A Second Chance Love Page 5

  As the kiss started to catch heat, my lips curved in a smile and Kyle made a slight growling sound into my mouth. Now wasn’t the time and we both knew it. We were needing our Jacob in more ways than one. Just as I started to pull away, I heard a noise.

  Jacob stood in the doorway with a very remote expression on his face that worried me. He opened his mouth like he was going to say something, but then his lips flattened out angrily. At least that was what I thought until I saw the wave of pain that flashed through his eyes. I started to reach a hand out to him and I could feel Kyle moving too, but Jacob spun on his heel and took off.

  I was swearing as I scrambled out of Kyle’s lap. “Oh, hell, we are so goddamn stupid! You know what the problem is, don’t you?”

  “Fuck yes! We are, dammit!” Kyle was hot on my heels as we took off after our man.

  I caught up to Jacob in the living room. Actually, he must’ve decided not to run off because he stopped and I about ran into him. Then Kyle almost knocked me off my feet when he did run into me.

  “Jacob, what’s wrong?” Frustration was evident in my voice. “Why are you pissed over a kiss?”

  Jacob whirled around to face us. His blue eyes were raging with pain and anger that made us both stagger in shock. “You think it is over one kiss?”

  What the fuck?

  Kyle walked right up to Jacob and chest-bumped him. “How the hell should we know? Every time I ask you what is wrong you blow me off! Don’t you dare act like we should know when you won’t talk to us.”

  “When should I talk to you, Kyle? Every time I turn around, you are running back to the house to Kerri.” Jacob snarled.

  I stood there in the midst of my worst nightmare. Somehow I was causing this. Had I damaged them, come between them? God, could I fix this? Please don’t let me ruin them even if I have to go.

  “This is because I keep coming to the house? You think it is because I want extra time with Kerri?” Understanding swept over Kyle’s face. “You think we are making out all the time, don’t you? That we enjoy being together without you.”

  Jacob didn’t say a word, but the vulnerability on his face answered for him.

  Kyle sat and sighed wearily. “This is all my fucking fault, Jacob. I’m sorry.” He held out his hands. One to Jacob and one to me.

  I met Jacob’s eyes with a pleading expression. I was waiting for him. We needed to do this together. After what seemed like an eternity, Jacob nodded and we both took the hand offered us and let Kyle pull us down to sit on sofa with him in the middle.

  Kyle pulled me to him with one arm as he burrowed into Jacob. “You didn’t see the way Earl had Kerri pinned when he attacked her, Jacob. I did. I keep seeing it.” His voice shook as he continued, “The thought of how it might’ve been scares the hell out of me. That’s why I keep making excuses to go by the house. I just need to make sure she is okay. We don’t usually kiss like that, I usually just pop in to check on her. But I scared the crap out of her on accident today, so I stayed to apologize.” Kyle shrugged. “Then we started talking about you. We were worried. And then we kissed, but it was never going any further than what you saw.”

  “This is never going to work between us if we have to keep score, Jacob. I can only speak for myself, but I love the both of you. I love being with you together and I love being alone with each of you, even if it is just talking and being held.” I shifted my head so I could see Jacob. I hoped he could see how much I meant what I said next. “I love you, Jacob.”

  Kyle lifted his head up to Jacob. “I love you too, you stubborn bastard. Would you please start talking to us when there is something wrong?”

  Jacob winced. “God, I’m an asshole, aren’t I? I’m too busy worrying about my hurt feelings to consider what else could be going on.” Jacob sighed deeply and looked like he was thinking over what we had said. “I should’ve talked to you both about what was going on and how it was bothering me. I’ll try to do better, Kyle, but honestly, you know how I am. I don’t even tell myself what is upsetting me most of the time until it hits critical mass.” Jacob gave a half smile.

  To me the smile fell flat. It bothered me that he tried to contain his emotions to the point that he hid them from himself until they overwhelmed him. He showered us with tenderness, passion and love. How could we get him to trust us with his vulnerability too?

  Chapter Three

  A few months passed. Thanksgiving was approaching in a couple of weeks, and I was trying to decide what to do about my dad. He wanted me to come to his home to be with my family, but when I mentioned bringing Jacob and Kyle with me, he’d been polite but confused by why they would be included. They weren’t family, after all.

  My guys and I were at a loss at how to tell my dad. I didn’t want to tell him over the phone… Well, I kinda did because he had a temper and I hated to have him mad at me, but I loved him too much to disrespect him like that too. And I knew he was going to flip out over this. Especially since it had been going on for so long.

  I had suggested that I fly out and tell him myself, but Jacob and Kyle wouldn’t go for that either. In fact they had flipped out at that idea themselves when I’d tried to insist. Jacob had stormed off through one door and Kyle had gone off through the other, pouting. I had stood there in the kitchen with my eyes going back and forth until I’d finally thrown my hands up, swearing under my breath as I started on dinner. And they say women are moody? Bloody bastards!

  That had been two hours ago, and I had dinner in the oven when I heard the doorbell ring. I stayed in the kitchen when I heard the guys say they had it. I was still fuming a bit so I decided to wait a little while longer. It was probably ranch business anyway since it was a Friday afternoon.

  I kept out of the way until about twenty minutes later when I heard raised voices coming from the living room…and one of those voices was a woman’s.

  * * * *

  I usually tried not to make snap judgments about people but this woman… Yeah, I made an exception for her.

  “Aw, come on, guys… I just need a place to stay for a couple of weeks. I promise I’ll make it worth your while.”

  Her voice just dripped with artificial sweetness. I had this picture of an overblown bar tart out of some horrible TV movie.

  “We had fun that week you had me over, didn’t we?”

  Oh, hell. Was she one of their pick-ups? I shivered in disgust. I hoped she looked better than she sounded, or my ego was going to take a massive blow. I stayed out of sight for a few more minutes just to see how the guys were taking this and I only felt a little guilty.

  “JoAnn, we told you no. But we will let you crash in the bunkhouse overnight while you find something else. That is it.” Jacob’s voice was firm and held a touch of pity.

  “Kyle.” Her voice turned wheedling. “What about you? You used to love my blow jobs. How about I remind you?”

  “Jo, what the fuck? Stop!” Kyle sounded freaked.

  I heard noises of people struggling and I rushed into the room. I couldn’t believe it. That skanky bitch had actually dropped to her knees and was trying to undo Kyle’s jeans. He was trapped in a corner and Jacob was trying to pull her off but was having problems because he was obviously afraid of hurting a woman. Stupid cowboy ethics. Let me at the bitch!

  I stalked over to her and grabbed a handful of that nasty hair with all the grease and spray in it, yanking hard.

  “Oww!”

  “He said no, bitch,” I snarled. “And unlike Jacob, I don’t have a problem with kicking your ass when you don’t listen!”

  I shoved her away and watched as she jumped to her feet. She had probably been a pretty country brunette at one point, but drugs or drinking had taken their toll. She had that wasted, hardened look and I knew why Jacob had offered the bunkhouse. Our gentle giant always wanted to save people.

  I knew the moment she realized what I was to Jacob and Kyle. Her blue eyes tightened and her jaw locked up as she looked me up and down, taking in the fact tha
t I was barefoot. Considering the weather outside, that was a definite tip off that I wasn’t expecting to leave anytime soon.

  Sneering at me, she let the venom out. “You think you’re something special? They will cut you loose too. They are hung up on some bitch in California, so what makes you different?”

  I raised an eyebrow at her. “Maybe because I am the bitch from California.” When her jaw dropped open in shock, I continued on, “Now if you want to mind your manners, you are welcome to stay in the bunkhouse for the night like Jacob offered. However, if you don’t, I will take great personal joy in tossing your ass out.”

  She turned to look at Jacob and Kyle with tears in her big baby blues only to realize that both their gazes were glued to me. The looks they both gave me were proud and approving, leaving no doubt they were absolutely fine with what I had stated. She snarled at me as she stormed off. “I can find my own way out.”

  I sighed as I looked over to the guys. “Bummer, I really wanted to help her leave.”

  I held my hand up to stop them as they started to rush over to me. I knew that gleam in their eyes and I really wanted to make up too, but… “First let’s make sure she’s gone. Second, let’s shower and get cleaned up.” I grimaced down at my hands. “I don’t know about how you two feel, but, damn, that was just nasty.”

  * * * *

  The next day, I was sitting in my chair in the living room reading while the guys were watching a football game. I was reading one of what they called my smut books. At first they had just liked to tease me about them—until I had shown them a page or two. Now instead of laughing about them, they would ask if I had come across anything worth trying out. And I was definitely bookmarking this spot for future use. But I might need to limber up first.

  I noticed some movement out the corner of my eye. Kyle was sitting with his back snuggled up to Jacob and his legs stretched out on the sofa. Both guys were wearing T-shirts and sweatpants, and Jacob’s arm—which had been between Kyle and the sofa—was missing. Hmm.

  Kyle’s eyes closed and he leaned his head back as he shifted. I could see Jacob’s hand, moving into Kyle’s pants going slowly toward his hardening cock. Jacob nuzzled Kyle’s ear and nipped gently just as his hand wrapped around the prize it had found, drawing a low moan from Kyle. Suddenly, I wasn’t interested in my book any longer.

  I put my Kindle on the end table and turned so I could get a better view. Jacob’s eyes met mine. Kyle liked to be playful and pout. He liked to manipulate in a fun way. But sometimes…sometimes he liked to have control taken completely out of his hands. We had a box with ties, blindfolds and other things for those occasions. From the way Kyle had gone completely pliant in Jacob’s embrace and was making needy little noises, I had a feeling we were fixing to break out the box. I shivered at the thought.

  Then the doorbell rang and I exchanged a frustrated glance with Jacob and Kyle.

  “Well, that will kill the mood,” Kyle grumped.

  I got up. “Maybe we’ll be lucky and they’ll leave quickly.” I grinned at them as I headed to the door. But as I pulled it open and saw the handsome, older man standing on our front porch, I knew that wasn’t happening. I stood there for a moment with my mouth hanging open in shock.

  “Hello, Kerri,” my father said with a smile. “Aren’t you going to let me in?”

  * * * *

  Awkward didn’t begin to describe the feeling in the living room. I sat in my chair. Dad sat in the other one. Jacob and Kyle sat on the sofa. We made small talk. Actually, I did. I asked about my step-mother Diane and her two teenage sons. While I wasn’t super close to them, I did like them and I was glad that they made my dad happy.

  “Why are you here, Dad? I told you I would be there for Thanksgiving?” I had called a few days ago to tell him. What I hadn’t said was I wasn’t coming alone in spite of him saying family only, and that we had a hotel room to stay in. We had realized there wasn’t going to be an easy way of telling him, so we would be there two days before the holiday and give him time to accept everything. And we could always stay at the hotel if we needed to and have a vacation.

  He gave me an uncomfortable look. “Maybe we should speak privately.”

  Oh, hell. “Dad, you know that Kyle and Jacob are very close to me so go ahead and talk to me, please.” Unless…oh, God. “You’re not sick are you?” My voice wobbled.

  “No, no, nothing like that, Kerri.” He shook his head. “But I could tell that something has been going on with you for a while now and I think you could use a change. I took the whole week to spend here to convince you to come back for good.”

  Oh shit!

  “Dad, I’m doing great, I promise.”

  “Kerri, you need to stop hiding out here and start living again.” Dad looked at Jacob and Kyle apologetically. “Your friends helped you, and I am grateful, but can you really meet new people living out here? Don’t you miss what you used to have?”

  I exchanged a glance with the guys. Oh, my God, it’s time.

  “Dad, I love my life out here. I truly do.” How the hell did I say this? I adored my dad, but it had taken him a while to relax his conservative upbringing when I’d started hanging around Jacob and Kyle in college. It was why I had been having a hard time with telling him.

  “Yes, but aren’t you ready to find someone to love again?”

  “I already have, Dad, and I am very happy.” I gave him a nervous smile. “I wanted to do it in person, so I was waiting to tell you over Thanksgiving. We were going to tell you together.”

  “But the only people you asked to bring were…” His voice trailed off and his face paled rapidly. He stood quickly. My dad was a large man and braced in a fighter’s stance, his hands clenched and partially raised. “What the hell? You can’t possibly mean that! They are gay.”

  The three of us quickly rose too, moving to stand together in a united front with me in the middle.

  Jacob replied in a respectful voice. “Technically, Mr Mullnex, Kyle and I have always been bi. We have been in love with each other since high school and we have both loved Kerri since we met her. But we never acted on it because she loved Caleb.”

  “But when she moved here you saw your chance, didn’t you?” He shook his head. “I am taking her home away from you. To take advantage of her grief like that was despicable.”

  “Dad, no! I am not leaving them. This is my home.” I almost yelled at him, but I knew it was partially my fault for not finding a better way of telling him. Maybe if I had been open about Jacob and Kyle being bi from the beginning—but it didn’t really matter now.

  I grabbed Kyle’s hand, knowing that he would need the physical anchor the most and I almost let out a gasp of pain at the power of his grip. I took my eyes off my father for just a moment to meet Jacob’s gaze, wanting the reassurance of his strength for myself, only for the gasp that I’d held back to escape when I saw the fear in his eyes. I wrapped my other hand around his and squeezed hard.

  “I am not leaving them. I love them, Dad.” I didn’t raise my voice, I didn’t have to. I just put every bit of feeling and conviction I had in it for him to hear.

  I watched as he realized just how serious I was.

  “They never made a move on me, Dad, I swear. I fell in love with them all on my own. I had no idea they had always loved me until I told them I was leaving because it hurt too much to see them together and never be a part of them.”

  “But three people, Kerri? How can that possibly be right?” Dad had an expression of denial on his face. Not hatred or disgust. Just flat out rejection. “It’s wrong. And what about kids?”

  “I don’t care what anybody else thinks. And kids? That is for us to decide, Dad, when we are ready.”

  “I won’t accept them, Kerri. I won’t accept this.” He stated this in a flat voice I recognized. “They are not welcome in my house.”

  “I am sorry to hear that, Dad. I love you and that makes what I have to say very hard.” I swallowed down the pain s
hooting through me. “If they aren’t welcome in your house then neither am I, and you aren’t welcome in our house either.”

  He looked at me and his brown eyes widened. He seemed truly surprised that I would do that.

  “If I treated Diane with anything less than respect, you’d tell me the same thing. Jacob and Kyle are the men I love. They aren’t criminals. They aren’t abusive. They treat me with love and respect. If I was with only one of them, you would be happy for me. The only fault is that the three of us are in love and that shouldn’t wrong between consenting adults.” I was trying to keep from being angry, but this was my dad. Even if I didn’t get angry over his rejection of my happiness, the only thing left was sorrow. “You wanted me to be happy. To love again. To be loved again. I am. Why can’t that be what you see?” I tried one last plea.

  For just a moment I thought I might’ve reached him. His eyes softened and I saw a bit of pride enter his expression. This was the man that had always encouraged me to fight for what I thought was right. Hope flickered in my chest.

  “I have always been proud of the way you have stood for what you have believed in, Kerri girl.” His eyes searched my face deeply for something. “You’ve convinced me to change my mind on so many issues over the last few years. Some of which I never would’ve believed possible in a million years. But this?”

  My dad’s gaze went back to Jacob and Kyle and the anger flared up again. His shoulders braced and his chin firmed up. “Kerri, I love you, and I will always be your father, but I will never accept this lifestyle. I will be waiting when you are ready to come back to your family.”

  I knew he wouldn’t change his mind. He loved me, and in his mind he was fighting for what was best for me. He would never give up on the people he loved. But he forgot something important. Two things actually.

  I was my father’s daughter.