until the waitress came.

  “I’d like two hamburgers. One with cheese, lettuce, lots of tomato, and a bit of mayo, with fries on the side. The other well done, hold the bun and condiments. And I’d like a glass of Diet Coke and a bowl of water, if that’s not too much trouble.”

  Luckily, the redheaded waitress, a pretty thirtyish-year-old woman, was an animal lover and brought Murphy’s water along with Jess’s Diet Coke. She was sipping her soda when she heard the sound of a vehicle pulling into the parking lot. She’d taken a seat where she could see the major street but was in the shadows so she wasn’t on display for anyone driving by, and she’d parked so that, if she had to, she could make a quick getaway.

  Preparing to unfasten Murphy’s leash and make a run for it, Jess relaxed when she saw the truck and realized it was the two cowboys. Besides, if it had been Lance, his approach would have been stealthier. He’d probably have parked a block away and approached on foot, and she wouldn’t have known he was coming up behind her until she felt his gun pressed against her ribs, as she’d learned the hard way. She’d escaped once. She wasn’t sure she’d be that lucky a second time, so she had to avoid being found.

  She saw the truck pull up in front of the restaurant and Cole exit. She thought the other one, Murphy, was just going to park, but the truck pulled out of the lot, turning into traffic and quickly heading out of town. Jess frowned. It was silly to be disappointed. She barely knew the man. Actually, she didn’t really even know him or his friend at all, and that’s the way she wanted it. It would be better for her if neither of them had shown up, but she couldn’t quite get rid of a nagging sense of disappointment that Murphy’s flirting back at the saloon had been meaningless.

  Cole, on the other hand, was causing quite a commotion as he walked in, chatting away to all and sundry, which was the last thing she needed. For a second, she considered bolting, but
her stomach rumbled. Hunger pangs, she told herself.

  “Murphy, don’t go getting any ideas about hanging around with those cowboys. If I wasn’t so hungry, I’d get up and go right now.” Murphy barked. “Yes, and you are hungry, too. Don’t worry. You’ll get your burger.”

  She watched Cole’s progress through the restaurant. First he greeted the waitress. He called her Candy Apple, likely because of her bright red hair, and even from a distance Jess could see that he was flirting shamelessly and outrageously with her. They both chuckled loudly, clearly very comfortable with each other. Jess felt a pang in her stomach.

  Hunger? No, she admitted. Jealousy. But then he gave her a big hug and brotherly kiss on the cheek before she motioned towards the patio. And then he made his way through the diner and then out the side door to the patio, clearly looking for Jess, and she could feel her stomach doing a little flip-flop.

  It got worse when he spotted her and directed that blazing smile her way. The giant grin and clear pleasure in his face from seeing her again was a big boost to her ego. They both seemed like decent guys. Of course, she couldn’t get involved with anyone right now. She had to keep things light. She’d decided on the drive to Candy’s that she couldn’t take a chance in getting involved with them with things hanging over her head. Even a fling wasn’t a good idea. She needed to stay alert, and a fling would make her get careless.

  She sighed. Maybe if she kept saying that to herself, she’d believe it. She was tense and they here hot and nice, and a part of her thought some mindless relaxation of a sexual nature would be just what she needed, but how would she choose? Or maybe they’d chosen for her since it was just Cole who came back to the restaurant.

  She’d initially considered pushing onwards and not stopping, but with night coming, she needed a place to stay, and if she had a place to stay that was privately owned, it would be harder for Lance to find her. Even paying cash at small motels put her at risk, especially since she needed a place that accepted dogs. She’d dyed her hair a bland light brown and cut it so it was hanging just below her shoulders, anything to be less memorable. But then there was Murphy. She couldn’t disguise him as a Chihuahua or something. People would remember him. A few days or even a week in a private residence with no front desk or yellow pages or Google listing was just the ticket. She just need the cowboys to put in a good word for her so she could rent that room.

  She looked up as Cole stopped at her table. She stiffened with shock as he removed his hat, kissed her cheek, and then took a seat opposite her.

  “Howdy, beautiful!”

  Jess looked suspiciously at Cole, who gave her a bland, broad, shit-eating grin in return.

  She couldn’t help herself. Jess burst out into peals of laughter, and once she started, she couldn’t stop. She’d been so tense for days, and now this ridiculously handsome cowboy was ginning at her and she was losing it.

  She tried to pull herself together by taking a sip of water but just start choking as it went down wrong. Murphy, alarmed, started whining and pawing at her knee. Cole slapped her on the back a couple of times, and eventually, it subsided.

  “You okay?” He sounded concerned. “Candy, can you bring some more water?”

  Candy, though, was on her toes and had already delivered another glass of water. Jess was embarrassed by the fussing and mad at herself for calling attention to herself.

  “You okay, honey?” Candy’s accent was pure Texas, and her face was concerned.

  “I’ll be fine, Candy. Thanks for asking. I’m just tired and the water went down wrong.”

  “That’s right! Candy, I’m sorry, I don’t know your last name.” He looked enquiringly at her.

  “Archer. I’m Jess Archer, she mumbled, not knowing how to avoid the direct question.

  “Miss Archer, here, is passing through Satisfaction and could use a place to stay for a few nights and maybe a bit of work. Is that room over the restaurant still empty?”

  “Oh, Candy. Please call me Jess. And I don’t want to be any trouble. I can find a motel or something.”

  “It’s no problem at all. It’s not much, hon, but it has a comfortable bed, television, and a bathroom. No kitchen, but you’d be able to eat down here. I’m looking for someone who is interested in renting long term, but right now, no use in it sitting empty.”

  “You are very kind. How much is it?”

  She could see Candy looking over her thrift-store clothes to make a decision. Jess felt her face flaming. She hated deceiving people, but she needed to keep out of sight. Luckily both Candy and Cole believed her embarrassment was due to her penury condition and it didn’t occur to them that she was actually on the run.

  “How are you at waiting tables?”

  “Three years at the Sunshine Café.”

  “Tell you what. You help me with the breakfast shift, and we’ll call it even. I’ve got plenty of help the rest of the day, but no one wants to do breakfast. It’s five to nine.”

  Jess stood up and held out her hand. “Deal.”

  * * * *

  Cole watched Jess. She had a natural warmth that attracted everyone. He was afraid he was going to have to talk Candy into it or maybe slip her a few bucks, but she’d liked Jess and Murphy. He looked over to Jess who was patting her dog and a million miles away, thinking hard about something.

  He wondered if he should break the silence when Candy returned with two burger specials for him and Jess, and a cut up burger for Murphy.

  “Beautiful dog you have there.” Complimenting her pet seemed to be a safe topic of conversation, and had the benefit of being true. Murphy was a largish, classically colored shepherd and seemed to be quite intelligent. “Have you had him long?”

  “Longer than you’ve had that drawling accent you used back at the saloon, it seems.”

  Cole felt himself blushing. He studied her face to try to gauge her feelings about the deception, but luckily she seemed more amused than pissed off.

  “Well, you called us cowboys and made some not-so-flattering remarks about your opinion of us based on how we were dressed, so we just kind of played up the stereotype you’d already pegged us with.”

  Jess smiled, and Cole felt his insides melt.

  “Yes I did.” She reached across the table. “I apologize.”

  Cole solemnly reached across the table and shook the proffered hand.

  “Accepted.”

  Cole found himself grinning at her like an idiot and felt himself blushing again as she sighed loudly and started tugging at her hand.

  “Sorry, but I’m hungry and I need that hand to eat with.”

  Cole let go and found himself blushing yet again. He hadn’t blushed in longer than he could remember, but it was all he seemed to do around Jess. It was like he was fourteen again and the prettiest girl in school had asked him to walk her home. He’d been tongue-tied the whole time, so he’d carried her books and smiled and nodded at all the right points while she’d chattered on about something or other. It wasn’t until afterwards that he realized that she just wanted him to do her science homework for her. When he’d tried to ask her to the spring dance, she’d laughed and run away.

  He’d gotten his revenge a couple of years later. He’d finally had a growth spurt, and after spending the summer apprenticing with his father’s blacksmith, he was six feet tall and starting to develop an impressive set of muscles. This time, she’d invited him to the dance and he’d laughed in her face. He and Murphy had gone stag and had had a wonderful time chatting up all the single girls who didn’t have dates either. He’d danced all night and had ended up taking Missy Martinez home. He knew Missy from the science club.

  Most of the guys put her down for being a brain, but he thought that was hot. And he thought she was pretty, with her big dark eyes. Even her braces were cute. She’d been his first kiss. Of course, he’d cut his lip on those cute braces, but they’d ended up dating for almost two years until Missy had gone off to Harvard on full scholarship. They’d been
many firsts for each other, but they both knew they weren’t each other’s great love. So he’d seen her off at the airport as she’d flown east, and then he and Murphy had driven not quite as far east to Austin to start their own university careers, which likely included a lot more hell-raising than Missy’s did.

  And now he was back in Satisfaction working at the only job he’d ever wanted. He was happy, most of the time. He was just a bit lonely occasionally. Maybe that was why he found himself so fixated on Miss Jess Archer. Or maybe it was love at first sight? He wasn’t sure, but he definitely wanted to find out. He thought she might like him, and he hoped she liked Murphy, too. Then again, she was just passing through. Maybe he shouldn’t…

  “So where’s your buddy?”

  “Huh?” He realized that he’d gotten so caught up in this thoughts that Jess had been talking and he hadn’t been paying attention. Great first impression, Cole. Excellent way to woo her.

  “Sorry, I was a bit distracted.” He smiled in a way he hoped was both apologetic and ingratiating.

  “No problem. I was just wondering where your friend was.”

  “He had an emergency back at the ranch.”

  “Oh, no. Nothing serious, I hope.” She paused and frowned. “Should you be there, too? I don’t want to distract you from your job.”

  “Oh, no. It’s nothing I can help with. They have a cow out on the south pasture that’s gone into labor. The vet’s headed out, but Murphy wanted to be there, too, as she’s having twins and that is always risky. I’m a farrier.” He smiled at her puzzled look. “Most people call what I do being a blacksmith, but the technical term for someone who makes horseshoes is farrier. I’d just be in the way.”

  “Blacksmith? That’s not a very common job nowadays,” she stated, her tone inquiring, and he could see she was staring at his biceps, so he flexed.

  “Nope. Not many around anymore, but my grandfather was Murphy’s grandfather’s farrier, just as I’m Murphy’s. Although, I’m also a blacksmith. Some people get the two confused because of television. A farrier just does horseshoes. I can do just about anything in metal. I probably do more business in wrought-iron work and sculptures than with the shoeing, but I like to keep my hand in with the traditional work.”