“This burn. The one I said happened when I was younger, well, it happened less than a year ago, and right before I came here and found Chance.”
“How?” Alicia whispered with tears in her eyes.
Marlena looked so scared. Mercedes could see her shaking.
“Well,” she started to say and closed her lips tight then forced the words from her lips as tears fell. “He tried to kill me, by setting fire to my apartment and the building with me in it.”
“Oh Jesus,” Mercedes said and stood up and pulled Marlena into her arms.
Marlena immediately pulled back.
“No. Don’t let anyone see us like this. They’ll ask questions. They’ll be concerned. It’s that type of town. It’s perfect here,” she said and wiped the tears from her eyes, took a deep breath, and straightened out her shoulders.
“I don’t think I can be intimate with Mike, Danny, and Jack. I don’t know if I can let the walls down and take that chance. There are three of them. Mike was a Navy SEAL. Do you know what damage he could do to me alone?”
Mercedes shook her head. “No, no, sweetie, they’re not like that Peter guy. When they look at you, and watch you, they have love, respect, and compassion in their eyes. You can see it.”
Marlena shook her head.
“You’re just saying that.”
“No she isn’t. We’ve all seen it. Hell, I wish someone would look at me like that,” Alicia added.
“It’s special, Marlena. You need to be honest with them. Maybe tell them about Peter, even if it’s just so that they’re aware and can protect you,” Adele said.
Marlena shook her head.
“I can’t tell them about Peter and what he did. I can’t let them know how stupid I was, how gullible and overtaken by Peter and his dominant personality. They could use it to control me. They could think I’m weak. I can’t let my defenses down no matter how good it makes my body feel.”
“Marlena, it’s more than sexual, more than physical, and you know it. We’ve seen you looking at them and watching their every move and shaking like a leaf when they come too close. You obviously felt pretty damn comfortable with them last night to let them get as close to you as you did,” Mercedes said to her and raised one of her eyebrows at her in challenge.
“Yeah, well, I was unprepared for the triple attack. They can be pretty commanding and sexy when all three of them are in action,” she said, her cheeks reddening again. The girls laughed.
“That good, huh?” Adele asked and wiggled her eyebrows up and down in a silly way. Marlena laughed. Then she looked very serious again as she whispered to them.
“I won’t place them in danger. I won’t bring them into my mess from my past that will eventually rear its ugly head. They’ll hate me.”
Mercedes shook her head.
“No, honey, they won’t hate you, but they’ll be angry if you don’t tell them, if you don’t give them the chance to help you and instead one day you disappear. Then they’ll hate you, and Peter would have won no matter what the outcome.”
Marlena stared at her, tears filled her eyes, and the door to the diner chimed, indicating another customer had arrived. It was Sheriff Gordon.
She straightened her shoulders. “Well, back to work.”
They watched Marlena greet the Sheriff, who immediately looked at Alicia and tipped his hat at all of them. “Good afternoon, ladies,” he said. They all smiled and said hello.
“Alicia,” he said to her.
Mercedes had to hide her smile. It seemed the Sheriff had a thing for Alicia, but Alicia, too, was too shy, and too unwilling to trust a man. Hell, this was why they all got along so well. They were all burned by men. Their hearts ripped out and stomped on. It would take an army to get each of them to open up their hearts. Well, for Mercedes it could be three. But who was she kidding. The Dawn men weren’t her types at all.
The sheriff went to sit down by the counter and Marlena was her smiling, friendly self. But Mercedes worried about her.
“I’m worried. Marlena never mentioned that her ex could be looking for her, or that he tried to kill her and that’s how she sustained the burns on her hip bone,” Alicia said to her and Adele.
“I know. I was thinking the same thing. Hell, we all haven’t poured our guts out about what happened in our pasts to make us this hard and timid of men. But we explained enough that we can empathize and understand. Marlena likes Mike, Danny, and Jack. Her eyes light up when she talks about them, and whenever one of them is around. They could protect her. Mike is a deputy and this town is tight-knit,” Adele said.
“You’re not kidding. I swear, sometimes when I get into town and I’m walking around, it’s like men have their eyes on me, like they’re guarding me. Some guy was passing through town the other day and stopped to ask me directions, and before I could respond, Monroe Gordon appeared out of nowhere and spoke to the guy. Then when the guy drove off, Monroe gave me the third degree about getting too close to a vehicle I didn’t know, and how I could have been taken. It was like the third degree on safety.”
Mercedes and Adele chuckled.
“Honey, by the way the sheriff looks at you, and how his brother Monroe did that, I’m surprised you haven’t figured out that they like you and want to protect you,” Mercedes told her. Alicia looked stunned and downright shocked.
“Has Caldwell Gordon shown up out of the blue, too?” Adele asked her.
Alicia nibbled her bottom lip.
“Oh my God, I was looking at the number to call on the sign about the new storefronts going in on the edge of town. There’s a small one on the corner unit, and I was thinking that maybe I could start a business there. You know, maybe a consignment store where I can sell my stained-glass art, and others who make jewelry and things. Plus there’s Mia, who makes those gorgeous hats, Louise, who makes her scarves, and a bunch of others that I’ve met here in town. With more people passing through Chance, it could be great to advertise it as locally made items.”
“That would be awesome. Your stained-glass pieces are gorgeous, Alicia. You could do it,” Adele said, and Mercedes nodded her head in agreement. She knew that Alicia had wonderful ideas, but to actually have the nerve to take the chance and do it was completely different.
“Anyway, Caldwell pulled up along side my car in that sports car he has.”
“It’s a Porsche, Alicia. An expensive one,” Adele said.
“Well, he asked me if I was okay and what I was doing. I told him and he told me it was a great idea and that if I needed financial backing that he would be there. Or if I had questions on running a business since him and Monroe have numerous ones. It was so weird. I wondered why he would offer financial backing to a complete stranger,” Alicia said to them.
“You’re not a complete stranger. They’ve talked to you in town at some of the local events, and they seem to pop up to protect you or just watch over you when you least expect anyone to be around.”
“They’re too intimidating. Too wealthy and kind of demanding. You’ve seen the way the sheriff is,” Alicia whispered and looked toward him. He was talking to Marlena as Marlena placed his food onto the counter.
“He’s gorgeous and pretty damn sexy in that high position of authority. Is that what scares you about him, and his brothers?” Mercedes asked. She knew that Alicia’s ex was similar. He had been controlling and used her savings to invest in some business she wanted to do and it failed.
“Yes, all of the above. I don’t need that type of man in my life. Been there, done that.”
“Alicia, you’re attracted to that type. We all are. But it doesn’t mean they’ll be like your ex.”
“Adele, I hear you. I process it in my head, but my heart aches and my stomach feels queasy at the thought of trusting another man again, never mind more than one. No thank you. I’ll just try to focus on this store and whether I have the nerve to risk what I have saved. It took a year to make back some of the money I lost. I think we should worry about Marle
na. She’s the one we need to protect and help guide through this. She needs to tell Mike about her ex and the possibility that he could come looking for her.”
“Let’s give her some time to accept them. I have a feeling their relationship is going to be going to the next level pretty damn quickly,” Adele said as the door chimed and Mike came in with Deputy Taylor to have lunch.
Mercedes felt her belly tighten and she quickly looked away.
“Looks like we’re not the only ones who are interested in some men in Chance,” Adele teased, and Alicia chuckled.
“Ladies, good afternoon,” Taylor said as they looked up and he tipped his hat at them. Mike said hello then headed straight toward the counter where Marlena was still talking to the sheriff. Looks like living in Chance is about to get even more interesting.
* * * *
“Good afternoon, Marlena,” Mike said as he greeted Marlena hello. He placed his hand on her hip as he removed his hat and held it in his hand. She touched his forearm and seemed hesitant.
“Good afternoon, Deputy Spencer, Deputy Dawn. Do you need a table or is the counter okay?” she asked them.
“Counter is good,” Taylor said and smirked. Mike felt a bit upset that she didn’t want to respond to him after last night at her place.
He caressed her arm then reached up and cupped her cheek. Holding her gaze, he lowered his mouth to hers.
“Is that any way to greet one of your men?” He didn’t give her a moment to answer. Instead he kissed her softly on the lips then released them and gave her hip a tap.
“That’s a lot better, beautiful.”
She pressed her lips together and then glanced at the sheriff and Taylor before looking back at him. Placing her hand on her hip, she gave him a hard look.
“Feel better now?” she asked.
The sheriff and Taylor chuckled.
Mike smiled as he sat down by the counter next to the sheriff. “It will do for now, sugar. How’s your day been so far?” he asked her.
“Busy. Can I get you an ice tea or coffee?” she asked.
“Ice tea,” he replied and then headed behind the counter. He stared at her ass in the tight black skirt she wore. The woman was built to more than satisfy him and his brothers. She was sexy as damn hell. But what pissed him off was that he wasn’t the only man watching her. He glared to the right to see two men he didn’t recognize, sitting at the other end of the counter. Marlena put down the glasses of ice teas for Mike, Taylor, and the sheriff, then headed down that way. She reached for the pot of coffee, and as she bent to pick up the napkin that fell, both men peered over the edge of the counter, either trying to get a better look at her breasts or her ass.
He was about to get up when the sheriff spoke.
“So, rumors are true? You and your brothers staking a claim to little Miss Marlena?” he asked.
“It’s true,” Mike said but kept an eye on the guys and on Marlena. She headed back toward them.
“You need to make it official. Did I miss your call for a meeting in my office?” the sheriff asked.
Mike shook his head. He knew the rules. Every woman was cared for and watched over in Chance. When men wanted to claim a woman and start courting her, making her officially theirs, then they needed to officially inform the sheriff. He sort of gave the okay, but it was more like protocol they followed. Too many times over the years, men came to live in town for a few months as if they were making a permanent residence and then they would say they were interested in the same woman and wanted to share. Turned out to be a game for them and women got hurt. Badly. This was a way to ensure there was no bullshit. Sometimes women came into town and did the same thing. Marlena had been living here for six months. The sheriff was being cautious.
“We’ll make that appointment. We’re still trying to figure Marlena out.”
She returned to them and asked if Mike and Taylor were ready to order since the sheriff already had his lunch.
He gave his order, and Taylor gave his.
“Hey, Marlena, are you and your friends planning on attending the clam festival on the weekend? It’s a fundraiser for the Godfrey boys and their family who lost their house in the fire two weeks ago.”
“Oh my, is that this weekend? I didn’t realize. Mercedes, Adele, Alicia, and I talked about attending. Alicia knows the mom and Mercedes became friends with the family. I’ll ask them. They’re right over there. Unless, Mike, you and your brothers don’t think I’ve time, with us working on my kitchen,” she said to him.
“You’ll have time. We have all week, plus there’s always Sunday that we could stain and finalize everything. It’s coming along well,” Mike said.
“Great. Let me talk to the girls and see if they still plan on attending. Are you and your brothers going to be there?” she asked Taylor. Mike felt his gut clench. He hoped she wasn’t interested in them, too. Wait, she couldn’t be. She was so shy and fearful last night, and she indicated she had gotten hurt before and wanted to be cautious. God, I’m so jealous of everyone.
“I think so. I need to check with them.” Taylor said.
“How about you, Max? The brothers attending the event?” Taylor asked the sheriff.
“I think they will be. I’ll just be stopping in for a bit,” Max told them.
Mike watched her walk over to her friends’ table.
“She’s a gorgeous woman. You and your brothers lucked out big time. She’s really sweet, too,” Taylor told Mike, and Mike nodded his head and thanked him. They did get lucky, but there was still a lot to learn about her and her past.
* * * *
Marlena was relieved when Mike, Taylor, and the sheriff left the diner. It made her very nervous, and for some strange reason, she felt guilty. It was like she was the bad person and did something wrong in her past and that hiding it was being dishonest. It made her think about Peter and also about Detective Morgan. Could she call the detective and find out an update? Or should she just forget about Peter, Connecticut, and the past and move on? Last night after the men left her house, she had terrible nightmares. They were worse than the usual ones where she was caught in the flames in her apartment. In these, she actually got burned and felt the excruciating pain. She could have woken the dead, her screams were so loud. It woke her up as she gasped for breath. She was soaked, too, and needed to change her T-shirt.
Right now she felt a bit of an anxiety attack coming on. She stepped outside in the back of the diner a moment to catch her breath and ease her mind of the nightmares. She closed her eyes and let the warm, beautiful sun caress her skin. She loved it here. She really felt that Chance was the place she was meant to find and to live a new life. It made her want things. Things that hadn’t crossed her mind since being hurt physically and emotionally by Peter.
She gasped and jumped to the side in a fighting stance as the door loudly opened.
Regan was standing there looking concerned.
She covered her chest with her hand and caught her breath.
“Shit. I didn’t mean to scare you. Are you feeling okay? You seem distracted and then I heard you breathing kind of funny.”
“I’m okay. I just needed a breath of fresh air and this beautiful sun that’s shining today,” she said and smiled then headed toward the door. Regan stopped her by touching her hand.
“Sweetie, you know that Rita, Roy, and I care about you? That you’re more than just an employee here? And not because something is brewing between you and our three sons either.” She felt the emotions get the better of her. She watched the way Roy, Rita, and Regan interacted with one another and around their sons, too. It made her long for things she never really had. For family, for parents who would love her and could help her deal with this problem she had. But they weren’t hers to have. She was alone, aside from her three new best friends. That had to be enough.
“I appreciate that, Regan. You’re great bosses and I love it here. I wouldn’t want to leave, unless I really had to.”
He scru
nched his eyebrows together. “You planning on leaving?”
She pulled her bottom lips between her teeth.
“Honey, are you in some kind of trouble?” She began to shake her head in denial but Regan held his hand up for her to not even bother.
“This town is more special than I think you realize. There are people here that protect and watch over every one of us. The men are supposed to watch over the women so they feel safe, secure, and are able to live full, happy lives. It’s how the town operates. So let’s say that you’re running from something, or someone from your past, from before coming to Chance. You can tell the sheriff and he’ll be able to help you with everything. We all look out for one another. We’ve got rules that need to be followed. So please, if you need help. If you’re confused, overwhelmed, or just need people who can help and will care for you, then talk to us. We’re here for you,” he said.
“Is everything okay?” Rita asked as she approached wiping her hands on her apron.
“You know Rita always wanted a daughter. You’re sweet, you’re beautiful, and remind me a lot of Rita. Don’t think that you’re alone. Okay?” he asked, and Marlena couldn’t help herself. She hugged Regan tight and then pulled back, forcing the tears away.
“I’d better get back,” she said, her voice filled with emotion as she exited the kitchen and came back to two tables and a new one. Four more hours and she could head home to work on the kitchen with one of the guys. Whom, she didn’t know, but she didn’t care. She felt safer with one of them around, and that in itself was enough to swallow and get used to.
As she took the orders and waited on the tables, she thought about the town, the rules, and Mike, Danny, and Jack. Could she trust them enough to tell them about Peter? Could it turn them off or make them push her away? Was it better to find out now before she fell deeper for them? She felt that anxious feeling deep in her belly. She needed to make a decision and soon. She didn’t want them to hate her, but like her friends said, if they found out later, when she had to disappear, it would be worse, and maybe she would lose them forever.
Dare to Trust Page 8
