Some Like It Hot: An Erotic Romance Anthology

“Two years, huh?” Gracie asked, pretending not to be in the dark. “That long? Wow. I had no idea.”

“Shit yeah,” Cody laughed. “I thought for sure they’d never get you to give in to either of them. So which is it? Who gets to claim this as a date?”

Chapter Six

Gracie could feel steam coming out of her ears.

A bet?

For the first time that night, she met Grant’s navy blue gaze, hoping like hell she wouldn’t see what she expected to see. But, sure enough, there it was. Guilt.

“You’re a bastard,” she whispered, handing him the pool stick as she walked as calmly as she could manage passed him.

“Gracie, wait,” Lane hollered.

Grace didn’t stop. She couldn’t. They’d made a fucking bet which went to prove that the other night had just been bullshit. They had made a fool out of her, playing her like an idiot. All so that one of them could win some stupid fucking bet.

She had just rounded the side of the building, grateful for the shadows that would hopefully conceal her misery because the tears were right there, threatening to fall.

“Goddammit, Gracie, wait.”

She was just about to up her pace when a strong hand came down on her arm, stopping her. Rather than turning to face him, Grace kept her eyes forward, counting down from one hundred to keep the tears at bay. It was stupid of her to cry anyway. It wasn’t like she had a relationship with either of them. They’d kissed her. That was all. Hell, they had kissed each other, so it clearly meant little to them.

“Look at me,” Grant’s voice was low and deep, an urgent plea in his tone.

“I can’t,” she told him honestly. If she did, she’d surely cry, and she damn sure wasn’t going to let him know his deceit had hurt her so much.

Grant startled her when his body heat enveloped her, his hard body against her back, his heavy arms coming around her gently. “Let us explain.”

Us?

As though she’d welcomed him with open arms, Lane moved around to stand in front of her, efficiently sandwiching her between the two of them. Great. This definitely wasn’t helping.

“Yes, we made a bet. Two years ago. It was stupid,” Grant explained.

“Stupid, maybe. But it wasn’t bad, Gracie,” Lane explained.

“So who won?” she asked, feeling foolish.

“Neither of us,” Grant said, his voice soft against her ear. “There is no winner here. Especially if you walk away.”

“What am I supposed to do?” she asked dubiously. “I’m not your play toy,” she told them both. “You should know me better than that.”

Grant’s arms loosened, but only enough so that he could turn her around to face him. He was standing much too close. So close that Grace had to look up into his eyes.

“The bet was inconsequential, Gracie. It meant nothing. You are what we want, what–”

“We?” she exclaimed. “Are you still on this kick? What the hell does ‘we’ mean, Grant? There can’t be a ‘we’. It doesn’t work that way.”

“It can work that way,” he said softly, his finger and thumb now gripping her chin gently. So gently, Grace felt the tears rush forward.

“This doesn’t make sense.”

Lane stepped forward, closer to Grace’s back, shielding them all with his big body. At least that’s what it would look like for someone passing by.

“One chance, Gracie,” Lane pleaded. “Let us show you.”

Grant leaned forward, pressing his lips to hers lightly, and Grace was so tempted to give in. His mouth was warm and surprisingly soft. It was just like the other night all over again. She wanted to feel his arms around her, to feel his body against hers, his lips, his tongue.

But she couldn’t. Because Lane was there.

And damn it, she wanted him too and it just didn’t make sense. How could she want them both? And they both want her? And each other?

It was too damned confusing.

Grace pushed against Grant’s solid chest, and to her surprise, he stepped back.

“Leave me alone,” she begged and then slipped out from between them. “If you don’t want to hurt me, you’ll stop this game right now.”

Grant and Lane were both watching her. She could hardly make out their expressions in the shadows, but she could feel the heat coming off them. They wanted sex. That was all.

“You’ve got each other,” she said, just before she turned and… ran.

???????

Grant watched Gracie walk away. Well, run was more like it. Yeah, the hot little cowgirl was running full out, like the hounds of hell were on her ass.

“We need to go after her,” Lane said absently, still standing beside Grant.

“Yep,” he agreed.

Neither of them moved.

“What happens when she doesn’t open the door?” Lane asked.

“No idea,” Grant offered.

“How ‘bout I lead the way?”

“All right.”

Grant didn’t stop watching Gracie until she was completely out of sight. His feet wanted him to move, but his heart was lodged in his throat. He couldn’t fuck this up. Not after what had occurred between them the last time they went to her house.

“Come on,” Lane encouraged, finally taking one step forward. Then another.

Grant fell into step with him and before he knew it, they were taking the steps up to Gracie’s little cabin that looked like so many of the others on the outside, including his own.

Lane knocked on the door, but there was no answer.

“She’s not gonna answer,” Lane stated unnecessarily.

Grant reached for the doorknob, figuring what the hell. He was shocked when the knob turned easily and the door opened.

“Gracie,” he called, stepping inside because no, he was not going to let this opportunity pass him by.

“Go away.” Her voice was muffled and that’s when Grant noticed she was lying on the couch, a pillow covering her face.

Grant glanced back at Lane and the other man shut the door. Locked it.

The click of the deadbolt got Gracie’s attention because she lifted the pillow enough to peek out, but then she promptly put it back in place. “I don’t have anything to say to you. Either of you.”

Lane being Lane walked right over to the couch, lifted Gracie’s legs and plopped down before resting her booted feet on his lap.

“What are you doing?” she shouted, shooting up to a sitting position which gave Grant the opportunity he needed.

He took a seat where her head had just been, then pulled her back down so that her head was propped on his thigh.

“Y’all are impossible, you know that?”

“Oh, gorgeous, there’re plenty of possibilities where we’re concerned.”

Grant laughed at Lane’s garbled words. He clearly hadn’t been intending for them to hear him.

Unable to resist, Grant slid his fingers through Gracie’s shiny gold hair. Her eyes widened as she stared up at him. “What are you doing?” she asked again, this time her voice was soft.

“What does it look like?” he asked, continuing to brush his fingers through her long, silky tresses.

Gracie nearly came off the couch, her attention turning to Lane once more. “What the hell are you doing?”

“I’m takin’ off your boots. What does it look like?”

“Why the hell are you doin’ that?” she squealed as she tried to pull her leg back.

“They kinda get in the way,” he told her directly, again making Grant laugh.

When she looked back at him, he couldn’t hide his amusement. “Sorry. You can leave ‘em on if you want. Boots are optional.”

“Oh. My. God.” The exasperation in her tone dripped from every word, but Grant was pretty sure he saw a small smile turn the very corners of her lips.

Gracie flopped back down, and Grant had to shift to avoid some serious damage to the family jewels.