“I feel oversensitive. My God, what have you two done to me?” she asked with her eyes still closed.
“Just loving our woman,” Eric stated before he even thought the words through. Stacy looked just as shocked, but now that he said the words, he felt more at ease. Eric looked at Max, and Max smiled.
“I gotta get some sleep. I’m on duty the next week doing double shifts in preparation for the Fourth of July.”
“Oh my God. I completely forgot about the Fourth. Tell me all about the celebrations you have in Pearl. I’m used to New York City on the Fourth and hanging out in Time Square. It’s crazy there,” Stacy added then snuggled next to Max. Eric turned off the lights then climbed into bed on her other side.
“We’ll tell you about it in the morning,” Eric added, and Stacy pouted then closed her eyes and fell to sleep a few minutes later. Max and Eric chuckled as they snuggled closer against her.
* * * *
Stacy finished getting showered and dressed then headed out to her car. Max left her house around six o’clock in the morning, and Eric followed soon after. When she walked outside, Ron was sitting in a chair with a shotgun leaning against it and a cup of something in his hand that she assumed was coffee. She had been startled by his appearance and the gun.
“What’s going on? Is everything okay?” she asked as she cautiously looked around, wondering if there was a need to be fearful. Was there a wild animal loose?
“Naw, honey, no worries. I was just keeping watch on y’all until Eric gets back,” Ron stated then stood up from the chair and stretched.
“I don’t understand. Why would you have to—”
She released a sigh as she realized Eric and Max’s intentions. She looked toward Marie’s house and saw that Marie was working in the gardens.
“I appreciate you looking out for me, Ron.”
“But you’re angry,” he replied.
She took a deep breath.
“I’m just not used to being looked after. I grew up in the Bronx and in a pretty tough neighborhood. My mom left my dad when I was little. I’ve had to take care of myself for years. Anyway, I appreciate it, but it’s really not necessary.”
“Max and Eric are good men. They take good care of what belongs to them,” Ron stated then gathered up his chair and shotgun.
She wasn’t expecting such a strong response to her statement. It appeared that people were real close around these parts and the Cantrells were well liked. She didn’t know how she felt about being seen by others as a possession or property of Max and Eric’s, but she did have a silly feeling in the pit of her stomach that seemed to like the idea of belonging to them. But her pessimistic mind wondered if she just wasn’t needy and it took being nearly raped and now harassed by some stupid ex-boss to make her realize it.
“I can drive you over to the Triple C ranch to check out the kitchen and the supplies. Eric is there and he’s expecting you. He said he can drive you into town for any other supplies you might need.”
“I can drive myself, or did they say not to allow me that personal freedom?” she asked and knew it sounded bitchy.
Ron chuckled. “This ought to be interesting,” he stated then walked over toward his truck, glancing at her over his shoulder as if wondering if she would obey and follow. What choice did she really have? Eric and Max were just being overprotective. It wasn’t like Barry would find out she was in Texas, come out here, and abduct her? The thought made her belly tighten with fear. Could he be capable of that? She looked around the property and saw a few of the farmhands helping out. Then she looked toward Marie. She didn’t want to send any trouble their way. She figured it couldn’t hurt to have two strong, sexy men watch over. For now.
* * * *
The Triple C was absolutely stunning. Not that Stacy had anything other than Internet pictures of other ranches and some she might have seen on television, but she just knew that this was unique. Ron explained about the hundreds of acres of land the Cantrells owned and how Eric, Max, and their cousins Charlie, Ben, and Wyatt maintained the land and shared an equal partnership. As they pulled up through the double-gated entrance, she noticed numerous men riding horses. They were real big men. She had thought that Eric, Max, and even their cousin Wyatt were very tall and extra-largely built, but it seemed that the town of Pearl grew their men huge. Their cousin Wyatt had been beyond intimidating. He looked like a linebacker. As they slowly drove up the long driveway leading to the two main houses, Stacy noticed the horse-training circle, the numerous stables, and there were even cattle in the pasture. She had never seen bulls or cows before. Come to think of it, she never had even gotten that close to a real horse. She wondered if Eric or Max would take her riding and teach her. She feared assuming that there would be a one day and that she would share more time with Eric and Max.
Suddenly her attention was drawn to two large beautiful homes. Both with wraparound porches but one that was twice the size of the first house and separated by a big red barn. Traditional of a farm or ranch, she supposed, but still gorgeous. The main house, the one Ron informed her that belonged to Eric and Max and where she would be working, was exceptional. The white wraparound porch had beautiful natural stained-wood steps and flooring throughout. Plus, the spindles were stained the same color. Gorgeous floral hanging baskets decorated the three main corners of the porch that she could see from inside the truck. The moment Ron parked his truck alongside Eric’s pickup truck, a few men came out of the barn.
“Howdy, Ron!” two of them exclaimed as they approached and both Ron and Stacy exited the vehicle.
Holy God, these men were good looking. Stacy was caught off guard and had to stop herself from drooling. They, in turn, seemed to give her body the once-over, causing her to blush and turn away. She pretended to look around the area, but her eyes were drawn to the men.
“This must be New York,” one stated with a smile then reached his hand out to greet her.
Stacy shook his hand and was glad to feel no attraction other than finding the man good looking. She actually felt guilty for looking at the other men. She wondered where Eric was.
“I’m Ben and this is Charlie,” he stated, and she shook both their hands.
“Nice to meet you.”
“The pleasure is all ours, darlin’,” Ben replied flirtatiously, and she couldn’t help but wonder what Max and Eric had told them about her.