“I need to buy some clothes. I really haven’t had the chance to and I don’t want to look bad when I go over to your mom’s house for lunch tomorrow.”
“Oh yeah, that’s right, Anna and Stacy are coming over. But you look beautiful in anything you wear, Lena,” he told her, and she felt her cheeks warm as she lowered her eyes.
Then she felt his fingers under her chin, tilting her face up toward him.
“Beautiful, in anything or nothing at all.”
He leaned down to kiss her as the heat of his statement burned through her bloodstream. Damn was Blake sexy and so irresistible. Recalling what he and his brothers had done to her back at the cottage flashed into her mind. She took a deep breath. She didn’t regret a moment of it.
* * * *
At first, Lena was totally embarrassed by the commotion she caused coming into Doc’s office. Apparently the entire town knew about the fight at Rocky’s last night, the men in jail, and her being caught in the middle.
“My Lord, you poor thing. You’re lucky they hadn’t knocked you out cold,” some older woman in the office stated as she patted Lena’s arm. A few others waiting made their comments and hoped that she was okay. They were all very caring. Blake sat beside her as they waited, and a few of the women gave them smiles as if they were a couple. The thought of Lena and Blake being a couple made her belly quiver. What would it be like to have a boyfriend? What about four? She wondered, shocking herself silly. She began to cough, and Blake got up to get her a cup of water. She drank it, thanked him, and then tried her hardest not to focus on such foolish thoughts.
Once the other patients were seen, Sarah, the nurse, called in Lena.
“You can stay, Blake,” she told him, but Blake held on to Lena’s hand and shook his head as if Sarah was out of her mind. She raised her eyebrows at him, and he gave her a look right back that flustered Sarah. Finally they all headed into one of the examination rooms.
The moment Doc walked in, a scowl hit his face.
“It’s okay, Doc, I’m handling it fine really.” She tried to console him.
He took her hand and squeezed it.
“This really pisses me off, Lena. You deserve better. You don’t need to be placed in harm’s way like this.”
She felt tightness in her chest at his fatherly concern. “I appreciate that you care.”
“I do care. A lot. So do Will, Frank, and Abigail. Abby is going to flip out when she sees this.”
“Well, Lena’s done with working at Rocky’s.”
“She sure is. I have your pay for you, too, from taking care of Bryant. I hear he’s doing well.”
“Yes, sir. He’s not as obnoxious and nasty as in the beginning,” she teased, and he laughed. Blake grunted something behind her. She looked at him and he stared at her.
“Let’s take a look, Lena,” Doc said as he examined her eye.
* * * *
Bryant opened the front door despite the fact that he knew Quinn and Kenny were there to talk with him. It had pissed him off knowing that they stayed over there in Lena’s place for the afternoon and that Blake brought her into town to see Doc. He would have loved to remain in bed with Lena, holding her in his arms all night. It was enough that he had to deal with those emotions and the fact that his heart wasn’t rock solid like stone. That little vixen got under his skin, and he wanted nothing more than to sink his cock into her tight folds and get lost forever in her. That just wasn’t going to happen with his brothers in the picture.
“What do you want?’ he asked as he squinted at Quinn and Kenny through the screen door.
Kenny kept his hand on his holster, and he didn’t quite stand on the main floor in front of the door but instead on the first step. He was keeping his distance.
“We need to talk,” Quinn stated.
“Talk about what?”
“Lena!” Kenny stated firmly, and instantly Bryant felt on the defensive. Quinn and Kenny had a mean streak in them. They wouldn’t hurt a woman, but they demanded a lot of women, especially in bed. Lena was special and had turned his own heart inside out.
“What about her?”
“You’re in love with her,” Quinn stated, and Bryant was shocked, never mind that he felt as if Quinn had hit him in the gut.
Quickly, he laughed, despite the desire to hit something, like Quinn or Kenny.
“You know it’s true. I saw it in your eyes when you brought her the ice. Hell, I saw it in Lena’s eyes when you told her you were leaving,” Kenny offered.
Could it be true? Was he saying that Lena had feelings for him?
“I don’t think you know what you saw.” Bryant crossed his arms in front of his chest as he leaned against the door.
Quinn and Kenny exchanged a look.
“She’s in love with you. She looked sad as a lost puppy the moment you walked away from her,” Kenny added.
“Did you sleep with her?” Quinn asked.
Bryant smirked.
“That’s none of your fucking business, little brother.”
Quinn took a step forward, and Bryant shoved open the door and was nose to nose with Quinn.
“She is my fucking business, and if you hurt her, I’ll fucking kill you.”
“We mean it, Bryant. We want her. Blake, Quinn, and I are going to make her ours. We don’t need you messing with her heart and her feelings,” Kenny stated.
Bryant stood his ground in front of Quinn.
“She’s a big girl, all woman actually, and responsible for her decisions.”
Quinn shoved Bryant against the wall and kept his forearm at his throat.
“You fuck with her and I swear, Bryant, you’re finished. We’re trying to work things out with you.”
“Then why the fuck are you threatening me?” he replied. He thought about Lena. She was special. He understood that and accepted it. If his brothers were staking a claim, then so be it. She deserved men like them. Whole men not a fucking cripple who couldn’t even sleep the night through.
Quinn released him and stepped back.
“Show some respect for her, Bryant. She’s done nothing but care for you and do the right thing. If you don’t want to break her heart, then give her up now.”
Bryant was pissed at Quinn’s threat. Lena could choose her own destiny.
“She’s all yours.”
He began to walk inside.
“We’ll try to work things out, Bryant, if you love her, too. We’re willing to put aside everything that has happened and work on our relationships again. Lena would be a major part of this,” Kenny offered.
Bryant swallowed hard. It was killing him inside to think about his brothers getting Lena to themselves. She was so beautiful, but she deserved them.
“She’s yours then. Keep her safe and protect her, or I’ll be coming after all of you.” He walked back into his house, slamming the door behind him.
* * * *
Melissa and her sister Diana owned Mel’s Boutique. They were so friendly and had such lovely things that Lena had spent over an hour shopping and trying things on. As she emerged from the dressing room wearing a light, purple sundress, she heard the whistles and then Melissa and Diana chuckling as they headed back toward the front of the store.
Blake and Kenny were standing a few feet away, gawking at her.
Lena shook her head and shyly looked away from them and toward the mirror.
Kenny approached from behind her, towering over her. He placed his arm around her waist and kept his palm against her belly.
“You look stunning in this, Lena,” he whispered, and she felt her insides do a series of somersaults. His green eyes looked her over as he pressed her back against him.
She closed her eyes, loving the feeling of being held by him with his chest pressed against her back.
She opened her eyes as Blake touched her cheek, held her gaze, and then trailed a finger down her shoulder, over the bodice of her dress and to her hand. It gave her goose bumps as she tried to pull away fr
om Kenny.
Kenny held her firmly as Blake brought her fingers to his lips and kissed them. As he held her gaze, she felt the heat penetrate through her bloodstream. They were in the middle of a small boutique. Two men were caressing her, looking at her with desire in their eyes, and she was elated. This was heaven and nothing like Detroit.
Blake pulled a digit into his mouth and slowly sucked it then released it.
“You look edible, baby.”
“Oh God!” she exclaimed then got out of Kenny’s embrace.
“You two need to cut that out,” she reprimanded, and they both slyly smiled at her.
“I’m sorry I’m taking so long. It’s been a while since I went shopping. I’m just going to see what I want to take, okay,” she told them as Melissa joined them.
“Do you want any of the things up front, Lena?” Melissa asked.
“I’m only able to buy a few things today. Next month I’ll be back for more, all right?” Lena said as she walked over to the dressing room to change.
“Sure thing.”
* * * *
“Hey, Mel, what did she pick out up front?” Kenny whispered as he took Melissa by her arm and escorted her up front. Blake smiled. They would buy her whatever she had tried on and liked.
Kenny smiled as Melissa packed up all the items, including panties and bras Lena had picked out and some he added as well. She had great taste, and he would love seeing her in the items as well as taking them off of Lena.
“Wrap them up for me, and I’ll be back later, after my shift ends, to pick them up,” Kenny told her.
“That’s real sweet, Deputy Jones,” Melissa said, and Diana added similar comments.
Lena came out carrying three shirts, three pairs of shorts, and the dress. Plus she was hiding some undergarments as well.
“How about I meet you outside,” Lena stated, and the men smiled.
“I’m on duty. I just stopped in to see how the appointment went with Doc.”
“It went well, Kenny. I just need to keep icing it. As soon as I get home, I’ll do that and take more aspirin.”
“Make sure you rest,” Kenny added then kissed her on the mouth quickly and unexpectedly.
“Later,” Kenny stated as he winked at Blake.
* * * *
Blake tried to focus on Lena as they walked through town then back over toward his truck instead of what Kenny had told him about Bryant. He wondered how his brother Bryant could be such a jerk. Especially to Lena when she had done so much for him.
As he thought about it more and also about the way Bryant cared for Lena at her house, he wondered if this was all part of his decision to push everyone that he cared about away from him. Did Bryant care about Lena the way he, Quinn, and Kenny did already?
He took her hand as he carried the bags from her shopping trip. They were light, and she barely brought anything, but he was glad that Kenny purchased the other things. Lena deserved the best, and she deserved to be taken care of.
As they placed the bags into the truck, Lena stopped him from leaving just yet.
“Hey, Blake, I’d like to step into the supermarket and grab something to make for Bryant’s dinner tonight. I wasn’t able to make him breakfast or lunch or do the other chores. The least I can do is make his dinner when I get back.”
He held his anger inside. If Bryant couldn’t appreciate Lena, then he didn’t deserve to have her in his life.
“I’m sure he took something out. I wouldn’t worry about him.”
She held his gaze. “Blake, I understand that things have been rough between your brothers and Bryant for a while, but you have to understand that he’s just scared. He’s hurting, and he doesn’t feel that he can live up to everyone’s expectations with his injuries. It’s easier to push people away and be alone than to have to face people feeling defeated or weak. Believe me, I know exactly how he feels.”
Lena began to walk away when Blake stopped her by taking her hand into his. Her words hit him directly in the chest. Bryant scared? Bryant feeling that he couldn’t live up to their expectations?
“Why do you think those things about him? He’s been nothing but horrible to everyone.”
“It’s kind of hard to explain in words, really. I can tell you that something traumatic happened in the war. He witnessed or experienced something that has made him feel like he doesn’t deserve the life he has. He doesn’t feel that life is worth living because of a loss he sustained. He’s made some comments to me here and there, and this is just speculation on my part, but I think he’s crying for help but no one hears him.”
He was shocked. She was so in tune with his brother on a level and depth even his own family couldn’t get.
“For Christ’s sake, Lena, he’s my brother. Me, him, Kenny, and Quinn were inseparable. How come he couldn’t and can’t talk to one of us?”
She took his other hand and held them both. She stared at them a moment then looked up into his eyes.
“I don’t know what that’s like, Blake, to have siblings or family to love and care about and be close with. I’ve never had what any of you have. It sounds like you’re feeling hurt and you feel betrayed in a way. Did you ever think that maybe this is Bryant’s stubborn way of asking for help?”
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“I mean, almost like he knows that you all will always be there for him, so he pushes you away and tries to hurt you because lashing out makes him hurt inside. It makes those feelings override whatever it is he’s really upset about.”
“Holy shit, Lena,” Blake stated then pulled her into a hug. “You are so special, sweetheart. I ain’t never gonna let you go.” He held her against him. He was going to talk with Kenny and Quinn. It seemed that Lena, a woman on her own with no one to love her until now, knew more about unconditional love than the entire family.
* * * *
Lena knocked on Bryant’s door, carrying a box filled with dinner items and some stuff he could make for breakfast and lunch tomorrow.
“I’m coming in,” she exclaimed as she pushed open the door and let herself in his house as she had done for practically a month now.
Bryant was nowhere in sight. She unpacked the items and then walked through the house looking for him. She couldn’t find him anywhere, so she went back to preparing dinner.
She set the table for him and left everything on the counter as usual and decided to write him a note telling him where the items for lunch tomorrow were because she was having lunch at his mom’s house.
She felt a little funny not seeing him. He had showed compassion this morning, breaking into her home to check on her then staying with her as she recovered from the night before. It said a lot, and she loved the feel of waking up in his arms with his large, warm hand covering her breast. She understood that he was rough around the edges, a man used to being in charge and giving orders. She respected his profession and was utterly turned on by his good looks despite his piss-poor attitude. She chuckled as she thought about him. To think that he was such a jerk to her when she first showed up at his house.
She drew a small smiley face at the bottom of the note and signed it “from Detroit.” Surely he would smirk at that.
As she headed out of the house, there was still no sign of him. It was getting dark now, so she hurried across the lawn to her cottage.
As she entered her house, she saw a bouquet of roses sitting on the table. They were stunning and filled with multiple colors of roses. There were red, yellow, white, dark pink, and light pink. Some were two-toned and others solid. There had to be at least four dozen sitting in the large glass vase. No one had ever brought her flowers before. She was surprised.
As she picked up the card and sniffed the bouquet, she smiled.
Lena, you are more special than any of us could have ever hoped for. We cherish you and look forward to spending many more days together in Pearl.
Love,
Kenny, Quinn, and Blake.
Lena smiled wi
de as the tears hit her eyes. They were so sweet to give these to her.
She placed the letter in front of the roses so she could look at them for the remainder of the night. As she entered her bedroom and turned on the light, she stopped short. There on her bed, hanging on the doors and even the upper part of the window sill were all the clothes she had tried on at the boutique and fallen in love with but just couldn’t afford to buy herself in one shopping trip. They had purchased them for her.
“Oh God!” she exclaimed as the tears rolled down her cheeks. No one ever gave her flowers before. It was romantic and made her feel special. No one ever thought of her in such a way to surprise her like this and at such an extent.
These men were amazing.
She quickly picked up the phone in the kitchen and dialed Kenny’s cell phone. He would have to be with Blake and Quinn. She hoped so.
“Hello, who is it?” Kenny asked in a teasing tone, and she chuckled.
“Yes, is this Deputy Jones?” she asked.
“Yes, it is, ma’am, how can I assist you?”
“Well, it seems that someone has broken into my home and left a bunch of things on my bed,” she stated as she looked at precisely where they had left bras, panties, and a few sexy items she had not chosen for herself. They made her blush and feel very sexy.
“Are they still present, ma’am? Do you feel that you’re in some kind of danger?”
“Oh, I’m not sure if they’re still prowling around, Deputy Jones. They did leave some very sexy undergarments on my bed. What do you think they meant by leaving such things there?”
“I’m not sure, ma’am. I think a thorough investigation is in order here. Sit tight. My partners and I will be there momentarily. Don’t touch anything.”
She heard the click and laughed out loud. Then she hurried into the bathroom to freshen up. As she came out, she grabbed ahold of the large, wooden rolling pin and stood by the door.
They pulled up within minutes of her phone call.
Kenny, Quinn, and Blake opened the front door, and Lena raised the rolling pin.
Lena's Happily Ever After [The Town of Pearl 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 12