Hard 5: Multiple Love

Scott snorts. "She's got you figured out."

"Chocolate milkshake is the best."

"Vanilla," Cary says.

"Banana," Colt says to a unanimous “Ewwww” from all of us.

"What the hell, Colt," I laugh. "Banana milkshake is like the drink of the devil."

"Pink sauce is the dip of the devil," he says.

"Pickles are the…" Sawyer hesitates, stumbling over what to say next.

"…pickle of the devil," I laugh.

"Lame," Scott mutters. He might be being dismissive, but at least he's joining in with some lighthearted conversation.

"So, what other disgusting things do you like to eat?" Sawyer asks. "I'm beginning to think we're going to need to start agreeing on the menu plan at the start of the week so we can avoid any pickle or pink-sauce concoctions."

"I like drinking vinegar-based salad dressing from the bottom of the bowl." There's another unanimous Ewwww. "Oh, and I love cheese and jam sandwiches."

"What the hell?" Sawyer screws up his nose.

"That sounds like it could be good," Cary says. "I like sweet and savory."

"Exactly," I laugh.

"Anyway. I'll make sure I run anything that isn't traditional meat and potatoes cooking past you guys first."

"We love your cooking," Colt says. "You just carry on doing what you're doing."

"What about you guys? You must have been cooking before I came along. What are your specialties?"

"It wasn't good," Scott says.

"Cash can make an omelet," Sawyer says.

"And Colt tried his hand at chicken and oven fries."

"We can manage hotdogs," Cary laughs. "To be honest, we ate a lot of sandwiches."

"Anything tastes good between two slices of bread," Sawyer says.

"Even pickles and pink sauce?"

He throws his arm around my shoulder and tugs me against him, squeezing hard and ruffling my hair. I squeal, and Colt and Cary turn to see what's going on.

"Do I have to remind you that I'm trying to concentrate here," Cash says in an annoyed dad's voice.

"This girl is trouble," Sawyer laughs as I try to push against his chest and escape from his grip.

"My hair," I whine. "What am I going to look like going out so messy?"

"You look sexy to me." Sawyer releases me and tucks some of my now-wayward hair behind my ears.

Sexy?

No one has ever called me sexy before, but all of this feels good. Warm and comfortable, like sliding my feet into my favorite pair of slippers. We're driving down Main Street by this point, and I gaze around, feeling excited to be out in the world again. There are people in smart clothes dressed up to go out for the evening. The bar seems busy, and there's a coffee shop with tables outside that's buzzing too.

Cash pulls up in the diner’s parking lot amongst the other trucks, and we spill out of the vehicle, straightening clothes and hats, getting ready to be seen in public.

"People are going to talk," Cary says, as though he can read my mind.

"Talk about what?" Cash locks the car, shoving the keys into the pocket of his jeans.

"Talk about Melanie being out with us. Talk about how we bought her ranch. You know how people are."

"So let them talk. What does it matter?"

"They're going to wonder why we're all out with one girl," Scott says, his dark eyes made darker by the shadow of his black hat.

"They won't be thinking about that." Cash shakes his head dismissively.

"They will." Scott starts walking, pushing open the door of the diner and disappearing inside. We follow, and the weight of his words causes us all to glance around. Inside, it's busy, but there are still tables available. Scott has chosen a perfect booth. At least it will give us a little privacy.

I feel eyes on me as I follow the Bradfords. Questioning eyes. We will definitely be the subject of gossip, but I'm sure they won't be thinking along the lines of what's really brought us here. This is a small town, and multiple-partner relationships aren't something that is commonly known about. Raising my chin, I slide across the red faux-leather-covered seat, until I'm sandwiched between Cary and Cash. Scott is opposite, with Sawyer in the middle and Colt last to take a seat.

"It smells good," I say, breathing in the scent of grilling meat that takes me back to all of my childhood birthdays.

"They better bring the food quickly," Scott says. "My stomach was expecting food two hours ago."

"Your stomach needs to learn to wait," Cash says. "But let's get some appetizers to keep us going."

I grin, knowing he must be hungry as a mule, but he's trying not to show it.

When the server arrives with menus, she takes our drinks order, smiling at the milkshake orders for these big, sexy men. "Ya'll ready to order food?"

"Yes," Scott blurts. "We're all ready."

"I'm n…" Sawyer starts, but Scott has his hand up to dismiss him in a flash.

"He knows what he's getting, and if he doesn't, I'm ordering for him. Melanie, tell the lady what you want."