“You can take your time moving in once you get settled with your job and your car arrives. You don’t have to pay us rent until you’re settled,” Sam added.
“Yeah, the men and I will make sure it’s all set up for you, the grass mowed, and everything working correctly,” Jordan said then looked at his sons. They all looked a bit pissed off except for Ricky. Ricky had a sly little smirk on his face.
“I’ll pay the rent. Whatever it is, if you’re sure that you don’t mind having me here?”
“Are you kidding? It’s a great idea. I wish I had thought of it,” Regan said and smiled.
Amelia wasn’t too sure, but as she thought about Regan and her friend’s love life, she accepted Elise’s offer.
“Thank you so much, Mrs. Haas. Mr. Mr. and Mr. Haas,” Amelia said then chuckled. They all laughed.
“Just call us by our first names, honey. You’re family now,” Elise stated and Amelia felt the tears reach her eyes.
If only that were true.
Chapter 5
“So how were your first two weeks of working here, Amelia? Feeling comfortable yet?” her new boss, Toby Conlin, asked.
She was a bit overwhelmed with the caseload and trying to organize the group activities for the next week.
“It’s a lot of work, but I think I’ll come up with a system in no time.”
He smiled at her as he leaned against her desk. He was an attractive man. Older, in his fifties and divorced. He had a girlfriend, Mary, whom Amelia met just yesterday afternoon.
“So, what do you think of the group members and the numerous groups we offer for the veterans?”
Amelia swallowed that uneasy feeling in her gut. It was more difficult than she expected. These groups had a lot of men who were maimed or severely injured in the war.
“Honestly, it was a bit tough at first. There are so many emotions going on in the groups. But I’m impressed with the numbers. Back in New York, there were very small groups. A lot of men refused help, even those who got into trouble with abusing alcohol or drugs.” As she said the words, her heart ached for them and for the memories of her brothers and father.
“We talked about this yesterday. The way you assisted Carter was amazing. He’s had difficulty opening up and accepting help.”
“I could tell that he wanted to talk. I knew something was up with him immediately. I just don’t know what made him take those pills. You said he’s been coming here for the last three months.”
“It happens, Amelia. Sometimes even the consistent attendees fall back to bad habits. But you have great ideas to keep them motivated to continue. I especially like your idea about some trips out of the hospital. A lot of these men don’t have any family.”
“I know. I guess I can empathize with them in that category.” She pulled together her things, preparing to leave for the weekend.
“You have the Haas family. They speak very highly of you. It’s almost like you’re their daughter.” He stood straight and watched her gather her things.
She felt the blush hit her cheeks. “I’m not though. They’re just really nice.”
“They adopted Brody and Waylon when they were just kids. Their mother died and their father disappeared on them. He was a lowlife from the start.”
“Really? I mean, I knew that they were adopted, but not the story behind it.”
“Well, Elise, Sam, Jordan, and Tysen share something very special. They have huge hearts and would do anything to help someone in need.”
“I know. Regan and Velma are lucky to have them.”
They heard a knock on the door and Felicia was there.
“Hi, Felicia,” Toby said and motioned for her to come in. Amelia said hello, too.
“I’m so glad I caught you two before you leave. I have a situation for Saturday morning.”
“What’s going on?”
“Well, Ryan called. He can’t run the table from eight until twelve. I don’t have a replacement.”
“Well, what does it entail?” Amelia asked.
“You get to sweat your butt off for four hours, smile, flirt, do whatever, to sell raffle tickets to our July fundraiser event. This year, we’re having a family day picnic on Sonoma Lake. We’d like to pay for everything ourselves, so that the soldiers and their families can just enjoy themselves. A lot of them are on fixed incomes or barely making it.”
“Well, I would love to help. I was only planning on moving into the cottage, but I can do that in the afternoon. I’m behind schedule, since my car arrived from New York so late. But I don’t have much to move,” Amelia volunteered.
“Oh God, Amelia, are you sure?” Felicia asked.
“Yes. Definitely. Just give me directions to where I have to be and whom I have to report to and I’ll be there tomorrow morning.”
Felicia hugged Amelia and Amelia was shocked.
“I knew you were an angel. I just knew it. Just a few minutes in a room with you, and it’s obvious how loving and compassionate you are. Thank you. I’ll write everything down for you now,” Felicia said then walked out of the room to get paper and a pen.
Amelia looked at Toby and he smiled.
“She’s right, you know? You’re an asset to the program and the guys. The families are saying positive things about you. Your personal insight into their emotions is compelling.”
She felt embarrassed a moment as she lowered her eyes.
“I guess I just understand what they’re going through and want to help them any way I can.”
“I’m surprised that your degree isn’t in counseling or social work. You would be great.”
“I appreciate that. But, I like what I do. I like organizing and planning. When there’s a positive end result, then I’m satisfied and feel complete.”
Toby smiled. “Well, I guess we’ll call it a night. I’ll probably see you at the fair tomorrow. I’m helping to run the dunking tank. The guys from the fire department offered half the donation money if I assisted. I think they’re going to try to talk me into sitting in the damn thing.”
Amelia laughed then tapped him on the shoulder. “It’s all for a good cause, boss.”
He chuckled as they headed out of the office. Felicia waved good-bye after handing Amelia directions and details on the event.
* * * *
The moment Murphy arrived at eleven o’clock he spotted Amelia. His heart was hammering in his chest and his blood pressure shot nearly to the moon. She was working at a raffle table, currently surrounded by a half a dozen men, and she was laughing. She wore a gorgeous-looking yellow halter dress that accentuated her large breasts, trim waist, and of course her toned, tanned arms. She looked like a goddess. Her hair was braided on some fancy style and bunched around her head in some intricate design. As he moved closer, he noticed the tiny yellow flowers scattered here and there between the braided hair. She looked beautiful.
“You know her?”
Murphy turned toward Big Jay Sandstone, a buddy of his from the service who now served in SWAT. His two brothers, Duke and Sandman, were looking at some artwork with their woman, Grace. They were pushing a stroller with Emma, their firstborn baby girl, and another baby was on the way. Murphy was envious.
“Yeah, she’s Regan’s friend from college. She’s from New York.”
Big Jay placed his hand on Murphy’s shoulder.
“You look like you’re going to start tossing those guys.”
Murphy crossed his arms in front of his chest. He was about the same size as Big Jay, and standing together, he knew they totally looked intimidating.
“Why would I do that?”
Big Jay chuckled as he slapped him on the back then proceeded toward the table where Amelia was.
He followed behind and had to hide a chuckle when the cowboys spotted Big Jay then quickly departed.
“Hey, beautiful, what are you selling raffles for?” Big Jay asked. Amelia stared up at Big Jay, eyes wide like saucers. She turned toward Murphy, did a double take, then smoothe
d out her dress.
“Raising money for the veterans and a family barbeque that’s coming up. Would you like to buy some? They’re six for five dollars or twelve chances for ten dollars.”
“Hmm, I think I’ll take ten, honey. Those cowboys weren’t bothering you were they?” Big Jay asked.
“No, sir, they were just being friendly.”
“You don’t have to ‘sir’ him, doll. This is a friend of mine, Big Jay Sandstone,” Murphy stated. As she handed over his tickets and took the ten dollars, Big Jay took her hand and brought it up to his lips. He kissed the top of it as he held her gaze and really pissed Murphy off.
“Cut it out. You’re taken,” Murphy stated.
“He sure is. What are you two trying to do, scare this poor young woman?”
Murphy turned to see Grace, Duke, and Sandman.
Murphy made the introductions and Amelia stepped around toward the front of the table to see the baby.
“Oh goodness, she is beautiful. How old is she?” Amelia asked.
“Six months and thank you.”
Amelia smiled then looked up toward the three big men.
“So, you’re Regan’s friend from college?” Grace asked after Murphy told the men who she was and how he knew Amelia.
“Yes. I just moved here from New York two weeks ago. I’m working at the veteran’s hospital as a program coordinator. They were short staffed today and I volunteered to help out. We’re trying to raise money for a family barbeque for the soldiers and their families that are part of the programs we offer.”
“That is awesome,” Grace said.
“I’ll buy some,” Sandman stated then passed over a twenty.
“Me, too,” Duke said and Murphy laughed.
A few minutes later they were saying good-bye.
“Hey, you should bring Amelia by Casper’s sometime. They’re having outdoor barbeque parties every Saturday this summer. Tell Regan, too,” Big Jay said before he shook Murphy’s hand good-bye.
Murphy smiled. His buddies assumed that he was interested in Amelia and that they were already involved. Didn’t they know him by now? Murphy didn’t date and he didn’t trust women. He was such a hard-ass all the time, and most women were turned off.
Amelia began to move past him, and on instinct or maybe just the need to touch her, he grabbed her wrist. She paused next to him and he inhaled the light, floral fragrance of her perfume. It was appealing not pungent.
“You look pretty in this dress.”
“Thank you.” She moved toward the back of the table.
He watched her as she smoothed out the front of the dress again with her hands. The movement caused her breasts to push together and as she bent slightly, he was able to see the deep cleavage of her breasts. The woman was voluptuous.
“So when are you moving in?” he asked her and she jerked her head up toward him, obviously confused by the statement.
“To the cottage on the ranch. I thought you were doing that today.”
“Oh, yes, I am, later on. Like I was telling your friends, this was unexpected, but they needed my help. Plus my car only arrived two days ago. It’s been crazy.”
“What time do you have to stay until?”
“Noontime. Then Felicia is going to take over until four o’clock.”
“I’ll help you move so that it won’t take too long,” Murphy told her as he stood by the table with one hand on his hip. Three guys came up and bought some tickets before she could reply to his statement. They flirted with her and she was polite, but didn’t flirt back. Did she do that because he was there? Maybe she was a flirt and a tease?
His mind screamed that he was wrong. She was too sweet.
“Thank you and have a nice day,” she told them.
He noticed the folded paper on the table. She didn’t even look at it. Instead she tossed it into a box on the ground.
“What was that?”
“Huh?”
“That, you just tossed into the box?”
“Oh, just a phone number.”
“A phone number?” He leaned over and looked at the multiple pieces of paper in the box on the floor.
“Guys have been dropping their phone numbers to you on paper?” He raised his voice and she quickly looked around them, then back at him.
“Not a big deal,” she replied.
He felt that blood pressure rise again. This woman got under his skin in every aspect of the words.
He looked at his watch.
“You don’t have to help me today. I can handle it, Murphy. I know you have a lot to do for Velma’s party on Sunday.”
“No, I’m good. My brothers and I can handle it. It will be a little bit relaxing tonight.”
“Really?” she asked, sounding surprised.
“Why do you say it like that?”
“Well, it’s Velma’s twenty-first birthday and she’s going out partying. I thought for sure you would be acting like bodyguards and escorting her everywhere she went.”
“Hey, I’ve got people watching her. You know, keeping an eye on things.”
Amelia held his gaze. “Regan, too?” she teased then ran the palm of her hand across the empty part of the table. Murphy grabbed her hand, covered it, and leaned forward.
“Maybe, I even have people keeping an eye on you.”
She looked at his bottom lip. He absorbed the feel of her small, delicate hand beneath his much larger one.
“Why would you do that?”
He licked his bottom lip and saw her eyes watch the motion. “Because, you need watching over. A beautiful woman like you could get herself in a heap of trouble if she weren’t careful.”
“I don’t think so.”
He patted her hand.
“Don’t you worry. Unless you do something wrong, then I’ll find out.”
She pulled her hand from his and placed her hands on her hips.
Amelia looked so fucking hot like that. Defiant, sexy, and downright fuckable. His cock was so damn hard right now, he hated to move an inch or he would feel the pain.
“Are you trying to get me all riled up again, Murphy? It’s not going to work. You’re not the boss of me, remember that,” she stated as another group of people, this time a family, came over to buy some tickets. Murphy tipped his Stetson at them and greeted the man.
“How are you doing, Murphy?” Jim Tempo asked. “I haven’t seen you around here in months.”
“Yeah, been busy helping out the dads on the ranch.”
“Running all those businesses your brothers and you are involved in, too. You’re doing well. How is Waylon? Last I heard, he had a hell of a fighting match in Vegas. Came back with some bruises, huh? Maybe he’ll think of quitting soon. Settling down. That’s what all four of you should do.”
Murphy raised his eyebrow at Jim. “Have to find the perfect woman. I think you snatched her up before one of the Haas men could,” Murphy teased as he winked at Jim’s wife.
Betty blushed then shook her head. She turned toward Amelia. “You watch out for this one. He’s as stubborn as a mule and then some.”
“I’m stubborn? You were the one who stood me up in high school for this guy,” Murphy stated as Jim gave his wife a hug and chuckled.
“Sure did.” She winked at her husband. They said good-bye and Murphy shook his head. He was still smiling when he turned toward Amelia.
Amelia had her arms crossed in front of her chest, her eybrows raised in question at his obvious friendly banter with friends. He scowled at her. “What?”
“Nothing,” she replied then looked down.
He moved closer, placed his fingers under her chin, and tilted her face up toward him.
She appeared shocked by his move. Well damn, he shocked himself.
“What?” he asked.
“Just surprised to see Mad Dog knows how to smile and not bite.”
He stared at her sensual lips. He held her gaze, saw her dark brown eyes sparkling, and wondered what type of lover she wo
uld be.
“Maybe I like to bite,” he whispered, and she pulled her lower lip between her bottom teeth. He stepped closer. He caressed his thumb along her bottom lip.
“You seem real edible, Miss Amelia. You should watch your sassiness. I don’t think you can handle it.”
She hesitated then squinted her eyes at him. “I can handle anything you could dish out.”
“Excuse me.”
Amelia and Murphy turned toward the little boy standing by the table with a ten dollar bill in his hand.
“Yes?” Amelia asked. Reluctantly, Mad Dog immediately released her. This kid had bad timing.
“I would like to donate this ten dollars. I want to help the veterans have a barbeque.”
“Aww, that’s so sweet. Here are your tickets. Good luck.”
“Thank you. Oh, and your boyfriend is huge. Is he a soldier?” the boy asked, and Mad Dog gave the kid a wink.
“Sure am.”
“Cool. I want to be a Marine when I’m old enough. My dad and my granddad were Marines.” He turned toward his mom who stood alone with two children. Murphy recognized her immediately. She had lost her husband last year. He’d died in Afghanistan.
He gave a wave and the woman waved back.
“Have a nice day,” the kid said then walked away.
* * * *
Amelia could see the sadness in Murphy’s eyes. His conversation with the little boy gave her that kick in her ass to remind her that she didn’t get involved with military men.
Been there. Done that. Got the scars to show for it.
“He was cute. A very respectful kid.”
“Yeah, he’s a good kid. His mom works two jobs to support them now. I hadn’t seen the kid in about a year. He had a rough time when his dad died.”
“He died?”
“Yes, in Afghanistan. It was rough for a while.”
“I’m sure it was.”
“So, it’s nearly noontime. Where’s this Felicia lady so that I can escort you to your car?”
“Um, Murphy. I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“If what’s a good idea?” a deep, sexy voice asked from behind.
The American Soldier Collection 5: The Greatest Fight of All (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 6
