Trusting Them (17 page)

“What are you cooking there, Jeni?” he asked, walking up behind her.

“Fried apple pies. You had some apples that were going to go bad if we didn’t eat them. I thought you would like this better than a fruit salad.”

Brady grabbed her around the waist and kissed her on the cheek before letting her go. She smelled of cinnamon and honey. The combination was driving him wild with need. His cock grew harder than it was before he walked through the door and that was saying something.

“Fried apple pies sound good. Need me to test one for you?” He reached out to grab one, but she slapped his hand.

“Not ‘til after dinner tonight. I have a roast in the crock pot. It should be ready in another hour. You’re early tonight.”

“We decided to come in early. We might be really busy with the storm coming up.”

“Have you heard anything more? I should have had the TV on the weather so I could keep up with it.”

“That’s part of the reason I’m in so early. We need to look at the food and see what we might need to keep us should we get snowed in again.”

“Lord, I hadn’t thought about that. I’ll make a list as soon as I finish this last couple of pies.” Jeni flipped the pies in the frying pan over.

“Can I do anything to help?” he asked.

“No, these are almost ready. Then I’ll turn off the stove, and we can start checking the pantry for what we need.”

Several minutes later they were sitting at the kitchen table going over what they had in the pantry and refrigerator. Brady was impressed with her ability to think long-term as far as what they might need. Brock would be proud of her. She learned fast how important it was to think ahead when you lived over an hour away from town.

“Okay, the only things we could use are milk, bread, butter, and some fresh meat if we decide to go to town. We can do without all of it if need be.” Jeni ticked off the items as she named them.

“It will depend on what we need for the ranch as to whether we decide to go or not,” Brady explained.

“You know, if you two are needed here, I can go to town and get what we need so there’s no need for you to stop what you’re working on.”

Brady thought about it. It would help but he wasn’t too hot about her going anywhere alone right now. Maybe one of them could go with her while the other one stayed at the ranch. It was an idea to talk over with Brock.

“I don’t know. Might not be a good idea when you aren’t familiar with the roads yet. Maybe after you’ve driven them some.” He didn’t want to rile her up by saying she wasn’t going to go anywhere alone.

“I guess that’s a good reason. I don’t know my way around too well.” She doodled on the list, then stood up. “I need to work on dinner now. Brock will be in soon and you’re both hungry.”

Brady laughed. “How can you tell?”

“I’ve seen you eyeing my fried apple pies. They’re off limits for now. I know how many I baked, so don’t think you can sneak one behind my back and not get caught.”

“What can I do to help?”

“There really isn’t anything. I have it under control. Why don’t you relax in the living room and watch TV.”

Brady walked up behind her at the sink and wrapped his arms around her. She squeaked in surprise. He nuzzled her neck, pushing her hair aside with his nose.

“You smell wonderful,” he whispered in her ear.

“It’s probably the apple pies you smell, Brady. I don’t wear perfume.” Jeni scrunched her neck up where his chin kept scratching her skin.

He figured he was leaving a red mark from his afternoon beard. Not the least bit ashamed of marking her, Brady rubbed again before letting go of her and stepping back. She shivered but didn’t complain. It was a start, he decided.

“What is that wonderful smell?” Brock walked in the kitchen, removing his hat and coat as he did.

“She made fried apple pies,” Brady said as proudly as if he’d made them himself.

“I want one.” Brock walked over to the stove where they were.

“Don’t you dare touch them! They’re for after dinner.” Jeni turned from the sink and gave Brock a dirty look.

“Okay, I’ll wait.” He grumbled something under his breath that Brady thought sounded like “meany.”

“We got a list up of what we can use if we decide to go to town. We can do without if you don’t want to go, though.” Brady picked up the list and handed it to Brock.

“You know, one of us could go with Jeni and the other stay here to work on getting the ranch ready.”

“That’s not a bad idea. We need about five bags of feed so a trip to town is a must. I’ll write up what we can use and one of us will go with Jeni tomorrow morning.” Brock pulled the pad and pencil across the table and began writing out a list. “Might as well get everything we need and not waste a trip.”

“If you two will set the table, I’ll have dinner ready in another thirty minutes. We’re having roast with potatoes and carrots, green bean casserole, and rolls. I hope that sounds okay with you guys.” Jeni sat a pot back on the burner that had been sitting off to the side.

“Sounds wonderful to me,” Brock said.

Brady nodded his head towards Jeni, who had her back turned to them. Brock looked confused. Brady mimicked hugging and planted a big kiss in the air. Brock snickered and smiled. Brady watched as his older brother walked over to where Jeni stood stirring something on the stove. He wrapped his arms around her and gave her a kiss on the cheek. She laughed and turned in his arms.

“What is that for?”

“For taking such good care of us.” Brock flicked her nose with his finger.

“I enjoy taking care of you two.” Jeni smiled.

Brady noticed she didn’t pull away from Brock either when he held her. That gave him hope she wasn’t opposed to a possible relationship with both of them. Maybe not now, but in the future when they all knew each other a little better she would be happy living between them.

Brock let her go and popped Brady on the shoulder as he passed.

“Set the table for her, will you? I’m going to turn on the TV and catch the sports.” Brock walked out of the kitchen.

“Left you to do the dirty work.” Jeni’s smile teased him.

He still hadn’t managed to tamp down his desire for her. His cock was screaming to be let out to play. He swallowed a groan and began setting the table with plates and silverware. When he turned around, he found himself staring into her eyes. She’d walked up behind him and he startled her when he turned around.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you,” he said.

“That’s all right. I was going to sneak up on you like you did me.”

“Were you going to give me a kiss too?”

“Yep, right on your chin since I can’t reach you otherwise.” Jeni smirked up at him.

“How ‘bout I bend over and you can kiss me on the lips?” He was playing with fire he knew, but couldn’t help himself.

“Okay, bend down, cowboy.”

Brady watched her lick her lips and his cock leapt at the sight. She stood up on tiptoe as he bent over and kissed him lightly on the lips. He couldn’t stop himself. He cupped the back of her head with one hand and angled hers with the other. Then he swooped down and took possession of her lips. She moaned, standing still at first. Then she kissed him back, opening her mouth under his pressure. She tasted of apples and sugar.

Brady slowly pulled back, afraid of frightening her away. Things were going too smoothly for him to fuck it up by getting greedy. He couldn’t wait to tell Brock. She had actually kissed him back.

“Stoop teasing me and get your brother. His turn next.”

Chapter Twelve

“Oh, Lord. That didn’t come out right.” Jeni quickly tried to cover her mistake. “I mean, he can put the ice in the glasses.”

Brady laughed at her. “It didn’t sound like that to me. I think you want Brock to kiss you is what I think.”

“Shut up and go get your brother.” Jeni needed to fan herself.

Brady smirked at her but turned and left the kitchen, supposedly to get Brock. He was probably going to tell him all about her blunder. Truth be told, she did want him to come kiss her. Just like his brother. Did that make her a slut? She was falling in love with two men at one time. Or was she already in love? Before she could come up with a good answer, both men walked back into the room.

“Brady said you needed me to do something for you,” Brock said.

“Um, yeah. I needed you to fill the glasses with ice and tea. I’ve got everything ready to put on the table now.” Jeni busied herself getting the green-bean casserole out of the oven.

If Brady said anything, she was going to pass out right in front of them. Thank goodness for the heat from the oven to explain away her blush. She was sure her face and neck were three shades of red.

“You okay, Jeni? You look awful flushed there.” Brady cocked his head and smiled at her.

Jeni could have slapped him right then. He had a shit-eating grin on his face that made her so mad she couldn’t see straight. Then she realized he was getting what he wanted by getting her all riled up. She smiled back at him and licked her bottom lip slow and easy for him. The look on his face was priceless. She glanced down and noticed his cock outlined on his jeans. She knew her mouth flew open before she could stop it.

“Jeni?” Brock asked, looking concerned.

“I’m fine. Just hot here in the kitchen with the oven on and all.” She fanned herself.

Brady grinned wider as she did. She scowled at him when Brock turned his back to put the tea back in the fridge. Brady slid one hand down to his crotch and rubbed suggestively. Jeni nearly died in shock. She popped her hand over her mouth and turned away before she said or did anything that would embarrass her. What was going on with Brady? He was teasing and flirting with her. He hadn’t done that before.

Yeah, but you had sex with both of them. Don’t you think he can be a little forward after that? Besides, it’s what you want—what you are after. A relationship with them will be wild, to say the least.

Jeni swallowed and grabbed the platter with the roast on it and turned to set it on the table. Brock was suddenly there and taking it from her. He bent down and gave her a quick kiss on the lips before he took the roast to the table. Jeni forgot what she was doing and just stood in the middle of the kitchen staring at nothing.

“What about the potatoes and carrots?” Brady asked innocently.

“Oh, um, here.” She picked up the bowl with them in it and walked to the kitchen table and sat down.

She kept silent the entire meal while the men talked around her. They discussed the cattle, the bulls, the horses, and fences. She mulled over the kisses and little innuendoes the men had been throwing out lately. Were they as interested in her as she was in them?

Brady was a natural flirt with Brock being the more serious of the two. She knew where she stood with Brady—sort of. With Brock, though, she had no idea if he were interested in her or not. Sometimes she thought he was, but then he’d get all quiet and reserved again, and she’d think she might have made a mistake. Both men teased her to some degree. Today appeared to be a major tease day for Brady.

“So, what do you think, Jeni?” Brock asked.

“Huh? Oh, sorry, I guess I wasn’t paying attention. What did you say?”

“I was just telling Brady that you and I will go into town tomorrow morning and gather supplies while he works here at the ranch.”