by Marla Monroe
She listened in as the others discussed what had to be done to get ready for the bake sale. She and Briana were going to print the signs for the bake sale and the tickets for the raffle. Now that the date had been decided for the bake sale, she and Briana could start designing the signs and getting them ready to distribute.
“Any idea what the guys are going to want to do for the raffle yet?” she asked Tina.
“I don’t have a clue. They said they would decide tonight and let us know.”
Carly stood up and stretched. “I better run. I need to work on some laundry. I’ll talk to you later.”
Alexis stood up as the others began to do the same. She needed to think about getting ready for work the next day as well. She would be able to get more done once the guys had left to meet about the raffle project, but she hoped they would be up for a little fooling around in the meantime.
Just as she was pulling out of the parking lot, someone got out of a car and approached Parker. She almost pulled back in, but someone had pulled into her parking place so she continued down the road, heading for home. Something didn’t seem right about what she had seen. As soon as she got home, she was going to call Parker and be sure the other woman was okay.
* * * *
Dillon and Gavin walked into Fugly’s bar at 6:00 p.m. and headed straight to where the others had gathered in the back around several tables. Gavin nodded at the others as he and Dillon took their seats. He could tell the conversation was about Parker from the expressions on everyone’s face.
“So this bitch saw her car and stopped just to attack her?” Ranger was asking.
Allen nodded. “She was yelling at her before she even got out of the car good. Called her a slut and a whore. I swear if she wasn’t a woman I’d teach her a lesson.”
“What did Parker do?” Kyle asked.
Shane smiled evilly. “She laughed and told her she was just jealous because she couldn’t get one man of her own, much less two.”
“So what is it all about? Why did this start back up?” Neal asked.
“It seems that another women’s group had decided to sponsor the children’s orphanage our women are sponsoring, and when they found out who had beat them to the punch, they decided to be pissy about it.” Cole took a pull on his beer.
Gavin didn’t like the sound of things. He didn’t want Briana to have to deal with shit like that. He didn’t have a clue what they could do about it though. He and Dillon exchanged glances.
“Maybe they should think about backing away from this one and choose something else,” he finally said.
“Are you going to be the one to suggest that to them?” Zack shook his head.
Gavin sighed. “I see your point. Briana would cut us off for even thinking about it.”
“Tina has her heart set on helping those kids. I don’t think there’s any way they’ll back away from this,” Cole said.
“Then I guess we better come up with a project for them to raffle off,” West said.
“What are the suggestions, guys?” Zack had a pad and pen ready to make notes.
They batted around several ideas from an elaborate deck to designing a home office complete with custom-built shelves and a built-in desk. They talked about the pros and cons of each idea and quickly dismissed the deck since they would be doing the work during the months of January and February. They would need to be able to work inside as much as possible with the weather being cold and possibly wet.
“I like the idea of the home office,” Ranger said, “but a library would be nice, too.”
“If we narrow it down to one thing, it might cut out a lot of potential sales with people who don’t need a library or an office. Why don’t we list an offer to make over any single room except a bathroom or bedroom?” Kyle suggested.
“I think Kyle’s right, but I think we need to list what we’ll do so there’s no unexpected demands.” Allen exchanged his empty bottle for a fresh beer from the waitress.
“Good point,” Cole said.
Zack was busy making notes. Gavin watched the other man, noting that he seemed worried. He kept looking at his watch. Come to think of it, Cole seemed preoccupied as well. Where they worried about Tina for some reason?
They all talked over the various ideas for several more minutes before everyone finally agreed to list three projects the winner could choose from. Zack pulled out his cell phone and texted someone then nodded at Cole.
“Okay, it’s settled then. We’ll list the three projects as custom-built cabinets in the kitchen, custom-built desk and shelves in an office, or custom shelves and cabinets in a laundry room.” Cole stood up. “Okay, guys. That settles everything. Zack and I need to get home. We’ll talk to you later.”
The group broke up and paid their tabs before heading out as well. Gavin glanced over at Dillon as they climbed into the truck. His brother must have caught on to Zack and Cole’s preoccupation with something else.
“What do you think is going on with them?” Dillon asked as they pulled out of the parking lot.
“I’m not sure. Did you see Zack text someone several times?”
“Bet it was Tina. I bet they’re worried about how all of this is affecting her. I know I’m not too thrilled with Briana dealing with a bunch of bitchy women.”
“Yeah, but I know I’m not about to tell her she doesn’t need to get involved.” Gavin steered toward home.
“Maybe it will cool off now pretty quick. Now that it’s a done deal with the children’s home, they will probably find another charity to work on and forget about it.”
Gavin wasn’t so sure about that. He had a bad feeling about everything. He couldn’t help but feel relieved when they pulled into their drive several minutes later. As soon as they walked into the door, he headed for the nursery to check on Darla and Deanna. Both girls were sound asleep. He smiled to himself. They were beautiful as they lay sleeping. Lord knew they were a handful when awake.
He turned to walk out of the room and almost ran over his brother. The other man grinned at him.
“Hard to believe they are so quiet, isn’t it.”
“Shhh, don’t wake them up.” Gavin shook his head and slapped Gavin on the shoulder. “Where’s Briana?”
“Sound asleep in her chair with her Kindle in her lap.”
He nodded. “Does it look like she’s had her bath yet?”
Dillon shook his head. “She’s still wearing her jeans and shirt from earlier. I’ll run the bath.”
Gavin followed Dillon to the bedroom where sure enough, Briana was stretched out in her lounge chair with her e-reader. He wondered what she had been reading before she fell asleep. Probably one of her sexy books, as he called them. He loved it when she had been reading one of them and came to get them. She was always so hot and wet for them. After their round of raunchy sex the night before, he knew she would be a little sore. A nice hot bath would help her relax and sleep.
Dillon walked out of the bathroom. “Bath’s ready. I’ll help you undress her.”
They walked over and knelt down beside her chair. Dillon bent over and kissed her lightly on the lips. Gavin kissed her neck and then nipped lightly at her jaw. Her eyes fluttered open, and a smile pulled at her lips.
“Hey, you’re back.” She sat up and stretched. “What did you all decide on?”
“We’ll tell you all about it while you soak. Dillon has your bath ready.” Gavin began unbuttoning her shirt.
“Mmm, that sounds good. Did you check on the girls? Are they still asleep?”
“Sound asleep, baby. Come on. Let’s get these jeans off of you.” Gavin helped her stand as Dillon pulled her shirt off.
“Didn’t realize I was sleepy.”
“Either that or your book wasn’t very interesting.” Dillon winked at her.
Briana’s face turned a pretty shade of pink. She had been reading one of her dirty books. He couldn’t help but tease her.
“So what was it tonight? BDSM or a little ménage?�
�
“Maybe it was just a normal book with normal sex.”
“Honey, you don’t do anything normal.” Dillon chuckled.
Once again her face turned pink, but she pouted and marched toward the bathroom with them right behind her. He couldn’t help but groan at the lovely view of her twitching ass as she walked ahead of them. He glanced over and caught Dillon adjusting his dick in his pants. Fuck that. He began tugging on his belt with the intentions of getting naked. He stopped to pull off his boots then hurried to the bathroom to claim his seat in the tub. It was no surprise to him that Dillon was right behind him.
“Hey! What are you guys doing? I don’t remember inviting you to bathe with me.” Briana stuck her hands on her hips and glared at them.
Gavin cupped her face in his hands. “Please, baby. We want to help you bathe.”
She tried to hold her glare, but it didn’t last long against their puppy dog faces. He and Dillon had learned to make them soon after they married her. She couldn’t resist them when they appeared to beg. Gavin wouldn’t admit to begging for anything in his life.
“Oh, okay. No funny business. Tell me what you decided on for the raffle. I’m dying to know. We have to make the tickets and the signs to advertise it.”
Dillon helped her get in the tub as he settled down at the back where she could lean back against him. He snagged the bath cloth and soaped it up to wash her back.
His brother grabbed another one and began washing her feet, careful not to unbalance her so that she fell back in the process. He explained what they had all talked about then told her what they had settled on doing.
“That’s a wonderful idea. I like that. We’ll get more sales by giving them a choice. I can’t wait to get started on the tickets and signs.”
“Do you need us to help with them, baby?” Dillon continued to wash her legs, moving up to her thighs.
“Thanks, but Alexis is helping me with them. She’ll come over one day next week when we both have free time. I can’t wait to get started.”
“Just don’t overdo it working on this. You know how you get sometimes. This is supposed to be fun for you, not a job.” Gavin didn’t want her to wear herself out.
“I won’t. I just hope those idiots in that other group don’t cause problems for us. Parker was really upset about it earlier.”
Gavin and Dillon looked at each other over her shoulder. She didn’t seem to notice. He planned to hang around wherever she went from now on. He didn’t want something like that happening to her.
“I wish I had still been there. I would have backed that bitch back into her car.”
Gavin jerked. “I don’t want you getting hurt, Briana. Promise us you be careful when you’re out somewhere.”
“I’ll be fine, guys. Nothing’s going to happen, anyway. They’re all hot air. I can’t imagine any of them getting their precious nails chipped by doing anything to us. Parker might be from money and have social connections, but she’s nothing like those other women. They’re cold and act like whiney leeches just looking for somewhere to latch on and suck you dry.”
Gavin couldn’t help but chuckle at her analogy. He couldn’t agree with her more.
Chapter Five
Carly stretched once she was finished loading her baked goods into the car. Drew closed the door for her and pulled her into a hug.
“Don’t forget. We’re all taking turns staying with you girls while you work your bake sale. If you need anything, ask one of the guys. There’s no need for any of you women to do anything other than sell those cakes and pies.”
She grinned up at him then kissed him lightly on the lips. Ranger pulled her his way next. He didn’t say anything, just took her mouth in a hard kiss that turned her on. His heavy-lidded eyes told her he wasn’t unaffected by the kiss either. She giggled and pulled away.
“None of that, Ranger. I have to get going. We can discuss that look when I get back.”
“Can’t blame me for trying.” Ranger grinned and helped her into the car before closing the door behind her.
She quickly fastened her seat belt and started the car. She needed to hurry so she wouldn’t be late. Hopefully they would sell everything quickly. She couldn’t wait to get back to her men.
When she pulled up outside the grocery store where tables where already set up, Neal and Mark, Alex’s husbands walked over and began unloading her car before she even got out.
“I’ve got your car, Carly. You can help the others set up.” Mark opened her car door and helped her out.
Then he got in and drove it over to the side of the building where she assumed he was parking it. She liked having valet service. Everyone had already arrived, and the tables were full of pies, cakes, and cookies.
“Man, it’s actually cold out here. I hope it warms up some.” She was wearing a coat and had gloves in her pocket if she needed them.
“We’ve got a few blankets if we get too cold.” Parker pointed to them lying on one of the chairs.
“The posters turned out great, you guys!” Carly walked around the table and hugged everyone.
“Yeah, Briana and Alexis did wonderful jobs with them. Don’t forget to try and sell some raffle tickets while we’re here.” Parker pulled her tickets out of her coat pocket.
They chatted about what they were planning for Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday. They were all getting together on Saturday for a group meal. They started getting busy around lunchtime and were steady after that. The men took turns staying with them to be sure they had help if they needed it. The women took turns standing by the table and sitting in the chairs.
By four that afternoon they only had a few cakes and pies left when a group of women approached the tables from the parking lots. There looked to be about eight of them. Carly was sitting down at the time and heard Parker, who was sitting next to her, curse. Then the other woman stood up and walked up to the table. Carly figured something was up and stood up to offer her support.
“I can’t believe they let the likes of you sell anything out in front of their store.” This came from a tall woman with long blonde hair. She crossed her arms and stared at them.
“Caro. What are you doing here?” Parker stared at the woman.
“Wondering how you managed to get the manager of the store to let you sell your dirty cakes and pies here. I know I wouldn’t want to buy them considering where they came from.”
The women behind Caro all murmured and nodded. Carly noticed that a small crowd had begun to form. She had no doubt they were wondering what was going on with so many women standing around.
“Caro, why don’t you get on with your shopping and stop causing trouble.” Parker glared at the other woman.
Carly was glad to see Cole and Zack stepping up to the tables. The women all noticed and took a step back. Well, everyone except for Caro, who all but hissed at the men.
“I can’t believe anyone would buy something from you if they knew you were living in sin and with a gang of bikers. There’s no telling what sort of diseases they have.”
“Caro, you better be careful what you say. I would hate for you to get sued for slander.” Alexis had a pad and paper along with her phone. “I’m taping what you say. I work for a group of lawyers. It would be really easy to write this up.”
“You wouldn’t dare!” Another woman stepped up from the crowd behind Caro.
Alexis chuckled. “Oh, but I would.”
“It’s not slander for telling the truth, and it’s the truth that you all live with two men and they ride motorcycles.”
Someone from the back of the gathering crowd yelled out. “So! My husband rides a motorcycle sometimes. I don’t see anything wrong with that.”
“Right,” someone else called out.
Loud murmurs began to move around the crowd. Caro didn’t look the least bit worried. Instead she looked over her shoulder at her followers and nodded toward the store. They strode off, having stirred up trouble like they had planned to do.
/> Carly was afraid that their bake sale had come to an end, but when someone stepped up and bought one of the remaining items on the table, she relaxed a little. Maybe Caro’s plan had backfired on her. Several more people stepped up to buy after that. They even managed to sell quite a few raffle tickets.
Cole and Zack kept the crowd from blocking the entrance to the store so that management wouldn’t get upset. By the time they had sold the last pie, everyone was exhausted. Carly was excited that she had almost sold all of her tickets already. They still had two weeks to go.
Ranger and Drew showed up to help take down the tables and help pack everyone up. Despite Caro’s attempt to ruin their sale, they’d done well. Now they had enough money to buy the wrapping paper and other supplies they would need to wrap all of the gifts they would buy with the sales from the raffle tickets.
Once everything was cleaned up, the women all said good-bye and headed home. Drew rode with her in the car. She told him all about what had happened with Caro and her followers and how Alexis had put a stop to her.
“I’m sorry you had to deal with that, babe. Ranger and I don’t like this at all.”
“Drew, there are always going to be people who don’t agree with how we live our lives. All we can do is ignore them and not let them upset us.” She smiled over at him.
When they pulled up in the drive behind Ranger’s truck, Carly sighed. She had enjoyed the bake sale for the most part, but she was glad to be home now. Her feet ached, and she had gotten cold standing around. Ranger helped her out of the car while Drew unlocked the door. The minute they were inside, the men converged on her. When Ranger’s hand began tugging on her sweater, pulling it over her head, Carly had no doubt what was in store for her. She grinned and ran, anticipating what they would do to her once they finally caught her.