Tangled (Steele Ranch 3)

Kady stomped around the counter and two of the men stepped out of her way. She poked the big guy—the really, really big guy—in the ribs, although I doubt he even felt it. He was tall, dark and handsome as well as the size of a Samoan rugby player. “You made me this way,” she grumbled, but her smile softened her words.

The big guy grinned and looked to me. “I’m Cord, the impregnator.”

Kady laughed, poked him again, trying to get him to stop. If anything, he looked proud of himself for the fact that he’d knocked her up.

The guy beside him lifted his hand, gave me a small wave. He looked in his early-thirties, blond hair, blue eyes. While he wore the snap shirt and jeans as well as the rest, he had a more urbane look about him. “I’m Riley, the other one who got her pregnant. I’m more widely known though, as the lawyer for the Steele estate.”

“You sent me the paperwork,” I said, stating the obvious.

“That’s right. I’m Riley Townsend. I’m glad you made it, although Lee was telling me about how you ended up being here.”

I glanced at the floor, then back at him. None of the men looked happy. In fact, all the smiles were gone. In their places was fierce determination. They had the same looks as Sutton, Lee and Archer had the night before when I’d told them what had happened.

“Let me make the rest of the introductions while Kady gets you some coffee,” Penny said, eying our sister with a warning. Kady spun on her heel and went to a cabinet and took down a mug.

Penny pointed. “That’s Jamison, the foreman here at Steele Ranch, and Boone. He works at the area hospital in the ER.”

I nodded at the other two.

Boone, the closest to the edge of the peninsula, came around and shook my hand. “Lee said you’re in college.”

“That’s right. I’m one class away from my bachelors in Nursing.”

His eyebrows winged up. “Impressive. A great profession; nurses are needed everywhere.”

I thought so. That was why I’d gotten into it. The flexibility, the various nursing options from a pediatrician’s office to a flight nurse would be available to me, even in Montana, if I finished up the last class in the fall.

“Hey, I might be the foreman here, but more importantly, I’m known as the one who got Kitten pregnant.” Jamison pushed Boone out of the way and wrapped Penny in his arms, hugged her close and kissed the top of her blonde hair. She blushed hotly as I stared at them. Obviously, Penny was also known as Kitten.

She lifted her hand, pointed at Boone. “Him, too.”

Boone rubbed the back of his neck and replied. “Jamison didn’t knock me up, Kitten. We got you so full of cum that—”

She reached out, covered Boone’s mouth with her small hand.

“Don’t you dare!” she threatened as Jamison released her and Boone grabbed her up in his strong arms and carried her out of the room, his face a mixture of eager male and playfulness. I could hear the two of them bickering as they went down the hall, then a door slam shut.

“Do you take milk or sugar?” Kady asked as if my new sister hadn’t been blatantly taken into another room to have sex.

“Um, neither. Black is fine.”

Kady handed me the mug and I took a big sip, using the time to study those who were left. Lee looked amused as he leaned against the counter. He had on jeans and a new shirt—I had to wonder where he got that—and his feet were bare. Jamison went to pour himself some more coffee.

“You’re both pregnant?” I asked Kady, once again stating the obvious. Was there something in the water? Both of them seemed really excited and I was glad for them. How could I be anything else? I didn’t even know them. But I had zero intention of getting pregnant. Maybe I’d have a baby. Someday. But that someday was a long, long way off. Finish school, get a job, get out of living paycheck to paycheck. That had been my goal. Now? My only goal was to finish school. I could get a job as a nurse because I wanted to, not because I had to. I had to thank my dead father for that. But I wasn’t one to be idle and if I moved to the ranch, I’d go stir crazy out in the middle of nowhere before a month was over without something that challenged me.

And that didn’t mean a baby. I inwardly sighed, glad Sutton had gone and gotten condoms. I was on the pill, but I wanted to be careful.

Kady gave a brilliant smile, placed her hand on her flat stomach. She had on a cute hot pink sundress and strappy flat sandals that had sparkles on them. Her toenail polish matched her dress. The color was really pretty, and was striking in contrast to her gorgeous red hair.

And Penny? Blonde hair and blue eyes.

We looked absolutely nothing alike.

“We are. Crazy, isn’t it? So much has changed since I found out about our father, the ranch. I’m from Pennsylvania and am definitely not a cowgirl.”

Yeah, she didn’t seem to have gotten the cowgirl genes. Or jeans, for that matter. Her cute shoes were completely impractical for a ranch. Of course, so was her dress, but she didn’t seem to mind. When Riley came around the counter to refill his own mug, he hooked his arm about her waist, pulled her into his side.

These men didn’t hide their affection. There was no issue with PDA around here. Or with a woman being with more than one guy. It seemed…normal.