“Why us?”
“I don’t know.”
Caleb twisted the end of his rifle into the fresh wound. The man squealed like a pig. “You better know something.”
“Something about trees! Fuck, we just wanted the easy money.”
“If you were willing to kill two innocent men for cash, then you both deserve to rot in jail for the rest of your lives.”
It was the damn loggers. They’d been trying to buy off their land since their parents were alive. Since they’d moved back home over a decade ago, they’d been harassed into selling off their land countless times. It only served to piss them off.
No price was good enough. This was their home, their land, and they wouldn’t be bullied into giving up their legacy.
Caleb set his weapons aside and hogtied both men securely.
Opal left for the bathroom and came back with a damp washcloth. She wiped Damon’s face, taking gentle care of him. He watched for a moment, realizing they all had the same agenda, and their mutual love for each other was growing stronger. Everything didn’t have to fall on his shoulders because they were a family, a team.
He tossed a couple more logs into the fireplace and continually checked the windows to ensure there weren’t more of them lurking around. Caleb thrived on the responsibility of caring for Opal and Damon. It gave him purpose. He’d always loved his younger brother, and now he had a woman in his life. That missing element they both desperately needed.
“I’m going to hook up the new battery, then I’m running you a bath,” he said to Opal. “After what you’ve been through, you need to relax.”
She shook her head. “I’m okay. Damon’s the one we need to worry about.” Opal continued to wipe the blood from his face and neck.
“No arguments, sweetheart. I’ll take care of both of you.”
Chapter Eleven
It had to be the most frightening night of her life, but the cops came and handled everything. They dealt with the men, taking them away in cuffs, and Caleb and Damon had a lawyer come up to the cabin. Opal didn’t understand a word of what was being said, but figured it was important, seeing as her men seemed to understand.
A company had paid to have them killed so they could take the land and start cutting down the surrounding forest. There was a lot of money to be made, and seeing as the Whites hadn’t sold, the logging company wanted them out of the way. She’d never seen a lawyer look so excited at the thought of going head to head with a large company before, but he told Caleb and Damon not to worry about a thing. There was a lot of evidence and the crazy trespassers were ready and willing to spill their guts to the cops.
She had given her statement, and from there, nothing else had happened, which she didn’t mind. It was better to forget that nightmarish day and focus on the positive.
One good thing came out of the crazy night. One of the police officers found Bear on one of the trails miles away. He must have been spooked or disoriented. She knew the brothers were worried about him, so it was good the dog was home safe and sound.
/> The days seemed to pass, and with it, the brothers made a great deal of repairs around the house. She noticed they put more locks in, and also talked about sensors on their land, which they installed. The nights belonged to all three of them, and Opal lived on cloud nine. She never for a second thought her life could be like this.
One evening, nearly two weeks since the incident, after making sure the stew was just right, she made her way toward the bedroom. She’d already picked out the dress that she hoped would totally blow away her men. The straps were thin, and didn’t leave room for her to wear a bra.
She wanted to set the mood, and one thing she loved about both Caleb and Damon, they loved her curves. Whenever she was near with minimum clothing on, they couldn’t resist her, and she was more than ready.
With the dress on, she stared at her reflection. Opal had always thought her breasts were too big and sloppy, but seeing herself through the brothers’ eyes made her fall in love with herself.
The dress clung to every single curve, and with it, the outline of her panties, which she didn’t want. Wriggling out of her panties, she felt sexy, and maybe a little naughty. She’d never done anything like this in her life before, and it felt … good.
Tying her hair up, she stared at her reflection one more time, and didn’t even bother with makeup. Out here, makeup didn’t have a place, and her men loved her exactly the way she was—all natural.
She had no doubt of their love. Not only did they tell her every single night, but their actions spoke a hell of a lot louder than any words. The way they looked at her, touched her, and it wasn’t just about sex either. It was about the little things. Like the way Caleb couldn’t seem to resist touching her hand as he passed.
He’d take hold of her, and give it a gentle squeeze, or Damon would touch her neck. There was nothing sexual in the act. It was comforting. At nighttime she snuggled between the two of her men, and they held her close.
Those moments when she woke up and was able to turn her head either left or right, and watch them sleep, were the best of her life. Their love and warmth surrounded her, and there wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for them. Her loneliness was finally gone.
Staring at her reflection, she smiled, feeling confident in herself. The tour she went on didn’t help her at all. Being surrounded by men and women of wealth had only made her realize what little she had in the world.
The time spent with Caleb and Damon White had shown her who she was as a person, as a woman, and she liked what she saw. She no longer saw the useless fat woman she’d believed was there.
No.