by Riley Walker
I take a moment to look myself over in the mirror and cringe. My ponytail is on the left side of my head, courtesy of the wind, my face is red from the sun, and my bikini top is dangerously close to becoming X-rated. I drop my bag on the toilet, strip out of my wet bathing suit and use my beach towel to dry off. I put my bra, tank, and white shorts back on. I attempt to fix my mangled hair and wash my face off. A little lip gloss and I consider myself to look the best I’m going to under the circumstances.
I leave the bathroom and head back the way I came and out the backdoor. I find all four brothers sitting around the firepit with my dog lying between North and Cash. All the brothers have a stick in their hands, holding it over the fire. I see a table has been set up with hotdogs, buns, all the makings for smores, napkins, and condiments.
“We have a hotdog with your name on it over here.” Oren is holding another stick in the air like it's a trophy.
I chuckle as I make my way down to the pit and take the stick out of his hand. When I put my hotdog over the fire, I notice North is holding two sticks himself. I raise my eyebrow at him and he gives me a sheepish look. “We said we’d feed your mutt, so…”
“What my brother is trying to say,” Ridge looks sharply at North, “is that he’s roasting a hotdog for Dobey, too.”
North just hmphs and pulls his sticks out, tossing one of the hotdogs to Dobey the moment they cool down. He looks up and catches me watching him. North gives me a wink and I almost fall over. I’ll never understand that man.
Twelve
Morning Surprise
“No, he didn’t. I can’t believe y’all would do that to him! He’s your little brother.” At this point, I’m laughing so hard that tears are streaming down my face.
Cash smirks at North. “He had it coming. Mom always took his side because he was the baby. You should’ve seen her chasing him down the street with a rolling pin in her hand. It was priceless.”
Now I have a visual in my head and that just sends me into another fit of laughs. Poor North, running down the street with apple pie on the front of his boxers, and his irate mother chasing him.
North is glaring at Cash. “You know big brother, when I came to you for the birds and bees talk, you could have just handed me one of Dad’s magazines that he hid from Mom. You knew she had just made that apple pie. I looked up to you.”
Oren comes back out of the house, handing everyone a fresh beer. I’m still doubled over laughing, and wiping tears off my face. “What’s going on? Did y’all break her?” he asks while looking around at his brothers.
I grab the beer from him and try to get myself under control. “Cash was just enlightening me on the ‘apple pie incident’.”
Oren sits down with a huge grin on his face. “Poor North hasn’t eaten apple pie since that day.”
This information gives me all sorts of ideas. Ridge scoots his chair closer to mine and wags his eyebrows suggestively. I laugh so hard I spit my beer out.
“Hey what was that for?” Ridge asks, while wiping beer off the side of his face.
I smile and take this opportunity to get more dirt on the guys. “Sorry. So, Ridge, what’s your most embarrassing story?”
Ridge shakes his head no, but Oren speaks up from across the fire. “Hey brother, tell her that time you got locked out of your office naked.”
Naked? Oh my stars, my libido just kicked into overdrive. The thought of Ridge’s naked, muscular body has me clenching my thighs together. I chug my beer hoping that it will cool me off and distract me from the images in my head.
Ridge gives Oren the evil eye. “First of all, y’all were the reason I was naked. Second, I managed to grab a security guard’s coat to wrap around my waist. Third, it was a Saturday so there was hardly anyone in the building.”
Oren starts explaining immediately, even though Ridge looks at him like he’s about to kill him. “Ridge and I run together every Saturday morning, but we had a board meeting that day. Not wanting to miss our run, we decided to run to the office. Each one of our offices are equipped with a shower, and we keep a change of clothes there. You never know how late we might have to work. Anyway, while Ridge was in the shower, Cash snuck into his office and stole all his clothes and his towels. I hit the fire alarm after contacting the fire department and informing them that we were doing a test. Ridge came flying out of his office so fast that he accidently turned the lock on the door. There weren’t very many employees there that day, but there were enough to get the gossip mill going.”
“I had every woman in the office propositioning me for weeks,” Ridge says with a smirk.
Oren scoffs at him. “Oh, you know you love the ladies’ attention.”
I’m laughing so hard at the twins that I am full on snorting now. I put my hand over my mouth trying to get control of myself, but it’s no use.
North points his beer bottle at me. “Did you just snort? Miss Put-Together Du-Kane, actually snorts?”
“Miss Put-Together, huh? At least I don’t have a stick up my ass.”
Cash full on belly laughs at my statement. “Oh brother, she’s got your number.”
“Watch it, Cash, or I’ll tell her about the time you and straight-laced Oren over there found yourselves in a drag show.” North pins Cash with a glare.
Oren groans and gets up walking toward the house. “I’m gonna need more beer for this shit.”
North rubs his hands together, thoroughly enjoying himself. “Our brother Cash used to be a bit of a gambler. He heard about an exclusive poker game going on downtown, and he dragged poor Oren with him. Cash is actually an excellent poker player unless you give him tequila. Oren on the other hand, is god awful at it. The guy has no clue what poker face means.”
Oren returns with beers for everyone and plops down in his chair. “I’m not lousy at poker, I’m a lousy liar. When one of us would do something wrong, Mom would always come to me. I couldn’t lie to save my life, or in this case, my dignity.”
North clears his throat to get my attention. “Anyway, after several hands of poker, and half a bottle of tequila, these schmucks were tapped out. Not a dollar left between the two. Unbeknownst to them, they were playing poker in the back room of a gay bar on amateur drag show night. Oren had the sense to text me where they were and that they might need some help, but Cash is always the one to push the limits. Cash wanted to win his money back, so the guy running the game offered him a deal. One more hand, winner takes all, but if either Cash or Oren loses, they both have to work at the bar that night to pay off the debt. Of course Cash jumps at that. How hard can it be to make a few drinks?”
Ridge snorts next to me and I point at him, laughing. “Ha! You just snorted to. See, North, I’m not the only snorter here.”
North winks at me. “Hush woman, I’m trying to tell a story here. Of course they lose and have to pay their dues. Imagine their surprise when they follow the owner through a door, and they find themselves backstage at a drag show. I was clear across town on a date at the time, so it took me over an hour to get there. I walk in to find Cash dressed up as Madonna, and Oren as Britney Spears, lip syncing, “Me Against the Music”.
North is holding his hand up to his heart like he is mortified. Ridge is petting Dobey while all out belly laughing. Cash is grinning ear to ear while Oren has his hand over his very red face. I feel completely at home among these four gorgeous men. I’m also thanking my lucky stars that Zoe isn’t here to tell my embarrassing stories.
The guys keep giving me beers and telling more hilarious stories about each other, and I let time get away from me. I check my phone seeing three missed texts from Zoe, and I realize it’s almost midnight. I stand up and stretch. “This has been a lot of fun, but I really need to get home. It’s getting late and Zoe will worry about me. Come on, Dobey, time to go boy.”
Ridge grabs my wrist. “You can’t drive home this late, besides you’ve been drinking. You can stay here. I’ll take the couch and you can have my bed.”
�
��I guess you’re right, but I can sleep on the couch. I don’t mind.”
North stands up. “We insist, but you will be sleeping in my bed. Ridge’s room is a pigsty and there is no telling when the last time he put fresh sheets on the bed.”
Ridge pretends to be offended, but I see relief in his eyes. His room must be really bad. “Okay, I’ll just text Zoe letting her know where I’m staying.”
Cash, Ridge, and Oren begin to clean up our mess while North motions for me to follow him. I send Zoe a quick text and follow him inside.
We head through the back door, and up the stairs. We stop at the second door on the right. “This is my room. I changed the sheets last time we were here so everything is clean and ready. The bathroom is right across the hall, the towels are in the closet along with some extra toothbrushes.”
I walk in North’s bedroom and look back over my shoulder at him. “I can see you everywhere in this room,” I say sarcastically.
The bedroom has the same cedar walls as the rest of the house. There are wood blinds covering the window, and no other decorations. There is a large bed with a grey comforter, four matching pillows, and a navy blanket draped across the foot. A side table and a tall chest finish out North’s bedroom.
“Yeah, I like to keep things clean and minimal.”
I run my hand over the bed. “I like it. It reminds me of you.”
North pushes off of the doorframe and walks over to me. “I’ll be downstairs if you need anything. Cash is next door, and the twins are across the hall.”
“Thank you, North. I appreciate you giving up your bed for me.”
He turns and heads for the door. “It’s never a problem, Alice.”
Dobey runs into the room shortly after North leaves and immediately jumps on the bed. He circles a few times before letting out a huff and laying down on the blanket. I grab the brush I brought with me and head to the bathroom. After a quick shower, I throw on the extra t-shirt I brought, and since I wasn’t expecting to be staying the night, I have to go sans undies. Oh well. I grab one of the toothbrushes and some toothpaste, and brush my teeth.
I head back to North’s room, closing the door after me. I hit the light switch and crawl into the bed. The last thing I remember is sniffing his sheets.
When I wake up I feel a heavy weight across my back. Why in the world is Dobey laying on me? I rub my eyes and look around, trying to remember where I am. I see Dobey at the foot of the bed and remember that I crashed in North’s room last night. That’s when I realize my shirt has ridden up, and there is a heavy arm laying across my naked waist. There is something rather large, and hard, poking my backside, and my libido comes to life again. I rub my butt up against someone’s erection and a wetness forms between my thighs, reminding me that I am not wearing underwear. Whoever is behind me groans and rolls over. I look back to see North in the bed rubbing his erection. All sorts of dirty thoughts begin to run through my head. My hand seems to have a mind of its own, and is running down my stomach, on its way to my attention deprived pussy, when North wakes up. He looks around the room and then down at his hand that is still stroking his cock. North then looks over at me lying in his bed with my shirt pulled up and my hand right above my bare pussy. His eyes dilate with hunger and then he jumps out of the bed like his ass is on fire.
North looks away and rubs his hand down his face. “I’m sorry, Alice. I woke up in the middle of the night with a crick in my neck from that damn couch. I figured the bed was big enough for the both of us, but I had no clue that you weren’t fully dressed.”
I immediately pull up the covers. In my lust filled haze, I completely forgot that I’m half naked. North looks at me and narrows his eyes right before walking out the door without saying another word. That man is so confusing. I’m gonna have to relieve some of my sexual tension if I keep hanging out with these guys, but now is definitely not the time nor the place. I make a mental note to have a little date with my Rocket Rabbit later.
I roll out of bed and grab the same tank and shorts I wore yesterday to put back on. After brushing my teeth and hair, I make my way downstairs and toward the kitchen. I find North sitting at the table with his phone in hand, Oren across from him staring at a laptop, Ridge at the bar sipping on orange juice, and Cash at the stove. There is a platter of bacon on the counter and he is putting the eggs he was scrambling in a big bowl. Cash takes the biscuits out of the oven and hollers, “Breakfast is ready!”
The three brothers that are not cooking, immediately jump up and start piling food on their plates. Cash walks over to me and throws his arm over my shoulder. “You better jump in there if you want to eat. There won’t be anything left if you let Ridge get in front of you.”
I lean my head on Cash. “Thanks, but I really need to get going. I told Zoe I would get back early so we could start working on some things.”
He squeezes my shoulder and lets his arm drop. “Call me when you get home so I know you made it back safe, okay?”
I nod my head and speak to all the guys. “Thanks for a fun day.” I look around for my dog and find him under the table being fed bacon by Oren. I shake my head and call him to me. “Come on, Dobey. We need to hit the road.”
Oren and Ridge both stand and make their way to me. Ridge kisses my cheek and says, “Be safe. We should get together later this week, just the two of us.”
“Move over so I can say goodbye.” Oren shoves Ridge out of the way, bending down to give me a big bear hug. “Call or text us when you get back to Memphis. I’ll keep looking into those accounts and see what else I can uncover.”
“Thanks, Oren.” I glance over at North to see him still staring at his phone. Alright then. I can take the hint. “Later guys.”
I grab my bag and click on Dobey’s leash, then head for my car.
Thirteen
What Are Your Intentions
Dobey and I walk through the front door and I yell, “Honey, I’m home!”
Zoe comes bounding down the stairs and claps her hands. “I’ve got something to show you.”
She grabs my wrist and starts dragging me through the house and out the back door. She’s as excited as a kid on Christmas morning. Zoe pulls me all the way to the guest house and dramatically flings the door open. I walk inside and I’m amazed how much she has gotten accomplished. All the walls are covered with visqueen, and there are rows of tables with pots full of soil on them. I look up and see a new sprinkler system and grow lights positioned over the tables.
I look at my best friend who is glowing. “Zoe, this is amazing. You are amazing.”
She jumps up and down squealing. “I know, right?! The next step is to crossbreed the seeds and figure out which hybrid will produce the best profit at the fastest rate. I should be able to do the crossbreeding within a week. Then, once we have sprouts, which should take a couple more weeks, I can start experimenting with them.”
“Really? That fast?” I ask her.
Zoe shrugs her shoulders. “Yep. With the proper equipment, I can make marijuana miracles happen.”
She look so serious that I can’t help but giggle. “You my friend, are a genius. We need to celebrate tonight. How about dinner?”
Zoe blushes and looks down. “Can I get a raincheck? Remember, I have a date tonight.”
I’m staring at her with my mouth hanging open when she reaches over and touches my chin to shut it. “Damn girl, you move fast. How the hell did you manage to do all this and still find time to ask someone out?”
“Our contractor, Ben asked me out to dinner. He is one hunk of a man.” She fans her face with her hand.
I narrow my eyes at her. “Well, I’m meeting him first. I won’t let you go out with just anyone.”
Zoe checks her phone. “Sure thing. He’ll be here in an hour so I need to go get ready.”
An hour later the doorbell rings, and I answer it with Dobey standing next to me. We’re both trying to look very intimidating as I open the door and motion for him to enter. Ben Eric
kson is about six feet tall with broad shoulders. He has red hair that is buzzed fairly short and freckles across the bridge of his nose. I would consider him ruggedly handsome.
“You must be Alice. I’ve heard so much about you,” Ben says as he shakes my hand.
I like him already. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ben. I would like to know what your intentions are with my best friend. The best friend that I would kill for, if you get my drift.”
His eyes go wide and then a blush spreads over his cheeks. “Ma’am, my intentions are to wine and dine that beautiful woman.”
I’m just about to tell him that I approve when Zoe clears her throat behind me. Busted.
“Alice, if you’re done with the interrogation, we would like to be on our way now.” Zoe links her arm in Ben’s and then gives me a wink before walking out the door.
I look around and realize, for the first time in a while, I have absolutely nothing to do. Dobey and I share a look. “Netflix and popcorn?”
Dobey barks once and I take that as a yes. We hurry to the living room, sprawl out on the couch and enjoy an evening of nothing.
The next week speeds by quickly. I haven’t heard from any of the brothers since last weekend, except for a few texts here and there. Zoe has been holed up in her lab working, and I’ve been pouring over reports from the last few years for Du-Kane, Inc. My phone rings, breaking my concentration on the payroll report I’m attempting to understand.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Alice, it’s Oren.”
“Oren, how are you?”
“I’m great. Look, I found something you need to see. Can I come by today?”
I sit up straight. This can’t be good. “Yeah, sure. I’ll be here all day, so come on over whenever you can.”
