Found in Bliss

  Chapter Twelve

  “I can’t believe how big you got!” Stella stared down at Nicky while she poured coffee into Holly’s mug.

  Holly’s boss was dressed in her typical uniform of jeans, a ridiculously over-the-top Western shirt, and white boots embroidered with loud red roses. She had left off her cowboy hat, but her helmet of blonde hair was on full display.

  Nicky grinned up at her. He’d taken everything in with an eager embrace. “Well, I couldn’t stay a kid forever, Ms. Stella. I just had to go and turn into a whole heap of man. I hear you just got married. That’s a shame because I’ve had a crush on you ever since that day I tried your butterscotch pie.”

  Nicky might like boys, but he knew how to butter up a woman, too. Holly remembered that day well. It was one of two times Nicky had been allowed to come to Bliss. He’d been twelve.

  “Don’t even try your flirtatious ways on her, baby,” Holly said with a smile. “She just got married to a billionaire.”

  Nicky laughed. “Seriously? Yeah, you probably don’t want little old me. Tell me something, Ms. Stella, why are you still here? Shouldn’t you be off jet-setting?”

  Stella waved him off. “Sebastian likes it here. He waited a long time to come home. Now I can’t get that old man out of Bliss. Oh, we took a nice long honeymoon, but in the end, this is home. And I wouldn’t stop working. What would I do with myself? And who would feed these people? Zane Hollister? I don’t think so. He thinks his wings and bar food beat my waffles. He is wrong. And the man has no idea how to make a chicken-fried steak.”

  Stella walked off to serve another table, vowing revenge on Zane. The two had gotten into a friendly rivalry. There was talk of a chili cook-off.

  “This place is different, you know.” Nicky finished off the coffee in front of him.

  “I know.”

  He shook his head. “No. You’ve been here too long. You don’t see it anymore. I’ve wanted to live here all my life. At first it was just because it seemed simpler, and I missed you so much. But I found Great-Granddad’s diary one day. It was stuffed away with some other papers in Dad’s office. Did you know Great-Granddad built the cabin you live in with his own hands?”

  “I know your grandmother thought he was crazy.”

  “He built it back in the forties. It was just a fishing cabin, but the community started in the sixties.”

  “Yes, I’m sure the venerable Judge Lang adored all the hippies moving in.”

  “See, Dad being an asshole made you prejudiced. Judge Albert Lang was my great-grandfather, and he had a lot to say about this place. He was retired by the time the commune, as he called it, came to town. He loved it. He loved the people. He loved how the cowboys and the hippies somehow got along. He used to go to the weekly protests with a lawn chair and a beer and cheered on the craziest sign. And the protesters courted his vote. He said this place was magical. He was a judge for thirty years. He saw horrible things come through his courtroom, but he would come here and he would feel clean again.”

  She would love to read that diary. But she also didn’t want Nicky to have misconceptions about Bliss. “Terrible things happen here. It’s not paradise.”

  “I know. It wasn’t back then, either. And what’s with all the alien sightings? Granddad talks about him and some young vet putting down an alien invasion back in the sixties. I think he might have been going senile by then.”

  Not the way Mel told it. “We have some characters around here.”

  “Yes, and I want to be one of them. I want to be who I am and not apologize for it. I want someplace where I’ll be accepted and relied on not because of who I am, but what I’m willing to do to help out.”

  She loved his enthusiasm, but couldn’t help but think about his future. “Nicky, baby, I don’t know how much of a future there is for you here. It’s hard to find a job. There aren’t a lot of opportunities.”

  “There’s a college in Alamosa. After that, we’ll see. I just know that I don’t want to go back to Denver or Washington. I want to figure myself out. I want the world to be big and small at the same time. Big enough that I can lose myself in it, and small enough that I can find my way home. Here, Mom. With you.”

  She reached out and grabbed his hand. She’d had so many dreams for him. From the moment he’d been laid in her arms, she’d seen big plans for his future, and now she saw clearly that he dreamed better than she ever had. Happiness. Family. A place to call home. Those were what mattered.

  It was all in reach. It was past time to grab it.

  “I’ll support whatever you want to do, baby.”

  “Oh, god, that man is hot. And there’s two of him. Support me in finding my own crazy, hot cowboy ménage. Please, Mommy. Buy me those two.”

  And he was slightly demented. “Nicky, please remember, I’m your mom. I do not want to hear about your sex life. I wouldn’t want to hear about it if you were straight, either.”

  He had the most mischievous look in his eyes. Holly was well aware he played it straight around his father. Now he was indulging in being himself. Way too much. “That is the hottest cowboy ass I have ever seen.”

  Holly winced. She knew Nicky was enjoying his newfound freedom, but this was still a small Western town. She turned to see who the recipient of her son’s admiration was.

  Everyone in the café had stopped as though waiting to see if the bomb was going to go off. Stella’s mouth sort of hung open, and she stood very still. The whole café reminded Holly of a possum in the presence of a very large predator. They held still in hopes that the predator wouldn’t eat them.

  Max Harper turned and stared at Nicky, his eyes narrowing. Rye stood beside his brother.

  “Did you hear what that kid said?” Rye asked.

  Max frowned. “Yeah. Yeah, I did.”

  Oh, fuck. The baddest-tempered man in town was staring at her sweet, little, apparently way-too-sexually-precocious baby boy. Max liked to start fights. He really liked it. Max was at least two hundred twenty pounds of pure muscle. And Nicky was right. He had a great ass, but Holly wasn’t sure he wanted to hear that from another man.

  Max started to stalk toward their booth.

  Holly stood. Fuck, how would Rachel handle this? Rachel was the only one really capable of handling her husband.

  “Now, Max, he is seventeen years old. You can’t beat him up.”

  Max ignored her. “What did you say to me, young man?”

  Nicky turned a very nice shade of green, proving that he had a healthy sense of self-preservation. Holly tried to get in between her baby and the tiger whose tail he’d pulled.

  “I said you had a nice backside, sir.” Nicky sounded like he gulped a little between words.

  “Nicky, you are not helping.” Holly sent her son what she hoped was an intimidating stare.

  “And you’re of a homosexual persuasion?” Max asked, his voice low.

  “Yes, yes, sir.”

  “Max Harper, I swear, if you touch my son, I will cut off your balls.” That sounded a little Rachel-like.

  Max finally looked to her, his handsome face a mask of confusion. “Why would I beat him up? He complimented me.” Max swiveled and showed off his backside. “Rachel never compliments my ass. Do you know how hard I work for this? I try to keep myself attractive for her, but she never even mentions it. It makes a man wonder.”

  He turned back and around, and the whole café seemed to deflate with the knowledge that no one was going to be murdered.

  “It’s not right,” Max said, shaking his head.

  Rye groaned behind him. “She’s not ignoring you. She’s tired because Paige has had an ear infection, not because she doesn’t think your ass is pretty.”

  “See, if you were with a gay guy, he would worship you for that ass. Nothing would get in the way.” Nicky was right back to grinning.

  Holly could see he was going to be a handful. She might need to start a “sarcastic gay teen” support group.

  Max crossed his a
rms over his chest and smiled, smug satisfaction evident in his stance. “I told you I would play well with our homosexual brethren. This is one hot piece of man meat. It plays across all sexual orientations.”

  Rye slapped at his brother. “He wasn’t talking about you, idiot. It was obvious he was talking about me. No gay man is going to put up with your shit.”

  “Oh, I could find some,” Nicky assured them, putting his chin in his hand and enjoying the show. Max and Rye argued over who had the better butt.

  They were identical twins. Rachel would one day be nominated for sainthood. Two men were twice the work. Twice the laundry. Twice the cooking.

  Twice the amazingly hot sex.

  Twice the love.

  Yeah, she could handle the laundry.

  Holly glanced out the huge front windows that overlooked Main Street as Nicky suddenly found himself the arbitrator of their argument. She felt her whole body heat up as she saw Alexei standing in front of The Trading Post talking to someone. His shoulders were so broad. He’d taken up most of the space in the bed, but she hadn’t minded. She’d been warm and happy.

  Alexei turned and she could see who he was talking to. Caleb. Caleb had changed his clothes and looked relaxed as he talked to Alexei. He stopped for a moment, his face tightening. Emotion was evident on his beautifully imperfect face. Caleb’s face was an odd combination of harsh features and gorgeous eyes. Everything about it was masculine. And he had obviously been deeply affected by something Alexei had said.

  She got out of the booth again. Were they having an argument? Were they going to fight? She doubted it would be like the friendly throw downs Max and Rye got into. Damn it. This couldn’t work if they didn’t get along. Everyone would be miserable.

  “Baby, I’m going to go talk to someone for a minute. Will you be okay?”

  Nicky sighed. “I think I can handle it. Can you catch a ride back with one of the hotties? I want to drive around a bit.” She nodded, and Nicky turned back to the cowboys. “I don’t know. It’s a really close race. You both have really nice asses.”

  Holly began walking for the door when Caleb put a hand on Alexei’s arm and nodded toward the street. Alexei smiled. They weren’t fighting. They were talking, really talking. They looked like friends. Hope bloomed in Holly’s chest. She stepped out of the diner and started to cross the street.

  And then she heard it. It was the squealing sound of tires trying to keep up with an engine that was running fast. She smelled the burning rubber just as she stepped onto the street and saw a flash of black coming her way. She suddenly knew what it felt like to be a deer in the headlights. She was strangely frozen by the sight of the car coming her way. She had to move, but she knew there wasn’t any time. God, she’d just gotten her son back. She’d just found her men.

  “Whoa!” someone yelled, and an arm wrapped around her midsection, hauling her back. She fell with her savior, hitting the ground behind them.

  She looked up into the eyes of James Glen. His ever-present cowboy hat had fallen off, revealing his longish, golden-brown hair.

  “What was that?” Holly asked, barely able to speak.

  “That was some asshole tourist,” James replied. “Are you okay? Logan is supposed to be catching speeders. Where the hell is he? Trev, did you get a plate number on that asshole?”

  Holly looked up, and there was a gorgeous slab of cowboy looking down at her. She was pretty sure she knew who he was, though. Trev McNamara, professional football’s bad boy and, if rumor was true, James Glen’s new partner in the Circle G Ranch.

  “No. It all happened really fast. Are you all right, Miss? Should I get a doctor?” Trev asked, reaching a hand out. He had her on her feet in no time. “I think we need to call one. It looks like he missed you, but he caught that other guy.”

  Holly’s heart nearly stopped. “Alexei!”

  She raced across the street where Caleb was kneeling over Alexei’s body. She nearly screamed when she saw the blood on his leg.

  Caleb looked up, his eyes rising to meet hers. “He’s fine. He got clipped across his thigh, but it’s not broken. The worst we’re looking at is a hematoma.”

  “I am fine, dushka. Caleb pulled me back in time.” Alexei took the hand Caleb offered, and they got him to his feet. “I should have watched what I was doing.”

  “It wasn’t just you,” James said, striding up with his friend. “Holly nearly got it, too. That asshole came out of nowhere.”

  If Alexei had been counting on Caleb for support, he would have fallen to the ground. Caleb was all over her like a monkey momma checking for bugs on her baby. His hands were suddenly everywhere.

  “Where are you hit? Are you bleeding? How bad is it? Should I call an ambulance? There’s nothing an EMT can do that I can’t, but they can get us to a hospital faster.”

  Well, she couldn’t really trick herself into thinking he didn’t care. “Caleb, I’m fine. I didn’t get hit. James pulled me out of the way then softened my fall by hitting the ground first in a gentlemanly manner.”

  James had his cowboy hat back on. He tipped it and winked. “Ma’am, it was all in a day’s work.”

  Caleb picked her up anyway. He simply leaned over and scooped her up, hauling her to his chest. “Come on, Alexei. We need to check her out. James isn’t a doctor, so you’ll excuse me if I don’t take his professional advice. No offense.”

  James’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “None taken, Doc. I never would. I know you have a tranquilizer gun, and you know how to use it.”

  Trev McNamara’s eyes went wide. “Tranquilizers? You people run around shooting each other?”

  “Just Mel. How did I get this reputation?” Caleb asked. “Alexei, could you pick up the bag? It’s got the plug and lube and stuff in it.”

  “Caleb!” Holly shouted, feeling her skin flush. The man had not one ounce of discretion.

  All the men around her laughed.

  Trev slapped James on the back. “Damn, I like it here. I can’t wait to tell Bo this story.”

  James picked up the bag—which was apparently filled with sex toys—and passed it to Alexei. “Yeah, well, I think you’re going to fit right in.”

  She had to wave over Caleb’s shoulder. He strode down the street toward his small clinic. Alexei smiled as he tried to keep up.

  “I will have to remember to not get injured while you around, dushka. The doctor plays favorites.”

  “Caleb, he’s hurt.”

  “Are you hurt?” Caleb yelled over his shoulder.

  “This, I will survive,” Alexei answered.

  “See. He’s fine.” He leaned down and managed to get the door to the clinic open. He strode to the exam room and tenderly placed her on the small table. His hands immediately started to unbutton her shirt.

  “Caleb, I’m fine.”

  “I’ll decide that.” He pushed her shirt off her and smoothed his hands across her shoulders. “You have a contusion right here.”

  She hissed just a little as he touched it. “I scraped the sidewalk.”

  “Alexei, the antiseptic is in the second cabinet. Get it for me and then take your pants off.” Caleb looked back at him. “And no arguments. I’m the boss in this office. You’re limping.”

  “It is nice of you to notice.” Alexei said it with a little smile as he did as he was asked. He passed Caleb a bottle of hydrogen peroxide and some gauze and then started on the button of his slacks. “I hate this man who drives too fast. He ruin perfectly good pair of slacks.”

  “Take off your bra, sweetheart,” Caleb ordered. “He could have ruined your life. I find it interesting that he nearly managed to mow down two people, but he drove straight as an arrow afterward.”

  “Caleb, I don’t need to take off my bra.”

  Caleb tore open the packaging on the gauze. “Alexei?”

  Alexei placed his folded slacks on the counter and walked around her back. He had her bra unhooked faster than she could protest. “Dushka, do not disobey doctor.
He is boss here. If you disobey, he will not give you lollipop. You will be bad girl. You know what bad girl gets.”

  Bad girls tended to get cock. What were they playing at?

  Caleb shook his head. “You had to bring in the pervert, didn’t you, Holly? You couldn’t have chosen someone perfectly normal to complete our little threesome?”

  She hissed slightly as he cleaned the teeny tiny wound she’d taken. It was so small that it hadn’t even bled much. It shouldn’t affect her abilities in the least. It certainly shouldn’t stop either one of them from showing her a little affection.

  “Tell me you don’t want to play doctor. That is what you call it, no?” Alexei’s finger traced her spine. She leaned into his touch.

  Caleb continued to work on her. “Yes. That’s what we call it. But only after the pretty patient proves herself fit for play. And we should talk about that car.”

  Alexei’s voice went deep and dark. “We will talk about it. Later.”

  “As long as we get around to it. That didn’t feel like an accident to me.”

  Holly sat back up straight. “What do you mean it wasn’t an accident?’

  “Shhh.” Caleb dabbed at her wound. “I said we would talk about it later and we will. For now, I want you to lie back.”

  She sighed. He didn’t sound like he was going to move. Sometimes Caleb turned into the rock that bumped up against a really hard place. She lay back on the padded exam table. Alexei loomed over her.

  “Everything will be all right, dushka. Your men will take good care of all your parts. We will let no one be taking you from us.”

  “Do you think it’s Scott? Do you think he could get so mad about Nicky he would try to run me down?” It seemed incomprehensible. Scott was a jerk, but he wasn’t a killer. Of course she also would have guessed that he couldn’t possibly have tossed their son out into the cold.

  “It was probably just some asshole. And I don’t think anyone would want to hurt you, sweetheart.” Caleb’s hands worked the button of her jeans. “You weren’t the only one who got hit.”