In a Cowboy’s Bed Read online

  Ben walked around from the side of the truck and eyed the single bag she’d pulled out of the backseat of her car. “That’s all you’ve got?”

  “Um . . .” She realized it looked much more like an oversized purse than luggage.

  Dammit. She was an actress, for God’s sake. She should be better at this lying stuff.

  Heather began walking toward the house and he followed. She should have taken those twelve boring hours on the road to come up with a convincing cover story instead of spending all the time guzzling energy drinks and trying to find something decent on the radio. She sure as hell couldn’t tell these guys the truth that she was Heather London.

  Chances were they’d be on the phone to one of the supermarket rags, selling the story in a heartbeat. The tabloids paid a ton of money for stories like this, which was why the paparazzi were so ruthless in their pursuit of an embarrassing picture or good story.

  Ben continued to watch her and wait for an answer. The other one, Ned, was a lot more accepting. He wouldn’t have cared if she came with no bag at all. But this one was a bit more observant . . . and suspicious.

  Her brain spun for a reason why she’d be vacationing with no luggage. Her acting training kicked in. She’d look for the grain of truth in the scene and play on that. “All right, I’m not on vacation.”

  “No, you don’t say?” Ben’s brow rose as he opened the door for her.

  His sarcasm was more than clear. This one was definitely the tougher nut to crack of the two. All she’d have to do was stick her boobs out and Ned would believe she was the Queen of England. Where was Ned anyway? Shouldn’t he be done getting that blanket and pillow for her by now?

  “Here’s the deal. I’m running away.” Maybe the rest of the lie would present itself to her if she forged ahead.

  She needed to embrace the character. Who did she want to be? The answer hit her. The thing that had finally pushed her over the edge was her mother saying no to the movie without even talking to her about it. Just because the character of a teen prostitute was too gritty for Heather’s child-star, good-girl image. Now was the time to ditch that image. Time to prove to herself, and to everyone else, that she could pull off that kind of a role. And what better way than to live it?

  They were inside the house now, in what looked like a living room. She turned and made direct eye contact with Ben. “I’m running away from my boyfriend.”

  Her heart pounded from the lie, and she was more than happy to see Ned standing in the doorway. He stepped into the room. “Then why don’t you just break up with him? Why run away?”

  “He didn’t want to let me go. I was on the streets when he found me. I had to . . . sell myself to survive. He thinks I owe him because he got me out of that life.” She seized the motivation from the movie role she’d lost because of her mother.

  “You’re a prostitute?” Ben’s eyebrows rose more sharply.

  “Not anymore. But, yeah, I was. For a little while.” Hopefully neither man would realize the bag she held in her hand cost as much as some prostitutes made in six months. She swallowed hard and glanced at Ned, trying to gauge if he was buying her story since Ben seemed skeptical. “I had to run because my boyfriend is into some bad shit. He . . . deals drugs.”

  “I don’t want any trouble, and I sure as hell don’t need any druggies in my house.” Ben looked ready to throw her out into the night.

  “No, I don’t do drugs. I swear. Check my bag. Look at my arms. There’s nothing. No needles. No pills.”

  Ned dropped the blanket and pillow he’d held onto the sofa and moved closer. He wrapped his arms around her. “It’s okay. He won’t find you. Your car is behind the barn out of sight, and even if he does show up, we’ll take care of him. You’re safe here.”

  The crazy part was, Heather believed him. With his warm arms wrapped around her and his chin resting on top of her head, she knew he’d protect her from the nonexistent drug-dealing boyfriend she was supposedly on the run from. Right now, she actually felt like the former prostitute who needed saving, and Ned was here to save her.

  “Do you have any family you can stay with?” Ben asked.

  She pulled back from Ned and looked toward Ben. “None I’d want to go back to.”

  Heather had no problem answering with conviction since that was the absolute truth. It was as though her answer had cast a shadow over both Ben and Ned’s features as they exchanged glances.

  The men were so different. Ben with his dark, intense good looks that matched his dark mood. The only light in him was the ice blue of his eyes focused on her from beneath that black shock of hair falling over his forehead. He’d make a fortune as a model.

  Ben was the polar opposite of Ned, lighter in both looks and disposition. Ned’s brown hair had turned almost golden in places, probably from working out in the sun. Definitely not from a salon, which was where all the male actors she knew got their highlights. She glanced up at him now and saw the flecks of green and gold in his hazel eyes. The camera would love him, too. Hollywood should look for their male leads in Oklahoma, because apparently this was where all the naturally beautiful men were.

  More than their good looks, Heather could feel their masculinity. These were no boys, or manicured metrosexuals, like the actors she’d worked with. They were men. Real men. Their muscles built from hard work and sweat, not from some machine inside an air-conditioned gym. They did things themselves, like fix cars, rather than pay someone else to do it for them. They weren’t afraid to get their hands dirty. She’d already seen that. And she’d bet both Ned and Ben knew how to use their big, rough hands to please a woman.

  What would it be like to be on the receiving end of the pleasure they could offer? Judging by how Ned had already embraced her—both literally and figuratively—she could very easily find out. Maybe even tonight. But Ben? She shot him a sideways glance. He’d be more of a challenge, though not a lost cause.

  Her insides turned molten hot thinking about being with one. Or both. At the same time. Desire caused a twisting low in her belly so intense she clenched her muscles to try and relieve the pressure, but all that did was make the need worse. She wouldn’t ever be satisfied until a real man—one of these men—filled her. Instinct told her that would be the only thing to relieve this ache.

  Ned moved so they both stood facing Ben. A united front, she supposed. His muscles flexed as he put one arm around her and rubbed her back. She felt the size and heat of his hand through her shirt as he glanced at Ben. “She can stay as long as she needs to, right?”

  Ben’s gaze traveled from Ned’s face to hers. “Anything else you’re not telling us?”

  “That’s not my car. I borrowed it so no one could follow me.” Heather reiterated that tidbit of truth, figuring he’d check the registration anyway.

  He watched her for a second before saying, “All right. You can stay here until we get the car fixed and figure out a plan.”

  She took the few steps to him across the room, rose on tiptoe, and brushed her lips across his cheek. “Thank you.”

  When she pulled back, his eyes narrowed as he focused on her, just inches away. “You’re welcome.”

  They were still so close the warmth of his breath caressed her check. She swallowed hard. These men, this place—it was all too tempting. She could easily stay here, hiding from the real world, and let them take care of her. In exchange, she’d willingly take care of them, too.

  Two men living alone would have personal needs. Needs over and above cooking, cleaning, and laundry. She could take care of them in other areas. The thought ramped up her desire a notch higher.

  Ben leaned away first. “You hungry?”

  “Yes.” She was hungry, but not necessarily for food.

  From this close she could see the dusting of dark stubble along Ben’s chin and jawline, and couldn’t help but wonder what it would feel like to kiss him. But in lieu of that, she could definitely eat. She’d stopped on the road, but that was hours ago at about
lunchtime. It was well past dinnertime now.

  Ned moved to stand next to her again, his hand on her lower back. She was effectively sandwiched between the two men. “Come on. I’ll rustle something up for us to eat. I make a mean Spanish omelet, and Ben’s pretty handy in the kitchen himself.”

  Sexy, sweet, and they could cook. Oklahoma was looking better by the minute. Heather Smith, the former hooker, and Heather London, the child star, had both found a home away from home, and neither was in any hurry to rush back.

  4

  “I think she’s going to bring trouble knocking on our door.” Ben sat on the top step of their front porch and tried to find comfort in the night sky, because there was none inside the house where they were harboring a fugitive.

  “And I think she needs help, and it’s in our power to give it to her.” Standing on the ground below Ben, Ned folded his arms and leaned against the post.

  Missy was, as usual, lying pressed up against Ben’s thigh, panting. Ben rubbed her head and glared at Ned. “I know what you want to give her and it’s not help.”

  Ned let out a snort. “Like you didn’t take one look at her and think about the same thing.”

  “Why would you assume that? Just because she used to be a hooker?”

  “No. Jeez, Ben, not because she used to be a hooker. Because she’s gorgeous.”

  “Ah.” Ben nodded. “So you’re not a pig. Just shallow.”

  “She’s sweet, and scared and alone.”

  “And hot. Might as well say what you really mean, Ned.” Ben knew his friend too damn well not to believe that was his main motivation.

  “And hot. What did you expect me to say? I’d be lying if I denied it.” Ned shrugged. “But I think maybe there’s another issue at play here.”

  “Which is?” Ben cocked a brow. What crazy idea was Ned getting at now?

  “I think you want her for yourself,” Ned suggested.

  “What? No.” Ben frowned. “Why would you say that?”

  “Why else would you object to her staying here?”

  Was Ned serious? Was Ben the only one who could still think clearly when there was a hot girl involved? “Oh, I don’t know, Ned. Maybe her drug-dealer boyfriend? Have you thought about the possibility of him tracking her here? Showing up at our door with a gun. Or worse, torching the place. Killing the stock.”

  “Whoa.” Ned took a step back. “Where the hell did all that come from? Holy Christ, you’ve got an active imagination. She borrowed someone else’s car, which is hidden from the road, and she drove for twelve hours. How’s he gonna find her?”

  “Who knows? Cell-phone tracker? Parents can install that kind of shit on their kid’s phones nowadays to see where they are. I wouldn’t put it past this guy to do the same. Especially if he knew she was unhappy and wanted to leave him.”

  “Hmm. Maybe. I’ll ask her to keep her phone turned off. That’ll work, right?”

  “Not if he’s already tracked her here.” Ben enjoyed knocking down Ned’s plan. Probably enjoyed it a bit too much.

  “Then we’ll have to be extra vigilant. That’s all. Or I’ll take her phone and drive it an hour away, let him pick up the signal there, and then take out the battery so that’s the last location he can track. Hell, we could even hide the damn thing on the next train out of town and let it go. That’d fuck up the boyfriend.”

  “If you used as much brain power back in high school as you do now just figuring out how to get into a hot girl’s pants, you would’ve been the freaking valedictorian.” Ben shook his head.

  “Thank you.” Ned grinned.

  “It wasn’t a compliment.” Ben ran his hands over his face. “All right. We deal with the phone situation tonight and the car tomorrow.”

  “And after that?”

  “After that, we’ll see.”

  “You know—”

  Ben heard the familiar tone in Ned’s voice. His gaze shot to Ned. “Crap. You scare me when you start a sentence like that.”

  Ned ignored Ben’s interruption. “If you wanted to make a play for her yourself, I wouldn’t have a problem with a little healthy competition. I also wouldn’t have any problem if you wanted to . . . you know . . . share her.”

  Ben rolled his eyes. “You have quite the imagination yourself. You know that?”

  “Why not? We’ve done it before.”

  A long time ago when Ben was much younger and obviously far more stupid. “Well, we’re not going to do it again. Now shut up about it. She’s out of the shower. I just heard the water turn off.”

  “Mmm, mmm. Squeaky clean from head to toe. Gives a man ideas, that does.” Ned glanced at him. “You know it does. Don’t deny it and stop shaking your head at me, all judgmental like.”

  Ben stood and brushed off the ass of his jeans. “I’m not going to take advantage of her.”

  “What if she asks to be taken advantage of? Hmm? What then?” Ned climbed the few stairs, and stepped over a sleeping Missy, so they both stood on the porch.

  “Not gonna happen.” Ben shook his head.

  “But if it does?” The sound of the bathroom door squeaking open had Ned repeating his question. “Ben, if it does?”

  “Then, yes, fine.” He kept one eye on the front door, watching for Heather as Ned grinned wide. He shook his head again. “Still not gonna happen.”

  It was too late to continue with the argument as Heather pushed through the front door. She padded barefoot out onto the wooden porch. “Hey.”

  “Hey there, darlin’.” Ned’s gaze cut to Ben before going back to Heather. “You look nice and comfy.”

  Good thing Ned had spoken because Ben didn’t think he’d be able to. Not with Heather wearing nothing but his T-shirt. Thank God, it came down nearly to her knees. He didn’t even want to guess what was underneath. If he were a betting man, he’d put money on there being nothing at all under that shirt. Not one blessed thing between her thighs. Nothing between him and her either, save for the thin worn cotton of his shirt.

  Of all the many choices, she had to choose his shirt to put on? Not that Ned’s T-shirt clinging to her bare, damp skin would have affected Ben any less.

  “I grabbed a shirt from one of the bedrooms. I hope that’s all right. It was folded on top of a pile on the dresser. I don’t know which one of you it belongs to.”

  “It’s mine.” Ben tried to calm his racing pulse. This was what he got for not putting his laundry away. Heather, naked under his shirt. “That’s fine. You can wear it.”

  Those emerald green eyes of hers turned to him and she smiled. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” He wrestled his focus away from the damp spot her wet curls had made just above her left breast. The water made the white T-shirt nearly transparent, enough so he could see the dark shading of her nipple through it. “Uh, it’s getting late. We should all head to bed.”

  “I totally agree.” Ned grinned as his gaze swept down Heather’s body.

  At that not so subtle insinuation, Ben shot Ned a look he hoped told him to shut the hell up. When he glanced back at Heather, it was to find her looking like a vixen.

  “Then let’s all go on inside and get into bed. Which bedroom?” She extended her hand to Ben, and he had no choice but to take it.

  He spied the expression on Ned’s face—a mix of surprise and hope. Ned didn’t move until she looked over her shoulder and reached her other hand toward him.

  “You coming?” she asked.

  “Oh, hell yeah.”

  “We need to talk.” Ben tugged on her hand as Ned sent a frown in his direction. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was not right here. No man was this lucky. And two men at the same time? Those odds were astronomical. “What’s going on here, Heather? If you want to thank us for our help, then buy us a thank you card. You don’t have to have sex with both of us.”

  “It’s not that.”

  Ned, thank God, was smart enough to stay quiet and let Ben handle this. Maybe he was as conf
used by her behavior as Ben was. Though that was doubtful, knowing Ned. Most likely Ned didn’t want to mess up the chances of getting into bed with Heather by starting a fight with him here.

  “Then what? Are you afraid to be alone?” Ben asked, keeping his voice gentle. “Because if that’s it, we can stay with you in the same room, in the same bed even, and not . . . you know.”

  Ned’s eyes opened wide. Ben ignored his friend looking at him as if he were insane for not jumping into bed with the girl and waited for Heather’s answer.

  “But I want to . . . you know.” Her hand trembled in his.

  “Really? Because I’m not so sure you do.” Ben reached up and brushed a hand across her cheek, moving a piece of damp hair that had stuck to her face. “Have you ever done this before? Two guys at once?”

  She was awfully shy for a girl who supposedly walked the streets to live, even if it was only for a little while.

  “No. You?” She had trouble holding his gaze.

  Her answer had his gut twisting. They would be her first experience in this area. He glanced at Ned. “Yeah, I’m not proud to say it, but we have.”

  “Back in the days of our misspent youth.” Ned wrapped his hands around her waist from behind and pressed a kiss to her ear.

  Heather tilted her head to one side, her eyes drifting closed. Ned took advantage of that by moving his mouth to her neck. She let out a sigh that had Ben’s cock hardening further. “Good. Then you two will know what you’re doing.”

  Ben laughed. This girl was full of surprises.

  He watched Ned work her throat. There were a lot of places Ben wanted to kiss her other than her neck, but that wasn’t happening out here. Now that he’d accepted this idea and stopped fighting, his body reacted to this girl like a starving man to a steak dinner. “Let’s move this somewhere a little more private, and with a bed in it.”

  Ned glanced up. “My bedroom’s cooler than yours.”

  Ben grabbed her hand, pulling Heather into the house, with Ned right behind her.

  “Fine.” Ben turned toward Ned’s room. “You have condoms, I assume.”