Abandoned Girl (Neighpalm Industries Collective, #1)

by Winston, Lexie

  "Yeah, not sure that's going to happen. Declan could barely disguise his disdain when he looked at me. Getting signed by his agency is not an option."

  "Well, you'll need to be paid for those shots," Shane declares, "Jacinta is going to make a killing from them."

  "Guys, I don't care. Look, Nana and Poppy just paid for my college. That's all I needed, and I honestly didn't even ask for that. They insisted!" They both eye me skeptically, but not as though they don’t believe the sincerity in my words. It’s more like they’re waiting for me to declare myself some kind of alien life form.

  "Girl, everyone needs money," Alex pushes.

  "Yeah, money’s nice, but I'll probably open my own business when I get back home, so I'll be alright," I insist, and Alex’s face falls at the mention of me going home.

  "You're not allowed to leave," he says, reaching across the table for my hand. "You're the most down to earth person Shane and I have met in ages. I’m sure you’re supposed to be our new bestie." Shane smiles at his enthusiasm but doesn’t disagree.

  “Yeah, someone always wants something from one of us. My help for their career or Alex’s help with his dick." This time, I choke on the drink going down, and Alex needs to pat me on the back as I wipe the tears from my eyes. Shane's eyes are sparkling at my reaction, and he winks at me.

  "Well, it is a pretty impressive one."

  I look at Alex, and he has a cheeky grin that reads as nothing but fun flirtation. "I can show you if you want, love," he jokes, but I know he's not serious. Even though both he and Josh had to adjust themselves occasionally during the shoot, I know it was purely biological; neither of them made me feel uncomfortable. I mean, I was pretty turned on myself, rolling around on a bed with two mostly naked guys, but every time I closed my eyes, the face that I was picturing had wicked blue turquoise eyes and a sneer of disgust. I'm sick in the head. But I'm pretty sure Alex was picturing my adopted sister the whole time too.

  "If only you were serious," I tell him, “but I think it's a different Summers you're after, not me." He and Shane exchange a glance and both shrug. "Well, we definitely got her attention today. You may never see me again after you drop me off,” I joke, but they look worried, and I wave them off. "Relax, I can handle myself."

  The waitress arrives with our food at that moment, so we’re quiet as she places our meals in front of us. I've ordered chicken enchiladas, and both the guys have some sort of quesadilla in front of them. Before she’s even walked away, I start to devour my food. “God, rolling around on the bed with you for a couple of hours works up an appetite," I joke around a mouthful of food, and the two guys just grin at me.

  "And we weren't even doing anything strenuous!" Alex winks again, sipping his margarita.

  "So, Harlow, what's this career you keep talking about? What are you going to leave us to go back to?" Shane probes smoothly as he swipes a corn chip through some of the queso dip we're all sharing.

  "Oh, I'm a vet." The silence that follows my announcement has me looking up from my food. Both have their, thankfully empty, mouths wide open in shock, and a giggle explodes out of me.

  "Get the fuck out!" Alex whispers, eyeing me like I’m some strange creature again. Shane shakes himself out of his shock and keeps eating, an indulgent look on his face as he lets Alex have his moment. "Holy cow, Harlow, you're the whole package, beauty, brains, and kindness." Even with that compliment, I sense nothing from him but friendly interest and enthusiasm, and it’s such a relief that I’ve just felt safe every moment I’ve been with them. I really like these guys. They seem to have morals, and their sense of loyalty isn’t easy to find. They’re crushing on Jacinta, and not just any pretty face is going to change their minds. Good for them, sticking to their guns. I couldn't be happier with our friendship so far.

  "You're awfully young to have finished vet school, aren't you?" Why does everyone keep saying that?

  "Ah yeah, I tested out of a few classes during junior and senior years of high school and started college early. I've just graduated, and the Bostons, they're my foster family, put in a clinic on the farm for me. I've been treating a few patients there, as well as all their horses. I’ve also been offered a position with a nearby vet, but I haven't decided if I’m going to take it."

  Their eyebrows raise, and their eyes widen at my words. "So, not just small animals?" Alex asks, sounding like he knows what he's talking about.

  Shaking my head, I reply, "No, I prefer large animals. Actually, I thought while I was out here, I might see if there are any internships at any of the zoos that I could apply for; my dream is to work with zoo animals." I share my secret shyly, my face blushing red in embarrassment as my voice unconsciously quiets with the big reveal. I can’t believe I just told them that! I hadn't shared that with anyone until Max forced my hand the other day, and here I’m sharing it with these guys, practically strangers, but they've just made me feel so comfortable. Now and during the shoot. We talk for the whole meal, me grilling them on their interests and likes and them grilling me in return. I tell them all about my fascination with abandoned things, Jenny, DS, and about the gothic mansion near the Summers’ place that I want to explore.

  "That reminds me I need to do some shopping! I want to get a GoPro, so I can film it, and then I'm going to load it to YouTube like all those other videos," I tell them, excited about the prospect. "I wonder if Nana will take me shopping," I muse out loud.

  "Pshh," Alex admonishes me, "I'll come and pick you up, and we'll make a day of it. We can pick a zoo or two to visit, and we'll do some shopping and see some sights. It will be fun! Shane will be editing those shots for the next few days, and I've got nothing booked until next week, so I’m all yours."

  My heart swells with his words as optimism fills me that perhaps this visit won’t be so bad after all. “Really? That would be awesome. Just let me check with Brad if he’s lined up for me to ‘visit’ with any of his other kids, and I'll let you know."

  We finish another pitcher of margaritas between us, and Shane moves onto water. Smart man. Dessert has Alex and me giggling through churros and different kinds of sweet dips before we settle the bill and head out into the fresh night air. The guys insisted on paying, and Alex has been trying to convince me to stay with them tonight so we can keep drinking, but I make my excuses.

  "I need to get home. I don't want to make a bad impression with Brad, Nana, and Poppy before they get to know me." I had already received a text message from Nana asking where I was. Jacinta had failed to tell anyone, and they’d been worried. I rolled my eyes at her childish behavior, and the guys pushed me to tell them, causing frowns to form on both their faces.

  "We had no idea she could be like this. Today’s the first time we've seen her act any way but pleasant. She doesn't have a reputation of being hard to work with or a diva. Everyone in the industry always says how nice she is. It's rare," Shane explains as Alex nods his head. “Honestly, her reputation and the way she acts on set are part of why we’re interested in her. She seemed like one of a kind.”

  "We all have some sort of facade we put on for other people though, guys. The way you talk about it and other people have also told me," I think of James' words, "something is always wanted from them. It must be exhausting. I’d adopt a cool, collected persona too. Never letting anyone too close to see the real me. I didn’t appreciate the way she treated me today, but I also understand why she did.”

  As we’re talking, we make our way through the parking lot until we get to where Shane parked his car. It's a nice-looking BMW, but that’s all I know about it. Climbing into the back, I give him the address that Nana sent me for his GPS. The ride home is filled with quiet conversation and even quieter background music, and I’m feeling the most relaxed that I've felt in days.

  "Thanks, guys. I needed this, especially after this morning." My knee is starting to ache a little again, and I massage it as they turn past the big wrought iron gates that block the two estates off from the main road. It's
completely dark now, but this road has a few street lights that make seeing the entrance easier. The driveway is lined with cute, little old-fashioned lanterns I hadn't noticed when we arrived. Their warm yellow light leads a path to the house.

  "Wowwee." A whistle escapes Alex's mouth. "I had heard it was fancy, but this is something else."

  I laugh at his words. "Yeah. I had somewhat the same reaction but had to be cool, you know what I mean." Shane guides the car to a stop in front of the steps leading to the front door. I'd planned to sneak around to my side door, but Nana opens the front one just as I'm getting out of the car and puts a stop to that. Alex and Shane climb out with me, and I introduce them to her.

  "Thank you, boys, for looking after my granddaughter." She gives them both a kiss on their cheek, and they look surprised but pleased at the gesture. "It gives me a little bit of relief that she’s making at least a few friends." I roll my eyes at her words but smile at her concern. It’s nice to be fussed over, though I might abstain from admitting that out loud.

  Something catches my eye, and, looking up at the second-story window, I can see Jacinta staring down at us. Smiling to myself, I turn and throw my arms around Alex and then Shane, giving them both quick kisses on the mouth, which they return in surprise. They look at me quizzically, but the minor crinkles in their noses would be hard to see from where Jacinta’s watching. "We’re being watched,” I mutter as their eyes clear, and they smile.

  "Text me and let me know about tomorrow," Alex reminds me.

  Waving goodbye to us, both of them climb in the car and leave as Nana turns to see what I was talking about. She sees Jacinta, and she turns back to me with a skeptical look on her face. "What are you doing, Harlow, my girl?"

  "A little bit of payback mixed with some possible matchmaking. Maybe, who knows." I shrug my shoulders as she tucks her arm through mine, and we head inside.

  "What was Alex saying about tomorrow?" she asks as we head to our wing of the house. No one else seems to be around, and I'm relieved.

  "Oh, he offered to take me sightseeing, and I wanted to buy a camera to take some photos and video," I explain, "but I wasn't sure if Brad had organized anything for me tomorrow."

  She pats her hand on mine, the gesture comforting and familiar. "You go and have fun with your new friends. I'll smooth everything with Bradley for you. I've got a feeling today wasn’t easy, was it?" She eyes me carefully as we get to my bedroom door, and there’s a bit of a challenge in them as though she’s just daring me to try and lie.

  "I've had better days, Nana,” I tell her honestly before pushing my cracked open door.

  "Hmm, I could tell what with the way Jacinta came home in a fierce mood. I now know why, I guess." The older lady doesn't miss much, and I just wink at her as I notice the ball of fluff in the middle of my bed again.

  "Oh, Princess, you’re going to get me in so much trouble!" I tell her, but I leave her be, missing the companionship of all my animals back home in Connecticut. Nana smiles at her, her expression holding as much fondness as when she looks at her grandchildren.

  "Well, she obviously knows she and her babies are in safe hands with you," she praises me, proud of my achievements. “Good night, sweetheart. Glad you made it home alright. Just hang in there; things will get better." Nana kisses me on my cheek and leaves me.

  I close the door behind her and quickly send Alex a text asking him what time he’s going to pick me up in the morning. He replies just as quickly, telling me he’ll be by to grab me for breakfast. I feel a little guilty at the distance he will be driving, but he assures me it’s okay, plus he’s looking forward to marveling at the Summers’ home in the daylight. Plugging my phone in to charge, I shoot Max a quick message, telling her I’m busy but everything is okay so she doesn't worry. I grab a quick shower before collapsing on the bed next to Princess. Her gentle purrs lull me to sleep once more.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Harlow

  The following morning, the door crashing against the wall of my room has me bolting upright in bed and Princess making a mad dash under my blankets. "What the fuck are you doing with my cat?" a voice growls as I blink my eyes a couple of times to adjust to the light.

  A pair of green fury-filled eyes are staring at me, but they quickly warm to desire as he continues to look, his gaze drifting downwards. Glancing down, I quickly pull the blankets up over my chest, a squeak of surprise escaping my mouth. Shit, I was so tired last night I climbed into bed as soon as I got out of the shower and had dried myself, not worrying about clothes. With the shock this morning, I just gave Declan a full frontal view of my tits.

  "Why is my cat in here?" he persists as Princess pokes her head out of the blankets at the sound of his voice. She pushes her way out from where she was hiding and saunters down the bed toward him, tail in the air, purring like a motorcycle.

  It’s my turn to ogle him as he strokes his cat’s back, cooing words to her with a softness that will never be directed at me. The man is topless with just a pair of sweatpants on, and good lord, he’s going into the spank bank memory. His body is not overly bulked like someone who works out religiously, but he has long lean muscles with washboard abs, and that defined v leading into his pants. He has a few tattoos, but the one that draws my eye is the name Princess tattooed over his left pec in a scrolling script. Oh my God, he got his cat’s name tattooed onto his heart. Fuck me. I close my eyes to the visual and steel my heart.

  "Don't you growl at me," I snap at him, and his eyes widen in surprise. "She's been in here when I've gone to bed, and, well, I won't kick a pregnant cat out of my bed for you or anyone. Maybe you should find out who’s been in my room and keeps leaving the door open," I fire back at him now that I'm more awake and super annoyed at being woken up so early.

  "And, what the fuck is the deal with you and your siblings just waltzing in and not knocking? Do you not have any sense of common decency? That’s three of you now, and I'm fed up. I'm going to ask for a damn lock to be installed." My head is full of steam, and I don't think what I'm doing as I throw back the bedsheets and climb out of bed.

  His throat-clearing has me freezing, and a wash of cold common-sense comes over me, dulling my anger. OH fuck, I'm naked. Not wanting to let on that I made a mistake, I stand up straight and push my shoulders back. Turning around, I wave at Princess. "If you would so kindly take your cat with you, I would appreciate it."

  He blindly waves his hands around to pick up his cat, but his gaze is locked on me, more specifically, my naked body. Looking back at him, I can see a tent forming in the front of his sweatpants and feel a thrill of excitement. It seems he’s not so unaffected by me after all. But then his eyes turn cruel.

  "Put some fucking clothes on! Your transparent and pathetic attempts at seduction are wasted on me. Naked temptation isn't going to sway my opinion, but it does go to prove you’re as much of a whore as your mother was,” he jeers as his eyes leave my body. With a gentleness he shouldn’t be capable of, he carefully picks Princess up off the bed, cradling her in his arms.

  His words are like a knife in my chest, but I calmly turn, giving him my back, and saunter toward the bathroom. "Don't let her out of your sight. I don't think she's far off from having those babies," I call over my shoulder.

  “What would you know?” I hear him mutter, but in the bathroom mirror, I see him look down at the cat with concern in his eyes before he turns and hurries out of the room. What an asshole, but his love for his cat is a small redeeming quality. Not sure it’s enough, though.

  Not bothering with another shower since I’d had one before bed, I pee and brush my teeth and hair before pulling out something to wear. I’d brought a cute little sundress with me that has a fitted bodice, so I don't need to wear a bra. I’m just pulling that over my head when an appreciative sound has me snapping my head toward the door. For fuck’s sake. Another one? Standing in the still open doorway is the brown-eyed, blue-haired tattoo artist. He must have dyed it yesterday because the nig
ht before it had been bleach blond. His eyes follow the dress as it flows down over my body before they scan their way back to mine.

  "That’s some pretty sweet ink you have on your body." His voice is gravelly with appreciation and his eyes heated with desire. "I wouldn't mind getting your artist's number off of you if you don't mind?"

  I scoff, rolling my eyes. How unoriginal. “Yeah, I’ve fucking heard that before.”

  Turning my back to him, I pull a pair of panties out of a drawer and slip them on under the dress before turning back around. Honestly, I’m not sure why I turned around; it's not like he didn't just cop an eyeful. Damn it, that's three brothers I’ve flashed the goodies to now.

  Across my torso, I have a tattoo of a collage of zoo animals done in black and white. It sort of sits under my boob and down as far as my hip, wrapping around my side. I got it at the beginning of my last year of vet school, a reward for making it so far. On the opposite thigh to my sleeve, I have a fantasy animal collage with a unicorn, a dragon, and a phoenix. This one was to show my love of reading, especially paranormal and fantasy. Then there are a few others scattered here and there. I love tattoos and the ability to express myself through pictures. I wish I could have been a tattoo artist, but I can’t draw a stick figure, unfortunately. All of them have been done by my talented friend Tasha.

  He’s looking at me expectantly. Oh, he was serious. "Ah, yeah. Tasha works at Saint Ink in Hartford, Connecticut." He nods his head in thanks, but I don’t stop. "Do none of you ever feel the need to knock? Are you all so freaking privileged that you have no manners?"

  He holds his hand up. "Hey, sweetheart, slow down. The door was already open," he defends himself, and I grunt my annoyance.

  "That's because your damn brother left it wide open once he had finished yelling at me." Curiosity crosses his face at my words, and he lifts an eyebrow in question.