“Stop by and talk to Mom and Dad, would ya?” Kaleb threw the question out there, although Zane knew he wasn’t asking as much as he was telling.
Nodding his head in agreement, he left.
♀♂
“How are things going with Zane?” Zoey asked as they sat at a booth in the small restaurant, sipping sweet tea and waiting for their food to be delivered.
They’d managed to finish the two houses they had for the day early and decided to sneak over for dinner together. V had been surprised when Zoey asked her to join her because usually these visits included Kaleb these days. She was grateful for a chance to talk to her best friend alone for a little while. Although she wasn’t all that fond of the topic Zoey had selected.
“Fine,” she replied briefly. Actually, things couldn’t be better. They were acting like a regular couple, hanging out at his place and watching television, or cooking dinner, or sitting on the back deck and watching the creek slowly trickle by. It was almost too normal for V, but she didn’t complain. Not to Zane and certainly not to Zoey.
“Is it true Beau Bennett stopped by your house the other night?” Zoey whispered the question, but she might as well have yelled as far as V was concerned. Her head jerked up, her eyes meeting her friends and a knowing look passed between them.
Shit. How was she supposed to answer that without lying to her friend or giving anything away? It was a catch twenty two. Zoey knew something was going on, and if she knew Zane and Beau the way V did, she knew damn well what that was.
“Don’t lie to me, Vanessa Carmichael,” Zoey said firmly. When she used V’s full name, it was clear she wanted answers. Only V didn’t know what answers to give her. She wanted to talk to someone about what happened between the three of them, but she didn’t know how to approach the subject. Now was her turn to spill the beans, but for some reason, she couldn’t find the words.
“Are the three of you...?” Zoey didn’t finish the sentence. She didn’t have to. There was only one question that was on her friend's mind, and V knew she had to tell her. She couldn’t lie to Zoey.
“Yes,” she whispered back, glancing around to make sure no one else was around.
Thankfully, it was still early in the afternoon, and the restaurant wasn’t crammed with people, but V was still worried someone would overhear. Especially someone like their waitress Rachel Talbott. If she got wind of what Zoey was asking about, it would be all over for V. She’d be labeled more like her mother than ever.
“Are you all right with that?”
V looked deep into Zoey’s eyes, trying to figure out just what she was getting at.
“I don’t mean it like that,” Zoey added, looking both worried and a little inquisitive. “I just want to make sure you’re not being pressured.”
Hmmm. That was an interesting question coming from Zoey. V had never thought about being pressured by Zane to do what they were doing with Beau. Not the first time and definitely, not the times after. The three of them were enjoying themselves, and although V still wasn’t sure how she felt about the idea of threesomes, especially after what happened the last time the three of them were together, she couldn’t deny the magnitude of having two men all to herself from time to time.
“I’m not being pressured.” V smiled at Zoey, hoping she could see the truth in the statement.
Of all the people she had ever met, aside from Zoey, V trusted Zane more than anyone. He wouldn’t hurt her. He’d never let anyone else hurt her either. It wasn’t an easy thing for her to trust him, but she did. More than she was willing to tell him, although she got the impression he knew just how much she did trust him.
That simple statement had Zoey’s eyebrow arching in curiosity, and V knew she was in for it now. There was no going back now that she’d hinted about her brief interlude to her best friend. She just hoped they wouldn’t be having this conversation here.
“If you even think you’re getting away with not telling me the details, you’re crazy.” Zoey’s smirk beamed brightly back at V, and she couldn’t help but laugh.
Yes, she was going to have to share the details, but there was that whole you give/I give thing they had going and Zoey had yet to give her anything scandalous about her little rendezvous with Kaleb and Gage. “Right. Just as soon as you tell me what it’s like to be the filling in your little man sandwich.”
“Oh, honey, it’s beyond incredible.”
So, it would appear Zoey wasn’t going to hold back.
“So, I’m guessing y’all had a little welcome home party for Gage?”
“We did. And it was incredible. Let’s just say it included a couple of beers and Kaleb’s hot tub. Now your turn. Tell me about the first time.”
V felt her face heat, knew she was probably turning beet red, but she couldn’t help it. Remembering the first time she and Zane and Beau had gotten together still did that to her.
“It was about a week before Zane’s attack. The night you and Kaleb went home early from Moonshiners. Remember that?” Not that Zoey would remember it because, in recent months, there’d been plenty of times they’d snuck out early.
“Where’d y’all go? Your house? Or Zane’s?”
“Mine. They rode to the bar together, so they followed me back to my house.”
“Was it planned? I mean, did you know it was going to happen before you left?”
“No. Ok, yes.” V smiled. She hadn’t known for sure, but she had an idea. Her attraction to Zane was no less intense then than it was now. He’d manage to rile her up for a couple of hours while they’d sat at a booth, talking and drinking.
“So, is it really just about Beau joining in with the two of you? Or do you have feelings for Beau too?”
Zoey’s question caught V off guard.
“I care about Beau. But only as a friend. I’m attracted to him, sure. What woman isn’t?”
It was true; Beau Bennett was handsome as hell. First of all, he was a giant of a man. Blonde hair. Smoldering brown eyes. He’d been the football team’s star athlete in high school and had more than his fair share of women fawning over him. Not that Beau knew what to do with that attention because aside from being irresistibly attractive, he was also almost painfully shy. Well, except around her and Zane as it would appear. The thought made V’s face heat even more.
“Tell me,” Zoey remarked, obviously noticing where V’s thoughts had strayed.
“Let’s just say, Beau’s a big man.”
Zoey’s grin widened, and her eyes sparkled. “So, no complaints? One of those things where they walk into the room and your clothes just fall off, huh?”
V laughed because that was almost true. Her clothes had a mind of their own at least where Zane was concerned. “Sounds like you’ve got a little experience with that problem?”
“I’d say so. Since Gage has been back, I’m not sure I’ve kept my clothes on for more than a couple of hours at a time when Kaleb is around.”
They were quiet for a moment while Rachel brought out their food. V wondered whether they should check their meals for tampering after the glare Rachel shot their way just before she stomped off. She wasn’t sure what had crawled up the waitress’ butt, but she didn’t appear to be thrilled that Zoey and V were there.
“How are things with you and Zane?”
The seriousness to Zoey’s tone told V she’d moved on from the sex part. V frowned as she began picking at the chicken strips on her plate.
“Talk to me, V. I know you. I know where your head is.”
Well, it was good that someone did because V sure didn’t. She’d started to overthink a few times in the last couple of days, but each and every time she saw Zane, he managed to reel her back in with his adorable, crooked smile and his country boy charm.
“I don’t even know where to go with that,” V said honestly.
“Do you love him?”
Oh, God. It was way too early to be thinking about love. Wasn’t it? Sure, they had some fervent sex, but V was trying
like hell not to think about what might happen next. Couldn’t they just be happy with the way things were? Was she supposed to be thinking about more?
“Ok, don’t answer that,” Zoey stated adamantly. “Just promise me one thing.”
V glanced up at her friend, wondering whether it was possible to promise anything at this point.
“Promise me that you won’t make any crazy decisions, one way or another, until later. Much later. Just enjoy Zane for a while. God knows you both deserve some happiness, and there’s nothing to say that anything else has to come of this. Not today, not tomorrow. Can you promise me that?”
V smiled, but she knew Zoey would see right through her. “I’ll try.”
“Ok, good. Now, tell me about what it’s like to be sandwiched between two hot, hunky men. I mean, tell me something I don’t already know.”
V laughed, and for once, she was grateful for the change in topic.
Chapter Twenty Eight
♂♀
“Seriously? Kaleb finally agreed to Vegas?” Zane wasn’t sure he believed his brothers, but for once the twins didn’t look like they were trying to pull one over on him.
“Yep. And the good news is, we’ll be going before Christmas.”
Holy shit. Christmas was only two weeks away. How the hell did they manage that one? “When?”
“Thursday.” Braydon smiled that mischievous smile that generally got all of them concerned.
“Like a week from yesterday?” That barely gave them enough time to get a flight.
“Yep. The rooms are all booked. We’ve talked to V, and she’s handled everything on her end for the girl’s. Gage is still in town, Travis said he’d be back by then, and we’ve got a handful of others going as well.”
“Like who?” Zane knew they wouldn’t even attempt it if all seven of them wouldn’t be there, but he wondered who else they’d invited.
“Greyson, Beau, Blake, Aaron, Jaxson, CJ.” Brendon glanced back at Braydon as though trying to make sure he hadn’t left anyone out. “We tried to convince Kennedy to go, but she just laughed at us. Don’t tell Sawyer.”
Zane grinned. Leave it to the twins to try and convince the girl Sawyer was pretending not to be interested in, to go to Vegas for a bachelor/bachelorette party. Greyson Cutler was Sawyer’s best friend, but Zane hadn’t seen him in a while. Zane didn’t know Blake Henley, but thanks to Kaleb, he’d learned he was helping Ethan out at the shop since Zane hadn’t been back. Aaron Haines was another friend of Zane’s, although he was also good friends with Brendon and Braydon. Chase Jameson, who went by CJ, and Jaxson Briggs were both cousins.
“So, who’s left? Who’s going with Zoey, besides V?” Zane didn’t know any of Zoey’s friends. Come to think of it, he didn’t know any of V’s either, aside from anyone they ran with together.
“We’re still waiting on a couple of other people to confirm. I have no idea who V invited. She said she was going to talk to Zoey.”
Well, as long as V was going to be there, Zane really didn’t care who else they invited. He figured the guys that were going were likely going to bring some women along, and ever since the twins informed him that they were doing a combined bachelor/bachelorette party, Zane was almost anxious to see how it would play out.
Seriously, how does that work? Are there going to be strippers? Did he have to watch some dude strip before he watched some chick? Or after? Hell, with the twins in charge, there’s no telling what they were in for when they got to Vegas.
“Have you seen Ethan?” Zane asked when the twins settled down after whooping and hollering one more time about Vegas. Zane had no idea what all the fuss was about. He’d never been to Vegas, nor did he really have a desire to go. Since this was for Kaleb, he was all for it, but as far as he was concerned, they could have the bachelor party at Moonshiners.
“He’s at the shop,” Brendon offered.
With that, Zane made a beeline out the door. He needed to talk to Ethan, and he needed to do it soon. For some reason, Zane was under the impression his brother was avoiding him.
Five minutes later, he pulled his Jeep up next to the mechanic shop located not far from the Walker Demolition construction office right on his parents’ property. Ethan’s truck was parked out front which was a good sign. Grabbing his black Stetson, Zane took a deep breath and ventured inside.
It didn’t take long to find Ethan, who was up underneath one of the large tractors behind the shop. They only worked on vehicles inside which meant most of the large equipment was stored behind the shop and was also where Ethan spent most of his time.
Zane cleared his throat, hoping to get Ethan’s attention. It worked. His brother slowly rolled out from under the tractor, peered up at him before rolling right back under. Ok, so apparently this wasn’t going to go as well as he hoped.
“Hey,” Zane called out. “Get your ass out here and talk to me.”
“Fuck you,” Ethan remarked without much heat, but he didn’t move either. “I’ve got work to do in case you haven’t noticed. Oh, wait. You haven’t noticed.”
“Get your ass out here, or I’ll join you underneath there, and you know how that’ll turn out,” Zane barked.
Because Zane and Ethan worked so closely together, they had a tolerably strained relationship. Before the attack, the two of them had spent most of their days together, and they managed to get on each other’s nerves more times than not.
Ethan rolled back out, grabbed one of the grease rags from beside him and proceeded to stare up at Zane while wiping his hands. “Five minutes, bro. That’s all you get.”
“Five minutes won’t work. Get your fucking ass out from under there,” Zane demanded before turning to go back inside the shop.
This was Texas, and the weather was generally mild, but sometime overnight they’d had a cold front blow in, which dropped the temps into the thirties. Call him a pussy or whatever, but Zane wasn’t looking to freeze his ass off. He’d had to run back in his house and grab his Carhartt jacket this morning as it was. It didn’t offer much protection from the wind whipping around him.
Once inside, Zane headed right to the small area that they’d commandeered as their office. It wasn’t a large room, but they managed to make good use of the space. More importantly, it had heat. Or it would as soon as the damn heater kicked on. Zane screwed with the thermostat on the wall until finally the heater rumbled to life.
The smell was horrendous. Being spoiled to Texas weather, they didn’t have to use the heater that much, and every time they did, Zane hated the smell that was emitted while the dust burned off.
While he waited for Ethan, Zane flipped on the coffee pot, knowing damn well his brother was always in a foul mood without his coffee. He was as bad as the others when it came to his caffeine fix. Zane seemed to be the only one who avoided the stuff.
“What the hell do you want?” Ethan growled when he came into the office a few minutes later. “I’ve got work to do, in case you haven’t noticed.”
“Where’s Blake?” Zane asked, remembering what Kaleb said about the man who was supposedly helping Ethan in Zane’s absence.
“Fuck if I know.”
The words out of Ethan’s mouth did not match the confusion on his brother’s face. It was true, Ethan didn’t smile a lot, but for the most part, he didn’t say much either. Especially not a litany of curse words in so few sentences. Zane understood Ethan’s anger, knew he wasn’t happy about the fact that he didn’t plan to come back and work at the shop, but he also felt they needed to discuss it.
“Is he hired on permanently?” Zane dropped into the chair that he previously claimed as his own. Propping his boots up on the edge of the desk, he stared back at Ethan.
“No.”
Ethan didn’t elaborate, but he did pull out the other chair and slid down into it. Zane stared at his brother across Ethan’s immaculately kept desk. Glancing back at his own, he wanted to laugh. Yeah, they were worlds apart in so many ways and looking at it now, Za
ne found it a little amusing that Ethan would be so mad about him not coming back. At home, Zane kept everything in its place. At work... Not so much. Although, that was going to change with the new club because he wasn’t going to have much of a choice.
“Kaleb told me he’s been helping out.”
“He has.” Ethan glanced over at the coffee pot, just realizing it was finished brewing. Between the smell of the heater and the stench of the coffee, Zane wasn’t sure which was more unappealing. Obviously Ethan didn’t think it was the coffee because he bolted up out of his chair and reached for the pot and a Styrofoam cup.
“Does he want to work full time?” Zane questioned his brother, watching him as he added sugar to the black liquid.
Ethan turned to face him then, his face void of any and all emotion. “Are you not coming back? Is that what you’re finally telling me?”
Zane stared into the same smoke blue eyes that he saw when he looked into the mirror. All of his brothers had the same color eyes, the same color hair, and almost the same build. Ethan looked more like their father than any of them with his chiseled features.
“I want to do something else,” Zane finally said, looking down at his hands resting on his propped up legs. “It’s time for me to do something else.” Zane wasn’t sure Ethan was going to understand his reasoning, but he wasn’t sure he understood his own reasoning. He just knew that he was ready to move forward and not go back.
“Why?”
“Don’t get me wrong,” Zane began, looking up at Ethan again. “It’s not that I didn’t love what I did. I just think it’s time for me to move on.”
“Is this because of the attack?” Ethan questioned, and his tone simmered somewhat.
Was it? Did the attack change him? Maybe. But Zane wasn’t sure that was all it was.
“I don’t know.” That was the honest answer. “I spent some time looking into the resort while I was in the hospital and I got excited.” For the first time in a long time, in fact. “Hell, you met the McCoy’s. Aren’t you just a little curious as to what AI is going to be about?”
Zane (Alluring Indulgence) Page 26
