A Bride for Two Brothers Read Online Free Page A

town. I want you to know that you can ask my brother and I anything. You do not need to beat around the bush. I freely admit that I was engaged to Maggie. She broke our engagement and left. That is why there is a position here for you. None of us mistreated her in any way. I want you to stay, but I will put you on the bus any day you like. Is that what you want?”
    “No. I need this job. I do not want to leave.”
    “Do you need to hear why Maggie left?”
    “That is none of my business. I am sorry if you felt I was prying.”
    “Curiosity is a part of every female’s character. I would expect a pretty woman like you to possess that trait in good measure.”
    Kelsey blushed. The rest of the trip passed in tense silence. She had just enough time to prepare a savory chuck roast and six pies for supper. All the food received rave reviews. The only thing that bothered her was the series of looks that passed between the Whittington brothers as they exchanged some private conversation. She was certain that the men were talking about her.
    Bonnie feasted on a bowl of beef scraps with a crunchy doggie treat for desert. The dog would have Kelsey fully trained soon enough. The kitchen still needed much more heavy cleaning, but the young cook decided to turn in early and tackle that task on the next day.
    As she walked to her room for the night, she noticed that Marcus’s bedroom door was standing open. She could not resist peeking inside. It looked ordinary enough except for one thing. The bed was the largest she had ever seen. The thing had to have been custom made. Why would any man want a bed so large? It could accommodate at least two couples with room to spare. Quinton’s door was open too. His room was much smaller than his brother’s and there was nothing unusual about any of its furniture. Kelsey could see that the men had very different tastes in their accommodations.
    Her room was the last one on the second floor. Her tiny closet held all her clothing with plenty of space to spare. The private bathroom had a shower. The main room was spacious enough. She had no doubt that she could be comfortable here.
    As she crawled into her bed, the soft covers felt wonderful. However, sleep was slow in coming. The veiled warning from the owner of the mercantile came back to her. Her warning had been so intense. Was she just a small town woman with too active an imagination, or was her anxiety actually well founded? The remote Rocking W. Ranch was isolated enough to allow any kind of behavior. The terrible possibilities sent a chill through her body. She knew full well that Marcus Whittington could do anything he wanted in such a setting. What, if anything, had he really done? She wondered how Marcus would explain his broken engagement. Would she ever have the nerve to ever ask him? The mystery was tantalizing.
    The young chef’s thoughts drifted to her other employer. No one had warned her away from Quinton. She felt less danger dreaming about him. He had the looks and body that would make any girl dream, and his speech difficulty did not bother her. She wondered if he noticed her. Her pulse quickened as she imagined him stepping next to her and brazenly undressing her with his eyes. Finally, she dreamed about his hands taking the place of his eyes in the act of stripping her. It was a delicious fantasy.
    Slowly, another reality flooded into her mind. Carl was home. He would have arrived very early in the morning. She was both amused and terrified when she thought about his possible reactions.
    She sat up. At this very moment, Carl was no doubt on her trail. He may well have been after her before this morning. What had he learned so far? How long would it take for him to track her to this remote place? Would she be able to find anyone here to help? Would anyone believe her? She shook her head. If Carl caught her, no one would help. Quinton and Marcus would not be willing to face the imposing figure of the big city police captain.