“What’s your point? I want answers, and it seems I’ve entered into a completely different world here.”
“What’s the problem?”
“First of all, your aunt isn’t the least bit sick. She’s tougher than some of the ‘bloods’ back in New York. I’m not living with her in her house. I’m living in my own cottage, which is beautiful, by the way. On the way here, I met a cowboy who appeared out of thin air, and he was not only huge but gorgeous. As a matter of fact, most of the men I have come across are out of the ordinary. They are drop-dead gorgeous and so big I feel like Thumbelina! Then in town I get tricked into entering some chili-and-baking contest while I was trying to explain to Aunt Marie that I can cook. You see, she tried to cook for me and the chicken was raw. That is how we wound up at the restaurant Francine’s.”
“That’s a nice place, isn’t it?” Mille asked.
“It sure is, and the people are really nice, too. Nicer than anything I’m used to. Come on, Millie. I grew up on the city streets of New York. Anna and I dodged so much shit over the years. Between the gangbangers, the drug dealers, pimps, and gangsters, it’s amazing that her and I didn’t wind up in the morgue. I don’t really trust cops either. You know that, and when I saw the deputy? Holy shit, I started thinking about things I shouldn’t be thinking about. Men in my life thus far have done nothing but screw me over. And this town and the businesses, the people are out of storybook. That’s when I met the deputy by the way, and he started talking to me and welcoming me into town then saying my chili was hot and my pies would probably be real sweet, and then the lady Melissa with the three husbands showed up to introduce herself. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me.”
“How did Melissa look? You know she’s pregnant. Oh my God, I miss that place so much.”
“Then why didn’t you come here to help your aunt? Oh, wait, your aunt really doesn’t need help does she?”
“No, Stacy, she doesn’t. I just thought it would be a good place for you to recoup and straighten out your life. I also wanted you out of town while your asshole boss is harassing you. So tell me about the cowboy brothers, who were they?”
“Cantrells.”
“Oh my God! They are so hot. Was it the twins or the triplets?”
“Triplets? You mean there are more than just Max and Eric Cantrell?”
“It was Max and Eric that you met?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, boy. Those two are quite the handful. The other triplets are their cousins. There’s Wyatt, he’s the sheriff, then there is Charlie and Ben. Charlie is a vet, he was in the Marines and takes care of the animals on the Triple C, and Ben works on the ranch as well as Eric. What did you say about your hot chili and sweet pies?”
Stacy laughed as she rolled over on the bed and stared up at the ceiling.
“I didn’t say anything about it, Max did. He was flirting, I think?”
Stacy smiled to herself. She was attracted to two men after being in town for less than a day, and they turned out to be brothers. What were the chances of that happening?
“Maybe we should discuss this whole ménage thing now. You know it is perfectly normal to fall in love with more than one man.”
“Are you kidding me? I haven’t had a relationship since Alex, and what a mess that was.”
“If my memory is correct, you had sex with him one time and there wasn’t a relationship.”
“Yeah, well, what the hell did I know? He was a smooth talker, and I thought I was all ‘Miss Independent’ putting myself through school and having my own place.”
“Well, don’t let one asshole ruin your impression of men altogether. The Cantrell men are sweet.”
“I’m not interested. I’ve had enough of macho, good-looking men thinking they can get into any woman’s pants they want to. Besides, you haven’t seen either one of them in five years. Do you have any idea how
intimidating and muscular they are? That one brother Eric appeared out of nowhere with a gun on his hip, a shotgun on the huge horse he was on, and sporting more muscles than the stallion itself. I’ll stick to what I can handle.”
“You’re scared of them because they are good looking, muscular, and intimidating? Are you kidding me? What type of man are you interested in?”
“One that won’t use his strength to restrain me while he takes what he wants,” Stacy stated then wished she hadn’t. This was the first time she expressed her fear after her boss’s attack. Millie was silent a moment, and then she broke the silence.
“Honey, is that what you think? That men like the Cantrells would use their strength and masculinity against you? Gosh, you did a great job hiding your fear after your boss tried to rape you. No wonder Eric and Max intimidate you. They are big, strong men, but they are also gentlemen. They come from a good family. In fact, their fathers and mother helped to turn Pearl into the town it is today. Don’t be afraid of them.”
“That’s easy for you to say. I’m afraid of getting close to anyone. Not just because of Barry but because of Alex. I regret losing my virginity to him. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“You were upset after finding out that your mom was indeed alive but wanted nothing to do with you. That was understandable when you began to self-destruct.”
Stacy laughed. “Thanks to you, I didn’t downright explode.”