Page 22 of Wrangle Me, Cowboys

“No matter who you choose, we’re all behind you, one hundred percent,” Holden said.

I realized then that they were waiting for an answer. I had to pick.

Forgetting my reservations, I gulped down a swallow of burning whiskey, then set my glass down and wiped my hands on my jeans. Well, this was just craptastic. How was I supposed to choose?

13

Amber

My eyes moved over Holden, his massive thighs and the bulge in his jeans. I swallowed and let my eyes continue up his body to his bulging arms that I wanted wrapped around me all night, his broad shoulders and thick chest, and his serious face. Those warm brown eyes, his soft lips, his sweet manner. His concern for me, his artistic side, the way he’d used me as his muse. He was the safe choice, and I’d break his heart if I didn’t want him. How could I not choose him?

But then there was Sawyer. Blunt, yes, but fun and straightforward. No games. He wanted me, and I wanted him. We could cook together, flirt and share food. I had fantasized about him throwing me down on the kitchen table more than once. And he was just as sexy as Holden, with those arms that made me positively drool. Between that and his blonde hair and the stubble on his cheeks, that sexy wink of his that made me feel like I was in on all his jokes, and his mischievous smile that always reached his blue eyes, how could I pick anyone else?

And then there was Waylon. I was pretty sure he was the one I shouldn’t choose. But that only made me want to choose him more. I’d only barely gotten to know him, a rare glimpse once in a while, even as I felt like I was getting to know the others pretty well now. Waylon was the standoffish one, the watcher. He made me feel like an idiot most of the time, and I didn’t know exactly how he’d take rejection. Hell, I wasn’t even sure he wanted me at all, despite our little fireside chat.

He was the boss, though. I could just tell. And I could imagine what it would be like for him to boss me around between the sheets. The thought of it both excited and scared me a little. But in a good way.

Basically, I wanted them all. So yeah, maybe I was a greedy bitch.

“I…I can’t,” I said, wanting nothing more than to run from the room. But they’d been straight with me, so I owed it to them to be straight with them.

“Why not?” Waylon asked.

“I’m sorry,” I said, staring at the coffee table, wishing I had more to drink. That had always been my surest bet, my escape. But now I was stone cold sober and itching to drown my reality in a bottle.

“Don’t be sorry,” Holden said. “There’s no blame here. We understand.”

“No, it’s not that I don’t like you,” I said quickly. “I mean, I like you a lot. All of you.” I gulped, trying to slow the torrent of nervous words building inside me. But as usual, it overtook my sense of reason, and all came pouring out. I was shit at keeping my feelings to myself. “But that’s just it. I’m sorry. I can’t pick one of you, because I’m just getting to know you, and I really don’t know who I like more, because you’re all equally yummy, if we’re being honest. Don’t make me choose. It’s too much pressure. See, I like all of you for different reasons, and together, you make the world’s most perfect, hottest guy. But individually—I mean, I’m not saying that any of you are less than perfect, but—"

“It’s okay,” Sawyer said, looking infuriatingly amused. “Nobody’s perfect.”

“Yeah, I mean, look at me. I take verbal diarrhea to new heights.”

Did I just say diarrhea in front of the three hottest guys on the planet?

“Is that what you call it?” Waylon said, sounding less amused.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I can’t choose.”

“I thought as much,” Waylon said.

“We were hoping you’d say that,” Sawyer said. He had that delighted smile shining all over his face again.

I gulped. “You were? Why?”

“Because we all like you, too,” Holden said, like that explained everything.

“And you didn’t want me to choose one of you and hurt the other two? I don’t get it.”

“No,” Sawyer said, scooting closer and angling himself to face me on the couch. “We wanted to make sure before we opened ourselves up to you.”

“Okay…”

“See, we’ve been waiting a long time for the right woman to come along,” he said. “One who understood what kind of lifestyle we want, and who might be open to seeing how it goes.”

“I’m afraid I’m a little lost,” I said. “What’s this lifestyle?”

“We want to share.”