Espino, Stacey - Hardcore Cowboys [Ride 'em Hard 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) by Stacey Espino Read Free Book Online

the other man in the kitchen.
    Val approached her, sitting on the cushion beside her. His jacket creaked as he sat. He smelled of musky cologne and all male. “We’ll be back as soon as we can, okay, darlin’? You should try and take a warm shower now that you’re awake, and make sure to drink your soup.”
    She only nodded, partially in shock from his thoughtfulness. Samantha wasn’t used to anyone doting on her. Nobody she knew at work gave a shit if she lived or died. The new attention washed through her like a drug, making her willing to do anything these men told her.
    “That’s a girl.” He leaned over and kissed her forehead. She’d never had a father figure in her life, and male tenderness was something new to her. When he pulled back, he had a gentle smile on his face, and he tucked some wayward curls behind her ear. “We’re gonna take good care of you.”

Chapter Six

    The next morning Cord checked in on their guest. They’d given her the guest room upstairs, which used to be their parents’ bedroom. It felt strange walking into the room they'd kept locked and sealed for so many years. In many ways, Val was right. They lived in a mausoleum, too afraid to change anything in the house. It would betray precious memories to move on with life, to change rather than preserve.
    But living in the past only guaranteed them a loveless future, void of new memories. As much as he wanted to start fresh, embrace life and all its opportunities, a part of him couldn’t let go.
    Having Samantha in the house was a welcome change, something different to focus on than the monotony of daily life. They’d been called out for service again, but he had to check on the cute little brunette before he left for the day. He sat on the edge of the bed, trying not to disturb her as he took her vitals. She was warm and her pulse strong. After they built up her energy with more of their homemade soups, she’d be well on the road to recovery.
    His fingertips were pressed to the pulse at her neck when her eyes flitted open.
    “Sorry to wake you, sweet thing. Just wanted to check in on you before I left with Val.”
    “It’s okay.” She sat up in the bed, but quickly lowered herself back to the pillow. “I feel lightheaded. Is that normal?”
    “Very normal.” He leaned over and kissed her forehead, only realizing what he’d done after the fact. "You just need a good long rest to fully recover. We’ll make sure you get it.”
    She wasn’t like one of his usual patients. There was something about her, a sweet innocence that pulled him in.
    “I don’t even have my e-reader. I’ll be bored to tears if I have to be in bed much longer.”
    He smiled at her. He couldn’t help himself. The girl was too cute with her wild curls and big doe eyes. He had no clue what an e-reader was, but if he had one he'd give it to her in a heartbeat. “I'll keep you entertained, but you have to promise to stay in bed. I don’t want you getting worse on me while I'm off to work.”
    “You're leaving?” He easily interpreted the disappointment in her voice. It felt good to be wanted, needed.
    “Soon. Want to play a game of cards before I have to head out?”
    “Okay. What do you know how to play?”
    He opened the nightstand drawer where he knew a deck of cards was stored. Nothing changed on the Carson ranch. As he shuffled the deck Samantha shifted higher up on the pillow. “Let’s start simple. Go Fish?”
    She agreed on the game and he doled out the cards. With each hand, they made eye contact, laughed, and brushed fingers reaching for cards. Samantha aroused new emotions in Cord. She wasn’t like a hardcore cowgirl, cheap thrill, or sisterly-type. He had a feeling she was the real deal, the type of woman he could actually settle down with and not regret the choice. But hooking up with a woman meant change he wasn't sure he was capable of.
    “Are you cheating?” She narrowed her eyes at him, holding her cards to her