by Marla Monroe
“Hey. I’m driving here.” Landon’s smile proved he wasn’t mad at the other man.
“Asshole. We weren’t rushing,” Ben snapped.
“I was. I couldn’t wait to get here and pick her up,” Landon said, reaching over to squeeze her hand.
Alice nearly shivered at his touch. How could both men affect her that way? She wanted to rub up against both of them to feel that prickly electric feeling again.
“I wanted to see her, too. Just wasn’t acting a fool to get ready like you were,” Ben said.
Alice wanted to turn around and touch him to reassure him but couldn’t with the seat belt on. She’d make it up to him when they were at the pizza place. Then she’d make sure he knew she appreciated him as much as she did Landon.
Wait. I can’t please both of them all the time, and trying to keep score will only make it hard on me. That’s not going to work.
She’d have to talk to them about that, but a public restaurant wasn’t the place to bring it up. She’d have to talk to them once they took her back home later that night. Maybe she’d made a mistake in thinking they could pull this off.
“Want the same pizza we got last time?” Landon asked her.
“That works for me, but you might want to get two mediums instead of two large since you took some back with you the last time.”
“Nah, we’re really hungry tonight. It won’t go to waste,” he said.
“Know I can put away some tonight,” Ben spoke up from the back seat. “I’ve been hungry since noon.”
“I feel like a slacker since I didn’t work today and you two worked all day,” she told them.
“You’re not. You work all week. Some days we knock off early if we don’t have anything to do,” Ben told her.
“Well, in my defense. I did housework, laundry, and such, so I don’t feel too bad,” Alice said.
Landon pulled the big truck into the parking lot of the pizza place. She waited for Ben to help her down then walked between the two men to the front door. Landon opened it, and Ben followed her inside, once again with his warm hand at the small of her back.
She liked that they were so gentlemanly with her. Their gruff manner belied their true attitudes and seemed the polar opposite of the fact that they were mechanics. Society had always labeled them as having rough, sometimes crude attitudes. Yes, they were coarse at times but had proved more often than not that they were good men who’d just grown up in an area where rough talk was an everyday occurrence.
“Beer again?” Ben asked her when the waitress walked over.
“Yes and a glass of water please,” she told her.
Landon spoke up before the woman could walk away. “We already know what we want to eat, too.”
She took their order then returned a few minutes later with their beer and Alice’s water.
“So what all did you do today besides housework?” Landon asked.
“Went to the grocery, ran a few errands, and read for a while.”
“Some of those dirty books?” Ben asked with a half-smile.
“Maybe,” Alice said, cocking her head.
“Maybe you should read one of them to us one day,” Ben suggested.
“Ben.” Landon shook his head.
“What?”
Alice laughed. “Maybe I will.”
She reached over and touched Ben’s arm. Giving him a warm smile as she did. She wanted him to know that he didn’t bother her with his sometimes off-color comments. That one hadn’t been. Instead, she took it as teasing, which was a step forward for Ben.
“Think you can do it without getting embarrassed?” Ben asked.
“Probably not, but can you listen to me read it without getting turned on?”
Landon’s eyes grew round as Ben chuckled.
“I doubt it. Just hearing those dirty words come out of your mouth will turn me on,” Ben said.
“Well, I’m impressed. He said more than five words at a time and a complete sentence at that,” Landon said with a shake of his head.
“Screw you, asshole,” Ben said, narrowing his eyes at the other man.
“Boys, boys. Let’s play nice.” Alice laughed at their cute display.
“He started it.” Ben nodded toward Landon.
“You guys crack me up,” Alice said.
“You make me smile,” Landon told her.
He reached over and squeezed her hand then brought it to his mouth to lightly kiss her knuckles. The gesture was sweet, and Alice felt heat creep up her neck like a caterpillar. She was sure she was ten shades of red.
“You’re embarrassing her. Stop it, Landon.” Ben’s brows drew together.
“It’s okay, Ben. I like it. I like it when you guide me with your hand like you did when we came in. It’s just a reaction,” she said.
“You like for me to touch you?” Ben asked.
“Well, yeah. Do you like to touch me?” she asked boldly.
“Hell yeah, but I don’t want to scare you away.” He sat back in his seat.
“As long as you don’t grab my ass in public, I’m fine with touching. You know, don’t squeeze my breast or anything like that. But I like it when you guys touch me, squeeze my hand. It makes me feel special to you.”
“Well, you are,” Ben said. “Special that is.”
“We know that dating both of us is weird and a little scary, so we’re trying not to make it a big deal in public. Neither one of us wants anyone to say something to you or talk bad about you. I’d sure be pissed, and I think you know how Ben would react,” Landon told her.
“Oh, I can guess. I really don’t want that, guys. People are going to talk eventually. You’ve got to promise me you won’t attack anyone. It’s just talk. If I can’t handle a little drama, I shouldn’t have agreed to do this in the first place. Promise me?” she asked.
“I promise we won’t jump on someone when they make a comment,” Landon said after a few seconds.
“Don’t make fucking promises for me, man. I can’t promise I won’t get pissed off,” Ben said.
Alice reached over and squeezed both man’s hands. “Just promise you’ll try.”
“Yeah, I’ll try,” Ben finally said. He turned his hand over to squeeze hers back.
Their pizza arrived, and all talk moved to sounds of approval as they demolished the two large pizzas. Alice managed three pieces, but she’d had a late lunch, so she wasn’t nearly as hungry as the two big men sitting on either side of her. They downed one of the pizzas in the time it took her to eat her three slices then proceeded to eat a little slower on the next pizza. By the time they’d finished, Alice was amazed they could stand up when they got ready to leave.
“You guys were hungry,” she said, shaking her head.
“Told you. Skipped lunch and all we’d had for breakfast was a couple of sausage and biscuits from the diner,” Landon said.
This time when they walked toward the truck, it was Landon’s hand at her elbow while Ben walked around to the driver’s side. Landon helped her up, his hand lingering in hers once he’d fastened her seatbelt. Then he climbed in back.
To her surprise, Ben reached over and cupped her cheek in his hand before kissing her cheek. It was a tender gesture she hadn’t expected from him. She smiled and turned her head into his palm to kiss it. His quick intake of breath told her it had been the right thing to do.
“If you guys are going to play kissy face up there, I’m going to walk to the bar and get another beer,” Landon said from the back seat.
“Shut the fuck up, Landon.”
Ben’s voice wasn’t surly though. His little half-smile leaked into his voice.
“Come on then. Let’s go. I want to get Alice on the dance floor, but we need to get there early to get a table.” Landon punched the back of Ben’s seat with a smile. “I’m really looking forward to sneaking a hand down to her ass.”
“What did she tell you about groping her in public, Landon?”
“I’m not going to grope he
“I swear, it’s like watching a tennis match when you two start up.” Alice couldn’t stop the laugh from bubbling over.
She really liked them both. They were unique and fun to be around. She didn’t feel the least bit intimidated or afraid of them. Yeah, they sometimes had foul mouths, okay, Ben especially, but it was kind of sexy on them.
I’m already attached to them. What am I going to do if this doesn’t work out?
Chapter Twelve
Ben located a table for them and cleared a path toward it. He didn’t have to shove anyone aside. They just naturally moved out of his way. He didn’t care if it was his size or his scowl that did the trick, just that it worked. Alice didn’t need anyone crowding her unless it was him or Landon.
Landon held her chair for her while Ben signaled a waitress. Not quite nine and already the crowd was thick as mud. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all. He didn’t like the idea that there were so many people around them. Alice could get pushed or shoved even by accident.
“What has that scowl on your face, Ben? You’re supposed to be happy that we’re here and going to listen to the band,” Alice pointed out.
“I am, but there’s too many people here. I don’t like the crowd,” Ben said.
“Never bothered you all that much before,” Landon said.
“We didn’t have Alice here to worry about. I don’t want someone to bump into her or something. It would piss me off.”
“I’m going to get pushed, shoved, or bumped into, Ben. Deal with it and stop it right now. I’m not a china doll. I can handle it. Really, guys. You’ve got to stop being so protective of me. I can handle myself.” Alice shook her head.
Ben sighed. She was right, but he still didn’t like there being so many people. Even if she could take care of herself, he wanted to be the one to do it. Him and Landon. She shouldn’t have to worry about crap like that.
The waitress returned with their beer. Alice had opted for a Corona. He liked that about her. She didn’t mind asking for what she wanted. He couldn’t help but wonder if she’d be the same way about sex.
Yeah. I bet she will be. I can’t wait to hear her tell me what she wants me to do to her. I’ll get fucking hard as concrete when she does.
“What put that smile on your face all of a sudden?” Alice asked him.
“Thinking about what I want to do to you,” Ben said.
“Oh,” she said as her face turned a pretty pink.
“Ben, you’re embarrassing her. Stop it.” Landon’s scowl nearly mimicked Ben’s earlier.
“It’s okay, Landon. I like knowing he’s thinking about me. Even if it is dirty thoughts.” She winked at Ben.
Ben winked back. He couldn’t believe how relaxed she made him. Normally he’d be wound up and stiff around a woman. Even one they’d both already bedded together. No one had ever made him feel the way Alice did and they’d only been out with her for a few weeks. It made him think that she really was the one for them. He’d do whatever it took to keep her. At least for as long as she’d let them.
He wasn’t sure they’d work out as a threesome. The odds were stacked against such a relationship. No one lived in threesomes the way they wanted to. At some point, someone would make a big deal out of it and he’d have to punch them out over it. That would make Alice mad and she’d want out.
In that moment, he decided that if they broke up, he’d insist on Landon taking over and marrying her. That way he’d know she was taken care of and in good hands. He’d easily step aside to make that happen. How he’d convince Alice that he was fine with it, Ben didn’t know, but if it came to that, he’d figure it all out.
“The band should start up soon,” Landon said. “How about the first slow dance?”
Alice smiled. “I’m up for it. Don’t you dance to everything?”
“He does. He just wants to hold you first.” Ben smirked at his friend.
“Yeah, well. Can’t blame me.” Landon reached over and grabbed Alice’s hand.
“I get the second slow dance,” Ben blurted out.
“It’s a deal,” Alice said then grabbed his hand in her free one.
“Wow, pigs do fly,” Landon said.
“Asshole.” Ben shot the other man the bird.
“Hey, guys. Missed seeing you here.” Jilly something or other walked up next to Landon and dropped her hand on his shoulder.
“Been busy at the garage,” Ben said before Landon could speak.
“Too busy to call?” she asked with a sly look in Alice’s direction.
“Yeah. Something like that.” Ben wanted her to leave but wasn’t sure how to say it so that Alice wouldn’t get mad at him for being rude.
He wanted to be rude.
Jilly was deliberately flaunting the fact that they’d been with her once in Alice’s face. Fucking uncool. She deserved his anger, but he needed to remember to curb it with Alice around.
“Jilly, this is our date, Alice. Alice, Jilly. Um, sorry,” Landon said. “I forgot your last name.”
“West. It’s Jilly West.” Her curt words made Ben smile.
Trust Landon to know how to be nasty without putting it all in her face. Yeah, he liked that about his friend.
“Hi, Jilly. It’s nice to meet you,” Alice said with a warm smile.
And Ben liked that about Alice. She wasn’t biting at Jilly’s obvious behavior. Alice had class and just the right amount of attitude. He felt his face relax with the knowledge that she wasn’t bothered in the least with the other woman’s insinuation of them being an item. Yeah, they’d fucked her, but that had been it.
“How long have you been with them?” Jilly asked, her face going blank as she looked from Ben to Landon then back at Alice.
“We’ve been dating for a little over two weeks now. Isn’t that right?” she asked, looking at Ben.
“There about,” he said then squeezed her hand and brought it to his lips for a kiss.
Jilly’s face morphed into one of anger. No, he’d never treated her that way before. She’d been crass and had made it clear from the beginning she just wanted to fuck. Well, that was what they’d done. Fucking didn’t involve soft kisses.
She says anything else that pisses me off and I’m going to tell her to piss off.
“Hey, the band’s playing. Alice, you promised me the first dance.” Landon stood despite it being a fast song and held out his hand.
“Be back for our dance, Ben,” Alice said, sliding a smile over toward Jilly.
He watched as Landon and Alice threaded their way through the throng to the dance floor. He knew Landon had purposefully gotten Alice away from Jilly before Ben could say something ugly to the other woman. And he was going to say something if she didn’t leave.
“So, you’ve found someone new to screw together. She seems a little too sweet for you, Ben. How does she like it when you rut over her like a dog in heat?” Jilly asked with a sneer.
“Shut the fuck up, Jilly. You didn’t want anything more from us than we gave you. Alice is different. She’s not a slut.”
“Are you calling me one?” Jilly’s voice grew shrill.
“No. I’m just saying she’s different.” Ben sighed. What was wrong with him? He didn’t want to make a scene. Normally that wouldn’t bother him one damn bit. “Look, Jilly. We had fun. You’re the one who ended it. Not the other way around. You’ve moved on, and so have we. Don’t make it into some kind of pissing contest. Okay?”
Her eyes widened, and she took a step back. “What the hell has she done to you? You’re never this nice.”
“Maybe I’m getting older. I don’t want a scene with you, Jilly. Okay?”
“Yeah, she’s different all right. You’ve fallen for her. What’s going to happen when she tells you to shove off?” Jilly asked.
“Then I’ll walk away. I don’t want to hurt her and would never push her into something she’s not happy about. We did the same with you, if you’ll remember,” Ben said.
“Yeah. I guess you did.” She shrugged then walked away.
Maybe I am getting old. I can’t believe I didn’t let her have it over how she acted around Alice.
He looked over toward the dance floor and smiled at the sight of Landon dancing like an idiot to “The Boot Scootin Boogie.” Landon looked like an idiot, feet and elbows going in different directions. But Alice looked like a natural with the way she moved. Yeah, he could see how she’d be when they did finally get her between them. Ben had to adjust his dick as it hardened.
Got to get my fucking head off sex, or I’m going to do or say something wrong.
He always did. He might as well get ready. Something crude would come out of his mouth before the night was over with. He just had to hope she’d overlook it and not hold it against him.
Aw hell, that made him think of holding her against him. Tight. Close.
“Whew! That was fun.” Alice dropped into her chair as Landon held it for her. “Let me get my breath and we can dance to the next song, Ben.”
Landon smiled over at him. “Yeah, Ben. The next song.”
Ben grinded his teeth to keep from saying something to the other man that might not be a good idea.
“The band is good. I can tell I’m going to have a great time tonight. Landon can dance.” Alice waved her hand in front of her face to stir the air.
“Don’t know that I’d call what he does dancing, but he’s enthusiastic about it,” Ben finally said. It was the nicest thing he could think of at the moment.
“And I can’t wait to see what song they play next,” Landon said, his face pulling into a huge grin.
Ben returned that grin with one of his own, though he doubted it was quite as wide when “Remember When” began next. He held out his hand to Alice and tugged her up.
“I believe this is my dance.”
“I believe it is.” She smiled up at him then allowed him to pull her behind him as he made a path toward the dance floor.
He’d lucked out with the song. Not only was it one that didn’t require coordination but it was a nice song that he could use to hold Alice close. They swayed to the music, and he kept his hands just above her ass as she wound hers around his neck. He looked down into her smiling eyes and felt the first tendrils of something warm wrap around his heart as surely as her arms were wrapped around him. He didn’t let it worry him. Ben had already accepted that he was going to fall for her at some point. This was kind of soon, but she was special.
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