by Jane Jamison
“Seriously? A car. They gave me a brand new car.”
“Yeah. I get that.”
“No, you don’t. It’s like payment for services rendered.”
“Aw, hell, Rae. Like I said. I was only kidding about the slut thing. I’m sure that’s not how they meant it, either. Nobody does that kind of thing any longer except married men cheating on their wives. They’re not married, are they? Or repulsive or smell bad?”
“None of the above. In fact, they’re the best-looking men I’ve ever seen.”
“Then you know they don’t have to pay for it. No, Rae, I think you’ve found two men who are really, really taken with you. Maybe you three have a special kind of connection. Am I right?”
“Maybe.” She couldn’t dismiss the wonderful sensation her words gave her. Yet the problem remained. “Still, it’s a new car.”
“Rae, do you know what your problem is?”
“Other than trying to understand why two guys I hardly know want to give me a car, what problem do I have?”
“This one. You don’t know how to take your own advice.”
She sat up and tracked fingers through her mop of hair. “I don’t understand.”
“Don’t you remember what you told me when I met my guys?”
“Not exactly.” Try not at all.
“When I told you about meeting my men, you said I’d hit the jackpot.”
Now she remembered. She’d told her that and she’d meant it. “But they weren’t showering you with expensive gifts.”
“No. Darn it. But, hey, they were too busy keeping me safe from wolves and a crazy lady to go car shopping.”
That was true enough. The men Livi had fallen for had had an obsessive woman lusting after them. She’d caused an amazing amount of trouble before they’d finally put a stop to her.
“Do you want to know what I really think?”
As if she could keep Livi from telling her. “Of course I do.”
“I think you’re as sweet on them as they are on you.”
“I’ve only known them a week or so.”
“I think we’ve already established that. But why go round and round about this? Do what you told me to do.”
“Again you’re throwing my own words back at me? Fine. Go on and remind me again.”
“Answer the question without thinking.”
Rae paused, caught in a trap of her own making. “And what’s the question?”
“Do you care about them? A lot?”
She answered straight away and told the truth. “Yeah. A lot.”
“Then work it out. Give them back the car or do whatever makes you feel right. But don’t get rid of them.”
She let out a huge breath. “When you’re right, you’re right, Livi.”
Livi’s laugh filled the air between them. “And I’m always right.”
“That’s debatable.”
“Oh! A stab through my heart.” Livi laughed then covered the phone, muting her voice as she spoke to someone on her end. “Listen, Rae, I’ve got to run, but I know you’ll do whatever’s best for you. For once, try to listen more with your heart than with your head, okay? Trust me. Sometimes that’s the best way to go.”
Rae was about to ask her how she was supposed to do that when Livi said good-bye and hung up. She dropped the phone on the bed and made her decision. Maybe if she showed up for dinner, she could get some answers. Like how they could afford to buy her a new car. Weren’t they poor singers like her trying to get their big break? And the other question. Even if they had the money to buy a new car, why would they want to?
Livi had told her to do whatever she thought was best. Having been raised conservatively, she didn’t want to feel indebted to them. And a new car seemed like major debt.
“I have to give it back.” As much as she loved the idea of having a car that wouldn’t break down every other week, she couldn’t accept such an expensive gift. Not even from two great men like Wyatt and Stone.
“Damn. Why can’t I accept extravagant tokens of appreciation like other girls? If only I really was a slut.”
Still, answers were what she was after, and she was bound and determined to get those. She dug through the closet and found one of her favorite outfits. After all, why she shouldn’t look her best when she returned the car?
Chapter Six
Rae thought she was prepared to see them until Stone opened the door with only his jeans on. At once, the speech she’d prepared on the way over got wiped away in a flood of sensation urging her to throw her body at him.
Judging from the huge grin on his face, he was happy to see her, too. “Hey, sweetheart, how’re you doing? It’s great to see you. Come on in. I was just getting dressed.”
The words please, don’t get dressed on my account were on the tip of her tongue.
She shook her head. “Oh, damn. I should’ve called first. Uh, I stopped by to return the car.”
His blue gaze hopped from her to the Jetta parked at the curb and back. “But why? Don’t you like it? If you want a different color, we can swap it out. Or maybe another kind of car?”
“No, no. It’s nothing like that.”
“Then what’s wrong?”
Wyatt appeared behind him, clad only in jeans, too. Jeans that dipped low in the front to tease her. If she wanted—and oh, how she wanted—she could pass her fingers along the waistline and let the curly darkness below tickle her skin. Like Stone, he hadn’t shaved yet and already had a sexy stubble caressing his firm jawline. Testosterone, so alluring and exciting, drifted to her. The sensuality of the pair of them had her rocking on her feet. Why couldn’t they have looked awful in the morning and had stinky breath like normal men did? Maybe that way she could’ve kept her wits about her.
“Hey, Rae, you’re just in time to have some breakfast, brunch, or whatever you want to call it. Our invitation was for dinner and we can still do that, but this is great, too.”
“No, thanks. I’m not hungry. I mean—” She stumbled with her words. “I was just telling Stone that I came by to return the car. It’s a terrific car and all, but it’s way too expensive. I can’t accept it.”
“But why not?”
“I told you. It’s way too much. I loved the flowers, by the way, and I’m happy to keep them. But a car? That’s way too extravagant. Besides…” She paused, then decided to jump in with both feet. “Look, I don’t want to pry or anything, but how can you afford that?”
She didn’t want to mention that the home they lived in was a modest house. Not the type of home men who could afford to give cars away would live in.
“Trust us, sweetheart. We can afford it. And we want you to have it.” Stone stepped outside, getting too close for her already scrambled mind to have a chance to focus on rational thoughts. His arm swept around her waist, blowing her next-to-last brain cell to hell and back. “Join us, Rae. I make a mean pancake.”
Her stomach betrayed her by grumbling. “I’m sure you do, but I really only came to return the car.” She held out the keys. “Here. Take them.”
“Not a chance.” Wyatt was beside her and skimming his palm along her arm until he closed his hand over hers, causing her to make a fist around the keys. “It’s your car. Besides, we can’t take it back.”
“Then sell it and pay your rent.” She wondered if the neighbors were watching. If so, they were getting a good show.
“And what will you do for transportation?”
“I’ll do what a lot of people do, Stone. I’ll ride the bus.” She pointed to where Carolina waited for her in her older model Honda. The Jetta was parked in front of Carolina’s car. “Or I’ll catch rides with my friends. I’m only on foot until my car gets fixed.”
“Oh, hell, no. We can’t have you riding the bus or hitching rides.” Wyatt leaned over and nibbled on her ear. “Except with us, of course. We’ll take you anywhere you want, any time you want.”
The way he touched her made her think that the place he wanted to take h
er to had nothing to do with getting back and forth to work. It took everything she had in her to keep from begging him to nibble a little lower. Then lower still.
“Wyatt’s right. We’d worry about you taking a bus late at night after work. Nope. The car’s yours.”
“I told you. It’s too much.”
“Okay, then, how about a compromise?”
She was suspicious, but too curious not to ask. “What kind of compromise? Are you going to trade it in for a skateboard?”
Stone’s laugh made her want to crush her mouth to his. If Carolina wasn’t waiting, she might’ve done just that.
“I’ll bet you haven’t gotten around to getting your car towed yet.”
“I was going to handle that right after I returned your car.”
“Don’t bother. Wyatt and I already had the guys on it this morning.”
“You what? But why? And where did you have it towed to?” They’d thought of everything. She was sure they’d think of everything when it came to sex, too.
Damn, girl, slut much?
“Don’t worry. It’s in good hands. At least let us do that much.”
“Yeah, Rae. That’s the compromise. You need a car until yours gets fixed, right? In the meantime, we’ll get yours back in shape. If that’s even possible.”
She had the feeling she was getting caught between them in more than a physical way. Yet neither way felt bad. “I supposed I can go for that. If I had insurance, I might’ve gotten a rental. But I don’t, so that’s out of the question.”
“Then consider it a rental.” Wyatt glanced around him, then cupped her breast.
It was more PDA than she’d thought she’d ever do. “But it’s not a rental. It’s a new car, and you need to return it fast and get your money back.”
“It’s already too late for that, so you might as well use it until you get your own wheels back. Right, Wyatt?”
“Makes sense to me.”
It did make sense. At least that way she wouldn’t be taking advantage of them too much. “Well…but once I have my car back, you’ll sell this and get your money back, right?”
“It’s settled. You’re using the car. Now how about breakfast?”
Had he sidestepped giving her a real answer? Still, they’d come to an agreement. Sort of.
“No, thanks. Carolina’s waiting for me. She’s going to give me a ride home.” She pointed toward her friend, who lifted her hand in return.
“Invite her in.”
She could see the disappointment on Wyatt’s face and hoped it was more about her refusal than from the possibility of Carolina joining them. “Thanks again. But I’ll have to pass.”
Damn, but they were fine men. Not only because of their physical attributes, but because of their kindness, thoughtfulness, and generosity.
“You’re coming back tonight for dinner, right?”
It was tough to turn down anything Stone wanted her to do, but she had no choice. “Sorry. I appreciate the invitation, but I can’t. I’ve got to work.”
“At the restaurant or singing?”
She managed to push them back a little. Carolina would have a field day after seeing how close she’d let them get in public. Especially after catching them in the kitchen the night before. “Both. It’s going to be a long night.”
“At least you don’t have to take the bus now,” joked Wyatt.
“Yes. That’s true.” She stabbed a finger against his chest. “But it’s only a loaner. Remember that. Once my car is repaired, then you get it back. Deal?”
“Sure. Whatever you say.”
They gave in way too easily, but she couldn’t keep harping at them. Not after everything they’d done and were doing. “Okay, then. I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Can’t be soon enough, babe,” returned Wyatt.
She took her time heading down the sidewalk toward the Jetta since it felt like she was walking through quicksand. Her body and her mind wanted her to turn around and run back into their arms.
* * * *
“We should’ve told her.” Stone stood with Wyatt and watched until Rae was in her friend’s car and driving away.
“Naw. She’d never have kept the car if we had.”
“How did you get the money for it, anyway? Did you go to the pack?”
“I called in a favor, so I got it for a steal. Plus, I had a little nest egg set aside.”
“Then why are you always sponging drinks off me?”
Wyatt laughed. “Because I can.”
He had a sneaking suspicion that Wyatt wasn’t telling him everything. But pushing would get him nowhere with his stubborn friend.
“I’m still not sure that was a great idea having her car towed off to the junkyard. It’s a piece of crap, but it was still her car and her decision to make.”
Wyatt snorted and led the way back inside the house. “As our mate, she’s going to have to get used to us calling the shots.”
Stone headed for the kitchen and the pancake batter he’d left sitting in a bowl. “You act like you’ve never met her, man. Do you think she’s the type who’s going to take orders well?”
“That’s why we’re easing her into it like we did the other night. Once she starts taking orders from us in the bedroom, then the rest will follow. And then when we mate her, it’ll be all easy sailing from there.”
Wyatt had a way of assuming everything would work out the way he wanted it to. Stone had a more realistic view of things.
“I hope so, man. If not, then I’m letting you take the blame for getting rid of her car.”
“It won’t bother me. As long as I get all the credit I deserve, too.”
* * * *
Wyatt slowed his walk as he approached The Dive. Jac stepped out of the shadows along with the same three thugs that had tagged along with him the last time. The wolf inside Wyatt crouched, ready to explode to the outside and take over. It was difficult enough keeping his beast under control in high tension situations, but whenever Jac came around, Wyatt’s animal clawed and howled until he thought he’d have to give in or go crazy. He gritted his teeth and somehow managed to push the wolf down.
“What do you want?” He curled his upper lip. “I see you brought along your pups. How’re they hanging, boys?”
Jac chuckled and waved a dismissal to the men who were growling and snarling at Wyatt. “Back off, boys. This is a friendly visit.”
“Great, did you bring the pot roast, or was I supposed to supply the food for this little get-together?”
Wyatt knew he shouldn’t bait them, but he couldn’t resist. If anything happened, he could shift in under a minute. Plus, Stone would be along soon and that would make it more of a fair fight. The pack wouldn’t like it once they found out—especially when they found out why he was dealing with Jac—but he’d deal with that when he had to.
“You’re a funny man, Montgomery. Maybe you should do standup instead of singing.”
“Okay. Does that mean you don’t want your money back?”
“See? Again with a joke.” Jac moved closer as though they were good friends and he had a joke of his own that only Wyatt could hear. “I’m dropping by to check in. You know. To make sure you’re doing your part.”
“That’s bullshit. You’ve got something else on that pea-sized brain of yours. Just spit it out and let me get inside for my set.”
Jac nodded, acting like an old wise man although he was only a few years older than Wyatt’s twenty-seven years. “Sure, sure. I can respect a man who does his best. And I know you will when it comes down to the contest.”
“That’s the plan.”
“Yeah. Still, don’t take it easy just because you know you’re going to win. We want it to look good.”
“What’d you do, Jac?” He’d hoped Jac couldn’t rig the contest. It was foolish to think that, but he’d always been an optimistic person.
“Nothing much. Just a word here. A word there. Especially to Ruben. I don’t want you fucking that
up.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“I heard you and him had a little disagreement. I thought he might hold a grudge and not play the game the way I want him to.”
“Ruben’s not the only judge, you know.”
“Sure, sure. Don’t worry none about the rest of them.” Jac pulled out a cigarette but didn’t light it. “These damn things will kill you. Take it from me. Don’t ever start.”
“Is that all you wanted? To check up on me and inquire about my health?”
“That’s it. See? Nothing bad’s going to happen.” Jac pivoted away, then turned back and put on a concerned expression that was as insincere as politician’s promise. “How’s your sister doing anyway?”
“She’s none of one of your fucking business.” Fury sang through Wyatt like a forest fire across parched land. His fangs broke through his gums and claws replaced fingernails. He pulled his lips back into a snarl.
“Hey, back off, big dog. Your sister’s safe.” Jac scrunched up his face. “At least as long as you play nicely. She already got what she needed, right? Now it’s my turn.”
“What’s going on here?”
Jac’s evil smile grew as Stone came up behind Wyatt. “Hey, there, Garrett. Don’t worry about anything. I was just leaving.”
Wyatt didn’t wait for Jac and his men to get around the corner of the building before he switched his guitar to his other hand and started up the back steps of The Dive. As he’d expected, Stone was on his heels.
“What’s going on, Wyatt? What are you doing with the likes of Jac?”
“Nothing.”
“Like hell.”
They were halfway down the hall, past Ruben’s office, when Stone grabbed his arm and confronted him. “This has something to do with Sheila, doesn’t it?”
“Leave my sister out of it.”
“It sounded to me like she was a major part of it.”
“Damn it, Stone. Back off.”
“I can’t do that.” Stone hounded him as he rounded the corner into the main room of the bar. If he was lucky, Stone wouldn’t keep at him while they were around customers.