Nashville Nights [Mountain Wolf Pack 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Jane Jamison

  “What would you call it?” They’d meant to come after her. Thing was, her body was telling her that was a good thing, hell, a great thing. Her mind, however, had started shouting every warning her grandmother had ever told her about strange men.

  “Rae, honey, if a man comes on too strong, then you’d better beware.”

  “An interested man boosts a woman’s ego. But a man who can’t think of anything except her? That’s a man who’s grabbing hold too fast and too hard.”

  “Listen to your intuition. If it tells you to run, then take off your heels and skedaddle.”

  “Rae, honey, keep your purse close, but your heart even closer.”

  And yet there was one thing her grandmother had always told her that kept pushing all the other sayings away.

  “Honey, when you meet that special someone, you’ll just know it.”

  Stone leaned forward, his voice low. “Rae, it’s not that way. I swear it.”

  “The hell it isn’t.”

  She gripped her pad tighter. Not because she was afraid of what Wyatt had said or how he’d said it. Or even the way he’d come to his feet so fast that she was barely aware that he’d moved before he was already holding her arm. She’d tensed up as the whip of whatever the hell it was coming from him slid over her skin to zoom up her arm and into the rest of her. If her pussy throbbed any harder, she’d swear people could hear it like a big bass drum.

  Wyatt put his face close to hers. “Listen, baby, I know you can feel what we feel. It’s a connection, a bond that means we’re meant to be together. You can try and deny it. You can try and blow us off, but it’s not going to go away. And neither are we.”

  She was breathing hard, her throat tightening with every breath. Still, she wasn’t afraid. She didn’t fear either one of them. Her reaction was purely instinctual.

  I want them. Good gracious alive how I want them.

  “Better look before you leap.”

  She heeded her grandmother’s internal warning and jerked her arm away. The sensations rippling over her skin subsided a little, but not enough to set her free. “I’m going to get Melinda to wait on you.”

  “Rae, wait. Wyatt didn’t mean—”

  But she didn’t hear the rest of what Stone had to say. Instead, she hurried toward the kitchen as fast as she could. Slipping past her boss, she staggered a few more feet until she could drop her pad and lean on one of the long metal food preparation tables. “Holy hell.”

  “Rae, are you all right?”

  She pulled herself together and faced Melinda, the waitress she wanted to take care of Wyatt and Stone. “I’m not sure.”

  Melinda’s concern went higher. “What’s wrong? You looked like you’ve just had”—she paused, then went on to lower her voice—“phenomenally great sex.”

  “What? That’s ridiculous.” She glanced at her image in the metal under her flattened hands. Her hair was messed and her lips parted. Her eyes were big and her face glowed. Melinda was right. She looked like she’d had a hell of a good time.

  “Rae, is there something I can do to help?”

  “Yes, please, if you would.” She pulled herself to her full height and straightened her hair. How’d had it gotten that way? By running from the dining room? “Can you take over table eight for me?”

  “Eight? Sure. No problem. But why? Is someone hassling you? If so, all you have to do is tell Sam. I know he’s a hard-ass sometimes, but he always takes the side of the waitstaff whenever a jerk starts bothering us.”

  “No, no. It’s not that. They’re great guys. It’s just that—”

  “It’s just what?”

  “She’s got the connection.”

  Rae whirled around along with Melinda to confront Carlos, one of the line cooks. “What are you talking about?”

  Carlos kept stirring a pot of soup. “You know what it is. It’s that feeling you get whenever you’re around them. Am I right? Do they make your blood boil with hunger? Do you want to push them on the floor and fuck their brains out?”

  “What the hell, Carlos? Watch your language.” Melinda stepped in front of Rae although it was obvious that Carlos meant her no harm.

  “Stop playing around. Someone needs to tell her.”

  When Melinda didn’t argue, Rae moved so she could see both their faces. “I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

  If she lied any more, her pants really would catch on fire. He had to be talking about the strange sensation she got whenever they came near her. It made sense to call it a connection because that’s what it did. It connected her to Wyatt and Stone like an invisible chain that pulled them together.

  Carlos muttered a few words in Spanish, then lifted his ladle and pointed it at her. “You’re lucky. Most people never get that feeling. I wish I was you.”

  “I still don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Yes, you do. I can see it on your face. But fine. I’ll tell you. It’s the bond between a man, or men, and a woman. The connection takes hold of you and won’t let go. And why would you want to? It’s a gift, and you should rejoice.” His black eyes danced against his dark skin. “Don’t fight it, amiga.”

  “Melinda, do you understand what he’s talking about? Can what he’s saying be true?”

  Her friend pulled her to the corner and away from Carlos. “I admit that I’ve heard of it before.”

  “Seriously? How? Have you felt it?”

  “No, but I had another friend who did. She said it was like a lightning bolt that hit her as soon as she met her men.”

  “Her men? As in more than one man?” Rae couldn’t believe what she was hearing, and yet, a part of her, the part that was getting stronger by the minute, wouldn’t let her deny it, either.

  “Yeah. She has three men she calls her mates.”

  “Mates? Instead of partners or husbands?” Still, what did it matter what they were called?

  “Well, it’s not like she can legally marry all three of them. But yeah, she called it the connection and said it brought them together.”

  “And you think this connection thing is real?”

  “All I know is that she’s happier than a pig in a big mud puddle. They got together within twenty-four hours of meeting her, and she hasn’t been apart from them since.”

  The connection was real. There was no other explanation for what she was feeling. It wasn’t simply lust, or need, or loneliness. It was deeper, fuller, richer than even words could describe.

  “Rae, do you still want me to take table eight?”

  She had to have time to think. And distance so that she could. “Yeah. I’m going to take a long break. If Sam asks where I am, tell him it’s a woman thing.”

  Melinda laughed even as she stroked her arm, comforting her. “Sure thing. I’ll take care of them and Sam both. Don’t you worry none.”

  She thanked her friend and headed for the employee’s restroom. If what they’d said was true, then she’d met two men who were fated to become her lovers.

  “Good gracious alive.”

  * * * *

  “Wyatt, you’re a fucking idiot.”

  Wyatt couldn’t disagree with Stone. He’d jumped the gun and was hoping he hadn’t blown their chances with their intended mate. “I know.”

  “Do you? I don’t think so. But I’ll tell you one thing. If you’ve ruined it with her, I’m going to skin you alive and feed your guts to a bunch of alley cats.”

  Like most werewolves, they had no love for cats. Especially the independent alley cats that hung around The Dive and other restaurants to dig in the Dumpsters for scraps of food. Even worse were the packs of werecats that had moved into the region in the past year. So far they hadn’t caused any trouble, but that didn’t mean there hadn’t been a few fights break out at bars around town.

  “I’ll make this right.”

  “No. Don’t even try.” Stone slammed his mouth shut as another waitress strode up to them.

  Judging from her ex
pression, she wasn’t about to “welcome them into the family” as the restaurant’s motto proclaimed.

  “What do you want?”

  Wyatt couldn’t blame her. If Rae had told her what he’d said, he didn’t doubt Melinda—her name was on the pin attached to her uniform—would rather tear his heart out than put food in front of him. Unless, of course, the food was poisoned.

  “Nothing. We’re sorry to have taken up your time.” Stone was on his feet and digging a ten out of his wallet to toss on the table. “Tell Rae we’re sorry, will you?”

  Wyatt didn’t bother questioning the haughty arched eyebrow. Melinda would do as she damned well pleased. Instead, he gave her a quick nod to say thanks then followed Stone toward the front door.

  “What now? We can’t leave without seeing Rae again.”

  Stone burst through the doors and headed to their pickup. “Hell, no. But we need to give her time to settle down. Until then, we wait.”

  Wyatt turned back to the restaurant and saw Rae talking to Melinda. He’d screwed up, but somehow, some way he’d make it right. Even if he had to stay up all night until she’d finished her shift.

  * * * *

  It was two in the morning when Rae slid behind the wheel of her car. Even after trying to work out her feelings throughout the rest of her shift, she was still trying to come to grips with what Carlos and Melinda had told her. She grabbed the wheel of her car and stared at the fence in front of her.

  Carlos had sounded so sure. And he’d pegged what she’d been feeling around Wyatt and Stone exactly right. Then on top of that, Melinda’s friend had gone through it.

  “Is this really happening?”

  Her hand shook when she lifted it off the wheel to push her key into the ignition. She twisted it to the side, and as she always did, said a prayer that the engine would turn over. One of these days she’d have to buy a new car. Or rather, a new-to-her car. But now wasn’t that time. With the economy suffering as it was, her minimum-wage-plus-tips job barely covered her part of the rent. And yet when the engine failed to make a sound, she knew the end was at hand.

  “No. Not now. Not tonight.” She was bone tired after singing at The Dive and then pulling a full shift on her feet. Why couldn’t she catch a break?

  “Rae?”

  She startled, then turned to see Stone at her window. Wyatt stood a few feet away, looking more humble than she’d ever seen him, and lifted his hand in greeting. “What are you doing here?”

  “The truth is that we waited until you got off work. We need to talk to you. To apologize for Wyatt’s big mouth.”

  She was surprised she hadn’t felt it earlier. But now that she saw them, she realized that the buzz of energy was riding the invisible current between them again. Closing her eyes, she followed the feeling, concentrating on it as she hadn’t done before. It flowed over her, rushing into her veins and along her nerve endings. Yet instead of being painful or irritating, it made her feel light and joyful. And so hungry for them that she could eat them alive.

  “Rae, are you okay?”

  She opened her eyes and pushed open her door. If the connection really existed, if that was what she was truly feeling, then she was going to find out for sure. “I’m fine. Other than being dog tired and my car not starting.”

  He put out his hand, and for a moment, she hesitated. What did she really know about these two men other than that were talented musicians and had a thing for her? And yet, even with all the warnings her grandmother had given her, she couldn’t shake the idea that she had nothing to fear. She could sense it deep inside her. They’d never harm her.

  She put her hand in his, accepting the rush it gave her. She’d known them for only a short while, but she felt as though she’d known them her entire life. Standing brought her up close and personal with Stone.

  The night was warm, but that was like a fall morning compared to the heat channeling its way through her. The world wavered around her, and her knees got weak. All she had to do was lift her head and look into his eyes. Then she’d know the truth.

  She lifted her gaze and was struck with the absolute knowledge that he was her everything. Her lips parted, giving him a silent invitation to kiss her.

  His focus dropped from her eyes to her lips, picking up on her message. Yet when she dared to place her tongue between her teeth, he still didn’t answer her call.

  “We can take you home.”

  The earth could’ve opened up underneath her and she wouldn’t have cared. Wyatt had come closer, doubling the sexual tension in the air. If he’d asked her to strip and lay on top of her car so he could lick her pussy, she would’ve flung her body on the hood and opened wide.

  “Honey, take care. Don’t go falling for some hairy-legged man whispering sweet words in your ear.”

  For once, she didn’t listen to the engrained words from her grandmother telling her to beware. “Do you mean my home?” She gave it a moment, making sure they’d understand. “Or yours?”

  She should’ve known that would set Wyatt off. If he got any closer, she wasn’t sure if she could hold herself back.

  “I’d love to take you to our home, but I’ll go either way.”

  “Fine. Take me to my place.”

  A flicker of disappointment flashed across his face, but he rallied. Stone tightened his hold on her and pulled her next to him, slipping his hand around her waist.

  “Your place it is.”

  * * * *

  Rae had forgotten how much of a pig her roommate, Carolina Tallen, was. She cringed then pushed a pile of dirty laundry out of the way to lead the men into her apartment. Dirty plates covered one side—Carolina’s side—of the wooden coffee table while dishes lay piled in the sink.

  “I apologize for the mess. It’s a disaster area in here, but I’m kind of at a stalemate with Carolina, my roomie. At the time it seemed like a good idea, but now I’m wondering if I didn’t get myself into a no-win situation.”

  “What’s going on?” Wyatt stood in the middle of the tiny living room, then motioned to where he planned to set down her guitar.

  “That’s fine. Just put it over there.”

  How would she explain her friend? Carolina was a free spirit, the type of person who never took anything seriously. She’d found an ad to rent half of an apartment online, and being new in town with no place to stay, she figured living in a mess was better than living in her car.

  “I need you to know that most of this hoarder-style mess is Carolina’s doing. What can I say? She’s really nice and I love her to death, but she doesn’t give a flip about cleaning. I finally got fed up and said I wouldn’t pick up after her. I guess I was wrong in thinking that eventually she’d get fed up living like this and start cleaning.”

  Stone moved a pile of clothes off the armchair and dumped it on top of an even bigger pile on the couch. “Hey, we can’t talk. If we didn’t have a cleaning lady come in once a week, our house would look worse than this.”

  “You have a cleaning lady? Wow. I’m impressed.”

  “Don’t be. She’s Wyatt’s aunt and a snoop for the rest of the pack, um, family.”

  “Hey, whatever it takes, man.”

  A hissing sound preceded the jump at Stone, who flinched then hopped out of the chair. Murphy, the neighbor’s huge tabby cat that liked to hang out at their home because Carolina fed it treats, took a place on the chair.

  “I’m sorry.” She scooped the cat up and stroked it behind the ears. “Are you allergic? Or just afraid of a little pussy?” It was mean to tease him, but she couldn’t resist.

  Yet even Wyatt sneered at Murphy. “We don’t like cats.”

  Were the two big, strong men really afraid of a little pussy cat? “Is there a reason? Like maybe a cat attacked you in the cradle? Are you experiencing PTSD over a pussy?”

  “Nope. Like he said. We just don’t like them much.” Stone reached out, gingerly, to pet the cat. “Is he yours?”

  He jerked his hand back when Murphy
hissed then struck out.

  “Murphy! I’m sorry. No, he’s not mine. And he’s not usually this antisocial. I’ll put him outside then change into something more comfortable.”

  She caught their eager looks and held up a finger to stop them. “That didn’t come out the way I wanted. You know what I mean. This uniform isn’t the most comfortable thing to wear.”

  “Sure, Rae. Take your time,” offered Stone.

  She stepped over a pile of magazines, all of them gossip rags, and took Murphy down the hall. Pushing the cat through the window that Carolina left open for him to get into the house, she glanced back down the hall, found that they were still watching her, then darted into her bedroom.

  Once inside, she yanked off the horrible uniform, letting it fall to the floor, then grabbed her favorite halter top and shorts out of the old bureau. Dressed, she turned around and took a critical look at herself in the full-length mirror hooked to the closet door. The halter top made her breasts seem perky and fuller than they were while the denim shorts hugged her round bottom. When she was younger, she’d hated her full buttocks, but now that J.Lo butts were in, she was happy to show off the attributes of her booty.

  Taking a moment to freshen up, she combed her hair, brushing through it only twenty-five times instead of the usual hundred strokes, then added some lip-gloss and put some color on her cheeks.

  Not half bad, if I do say so myself.

  She put her hand on the door and stopped. What had she planned on doing once they brought her home? The answer was clear enough. At least to the part of her that was starting to believe the connection thing was real. But there in the room, away from them, the rational side of her was kicking in.

  You invited two men you barely know back to your apartment. You know what they’ve got to be thinking.

  But she had no doubt that they were good guys, not the types to take advantage of the situation.

  Damn it all.

  Maybe she was the one who wanted to take advantage of the situation. It wasn’t at all like her, but then again, the way she felt around them wasn’t at all like her, either.