“Brittney was a shallow, self-absorbed bitch who brainwashed you with her amazing rack.”
Eric laughed. “Yeah, every time I said no to something she took a deep breath and I caved.” He hated to admit it, but it didn’t make it any less true. At least he chalked it up to being young and immature.
“I wasn’t much better in those days. We were young and let our cocks do the thinking.”
Eric looked at the washing machine and then back at Matt. “You sure you’re not listening to your cock this time, too?”
“Just wait till you meet her. You’ll see.”
Eric wasn’t as certain, but Matt certainly had his curiosity piqued. He had enjoyed talking to her on the phone. He could tell that she’d struggled to sound professional but relaxed into the conversations quickly. He wanted to suggest they pick her up early but considering their conversation last night he chose not to bring it up. He was willing to bet Jocelyn wasn’t a morning person in the slightest. Her shock at what time he and Matt were usually up confirmed that.
“Are we picking up something light at the tea shop? If we take her to the café everyone is going to talk.” Matt finished off his second cup of coffee and then took Eric’s cup and washed them both in the sink.
“I don’t give a damn what anyone thinks.” Eric didn’t have the heart to tell his cousin that his mug was half full and he wasn’t finished yet. Watching Matt all worked up like this was more fun than waking up rookies in the middle of the night. “It’s a small town. They’ll talk anyways. At least this way we give them something to talk about and cut down on how much they make up.”
A half an hour later Eric learned why Matt was so enthralled with his mystery woman. All his cousin’s ramblings hadn’t done her justice. She’d emerged from Minnie’s Boarding House at nine sharp, the same moment Matt pulled into the drive. Eric wondered if she’d been waiting for them. She was wearing a big thick coat and jeans and heavy boots. Her eyes were almost hidden by her hair and a pair of black-rimmed glasses. Matt was right, they had a shape similar to a cat’s eye.
She must have seen Matt behind the wheel because she waved when they pulled up and headed over to the truck. Eric hopped out and held the door open for her. “Hi Jocelyn, I’m Eric.”
“It’s nice to meet you in person.” She held out her hand and gave him a firm shake. When he didn’t let go right away her cheeks flushed. He wasn’t certain if she was blushing or simply overheated in her large coat.
“Hop on in and we’ll take you to breakfast.”
“Oh, good. I’m starving.” She paused and looked at the bench seat.
“Good morning, Jocelyn, you look beautiful this morning.” Matt smiled from the driver’s seat. ”Come on, slide into the middle and snuggle up next to me.”
“Perhaps I should get my car and follow you. There isn’t a backseat in this big thing, and I don’t want to cause either of you to be uncomfortable.”
Confusion flashed on Matt’s face, and Eric turned to find Jocelyn gripping her hands tightly together. He lowered his arm, blocking her escape. “No need for that. There’s lots of room in there for the three of us.”
“I swear I’ll keep my hands to myself until you ask otherwise.” Matt gripped the steering wheel. “See, ten and two.” His hands were in the proper positions on the wheel. “Safety first.”
A slight smile pulled at Jocelyn’s mouth, and the corner of her eyes crinkled slightly. Eric was relieved that Matt had such a natural ability to put people at ease. “Remember, Aubrey said you’re completely safe with us.”
“That’s true, as long as we don’t encounter any ice cream trucks.”
Her dry comment made Eric laugh as Matt tried to look wounded but ended up grinning. Jocelyn stepped on the running board and gripped the door to lift herself up. Eric barely resisted the urge to put his hand on her ass to give her a bit of a boost. She scooted over toward Matt, allowing Eric the opportunity to look over her long legs as she passed him. Her movements were a bit stilted as if she was nervous, but as she started chatting with his cousin her body language relaxed a bit. Matt was repeating dialogue from Lord of the Rings and making her laugh. It was funny, considering Matt’s size, imitating a hobbit.
Not wanting to make her any more nervous, Eric didn’t crowd her when he got in and shut the door. Jocelyn’s distraction with Matt gave him a chance to watch her. She did have a beautiful smile, and when she darted a look at him, he completely agreed with Matt’s declaration that she had the most beautiful color eyes he’d ever seen. They looked like turquoise, and he wondered if she had a necklace made out of those stones. It would look beautiful on her.
Thankfully the drive to the café was a short one, and he was able to get out of the truck and angle his body away from her so she wouldn’t see the bulge in the front of his jeans. His cock was acting like he was fifteen again.
Once inside the café, Eric placed his hands on her shoulders to take her coat, feeling her stiffen slightly under his touch. “Here, let me help you with that.” He slipped her coat from her shoulders and hung it on a hook next to their booth. She was more willowy than painfully thin, but her hips had a curve to them that had more to do with body structure than weight.
“Hey guys!” Sandy, the morning waitress waved at them from the counter. “Be over with coffee in a moment.”
“No worries, take your time.” Eric waved. The booth was a U shape, so he and Matt led Jocelyn between them again. Neither one of them crowded her, instinctively knowing she had strict boundaries when it came to personal space. At least this way his lap was hidden by the table when his cock decided to push against his zipper. He handed her a menu and saw when she noticed the puckered shiny scars on the back of one of his hands. She glanced away quickly, but he was watching her face closely. He’d expected disgust, but instead a flicker of sadness danced along her expression before she focused on her menu. Was that sadness because she knew she didn’t want to see more, or sympathy? God, don’t let it be pity.
He’d already had one woman admit to having sex with him because she thought he probably didn’t get laid often because of the damage to his skin. His ego had taken a bruising over that one, but he didn’t let it get him down too much. Those were scars he’d gotten in the line of duty and were nothing compared to the permanent marks on his soul from that incident. He was lucky in the fact that he’d only suffered burns on one arm and shoulder. There were people much worse off than him.
“I take it you two don’t cook much since you’re on a first-name basis with the waitress.” Jocelyn grinned at them when she said it, taking the sting out of her words. He didn’t have a problem being teased, and he liked her dry sense of humor. She was a bit prickly, but that made her more of a challenge.
“I used to cook, but I can’t keep up to the second and third lunches that Matt eats.”
“I’m a growing boy.”
Jocelyn’s laugh was the funniest thing he’d ever heard. It was cute to hear the odd snorting giggle come from someone so studious and serious. She looked like a librarian, and his head filled with all sorts of fantasies. She covered her mouth, and her cheeks flushed a deep red. He wanted to undo the buttons of her shirt and see how far down her chest that blush went. Were her nipples that same pretty shade of red?
“None of that.” Matt pulled her hand away from her face. “You promised on the phone you wouldn’t cover your cute laugh today.” He didn’t let go of her hand, but instead he trapped it beneath his own on the table. She stared at his hand for a moment before sliding hers out from underneath and placing both her hands in her lap. Oh, yeah, his cousin was falling hard and fast for her. Normally, Eric would be the one to rein Matt in, but to be honest he was fascinated by the enigma of a woman between them. He wanted to see how she would react to his cousin’s blatant flirting.
Sandy came over and took their orders, filling their mugs with coffee. Jocelyn sipped at the dark brew and sighed. “That’s better.”
This time when he
reached for his mug with his scarred hand, she merely glanced over but didn’t linger. She might be curious about how it happened, that was natural, but he didn’t get the impression she was horrified by the marks.
Both he and Matt had large appetites. They had an active lifestyle that meant they needed the calories to keep them fuelled, but Jocelyn hardly ate enough to keep a bird alive. She’d only ordered toast and coffee at first until he and Matt had practically bullied her into a bigger breakfast of eggs and sausage. She picked at it but ate almost half of it as they talked about the area and growing up.
“I can’t imagine having such a big family,” she said for the second time when Eric mentioned he had four brothers and a sister that all lived in the area.
“What about your family?” Eric asked. “We’ve been talking almost nonstop about ours.”
Her nose wrinkled, and he could tell she didn’t like to discuss her family that much. “I’m an only child. My parents were older when they had me. A child hadn’t been in their five- or ten-year plan, and then one day they realized that time was ticking if they wanted to procreate.”
“That’s a very clinical way of discussing having a child and creating a family,” he commented. He couldn’t imagine not growing up surrounded by cousins and siblings. She had probably been one of those miniadults when she was a kid.
“They took a very practical route to raising me. Expectations were set, and I was to meet them.”
“And if you didn’t?”
“There were punishments for not performing to the standard that was set for me.” She shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal, but he had a sick feeling about what she wasn’t telling them. Jocelyn’s exterior was that of a very professional and polished woman. Almost cold, and prickly when her personal space was invaded, and yet that strange laugh of hers gave them a glimpse of a very different woman hiding behind the formal mask.
“Did you always want to be a forensic genealogist?” he asked.
“No, not at all.” This time her laugh was practiced as if she was performing and she’d told these lines before. “My parents wanted me to be a biological scientist and find the cure for cancer. I finally stood up to them in my third year and switched my majors to criminology. They thought I was going to be a lawyer or judge, which was acceptable to them, but when I took a minor in history the gig was up.”
“What did they do?” Matt asked.
“They told me that they would continue to pay for my education as was expected of them, but unless I walked the path they chose, all money was to be considered a loan and to be paid back.”
“You’re kidding?” Eric couldn’t believe that any parent would do that to a child. He was starting to see that perhaps Jocelyn’s standoffish body language might not be that she was uncomfortable between them, but simply uncertain what to do. If her parents had such a strict, clinical view of raising children then he doubted she’d been given many hugs as a child.
Matt looked over her head and met Eric’s gaze for a moment. In that moment he knew what his cousin was thinking and that he was right. This woman was different from any woman they’d met before. Special in a way that called to a part of him he’d never recognized before. Love at first sight? Maybe? Eric wanted to know more about her and see if he could draw out the woman behind the mask.
Chapter Three
Matt wanted nothing more than to wrap his arms around Jocelyn and pull her in his lap for a hug. By the look on Eric’s face he suspected his cousin would want a turn right after him. He’d never seen his cousin so fascinated by a woman, and he was thrilled. He wanted to take her to his parents’ house and introduce her to everyone and let her get passed around and hugged by the entire Baldwin family. Poor thing would probably run screaming in terror if he introduced her to their kin too soon. He’d noticed the way she stiffened slightly whenever she was touched, but she hadn’t pulled her hand out from under his right away. He was fascinated by the way her hand looked so small and delicate in his. He and Eric would have to get her used to being hugged and caressed. Damn, I can’t wait to touch her more. Thoughts about what part of her he wanted to feel had his fingers itching to trace a line down her spine and between the globes of her ass. He quickly adjusted his cock into a more comfortable position as he slipped out of the booth.
He grabbed Eric’s jacket off the hook and tossed it to him and then held up Jocelyn’s heavy coat. She turned and he helped her into it. “I hope you slept well last night. We have a lot to show you today.” Settling her coat on her, he laid his hands on her shoulders the same way Eric had before, letting go before she stiffened too much. Baby steps.
“I’m looking forward to it. I didn’t have a chance to look around much on the drive in.”
“Well, consider us your personal tour company.” He grabbed her hand and placed it on his arm, resting his hand over hers as he escorted her out.
“Wait, the bill.” She tried to pull her hand away and turn, but Matt kept walking.
“Not going to happen, so don’t bother arguing. Eric is taking care of it.”
“The least I can do is buy you breakfast considering you’re both going to be showing me around.”
“Ladies dinna pay for second breakfast, everyone knows that.” He used his best imitation of Peregrin Took and it worked. Jocelyn smiled and chuckled.
“Does Lord of the Rings always get you want you want?”
“I don’t know, ask me again later on.”
Her eyes widened, and he could see the emotions roll across her expression when she caught on to what he might have meant with that comment. He wanted her all right, and if he had to quote every line from all three movies, he’d do it. Eric might kill him before the end of the day, but if it got him a brief taste of her full lower lip, he’d consider it worth it.
“What are you two standing out here for?”
Matt grinned at his cousin when Jocelyn started and then looked around, realizing they were standing in the middle of the parking lot. He planned to tease her all day today. Eric might try to stop him at some point, but there was more to this than simple flirting. He could see a future with this woman, if the stars aligned and they convinced her to stay here in Sanctuary.
This time when Jocelyn got into the truck, Eric slid onto the seat a little closer to her. Not too close but enough that when she scooted over to give him more room, her thigh pressed against Matt’s. She jumped back a bit and almost landed in Eric’s lap.
“Are you all right, Jocelyn?” Matt asked as if he didn’t have a clue what was going on.
“Fine, no totally fine,” she quickly responded and settled between them. Every time Matt turned a corner she had no choice but to lean against one of them. He took the long way out of town and as many corners as possible, slowly driving along the street pointing out different shops. Part of the reason for the long tour was he wanted her to get used to being between them in the truck. Eric might not believe that she was the one for them, but Matt did and he was going to do anything he could to ensure she realized it, too.
She took a notebook out of her coat pocket and jotted down some notes as he spoke. Especially which buildings in town were original and when they’d been built. When he felt the tension leave her shoulders he headed out of town toward Baldwin land. Passing the high school gave him and Eric a chance to tell her stories of skipping school to go fishing. In order to escape being caught by their parents, he and Eric had slipped into the lake and hidden in a marshy part, which left them covered in leeches. By the time they were done telling the story and elaborating the best parts, he had her giggling and snorting as she had on the phone last night.
He loved her cute laugh. It was a sound one wouldn’t expect to hear from her, and he thought it was adorable. It was like seeing a bright part of her soul she kept hidden.
“I can’t believe you got me laughing that hard.” She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “Usually I don’t laugh that hard unless I’ve had a couple glasses of wine.”
“Matt’s right, your laugh is cute.”
“Oh, god, not you, too.” She looked over at Eric. “I sound like a moron.”
“No, you don’t.” Matt glanced over at the two of them. Eric was giving her his serious “don’t argue with me” stare. It wasn’t the first time she’d said something degrading about herself, and he was glad Eric was calling her on it. He couldn’t see the look on her face but since she wasn’t arguing, he hoped she was listening to him. Eric had a spanking fetish, and if she pushed him hard enough she’d find herself over his lap.
“You may need to get your hearing tested.” She turned and looked out the windshield, both hands clasped in her lap over her notebook. Eric was rubbing his chin as if he was tempted to say something but then decided not to.
“We’re here.” He made a sharp left turn, forcing Jocelyn to fall against him again.
“Stop doing that. I’m going to end up in your lap.”
“You can crawl in my lap any time you want, beautiful.” He grinned down at her, daring her to call his bluff. She rolled her eyes, but a dark flush stained her cheeks again.
The driveway to their part of the family land was in dire need of repair. After the long discussion he and Eric had about their house plans last night they both agreed that the land was going to have to be fixed first so that the construction vehicles could make it down here safely. His old pickup was well used to this kind of terrain, and they made it down no problem. The sun came out as they approached the old house. He almost wished it had stayed overcast, as the bright light highlighted the rotting wood and ugliness of the building. It looked like it belonged in a horror movie. Poor Jocelyn probably thought they were serial killers bringing her out here.
“This is your house?” She peered up at the house and then looked at both of them as if they were crazy.
“No, we live in the captain’s bungalow behind the fire station.” Matt pulled up in front of the porch and parked the truck. “This is our land—or rather it’s the Baldwin family land.”
Trust in Sanctuary [Sanctuary, Montana 4] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 4