“Yeah? And why is that?”
Penny chuckled and shrugged as she answered, “It’s a long story but suffice to say I know all three very well. Biblically you could say. And, well, they’re all good men but they try really hard to hide that fact. Vince more so than the rest.”
“Wait a minute…are you saying that you’ve slept with all three of the Buchanan brothers?” Emma asked, staring.
“Yes. I don’t regret it either because if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have realized that Dillon was the only one for me.”
“Oh, wait a minute.” Emma’s brain reeled with the shocking information. Had she just slipped into an alternate dimension? “I need to wrap my brain around that for a minute…you’ve slept with all three? Why?”
“They bought me. Well, the twins bought me but then when I realized I only wanted Dillon, I broke our arrangement. It’s a little on the sordid side but a great story. Probably one I won’t share with the kids, though. And do me a favor and don’t bring it up around Dillon because it makes him grouchy. He doesn’t like to share in the least.”
“Me neither,” Emma countered dryly, shaking her head at the crazy conversation they were having. But what the hell? Her life was completely unrecognizable at this stage and it was all because of the Buchanans. “So…why are you telling me all of this?
“Because I see the way you look at Vince and the way he looks at you. I’ve never seen Vince look at a woman like that. Not even me. But there might’ve been once, before my time…her name was Isabel. If you want to crack that wall around Vince’s heart, ask him to tell you about her. I think it’ll change your perspective. But here’s the thing, I love that man and I won’t let anyone hurt him. So if you’re planning to hurt him with the information, don’t go there. He’s been hurt enough. Okay?” Emma swallowed, shocked by the protectiveness in the woman’s tired, raspy voice. Penny settled the baby in her arms before adding, “I’m not saying what he did was right but deep down, in a place where he doesn’t want to admit, he had the best of intentions.”
“Kidnapping cannot be considered an act of benevolence.”
Penny raised her brow in a way that made Emma feel very small. “Really? Even if your life was in danger? Correct me if I’m wrong but didn’t someone nearly beat you to death?”
“Yes, but—“
“The way I see it, Vince is protecting you the best way he knows how. Perhaps a little less hostility would go a long way.”
Emma didn’t like being dressed down by this woman but there was a certain logic to everything she’d said. However, Emma wasn’t ready to let go of her indignation just yet. “He’s holding my sister hostage, too,” she threw out there, almost defiantly.
“He’s removed all obstacles for you to willingly stay put. Dillon told me that Laird is keeping watch over her?” At Emma’s nod, Penny laughed. “Laird is a pussycat. Your sister will have the man eating from her palm by the end of the week. Trust me.”
“I want to see her for myself. Lana is…fragile.”
“So ask Vince to take you to her. Stop fighting him and you’ll find him a different man. You know…everything happens for a reason. Have a little faith.”
“I don’t believe in that stuff. “
“Whether you believe or not doesn’t change the fact that you two have serious chemistry. I guess what you do with it, is your business but I’ll let you in on a little secret — and if you don’t believe me, ask Nolan’s wife Shannon — being loved by a Buchanan is unlike anything you’ve ever experienced nor will again.”
“Vince doesn’t love me,” Emma murmured, hating the ache in her heart at the admission. She didn’t doubt that being the owner of a Buchanan’s heart was akin to winning the lottery but Vince wasn’t offering her his heart. And, yeah, it hurt to admit that she felt something for him that she shouldn’t because it was ludicrous. On a normal day she wasn’t the kind of girl who dreamed of Prince Charming and his white horse. That dream had died a long time ago. Emma withheld a sigh and returned to Penny saying, “How could he? We’ve only known each other such a short time. Love at first sight only happens in the movies. It’s a great plot device but not realistic.”
“Goodness gracious, you’re a cynic. No wonder you and Vince are so perfectly matched.” When Emma opened her mouth to refute Penny’s observation, Penny shared, “I fell in love with Dillon the minute I saw him. I didn’t know it at the time, of course, but…I knew I couldn’t stay away. Not even when I knew I should. Sound familiar?”
Emma stared. Was she that transparent? Penny smiled and closed her eyes — guess so. Oh dear…what does this mean? Could she love Vince? The very thought made her eyes cross and her heart pound. Was that love? She thought of his kisses and the way he twisted her in knots with his talented tongue and she nearly burst into flame. Then she thought of how Vince looked at her — when he really saw her — and she knew. Holy hell…it was possible. But if that were true, she and Vince needed to have a chat. Like now. Her insides trembled but she wasn’t sure if it was because of fear or excitement. Maybe a little of both. Good or bad, she was about to find out if somehow fate had put Vince Buchanan in her life for a reason.
#
Vince didn’t want to leave Penny alone with Emma and tried several times to return to the room but they all made a concentrated effort to keep him in the cafeteria.
“She seems nice,” Shannon said, glancing at Nolan. “Very short but cute.”
Nolan’s wife, Shannon was tall and leggy, everything Emma wasn’t. At one time Vince had thought to prefer women with a little height but he rather liked the way Emma fit so snugly against him, rubbing up on all the right places. “Yeah, she’s all right,” he said, wanting to get back to the room and leave. “Why do you think Penny wanted to talk to Emma? That’s weird, don’t you think?”
“You know Penny…she’s got a mind of her own. No telling what she’s saying to the poor woman. But listen, I wanted to talk to you about what my guy found out about the potential club situation,” Dillon said, instantly snagging Vince’s attention. “I think we’ve figured out who it is.”
“Who?” Vince asked, his fists already clenching. “I’m ready to give the man a dose of his own medicine.” In his mind, he saw Emma’s bruises and his blood percolated.