Cherry Hill 1-A Place to Call Home

by Dixie Lynn Dwyer Dixie Lynn Dwyer Dixie Lynn Dwyer

  * * * *

  Athena was nervous at the way the events transpired this morning. She was in conflict with herself and doing this. She had a bad night. Didn’t get much sleep and she really needed to exhaust herself, so she could get home and sleep until it was time for work tonight. She had a plan in her head and she wasn’t going to let anything get in her way, or so she thought. Then she met Culter, the sheriff’s brother, and holy crap he was just as hot as the sheriff, and she felt an attraction to him, too. It was crazy, and she needed to ignore that attraction and focus on the training. If this class wasn’t good enough, then she would go back to Corey’s place.

  She was the only woman in the class this morning, and the guys were big men, but friendly. One was a deputy in town, Nash Weathersen, and two others were active duty soldiers in between tours. They questioned her experience and she was fine with that. She would show them soon enough what she could do. As the class began, they started right off into one-on-one moves that she had learned with Corey and the group. It seemed to let the men know that she knew a bit, but then Culter incorporated a two on one scenario and things got a little intense. She could feel that tightness in her chest, and willed it away best she could. Nash got a move in on her, but she recovered and countered the others. All and all it was good. Then they did some grappling and the men all wanted her as a partner, but Culter stepped in.

  “I got Hannah,” he said very seriously, and the men immediately backed down and started to break away into groups.

  “Okay, so how long have you worked on grappling with other instructors?” he asked as they knelt on the mats a good distance away from the others, giving everyone some space to mess around.

  The others had already started and she could hear the grunts and the intensity they were training with. She swallowed hard, looked at Culter and how big he was, filled with muscles. His biceps and tattoos were showing the short sleeve shirt tight against his muscles.

  “Six months or so in Central Valley, and another year about elsewhere.”

  “Hmm, not so experienced then.”

  “I’m pretty good really. Corey trains me hard.”

  He narrowed his eyes at her and looked her over. She was sure to wear a regular T-shirt, it was tight, but a rounded collar and it remained tight against her spandex pants she wore. Her martial arts pants were in her bag, but there was no time to change into them before class started. This was a last minute thing.

  “Let’s see what you got,” he said, and that was her only warning before he came at her. She was able to avoid being taken down immediately, and she knew he was testing her and not going too hard. The man was a beast and then some on the mat. His muscles hard, tight, not an ounce of fat on him, yet he was so thick and solid. She rolled around with him and maneuvered her ankles around his, and they were grunting, and she gasped at a few hard rolls, but then she was so flexible, she slithered around him and wound up putting him into a choke hold around his neck.

  “Hot damn!” Nash yelled out.

  “Good, now squeezed that leg around my ribs hard. Take my breath away, pull tighter on my neck.”

  “I’ll hurt you,” she said. Then heard the chuckles and in a flash the tables were turned and Culter had his body wrapped around hers, his thick hard arm around her neck, and that was it.

  He released her and they both were breathless. She lay flat on the mat and he sat up and looked at her. His eyes gazed over her body. Her nipples hardened, her pussy tightened, and she widened her eyes.

  “You did good. You know a lot, but there’s definitely more to work on.”

  “Corey said the same thing, and the other guys, too.”

  “I’m sure they did,” Nash said, with a bit of attitude.

  Culter nodded, but then he jumped up and offered his hand to her, but instead she jumped up without using her hands and the whistles went through the room. Culter crossed his arms in front of his chest and narrowed his eyes at her, but he seemed to be smirking.

  “Filled with surprises. Get a drink and then we’ll grab some protective gear and work on kickboxing moves now.”

  She exhaled, and definitely needed the drink, realizing very quickly that this class was a hell of a lot harder than the one she did at Corey’s gym. She couldn’t help but think that when she mentioned Corey it bothered Culter. She wondered why as she quickly drank some water, and then met the guys at the corner closet where they grabbed chest pads and headgear. They were going to be physically fighting. This was where she needed the most help.

  “Done this before?” Nash asked her as he looked for a chest pad that would fit her as Culter got his stuff.

  “Several times, but it’s my weakness. I need more training with it.”

  “Most women shy away from this stuff, and don’t find it necessary to learn hand-to-hand combat and sparring,” he said to her.

  “Well, I live on my own. Have been for a while now, and all I got is me to defend myself and to protect me from any dangers. I need this training. There’s no one else who can do it for me,” she said, and he looked at her like he was suddenly suspicious, but she really didn’t care anymore. She was good at this solo thing, being on the run for a long time now, and she had to worry about herself and not what anyone thought or commented.

  “Here, this should do,” one of the other guys said and handed her headgear.

  She started to put in on when Culter stepped closer, already set, and adjusted the straps for her. “Okay, so I heard you say this is a weakness and you need more training?”

  She nodded.

  “We’ll start off slow and basics first, then build up the intensity. We get real here. It’s all part of being able to take this class. There’s another one later in the morning that’s not so intense.”

  “No, it’s good so far.”

  “You do this with Corey?” he asked her, and she nodded.

  Again, his eyes narrowed, and then they began. He was easy on her at first and she appreciated that, but then felt like she had something to prove. As he struck harder, and she had to really move quickly to defend herself, she felt good, and countered pretty quickly. He was tough on her though. Yelled at her a lot. “Harder, Hannah! Strike. Counter!” He would yell and she would come at him to the point that she was hardly catching her breath. When he went to kick her, she jumped and then struck him in the chest. He countered with a kick by her head, and she knew he could have made contact and knocked her on her ass, but he didn’t. He was a very good instructor and read her well.

  As she started to slow down, he made his move and took her feet out from under her. She fell to the mat and he reprimanded her about not seeing that coming. About being on her toes and aware at all times. “This was do or die.” His words sunk in and she nodded, and then the time was up.

  She sat on the mat, drenched in sweat like everyone else in the class. They talked about some of the moves the guys made on one another and laughed.

  “You working tonight, Hannah?” one of the guys asked her, and she nodded. “Great, we’ll see you there then,” he said, and winked at her before he headed to grab his bag.

  “Your moves are impressive. Definitely have had some good training. Culter is the best, and his brothers Fox and Chase, holy shit, they are bad ass. They should be home soon. Hey, Culter, your brothers get in yet or what?” Nash asked.

  “This morning.”

  “So they’ll go out tonight? I haven’t seen them in like nine months.”

  “Yeah, they’ll be there, I think. Hard to tell when they return, you know?” he said, and Nash nodded.

  Nash gave Hannah’s knee a tap. “Good guys, real intense, too. I’ll see you tonight at Harper’s,” he said, and then got up.

  He waved good-bye and she looked at Culter, who stood there, arms crossed and looking a bit upset.

  “You okay?” she found herself asking. He nodded. “You don’t seem okay.”

  “I’m good.”

  She wondered if it had something to do with Nash�
�s comment about his brothers about whether or not they would return. She understood the whole military thing. Her brothers would disappear for months, over a year a few times. She missed them terribly, and wished they were alive. They would protect her. They would ensure Matias never found her.

  “My brothers leave for missions and shit, and don’t return for long periods of time. We never know really.”

  “I know soldiers, and it’s tough when they leave and even tougher when they don’t come back.” She stood up.

  “What do you mean?” he asked her, and she knew she shouldn’t have said so much.

  She was feeling comfortable, and there was something brewing inside of her. This attraction that she knew she had to resist. She would be putting anyone who was even friendly with her in danger if Matias found her. “Nothing,” she said, and then picked up her backpack.

  “It didn’t sound like nothing. It sounded like you know exactly what I feel.”

  She stared up at him, and when he reached out and stroked her jaw, she turned. He closed the space between them and slid his arm around her waist. Her whole body ignited in flames, and then went tight with fear.

  “You’re so damn beautiful, and your eyes, Jesus, you look so…” He started to lower down like he might kiss her, and she shoved from his arms, nearly stumbling.

  “Hannah.”

  She shook her head. “Don’t do that again. I don’t date. I don’t fool around. I’m not interested. Thanks for the class.”

  “You’ll come back?”

  “Maybe.”

  “What do you mean maybe?”

  “I don’t know. It might not be wise. I’ll feel guilty for quitting on Corey. He’s helped me a lot and truly focused on my training and nothing more.”

  “Shit, I’m sorry if you feel like I’ve stepped out of line. I shouldn’t have, but I’m not sorry for feeling attracted to you. For looking into those eyes of yours and wanting. I’m not. I don’t date either. I don’t fool around and neither does Kane.”

  She shook her head. This was turning into a mess she couldn’t handle. Not after such a bad, restless night. “Thanks again,” she said, and ignored him as he called after her, and then said he would see her tonight.

  Chapter 4

  Harper’s was crowded as Kane, Culter, Chase, and Fox entered the place. They were greeted by friends and other locals, and big cheers as Fox and Chase appeared and were welcomed back. Fox was trying to avoid this, but his curiosity about this young woman, Hannah, that seemed to snag even Culter’s attention today at the dojo made him want to ensure this woman was not pulling some shit on his brothers. A lot of young women liked older men and came around town because of the ménage relationships, looking for some fun. Hell, he obliged a time or two in the past but never in town. As he shook hands with some fellow soldiers active and not active duty, his eyes went to the bar as a roar of laughter brought his attention there. He didn’t focus on the guys pushing a friend of theirs away, his shirt all wet and him looking embarrassed. Instead, he stared at the sexy, voluptuous brunette, her hand holding the soda gun and aimed at the guy still as she asked if any others needed to learn some respect.

  In a flash both Culter and Kane were over there finding out what happened, and then telling the guys to leave. Fox looked at Chase, who whistled low. “God damn, I wasn’t expecting her.”

  His gut clenched and his eyes narrowed. Was he going to be the only one thinking with the right head here or what?

  “What happened? Are you okay?” Kane asked the woman. She exhaled and placed the soda gun back into the holder as Ade came by and put his hand on her shoulder. He whispered into her ear and she laughed.

  He then looked at Kane. “I think I’m in love,” he said, and she gave his belly a slap, and he laughed, walking away as other guys by the bar said they were in love with her, too.

  “Hannah! Hannah! Hannah!” A few of them cheered. She shook her head and her face flushed, but Fox gazed at her body, her full, large breasts, her toned, defined arms, and gorgeous face. When she looked up and started wiping down the bar she apparently soaked while handling an aggressive patron, she looked up at Kane, who covered her hand, and she gasped. “Are you okay?” he repeated.

  “Yes, Sheriff, it’s all good.” Her eyes then went to Culter, then Chase and Fox. She quickly looked away as if he scared her. Culter glanced back at him with a hard expression. “What can I get you gentlemen?” she asked, and placed down some coasters.

  Kane rambled off Murphy’s all around, and then she nodded and stepped down a few feet to the taps and started pouring the stouts. His eyes never left her. She looked exotic, like she could pass for European. Her eyes were a deep jade green, eyelashes thick and long, lips full and plump, and her skin like silk from what he could tell from here. Her brown hair was pulled up into some fancy style, indicating a classiness about her, including the way she stood with perfect posture. She was young, Jesus, what the hell was Kane thinking? Kane was already forty and they were all pushing close to forty. She wore hardly any makeup, lip gloss maybe, and her uniform was different than Maya’s or the other ladies working there. They exposed more skin, their shirts were short and tight, low cut and two sizes too small. Hannah’s was to the waist of her snug, fitting blue jeans, and when she lifted up, he could only see a glimpse of skin. A total tease as to what lay beneath that shirt.

  Culter had said she was cut and defined, with perfect abs, and a tight, hard body with curves in the right places. He spoke about her ass, her breasts, and how incredibly experienced she was in the class she took. He expressed curiosity about her need for such training, and her hint about understanding soldiers having to leave for long periods of time for tours of duty. They made some assumptions, but he didn’t pay too close attention until now that he saw what she looked like.

  She placed down the stouts and Kane handed her money. When she turned to go to the register, he was able to get a good look at her backside. Sure enough, her ass stuck out in the blue jeans she wore, her legs looked long and muscular and her waist narrow, her shoulders and sides trim. She returned with the money as some other friends of theirs approached, greeting Fox and Chase hello and telling them they were glad to see them back and safe at home. It was something most of the soldiers said to one another when they returned. Too often guys didn’t return, and their town had been hit with such tragedy repeatedly.

  She disappeared to go take other orders and Kane watched her, and then looked at Chase. “Now I know why you two are acting the way you have. She’s special. Got the looks, the body, the personality, and obviously a bit of spunk. I wonder what that dick said to her,” Chase asked, and took a sip from his beer.

  Ade came over. “Hey, look who’s back. Glad to see you guys.” He reached over the bar to shake their hands hello.

  “Good to be back,” Chase said, and he looked back down toward Hannah.

  “I see your brother coaxed you into coming out tonight. Didn’t you just get back this morning?” Ade asked, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

  Just then a few women walked by. “Hey, Ade,” one called out, and Ade gave a nod and a wink

  The women came closer. “Excuse us, could we come in and order a few drinks?” one blonde said to him, and Fox stepped to the side.

  Chase looked over the women. “Hi, Sheriff McCabe. You look so different in uniform,” another woman said, flirting with his brother.

  “How are you doing, Gloria?” he said, and then looked away.

  Gloria reached out and touched his arm. “Uniform or not, you still look real good, Sheriff. You looking for some company for the fight?” she asked as Ade chuckled and started making some drinks the blonde asked for.

  Then the blonde caressed Fox’s thigh. He covered her hand and shook his head, and as she pulled back, he looked at the bar and saw Hannah shaking her head and rolling her eyes. She then said something to Ade who nodded, and then Ade and Fox watched her walk to the other end of the bar. She said something to Maya,
and then Maya nodded and she came toward their section. Culter and Kane told the women they weren’t interested and to get their drinks and move along. They were disappointed, but Kane, Culter, and Chase looked pissed as they realized Hannah was no longer in this section as Maya joined them.

  “The McCabe brothers all together and grabbing the attention from the ladies. Do you need another round?” Maya asked.

  “One more and then we’ll head to the table,” Fox said to her, and she smiled and then got them another round.

  “Why did Hannah move to the other end of the bar?” Chase asked.

  “Could have something to do with the women who were just in our space looking for some action,” Fox said, and glanced toward Maya who was smirking.

  “Why would she do that? We just got here and were talking to her and Ade,” Culter said.

  “She must not be interested,” Chase said.

  Maya placed down the beers. Chase handed over the money. They were all looking down toward the other end of the bar and Fox noticed Stan Bravalo covering Hannah’s hand as he leaned closer over the bar. She pulled back, placed her hands on her hips and said something that got the guys next to him making a ruckus and looking down toward Fox and his brothers.

  “What the fuck did he say to her?” Culter asked. As she turned around and pulled out some beers and then walked toward the guys next to Stan, he could tell she was angry, and Stan was in a dead stare at her ass.

  “Fucking Bravalo brothers have been flirting with her since Thursday night.”

  Kane said and took a sip from his beer.

  “You warn her about them?” Culter asked.

  “What do you think?” Kane replied.

  The place started to erupt in cheers and they knew it was time for the fight on TV to start. They pulled away from the bar and took the table right on the side that Hannah was working on. Cheris would be their waitress.

  * * * *

  Athena was just trying to work and get through the night. She really wasn’t too sure about this bartending thing and honestly, she would decline any more hours working. She wasn’t used to the attention she got. She didn’t even show off skin like the other ladies who worked here, yet it seemed like she was drawing more attention to herself. Maybe she shouldn’t have sprayed that jerk with fountain club soda, but he deserved it. He was drunk and kept asking her bra size, and then asked if he could pay her to flash him. He was annoying and relentless, and when he reached out like he might grab her chest, she reacted. She had the sprayer in her hand after starting to prepare a vodka and a seltzer, and she sprayed him. Thank goodness Harper didn’t get mad, or the guy for that matter who laughed it off as his friends pulled him away from the bar.