One Bride for Four Ranchers

I glance at Jessa. She isn’t looking at me, and her ears are tinged in red. She’s embarrassed. I want to close the distance between us. Comfort her. There are more important things at work right now than this fence, and I have to keep focused on that. On her.

Then I can focus on the bastard attacking our ranch.

Jake has brought the necessary tools with him to get the fence mended quickly and until someone can get up here and really make it right. We work together and fix it pretty fast, well enough the cattle won’t wander through. A few minutes of chatting later, and Jake and the rest of the hands head back to finish the work they were already doing.

Trey starts to head back toward the truck, too. Looking unsure, Jessa trails behind him.

“Wait,” I say. “We need to talk.”

Trey stops and turns to look at me. His expression is guarded. I can tell that he doesn’t want to have this conversation any more than the rest of us. But I know my brother, he isn’t going to back down. Which is why I’m fond of my new idea.

“Can you tell us apart in bed?” I ask Jessa. I’m trying to joke, break the ice. But even I can hear the edge to my tone.

“Fuck off, Clay,” she says, even more red crawling up her neck to her face. Damn, the woman’s beautiful when she’s angry.

“What happens between Jessa and me is none of your damn business,” Trey says, jumping to her defense. “She isn’t yours.”

I raise my hands in defeat. “I was just kidding—a bad joke, I’ll give you that. But you guys just admitted it.” I take a

deep breath, needing a little fortitude for what I’m about to say. “I don’t mind, I swear it. I’m happy for you, even. But... I’d like to be with Jessa, too. And if I’m not mistaken, I think Tyler and Joshua feel the same way.”

Stunned silence greets me. And I decide that I need to get all of this out before anyone can gather their bearings enough to argue with me.

I turn to Jessa. “Look, honey. It’s pretty damn obvious that you’re attracted all four of us. And maybe, just maybe, you might even have real feelings for all of us. And I know you’ve been struggling with that.”

Her shocked expression twists into a small, relieved smile after a long moment. “Is it that obvious?”

There’s no polite way to answer that question, so I keep going with my point instead. “Unless I’m way off my mark, every one of my damn brothers wants to be with you as badly as I do. And while I know it’s a little crazy to say out loud, I don’t see any reason why we can’t try this. Why we can’t try all of us being with you. See how it goes.”

“I agree,” Joshua says, his calm voice and demeanor coming through clearly. “Jessa, you’re really special. Our situation here is unique. Maybe it doesn’t make sense to try to follow normal rules.”

“I’m in,” Tyler cuts in. “For however long this can work,” he says, a bit of his normal sardonic attitude creeping in.

I turn to Trey.

But Trey doesn’t look back at me. Instead, he turns his attention to Jessa. “Sweetheart, honestly, I’ll take you any way I can.”

As one, we all face Jessa. I can see the intrigue lacing her expression, but she’s clearly shy about her interest. And I know exactly what she’s thinking—about the same stupid societal norms that plague all of us, when they go against what we truly want in our hearts.

“I’m probably going to hell for saying this,” she says, voice soft, “but I think it could work.”

A rush of adrenaline courses through me. Despite the way I’d spoken, I didn’t really expect anyone to agree with me, let alone everyone. I just knew we had to say it.

“Think we can all squish into your truck, Trey?” Joshua asks, eyes on Jessa.

“What about your truck?” Trey asks me.

“Leave it,” I say. “You or one of the hands can drive me back up to get it later.”

“Not sure that’s a good idea with someone running around breaking into our shit,” Tyler points out.

I give Tyler a look. “I don’t give a fuck about that truck right now, Tyler.”

He grins. “I get that, brother.”

Jessa bites her lower lip, and we all quiet. Every damn one of us can’t take our eyes off of her beautiful, full lips.

“Let’s go,” Trey says, gruffly.