Sophie Oak - Pure Bliss

“I don’t think that’s the proper name,” Laura pointed out.

Nate seemed to agree with Max. “I’m planning on getting Callie pregnant and having the baby every year at this time so I don’t have to work through Woo Woo Fest. Congrats, Cam. You’re going to get to be sheriff to the freakiest people in the world.”

“I am deeply disappointed in your intolerance, Sheriff,” Nell said with a frown. Her husband stood behind her. It was obvious Henry was ready to protest the Sheriff of Bliss’s attitude.

“Well, you should be used to it,” Nate replied.

The argument started fast and furious. Caleb zipped up his bag and then looked at James and Noah, pointing to the kitchen. He crooked his finger, an obvious order for her to follow. She walked out of the living room as Nell accused Nate of trying to start another Salem witch trials.

Caleb leaned against the countertop, frustration evident in his stance. “Hope, you need a place to stay. I would offer to take you in, but Holly’s cabin is small and the guest room is now my stepson’s room. This is the best place for you. James has already offered. Why aren’t you accepting?”

For a multitude of reasons that Caleb didn’t need to hear. The worst reason was that she wanted to. She wanted to stay right here and play house with James and his brother. “It doesn’t seem right.”

“I don’t get it. Why don’t you want to stay here? Why would you rather stay at a motel where no one can look after you?” James asked.

“I think you and your brother have some things to work out. You two don’t need me hanging around when you obviously need to talk.”

Noah and James had the same look of startled disgust on their faces. They might not be blood relations, but they were so alike it hurt.

“We’re not talking,” James said with a dismissive shake of his head.

“She makes it sound like we need therapy or something.” Noah’s boot tapped on the floor.

She’d never seen people who needed therapy more. Well, until she looked in the mirror.

Caleb laughed a little. “Hope, you don’t understand how men work. Alexei and I don’t talk when we have problems. We growl at each other. He threatens to shoot me. I threaten to punch his kidneys. We get over it and watch some form of sports. I suggest James and Noah do the same thing. And take care of Hope. Did someone call and have her car towed?”

“I called,” Noah said. “Trev was going to tow it, but then Hope passed out and we just wanted to get her back here. Long-Haired Roger is going out to get it.”

More money was flying away. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“I’ll pay for it, Hope.” James looked to his brother. “She doesn’t have a lot of money. She’s always worried about it, and she’ll lie when you ask her.”

Maybe James knew her better than she thought.

Noah’s eyes swung toward her. “Yeah, she already did that with me. I told her I didn’t like lies.”

James’s eyes were on her, too. She got the feeling if these brothers ever got their crap together, they could be a very intimidating team. “Nate’s the only one she really talks to. If I wasn’t so sure Nate was in love with his wife, I would think she and Nate were a couple.”

“What?” She practically screeched out the word.

Caleb’s cool green eyes rolled. “Guys, she needs rest. And some stress relief. We’ve gone over eating and drinking water, but let’s talk about sex. How long has it been?”

Caleb Burke was not going there. “That is none of your business, Doc.”

“Your health is my business. Sex is a great stress reliever. Get some. You’ll feel better.” Caleb smiled broadly. “I know I do. James here has slept with everyone else in the valley. Give him a try.”

James’s head fell to his hand. “Doc, you’re a bastard.”

Caleb shrugged as though that was a foregone conclusion. “It’s true. But your blood work shows you’re healthy. Hope’s healthy. Look, if you don’t want to sleep with James, I advise you to masturbate. It’s good stress relief, too. I mean, you could jog or something, but no one really likes to do that. Okay, my work is done. Hope, take some time off, let the men help you out, eat, and drink a lot of water. I’ll run your blood work in and call you later.”

Caleb strode out of the room.

“Your people doc is crazy,” Noah said as he watched the door swing shut.

“Well, we don’t have much to compare him to. We haven’t had an animal doc in four years,” James said, accusation plain in his tone.

They squared off again. Noah’s fists clenched. “Well, you have one now. I’m back, brother. I can stay here on the ranch our parents built together, or I can head off into town and find a place. Either way, you’re going to have to deal with me.” There was a long moment of silence. The air filled with the distinct possibility of violence. Then Noah turned. “Fine. Be that way. Hope, get your things. You’re coming with me.”

“I don’t have any ‘things.’” She nearly rolled her eyes. She could see what was happening now. James ignored her until it was brutally obvious that his brother was interested. Noah didn’t know enough about her to know whether he really liked her. He was reacting because his brother suddenly seemed like he gave a damn.

Caleb thought this would be relaxing?

“She’s not going anywhere. Doc said she had to stay here,” James insisted.

Noah leaned in, his jaw a hard line. “Doc said she needed someone to make sure she was eating and drinking enough water and getting enough sleep. He didn’t say it had to be here. Doc also talked about your insanely active social life. We wouldn’t want to disrupt that now.”

Hope was deeply grateful that neither mentioned the other thing Doc had told her to do. “Why don’t you two just deal with each other? You don’t need to deal with me. I’ll go talk to Nell and Henry.”

She would be in for days of tofu and long discussions of global poverty and the evils of gas wells, but it was for the best. She really couldn’t run without a car. She didn’t really want to. The fact that half of Bliss was currently in the Circle G’s living room because they gave a damn about her made her want to stay. She didn’t want to lose another family.

She was just about to walk out of the kitchen when strong male arms lifted her up. She was off her feet before she could protest.

“You aren’t going anywhere,” James said, his arms going under her knees and around her back. “Except back to bed.”

She felt so small against him. It took a lot to make her feel small. She threw her arms around James’s neck. She’d wanted him for so long. It seemed unfair that the only way to get him to take her to bed was to pass out and need medical attention.

James walked her through the house, not paying a lick of attention to the calls from the peanut gallery.

“’Bout damn time, James!” Max shouted.

“Give him hell, Hope!” a feminine voice called. She thought it was either Laura or Holly.

“Don’t listen to them. You give me hell and you’ll feel the flat of my hand on your pretty backside.” James’s face looked like it was made of granite.

He was a spanker? She should have seen that coming. So why did the very thought of James Glen’s big hand smacking her backside make her pussy hot and wet? She could feel it. Her girl parts were softening and getting ready to sing a hallelujah chorus. “Neanderthal.”

She had to at least put up a good fight.

“You’ve spent too much time with Nell, baby.” He used the flat of his boot to kick the door open and entered the guest room. At least he hadn’t taken her to his room. “I think a nice spanking would do you a world of good.”