Chapter 5

Mark stretched out, leaning back on the couch. Bridget was nestled between him and Matt. They'd eaten far too much at dinner, in addition to polishing off an entire bottle of wine and most of another. He was completely relaxed and thoroughly happy.

They'd opted to watch True Grit—one of his favorites. For some reason, it couldn't hold his attention tonight. It was a good movie—lots of action, but the problem was every fiber of his being was focused on the slim, tall beauty lounging by his side.

So much for their grand seduction schemes. He and Matt had thought they'd plead their own cases, make their own moves and then let her choose. Instead, she'd blown their plan out of the water, asking to spend the day with both of them. Ridiculous as it seemed, her choice pleased him. He'd enjoyed today much more than his day alone with Bridget—which had been great. For some weird reason, it seemed more natural when they were all together. Crap. He needed to lay off the wine.

Bridget sighed and rested her head on his shoulder. Mark savored her closeness and decided to expand on it. He lifted his right arm and wrapped it around her shoulder. He glanced over at his brother. He expected to receive a dirty look. Instead, Matt gave him a friendly grin, before his brother reached down to lift Bridget's feet on to his lap. She didn't resist, turning to her side slightly and moving into the new position with ease. Mark shifted sideways as well, opening his legs so that Bridget could settle between them, reclining against his chest. He watched his brother pull off the clean socks Matt had loaned her when she complained that her feet were cold. Matt began rubbing her feet and Bridget released a pleased groan.

"That feels so good," she whispered.

Mark took advantage of her complacency, wrapping both arms around her waist, loving the feel of her weight against him. He and Matt were tall men. It was unusual to find a woman who fit them so well. Bridget's height was perfect—the top of her head coming to his chin. He wouldn't have to bend over far to find her sweet lips.

The moment the thought crossed his mind, Mark wanted to act on it. Instead, he simply cuddled her, soaking in the soft scent of shampoo in her hair. None of them even pretended to watch the movie. The dim lighting, the comfortable couch, the wine—all of it worked together to wrap them up in a cocoon of warmth. Time passed slowly as Matt continued his gentle rubbing of Bridget's feet.

She sighed blissfully, playing absentmindedly with Mark's hands where they lay on her stomach. Slowly, Matt moved his massage upward, his hands creeping along her shins and then higher, to her thighs.

Bridget's breathing grew shallower, more labored. Mark could feel the desire growing in her body as she began to gyrate slowly, her hips tantalizing the now-apparent erection in his pants. There was no way she could mistake what she was rubbing against with her slight movements.

Unwilling to remain a casual observer, Mark began his own gentle caresses. Lifting the edge of Bridget's T-shirt, he dragged his fingers over the soft skin of her stomach and waist. Bridget sucked in a deep breath, but didn't reject either of their stroking explorations. After a moment, she sighed, laying her head on his shoulder and releasing a soft moan.

Mark was more turned on then he'd ever been in his life. He wondered what his brother was thinking of this. He watched Matt's hands as they traveled closer to the juncture of Bridget's thighs. Christ. This was quickly reaching a point of no return.

He looked up at Matt's face, captured his glance. Mark tried to convey his concerns. They were traveling down an uncharted path.

Matt gave him an easygoing grin that in most circumstances would have annoyed the shit out of Mark. Tonight, right now, the smile felt right, comforting, encouraging.

Even so, there was a small part of him that couldn't let things go any further without asking permission. He knew Bridget wasn't drunk, but she'd definitely had enough wine to take the edge off.

"Bridget," he whispered in her ear.

"Hmmm." She was completely relaxed. He'd never seen her so peaceful or at ease. While the past three days had cemented in his mind that something was definitely wrong in Bridget's world—she still jumped at shadows and she'd visibly begun to shake after their old ranch truck backfired—she'd yet to confide in them.

"Are you okay with this, darlin'?"

She turned her head to the side, glancing at him over her shoulder. She nodded once. "Yeah, I am. Are you?"

Leave it to Bridget to worry about his response to the unconventional dilemma they were currently in. "Yeah. I'm good. How about you, Matt?" he asked, looking up at his brother.

Matt leaned forward, shrinking the distance until all three of them breathed the same air. Mark had shared a room with this man for his most of his younger life, the two of them only opting for separate bedrooms a few years earlier. There were no secrets between them, but this.…

This moment was changing something, altering some solidly accepted norms in Mark's life.

Matt kept moving until his lips were a fraction of an inch away from Bridget's. "I'm good," his brother whispered. "But I'm not finished. I want more."

Mark wasn't sure if his brother's words were meant as a warning or if he was simply stating the facts.

"I want more too," Bridget confessed. "But this is, I've never, I don't know how?—"

Mark chuckled. "It's new to us too, Bridge. We'll find our way together."

Matt placed a quick, soft kiss on her lips. Then he moved away once more. As he drifted back to his spot on the couch, Matt grasped the waistband of Bridget's sweatpants, pulling them and her panties off in one fell swoop. Bridget stiffened slightly as Matt lifted one of her legs, pulling it to the opposite side of his waist. Then, she opened them even further, throwing her other leg over Mark's. It gave Matt enough room to kneel between her open thighs.

Mark lifted his hands, rubbing her tense shoulders to relax her. "You're beautiful," he murmured in her ear.

The words and caresses seemed to soothe her. Her body went soft once more.

Matt's hands stroked the inside of her thighs and Bridget shivered. Her body was heating up and she was definitely becoming more aroused with each pass of Matt's hands on her skin.

Bridget and Mark both stilled as Matt's fingers advanced on her pussy. They barely took a breath when Matt ran a single finger along the slit between her legs. Then Bridget gasped, her hips thrusting slightly, seeking more.

Matt looked at their girl and winked. "She's soaking wet, Mark."

Mark chuckled. "I trust you know what you're doing down there."

His brother's gaze drifted to Mark's face rather than Bridget's. Mark had never seen such pure, genuine happiness there. Then he realized he felt the same way.

"Tell you what, bro. You let me worry about the below the waist regions. By the way, are you going to sit there all night or were you planning on hopping in?"

Bridget giggled at Matt's joke. "I love being with you two. I'm sure there's something wrong with that, but I'll be damned if I can make myself care."

Matt winked at her. "There's nothing wrong with this."

Matt touched her once more, his finger stroking her clit until Bridget was writhing uncontrollably in Mark's lap. Her ass continued to brush against his cock until Mark thought he'd lose it right then and there.

"Please," she pleaded.

"Please what?" Matt asked. "Please this?" He thrust two fingers into Bridget's pussy. Her head reared back roughly against Mark's shoulder.

Unable to watch and not be a part any longer, Mark shifted slightly to one side. Twisting Bridget's face just enough that Matt could continue his ministrations, Mark gripped her hair and claimed her lips. She didn't resist, didn't try to pull away. Her breathing was heavy as Matt continued to fuck her with his fingers.

Mark thrust his tongue into her mouth, relishing the spicy combination of curry and red wine on her lips. She was delicious.

Retaining his grip on her hair with one hand, his other drifted down to explore the one place neither he nor Matt had reached yet. He cupped one of her firm, full breasts. Bridget gasped and tried to break the kiss, searching for air. Mark couldn't let her go. He pulled her lips back to his, pushing his tongue into the wet, warm cavern.

Bridget responded instantly, returning his kiss. Her trembling body and soft groans told him she was enjoying the interlude. Twice, she gasped. Mark was tempted to peek at what his brother was doing that she liked so much, but he couldn't force himself to release her lips to do so.

After several moments of touching, kissing and groaning, Bridget pulled away.

"God," she cried. "I can't take much more. I think, I can't, I'm going to?—"

Each unfinished thought was interrupted by a gasp or a shiver. Neither Mark nor Matt needed to be told what was going on.

Matt continued to thrust his fingers inside her. "I want to see you come, Bridget. I want to feel it on my fingers."

Bridget reached down, her fingers digging into Mark's thighs. "I think that's inevitable."

Mark shifted, so she was completely reclined against his chest once more. He gathered her close, taking her breasts in both hands, cupping them, squeezing and teasing her tight nipples.

Matt pulled his fingers out for a moment. "Think you can take three?" He didn't wait for an answer; rather, he upped the ante and resumed the play.

Bridget bucked hard and Mark tightened his grip. She was likely to squirm herself right off the couch.

"Oh my God," she said loudly. Mark grinned. The three of them were wearing more clothes than they'd shed and it was still the hottest sexual encounter of his life.

"Can't. Stop." Bridget's hips moved faster, trying to claim more of Matt's fingers. His brother increased the pace, the power.

"So. Good." The words seemed pulled from her chest and then she went stiff, her body reverberating as if struck. Her fingers tightened against his thighs and Mark knew he'd wear her bruises there tomorrow.

Matt slowed his motions as Bridget's orgasm hovered. Time seemed to stand still for a split second—all of them frozen in this amazing place. It was just long enough for Mark to understand the importance of what was happening. He'd turned a corner, found a new path, and there was no way in hell he was going back now.

Then all the air seeped out of Bridget's body. She was replete, spent, sated.

Matt pulled his fingers away as Bridget lay lifeless against Mark.

"I think she fell asleep," Matt whispered.

Mark twisted his head enough that he could see Bridget's face. Sure enough, her eyes were closed.

"Guess we wore her out."

Matt chuckled. "Yeah. Can't imagine how though. I mean all she did was a hard day of work on the ranch, eat a big dinner, drink a couple glasses of wine and indulge in a little foreplay with two horny cowboys."

Mark tried not to laugh, afraid he'd wake her up. "Help me get up. I don't want to disturb her."

Matt rose and lightly lifted Bridget off Mark's chest. Once he'd managed to untangle himself from her boneless limbs, they lay her back on the couch. She rolled over onto her side, but didn't stir. Instead, she seemed to fall into a deeper sleep.

"I suppose you're gonna want to talk about this." Matt's tone proved he was uncomfortable with the prospect of getting into a conversation.

"Actually I'm not sure what to say." It was the truth. The whole experience had caught Mark off guard. He wanted to suggest they sleep on it, but he knew he'd want the same thing in the morning that he wanted right now. He wanted Bridget. And he wanted to share her with his brother.

Matt was visibly shocked by his response. "You're not freaking out?"

Mark shook his head.

"You're not going to analyze the shit out of this and give me a million reasons why it's wrong?"

Again, Mark shook his head no.

Matt's shoulders fell, and for the first time in his life, Mark realized he'd done something that shocked his brother. He'd spent a lifetime being the reliable one, predictable and boring to the end, while Matt was the loose cannon.

"I'm not sorry about what happened tonight, Mark."

Mark turned to face his brother. Clearly Matt still expected him to balk. "I'm not either."

Unsatisfied, Matt pressed the issue. "I'm not stopping here. I want Bridget in my bed." Matt paused, then added the words they both needed to hear, out loud. "In our bed."

Mark chuckled. "We don't normally share a bed, Matt, or a room, for that matter." They'd each taken their own rooms after their father's death.

"You know what I mean."

Mark was amused by the evening's odd turn of events. Matt, always the clown, was suddenly too serious, while Mark couldn't suppress his happiness long enough to curb the jokes. "I know what you mean. I think the term you're looking for is ménage a trois. Or maybe you prefer threesome?"

Matt scowled. "What the fuck is wrong with you? I'm trying to be serious here."

Mark sobered up. "I know that. And I am taking this seriously. There are a million reasons why this whole thing won't work. I don't give a shit about any of them. This is right. Picking it apart and studying it piece by piece isn't going to change a damn thing. So, it looks like we just take this a day at a time, a step at a time, and hope for the best."

Matt's frown deepened. "Who are you and what have you done with my brother?"

Mark laughed, then reached up to place a friendly hand on Matt's shoulder. "I'm beat. What do you say we call it a night? It's obvious Jake has convinced Rodney to stay in town for that damn moonlight bowling thing he loves so much." It was well after midnight. The local alley held several special nights where they turned off the normal lights at midnight, casting the alley in nothing but black light. Jacob loved bowling in the glow-in-the-dark effect, laughing at how silly they all looked with their bright white shirts and gleaming teeth. Their kid brother had dragged them to the event more than a few times.

Mark reached for a blanket and covered Bridget up. "She looks so peaceful, I hate to move her."

Matt agreed. "Let her stay. That couch is more comfortable than my bed. It'll be late when Jake and Rodney get back. Jacob will probably put Rodney in the guest room when they see Bridget's asleep."

"Yeah." Mark grinned. "I like the idea of her sleeping here."

Matt put his hands in his pockets. "Be better if she was sleeping between us instead of alone out here."

"We try that tonight and she won't get much sleep. My cock is about to explode."

Matt nodded sympathetically, then he gave Mark a wicked grin. "Yeah, mine too. But she's too tired. She needs the rest. You know, it's a shame I'm going to beat you to the cold shower." As he said the last sentence, Matt took off down the hall, racing to the bathroom the two of them shared.

Mark laughed, but didn't attempt to outrun him. Matt had too much of a head start. Instead, he bent down in front of the couch and ran his hand lightly through Bridget's soft hair. God only knew what tomorrow would bring. If he was lucky—very lucky—he'd find a way to convince her to stay in Saratoga for a while.

Or forever.

Footsteps pounded behind her,coming closer in the darkness. Bridget tried to run faster, but she'd already run too far. Her chest was on fire, the pains in her side excruciating. She'd never manage to escape this time. He was too quick, too close. She'd nearly reached the main road. Hopefully she could wave down a car. Right now that was her only hope for escape. Headlights pierced the pitch black night. She was so close. If only…

Strong hands gripped her from behind. Bridget screamed, trying to break free. They tightened on her arms as she continued to struggle.

She screamed louder as the headlights of the car blinded her.

"No!" she yelled.

"Bridget. Bridget!" A deep voice called her name, but she didn't have time to respond. She needed to get away.

"Let me go!"

"Bridget. Open your eyes." Another voice. A familiar one. A friendly one.

She froze, her breathing and heart still in a race with each other, both moving too fast, too hard.

"Open your eyes, darlin'." Mark's fingers brushed her cheek and she opened her eyes. "It's just us."

Matt was sitting beside her on the couch, attempting to untangle her from a blanket.

Neither man had time to say anything else because at that moment, Rodney burst through the front door, running at full speed, gun in hand, ready to do battle.

"Wait!" Bridget cried, terrified her protector would shoot Mark or Matt. Rodney's eyes were wild with fear and concern.

"I heard you screaming," Rodney said.

She shrugged guiltily. "Nightmare." She'd suffered far too many bad dreams since the night of Lyle's murder, but none since arriving in Saratoga. She'd foolishly hoped they'd stopped coming.

Rodney slowly lowered his gun, his relieved face revealing a new problem. Before Bridget could consider a solution, Jacob—who'd run into the room right on Rodney's heels—asked the inevitable question.

"Why do you have a gun, Rodney?"

Rodney turned to face his new friend, and Bridget imagined she could see the spinning wheels in his mind searching for an answer. She wanted to tell the James brothers the truth. She knew with every fiber of her being that she could trust them. She also knew Rodney wouldn't let her.

"It's my fault," she said quickly.

Rodney glanced at her, his face issuing a warning for silence. "Bridget."

The lie came to her in an instant, falling from her lips far too easily. Six months of hiding, pretending to be someone else, had taught her well. She'd become the queen of subterfuge and half-truths. "I got mixed up with a nasty guy in New York. We dated for a while, but then things turned sort of abusive. I tried to get away from him a few times, but he kept finding me. I even got a restraining order, but that didn't help either. Rodney and I decided to get out of town, try to let things cool off. I thought we'd be safe here. I mean, Saratoga's halfway across the country, for God's sake."

Rodney nodded as she wove the tale, then added his own pile of crap to the lie. "I got a call from a friend a few days ago. She said she thought Lucian had figured out where we were. That's why we were going to cut our vacation short."

Lucian. Judge Thompson. Bridget would have laughed at Rodney's inventiveness if her heart weren't aching. Lying to these men who'd offered her nothing less than kindness, friendship and the greatest orgasm of her life didn't sit well with her.

Throughout their impromptu storytelling, Bridget kept her gaze on Rodney's face, too afraid to look at Matt and Mark. Were they buying this? What were they thinking?

Finally, she looked. She glanced at Mark, then at Matt. Both of them were wearing identical scowls.

"This is the secret you've been hiding?"

Bridget thought there was a hint of disbelief lacing Matt's tone, but she chalked it up to her own paranoia. She nodded.

"Why didn't you tell us, Bridget? We would have helped keep you safe." There was no mistaking the hurt in Mark's question.

"I was embarrassed," she said. "I felt stupid."

Matt grasped her hand, squeezing it tightly. "Don't say that. Don't even think it. You didn't do anything wrong."

She wished that were true. She sniffled slightly, surprised by the strong desire to cry. She hadn't cried once since Lyle's death. "I've done so many things wrong."

Her conscience collapsed around her. She'd been a fool to put this family in danger, selfish to consider her own desires over their safety. What if Thompson had found her? Had arrived at this house tonight?

She'd given these wonderful men no warning about the risk they were taking by just being with her. To add insult to injury, she heaped lie on top of lie and still they gathered around, willing to protect her against an unknown evil.

One man had already died for her selfishness. She wouldn't let anyone else pay that price.

"We need to get back to the inn, Rodney."

Rodney nodded. "Yeah. I think maybe that would be best. Um…maybe you should get dressed."

She blinked in surprise, then glanced down, mortified to discover her bare legs sticking out from beneath the blanket. Mercifully, Rodney couldn't see exactly how naked she was from the waist down.

"Okay."

"Wait," Matt said, putting his hand on her arm to prevent her from rising. "Why don't you two spend the night here? Now that we know what's going on, we'll be better prepared."

She shook her head, fighting back the tears at his chivalrous offer. He had no idea what kind of shit storm awaited her. Even if Thompson's henchman didn't find her, she had no choice but to return to New York City. While there, she'd continue to be sequestered during what was certain to be a highly publicized trial.

"No." She couldn't continue with the charade. Much as her heart longed to stay here, she knew she'd only be living on borrowed time. That wasn't fair to Matt and Mark. "We really should head back."

Wrapping the blanket securely around her, she headed toward the guest room and her own clothes. She'd only made it one step in the room when she felt a tear slide down her cheek. She batted it away quickly. Matt and Mark would never let her leave if they saw her crying. She took a deep breath and dressed quickly.

All four men were standing in the living room when she returned. While Jacob looked disappointed, Matt and Mark looked downright miserable.

"I had a great time." She felt like she owed them at least a little bit of truth. The reality was tonight had been one of the best evenings of her life. She reached for Matt's hand, then took Mark's in her other. Squeezing tightly, she smiled, trying to hide the sadness behind it. "Honestly. You're both amazing men. I can't thank you enough for…" She paused, a million words flying through her mind—the riding lessons, the omelet, the friendship, the sex. Finally, she just said, "Everything."

Mark's face darkened. "You make this sound like a good-bye."

While it had to be farewell, she also realized how much harder this would be if they knew she was planning to run. "Does it? I don't mean it that way. I guess I'm just overly tired. I'll see you both tomorrow."

And that was the most painful lie of all. She swallowed, but the lump forming in her throat held tight. She was saved from having to speak again when Rodney stepped up beside her.

"You ready to go, Bridge?"

She nodded and let him lead her away from the ranch.

Away from them.