Adams, Eve - Trio [Gideon's Ring 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (3 page)

“
What’s Wyatt up to now?
”
Chris relaxed against a nearby wall and scratched his whisker-covered chin. How did he always look like he’d forgotten to shave? And, goddamn it, how did he pull off that look so well?
“
This isn’t another one of his schemes to get the GR&L’s name out there, is it?
”

“
That’s exactly what it is. He wants to have Strickler come in and make changes, all to get a five-star rating.
”

Chris shrugged his massive shoulders.
“
A five-star rating is a good thing. But with Strickler? Isn’t he that prick you fired months ago? The bastard didn’t even bother to attend GG’s funeral.
”

“
But he’s ou
r
link,
”
Wyatt explained, now pleading with another Gideon.
“
Chris, talk some sense into Barrett. This is a good thing.
”

“
Don’t pull me into this,
”
Chris said and put his hands up.
“
Barrett is the GM and therefore has the final say. I don’t even own an ounce of the dirt on this land. My word has about as much weight as all the cow shit in the fields.
”

Wyatt turned to Barrett and put his hands in front of him as if in prayer.
“
Please, Barrett. Just hear him out.
”

Barrett flicked a glance to Chris, who nodded once.

“Fine,” Barrett agreed, albeit reluctantly. “But I talk to him first before he gets too far into his pitch. If I don’t like what he has to say, his ass is finally out of here. Agreed?”

Wyatt nodded quickly. He then turned to his brothers. Michael adjusted his glasses and gave a curt nod. Matthew just grinned as his answer. Chris shrugged and glanced out the window as if bored.

“He’ll be here in a couple hours for the meet and greet,” Wyatt stated.

“I don’t want him talking to the guests.”

Wyatt eyed Barrett. “Would you just relax? It’s just Strickler. What’s the worst thing he could do?”

Feeling refreshed and revived after the shower, Barrett whistled as he found the least dirty of his shirts, took a whiff and decided it wasn’t too bad, and slipped it on. He wouldn’t be wearing it long anyway, not with Gail.

Ah, Gail. He’d met her freshm
an
n year at Montana State University when she’d dropped all of her books as she walked out of the bookstore. He’d helped her pick them all up and hadn’t been able to stay away from her ever since.

“
You seriously going through with this?
”
Chris leaned back in the only chair in the room and twirled an origami bird he’d just folded between his fingers.
“
You know how I feel about her.
”

"So I take it you're out?"

"I was never in, not with Gail. I don't like her."

"As you've told me time and again."

Chris worked the crease on a piece of paper as he started in on another bird. "Sorry, cuz. We usually have the same taste in women, but with Gail, I'm going to have to say no. If you want to share her, you'll have to find another partner."

"Then I will."

"I think it's a mistake."

“
This isn’t about you,
”
Barrett retorted.
“
I made the decision
,
and I’m following through with it.
”

“
Yeah, but pinning her? Seriously,
cuz
. She’s been playing you like an easy-read sheet of music since college. Play with her but don’t pin her. She’s bad news.
”

Barrett stiffened.
“
That’s my future sub you’re talking about.
”

“
So you say.
”
Chris stood and tossed the bird down on Barrett’s bed.

“
You don’t?
”

Chris shook his head.

“
Why not?
”

“
Gail is a BBDG
—
a Bigger-Better-Deal-Girl. Pinning her and expecting her to stick to your agreement is like trying to get a cat to submit. It’s on her terms and only her terms.
”

Barrett swallowed and hid his expression from his all
-
too
-
knowing cousin. Damn him and his insight.
‘
Whatever.
”

“
You claim to be a Dom. Until you find the right sub, you are just a poser.
”

“
And I suppose you have mastered being the Dom?
”

Chris laughed and lifted the brim of his cowboy hat to scratch his forehead.
“
I don’t know if I even want that. I like having the woman challenge me for dominance. Makes it more fun than just barking orders.
”

Barrett didn’t answer. Hell, he didn’t know how to answer. He’d wanted to dominate Gail since day one, but Chris made a good argument. He cleared his thoughts and went to the mirror above his dresser to gauge his appearance.

“Barrett? You have a visitor.” Wyatt’s voice sounded over the two-way radios the brothers used to communicate
with
each other at the ranch.

He tried to ignore the skip in his chest as he pushed his feet into his boots. Gail would probably have her hair up, but it wouldn’t stay that way for long. Barrett loved it down and would pull the clip out of her hair before taking his time undressing her and trailing kisses down every inch of her delectable body.

“On my way,” he responded
and tossed the radio back on the dresser before glancing
in the mirror to comb his fingers through his hair.

“It, uh, isn’t who you think.”

Barrett stopped and grabbed the radio. “What?”

“Just come down here. Not armed, though. You may want to bring Chris.”

What the hell did he mean by that? Barrett always carried his .45 with him. Every rancher did. What with wolves and mountain lions threatening to take out the calves, ranchers had no choice. But since he wasn’t going back out into the fields
,
he had no need to strap on his gun. And Chris would more than likely tag along just to eavesdrop on the conversation.

Concern and curiosity replaced whatever feelings he had swirling around inside him. Wyatt didn’t sound happy. He opened his door and was about to step out when Chris stopped him.

“
I’ve got a bad feeling about this,
cuz
.
”

“Such as?”

“Now why do you suppose Wyatt made it a point to mention being armed. He's warning you. Come on, Barrett. Pull your head out of that lump three feet below your shoulders. Who's the one person who makes you pissed enough to kill?”

God
damn
it. The dumb son of a bitch had better not have showed his fucking face at the GR&L. Tom Tremblay had been a thorn in Barrett’s side since Gail first walked into his life.

“
I’ll be fine.
”
Barrett walked out of his room and down the stairs, and slowed when he saw who it was. Damn. How did Chris know?

Barrett tensed and stopped on the second to the last stair. He felt Chris do the same behind him.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

Tom Tremblay, the man who used to call Gail Sawyer his wife, looked every bit as uncomfortable as he should. How dare he step foot into Barrett’s domain after what he did to Gail.

“Can we talk?”

Barrett glanced around at his three brothers, all looking to him for the answer. One word, one single nod to them, and they’d band together to toss the son of a bitch out on his ass. He was about to give them the signal when Gail stepped out from behind Tom and looked up at Barrett with those weakening gray eyes.

“Please, Barrett?”

What the hell was she doing back with him? He not only shattered her heart, he left her broken when he walked away. Barrett was there to pick up the pieces and hated Tom Tremblay more and more with every tear that streamed down her beautiful face.

“
I told you,
”
Chris sang behind him.

“
Shut up.
”

Despite his want to break every bone in Tom’s handsome face, Barrett nodded and walked down the rest of the stairs before turning from them and marching into one of the private rooms on the main floor. He clenched his fists as he fought to restrain his temper. The need to kill Tom damn near destroyed his control.

He didn’t turn around when he heard the door close behind him. Gritting his teeth
,
he tried to contain the explosion he knew would come as soon as Gail delivered whatever news she wanted to share with him.

“Was this your big surprise?”

“We have something to tell you.” Gail’s musical voice floated into his ears. He closed his eyes and fought against the angst twisting in his gut.

“So speak.”

“Would you please look at me?”

So she could rip his heart out again like she did when she told him she was leaving him to be with Tom the first time? Not a chance in hell.

“He broke your heart, Gail.”
And two ribs
and
your wrist, and left a permanent scar on your cheek.

“I’ve changed,” Tom said.

Barrett swung around and nailed him with a burning glare. Tom sank back and hid behind Gail, the fucking weasel. “Have you stopped beating the shit out of women? Tell me, Tom. Will you use her as your personal punching bag again?”

Tom thinned his lips but said nothing. Instead
,
he looked to Gail to answer for him. Barrett’s less-than-stellar opinion of the man just tanked to one step below the shit he kicked off his boots when he walked in from the fields.

Barrett then rested his gaze on the woman he thought he’d be spending the night with. “Is this what you really want? Him? A coward?”