by Dakota Rebel
“Should we wake Nate and Jasen?” I asked, hopping up to sit on the counter across from where Dean stood.
“Are you afraid to be alone with me?” he asked.
“No,” I said quickly, but it sounded like a lie even to me. I sighed and stared at my hands that were clasped in my lap. “I like you.”
“I like you too.”
“No, I mean…I really like you, Dean. I think I’m afraid I might get attached or something. But I can’t stay here. I have to get out of here—the sooner the better.”
“Why?” He walked over to me, forcing himself between my legs and putting his hands on either side of my hips. “Why can’t you stay for a while? I mean, I’m not asking for anything from you. If you just want to have a good time with me, with us, then take off, I understand. But you don’t have to run off right now.”
“Yes, I do.” I exhaled shakily. “Look, there are things you couldn’t possibly understand about me. You’re all in danger as long as I’m here.”
“What are you running from?” He lifted my chin to make me look into his eyes. “Whatever it is, maybe we can help.”
“There’s no help for me.” My voice echoed the defeat I felt in my body. How could they possibly expect to protect me from myself? For a moment, I considered telling him everything. The bells on the fryers went off though, saving me from making a huge mistake.
Dean swore under his breath as he pushed away from the counter and stalked over to the food. He pulled up the baskets and let the grease drip back into the vats as he plated a cheeseburger for me.
Jumping down, I grabbed some plastic trays that were sitting nearby and helped him dump all the food into their respective containers. We carried everything out to a table, and I don’t think either of us were surprised when Nate and Jasen stumbled out of the office to join us.
“It smells like heaven on a cracker out here,” Jasen said as he dropped into the chair next to me. “I hope you made enough for us.”
“You could go make your own,” Dean offered helpfully and laughed when Jasen flipped him the finger.
“Can I have a bite of your burger?” Nate asked, leaning over my shoulder and sniffing the sandwich in my hand.
I rolled my eyes but lifted the bun so he could take a large bite out of it. He kissed my cheek, leaving a greasy lip print on my face before walking over to sit by Dean.
We devoured the food in minutes and when the baskets were empty Dean, Jasen and I looked expectantly at Nate who groaned theatrically but stood and walked into the kitchen to make more.
While he was frying more appetizers, Jasen found the remote for the television and flipped it on. Dean cried out in surprise when a picture of the bar came on screen.
“Hey Nate, get your bony ass out here,” Dean called. “We’re on TV.”
Jasen turned up the volume, and we listened as the chipper newsgirl talked about the quarantined bar in Jericho Falls. They went live to the scene, and I think we were all shocked to see a bubble had been erected around the place while we’d been…otherwise occupied.
“I’m speaking with the senior CDC advisor on scene, Rebeccah,” a short man with too perfect hair and teeth said into his microphone before turning to a short, dark haired man in a suit. “Sir, can you tell us the situation here?”
“We were alerted earlier this evening that someone has deposited large quantities of Anthrax inside the building. We cannot yet confirm or deny that this is true, but we at the CDC feel it would be unwise to take any chances. We’ve quarantined three men and one woman inside until we can figure out if the threat is real.”
“When do you think you’ll have answers?” the reporter asked.
“We’re not sure. We’ll start testing the potential victims tomorrow. But we’re working with a mobile unit, and samples will have to be sent to Atlanta for examination before we’ll be comfortable lifting the quarantine.”
“Thank you for your time, sir.” The reporter turned back to the camera. “A shocking scene here in the small town of Jericho Falls. Our thoughts are with the poor souls trapped inside and their families. We’ll be here live on scene throughout this developing story. Keep it tuned in to WKLB News for more updates as they become available.”
Jasen muted the television and we all looked around at each other with a mixture of horror and amusement on our faces.
I shrieked and jumped when noise exploded around us. Cell phones, the bar phone, and the alarms on the fryer all went off creating an unexpected cacophony of sound that had scared the hell out of me.
The men fumbled with their cells while Nate ran to pick up the business phone. Choruses of “We’re all fine,” and “Stop crying” rang through the room. Since I didn’t have anyone who was worried about me, I went back into the kitchen to take care of the food.
Not wanting to go back out and listen to the men talk to their loved ones, reassuring them that everything was fine, I dumped the food in the baskets and climbed back up on the counter, a full tray of cheese sticks on my lap and started eating so I had something to do.
“Jo?” Dean called from the other room. “Where did you go?”
“I’m in here!” I yelled back around a mouthful of scalding hot mozzarella.
“Aw man, she’s hogging all the food,” Jasen complained as I heard him rush toward the door. “You’d better not have eaten all the poppers.”
I laughed as he darted through the swinging door and glared at me. Pointing at the basket of deep-fried, stuffed jalapenos, I giggled again at the look of relief on his face.
“I’d hate to have to fight a girl over my peppers,” he said. He picked up a few of the baskets and jerked his head to indicate I should follow him. With a sigh, I slid to my feet and protectively carried my cheese sticks toward the table we’d all just vacated.
Nate was still on the bar phone, his back to the room. Dean had sat when the food hit the table, and he reached around Jasen’s hand to snag a popper. Jasen glared at him but laughed when Dean winked.
“Is Nate still talking to Tabitha?” Jasen asked.
“Yeah. Apparently, she rushed down here and almost got in a fight with the CDC people when they wouldn’t let her in.”
“Who’s Tabitha?” I asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
“Nate’s sister. They inherited the bar, and she was actually supposed to be working tonight. She begged off to go on a date with some loser. She probably feels pretty guilty.”
“No!” Nate yelled, making me jump. “They haven’t paid a dime for food or beer. Don’t worry, they’ve paid me trade. I’m sure Jasen would eat your pussy if you really want to demand some payment from them.”
I looked around to see if anyone else seemed as shocked as I was at the tone Nate used with his sister, but Jasen and Dean didn’t look the least bit put out by it. They continued grazing through the baskets as if they were used to hearing Nate speak that way to his family.
Nate slammed the phone down with a loud “Fuck!” before stalking around the bar to join us at the table again.
“What a bitch,” he said with a huff as he threw himself into a chair. “Where are the cheese sticks?”
I lowered my gaze to the table, not wanting to admit that I’d eaten all of them. A finger lifted my chin, and I saw Nate making me look up. He was grinning at me.
“You’d better get your skinny ass in that kitchen and fry me some more sticks, woman.”
“Yes, sir,” I said, giving him a mock salute before heading back to the kitchen yet again.
Dean followed me and helped me set the timer on the fryer. “You sure can put away food,” he said, nuzzling my neck as he wrapped his arms around my waist. “How do you stay so damn skinny?”
“I’m not that skinny,” I said with a laugh. “But I do have a very high metabolism.” I left off the part about how it spikes the week before a full moon. I’d come too close to telling him too much already. I wasn’t going to put myself in a situation where I might spill to him again.
&nbs
p; “Besides,” I continued. “I think all that sex made me hungrier than usual.”
“Well eat up, love,” he said, nibbling on my earlobe. “If we really are stuck here for a while, you’re going to need your strength.”
Oh my.
Chapter Five
After we had all eaten enough that most of us felt sick, Jasen and Nate went back to their cot and Dean pulled me back to our makeshift bed of blankets on the floor.
I think he knew I was too tired and full for him to even attempt to arouse me again. He just spooned up against my back, threw his arm over my waist and nuzzled my neck.
I lay awake for awhile, listening to the steady sound of him breathing. Having seen the large plastic tent the CDC had erected over the building made my plans to escape seem pretty unlikely.
The sun was coming up outside. I could feel it in my head the same way I sensed the moon cycle without having to think about it. It was Thursday. The full moon was tomorrow night, and if I was still here, I would turn into a cougar and possibly hurt these men.
Panic stirred in my stomach. The food that weighed heavily there churned, and I feared I might be sick. I closed my eyes and tried to breathe the feeling away. Freaking out wasn’t going to help any of us. It could make everything ten times worse if it brought my beast out. I had to stay calm. I had to think of a way to get out of here.
Dean jerked, his arm tightening around me for a minute before he snored softly and rolled away. I envied his ability to sleep. There was nothing I wanted more than to close my eyes and let unconsciousness take away my worry for a few hours. I had managed to swallow the panic down, but I was still scared. Scared of hurting Dean, Jasen and Nate. Scared of hurting myself. Terrified that Kevin would be able to find me. I’d tried to never stay in one town for more than a few days. What if I couldn’t get out and he managed to get in. He’d kill the men and take me—
“No,” I said, the word escaping my lips.
“What’s the matter?” Dean asked sleepily, not really awake at all.
“Nothing,” I whispered, laying a hand on his shoulder. “Go back to sleep.”
He mumbled something incoherent then his breathing went back to that steady pace of deep sleep. I lay awake listening to him for a while, rolling over to watch the rise and fall of his chest in the faint glow from the sun rising outside.
* * * *
It felt as if I had just fallen asleep when I was jarred awake by a ringing phone. I opened my eyes to see Dean was no longer sprawled next to me. I blinked sleep from my eyes and sat up, looking around to see where everyone was.
“Good morning, sunshine,” Jasen called from the bar.
Glancing over, I saw him sitting on a stool drinking coffee and watching the television. Nate was on the phone again, and Dean was clanking around in the kitchen.
“What time is it?” I said through a yawn, stretching and groaning as my back popped.
“Almost noon,” Jasen said, matching my yawn.
“Hey Jo, the CDC guy said they’re coming in soon. They want to know if we need anything.”
“I’d love my suitcase out of my car,” I said, rolling to my feet. “They’ll have to come get my keys though.”
I thought it was nice of them to offer to bring us stuff. Personally, I would love to brush my teeth. And maybe even wash my hair. All of my clothes and makeup were packed into my travel bag. I just hoped they wouldn’t look in it before they brought it in. I wasn’t in the mood to explain to anyone why I carried a gun in my suitcase.
Nate hung up the phone and looked at me, he looked concerned. “Did you sleep all right?”
“As well as can be expected,” I said with a shrug. My muscles were aching from all of the activity the previous night, coupled with sleeping on the floor my body felt as if I’d been run over by a truck.
“Here,” Jasen said motioning for me to join them. “Aspirin and coffee.”
“I don’t have a hangover,” I said with a laugh.
“I know, but it’s a cure all. I swear. You’ll feel better in no time. Dean’s making breakfast.”
“How do you like your eggs?” Dean asked me, his head poking through the little window.
“Cooked,” I called back, accepting the little white pills Jasen held out for me. I swallowed them and chased it down with a few sips of hot, black coffee. I put my head on the bar and groaned with pleasure as Jasen stared massaging my shoulders. “Oh my God, that feels good.”
“Hey,” Nate called out. “No sex before breakfast.”
“Is that a rule?” I asked teasingly.
“It doesn’t have to be,” Jasen said, flicking his tongue against my earlobe.
Excitement stirred for a moment in my abdomen then died out just as quickly. I was too tired and far too sore to contemplate sex right that minute.
“I’m only teasing,” Jasen whispered as if he knew what I was thinking. “We don’t have enough time before the Haz-Mat boys come in anyway.”
Sitting up, I glanced around for my jeans. I spotted them under a table and went to pull them on. I didn’t want to be half naked when the CDC people came in to talk to us. After I got on my socks and shoes, Dean walked out of the kitchen with a tray of food. He set it on one of the tables before crossing the room to pull me into his arms.
“Good morning,” he said, lowering his head to kiss me. “I hope I didn’t keep you up with my snoring last night.”
“Not at all,” I laughed. “You barely made a sound.”
He took my hand and led me over to where Nate and Jasen were already shoveling eggs into their mouths. I sat down and took the plate Dean offered, smiling at the perfectly cooked scramble of eggs, sausage and peppers he’d put together for me.
I lifted a forkful toward my lips then paused, looking at the men. They were acting as if they hadn’t eaten in days.
“I see I’m not the only one with a healthy appetite,” I said with a smile.
“We’re men,” Nate replied as if that explained everything.
I shook my head and took a bite of the eggs. They were perfect. It was a struggle not to devour everything quickly as the men were doing. I didn’t think it would be very ladylike though.
When we were all finished, we sat back and looked around at each other. Jasen belched loudly and Nate punched him on the shoulder.
“What?” Jasen asked defensively. “It’s a compliment.”
I belched too, though softer than he had.
“Excuse me,” I murmured, my hand over my mouth.
Jasen raised his palm to high five me, and I clapped my hand to his, unable to contain my smile.
“We’re a hell of a group,” Dean said, shaking his head, but he was laughing.
“Fabulous,” Nate snorted. “Like I need someone encouraging Jasen’s disgusting behavior.”
“Whatever,” Jasen said, waving his had dismissively at Nate. “You love it.”
“I love you,” Nate replied with a shrug. “That doesn’t mean I love how you act.”
Dean and I exchanged looks. He had just said to me that Nate and Jasen would never admit their feelings for each other, and then this morning, Nate blurted it out. I turned to look at Jasen. He had a bemused smile on his face.
“Why Nate Dunham, you old romantic, you! Do you mean to tell me that all I had to do to get you to say that was infect everyone around us with Anthrax? Hell, I could have had that confession out of you months ago,” Jasen said, grinning widely.
“Shut up.” Nate turned crimson but smiled as Jasen leaned over to kiss him.
“Well, isn’t that adorable,” Dean laughed. “Hey, lover boys, help me clean up.”
“I’ll help.” I got to my feet, but they all shouted me down.
Jasen handed me the remote control before they picked up the plates and silverware then headed into the kitchen together.
I took my coffee cup back up to the bar and started randomly flipping through the channels. The bar apparently had satellite TV, but even with six hundred
channels there was nothing on. Finally, I just left it on the Game Show Network. An old rerun of What’s My Line was ending and Jeopardy was about to start.
“Oh man, I love Jeopardy,” Jasen said, walking back into the room, drying his hands on a dishtowel.
“Me, too.” I turned up the volume a little. “I’m not very good at it though.”
“Me, either,” Nate said, joining us at the bar. “Those Bible questions kill me every time.”
“Oh sweet, Jeopardy.” Dean sat on the stool next to me as Nate and Jasen groaned.
“What’s the matter?” I asked, looking over at them.
“We hate watching with Dr. Know-It-All over there.” Jasen stuck out his tongue. “He gets every question right. Don’t ever take him up on it if he offers to play a Jeopardy drinking game with you. You’ll be drunk off your ass before the end of the first round and butt ass naked for Final Jeopardy.”
I raised an eyebrow at him. “You have some experience with this then?”
“Well…” Jasen blushed and chewed on his lower lip. “Just don’t wager sexual favors for correct answers with him unless you’re a fan of giving twenty minute blow jobs is all I’m saying.”
“Is that so?” I turned to look at Dean, who was grinning at me.
“Wanna play?” he asked, waggling his eyebrows at me.
Before I could respond, there was a loud knock at the front door of the bar. Nate walked over to open the door, and three people in those large, yellow suits walked in. One of them was carrying a hard plastic briefcase and another was holding my suitcase.
“How did you get into my car?” I asked suspiciously, walking over to meet them by the door.
“We had a tow truck come with a slim-jim. Don’t worry, there’s no damage to your vehicle.”
I sighed and took the bag from the woman who offered it to me. Jasen came up behind me and took the case, walking it over to the bar to set it down before returning again.
“So what happens now?” Nate asked one of the men.