Page 9 of Their Wanted Bride (Bridgewater Brides 1)

I held my curiosity in check, unwilling to offend her. Besides, we hadn’t figured out she was a woman until she’d appeared in a dress. We’d been so busy on the ranch, we probably couldn’t pick a soiled dove out of a pack of church ladies. We had a bride now and had to be more attentive.

Holding out an elbow for her, I asked, “Shall we, Miss O’Connor?” When she nodded and laid slim fingers on my arm, I leaned close, inhaling the scent of lemon soap, just as I’d imagined. I couldn’t wait to get our future wife between us. We’d have her begging for the passion only Justin and I could provide.

4

MADDY

* * *

Justin laid his coat around my shoulders, wrapping me in warm wool that smelled like bay rum and spices. I inhaled deeply and smiled up into his handsome face. His cheeks darkened with a blush and lowering his head, he cleared his throat.

“Are you warmed up?” he asked.

“We’re inside now.” I tried to return his coat, but he wrapped it firmly around me.

“You can give it back when you stop shivering.”

He was frankly beautiful, with high cheekbones and warm ebony skin. His brown eyes were soft and kind, especially after I apologized for my unintentional charade. Although he was at least a foot taller than me and huge with hard muscle, he made me feel safe instead of afraid.

I met his gaze and my breath stalled in my throat. Something hot and itchy took up residence in my belly and my core dampened with sudden need. I shivered, but not because of the frigid weather.

“Let’s get you to supper before you catch cold,” he murmured. “We’ll ask for a table next to the fireplace.”

“Thank you.” I allowed him to put his arm around me, and resisted the urge to burrow against his warmth. Caleb took up a position on my other side, lending his body heat as well. I was fair chilled from the bitter spring wind swirling through town. It seemed I hadn’t been truly warm in days. I hadn’t realized how cold it would be this far west and had only Reggie’s old coat to protect myself from the elements.

Caleb Mathis wasn’t conventionally handsome, but I found him ruggedly appealing. He was unkempt, with several days’ growth of dark blond beard on his jaw, and had icy blue eyes. He smelled, but I didn’t find his scent unpleasant. Instead of perfumes and pomades, he smelled of pine, warm horse, and healthy man.

He seemed every bit as protective as Justin. Being between them was… comfortable. I wondered if Prince would like them. I was more willing to trust my horse’s judgment than my own. The touch of their warm hands was exactly as I imagined it would be, although I never imagined having two men touch me. Hard and rough, but strangely gentle at the same time. My nipples pebbled and rasped against the bodice of my dress, making me ache inside. Their hands on me…

Oh, I couldn’t want both of them! It simply wasn’t done. Yet the thought persisted, and I couldn’t shake my imaginings of what it would be like for both of them to touch me with their work-roughened hands.

“Do you have a private room with a fireplace?” Caleb asked the waiter, dragging me from my thoughts as we stepped into the restaurant.

The man brightened as he looked up, giving us a welcoming smile. “Hello, Caleb. Haven’t seen you in here since last fall. Good to see you as well, Justin.”

“Been busy on the ranch. It’s calving season.”

“Good luck with it. Turning into a right nice year for the Bridgewater herds.” Turning to grin at Maddy, he asked, “And who is this pretty lady?”

His hand tightening on her fingers, Caleb said, “If we can remember how to court a lady, she’s gonna be our wife.”

Our wife? I shook my head, sure I’d misheard. It wasn’t the first time one of them had said something like that though. The thought of having them both sent another sharp thrill through my belly, but it wasn’t possible. The law had an ugly word for someone who took more than the bible said they could.

“Congratulations, and welcome to Bridgewater, Miss…”

“Riordan,” I replied, pinching Caleb’s hand as I gave the waiter my mother’s maiden name. “Thank you.”

“Where do you hail from, Miss Riordan? We don’t get too many ladies from back east.”

“Illinois,” I lied, hoping he wouldn’t catch my soft drawl. It was bad enough that silly dye hadn’t lasted through one washing. I didn’t need my stepmother or Nathan asking questions about a redhead from Kentucky. “I’ve just arrived today.”

Caleb glanced down at me, his expression stiff and angry as the waiter led us through a door into a small dining room. He helped me into chair and stood next to me until the door shut behind the departing waiter.

Both men loomed over me, trapping me with their larger bodies. Caleb pinched my chin between his fingers and said, “Explain yourself, Madelaine. I don’t tolerate liars, and I’m about to turn you over my knee and take my belt to you.”

Justin looked disappointed and I hated knowing I was the one who put that expression on his face. Caleb just scared the spit from me. I didn’t think he was kidding about his belt.

I bit my lip, tears welling in my eyes. I knew how this must look, and it wasn’t fair of me to keep things from the man who might soon be my husband. “I’m sorry. It wasn’t my intent to lie to you.”

---