The American Soldier Collection: Escape from Obsession (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Dixie Lynn Dwyer

  Helena handed her a bottle of water.

  “We all have our weaknesses, Gia, but I can tell you that you’re right there, so close to defeating that move. The past is the past, remember?” Helena said and Gia nodded her head.

  “Thanks.”

  The sound of laughter and some commotion drew their attention toward the front room and the entrance to the dojo. Lee’s partner Pierce had just finished up another class that focused on ground struggles and grappling.

  The others began to head that way while Shane continued to talk with her.

  “I can’t seem to get the flashbacks out of my mind. I can’t stand this,” she stated as she grabbed her bag and flung it over her shoulder.

  “Don’t make yourself nuts. Sometimes it just takes more time and a bit of refocusing.”

  “Refocusing?” she asked as she turned her head toward him while they walked out of the room.

  “Yep,” he said and then she felt the water go down her back from behind.

  She squealed then turned to yell at him and take a swing, but he ducked, weaved, and wound up ahead of her.

  “I’ll get you back, Shane!” she yelled as she chased him from the room and right into the others who were saying goodnight. That was when she saw Gunner McCallister standing there next to Lee and Pierce, towering over them and dressed in shorts and an army-green T-shirt. The man was filled with rippling muscles. She paused and Shane knocked over her bag. It fell to the floor and as he went to grab her, she ducked and swept his feet out from under him, causing him to fall to the mats.

  The others laughed and teased him.

  “Got you back,” she said with attitude to Shane as she smiled.

  “I will be sure to return the favor, baby.”

  She felt her chest tighten and that feeling of fear the instant the situation went from friendly to possibly something more.

  “I was looking for Gia. I saw her car outside after I finished at the gym,” Gunner stated, making her turn to look at him. She nibbled her bottom lip as he seemed to absorb her attire.

  “You two know one another?” Lee asked, sounding so parental, yet he was probably the same age as Gunner.

  “See you on Friday, right, Gia?” Shane asked as he picked up his bag, looking at her then Gunner.

  “Goodnight, Shane, I’ll see you here on Friday.”

  He waved and left.

  “Well, we’re getting ready to close up,” Lee said as Pierce smiled then shook Gunner’s hand.

  “See you later.”

  “Yeah, good seeing you, Pierce.”

  “Yeah right, Gunner. You’re just saying that but I know you want a rematch.”

  “Anytime anywhere, you know I’m in.”

  Pierce chuckled and made some comments about Gunner not having the goods to compete.

  Gia didn’t know what they were talking about as she pulled her keys from her bag then slung it over her shoulder.

  * * * *

  Gunner felt his heart racing. He had debated about coming into the dojo after the gym, but after seeing Gia’s car out front, he had wanted to see her again. A quick talk with Pierce indicated she trained often. Seeing her now, in her relaxed, black martial arts pants and a black tank top, he could tell she was in great physical condition. She had a fucking body and a half on her, and as Shane flirted, Gunner felt his muscles tense and the twinge of jealousy place a sour taste in his mouth. He decided to let the guy know that Gia was off-limits.

  “I’ll walk you out,” he said to Gia as she gathered her things then waved good-bye to Lee.

  He opened the door for her, as the warm night air hit them.

  “It’s a beautiful night,” he said and she pulled on a light half sweatshirt in black, then moved her ponytail to the side.

  “It sure is. So what’s up?” she asked as they approached her car. She sounded kind of nervous, which only made him feel nervous, and that was completely unlike him.

  “I saw your car and I haven’t seen Lee and Pierce in a while and thought I’d stop in. You’ve been coming here long?”

  She leaned against her car and pulled the sweatshirt tighter. She swallowed hard then looked up toward him. He knew he was a big man and very tall, especially compared to Gia. If she was five feet five inches, he was pushing it. He loved the way her waist dipped in nice and small yet she was curvy in all the right places.

  “Teddy introduced me to Lee when I first arrived from New York. It was something I always wanted to do, so Teddy and Lee talked me into taking some classes.”

  “How do you like it?” he asked her as he stared at her, absorbing her beauty and how resistant she seemed to be to his tactics of trying to break the ice.

  “I like it most nights, but sometimes it’s too hard.”

  “Are they pushing you too much? I can talk with Lee.”

  “Oh, God no, that’s not what I mean. I’m sorry, Gunner. Ya know what, I’m tired and I kind of had a bad day and night. I just want to head home.”

  “Yeah, it’s been a long day.”

  She stood straight and opened her car door. He placed his hands on her door as she started the engine. He looked down at her.

  “You planning on heading to the game tomorrow?”

  “Yes, I’m catching a ride with Teddy. He’s working tonight but should be off in time to leave. The game is like an hour from here, right?”

  “Yeah. I’m off tomorrow, so I’m going to go, too. So I’ll see you tomorrow?”

  “Yes. Goodnight.”

  “Goodnight.”

  He watched her pull out of the parking lot and wondered if she was really this shy or if she was playing hard to get. He and his brothers had met some pretty messed-up women over the last few years. Some were out for a good time and others wanted to make him jealous or use him to get what they wanted. It had hardened him in a lot of ways and he basically gave up on finding a good woman. But now after talking with Garrett and Wes, he wondered if Gia was different. Could they possibly be making something more out of this than there was? They were getting antsy to settle down and Gia was young. Perhaps they should give her space and just see what happened. Fate had a funny way of working things out. He wasn’t the kind of man to go after a woman and beg for her attention. If chemistry was there then it would push things along.

  He thought about his brother Garrett. He couldn’t help but notice the small changes in him lately. He had his eyes on Gia and his interest seemed to make Garrett appear different. Calling it happiness would be ridiculous at this point, but Garrett was always so somber and angry. It seemed to Gunner and even his brother Wes that whenever Gia was around Garrett’s attitude changed. Shit, he actually smiled. Perhaps she would be good for his brother

  Gunner headed to his truck and got up in the cab. Gia was no longer in sight, yet he couldn’t help but imagine what it would be like if she belonged to him, Wes, and Garrett. Patience was one of his strong points, but with Gia, it seemed he was losing some of it with each time he saw her.

  * * * *

  Teddy stood in Gia’s kitchen as she grabbed her cell phone from her bedroom. She had done a beautiful job decorating her apartment. It was a nice complex and only fifteen minutes from his own neighborhood. She had three bedrooms and thought it was a bit too much for just herself living there, but he had talked her into it. He figured having the extra space would make her feel less cramped and this apartment had a great view of the gardens.

  He looked at a bunch of scattered papers on the island, all hand sketched and then some colored computer versions. The bright colors and the product name intrigued him as he held it up to look at it.

  “What do you think?” she asked as she reentered, pulling on a light brown zip-up sweatshirt. She was dressed in the Bulls fan attire and Teddy smiled.

  “Dale set you up with all of that?” he asked, smiling. He was wearing the same T-shirt, but it didn’t look as good as it looked on his cousin. She was a knockout and he had been hearing nothing but questions about her fro
m the guys at work and of course from the McCallisters.

  “Hey, I’m trying to be supportive. So what do you think about the drawings? Those are for a new advertising campaign I’m involved in at work. If the customer likes it, then I may be headed to Dallas for three days this upcoming week.”

  His eyes widened as he glanced back at the picture. “Well then, I suggest you pack your bags now, Cuz. These are phenomenal. You’re really talented.”

  She smiled and her cheeks reddened a little.

  “I appreciate that. Especially coming from you, the non-artsy type, as you explained months ago.”

  He chuckled.

  “I like the freestyle stuff you do. Like that amazing mural you did in Julia’s nursery. You could start your own business doing that kind of thing.”

  She moved closer to the counter and took the picture he had in his hand.

  “This is good for now. I need to keep busy and out there in the business world. I think if I worked in an art studio, here in the apartment alone, my mind would wonder on the past.”

  She placed the paper down and began to walk toward the door when Teddy gently took her hand into his own.

  He brushed his fingers along her cheek as he stared down into her eyes. His cousin was such an amazing and beautiful woman. That asshole back in New York had fucked up her head big-time. He knew she was scared, and now, something else was bothering her.

  “Hey, you’re really talented and you should be doing what makes you happy. Are you sure that everything is okay? You’ve seemed kind of different the last week or so.”

  “I don’t know. I think I’m still trying to get used to living in Texas,” she said then pulled away from him.

  “Are you ready to go?”

  “If you are. I’m excited for Dale. He’s been under a lot of pressure with football and schoolwork. He’s having some trouble with his writing class.”

  “Well tell him to call me. I can even come over tomorrow after the dojo.”

  She locked the door as they headed toward the elevator.

  “Lee is open tomorrow?”

  “Sure. He’s running that fundraiser for the family of that officer injured in the line of duty last month. Gerry White. I’m running the kids’ karate training class. He already has thirty-two kids signed up.”

  “Holy crap. How the hell are you supposed to help thirty-two kids by yourself?”

  The elevator door opened and they headed out to Teddy’s truck.

  “I’m not, silly. Lee, Shane, Pierce, and Duke are helping.”

  “Duke? Shit, he’ll scare the crap out of those kids.”

  She chuckled.

  “Sometimes you need some heavy backup, Teddy,” she teased and he laughed.

  “We’ll stop by then. I have to see this.”

  * * * *

  It was a hell of a game. A real nail-biter not only because the Bulls were behind one touchdown, but also because Gunner and Garrett both couldn’t seem to keep their focus on it as much as on Gia.

  Gunner felt that same tightness in his chest. Of course, being involved in law enforcement and the military, not much got by him. He noticed on the way into the stadium that Gia remained close to Teddy, especially when someone tried to make conversation with her. That was another unnerving thing to watch, other guys flirt with her or just checking her out. He even got annoyed when a group of guys from Teddy and Jim’s department followed her and Teddy to the stands. Those fuckers were going to try and sit next to her in the damn crowded stadium seats. Not if he and Garrett had anything to say about it. He and his brother maneuvered their way between the other men, using their six-feet-plus intimidation resources, and snagged the two seats on either side of her. Teddy got stuck in front of her with his buddies. That hadn’t stopped the assholes from flirting, but he did notice as the game started, she relaxed more and now was even talking to him and Garrett.

  “You really like football, Gia, or just high school football?” Garrett asked her as he turned toward her.

  When she turned to look at Garrett, her long brown hair brushed his skin and their shoulders pressed against one another.

  “Of course I like all football. Why do you ask?”

  His brother smiled at her. “A woman after my own heart.”

  She turned back toward the field as the whistle blew, ending the first half of the game.

  They all stood up to stretch out as the opposing team’s band began to get ready to take the field for a halftime show.

  “I love when they do this,” Gia said as she placed her hands on Teddy’s shoulders while he stretched. He leaned back and smiled at her.

  “I know you do. You’ve always loved football, even as a kid.”

  “Really? I bet Gia was a cute kid,” one of Teddy’s friends from the Houston PD said as he looked her over while she stretched.

  Her shirt lifted slightly, revealing her firm abs and hip bones. Was that a tattoo Gunner saw? He didn’t like the way those guys were flirting with her one bit and nor did his brother, and Garrett made a move.

  He took Gia’s hand.

  “Want to go grab a drink real quick at the snack stand?” She glanced at Teddy and he winked at her. She shook her head but smiled up at Garrett, making Gunner think that perhaps they were making progress with her.

  “I’ll go, too. Save our seats, guys,” Gunner said and they headed up the bleachers to the snack stand.

  * * * *

  Gia felt her heart racing. It was so stupid to feel this way, but every time Garrett, Gunner, or Wes was near her, never mind touching her, she would panic and get all sweaty and nervous. It was beyond just a fear of getting close to anyone. She was starting to feel an attraction to them, which completely freaked her out. There were three of them. Three extra-large, intimidatingly handsome men with looks that made heads turn wherever they went. Like now, as they stood in line at the snack stand and a few women said hello to Gunner and Garrett, and two in particular let their hands slide down their arms. Gia felt a shocking reaction inside.

  Get your hands off them. Oh, God, I’m jealous. How the hell can I be jealous? Am I actually considering this? Am I considering getting to know them better and engaging in this type of relationship after what Antonio tried to force me to do?

  She felt the tears sting her eyes and then she felt Gunner’s hand on her shoulders. Her first instinct was to bolt, or counter move. She didn’t like to be approached from behind. She had issues with being in this position. It was why she avoided crowds and…Mmm, God, he has great hands. They’re so big and strong. He was working her tight muscles and she found herself leaning back against his wide, hard body.

  “You’re all tense, baby,” he whispered next to her ear.

  She closed her eyes a moment as she imagined what he looked like standing behind her. He wore a pair of dark jeans that hung off the hips and cowboy boots. The tight brown Bulls T-shirt stretched across his bulging muscles, making her mouth water. Then she opened her eyes and stared at Garrett’s back. Wide shoulders, crew-cut hair, and he stood with perfect posture. Damn, these men were too good-looking. She would have never thought a man’s posture would be a turn-on for her. When he turned toward her she snapped back to reality.

  “What would you like to have, Gia?” Garrett asked.

  She had to stand up straighter. She was actually leaning back against Gunner. She felt his hands on her waist, too. What the hell am I doing? Oh God, Garrett’s dimples are so sexy.

  He raised his eyebrows at her as if knowing she was staring and she felt her cheeks blush. “Water, just a bottle of water.”

  He turned back to the pimply-faced kid behind the counter who wore the opposing team colors of blue and gold.

  As they took their bottles of water and a basket of fries and headed back she felt Garrett’s hand on her hip as they maneuvered through the crowd. Gunner led the way, giving her the opportunity to check out the man’s superb body. Wide shoulders, trim waist, and he had to be about six feet four inches tall wi
th dark crew-cut hair. The man was gorgeous.

  The sound of the band beginning their halftime show could be heard as they climbed the bleachers to head back to their seats. Gia looked down toward the field. She could remember high school like it was yesterday. There was something so amazing about the fans during a sporting event but especially during high school football games. She could remember them having a bonfire the night before the big games against rival schools and of course the championship games. The innocence of a kiss shared between her and one of the players, Robbie Greene. Oh boy, did she think he was so cute. He had dimples, too. She glanced up at Garrett, who was watching her closely. Garrett’s dimples were way cuter. Despite his very rugged, hard expressions most of the time, when he did smile, those dimples practically attacked her body.

  He licked his lower lip then leaned closer to her.

  “I’d love to know what you were just thinking about,” he said and instead of thinking first, she just whispered back.

  “Your dimples and one of my first kisses back in high school.”

  He seemed to be embarrassed a little. God, is he actually oblivious to their appeal? No way, the man has to know that they are lethal.

  She also knew that she came across as flirtatious, so she turned away from him as she took a sip of her water. She crossed her legs and began to watch the halftime show continue. Garrett leaned closer, his shoulder warm against hers He made a point of letting his thigh touch her thigh and simultaneously, as the warm, sexual sensations filled her body and wreaked havoc on her control to ignore this attraction, Gunner placed his hand on her knee.

  She jerked and turned toward him, but his face was firm, as he stared forward and as if he had every right to be touching her in such a possessive manner. She glanced at Teddy’s friends, who looked down at his hand and across at Garrett then to her. They seemed angry.