“I’m good. I guess I’ll head out to help them. Thank you for breakfast.”
He walked with his plate over toward the sink. His mom stared at him.
“You look tired, Waylon. How long are you going to keep this schedule up and use your fists to express your emotions?”
He felt the hit to his gut. His mom was right on target. She hadn’t said a word to any of them about their choices in releasing their pent-up anger. He didn’t know what to say. He figured honesty was the best policy. He owed his mom that much.
“As long as I have to.”
He walked from the room and absorbed the hollowness he felt inside. He loved his mamma and his family, but just like his brothers, they were trained to survive. Being weak, opening up their hearts to emotions, could leave them vulnerable.
A vulnerable soldier is a dead soldier.
Chapter 2
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Amelia asked Regan as Regan stared down at her phone. They were lounging by the pool outside. The condominium complex was gorgeous. Regan had a two-bedroom apartment and was gracious enough to allow Amelia to stay with her until Amelia found her own place. She was going to talk to her brother, Murphy, about any real estate opportunities in the area. Apparently Regan’s four brothers owned numerous apartment complexes and were involved in different businesses.
“It’s Mad Dog.” She released an annoyed sigh.
“Mad Dog? You mean Murphy?” Amelia asked. She tried to remember her brothers’ nicknames. They were all in the military and referred to one another by their military nicknames more often than their birth names. It was confusing sometimes.
“Yeah, Murphy. I know why he’s calling me. He found out about last night.”
Amelia chuckled then shifted in her seat.
“Well, who told you to play tongue hockey in the middle of the damn dance floor?”
Regan reached into the small cooler, scooped up some ice cubes and threw them at Amelia. They landed on her belly and she squealed then laughed.
They drew the attention of some of the other people by the pool, including a few men who had been watching them.
“Well if you called, and told me you were arriving here in the middle of the night, then I wouldn’t have been in that situation.”
“Like this is my fault?” Amelia asked as Regan tossed some more ice on her.
“Cut it out or they’re going to come over here and flirt,” Amelia stated.
“So what? Look at them. I know them both, too. That’s Will and Paul. They live above my condo.”
“Oh really? They look older.”
“They are older. And believe me, thank God the walls are thick and nearly soundproof. You should see the women they bring up there on the weekends. Not your typical girl-next-door types.”
“Hmm. So you never visited their condo?”
Regan blushed as her cell phone rang. “A lady never tells.”
Amelia looked around the pool area. Since arriving last night, she did notice how attractive people were around here. The men were big, too, and very good looking. Their Texas accents were attention grabbers. With that thought, the big guy from the airport last night popped into her head. That cowboy was gorgeous.
“You day dreaming about seeing your first cowboy this morning at the airport?” Regan teased.
“He was very good looking,” Amelia said with her eyes closed, smiling.
“You said he had bruises, too?”
“Yeah. He had to be over six feet two, big muscles, tattoos on one arm, from what I could tell. Definitely hot.”
Regan smiled until her cell phone rang again. “Shit! He’s calling again. I have to answer this call.”
“Let’s pack up anyway,” Amelia said as she heard Regan getting upset. Regan was pulling things together and they started heading upstairs.
“Five minutes? Well I’m kind of in the middle of something, Mad Dog.”
“No! Of course Galen isn’t here.”
Amelia laughed. She had yet to meet any of Regan’s brothers. The men were no longer active duty. She did see a picture from when they were all younger. They were cute. She knew very little about them. That was how Regan was. No one talked about what the other siblings did. Regan did say that Waylon and Brody were adopted when they were kids but that she loved them as if they were blood. She also mentioned her brothers’ mean streaks and commanding personalities. It looked like Amelia was going to be getting a firsthand account of Mad Dog’s temper. Even his nickname told all to back off.
She chuckled as she listened to Regan argue with her brother. As angry as Regan was getting, Amelia knew Regan loved them and appreciated their attention and care. That was something Amelia never had and never would have.
As they headed into the main elevator, Regan continued to argue with her brother then hung up the phone. She stomped her foot and Amelia laughed.
“What the heck is going on?”
“He is so crazy. He’s going to, like, be here any minute.” Amelia put the cooler down. It was heavy. She looked in the mirror and saw that she had gotten some more color. She had a naturally tan complexion and the little sun did her justice. It had been a while since she had lain out. She felt that this move was going to be the best thing she ever did. Meeting her boss Monday and the other staff members was going to be exciting. She would even get her own pass for the hospital with her name and position on it.
As the elevator doors opened, Regan nearly growled.
Amelia wondered what was up, and then she spotted the very tall, thick man with the black Stetson, cowboy jeans, and dark blue button-down shirt standing there, by her door. She knew her mouth dropped and she quickly closed it, swallowed hard, and absorbed her body’s reaction.
Amelia felt her entire body freeze. It was like her blood stopped flowing, her heart stopped beating, and her eyes zeroed in on one sexy, extra large piece of perfection, topped with striking blue eyes.
“Murphy!” Regan stated and Amelia gulped. The man was big.
He lowered his sunglasses and then pulled them off.
“You hung up on me. Who is this?” he asked abruptly, and she felt his eyes roam over her body. She wished she had put on the full cover-up instead of the sarong. Her breasts were big, her cleavage deep in the purple bikini, but they were working on their tans.
Regan placed her key in the door and opened it.
“This is Amelia.”
His mouth dropped. Then quickly he looked her over again.
“I’m Murphy, Regan’s oldest brother.” He reached his hand out and she had to lower the cooler again to shake it.
“Nice to meet you, Murphy. I think,” she added and Regan laughed.
“He’s harmless, Amelia. Believe me, Mad Dog’s bark is bigger than his bite.” Regan tossed her blonde ponytail over her shoulder, hitting her brother.
Amelia placed her hand into his as they shook hello.
He held her gaze as he responded to Regan’s biting comment.
“Sometimes I do bite. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, darling.”
Amelia nearly gasped at his comment. She felt her body instantly react to him and his naughty little innuendo.
Quickly she released his hand then bent to pick up the cooler.
“I got that, honey,” he said. Their hands touched on the cooler and she pulled away the instant that connection was felt.
Oh shit, he is hot.
He allowed her to enter the condo first and she knew he was checking out her backside. So she did what any single, self-confident female trying to act unaffected by major eye candy would do. She walked as sexy and as womanly as possible.
Quickly she tossed the towels onto the top of the couch.
“Why don’t I leave you two to talk?”
Regan grabbed her arm and pulled her back.
“No need to leave, Amelia. I think my brother would love to talk with you, too.” Regan gave Amelia a pleading look and Amelia rolled her eyes then nodded.
�
��Can I get you something to drink?” Amelia asked Murphy. He raised his eyebrows at her as if she’d asked something crazy.
“Sure. Water is fine.”
“So what brings you by?” Regan asked as she stood next to the couch.
“Don’t you have a cover-up or something?” he asked Regan and his sister chuckled. Amelia wondered if her brother felt uncomfortable with Regan standing there in such a skimpy bikini. It was rather tiny, but Regan said she wanted to work on her tan. With her striking blonde hair and tan complexion, Regan was gorgeous.
Amelia watched as Regan exhaled and took one of the towels from the couch and wrapped it around her waist.
Amelia walked into the room carrying a glass of water for Murphy. He was looking at her and gave a small smile as his eyes lingered over her figure.
“Do you mind if Amelia isn’t covered up?” Regan teased as if she noticed that her brother couldn’t seem to take his eyes off of Amelia.
So it wasn’t just me. The man is definitely watching me.
“Her bathing suit isn’t as revealing as yours. It leaves room for imagination instead of flaunting what she has for all to see. Kind of like you last night at Hucker’s.”
“Oh give me a break. So I was kissing Galen. Big deal.”
“It is a big deal and it wasn’t just kissing. Word was that you were practically having sex on the dance floor.”
“What?” Regan exclaimed and Amelia swallowed hard. Murphy raised his voice and with his six feet four at least height and large muscles, the man was scary. Something told Amelia that Murphy wasn’t a man to anger. His biceps were so big that the shirt he wore stretched very tightly against them.
“That’s not true. We kissed and it may have been a deep, passionate one, but no other touching or feeling was going on.”
“Regan, are you seeing him?”
“That’s none of your business.”
“You are my business. You can’t be making out with men on the dance floor. Your reputation will be shot, especially if you aren’t even seeing him.”
“I didn’t say that I was or wasn’t seeing Galen.”
“Regan.”
“It’s none of your business, Murphy.”
Murphy ran his hand through his hair as he held the Stetson tight. Amelia absorbed every inch of Murphy. From his trim waist and cowboy boots, to his thick long fingers and the way he stroked his Stetson as he reprimanded his sister. He really did care about Regan. If she had to guess, she’d say he weighed at least two hundred and thirty pounds. He looked good in his blue jeans and cowboy shirt, too. She couldn’t help but admire his good looks. But this was Regan’s oldest brother.
“Galen isn’t right for you. What happened to Luke?”
“Oh God, Murphy, Luke is such a prude.”
“What?”
Amelia chuckled then started to walk toward her bedroom.
“Where are you going?” Regan asked.
“I think you need to talk with your brother alone. I’m going to take a shower so we can get ready for tonight. Unless you’re grounded,” Amelia teased, and suddenly Murphy’s expression changed. His eyes grew darker, he squinted at her like some master of the universe, and she actually felt like maybe she shouldn’t have teased.
Regan, however, thought it was perfect as she laughed loudly and gave her brother a slap on the back.
“She’s just messing with you, Murphy. Good one, Amelia. Go take that shower while I talk with my brother.”
Why did Amelia feel like Regan was pushing the flirty comments? Should she not have said she was going to go take a shower? Or maybe she shouldn’t have teased such a dominant, powerful type of man? Oh well, what was done was done. She gave a wave then headed to her room.
After showering and getting dressed in a nice flair skirt and lace-trimmed tank top, Amelia ventured out into the living room.
Regan was there and she was painting her toenails and her hair was still wet.
“Hey, how did things go with your brother?”
“Fine. I told you that his bark is bigger than his bite.”
Amelia raised her eyebrow up at Regan. Regan smiled then began painting her toenails again.
“He liked you. Totally was drooling like the Mad Dog he is.”
“What?” Amelia asked in surprise.
“My brother has never looked at a woman the way he looked at you. He wants you.”
“Cut it out, Regan. So why aren’t you dressed yet?”
“Change of plans. We’re not going to Malloy’s tonight. The girls are meeting at Hucker’s.”
“Why?”
“There’s a big party for Captain. He’s a friend of my brothers’. He’s also Jessica’s brother. You’ll meet her tonight, too. It’s going to be great. You’ll get to meet my other brothers, as well. If they show up. They hardly ever go out.”
“So you’re not grounded?” Amelia asked then smiled.
“No. Of course not. I am a little nervous though.”
“Because they’re going to be there? Why? They’re your brothers.”
“Because Galen called and he’s going, too.”
“Your brothers really don’t like Galen?” Amelia asked.
“Galen is a bit wild, Amelia. He also kind of pissed off my brother Waylon, you know, one night a few weeks ago. I thought Waylon was going to pummel Galen. It was bad and I wasn’t even seeing Galen yet.”
“Shoot. This sounds like trouble in the making.”
“I met Galen’s brothers, too,” Regan said then nibbled her bottom lip.
Amelia initially didn’t understand what Regan meant by that and then Regan raised her eyebrows up and down at her.
“Holy shit. A ménage?”
“I’m considering it. I like them a lot. His brothers do a lot of out-of-town business. So right now, it’s just been Galen and I. But the sparks really flew when I met Mark, Peter, and Zachary. I’m not sure what I’ll do.”
“God, this is a lot to take in. I mean considering how good-looking the men are around here, and the abundance of them, I suppose that’s why women are grabbing a few at a time.”
Regan chuckled. “Maybe you’ll grab a few of your own?”
Amelia felt her cheeks warm. She shook her head. “Not me. I’m done with men for a while. Remember, that’s why I came here.”
“I know, but all men aren’t abusive assholes. Cowboys have a way about them. Throw in a military background and yeah, they could be a bit dominant and wild, but most are good, pure, caring men.”
Amelia didn’t believe that for one minute. Not in her experience.
“You’ll help me calm my brothers down, won’t you, Amelia?”
“Me? I don’t even know your brothers.”
Regan winked.
“That will change in no time. Mark my words.”
Amelia wondered what Regan meant by that comment. Before she could interrogate her, Regan’s cell rang. She answered it as she made plans with her other friends to meet at this place Hucker’s. Amelia was looking forward to meeting other people. Being new in Houston, she wanted to make some friends and get to know the area. With Regan’s outgoing personality, Amelia should make some new friends in no time.
Chapter 3
The music was blasting and Amelia was laughing at something Regan’s friend Georgia was saying. Amelia was impressed with all the excitement going on around her and the other seven women. Since they walked in an hour ago, they all were approached by some of the sexiest men Amelia had ever seen.
“I told you that you’d love a traditional honky-tonk. Hucker’s is one of the best places this side of Houston,” Amelia stated loudly to her, even though she was close. Galen approached, wrapping his arms around Regan from behind, making her gasp. She gave him a slap to his arm then the good-looking cowboy kissed her hard on the mouth as Regan reached back and cupped the back of Galen’s head.
Amelia felt her own cheeks warm and an appreciation for the scene come over her.
She turn
ed away a second and spotted the large group of guys enjoying the birthday party. She knew that Murphy and his brothers were over there. They hadn’t come over this way and now wouldn’t be a good time with Regan sucking face with Galen.
“So, this is your Yankee friend?” Galen asked. His deep, thick accent alerted Amelia that he was addressing her.
“Cut that out, Galen. She’s my best friend, so stop teasing her,” Regan stated. As Amelia looked up at Galen, she caught him looking her body over.
Amelia was on guard. She raised her eyes at him and gave him the once-over back but as if she were unimpressed.
“Sassy, are you? You better watch that, girl. Been some fellas talking ’bout coming on over here and getting to know you.”
Amelia felt her belly quiver. She had been dodging offers to dance and teach her to do the two-step since they’d arrived.
She reached over to the bar to take her drink when she felt someone bump into her. Her drink fell over as she stepped out of the way before looking up at some tall guy. He gave her a wink and she could tell he was feeling pretty good. His eyes were glazed over and he swayed as he moved closer.
“Who’s your friend, Regan?” he asked and Amelia looked to Regan and Galen.
“Smooth move,” Galen said to the guy. Galen shook his head as if he didn’t like the guy, and then Regan placed a hand on Amelia’s arm and pulled her closer.
“No one who wants to meet you, Buckey.”
At the same time Galen’s friends came over, and Galen turned to talk to them. Amelia was walking away, along with Regan, when she felt the hand on her arm.
“I want to know your name, baby.” She stared up at him.
“Let go of her arm.” The voice came from behind her and in a flash, she was surrounded by three extra big men and Murphy.
She could hear Regan saying something, but she couldn’t see a thing as these men flanked her, placing her behind them.
“Just being friendly, Mad Dog. No need to come over here with your brothers. This ain’t none of your business,” she heard Buckey say.
“You okay?” She looked to her right and smack into a black shirt. Tilting her head slowly upward, she finally saw the face of the man who asked her if she was okay.
The American Soldier Collection 5: The Greatest Fight of All (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 3
