Protecting His Home

by Ember Davis

  I screech because who the fuck does that? It quickly morphs into a laugh, how could it not?

  “Oh my God! Walsh, what is wrong with you? Put me down!”

  Walsh puts me back down on my feet and gives me a little squeeze. He pouts at me, “I much prefer it when you call me Snookums.”

  I giggle, “Okay. Snookums, what is wrong with you? Better?”

  He gives me his full megawatt smile that I’m sure gets him pretty much anything he wants. “Much better.” He bops my nose, “And nothing’s wrong with me. We were talking with Andrea and we decided that we were going to come by and kidnap you since you blew us off on Friday. Dex is having some people over to his house for a BBQ.”

  Troy muscles Walsh out of the way and wraps me up in a huge hug. He whispers, “We miss you, Doll, especially Beckett.” I can feel the blush rising on my cheeks, but I can’t let myself believe him quite yet. I have to protect my heart.

  He squeezes me a little tighter before releasing me and smiling down at me. “We took a vote on ski masks for this kidnapping, but I was out voted.”

  I laugh and shake my head. “Guys, it’s been five days.” I eye Andrea, “I just saw you yesterday.”

  She shrugs at me, “What can I say? It’s really easy to talk me into schemes and kidnappings.”

  I shake my head, “You guys are trouble, all of you.”

  Walsh grins and winks, “You know it Sweetcheeks.” He claps his hands and then rubs them together mischievously. “Okay! You have five minutes to get ready or we kidnap you in your pajamas. I can and will carry you out of here if I need to. I brought handcuffs, just in case.”

  Walsh pulls a set of fur lined handcuffs out of his back pocket and twirls them on his finger for emphasis.

  My eyes go wide and I scoff, “I do not want any part of your sex cuffs.”

  Troy doubles over in laughter.

  “I told them we didn’t need to bring those since I know where you keep your cuffs,” Andrea, my former best friend pipes up. She huffs, “They didn’t believe me.” I feel my cheeks go bright red and my mouth fall open. Troy eyes me appreciatively and Walsh guffaws.

  Troy’s eyes sparkle with mischief, “Oh Doll. I knew you were a naughty girl. It’s always the quiet ones that like to get kinky. Banks will be in heaven.”

  I square my shoulders and glare at Troy, “Oh yeah, he likes to be cuffed?”

  Troy laughs and wags his eyebrows, “Nope.”

  I feel my blush deepen, but I try to cover it and roll my eyes, “Okay, whatever.”

  Troy sidles in closer, “You need help getting changed, I’d be more than happy to offer my assistance. I’d be interested in knowing where you keep your sex cuffs.”

  I laugh and shake my head in admonishment, “Yeah, right. You strike me as someone who’s more adept at getting people’s clothes off instead of on.”

  Troy smirks, “You got that right, Doll.”

  Walsh smacks Troy on the back of the head, “You better watch yourself. Banks would have already punched you in the face.”

  Troy pouts to Walsh, “Oh come on man, you know I’m just having a little fun. Amelia doesn’t want me anyway.” He looks right at me and adds, “Which is a huge shame, by the way. Now, if Banks wasn’t my brother, we’d have a problem on our hands.” He looks me up and down as a devilish grin spreads across his face.

  I shrug, “Beckett doesn’t have any right to feel a certain way about what I do or who I do it with.”

  Walsh scoffs, “Maybe but he’d still be pissed at anyone talking to his girl like that. Even Troy and even in the name of having a little fun.”

  I narrow my eyes at Walsh, “I’m not his girl.”

  All three give me a look that says I’ve lost my mind and that I’m lying to myself. Okay, maybe they have a point, but I’m not ready to give in just yet. Especially to someone who I’m not sure that I can trust.

  “I’m not,” I insist, but even I can hear that I sound weak as hell.

  Walsh barks out a laugh and looks at his watch, “Okay, seriously, five minutes start now.”

  Well, shit. There’s not much I can do other than scamper down the hallway to my bedroom and get changed. It’s kind of cool tonight so I choose some jeans, an oversized sweater that falls off one shoulder and some flats. I’m not a heels kind of girl. I love looking at shoes, but I hate shopping for them and wearing them.

  I put on a tinted moisturizer, a little blush, mascara and lip gloss. I spritz a little perfume on and yep, that’s it. That’s as much effort as I’m willing to put into this little kidnapping and obvious set up. Who am I trying to impress anyway? Beckett? Ugh, yes. Yes, I am. Damn it. Still, this is me. Take it or leave it.

  I step out of my room and Walsh scoops me up and throws me over his shoulder. “Right on time Sweetcheeks.”

  I clutch the back of his henley and screech, “Fuck! Walsh put me down. You’re going to hurt yourself.”

  “Nope,” he responds and pops the p. “First, you weigh like nothing and your curves are fucking hot. Second, I can’t risk you trying to back out or trying to ditch us again.”

  I raise my head as much as I can and see Andrea grab my phone, keys and my bag before giving me a huge grin. I narrow my eyes at her. She laughs; yep, former best friend.

  Right before she opens the door for us, I shout, “Wait! Andrea, grab the jar, the little jar.”

  Andrea grins heads over to my stash and grabs the small jar that’s full of the newest strain we’ve gotten in the shop. I take the opportunity to appreciate Walsh’s ass, since it’s right in my face. I couldn’t miss it if I tried. Damn, it’s a nice ass, too.

  Troy asks, “What’s in the jar?”

  Andrea plops it into my bag and asks, “Everyone in the shop smokes, right? Will Dex have a pipe or do I need to grab one of Amelia’s?”

  Walsh pumps his fist. “Hell yes, we all smoke. Dex should have a pipe or I have papers. What’s in the little jar, Sweetcheeks?”

  “We just got in some Mimosa, it’s a hybrid strain of clementine and purple punch. We haven’t carried it before. I always get the first taste of any new strain to try it out so I can talk it up on social media and in the store. If you guys like it and just so happen to post about it, make sure you tag the shop.”

  Troy says in a reverent tone, “I think you’re my new favorite person, Doll.”

  I quip, “It’s nice to know what’s really important to you, Superman.” He barks out a laugh in response.

  Andrea opens my door and ushers us out. I crane my neck so I can watch her lock up my apartment before we head down the hallway to the elevator.

  “I can walk. I got dressed, didn’t I? I’m not going to ditch you,” I tell Walsh.

  Walsh mumbles, “Fuck, Banks better appreciate this because it is taking every ounce of will power I have not to smack your ass right now.”

  I make a little squeak, which makes Troy and Andrea laugh. Great, so glad I’m amusing.

  Walsh sets me down in front of the elevator and smiles down at me as I adjust my clothing and try to will the blood back into the rest of my body from my head. No one has ever thrown me over their shoulder like that before. Fuck, it’s a head rush.

  I mumble, “Jesus, you guys should come with warning labels.”

  Walsh just chuckles and ushers me into the elevator. Troy and Andrea start ribbing each other. Walsh takes the opportunity to lean into me and whisper, “I was serious, Amelia. Your curves are hot as fuck and you should never doubt that. You’re gorgeous. If Banks wasn’t so smitten with you and you with him then it would be a different story, but after what his ex did to him, we’d never try to steal his girl. He deserves to be happy.” He looks at me seriously, “You both do.”

  I’m sure my eyes are as big as dinner plates as I take in his words. Walsh is hot as hell, I can appreciate his looks, but he doesn’t light me on fire. What a damn shame. Especially considering his tight ass I just had the pleasure of seeing up close and personal.

  �
�Thank you.” I furrow my brow. Wait, what ex? “Ex?”

  Walsh nods, “Yeah she did a number on him. He thought she was the one. She wasn’t and if he would have listened to me, I could have told him that, but we hadn’t known each other that long then. He found her fucking his best friend. As in walked in on them. I think he was even thinking about proposing.”

  I make a disgusted noise in the back of my throat, “Bitch.”

  “Yup. He hasn’t let anyone in since then and it’s caused him not to trust.”

  I shrug, “I get that, but we all have our own demons. That’s not an excuse to be a dick just because.”

  Walsh gives me a hard look, “It wasn’t just because, well, not to him anyway. He was jealous.”

  I scoff, “I’m not his, he doesn’t have a reason to be jealous.”

  Walsh arches his eyebrow, “Yes you are. He knows it and you know it too. I get you may not want to forgive his behavior just yet, but don’t lie to yourself.” His eyes soften slightly, “He really is a good guy, Amelia.”

  As we get off the elevator and head toward the exit of my building I look up at Walsh and whisper, “He may be a good guy now, but I thought that before too.”

  Walsh stops and touches my shoulder, turning me toward him. He looks at me intently. “Did this person put his hands on you?” I nod but can’t meet his eyes and I see Walsh clench and unclench his fist. “Does he live here?” I shake my head no. “Whoever that jackass was who hurt you, that’s not Banks. He would never raise a hand to a woman in anger and if he did, we would kick his ass.” He squeezes my shoulder, “I’m serious, Amelia. You’ve got a whole crew who have your back, no matter what.”

  I meet his eyes and give him a little smile and nod. “Thanks, Snookums.”

  He grins he wraps his arm around my shoulders as we head toward the car where Troy and Andrea are waiting impatiently, like toddlers. “Anytime, Sweetcheeks, anytime.”

  We pile into Troy’s truck and I can already envision myself taking an Uber home later. I bet these guys know their way around some beers. It isn’t long before we pull up to a small house in one of the smaller satellite cities of Denver. They all run together to me still.

  Troy turns and looks at Andrea and I in the back seat, “Just so you both know, all us guys live within a couple of blocks of here and we all have spare rooms if you need a place to crash. Olivia’s the only one who has an apartment, but she usually crashes at Zeke’s if she needs to. He wasn’t at the shop the day you were in, so you haven’t met him.”

  Andrea pipes up, “Steve is meeting me here later, so we’ll figure something out. I won’t be crashing; we’ll probably Uber or Steve will just have one beer.”

  I nod, “Yeah, I was thinking Uber too, but thanks for the offer.”

  Troy gives me a wide grin and points to a house that’s across the street and three doors down. It’s an adorable craftsman style home with all the original charm from the outside. My heart clenches in my chest the moment I look at it.

  “That’s Banks’ house. Just so you know.”

  I give roll my eyes and give him my best really? face.

  Troy barks out a laugh and I shake my head and open the door to his truck. Andrea snickers next to me. Yep, totally my former best friend.

  I chastise them, “You guys are seriously the worst.”

  Walsh gasps and clutches his chest as he climbs out of the truck. “That hurts, Sweetcheeks.”

  “You guys have like no chill. How is that possible? What happened to subtlety?”

  Troy comes around the car and throws his arm around me. “We have chill. Chill you don’t even know about, girl.”

  I laugh, “O-okay, whatever you say Superman.”

  Troy chuckles and looks down at me seriously, “Why be subtle anyway? You two would be great together.”

  I scoff, “You don’t even know me. He doesn’t know me.”

  He shrugs as Walsh and Andrea head toward the house. “Doesn’t really matter. It’s been like this with every member of our crew. It just clicked. It was like one day was forever. I’ve never seen Banks react to a woman the way he reacted to you. Never. We can all see how special you are and it’s obvious that you want him too. It’s okay that you aren’t sure you can trust him, I get that.” He bops me on the nose. “Let me ask you this, are you attracted to me?”

  I chuckle, “Fishing Troy?”

  He grins and shakes his head, “Just answer the question, Doll.”

  I shrug, “You’re a very attractive guy.”

  His grin grows, “Thanks, Doll. You also didn’t really answer the question but told me everything I need to know. You can appreciate how I look, but you don’t want me.” His eyes skim my body again, “Which is a fucking shame to end all shames.” He bites his fist and I laugh. “But you want Banks, right?”

  I shrug and bite my lip.

  He gives me a knowing look, “Yeah, okay, keep your thinly veiled secrets.” I roll my eyes and he asks, “He touched you, right? Outside?” My eyes go wide, and he explains with a chuckle, “When you came in you were rubbing your wrist. He touched you. How did it feel?”

  I sigh, “Like a fucking lightning strike.”

  Troy throws his head back and laughs before he leads me up to the front of the house. He whispers, “He said the same exact thing.”

  I wrap my arm around his waist and give him a little squeeze. “I get what you’re saying, Troy. Thanks. You’re a good friend to him,” I pause and look up at him, “and me.”

  He gives me a huge smile and I release his waist as we walk up the steps up to the porch. He lets his arm drop and gives me a little push on the small of my back. “Go find your man.”

  I shoot him a glare over my shoulder as we walk through the door and he throws his head back and laughs again.

  “So serious, Doll,” Troy admonishes, and I smile.

  CHAPTER 5

  AMELIA

  I take in the living room we’ve walked into and I see Olivia near the entrance to the kitchen talking with another tall, fucking hot as hell man who is looking very serious at the moment. What is it about this shop and hot men again? Have we gotten an answer? Inquiring minds want to know, like right now.

  Andrea has camped out with Walsh on the couch. They look in deep discussion about something and Walsh has already fished his rolling papers out. I bet their debating how long is appropriate before they go purse diving for the Mimosa flower I have.

  Troy heads straight to the kitchen, greeting Olivia and Mr. Serious on the way. There are a few other people I don’t recognize in the living room and in the kitchen. I can see through to the sliding glass door that lead to the back porch and see a few more people hanging out outside. Some on patio furniture, some standing around a grill which Dex is manning.

  I see Troy come up from the cooler at the end of the island with a beer and give a little nod at someone before giving another little nod back in my direction. He flashes a mischievous grin and I can already tell he’s up to something. I head in that direction and give a smile and a little wave to Olivia and Mr. Serious.

  When I’m a few feet from the kitchen Troy yells out, “Doll! Can I get you a beer?”

  I hear Beckett hiss at him, “Fuck man, you got no chill.”

  Troy barks a laugh, “She said the same damn thing. Now, go get your girl.”

  I almost take a 180 at that moment to head back into the living room, but I know that I’d just be delaying the inevitable. Just because I’m in the same room as Beckett doesn’t mean that I have to forgive him. It doesn’t even mean I have to talk to him.

  I take a deep breath and enter the kitchen. Troy’s back is to me, but Beckett is leaning against the counter and he looks so fucking sexy. My perusal starts at his black boots, next dark wash jeans that fit him perfectly, damn it. He has a red henley on and the sleeves are pushed up to his elbows slowing off the tattoos on his forearms. Yummy. He has a grin on his face and his gorgeous green eyes are practically sparkling.


  You know what else? He’s wearing the hat I made him. It looks fucking amazing. I’m going to cave, aren’t I?

  He takes my breath away. This isn’t the guy I met five days ago at his shop. There’s no scowl. There’s no brooding. His eyes aren’t cold, instead they’re full of warmth and something a little hotter; want? Fucking hell.

  Is this who he really is or is this an act? Is this some elaborate hoax that all his friends are in on? Is Andrea? No, no, she wouldn’t do that to me. Everyone has seemed so sincere. I watch his eyes travel down my body and then back up as his smile grows.

  Troy takes a long swig off his beer but doesn’t turn around. “Jesus, she’s in the kitchen, isn’t she? I might need a cold shower after this.”

  I roll my eyes and give Troy a little shove, “No chill.”

  Beckett laughs and my heart clenches again. His laugh is amazing. It’s warm, full and honest.

  Troy chuckles and grabs a few more beers out of the cooler. He murmurs, “I’m gonna take some beers to Walsh and Andrea.”

  He makes a hasty retreat as Beckett steps closer to me. He smiles at me and I can’t help but return it. He gives a sigh of relief and wraps me up in a hug and I instinctively wrap my arms around his waist. I close my eyes and soak in the way he feels and smells because to be honest: Best. Hug. Ever.

  Beckett tucks his head into my exposed shoulder and his breath against me causes goosebumps to cover my skin. He kisses my shoulder and whispers, “Hey Baby. You’re gorgeous. I’m so glad you came.”

  I give him a little squeeze and step back so I can look up in his eyes. He drops his arms to his sides but seems reluctant about it.

  “Hi Beckett.” He smiles and I narrow my eyes at him. “Did you know they were going to kidnap me?”

  He smirks, “Maybe.” A serious look comes over his face, “They didn’t use the ski masks, did they?”

  I try to hold it in, but I laugh. “Troy was out voted apparently. Walsh did threaten me with handcuffs before literally throwing me over his shoulder though.”

  Beckett’s eyebrows go up and he chuckles, “I told him to leave the handcuffs at home.”