“I love you,” Abby said into the phone.

“I love you, too, Mom,” her daughter replied. “I just worry about you being in that town. I hope you’re finding something to do there.”

Abby felt herself blush. “Absolutely, baby. I’m finding plenty to keep me busy. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

When she likely wouldn’t tell her precious baby girl what she was really doing in Willow Fork. Jack and Sam. Yep. She’d been doing two hot cowboys, and she would very likely do them both again tonight if all went well.

She hung up with her daughter and went back to looking at herself in the mirror, trying to get her makeup just right.

“You look beautiful, Abigail,” a soft voice said behind her. “But then, you always were. Even as a child, I knew you would be a beautiful woman someday.”

Abby turned from the slightly warped mirror in the tiny bathroom and smiled at her mother. The trailer was small, and there was only the one bathroom. Her mother leaned against the doorway. “You look like you’re feeling better.”

Diane Moore was a handsome sixty-year-old woman. Her hair was the same auburn color as Abigail’s, though she’d stopped dealing with grays years before and now they had mostly taken over. She was dressed in a charcoal gray pantsuit that was slightly too big for her. Diane had joked that falling off the porch and breaking her hip had done wonders for her figure.

“I’ve had a very good therapist.” Her mom winked at her. Abby had taken her to and from the rehab facility and diligently made sure she did every exercise.

“You look pretty yourself, Mama.” Abby gave her a careful hug.

She patted her graying hair. “Well, Abigail, you never know who you might meet playing bingo.” Her mother crossed her arms and suddenly looked serious. “Are those old biddies leaving you alone?”

She didn’t want to think about them tonight. “Don’t worry about it. I can handle them.”

“You shouldn’t have to. I should have taken care of it back then.” Her mother looked so sad that Abby turned and reached out to her. “I should never have let you leave.”

“I didn’t give you a choice. You know I couldn’t stay. There were too many bad memories. You would have lost your job and your pension for nothing.”

“How dare that Ruby Echols think you weren’t good enough for her son? I’m glad she didn’t have anything to do with raising Lexi.”

Thinking of her daughter made her smile. If there was one thing she didn’t regret it was raising Lexi outside of Willow Fork. She’d thrived in Fort Worth and she would conquer Austin. Her baby could be anything she wanted to be. “I am, too. Now stop talking about people who don’t matter. I have a date tonight.”

“Are the boys picking you up in that tank of Jack’s?” her mom asked as she turned back to the mirror and applied some gloss to her lips.

Abby winced. Jack’s truck was already in the shop. Sam had picked her up from work earlier in the afternoon. He’d used their time alone together to get her all hot and bothered again with an impromptu make-out session.

“I think we’ll have to use Sam’s Jeep. I kind of put a dent in the truck.” Her mother frowned, and Abby suddenly felt like a teen again. She crossed her arms defensively over her chest. “I had to get to work. He can’t blame me. Well, he did, but let me tell you that man’s bark is way worse than his bite. Underneath that rough exterior, he’s a big old teddy bear.”

“I doubt that seriously.” Her mom sounded incredulous. “Oh, he might be around you, but make no mistake that Jack Barnes is one dangerous man. He grew up real rough.”

Abby turned around, lip-gloss suddenly way less interesting than what her mother was saying. “I know his mom died when he was young.”

Christa had told her that much, but she hadn’t known a whole lot more about Jack’s history.

“I don’t know the whole story. Jack doesn’t talk about it, but I know no one claimed him after his mom died. He grew up in foster care, and that’s where he met Sam. The first time I met Jack I thought maybe it had damaged him, you know. Sometimes when a person doesn’t get enough love as a child they become cold and distant. Jack seemed to be that way.”

“He isn’t.” Abby leaned forward. She wanted her mother to believe. Jack was anything but cold. Even when he tried to keep his distance, he’d been caring. He’d been unsure and scared, she realized now. He hadn’t wanted to get close until he had been sure she wouldn’t reject him out of hand.

“Everyone knows that.” Her mother patted her hand. “But don’t make the mistake of thinking because he’s gentle with you that he can’t take care of himself. When those boys first bought that ranch, there were people in town who treated them badly. Their lifestyle was odd, to say the least. It didn’t seem to bother Jack, but it made Sam upset when people treated him like dirt. Do you remember Frank’s?”

Abby nodded. “I sure do. It used to be the only bar in town. I remember they had some strict rules. No liquor could be served after midnight, even on a Saturday, and there was no dancing and no loud music.”

The town had restrictions, and though Frank’s was a private club, it had to follow the rules.

“They refused Sam a membership,” her mom said. “The only place in town where he could get a beer and they wouldn’t let him in the front door because Frank Webb thought he was gay.”

“Asshole.” Sam was so social. It would bother him to be closed out. “I’m glad they went out of business. What a jerk.”

Her mother’s face was practically gleeful. “They went out of business exactly six months after they told Sam he wasn’t welcome. Two weeks after they tossed Sam out on his butt, The Barn opened up. It was on some land in an unincorporated part of the county, so the rules didn’t apply. Is it so surprising that everyone in town flocked to a place where they could drink and dance and listen to whatever music they wanted, however loud they wanted it?”

“That was a very happy coincidence.” She should check out the honky-tonk. It sounded like fun. Christa and Mike were regulars. She bet Sam could dance. Conversely, she would probably have to coax Jack to take a turn on the floor with her. It would be worth it to have those big arms around her as they swayed to the music.

“Coincidence? Whose land do you think it was on, baby girl? Jack Barnes called some friends of his, and he gave them the seed money and the land to open the place on. He crushed Frank Webb. I’m telling you this not because I think you should be wary of the man. I want you to understand that he takes care of his own.”

A hundred questions popped through Abby’s mind. “It makes you wonder. How does a boy with no family and no connections end up with a huge spread? How much do you think he and Sam spent on the ranch?”

“All I know is sometime between turning eighteen and being basically homeless after he aged out of the group home he lived in, and when he and Sam started Barnes-Fleetwood five years later, they came up with roughly five million dollars. I heard Bernard, the city treasurer, talking about it, and that’s what he figured it cost to start up their business. I doubt they earned it flipping burgers.” There was a knock on the door. Her mom leaned over and kissed her cheek. “That’s my ride now. You have a good time tonight, Abigail. You let those boys take care of you. I won’t wait up, honey.”

“Okay, Mama. Have fun.” She watched her mother disappear down the narrow hall. As she finished getting ready for her date, her mind whirled with the possibilities of the night to come.

 

* * * *

 

Jack’s jaw dropped when Abby opened the creaky door to her mama’s run-down single-wide. Nothing that gorgeous should have been in a sad trailer. She deserved to be walking down a grand staircase, making an entrance worthy of a princess.

“Damn, you’re going to give every man in the county a heart attack.” A low whistle came out of Sam’s mouth.

“Do you like?” She twirled so they got a good view.

Jack took in the sight of her in an emerald green dress that clung to her delicious curves and showed off her creamy, ivory skin. Her auburn hair hung past her shoulders in soft curls that made him want to thrust his fingers in and feel the silky softness of the locks. He loved the fact that she had curves. It made her soft and feminine, and it took his breath away that such a lovely creature wanted him. And there was no doubt in his mind that she wanted him. It was there in her hazel eyes as she looked at him. He had to take a deep breath.

Dear god, he was really, deeply in love for the first time in his life. It was amazing and scary and made his gut twist in a knot at the thought of losing her.

When he and Sam had talked about finding a woman to marry, he’d thought Sam would fall in love and he’d go along for the ride. He would need to like the woman, of course, and he had intended to be good friends with her, but he hadn’t expected for his heart to seize every time she smiled at him or his knees to feel weak when she took his hand. He even liked it when she gave him hell. He wondered for the first time what she would look like in a wedding dress.

“Hey,” she said softly, looking up at him with gentle eyes as she smoothed down the fabric of his dress shirt. “What’s wrong, Jack?”

He pulled her close and breathed in the sweet scent of her hair. She always smelled like peaches. He’d started to crave the fruit.

“Nothing’s wrong.” He wasn’t lying. Everything was perfect.

Sam came around the other side, and he hugged her from the back. Abigail sighed and leaned against him, obviously loving the way they surrounded her. Sam looked over her shoulder solemnly at Jack. Sam knew. He’d known all along that this woman was theirs.

“You look stunning.” Sam laid a gentle kiss on her shoulder.

“There won’t be a man in town tonight that will be able to keep his eyes off you.” Jack frowned at the thought. She looked really amazing. There was no question Abigail was the most beautiful woman this town had probably ever seen. She was sexy as hell, and her sophisticated dress bespoke years of big city living. “Maybe you should put on a sweater.”

She threw her head back and laughed. “Not on your life. I will not cover up this work of art with a staid, old sweater. I assure you, the people around here have seen a cocktail dress before.”

“Not the way you fill it out, they haven’t.” He was already thinking about how he was going to handle covetous eyes. He would stare them all down. He could handle it if all they did was look, but the first hand that touched was likely to get ripped off.

Even in heels, she had to go up on her toes to press her lips against his.

“You like the way I fill it out?” The question was husky and did all sorts of things to his cock.

“I love the way you fill out everything, darlin’.” All of his previous thoughts were lost in that haze of lust that seemed to follow Abigail around. He let his hands roam the curve of her hips as he deepened the kiss, tasting the mint of her mouth and groaning as her tongue reached out to his.

“Hey, I want in on that action, baby.” All too soon, Sam was turning her head toward him and taking her mouth with his own.

Jack didn’t feel a surge of jealousy as Sam’s mouth slanted over Abigail’s. Watching his best friend with their woman just made Jack hot. He let his hands find her amazing breasts, slipping his palm up and cupping them through the green satin of her dress, satisfied with the way the nipples pebbled for him. All he had to do was push the bodice down and he could have them in his mouth. If he pushed the dress up, he could go down on his knees and taste her sweet pussy. He liked the dress even more. She should wear dresses more often. They were awfully convenient.

“Hey, someone said something about feeding me.” She pulled away from Sam, her tone light and teasing. “This is our first official date, misters. I will not have it be said that I’m easy.”

Sam grinned down at her. “You might not be easy, baby, but I assure you I am hard.”

Abigail kissed him affectionately on the cheek as she righted her dress and grabbed her purse. “You’re always hard. I’m coming to rely on the fact.” She grabbed Jack’s tie and smoothed it down. “You look too good tonight to stay in. You’re not distracting me. I want my night out.”

“Whoa, there!” Sam struck a pose. “I would like to point out that I am the good-looking one in this partnership. And the charming one.”

“And the sarcastic one,” she finished for him as she opened the door. “And Jack is the dark, sexy, broody one who steals women’s panties.”

“Just yours.” He didn’t want her to think he routinely engaged in panty theft. It was something special he did just for her.

“Well, I found a way around your tendencies toward absconding with my underthings. I’m not wearing any.” With that and a happy laugh, she ran toward the Jeep.

Sam immediately ran after her, asking if she was serious, and Jack stood there with a smile on his face. His best friend in the world was chasing their future wife around a tree, swearing he was going to get his hand up her skirt to see if she was lying. All the warmth in the world waited for him. All he had to do was step out the door and he could be a part of it.

He hesitated. All the warmth was out there, but there was risk involved. It wasn’t simply that Abby could leave them or change her mind or fall in love with someone else.

She could die. It happened all the time. His own mother had died when he was six years old, leaving him all alone in the world. Sam’s parents had died. Abigail’s husband had passed on. It was inevitable that he would have to deal with it. Abby would die someday and so would Sam. Jack didn’t know how he would ever be able to recover if that happened, but what choice did he have? The way he looked at it, he could take the risk or walk away.

Jack walked through the door. In the end, there was no choice at all to be made. He loved them. That was what mattered.

“Leave Abby alone, Sam,” Jack commanded as he made sure the door was locked. “We’ll find out soon enough what’s under that dress. I promise. Let’s feed her because she’ll need the energy.”

 

* * * *

 

Abby shivered, even in the warm interior of the car. Sam kissed her throat and moved up to her ear. They were cuddled up in the back of the Jeep while Jack drove. Sam was taking advantage of his “alone time,” as he called it, to make out while they made the hour-long drive to town. She wasn’t sure she’d be able to last for sixty minutes of Sam’s exquisite torture while they drove into Tyler. They had only been driving for ten minutes and she was ready to push him down and jump on top of him.

It would ruin her dress, though. She didn’t want to walk around in a dress that was obviously wrinkled from use.

“Hey, you two, hop out and let them know we’re here,” Jack ordered from the front seat as the Jeep rolled to a stop.

She was aware that he’d watched them through the rearview mirror, and she’d caught him smiling at her. The car was stopped in front of an austere-looking building she knew only too well.

Sam was already opening the car door and getting out before she’d fully processed what was happening.

“Delbert’s?”

She was a little dazed at the prospect. Delbert’s Steak House was one of two nice restaurants in Willow Fork, though The Treasure Cove hadn’t been around as long. Delbert’s was the place for the wealthy people in town to be seen and the poor people to aspire to go. It was exactly the type of place she meant to avoid.

“Yes, it’s the nicest place in town.” There was a satisfied look on Jack’s face. “Nothing but the best for you.”

He looked so happy with himself and earnest that she found herself letting Sam ease her out of the car. Sam gave Jack a salute to let him know he would follow orders, and the Jeep pulled off to go around the building to park.

“Come on, sweetheart.” Sam took her hand to lead her into the building. “We’re a couple of minutes early. Let’s get you warm and we can wait for Jack in the bar.”

She stopped under the elegant green awning. It was lit with pretty twinkle lights. “I thought we were going into Tyler. You said we were going into town.”

Sam frowned but squeezed her hand. “I suppose that is what you would think. Sorry, Jack and I live outside of Willow Fork. We call it town. I’ve heard people here talk about going into town, though. I suppose they do mean Tyler. Is there something wrong?”

She stared at the frosted glass of the door. It was a Sunday night. It might not be too crowded. Back when she was growing up here, Sunday night had been an important church and family night. It was possible there might not be trouble. She didn’t want to wreck her first fancy date with them by having to explain she wasn’t welcome in most of Willow Fork’s fine establishments. It might put a damper on the mood. It also might make them think twice about seeing her. If they really understood what an outcast she was with the important people in Willow Fork, it might force them to face the fact she could hurt their business.

“No,” she forced out with a too-bright smile. It had been over twenty years, after all. It might be perfectly fine. “I was surprised. Delbert’s didn’t have a bar the last time I was here.”

Sam held the door open for her. “I expect things have changed over the years, sweetheart. Both Delbert’s and The Treasure Cove became private clubs about eight years ago. I like to think of it as progress. Now there are two whole places in town where you can get beer. I’m going to start lobbying the city council to let us buy it at the grocery store. I have to buy in bulk when we go into Dallas.”

“I’m sure that’s inconvenient for you.” She looked around the place. She had only been in here once, and that had been her sixteenth birthday. Her father had told her it was a special occasion, and they’d all gotten dressed in their Sunday best. It had been a wonderful night.

He died a month later.

The place hadn’t changed much. There was new carpet on the floor, but she caught a glimpse of the crisp white linen on the tables and the single rose and candle in the middle of each. That was the same. The lobby area still had antique couches for people to sit on while waiting for a table. The place was surprisingly full this evening.

As they approached the hostess station, she realized that hadn’t changed, either. There was still someone snooty standing there. The hostess was an icy-looking blonde who warmed up considerably once she got a look at Sam.

“Mr. Fleetwood.” The young woman had a voice that sort of grated on Abby. Icy Blonde completely ignored her, preferring to grant her chilly smile to Sam. “I saw your name on the reservation list. I made sure to give you and Mr. Barnes the best table in the house.”

“I appreciate that.” Sam’s hand pointedly came to Abby’s waist, and he drew her to his side. “We all appreciate it.”

Icy Blonde did not notice. It was like Abby didn’t exist. She leaned forward and looked around to make sure no one could hear her. “I was thinking we could hook up afterward. I get off at ten. You and I could go back to my place. We can invite Jack, too, if you want.”

Sam’s ready smile faltered slightly. He pumped that charm right back up though. “I’m afraid I have to pass, Cecelia. I have a girlfriend now, and she might have a problem with it.”

“I certainly would, Sam.” Abby was surprised at the blatant rudeness of the young blonde. Abby didn’t recognize her, but she looked a bit like a girl she’d gone to high school with. Helen Smith had been two years older, and she’d gotten pregnant young, so this was more than likely her daughter. The fact that she was competing for men with girls her daughter’s age made her queasy.

“I’m sorry, Sam. I was mistaken. She doesn’t seem like your usual type. She’s much more…mature.” The blonde sneered, finally giving Abby her full attention.

Sam laughed. “Hell, everyone’s mature compared to me. At least that’s what Jack says. If you’re talking about age, she’s only five years older than me. Trust me, she’s one hundred percent my type.”

But maybe she was too old for him. Self-doubt and insecurity crept into her brain. What the hell was she thinking? She was older than them. She had a past that could really cost those men a lot. She had no intention of staying in this horrible, small-minded town. Now she wished she’d put on that sweater Jack advised her to wear. The dress that seemed so perfect before now felt cheap. It was cheap. She had bought it at a thrift store.

The blonde got back to business with a haughty shrug and told them their table would be ready in five minutes.

Sam glanced around the lobby, obviously putting the whole thing out of his mind. “Hey, that’s Dave Klein, Abby. He’s our feed supplier. We do a whole lot of business with him. I need to go say hello. You wait here for Jack, all right?”

She nodded, a little shell-shocked. She watched Sam greet a man in a big Stetson with a handshake and stood there feeling ridiculously vulnerable. Everyone was staring at her and talking behind their hands. Gossiping. The town ran on gossip, and not in a good way.

The blonde stared down her nose, and Abby could practically hear her thoughts. She was wondering why anyone would pick an almost forty-year-old mom over someone as firm and young as her. As for the rest of them, they were thinking that Abby Moore had come back into town and immediately taken up with not one, but two men.

She was still living up to her reputation.

Maybe she should tell Jack she wasn’t feeling well. It wasn’t exactly a lie. Her stomach was in a knot. They would take her home, and then she would do what she should have done in the first place. She would get her mom back on her feet and look for a job in Austin. She could chalk up the whole thing to a crazy midlife crisis and get back to reality.

A deep masculine laugh brought her out of her dark thoughts. Across the lobby, Sam was talking and laughing, his blue eyes full of mirth. He was so beautiful. He made her feel lovely and young. He deserved better than what she would bring him.

Was she ridiculous for falling for them? For wanting more with them?

“Oh, no, no, no,” a firm voice said from behind her.

She turned and saw the owner of the restaurant hurrying toward her with a stern look on his face. Luther Delbert was older, but he still looked imposing enough. A thin, tastefully dressed man in a three-piece suit, Luther was every inch the wealthy host of the establishment. There had always been an aristocratic air about him, and now his slender face was pinched with distaste.

“This won’t do.” He turned to Icy Blonde with a frown. “Who took this woman’s reservation?”

Icy Blonde looked briefly satisfied. Her eyes crossed the room as though making sure Sam was occupied. “I certainly didn’t, Mr. Delbert. She just walked in.”

Abby was about to protest when Luther Delbert hooked her elbow with his right hand and started to pull her toward the door. Her shoes caught on the carpet, and she pitched forward, falling to her knees.

“Get up,” Delbert said, his voice low but clear. The man obviously didn’t care that everyone was watching now. “Your kind is not welcome here. How you have the gall to walk in here I have no idea, but I won’t serve you, do you understand? I would lose the business of the good people of this town.”

Suddenly there was a warm hand reaching down to envelope hers.

“Abby? Are you all right?” Concern and confusion marked Sam’s handsome face.

She blinked back tears as she let Sam haul her to her feet. Her knees ached where they’d met with the tiled floor and she nodded mutely. What the hell had happened? Humiliation had happened and every person in the restaurant had seen it, bore witness to how unwelcome she was.

“I apologize for the drama, Mr. Fleetwood.” Delbert’s voice was all smooth and silky now as his professional demeanor took over. “Your table will be ready in a moment. If you don’t mind, I’ll escort this…lady out. She doesn’t have a reservation.”

“Oh, I mind.” Sam clutched at her hand and looked around at the crowd, a fierce frown on his face. “What the hell is wrong with you people? You don’t help a lady when someone assaults her?”

Quiet filled the room and Sam flushed a dull red. Some of the patrons were whispering into their cell phones, others texting away, getting the news out to the town that Abby Moore had caused trouble. Again.

Though he kept holding her hand, it was obvious he was beginning to get the picture. Some of the older patrons turned their backs on her. She tried to step away, wanting to get the focus off of Sam, but he wasn’t having it. If anything, he pulled her closer.

“Is there a problem?”

Every head swung to the front of the lobby where Jack Barnes stood in a tailored suit, looking like the devil himself. Sam sighed beside her, and his hand went firmly around her waist.

“Not at all, Mr. Barnes.” Delbert wiped the bitter look off his face in favor of a gracious smile. “We’re having some trouble with an unwelcome guest, but I’ll get it sorted out very quickly. If you and Mr. Fleetwood would care to step into the bar, the first beer is on the house.”

“He pushed her down, Jack.” Sam’s voice was tightly coiled.

Jack’s eyes flared briefly at that statement, and then an arctic chill settled in his dark green orbs. She took a deep breath because she was intimidated, and she knew that look wasn’t directed at her. Luther Delbert seemed to shrink right before her eyes. The lobby had gone deadly silent as Jack stared at the owner of the nicest place in town.

“She fell,” Delbert explained as he seemed to realize there was something going on he failed to understand.

He looked back and forth between Abby, Sam, and Jack as a revelation seemed to slowly dawn on him.

“I guess I’m not used to the heels. I lost my footing.” She wanted to get out of there. The debacle had drawn enough attention to them. She could see the feed store owner whispering something to another customer. The words were too low to hear, but she was pretty sure she wouldn’t like what he was saying.

She’d known better and now she was going to get them in trouble.

“Because he grabbed you.” Sam looked the owner directly in the eye. “You told her you wouldn’t serve her or her kind. What the hell is that supposed to mean? What is her kind?”

“Sam.” Jack’s voice was deep and deliberate. “I think Abigail would prefer another place to eat tonight. Why don’t you take her out to the car and we’ll find something more suitable. I promised to take her someplace classy, and it’s obvious I made a mistake by bringing her here.”

She couldn’t force herself to look at Jack as Sam laced his fingers through hers and started to lead her out. All she could think about was how much this incident might cost him. Sam stopped briefly in front of Jack’s enormous frame.

“You gonna take care of this?” Sam’s question was low.

“Yes,” Jack promised. “I think I would like to have a private discussion with Mr. Delbert.”

She walked out, pulled along by Sam. Her feet beat against the tile in a staccato rhythm. Like she was a zombie shuffling along. She supposed Jack was going to stay behind to try to smooth things over. It had to be done. She hated the fact that she’d pulled them into her trouble, but she should have known better. A blessed numbness overtook her as Sam gently maneuvered her toward the parking lot.

Nope, nothing had changed at all.