Soldiers of Pearl 1: Invasion of Hearts (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Dixie Lynn Dwyer

  Arabella waved good-bye to Anthony and Jeremy as Millie rushed her out the door.

  * * * *

  “Oh my God, you’re gorgeous. Have you done any modeling?” Diane asked Arabella as she showed her around the gourmet kitchen.

  Millie chuckled. “She sure is and has gorgeous blue eyes.” Millie sat down on one of the barstools by the island in the kitchen.

  Arabella felt her belly tighten and her cheeks warm at the compliment as she shook her head.

  “Well, you should be. Wait until Monique and Elvira see you,” Diane said as she started opening up files and showing Arabella pictures of different appetizers and finger foods that were to be prepared for the party.

  “Can you do any of these recipes?” Diane asked, her manicured finger tapping on the granite countertop.

  Arabella lifted up the papers. “These are okay. I can make all of these, but…”

  “But what? Oh God, what?” Diane asked in a panic.

  Arabella looked at Millie’s reassuring smile. “These are kind of boring and all mixed up.”

  Diane squinted her eyes at her as if not understanding.

  Arabella took a deep breath and released it. She scanned through the papers and lined them up so Diane could see the pictures of the finished products.

  “You would never place these three things together. First of all, this is a German appetizer and this is Asian. There are too many variations in this display of finger foods.”

  Diane pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and looked from Millie to Arabella. Millie raised her eyebrows as if not knowing if Arabella were right or wrong but she seemed like she knew what she was talking about.

  Arabella continued. “Listen, I need work. I’m sure Millie explained a bit about my situation to you, so I definitely don’t want to screw this up. I can make all of these things but I think you and your guests will be much happier with some variations. This party is two days away. Let me make a small platter of different things I would suggest serving and if you don’t like them, then we can stick to what your other caterer had in mind? How does that sound?”

  Diane smiled. “Sounds great to me. Mark, Lucas, and Drake can be the taste testers. They have some friends coming over for the game in three hours. Is that enough time?”

  Arabella looked at the clock and then at Millie as she wiped her hands on her jeans.

  “I can do it. Just give me a tour of this gourmet kitchen of yours.”

  “Hey, I can help you, too. I don’t need to get back to Second Chances until later.”

  Arabella smiled. “That’s very kind of you. If you’re certain.”

  “Oh, she’s certain. Millie is always looking for new recipes and is very comfortable in the kitchen. Unfortunately for me, I’ve been traveling a bit more often and home-cooked meals have been few and far between. This Sunday I was planning on cooking a big meal for my men. It’s been months since I had the time,” Diane shared.

  “What are you going to make?” Millie asked as she started showing Arabella around the kitchen. Arabella listened as the women talked about their men, making recipes, and things that Arabella felt were probably a normal conversation between good friends. Arabella wished for that kind of friendship. Hell, for adult conversation where she was free to talk about anything at all and didn’t have that constant concern and fear that any moment Kever would walk through a door and find her.

  Before long Millie and Diane had her laughing and telling them some stories about the restaurant Arabella worked at and some of the items she screwed up making when she was fresh out of culinary school.

  Diane left to get ready for her men to come home with their friends as she made sure the beer was on ice in the game room off the living room.

  “This is great, Millie. Thank you for grabbing me this opportunity.”

  Millie smiled. “Not a problem. I’m just glad that we’ve become friends and that you shared a little bit more about your life with me. I’m sure this food you’re preparing is going to taste fantastic. You know, once word spreads about your abilities, you’ll probably get asked to do other parties?”

  “Really?” Arabella asked, suddenly feeling pretty good about this. She had wanted to open up her own restaurant but a smaller, upscale place with only a dozen tables providing a dining experience that truly set her place apart from others. Her dreams were put on hold. Hell, this little job was probably going to be the closest thing she’d ever get to show her culinary abilities. She was going to make it the best. Smiling, she started dicing up the garlic as Millie chopped up the eggplant so they could begin to make a little caponata. It was a tasty dip that could be served with crackers, tortilla chips or even spread on toasted slices of French bread.

  “Oh my God, the place already smells so good,” Millie said as she inhaled and smiled while Arabella sautéed the garlic and onion in the frying pan with olive oil.

  Arabella smiled as she continued to fantasize about what her life could have been like if not for two retired Special Forces men gone criminal. Hell, she could never even reapply for the police academy after she broke into that building to get the key for the security box that nailed Anthony. If she had been caught she would have been locked up for trespassing, breaking and entering, burglary, or whatever else the police could charge her for using the metal pliers to cut open the lock on the desk drawer where the key was. Throw in seducing Sotoro, stabbing his hand with the letter opener, and then witnessing Kever shoot him, and she sure as shit couldn’t make her dreams a reality. She was screwed, and unfortunately, they would have to leave Pearl soon.

  God, if I had been caught, my mom, Cora, and the kids might not have survived. Please, God, make our situation better. Please don’t let Anthony and Kever find us. Let me make some good money so I can get them to a safer place somewhere. Please don’t let this get all screwed up.

  * * * *

  Mark Santos walked into the house and inhaled. The delicious, strong, and inviting aromas of food overwhelmed him. He closed his eyes and walked deeper into the house as Diane greeted him with a huge smile. He smiled, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her.

  “What is going on?” he asked.

  She chuckled. “Millie and Arabella are here. The guys are in the game room. Brock, Smith, Rex, and Reno are with them, waiting impatiently to try some appetizers.”

  “Is that what I smell? What are you making?”

  “Me? No way. Benny and the gang had to cancel out on catering the party Saturday.”

  “What? Why?” he asked, knowing how long Diane had planned this particular event and how important it was.

  “Stomach virus. It hit them all,” she said with her nose scrunched up.

  “Damn. What are you going to do?”

  Diane smiled. “Millie called me when she found out from Anthony and Jeremy about my situation. It seems that Arabella, a young woman new to the shelter, was a chef. She’s in the kitchen right now preparing some foods for a taste test that I said you and the guys would partake in while you’re watching the game.”

  He immediately knew who Diane was talking about. Brock had mentioned to Dale and Virgo that he and his brothers were officially guardians over her and her family.

  “Does she know that Brock and his team are here?”

  Diane had a serious expression. “No. Why?”

  Mark smiled as he placed his arm around her shoulder. “Oh, no reason. Let me get washed up and join the guys for a beer. This is going to be great.” Diane looked at him as if he were crazy.

  He chuckled. “Trust me, you’ll figure it out pretty quickly.”

  * * * *

  “Okay, I think we’re all set.”

  Millie smiled as Diane walked into the kitchen. She stopped and stared. “Oh God, that looks incredible. What is this? And this? Oh, what is that smell?” She looked around at the platters of food and Arabella chuckled.

  “I’ll explain what each item is so that your husbands and his friends can see what they think you shou
ld serve Saturday.”

  “Oh, they are going to love these. Come on. What tray are you bringing out first?” Diane asked excitedly.

  “This one,” Arabella said as she lifted the large tray of caponata, asparagus wrapped in crisp prosciutto, pot stickers, boneless teriyaki chicken on the stick, mango salsa with tortilla for the dips, and some mini, fried meatballs in Hawaiian sauce. The next tray consisted of Stromboli, bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with bleu cheese, stuffed mushrooms, and a few other items like toasted French bread slices with bruschetta to add to them. She was glad that Diane had gone shopping for some of the ingredients needed for the party early. If all went well Arabella would need to replace the items for the actual event.

  She took a deep breath, Diane grabbed the napkins, and they headed out of the kitchen through the living room and into the game room. Arabella could hear the men laughing and then debating a play in the football game when she recognized Smith’s voice. She stopped dead in her tracks when she locked onto the men in the room.

  Smith, Brock, Rex, and Reno were all smiling at something one of Diane’s men said whom Arabella had never met before. She took a moment to absorb the men in their casual jeans, tight T-shirts, cowboy boots, and tattoo-covered muscles as they leaned back against the couch cushions. It was all so natural. She imagined what they might be like if she wasn’t in the predicament she was in, and if she could entertain the attraction she felt to them. Denying that attraction was killing her inside, but she didn’t have a choice. Her family needed to come first. She felt her body shaking and other parts come to life just as Diane interrupted them and told them that food was served.

  The second she walked deeper into the room Smith’s mouth gaped open and then closed, and she wondered if he was upset at seeing her until he smiled wide.

  “Arabella?” he asked, causing the other men to look at her. All their expressions were the same.

  “You guys know Arabella?” Diane asked as she looked back and forth between the men and Arabella.

  “They sure do. They’re her and her family’s appointed guardians,” Mark stated as he walked closer and smiled. “I’m Mark. It’s nice to finally meet you. This smells incredible.”

  She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and nodded. “Nice to meet you, too.” She needed to get a grip.

  “Well, you haven’t met my other husbands. This is Lucas and that’s Drake.” Both men smiled wide and said hello.

  She took a deep breath as she walked the tray to the table in the center of the room. She needed to get a grip. Seeing the men had stirred something in her she was trying so hard to ignore. Yet she hoped they liked her cooking. It was so ridiculous.

  “You made all this?” Reno asked as he picked up a napkin. Diane grabbed some plates and forks then set them down on the table.

  “She sure did. Did you guys know that Arabella was a chef in an upscale restaurant in Chicago?” Diane asked.

  “Chicago, huh?” Rex asked as he stepped very close to her.

  She felt her cheeks warm and she lowered her eyes. “Why don’t I tell you what each thing is and then you can help Diane decide which foods to have at her dinner party Saturday?”

  “Sounds perfect,” Diane said.

  “Dinner party?” Smith asked, and Diane explained her situation.

  A few moments later as the men began to dig in, Arabella described what they were eating as they mumbled compliments and kept reaching for each item.

  “This is incredible,” Drake told her.

  “I’ve never had anything so delicious. Did you say this was bleu-cheese-and-pear tartlets?” Smith asked, and she nodded.

  The food on the platter disappeared pretty quickly.

  “I’ll get the other two platters,” she said.

  “I’ll help you,” Smith offered.

  “That’s okay,” she started to say as he pressed his hand to her lower back and walked along with her.

  “I don’t mind at all, darling,” he whispered. His voice traveled over her skin and straight to her breasts. She felt her nipples harden and her pussy clench. His deep voice, thick body, and masculinity enveloped her.

  She quickly walked faster, and when they got to the kitchen, Millie was popping a piece of food into her mouth. “These are so good. I need the recipe. The guys would love this.” She smiled then waved at Smith.

  “I’ll give you the recipe,” Arabella told her.

  “Can you believe that Arabella was a chef? Or should I say is a chef.”

  “She’s just filled with surprises,” Smith stated as he caressed her arm before he lifted the next platter of food.

  “I am so glad that we decided to get together for the game with Mark and his brothers.”

  “Me, too,” Millie said and smiled. Arabella couldn’t help but think that Millie found this situation amusing. Could she tell that Arabella was attracted to these men and them to her?

  “Come on, darling, you need to explain what’s on this next tray,” Smith said as she followed him back into the room as she carried the last tray with her.

  * * * *

  “Are you okay?” Millie asked Arabella as she started cleaning up the kitchen.

  Arabella looked at her then toward the doorway. It was obvious that she was taken aback at seeing Smith, Brock, Reno, and Rex here at the house. Millie could tell that the men liked Arabella and she seemed to like them. But she was scared and untrusting, and Millie could relate to that.

  “What does it really mean, to have those men as appointed guardians?” she asked. Millie smiled as she walked closer.

  “It means that they volunteered to take responsibility for you and your family as protectors, guides to assist you and get you back on your feet. Although you have been fighting them every step of the way, your sister and mom have taken a liking to the men.”

  Arabella looked up at Millie as she finished wiping down the counter.

  “I don’t need guardians. I’m twenty-six years old and can take care of myself and my family. I need to explain things to my mom and Cora. They shouldn’t be getting so comfortable here.”

  “Why not?” Millie asked.

  “Because we’re not staying here much longer. I just need some more cash so I can get us to the next place.”

  “Then what?”

  “Then I find another job.”

  “Arabella, you don’t have to keep on running. Second Chances can help you and protect you and your family.”

  “I can’t stay here. It’s not a good idea.”

  “Why not?”

  Arabella and Millie turned toward the doorway where Brock stood, leaning against the doorframe.

  “I’m going to see if Diane and the guys made the list of the foods they decided on for the party. I’ll be right back and then we’ll head out,” Millie said and walked out of the room.

  * * * *

  Brock felt his chest tighten and anger fill his gut. Arabella sounded so scared and defeated. He didn’t like seeing her like this.

  “We need to get together and talk. As your guardians, my team and I can help you work through your concerns and see what your options are.”

  “No, Brock.” She shook her head and he walked deeper into the kitchen. He was inches away from her and could smell the scent of food as he stared down into her appealing, bright blue eyes. She was a stunning young woman. Nearly ten years younger than him and all he could think about was protecting her, taking her into his arms, and making her see how safe he and his team could make her feel.

  “It’s not up for discussion. As your appointed guardians we take this position very seriously.”

  “Brock, I don’t need guardians.”

  “You do living in this town. We all protect the women and children of Pearl.”

  She took a deep breath and released it. “I’m not staying in town much longer. In fact, the money I get paid from this job working for Diane will help my family and I get through at least a week of travel on the road.”

  He held h
er gaze, reached out, and took her hand into his. She tried pulling back but he held it firmly then stepped closer. Reaching up, he gently ran his knuckles against her soft skin on her cheek.

  “Aren’t you tired of running? Don’t you want to start living and settling down?”

  He saw the emotion hit her eyes and she swallowed hard, trying to keep that emotion hidden. But he saw it. She was proud, strong, and determined. She was also distrusting and he needed to break down those walls quickly so she wouldn’t leave Pearl.

  “Darling, my team and I can protect you. This town has people, resources that can help you and your family to be safe again.”

  “I don’t believe you.”

  His eyes widened. He was shocked by her instant negative response.

  He caressed her cheek and held her gaze as he stared down into her bright blue eyes.

  “Baby, I’m telling you the truth. Let us in. Trust us and I promise that you won’t regret it.”

  She held his gaze and shook her head. Her voice cracked as she spoke. “I can’t.”

  “You mean you won’t.”

  “I don’t know how,” she said, her lip quivering. He felt so badly for her. His heart ached, and it made him realize how important Arabella had become so instantly to him.

  “I can help you with that. Starting right now.”

  He leaned down and kissed her softly. Her eyes closed and he pulled back before kissing her again, a little deeper.

  “Arabella, I need to head back to the shelter. Are you almost done cleaning up?” Millie asked, interrupting them. Brock was annoyed by the interruption. Arabella stepped back but he pulled her closer against him as he turned to look at Millie and Diane.

  “You can head out. I’ll get her back there when she’s done here,” he stated firmly.

  Diane and Millie looked at Arabella.

  “Is that okay?” Millie asked, and when Arabella nodded her head, he felt a bit of relief. Maybe, just maybe he was making progress.

  * * * *