Rough and Ready [Men for Hire 4] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Read online

  “No problem. Just tell us what needs to go.” Kane crossed his arms, ready to take on any job they needed him to do. If only he didn’t have to put up with Jeff while doing it.

  “Milly wants to take a few pieces of furniture Mary’s giving her as well as a couple of bikes to Daisy’s place instead of storing them here and taking up space we don’t have. Clothes and other personal items, too, of course. Daisy said she had a storage shed where they can keep their stuff until they’re ready for them.”

  “Is there anything else they want out of their home?” Jeff grew serious. “I know we don’t have to worry about scavengers around here. At least not the human kind, but you never know when a skunk or raccoon might decide to make their bed in, well, the Johnsons’ bed.”

  Stallings answered. “We’ve got men working on sealing off the other parts of their house. Until then, all they have is the stuff you guys are taking to the B and B.”

  Jeff’s glaring smile came out again. “Okay, then, lead the way and we’ll start loading up.”

  “It’s about time.”

  Kane pivoted toward the sound of the melodic, albeit pissed-off voice. His gaze fell on the beautiful dark-haired woman who had her arms wrapped around two of the Johnsons’ kids, Mikey and Julie. In the next instant, he found himself overwhelmed with the urge to haul her into his arms and kiss her.

  What the hell?

  Jeff hurried past him to get in front of her. He tipped his hat to her and that big old grin of his, the nice one he gave everyone but Kane, got even brighter. “Hi. I’m Jeff Jenkins and this is Kane Kannal. And your name is…”

  Her light-cocoa-colored eyes blazed as they slipped off Kane and onto Jeff. The fire in them was unmistakable, and for a second, Kane was almost sorry for Jeff. Almost.

  “It’s Alexia Martin. Not that it matters.”

  If she’d fired a double-barrel shotgun at him, she couldn’t have knocked him in the gut harder.

  She’s a feisty one. I like that.

  His gaze took in the curvaceous body, the full bosom, and her wide hips. She was sultry and sexy, maybe not by society’s standards of thin-as-you-can-be beauty, but she had a real, natural kind of beauty that he found irresistible. If she was that spirited out of bed, what would she be like in bed?

  “Like I said. You took your pretty time getting here.”

  * * * *

  Alexia, aka Alex as her friends called her, was fed up. It was over an hour since the mayor had called for “two men who’ll be happy to help out.” She wasn’t sure how long she’d waited, but however long it had been was too damn long.

  She’d had to spend most of that time helping to take care of six wound-up kids. Once the men she’d been waiting for had finally gotten their tails in gear and had arrived, they’d spent the past ten minutes jawing with the men from Tulsa instead of getting busy.

  What she’d said had come out harsher than she’d have liked, but she’d tried to bite back her words and had failed. The possibility of keeping her temper in check had gone out the window when Mikey Johnson had thrown his sandwich at his younger brother, Jeb. The three-year-old Jeb had gotten an eyeful of mustard that had to get washed out. She’d held the squalling child over the edge of the sink and rinsed out his eye all while Mikey had soared around the tiny farmhouse, oblivious to his mother’s admonitions to behave. After that, the chaos in the house had gotten even worse. Alex was at her wits’ end and she didn’t care who knew it.

  Still, being out of sorts didn’t mean that she couldn’t recognize a gorgeous hunk of male flesh when it was standing right in front of her. Her gaze skirted to Mister Tall, Dark, and Handsome.

  Correction. Make that two hunks.

  The blond, who could’ve starred in any commercial and sold millions of whatever product he was hawking, stared at her before resuming his previous thousand-watt smile. “I’m sorry. We got here as soon as we heard. Is there a problem?”

  She knew she should curb her attitude, but it was so damn hard to do that when her patience had already worn out. “You’re asking me if there’s a problem? Seriously? A tornado hit these poor folks’ homes and you’re asking me if there’s a problem? Yeah, cowboy, there is.”

  “If you’ll just tell us what you need, then we can get to it.”

  She turned toward the smooth-as-velvet voice. The dark one came forward, but didn’t uncross his arms. She leveled her attention at him. “I need you to load up supplies, clothes, and a few pieces of furniture. The Johnsons are staying at Miss Daisy’s B and B until we can get their home repaired. Think you can handle that?”

  His black eyes glittered, and she saw the muscle in his jaw clench. That muscle was only one of many. Both Jeff and this one were built like armored tanks. They were broad, solid, and filled with power.

  The pulse of her pussy caught her by surprise. When was the last time she’d felt a rush like that? Desire flooded the rest of her. She trembled, but resisted the urge to rub her arms. Attraction was one thing, but whatever was hitting her was so much more. She swallowed and refocused her attention on her job.

  This isn’t the time to let your frustrated libido take over.

  Mr. Stallings with the Tulsa Emergency Management Team jumped in to save the two hot cowboys. “Alex, um, Miss Martin is here helping out. Although she’s not officially part of our organization, she’s offered to join us. Afterwards, she’s going to aid your mayor in getting an emergency preparedness plan together.”

  If I can convince the old coot that the town needs one.

  “A plan?”

  She was confused. Jeff didn’t appear to lack intelligence, but then why was he asking such stupid questions? “Yes, a plan. Maybe if there’d been a plan in place before this storm, things wouldn’t be so disorganized right now.”

  She sensed the flare of heat coming from the one called Kane. His name fit him with its hard-sounding edge. He was all brooding on the outside with a layer of steamy lust just underneath the surface. “I get the impression that you want to say something. Go ahead, cowboy. Spit it out.”

  The heat intensified. “We have a plan.”

  “Is that right? Strange, because I sure couldn’t tell there was one in place when I arrived.”

  Stallings shifted on his feet. “Alex, maybe you could tone it down—”

  She waved a hand at him. “No, no. I’m dying to hear his answer. Please, cowboy, enlighten me.”

  “The name’s Kane.”

  She gave him a “so?” look.

  Kane got closer, putting his huge body within a foot of hers. She straightened to all five feet seven inches of her height, refusing to be intimidated.

  “Look, lady, I don’t know where you’re from, but folks around here know what to do in case of a tornado.”

  She arched an eyebrow. “And what would that be?”

  “They get the hell out of the way.”

  God help her, she laughed. But the laugh was soon gone. “Houses and livestock can’t get out of the way. Sometimes people can’t either. And I’m not talking about just before or during a storm, I’m talking about afterward. What’s the plan then?”

  She loved the way his black eyes glistened. He was a powerful man in a different way than his friend. He was darker, more intense. A man who didn’t put up with any bullshit.

  “Then we do what we’re doing now. We help out. That’s how people are around here.”

  She didn’t want to back down, but she understood his meaning. Nothing was better than neighbors helping neighbors. “Look, cowboy—”

  “The name’s Kane.”

  She noticed Stallings giving her another pleading look. Maybe he was right. “Look, Kane, I’m not putting any of that down. All I’m saying is that it helps to know who to call, what to have on hand, and what to do for people not only for their physical safety, but for their mental well-being, too.”

  Stallings cleared his throat as though trying to make a point. Hadn’t he noticed that she’d backed off a little?


  “You’re both right. And I’m sure Alex is going to help the town get ready for the next event. She’s going to be staying a while.”

  Was that interest she saw in both the hot cowboys’ eyes? Yet, what did it matter? Coming to Destiny was part of her job and not a time to scope out sexy men. Besides, when had anyone who looked like they did give a flip about a chubby girl? They probably had tall, skinny girlfriends.

  “Okay then. But remember. The name’s Kane Kannal. Not cowboy.”

  She looked into those turbulent dark eyes again. Did he expect her to congratulate him for having a cool name? She bit back the retort. What had her boss always told her? Something about catching more flies with honey? Taking a breath, she gave it another shot at being pleasant. Or at least not antagonistic.

  “I’m sorry about before.” She dropped her gaze to Mikey then back up. “It’s been a stressful day. If you get what I mean.”

  “We understand. Don’t worry about it. Kane tends to rub people the wrong way.” Jeff’s smile was contagious, but she managed not to return it. She was more comfortable with Kane’s more somber mood.

  Kane mumbled something under his breath, and although she wanted to know what he’d said, she didn’t dare ask.

  “I’m sure it has been trying.” Jeff ruffled Mikey’s mop of hair. “Mikey’s a handful at times. Besides, I know how it is for you.”

  She knew she should leave well enough alone, but the part of her that was always ready to tangle rose to the surface. “Yeah? And how is it?”

  “You know. Your people can’t help but let out steam every once in a while. It’s your fiery nature.” He blinked, suddenly aware of what he’d said. “Uh, that’s not what I…Uh, I, um…”

  “Exactly what did you mean to say? And who are my people?” She’d thrown him for a loop, and for the first time that day, she realized she was having fun.

  Kane chuckled then cut it off when she glared at him. “Yeah, cowboy. Tell us what you meant.”

  Jeff stammered out an answer that didn’t do him any favors. “Uh, I just meant… I mean, you know. Mexicans…” He froze, caught in a trap that had no escape route. “Aw, hell. This is coming out all wrong.”

  She smiled down at the kids who were watching the exchange with huge eyes. And even bigger ears. “Mikey, take your sister inside and tell your mom that the men who are going to help move your family are finally here.”

  “Aw, do we have to?”

  She kept her smile in place. She liked kids and even wanted three or four of her own, but if any child could make her swear off having children, it was Mikey Johnson. “Yes, you do. Now get going.”

  Once the reluctant Mikey had gotten his sister to the back door—can the boy move any slower?—Alex turned back to Jeff.

  “Look, Alex—”

  Her finger came up faster than a gunslinger’s quick draw. “Uh-uh. Don’t call me Alex. Only my friends call me Alex.”

  She poked him in the middle of his chest, stopping him from opening his big yap again. His big mouth with luscious, nibble-on-them masculine lips. “I know exactly what you meant. But let me help you out. Maybe you should try thinking before you let garbage fall out of your mouth. I’m not Mexican. I’m part Puerto Rican and part Irish. But here’s the thing. People are people, no matter what ethnicity they are. We all get hot under the collar, no matter where we’re from or what color our skin is.”

  She paused, aware that she might be proving his point by giving him verbal hell. But she couldn’t have stopped herself if she’d wanted to. And she didn’t want to.

  “Don’t go lumping everyone into some stupid stereotype.” She fisted her hands on her hips. “That would be like me assuming that you’re the dumb but lovable blond type.” She narrowed her eyes, pretending to study him. She hated the feeling that she’d done exactly that, but she was in full steamroller mode and he was about to get crushed. “Unless that’s what you really are. How about it, cowboy? Are you a dumb blond?”

  Kane let out a blast of laughter. He was great looking in that bad-boy kind of way when he wasn’t smiling. But his laughter made him so much hotter than before.

  “I’m sorry, Al—uh, Alexia, uh, Miss Martin.” Jeff cleared his throat. “I didn’t mean any offense. Maybe a few of my blond brain cells took over for a minute. I won’t let it happen again.”

  She mellowed a bit. It was clear that he was sorry for how he’d said things. And she believed that he hadn’t meant what he’d said either. He just didn’t seem the bigoted type. “Fine. Now can we get moving? As you cowboys say”—she smiled at him, letting him in on her joke about the stereotypical cowboy saying—“daylight’s burning.”

  She spun around and hurried back to the house. The sway she put in her walk had nothing to do with the two amazing cowboys she’d just met.

  Yeah, right.

  Chapter Two

  “What the hell are you looking at?” Jeff forced his attention away from Alex’s round bottom that jiggled in a very enticing way.

  Kane lifted the corner of his mouth. “Are you fucking with me? You’re watching the same thing I am.”

  Was Kane interested in Alex? Jeff had vied for other things that they’d both wanted before and had lost more of those competitions than he cared to think about. Like the paint horse that every cowboy on the ranch had wanted to claim as his own. Kane had won out, but Jeff had ended up with a new saddle a week later. So far their rivalry had evened out, but he couldn’t imagine losing Alex to Kane.

  Losing her? Hell, I don’t even know her yet.

  He determined right then and there that he would. “Just knock it off.”

  The sound Kane made came close to sounding like a bear’s growl. “Yeah, sure. Because you said so.”

  Arguing with Kane was like arguing with a brick wall. It made more sense to make Kane disinterested in her. “Whatever. She’s got a bit too much hay in her backside for my thinking.” Never mind that he liked a woman with a full wagonload.

  Kane furrowed his brow. “Yeah, she’s kind of hefty.”

  Had he managed to trick him? Jeff resisted the urge to congratulate himself on getting Kane out of the picture. Or at least getting a good start at it. “I wouldn’t let her hear you say that, man.”

  “You mean like the stupid comment you made before?” Kane’s hard expression was gone, replaced by a grin that turned Jeff’s stomach. “That was priceless. Fuckin’ priceless.”

  “Screw you. It just came out all wrong, that’s all. I’m no bigot and you know it.”

  “Yeah, you keep telling yourself that.”

  Damn him to hell and back.

  Yet instead of saying that, Jeff added, “Whatever you want to think, man. As far as I’m concerned, you can have at her. I can see you’re one of those guys who likes curvy women. Too much for the hand, no matter what part of her it is, is still too much for the hand.”

  “Only if you have small hands.” Kane chuckled.

  Damn him to hell and back again.

  Alex was inside the house and they couldn’t see her, but they stood there, studying the place as though they could see straight inside. Jeff half hoped she’d stick her head out again and yell at them to get busy, but although he could hear the kids and the other women, she was nowhere to be seen.

  “Are you trying to tell me that you didn’t think she was hot? If so, that’s a crock of shit. From the way you looked at her, you damn sure did.” Kane eyed him.

  He had to make Kane think he wasn’t attracted to Alex. If he could, then he wouldn’t have to go through Kane to get to her. Considering she was one of the sexiest women he’d ever seen, that would be one of the hardest things he’d ever do.

  Jeff snorted. “Nope. She’s a cute girl, but she’s not my type. The real question is this. Is she your type?”

  It took Kane far too long to answer. “Naw. Feel free to lasso that heifer anytime you want.”

  “Nope. Like I said. Not my type. Besides, she’s got one hell of a temper on her.”


  Kane’s chuckle grated on his nerves again. “You know what they say. If you can’t stand the fire…”

  He could stand the fire, all right. He just didn’t want Kane fanning the flames. He pushed his hat lower on his head. “Let’s get this done. The faster we do, the quicker I don’t have to look at your ugly mug anymore.”

  Kane followed him to the house. After Milly let them inside, they went to work. Milly directed them with Alex chiming in to hurry them along. The six kids ran like wild animals around them, inside and out, but to Jeff, their noise sounded like music. He couldn’t wait to find the right woman who would give him a whole mess of kids.

  He bent, grabbed the sides of the huge plastic tub filled with clothes, and caught a glimpse of Alex as she wrangled one of the kids off the top of another. As though she’d sensed him watching her, she turned and caught him studying her. At first, she smiled, but that was soon followed by a “what the hell are you looking at” glare.

  “Do you need anything, cowboy? Or are you planning on taking a nap?”

  He shook his head. “Nope. Not a thing.” Hefting the tub up, he carried it out to his pickup.

  Kane met him on the doorstep. “Let’s get that dresser loaded.”

  At any other time, he might’ve argued with Kane just to get his goat. But getting the dresser meant he got to go back inside and see Alex. “Fine.”

  He took one end of the dresser and waited for Kane to take hold of the other side. Together, they maneuvered the furniture around running kids, over the threshold, and down the front steps. It was loaded into his pickup in no time flat.

  Tying the dresser and the other items down, Jeff and Kane made quick work of the moving task. In the end, they didn’t need two pickups. As luck would have it, they’d managed to load everything into Jeff’s truck.

  “Looks like you don’t need to make the trip.”

  Kane glanced at the house where Alex stood, watching them from the porch. “Guess not.”