Chapter Six

Matt walked into the diner and immediately spotted the beautiful brunette sitting in a corner booth with his brother. His heart lifted and a funny feeling warmed his stomach. She sure was a gorgeous girl—all soft curves and big eyes. Her thick wavy hair fell over her round shoulders and he watched her move her hands around as she spoke excitedly to Dyson.

His brother must have said something because she suddenly turned and looked his way. Her dark brown eyes lit up and her face shone as soon as she caught sight of him, and Matt felt that warmth inside him start to boil. He sauntered over and sat beside her.

“Hi, darlin’.”

“Hey, Matt. How are you? Dyson’s been telling me all about your ranch. How’s your sick mare?”

Matt smiled, and took the liberty of moving a piece of stray hair from her face. Her wavy locks were soft and smelled of pure honey. “She’s fine,” he assured her, touched at her concern.

“I ordered you a hamburger,” Dyson told him, as the waitress brought over their meals.

“Great. I was worried I might not catch up with you in time.” Matt grinned as he smothered ketchup on his lunch.

“The shop was real busy so I told Delores I didn’t mind waiting until things quietened down. Dyson had already told me he was running late, too.” Carla smiled.

Matt looked up at his brother. “Everything okay, bro?”

“Yep. All sorted.” Dyson nodded as he tucked into his fries.

Matt was relieved. His brother was running a check on Carla, ensuring she didn’t have a criminal record—not that they thought it likely but it was just as well to be certain of things like that. After all, they didn’t really know her—yet!

“How did your date go last night?” Matt had to ask the question, though he was dreading the answer.

“It was great.” Carla spoke matter-of-factly before devouring her burger.

Matt couldn’t resist wiping a small dab of ketchup which dripped onto her chin. He loved the feel of her skin. She was all soft and warm. She giggled as he cleaned her up. He loved that sound, and he smiled back at into her beautiful face. It was so tempting to keep touching her at every opportunity. He was glad he was sitting next to her—he could feel the warmth emanating from that gorgeous body of hers.

“We’re all set for tonight,” Dyson announced.

“Fantastic!” Matt was a little surprised as he wasn’t sure if Carla would have made plans with Aiden again. Obviously not! “Decided where we’re going yet?”

Dyson smiled and Matt guessed that they had already discussed it.

“Carla likes country music and dancing so I thought we’d head on over to Hal’s.”

Matt’s eyebrows shot up. He was really pleased that she shared their interests, and was surprised that Dyson had thought of going somewhere like Hal’s. It was a really nice bar set out toward the mountains. There was a large dance floor there and they had live bands on every weekend.

“Great idea. Do you know who’s playing?”

Dyson gave a shit-eating grin, “The Barnaby Brothers.”

Matt gave a delighted yelp. “Great! Do you like them, Carla?”

“Um, I don’t know,” she said, a little sheepishly.

“She’s never heard of them,” Dyson explained with a giggle.

Matt stared at her, wide-eyed. “What? Where have you been, girl? They’re only just about the best country band in the world! Well, around here anyway.”

Carla chuckled. “Well, I guess I’ll have to judge that for myself, won’t I?”

“They’re Matt’s favorite group.” Dyson’s hand came across the table and patted Carla’s, as if consoling her. “He kinda thinks they should be everyone else’s too.”

“I’ll look forward to seeing them, then,” she said with a smile which would light up the Eiffel Tower.

Matt noticed that Dyson still had his hand over Carla’s and he felt the flame inside him glow even brighter. She didn’t seem to mind, which was great. He wondered how she would react when they told her that they both wanted to share her.

****

The afternoon couldn’t go quickly enough for Carla, and she hummed as she worked around the shop. She wanted to keep busy so she went around and cleaned all the shelves, removing the entire stock first, one column at a time, then fully stocked everything up ready. In between that she had several customers to serve. She’d forgotten how busy these little shops got on a Saturday, and met a lot of people she hadn’t seen during the week.

Six o’clock finally came around and the two gorgeous twins strolled into the shop to fetch her. No waiting around outside for these guys! Carla felt her jaw drop as the sight of them caught her eye. She was just finishing with a customer and looked up instinctively as the doorbell rang. Matt looked utterly delicious in tight-fitting Levi’s and a white shirt that had black satin contrasting on the piping, inner plackets, cuffs and collar. He’d topped it off with a black hat and boots. A small tuft of chest-hair peeped through his half-open buttons and Carla licked her lips subconsciously. Dyson looked equally edible in tight jeans, a black shirt with white embroidery on the collar, and a white hat with black boots. Both guys swaggered up the aisle of the shop, tipping their hats politely to the lady who was just on her way out. Carla could hear her heart pounding in her chest and a hot, fuzzy feeling took root in her stomach.

Delores came through from the back of the shop and beamed at the two gorgeous hunks. “Well now, don’t you look good? Going somewhere special tonight?” She gave them a knowing look as they tipped their hats to her.

“Evening, ma’am,” Matt said with a grin. “As a matter of fact we’re planning to whisk away your beautiful assistant and treat her to a night on the town—Cavern County style!”

Carla felt herself flush as she stared up into the two pairs of emerald eyes that were smiling down on her. She felt honored and special to have the attention of not only one, but two of the most attractive guys in the world.

“You ready yet, baby?” Dyson asked her in a soft tone.

Carla was shocked when her pussy suddenly gushed and she squeezed her legs together hurriedly. “I think so,” she said in voice not much louder than a whisper.

“You get on off, honey. You don’t want to keep these guys waiting—they look mighty hungry to me,” Delores told her with a twinkle in her eye.

“Oh yes, ma’am, we certainly are,” Matt assured her with a conspiratorial wink.

Dyson held a hand out to Carla as she emerged from behind the counter.

“You have a great time, fellas, and take good care of her. Carla, I know you’ll have a fun time with these guys. Enjoy your day off tomorrow, too.” Delores called after them as they disappeared out of the shop.

Carla could hardly contain her excitement as she jumped into the middle seat of Matt’s pick-up. She noted that he had obviously cleaned it inside and out ready for tonight and she smiled appreciatively.

“Is it far? I wondered if I could pop back and get changed on the way?” she asked as Matt revved the engine.

“The Melrose Motel, isn’t it?” Matt casually drove them out of the town. “No problem.”

She could smell their aftershave as she sat back in the seat. Matt smelled spicy and fresh, while Dyson’s was a little more musky. She breathed them in contentedly. Both smelled as gorgeous as they looked.

Dyson climbed out when they arrived at the Melrose and helped her out of the truck.

“I’ll be real quick,” she promised, reluctantly letting go of his big, warm hand.

“We’ll be waiting,” Dyson promised with a smile. God, she loved that smile!

She rushed up to her room and looked at the few clothes she had with her. A denim skirt with a pretty peasant top and her cowboy boots would be just the thing, so she quickly changed and pulled a comb through her hair. She paused in front of the mirror, her hands trembling and her heart racing. She quickly fumbled in her makeup bag and added a little eyeliner and mascara and some pretty pink gloss. She smiled at the girl in the mirror. She looked a little flushed, but she looked all right.

“Wow! Don’t you look beautiful!” Dyson actually took a step forward and planted a small kiss on her cheek as soon as she returned outside.

Both had been leaning against the truck waiting patiently for her.

She giggled and climbed into her seat, just as Matt got into his.

“Gorgeous,” he murmured, and not only kissed her, but she felt his strong arm around her shoulder at the same time.

Carla was sure her heart must have missed a beat as his soft lips brushed over hers, and she automatically put her hand onto his chest. She could feel his heart beating steadily, and wished she was as calm as him.

As Dyson slammed the door shut, Matt pulled back with a bright smile on his lips and a twinkle in his eye that would put the stars to shame.

“So, how long have you been staying here?” Dyson asked when they started off again.

“Just a few days.”

“You planning on staying long?” Matt asked casually.

“I’m not sure. I haven’t really made any plans,” she said as brightly as she could manage.

“So what made you leave Wyoming?” Dyson asked. Carla guessed they had been talking about her.

“It’s complicated,” she said, fidgeting with her hands. She wasn’t expecting all the questions and felt a little interrogated.

“So have you guys lived here all your lives?” She tried changing the subject as she was also attempting not to look at Dyson’s gorgeous eyes, which were boring into her as she spoke.

“Yep. What about you? Born and raised in Wyoming or were you just passing through there, too?” It wasn’t just Dyson’s eyes which bore into her—she felt his words cut into her like a knife. He sounded a little annoyed with her, almost as if he was speaking through gritted teeth. She gaped up at him in shock. His emerald eyes were staring into hers and she felt a pang of something inexplicable in her gut.

“I’m from there,” she said slowly and quietly. For some reason she felt like she was about to burst into tears, as she felt her face go red hot. She quickly turned away from him and stared out of the windshield instead.

“Not the nicest of places to stay in, darlin’,” Matt said cheerfully. “I reckon if you do decide to stick around a while you might do well to find someplace in Pelican’s Heath. There’s plenty folks who’d be glad to let out a room if that’s all you need.”

Blinking quickly to keep the tears at bay, she glanced over at Matt. His elbow was out the window as he drove, his eyes darting all over the road, then they found hers. She saw his startled expression when he looked at her and his lips tightened slightly.

“You all right, darlin’? I didn’t mean to offend you or anything.” His voice was soft and his hand came over hers. It felt warm and soothing. Somehow she felt safe in his hand. He’d shifted slightly in his seat and was turned more toward her now.

Carla liked the feel of his body so close to hers but felt embarrassed that he had seen how upset she was. She quickly forced a smile and sniffed away her tears. “I’m fine,” she assured him.

“What’s up?” Dyson’s voice came from her other side. It was kinder, gentler now and she had the urge to curl up into his arms and cry her heart out and tell them everything. Not happening!

“Nothing. Honest, I’m fine.” She straightened up, frowning at them. “Why would anything be wrong?” She tried to sound blasé but wasn’t sure whether she managed to pull it off.

Matt took his hand from hers and placed it back on the steering wheel with the other one, and she couldn’t help feeling slightly bereft. “You would tell us if we upset you, wouldn’t you, darlin’? We’re just men, you know. We’re not too good at tact and diplomacy. If we say something wrong you need to let us know, okay?” Matt smiled over at her and she couldn’t help feeling a little better.

She looked up at Dyson, who didn’t look quite as happy. Dyson’s eyes had narrowed slightly and she was concerned that he didn’t quite believe her. She bit her lip and stared out of the front windshield again, trying not to catch their gaze.

Matt pointed out a ranch on their way out toward the mountains. “I don’t envy them having to climb up there,” he remarked, pointing to a field which was on a rather steep hill.

“I reckon those cattle must have two legs longer than the others to keep them upright,” Dyson replied with a smile.

The men chuckled and talked about horses and ranching, but Carla’s mind was far away. She’d started out feeling happy and excited about spending the evening with these two hunks but now she was afraid they were going to quiz her all night. Her only hope was that they would be too busy dancing to try to start any awkward conversations.

Hal’s turned out to be a really large place hidden out on a dirt track with the mountains in the background. It was a beautiful area, and, although the venue was tucked away, everyone seemed to know about it. There were people everywhere, spilling out onto the grass. Country music blared from inside the building as they climbed out of the truck.

“Hey, Dyson, how’s it going? Any news on my tractor yet?” An old man approached them as they walked toward the door.

“Hi, Nathan. It’s turning out to be a bigger job than I first thought but I’m working on it!” Dyson assured him.

“Come on, I’m ready for a cold beer,” Matt said with a grin.

He wrapped his warm hand round hers and pulled her through the crowd. Everyone seemed to know the guys and they were greeted and patted on the shoulder the whole way to the bar.

The atmosphere was friendly and Carla soon found herself relaxing as she listened to the music and the people chatting around her. She had a cold cider and felt the relief as it bit her throat on the way down to her stomach. She hadn’t realized how tense she had become, and felt much better after a while.

“Let’s find a table,” Dyson suggested when he finally caught up with them. He had been stopped by several people on his way in. Carla didn’t know why, but they all had questions and things they needed to tell him. He sure seemed popular.

She followed him to a corner table and sat down on a rickety wooden chair. Looking around, she noticed that the place was a renovated barn, and still had rafters visible in the roof. Tall wooden pillars were dotted around the room, presumably holding the building up, and there were small, round tables with mismatched chairs everywhere. A large stage faced them and a band was playing—four guys in jeans and blue shirts. From what Carla could see of them, they looked like handsome boys.

“Come and dance with me,” Matt urged, standing up and putting his hand out for hers.

Carla smiled. It was a couples’ dance and she knew the song. She quickly stood, and Matt placed his muscular arm around her shoulders as he led her to a large dance floor which stood to one side of the stage. His body was hot against hers as he held her in waltz grip. He was really light on his feet and led her gracefully around the room. She was vaguely aware of people nodding and smiling at them, and every now and then someone would speak briefly to Matt as they danced. The music washed over her like a gentle wave and she could feel, smell and almost taste Matt Shearer as they glided over the floor.

She was disappointed when the song ended and the bass-guitarist spoke over the mic. Matt didn’t loosen his hold, however, and she was glad of it. Carla was in no hurry to move from his arms, and smiled happily when the band started up again and he led her in a different dance, but still in the same grip.

“This is lovely,” she murmured into his chest. She felt his chuckle resonate through his warm body.

“So are you,” he whispered into her ear without missing a beat.

Carla felt herself blush and she buried her face in his shoulder. He chuckled again.

“Glad you’re having fun.” His voice was low and quiet.

“Thank you so much for bringing me here,” she said, suddenly gaining the courage to look up at him. She felt a lurch in her stomach as his beautiful face shone down at hers and he leaned down slightly and kissed her very gently on the lips. His mouth was warm and moist, and his kiss was soft but confident. Without thinking her mouth opened and she nibbled at his bottom lip. He reciprocated and their passion rose as they wrapped their arms tightly around each other and he plunged his tongue into her mouth, devouring her with a rapture she had never felt before in her life. Her head was in a whirl and a fire burned hot inside her. His breath was warm and his body was hot as he surrounded her in his heat, his scent and his ardor.

Carla felt a gush in her pussy and she held onto him even tighter. She breathed him in like he was her last whiff of oxygen and she felt herself melt into his embrace. A slow, romantic song was being sung somewhere in the background, drowning out the voice of reason in her head.

Gradually the song came to an end, and so did their moment of magic. Matt gently loosened his grip and she felt her breathing slow a little as she opened her eyes and returned to the place where they had started.