Evan, particularly, was losing his mind wondering how he could get close to her and make her see he didn’t mean her any harm. He really liked her a lot, but she kept pushing him away despite the fact that Kenny, her son, seemed to like Evan.
Lois always put Kenny first, and Ghost had heard all about her fears and sadness on the first day of school. He’d also heard about her chocolate chip cookies and how good they were.
He stared at her as she descended the small set of steps leading down to the walkway and dirt road. She looked really pretty, as usual. She wore a pair of Capri pants in beige and a pale blue, short-sleeved shirt. It was pretty warm out today for pants, but that seemed to be her style. At least she wasn’t wearing a sweater. She seemed to wear one more often than not and was always pulling it tight like she was hiding. She held a set of books in her hands and waved at his parents as both of them smiled. Then she walked a little ways down the path toward a blue bike. She placed the books into her backpack and then got onto the bike and headed down the path toward the main road. It seemed she was biking the two miles back home.
Ghost spotted Laverty coming his way. His brother opened the door and got inside. He wiped his brow. “It’s damn hot out there. I can’t wait to get a cold shower,” he said and then closed the door.
“What’s with you?”
“Nothing.” Ghost put the truck into drive and they slowly headed down the path past the people shopping at the farm and then to the main road. As they headed down the way, they talked about the truck.
“So, any news on my ride? Looking out of commission for a while or what?” Laverty asked him.
“I think a day or so. I should have it all fixed up quickly.”
“Hey, is that Lois?” Laverty asked as they headed down the long hill and approached.
“Might be. I saw her with mom and John a little while ago.”
“She was on the farm today?”
“I guess so.”
“Slow down and let’s see if she needs a ride. It’s damn hot out there and it looks like she’s wearing pants.”
Ghost slowed the truck down, but he didn’t know why he even bothered. She wouldn’t take a ride. She wouldn’t accept help from them. She glanced at the truck and then kept her eyes forward.
Laverty rolled down his window.
“Hey, Lois, need a ride?” he called out to her.
She looked over her shoulder, seeming shocked, and then looked straight ahead. “No, thank you,” she snapped at them.
“It’s damn hot out here and you’re wearing pants. You got a mile and a half to go before you reach the bottom of the road to your place.”
“I’m fine. Thank you,” she told them.
“Leave her be,” Ghost stated firmly and sped up the hill. In the rearview mirror he saw her peddling a little faster to make it up the hill, and he also saw the sporty Jeep coming up next with two guys in it. Instinctively, he slowed down.
“What’s wrong?” Laverty asked and turned around to look.
“Two guys trying in a Jeep to talk to her,” he said and slowed down more. She kept pedaling and then said something to them. The Jeep slowed down and then sped up and swerved a little toward her.
“What the hell?” Laverty stated and Ghost looked ahead, did a quick U-turn, and headed back down the hill. They were her guardians, even though Lois hadn’t accepted them as such. Just as he rolled down his window, the Jeep sped off.
“Are you okay?” Ghost yelled at her.
She swung her head to look at him, seemingly shocked that he’d turned around and the truck was now next to her bike. She turned the wheel and hit the ridge on the side of the road, losing her balance. They watched her as if in slow motion. She fell over the handlebars and tumbled into the ravine.
Ghost stopped the truck. Laverty was out before the truck stopped and Ghost parked it and jumped out next.
“Are you okay?” Laverty asked and knelt down on the ground next to Lois.
The first thing Ghost spotted was a tattoo along Lois’s side as her shirt raised up. She was bleeding. Her face was flushed, she was holding her arm, and her pants were ripped. He could tell she was in great physical condition as her tight, defined abs came into view the closer her got.
“Lay still. What hurts most?” Laverty asked her with his hand on her bare belly.
Her blue eyes were wide and looked glossy like she was ready to cry.
“Where are you hurting the most?” Ghost raised his voice and she looked away from him and to Laverty. She softly pushed Laverty’s hand off her belly. Laverty squinted at her.
“You’re bleeding and all banged up. Can you move your arm?” he asked.
“I’m fine. Let me get up,” she said, but when Laverty went to help her up she cringed.
“Let us help you. You could have broken something,” Laverty said to her. Now he was angry.
As she started to try to stand up, she gasped and Ghost cursed under his breath and lifted her up into his arms.
The sound of her intake of breath, combined with her body pressed up against him, set him on alert. The smell of her shampoo, the scent of her perfume, and how light and petite she was made him feel instantly protective.
He carried her to the truck and he could feel her shaking in his arms.
“Let me down. What are you doing? Where are you taking me?” she asked and sounded hysterical.
“I’m going to set you down in the truck so we can look you over.”
“No. No, you aren’t. I’m fine. Let me go,” she said, sounding so panicked.
“Honey, we’re not going to hurt you,” Laverty said to her as Ghost gently set her down on the backseat of the truck. He reached for her arm first and she leaned back. He wound up between her legs and she could hardly swallow her throat felt so dry.
“I’ll grab the first aid kit,” Laverty said to him, but Ghost’s eyes locked on to Lois’s. She was stunning. Her eyes were the bluest he had ever seen. He caressed her dainty arm. His hand looked huge against it. She continued to shake. His chest tightened. She looked so damn scared.
“You’re cut up good on your elbow. Let’s clean this up and see about your knee.”
“Here, I got the bandages out, and these wipes,” Laverty said as he squeezed next to Lois.
“I’ll be fine. Please, just let me up,” she said and pressed closer as if she would slide off the seat, but Ghost remained in place. His leg pressed against her groin and her lips parted and he stared at her mouth then looked over her breasts. She was well-endowed. She hid her body well and she looked like she was perspiring.
“I’m really hot in here. Please,” she said in a whisper that made his cock harden instantly. It was a shocker to him. He eased back and then placed his hands on her hips to steady her. She gripped on to him.
“I’ll be okay. You can release me,” she said and he ignored her.
“You’re hurt. We haven’t even looked over the cuts,” Laverty chimed in.
She turned to look at him and Ghost pressed his palm against her hip and pushed her shirt up a little.
“Damn, you’re all scratched up,” he said and turned her sideways. Laverty took her arm and let out an annoyed sigh. “Let’s clean this up first. The blood is getting all over your shirt.”
* * * *
Lois was in shock. She couldn’t believe this was happening. Ghost and Laverty were huge and they were also pretty damn fierce. She’d never even really met Ghost, just heard about him from Sparrow. Now, with both men touching her and those expressions of dominance and control in their eyes, she wished she hadn’t fallen off the bike. Damn, they made her nervous. Then she felt the bite of pain and gasped, pulling her elbow from Laverty’s hold.
“Don’t move. Let me clean this out.”
She stared at him and was shocked at how attracted she felt to him. Hell, to both men. She stared at Laverty. He was wearing a T-shirt in green and dark jeans, too. He was a little dirty and sweaty, probably from tossing around those bales
of hay like bags of sugar. He made it look effortless. She remembered seeing him doing that several times, and earlier last week, he’d done it with no shirt on. She felt the palpitations begin. The man was a god.
She looked away from him when he glanced up and gave her a wink. She locked gazes with Ghost, who had his Stetson down low, making him appear ready for a fight. His chest muscles were so big, wide, and fierce-looking, she knew they would feel like steel. Hell, she was so tense when he picked her up that she hadn’t even absorbed how big and strong he was.
His fingers clasped her chin and he tilted her head up toward him.
“You should have taken the ride we offered. Then you wouldn’t be all cut up and bleeding right now in my truck.”
She gasped and looked down where she sat and hoped she wasn’t getting dirt and blood on his leather seats. It was a pretty fancy truck if she ever saw one. His words affected her. He was angry and blaming her. Suddenly she felt scared, like maybe he was just being nice but really had no desire to help her. Maybe he was a prick or stuck-up because he was older and thought she wasn’t good enough for him? She didn’t know where these thoughts were coming from, or the feeling of being cheap and dirty. She had to stop her mind from going off like this. She worried about his comment and about the blood getting on the seats in the truck.
“I’m sorry. I’ll clean up the mess. With something.” She looked around her.
“Sit still. Don’t worry about the damn truck. We’re just glad you didn’t break anything or we’d never hear the end of it,” Ghost reprimanded her and she pulled her quivering bottom lip between her teeth and let out a shaky breath. He was so dominant and commanding. My God, what a monster of a man in size and attitude. So why did she feel her breasts tighten and her core quiver with an attraction to him?
Because she was stupid and naïve and apparently a glutton for punishment. He could be abusive and controlling to a woman. He seemed the type.
Wait, what the hell am I thinking? There is no type. God, I’m so fucked up in the head. I think every man, nice or mean, is a batterer and could hit me, hurt me—hell, rape me.
The tears filled her eyes and she pushed his hand away from her hip. “I’m fine.”
She looked at Laverty. She didn’t dare move and cringe, letting them know her back really hurt the worst. Ghost may grab her arm, turn her around abruptly, and blame her for getting all banged up. Oh God, stop thinking, Lois. Stop and just calm down.
“You should have never gotten hurt. We’ll never hear the end of this,” Laverty stated.
“What do you mean?” she asked Laverty as he applied some ointment to her elbow and then reached for the gauze.
“I mean our cousins, our brother, the damn sheriff—they would all be pissed we let you get hurt.”
“You didn’t let me get hurt. I lost my balance,” she whispered and then lowered her eyes. The truth was, she had been so damn nervous from them stopping to ask her if she wanted a ride that she wasn’t paying attention. Then those other guys stopped and asked directions and she had to tell them she didn’t know. They’d flirted and she’d ignored them, so they sped off. The look in Ghost’s eyes as he pulled up on the other side of the road took her breath away.
“You need to be more careful. Especially if you’re going to be riding that bike back and forth to the farm or wherever,” Laverty added, sounding so angry.
“I think the bike is busted,” Ghost said.
“Oh God, I hope not. I need to help your mom,” she said and moved forward only for Laverty to hold her still as he wrapped her elbow. She pulled back and her back hit the side of the truck. She gasped and pulled completely away from them and backed away.
“Lois?” Laverty questioned her. God, he was so good-looking and defined. He even had muscles on his face, jaw, and neck. He looked carved from steel.
“Are you hurt on your back, too?” Ghost asked her. She shook her head.
He crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Don’t lie to me. If you’re hurt, let us see so we can fix ya up,” he commanded. She couldn’t turn around and let him behind her. God, she was scared. So scared of being alone with men this big and knowing they were soldiers and that they could hurt her, hell, take advantage of her or kill her. The tears stung her eyes. She shook her head.
“I want to go. I’m fine. I’m perfectly fine,” she said and pushed by them. She practically ran to her bike. It was a mess, but it wasn’t broken.
“Let us give you a ride back,” Laverty said, coming closer. She saw Ghost looking at her like she was some nutcase.
God, I can’t take this. Why do I have to be so scared of them? Why can’t I just relax and accept their help? Their cousins told me I was safe. Hell, the sheriff told me, too, numerous times. She bent down and then Laverty was there picking up the bike.
“You can’t ride this. Come on.” He lifted the bike up into the air as if it were light and he placed it into the back of the truck. She clasped her hands together and walked by the back when Ghost stopped her. He placed his hands on her hips.
“Let me see your back,” he said to her so firmly. Calmly, she froze in place. He was gorgeous, and older than her by a lot. He had brown hair and nice hazel eyes. His lips looked firm, and his expression did, too. The black Stetson added to the intimidation as well as his height and the feel of his large hands on her hips.
“You’re safe with us, now turn around, and don’t make me ask twice,” he said in an order. He was not a patient man that was for certain. She figured she better turn around or they would stay like this and battle it out all day. It was getting later and she needed to get back to the cottage.
“He won’t hurt you,” Laverty said and she slowly turned.
“It’s nothing, really,” she whispered. Then she felt his hand on her hip and another hand lift her shirt up in the back.
“Damn it,” he cursed.
She closed her eyes and prayed that he didn’t try something. God, his hands felt incredible. He was so big and strong she felt safe and protected, which was ludicrous.
“I’ll grab the ointment,” Laverty whispered and caressed her hair before he headed to the side of the truck.
She sensed Ghost shift behind her and then she felt his warm breath against her ear and hair while he used his thumb to caress the skin over her tattoo.
“You need looking after, darling. A petite, pretty young woman like you shouldn’t be out here on a bike all alone. What did those guys in the Jeep say to you, anyway?” he asked, his warm breath colliding against her hair and skin.
He continued to caress her skin and she felt her belly quiver and other parts react to his touch. She couldn’t think.
“What were they doing?” he asked as Laverty returned.
“Flirting,” she whispered. His hand tightened on her hip.
“Well, I’m glad Ghost got pissed off and turned around. You need to be more careful,” Laverty said, joining the conversation.
She was shocked to learn that Ghost was pissed off at seeing the two men in the Jeep stop to talk to her. It also gave her a funny sensation inside. It aroused her that he was jealous and she didn’t know why. She couldn’t be attracted to these men. She couldn’t allow herself to be. They were dangerous. This situation was.
She felt his fingers spreading the ointment over the cuts on her back.
Then she felt Ghost caressing up under her shirt on her left side.
“What are you doing at our mom’s house every day?” he asked her. She tried to focus on his question but his hands felt so good on her skin.
“Making homemade jams and jellies. She’s been teaching me and I’ve been helping,” she told him. Laverty moved her hair from her cheeks and put more ointment on her skin.
“You planning on making your own jellies and jams?” Ghost asked her.
“Yes.”
“Well, you let us know if you need any taste testers, doll. I’d love to taste your sweet jelly,” Laverty stated. She was shocked at his stat
ement and totally read into it. That was when she felt Ghost’s lips press against her bare shoulder.
“I’m in, too. Something tells me your jelly will be damn addicting,” Ghost said as he caressed her arm. She was shaking.
“Easy, baby. Easy,” Ghost whispered.
She heard a horn honk and Ghost remained holding her hips as Laverty turned to wave. “That’s Jace,” Laverty said and Lois turned around. Ghost remained holding her as Laverty took a position next to her, too.
“What’s going on?” Jace asked and then looked at them, squinting his eyes. “You’re hurt? What happened?” He placed the truck into park and got out.
“We were here when she fell off the bike. She tumbled over the handlebars,” Laverty explained.
Jace cupped her cheek. She froze, but she wasn’t on guard like she was with Ghost and Laverty. Maybe because she knew Jace was her sister’s boyfriend and she trusted him and his brothers.
“Are you okay? Where are you hurt?” he asked.
“We got her, Jace. We were just applying some ointment and getting ready to look at her leg next,” Ghost said firmly. She picked up on it and so did Jace as he released her cheek and stared eye-to-eye at Ghost.
“How did it happen?” he asked.
“It was my fault, Jace. I lost my balance and hit the side of the ravine’s edge. But I’m fine. I think my bike is messed up, though,” she said and stepped aside as Jace walked closer to the truck.
“The fender is bent good and the tire needs adjusting. I’ll take care of it,” Ghost said to Jace.
“We should look at your knee next,” Laverty said to her and he bent down and placed his hand on her thigh as he lifted her leg. Ghost kept his hands on her hips.
The American Soldier Collection 17: Love a Woman Right (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 3