Rock You Like a Hurricane: Stormy Weather, Book 1

by Lena Matthews

  Speaking of which… “So, what happened to your date?” Olivia was pretty sure her voice sounded completely normal and not quaking at all, even though she was shaking in her shoes.

  “She’s still at the dean’s house,” he said as he approached her side. “Probably getting drunk on merlot even as we speak.”

  “Oh. How charming,” she replied dryly as he sidled up next to her with his back to the sink, matching her pose for pose. “She sounds like a lovely lady.”

  “She’s no Olivia.” His lips quirked slightly at the comment. “But as a fellow colleague, she serves her purpose for functions such as these.”

  “I’m sure she does.” Whoever the hell she was. Olivia never asked and Greg never offered. Their agreement was simple. Openness, honesty and safety. Names weren’t part of the deal. Well, not her side of it anyway. Greg had been more than willing to be upfront with whom he was seeing. It was Olivia who preferred not knowing the details. As long as he was playing safe, she was content. Or so she told him. It was the only lie she fibbed to him about, but a necessary one in her eyes.

  Greg, on the other hand, wanted to know about Jack and vice versa, for reasons Olivia would never fathom. The less she knew about the other women in their lives, the better she stuck to her diet. Cheesecake was jealousy’s best friend, and Olivia’s ass was big enough.

  “What time do you have to go back to pick her up?”

  “I don’t. I’d planned to be here through the storm.” Greg crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back against the counter. “Unless you’d prefer I didn’t because of your company.”

  Olivia smiled and placed her hand on his arm. “No, of course I want you to stay. I just don’t want you to…fight. I know this is extremely uncomfortable.”

  “Do I look,” Greg arched a brow, “uncomfortable to you?”

  Olivia didn’t know how to answer. He didn’t seem out of sorts. Far from it, but even if he was, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to tell. Whether it was a British thing, or a studious thing, Greg didn’t ruffle. Far from it. And he didn’t appear to be deviating from the script just yet.

  “Okay, let me rephrase. I know this is extremely uncomfortable for me.” She paused for a second as she thought about the other individual in the equation. “And possibly Jack.”

  Greg smiled, clearly amused by her statement. “I think your suitor can handle himself, love.”

  “I’m sure both of my suitors can handle themselves.” Greg might not be as muscular as Jack but she didn’t think for a second his ass would be an easy one to beat. “I’m just not sure I can handle the two of you.”

  The easy grin that had graced his lips just seconds earlier slid away. “Do you want me to leave?”

  “No.” She turned so she was facing him head on. She wanted him not only to hear the truth of her words, but see it on her face as well. “That’s the last thing I want. I can’t express how happy just seeing you has made me. To know you were willing to cut your evening short to be with me is humbling.”

  “If I thought for a second you would have gone to the dinner with me tonight, I would have invited you as my date instead.”

  Olivia had to stop herself from recoiling in shock at his announcement. She’d never attended anything work-related with him in the past. They’d done dinner with a few of his close friends, but other than that, they mostly spent time alone. The majority of it naked.

  “Why so shocked?”

  “I know. You’ve never said anything like this before.”

  “That’s because I know you’re not big on crowds, plus these things are dreadfully boring. If we’re going to go out somewhere, I’d rather it be some place I know you’re going to have a good time.”

  His words took a second for her to process. All this time, she’d thought the reason he’d never invited her to his work functions was because she didn’t fit in. Now she realized he didn’t because he was thinking about her. And what she would have liked. Just when she thought she knew everything there was to know about him, Greg peeled back another layer of his shield and let her in a bit more. How could she or any other woman not love him? “I’m not a fan of crowds. But I am a fan of you. And I would have gone, no matter how dreadfully boring it was. For you.”

  “Then consider yourself invited next time.”

  “I’d like that.” A loud crack of thunder caused her to jump and bring her thoughts back to her immediate issue. The storm would be there quicker than she would be ready for it, and without the windows boarded up she would soon be locking herself in the bathroom, rocking back and forth in the tub. “I need to find those nails.” She could hash out her very complicated beaus later. Right now she had to protect her home.

  Olivia turned back around and began to open every drawer in sight in search of the boxes in question. She knew they were in the kitchen, because she used them not long ago for hanging pictures, but where she put them in the kitchen afterwards was really anyone’s guess. One of these days she’d organize all this kind of stuff so she wasn’t caught hunting like this in the next emergency.

  After a few minutes of fruitless searching, Greg called out from behind her. “This what you’re looking for?”

  Olivia turned to see Greg holding three boxes of nails in his hand. “You are a Godsend.” And she wasn’t just referring to the nails. Having Greg there, although it was what even the most positive person might call an awkward situation, comforted her. Knowing both her men were with her made her happy.

  Jack opened the back door and entered with a blast of wind and whipping rain. While they’d been busy talking and looking for nails, he’d been busy outside. He’d even found time to add a few extra layers to protect against the storm. “Hey, Liv, it’s getting worse. I think Greg and I can handle this. Why don’t you make the coffee and keep it coming. It’s cold as hell out there.”

  He didn’t need to tell her twice. Just the idea of going out in the storm gave her the shakes. She was more than happy to sit in the nice warm kitchen and keep the home fires burning. “If you’re sure.” She didn’t want to give them a chance to change their minds, but she wanted to at least pretend to protest.

  “Of course we can take care of this.” Greg pulled her close and gave her a hard, fast kiss that left her heart racing and her legs wobbly. He smiled in satisfaction and nodded at her bemused look. “We’ll be back in a bit.”

  After picking up his coat and slipping it in on, Greg walked to the door and waited for Jack. To her surprise though, instead of following him, Jack headed toward Olivia and pulled her into his arms. Instead of the brief kiss she’d just received from Greg, Jack kissed her thoroughly, exploring her mouth with his and her backside with his hands. His coat was wet from the rain, but heat radiated from the kiss he gave her, chasing the chills away and warming her from the inside out. When he finally released her, Olivia reached out behind her and grabbed hold of the sink again to steady her once more.

  Good lord, these men were hell on her equilibrium and her libido.

  “Yeah, Liv, we’ll be right back.” Jack mimicked Greg’s words, a hint of laughter hidden there. Before she could say anything, Jack hustled Greg from the kitchen and out into the storm.

  Olivia let out a shaky sigh and made her way over to the table. She sank like lead into the chair, and then dropped her head into her hands. “Oh. My. Lord,” she muttered to herself.

  This was ridiculous. This was crazy. This was unbelievable. This was…hot as hell. She had never even seen the two men on the same night, let alone kissed them just seconds from each other. Damned if she didn’t like it. A lot.

  Two hours later, Jack stomped into the kitchen, cold and thoroughly soaked. In any other circumstance he might be in a bad mood, but he was feeling just the opposite. Despite the weather being shit, the work rough and tedious thanks to the rain and wind, Jack’s spirit was high. No matter how fucked up of a time Jack had, for Greg it had been ten times worse.

  It was juvenile, mean-spirited even, but
watching the other man curse in that pansy accent of his while he tried to hammer a nail in the board was better than any cat playing piano on YouTube any day of the week. A fix-it guy Greg obviously wasn’t, but even Jack had to admit the professor had been a good sport.

  Despite the storm, his obvious incompetence, and his fancy suit that was now just a fancy drop cloth, Greg hadn’t quit. He bore through it all with curses and evil glances, but he stayed outside the entire time, doing his fair share. If Greg weren’t intent on stealing Jack’s girl, the two men might have become friends.

  Or…friend-like.

  “Hi, honey,” he called out to Liv who was sitting at the table reading a book. “We’re home.”

  Liv looked over her shoulder, but when she spotted the two men, she gasped and jumped from her chair. From the horrified expression on her face, Jack knew they looked as wet as he felt.

  “Oh my God, you guys are soaked.” Liv dropped the book she’d been reading and picked up two thick bath towels from the table. “I brought these from the bathroom, but something tells me it’s not going to be enough.”

  The fluffy pink linen looked like a joke next to Greg and Jack, who both resembled passengers on the Titanic.

  “Yeah…I don’t think a towel is going to do it for Greg,” Jack said with a wicked grin as he shrugged out of his jacket. “You might want to get him a blanket, something for his boo boos, and a trash can for everything else.”

  “Boo boos.” With a concerned expression on her pretty face, Liv rushed to the other man’s side, pausing long enough to press the towels into Jack’s chest. She didn’t even wait to see if he grabbed them before she frantically began to run her hands over Greg’s arms and chest, while Greg glared at Jack through slanted angry eyes. “Where are you hurt?”

  “Nowhere, love.” Greg pushed her gently yet firmly away. “Don’t get too close. I’m soaking wet. I don’t want you to catch cold.”

  Brows furrowed, Liv glanced over at Jack, who was trying his best to keep his grin at bay, then back to Greg. “But Jack said you were hurt.”

  “He was teasing. Now, why don’t you get us some more towels, a lot more, before we start a flood in here?”

  “Okay, I will. The coffee is warming, make yourself at home,” she said as she hurried from the room.

  “Will do, Liv,” Jack said cheerfully as he tossed one of the cloths at Greg’s face, none too gently.

  Greg caught it before it could do any damage. “Funny, mate.”

  “I thought so.” Jack grinned.

  Without waiting for Liv to get back with the rest of the linen, Jack began to undress in the kitchen. Growing up in a household with one bathroom and three brothers forced any modesty out of Jack. It was nothing to him to undress in front of Greg, especially since it was freezing cold. One by one he began to peel off the layers, first the heavy sweatshirt and then the long-sleeved T-shirt.

  When he was topless he glanced over at Greg, who had spent his time slipping out of his coat and jacket. But that was it. His shirt was slicked to his skin, his hair was still wet, his skin a tinge of blue. He looked moments away from hypothermia.

  “You all right there, pal?”

  “Yes.”

  He looked anything but. Jack slung his towel around his neck and grabbed a hold of the ends in his hands. “So, are you just going to stand there and catch your death of pneumonia or you going to get out of those wet things?”

  “In a hurry to size up the competition?”

  Oh, the dick had a sense of humor. Nice. “No, I just don’t want to have to spend the rest of the evening watching her feed you soup.”

  “You could always go.”

  “And let you have all the fun? Never that.”

  Before Greg could reply, Liv entered the room. This time her hands were loaded down with towels.

  “Here.” Liv set the linens on the counter. “Greg, hurry up and get out of those things.”

  “I warned him.”

  “Actually, I believe I left my gym bag here the last time I was over.”

  “Oh you did. That’s right.” She beamed. “I washed the clothes for you. It’s upstairs in my closet.”

  Jack frowned. Greg had clothes here. Hmmm….not a good sign.

  “Great. I’ll go take a hot shower then change. Unless you need me to help with something else.”

  “No. That’s a great idea.” Liv squeezed Greg’s arm and Jack bit his tongue. He didn’t like to see those small little gestures from her. At least not directed at another man. Knowing she was seeing someone else, and having it reinforced right in front of him, were two different things. And it was weird for him to feel this way.

  Casual was how he rolled. He enjoyed not having someone to answer to, yet at the same time he took pleasure in the sense of home he felt when he was with Liv. The more he saw her, the more he wanted to see her. But unlike Greg, Jack didn’t need a year to figure it out. He knew how he felt about her after just a few months. He’d just been biding his time before he made his move.

  He’d hoped Liv would see he was the better man, but he knew now he was going to have to step up his game if he wanted to be the man she chose at the end of the day. And there was no time like the present for life-changing decisions. The three of them trapped together during the storm was probably the best thing that could have ever happened.

  Jack waited until Greg left the kitchen and Liv turned her attention back to him before speaking again. “So, he’s staying?”

  “Yes, he is.” Liv took a deep breath, as if she might say something more but just shook her head. “You need to get out of those pants.”

  “I don’t disagree.” His jeans were plastered to his legs and his boots felt like two bricks at the end of his legs. “But it’s not going to be easy.”

  “But it could be fun.”

  Fun? Even though Captain Tweed was in the house? Interesting. “I like fun.”

  “Good. Now sit. I’ll help you with these boots.”

  Jack sat on the kitchen chair, and Liv knelt at his feet and began to pick at the waterlogged laces. “I think I could get used to this.”

  “I’ll make you a deal—you board my windows during every storm and I’ll undress you every time.”

  “Done and done.” All kidding aside, there was something the two of them needed to get clear. Jack tilted her chin up so he could look into her eyes. “I know you’re happy he’s here.”

  She smiled and reached up to stroke his hand. “I’m happy you’re here too, you know.”

  “And you want me to stay?” Jack almost hated to ask, but he wouldn’t stay where he wasn’t wanted. “The roads aren’t closed yet. I could go.”

  “Or you can stay.” Liv didn’t beg, but the look in her eyes told him she wanted him there.

  “With the two of us here, together, things could end badly.”

  Liv flashed him an enigmatic smile. “Or it could be a lot of fun. Try to be positive.”

  “Oh, I’m positive it’s going to end badly.”

  “Won’t you at least try to get to know him better?”

  Jack cocked a brow. “How much better are you hoping for?”

  “I don’t know.” Liv gave a nonchalant shrug. She lowered her head and returned to picking at his laces, finally pulling them loose.

  Somehow Jack didn’t believe her sudden offhanded manner. “I think you do.”

  “I just meant less homicidally.” Liv tilted her head to the side and frowned. “Is that a word?”

  “Not sure, but I get your drift. You want me to play nice.”

  “Exactly.” She pushed herself up on her knees and her hands rested lightly on his thighs.

  “And if I do…”

  “I’ll play nice with you.”

  Now that was a deal he couldn’t resist. “Fine…”

  The lights flickered for a moment before they flashed out for good, leaving the room bathed in darkness. Liv squeaked and jumped into his lap, her hands clutching at his shoulders. He coul
d feel the warmth of her breath across his collarbone.

  Never one to look a gift horse in the mouth, Jack pulled her in closer to him and smiled. “Let the games begin.”

  Chapter Two

  The sudden darkness shouldn’t have surprised Greg. There was a storm raging outside. Nevertheless, he hadn’t been expecting it while in the shower. He’d just stepped under the spray and closed his eyes when a loud crash of thunder had him opening them back up right quick. It was only a second when a bright burst of lightning flashed outside the small window in the bathroom. Then just as suddenly as the bolt lit up the night sky, the electricity zapped and plunged the small room into darkness.

  He stood motionless for a moment, waiting to see if the lights would come back on, but after a few seconds he realized he was waiting in vain. He didn’t need light to shower, but he did need hot water, which wouldn’t last long if the electricity stayed out.

  So much for a long soak.

  With a muttered curse, he began to feel around for the shower gel. It only took a few clown-like slaps before he found it and the washcloth he’d placed on top of the bottle before the lights went out. With quick, deft strokes he washed up then rinsed off. He would have preferred to stay longer to warm up but he didn’t want to waste the hot water in case someone else wanted to shower. Well, not someone else. Greg wouldn’t have given a good goddamn if Jack caught cold and died, but he didn’t want to risk Olivia.

  Just as he was stepping out of the shower, Olivia, holding a lit candle in one hand, appeared in the bathroom doorway. The soft light surrounded her, illuminating her beauty, and stirred his passion. She was a fine, wonderful woman and it vexed him he might lose her to a wanker like Jack.

  “I’m just in time,” Olivia said as she walked into the room. “I brought some light for you to dry off to.”

  Her thoughtfulness touched him and just went to drive home the point of how wonderful she was. Greg would never forgive himself for being such a fool and not tying her to him when he had the chance. “That was kind but unnecessary.” He took the candle from her and set it down on the sink. “I could have finished in the dark.”