Rifling through several tubes, she selected one that was called “Cozy Red.” Once she saw it on her lips in the mirror, she felt it was right for tonight. A fringe benefit was Wyatt and Wade would probably like the shade, too.
God, those men knew how to kiss a woman until her toes curled and her heart raced. Never had she felt such a thrill just in a kiss, and she’d enjoyed the flush brought on by pressing her lips against each of theirs several times. But this wasn’t the time or place to be recollecting about her time with Wade and Wyatt. The only thing she should be thinking about right now was finding Trent.
But her mind wouldn’t let go of the fun she’d had with them, continuing to bring up the images and emotions she’d enjoyed in each of their embraces. “Amazing” was the only word she could come up with to describe what it had been like being with the Masterses. Each was unique in how he made
love to her, no matter their identical looks. Telling them apart in bed would be easy for her now. But she hadn’t been with them together, only one-on-one. That was her normal, not theirs. They’d confessed that they’d decided to approach her alone, understanding she was not from Wilde. Now, she let her mind imagine what it would be like to be with them simultaneously. Double the touches, the kisses, the caresses might be something she wanted to experience.
She shook her head, trying to shake free of the feelings the twin cowboys had birthed inside her. Her mind wouldn’t let go of the memories of her time spent with them.
“Trent. That’s why I’m in Wilde. That’s the only reason I’m in Wilde.” Saying it aloud seemed to free her mind of the past intimacy with the Masterses, if only a little.
Applying the final touches to her makeup, she went over every lead, every shred, every clue, everything. The puzzle pieces had to fit together somehow, but she couldn’t seem to make sense of them yet.
A knock on her bedroom door startled her. She turned and saw her self-appointed cowboy bodyguards standing with their big muscles ready to protect.
Wade smiled. “You about ready, sweetheart?”
“God, you look incredible.” Wyatt’s up-and-down scan of her body didn’t offend her. Not one damn bit.
Mac looked at herself in the mirror one last time. “I’m ready.”
Together, they would meet with the acting sheriff and Austin Wilde at The Masters’ Chambers and ask them what they’d uncovered about Trent’s disappearance. She grabbed her clutch and peered in. Trent’s napkin was inside. She still didn’t know the meaning of the numbers and the lone letter.
Were Austin’s name and number and the cryptic message the last note her brother had written? I’ll find you, Trent. I won’t ever give up.
She snapped the clutch shut and walked to the waiting Masterses.
“Let’s go, boys.”
* * * *
Mac steadied her breathing, though her heart was racing like mad in her chest.
After weeks of trying to get some shred of evidence about where Trent might be, she was about to get some real answers. She sat in the middle of the truck’s cab between Wyatt, who was driving, and Wade, who was holding her hand. In the strangest way, it felt natural and seemed so right.
As Wyatt killed the engine, paranoia tugged at her. There were almost no cars in the lot. Clearly this was Austin’s doing. He was a man of few words and deliberate actions. Why had he closed his club tonight? She’d learned early on it never closed. Was Austin’s news so bad he’d turned away paying members so they could have a private meeting? What if Trent was just as dead as the other fellow? She couldn’t bear the thought, but she knew it was a possibility.
“You ready, Mackenzie?” Wyatt asked.
She took a deep breath. “As ready as I can be.”
After opening the door, Wade extended his arm to her. She placed her arm in his. Wyatt came around from the other side of the truck and offered his as well. Was this act of chivalry the brothers’ prestrike attempt of enticing her into a three-way with them? She doubted it, though she believed having a ménage with her was always in the back of their minds.
Their gallantry clearly wasn’t about seduction tonight. They wanted to be here for her in every way, however she needed them to be. No other man had ever put her wants first. Every second she spent with her cowboy protectors, the more of her heart they claimed.
Self-reliance had seen her through a lot of close calls, but Mac didn’t want to face this terrible mission alone any longer. Thankfully, she didn’t have to. Like a princess being escorted by two noble knights, though instead of armor they wore cowboy hats and jeans, they walked arm in arm to the entrance of The Masters’ Chambers.
Whatever she was about to face, Wade and Wyatt would be with her.
She prayed the new evidence Austin had uncovered would lead them to Trent. It must.
* * * *
Wade scanned the parking lot with only Austin’s car and the sheriff’s. He hoped Mackenzie didn’t notice.
Austin had been known to close the club at a moment’s notice. Wilde’s most prominent citizen probably had done that again tonight, but until he knew for sure, Wade was going to make sure the beauty holding his arm remained safe.
Tough as she was, which was just one of the many things he loved about her, she was still fragile, no matter her skills and experience as an investigative reporter.