by Jane Jamison
What was she going to do if Curt broke his promise? So far, she figured he’d kept his word since she hadn’t heard of any other fires. But that wasn’t enough. After all, wasn’t setting fires a sign of an underlying emotional problem? He needed help, more than her keeping his secret could ever give him. More than was available at Hope House. He still balked at going to see her psychiatrist friend, but she wasn’t ready to give up on that part of their deal. She’d keep working on him to keep his word on that, too.
Should she turn him in if he didn’t get help? Yet she couldn’t help but think that going to jail would only make the problem worse. Plus, as most studies found, he’d come out of incarceration a criminal instead of a young man ready to contribute good to society.
She had to find more help. But who? Could she trust Elbert with their secret? More than likely she could, but she didn’t want to put him in the middle. He’d have to choose between helping Curt and keeping Hope House safe from any collateral liability. No, it was best to keep her friend out of it.
Wiley and Brody. Could they be the answer? Or was her desire for them clouding her judgment, making her think they were the answer for Curt as well as for her? She couldn’t think of a better solution and it was obvious they were suspicious, but could she take the risk of telling them? Especially since they’d apparently forgotten about her?
She put her head down on her arms and moaned. Why did they have to come into her life now? Why couldn’t they have met months earlier, before Curt’s arrival?
“Miss Michelle?”
She brought her head up and ran her hand through her hair, hoping to smooth it. “Oh, Michael, I, uh, I mean—” She calmed herself. For a moment, she’d thought maybe Wiley and Brody had come to see her. It might be awkward facing them after what they’d done, but she’d take that chance. She’d take almost any chance if it meant she’d see them again.
She had an open door policy with all the teens at Hope House. If they sought her out for help, guidance, or just needed someone to talk to about anything and everything, all they had to do was ask. “Did you want something?”
“No. Mr. Elbert sent me to tell you that there are two men here.”
She only barely managed to keep the excitement from showing on her face. “Oh?”
“Yeah. He said you’d want to know.”
“I do. I mean, thank you. Where are they?” Her gaze shifted to the hallway behind him. “Are they in Mr. Elbert’s office?”
“Nope. They’re outside with the guys.”
With the guys? With Curt?
She was up and moving as the alarm spread through her. No matter how much she yearned to see them again, keeping Curt safe was the most important thing. She had a duty, a responsibility and a commitment to him. Michael led the way out to the huge yard behind Hope House. Groups of boys were scattered around, some playing football or another sport, while many lazed near each other talking and enjoying the sunny day.
As she always did, she searched for Curt on the outskirts, ready to find him going the loner route again. She was surprised, stunned, even, when she found him huddled with four other teens in the area sectioned off for doing crafts and using building materials. They surrounded a pile of boards and were concentrating on a paper that lay on top of a large table. Her breath hitched in her throat when the large man next to him laid a hand on Curt’s shoulder, then turned toward her.
Wiley lifted the same hand and gave her a quick wave before shifting his attention back to the boys. Brody straightened up, answering her question of whether he was there or not, but didn’t acknowledge that he’d seen her.
“You remember those two guys, don’t you?”
Elbert’s size gave her a start as it sometimes did. “Of course.”
They had me spread eagle over the hood of my car. I’ll never forget them for as long as I live.
“It’s great what you’ve done.”
“What I’ve done?”
“Getting them to volunteer their time.” His dark eyes flashed with awareness. “So you didn’t know they were coming?”
“I, uh, don’t remember setting a date or time.” But then again, they could’ve told her that a woman just landed on Mars without the aid of a spaceship and it wouldn’t have made a dent in her brain. Not when Wiley was between her legs and Brody at her breasts. Had they told her that they’d come by today?
“Well, that’s what they said when they marched into my office a while ago. Said you’d done a great job of talking them into mentoring the kids. They raved about you.”
“They did?”
His laugh was full and rich. “Yes, they did. Although I wish you’d mentioned that they wanted to give the home a dog.”
“They do?” She sounded like an idiot, but she couldn’t help it.
“That’s why they’re building a doghouse. For the Dalmatian they want to give us.”
A Dalmatian. It figured, since they were firefighters.
“That’s a pretty big pen. Dalmatians aren’t small dogs, but I think you could keep a horse in there.”
His chuckle drifted on the air. “They wanted him to have plenty of room to play when the boys didn’t have him out. Plus, you should see what they’re planning for the inside of the house. It’ll have padding for chilly nights as well as layering the walls with insulation to keep the cold air out. If they added a kitchen and a sink, I might move into it.”
She ran her gaze up and down his long, wide frame. “Oh, sure. Like you’d fit.”
“It’d be tight, but that would just make it cozier.”
“And all this is fine with you? Having a dog around?”
“As long as the boys take care of it, I can handle it. Maybe having a dog will help some of the more closed-off boys like Curt open up. See? Even he’s getting in on building the doghouse.”
Elbert groaned. “Or at least he was.”
Curt broke away from the group, then sauntered over to a tree and leaned his back against it. His gaze flitted to her, then over to the group before settling on the ground at his feet.
“Damn. Oh, sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it, Miss Michelle. It’s not like I don’t think you ever cuss. Or drink.” His knowing smile fell on her. “Or have a life outside of this place. In fact, now that we’re talking about it, I have to admit you’ve looked different the past couple of days.”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know. Happier somehow. At least until yesterday and today, when you seemed kind of down. I know it’s not my place to pry, but as your friend, can I ask? Is there anyone special in your life? Are you dating? Or is it something else?”
Her gaze shifted to Wiley and Brody. Were there not one, but two men in her life? And yet they hadn’t contacted her since a week earlier when they’d had their fun with her. No, she couldn’t assume that.
“No. I’m still the same old spinster I always was.” She tried to make a joke of it, but it fell flat.
“A spinster you’re not. Although if you’d let me, I could introduce you to a friend of mine.”
“Mr. Elbert, are you trying to fix me up?”
He shrugged. “Why not? Some lucky man out there’s going to wind up with you. Why not one of my friends?”
“I appreciate the thought, but I think I’ll go it on my own a while longer.”
She couldn’t take her eyes off the Russell brothers. If she was smart, she’d take Elbert up on his offer and forget all about them. Since they hadn’t contacted her in a week, it was obvious that they wanted nothing more to do with her. But then why had they shown up if not to see her? She squashed the flicker of hope. They were simply doing a good deed. The fact that they hadn’t questioned her about the gas can and her connection to the fires meant they no longer thought of her as a suspect. With Curt keeping his promise—so far—maybe things were taking an upswing.
She could sense Elbert’s sympathy for her and that made her angry. Maybe she wasn’t meant to have a long-term relatio
nship with marriage and kids of her own, but she’d be damned if she’d let people feel sorry for her.
She plastered on a smile, determined to fake her way through a difficult situation. “I’m guessing you want me to spearhead this since I’m the one who got them to volunteer. Am I right?”
“Well, it does make the most sense. Still, if you’re uncomfortable handling it, I’ll take charge.”
She’d be damned if the presence of Brody and Wiley would keep her from doing her job. “No, it’s not a problem. Consider it taken care of.”
“I knew I could count on you. Thanks.”
She was still nodding as Elbert walked away.
Yeah, sure. No problem working with the guys who took advantage of me, then dumped me.
That wasn’t right and she knew it. She’d been a willing participant and couldn’t lay the blame at their feet. Her yearning had paved the way for their advances.
Gathering her courage, she kept the false smile on her lips and strode toward the group.
“Is this how it’s done?” Darrell, a scrawny kid with a winning personality, lifted a board up so both he and Wiley could study it. He pointed a handsaw at one end of it. “Or does this part look weird?”
Wiley tilted his head to the side, then skimmed his palm along the wood. “Looks good to me.”
Darrell beamed under the praise, then put the board aside and picked up another.
“Hey, D, let me have a try.” Nathan, an overweight boy who’d gone through several foster homes, tried to take the saw away from Darrell, but Darrell pulled back.
“Get your own. This is my job.”
Brody turned to them, and in doing so, caught her eye. He gave her a quick nod and she would’ve sworn she’d seen a hint of lust flicker across his face.
You’re wishful thinking again. Stop it before you make a fool out of yourself.
Yet the attraction she’d felt that last day hit her again, bringing her to a halt. If she got any closer, she wasn’t sure what she’d do. With all the boys around, to do anything that hinted of a sexual nature would spell disaster.
If only they weren’t so damn sexy.
Her pussy betrayed her, clenching and then setting up a pulse of need. She was thankful no one could see between her legs.
Playing it safe, she stayed where she was to watch. Wiley and Brody were naturals with the boys. They gave them enough guidance to get them working, but didn’t pressure them to work harder or criticize them when they made a mistake. It might have seemed liked an easy thing to do, but she knew how hard it could be to wrangle a group of boys and transform them into a cohesive unit.
Without wanting to, she couldn’t help but admire them. They were the perfect role models. Both of them were firm yet nurturing, kind yet not pushovers, and had a laid-back way of teaching that the boys responded to. In time, she found herself sitting on the edge of the nearby brick wall, happy to be near them.
They’ll make great fathers.
As she’d had to do so many times before, she shoved the thought away. To dream about a future with them was a foolish thing and she refused to make any more mistakes as far as Wiley and Brody Russell were concerned. She’d maintain a professional relationship and stay away from them whenever possible. Until the problem with Curt was resolved and she regained control of her foolish fantasies, she had no choice.
The whistle blew all too soon, announcing the end of the boys’ free time. Amid their grumbles and complaints about having to leave their work, Wiley and Brody ushered them back toward the buildings, promising to return soon to finish the doghouse.
She was still seated on the wall when it hit her that she was alone with them. Part of her wanted to stay, to ask them why they hadn’t called, to ask them if they were interested in her for more than a sexual escapade. But hadn’t they already given her their answer by their silence? Jumping up, she tried to scurry past them.
“Michelle, hold up.”
I swear to God if Brody tells me it was just a one-time thing, I’ll kick him in both heads.
Although it may have been a wild and wonderful, but non-committal, time together, she wasn’t about to let them tell her it was. She’d maintain as much pride as she could.
“Yes?”
The whiff of his aftershave drifted to her and grew stronger the closer he came. Wiley strode along with him, sandwiching her between them.
She closed her eyes for a moment and wished she could get a taste of that particular sandwich.
“I’m sorry we haven’t called since”—Wiley eased closer—”the other day.”
“Oh? I hadn’t noticed.” The lie was stupid. Especially since she could tell they knew she was lying.
“We’d like to make it up to you.”
Brody’s aroma could make a lesser woman drop to her feet in front of him and beg to taste his cock. But she was stronger than that. She was.
You are.
Riiight.
“You don’t have to. It was”—she cringed inwardly—”just one of those things.”
“I hope you never have to lie in court.”
She jerked her gaze to Brody’s. Was he hinting? Trying to get her admit to setting the fires? Or was she reading more into his words than she should? “Why do you say that?”
“Because you’re a lousy liar. It was more than that. To us and to you.”
The craving spiraled its way around her stomach, then took a nosedive to her pussy. She could feel the warmth of their bodies rippling off their hard physiques to spill against her skin.
Don’t touch them. If you do, you might not be able to stop.
She couldn’t respond. Besides, she didn’t know what to say. Instead, she’d let them lead the way.
“Like Brody said, we want to make it up to you for not calling. It’s been a busy week, but that’s no excuse.”
Was that desire she saw in Wiley’s dark eyes? Or the thrill of a conquest in the making?
“Let us make it up to you.”
She knew she shouldn’t ask, should tell them that she didn’t care, but she couldn’t resist. “And how would you do that?” She imagined her pride falling to pieces in front of her.
“We’ll find a way.”
Wiley slid his gaze down her body then back up. She started to warn him to watch what he did while at school, then decided it was better not to say anything at all.
She couldn’t decide which of their voices was sexier. Wiley’s voice was like sliding her palm over plush carpet, soft and smooth. Brody’s was like a fine wine that eased its way down the throat.
Pull yourself together.
“Miss Michelle?”
Part of her resented Nathan’s intrusion and part of her wanted to thank him. She cleared her throat and stepped out from between the two large men who could take her and wind her heart up like a spinning top. “Yes, Nathan?”
“You promised you’d help me with my math today.”
She went into her professional mode again, smoothing down her blouse and skirt as though the men had somehow mussed them with their hot looks. Not only did she need to protect her heart, she still had to keep Curt’s secret. That secret loomed like the Great Wall of China between them. “You’re right. I did.”
Facing them again was one of the hardest things she’d ever had to do. “Thank you, guys, but I’ll pass. Of course, you’re welcome here during free time to continue with the doghouse.”
She both hated and loved the looks they gave her. Like she’d told them that the sun would never shine again. “Thanks again.”
She whirled around and made her legs move. Taking Nathan’s arm, she let him steady her as she left behind the men she wanted so badly.
* * * *
Brody and Wiley had returned to the school each day that week to help the kids finish the doghouse and erect a large pen. Teaching the boys how to use the tools had given them a sense of reward and fulfillment. No matter what happened with Michelle, they intended on coming back often to volunteer.
Yet Michelle had avoided them after the first day, scurrying away every time they tried to talk to her. At first, they’d assumed that she was keeping a low profile, not wanting anyone to realize that they were more than acquaintances. Or that she was still angry that they hadn’t called. But after another couple of days, they’d started to wonder if it was more than that. Did she really want them to leave her alone?
Standing just outside the home, Brody still bristled at the idea every time he thought about how she’d acted. Why were women so hard to understand?
Brody shook his head, getting his thoughts back on the reason—besides seeing Michelle again—that they’d come. He kept the pup snuggled under a blanket. It wasn’t easy with it squirming like crazy, but getting it inside Hope House without any of the boys seeing it was important. They wanted Michelle to be the first to see it.
“Hurry up, bro.” Wiley stepped inside the hallway that, according to the sign posted on the wall, led to her office. “What are we going to do if she’s not in there? Or worse, hurries away from us again?”
“We’ll deal with that when we have to.”
They strode down the hall, their cowboy boots clacking against the tile floor and raising a ruckus that would draw attention from the surrounding offices. As luck would have it, they bumped into Elbert Linkin coming around a corner.
“Hey, guys, you’re back.”
Brody pulled the cover back. The dog poked its nose through the opening and shook its head.
“Hey, all right. You brought him.” Elbert slicked his hand along the smooth black-and-white fur. “The boys are going to crazy when they see him. It is a him, right? I wouldn’t want any puppies in our future.”
“Yeah, it’s a boy. But male dogs can be a lot to handle, too. We made the fence strong, but that doesn’t mean he won’t try digging out from under it. You should watch out for signs, like holes in the ground, that he’s started doing that.”
“Will do. I’ll let the boys know as well.” Elbert glanced toward Michelle’s office. “You know the exit to the back is in the other direction, right? Or are you headed the way you really want to go?”
