“Hell, no,” she admitted on a deep sigh of regret. “That’s why I hate your guts.”

  Alena laughed at that outright lie. “You’re a jealous bitch.”

  “Damn straight. I gotta tell you, I played with our good sheriff at Bryan’s parties years ago, and whew!” Carlee fanned herself with dramatic waves of her hand. “If I wasn’t so freaking obsessed with my guy, I’d insist on joining you. Never had a four-way. You?”

  Sputtering on a giggle, she replied, “I’ve never had a three-way, just each of them with the other watching.”

  “Well, like I said, they’ll make sure you’ll be too busy to be uncomfortable for long Saturday night. I think this’ll be a small group as his big summer bash isn’t planned for another two weeks. That one you won’t want to miss.”

  Since that would be the day before she was supposed to return home, Alena hoped she would have something to celebrate by then instead of the dead-end leads that had brought her here in the first place. “I’ll try.”

  “Try what?”

  Both women swirled to see Bryan standing behind them, his brother Kevin, and two other younger guys taking seats at a nearby table. Alena’s heart beat double time at finding the people she had been eagerly awaiting an introduction to suddenly right in front of her. Nothing had ever been more difficult than resisting the urge to demand what they knew of her sister’s whereabouts. Instead, she kept quiet and let Carlee make the introductions.

  Jumping off her stool, Carlee threw her arms around the big guy, exclaiming, “I thought you were busy tonight.”

  “I was, now I’m not.”

  Alena watched him slide his hands down Carlee’s back to grip her buttocks and lift her to meet his descending mouth. She glanced away to see Kevin who, with his wavy brown hair and hazel eyes was the spitting image of his brother, watched them with a small smirk. He happened to shift his look to her at that moment, and sent her a friendly wink. But there was something… off in those eyes, a look the brother didn’t have, a calculating gleam that made her uncomfortable as she remembered he too had witnessed that scene on her boat a few days ago.

  “Meet Randy’s hook-up,” Carlee said as she pulled away from Bryan, tossing Alena a wicked grin. “He’s invited her to come to the party with him and Nash.”

  “I’ve seen you around the lake and town with Sheriff Janzen, not to mention moored at my private dock. I’ve known Randy for a decade and have never known him to take up with a tourist. I’m Bryan Hirst, your host for Saturday night.” His smile was friendly, his eyes twinkling with remembrance. “I’m looking forward to seeing more of you.”

  She took his outstretched hand and found hers engulfed in his huge palm. Thinking of the time she saw him wielding a switch on Carlee’s bound body, she had trouble reconciling that stern man with this affable, teasing person. “Not much more to see than you already have. I’m Alena.”

  Grinning, liking her candor, he squeezed her hand before releasing her and inquiring, “Just Alena?”

  “May as well keep it simple since it’s doubtful any of you will see me again after I return to New York.”

  “Like I said, I’ve never known my good friend to take up with a visitor. He’s always been strictly by the book and playing footsie with the town’s income goes against his nature. What’d you do, cast a spell on him?”

  He was digging, but she didn’t know why or what for. Maybe he was just suspicious by nature. “If I had spell-casting powers, I wouldn’t waste them on getting a man’s attention. Most men of my acquaintance aren’t worth the effort.”

  “Ouch. I hope you’ll feel differently this weekend.”

  “She’ll have fun. What’re you and the kid up to?” Carlee asked.

  Uncaring of who might see, Bryan reached out and pinched Carlee’s distended nipple, her thin top doing little to disguise the small bumps of her areola or her puckered nipple. “I’m trading them for you. Alena, can I give you a lift to your lodgings?”

  Alena noticed he didn’t wait for Carlee to agree, just assumed she would. Giving a mental shrug, she supposed if Carlee didn’t mind his high-handed assumption then she shouldn’t either. “Thank you but I drove and I’d like to finish my drink first. I’ll see you Saturday, Carlee.” Spinning around on her stool, she waved her off.

  “Later then,” Carlee called back, returning her wave and laughing as Bryan all but hauled her out of the bar.

  On her return swivel around, Alena almost toppled off her seat when she came up against Kevin, his two friends standing next to him wearing expectant grins before they picked up their drinks and returned to their table.

  “Sorry, didn’t see you had come up,” she mumbled. Up close, his good looks were hard to ignore and she could see why her sister had been attracted to him, but his knowing smirk as he eyed her with blatant appreciation for having seen what was under her clothing set her on edge.

  “I’m full of surprises. Would you like to join us for a drink? We hate to see a pretty girl drink alone.”

  Both Randy and Nash had praised her by saying ‘good girl,’ and she easily recalled the warm flush those two simple words had given her at the time. Why did hearing ‘girl’ from this kid have her gnashing her teeth? The desire to put him in his place warred with not wanting to miss this opportunity, so she shoved aside her irritation to give him a flirty smile and a small dig. “If you can remember I’m a woman, not a girl, then I’d be happy to join you.”

  The quick flare of hot anger that tightened his face almost sent her toppling off the stool again as she leaned away from him in a reflexive move, but he masked it so fast she wondered if she had imagined it. Picking up her glass, she took a big swallow, relishing the burn as it went down her throat.

  “My apologies,” he returned in a smooth tone. “I usually hang out with college girls. Can I buy you a refill?”

  “Thank you, no. I’m already at my limit to drive safely. So, where do you go to school?” She took another sip of her whiskey, stalling before going to their table to give the light dizziness she experienced all of a sudden a chance to subside. Her drinks must’ve been stronger than they tasted.

  “USM in Portland. You from around here?”

  “New York,” she replied, sticking as close to the truth as possible. After swallowing another sip, she took a deep breath to shore up her nerve, slid off the stool, then ventured, “That’s the college that missing girl attended. Did you know her?”

  “Let’s not put a damper on the evening by bringing up depressing topics,” he crooned, running a finger down her cheek in a soft stroke that was at odds with the hard look in his eyes, a look that proved she’d touched on a nerve. But was it due to guilt or just reluctance to talk about a disturbing subject?

  She didn’t get a chance to ask or speculate further before he bent and whispered in her ear, “Come join us, sweetie. Don’t worry, I haven’t told Joel and Brad about the little show you put on for me the other day.”

  His tongue dipped into her ear following that snide insinuation and Alena pulled away in disgust, her abrupt jerk back sending the room spinning in circles. With a gasp, she clung to him until her woozy head cleared somewhat, heat infusing her body at the press of his erection against her stomach. His low chuckle drew a shiver up her spine, and to her astonishment her nipples beaded into taut, painful buds, her sheath swelling with moisture. “Oh, good Lord,” she breathed before she could stifle the exclamation. What the hell was wrong with her?

  “Problem, Kevin?”

  Alena recognized the bartender’s voice with relief, then Kevin’s reply followed by low chuckles from his friends had ripples of both fear and excitement crawling under her skin.

  “A little too much to drink, Zach. I’ll give her a ride.”

  “Yeah, I bet you will, Kev.”

  “Can it, you two,” Zachary snapped at Kevin’s friends before turning back to him. He had already phoned the sheriff since he had heard the rumors about Randy and Nash’s involvement with the redhead. “Just take her outside and wait for the sheriff.”

  Bewildered, Alena felt as if her mind had detached from her body, but she managed to toss back the rest of her drink as Kevin went to grab the glass. Jerking away, she heard it shatter on the wood floor. “Oops,” she giggled, this time leaning against him instead of pulling away.

  “Out!” Zachary swore as he retrieved a broom.

  The cool evening air did nothing to dispel the sudden heat flowing through her veins, the press of the hard male body against her side tossing timber on those flames and threatening to burn her up. “Are my guys here?” she asked, needing them, wanting them in the worst way.

  “Now, what do you want them for?”

  I need them, she wanted to say, but instead she went with Kevin toward his sporty SUV, trying to focus her fuzzy brain on why she shouldn’t be leaving with him. A brief moment of clarity fought its way through and brought her to an abrupt halt. Pulling back, she tried focusing on his handsome face swimming before her, registering the smug look even with her senses addled. “I don’t know you, I’m not going with you. People disappear when they leave with you.”

  “What’d you say?” he asked sharply, his hand digging into her upper arm.

  Wincing at his tight grip, she struggled to think fast, which was difficult to do with her body burning up and her head twirling in dizzying circles. Somehow, she managed to come up with a good excuse for her blunder. “I’m from New York. Nobody from New York leaves a bar with a stranger. They might never be seen again.” Even through her blurry vision she noticed his scowl had disappeared, replaced with a taunting smile as he opened the passenger door.

  “This is Blue Springs, not the big city. You’re safe here, with me. Come on, get in.”

  A sigh of relief found its way past her spiraling confusion and over stimulated senses when she blinked against the bright glare of flashing blue strobe lights. They were here. “Let me go, my guys are here and I want to go with them.” Suddenly she was free of his brutal grip and stumbling toward Randy and Nash as they strode toward them.

  “What’s going on, Kevin?” Randy demanded, his arms going around Alena’s trembling body.

  “Just doing a good deed, Sheriff,” he drawled, insolence dripping from every word. “She had a little too much to drink and I offered to take her to wherever she’s staying.”

  There was something wrong with that explanation, but the fire raging through her body demanded Alena’s total concentration. Nash had moved next to Randy and settled a reassuring hand on her shoulder, his touch searing through her thin shirt with the burning heat of a branding iron.

  “Take me home,” she whispered, praying they knew she meant their place. She ached for them with every fiber of her being and her little bunk on her little boat just wouldn’t do for what she craved.

  “We’ll take her,” Nash’s voice came from above her head, just as hard and implacable as Randy’s had been.

  “Good enough. I’ll see you at Bryan’s party.”

  As soon as Kevin walked back inside The Well, Randy pushed her back at arm’s length and demanded, “You want to tell us what’s going on?”

  “Don’t know, don’t care. Take me home, to your place.” Grabbing their hands, she tried tugging them toward their vehicle, but they didn’t budge. “Damn it,” she whimpered in frustration, her body’s needs so intense they bordered on painful. The itch crawled just under her skin, spread throughout her body, and left her a mass of gluttonous craving. “You have to take care of this!”

  Nash cupped her nape, urging her face up to shine a penlight in her eyes. “Fucking bastard drugged her,” he bit out, glaring at Randy.

  “Oh, good Lord, complain later, fuck now.”

  “Let’s get her back to my place and we’ll deal with this. I have a feeling we’re all in for a long night.”

  “God, I hope so,” she breathed in relief as they led her to the Tahoe and opened the back door for her. Alena had no idea what was happening with her, all she knew was she had never needed anything, anyone as badly as she needed sex with them. “I want to sit up front with you,” she complained, desiring to be as close to them as possible, her skin on fire for the soothing touch of their hands, their mouths.

  Both men swore again then mild-mannered Nash pushed her head down and nudged her inside before slamming the door on her curses.

  Chapter Eight

  Randy clicked his phone shut with a low curse as he pulled out of the parking lot. “Zach didn’t see anything. She sat at the bar with Carlee for about an hour with several people coming up and ordering drinks close enough to have slipped something into hers. Then Bryan arrived with Kevin, Joel, and Brad, but he was busy at the other end and didn’t see anything then either. Even if we had her blood drawn and tested, that won’t tell us who did it.”

  A soft, frustrated groan from Alena in the back seat drew Nash’s head around to see her face flushed and her hands busy rubbing over her breasts as if she were trying to alleviate an ache. Turning back to Randy, he didn’t bother to hide his anger as he told him bluntly, “You’re going to have to come to terms with the likelihood one or both of the Hirsts are in this up to their neck.”

  Before he could respond, Alena scooted forward and reached for both of them over the seat. Trailing her fingers up their necks, she tickled their ears then grumbled when they shifted away. “C’mon, guys. Let’s just pull over and play. I don’t want to wait until we get to your house,” she cajoled.

  Randy slapped her hand and Nash bit her finger when she reached for them again. “Behave, Alena,” Randy snapped.

  “Ouch! That hurt. Do it again.” This time she demanded their attention.

  “We’ve created a monster,” Nash sighed, tugging on her hair before giving her a light push to sit back.

  “Yeah, and whatever someone gave her turned her into a hungry demon, one we’re going to have to deal with for hours before it’ll wear off. Alena,” he growled when she slid a hand into the neck of his shirt.

  “God, I love it when you snarl at me like that. It gets me all hot and bothered. But, since you’re being cranky, I’ll just play with Nash. You want me, don’t you?” she whispered in Nash’s ear then teased the shell of his ear with her tongue.

  “Not going to happen, luv, not while you’re impaired.” He gave her another light push and sent her toppling back in her seat. “Look, we’re at the sheriff’s house. You can go in and sleep it off.”

  Before they could stop her, she flew out of the back seat and whipped her top over her head before she reached the front door. Laughing, she shook her wild hair back as they stomped up the steps to the porch, reaching behind her to unhook her bra. “C’mon, guys. I’m burning up.”

  Unlocking the door, Randy ushered her inside just as her bra dropped off and her full breasts bounced free. Then she threw herself at him, pressing those lush curves against his body, leaving him with no defense except right and wrong. “C’mon, baby, you’ll feel better after you sleep it off,” he said, his tone gentle and rife with regret as he eased her arms from around his neck.

  Anger, desperation, and need flashed across her face and filled her eyes as she jerked out of his hold and pivoted to Nash. “Help me, English, please.” She reached trembling hands to his waist, her intent clear.

  Her whispered plea tore at him, but Nash wrapped his hands around hers and held them in a tight grip. “It wouldn’t be right, deep down you know that.”

  Jerking out of his hold, Alena fought against the threatening tears their gentle, understanding tones wrought, the fire raging through her body turning her frantic for relief, however she could get it. “Fine. I don’t need you, either of you.”

  Her nipples had puckered into even tighter, more painful nubs when she’d freed her breasts from the tight confines of her bra. Having two pairs of hot eyes on her nakedness added to her excitement, fed the arousal pulsing like molten lava through her veins and pooling between her legs. Hands going to her waist, she took a quick, desperate look around the room and spotted the large leather sectional in front of the rock fireplace she remembered Nash jacking off on.

  Shoving her jeans down, she bragged, “I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time, and I can do so now.”

  Nash exhaled a sigh of defeat, eyeing her bouncing buttocks as she hopped out of her jeans and flopped down on the sofa, her hands going straight to her breasts, squeezing the soft flesh so hard he winced along with her. “We’re going to have to do this, you know.”

  “Yeah, I know,” came Randy’s disgruntled reply.

  “You don’t want her hurting any more than I do.”

  “We’re the ones who’ll be hurting an hour from now.”

  “But we’ll have a clear conscience.” Striding to her, Nash grabbed the hand she had moved between her splayed legs, hauled her up then bent and tossed her over his shoulder, landing a sharp smack on her ass when she cursed and struggled.

  “A lot of good that’ll do.” With a sigh, Randy resigned himself to their fate. Nash was right, he wouldn’t be able to sleep himself knowing she was suffering and in dire straits they could help with. “The loft, I’ve got the biggest bed.”

  The burn on her butt matched that in her pussy, and when Alena bounced on the soft bed Nash tossed her on, her hand automatically went back between her legs to work at soothing it. Fear lurked in the back of her fuzzy mind, a sliver of knowledge warning her something was off, not right with her, but the ravenous hunger controlling her body overshadowed everything else. The bed dipped with their weight as the guys joined her, one on each side, their hard-bodied nearness her final undoing.

  “Now, now, now,” she chanted over and over, turning to one then the other, confused and distraught over how to get what she craved.

  “Let’s give her something else to think about for a few minutes.” Nash grabbed her restless legs, wrapped his hands around her ankles and pulled her legs up and over her head, elevating her hips and leaving her ass available for Randy to torment.