“There’s a cattle ranch, not too far from Denver,” Ken said. “A generations-old operation run by the Lassiter family. A few years back they started a side business—a dude ranch—which comprised of taking in guests so those people could also experience the western lifestyle. They did well for a long time, but it was only a side business for them. So we contracted out the “dude” side of their operation, leaving the original operator free to devote more time to his veterinary practice. Another one of the family members works with one of our tour guides, and it’s been a win-win arrangement for everyone.”
“The ranch excursion catered to less athletic individuals?” Alice said.
“Exactly. Horseback riding, a front seat at roundups, a small old-fashioned cattle drive, and as a bonus, a visit to some Anasazi ruins that happen to be situated on their land.”
“The thing is,” Ian said, “we’ve noticed that while there still are those ‘extreme tourists,’ today’s vacationers more and more are comprised of families traveling together. Society has changed lately. There’s more emphasis on activity and learning while touring the country. When people visit an area, when they invest those vacation dollars, they want more than a few photographs in return. They want to create memories that will last a lifetime.”
“I like that. I like your whole business philosophy.” Alice treated them to a heart-melting smile. “I’m learning a lot about you—the way you think and the way you interact with each other.”
“Do you like what you’re learning?” Ken asked. Unable to help himself, he reached for her hand.
When she didn’t protest, he brought it to his lips and then gently rubbed his kiss in using his thumb.
“I do like what I’m learning, yes.”
“Good.” Ian picked up her other hand and repeated Ken’s gestures. “That’s good, because we’re learning who you are, too. You’ve got an analytical side that is totally awesome and, I imagine, meshes really well with Ken’s need for logic and order.”
“And you have a whimsical side,” Ken said. “That we got a very good look at yesterday. I think that’s the side of you that most appeals to Ian.”
Alice nodded. She caught her bottom lip between her teeth, an unconscious gesture, Ken thought. She looked from him to Ian, and then she sighed.
“I figured something out about myself, not long after the first time I came here to Lusty. That was for their engagement party.” She didn’t need to explain who “they” were, because she’d nodded toward the hallway where her brothers were likely hard at work and had probably already forgotten they were even there.
“At first, I was kind of weirded out, knowing that my brothers intended to share Bailey. But the more I thought about it, the more…the more logical it seemed. I didn’t know what that meant,” Alice said. “But I knew it was a huge clue. And then, yesterday, you came into the restaurant, and it was such a moment, when I looked up and saw you both.”
“For us too,” Ian said.
“A huge moment,” Ken agreed.
“The reason I didn’t say yes right away was that I wasn’t sure if I wanted to get to know you because I’d figured out that maybe I needed two lovers—or if I wanted to get to know you because the attraction I felt to you both was just so strong.”
“Does it matter, sweetheart?” Ken asked.
“We’re not headed off to Gretna Green,” Ian said. Ken didn’t quite get the reference, but Alice gave his cousin a quick grin.
“You read Regency romance?”
“I have. Mostly, I read enough to tease my sister Jen who was never without a romance book by her side. And then later, because, well, they were hot and I thought they might give me some insight into the female mind.”
Alice looked at Ken. “In Regency romances, stories that take place in the early 1800s and are set mostly in England, couples are always escaping the wrath of an unsympathetic parent or guardian, and going to Gretna Green, a village in Scotland just across the border from England and known for elopements.”
“Ah.” Ken got the reference and then turned to his cousin to let him finish his thought.
“We’re not taking steps here that have to lead somewhere right now. They might, and I have to be honest with you, baby girl, I hope they do.”
“We are, however, embarking on what we’ll call an exploration. We’ll explore different parts of this area, and each other. One day at a time. What do you think about that?”
“I think somebody had better kiss me—in fact, you both had better kiss me—and I’m hoping like hell they’re really, really good ones.”
“We’ll be happy to do just that—as soon as we finish our little planning session,” Ken said.
When both his best friend and the woman he hoped would be his turned wide-eyed, disbelieving gazes on him, he opened his palms in supplication and then made the best sales pitch he could think of.
“Let’s get a few places figured out, and then let’s go somewhere a bit more private. Because, Alice Benedict, I want a nice long taste of you, and I don’t want to fight off your brothers in order to do so.”
Chapter Four
“What do you mean your company has already been sold?” Owen Baker ran his hand through his hair. The small office at the back of the sporting goods store felt claustrophobic. How could a man work in this little closet for so many years?
Baker barely restrained the shiver that wanted to cascade down his spine. He kept his full attention fixed on Bob Travis, the owner of Travis Sporting Goods. The words that had just come out of that man’s mouth echoed within Baker’s brain. It was a familiar, but hated refrain.
“I spoke to your attorney just last week, and he
