“Come on and have a drink with me. It would make my night.” He winked. She rolled her eyes at him and shook her head.
He took her hand. Matt insisted that she stop by the table to have a beer as he led her toward a table near the back. She fixed her skirt, trying to pull it down further but it was no use. The damn thing was short and there was nothing she could do about it. She was glad she had fixed her lip gloss and her hair.
As they approached the table, two women were standing by Charlie’s chair obviously flirting and he didn’t seem to mind.
“Hey, look who I found getting ready to leave,” Matt said as the other men at the table got up to give Lori their chairs.
Charlie, Dante, and Trevor looked surprised as they instantly ignored the two women and gave Lori the once-over.
Lori said hello to everyone then took a seat next to Jasper.
The two women said their good-byes then wiggled away.
“You’ve got the touch, Charlie!” yelled Jimmy as he took another sip of his beer. He worked at the hardware store in town and was feeling pretty good from the six beers he’d already consumed. The bottles were lined up in front of him.
Charlie ignored the comment and immediately Matt drew attention away from Jimmy.
“You said your wrist is a little sore? What did my brother say about that?” Matt asked Lori.
“I haven’t told him. I’m sure it’s normal, and since I haven’t used it in a while, the muscles need to get used to things again.”
The waitress Linda came over with another round of beers and Matt handed Lori his. “We need another one, Linda, and keep them coming,” Matt told her as he put the mug of beer in front of Lori.
She said thank you and took a sip. The conversation continued with the guys telling some childhood stories and the crazy things they did. Lori sat and listened, rather amused at the crazy outcomes.
“So do you guys normally hang out here?” Lori asked. “I don’t think I’ve seen you here before.”
Trevor moved his chair closer to hers.
“No, we don’t usually come here. There’s a nice place we like to go to about thirty minutes from here. Some friends of ours own it.”
“Really? Is it like Carl’s?” she asked Trevor, absorbing the scent of his cologne and the way his hazel eyes seemed to darken to chocolate as he spoke to her.
Suddenly someone bumped into her chair and was hugging her from behind.
“Hey, baby, I thought you went home,” Tanner slurred as he nearly knocked the chair over. Charlie, Trevor, and Dante rose from their chairs as Lori pried Tanner’s hands off of her.
“Hey, fella, it looks like you’ve had a few too many. Where are your friends?” Lori asked, trying to stay calm and keep the guys out of this and at a safe distance. Once again Charlie, Dante, and Trevor took on similar angry expressions she was sure would not bring a good outcome as she stood up. She looked around and saw one of the guys who acted kind of like a bouncer and waved him over.
“Don’t walk away from me, sweetheart. You’re mine tonight, baby,” Tanner repeated as he grabbed Lori’s hand.
Gus the bouncer was on his way over but Trevor and Dante already intervened.
The three of them helped Tanner back to his friends and Gus asked for them to leave. Charlie stared at her and the uniform she wore. It was as if he was blaming her for what just occurred. How dare he judge me? Like I enjoy wearing this? It’s not my fault that Tanner is drunk.
As soon as Trevor and Dante returned, Lori decided it was time to leave.
“I really should get going. It’s late, thanks for the beer and conversation. I’ll see you around.”
The guys acted disappointed and she walked away.
“Hey where are you guys going?” Matt asked his brothers.
“We’re going to make sure Lori gets off okay. That guy was pretty drunk,” Dante said as he followed Trevor and Charlie.
“Yeah that’s really nice of you!” Jimmy blurted out and the others made their comments.
* * * *
Charlie came around the corner with Trevor and Dante and saw Lori leaving with Gus. They headed toward them just as Carl came outside looking for Gus.
“Gus, I need you in the back. Where are you going?” Carl asked.
“I’m just walking Lori out to her car.”
“All right, hurry up then. I need you.”
“You can go, Gus. We’ll walk her out,” Charlie said and Lori swung her head around toward them.
“Is that all right with you, Lori?” Carl asked, sounding a little annoyed.
“Yes, that’s fine,” she said as she started to walk away.
“I don’t need bodyguards you know.” It was more of a statement than a question. Charlie and his brothers took position around her.
“I didn’t say I was your bodyguard,” Charlie stated.
“My car is way over there, you don’t have to…”
“I’m already walking with you, kid, let’s just leave it at that.”
“Fine!”
“Fine!” Charlie responded as they made their way across the parking lot.
Charlie could see the beat-up vehicle that Lori called her car.
“Are you still having problems with that muffler?” Dante asked.
“It’s just loud that’s all.”
“Maybe to you but to everyone else in the neighborhood it lets us know when you’re coming and going,” Charlie added with an attitude back at her.
Lori turned toward Charlie, surprised that no one mentioned this before.
“I’m so sorry! I had no idea. I’ll bring it somewhere tomorrow,” she blurted out and Charlie realized he made her feel bad.
He took her hand to stop her from opening up the driver side door.
“Lori, I didn’t mean to upset you. It’s all right, really.”
Lori pulled away from him with her head down mumbling about how she would pay to get the car fixed. The money she made from tips tonight would have to pay for it.
“I guess I’ll have to rearrange a little. I could probably work something out with Calvin. I just met him the other night at the bar. I think he said he was a mechanic…where the heck did he say he worked?” She was talking to herself when Charlie turned her toward him by her shoulders.
“Lori, it’s all right. That’s what I was going to tell you. I can fix it for you. I know a lot about cars and trucks. It’s a hobby of mine. I’ll take care of it.”
“You don’t have to do that, Charlie. I’ll come up with the money.”
“Let him do it. He likes working on cars,” Dante added as he leaned against her car.
“It relaxes him,” Trevor said.
Charlie gently touched her face with his hand and Lori froze.
He smiled then laughed a little under his breath. She hoped that she looked attractive when she was worried. She felt so self-conscious around these men. He put his hand around her waist, pulling her toward him.
She didn’t say a word. She just waited for Charlie’s next move as his other hand softly touched her hair giving it a gentle yank.
“I’ll take care of it.”
“I’ll pay you.”
“No, I’ll take care of it. Now don’t argue with me. There is one thing I want from you right now.”
Her heart was pounding, her hands sweaty. “What would that be?” she asked, trying not to sound as scared as she was. She had never been this close to a man before, had never been intimate with anyone before, and she didn’t want him to know that.
“A ride home.”
Her fear and anticipation of being kissed by him again turned to anger, but before she could lash out at him he smiled then kissed her softly.
She thought he was crazy or maybe she was as he released her and she allowed herself to be taken control by this man, giving in to his orders, his demands, his way as she prepared to drive him home. But as he opened the door, Trevor pulled her into his arms and smiled at her right before he kissed her. It w
as crazy, but she was totally turned on by this. She just let Charlie kiss her, now Trevor was and all she could do was hope that Dante kissed her next.
When Trevor released her he whistled.
“Damn, woman, you taste real good.”
She shyly lowered her eyes and Dante took her wrist and pulled her to him next. He leaned back against the car and kissed her deeply. Pulling her against his chest.
When he finally released her lips, she was shocked. She pressed her forehead against Dante’s chest.
“I think I’ve lost my mind.”
“So should I drive?” Trevor asked and they chuckled.
She pulled back and took a deep breath. The three big men stared at her with hunger in their eyes and appeared less angry than usual.
“We’ll follow you guys,” Dante said as he and Trevor headed toward their truck. Charlie got into Lori’s car on the passenger side.
* * * *
“I’m surprised it’s this neat inside. From the looks of the exterior I was expecting—”
“A strange smell, a sticky seat, garbage everywhere?” she asked sarcastically as she started the engine and the loud noise replaced the uneasiness.
He turned in the seat to watch her as she drove.
“I have to stop at the convenience store on the way.”
“No problem. What do you have to get?”
“Ice cream and some M&M’s. I’m celebrating tonight.” She smiled and continued to drive down the road.
“What are you celebrating to be indulging in such pleasure as ice cream and M&M’s?”
“Getting my cast off actually and some other stuff,” she added with a smile as she turned the car around the corner and pulled into the parking lot.
She asked Charlie if he wanted anything then headed into the store. Her long, tan legs looked fantastic in the short, black uniform skirt. Charlie was tempted to make a move but his gut told him not to, so he denied himself the pleasure. He thought about Dante and Trevor. They were just as attracted to Lori as he was despite his lame denial. He was pretty much making a public statement anyway. By following her out of Carl’s and driving home with her with his brothers following, their point would be made.
Stay clear of Lori. She’s ours.
As he said the words and watched her make her purchase in the store, he felt his chest tighten. He gripped his knees and released an uneasy sigh. This was insane.
He watched her walk back to the car. He noticed the guys hanging out by the front staring at her. One guy said something but Lori ignored him. She just stared straight ahead. She acted tough, but he worried about her. She opened the car door but not before looking at his brothers who sat in the black pickup truck in the spot right next to her car. She got in, tried to adjust her skirt but it wasn’t budging and that was fine by him.
They talked about Carl’s place and some of the regulars.
“You should have someone walk you out at night. It’s not safe, especially wearing a uniform like that.” He couldn’t resist. If he wasn’t able to touch it, at least he could mention it.
“A short skirt doesn’t give a man a right to put his hands on me,” Lori told him all annoyed.
“You try and use that rationale with some drunk and see if he takes no for an answer, kid.”
“First of all, this isn’t the first bar I’ve ever had to work in and secondly, I can take care of myself. Look…there’s your house!” Lori said sarcastically before Charlie could respond to her.
She pulled the car in front and put it in park.
“You’re going to eat that ice cream all alone?”
* * * *
The nerve of him talking to her like some child, telling her what to do, insulting her maturity and now asking to share her celebration with him? Lori didn’t say a word as Charlie reached over and turned off the ignition. Trevor and Dante were out of their truck and approaching the car. As Charlie pulled the keys from the ignition, his arm caressed her knee and thigh. She gasped from the instant effect he had on her as she looked toward him.
“I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings. Let’s get out and enjoy the night sky.”
“You know, Charlie, you have some nerve. Do you realize how bossy and arrogant you are? What makes you think that you can tell me what to do, treat me like some child, and just take control?” She was raising her voice to him as he got out of the car with the brown bag.
Lori got out, barely looked at Dante and Trevor as she slammed her door shut, and walked around the front of the car toward Charlie who hopped up onto the hood of the car.
“I’m talking to you, Charlie!”
He was making her so angry, and when he looked at her, he had a smirk on his face.
“Look at that sky, baby. Tell me you want to miss that?” he asked her as he pointed up.
She had no choice but to look and of course once again he was right.
“It is beautiful, now let go of my bag,” she demanded as she moved closer toward the hood of the car.
She should have seen it coming as Charlie grabbed her hand, turned her around, placing her back in between his legs and against the car.
He held her from behind as he spoke to her and she could feel every breath against her hair.
“Relax will you!” He moved her hair away from her neck, clearing a path to make his next move.
“What seems to be the problem?” Trevor asked with a smile as he leaned against the car on her left. Dante took position on the right. She felt panicked, unnerved being surrounded by all this testosterone.
Charlie kissed her neck softly and then her shoulder.
“We’d better have the ice cream before it melts,” Lori said as she quickly moved away from him and began taking the ice cream out of the bag.
* * * *
Charlie found her shyness appealing. He intimidated her, made her nervous. He was starting to realize that her sexy, tough attitude was mostly an act.
Lori placed some M&M’s on top of the already melting vanilla ice cream.
She took the spoon and dipped it into the container.
“Wait, shouldn’t you make a toast or something?” Charlie teased.
Lori raised the spoonful of ice cream with the two pieces of colored candy on it.
“No more cast, good-bye to the past!” she said as she took a bite with her eyes closed. Charlie watched her and the seriousness in her voice as she made the toast. He glanced at his brothers and they seemed just as intrigued. He couldn’t help but wonder what could have possibly occurred in her past that she needed to leave behind. She was only twenty-one. His father and brother did mention her going through a rough time and no one, including Lori, had explained exactly how she broke her wrist.
“Don’t I get some?” he asked.
She took the spoon and handed it to him as she looked up once again into the starlit sky.
* * * *
Despite the fact that Charlie, Dante, and Trevor made her extremely nervous and that she was uncontrollably attracted to them, she felt an excitement for the future.
She felt Trevor wrap his hand around her wrist and tug her gently toward him. “I want a taste, too.” He took her into his arms then kissed her softly. It was so unexpected. But he was smooth and suave in his move and it excited her. She had wondered what his kiss would feel like and if it would be as powerful as when Charlie kissed her. She immediately felt the chills run through her body as he deepened the kiss and knew she was in serious trouble. The man had large hands. She felt the palm of one move over her lower back to her rear as he squeezed her closer against his chest. This was too much. She shouldn’t allow them to kiss her like this.
Slowly Trevor released her lips and smiled down at her. He looked kind of happy. That was a different expression for Trevor. He and his brothers always looked so sad and angry.
“Hmmm, tasty,” he whispered. She felt her cheeks blush as she shyly pulled away from him. Instead of getting a reprieve from the sexual tension in the air between them she got
another dose of lovin’ from Dante.
“Damn, woman, I’ve got to know, too.” He pulled her toward him, wrapped his arms around her waist, and kissed her fully on the lips. He held her hands behind her back, as if she would resist his move. What a fool, she was, because she didn’t resist. Instead she wished he would let go of her wrists so she could run her hands up his chiseled chest and feel what it was like to be held in such large, strong arms.
She felt the second set of hands on her waist. Charlie was gently rubbing his hands up and down her hips and thighs. Since she was wearing the short skirt, he reached her bare skin and she felt the skirt moving upward. In a panic she pulled forward and Dante released her lips.
“Whoa, baby, it’s okay. Don’t be scared of us,” Dante said.
But she was scared. She was scared at how easily she accepted kisses and touches from three men, brothers she hardly knew at all. She knew nothing about relationships, dating, and sex. She sure as shit didn’t have a clue about a ménage relationship and being shared by three men at once.
Lori felt the panic attack coming on. She covered her chest with her hand and tried to calm her breathing. She felt the hand caressing her back.
“Relax, honey. Don’t panic. We’d never hurt you.” Trevor.
As she stood up straighter and pulled her skirt down out of self-consciousness and need to not portray herself as easy, she locked gazes with Charlie. Holy shit the man looked primal.
“How did you break that pretty little wrist of yours?” he asked her, and instantly Lori’s mood changed. She felt that nauseous feeling in the pit of her stomach and her head began to ache. She didn’t answer. She refused to, no matter how much he demanded. The control Charlie had was limited to what she would allow and this was crossing the line. This whole damn ménage thing was crossing the line.
Charlie appeared as if he analyzed her facial expressions and so did Trevor and Dante. She suddenly thought about who these men were and their experiences as Special Forces. They knew how to interrogate and infiltrate the most difficult of locations. They could surely interrogate her and she didn’t want that. This was why she avoided getting friendly or close with anyone. People wanted to ask questions and she wanted to forget her past and start all over.
The American Soldier Collection 4: Their Blue-Collar Girl (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 9
