Tattoos and Cupcakes [Sunset Point] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour)

by Hennessee Andrews

  They entered and Lane realized this was the first time she’d stepped foot in the place and with good reason. Her goal was to stay out of them. The LA police station she ran into screaming a few weeks ago now seemed more like a cesspool compared to this place. Everything was clean, organized, and surprisingly quiet. A few phones rang here and there, but nothing like the constant buzz and ear-shattering shouts that was the norm in some stations in LA, especially the one she entered. At the far end of the front office, Lane saw Bannock talking with Luther and another officer she didn’t recognize. Liz motioned for her to place the boxes on a long banquet table. Lane stumbled and nearly crashed, cupcakes in hand while not watching where she was going.

  “You’re really clumsy.” Liz giggled.

  “Uh, huh.” Lane didn’t look at her. Her eyes were taking Bannock in.

  “Here. Take these two cupcakes over and offer him one.” Liz stuffed a cake in each of Lane’s hands. “Well, go. Shoo.”

  Lane began to walk in Bannock’s direction. The room seemed to fade away and all she could see was him standing there. As she neared, Bannock and the other officer stopped and looked her direction. The officer talking with Bannock gigged him in the ribs with his elbow and Bannock responded in the same manner.

  “Hi, Bannock.” Lane offered him a sweet smile. She looked down at the cakes in her hand to see what she had to offer and instantly felt her cheeks burn. “Would you like,” she paused and swallowed hard, “Sex on the Beach?” She stopped and cleared her throat. “Or Whips and Chains Excite Me?” It was then she decided to pay Liz back for the predicament she put her in. Lane knew her face must have turned three shades of red while waiting for him to reply. A smile began to curve at his lips for the first time when around her.

  “Do they?”

  Lane was rendered completely speechless as well as the officer standing next to Bannock whose mouth dropped open wide with surprise. Images of Bannock naked popped into her mind and wildly enough, a thick chain was draped over his erect cock. In his hand was a whip. Was it getting hot in there? “I–I, uh, yeah, they do. I mean, the cupcakes excite me.”

  The officer next to Bannock escaped with a grin on his face as Lane stood helplessly under Bannock’s gaze, babbling like the town fool. “You know what. Dane says you like chocolate and coconut. Why don’t you just take both of them?” She handed him the tiny cakes and scurried away with her tail tucked under her ass.

  As she hurried away, she could feel the heat of his gaze following her, heating her up from head to toes. Her fingers were tingly when she reached the table where Liz stood talking with Luther. “Seriously, Liz?” Lane couldn’t help her frustration or embarrassment. “Why couldn’t you have sent with me a lemon cream pie cake?”

  “Bannock hates lemon.” Liz replied dryly with a playful grin lighting her face.

  Lane face palmed her forehead. She knew she was inescapably beet red in the face. “I think I’ll go crawl under that far table over there.”

  * * * *

  The work day was finally over and for once lately, Bannock enjoyed it. Of course, it was at Reece’s expense. He still couldn’t get over how she blushed, and hated to admit it, but could now see why Dane was attracted to her. He felt like an ass being privy to information she was unaware of. What had happened to her and more importantly, how was she coping?

  A new mystery lay in wait. It wasn’t enough for Bannock to know that Reece wasn’t a criminal. He wanted to know more. Why couldn’t he leave it alone?

  When Bannock pulled into his drive, he wasn’t as worried about Reece as he had been. She and Dane were hitting it off. Whatever happened to bring her to their tiny island, she was working to move on. He hoped once the dust cleared she wouldn’t be on the first ferry off the island, leaving Dane with a broken heart in the end.

  As he entered his house, he realized that Dane must talk about him with Reece. How else would she know he liked chocolate and coconut?

  “Hey, how was your day?” Dane called when he heard him enter.

  “I can’t complain.” Bannock tugged at his belt, released it, and hung it on the hook on the wall.

  Dane came into the living room. “I see you brought some cupcakes home. What kind?”

  Bannock smiled with a box of cupcakes in hand. “It seems Miss Wonderful knows I like chocolate and coconut.”

  “Ah, Sex on the Beach then.” Dane grinned. The guy knew too damn much about cupcakes. “What’s the other? Mocha surprise?”

  “No. Whips and Chains Excite Me.”

  “They do?” Dane belted out a laugh.

  “Liz is quite the comical genius.”

  Bannock pulled the box back so Dane couldn’t open it. “I’m not sure I should share though.”

  “Why not?” Dane made a face. “I’d share with you.”

  “What else have you told Miss Wonderful?”

  Dane shrugged. “I don’t know, stuff I suppose.”

  “Like what?”

  “Well, I told her you served in Afghanistan. She already knew your parents. Um, I told her we’ve been friends for years.”

  “Is that all?” Bannock asked and decided that Dane had been working behind the scenes, still hoping to put Reece between them.

  “I told her you have an enormous cock.”

  Bannock belted out a loud laugh. “Liar.”

  “No, you’re right. I didn’t say that.”

  “Well, according to the locals, you should know.”

  “Yeah, I didn’t realize we were gay until recently.” Dane again reached for the box.

  “Nice.” Bannock handed the box to Dane and headed to the kitchen. “Now, why don’t you tell me what you’re up to.” He jerked open the refrigerator and pulled out a beer.

  Dane followed Bannock into the kitchen. “I’m not up to anything.”

  “Sure.”

  “I have dinner plans with Reece. Would you like to come?”

  “I’ll pass.”

  “You know you’re as attracted to her as I am.”

  “Dane, I told you before, I’m not into the idea of sharing her with you.” He wanted to tell Dane what he found out, but clamped his mouth shut.

  “Say what you will Bannock, but if the opportunity presented itself and she was here for the taking, you’d be all over it.”

  Bannock snorted. “Go have a great time, Dane.”

  * * * *

  Dane felt his excitement grow as he sped away. Bannock would see and admit once and for all that he wanted Reece as much as he did. Dane could tell by his eyes when he called her Miss Wonderful. His eyes sparkled with a hint of interest.

  Bannock was correct. Dane was in fact up to something all right. He’d been getting to know Reece for the last couple of weeks in hopes of finding out if she would be interested in both of them. After their rendezvous to the janitor’s closet, he found out what he yearned to know. Today Reece had melted Bannock’s force field and made an impression on him. Dane wanted this so badly it kept him up late at night. He had worked hard to charm Reece with what little he possessed. Serenfuckingdipity.

  Up until now, Dane had tried to be the utmost gentleman, but when Reece whispered, “Get me out of here. Now,” he didn’t even try to stop himself. He was also starting to care for her, more than he should. But, seeing her every day for twenty minutes at a time and the couple of dates they went on allowed him to get to know her. When she smiled at him, his stomach leapt with joy. Her laugh was infectious and pure. He also loved how her eyes lit up when he entered Naughty Sprinkles. I hope she feels just half of what I do.

  Patience and Dane had parted ways a long time ago. He couldn’t wait to own a tattoo shop, couldn’t wait for his family to accept him. At twenty-four, he was going to be who he wanted to be whether they liked it or not. He had yearned to be out of Austin, but never knew where his oasis lay until he saw that ad. One ad changed his life and outlook. Now, he was taking another chance because he felt it was right so strongly. He’d go to his grave believing
it.

  Dane was running early for the date, real early, but his nerves wouldn’t calm down. He had to see Reece. He roared up to the Wyatts’ house and cut the engine. He had done nothing more with himself than shower and pull on a clean shirt and jeans. He wasn’t one to go over the top, dressing up to impress a woman, and didn’t try to be anyone else.

  Dane took the stairs two at time. By the time he reached the top, he was out of breath. As he knocked, he felt his hand shake like a kid in junior high getting to first base. God almighty, he thought, my nerves are shot all to hell. If he was wrong, he’d regret it and never hear the end of it from Bannock. But Dane had to believe that Reece was the one.

  “Dane, come on in.” Jed opened the door and Dane entered. “Reece is upstairs.” He looked at his watch. “Aren’t you early?”

  “Yes, I am.”

  “Well, come on. We’ll have a seat in the kitchen with Luther and Liz while you wait.”

  Dane followed Jed and entered the kitchen. Liz was cleaning up dishes after dinner. Luther was leaned back in his chair relaxing, no surprise for Dane to see. “Liz, that blackberry pie was wonderful.” He walked on in and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

  “I’m glad you liked it, hun.” She looked up at the clock and smiled. “You’re a little early aren’t you?”

  “Actually, I’m a lot early.” He rubbed his tingling hands together.

  “Ah, a little anxious, too, I see.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Dane nodded and looked away. Liz was too damn smart. The woman could more than likely see the lust covering his eyes, see into his soul, his mind and know his dirty intentions.

  “Let’s go outside and have a seat, Dane. Would you like a glass of raspberry tea or a beer?”

  “No, I’m fine. Thank you.” He felt his nervousness rise. Liz knew, and of course she knew, therefore a stern talk was on the way. As he followed, his anxiety grew. I swear, this feels like my first date when I was a teen. Except back then, one hell of a big father was very protective of his little girl.

  He had been threatened by fathers before. Now he would have the most intelligent woman he’d ever known warning him. By the time he left tonight, he suspected his ass would be clenched up tight when he walked out the front door with Reece. Liz seemed to know exactly what his plan was. He could see it in her eyes that were watching him.

  “I know what you’re up to, Dane.”

  “Wow, I’m transparent as hell.”

  Liz smiled and waved for him to sit down beside her. “My niece has been through a lot recently. I shouldn’t have to warn you to be sure your intentions are pure before you continue.”

  “No, ma’am.”

  “Are they?” Liz leveled her gaze on him.

  “Yes, I’ve fallen for her.” He admitted it, out loud.

  Liz patted his leg. “What about Bannock?”

  Dane cleared his throat and felt his body break out into a sweat. How did he answer that exactly?

  “I see. So, Bannock isn’t exactly in on your plan, or with you in this adventure.”

  “Well,” Dane rubbed the sweat from the palms of his hands on his jeans, “you see, after his fiancée left him while he was in the service, he, uh, hasn’t been much on women. Obviously.”

  “Oh, so you think that Reece can change his mind?”

  “I do. I know it. I feel it, Liz.”

  “Don’t hurt her.”

  “I won’t. I could never, I would cherish her, adore her.”

  “You’re rambling, Dane.”

  “Yes, it would seem so, Liz.” Dane rolled his neck back and forth trying to loosen his bunched up muscles. “It happened so fast.” He looked Liz directly in the eyes so she could see his sincerity. Liz was the type of mother he wished he had. Don’t get him wrong, he loved his mother, but she was so different and not understanding about anything having to do with his life. Liz on the other hand was worldly and open. If Dane’s mother had any idea what he was up to, she’d stroke out, and he was sure of it.

  “Yes, it has,” she agreed and Reece came out the back door.

  Dane focused on her as she came his way. She looked so damn gorgeous in her pale blue, form-fitting dress. Her long locks of hair cover her bare shoulders, quite a contrast against the dress. Plump lips smiled at him, highlighted with a light shade of rosy pink that matched the color of her cheeks when she blushed. Her long legs seemed endless, her cute feet with polished toes peeked out of her heels that made her another four inches taller. Long, lean curves beckoned his eyes to take her all in, inch by glorious inch. It didn’t dawn on him at first, but he rode his bike and Reece was wearing a short, very short dress. “Wow, you look absolutely stunning.” He stood up and greeted her with a peck to the cheek, holding her hands in his own. “I’m underdressed, and I’m on my bike.”

  “You can take my car, Dane.” Liz stood up and left them while she went inside for her keys.

  Dane wasn’t about to argue. Reece would not be straddling the back of his bike in that dress. Not that it wouldn’t be totally hot, but because he didn’t want half of Sunset Point looking up her skirt.

  “Woman, I think my heart stopped when you came out here.” Dane caressed her face and softly brushed his lips over hers. He wanted her so bad at that very moment he could hardly keep from trembling.

  “Are you shaking, Dane?” Reece asked and placed her hands on his chest, leaning closer for another kiss.

  “Yes, I am.” Her scent invaded his nose, all sweet and feminine, furthering his growing desire. “You look so hot.” He groaned with images invading his mind. “It’s painful.”

  “Pain? That’s interesting. Where does it hurt? Here, maybe?” she asked and grabbed his cock with her lips a few centimeters from his.

  “Wow.” He backed away. His semi-shy girl had become hello handsy in a light blue dress. Not that they hadn’t already shared one hot adventure, but they were at the Wyatt place and he was trying very hard to win Liz’s approval. Her support meant a great deal to him.

  Liz came back out with the key to her car. “Be careful, with both of them.”

  Dane caught her drift and nodded as he accepted the key. The appetite he had for dinner had completely vanished. That last thing he ate was a little frosting off a cupcake, hardly filling, but enjoyable. Before that, he had no idea.

  He opened the door for Reece and she slid in with elegant grace. She was able to rock those tall heels with a light sway in her ass. He became mesmerized. Dane noticed her long legs, all lean and muscular. The dress she wore had ridden up mid-thigh and he wasn’t positive, but believed he drooled.

  All the way to Mama Lupe’s, his mind kept replaying her hand grabbing his crotch. He loved a woman who wasn’t afraid to show her feelings. They were seated at a table, and waited for the drinks Lane ordered for them. He laughed when she said, “We’ll both have sex on the beach.”

  The woman was gorgeous, refined, ballsy and had his full attention. Any other female would suffer from frostbite if they approached. His eyes stayed fixed on Reece and he hadn’t even bothered to look at the menu.

  “Do you bring many dates here?” Reece asked and glanced around the dining area.

  “Just Bannock.”

  She raised a suspicious brow. “No women then?”

  “Nope, you’re the first.”

  “Not to be nosy, but you’re not...” She blushed and averted her eyes.

  “No, we’re not gay if that’s what you wanted to know.” Geesh, the whole damn island truly believes I’m gay. They are so off.

  “Just checking.”

  “Here are your drinks. Would you like an appetizer before dinner?” The waiter asked while placing the beverages in front of them.

  “No.” Reece replied and didn’t bother to look away from him.

  The waiter left them and Dane chuckled. Reece was most definitely his kind of woman.

  “So.” Reece fingered the straw sticking out of her drink. “You haven’t brought anyone here except Bannock?”r />
  He shrugged. “I don’t date much.”

  Intrigue highlighted Reece’s expression. “Why not?”

  “I don’t know. I guess I haven’t found the right girl, until now.”

  Reece grinned and averted her gaze.

  They continued sipping their drinks and communicated more with their eyes than words. The waiter came back by and asked if they would like to order dinner. Reece smiled and shook her head. “Actually, we’ll just take a ticket for the drinks.”

  Dane’s heart began to pound incessantly. He had no time to prepare. Earlier in the day he thought he had dinner to woo her, seduce her. The tables were turned now and he was the one to feel nervous. As for Reece, she looked calm, confident and only slightly nervous.

  The waiter stopped back by and left the ticket. Dane felt bad for taking up space when other diners waited. Reece made it worth his while and flipped out a twenty for a tip. “Let’s go.”

  * * * *

  They were in Liz’s car, heading to Dane’s place after a kiss that left her breathless in the parking lot. Lane didn’t know how she was able to play off the nervousness building inside. Somehow she’d stepped into another woman’s shoes, it seemed, where sex was concerned. The sex had been so damn hot with Dane in that dark closet the night of the charity auction. How he could trump his performance was an event she couldn’t wait to enjoy.

  Not many times before had she ever been the type to initiate sex, or take the liberties as she had already. She had become tired of waiting for some days and tomorrows. In her short time on the island, she was now all about today and making the most of it.

  Tonight, she decided, she would allow her heart to lead and not her mind. She was also partially ruled by her overactive hormones that bubbled over when Dane was near. Thoughts of Bannock worried her because she was privy to Dane’s plan.