Chloe's Double Draw [King's Bluff, Wyoming] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Read online

  King’s Bluff, Wyoming

  Chloe’s Double Draw

  Chloe Morgan fled to King’s Bluff, Wyoming, to start a new life. With a past that haunts her, the shy schoolteacher must make a choice. She can hide away and protect her secrets or embrace the acceptance of the small community.

  Noah King and Flynn Taylor have traveled the world as members of Australia’s elite SAS. They’ve earned scars, both inside and out. Now powerful influencers in King’s Bluff, a town founded by Noah’s ancestors, the men have made a haven from the ranch Noah inherited.

  One look at Chloe convinces Noah and Flynn she’s worth pursuing. Introducing her to BDSM and the ménage lifestyle accepted by the town will be a hard sell. She’s scared, skittish, and refusing their advances.

  As the two Doms fight to gain her trust, Chloe’s past crashes in on them, threatening their futures. When a man obsessed with her tracks down his prey, nobody could have imagined how high the stakes would go.

  Genre: BDSM, Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Western/Cowboys

  Length: 100,599 words

  CHLOE’S DOUBLE DRAW

  King’s Bluff, Wyoming

  Fiona Archer

  MENAGE AMOUR

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

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  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  IMPRINT: Ménage Amour

  CHLOE’S DOUBLE DRAW

  Copyright © 2012 by Fiona Archer

  E-book ISBN: 978-1-62242-063-6

  First E-book Publication: December 2012

  Cover design by Harris Channing

  All cover art and logo copyright © 2012 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  Letter to Readers

  Dear Readers,

  If you have purchased this copy of Chloe’s Double Draw by Fiona Archer from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

  Regarding E-book Piracy

  This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book.

  The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment.

  This is Fiona Archer’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Archer’s right to earn a living from her work.

  Amanda Hilton, Publisher

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  www.BookStrand.com

  DEDICATION

  For Mum, who understands the world needs dreamers.

  I want to also acknowledge the support and encouragement I’ve received from the following people:

  To my wonderful friends Bonni, Boxy, Cara, Dee, Jan, Linda, Pepper, and Stacie. You luscious babes have been there from the start. It’s been one heck of a ride!

  To the awesome crit group, Erotic Romance Authors. Those first few kicks up my butt helped to steer me straight and I’m forever grateful.

  To the lovely Chloe Vale for all those added commas and encouraging words.

  To the amazing Sophie Oak. I’m so blessed for meeting you this year. Your generous spirit is something I admire.

  To my dear friend and crit partner Cherise Sinclair for making sure I never settled and took the easy way out. You’re one classy dame.

  CHLOE’S DOUBLE DRAW

  King’s Bluff, Wyoming

  FIONA ARCHER

  Copyright © 2012

  Chapter One

  Chloe Morgan couldn’t escape their scrutiny. After all, she was the new girl in a small town. She jammed her hand into the pocket of her jeans. Her late mother’s wedding ring mashed against her index finger and she winced. Safe. Safe. As long as no one finds out my past, it’s safe. At least until—no, she wouldn’t think about that. She drew in a deep breath. Ignoring the barrage of stares, she walked into the Community Center. Let them look. She willed them to accept her at face value. She wanted, no she needed, to be a part of this remote town—invisible, yet hidden in plain sight. He wouldn’t think to look for her in King’s Bluff.

  “Tell me again why I let you talk me into this?” Chloe muttered to Purdy Davis, new friend and self-appointed guide for tonight’s foray into “livin’ it up” King’s Bluff style.

  “How about because if you didn’t, I’d drag you here anyway?” Purdy tossed her head to disturb the curl of blonde hair falling across her eye. Her face shone with impish mischief. “Don’t stress. Another five minutes and they’ll find something else to talk about. Then you’ll be so last season.”

  Chloe fought down a smile. Could she be that lucky? “Yesterday’s news in under five minutes flat? Maybe I require an event on a grander scale than a town dance to introduce myself to the wider population.” Her haughty façade lasted mere seconds before an unladylike snort of laughter erupted. Damn it, she could not hold a straight face. She would never be able to pull off a sting.

  “I know compared to the bright lights of LA, our little part of Wyoming isn’t quite what you’re used to, but I think you’ll be surprised tonight.”

  “Trust me, Purdy, bright lights are overrated.” She pressed her lips together, hoping to mask the bitterness that had snuck into her voice. Tonight wasn’t about recriminations—it was about the future, her future. Chloe flicked her friend a smile, then turned her attention to her surroundings, inspecting the room with a teacher’s eye for detail.

  The fundraising committee for the Youth Café hadn’t spared the streamers when decorating for tonight’s event. Purple, black, and silver floated overhead throughout the main hall. Balloons, in colors to match, bobbed like bunches of giant grapes as they dangled from the ceiling. Tables and chairs formed an outer ring, the center kept free for dancing. With the hall already filled with people, the Youth Café would make a fortune from their cover charge.

  She and Purdy weaved their way between the crowds, catching sound bites of peop
le’s conversations mixed in with bursts of laughter. All against the backdrop of music provided from a CD player at the far end.

  Her mouth curved up as she recognized a few of her third grade students and their families enjoying the night’s festivities. Small faces split with mile-wide smiles in greeting. Tiny hands waved with the sort of unbridled enthusiasm only a child could muster. Moments like these were her reward for teaching. The rapport she nurtured and shared with her little ones nourished Chloe’s spirit in ways she had seldom experienced.

  Knowing she’d be on display, she’d dressed with care, every item chosen to make a favorable impression yet not stand out. Her faded jeans were casual but not dumpy. And for once the rebellious waves of her midlength chestnut hair lay in a controlled tumble just past her shoulders. Shorter than the average woman, she wore black leather boots with a generous heel. Tonight, her gaze would hit the men’s chins and not their chests.

  Purdy had teamed her jeans with a yellow silk tunic that set off the mop of blonde curls framing her heart-shaped face. Once again, she glanced at Chloe and grinned. “Girl, you look fine tonight. That green sweater picks up the color of your eyes.” Purdy winked. “They’ll be lining up to dance with you.”

  Dread filled her stomach, and a groan slipped past Chloe’s lips. “I’m not much of a dancer. I’d rather watch everyone else and groove on the inside.”

  Purdy giggled and shook her head. “Yeah well, the men in this town love to twirl a pretty woman around. You’re single, so you can expect to be grooving on the outside tonight, too.”

  Rats. “Okay, if that’s the case then it’s essential we get a drink and think of some diversionary tactics.” Wiping her damp palms down the legs of her jeans, Chloe hustled Purdy over to the refreshment table. After thanking the volunteer behind the table, she took an appreciative sip of white wine, hoping a drop of liquid courage would calm her nerves.

  “Hey, we can say you’re a fantastic dancer, but you don’t want to show off at your first shindig.”

  “You have no shame, do you?” Chloe laughed.

  “A wasted emotion in my books.” Purdy smiled. Once again, Chloe counted her blessings at having this playful sprite for a new friend and work colleague.

  Stepping back into the crowd, Purdy introduced Chloe to people who went out of their way to be welcoming. Maybe she’d been panicking over nothing. So far, so good. The muscles across her chest and stomach relaxed. Easy warmth flooded her system, as if hot chocolate pumped through her veins.

  The gamble of moving to a place where she knew no one, in the hopes of starting fresh, was a risk she’d simply had to take. She was prepared to do whatever it took to make her new start a success and put LA, and her former life, behind her. Her older stepbrother, Trent, the last remaining member of her immediate family, now represented her biggest threat. There was no turning back.

  “What were you up to today?” Purdy asked.

  “I unpacked my last three boxes. I can’t believe I have so much stuff. Thank God I don’t have more due from storage. I’d have to put it on the roof.” Both women chuckled and rolled their eyes. Purdy was well aware of Chloe’s house’s cozy proportions.

  As her friend relayed her plans to visit her sister in Colorado for Thanksgiving, the skin on the back of Chloe’s neck and shoulders prickled with heightened awareness. Her muscles locked tight, ready to spring the moment the instinct to flee screamed loudest. She fought the urge to look around and make her unease obvious.

  “Purdy, this may sound crazy, but is somebody looking at me?” Chloe whispered.

  “Oh, I love intrigue.” Purdy looked over Chloe’s shoulder. Her eyes widened a fraction before she lowered her gaze. A smile crept across her face as she stared into her glass of wine. “Oh, honey, you’re in for it now.”

  “Why, who is it?”

  “Brace yourself. It’s Noah King and Flynn Taylor, two of the sexiest devils you’ll ever meet, besides being King’s Bluff’s most eligible bachelors.”

  “What do they want with me?” She shook her head. Her fingers pressed tighter around the stem of the wine glass. “Can you describe them to me?”

  “Let’s see. Midthirties. Both about six foot three, with bodies even my saint of a grandmother would dream about. Shoulders a girl can hang onto. They’re Australian, and they have to-die-for accents to prove it. Noah’s ancestors founded the town, and a couple of years ago he inherited a fair chunk of it, plus a massive ranch.” Purdy raised her gaze from her wineglass, her look aimed straight at Chloe. She guessed her friend kept her expression neutral for the benefit of those watching. “Hmm, they seem to have their radar locked on you. Yep, they’re interested.”

  “In me? Are you sure? I don’t even know them. I mean, yes, I’ve heard of the King name—you can’t miss it around town—but I’ve never met those guys.” Chloe frowned as she tried to recall meeting any sexy devils, with to-die-for Aussie accents or otherwise.

  “Uh-huh, I’m sure.”

  Chloe’s pulse quickened. Had someone recognized her? Of course not. She shook her head. Get a grip. So what if she had admirers. They were strangers to her. But she couldn’t afford to let down her guard. Squashing the thrill to her female vanity, she shrugged one shoulder and took another sip of her wine. “Well, it’s a free country. They can look, but I don’t have to bite.” Curiosity gnawed at her resolve. Should she risk a peek over her shoulder?

  Purdy’s lips parted, flashing her teeth, and Chloe’s belly tightened. In six weeks, she’d learned to be wary of that smile. Trouble was heading her way.

  “It may be a free country, but these guys have a certain reputation.” Purdy paused, her grin now way too wicked for Chloe’s peace of mind. “They don’t give up when they want something. Besides, they’re known to be, shall we say, accomplished at what they do when they’ve got a woman between them.”

  “Between them?” Chloe squeaked.

  “Yes, honey, they share. But that’s not all.”

  “It’s not?” Her voice took on an unnaturally high pitch.

  Purdy stepped closer, her face inches from Chloe’s ear. “How can I put this? Let’s just say Noah and Flynn enjoy the chase, and when they catch their woman, they keep her tied so she stays caught when they play.” She stepped back and took a sip of her wine.

  Chloe’s mouth dropped open. She’d never…well…okay, there were those racy romances she’d started reading, but still, she’d never…I mean, two men…real people didn’t…

  “Breathe, Chloe,” Purdy coaxed, a smug grin on her face.

  After reclaiming the necessary motor skills to close her mouth, she forced herself to take a deep, calming breath. In and out. Once more for good luck.

  With every hair on her body standing on end, she felt the men still watching her. She had to get a grip. She was a strong, independent woman. Two kinky cowboys weren’t going to intimidate her, no siree! She hoped.

  Yeah, right. Heat trickled over her skin, flowing through her and leaving enticing warmth between her legs as her imagination performed cartwheels with forbidden ideas of being chased, caught, and roped into submission.

  “Umm, you know, maybe I’ll just go to the restroom or step outside for some fresh air. Or maybe I’ll drive to Canada,” Chloe mumbled, only half-aware she’d spoken out loud.

  Continuing as if she hadn’t heard Chloe’s ramblings, Purdy dropped a bombshell. “Oh yeah, Noah and Flynn are ex-SAS. You know the Australian version of our SEALs? Yep, nothing gets by these guys.”

  Holy shit!

  Whatever escape scenarios were running through her head turned to panic at Purdy’s next words.

  “Take a deep breath, honey, we have incoming.”

  * * * *

  At last.

  Dramatic, cliché, whatever, Noah King didn’t give a bloody damn. His gaze locked on Chloe, and he didn’t care who noticed. What, it had been three, four weeks since he and Flynn had first caught a glimpse of her as she’d left the diner? Since then, the urge
to meet this woman had been irresistible. Why? The corner of his mouth lifted. That was the million-dollar question. Between having four men at the ranch down with the flu and spearheading negotiations critical for the town’s rejuvenation projects, finding the right opportunity to attain that answer had been near impossible—until now.

  There’d be no escape for her tonight.

  Hell, she was gorgeous! Short—they’d be lucky if her head came level with the middle of their chests—and her jeans molded her curves to perfection. His mouth watered. A full-figured woman. Was there anything better? He doubted it. The pint-sized, chestnut-haired beauty looked the package.

  Her face had filled with delight when young students from the local school had waved and shouted their greetings. She’d acknowledged each student in turn, making the corners of Noah’s mouth lift into a wide grin. Her clear love of kids added to her appeal.

  An uncomfortable tightening in his jeans made his teeth clench. Christ, what was the matter with him? He hadn’t spoken two words to the woman, yet he was so hard his prick would end up with a zipper imprint. Grimacing, he changed his stance, trying to ease his discomfort. In a hall full of people, he couldn’t adjust himself to a more comfortable position without getting caught. Down, boy, you’re not a horny teenager.

  He turned to his best friend and comrade-in-arms.

  The look on Flynn’s face was all the proof he needed. They were of the same opinion when it came to their initial impressions of Chloe Morgan. With a grin, Noah turned to Gabe Monroe.