“Don’t be silly. I’m fine, plus I could get a ride from anyone at work.”
“That’s an idea. Get a ride from Carlyle. He’ll be there until closing, too. I’ll call him.” He pulled out his cell phone and she covered his hand.
“No, don’t do that.”
He scrunched his eyes and looked at her. “What is it? Why not?”
She looked away and then swallowed hard. “Something kind of happened between me and them.”
He smirked and then got serious when she exhaled in annoyance.
“Holy shit, they made a move on you? All three?” he asked.
“Well, you know I’m a private person, and I don’t trust at all. I mean I’m sort of trusting you right now, but you haven’t shown me any reason to not trust you. Anyway, I can’t let anything happen between them and me. I can’t for obvious reasons.”
“They’re good men.”
“Don’t.”
He touched her hand. “They’re good men. Trustworthy, hardworking, and untrusting, too. Magnum was in the Marines.”
“I know. Bobby and Ronin told me.”
“They have their eyes on you, too.”
“I don’t want to go out with anyone or get close to anyone. I know that Benson didn’t give you all the details.”
“He gave me crap details.”
“If you knew then maybe you would understand.”
“Well, if you want to tell me, we can talk about it.”
“You’re with your family now, enjoying the day.”
“Join us.”
“No, I couldn’t.”
“Sure you can. You have plenty of time before you need to head back to work. Especially now that you have the jeep.” He grabbed her arm and brought her long down the sidewalk. They got to the marina down the road and met up with his brothers and Gianna.
“Precious is joining us for lunch,” he said, and his brothers and Gianna greeted her. An hour later as she sat beside Gianna, laughing and enjoying the lunch, she realized how special these men were and how unique their relationship was with Gianna.
“You said you went to college, what was your degree in?” Gianna asked her.
“Business and accounting. I have my CPA, but a masters in finance.”
“Wow, that’s impressive,” Steel, one of Darius’s brothers, said to her.
“Thank you. I enjoyed it for a spell, but then I broke away from a company after I bought it out, fixed it up, and resold it for a major profit.”
“Why bartending?” Gianna asked.
“Well, I like people, and since I’m new to town, I get to know the area working as a bartender. The patrons tell you all the stories about the local people and places. It helps me to get a feel for the town.”
“What do you think so far?” Armando asked her.
“I love it. Can’t wait to check out your restaurant, Steak-N-Shine,” she told him.
“You haven’t been there yet?” Armando asked.
“Not yet. Maybe next week.”
“We should go there for lunch one day. I work around the corner at the publishing house,” Gianna said.
She was shocked, and Gianna must have read her facial expression because she mumbled, “Or not” and looked away. Precious reached out, wondering why she felt so emotional, but this woman was so nice, and so were her men.
“I’m sorry. You shocked me, that’s all. I would love to do lunch one time.”
Gianna grinned. “No one ever asked you to lunch before?” she asked.
“Where I come from, when someone asks you to join them, or for a favor, they have hidden agendas. I’m learning to put those experiences behind me,” she said and glanced at Darius.
“Then this is a good start, Precious,” he said, and Gianna smiled.
“We’ll meet there on Wednesday? Is that good, around twelve thirty?”
“Sure. Wednesday it is.”
* * * *
Gianna hugged Darius’s arm and held Caspian’s hand as they all headed to the truck after saying goodbye to Precious.
“So, is Precious in serious danger, hiding out here in town, or is she just getting a new start after experiencing something traumatic?” she asked, and both men stopped. The others got into the truck, and she followed.
“What makes you say that?” Darius asked.
“Come on, Darius. You and Caspian were acting funny for weeks, taking phone calls, leaving a party to go to the bus station. I heard you mention to Armando about openings at the restaurant. Who is she really?”
Darius sighed.
“We can’t really tell you, plus we don’t have any details.”
“My buddy called me to do a favor. Precious was involved in an intense situation up north. My buddy was working a case and they got close. She was nearly killed and that’s about all I know,” Caspian added.
“Well she’s untrusting that’s for sure, but if she was hurt, or almost killed, of course she’s scared to trust anyone or even get close to them,” Gianna stated.
“She was more talkative the more comfortable she got with all of us. Maybe that’s all she needs,” Steel said.
“She seemed very smart, too, and maybe was in a professional career before she left there. Wonder why she really decided on bartending,” Armando said.
“To blend in locally,” Darius said.
“She’s a beautiful woman. She doesn’t blend in, she stands out,” Rocco said.
“I’m just curious, Darius. What does Carlyle think of her?” Nixon asked.
“Oh my God, he likes her?” Gianna asked.
“I think something went down,” Darius told them.
“Look,” Steel said and pointed as he drove the truck down the street. They turned to see Precious talking to Magnum, who was leaning against her jeep as if waiting for her.
“Do you think we need to talk to them?” Caspian asked Darius.
“No. Let it be. Maybe they’ll have the ability to make her feel safe, like there are still people out there she can trust and won’t hurt her.”
“You think the Mather brothers fit that description? Cavanaugh is hardcore. I don’t think the man knows how to smile,” Rocco added.
“Like someone else I know who was like that when we first met,” Gianna said and then leaned against his shoulder.
He hoisted her up onto his lap and Gianna gasped. “Hell yeah, baby. It just takes a special, woman with great big—”
She covered his mouth and kissed him as his brothers laughed.
* * * *
Precious was surprised to see Magnum leaning against her white jeep waiting for her. He gazed over her body in the light sundress she wore in pale blue. It was warm out and the material was airy and soft. She approached and he gave her a smile.
“How was lunch?” he asked.
She squinted at him. “How did you know?”
“I was down that way and saw you with Darius, his brothers, and Gianna.”
“Yes, they invited me to lunch after I met Gianna. She’s really nice. We’re probably going to have lunch next week.”
His eyes widened. He uncrossed his arms and reached for her hand. “I thought you didn’t want to make friends and get close to anyone.”
She looked away. “Magnum,” she said and he pulled her into his arms and pressed his hand over her lower back practically to her ass. He was muscular, big, tall, and so capable. She would love to run her fingers through his wavy brown hair. His brown eyes locked onto hers and he cupped her cheek and jaw.
“I want to take you to lunch. I want to walk with you while you shop or just go for a stroll through town.”
“We can’t.”
He pulled her closer. “You won’t.”
“Magnum,” she said and he shook his head, leaned down, and kissed the corner of her mouth. It was a teaser, a way for him to get her to not pull away but to press closer for more, and she did. She turned slightly so his lips would press fully to hers. Then he deepened the kiss and held her so close, so
securely she could imagine getting lost in his embrace. When they heard someone whistle, he pulled from her mouth and pressed her head to his shoulder. She hugged him.
“Let’s go somewhere to talk and be alone,” he whispered as he stroked her back.
“This is bad, Magnum. So bad,” she said and her voice cracked. She wanted so much but feared more. She stepped back and he cupped her cheeks, looked at her eyes, her lips, then back into her eyes again.
“Don’t be scared. Please, baby. Don’t place my brothers and me into the same category as those other men, other people in your life that failed you.”
When he said other men, she thought of Benson. Although she didn’t have feelings for him like that, he had kissed her. It wasn’t like when these men kissed her. Then the thought of having sex with them snapped her back to reality. She stepped back. She fixed her dress and picked up the bag she must have dropped when Magnum pulled her close.
“Precious?”
She shook her head. “I need to head home. I have to get ready for work tonight and rest a bit.”
“I’ll follow you,” he said and opened her door.
She placed the bag on the front seat. “You shouldn’t. I really need to rest.”
“I won’t stay long. We’ll talk some more. Go on,” he said.
She got into the jeep and he closed her door. She watched him look both ways before he crossed the street and got to his pickup truck. She pulled onto the road, noticing the American flag that hung off the back of the truck and waved in the wind. Magnum was a Marine, a hero, a soldier, a man with experience and abilities she knew nothing about. He was a patriot, a fighter, a loyal defender of the United States of America. Could he be trusted, or was she trying to make excuses so she could give into the feelings she had and not bother caring about the outcome? But she did care. She worried about being used, about being betrayed. Never mind about giving up the one thing no one could ever steal, corrupt, connive out of her—her virginity.
* * * *
Magnum parked the truck in front of her driveway after she pulled the jeep in. He was out of his truck and approaching her as she took out her shopping bag and then closed and locked the jeep up. She stood there.
He stepped closer, placed one hand on her hip, and with the other he stroked her jaw as he gave her a small smile. “Invite me in. We can sit on the back porch and look at the beach and the waves,” he said to her.
“Magnum, I—”
He pressed his lips to the corner of her mouth. “We’ll talk. Come on.”
He took her hand and led her to the front door, then released her hand as she unlocked it and opened up. The second he came inside, he could smell her perfume, her scent, everywhere. He inhaled and then closed and locked the door. She placed the shopping bag on the counter. She took out some snack bars and some fruit and then placed things in the refrigerator. He noticed the fresh flowers by the window, how clean and pretty the place looked. She even moved the furniture around so that it fully faced the open window and the view beyond the deck.
“Hey, you moved the furniture,” he said to her.
She approached. “I hope you don’t mind. I wanted a better view of the water and beach. I don’t really watch television,” she said and looked at the view. He wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and began to kiss and suckle her neck.
“It’s perfect, just like you,” he told her.
She leaned back and held onto his arms that were wrapped around her waist.
“I thought we were going to talk.”
“We can, I just can’t seem to resist holding you,” he said and then kissed her shoulder before he released her, took her hand, and brought her to the porch. She unlocked the sliders and they stepped onto the large deck.
“I’m sorry, would you like something to drink?” she asked and started heading back inside when he grabbed her hand and pulled her close.
“No, I just want you, right here with me.” He pressed his lips to hers and backed her up until her back was against the railing of the porch. He ravished her mouth, cupped her head and hair with one hand, and smoothed his palm along her waist to her ass and squeezed with the other hand. She moaned into his mouth and he rocked his hips. When he felt her run her fingers through his hair, he lost the ability to go slow. He wanted to explore more of her sensational body. He slid his hand lower and under her dress. She gripped his shoulders and eased those fingers toward the front of her when she shoved at him, pulled from his mouth, and told him to stop.
“Stop, Magnum. Oh God, Magnum. Don’t do this to me. Please don’t make me want things I can’t trust in.” Tears filled her eyes. He saw them as she turned and gripped the railing. He immediately pressed against her back, wrapped one arm around her waist, and covered her hand with his.
He was breathing heavy. She did this to him. She made him wild.
“Slow down, what do you mean want something you can’t trust?”
“I can’t talk about it.”
“Yes, you can. Tell me what you fear. Make me understand why you keep pushing us away.”
“You’re safer not knowing. This is beyond me. I don’t do relationships.”
“So you had some bad relationships, haven’t we all?”
She snorted and shook her head. She looked down. “God, don’t make me come out and tell you about all the screwed up things I’m feeling right now.”
He turned her around and held her hips. He gave them a shake. “Tell me. What scares you? That we’ll lie to you and use you?”
“Yes.”
“We won’t.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“Then don’t assume.”
“I have nothing to go by but what other people have done, how they failed me, betrayed me. I just can’t let down that guard.”
“You want to.”
Her nose turned red and she stared at his face, his lips. “Yes, of course I do.”
“Then let go and take a chance on me, on us.” He stared at her. “Did another man, a lover, hurt you?” he asked her and the thought made him instantly feel jealous.
She shook her head. “You’ve had a lot of women, Magnum?” she asked and her cheeks turned red. Was she jealous or nervous because he was more experienced than her?
“What kind of question is that? I’m a man. I’ve been with women. And you? How many men have you been intimate with?” he asked and then kissed along her shoulder then to her jaw.
“None,” she whispered.
He thought maybe he didn’t understand her. He eased back and narrowed his eyes at her and they were filled with unshed tears.
He processed everything quickly. “You’re a virgin?” he asked her.
She looked away and then pulled from his hold. She crossed her arms in front of her chest and he stared at her. She was like twenty-five, drop-dead gorgeous, sexy as sin, and she never had sex. He went from shocked to completely possessive and protective in a flash.
He turned her around and lowered so she could look into his eyes.
“That isn’t something to be ashamed of. It’s something to be proud of.”
“Well, I don’t feel proud right now. I kind of feel embarrassed for blurting it out.”
He chuckled and then cupped her cheeks.
“You’re so damn special. God, I don’t want to scare you. I want you to feel what I feel and what my brothers feel.”
“I do. I just can’t chance the hurt, the pain, and what if I have to leave here? Then what?”
“Why would you have to leave here?”
“You know I’m here hiding out, staying off the radar, don’t you?”
“My brothers and I got that part, but what’s the danger? How serious is it?”
“I don’t want to get into it. I was supposed to come here, try to live somewhat of a normal life and hope that I was never found by those who want to do me harm, hell, kill me.”
“Kill you?” He clenched his teeth and then took her hand and brought her over t
o the double-wide lounge chair. He sat and she sat next to him.
“You can trust me. Obviously, Darius and Caspian trusted the use of our cottage and our property.”
“There’s too much to explain.”
“Bullshit. We’re making progress.”
“Really?” she asked, raising one of her eyebrows up at him.
He smirked and caressed her knee. “Well, you did tell me your deepest secret about being a virgin.”
She slapped his thigh. “Magnum.”
“Hey, I’m going to do my best to rectify that little situation.” He ran his palm between her crossed thighs. She grabbed it and he chuckled.
“Just makes me want you more. Want to protect you, watch over you even more. Wait until Carlyle and Cavanaugh find out. Jesus, they’re going to be madmen.”
“Madmen?”
“Hell yeah. Crazy protective. Don’t be surprised if you find all three of us watching you all night bartending. Any guys come sniffing around you, we’ll take them out,” he teased and then kissed her lips. She reached up and cupped his cheek and stared into his eyes. He felt it, to his soul. The way she looked, how her blue eyes appeared so serious, and the tone of her voice.
“I want to trust you, Magnum, and your brothers, but it’s going to take time.”
He turned his face and kissed her hand cupping his cheek. “I’m not a patient man, so don’t make me wait too long, and no promises that I won’t kiss you every chance I get.”
She smiled and then leaned over and kissed him.
Chapter 6
Precious couldn’t believe how crowded Carlyle’s was. She thought Friday night was busy, but tonight was super crowded, and people were laughing, getting all rowdy, and having a great time. Her arms were actually feeling the ache from shaking up drinks. Some of these women loved their pomegranate martinis, sex on the beach, and margaritas. She didn’t think she had ever made so many, except maybe one time at a big college bar in Connecticut.
“Baby, I’m going to order a few more mixed drinks just to watch that sexy body of yours,” some drunk guy yelled out as he stood on the rung of the bar stool and hooted and hollered as she shook the drink up in the mixer. Others whistled and hooted and then dropped money into the tip box nailed to the bar. She looked at Jake, who shook his head and chuckled. As she scanned down the bar, she caught sight of Carlyle and he looked pissed. He then pointed to one of the bouncers, then signaled. The bouncers came over to settle down the racers.
Love at Carlyle's [Love on the Rocks 8: Special Edition] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 9