by Honor James
Chewing a piece of steak, the big bear nodded after a moment, “Yeah I’m cool with it,” he said. “As long as she doesn’t piss her pants every time we look at her.”
“Only one guy did that, Ark,” Mahon said with a shake of his head.
“So the job is yours if you want it, Goldie,” Torben said, looking her way again.
Leaning in and bracing her elbows on the table, she looked at each one of them. “Good thing for you guys that I really don’t scare all that easily, huh? Or is it good for me?” She shrugged. “Besides, if you give me any shit, I will roll up a newspaper and smack the back of your head to make you shut up and listen to me.”
Torben and Mahon were grinning wide and then burst out laughing. “I hate you two. I have no idea why we’re fucking friends at all,” Ark muttered, glaring at them. “You two planned this, you told her didn’t you?” he asked, leaning in closer. “You did!”
“Planned what? Huh?” Goldie was completely and totally lost. “You guys seriously act more like brothers than friends. That’s why you guys are friends. You are all three so much alike it’s not even funny. Even I can see that, and I’ve only just met you.”
“Ignore him,” Torben said, throwing a kernel of corn at his friend. “He’s just remembering something Mahon commented on this morning. Mahon said we needed to find an assistant for the office; one that wouldn't be afraid of Ark’s mood swings and would just roll up a paper and whack him. He,” he pointed at Arkadios, “is under the delusion that we told you before now and you’re toying with him.”
Goldie looked from one man to the other and then began to snicker. Seeing Arkadios’s face thundering she began to full out laugh, she couldn’t help herself. “Oh man, that’s utterly and completely priceless. You. Oh that’s too funny.” She snickered again, “No they didn’t tell me about that. It really is something I would do without question if you got out of line. And no, you don’t scare me. To be honest with you, you should scare the living shit out of me but I feel rather comfortable around you,” shaking her head, not really understanding the instant attraction or the feeling that she has known them before. The whole situation was absurd.
“Oh, I really like her,” Mahon chuckled, shaking his head with a huge grin at Arkadios. “Come on, Ark, you have to admit, she’s got a set on her.” He looked to her and explained, “By this point, most people are pissing their pants and running for the nearest exit.”
“Well, good thing for you I’m not most people, huh?” Goldie asked and looked back at Arkadios. “I don’t want to fight with you, I really don’t; however, I won’t let you run over me either. I give as good as I get—in all things. Just keep that in mind.”
Torben threw another kernel at Ark and grinned when the man caught it and threw it back. “He’s a pain in the ass and snarly but you’ll eventually like him, or try to kill him every chance you get. With Arkadios there really are only the two options,” he said to her, flicking the kernel right back across the table.
She snickered, unable to help herself. Leaning forward, she braced her elbows on the table and asked, “All right, I have to ask because it’s driving me crazy. Why the headache-inducing pink room?” Torben and Mahon snickered and look to Ark to answer.
“My niece chose the color and happens to love it, is there a problem?” Arkadios asked her with a lifted brow. “She’s six and happens to love pink at the moment. Two years ago, it was neon yellow. Who knows what the hell the next color will be.”
“Oh, you poor man.” She reached out and touched his hand with hers, smiling as she gave it a squeeze. “I think that it’s sweet you are willing to cater to her like that. It makes me see the man you are instead of the growling beast you are putting forward. I like the man, you should let him show often,” Goldie eyes twinkled for the big guy that would bow to wants of a six year old.
The three shared a look before Arkadios looked at her, “Darling, you are in for one hell of a shocker,” he told her, pulling his hand out of her reach. Snagging his beer bottle, he took a drink as he watched her carefully.
Shrugging, Goldie went back to eating once more. “Yeah, well, it’s pretty hard to shock me,” she told them simply. “I mean like seriously hard. I think I’ve just about seen it all in life, which is sad if you think about it.”
“Oh she did not just say that, did she?” Mahon asked and laughed when he saw two heads nodding. “Goldie, my dear, if you survive a week at the office, we’ll show you that you haven’t seen everything and there are still really shocking things out in the world. But you have to survive snarly and bossy here for a full week without once threatening him. Also without losing your cool one time.”
“Does the rolled up newspaper count as threatening, or is that just a promise of things to come?” Goldie shot back without hesitation. “Because it’s not a threat when I fully intend on following through. Right?” She was having the time of her life with these three men. Shock that she had been in their house and not once had they made a pass at her. She hadn't worked at the office around Barrett two days and he was making snide remarks that he tried to pass off as just for fun because the jerk was married. Thinking back on that, she really didn't know why she would agree to go camping with them. Other than when they asked and told her where they were coming, it was as if the woods called to her. Shaking her head, she focused back on the conversation.
“It only counts as a threat as long as you don’t follow through. But if you follow through at least once, we’ll consider it justice,” Torben told her. Looking toward Arkadios, he grinned, “And well deserved justice too. So, other topics now,” he turned his head back so he was looking her way. “We will take you into the office in the morning so you can get a feel for things and meet the others. We have a couple of meetings you should come along with us on. This way you can see how we do business, and know what we expect of our employees as well.”
“We have a meeting with the Druthers’ at one. They are hoping to get us to build them their new offices in town. It’s basically going to end up being their corporate office while their former one becomes just an offshoot. They are looking for smaller towns feel while still having the class of big city life. Then, at three, we have to go out to a current project,” Mahon explained. “There you’ll meet one of the construction crews and be able to see how that is handled.”
“At six, we have a party to attend at the Music Hall,” Arkadios muttered. “Moneyed people with no sense, and too often bad taste in clothes and scents they drown themselves in. But it’s how we keep in touch with that side of the business so we need to be there.”
“Right. Which means you need to come as well,” Torben commented to her. “It’s black tie, so if you need to pick something up to wear it’ll have to be done in the morning. We only plan to be at the construction site on the lake for an hour, giving us a two hour window to get back to town, changed, and over to the event. Unfortunately, it never ever works that way, so plan on getting everything ready you can in the morning before we go over to meet the Druthers at the restaurant in town, it's twenty minutes from the office to there. Questions?”
“Sounds good. For the morning outing, will I be fine in jeans and a t-shirt with boots? I don’t have anything else in my pack. For the black tie, we would need to stop by my place so I can grab something suitable to wear. And yes, before you ask, I have something I could wear. Also, how many changes of clothes will I need? Where are the offices so I will be able to show up for work the day after tomorrow? You guys will be able to drop me off at home tomorrow, right?”
“We’ll run by the office before we go to your place. I’ll have to drop Ark and Mahon off. Mahon has paperwork to finish,” he grinned over at his friend. “Both of their vehicles are still there. That’s why there weren’t any cars here when you arrived. I’ll take you to your place and you can come back to the office once you’re ready. We’ll give you the tour before heading over to meet the Druthers.”
“Sounds like a plan to me.�
“Full benefits,” Ark told her and then named a sum for the pay. “If that works for you of course,” he commented while she sat gaping at him. “If it’s not enough, I’m sure you could convince us to find a little more in the budget. But you’ll have to wait out the three month probationary time before we even think about it.”
“I completely understand. You're giving more than make at my current job.” Which was actually less than she deserved. “Then it looks as if you have a new employee. And I promise I won’t smack you too many times. Just when you irritate me.”
“You’ll have your current pay during the probationary time and then we’ll give you the raise if you survive,” he told her. “But if you smack me with the paper, expect me to take it from you and give you as good as I got. I do not play favorites with anyone.”
“Deal. I smack you and you smack me, with the paper of course, as long as you don’t ever raise your hand to me. You do, and I will likely have to kick you in the balls. Period,” she said simply. “However, I don’t think I will ever have that issue with you guys. Something tells me that you will never raise your hand to me at all, and that means a great deal to me.”
“Why would we?” Mahon asked, shaking his head and leaning his elbows on the table. “Hitting a woman is wrong. We would rather die than to ever strike a woman for any reason. Ark can be an asshole,” he rolled his eyes when the man in question growled at him. “Come on, dude, you are an asshole. But even he has a code of honor.”
“Yeah, but I have a feeling most of his ass-holeish-ness is because he doesn’t suffer fools lightly. I know I’ve been told I’m a bitch on more than one occasion, and it’s because I won’t put up with bull. As for the hitting...” She shrugged, “Some things you never outgrow, no matter what.”
“Well, we don’t hit women,” Torben said quietly, reaching over to touch her hand with light fingers. “We may hit one another or go a little rougher when we play a round of rugby with the guys, but that’s it. Women are to be protected and treasured at all costs. End of story.”
Goldie blushed and nodded, “I like that. A lot. I don’t mind you guys being rough with each other. Hell, I will even wait on the sidelines with the first-aid kit.” Mostly because she loved half-naked men playing rugby—there was just something seriously fucking hot about that. “And cheer for you guys, sometimes,” she teased.
Snorting, Arkadios shook his head at her, “I have a feeling she’ll be rooting for the other team,” he said, leaning forward to finish his meal. “But we’ll test it on Saturday if you don’t have plans,” he told her. “We have another game and we’ll test your loyalties then.”
Goldie grinned, “Depends. How hot are they? ‘Cause you guys are drool worthy, so it all depends on if these guys are like Greek God or whatever.” She liked teasing these men, Arkadios especially. She knew how silly that was, but there it was.
“They are pussies,” Mahon said with a snort. “But we will wipe the ground with them and then go for pizza and beer in celebration of our victory.”
“We’re playing Burgess Energy,” Torben said with a crooked smirk.
“Or we’ll be in the hospital. Are you fucking kidding me?” Mahon started at him. “They are fucking animals! Sorry for the language, Goldie, but damn it, who the hell set that meet up?”
“Arkadios did. He sets up all the meets, Mahon,” Torben said his grin full now. “We’ll actually have a good meet, work up a sweat, and grind them into the dirt.”
“Only if we don’t all die,” Mahon groaned. “Great. The first match our new assistant gets to see and we’re going to be creamed. Bring the really large first aid kit, will you please, Goldie? Those freakin' tigers latch on and you can never shake them off.”
Goldie couldn’t help but laugh and shake her head. “Oh, I have a feeling this is going to be utterly and totally priceless. I can’t wait,” she said happily. “And don’t worry, I will cheer for you guys. I rather like you guys.”
“She’s only saying that because she hasn’t seen Brandon yet,” Arkadios commented, pushing his plate away. Wiping his face and hands, he looked to her, “I have a feeling once you get a look at him, you’ll be flipping sides and cheering for those losers.”
Goldie winked at Arkadios, “I don’t flip sides as easily as you are thinking. How about this, I will tell you if I’m going to be flipping sides before I cheer for them. Besides, Brandon would have to be fucking drop-dead gorgeous and people like that typically know it and are assholes because of it. Nope, I think I know just who I will cheer for.”
“Hey, that’s why you two have such a hate on,” Mahon said and grinned at Ark’s nasty look. “You’re both so full of yourselves the egos bang into one another, and you get all…” That was as far as he got before he had to scramble out of his chair and run. Arkadios was hot on his heels as Mahon howled with laughter.
Groaning, Torben slouched in his seat, “Tell me when Ark catches him so I can go break them up.”
Snickering, Goldie shook her head, “I think it’s great. They are like a couple of overgrown kids and that’s actually nice,” she murmured. “So tell me, Torben, are you always the peacekeeper of the family? Are you the one who breaks up the kids when they begin to fight?”
“Not usually, but Mahon seems to have a death wish most days of the week. His favorite target is Arkadios since he has a short fuse. That and he has almost zero sense of humor,” he looked around the chair as the two raced by the deck, Mahon still shouting things at Ark. “I swear, you’d think he’d learn. Arkadios is a stand-up guy, but really has nearly no sense of humor on some things. Brandon has no sense of humor either, he is one of them. Ever since our first rugby match against Burgess Energy, it’s been war.”
“Huh, how odd is that? Well it doesn’t matter. He will soon see I’m totally on your guys’ side in this. Let’s just hope you guys will be able to beat them because if not, I’m sure that will have Arkadios even more upset.”
“Well just expect it to be a hell of a lot more violent and bloody than your typical rugby match. We play by slightly different and more liberal rules when we play Burgess Energy. They are totally down with that by the way,” he smiled. Turning, he watched as the others streaked by again, Mahon laughing and Arkadios growling profanity at his back. “As bad as Ark can be when Mahon gets on his case and tweaks his tail, it’s nothing compared to what you’ll see Saturday.”
That had her grinning and she shook her head. “You guys are too funny. I like the easy way about you, all of you. I really think you are all rather adorable. I know it's probably not really a word you would like to have used in reference to you, but oh, well that is how it is. I think that’s why I feel totally safe with you guys. Weird, huh?”
Staring at her, he shrugged and got to his feet, “Yep, weird definitely. It’s not a description I’ve ever heard in relation to any of us.” Gathering up plates, he stacked the dishes of extra food and tipped his head, “Can you grab the bottles, and get the door?” he asked her, lifting all the dishes up.
“Sure. No problem.” Grabbing the bottles, Goldie headed for the door, holding it open for him and the others. “Do you have a key to be able to lock your house up or do you just leave it as is?” She knew that was likely a stupid question, especially since she had just walked right into their home. “’Cause I want to be the only person who drops in on ya’ll if you wouldn’t mind.”
“We have a full security system that rivals the White House,” he said as he moved to the sink. “And yeah, we can lock up the house when we feel the need. We’ll get you a key if you survive the probationary period since you’ll have to come out here at some point or another. Whether it’s running errands or dropping off stuff for us on the rare occasion we’re out of town.”
“Why didn’t you lock it when I found my way here then? Not that I’m complaining, because I’m not. I’m actually really happy you didn’t because it meant I didn’t have to stay out in the rain when I found my way here. And why do you keep saying if I make it through the probationary period? Have you really had that many people quit on you?”
Chuckling evilly, he shot her a toothy grin, “Sixty-three at last count,” he told her. Laughing when she just stood there gaping at him, he shrugged, “We’re a little tough to work with on occasion. Not just Arkadios. All of us. We all have our moments where you’ll want to beat us bloody. As to the house,” he looked around, “everything of value is nailed down and hardwired into the security system. If anything is moved more than three inches, the system fires up, and locks the house down tight. We only really lock up when we have to go out of town.”
“Ah, that makes sense,” she said when she finally got her mind wrapped around that comment, “Really? Sixty-three? How the hell have you guys went through that many assistants? Good lord, really?” She shook her head. “Oh my,” she murmured. “Well I just hope that no matter what, I will be able to stick around with you guys. I actually think I going to quite enjoy it and want I want to do a good job for you.”
“They tend to just explode at us and storm out. Though it may just be the hazing we run them through,” he muttered the last before shrugging. Turning on the water in the sink, he stacked dishes in and shot her a look, “You’ve already got a leg up on the others, Goldie. You’re not afraid to smack Ark and you like rugby, two points in your favor. If you can make half decent coffee and don’t try to kill us in the first week, you’ll probably survive.”
“I am a killer at coffee, as long as you have a good machine that is,” she told him with a grin. “And even if I might try to kill you the first week it doesn’t mean I would miss ya,” she teased. “It’s all good though. Promise. You do have a good machine, right?”
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