by Rose Nickol
She’d spent all day figuring out what to wear. Her new friend Heidi had taken her shopping at the boutique she did marketing and advertising for and helped her pick out a couple of new outfits and lingerie to go with.
“You’re going to knock their eyes out, hon,” Heide had told her when she saw what she had picked out. “You look amazing!”
Angie looked in the mirror. Heidi was right. The little dress she had chosen matched the blue of her eyes and showed her figure to perfection.
Felicia and Charlie came to pick Todd up early in the afternoon so the kids had plenty of time to play together, and it gave Angie time to get ready.
She was ready and sitting on the porch when the men pulled up in a large SUV.
Rock got out of the car first and strode up to the porch. “You look beautiful,” he said as she stood to greet him and his brothers.
River was right behind him. He pulled her into his arms for a tight hug. “I wish you would have waited inside.”
“Why? It’s a lovely night,” Angie said, looking up into his eyes. They were the color of the ocean on a sunny day, not really blue or green, a combination of both. He had little laugh lines in the corners, and her heart melted a little.
“Yes. It’s a beautiful night, but you’re all alone here and if something were to happen no one would know.” River took one hand, Rock took the other, and they led her to the car.
Hunter and Sawyer were standing by the SUV and opened the door for her. After Sawyer helped her in the middle of the back seat, he and Hunter crawled in with her one on each side.
Angie nervously smoothed down the skirt of her dress. It was a little shorter than she usually wore, but Heidi had assured her that it looked perfect on her and made her legs look a mile long. And the guys would go wild over it.
Hunter covered one of her hands with his, and she felt his fingers resting on the warm skin of her thigh.
“We’re gonna have so much fun tonight,” Sawyer said, picking up her other hand and lacing his fingers with hers.
“I hope you like to dance,” River said from the driver’s seat.
“Sam’s has the best hamburgers around. I hope you’re hungry,” Rock added and reached one hand back to pat her knee.
“You’re gonna think I’m lame, but I’ve never been dancing before. I’m not sure I’m any good,” Angie confessed, looking at all four men.
“Honey, you’ll be fine. You’ve got a hot little body, and in that smoking dress we’ll be fighting the guys off. Don’t you worry. It’ll be fun,” River assured her as they pulled into a large parking lot.
“I’ll let you guys off at the door and go park. It looks like there’s a good crowd tonight.” River stopped the car by the door, and Sawyer helped Angie out of the car.
“We’ll go in and get our table, and be waiting for you,” Rock said as he got out of the car and shut the door.
River drove off, and Rock held the door open for Hunter, Sawyer, and Angie to enter. Sawyer took Angie’s hand while Rock and Hunter walked up to the hostess station. It was only a few seconds before she was leading them to a large booth not far from the dance floor, but out of the way.
As they walked through the tables, several people greeted the men and asked them if they wanted to join them. They politely declined.
When they got to the table, Sawyer let Angie slide in first so she was in the middle. He and Rock sat on either side of her with Hunter sitting beside Rock. The waitress came right over and greeted them. Rock explained they were waiting for one more person, and she went to get water for all of them.
Angie picked up the menu and started looking at it. “Everything looks so good,” she commented.
“It is. They have nightly specials, too. I’ll have Marge bring those. How about an appetizer while we decide?” Rock said, signaling the waitress.
Angie nodded and Rock ordered several things for them to munch on while they waited.
It was a few minutes later when River came in. “I had to park in the alternate lot down the street. It seems everyone is here tonight. I got stopped three times trying to find you all.”
Marge walked up with the first of their appetizers and set them on the table then took their drink orders. Angie ordered an iced tea to go with her meal. “I don’t drink a lot, but I’ll have something later when we’re dancing.”
“Sure thing, sugar, whatever you want. Tonight’s all about you,” Rock said and laid one big hand on her thigh.
They sat and chatted, getting to know each other better. Angle told the men more about her life in foster homes, and they told her about growing up in a home with nine children and how they all decided to be firefighters.
The owner of the bar, Sam, a retired firefighter, stopped by the table to greet them as did several other people, including several women all asking if the men would be dancing later.
“You're pretty popular around here, especially with the ladies.” Angie made a comment after a couple more women stopped by the table.
“I guess,” Rock said, his face a little red.
“We’re in here almost every weekend we have off,” River said, looking around as if seeing the place differently.
“I didn’t realize how many people we know that came in here,” Hunter said and stood to get out of the booth.
River followed him out and reached for Angie’s hand, pulling her out of the booth and onto the dance floor. When that song ended Hunter took his place, and soon she was dancing to every song, sometimes with one of the men and sometimes with more.
It was more fun than she’d had in a long time. After four or five dances she was thirsty and ready to sit for a few minutes. But first, she needed to visit the ladies’ room. Hunter walked her to the door and promised to wait for her. The rest of the men had gone back to the table to get fresh drinks for all of them and order some more munchies to have on the table.
When she came out, Hunter was leaning against the wall, and a tall thin redhead was talking with him and running one finger across his bicep. “I’ve missed you, lover,” Angie heard the woman say as she leaned in closer to him.
“Melanie, this is Angela,” Hunter said, moving away from the woman and reaching for her.
Angela let him pull her to stand beside him with his arm wrapped possessively around her shoulder.
“Angela, nice to meet you. Are you a friend of one of Hunter’s sisters?” the woman, Melanie, asked.
“No she’s a friend of ours,” Hunter said, as he started walking Angie back to the table.
“Nice seeing you. I’ll try and come by your table later for a dance,” Melanie called as they were walking away.
“We’ll be pretty busy with Angela. I don’t think we’ll have time for you tonight,” Hunter said and kept walking.
“That was a friend of yours?” Angie tried to sound casual. The woman was so much more than she was. She was a few years older and looked like she would know how to deal with four big sexy firemen. Something Angie wasn’t sure she knew how to do. She was so out of her league. What was she doing? Being with the guys was fun and all, but where could it go? She wasn’t going to marry and live with all four of them. Eventually, she would have to see sense and either make a decision or find someone else, or they would. Could she just have fun with all of them and not let her heart get involved?
Back at the table, she slid in and was glad to see that the guys had ordered more drinks and she had a fresh daiquiri sitting in front of her. She picked up the glass and took a huge gulp, drinking half of the drink in one go. She immediately felt the effects and reached for some of the chips that were sitting on the table.
“Are you okay, honey?” Rock asked in concern when he saw her down her drink.
“I’m fine,” Angie said, going in for another drink.
“Melanie was in the hall,” Hunter said as if that might explain Angela’s reaction.
Sawyer stood and grabbed Angela’s hand. “I think it’s my turn for a dance,” he said, pulling h
er onto the dance floor.
“Did she say something?” Rock was still trying to figure out what was wrong with Angela.
“We were talking and she called me ‘lover,’ and I think Angela heard.” Hunter watched as River got up to join Sawyer and Angie on the dance floor.
He continued watching as they danced and flirted and had Angie laughing with them. He and Rock were sitting there enjoying the show when Melanie and her friend Nina walked up to the table.
“Hey, guys,” Nina said, leaning over on the table so that the men could get the full effect of her low-cut top and cleavage.
“Hi, Nina,” Rock said carefully.
“Mind if we sit?” Nina asked, starting to slide into the booth.
“Actually, we’re with someone,” Rock answered, sliding toward the outside of the booth so there wouldn’t be room for the women to get in.
“That’s too bad,” Melanie said, trying to push her way in on Hunter’s side.
“You’re not all with that little girl Hunter had in the restroom, are you?” Melanie asked and reached to run one finger down Hunter’s arm.
“She’s not enough woman for all of you,” Melanie laughed. “Nina and I could take all of you on, couldn’t we, girl?”
“Oh yeah, I’d like that,” Nina said and tried to push her way into the booth.
Rock stood and turned just in time to see Sawyer and River leading Angela back to the table. This could turn bad fast, and he didn’t know how to stop it.
Melanie leaned into Hunter and pulled his face to hers. “Don’t tell me you don’t want some of this. Remember last time, lover?”
Sawyer saw the two women at the table, but it was too late to stop Angela. She was laughing and walking with River’s arm around her, having a good time. They had danced to several fast songs together, and the last slow song she danced alone with River. Then they had decided to sit the next one out and get a drink.
Sawyer stopped so fast that River and Angela almost ran into him. “What’s going on?” River asked, taking Angela by the hand and walking around River. “Oh,” he said when he saw Melanie and Nina standing at the table.
“Come on, baby. We’re going to have to face the bitches eventually. Don’t let go of my hand, and if they say anything to you, ignore them.” He and Rock should have prepared her for women like Melanie and Nina.
They had all danced with both women but had made sure never to lead them on. Nothing had happened outside of the bar, but Angela didn’t know that. He’d seen both women be catty toward other women when they had danced with them and had no idea what they were going to say to Angela.
Angela held tight to River’s hand. Sawyer stood very close behind her, and they walked the few steps back to the table. Melanie and Nina were still trying to push their way into the booth when River approached them.
“Excuse me, ladies, those are our seats,” he said loudly to be heard over the music that had started again.
Melanie turned around and walked right up to River, ignoring Angela. “I thought Nina and I would join you guys,” she said with an inviting smile.
“Not tonight,” River said, pulling Angela close to his side. “We have all the woman we can handle.”
“But there’s four of you,” Nina said, turning and leaning close to Sawyer who had moved up to Angela’s other side. “Surely this little girl won’t mind sharing.”
“I said, not tonight,” River said even louder.
“But, lover,” Melanie said, trying to push Angela out of the way.
“Look, I don’t know what’s happened in the past or what’s going to happen in the future, but I do know that tonight I am here with all of these men and we don’t want you to join us. Either of you,” Angela said and pushed Melanie and Nina out of the way. She grabbed one of River’s hands and one of Sawyer’s and pulled them with her. “Excuse me, we are going to sit now.” She sat down beside Rock and slid into the booth until there was room for Sawyer and River to join them.
“Well, I never,” Nina said, looking very offended.
“And probably won’t,” Angie said from her position in the back of the booth between all four of the men. “You really want to move on now. Go find someone else to play with tonight.”
The two women flounced away, but Angie could feel them staring daggers at her.
Chapter Eleven
River signaled the waitress and got a round of drinks for all of them. “Way to go, Angie. I didn’t know how we were going to get rid of them without causing a scene.”
Angie smiled and relaxed. She’d been afraid the men would be mad at her for what she’d said to the women. “I didn’t want them interrupting our night.”
“Neither did we. Tonight is all about you, honey,” Sawyer said and pulled her in to place a soft kiss against her mouth.
“Are those women you’ve dated before?” Angie didn’t want to sound jealous, but she wanted to know. She knew the men had a past just like she did, and wondered how many other women she would have to deal with.
“We’ve all danced with them and they’ve sat with us and we’ve bought them drinks, but nothing more,” Hunter said and reached across the table for Angie’s hand.
They spent the rest of the evening dancing and laughing, having a good time. When it got close to closing time, the few customers that were remaining gathered at one large table, and Angie got to meet a few more friends of the brothers.
The lights flashed to signal last call, and River went to get the car so Angie wouldn’t have to walk so far. She was standing outside waiting with Rock, Sawyer, and Hunter when they saw Melanie and Nina again.
“Have fun, honey. It won’t last long,” Nina yelled, obviously having had more than a few drinks.
“Yeah! They’ll be back here next week looking for us,” Melanie chipped in.
Sawyer started to walk over to say something to them when Angie put her hand on his arm. “Just leave it alone. We both know they are drunk and trying to get attention. I’m not going to let them ruin our evening.”
“You’re right,” Rock said and pulled Angie into his arms. “Here’s the car.”
River pulled up, and the men helped Angie into the car, ignoring the catcalls of the women.
Angie sat between Rock and River in the back seat. She was a little nervous about what was going to happen. She liked all the men and enjoyed spending time with them, but wasn’t sure about what they might expect out of her.
“Angie, relax. We’re going to go back to the house and see what happens from there. We just want to spend time with you. Here’s a little picture of how the evening is going to end. When we get to the house we’re all going to relax. We’ll start out on the big couch in the great room. If that’s where we stay all night, that’s fine. We don’t expect anything more than you want to give.” Rock reached over and took her hand in his. He started rubbing little circles on the back of her hand with his thumb.
“It will be just like it was at Mom and Dad’s, honey. No one expects anything. We’re just gonna have a good time and get to know each other better. Nothing more.” River took her other hand and brought it to his mouth, slowly kissing each finger.
“Do you like what River’s doing, sweetheart? What if we were doing this all over your body? We’ll start with your fingers, then slowly work our way up your arm.” Rock was talking softly, and River was fitting his actions to Rock’s words.
Between what River was doing and the sound of Rock’s low husky words, Angie felt her body beginning to respond. Her skin was tingling, and she felt the heat in her core. She shifted restlessly in the seat and closed her eyes, trying to control her responses.
When they got to the house, Rock got out first and then reached in for Angie. He took her hand and walked into the house. He led her into the great room and sat her in the middle of the couch.
“Do you want something to drink?” Sawyer asked as he, River, and Hunter walked into the room.
“Maybe some water,” Angie answered so
ftly. She’d had more than her usual amount of drinks at the bar and was still feeling tipsy.
“I think water sounds good for all of us,” Hunter said. He sat on the floor beside Angie and slipped her three-inch heels off her feet. “These are beautiful, baby, and your legs look sexy as hell in them, but I bet you’re glad to have them off.” He started rubbing her feet.
“That feels really good,” Angie moaned and laid her head back against the sofa cushion.
River came to stand behind her and started rubbing her shoulders. “You were so brave taking on Melanie and Nina tonight. I’m proud of you for standing up to them.” He slipped his hands inside the scooped neckline of her dress and cupped each shoulder in his hands, continuing to squeeze and work the muscles.
“I wasn’t going to let them ruin our evening,” Angie said quietly and tilted her head back to look into his sea-green eyes, and he leaned down and took her lips in a soft kiss.
“I’m glad you didn’t,” Hunter said and started working his hands up her legs, kneading and squeezing her calf muscles, stroking her skin up and down.
“I look forward to many more evenings like this,” Sawyer said and sat down beside her.
Rock took the other side and lifted one of her hands to his mouth. “Did you like when River did this in the car, sugar?”
“Mmmhmm,” Angie moaned as Rock took one of her fingers into his mouth. He sucked gently, pulling her finger in his mouth and licking it with this tongue.
“Here, honey, come over here.” Rock leaned over and lifted her by the waist to sit on his lap facing Hunter who was sitting on the floor at her feet.
He lifted her so that her legs were spread and on the outside of his, and when he moved his legs open, so did hers. Hunter moved his hands up her legs to her thighs, taking the skirt of her dress with him.
“I like this little dress you are wearing,” River said, running his hands over her shoulders and pushing the dress down her arms and exposing the tops of her breasts. The dress was scoop-neck and stretchy, and when he pushed it down her nipples were barely covered.
