The American Soldier Collection 16: Seeking Love in Salvation (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Read online

  “There are three bedrooms, but I guess you’ll only need one. There’s a laundry room off the kitchen and plenty of wood outside for the fireplace, but once that is depleted you’ll need to get your own delivered if you like the place.” He rambled on so quickly about everything her head was spinning. He was not a patient man, and his abruptness put Valentina on edge.

  “So, it’s eight hundred a month and that includes utilities?” she asked him.

  “Gas and electric only,” he said and looked her over like he was analyzing her body. She walked away from him to look at the size of the rooms, and when she turned around, he was standing in the doorway watching her.

  * * * *

  Ridge couldn’t believe it. Two women, maybe lovers, were going to be renting their cottage right next door. The woman was super hot, too, and didn’t look like the masculine type, but her comment about the other woman letting her decide on the cottage had to mean something.

  He stared at her ass. It was incredibly perfect and stuck out just so in a sexy way. She made those blue jeans look painted on, made to follow the curves of her body. She wore a slim-fitting hoodie with a rounded collar shirt, both in black, but it was her gorgeous blonde hair, with streaks of light highlights against those blue eyes, that made him stare. And now, get caught doing so. He heard a door open and then little feet, like a kid running.

  “Aunt Val, Aunt Val!” a voice called out, and she stepped past Ridge as a little blond kid with tears streaming down his cheeks ran toward them. At the sight of Ridge, the kid stopped short and then covered his face with his hands and fell to his knees. He didn’t know why the kid looked so scared. Valentina squeezed by him and got to the little boy quickly. She lifted him up into her arms and held him close. “I got you, honey. You’re fine. I didn’t go far, and I’m not in any danger,” she said to the kid. It struck him as totally strange, but then he focused on the one thought—the kid called her aunt.

  Valentina turned around, holding the boy, and she smiled. So did Ridge as he looked her over again. He had it all wrong.

  He felt his chest tighten and his cock instantly harden.

  “Sorry about that. It’s been a long haul out here, and we’re all a little high-strung. So, when is the place available for us to move in?” she asked.

  He heard the door creak open and there stood a woman who looked almost identical to Valentina, but her hair was a darker blonde. She looked a little pale and kind of sickly. His chest tightened again. God, he hoped the woman wasn’t dying or something. The poor kid. Shit, what the fuck was he thinking?

  “It’s move-in ready. We just need to call the cable and utility companies.”

  “Great. Are you our landlord? So if anything comes up it’s you I call or contact?” she asked him.

  “It’s me and my three brothers. We live right next door on the ranch.” She swallowed hard and looked him over.

  “The ranch on this side or that side?” she asked.

  “We live on this one to the right of the front door, but our cousins—there are four of them—they live there.”

  “Oh,” she said and then glanced at the other woman he assumed was her sister. Her sister shook her head no and stared at him like he was some sort of criminal. It was disconcerting, but every ounce of his instincts kicked in. These women were on guard for a reason.

  “Can you give us a minute to look around and discuss it, please?” Valentina asked him.

  “Sure thing,” he said and gave her a nod as he passed the other woman. The woman lowered her eyes and looked away and then took a few steps clearly out of his path. He waited outside on the porch.

  Strange. Really strange.

  * * * *

  “We can’t take this place. There are too many men all around us. We don’t t know them or what they’re capable of.”

  “Helena wouldn’t place us in danger. This cottage was her recommendation and she said it was beautiful and safe. I believe her. I like this cottage. It’s perfect, and we can have our own rooms.”

  “Kenny stays with me, anyway.”

  “For now, but eventually he’ll need to sleep in his own bed. We talked about this with the therapists.”

  “I know. I don’t want to be alone out here without you, though.”

  “You won’t be, too often. I need to work, and that consulting job with the Texas Rangers is perfect. It’s only part-time and three days a week I’ll be home by three o’clock. Come on, Lois. Kenny needs a stable home. This is our new beginning. We can put the past behind us and live a happy life here. I just know it.”

  “It’s far from town.”

  “It’s twenty minutes to town and fifteen to that gorgeous farm we heard about. It will be really nice to live out here. It will be peaceful. We need some peacefulness, Lois.”

  “I like it,” Kenny said and hugged Valentina tighter. She chuckled.

  “Okay, if you say so,” Lois said and then crossed her arms and looked around.

  “Why don’t you go with Mommy and see which bedroom will be yours?”

  “Okay,” he said and reached for his mother. Lois took him into her arms. She was still weak, very depressed, and frightened. Valentina had to make sure her sister ate and stayed positive. Being attacked, sexually assaulted, and seeing Valentina get shot and her son get hurt had been traumatic for Lois. Valentina, on the other hand, put all her own anxieties and fears aside and focused on Lois and Kenny and getting them through this. All they had was one another.

  She walked toward the door and the porch as her sister and Kenny walked around the place.

  The sight of the big cowboy made her feel kind of funny inside, and she didn’t know why. He turned around to look at her as he leaned against the front porch.

  “We’re going to take it. When would you like the first month’s rent, Mr. Brazos?” she asked him.

  He held her gaze with a peculiar expression, almost as if he were trying to read her mind or something.

  “The name is Ridge, Valentina. How about when you move in I’ll stop by and take a deposit of half, then in a week if you, your sister, and nephew are comfortable and set on staying, I’ll take the rest?”

  She stuck out her hand. “Deal,” she stated, and when he shook her hand, he held it a moment longer than necessary and their eyes locked on one another. He released her hand and she turned around to see her sister in the doorway, holding Kenny.

  “Ready, kiddo?” she asked Kenny.

  He made a sad face. “We not staying here?”

  She reached out and caressed his cheek.

  “Not tonight, but first thing tomorrow morning we’ll be back and we’ll get the house all cleaned up and ready for us.”

  “Yeah!” He cheered and fist-pumped. They all chuckled, even Ridge.

  “Cute kid,” he said and then locked up the door as they headed down toward the car. Lois was getting Kenny into the car seat.

  “Thank you again,” Valentina said, and he just nodded. He seemed to be a quiet guy, but nice. Hopefully everything worked out just fine around here.

  * * * *

  “Two women and a kid?” Sparrow asked as he and his brothers gathered around the kitchen table for dinner.

  “Yup,” Ridge replied and then took a slug from his bottle of beer.

  “From New York?” Beck asked.

  “I gathered, from the accent,” Ridge replied.

  “What’s with you? You’re not even expanding on any information. Did you find out what they do for a living? Why it’s the two of them and a little kid?” Sparrow questioned. He was the oldest and always liked to be in charge and to keep up with what was going on. This was their property and he wanted to know exactly who was living in that cottage and whatever else he could find out about them.

  “You want to know? Ask them questions tomorrow, but just know that the one quiet sister with the kid looks sick and withdrawn. Like maybe she’s ill or recovering from something.”

  “How could you tell, Ridge?” Beck asked.
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br />   Sparrow felt his gut clench. They didn’t need some screwed up women living next door and causing trouble. The point of having this ranch was to be alone. He didn’t even want to rent out the cottage, but in the past year they allowed some friends, fellow troops, to come stay there until they figured out where they wanted to go next. He was fine with that. But two women and a kid? Shit.

  Ridge looked up at his two brothers and then the empty chair where Jace should be. He had been missing for the last four days.

  “Because the sister, Valentina, the one who called about the cottage and made the final decision on it, is drop-dead gorgeous. I think if the sister wasn’t sick then she would be pretty fine-looking, too. Just an observation,” he added, but Sparrow thought his tone sounded off. Like maybe he’d observed more and wasn’t ready to say it.

  Beck and Sparrow put their forks down.

  “What do you mean? You allowed them to rent the place because you want down the sister’s pants?” Beck asked before Sparrow could.

  Ridge raised one of his eyebrows at him.

  “Like I need to resort to that type of shit to get laid? I don’t think so. What I’m saying is that she is a very attractive young woman. Very assertive, and likable. I got the feeling that the woman with the kid, the sister, was timid, shy, and on edge. The kid freaked out when Valentina disappeared into the house with me. When the kid came running inside, he was crying, and then saw me, stopped short, covered his eyes, and fell to the floor.”

  Sparrow’s gut ached. That didn’t seem right at all.

  “It was like the sight of a man, of me standing there next to his aunt, scared him. She immediately calmed him down and held him in her arms. It was just a feeling, but I think there’s more to that. I’m telling you,” Ridge stated seriously.

  “I don’t like the sound of that,” Beck said.

  “Do we know who told them about our place? I mean, why come all the way from New York and hope that a place would be available and work out? It’s reckless, especially with a little kid to haul around,” Sparrow said, seeming angry at the fact.

  “So many people have asked about the place in the last several months,” Ridge told them.

  “Anyone we’re close to?” Sparrow asked.

  “Gunny McCallister.”

  “Shit. Something is up. I’m going to give Gunny a call. The last thing we need is trouble around here. Gunny should know what we’re dealing with, with Jace, and how peaceful we needed this place to be. Shit,” Sparrow said and then stood up and pulled out his cell phone.

  “What makes you think there’s a problem?” Ridge asked.

  Sparrow gave him a sideways glance and a firm expression. “We’ve lived in Salvation long enough to know that if Gunny McCallister recommends a place for someone from out of town to stay, then something is going on.”

  The phone rang three times before Gunny answered it. Sparrow ran his fingers through his hair.

  “Hey, Sparrow, what’s up?”

  ‘“Why don’t you tell me? Seems we got a bite on the cottage today. Two women and a kid. Know anything about them?” Sparrow asked straight out. He didn’t beat around the bush. It was part of his personality. He figured people have a harder time lying to you when you confront them head-on.

  Gunny chuckled.

  “Good, so you met Helena’s friends?”

  “Helena?” he asked and looked at his brothers. Helena was their cousin.

  “So I take it she didn’t inform you about her friend moving out here?”

  “No, she didn’t, but then again, she did send Carlos this way six months ago when he was recovering from his injury on the job.”

  “That’s Helena. She’s good people and a good friend. If you’re concerned about these friends of hers, I would ask her about it. Listen, I need to go. Gia needs help with the babies.”

  “No problem. Thanks.”

  Sparrow disconnected the call and looked at his brothers.

  “Well?”

  “Call Helena,” Beck said to him.

  Sparrow thought about it a moment.

  “No, if Helena sent them here to have a place to stay, then I’m sure they’re not in trouble. If they were, she would have told us before hand and asked if it would be okay.”

  Ridge took a slug of beer. “I’m willing to wait and find out ourselves. They’ll be here moving in first thing tomorrow morning. I doubt they’ll be causing any trouble.”

  Sparrow squinted his eyes at his brother and felt that uneasy sensation in his gut that always warned him of impeding trouble.

  “We’ll see. If they are trouble, then we get them the hell out of here as fast as we can.”

  Chapter 2

  Valentina drove the rented U-Haul truck as Helena, Lois, and Kenny rode in the car. They had all their belongings packed in the vehicles and couldn’t wait to start settling into their new house. As they pulled up and began to unpack, Valentina saw Ridge and another man get into a pickup truck and head their way. The large black pickup truck was top of the line, with all the bells and whistles. It was sharp looking, and she was impressed the moment it got closer.

  As the truck stopped, Valentina got out of the U-Haul. She saw Helena give a wave and then Ridge got out from the driver’s side and another guy, tall with crew-cut blond hair and muscles galore, got out of the passenger side. She felt that tiny sensation in her core at the sight of the two good-looking cowboys. It was so strange how good-looking men were around these parts.

  She shouldn’t feel intimidated or uneasy about the men, considering that Helena told her last night that they were her cousins. Valentina had been shocked, but it put Lois at ease knowing they were Helena’s family. Men put Lois on edge. If Valentina was at all honest with herself she would admit the same thing, but being a cop for four years made her hardheaded. Plus, she was the breadwinner of this family, and had been prior to the attack in the apartment. She shivered from the thoughts and she felt on edge.

  “Good morning, cuz,” Ridge said as he gave Helena a hug. Helena then hugged the other guy, who kept his eyes on Valentina and looked her over. Why she felt aroused slightly, she didn’t know, but she clearly wasn’t going to fall for the charms of sexy cowboys. She knew how to handle men, all types, and especially ones as good-looking as these guys.

  Helena made the introductions.

  “This is my other cousin, Beck. Beck, meet my good friend Valentina from New York and her family. This is Lois and Kenny,” Helena said to them.

  Valentina caught Ridge staring at her along with his brother as Beck reached his hand out for her to shake. She gave him a firm shake and smiled. “Nice to meet you, Beck.”

  Then she gasped as Kenny slammed into her, wrapping his body around her leg. She laughed and then lifted him up against her hip.

  “Kenny, you remember Ridge from yesterday?” He nodded and squeezed her close, turning his face into her neck, tickling her. She could see the concerned expressions in the brothers’ eyes.

  “He’s shy.”

  “Kenny, he’s the landlord. The one I pay the rent to for living in your new house. And this is his brother, Beck. Can you say hello to them like a big boy with manners does?” she asked Kenny.

  He lifted his face up and shyly looked from one man to the other.

  “Nice to meet you,” he said in his little four-year-old voice. Then he slid down from her hip and ran to his mother. Lois avoided the two men completely and sat in the car. It didn’t go unnoticed.

  “Do you have the key for them?” Helena asked after a few seconds of awkward silence as Beck and Ridge stared at Valentina.

  “Oh, shoot, you need the down payment,” Valentina said and reached into her back pocket. She pulled out the cash and handed it to Ridge. When their fingers touched she felt a spark of something, and he must have felt it, too, because he gave her a wink. “Thanks, darling,” he said and Beck squinted at her and licked his lower lip. For crying out loud, they were sexy as sin.

  She turned toward Hel
ena, who seemed to read her mind, and she chuckled.

  “I think you’re going to love it here, Val,” she said and then grabbed her arm. “Come on, we’ve got work to do.”

  “Do you need any help?” Beck asked. One look over her shoulder and Val could see the shock on Ridge’s face when his brother asked that question.

  “No, thank you. We’ll be fine. We don’t have much, but thanks,” Val said, and then they unlocked the door and Lois and Kenny followed them inside.

  * * * *

  “So, what do you think?” Helena asked Valentina when they were finished cleaning up and organizing the kitchen. Lois was settling Kenny down for a nap. The kid was exhausted.

  “The place is perfect for us. I was worried about not knowing the area, but a few drives around the place and I’m sure I’ll get my bearings.”

  Helena gave her shoulder a nudge. “That’s great, but I meant about my cousins,” she said and winked.

  Valentina placed her hands on her hips and gave her friend a sideways glance.

  “What about them?”

  “Oh, come on,” she said and wiped out the inside of a glass before putting it into the top cabinet. They were almost finished setting up the kitchen.

  “I saw them eating you up with their eyes. They couldn’t take their eyes off of you, and you were practically drooling,” Helena said to her friend. She started laughing when Valentina’s mouth gaped open then snapped closed. She kept a straight expression. She didn’t deny it, and Helena couldn’t help but be excited. Perhaps her cousins would finally find real interest in a woman and settling down. She thought about Jace. He was really suffering from his anxiety and the effects of the war. He had disappeared this week and no one knew where he was. She hoped that he was okay.

  “They’re very attractive men,” Val said and looked at Helena, who wiggled her eyebrows up and down.

  “There have been a lot of attractive men around here. In fact, what exactly do you people put in the water around here?”