by Lori King
The main reason she was running late this afternoon was because of his efforts to drag her back into his miserable life. This time he claimed to have a lead on a job with Oscar De La Renta, and once he was settled there he would bring her on as well. She knew it was all smoke and mirrors, because she had tolerated nearly a full year of it before she cut him loose. Now if only she could actually cut him loose. He seemed to cling to her like a wisteria vine on an abandoned Southern plantation. Tristan was from true blue blood stock, and it showed in his temperament and personality. He was as fake as they came, and she was tired of it.
Gaby spotted Gladys Humphries seated at a table in the middle of the room. Gladys was the Sunset Point busybody, and she was also one of the most generous people that Gaby had ever encountered. She gave her time and energy to several worthy charities, and even though her personality was sometimes overpowering, she always had good intentions.
“Gabriella! It’s so good to see you! Don’t you just look fabulous!” The scent of peppermint enveloped Gaby as she embraced the older woman. Gladys was a regal-looking woman with gray-and-white hair that was always styled in a tight chignon atop her head. She carried herself as though she were an empress, but when she smiled she just looked like the grandma that Gaby had always wanted.
“Thank you, Gladys! You look lovely as always.”
“Bless you, my dear. Today has been trying, so I’m sure I look a fright. Please sit down so that we can discuss the charity auction I’m planning for the end of the month. I believe that having you in the auction would significantly increase our earnings, and as you know my dear this is for a very worthy cause. We’re supporting our young citizens in their plight for a higher education on the mainland.”
Before Gaby could respond, they were interrupted by Quinn spotting them.
“Gabbers! I didn’t realize you were coming in tonight. Zeke and Mason will be disappointed that they missed you. Sebastian just headed home with them a few minutes ago. Hi, Gladys, how are you this evening?” While Gladys and Quinn caught up with their greetings, Gaby admired her friend. Quinn was the closest thing to a sibling that Gaby had, and she loved her more every day. Watching her small form sway as she rubbed her protruding baby belly, Gaby felt a wave of envy swallow her. Quinn was so blessed to have her three men and her two beautiful boys. It seemed unfair that Gaby was still as alone as she was on Quinn’s wedding day ten years ago.
“Darlin’, you are supposed to be off of your feet. This is definitely not off of your feet. Hello, Gaby, Gladys.” The words cut off Gladys and Quinn’s chat, as Quinn’s husband Emmanuel appeared at her side.
Emmanuel Valdez was enormous compared to the petite Quinn. He fit perfectly into that “tall, dark, and handsome” category that romance novels liked to use. A replica in looks only of his two older brothers, Sebastian and Rolando, Emmanuel was the most sensitive of the trio.
“I’m fine, honey, I promise. I just wanted to say hello to Gabbers. He’s right, but I hate it.” She gave Gaby a grin, her chocolate-brown eyes flashing with amusement.
“How many days left, Q?” Gaby reached her hand out to run it over her best friend’s bulging tummy, giggling when the little being inside gave her a firm kick.
“Nine. And if I survive it, remind me of these moments and encourage me and my brothers to get vasectomies,” Emmanuel answered with a laugh.
Quinn smacked her husband on the chest and glared up at him, “Hey! What are you saying?”
“Nothing, darlin’. Just sharing with the ladies that we’ve decided our family is large enough.” He winked at Gaby, who shook her head and rolled her eyes.
“I never said I was done having babies, buster! You three better not go getting things snipped and clipped without talking to me first!” Quinn’s cheeks flushed, and her hands rested where her hips should have been if it weren’t for the pregnancy.
“We know that, Quinn, and we love every baby you give us. We just don’t think that we should have a dozen of them. I’m sorry if I spoke out of turn. We would never do anything like that without talking to you. Now, I think we’d better discuss this in private and let the ladies have their dinner.” With a quick good-bye, Emmanuel led a sputtering Quinn out of the dining room and into the kitchen.
Gladys immediately drew Gaby’s attention back to her. “So, my dear, can I count on your support for the auction? It’s good to have locals involved in giving back to their community, you know? I will put you down on my list to participate, and we’ll go over the details when we get closer. Have you seen your father lately? I left him a message yesterday, but he’s a hard man to connect with.”
Gladys was cut off by the waitress taking their orders, and before she could resume her monologue, Gaby stopped her in her tracks. “Gladys, I would be happy to donate to the event, but I’m not going to be on the auction block. Instead I will donate a shopping spree, with the winner’s choice of five new outfits, complete with shoes, and lingerie. How does that sound?”
She watched as Gladys took in what she said and chewed on her lip for a moment. She could practically see the older woman’s brain working up the value of the offer, and she wanted to roll her eyes. She knew that Gladys was only trying to collect as much as possible for her cause, and it was an admirable endeavor, but Gaby would really like to have people invite her to dinner for conversation that didn’t include what she could do for them. Why did everything come down to money? All anyone ever wanted her for was her father’s money. Everyone except Quinn, that was. In all the years they had known each other, Quinn had never brought up the discrepancy in their families’ monetary position.
Gaby was the daughter of William Larkin, former oil magnate, budding corporate tycoon, and current pain in her ass. William didn’t agree with Gaby’s decision to go into fashion design instead of business, but he found it preferable to her first request to study martial arts and become a grade school P. E. teacher. When she graduated and took a job in a small designer’s boutique, he expressed his disappointment that she wasn’t using the education she had obtained to its fullest. Her most recent venture as a boutique owner had nearly sent him into an apocalyptic meltdown.
Her mother, Mariella Larkin, Mari as everyone called her, was an heiress in her own right. She married William because he was her equal financially and not for any particular emotional connection. Mari was her mother, but she had never really seemed like a mother to her. Stacked up against Quinn’s mother, Lupe, there was no comparison.
Lupe had passed away several years previous, and when she died, Gaby and Quinn both felt the loss deeply. Gaby had mostly been raised in Lupe’s home because William and Mari were traveling. Separately of course, because they had had no real marriage while Gaby was growing up. When they divorced, Gaby actually sighed with relief, but watching William sift through plastic bimbos, whose only use was as arm candy, had jaded her opinion of love.
Between fighting off the bozos that wanted her money, and the ones that just wanted to use her as a fuck toy, Gaby really had no hope of finding a decent man to spend her life with. Instead she immersed herself in her store. Designing and creating fashionable clothing and lingerie was her passion, and she figured she would be buried with her sewing shears in one hand and her drafting pencil in the other when she died.
Gladys interrupted Gaby’s musings by clearing her throat loudly. “Well, I believe that would be a wonderful donation that many ladies will find intriguing. I will add you to the lineup, darling. Now, tell me what your father has been up to recently?”
“I have no idea how Daddy is right now. He wasn’t very happy with me when I came back to Sunset Point,” Gaby said with a shrug of her shoulders as the waiter dropped off their dinner.
“Well of course you came back to Sunset Point! Who would want to live on the mainland forever, when you can live in our little island paradise. I would certainly think that your father can appreciate your success as a businesswoman. I was tending my flowers the other day, and I noticed that yo
ur shop parking always seems to be very full.”
“Oh? I guess I didn’t realize that you could see the shop from your house!”
“Just enough to know that you’ve got quite the enterprise on your hands! Have you looked into franchising, or possibly expanding your production? I think Rebecca Garrison sews. Perhaps she could do some extra work for you on the side to help you with your inventory? Have you met Esmie? Reid Sullivan’s housekeeper, let me tell you, she is an amazing seamstress, though I think she keeps fairly busy. Well, I just wonder—”
A loud group of people entered the restaurant, cutting Gladys off and stealing the attention of most of the diners in the room. Gaby turned to see most of the SPPD enter the room with Lieutenant Jackson Stone in the lead. Walking just to his side were several of the most gorgeous men she had ever laid eyes on. That was saying something, because Jackson was a damn fine-looking man! Of course, she had grown up idolizing him, and she could remember a time when that delicious hunk of man meat broke her eleven-year-old heart by signing up for the Army and leaving the island. Nowadays she felt nothing but the sisterly affection for him that she did for most of the men on the island, but that didn’t stop her from admiring his muscular body if she happened to be lucky enough to catch him running on the beach in the early morning hours.
Her eyes scanned the three newcomers, locking on a pair of grayish-blue eyes. She felt like all of the wind was knocked out of her. The stranger’s eyebrow quirked up arrogantly, and his square jaw clenched, showing just a hint of a dimple in his chin when he gave her a small smile. There was arousal in his gaze, and a clear challenge as he seemed to be caught in the same snare she was. Bannock Garrison was behind the stranger, and he pushed him along toward their table, breaking the sexy connection between the two of them.
Her body responded to him almost instantly, and she sipped at her ice water trying to temper her boiling blood as she watched him take a seat with the other officers in the far corner. He gestured toward her, drawing the attention of the other two new men. Gaby’s heart stopped when she forced her gaze to the other two men. Gray Eyes was similar in looks to the second man, but the second guy had his brown hair in a military cut, while Gray Eyes kept his longer and stylishly spiked with gel. They were both fair skinned and well muscled if the ridges under their T-shirts were to be believed.
The third man was equally sinful in looks. He had a soft-brown skin tone that looked lush and decadent paired with his light-caramel-colored eyes. His hair was in a black buzz cut, too, and a gold earring pierced his ear, giving him a dangerous appeal. Her mouth watered as she imagined sucking on that earlobe just to see what noises she could draw out of him.
Gladys cleared her throat again, jerking Gaby out of her dirty fantasies about beckoning the three men to her side. What the hell was she thinking? She had just been lamenting the downfall of her love life and the incessant lowballing of men who wanted to use her as a sex doll, and now suddenly she was lusting after three men. Ménage was popular on the island, but she didn’t think it was her thing. Apparently her kitty needed reminding of that.
“That’s a fine looking group of police officers, isn’t it? They make me wish I was thirty years younger! Now, back to the charity auction. I think that package will add to our event nicely. Do you think you could throw in accessories to the five outfits?”
Gaby laughed. “Of course, what outfit is complete without accessories. And I’ll keep in mind your suggestions about expanding Designs By Lark. Right now I have plenty on my plate.”
“Wonderful, Gabriella darling! I apologize, but I do need to run now. I have several other stops to make this evening to make sure that we have the best event ever! The young men and women from our island should get the best education possible without leasing the rest of their lives in student loans. I just saw a piece on 60 Minutes about the rise of college graduates who aren’t even using their degrees. What sense is there in that? I tell you, this society is going to crumble if we don’t support each other to make it better.”
Gaby stood with her and brushed an air kiss past both of Gladys’s cheeks before the woman hurried on to her next victim. As much as she loved Gladys, she preferred to love her from a distance. That woman made her head spin. Turning back to the table, she swallowed the rest of her drink and before she could stop herself, she walked casually over to the corner of the room that held the objects of her attention. One way or another she had to at least be introduced.
She knew without looking at them directly that the three men’s eyes followed her every movement, and before she could second-guess her decision, she moved confidently up behind Jackson and wrapped an arm around his waist, pressing against his back just enough to startle him. “Hey baby, where you been all my life?”
Jackson stiffened against her and glanced over his shoulder. The moment he saw who it was, his lip curled up in a tight half smile. Really? The man never seemed to smile. “Gaby Larkin! You’re looking good. I suppose you would. You probably made the dress yourself. You’re making my life difficult, you know? I’m going have to schedule a couple of officers outside your shop just to guard that body from the tourists.”
She laughed at Jackson’s complaint and gave him a quick one-armed hug before greeting the other guys she knew at the table. Gray Eyes was introduced to her as Austin Curtis. The second man who looked so similar to Austin was his brother Michael, and the chocolate god was Kendrick McClure. It was their first day on the SPPD after moving to the island, and they were celebrating. Clenching her legs together, she gave them a flirty smile and was pleased to see three identical looks of desire pointed her way. Yep, even after that asshole Tristan, she still had the goods.
Austin’s brain wasn’t working correctly. The only thing that appeared to be functioning properly was his cock, which was thick and throbbing in his jeans. The woman standing before him looked like Aphrodite in the flesh. She was average height but the length of her was curvy in all the right places. Her full breasts were bound under the elastic bust of a long white dress that flowed around her like a veil, hiding that which he most desired to see. She had long, curly hair that reminded him of a calico cat it had so many colors in it. Large dark-brown eyes with thick black lashes and a pair of the plumpest most kissable lips he had ever laid eyes on. Her skin was a golden island tan color, and even her feet were sexy in a pair of strappy heels.
Lust hit him like a punch in the gut, and he fought to gain control over his tongue as he was introduced. Gabriella Larkin. The name was as beautiful as the woman. She reached over the table to hold her hand out, and he was treated to a tantalizing view of cleavage.
“Welcome to Sunset Point, gentlemen. I hope Jackson wasn’t too hard on you for your first day?” Gaby smiled, and it was like a shooting star at midnight. She was stunning.
He heard Kendrick laugh as the other men heckled him about giving as good as he got. When Gaby threw a curious look at Kendrick, he shrugged and explained that he was the new personal defense trainer.
“Trainer?” That seemed to grab her attention as her eyes lit up and her grin grew.
He saw Kendrick nod. “Yeah, martial arts is my specialty.”
“Really? I’ve always wanted to learn martial arts! Any chance you’ll be having classes for the islanders?” Her voice took on a breathy quality when she got excited, and Austin felt the blood pounding in his cock. What would she sound like when she was turned on?
“I hadn’t thought about it, but I might just do that.” Apparently Kendrick was still in control of part of his brain because he uttered the best words Austin had ever heard. “How about a trade in services? Austin, Michael, and I could use a tour of the island from someone who grew up here. I’ll teach you every move I know to take someone to the floor, if you’ll spend a day showing us around.”
She looked skeptical, and Austin watched her bite the inside of her cheek as she considered the choices. What he wouldn’t give to run his tongue inside of her mouth to soothe the sting of tha
t bite. Finally after what seemed like hours, she nodded. “Sure, but I’m going sailing tomorrow, so you will have to have the first part of your tour by boat. Meet me at the marina. Slip number ninety-eight, and wear your swim trunks, boys.”
With a wink at Kendrick, she pushed her oversized sunglasses on her face and turned back to Jackson, “I’ve gotta run now, sweetie, but you need to stop in and say hello more often.”
Jackson grunted at her and shook his head, “Yeah, right, like I’m going to visit your little ladies’ boutique just to say hello.”
“Find a lady, and then it won’t be just to say hello! Bye, guys!” With that she headed for the door.
Austin stared after her, cursing his lack of speech. Why was it when faced with his perfect woman he was struck dumb? Hazarding a glance at Michael and Kendrick, he realized that they were equally affected, and he cringed inside. It wasn’t that ménage made him uncomfortable, but how would they choose who got to pursue her, if it wasn’t something she wanted?
He and Michael had never set their sights on having a permanent ménage, and they certainly hadn’t discussed the possibility of including Kendrick yet. He thought back over the last year when Kendrick had been living with them in Apache Crossing. Never once had he seemed uncomfortable with the ménage relationships there, but he also hadn’t broached the subject as something he wanted for his life.
“LT, what’s her story?” Michael asked, grabbing Jackson’s attention, as well as the attention of all of the other officers at the table.
“Who, Gaby? Mmm…I don’t know, Curtis. I’m not sure you’re good enough for Gaby.”
