Two In Hand

  Pink Petal Books

  Pink Petal Books, an imprint of Jupiter Gardens Press, publishes romance novels where the relationship is primary. It doesn’t matter if you want to read super erotic or sweet inspirational books. Pink Petal Books believes that love is a beautiful thing, no matter what form it takes. For more information about Pink Petal Books visit http://www.pinkpetalbooks.com/.

  Additional Titles by the Author

  Good Medicine, Juli’s Choice, StarMyst: Prodigal Son, StarMyst: Forgiven, Ursa Major, The Purrfect Man, Ghost Touch, Ghost Redeemed, Her Hungers

  The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. Permission is granted to make ONE backup copy for archival purposes.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, places, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  TWO IN HAND

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  Copyright © MARY WINTER, 2009

  Cover Art ® 2009 by VALERIE TIBBS

  Edited by MARY ANN HAVERLACK

  ISBN# 978-0-9824885-7-7

  Electronic Publication Date: JUNE 2009

  This book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Jupiter Gardens Press, Jupiter Gardens, LLC., PO Box 191

  , Grimes, IA 50111

  For more information to learn to more about this, or any other author’s work, please visit http://www.pinkpetalbooks.com/

  Katie Kendall knew about making two beings operate as one—she participated two-in-hand combined driving competitions. If she could control two horses in the same harness, then surely two cowboys in the same relationship would be a piece of cake. Right?

  Daniel Westin had loved Katie when they were both teenagers and confusion over his changing sexuality made him leave her. When he met team roper and stock contractor, James Stanton, Daniel realized his romantic dreams had been realized. Except for one thing, Katie was missing out of their lives.

  So Daniel invites Katie to a rodeo. Perhaps, if she sees how good he and James work together, she’ll remember how good things were between them. And maybe, just maybe, Daniel and James can convince Katie that she can handle them.

  Katie stared at him, acutely aware of James on the other side of the booth. She didn’t dare look at him. As Daniel’s lover, he couldn’t be happy about this. Except, if she hadn’t been reading him wrong—and after Daniel’s confession she wasn’t sure about anything anymore—then he wanted her too. Oh Lordy. Two hot men wanted her when she hadn’t been wanted in so long.

  She released her breath on a puff of air, half-afraid she’d pass out if she didn’t remember how to breathe.

  Daniel still held her hand and grinned at her. She marveled at his hands, calloused in the right places, yet so soft and gentle with her that she could easily imagine them sliding over her body. Her nipples tightened just thinking about him reaching across the space between them to stroke her. Heat built between her thighs. And to know that James watched and wanted had heat rolling up her neck and across her cheeks.

  “What do you say, Katie? Is that a yes?” He leaned in close, so close that she could tell he’d popped a mint sometime when he’d been away. His fresh breath washed over her face like a cool rain on a hot summer’s day.

  “I…I…” she stuttered. One little proclamation, that he still wanted her, had her world sliding out from beneath her like a carriage about to topple. The air closed in on her, carrying with it the spicy scent of the men’s aftershave. “I don’t know.”

  She stared into Daniel’s emerald eyes. Less than an hour in his company and already he affected her much as he had all those years ago. She longed to throw herself into his arms and his bed, and damn the consequences. A throat cleared on the other side of the booth and reminded her she couldn’t do that. Not this time. Daniel was a gay man, who wanted her.

  She turned to James to find him sitting there, the same hopeful, expectant expression Daniel wore. James’ brown eyes were warm and open, almost trusting. “It’s not every day two cowboys claim the same woman. You have no idea the discussions Daniel and I have had over just where to mark you.”

  Katie’s free hand flew to her throat, as if it alone could calm her racing pulse. Moisture flooded her core, her body tight remembering the sucking kisses that had led to hickeys on her neck, her inner thigh, her left breast. Damn, she’d loved being branded by Daniel, marked as his woman. It was her silent kink, one that they’d explored together. And James hit on it like a strong finger against her clit, and shot a wave of pleasure through her body.

  “You seem very sure that I‘m going to say yes,” she said, hoping words could do what she couldn’t and put some distance between them. There was more she wanted to say and didn’t. Questions like why her and why now seemed irrelevant when faced with two guys who wanted her. Grabbing the reins and hopping on for a ride would be the fun, and wise, course of action to take. She figured Daniel knew her well enough to believe she’d take their offer.

  “We were good together. Very good.” Daniel’s voice lowered to a seductive whisper. “Why not have that again?”

  Two In Hand

  Mary Winter

  PPB

  Chapter One

  Katie curled her fingers around the cool metal bleachers and stared into the arena below. Her drink sat forgotten by her side. She barely noticed the sweat that dripped down the back of her neck, seeping into the collar of her t-shirt. The action in the arena fascinated her far more than it probably should have. Maybe it was because Daniel had invited her here.

  The announcer called out the winner of the steer wrestling and the arena emptied for the team roping, Daniel’s event. Around her, the usual trappings of the rodeo, fans in bleachers cheering and stomping their hands, the prerequisite cowboys, horses, steers, broncs, and bulls waited in the chutes and back lot areas. Livestock milled in pens, cattle bawling, the smell of beer and popcorn, all of it was familiar to her. Yet, parts of it made it seem strange and new.

  Two rows down a couple of men snuggled together. A banner in the arena proclaimed this as an event held by the Oklahoma Gay Rodeo Association. Katie stared at the sign, listening to the announcer giving some air time to the event’s sponsors. She shook her head, still not believing she’d been invited here.

  By Daniel, her ex-boyfriend.

  Katie barely contained the grin that turned her lips upward. She’d have laughed out loud if she had thought her amusement wouldn’t draw attention to herself. Daniel Westin, high school heartthrob—completely and totally gay. Well, technically bisexual, but she assumed since he’d invited her to a gay rodeo he wasn’t going to ask her to the dance afterwards. That was a leap of reason she’d made on her own, reminding her of the logic puzzles they’d filled out in “gifted” classes back in school. There was no need to even ask; she just knew. But Daniel at a gay event was something she had to see for herself. As teenagers they’d made out nearly every way, in nearly every location possible. Just thinking about it sent a wave of heat through her strong enough to ward off the unseasonable April chill.

  “Next up is the team of Daniel Westin and James Stanton. Last year, this duo narrowly missed the championship. You can bet they’ll be in the hunt this season,” the announcer said.

  Katie tuned out the announcer who would obviously be going on about James’ work as a stock contractor, focusing i
nstead on the two men on horseback at the far end of the arena. She easily recognized Daniel riding a muscled dun horse. He had always sat a horse well and today was no exception. With his hat pulled low, his rope loose in his right hand, he held his horse in the back corner of the starting box. A heartbeat later he nodded and the calf burst from the chute.

  Daniel followed. The thin rope barrier pulled across the front of the starting box, whipping past Daniel’s horse’s chest a moment before the horse would have hit it. Next to him, James surged forward on his big bay horse. One loop, two, Daniel worked the rope above his head, and Katie’s breath caught as she remembered exactly what those talented fingers could do. The rope settled easily against the calf’s head, hooking his horns.

  Daniel tied off the rope, turning his horse to give James a good shot at the calf’s hind legs. A swooping loop ducked beneath the back hooves, and the calf hung suspended between the two men.

  Katie glanced quickly at the scoreboard. The timer read six seconds flat and she breathed a sigh of relief. She’d seen good cowboys work, great ones even, and these two men were the perfect team. Amidst cheers from the crowd they released the calf and trotted their horses back toward the gates. James pulled alongside, their horses nearly perfect in size and muscling. Leaning over he grabbed Daniel by the arm and the two men shared a hot, heated kiss on their way out of the arena.

  Yep, no doubt about it. Daniel liked men.

  Whoops and whistles erupted all over the arena. Katie’s cheeks burned with heat. From what she’d seen of James, she wouldn’t mind kissing him either. Moisture flooded her pussy and all she could think of was how damn sexy their embrace had been.

  She closed her mouth, suddenly aware she was staring gape-jawed at the men. She fumbled for her soda, sipping it to ease the sudden dryness in her throat. Behind her ribs, her heart hammered, and before she could second guess her intentions, she rose to her feet and hurried down the bleacher steps. She chucked her empty soda cup in the trash can, her gaze fixed on the two men behind the chutes.

  Daniel had kissed another man.

  Somehow wrapping her head around the notion made her ache in places that had been dormant for a while. He’s making me horny again, except this time he’s not going to do anything about it. She bit back a groan. Damn fine time for her hormones to wake up again. After her last relationship had ended with a whimper and a mutual agreement, she’d thought she was done with men for good. She gave too much of herself to her horses and her sport—or so she’d been told. At least she knew Daniel wouldn’t have a problem with hay or manure.

  She blended in with the crowd of people behind the chute and quickly made her way over to the guys. “Hey,” she said when she drew near enough to Daniel, who now led his horse back to the barns. She reached up and patted the dun mare on the neck. “Nice ride.”

  “Katie!” Daniel turned and captured her in a huge bear hug, drawing her against his well-muscled body. She had just a glimpse of his sandy blond hair beneath the brim of his cowboy hat. Excitement twinkled in his deep green eyes. When he pulled back, she saw age had turned his blocky features into mature planes and angles. His shoulders had broadened, giving him that perfect inverted triangle-shaped torso. His flat stomach led to lean hips and muscled thighs and calves. He’d turned out very nicely indeed.

  Her nipples tingled where they pressed against his chest and butterflies hit her stomach hard. “Hope I’m not disturbing anything.”

  The competitors in the arena failed to rope their calf and the announcer called a no time.

  “No. I needed something to take my mind off whether we’re winning or not.” Daniel gestured to James. “Come here, I want you to meet someone. Katie, this is James.”

  “Pleased to meet you.” James held out a gloved hand, his brown eyes open and friendly. He had a scar high on his cheek and a bump that suggested a broken nose. “Danny’s talked a lot about you. I feel like I know you already.”

  “Oh,” she said, momentarily taken aback by the fact that Daniel would mention her at all. “I hope it was all good.”

  “Very good.” James cocked his head toward the arena. “Another pair goes out with no time.”

  “Maybe you shouldn’t breed such ornery stock,” Daniel teased.

  Katie thought for a moment, putting that fact along with James’ name together. “You’re the stock contractor on the outside of town, aren’t you? I was on the county rodeo committee a couple of years ago and I think we worked with you then.”

  “Probably. I do most of the local events and ship some of my stock out to the larger ones too. I happened to have a fresh bunch of calves that peaked in time for this event, so I offered them. We used someone else’s stock for our run, just in case you think we had an edge.” He grinned, open and friendly.

  “Nah, Katie knows that I’m naturally good.” Daniel slung his arm around her waist, pulling her against him.

  She melted into him, her body remembering what it felt like to be snuggled against him. She caught James eyeing them speculatively, and she wondered if she shouldn’t push Daniel away or something. She’d just seen him kissing another man!

  James coughed. “There were two of us in the arena.”

  “I’m sure you’re both very talented.” She stared at her boots. Oh God, she’d just spoken aloud. Her mind turned every comment into an innuendo, and with her hip brushing against Daniel’s side, she couldn’t think straight.

  “I’d like to think we are.” James replied casually.

  “James is the best heeler I’ve worked with,” Daniel said. “I think he’s spoiled me for any other partner.” He paused a moment to listen to the announcer. They’d gone first. “Let’s lead the horses back a ways. We probably have ten more pairs to go yet.”

  He released her hand, leaving her with a sense of abandonment, and strode through the tangle of people and livestock to head for a clearing near the low barn on the edge of the fairground. Katie followed, familiar with the layout. She’d stabled her horses here many times for competitions. James walked a bit behind her, leading his horse. Funny to have reunited with him so recently, and yet, feel so connected to him. It was like their time apart faded away.

  They stopped in the clearing, well away from the in-gate, and Katie found herself between the two men. She yearned to ask Daniel about his invitation, about the kiss she’d witnessed in the arena. She didn’t. Instead, she turned to the dun horse, patting its neck as Daniel loosened the cinch on the saddle. His rope hung coiled from the saddle horn.

  “Shouldn’t you stay close so you can go back into the arena for the victory gallop?”

  Daniel offered her a sexy grin. “It’ll be awhile. Let’s get away from the bustle so we can talk.”

  Talk. His words conjured up the memory of his invitation and of their past. She looked at the horse’s dun hide to avoid searching Daniel’s face for any clues. “So did you end up with a place around here?” Katie asked Daniel. The last time she’d talked with Daniel he had moved across the state, but was trying to find a closer farm.

  Daniel glanced at James and the two men shared a slow, intimate smile. “You could say that,” he replied.

  “That’s nice,” Katie said, the platitude the only thing she could think of at the moment. Just ask him about the kiss! Another team completed their run to thunderous applause. The announcer gave the time as only a few tenths of a second slower than Daniel and James’.

  “Good going!” a cowboy called on his way to the barn. “You guys are going to be tough to beat this year.”

  Daniel grinned an all-too-familiar smile Katie recognized from the football field.

  “When you got it, you got it. You’re not too bad yourself. I heard you’re at the top of the steer wrestling standings.”

  The cowboy shrugged. “Well like you said, when you got it, you got it.” He tipped his hat to James and Katie and hurried into the barn.

  Katie watched him go, her mind rolling a hundred miles an hour, wondering what connect
ion the unnamed cowboy had to Daniel and James, other than fellow competitor. He didn’t look familiar, though his black cowboy hat hid dark brown hair, and his face had the same weatherworn look as most of the guys. He was tall and heavily muscled, like most steer wrestlers she’d seen.

  Daniel reached out and touched the small of her back. “You’re trying to figure this all out, aren’t you?” he whispered in her ear.

  The brim of his hat brushed the top of her head, the soft caress sending shivers down her spine. She licked her lips, not really wanting to give into his teasing. Even back when they’d been dating, Daniel had liked to tease…in and out of bed.

  “You’re remembering, aren’t you, honey?” he asked.

  She nodded, her throat too tight to speak. James moved in to her other side, presumably to shield her from view. Her nipples ached and poked against the cotton of her long-sleeved shirt. She’d gone braless, not from any attempt at seduction, but because she’d taken a fall yesterday and had a nasty scrape along her left shoulder blade. Luckily, she was endowed just enough so she could go without support if she needed it. When she’d dressed to come here, she’d forgotten the instantaneous affect Daniel had always had on her. Of course, when she’d accepted the invitation, she hadn’t known he really was off limits.

  The announcer gave the last team’s time, several tenths of a second behind Daniel and James’ time.

  “That’s it,” Daniel said as if the previous few moments hadn’t happened. “I think we got it. Let’s go back to the arena.” He tightened the cinch on his horse in preparation for a victory gallop.

  The speakers crackled, the static drawing Katie back to herself. For a moment with James on one side of her and Daniel on the other she’d imagined the feel of their calloused hands on her skin, imagined the taste of their masculine lips and the hard thrust of their cocks against and inside her. She suppressed her desires, even as she lingered and caught a glimpse of Daniel’s hard, denim-clad ass. Damn, he always had looked fine in jeans.