“I can’t wear your mom’s hair comb.” Lila went to take it out.
“Think of it as luck.” He stopped her. “Of something of me with you as you go about your day.”
Lila kissed him then stepped back. “I will take care of it.”
“I know you will.” Driscoll touched her cheek. “Take care of yourself, too.”
“I will.”
“Now go and kick butt.” Driscoll again touched her hair comb. “See you later.”
“Later.” Lila turned and walked away.
In moments, she was inside Lancelot and had started him up. She smiled at how good he sounded. Glancing back at the house, she waved at Driscoll, who was standing at the rail of the porch, seeing her off. He lifted his hand and Lila grinned then left.
The happiness stayed with her all day as she went to her meeting with the various agencies then the meeting with the Fed. As she worked then had the budget meeting, she still had the giddiness. When that wrapped up, Lila decided to finish her day and headed for Driscoll’s.
She hummed along with the CD as she drove through his gate, remembering when she’d come that first time. But this time she wasn’t just there to check on him, she was there for him. Eager to see him, she parked Lancelot and hurried out of the vehicle to the steps, taking them two at a time as she went up. At the door—partially open as it usually was—Lila pushed it going inside before closing it after her.
“Dris.”
“In the living room,” he called.
She went that way and paused in the doorway, taking him in. Driscoll was on his back while the puppy and kitten crawled all over him. Lila placed her hand over her heart, a warm feeling filling her.
“Did you kick ass?” He glanced at her with a smirk on his face.
“Yep.” Lila went to him, kneeling by his side. “The Feds will be working in conjunction with us. I got my budget approved so I can hire new people as soon as I do the interviews.” Lila leaned down and kissed him. “And I’m here with you. So it’s been a great day. Oh… Your mom’s hair comb did bring me luck. Let me give it back.” She sat up to take it out.
Driscoll settled beside her and touched her hand, stopping her. “You hold onto it. I like the idea of you having it and wearing it. I feel like I’m with you when you do.”
“Such a sentimental man.” Lila leaned against him. “I’ll think of you every time I have it on.”
“Good. I just found out today that I’ll be going out of town for about a week. I’ll be leaving next week.” Driscoll reached in his pocket and pulled out something. “I have this for you too. I know you worry about me leaving the door open for you.” He handed it to her.
Lila took it, staring at the key then looked at him. “You’re giving me a key to your house? Why?”
“So you can come and go any time you want. Even next week when I’m away you can come by. I like the idea that while I’m away you’re sleeping in my bed.” Driscoll pushed the strands that had come loose behind her ear. “Use the code I gave you initially for the gate to get in, then use the key to come into the house.”
She stroked her thumb over the key. “Okay. I’ll get one for you for my place too.”
“You don’t need to do that because I did.”
“Hush.” Lila kissed him. “I want to. I like the idea of you waiting for me at my house when I don’t come here. Maybe even naked and all ready for me.” She leered. “Definitely naked.”
“Naked I can do.” Driscoll started removing her clothing.
Lila went to remove his. She lifted up and straddled him.
* * * *
Lila fingered her hair, brushing against the smooth pearls. She sighed, shifting, and tried to shake off her funk. Driscoll had been gone for almost two weeks. The weeklong trip had been extended. Although she spoke with him each night, she still missed him.
“Ouch.” Lila frowned, reaching up to rub the side of her head. “Why’d you hit me?”
“Because I’m getting tired of your sighing and moping.” Aja rolled her eyes. “We’re here to have some fun so have some fun already. Dris will be back soon, so buck up.”
“She’s missing him.” Colby reclined on the floor before them.
Storm, who was resting with his back against the arm of the sofa, groaned. “Please tell me you all are not going to have another sighing session over how sexy Dris is.” He lifted his voice high, making it sound like a woman’s. “Or how sweet he is.” He spoke normally again. “’Cause if you are, I’m gonna leave.”
“Buddy of mine, you are not going anywhere.” Lila jumped off the couch and sat in his lap.
Colby shifted, resting over his legs. “You are staying right where you are.”
“If we have to suffer through the sighing and all the gushing about Dris, you do too. It’s in the friends’ code. When your girl who is a friend falls and acts like she is a lovesick loon, you have to be there to support her.” Aja put her arms around his shoulders, hugging him from behind. “Even if it is so sickeningly sweet that you want to knock her ass out if she mentions him one more time.”
“You’re just jealous that Lila has somebody,” Colby said behind Lila.
“Don’t think I didn’t see you eyeing one of the Locke men,” Lila added.
Aja stuck her head in the air. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”
“She’s talking about tall, dark and broody,” Colby replied.
“Ladies, please,” Storm said, pained. “Hello, man here. I don’t need or want to hear about any tall, dark and broody.”
“Okay. How about, sexy, curvaceous and couldn’t keep her eyes off you.” Lila cupped his cheeks.
“What?” Storm’s eyes widened.
“You really are oblivious.” Colby sighed. “Christ, now I’m sighing.” She poked Lila in the side. “You’re making it spread.”
“Stop that. We’re focusing on our friend Storm who needs to be more aware when someone is checking him out.”
“Who?” Storm scowled then shook his head. “I don’t want to know. I don’t care. I do not date. Ever.”
Lila stared into his gaze and the pain there had her heart aching for him. “Storm—”
“First Morgan falls for Bella. Now you’ve fallen for Dris.” Storm glanced up at Aja then past her at Colby. “Which one of you will be next?”
“Not me,” Colby and Aja said simultaneously.
“I’ve not fallen for Dris.” Lila shook her head. “That would be stupid since we are from different worlds. We want different things.”
“You what?” Colby came and sat beside Storm, staring at her with an expression that clearly showed she was waiting for her to explain. Storm and Aja had the same look.
“You all are acting like that’s a surprise.” Lila crossed her arms over her chest. “He’s Driscoll, for God’s sake.”
“Yes, that is his name,” Storm said slowly. “Driscoll, and he’s a man who puts on his pants one leg at a time, just like we all do.”
“Yeah bu—”
“But nothing. He’s into you, Lila.” Colby narrowed her gaze. “What I don’t get is why you, who are usually so blunt, aren’t being truthful to yourself?”
“I’m being truthful.” Lila lowered her arms. “You want blunt, here it is. Dris and I are having fun. We’re from two different worlds and thinking anything different will lead to a world of hurt.”
“As far as I know there is one world—earth. That is unless you all know something I don’t,” Aja said.
Colby and Storm shook their heads.
“I thought so.” Aja leaned forward and grabbed Lila’s chin between her thumb and forefinger. “What I think is that you already feel more than you want to admit but are afraid to face it, even in your subconscious.”
“Stop being a shrink.” Lila pulled out of her hold then she rose. “Are we going to play pool and then do some dancing as you all wanted to or not?” She moved away.
“Yep. A whole big ole plate of denial.” Aj
a stood and stalked toward her. “Get your head out your butt and hold onto that man who cares about you.”
“Mi—”
“You better not be about to say mind my business,” Aja warned in a soft tone.
“Fuck you,” Lila replied.
“Back at ya.” Aja came to her then hugged her. “I love you and want you to be happy.”
“We all do.” Colby hugged her too.
“God, at this rate I’m gonna have to give up my man card.” Storm blew out a breath. “Fine, I want you to fuck like bunnies and have all the happiness when you do. There, that makes it about sex. That reaffirms my maleness.”
“You nut.” Lila chuckled as Storm hugged all of them.
“Why do you need to affirm your maleness?” Driscoll asked.
“Dris.” Lila pulled away from her friends and turned.
Driscoll stood in the doorway looking very sexy.
“Yep, she is in denial,” Aja whispered behind her. “Quick, snap a picture so we can show her how she looks when she sees him.”
“Do it yourself,” Storm said in an equally soft voice. “I’m not getting in the middle of this.”
“I’ll do it,” Colby said.
“Stop.” Lila reached behind and smacked at each of them. To Driscoll, she said, “When did you get back? I thought you would be gone another three days.”
“Six hours,” Aja said.
“Eight minutes,” Storm added.
“Twenty-six seconds. Now it’s twenty-two,” Colby said. “She was counting the time down to the second.”
“I was not.” Lila glared at her friends.
They grinned at her. She snorted then lifted a finger, poking it into each of their chests.
“I’m gonna remember this when you all are dating.”
“Teasing is part of the fun of having good friends,” Driscoll said behind her.
She turned and gazed up at him. “Hi.”
“Hey.” He leaned down and kissed her.
“Ohhh…” Aja moaned. “I need some ice water.”
“I’m about to gag,” Storm said.
“I want me some.” Colby chuckled. “Damn, Lila, don’t swallow the man’s tongue.”
She pulled back and glared at them. “I hate you.”
“You love us,” the trio said together.
“Yeah I do. But at this moment, I really hate you.” Lila laughed.
Driscoll hugged her from behind. “So is someone gonna tell me why Storm wants to affirm his maleness?”
“Because my brother is out of town and deserted me with all the estrogen of these women. He’s usually here with me to help balance it out. We can talk manly things while these three act all girly.” Storm dodged Aja’s kick then Colby hit him in the shoulder. “Shit, Colby. You know you hit like a brick.”
“Good.” She lifted her fist. “Next time it’ll be upside your head.”
“And you deserve it too.” Lila stuck her tongue out then asked, “When is Saxton”—Storm’s brother—“back?”
“Eight more weeks.” Storm shrugged. “The committee he is on will wrap up in about a month, but he decided to take a vacation before coming back to Singleton. So, Driscoll, you wanna be my manly help with these women until then? Help me!”
“Sure.” Driscoll hugged Lila tighter and asked, “What are you all up to today? I didn’t mean to interrupt, I just got back and came straight here to see Lila. I’ll be going so you all can get back to what you were doing.”
“I thought you were a man of your word.” Storm stepped around her and pulled Driscoll away. “You just agreed to help and you’re deserting me already. We’re going dancing and you are coming along. With you there, maybe they won’t dance my feet off.”
“Why would they dance your feet off?” Driscoll walked beside Storm as they headed for the door.
“Because they are too damn beautiful and men keep approaching them. When they aren’t interested, they claim I’m their jealous lover and I’ll beat anyone up who looks at them. Thankfully, I haven’t had to show the men I can do it.”
“Can you do it?”
“Yeah.” Storm laughed. “I know a little bit about fighting. So treat Lila right or I will mess you up.”
Lila’s mouth fell open as she heard Storm threaten Driscoll. She went to go after them. Aja and Colby boxed her in.
“Nope.” Aja put her hand on her waist. “We’re your closest friends and it’s our duty to let him know if he messes with you we mess with him. Your family, I’m sure when you introduce him, will do the same.”
“N—”
“Hush,” Colby said cheerfully then called out, “Dris, I carry a gun.”
“Colby.” Lila stared at her, shocked.
“I understand, Storm and Colby,” Driscoll replied then said, “What will you do if I hurt Lila, Aja?”
“Have you committed,” Aja said gleefully. “Make sure they lose you and you never see the light of day again.”
“Okay.” Driscoll studied Lila. “And you think the people I know are crazy. These three make them look sane.”
“Oh, God. I’ll never say or think that about your people again.” Lila elbowed her friends and glared at Storm who wasn’t close enough for her to hit him. “I can’t believe you, none of you.”
“What?” Storm gave her his innocent look.
“Don’t try that on me.” Lila narrowed her eyes.
“Uh…oh. I know that look.” Storm headed toward the door rapidly. “Time to go. I’ll grab a ride with Driscoll.”
Driscoll came over to her and kissed her briefly then he kissed the cheek of each of her friends. “You care about her, I’ll be sure to try to not hurt her.”
He turned and strode away.
“That is some man,” Colby said. “I’m thinking he’s a keeper.”
“If Lila doesn’t get her head out of her ass then I just might have to keep him for myself.” Aja hummed deep in her throat. “Fine man who knows how to make a woman melt. Damn right, he is a keeper.”
“Back off, women.” Lila squeezed them around their waists, knowing they were kidding.
“Seriously. I hope you get this different world shit out of your head,” Aja said, leading them toward the door.
“Since Dris is driving Storm, instead of taking Lila’s car, how about we take mine? That way she can get a ride back with him and I can drop you and Storm off after Aja.”
“Sounds good,” Aja agreed.
They went outside. Driscoll was already in his vehicle. The women went to Colby’s Land Rover and got in. She started the car then followed Driscoll as he drove onto the main highway.
“You need to hook me up with the mechanic Driscoll used,” Aja said. “When we went out yesterday in Lancelot, he sounded so smooth.”
“He said it was Tannis Garage. I’ve haven’t been there yet. I’ll have him give you the address.”
“Thanks. So how’s work going, ladies?”
Colby answered and Lila absently listened and talked with them as they went. The drive wasn’t that long and they soon pulled into the parking lot of RM Bar. As usual, it was filled with vehicles. They got out and met the men. Driscoll placed his hand on her waist and escorted her toward the door. Lila enjoyed his touch and wished they were either at her place or his…naked. She’d gotten used to being with him and two weeks without him was so long.
“I know that look.” Driscoll lowered his head, speaking softly, “No horny thoughts until I can do something about it.”
“Too late.” She laughed.
They followed her friends into the bar.
“Dance with me.” Driscoll led her to the dance area.
When they got there, he turned her into his arm then started to move. Lila gulped and tried to remember how to breathe. His movements were liquid like the motions of silk as he slid his body along hers.
“Driscoll, you can’t dance like that and expect me to control myself,” she murmured in a strangled voice.
“I’m t
empting and teasing you.” Driscoll rolled his hips and Lila was powerless but to watch.
He moved around her, shifting her with him. Lila shook herself out of the stupor and rotated her hips. Driscoll swallowed hard and she smiled. He might be known for his voice and sensuality, but she wasn’t a slouch in the dancing department. Lila lifted her hand and stepped back from him before lowering herself, sliding one leg out then bouncing there and looking up at him. She licked her lips and Driscoll groaned. She rose before bumping against him then turning her back to his front. She put her hand against the side of his neck. He leaned over her, kissing the pulse in her throat and they danced.
She lost herself in the music and Driscoll. Moving with the rhythm brought them together as if they had been dancing together forever. She dropped back, trusting Driscoll to hold her, then he bent her low and she swayed just above the floor. He picked her up and held her close, moving with her. The song came to an end and Driscoll stepped back, taking her hand and kissing the back of it.
“Thanks for the dance, Lila.” He lifted his head and the wicked grin she had come to know so well flashed across his face.
“Anytime, Dris. Anytime,” Lila said softly.
He winked then glanced past her. “Let’s go play some pool with your friends. I like them, by the way.”
“They like you too.” Lila smiled wryly. “Although threatening you is a funny way to show it.”
“I get it. They want to make sure you are protected and cared for.” Driscoll studied her.
The intensity of his scrutiny made Lila swallow hard.
“And I want to do the same.” Driscoll led her toward the pool area.
Lila didn’t even know how to respond. She didn’t know what to do with Driscoll. One moment she was sure she had him figured out then the next he had her off balance. Driscoll put his arm over her shoulder and she leaned against his side, wondering if she would ever know what to expect from him.
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