“Are you heading back to work tomorrow?” Hunter asked her.
She shook her head then slowly opened her eyes and looked up toward Hunter.
“Leonard is giving you the week off?” Travis asked, and he was surprised.
“He told me to take as long as I needed. He knows how close Cynthia and I are,” she told him, and he frowned his eyes sneering at that information.
“What?” she asked, picking up on his expression. Travis didn’t care for Leonard.
“Nothing.” Travis couldn’t help the feeling of protectiveness he had over Dee. She was petite, compared to most of them around the area. She was sweet, maybe even a bit naive in the way in which she trusted easily and always seemed to see the good in people and not question them. That concerned him and his team yet also made them envious of her ability. Travis looked at Hunter, who stared out over the land, and took a sip from his beer.
“Are you planning on taking the full week?” Travis pushed. He couldn’t help but think that Leonard would use this against Dee as leverage for something. And when Travis thought of what, he got pissed off. Leonard always had an eye on Dee and always gave other men who talked to her and showed interest dirty looks. He’d told Sunny that they needed to nip that in the bud, but Sunny had a warning or two from Wyatt already about their intimidating attitudes, especially when in town.
“I don’t think so. Cynthia has Maggie and Georgia, too. I think I’ll be going back the day after tomorrow. I want to be sure to clean the house and cook up some food. This week is going to be tough for her, and I want to be here in the evenings.”
“That’s real sweet of you, Dee. You’re a good friend,” Hunter said.
“Thanks. Cynthia is like family, as are Maggie and Georgia. They’re all I have.” She then crossed her legs and let the hem of the dress rise up to mid-thigh. Her toes were even cute and all polished in that special design with the line.
“What do they call that style of nail polish? It’s really fancy,” Travis asked.
She stuck out one foot and wiggled her toes. “A French manicure.”
Hunter reached out and caressed under her calf, causing Dee to stare up at him. Travis watched Hunter caress from her calf to her foot and then hold her gaze. “It’s really classy, just like you.”
Dee’s gaze darted away from Hunter, and then she leaned back and chuckled, pulling her foot from Hunter’s hold and standing up.
“Well, I should go check on Cynthia.”
Hunter stood up also, touched her hand, and stepped closer to her. He placed his hand on her hip and held her gaze as he looked down into her eyes.
“She’s got her men watching over her.”
“Her men?” she replied, sounding shocked.
“They will be soon enough,” Travis added, and she looked at him then back to Hunter, and Travis could have sworn he saw tears in her eyes.
“That’s a news flash I hadn’t expected. Excuse me.” She climbed up the last step and headed toward the house without her shoes and looking sexier than ever.
Travis was surprised by her reaction. His first thought was that maybe she was upset and liked Perkins and his crew. His chest ached, and he got all pissed off. But then he rationalized his thoughts. He was the jealous one. He was the one who wanted Dee in their bed, belonging to them.
“We need to do something about this. I don’t trust that guy Leonard,” Hunter said to him.
“I don’t either, but we need to wait. I’m just not sure if she’s interested or not. She’s always running away from us.”
“What did you two do to scare her off?” Marino asked as he joined them by the stairs.
“It doesn’t take much,” Travis said, and Hunter agreed.
“Yeah, it seems like she’s always running from us. I wonder why.” Marino took a slug from his beer then walked back toward the others.
Travis looked at Hunter. “I’m losing my patience. I’ve never felt this antsy and on edge.”
“Me either, and especially not over a woman. Something has to give. It has to,” Hunter said, and Travis agreed as he went back up the steps and took a seat near the other men.
* * * *
It was late in the evening, and Dee had finally gotten Cynthia to fall asleep. She walked downstairs and cleaned up a little more then turned down the lights. Dee heard the laughter and then what sounded like a fight. She crept her way across the back porch and stood in the darkness of the corner to watch. Sure enough, a large group of men who had way too much to drink were getting rowdy. Some women were carrying on and vying for attention. She’d seen it many times before back home with the club. The camaraderie and family atmosphere and connection had been corrupted over the years by mixing in strays and trouble-makers. Her father was one of many leaders, and as far as she was concerned, too many chiefs meant jealousy and trouble.
The idea of forcing marital relations upon the young women of the group was so barbaric and ancient. But some of the older leaders were grasping at straws in an attempt at remaining powerful and secluded from other gangs and clubs. It was unfortunate because all the group really consisted of were individuals who had hard lives and little or no families and felt as though they couldn’t fit in. No one judged anyone or forced them to do anything illegal. In Dee’s recollection from childhood, it had been a loving, caring environment, and she’d been well taken care of.
She heard the fight escalate and stepped closer to the railing. She gripped it tight and felt her heart racing. This gang, this club, was different. It consisted mostly of retired servicemen and women and people who just wanted to do their own thing and not feel pressured to be on a soapbox. They really weren’t even a gang, this group here in Pearl. They were more like a bunch of people who cared about their fellow soldiers and supported them and their families. They all had regular jobs and spent the weekends getting together for barbecues and celebrating events as a family. It was different, but Dee still felt like an outsider.
Probably because she wasn’t free. Eventually, if Raven and Ghost tracked her down and wanted to make her theirs, even her own father might not fight for her.
She felt her eyes well up with tears, and she wiped them away then hugged herself as she leaned against the post. Life just wasn’t fair.
Chapter 2
Sunny looked over the papers on his desk. There were three fundraisers coming up in Croton then Keanter and Turbank. The first one was this upcoming weekend in Croton. There would be a barbecue, volleyball games, craft tables, and other vendors selling things and giving part of the money made back to the charity. Sunny knew the family who the event was helping. Their dad, a veteran, needed new prosthetic devices that insurance wouldn’t fully cover. They were hi-tech, but they would help the man do his job better and maintain his position. That meant money and keeping his family provided for.
Sunny opened the mail, gathering some payments that needed to be deposited into the business account for services rendered. The small construction and masonry work was steady and kept the men busy. He put aside the mail and checks with donations to the fundraising event and the charity they had organized. It helped to pay for some extra costs when the group of bikers had to travel out of Pearl or even across Texas.
His cell phone buzzed, and he glanced at it quickly. His gut clenched. Fucking Keller. What the fuck do you want? You’re not getting any more money from me.
Sunny instantly felt pissed off. Keller had been a friend from the service. He worked on the ranch and helped out with the masonry work here and there but was a fuckup. Once he’d started hitting drugs, he’d become a liability with the business and a hazard to everybody’s health, including Sunny’s. Sunny had tried to get Keller the help he needed, but the guy was a lost cause, a ticking time bomb, and now he was calling asking for money that Sunny and the team didn’t owe him.
He exhaled in annoyance. Something might have to be done to get Keller to leave him and the team alone. He might have to discuss it with Wyatt again.
“Hey, what’s going on?” Sunny asked him.
“I’m heading over to the Wilsons’ place to help with the install of the paver walkway. Hunter texted me about five minutes ago and said the Wilsons want to go ahead with the stone surrounding the pool area and cabana. They like that one type you recommended. So I called the supplier, and they need to order another pallet. They’re one short or one of us could head to Keanter where their other warehouse is to pick it up ourselves and save two hundred bucks for delivery and get it there today.”
“Why don’t you head to Keanter with the dump truck and get the material? I’ll head out to help Hunter and Travis with the walkway and to start up on the pool area.”
“Okay. Sounds good. How about lunch? I was supposed to bring something along with me on my way to the Wilsons’.”
“I’ll take care of it, Marino. Portland and Dugan are helping Hunter and Travis now too, right?” Sunny asked.
“Yeah, they’re over there.”
“Good. Let me know if you have any problems,” Sunny said.
“Hey, you okay?” Marino asked him, walking deeper into the room.
“It’s nothing.”
“Shit. Nothing, my ass. I know that look. You’re pissed off. What gives?” Marino crossed his arms.
Sunny knew that stance, that expression. He would have to tell him about Keller.
“Got another text from Keller.”
Marino uncrossed his arms and scowled. “That asshole is still bothering you for the money he didn’t earn?”
Sunny nodded. “He’s probably strung up, needs a hit, and is desperate for cash.”
“Are you going to call Wyatt? Remember what he said about those break-ins in Keanter and Croton?”
“Yeah, Marino, I remember. I’m going to call him on my way out. But I don’t know what good it will do. Keller is not rational at all. I don’t know where he’s staying or who he’s with now.”
“Last I heard from Virgo and Quaid, Keller was in Dallas. That was almost a year ago.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t think that he is in Dallas anymore. I get the feeling he’s close by.”
“We need to report him harassing you to Wyatt. That way if the dick is stupid enough to come here looking for a fight, it will be on record that he was harassing us and we were protecting ourselves.”
“I know the deal, and I’m certain Wyatt will tell me exactly what he thinks I should do.”
Marino chuckled.
“Hey, he’s one bad-ass sheriff. That’s a plus. Some towns have pussies as sheriffs. Pearl lucked out big time.”
Sunny smirked. “I’m sure Wyatt would appreciate your compliment, Marino.”
“I’ll meet you over at the Wilsons’ place.”
Sunny nodded as Marino left the room then stood up and stretched his tight muscles. He was really going to be feeling achy tonight after all this physical labor. His shoulder, where he’d sustained the bullet wound, was acting up a little more than usual. He didn’t want to start going to Dr. Jones for cortisone shots. Eventually it would lead to the inevitable, shoulder surgery or, worse, a shoulder replacement. Not at thirty-seven years old. No freaking way.
He grabbed his keys, his cell phone, and then called in a to-go order to Francine’s. He’d pick it up on the way to the Wilsons’ house.
* * * *
“This is nice, Leonard, but it really wasn’t necessary,” Dee said as they sat in Francine’s and finished up their lunch.
“I thought otherwise. I know how hard this week has been for you and helping your friend Cynthia. How is she doing today?” he asked, like he did every day.
“As good as can be expected. She has her moments, but I think when she returns to work at the Marketing company, she’ll start feeling even better and be able to move on.”
“She lives alone, right?” he asked.
She locked gazes with Leonard. He really was a nice guy. He had blond hair, thick eyelashes, and wore a pair of glasses that had thin black frames and made him look smart and not nerdy. He was in his forties and had been married once but had gotten divorced.
“She does, but the girls and I have been taking turns sleeping over at her place.”
“That’s nice. How is your place doing? Have you had the chance to finish the landscaping that you wanted to do?” he asked, obviously recalling the last conversation they had weeks ago about her plans. He had heard her talking to the nursery about the cost of plants and flowers she wanted while she was on her lunch break.
“I plan on doing that this weekend. I’m supposed to pick up the flowers and things Saturday morning.”
“If you need a truck to use, I could help you,” he suggested, and she felt her gut clench. She knew immediately that this was going in a direction she didn’t want it to go.
“I don’t think so, Leonard. We’re friends, but you’re my boss. I couldn’t ask you to help me with that.”
He leaned forward in his seat and held her gaze. He looked over her breasts, and when she went to smooth her hand down the front to make sure nothing was showing, she realized that the collar was parted slightly, enough to show off her large breasts. She cleared her throat.
“It would be my pleasure to help you. You know I think of you as more then just my personal assistant.”
She didn’t like his tone or emphasis on the words personal assistant. She was about to set him straight when she saw his eyes widen as he leaned back, and then she felt the hands on her shoulders.
“What a surprise. Lunch out today?” Sunny said.
She tilted her head back to look at him, and her heart leaped from her chest, pounding hard. She must be desperate to escape or something.
“Hi, Sunny,” she said, and he leaned down and kissed her cheek.
“Dee,” he whispered, letting his lips linger near her cheek.
He reached his hand out to Leonard.
“How are you, Leonard? What a nice boss you are, taking your personal assistant out to lunch.”
Leonard cleared his throat as he shook Sunny’s hand. Sunny was so much bigger, more masculine, and sexier than Leonard. It made Dee feel nervous.
“Yes, well, she’s a fantastic employee. In fact, we should head back to the office.” Leonard stood up and pulled his wallet from his back pocket.
“Let me pay for my lunch, Leonard,” Dee said.
Leonard shook his head. “Definitely not. My treat.”
“Then I’ll pay the next time,” she added, standing up.
He nodded and then looked at Sunny.
“I need to talk with Dee. She’ll be a few minutes longer if you don’t mind. I’ll walk her back,” Sunny said, and Dee felt sick to her stomach. She was so nervous already with Sunny this close, and now he wanted to talk to her.
Leonard looked from Sunny to Dee then back at Sunny.
“Sure. I’ll see you back at the office.”
Leonard left, and Sunny winked at her.
“I just need to pick up this lunch order for the crew.”
He walked over to the counter as she took a sip from her tea then waited for him.
She noticed people looking at Sunny and then at her. A few of them smiled and nodded as if approving, and she felt odd. Did they think she and Sunny were an item and that he’d just scared off Leonard? She wondered that as she grabbed her purse and slid her hands down her knee-length black skirt to make sure it was in place. It hugged her hips and went great with her navy blue sleeveless cotton blouse.
When Sunny returned with a box of food, she headed out with him, opening the door for him, and then they headed to his truck.
* * * *
Sunny was trying to rein in his temper at seeing Leonard with Dee. The scumbag was leaning across the table practically drooling at her chest. She looked sexy as damn hell and so classy in the business attire. No wonder Leonard
looked frazzled.
Sunny got the box into the truck and then leaned on the door as he looked at Dee.
“You look nice. I like the blouse,” he told her as his eyes swept over her breasts. She was well endowed.
“Thank you, Sunny. So what did you need to talk to me about?”
“Well, this Saturday morning, there’s a fundraiser going on in Keanter, and I may need some help for a couple of hours running a table and collecting money. I was hoping that you were available.”
She swallowed hard and then looked uncomfortable, as if she had other plans. He hoped they weren’t with Leonard.
“I was supposed to pick up some flowers and things to plant at my house this weekend. But if you need me, maybe I can get those on Sunday.”
“You’re doing the landscaping yourself?”
She nodded.
“I could help you with that.”
She shook her head. “I’ve got it.”
“If it’s not a problem to come help me out Saturday during the day, then the least I can do is repay the favor. I’ve got the truck, too, so we can maybe pick up the flowers Sunday morning and then plant them at your place.”
She stared at him as if contemplating the idea, and then she looked at the truck.
“The truck would help. I wasn’t sure I would have room in my small car and might have to take two trips.”
“See? It will work out fine. Let me walk you to work.”
“No, that’s okay. You’d better get the lunch to the guys. They’re probably starving. Just let me know the location and time for the help Saturday. Want my cell number?”
“No need. I have your number. Just be ready at eight, and I’ll pick you up.”
She nodded, and he watched her walk down the street in her heels and business attire. She was gorgeous, and it was torture not kissing her, holding her in his arms, and making a move. He just wasn’t sure if he could make the commitment she deserved. His brothers were more than ready to, despite their broken hearts and battered bodies. He, on the other hand, held back. But as he got into the truck and headed to the Wilsons’, he thought about how he’d felt seeing Dee with Leonard. It had pissed him off, and he’d been jealous and wanted to hurt the man.
Soldiers of Pearl 4: Gang of Broken Hearts (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 3
