"I knew that part." She grinned. "Be right back."

Dax leaned forward in his chair. "Okay, bro, time to fess up. You let Emma win, didn't you?"

Griff looked at Emma. She watched him while she sipped her beer. He could lie and say that he hadn't let her win, or tell the truth and admit he had. He elected to fudge his answer a little. "You saw my last shot. I missed it."

"Yeah, but did you purposely miss it?"

Emma's eyes narrowed. "Don't you dare say you let me win."

He wanted to laugh. Griff hadn't felt like laughing in ten months. He wasn't sure if he could smile anymore without his face cracking. "You won't hear it from me."

"But you did, didn't you?" Emma's bottle made a loud thunk when she set it back on the table. "You drew up on that shot so the ball wouldn't go in the pocket."

"Here you go." Lana arrived with her tray loaded with bowls of peach cobbler and vanilla ice cream.

Saved by the dessert, Griff thought. He dug into his cobbler, but made the mistake of glancing at Emma again. She glared at him.

"I want a rematch, Coleman."

"Rye has a pool table," Alaina said. "Y'all could play at his house."

"You and me," Emma said, pointing her spoon at Griff. "Tomorrow night. No holding back."

"I'll bring the beer," Dax said, grinning.

"I'll pick up barbecue." Rye also grinned. "Should be an interesting evening."

"Are we on?" Emma asked Griff.

Griff had grown up with his two brothers. As triplets, they were naturally close, and naturally compet.i.tive. They'd all played many different sports in school and still enjoyed physical sports when they had the chance to play. He'd been raised to be considerate of women, be a gentleman at all times. That's why he'd let Emma win.

Her challenge made the compet.i.tive beast inside him rear up on its hind legs and release a roar.

"We're on."

Chapter Three.

When Emma decided to spend a few days in Lanville with Alaina, she'd wanted nothing but to relax, soak up the sun and enjoy the time with one of her best friends. She'd teased Alaina about Rye, saying if her friend was f.u.c.king a Coleman, then so could she. She'd expected that Coleman would be Dax, and still believed they would be really hot together.

Yet it was Griff who made desire curl in her belly.

She had no illusions about a lifetime with the widower. Nor did she want one. Her draw to Griff was all about having a good time. Alaina told her he hadn't been with a woman since his wife died. It was a shame to let all that testosterone sit idle.

Especially since she would gladly help him use it.

Throwing back the covers, she stretched her arms over her head and pointed her toes. A long hot shower, a bite of breakfast, and she'd be ready to start the day. Since Rye said he'd pay for barbecue for supper tonight, Emma decided she could make the side dishes. Something healthy would be good, but baked beans and potato salad went perfectly with barbecue. She'd top off the meal with her quadruple chocolate brownies for dessert.

Everyone would be on calorie overload, but she suspected the guys would love it.

Since she knew Alaina and Rye had already left for Stevens House, Emma didn't bother covering up her nude body with a robe. She wandered into the kitchen, where she saw a note propped against the coffeemaker.

Coffee ready to be brewed, just push the b.u.t.ton. See you later. A Lainy always took such good care of her. Emma pressed the b.u.t.ton to start the coffee, then headed for the big shower in the master bathroom. She loved the feel of the water from all those jets. .h.i.tting her body.

Steam billowed out of the enclosure before Emma stepped beneath the hot water. She tilted her head back and let the water roll over her for several moments, then picked up the bottle of liquid soap. The scent of jasmine drifted to her nose as she poured a generous amount into her palm. Their housemate Kelcey had her own bathroom in her house, while Emma and Alaina had shared a bathroom. Luckily they both loved the scent of jasmine. After working the soap into a thick lather, Emma slowly spread it over her body with her hands.

She drew in a sharp breath as she pa.s.sed over her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. She hadn't been with a man in two weeks and her nipples were feeling neglected. She pleasured herself on a regular basis, yet her fingers weren't nearly as satisfying as a man's mouth. A d.i.l.d.o didn't fill her p.u.s.s.y as well as a man's hard c.o.c.k.

Emma plucked at her nipples as she imagined a man touched her. She imagined a man's lips at her nape, his teeth lightly sc.r.a.ping over her skin, while he cradled her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. He'd rub his c.o.c.k against her a.s.s, the hard length sliding between her cheeks.

"Mmm, yes."

She let her hands drift down her body to between her thighs. Her lover would press her against the wall of the shower, bend his knees and slip inside her from behind. He'd move gently, easily, his thrusts intended to slowly build up her desire. That would work for a while, but Emma would soon want it harder, faster. She always wanted it harder, faster.

The lather let her fingers glide over her swollen folds. She flicked her c.l.i.t with her thumb, caressed it with her fingertips. As hot as she felt now, a climax was only a few strokes away. Although it would feel good, she wanted more than good.

She wanted amazing.

Alaina had shown her all the settings on the removable showerhead last night, including a pulsing action that she said was perfect for o.r.g.a.s.ms. Slipping the showerhead from its holder, Emma set the spray to pulse and checked the flow on her palm. Oh yes. Definitely perfect.

Emma sat on the built-in seat in the corner. She spread her legs and ran the spray up and down her l.a.b.i.a. Closing her eyes, she leaned back and raised her feet to the seat. The new position let her reach every part of her intimate flesh. She focused the spray on her c.l.i.t, moved it up and down her folds again. She groaned out loud when the pulsing water touched her a.n.u.s. She held the showerhead in place, letting the warmth caress the sensitive tissue. a.n.a.l stimulation had always been a huge turn-on for her and the path to a staggering climax. She suspected today would be no different.

Her toes curled when the pleasure began to grow stronger in her body. She rubbed her c.l.i.t with her fingertips as she kept the spray directed on her a.n.u.s. The o.r.g.a.s.m stole her breath as it flashed through her like a wildfire, gathering speed until it consumed every part of her.

"Oh yessssss!"

Eyes closed, mouth open, her body trembled with each wave that flowed over her. Her lungs were still fighting for oxygen when she managed to open her eyes. It took several more moments for the strength to return to her legs so she could stand.

Alaina hadn't kidded about the showerhead being a girl's friend.

The climax had definitely been amazing, but it still wasn't enough. o.r.g.a.s.ms with her fingers or a showerhead would never compare to the ones she received from a man.

She thought of Griff as she shaved her underarms, legs and mound. She wanted her next o.r.g.a.s.m to be with him. Tonight would be the perfect opportunity.

Griff noticed Emma the moment he stepped into Rye's kitchen. She and Alaina were laughing and talking as they took dishes from the cabinets and food from the refrigerator. The scent of barbecued beef and pork filled the air. Leaning against the doorjamb, he watched the two women scurry about the room.

"How much time left on the barbecue?" Alaina asked with her head inside the refrigerator.

Emma stopped tearing the lettuce leaves in her hands and glanced at the timer on the stove. "Ten minutes."

"I'm gonna warm up the baked beans."

"Okay. Grab that cruet of salad dressing while you're in there so I can toss the salad."

Griff's gaze slowly traveled over Emma. She wore tight, faded jeans that hit her right at the hips. A loose blouse in shades of turquoise, hot pink and gray was tied at her waist, leaving that sliver of skin exposed again.

Her toes peeked out from denim sandals. Hot pink polish covered her toenails and fingernails. She'd apparently given herself a manicure and pedicure today, or had it done in town. That color looked really good against her fair skin.

Alaina removed a gla.s.s ca.s.serole dish from the refrigerator. She saw him as she pushed the door shut with her hip. "Hi, Griff."

Emma's head swung toward him. He watched her gaze do its own traveling over his shoulders, chest and groin before returning to his face. He hadn't seen that type of look in a long time, but he recognized it.

Desire.

A surge of heat flowed through Griff's body, something he hadn't felt in months. He didn't want to feel heat, or desire, or any kind of emotion like that for Emma or any other woman. He couldn't dishonor Jana's memory that way. She'd been the only woman he'd loved, the only woman he could ever love. He lived, yet his heart had been buried with his wife.

"Hi," she said, her voice low and sultry.

Griff nodded. "Ladies."

"The guys are in the game room." Alaina set the ca.s.serole dish next to the microwave. "Rye stocked the mini-fridge with beer and c.o.kes."

"Do y'all need help with anything?"

"Nah, we're good." She set the timer to warm the baked beans. "Tell Rye and Dax that supper will be ready in about fifteen minutes."

"Okay."

His gaze clashed with and held Emma's for several moments before he managed to look away from her and leave the room.

Griff heard the clack of pool b.a.l.l.s as he walked down the hall toward Rye's game room. He remembered the three brothers discussing who would have which "goody" in which home when they started building their houses. They decided Rye got the game room, Dax got the swimming pool, and Griff got the hot tub. Since they lived less than a mile apart on land their parents gifted to them, it was easy to go to Dax's house if they wanted to swim, or to Griff's if they wanted a dip in the hot tub. Playing pool or darts or watching sports on the huge, high-def TV happened in Rye's game room.

"s.h.i.t!" Dax said as Griff walked up to the doorway. A quick look at the table showed the cue ball heading directly for a corner pocket. "s.h.i.t, s.h.i.t, s.h.i.t!"

Rye laughed. "I believe that's call a scratch, Dax."

"I know what it is." Dax scowled when the white ball dropped neatly into the pocket. "I need to get laid. Everything I do is off."

"There's a hot little brunette in the kitchen with Alaina who looks like she'd be a lot of fun."

"I agree, but Emma isn't interested in me. She only has eyes for Griff."

Griff stopped in his tracks on his way into the room. "What?"

Dax turned toward Griff. "Oh c'mon, don't try to tell me you don't know that." He collected the b.a.l.l.s from the pockets and laid them on the table so Rye could rack them. "She watched you at the bar last night."

"She watched you too."

"She didn't challenge me to a rematch."

"I lost."

"I lost too, but she didn't challenge me to play her again. And I lost twenty bucks because you let her win. You owe me."

"Yeah," Rye said, his eyes shining with laughter, "you owe me twenty bucks too."

"I'd lose on purpose to someone as hot as Emma." Dax clasped the back of Griff's neck. "You need some hot in your life and your bed."

Griff stiffened. He couldn't believe Dax would suggest he be unfaithful to Jana. "I don't want to have s.e.x with Emma."

"Then you aren't human. She looks like sin in those tight jeans."

Griff agreed, but he wouldn't say that aloud. He couldn't help noticing a woman as s.e.xy as Emma. That didn't mean he would act on that observation.

"Supper's on!" Alaina called.

Saved by food again. Griff hurried out of the game room, leaving Rye and Dax to follow.

The barbecue had been delicious and melt-in-your-mouth tender. Now Emma was so full, she didn't know if she'd be able to bend over the pool table to play.

Of course, if Griff wanted her to bend over and play a different game, she'd find a way.

He'd ignored her through most of the meal, looking at her only when she asked him a direct question or made a comment to something he said. She'd feel discouraged if giving up was in her nature. She didn't believe in giving up, not when she wanted something as much as she wanted Griff.

She understood attraction. She understood desire. She understood wanting to jump a guy's bones. She didn't understand this draw, this pull, to Griff. She a.s.sumed it was because she had gone two weeks without s.e.x. One of the pastry chefs at the restaurant had been a twice-weekly f.u.c.k buddy, but he moved to San Antonio two weeks ago to be closer to his family. His moving meant the end of regular s.e.x until she found someone else.

She looked across the table at Dax and Griff. Both gorgeous, both s.e.xy, both single. She should concentrate on Dax, the one who wanted a good time and nothing more. Griff had been married. He no doubt wanted that whole happily-ever-after, one-person-forever s.h.i.t that she avoided.

Yet the draw was for Griff, not Dax. He was like the forbidden fruit-something she shouldn't touch yet couldn't seem to help herself.

She knew he still grieved over the loss of his wife. That didn't mean he couldn't have fun. It would be good for him to loosen up, feel a woman's body against his again.

Her nipples puckered at the thought of all that tan skin and tight muscles leaning over her in bed.

Rye laid his fork on his empty plate. "Don't tell her I said this, Emma, but your potato salad is better than my mother's."

"You'd better be glad Mom isn't here," Dax said, "or she'd hang you up by your ears."

"I wouldn't have said it if Mom was here. Or at least not where she could hear me."

Emma raised her winegla.s.s to Rye. "Thanks. There's no better compliment than for my cooking to be compared to a mother's."

"Anything you make is better than my mother's." Alaina shivered playfully. "The concoctions she comes up with boggle the mind."

"I've had your mother's cooking, so I agree with that." Emma sipped her wine, glancing at Griff as she did so. He was watching her.

He feels the pull too, just as strongly as I do.

Alaina sat back in her chair. "It's too bad only the people staying at my B-and-B will taste Emma's cooking."