Page 14 of Tastes Like Misery

“I’d like to extend an olive branch to you. Ollie is an excellent cook, and we just got some fresh steaks from the ranch down the road. We planned on grilling them tonight, and I wanted to extend an invitation for you to come out and have dinner with me. Well, us, I guess, since the other two will be there.”

Despite his words sounding like any man who wasn’t sure of himself, they never lost his cocky confidence. And goddamn if that didn’t hit all the way to my core, making me want him even more. Of course, I said yes, and I didn’t really regret it. He told me where they were staying and I knew the place, cutting him off from trying to give me directions by closing the door in his face.

I leaned against the door after I locked it and thought through our conversation. What stuck out to me the most was how Finn said they were visiting relatives of his friend. But I knew that farmhouse. Hell, everyone did. Having your nose in everyone else’s business was a huge part of small-town life.

The owners no longer stayed there, having retired to Florida. They rented it out for people wanting to experience life on a farm and ranch. Their longtime hired staff still came to make sure the animals were fed and taken care of. Nothing had changed in the aspect from the times where the owners had lived there. The only difference was sometimes the hands had to give the vacationers lessons and how to muck stalls or wrangle in the horses.

Either way, I wasn’t one to back down from a challenge. If anything, the secrecy and the lies just made me more interested in Dane. Okay, all of them, since I really did want the other two as well. Maybe tonight we could finish what we started at the bar. I was pretty sure he was no match for Dane’s ferociousness in the bedroom, but I knew with the way he worked me with his fingers, Finn knew what the hell he was doing. He would definitely give me satisfaction even if it wasn’t the wild, unbridled sex I shared with Dane. Yeah, this night was going to be a fun one, and I’d make sure of it.

Chapter 9

Vivian

Sleep was elusive with trying to figure out the three men and what they were really doing in my little town. I needed to find the answers, if only because I’m nosy. Something told me whatever it was, it was something nefarious, and damn if it didn’t send a thrill to my center.

As I got ready for the night, my brain ran through ways of trying to get the information out of them. Seduction was too easy, and I doubted any of them would fall for it. These weren’t simple or lonely men who would do anything for the attention of a beautiful woman like my marks were. Oozing sexual prowess themselves, I believed that area of their lives wasn’t lacking at all.

I could tell Dane wanted to spill his secrets to me and I just needed to figure out what would push him over the edge. The others were even harder, with Finn digging for information the first night we met, yet quiet and gave short answers to my questions. He’d be a hard one to draw anything out of unless I could figure it out by his line of questioning.

Ollie, on the other hand, seemed like a sleaze at first. But in the park he was charming and sweet, almost boyish. Maybe I’d caught him on a bad day the first time we met and I could try to use his sweetness to coax it out of him. Out of all of them, he was the one who might give enough away if I played him right.

The bags under my eyes weren’t as bad as I thought, the frozen spoon easily got rid of them, along with a healthy dose of concealer, and I was ready and on my way to the little farmhouse.

Dane appraised me when I arrived, “Look at you, so innocent in that little sundress. But I know better, baby girl.” His finger brushed against the strap as his breath skimmed my ear and I lit up like a damn Christmas tree.

“Oh, Dane, wouldn’t you just love to spank this bad girl again,” I purred, trying to stay collected. Despite how desperately I wanted to feel the pleasure I knew he could give me, I wanted answers. I had a game to play and win.

Twisting out from his arms, I played the part of the gracious houseguest, “Is Ollie in the kitchen? It would be rude of me to not ask if he needs help with anything.”

His eyes grew dark, and he tried to play it off with a smile, but I knew I saw jealousy there. “He’s perfectly capable of doing it himself. Sit, drink, enjoy the fire with me,” he motioned to the small fire pit where the same weathered chairs sat around it as they had for as long as I could remember. Memories of that one summer when I had a fling with the owners’ son filled me with a longing for the simpler times. Back when I was free and not yet held back by my need to feel the rush of excitement as I stole things. Back before I was caught and ostracized.

“Hey there, Vixen,” Finn greeted me with a lingering kiss on my cheek. I flushed as I remembered how damn good his mouth felt on my lips and my breasts. We’d been interrupted before I could find out more and damn if I didn’t want to drag him off to the barn.

“Let the woman have some room,” Dane sounded dark and threatening, not a hint of playfulness in it. It seemed he’d lost his cool for once.

“Sharing has never been a problem for you before,” Finn teased, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. It was an odd statement, one that filled the air with testosterone so thick I could almost taste it.

It seemed they were in a battle for me and I liked it. A rift between them might just be what I needed to find out what they were up to. I would use it to my advantage.

“Now, boys,” I chided. “There’s plenty of me to go around. I’m going to go see if Ollie needs any help. Dane, would you be a dear and get me a drink?”

He finally pulled his eyes away from his friend and gave me a curt bow, “Of course.”

I had to turn and walk away before I laughed at the man who was such a pompous asshole, changing to one who seemed more than happy to serve me. His actions almost gave me whiplash. It was as if he were two different people. Hell, probably three or four different people. Not unlike myself, changing my personality to suit my own wants. Maybe that’s why no matter how pissed off at him I was, I still wanted him something fierce.

Stepping into the kitchen I knew so well, I found Ollie gliding around, chopping veggies and stirring ingredients in pots. He looked like a real chef in his apron, except he wore no shirt under it. Again his hair was loose, a style very becoming of him. It wasn’t his hair that held my attention, though. Those brawny arms with muscles bigger than my waist and the bright ink on them. A full sleeve of tattoos on one arm, much like Dane had, except Ollie’s were made of bright colors. I wanted to get closer and make out the details, but not be too obvious. Aside from the tattoos, he wasn’t my type at all. The charm he exuded and politeness did nothing to stoke my desire, even if his body did.

On that note, I needed to make myself known and stepped into the kitchen, “Can I help you with anything?”

He stopped his work with the knife, holding it midair as he shot me that charming smile of his. I bet it made all the good girls’ panties melt, and I wasn’t a good girl. “Miss Parker, I’m so glad you made it.” Waving the knife in the air, he answered, “You’re a guest. Go put your feet up and I’ll have the steaks ready for the fire in a few minutes.”

I waved at the large amount of other food he had going on, “I didn’t expect all this when Dane invited me. I would have been fine with just a hunk of meat thrown on the grill.”

“Appetizers make the entrée so much more delicious,” his voice lowered, and I found my stomach fluttering despite not wanting to like him.

I laughed, “Why, Ollie, are you flirting with me?”

He looked down shyly, not answering. Oddly, he didn’t blush and something seemed off about it. I knew people, and this wasn’t the actions of a bashful man. His pretending sparked more of an interest for me and I was more determined than ever to find out what these men were up to.

---