Ride Her Hard (The Hard Boys 1)

“It’s odd because most people want to get out.”

She covered his hands with her own. “Is that what you want?”

“Nah, I was a weird one. I liked it here. I took a couple of courses at the local college to qualify as a plumber and electrician. A few business courses, you know, that kind of thing. I know it’s a small town, and to a lot of people, it’s not for them, but for me, this is my home. My family is here and when I make one for myself, I want them to have the same upbringing as me.”

She smiled. “You make it all sound so easy.”

“It can be easy, so long as you give yourself a chance to dream.”

She sighed, snuggling against him. “I need to go home.”

“You don’t need to go anywhere.”

“Your brothers can hear,” she said, remembering Caleb and Rome were still in the house.

“Let them. Believe me, don’t be embarrassed.”

“Do you bring women back here all the time?” Eliza didn’t really know if she wanted to hear the truth or not. Was it really important to know if he had a different woman here every single day of the week?

It wasn’t like she’d been home for too long.

“No, I don’t.”

She looked behind her to see he looked close to falling asleep. “You don’t?”

“No. This is my place and when you bring a woman back, they start to get ideas.”

“Ideas?”

“Yeah, like this is forever.” He kissed her neck.

She frowned. Did he even realize what he was saying? “James, you brought me back here.” Not just once either, but a couple of times.

“Yeah, imagine that.”

What did that mean? Did he see them together for forever? His words, not hers.

“Close your eyes, go to sleep, Eliza. You can analyze in the morning.”

Chapter Seven

“You’re making pancakes?” Caleb asked, coming downstairs in only a pair of boxer briefs with Rome not too far behind.

James ignored his brother’s puzzled look as he flipped the last three. He’d been making pancakes for the last hour. He’d put them in a low oven to keep warm. The coffee was brewing, and all he needed to do was heat the syrup, and most of the breakfast would be done. He’d also cooked his brothers some sausage and hash browns.

There really wasn’t anything else to do.

Running fingers through his hair, he saw Caleb was still staring at him like he was a foreign being.

“What?”

“You really, really, really like this woman,” Caleb said, sitting at the counter.

“I told you and Rome that I was going out on a date last night and you both decided to crash. Why?”

“You’re our big brother. I need to make sure the woman you’re fawning over is worth it.”

“Seriously? You’re going to do this to me?” James asked. When he’d woken up with Eliza still fast asleep in his arms, he’d felt overwhelming love for her. He couldn’t recall another time he’d been this fucking happy. Only remembering his brothers were here could spoil the moment with him.

“We’re taking care of you,” Rome said. “You know, how little brothers are supposed to. That kind of thing.”

He shook his head. “No, I want you both out. I don’t want you here when Eliza wakes up.”

“Why not?” Eliza asked, coming into the kitchen. She walked right up to him, wearing one of his shirts that came to her knees. Her hair was a mess, and she wore no makeup, but she looked like a goddess. She put her hands on his chest, going to her tiptoes and kissing him. “Morning.”

“Morning, beautiful.” His cock ached and he wanted to be inside her again.

“So why can’t your brothers be here while I am?” she asked, looking back to the coffee.

“It’ll be ready in a minute.”

She smiled, resting her head against his chest.

He closed his eyes, breathing in her scent, and just basked in her closeness. He felt like a fucking kid who had just gotten all the candy.

His brothers watched him with a smirk on their faces that made him want to murder them.

“Do you really want to see their ugly faces first thing in the morning?” he said by way of response when he realized she was still waiting for an answer to her question.

“I don’t mind. They’re your brothers. I think you’re being a little mean, but if that’s what you’re all used to…” she said.

“Don’t let him think for a second he should call us those names, Eliza. He’s being a mean, nasty man. You shouldn’t put up with him.”

She chuckled. “I’m not going to allow myself to come between siblings. Do you guys have a problem with me being here with your brother?”

“Babe, you don’t need to ask them that.”

“What are your intentions?” Caleb asked, looking way too smug.

There would come a day when he’d make his brother pay.

“My intentions?” She looked back at James. “I don’t know. I think James and I are having a good time.”