by Becca Van
“Ever heard of false ID?” Joni asked facetiously.
Her ex had played her from the start even giving her a false name and address. She’d fallen for his good looks and charm and after six months of dating he’d moved into her apartment with her.
That was the day he’d begun to change. John had criticized everything about her. Her weight, her clothes, her hair, her body and the day she’d stood up to him and asked him to leave was the day she’d ended up in the hospital. He’d beaten her black and blue, broken a couple of ribs, and then taken off. Joni had spent two weeks in the hospital and had vowed from then on to never get involved with another man again. That had been two years ago and although she’d just turned twenty-five she had her whole life ahead of her. She didn’t ever want another man in her life.
“I know John fooled you, Joni, but not all men are like him.”
“I know,” Joni sighed. “But after what he did to me I just can’t go through that again. It would destroy me. He lied to me and whenever he was on a so-called sales trip he was actually with his wife.”
“You shouldn’t feel guilty about that, honey. He lied to you.”
“Yes, he did and because of that and what he did, I have huge trust issues.”
“That’s understandable, but not every man on this planet is a bigamous abusive asshole. I’m so glad he got his just desserts, though. If you hadn’t pressed charges for assault and gone on the witness stand at his trial his poor wife might still be with him.”
Joni nodded. She knew Kara was right. She wished she’d known Kara back then. She was a great friend and had helped her come out of her shell, but she still had a long way to go. She’d even seen a counselor and although her confidence had grown, it was nowhere near where it had been before she’d met John. She was just glad her mom would never know how gullible she’d been.
Her mother had died when Joni had turned twenty in a hit-and-run accident and when the cops came knocking on her door months later after searching for her mother’s murderer, she’d been shocked to find out her estranged father had killed her. It had taken her a long time to get over the grief and trauma, which had eventually turned to anger. Anger at her father for taking the only person who had ever loved her unconditionally away from her.
It had taken her years to come to terms with the fact she was feeling guilty because she was still alive and then she’d met John, whose real name had turned out to be Angus Peace. He’d lied to her about everything. What his name was, how old he was, and, oh yeah, there was the fact he was married with a couple of kids.
She’d been lying in a hospital bed in pain and so totally wary of everything and then she met Tanya Peace. Tanya had come to see her and make sure she was all right after her husband was arrested.
Joni’s first instinct was embarrassed shame and she’d apologized to Tanya, and then she’d found the whole sordid story pouring out of her mouth and she’d cried so much she’d been sick.
Tanya had been absolutely wonderful and thanked Joni for having the courage to press charges against her husband. She’d been dealing with physical and verbal abuse from the cowardly bastard for four years, but hadn’t had the courage to call the police or leave.
The teary-eyed woman had said she forgave Joni, although there was nothing to be forgiven for since she’d been had by a con man, and just before she’d left she told Joni she was going to file for divorce, get her kids, and leave town.
Joni had wished her well and, with a wave, Tanya was gone.
She blinked as she came back to the present and realized that Kara was awaiting a response. “I know that not every man is like John was, but I can’t do that again.”
She swallowed audibly and looked around when she noticed the noise in the club had diminished and realized she had been almost shouting so Kara could hear her. She glanced up at Nix and Nate and quickly looked away when she saw they were staring at her, both of them with frowns on their faces. They’d obviously heard every word she’d said and she wondered if they’d heard the whole conversation or just the last part of it. She shifted from foot to foot and sighed again, but this time with relief when loud music began to play once more.
“I think I should just head on home, Kara.” She waved her hand in the air to indicate the club room and continued on. “This just isn’t me.”
“How do you know that?” a deep tenor said from behind her. “Have you ever tried BDSM?”
Joni’s first instinct was to whip her head around to look over her shoulder and see who had spoken, but she forced herself to remain still and not respond.
“Hey, Thomas, Gabe, Nic. How are you doing?”
“Hello, Kara. We’re fine. You’re looking very sexy tonight.”
Joni felt every hair on her body stand up as the new male voice washed over her but she continued to stay still. Every muscle in her body was as tense as a bowstring ready to fire and the urge to look behind her was almost too much to ignore, but she compelled her body to obey her mind.
“Thanks.” Kara smiled, and then she reached out to grab hold of Joni’s wrist and tugged her next to her before she placed her hands on her shoulders to turn her around.
“Nic, Gabe, Tom, I’d like you to meet a good friend of mine. This is Joni Meeks.”
Joni looked up and blinked when all she saw were three broad muscular, material-covered chests before she lifted her gaze up over wide shoulders to meet three pairs of eyes looking at her avidly. She swallowed and nervously licked dry lips, before locking gazes with soulful brown eyes. His dark brown hair was cut short but still long enough to run fingers through. When she saw his Adam’s apple move she lowered her gaze and watched the sexy masculine motion and then she met his eyes again.
The man took a step forward and held his hand out to her. “I’m Nicholas Flange but everyone calls me Nic.”
“Hello.” Joni took the proffered hand and, as soon as her skin touched his, she wanted to draw back, but made herself clasp his hand for an introduction before pulling away. She hated the way her body reacted to his handsome face and sexy body, but there was no way she was going to act on the attraction she felt or let her awareness of him show.
“Pleased to meet you, Joni.”
She shifted her gaze to the black-haired man and drew in a deep breath when she met his searching green eyes. “I’m Gabe Solar.”
“Hi.” Once again Joni had to curb the tingles racing throughout her body as she shook hands with the good-looking man.
She surreptitiously wiped her hand on her jeans and met the hazel eyes of the last man.
“Hi, Joni. I’m Thomas Quentin. You can call me Tom or Quen, whatever you’d prefer.”
She gripped Tom’s outstretched hand, clasped it, and quickly let go again. “It’s nice to meet you all.” Joni turned to Kara and glared at her, but when she spoke she made sure to keep her voice calm and modulated. “I have to get going, Kara. I have an early start tomorrow.”
“But…” Kara began but Joni interrupted her.
“Thanks for inviting me. I’ll see you next Friday,” Joni said and, before Kara could say anything else, she turned and hurried toward the exit. She didn’t need to look back to know that she was being watched. Nic, Tom, and Gabe had been leaning against the bar earlier watching her, and although she’d been uncomfortable at their perusal, she’d also been flattered.
It didn’t matter she was blonde or she had blue eyes. She was passably pretty but wasn’t model material. A couple of years ago she may well have started flirting with them, but after John she didn’t want attention from the opposite sex ever again.
The pain of his beating had faded but she still remembered the agony she endured from his fists and feet as he’d kicked her, yet it was the shame that she couldn’t let go of. She was ashamed of ever falling for such a lying, narcissistic asshole. It didn’t matter that her therapist had told her she had nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about and that it wasn’t her fault she’d been abused verbally or physically.
Joni wasn’t about to let anyone treat her like that ever again. Even if it meant being alone for the rest of her life.
Chapter Two
“Why is Joni scared of men?” Gabe asked Kara.
Kara glanced at Nixon and Nate before meeting Gabe’s eyes again. “I’m sorry, but I can’t answer that. It’s not my story to tell.”
Gabe was proud of Kara for keeping Joni’s secret, but he was also pissed off. He wanted to know everything about the little blonde. Kara had become much more confident under Nixon’s and Nate’s loving care and even though he wanted to continue to grill her, he just nodded his head.
“Okay, little sub. What can you tell me about her?”
Kara took a sip of her drink and tilted her head slightly. When Nixon shifted behind her, pulled her back against his body, and wrapped his arms around her, she relaxed against her Dom and sighed. “What do you want to know?”
“Everything,” Nic answered in a firm voice.
“I don’t feel comfortable talking about someone who isn’t here.”
“How about you answer a few questions then?” Tom suggested.
Kara nodded. “I can do that, but only ones I think are appropriate.”
“What does she do for a living?” Gabe asked.
“She works in a restaurant as a bar manager, but if you ask me, she manages the whole place. When she has any spare time she also likes to write.”
“What does she write?” Nic questioned.
Kara looked away before meeting Nic’s eyes. “Romance.”
“There’s more to that answer isn’t there, Kara?” Tom speculated.
Kara nodded again. “If you want an in-depth answer, you’ll have to ask Joni.”
“Fair enough,” Tom said. “Does she live locally?”
“Yes.”
“Which side of town?” Nic sipped from his beer.
“Not far from where I used to live.”
“So she’s struggling?” Gabe more stated than asked.
“Joni has been struggling by choice. She is saving up for her own restaurant, but I think she should be concentrating on her writing. She has such a talent for it.”
“Where does she work?” Nic queried.
“Why isn’t she concentrating on her writing?” Tom enquired.
“Uh…”
Gabe noted the expressions flitting across Kara’s face and knew she didn’t want to answer so decided to put her out of her misery and asked the next question rolling around in his mind. “How old is she?”
“How old do you think she is?” Kara asked.
“Twenty-two,” Tom guessed.
“No.”
“Twenty-one?” Nic frowned.
“No.”
“Twenty-five.” Gabe gave a stab in the dark. Joni had a young fresh face and it was hard to gauge her age, but from the sadness and wariness he’d seen in her eyes, she was older than her physical years.
“Yes.”
“Thank God,” Tom muttered loud enough for Gabe and Nic to hear.
They were all over thirty and didn’t want to rob the cradle. As they’d matured they’d vowed never to play with anyone under the age of twenty-two. Gabe had just turned thirty-four but it didn’t bother him that he was nine years older than Joni. In his opinion, age didn’t matter in the course of love and attraction, but some people had weird values about men dating younger women or vice versa. Not that he cared what anyone else thought about him and his friends, but he was getting older and wanted to have a permanent relationship.
He sighed with frustration and ran his fingers through his hair. Joni was gorgeous and sexy. He wished she was still here so he and his buddies could get to know her, but from the way she’d rushed off, she wasn’t the least bit interested in getting to know them.
That didn’t mean she wasn’t attracted to them, though. He’d seen the way her nipples had been pushing against the blue material of her shirt and the way her breathing had escalated as she looked up at them. Plus, there was the way she’d shivered when she shook hands with each of them.
He wanted to ask Kara for Joni’s address so he could go and visit, but knew she wouldn’t be comfortable giving out personal information about her friend. He admired her for that, but he didn’t know how he was going to learn more about Joni any other way.
“Does Joni have a boyfriend?” Nic asked.
“No.”
Gabe nearly sagged with relief when he heard Kara answer but then tensed up when Tom asked his question.
“Is she into women?”
“No.” Kara stepped to the side and then clutched at Nixon’s and Nate’s hands. “Guys, I really don’t think she wants a man or men right now. She’s concentrating on her career.”
“Has she had anything published?” Gabe asked.
“Yes, but it takes time for an author to see any earnings. Plus, there’s the fact with all the people stealing and sharing books online. When she told me about that it made me so angry. Here she is working so hard to get her career off the ground only to have others stealing her work. That’s like someone breaking into my home and taking money from my purse or getting into my wages and taking it.
“How can other people live with their consciences knowing they are stealing? I’d bet my ass they’d be screaming the house down if someone took money from their pay or purse, or went into their home and stole their belongings.”
“Some people have no morals, that’s for sure,” Nic said with an indignant look on his face.
Gabe was sure he probably looked just as angry as Nic and Tom did. He hated that some people had no sense of right or wrong and didn’t think stealing was wrong. He wished he could do something to help Joni out, but he couldn’t, especially when she didn’t seem interested in him and his pals. He just hoped that one day real soon he and his friends would meet the woman of their dreams.
He wanted to be able to hold his woman through the night and wake up to her each morning. He wanted to make a life and have kids. None of the subs in the club did anything for him anymore. Of course, when they’d first joined Gabe, Nic, and Tom had played every weekend but it got old real soon, until all he ever came to the club for was to socialize. He didn’t want to have meaningless sex with a woman. He wanted to love and be loved in return.
Sex for the sake of sex just didn’t do it for him anymore.
They said good-bye to Kara, Nixon, and Nate and headed out.
Just as he reached to door handle to the front passenger seat of Nic’s truck, all three of their cell phones went off. Gabe drew his phone from his pocket and glanced at the text message.
“Fuck!” He looked over at Tom to see him standing next to his open truck door.
“What the hell?” Tom spat. “That’s two waitresses in two months.”
“Something has to be wrong,” Nic said. “We’ve never had anyone leave in quick succession before.”
“You’re right,” Gabe said, rubbing a hand over his face. “I think we need to spend some time at the pub and find out what the hell is going on.”
“Yeah,” Tom agreed. “We’re going to have to advertise for another waitress.”
“Toby’s usually real good at handling staff issues,” Nic said. “We need to call a meeting lunchtime tomorrow and this time I think we should do the hiring.”
“Toby will get his nose out of joint. He’s been hiring and firing for years.” Gabe leaned on the truck.
“That may be, but something is going ass up.” Tom moved a couple of steps closer.
“I’ll put an ad online tomorrow morning, but I doubt we’ll get anyone to interview by lunch.” Gabe kept his eyes on his cell as he texted the pub manager, Toby, to set up a meeting and was pleased when he got an almost instant reply. “Okay, we have a meeting at 1 p.m.”
“Do you think Toby’s losing it?” Nic asked.
“He was fine the last time we saw him.” Gabe shoved his cell back in his pocket.
“Yeah, but he’s getting on. He
could have a touch of Alzheimer’s or something.”
“Shit. I hadn’t thought of that.”
“Surely our people wouldn’t quit just because Toby’s sick.” Tom sighed.
“Won’t know until we have our meeting. Let’s not cross any bridges until we get to them.”
“Okay,” Tom replied. “See you at home.”
Gabe and Nic got into the truck. Gabe hoped Toby was okay, but he had a horrible feeling they were going to need to spend more time at the pub. Not that he minded. He actually enjoyed the pub they owned. They were doing so well he’d been thinking of expanding and buying another hotel.
Tom enjoyed doing security and although he and Nic had started out in security, too, he and Nic preferred to be outdoors doing gardening than being inside all the time. They had started up a landscaping business and spent most of their time planning and setting up gardens for people who didn’t have the time to do such things themselves.
And as those thoughts flittered through his mind, he began to wonder if buying and doing up another pub was viable when none of them had been spending anytime at the one they already owned. He would need to talk to his friends and ask their opinion, but for right now he couldn’t keep his thoughts from wandering back to Joni.
“Do you think she wasn’t interested?” Nic glanced at him before turning his eyes back to the road.
“Did you study her body language?” Gabe countered.
“Yeah. She was attracted to us, but she didn’t like it.” Nic sighed.
“She was scared.”
“Yeah, but why?”
“That’s the million dollar question, isn’t it?”
“I admire Kara for sticking to her guns and staying tight lipped about her friend, but it was hard not to push her for more.”
“Agreed. That little lady has come a long way under her Doms’ care.”
“If we had the chance, we’d be able to get to the heart of Joni’s fears, too.”
“You and I know that, but I can’t see her letting us get near her.” Gabe shifted in his seat to look at Nic. “We don’t even know where she lives.”