9781618857279MakeMineaCowboySullivanNC Read Free Page B

from the floor and opened the bedroom door. Joel stood on
the other side with a wide grin, propped against the wall with his arms over
his chest.
    “Well
now. Don’t you look pretty?”
    “Thank
you, sir.” She dipped a small curtsey.
    “I’m
here to show you where the washer and dryer are, and then escort you to supper
since the crowd is already gathering.”
    “I’d
appreciate it, since I don’t know my way around the house.”
    He
took the clothes from her arms before he grabbed her hand with his warm one. “This way.”
    Within
moments, they had her clothes washing as her stomach growled again because of
the mouthwatering smells coming from the dining room.
    “Let’s
get you some food before you waste away to nothing,” he said with a large grin.
They headed back down the hall in the direction of the clanking utensils.
    “Oh
please. I’m plenty plump that I could miss a few meals.”
    “You
are not plump. Rounded in all the right places, I’d say.”
    “Flatterer.”
    He
stopped and glanced down at her with a serious look on his face. “Don’t let my brothers ride roughshod over you, because they will. They’re
a bunch of men, after all.”
    “I
think I can handle it.”
    “Don’t
be too sure. I’ll jump in to protect you.”
    “Aw,
thank you, Joel.” She skimmed her free hand down his chest. “What a gentleman.” What the hell made me do that?
    Her
reflex was to pull her hand back, but Joel grabbed it in his before she could. “You’re
a beautiful woman. Other than guests, which are normally families with young
kids, we don’t get a lot like you around here. Prepare to be overwhelmed.”
    He
kissed her fingers before he let his grip slacken on her hand so she could pull
it free. The zing that raced up her arm bothered her. Those things only
happened in her novels, not in real life. “Um, okay.”
    As
they rounded the doorway, the volume of noise increased tenfold. Several people
either sat at the picnic tables chatting away or they were lined up at the
serving area with plates in hand. One long table she hadn’t noticed before took
up an entire wall. When she did a double take she noticed nine people, eight men
and Joel’s mother, who sat there chatting while they waited for the others to
be served. Holy shit! How many freakin ’ brothers does he have again?
    “Eight.
There are nine of us boys.”
    “Stop
reading my mind.”
    “Sorry.
I can tell by the look in your eyes what is running through your head. You have
very expressive brown eyes.” Joel tugged her hand and brought her to the spot
where there were two empty seats. “Hey, ya’ll . This
is Mesa.” A chorus of hellos echoed through the room, shushing the rest of the
conversations going on around them. Joel quickly introduced the brothers around
the table and that’s when she noticed two more who looked like…ohmigod. There are three of
him? Yes, you could tell they all were brothers by the similar features,
but…
    “We’re
triplets,” he whispered next to her ear with a chuckle.
    Ah, hell! One gorgeous hunk to
tantalize my senses is enough, but nine of them? And two who look just like
him? I’m so screwed!

 
     
     
     
    Chapter
Two
     
    Joel
thought she looked cute with her eyes wide. Most people were surprised when
they realized he, Jason, and Joshua were identical triplets. “Let’s get our
plates,” he said, as the group of men took their places at the serving line. “We
all wait until the guests have been served before we get ours. Mom’s orders.”
    “She’s
a wise woman.”
    “Yes,
she is.”
    “She
must be tough as nails to raise nine boys, especially with three of them all
the same age.”
    “I’m
sure it hasn't been easy, but Dad is a strong man too. Never took any guff from
any of us boys.”
    “Where
is your father?” she asked.
    “He’s
in the barn I imagine. One of the mares is foaling. He likes to be there in
case there are any problems.”
    “Now,
that I would love to