Free Double Dippin' by Em Petrova Page B

snapped at one of the last big picnics he’d attended. That day he’d become quite aware of Miss Posy Jenkins stomping around in her dark brown leather boots that molded to her shapely calves.
    Between high school and present day she’d dated one of the biggest assholes in the county. Word was he’d taken her virginity when she was eighteen, and for that alone Alex wanted to kill him.
    Plus the man had dumped Posy a few weeks ago. She’d come into work red-eyed and pale. Since then Alex and Loren had done their best to shower her with attention.
    As s he leafed through several catalog pages, her slender fingers tipped in dark red drew Alex’s focus. Outside of the warehouse serving as their business locale, she was all country. But from day one she’d shown up for work wearing heels and curve-hugging skirts.
    Today she wore a short-sleeve silk blouse in a profusion of jewel tones. The hues set off her dark blue eyes, and the top dipped just low enough to afford Alex a peek at her plunging cleavage.
    Apparently it attracted Loren as well. He pushed closer until it looked as though his mouth was inches from her ear.
    What the hell?
    Alex set his teeth together—hard. Was Loren coming on to her? While he shared almost everything in life with Loren, Posy wasn’t one of them. Alex had wanted her for years.
    And he wouldn’t share.
    Loren’s lips hovered too close to her. She must be feeling his hot breath on her face. Too well Alex knew how Loren could undo a person when he was so close. Tension filled every corner of Alex’s body.
    He circled the desk to get a better view. He slid some papers aside to make room to sit at Posy’s right elbow. When he plopped onto the surface, she looked up.
    Her cheeks flamed , and he grinned.
    Valentine’s Day was two short days away. M ore than once he’d thought about buying her a card, but their relationship was strictly professional. Acknowledging an employee on that day seemed like a good way to get himself in trouble.
    If he offended her, Falls Creek Custom Saddlery would be in a world of hurt. She’d taken over everything but working the leather. Alex wouldn’t have the first inkling about how to run the office.
    Loren pointed at the same green dot she did, their fingertips touching.
    A groan rose in Alex’s throat. He reached between Posy and Loren and stabbed a finger into the page. “Order that.”
    Loren straightened, a wrinkle between his brows as he met Alex’s gaze. Alex stared back.
    She belongs to me.
    But so did Loren.
    Though the absurdity of his thoughts seeped into his mind, he couldn’t stop his galloping emotions.
    Loren nodded. Tipping his hat low over his eyes again, he muttered, “Sounds good,” and wandered back toward the workroom.
    * * * * *
    Loren hauled a deep breath of the familiar scents of leather and chemical into his head, but it didn’t wipe out the honey-sweetness of Posy.
    Too bad Alex had all but challenged him to a fist-fight over her. Loren knew that wild look in his lover’s eyes.
    Loren stomped around the work island and picked up a tool. It molded to his hand, but all he could think about was touching Posy.
    Everything about the woman was feminine. A real girly-girl, which was the opposite of the sporty women he’d always preferred. Sure, in high school he’d noticed how gorgeous her hair and eyes were. Half the school had. But recently she’d started tormenting the hell out of him with those skirts, heels and low-cut blouses.
    She’d caught him looking more times than he could count, and if he wasn’t wrong she was looking back.
    Alex’s boot heels thudded as he entered the workroom.
    Loren didn’t look up, just dug the tool into the leather and carved out a sliver.
    Alex stopped on the other side of the station. “What the hell was that?”
    “What?” Loren set his features into a neutral order. He didn’t know whether to punch Alex or kiss him. If they both wanted Posy, the lines of this triangle would be skewed