Three Hearts Beat as One (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Read Online Free PDF Page B

riding horses just like in his absurd fantasies.
    Did she know who he was? She had given him a long, desirous, melting look at the Senegalese restaurant, but he’d thought that was his imagination. She could have also been staring at Chase’s back. She had just been talking to Chase, and who wouldn’t rather look at the studly Chase than an old cowboy like Devin? Certainly, a gal who worked all day selling drop cloths, bottle brushes, and rat traps could cut loose for a few days on a ranch. And every bid was a benefit to the town. Her bidding probably had nothing to do with him.
    But he certainly liked to imagine it did as he watched her write down a bid. She bent at the waist, leaned her elbows on the table, and studied the photographs of the ranch. The idea that she was nearsighted made her even more vulnerable and appealing. She wore a low-backed gold gown that displayed her softly rounded shoulders and elbows, and Devin was particularly turned on by the contour of her exposed calves as she posed in the heeled sandals. It was almost an old-fashioned lust he felt for her. Aroused by ankles! True, it had been two years since he’d fantasized about a woman’s body. Maybe the novelty was exciting him.
    Then some people who wanted to bid on the hair-band guitarist’s autographed Stratocaster got in the way and Devin couldn’t see Lacey anymore. He practically shoved the heavy metal enthusiasts out of his way in his race to the bid sheet. Had she actually bid? She must know he was the Hardscrabble owner—his stupid photograph was right there glued to some cardboard, smiling asininely while standing next to some horses.
    “Devin Jonas!”
    Fuck. Jared Alessi, the annoying and often combative mayor of Hell’s Delight, barred Devin’s way. Jared held the bid pen poised as though about to outbid Lacey, and Devin had to prevent this at all costs. Devin side-stepped around the mayor as though waltzing. “Mayor Alessi. Did you see that old Miwok Indian basket up for bid? That should be in a museum, not sold to a private party.”
    Alessi said, “I’m more interested in that great cruise to Mazatlan. But who wants to go to Mexico these days? Even stepping off a cruise ship can get you killed.”
    “Did you see the three-day pass to Heavenly resort? You like to ski, don’t you?” Devin didn’t know or care if the mayor skied. But the auctioneer had called over the PA system that bidders had five minutes left on the silent auction, and that seemed like three minutes ago. Devin had a feeling he could distract Alessi until then.
    “Actually, I have way too much work to ever take a vacation, but your dude ranch offer sounds like the relaxation would be worth it.”
    Crap. In addition to the mayor’s obnoxious interest, two lesbians had stopped to look at the Hardscrabble display. Lesbians had won the past five year’s worth of Hardscrabble auctions. This year, Devin wanted to teach the bountiful Lacey Dvorak a thing or two about ranching. “For relaxation I’d go for one of these spa deals. The Tahoe Mission Inn gives you a glass of good cabernet while you’re getting your shiatsu treatment.”
    Alessi wiggled an eyebrow. Devin frowned. He couldn’t tell what the wiggling signified. Alessi had gotten very emotional last year over some open space bond involving a parcel of Devin’s land. Devin could never tell if the mayor liked him or loathed him, because either way, Alessi became very emotional when dealing with Devin. In public meetings he always wound up yelling and pointing fingers at Devin. “Shiatsu massages are painful, don’t you think? Who wants to be poked and prodded while trying to relax? Don’t they have more of a sort of…” Again with the eyebrow wiggling. “ Sensual massage?”
    What the hell is he trying to insinuate? Devin was thoroughly confused. The mayor was certainly an odd one. “Oh, I’m sure that they do. They offer all different levels of intensity. I just happen to like the firmer