Page 97 of Brooke's Bliss
“Who was that?”The shorter man’s eyes were locked onBrooke, who disappeared behind the barn doors.Now that one had spent some timeon the circuit.His well-worn jeans had a leather belt around them, but it wasmostly to show off the big buckle he was wearing.Rodeo Bull RidingChampion, it proclaimed.Which made him think the second guy was likely anadrenaline junkie, and that wouldn’t sit well with his calm boss.
No wonder they set Trev off.Still, he needed to figure outif they could work even in the short term.If he didn’t kill them first.“She’smine.That’s all you need to know.”
A brow rose over the taller one’s dark eyes.“Yours?Ithought everyone shared out here.Weird little town.Like those two guys whoran off.Are they into each other?”
He wasn’t sure.Bo bottomed for Trev.Unlike Noah, who alsotopped Hope with his brother Jamie, Bo was Trev’s sub.They had zero bloodbetween them, so Shane didn’t give a crap.It was probably handy to have eachother around when Beth didn’t want sex.
Damn, Bliss had chilled him out on so many things.“That isnone of your business, and if you have a problem with outside-the-normrelationships, then this is probably not the place for you.”
Bull Rider held his hands up.“No problems.Just curiosity,which we will check.Sorry about the questions.We heard you worked with yourbrother, and since this is Bliss and she’s gorgeous…”
Well, they weren’t wrong about that.He started walkingtoward the main house.In this part of the ranch there were two big houses andwhat they liked to call the front barn.It was where they kept the horses andsmaller livestock.There was a second barn they kept out in the fields withemergency supplies and space to keep sick animals.The house the McNamara-O’Malleyslived in also included a couple of rooms theyconsidered the business offices of the G.Shane started moving toward those.Trev would have left notes and such on the desk, including their résumés.“I’mShane Kent.I suppose I’m the foreman when Bo’s not around.”
“I’m Billy and this is my friend Ned.”The tall one kept upwith him.
Shane noticed that Ned had stopped a ways back, seeming tocheck his phone.“Well, welcome to the G.I’m sure Trev’s already gone oversome things with you.How far did you get?”
He opened the door for Billy as Ned slid his phone in hispocket and strode confidently toward them.“Not too far.I’ll be honest, wewere surprised at how few people were around.The ranches we’ve worked at arefilled to the brim most of the time.”
He noticed Noah walking up.The veterinarian jogged in fromthe barn.Shane held the door for him since he appeared to be coming his wayand not heading to the other family home, the one he shared with his brotherand their wife.“Well, most of our hands are out working.This is a big ranch,and getting to the remote parts can take some time.Not all our land is flatand reachable with a four by four.Sometimes we have to do it the old-fashionedway.Don’t worry.There are dorms out there.”
There were a couple of small buildings in the far fieldsthat offered food and water and protection from the weather.There were cotshe’d spent some time on when he got caught out there way after dark.
“I wouldn’t call them dorms.”Noah gave him a smile.“They’re more like basic shelters, but with halfway decent snacks.Hope makessure those get changed out every now and then.She didn’t like the fact thatsome of them had cans of beans from the last century.Sorry.I need to grabsome towels, and Trev’s place is closer.”
He disappeared down the hall.
“Who is that?”Billy asked.
“One of the owners, though he doesn’t do a ton of actualranch work.He’s a vet,” Shane explained.“Normally Noah works at his office intown, but it’s nice to have him around.”
“Why isn’t he there now?”Ned asked.“I thought we meteveryone.”
It was such an odd thing to say.Why did he care that Noahwas hanging around?“Like you said, it takes a lot of people to run a ranchthis size.Why don’t you two take a seat and I’ll be right with you.I’m goingto grab a water.”
He moved to the kitchen where Beth kept two things eternallyavailable.A pot of coffee was always on, and she had a case of water waitingfor anyone who needed it.Shane pulled his cell as he entered the kitchen.
No bars.
Damn it.He was going to call Bay and see when he could gethis ass home.Brooke needed some cuddle time and some rub her feet and proveshe’s a goddess time.
But he’d heard the newbies on their phones.They’ddefinitely made at least one call, and Ned had seemed to be actively textingsomeone.
That was when he heard it.
A loud bang crashed through the air.
Gunshot.There was no way to mistake it.Pistol.Not rifle,and it came from inside the house.
He had to get to Brooke.
He started to push out of the door when Billy stood there, agun pointed directly at Shane’s head.“Why don’t you sit down and we’ll have atalk.My boss should be here any minute.”
He could guess exactly who was coming.Kale Kingman.Andthey were all in trouble now.
ChapterFifteen
Brooke slipped inside the big barn and heard a lowgroan.
