Her mother had known that he was in love with Poppy. Glancing at his two brothers as they stared toward the charity shop, he knew they all had feelings for Poppy.
When they were younger, it was affection. He cared for her because she was his best friend. Then as the years went on, that love became something else. It became a yearning, something so deep, so profound that he’d struggled to handle his feelings.
Being near her and not having her had been a pleasure and a curse.
Poppy always kept him at arm’s length. In fact, she had tried to set him up on numerous dates, but he never went on any of them.
No other woman had ever appealed to him, so at twenty-one years old he was still a virgin.
His brothers were not. Before they figured out that Poppy was the girl for them, they had sown their wild oats. Of course, the moment they realized that she was their girl, no one else ever had a chance.
He didn’t know when they’d realized that Poppy belonged to them, but he’d known from a young age that she would be the girl he’d marry.
She walked out of the charity shop, her blonde curls blowing all around her face as the wind picked up. She was a beautiful vision, one he never wanted to lose. She looked left and right, and he didn’t like how pale or even how slim she was looking.
Poppy had always been all curves, a nice round ass, full tits, thighs that had a man dreaming of getting lost between them. They needed to get some food inside her.
“Thank you so much for bringing me into town,” she said.
Casey was already behind the wheel, and Parker in his place. Shawn took her hand like he had so many times before. He knew this made his brothers jealous as he could touch her in ways that didn’t freak her out.
They were going to take their time in showing Poppy that they wanted her. When they had told their parents, their dads had understood, but their mother had been nervous.
“This is not for every woman. The spite of the town, and with Poppy dealing with her mother, you’re going to have to wait. If she doesn’t want this, you’re going to have to learn to let her go.”
He, Parker, and Casey had spent weeks talking about their plan. They all loved Poppy. She was part of their lives, and soon she’d be their woman. He should have known they’d find just one woman for them. They’d grown up seeing how much their dads loved their mother.
Shawn wanted that, and he knew deep down, Poppy needed that.
“Hey, my trailer is down there,” she said pointing across him.
“We know. Our parents are expecting you, Pops,” Casey said. “She’s done a chocolate fudge cake just for you.”
“Oh,” she said.
“Let’s not forget the fried chicken,” Parker said.
This had Poppy licking her lips, and even though it was torture to watch now, one day those lips would be wrapped around his cock.
“And she’s done spicy cheese fries,” Shawn said, knowing he sealed the food deal.
Her stomach growled. “Okay, I think I could eat. I know I could eat.” She rested her head on his shoulder.
“Did you ask to volunteer?”
“You know me so well, Shawn. Being in that shop, I felt my mother, you know? I want to be near her whenever I can.”
He rested his head on top of hers. “You will be. She’s everywhere with you.”
The past three years had been torture. He’d wanted to find some magical cure, and being helpless to aid his friend had been the hardest thing he’d ever lived through.
All Poppy had wanted was for her mother to live, and he couldn’t grant her that. In time, he hoped she’d find that sparkle that he’d seen slowly wilt inside her.
She was no longer like a flower.
Glancing at his brothers, he saw they were looking at her. Her eyes were closed as she rested against him.
Shawn had no doubt that together, they could make her feel whole again. They all loved her in their own way, and he believed she had feelings for him, only she tried to hide it.
One day soon, they wouldn’t allow her to hide anything from them.
****
Parker watched as his mother hugged Poppy close. She was twenty-one years old, but all the life had been drained out of her, and he hated to see it. There was a time when there was so much sparkle and fire in her eyes. He wanted that again for her.
“It’s so good to see you,” Louise, his mother, said.
“Hey, Louise,” Poppy said.
“It’s a pleasure to have you here.”
The scents of fried chicken and chili hung heavy in the air. His mother was a damn good cook, but she had to deal with three boys and a bunch of ranch hands as well. The only way to survive here was to make sure every single guy doted on you, and they did.