Colters' Woman (Colters' Legacy #1)(38)

Chapter Fifteen

Adam peeked into the bedroom to see Holly still sleeping soundly in the bed. He smiled. She looked like a sated kitten, curled up with her arms around his pillow. It was amazing that in such a short time he couldn’t imagine life without her.

He knew via his own upbringing that such a situation could work and work well for all parties involved, but seeing it, experiencing it firsthand was more validating.

And speaking of, he needed to phone his parents. They’d be interested to know about Holly, and he nor Ethan and Ryan had talked to them in over a month.

He quietly withdrew from the bedroom and walked down the hall to the living room.

Ethan looked up from the computer. “She still sleeping?”

Adam nodded. “I think we wore her slap out.”

Ethan smiled and Adam marveled at how settled and content his brother looked. “You seen Ryan? I thought we’d call Mom and let her know about Holly.”

Concern flared in Ethan’s eyes. “He went out to the barn. I think he’s in a lot of pain today, though he wouldn’t say so. Got pissed off at me when I asked.”

Adam swore. Ryan had been doing so much better lately. Much of the darkness in his eyes had faded, and he knew Holly had everything to do with it, but Ryan had improved physically as well since his return from Iraq. He was a far cry from the battered shell of a man Adam and Ethan had collected from the Army Hospital a year ago, but his leg still bothered him on occasion.

He turned and strode from the living room toward the back door. Not bothering with his coat, he crossed the short distance from the cabin to the barn. He slipped inside and saw Ryan sitting on a hay bale in the back. As he drew closer, he could see Ryan’s face drawn in pain. Sweat beaded Ryan’s brow, and he was pale.

Ryan was bent over massaging the area above his knee. When Adam was a few feet away, Ryan looked up and saw him. He dropped his hands and stood up. Ryan cried out as his leg buckled. Adam reached over and yanked his brother up against him to prevent him from falling.

“I’m fine,” Ryan gritted out.

“No, you’re not fine, damn it. Stop trying to hide from the rest of us, for God’s sake.”

“Just leave it, Adam. I can deal with this on my own.”

“You could,” Adam agreed. “But don’t be stupid. Ethan and I are here to help. And now Holly.”

“I don’t want her to know,” Ryan said fiercely.

Adam blinked in surprise. “Here, sit down,” he said, shoving Ryan back down onto the hay. “Now what the f**k is your problem?”

Ryan rubbed absently at his leg.

“Is there anything I can do? Do you want a pill?”

Ryan shook his head. “I don’t want any f**king pills. It’s just a bad morning. I don’t know why the f**k it hurts. It just does.”

“Maybe we should take you back to the doctor, let him check you out again.”

“There’s nothing he can do.”

Adam sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Damn it, Ryan, don’t be so f**king difficult. I wish you’d talk to me. I still don’t have a goddamn clue what the hell happened over there.”

Pain lashed across Ryan’s face before his eyes turned cold and stony. “There’s nothing to talk about. I’ll get over it.”

Adam knew the subject was officially closed. Ryan could be a brick wall when he put his mind to it. He’d like nothing better than to kick his little brother’s ass, but it wouldn’t do a damn bit of good. Ryan wouldn’t budge. Not until he was ready.

“I was going to call Mom and Dad. Thought you might want to talk to them.”

Ryan waved his hand. “You go ahead. I’ll be there in a minute.”

Adam started to argue, but Ryan stopped him.

“Just go. Please.”

It was the please that did it. Ryan rarely said please, and pain edged his voice. Adam knew he didn’t want to be weak in front of his brothers. Anger choked him. Anger at whatever the hell had destroyed so much in his brother.

Adam turned around and walked out of the barn.

* * *

Holly burrowed deeper under the covers, not wanting to leave her warm nest. She was tired, deliciously exhausted, and she had about as much motivation to get up and move as she did a trip to the dentist.

She closed her eyes and relived the ecstasy she’d experienced as the three men had made love to her. Alone they were a force to be reckoned with, but together they were positively mind-blowing.

She missed them already. That feeling drove her out of the bed as she went in search of them. She pulled on one of Adam’s discarded shirts and let it fall to her knees. She walked barefooted down the hall, hoping to find one of them in the living room so she could indulge in a good snuggle session.

She found Ethan on the couch. He smiled at her and patted the spot beside him. She immediately curled herself around him, loving the warmth that emanated from his body.

“Want a blanket?” he asked as he wrapped his arms around her.

She shook her head. “You’re fine.” She burrowed further into his arms until his heat had soaked into her body. “Where is everybody?”

“Ryan’s out in the barn and Adam’s on the phone in the kitchen.”

“Who’s he talking to?”

“Our parents.”