continue to monitor Carolyn, and any alerts issued for him - though he really didn't think, with the caseload the cops had these days, they'd spend much time or effort looking for him.
So he'd get to Dallas, ditch this car, get himself another, thanks to the bounty of Pastor Jack. Then he'd wait for his moment.
He'd need to rest for a couple of days, gather his strength. Perhaps he'd pick up a few supplies.
And then he'd wait until dark, and go and get his woman.
Chapter 13
She wanted their hands on her so badly she thought she just might scream if they didn't start to do her in the next few minutes.
Carrie sighed. She really was happy her sister had agreed to spend the night here at the ranch. She'd enjoyed their time together tonight. Of course, she'd been totally blindsided not only to learn that Chloe had figured out what had happened to her in Abilene, but by the fact her sister was worried that she may not have seen the last of George Lockwood.
Carrie really didn't want to think about that possibility.
Tomorrow she would show Chloe around town and, because her sister had insisted on not continuing to intrude on her and the cowboys, Carrie would get her set up in her own apartment in the afternoon and let her get her bearings there. Chloe intended to stay for a few days, but Carrie was hoping she'd decide to move to Lusty, permanently.
She thought part of the reason Chloe said she didn't want to intrude was the fact that she and the cowboys were so obviously happy. Chloe still felt guilty for having broken Beck's heart. She'd said tonight that the last thing Carrie needed was her depressed older sister tagging along and being a complete wet blanket.
Chloe wasn't as tough as she sometimes pretended to be. Her older sister was hurting and Carrie wished she could do something to make her feel better.
"Everything's going to be okay, darlin'." Brian came up behind her and squeezed her shoulders. The nearness of him pulled her out of her musings, right back into delicious reality. "We'll protect you. Never doubt it."
The sound of their bedroom door closing sent a delicious shiver down her back. Then Chase shot the lock. Oh, goodie, naked time.
Carrie shook her head. She didn't want these good men to think she was afraid for herself. "I wasn't worried for myself. I was thinking about Chloe, and about how, without intending to, she ended up hurting someone she cared about."
"This is where we confess that we overheard some of what she said to you out on the patio. We didn't mean to, Carrie. The fact that she's so broken up about having to turn that fellow down speaks well of her character." Chase walked away from the door, and came to stand in front of her. "I think she'll be fine. She just needs a bit of time - and maybe a change of address. Did you ask her to move here, to Lusty?"
Carrie leaned back against Brian and looked up at Chase. "She told me she's thinking about it. I guess I should do just that - let Chloe think about it. I should just set it all aside, for now."
Chase reached out and gently stroked her face. She hadn't realized she'd let her gaze drop. She met his again and returned his smile. He bent over and laid his lips on hers. She opened wide to him, sliding her tongue against his, drinking in the flavor of coffee and man. Carrie groaned when he eased back. "The fact that you're having trouble putting your sister's sorrow aside speaks well of you, sugar."
Brian reached around from behind and gently turned her face toward him. She opened her mouth to him, sucking his tongue inside, stroking it with her own. She loved the taste of each of these sexy men, but her favorite flavor was the combination of them both on her tongue at the same time.
Brian released her lips and slid both arms around her, hugging her to him. "Never regret your emotions, sweet Carrie, and never hesitate to share anything you want to with us. If it's important to you, then it's important to us." Brian kissed the shell of her ear and ran his tongue along it.
That always sent a quiver racing through her. She sighed with the soul-comforting pleasure of knowing that these men had learned her in just a few short weeks. She