Then the other man did the same, pressing his lips to hers.
Fucking slut! You were meant to be my wife.
It took all his willpower not to jump out of the rental car and start blasting at all three of them. But that wouldn’t serve his purpose. He wanted his money. And he wanted Carrie alive. She was his. If she’d been alone, he would’ve grabbed her. But she wasn’t alone.
The two men got back on their horses and Carrie handed them the reins of the beast she’d been riding.
Here comes my chance after all these years of searching for you.
A middle-aged woman and a young girl walked up the sidewalk to Carrie as the two men rode away. The three hugged each other and he saw the broad smile spread across Carrie’s face. Was the little girl Matt’s daughter? He couldn’t see any family resemblance from this distance but he bet the child was Carrie’s niece.
Two women and a little girl. I like those odds.
He grabbed the handle of the car door, and then stiffened as a patrol car turned on to the street up ahead. “This must be your lucky day, Carrie. Our reunion will have to be later. But I’ll be back.”
He started the engine and headed to his motel in the nearby town to work out how best to get to the woman who had betrayed him.
* * * *
Carrie slid down into the tub. The warm water felt good on her skin. It had been an amazing day. Josh and Jacob were such wonderful men.
She had never felt that kind of closeness with any man in her entire life. After making love with them, she’d enjoyed the delicious meal and wonderful conversation.
It was all too perfect. They were too perfect. She knew better than to let her expectations get out of control. She had to protect herself and her heart.
All the happiness she’d ever known was always short lived. Her mind drifted back to what had happened with Mrs. Kearns when she was a little girl. She’d believed that the dear woman loved her. But of course Willie used Mrs. Kearns’s affection for her to his advantage before skipping town. Leaving had devastated Carrie.
Will that happen to me again?
She closed her eyes and licked her lips, thinking about the tender kisses they’d given her before Janet had rushed out the door, inviting them to the barbeque. Josh and Jacob had left to take the horses back to Stone Ranch, but had promised to be back in time for dinner.
What if I’m wrong about them?
Was the best course of action to see Josh and Jacob again? They’d already asked her to dinner tomorrow night and also to join them at the paintball festivities coming up. What would they think of her when they learned that most of her memories were gone?
She took a deep breath and slipped her head under the water’s surface. What could she offer them? A woman without memories and a dark past. A woman with two million dollars in a red suitcase that didn’t belong to her.
She came up out of the water, knowing it was best not to get her hopes up. But reuniting with her brother had changed Carrie, and being welcomed into his family with open arms had caused her to let her guard down. Knowing what was best and doing it were two different things entirely. She was dreaming again about the future and about the possibility of finding love.
Am I setting myself up for heartbreak?
“They might not even show tonight. That’s the way it’s always turned out for me.”
Despite what her logical side told her, she couldn’t help wish Josh and Jacob would come.
Am I already falling for them? “If I’m honest with myself, I know I am.”
* * * *
Jacob brushed Pecos’s coat, and looked over at Josh, who was doing the same with Dusty.
Emmett Stone entered the barn. “Hey, fellas. How did the date with Matt’s sister go?”
Josh smiled. “Fantastic. Carrie is wonderful.”
“Don’t forget beautiful and smart.” Jacob had never had a better day in his life. He could tell that his cousin felt the same way.
“So let me see if I get this right. You had a good time?” Emmett laughed. “It sounds like two of Phase Four’s reside