* * * *
Marlena finished her shift and headed out the back door of the diner. She needed to meet Parker by the hardware store in town. She got into her small beat-up Subaru that had seen better days and drove down the street to be closer. He was going to guide her in buying the right products for her to refinish the cabinets in the cottage.
Roy and Regan knew him well and had recommended talking to him about her plans so he could guide her. He came into the diner every week on Wednesdays and Fridays. They talked several times and then she finally asked him for his help. He was more than willing to help her. He was very nice and close to her age.
As she parked the Jeep she saw him standing there by his pickup truck waiting for her. He was a nice-looking guy and as she met him he leaned forward to kiss her cheek, shocking her. She wasn’t attracted to him. She thought about Mike, Danny, and Jack and then wondered why. They weren’t her boyfriends. They weren’t even her friends although they seemed to be trying to get her to spend time with them.
“So, what do we need to do first?” she asked him and he smiled.
“You’re so excited about this project. You have no idea how hard it’s going to be. I think you’ll be calling me for some help.”
“No I won’t. I told you I wanted to do this on my own. It’s one of my many personal challenges,” she told him as he held the door to the hardware store open and the owners greeted them.
She was trying to think about what she wanted the cabinets to look like and how intricate of details she could add, but Parker was right. This was harder than she thought. He helped her pick out the materials she would need as well as the stains, the topcoats, and some books. She’d already researched a lot at the library in town.
“I think you should take Parker’s offer to help you get started, Marlena. You don’t want to spend all this time and money and then have it come out all wrong,” Mr. Phillips, who owned the hardware store, said.
She thought about it a moment and chewed her bottom lip. She didn’t want to send the wrong messages to Parker. He was nice, but she hadn’t expected him to greet her the way he had.
“I suppose so, but we should straighten a few things out first,” she said as Parker’s eyes lit up and he grabbed the first box of items to put into her car.
She waved good-bye and said thank you to Mr. Phillips as she carried out another box and Parker held the door open for her with his hip as he carried the heavier one.
They got to her car and she opened the trunk as they placed things inside.
“So, I can follow you home now, and we could figure out where to start and where to place the doors and things we need to refinish and stain. That way we can get started tomorrow. You get off at five again, right?” he asked.
She felt her heart racing. She wanted to ensure that he knew she wasn’t interested in him in anything other than as a friend but as she went to bring that subject up, she heard Mike’s voice. She turned around and there he stood, Mike in his deputy uniform, looking pissed off and in complete command. Her pussy actually spasmed with desire. Her heart raced and she knew she was done for. She liked Mike. Hell, she lusted for him and his brothers but she couldn’t risk it all. She just couldn’t.
“Good afternoon, Deputy Spencer. How are you?” Parker asked as he reached his hand out to shake Mike’s. Mike shook his hand and then looked at Marlena.
“Looks like someone is planning on doing a project. What’s with all that stuff?” he asked.
“I’m going to help Marlena refinish her cabinets in her kitchen. It’s kind of tricky if you never did it before and she needs some guidance,” Parker said but held her gaze, looking her over and smiling softly. She knew he liked her. This was so bad.
“Well, not the whole project, just to get started,” she added, and Parker had a look of disappointment flash across his face and then it disappeared.
“We’ll see. Refinishing work is hard. You work a lot of hours. It will be my pleasure to help you,” he said.
Mike stepped closer to her.
He reached out and caressed a strand of her hair from her cheek.
“You should take it easy until those blisters heal. I want to get a look at them, maybe come over now and apply some ointment before rebandaging it,” he said then gently brushed his thumb along her chin.
She glanced at Parker, who looked angry and insulted.
“I told you I’ll be fine and can take care of it myself.”
“I know you did, baby, but Danny, Jack, and I want to make sure our girl is well taken care of.”
“Your girl?” Parker asked.
She looked at him and Mike nodded his head. “Yes, our girl.”
“You staking a claim? The three of you for real? No bullshit?” Parker asked.
“Do I look like I’m bullshittin’, son?” Mike said and Parker shook his head.
“I’ll see you around, Marlena,” Parker said, sounding upset, and turned around and walked away.
“Why did you do that? What did you mean saying those things to him?” she asked.
He stepped closer and placed his hands on her hips. “Settle down, honey. I did what needed to be done. No other men are going to come around and try to snag your attention. Not with my brothers and I around. We waited months to talk with you, to let you know how we felt. We understand that you’re shy, that maybe you had some bad experience with a man before.” Her eyes widened and she stepped back only to hit the back of the trunk. Mike pulled her closer. “Easy, Marlena. Don’t be scared, sugar. You feel the attraction just like we do. We’ll take things slow. We’ll let you get to know us. Let you ask us anything you want. We’re planning on making you our woman. We’re spreading the word.”
She shook her head.
“But I don’t want to be claimed. I don’t want to be your woman. I want to be left alone. I can’t accept this.”
“Why not, sweetie? Did someone hurt you? Is that why you can’t let down this guard you have up and see how sincere me, Danny, and Jack are?”
“Please, Mike, it’s not fair, the way you’re doing this to me.”
He pressed closer and cupped her cheeks.
“Baby, tell me right now that you don’t feel a thing for me and my brothers. Tell me, and I’ll call it off. I’ll accept it even though it breaks my heart and kills me inside. Tell me you don’t feel a thing.”
She stared into those gorgeous blue eyes of his. She felt the tears fill her eyes and her heart hammer in her chest. She never could tell a lie. She definitely couldn’t tell one to Mike and in the damn deputy uniform, no less.
“I can’t take the chance. I don’t want to get hurt.”
“We won’t hurt you. Let us in, Marlena. Let us get to know you and what you’re so afraid of.”
She shook her head.
“Can’t you let your guard down enough to get to know us so we can prove we’re not bad men, and that we won’t hurt you?”
She felt sick, angry that Peter had hurt her emotionally and physically so badly she lacked self-confidence and let him still beat her down even from miles and miles away.
“I’m scared to.”
As she said the words and admitted them she felt like crying.
“Aww, baby, someone messed with you real good. But we’re not him. You’ll see that. Starting right now.” He pressed his lips gently to hers, shocking her. But she didn’t pull back. She absorbed the scent of his cologne, the feel of his masculinity surrounding her, and she let go. That kiss grew deeper and she wanted. She wanted, craved, lusted for more of him, and then she thought of Danny and Jack and she felt the same emotions for them. She was in trouble now. She’d let Mike kiss her. There was no turning back. She might have just made the next big mistake of her life.
* * * *
Mike released Marlena’s lips despite the fact that he wanted more. He’d never felt so good kissing a woman. She was special. He ran his hand along her hip and stepped back.
“Thank you, darling. You pack a
hell of a punch,” he teased, and she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and lowered her head.
She looked adorable, hell, edible, and his cock was hard as a steel rod against his pants.
He cleared his throat.
“Now about this project you’re going to start. No need to worry, my brothers and I know a lot about these things. We can help you.”
She started to shake her head and he raised one of his eyebrows up at her. “Now, now, don’t be giving into those fears of us hurting you. That isn’t going to happen. We’ll take things slow and each get to know you, and you can get to know us. I can follow you back to your place now to get these things unloaded but then I need to get back to work.”
“That’s okay. I can leave them in the car or get them out myself. Don’t leave work. The sheriff may get mad.”
He smiled. “Not if I tell him I was helping you,” he said and winked. She blushed and then shook her head.
“I must be losing my mind,” she replied aloud without thinking and then headed around to the driver side of her car. Mike gave a wave and then headed to the patrol car. On the way to her place, he called Jack. Danny would stay at the bar and Jack would come help Marlena set things up and unpack. They’d make plans for helping her with the cabinets and they would all get to know her better and make her feel safe. Maybe, they’d even get to learn about her past and the person who caused her to be so fearful? He wanted to know so he could make sure that person never came near their woman again. Never.
* * * *
Marlena had just finished putting the boxes onto the back porch when she heard the second male voice behind her. It was Jack’s.
“So what’s this about a new home improvement project?” Jack asked, walking onto the porch. She swallowed hard. Having one of them here was quite nerve-wracking. Having two made her shake a little. She hoped that Danny didn’t show up, too. She just wasn’t ready to be alone with the three of them.
“You didn’t have to come over to help me, Jack. I’m capable of figuring things out on my own really,” she added.
He approached, pulling her gently into his arms as if he had every right to do so. He cupped her cheek.
“Honey, you work so hard, so many hours on your feet, we would love to help you with this.”
She was afraid he might kiss her. Had Mike told him that she let Mike kiss her in town? Did he think he had the automatic right to do that, too? Did she want him to?
“Whoa, hey, sweetie, what’s wrong?” he asked, brushing his thumb along her lower lip as he bent slightly to look her in the eyes. God, he’s beautiful. Everything about him is beautiful.
She looked down and away, causing his thumb to move from her skin. She felt the loss of his simple touch.
“Please don’t touch me like that,” she said.
“But I like touching you. I dream about touching you, kissing you, and feeling you next to me.”
She shook her head. Was he serious? Did he really dream about her? God, these were the types of men she longed for, hoped for, tried to pretend that Peter was. And look where it got her. Maybe they were pretending, too?
“Don’t do that. Don’t say things to me that you think I want to hear or that other women like hearing. Don’t,” she said and pulled from his arms and walked over toward the door.
“I think you both should leave.”
Mike looked at her strangely, like he was going to say something then held back. Was he thinking about telling her a lie? Maybe saying something she would want to hear to ease her uncertainty. Did she want him to? Did she want them to prove they were noble men?
“I’m heading back to work. I’ll see you tomorrow. Let Jack help you. He knows a lot about these things,” Mike said and tipped his hat toward her good-bye. She watched him go. The sexy way he walked in that uniform. He was the picture of authority, of protection and peace. The police back in Connecticut were nice, but they still told her she should disappear. Like the criminals had more rights than the victims. Peter would get away with attempted murder and arson. He would continue to get away with God knew what else.
She felt the masculine hand against her hip.
“Sweetie, what are you thinking about?”
She turned toward him, shocked that she was so lost in thought she had forgotten he was here still.
“Oh, nothing. Just tired,” she said.
“Let’s go inside and check out that kitchen of yours. Maybe tell me your ideas and your game plan,” he suggested, and she nodded, allowing him to continue to hold her hand as they walked into the kitchen. She had flashbacks of the way she wished things could be. Her in the kitchen with Danny, Jack, and Mike helping her. Them laughing, enjoying one another’s company, and then stealing kisses in between. They would eat together, laugh together, and make memories together. But when would it fall apart? When would they hurt her, cheat on her, hit her, try to kill her?
“Marlena,” Jack questioned her as he held her shoulders and stared down into her eyes.
“Talk to me. Why are you scared? What are you thinking about when you get that lost look in your eyes?”
“Why are you here, Jack? Why do you and your brothers want to get to know me so badly? What do you want from me? Ultimately I’m not like Vicky?” she asked and he looked shocked.
He reached up and caressed her cheek. “We want to get to know you. Vicky is a liar. We never did anything with her even though she spread rumors. We like you, and the three of us rarely like the same woman. When we look at you we want more things.”
“Like what?”
“Like a commitment, a partnership, a connection that lasts forever.”
“How can you want those things with me when you hardly know me?”
“Haven’t you ever heard of falling for someone and just knowing in your heart that they’re right for you?”
She shook her head.
“That’s not real life. That’s in books and in movies. In real life things go wrong. People have their selfish reasons and desires for wanting to be with someone.”
“That’s not true, Marlena. Hell, take it from me, I’m a lot older than you. That may scare you, but in actuality it should bring you some peace of mind. I’ve dated a lot, hell I’m ashamed to say I did a lot of stupid shit, but that was years ago, that was before almost losing Mike.”
“What?” she asked him. She could see the sincerity in Jack’s eyes, the sadness at remembering. Could he be for real?
“Yeah, he was in the Navy. He was a Navy SEAL. He disappeared on a mission and was due home for our parents’ anniversary party. He had the time scheduled off so when we hadn’t heard from him, we knew something was terribly wrong. Anyway, weeks went by, then two months. He had fought his way out of enemy lines and a bad situation. One he has never spoken about and I’m certain never will. He came back a different man. He had a new outlook on life and he wanted to help others but also remain in a position of power and a soldier. He’s taught Danny and me a lot and he’s the youngest,” Jack said and chuckled.
He stepped away from her and ran his fingers through his hair. He seemed nervous about revealing something personal to her. She reacted without thinking, letting her guard down.
“You’re lucky to have a family, to have brothers who love you and who you love and care for.”
“I know I am. I thank God every day. But what about you? No family at all?” he asked.
She shook her head and walked toward the refrigerator. She opened it and pulled out a water bottle, nodding toward him, silently indicating if he wanted one, too. Jack nodded back.
She closed the door and placed the water bottle onto the counter in front of him.
“I don’t have any family. My mom died when I was finishing up college.”
“Oh man, I’m so sorry, Marlena. That must have been terrible.”
“It was hard, but she wasn’t exactly mother of the year. She had problems. Luckily I had been working since I was fourteen and grabbing any extra hours I cou
ld to save money for college. I got a scholarship to Pace University in Westchester, New York. I never went back home. I got my degree and found a great job in Connecticut.”
“Is that where you’re from, Connecticut?” he asked, and she nodded her head and took a sip of her water. Jack did the same.
“Danny and I attended Universities in South Carolina. We hooked up with some guys running this cool business program and we loved it. Had money saved, took a chance on opening up a small bar in South Carolina near the colleges. We were in it with three other guys.”
“Wow, that’s impressive. What happened? Did it not work out?”
“It worked out great. We still have a financial share in the place but we’re more like silent partners. It’s a booming bar and club that expanded a few years back.”
“Why didn’t you stay there and run it full-time or open another place there if you were so successful?”
He looked at her and seemed a bit reluctant to tell her.
“What?”
“Mike was living here. We missed seeing our parents and being in Chance. When the property came up for sale where Spencer’s is now, we grabbed it.”
“Are you happy that you did? I mean you like it here? You want to spend the rest of your lives here?” she asked.
“I would say so. We’ve built our dream home way out a good fifteen miles from town. We enjoy helping out with the community and making sure it remains a great town where people are safe and inspired to settle down here. It’s been expanding for years. Another set of storefronts are going in on the edge of town. Looks to be all locally owned and operated.”
“I heard about those storefronts. We’ve been trying to convince Alicia to open up some sort of business of her own.”
“That would be great. I know the guys in charge of the project. They even front the money for the right people with the right ideas.”
Dare to Trust Page 5
