Nicole Edwards - Travis

“Not married?” It was Travis’ turn again apparently.

“No, she’s not married.”

“And she doesn’t know that you are?”

Kylie’s back straightened, and she glanced around as though hoping no one else was listening to their conversation.

“No, she doesn’t. I didn’t think it was necessary to tell my family since the marriage was over before it even started,” she retorted, and Gage watched the conversation as it volleyed back into Travis’ court.

Interesting.

At least he understood one thing, these two clearly hadn’t spent any time together while he was gone. By the way they were regarding one another, there was still a decade of emotion lingering between them.

Gage leaned back in his chair and waved the waitress over. Might as well get comfortable. Looks like it might be a long night.

♀♂♂

Travis wasn’t much for conversation, but sitting with Kylie and Gage, especially at his own suggestion, didn’t leave him with much room for an out. It wasn’t like he could sit there and stare at the two of them, although that idea did have its benefits.

“Are you going to take the job?” Gage questioned, finally bringing the conversation back around to where it was before he hijacked the damn thing in the first place.

“I’m considering it. I think it just depends,” she answered, and Travis got the distinct impression that Gage was genuinely interested in Kylie’s response.

Awww, hell.

It dawned on him that Kylie was talking about Gage’s house. And everything fell into place. That’s how Gage had approached her in the first place, using his house as an excuse.

But wait. Gage didn’t own his house. He rented it. In fact, he rented the damn thing from Charles and Myrna Talbott who owned the diner down the road.

“Where is this house?” Travis asked again, suddenly taking a keen interest in the details. How far did Gage’s lie go?

Kylie glanced between the two of them and then she met Travis’ gaze full on. “I was originally hired to restore Gage’s grandparents’ old farmhouse.”

From the corner of Travis’ eye, he could’ve sworn that Gage grinned with the news. Had she quit after he pulled his little stunt? Not that he blamed her, but Travis suddenly felt like he was on the outside looking in, and he wasn’t fond of the position. At all.

“Out on county road 406,” Gage said by way of his two cents, his smirk still lingering as he tipped his beer bottle back to his lips.

Daaayumm. When Gage smiled like that… It was fucking hot. Travis tried to subtly reposition himself now that his Wranglers were trying to strangle his dick. He added a simple nod as though he gave a shit where the house sat.

Coyote Ridge was as familiar to him as the back of his hand, so he knew exactly which house Gage was referring to, even if he hadn’t linked him with the house’s original owners.

What an interesting turn of events. If Kylie did take the job, then that meant she was going to be spending some time in Coyote Ridge. He couldn’t imagine her driving an hour each way every day. But that also meant… “Where are you going to stay while you work on it?”

“Haven’t thought about that yet. I’m still considering the job.”

“Ok, then. Say you take it, where will you be staying?” Travis wanted to know the answer to the question. If Gage even thought for a second that she would be staying with him, the man was delusional. Well, unless he was inviting Travis to stay as well.

A flicker of need bounced through his insides, and Travis ignored it. He needed to talk to Gage before he went and did something stupid. Like piss Travis off.

“Can I talk to you for a second?” Travis stood, fully expecting Gage to follow, whether he wanted to or not. He merely asked the question because social etiquette required him to be polite in front of a lady.

Gage didn’t respond, but he did push to his feet.

“We’ll be right back,” Travis told Kylie as he led the way to the narrow hall in the back.

“What the hell –”

Don’t ask him why he did it because Travis had no idea, but as soon as they were alone in the hall, he slammed Gage up against the wall and claimed his lips with his own, effectively shutting him up. There was a brief pause, a moment of hesitation and then Gage was kissing him back with a ferocity that mirrored what was churning in Travis’ veins.

Knowing someone could walk down the hall at any moment and see them, Travis didn’t linger, but he did take exactly what he wanted, his hand going to the back of Gage’s neck, pulling hard until his face tilted up slightly so he could drive his tongue firmly against the welcoming thrust of Gage’s.

Fuck. He was completely insane with need.

Breathless, Travis broke the kiss and took a step back, their eyes locked on one another. There was a moment of what the fuck, as though neither of them had expected that to happen, but they both wanted to do it again. Soon.

“She’s not staying with you,” Travis informed him when he got his breathing under control.

“And what? You expect her to stay with you? Don’t you think you’re a little late to the party, Travis? She’s not your wife anymore.”

“Technically she is,” Travis barked. “And I don’t give a fuck where she stays, but she’s not staying with you.”

“Why the hell not?”

“Because if she’s getting in your bed, I’m going to be right there with her,” he said, his voice low as he moved closer. They were practically nose to nose when Travis spoke again, “And when I do make it to your bed, I’m going to be buried ball’s deep in your ass until you scream my fucking name. You think she can handle that? You think she’s the type to be open to a ménage? If so, then by all means, make the suggestion. I’ll be there in a heartbeat.”

Gage stared back at him like he’d lost his mind and Travis was beginning to think he might have. His emotions were all over the map, and he damn sure wasn’t thinking straight.

“Is that what you want? A ménage?”

Travis glanced down the hall, making sure no one was coming before he leaned in closer and brushed his mouth over Gage’s once more. Fuck, he needed to taste him. He wanted to inhale him until neither of them were strong enough to pull away. “I’ll take you and her any way I can. Whether that’s separately or together, it makes no difference to me.”

“You’re a selfish bastard, you know that?” Fire burned in Gage’s rich, chocolate brown eyes.

“I’ve always known. Never even questioned it. Why the hell do you think I walked away from her all those years ago? I’d bet money on it, Matthews. Kylie won’t ever give in to the two of us. And tell me, do you think you can spend the rest of your life in a monogamous relationship?”

Travis knew all about Gage’s extracurricular activities. He knew the man was involved with Kaleb and Zoey, and he also knew he was rather liked at Club Destiny by more than one couple. He needed the threesome, almost as much as Travis needed a ménage. The only difference between the two of them was that Travis wasn’t looking for temporary.

“I’d never dream of putting her in that position,” Gage whispered. “She deserves better.”

“Better than what? Better than two men focused entirely on her for a lifetime? I’m not sure I agree.”

“But you want both.” It wasn’t a question this time and Travis didn’t respond. No sense in it. The words were nothing but the truth. Travis was bisexual. He’d known it his entire adult life. It wasn’t until recently that he decided it was all or nothing for him.

Unfortunately up until now, it’d been nothing. He wasn’t expecting much more from Kylie. Didn’t mean he wasn’t sending up a silent prayer.

♀♂♂

“Hey, sis,” Jessie greeted as she joined Kylie at the table a few minutes after Travis and Gage walked away.

“Hey.” Glancing around the bar, she tried to discreetly locate where the two of them had gone, hoping like hell they weren’t throwing down in the back alley or something. They were both strung tight, a discernible tension passing between them and Kylie was rightfully worried.

“Oh, if you’re looking for your friends, they’re in that hallway over there,” Jess said as she pointed. “I’m not sure I’d interrupt them right now though.”

“Why’s that?” Kylie feared she’d been right and maybe they were beating one another to a pulp.

Jessie leaned closer, lowering her voice to a mere whisper, “They’re kinda making out at the moment.”

Kylie flinched so hard, she had to grab hold of the table to keep from knocking her chair over backward. Rather than ask Jessie if she was sure, Kylie got to her feet as soon as her chair was stable and stalked across the room. She managed to slow before she entered the hall, choosing to peer around the corner rather than barge in on them.

Oh. My. God.

“If you ask me, it’s pretty damn hot,” Jessie whispered in her ear, scaring her so badly, Kylie screamed as she jumped back.

Well, so much for stealth. She heard the sound of footsteps as they pounded down the hall and suddenly Kylie had no desire to stick around.

“Let’s go.” Without waiting, she grabbed Jessie’s arm and tugged her along behind her.

“Wait! Kylie. Stop!” Jessie squealed as she tried to slow her down without much luck. Kylie was on a mission, one that involved her getting far away from Gage and Travis. The only other thing she was focused on was her speed.

She was within reach of the door when Jessie must’ve grabbed hold of something bolted to the concrete floor because suddenly she was pulled up short. When she turned around, she came face to chest with Travis. On his right was Gage.