Chase smiled and nodded. “Well, count on Harper Construction when it’s time to do the work. We would be happy to donate our time.”
“Hell, yes,” Zach agreed.
“We need to make introductions. Jackson, this is our girlfriend, Cassie, and her roommate, Jillian. Cassie, Jillian, this is Jackson Parks. And I assume you know your little sister, Rebecca.”
Jackson smiled what appeared to be a million-dollar grin. “Pleased to meet you, ladies. Sure have heard a lot about you from Becca…and Ryan.”
Jackson smiled at Cassie warmly, but his warm, hazel eyes drifted to Jillian and made a lazy perusal from toes to nose and back down again. From the heat in his eyes, he sure liked what he saw.
Cassie was sure that Jillian liked what she saw, too. Jackson was tall, probably a little over six feet, and well built. His firefighter-blue T-shirt with his company logo was stretched across broad shoulders that tapered down to flat abs that a male model would have been proud of. Cassie guessed that an impressive six pack was barely hidden beneath that shirt. His hair was blond like Rebecca’s and a little shaggy, like he was overdue for a haircut. His skin was slightly tan from being outdoors a lot and covered a strong, square jaw that currently needed a shave. He was really a stunning man, Cassie thought. The third handsomest man in the room, after her two boys, of course.
Cassie smiled to herself. Jillian didn’t stand a chance.
* * * *
They enjoyed the bingo, and at the halfway break, Cassie and Jillian excused themselves for a trip to the ladies’ room while Rebecca went to help Jackson in the kitchen.
“Jackson seems really nice, Jillian. Not to mention gorgeous as hell.”
Jillian’s eyes narrowed as she looked at her best friend. “What are you trying to say, Cass?”
“Nothing, nothing. But, you could do worse. That’s all I am saying.”
“So you are saying something, then? Look, Cassie, we both know that I am not looking for any sort of relationship or anything. There is no point getting all hot and bothered over the sheriff and the hunky firefighter when nothing is ever going to happen.”
“Jillian, what happened to your parents doesn’t have to happen to you.”
“No, but what chance does a slightly chubby redhead have in making two men happy? My mother was a freakin’ goddess, and she couldn’t keep one man happy. I am not going there, Cass. Drop it.”
Cassie knew that look on Jillian’s face. She wished she could take the hurt and pain from Jillian’s childhood, but that wasn’t going to be possible. Jillian was going to have to move past it.
“First of all, you are not chubby. You have fabulous curves that men love. Secondly, I think your father’s infidelity had more to do with him than your mother. That’s all I am saying.”
Jillian tried to smile at Cassie. “You’re my best friend in the whole fucking world, Cassie. But there is no way I will live the way my mother did. No fucking way.”
Before Cassie could reply, another woman joined them in the ladies’ room and walked up to the mirror to check her makeup. Cassie couldn’t help but notice that the woman was quite beautiful. She had dark hair cut in a stylish bob, and her face was perfectly made up from her icy, blue eyes to her generous, red mouth. Her purple silk dress with matching pumps seemed a little overkill for a bingo game. Cassie looked down at her own khaki shorts and blouse. Perhaps it was she who was underdressed?
The woman refreshed her lipstick and then turned toward them for a brief moment. Cassie started to smile at the woman and introduce herself. She didn’t want to appear rude and knew that the town prided itself on being open and friendly at all times, even in a ladies’ room.
The woman’s eyes narrowed slightly as she glanced at Cassie and Jillian. Then she quickly dismissed them with a lift of her eyebrow and swept out of the restroom.
Jillian stared at Cassie with a shocked but amused look on her face. “Who the fuck was that?”
* * * *
Zach watched as Cassie and Jillian returned from the ladies’ room. Cassie looked beautiful tonight in shorts that showed off her toned, tan legs and a red blouse that just hinted at the cleavage that Zach had already become quite fond of. Her long, blonde hair was loose around her shoulders, and her eyes were sparkling as she looked back at him. He couldn’t believe how lucky he and Chase were. Cassie was the fulfillment of all their hopes and dreams, and she was theirs. The ache in his soul was gone. She had replaced it with her warmth and passion. He could only hope he healed her, too.
He threw his arm around her shoulders as Chase put his arm around her waist. They couldn’t seem to get enough of being close to her.
“Well, now that’s someone I didn’t expect to see tonight.”
Zach turned at Jackson’s words and stared at the woman he had hoped to never see again.
Fuck. Shit. Amelia.
Zach looked at Chase, and Chase seemed to be as shocked as he was. The last time they had seen Amelia was five years ago. Zach had been home between tours in Afghanistan, and Amelia had told him and Chase that she was going to marry some attorney in Dallas. She wanted more from life than he and Chase could give her. She needed a man to take care of her, and the two of them hadn’t been doing the job. She had been brutally honest with them. She loved fucking them, but she needed more than a good lay.
As he stared at her, he wondered what he and Chase had ever seen in her in the first place. She had always been beautiful, and he hated to think that he and Chase had been so shallow that looks were all that mattered. Amelia had never been warm, loving, and full of laughter like Cassie. Amelia had been, well, fun to fuck. She had an insatiable sexual appetite. He and Chase had been mesmerized by her sexual power, but the appeal had quickly faded. The fact was Amelia was difficult to be around and incredibly spoiled. She had sulked and pouted through most of their relationship to get whatever she wanted. Zach wondered if anything had changed. The years appeared to have hardened her a little, and she seemed cold and aloof despite the wide smile she gave them as she crossed the room toward them.
“Zach! Chase! Darlings!”
Zach watched as Amelia made a beeline for them and proceeded to throw her arms around each of them and give them a wet, hard kiss, edging Cassie out of their arms.
“Darlings! I was hoping to see you tonight. Are you surprised to see me?”
Amelia rubbed Zach’s chest with her open palm, giving him a smile he remembered. The smile that said, “I want you to fuck me and fuck me hard.” Zach cleared his throat and removed Amelia’s hand from his chest. Not in this fucking lifetime. Zach looked at Chase and saw that his eyes held the same disgust.
“Amelia, how nice to see you. Yes, we are definitely surprised. I want you to meet our girlfriend, Cassie Ames. Cassie, this is Amelia Winters Thompson. She used to live in Plenty several years ago.” Zach drew Cassie into his arms, and Chase moved to the other side of Cassie. Zach wanted to make sure Amelia got the picture really clear. They were with Cassie now, and neither of them would do anything to endanger that relationship. Cassie was the future. Amelia was the past and the distant past at that. He could only hope that Amelia wasn’t up to her old tricks. The self-absorbed she-devil could simply not be trusted.
* * * *
Cassie looked at the woman whom she had seen in the restroom and had been dismissed summarily by. Amelia wasn’t looking at her any friendlier now. In fact, she was looking at Cassie as if she were a piece of lint. Something to be flicked away and never thought about again. Too bad Cassie wasn’t going anywhere. Cassie remembered what Rebecca had told her about Amelia, and she wasn’t going to let this nasty woman get the best of her.
“It’s so nice to meet you, Amelia. Are you here for a visit?” Cassie slid her arms around both her boys and smiled up at them. Take that, bitch.
Amelia gave her a cold smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Not a visit. I am planning to move back to Plenty. There are just some things you can’t get in the big city.” Amelia gave a
look to Cassie, leaving her in no doubt what those things she couldn’t get were—Zach and Chase. “I am sure Zach and Chase told you all about how we dated several years ago. My, what fun we had, didn’t we, darlings? These two were pretty wild in their younger days.”
“No, I am afraid they never mentioned you. How many years ago did you say it was?” Cassie arched her eyebrows at Amelia and ran her hand up and down Zach’s back. She could feel the way he had stiffened since Amelia had come into the room. Cassie guessed that Zach didn’t remember all that fun as clearly as Amelia did.
Zach answered for Amelia. “It was a lifetime ago, Cassie. Ancient history. I am too busy thinking about our future to think about the past.” And then Zach gave that killer smile with those God-given dimples. Chase leaned over and kissed the back of Cassie’s neck and grinned.
“Damn straight, sweetheart. I can only think about our future.”
Cassie smiled gratefully at her men. She got their message, and she appreciated that they weren’t afraid to make it clear in front of Amelia and their friends. They were good men.
“Well, it was lovely to see you, darlings. Let’s get together soon and catch up and talk about old times.” Amelia leaned forward and ran her hand along Chase’s shoulder suggestively before turning and walking back to a group of people near the door.
Jillian, as usual, was the first to speak and break the tension. “Wow! That woman is just exhausting to be around and, might I say, downright unpleasant!”
Cassie couldn’t help but erupt in laughter. Jillian always managed to size up a person for who they were right away. She really had a gift.
Jackson laughed, too. “Yep, that’s Amelia—exhausting and unpleasant. That pretty much sums her up. Although, you could add cold, calculating, spoiled, and well, maybe Zach and Chase would like to add an adjective or two.”
“I could add a few adjectives.”
Cassie turned in surprise as an attractive, dark-haired woman walked up and gave Zach and Chase big hugs.
Jackson laughed. “I’m sure you could, Mrs. Harper.”
Zach and Chase’s mother.
She could see the family resemblance, although, Chase seemed to favor her the most.
“Hey, Mom. We didn’t see you earlier. Where are Dad and Pops?” Zach kissed his mother’s cheek.
“In the buffet line, of course. We just got here. Peter had business in Tampa, so that’s where we spent the day.”
Chase leaned down and kissed his mother. “Glad you made it tonight. We want to introduce you to Cassie. Mom, this is Cassie Ames. Cassie, this is our mother, Nancy Harper.”
Nancy Harper’s eyes were the soft-blue of Zach’s. She gave Cassie a big smile that lit up her already beautiful face.
“I’m so glad to meet you! These boys have been going on and on about you. Cassie this, and Cassie that. I hope they are being good boys and treating you right. If not, you just let me know.”
Zach and Chase groaned.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Harper. They are treating me just fine. You obviously raised them right.”
Nancy beamed at the praise before turning to Jackson. “Now, Jackson, aren’t you going to introduce me to your new girlfriend. She’s a pretty one.”
Jillian’s face turned a fiery red.
“Of course I will, Mrs. Harper. This is Cassie’s best friend, Jillian Miller.” Jackson had a smug look on his face.
Jillian offered her hand. “I’m afraid there’s been a little misunderstanding. I’m not Jackson’s girlfriend. But it is very nice to meet you, ma’am.”
Nancy looked thoughtful as she shook hands with Jillian. “Are you sure, dear? Not that it’s any of my business, of course. Chase, were you talking to Amelia? That woman is trouble.”
Chase shook his head. “Hell no. I wouldn’t waste my breath on her. She came up to us. I think I speak for my brother when I say that I am none too proud of ever having had a relationship with her.”
“Amen, bro.”
“Well, listen to your mother when I tell you to stay far away from her. I heard she is getting a divorce from that poor husband of hers. I’m guessing she’s here to troll for a new one, or two, in your case. It will be over my dead body that she marries you two.”
* * * *
Chase looked closely at Cassie to gauge her feelings about the encounter. Was she upset? He and Zach hadn’t kept their relationship with Amelia a secret on purpose. They just honestly didn’t think about her anymore. She had been a mistake they had made many years ago, a mistake that they didn’t intend to repeat, no matter how much Amelia rubbed against them and gave them fuck-me looks. Amelia seemed so cold compared to Cassie that they would have to be crazy to ever get involved with her again. And he and Zach were not crazy.
He hadn’t seen Zach this content since before he went to the Middle East. Cassie’s gentle presence seemed to soothe Zach in a way that no one had been able to. Chase wanted to heal Cassie in return. She had demons from her past, and he was more than ready to chase them away. First, he needed to make sure Amelia hadn’t chased her away. He needed to get her home and away from the poison effect of Amelia.
He remembered his mama saying that it was never a good idea to piss off a woman, whether it was intentional or not. His dads used to pretty much say the same thing. “Just apologize, son, whether you are wrong or not. Being together is more important than who was right or who was wrong. Your pride will be cold comfort when you are sleeping on the couch.”
And damned if Chase wanted to sleep on the couch with Zach.
* * * *
The ride home in the truck was quiet. Finally, Cassie decided to break the silence. “Did you love her? It’s okay if you did. It was a long time ago, after all.”
Zach looked sideways at Chase. Chase was the first to answer.
“No, and hell no, sweetheart. We were not in love with Amelia. We will admit to being in lust with Amelia. But love, no. She used us, and we were young and dumb and let her. I don’t even want to compare what we feel for you in the same breath. It doesn’t do our feelings justice. We didn’t feel a fraction for her that we do for you. Please don’t give her another thought.”
Chase’s eyes pleaded with her to see his sincerity. “For real? She’s very beautiful. Sometimes I wonder if I can make two men happy.” She took a deep breath, and her blue eyes went round as they darted back and forth between the two most gorgeous men she had ever laid eyes on.
“Hell yes, you make us happy. We’ve never been happier.” This time is was Zach who answered. He looked at her with his heart in his intense, blue eyes. “We adore you, and we would do anything for you. We know it is fast. But we want you to know how we feel, Cassie.” Zach pulled into the drive, put the truck in park, and moved closer.
“Well, gosh, boys, I feel the same way. I’ve just been worried about a relationship with two men. How can one woman satisfy two men?”
Zach gave her a slow grin. “I don’t know about Chase, but I feel mighty satisfied. What about you, Chase?”
“Hell, yes, I’m satisfied. I’ve never been this satisfied. This girl’s downright wearing me out, in fact.”
Cassie launched herself at Zach and then Chase. She hadn’t been this happy in, well, maybe forever. She was finally putting the past behind her.
Chase hugged her from behind, kissing that sensitive spot on her neck that made her eyes roll back in her head.
“Whatdya say, Zach? We take this girl inside and show her how we feel?”
“Good idea, Chase. She has been such a good girl tonight. Perhaps we need to reward her.”
Cassie couldn’t help but shiver at the thought of what her reward might be.
Chapter 9
Cassie snuggled closer to Zach as he carried her through the house and out the patio doors. He was always carrying her somewhere. “Where are we going? I thought I was going to get a reward.”
Cassie pouted a little as she gazed into Zach’s handsome face. She leaned up and traced a
dimple with her tongue feeling him shudder a little and smiled. Being with her boys always made her feel sexy and powerful. She loved how they responded to her touch as much as she loved how she responded to them.
“You are getting a reward. You’ll love this.”
Zach set her feet down by the hot tub that could probably seat six comfortably. Steam rose from the surface of the swirling water, and it overflowed into the swimming pool in a sparkling waterfall effect.
“Strip.”
Cassie’s eyes flew to Zach’s. “What did you say?”
“I said strip, angel. Your reward can’t start until you are buck naked. So get out of those clothes. Now.” Cassie heard the steel in Zach’s voice, and as always, her body responded to it by gushing honey from her pussy.
Traitor, she thought.
Her body was a traitor, but she couldn’t deny that she loved it. His dominance never ceased to arouse her, and she knew that he would never hurt her. He used it to bring her pleasure only. Zach demanded her arousal, and damned if she could stop herself. She had put up a token resistance to playing the submissive, but her body had overruled her at every turn.
Chase, on the other hand, only played at dominating her. He liked to tease and seduce her responses, playing with her body until she begged him to finish her.
She unbuttoned her blouse and handed it to Zach. Her shorts and socks were next along with her shoes. She stood before him in her red, satin bra and panty set. Since she had started dating them, she had replaced all her underthings with items designed to inflame their desire. She needn’t have bothered. Her boys were hard and ready at all times.
Chase strolled onto the patio carrying a stack of towels and what looked like a small gym bag. He dropped the stack and looked her up and down with lust in his eyes.
Valentine, Laura - Plenty to Come [Plenty, FL] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 8
