Dakota Dawn
(Dakota Heat 7)
Erotic Romance, Contemporary, Menage, Cowboys, MFM, HEADawn Hopkins has been beaten by her husband for the last time. She waits for him to go to work and sets her plan in motion.
She hadn’t planned to run into one of her husband’s employers, Ben Parson. Her attraction to him and his brother, Gabe, and the feeling of safety whenever they are near, along with their anger at her bruises, leaves her more than a little unsettled and anxious to get out of town.
Before she can leave, her husband collapses and is rushed to the hospital. With a small son to raise, Ben and Gabe became her anchors. Even more so when her husband commits suicide, almost taking her son with him.
Patiently showing her that they can be counted on, they protect her from danger, and slowly, steadily convince her of their love.
Excerpt
Gabe Parson stepped into the grocery store in town, automatically searching for any sign of Dawn Hopkins.
She was married to one of his ranch hands, and he had no business lusting after her, but he couldn’t help it.
Both he and his older brother, Ben, had felt the chemistry with her at their first meeting, and no amount of bedding other women or avoiding her lessened his hunger for her.
In fact, it made it worse, especially since she was married to a drunk who felt it was his right to take his failures in life out on his petite wife.
Ignoring the attention he drew, he made his way past the register and to the office counter, disappointed that he didn’t see Dawn.
He and Ben, were used to drawing attention, their size and the fact that they owned the third largest ranch in South Dakota seemed to interest people, and they’d long ago learned to ignore it or use it to their advantage, whichever happened to suit the situation.
The manager, Sally Johnson, came forward with a frown. “She left about ten minutes ago. Bought a gallon of milk, loaf of bread, and a dozen eggs. She also bought another bottle of ibuprofen.”
Gabe clenched his jaw. “Any new bruises?”
Sally snorted. “She wears long sleeves year ’round, so my guess is that she always has bruises. Had that worn jacket on and was shiverin’ like crazy. It’s too damned cold out for that poor excuse for a coat. As usual, she had a smile for everyone, despite the fact that her lip was split.”
Fisting a hand on the counter, Gabe inclined his head. “I’ll take care of it. What do we owe you?”
Sally gave him a figure and, while he counted out bills, leaned forward. “And how are you doin’? I saw you at the dance with Brenda Swanson Saturday night. She was eatin’ you up with her eyes.”
Gabe allowed a small smile as he handed the money to her, while inside a familiar frustration ate at him that he hadn’t gotten to Dawn first. “She’s a nice woman.”
Sally stuck the money into the register and handed him a receipt. “Judging by the dress she wore, she wasn’t goin’ for nice.”
Another one of the locals approached the counter, a widower who’d been hitting on Sally for almost a year. “Hey, Sally.”
Sally blushed and straightened. “Hey, Henry. How’s it goin’?”
“Pretty good. Hey, Gabe. How are you? How’s your brother?”
Gabe tucked the receipt away and offered a smile as he turned. “We’re both good. You?”
“I’m fine, thanks.” He glanced at Sally before holding out a hand toward Gabe. “I was over at the sports store to buy myself a new reel for my fishing pole. Surprised to see Dawn Hopkins there. She was so cold she was shivering. Limping, too.”
Gabe stiffened, unsurprised that Henry would know the information would interest him and furious at what he was learning.
Everybody around town knew that he and Ben looked out for her.
With a shrug, Gabe narrowed his gaze. “Probably buying something for John.”
She doted on her son and appeared to do her best to protect him from the truth about his father.
Henry frowned. “I don’t think so. She bought a baseball bat. Nothing else. No glove. No baseball. As far as I know, John doesn’t play baseball and the middle of fall seems like a strange time to be buying a boy in South Dakota a baseball bat to play with.”
Sally smiled, but Gabe couldn’t miss the concern in her eyes. “Good for her. It’s about time she decided to fight back.”
Gabe grimaced. “She’s fought back before. I’ve seen the bruises on Jeff. It sounds like she’s upping her game.”
Henry grimaced. “Hell, I don’t like the sound of that. He’ll kill her for sure.”
Gabe hid the rage and fear inside him. “No. He won’t.”
He made the ride back to the ranch in record time, the tires of his pickup squealing as he turned onto the long driveway.
He brought the truck to a halt and jumped out, slamming the door behind him.
Ranch hands scattered to get out of his way as he strode across the yard to Jeff Hopkins, his fists clenched at his sides.
Backing up until he pressed against the post and rail fence, Jeff loosened his hands at his sides in an apparent attempt to appear unafraid. “Mr. Parson? What’s wrong?”
Gabe didn’t stop until he stood toe-to-toe with Jeff and bent to get in his face. Keeping his voice low, he let his rage show. “If I see your wife with another bruise, I’ll tear you apart. Understood?”
Jeff swallowed heavily but lifted his chin in defiance. “I don’t know—”
“Don’t tell me you don’t know what the hell I’m talking about.” Gabe wanted nothing more than to grab the other man by the throat but didn’t trust himself not to beat Jeff to a bloody pulp. “If you do, or if you hurt her again, I’m gonna show you what it feels like to be beaten by someone larger and a hell of a lot stronger than you.”
Straightening, he took a step back. “The only reason you still have a job here is because I don’t want to take away your ability to provide for them, but if she’s ever looking for a place to stay, I’m gonna make sure she has one, and then you’re gone.”
Jeff glanced around, puffing his chest out when he saw that, although the other men didn’t approach, they watched the scene play out. “My wife is none of your business.”
“If any man beats on a woman, I make it my business.”