Even if it’s really, really tempting.
Nobody spoke a word for several long seconds.
“Like I said, we understand. You’re busy. We’re busy. We work crazy hours too, right here on this ranch. I don’t know a ranch that doesn't run on crazy hours.” Cooper glanced at Nolan. “And when we’re not working, we reckon the three of us could make each other happy.”
We each took turns looking down at the table in front of us and shifting uncomfortably in the wooden dining chairs.
“I have an idea. You might say it’s a crazy idea and perfect for people who live their lives in the crazy lane.”
We both looked at Nolan, wondering what he was about to come out with.
“Why don’t we try a temporary setup? A few nights together while you’re still in Covington?” he asked quietly. “No pressure. Nothing more than a few nights. For old time’s sake and for fun in the here and now.”
It took me all of half a second to come up with my answer,
The truth was that I did want them. I wanted a life that involved spending time in the countryside and on the ranch. I wasn’t shy of hard work, but I wanted a different pace of crazy.
But I took my time before telling him.
I was tempted to pick back up like nothing had changed since high school, but that was impossible when Covington wasn’t where my life was anymore.
For a few nights, though?
Staying at the ranch and hanging out with them would mean less time with my parents, and that was an added bonus.
“Okay. But you must understand only a few nights is all it can be; I only have a few before I leave town.”
Cooper stood up and took my hand, and helped me out of my seat. “If that’s all it can be, then I guess we’d better not waste a single minute. We’ve a lot of lost time to make up.”
Chapter Eight
Poppy Evans
I didn’t have to ask what we were going to do. The hungry way they both looked at me told me everything.
When Nolan moved to one side Cooper moved to the other, and they both guided me down the hallway to the bedroom, it almost felt like old times all over again.
“It’s like we should be sneaking around,” I whispered as we walked down the hall, then laughed despite it all. “God, I never would have guessed the night would end up like this.”
“I’m glad it did,” Cooper said, leaning in to kiss me on the side of the head as we made it to his bedroom door. “Really glad.”
“That makes two of us,” Nolan added, his hand moving down to cup my ass. “Jesus, Poppy. We’ve missed you like crazy. And you don’t need to worry about sneaking around; there’s no one in the house but us.”
“I’ve missed y’all, too,” I said, meaning it.
I hadn’t let myself admit it before, but it was true. Nolan and Cooper were good folk. They always had been. They made a couple of stupid decisions, but their hearts were always in the right place. I couldn’t fault them for that. And it wasn’t like I owned the moral high ground when it came to the issue of making stupid decisions.
In fact, we all might have just made another one together.
Stepping into Cooper’s room, the master bedroom, was a little disorienting. My guys were the same. The feelings were the same. But we found ourselves standing in his parents’ old room with all-new, grown-up furniture that belonged to a grown-ass man rather than a boy in high school.
“It’s a little weird, isn’t it?” Cooper asks with a wry grin as he pulled me in close. Nolan moved in behind, sandwiching me between their hard, muscular bodies. “Took me a while to move in here after my dad passed away, but... I’m used to it now.”
Nolan makes an impatient noise in my ear. “That isn’t a very sexy topic, Coop. We’re trying to turn her on, not turn this into a wake.”
They both laughed, which helped crack the tension in the room.
“It’s okay,” I smiled, tipping my head up to kiss Cooper and relaxing as Nolan’s lips moved against my neck. “It did seem a little weird at first, but it’s good to see that you’ve both settled into your lives here. Y’all always made a good team.”
“We’re going to make a good team tonight,” Cooper said between kisses. “I bet I still remember exactly how to turn you on.”
He already had. And those words sent a rush of wet heat straight through my body like someone had reached in and dialed my hormones up to eleven. God, his voice—and Nolan’s, too—always had that effect on me, but now?
“We need to get you out of these wet clothes,” Nolan murmured, kissing the back of my neck and pulling at the zipper of my dress, which clung tightly to me. He eased the loosened dress away from my body and put it to one side. “I want to kiss every inch of your body.”