Page 59 of Pure Temptation in Cowboy Boots

Chapter Thirty-Five

He’d been about to break up with her. Tess fought tears and struggled to get dressed. Oh, he might love her, as he’d said in the heat of passion. He’d probably told several women he loved them over the years, especially when they pleased him sexually. He still hadn’t felt the urge to marry one of them. She was just another of his conquests, fun for the summer but not the one he wanted to spend a lifetime with.

There was only one thing Mac could say that would placate her brothers, and that would be to announce their engagement. And he wasn’t going to do that.

Angry voices from the direction of the living room told her things weren’t going well. Stuffing the harem outfit in a drawer, she ran a brush through her hair and padded barefoot down the hall.

Rhino sounded furious. “So you stand there and admit that you took advantage of our sister’s innocent nature?”

Hardly, Tess thought, wondering what sort of story Mac was spinning out there.

“That’s exactly what I’m saying.” Mac’s tone was lower and more controlled. “And if I hadn’t, some city slicker in New York would have. She couldn’t stay innocent forever, dammit. I convinced her she needed to be prepared before she went off to the big city.”

“You convinced her?” Hammer bellowed. “You seduced her, you mean! That poor girl didn’t have a chance!”

Tess hurried into the room. “I did so have a chance. I⁠—”

“Tess.” Mac turned to her. “You can’t assume the responsibility for this. I took advantage of your lack of experience. Simple as that.”

“You most certainly did not.” She realized he was trying to protect her, but she couldn’t let him do that. If he had any chance of saving the relationship with her brothers, the truth had to come out. She glanced at her brothers. “I don’t know what he told you, but this whole summer project was my idea. I decided back in June that I wanted to lose my virginity before I left for New York.”

Rhino and Hammer stared at her, their jaws slack. Rhino was the first to speak. “Summer p-project?”

Mac snorted. “Don’t listen to her. You know Tess. She could always make up wild stories on the spur of the moment, and most of the time it was to save my sorry ass. She’s doing it again.”

“I am not! I came up with my plan and asked Mac if he could fix me up with someone. He offered to take care of it himself.”

“Oh, I’ll just bet he did!” Rhino advanced on Mac. “And how did she get this idea in the first place, huh? She’s never been worried about stuff like that before, so who was putting ideas in her head, buddy-boy?”

Tess stepped between them. “I’ve been thinking about stuff like that since I was fourteen years old, Rhino! It wasn’t Mac’s idea, it was mine.”

“He probably made you think it was your idea,” Hammer said, joining his brother as they faced Mac, fists clenched. “We’ve always known this is one slick character when it comes to women. We just never thought he’d go behind our backs and prey on our little sister, right, Rhino?”

“That’s right. Guess we have to take you outside and work you over, Mac.”

“You will not!” Tess pushed a hand into each one of her brothers’ substantial chests.

“I can take care of myself, Tess.” Mac rolled his shoulders. “You don’t have to protect me from your brothers.”

“She can’t stop us, anyway,” Rhino said. He gently nudged Tess aside.

“Yes, I can!” Tess pushed her way between the men again. “If you touch one hair on his head, I’ll tell Mom and Dad about the time you guys drove over the border, got drunk on tequila and spent the night in a Nogales jail.”

“I don’t care,” Hammer said. “No biggie.”

“And what about the time I found the marijuana in your bedroom, Hammer?” she added sweetly.

“You had pot in your room?” Mac asked. “You never told me that. God, your dad would have had a⁠—”

A flush spread over Hammer’s face. “I only smoked a little of the damn stuff, and it made me puke!”

“So that’s what I’ll tell the folks,” Tess said. “I’m sure they’ll understand. Although they might wonder what happened to the rest of the joints, since I found about six.”

Hammer’s flush deepened. “I sold them at school.”

Rhino turned to him, his eyes wide. “You peddled those things? You told me you flushed them!”

“Who flushed what?” Tim called out as he came through the front door. “And what’s up with the darts tournament? Suzie said you called, so I went and picked up Dozer, but when we got to the Ore Cart, they said you’d come down here.”