Two Cowboys in Her Crosshairs [Hellfire Ranch] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Read Online Free Page A

by-the-rules kind of guy. This encounter should have never happened in the first place, and she could see he already regretted it.
    Olivia drew herself up and tried to appear as nonchalant and disinterested as she could despite the pain searing her heart. “Fine.” She stepped past him, but he grabbed her arm.
    “Olivia,” he rasped.
    This time her name on his lips twisted the knife deeper in her heart. She shook free. “Don’t worry about it, Jake. It meant nothing.”
    She strode away and tried to pretend her heart wasn’t breaking with every dust-filled step.
     
    * * * *
     
    Jake raked a hand through his hair and cursed softly. He was an idiot to have followed her out, but the temptation of Olivia had been too much to resist. He had to know just one time what it felt like to be inside her. To touch her, kiss her, love her.
    Now he knew, and Jake had a feeling he would be haunted by this encounter for a long time. Being with Olivia had surpassed every fantasy he’d ever had.
    He trudged back to the barracks.
    “You’re going to break her heart, you know.”
    Jake whirled at the low-voiced barb. Boone Shepherd sat cross-legged and bare-chested on a boulder. His black hair gleamed blue in the moonlight, but his eyes were shuttered as usual.
    “What the hell are you doing out here?” Jake demanded. “Get back to bed. We have detail in the morning.”
    Boone rose with lithe grace. He leapt down and landed on silent feet. He speared Jake with an almost pitying look. “Are you too blind to see that Olivia is in love with you?”
    The words rocked Jake. “No,” he said. “You’re wrong. She doesn’t even know me.”
    Boone snorted as he shrugged into his shirt. “We’ve lived and fought together for seven months, Logan. That kind of forced intimacy shows the real souls of those around us. She has seen yours.”
    Jake clenched his fists. “Don’t get all mystical on me,” he snapped. “It won’t happen again.” He had no idea why he was defending himself to Boone. The man was quiet but watchful. He saw everything but rarely commented. He was professional and dependable in the field. He left his passions at the door. Jake could not recall a single incident when Boone went wild. Despite the rumors he’d heard about Boone, the man was the epitome of the Native American stoic stereotype.
    “It’s an infatuation,” Jake argued. “She’ll get over it. We’re bugging in two months. She’ll be fine.” The words rang with desperation, and Jake knew he was trying to convince both of them.
    Too bad it wasn’t working.
    Boone’s black gaze was unusually sympathetic. He settled a big hand on Jake’s shoulder. “Bullshit, my friend. Pure bullshit.”
    Jake shrugged the hand off. “Get back to the barracks.”
    Boone offered one more deep, soul-penetrating stare then turned and silently disappeared into the night.
    Jake followed at a slower pace. His mind whirled with the encounters. Was Boone right about Olivia’s feelings for him?
    He didn’t have a clue what to do next. He wished he could call Hudson and talk to him. His breezy, fun-loving friend would have an optimistic view to share. How his childhood friend managed to always be upbeat was beyond him. Hud’s home-life had been filled with abuse and emotional distance. Jake could use his positivity right about now.
    The barracks were quiet save the intense snoring from Briggs and Yu. Jake counted everyone in. They were all back, including Fischer.
    He checked his watch as he slid back into bed. Nearly one. Only two hours had passed since their passionate meeting. It felt a hell of a lot longer than that.
    Jake pressed his forearm over his eyes and tried to go to sleep.
    “Time to scramble. Everyone up.” The booming voice of Colonel Reed pulled Jake from his uneasy dozing.
    Automatically he sprang from the bunk and shoved his feet into his boots. Reed strode down the aisle toward him. “Logan, come to my office. I need to brief you.” He turned