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“The minute you came to town, we knew.”
“Who knew what?”
“All of us, I guess. Jackson didn’t hesitate. He may be the youngest, but he’s also the smartest. Phoenix was on board right after that. I thought so, but was worried that you wouldn’t understand what we wanted.”
Her head spun. “You’re talking in circles. Tell me the truth.”
“Here it is. Jackson, Phoenix, and I all want a wife.”
“And?”
“Not a wife each, but one wife. One to share.”
She gulped. “What?”
“Haven’t you noticed how things work in Wilde? You’ve been to the Horseshoe Bar and Grill. What have you seen there?”
Jessie recalled her first night in the small town. She’d seen the two cowboys pawing the woman, and no one seemed alarmed or shocked by their behavior save Jessie. Come to think about it, she’d seen more examples in Wilde where two or more men held on to one woman. Being a native New Yorker, she’d barely taken note of it.
“I guess I have seen what you’re talking about.”
“Have you ever heard of plural marriages?”
“I’m from Manhattan. I read.” Honestly, she really didn’t know much about such things, but she continued. “But I thought that was more of a one man several women kind of thing.”
“Not here.” Dallas leaned into the cab.
“So everyone in Wilde is into this?”
“No. There’s several families with one husband and one wife.”
“Why? A religious practice of some sort?”
“No, sweetheart. It’s just been the norm here for generations. Jackson, Phoenix, and I grew up in a home with three dads and one mom. It’s what we know.”
“Oh, my God. Daniel, Craig, and Dillon Wilde are your dads?”
“Yep. Mary is our mom.”
“So, you, Phoenix, and Jackson grew up this way.” Jessie shook her head. Suddenly, it all made sense why the three guys were trying to woo her. They really did want her. Not just for a fling or a short-lived romance, but permanently. The thought flattened her out. “I don’t think I could ever...”
“That’s the reason we didn’t tell you. You’re not from here. You don’t know our ways. We thought if we could get you to fall in love with us, then we would tell you.”
“So you guys lied to me in order to cultivate my feelings for you? Great plan.”
“Can you forgive me?” He looked down. “I pushed too hard. I shouldn’t have. You weren’t ready. I should’ve known better.”
Her heart softened. All that the brothers had done for her had been done in love. How could she stay mad at any of them? She should, but she couldn’t. “I forgive you.”
Still, the idea of marrying one of them, let alone all three, had her head spinning. She had no idea how such a thing would work.
“Thank you, sweetheart. Believe me, everything I’ve done has been to make you fall in love with me.” The truth of his confession could not be denied.
The knowledge that Jackson, Phoenix, and Dallas wanted to share a wife—and they’d cast her for the role—tangled up her thoughts in threads of logic and absurdity. She even imagined for an instant how wonderful it would be not to have to choose between them. Would such a thing be plausible for her? Not likely. Besides, how would children fit into such an arrangement? Would each of them expect her to give them a child? Her mind whirled almost painfully.
“Dallas, I don’t—”
“You don’t have to do anything, love. I know I fucked up tonight, but it won’t happen again. I promise. No matter what happens, as long as I’m here, I’ll make sure your feelings and your heart are protected.”
