by Susan Hayes
The idea of anyone else even looking at Lexa had him on edge, and one glance at Diego confirmed that his partner was feeling exactly the same way. His eyes had narrowed and he was scanning the crowd as if taking note of anyone who was showing too much interest in their woman.
* * * *
Diego was having difficulty thinking straight. All he wanted to do the moment he saw Lexa was head across the ballroom and wrap her in his arms. The only thing that had stopped him doing just that was the fact his twin brothers had clapped a hand on each shoulder and held him back until his brain had finally started working again. She was back in town, but she hadn’t looked up either of them, and she was at this event with another man. Diego’s lips twitched into a snarl as he caught the way Simon was looking at Lexa. Not a chance she was going to end up with him. Not if he and Beau had anything to say about it.
He found himself clapping in welcome along with everyone else, but his heart was racing and his dick felt hard enough to pound nails as he drank in the beauty standing on the dais. Her cheeks were pink with embarrassment at the welcome she was getting, and she was holding tight to Gladys’s hand.
“Now, before we start the bidding, I’ve a surprise for everyone. Included in this package will be a date with the lovely Alexandra Fox. Who would like to make the first bid?”
Lexa’s eyes went wide with panic and it was clear to Diego she had no idea what Gladys had been planning, which was no surprise to anyone. Gladys was notorious for pulling stunts like this, but of course Lexa wouldn’t have known that.
Beau muttered something and reached into his jacket pocket to pull out his wallet and Diego finally realized what was about to happen. A date with Lexa was suddenly up for grabs, and there were already hands going up all around the room. There was no way anyone else was going out with their girl! Diego grabbed his own wallet and glanced over at Beau, who just nodded as he threw his hand in the air and joined the bidding.
At first the bids came fast and furious, the room filled with good-natured ribbing and laughter as the price jumped to two hundred and then four hundred dollars. As the bids got bigger, most dropped out of the running, and that was when Diego saw Lexa look their way. Her gray eyes widened and if he hadn’t known better he’d of sworn she looked at Beau with an expression of amazement as he raised his hand and upped the bid to five hundred.
Didn’t she know how this was going to go? Diego wondered to himself as she tore her gaze away to turn toward the next bidder, and Diego’s tempered flared hot as he realized Simon was bidding against them. Not going to happen, buddy.
The only other bidder bowed out and Gladys looked over at Beau and Diego with a playful smile on her face. “Come on, boys, I know you can do better than that.”
Diego didn’t even give Beau time to raise his hand again. Instead he raised his own and called out the next bid for them both. “One thousand dollars.”
A rumble of surprise passed through the room and Diego heard his mom sigh, but he didn’t care. He didn’t even bother looking at Beau. He knew that they were of the same mind on this. No one was going to get a date with Lexa but them, and that went double for Simon Johnson. Not that they had anything against the guy, apart from the fact he’d been touching the woman they’d been waiting on for more than twenty years. Right now, that felt like grounds for arresting him, just on principle.
“I have a bid of one thousand dollars, thank you, gentlemen. Mr. Johnson, I believe it’s your bid.” Gladys turned to smile benevolently at Simon. “Do I hear twelve hundred dollars?”
“Fifteen hundred.” Simon threw up his hand and shot a look of pure challenge at Diego. On stage Gladys beamed and Lexa paled slightly at the new bid, looking more uncomfortable by the second.
“Two thousand dollars.” Diego countered without waiting on Gladys to prompt him. He was going to put a significant hole in their vacation fund, but right now nothing was more important than winning Lexa.
“Well my goodness! Two thousand dollars is the bid. Alexandra, my dear, you should have come home before this, our auctions would have been ever so much more interesting.”
Laughter rippled through the crowd, but Diego had eyes only for Lexa, who was staring at him now, her eyes full of shock and the tiniest glimmer of laughter. He grinned and winked at her and was rewarded with a blush that flashed up her throat and stained her cheeks crimson.
“Are there any other bids for a date with the lovely Alexandra Fox and an evening’s cruise aboard her luxurious cabin cruiser? Mr. Johnson? A final bid perhaps?”
Diego tore his eyes away from Lexa only to find Simon glaring daggers at him from across the room. Looking nearly beside himself with fury, the other man shook his head in defeat.
“Well then, congratulations to Mister Rivers and Mendez, you have the winning bid.” Gladys released Lexa’s hand and she bolted off the stage so quickly Diego was worried she’d fall and hurt herself.
Not caring about protocol any longer, he stood and was not surprised to see that Beau was right beside him as they both pushed back their chairs and made straight for Lexa’s table while behind them both their families started twittering with laughter. Let them laugh all they wanted. All Diego wanted right now was to talk to Lexa and finally learn why she’d left them.
Chapter 7
Lexa’s cheeks felt like they were on fire and her heart pounded so fast she was feeling light-headed by the time she got off the dais and back to her table.
“You did wonderfully, Lexa. That’s the most money that’s been brought in for a single bid in years.” Sam smiled at her warmly and she felt a little better. She had been spending time getting reacquainted with Sam in the days since her arrival. He was a good, gentle man who had welcomed her into his life as if she were long lost family. His wife and children had been equally accepting, and she was grateful to them all for helping her feel at home.
“You could have given me warning my date for the evening was going to be sold to the highest bidder,” Simon snarked, looking far from pleased as he tugged on her hand, indicating she should take her seat.
“I…I had no idea that she was going to do that!” Lexa whispered, a sense of unease growing as she felt the displeasure rolling off of Simon. She tried to politely remove her hand from his grip but his fingers tightened and he pulled sharply on her arm.
“Sit,” he told her, his voice so soft no one else could have heard him. There was an underlying tension to his tone that set Lexa’s teeth on edge. She’d managed to deflect Simon’s persistent attentions over the last few days and she had hoped he would have taken the hint by now, but apparently that hadn’t happened. Now he was acting like a jealous boyfriend, and there was no reason for it.
“Actually, I think I need a bit of fresh air after that,” Lexa said and then stepped back, forcing Simon to let go of her or cause a scene.
“Fresh air sounds like a great idea,” a new voice, deep and with a distinct rumble sounded from nearby and Lexa’s heart did a triple beat. She hadn’t heard that voice in a long time, but she knew without a doubt who it was standing behind her. She turned around and opened her mouth to say hello, only to find herself caught up in a powerful hug that lifted her off her feet. Her arms were trapped at her side and all she could do was laugh as Diego spun her around and then handed her off to Beau, who nearly crushed her to his chest with the force of his embrace.
“Hi,” she managed to squeak out as she stared up into a pair of aquamarine eyes. “Beau?”
“You do remember us!” Those beautiful eyes lit up as he gave her a lopsided grin. “I was starting to worry.” He lowered her slowly to her feet, and tried to squelch a gasp as she slid down his body and felt nothing but hard planes and solid muscle. Her pussy tingled and her entire body heated up a few degrees, then combusted into open flame as she lifted her head and found him staring down at her, his eyes sparkling with desire.
“I forgot some things I shouldn’t have,” Lexa whispered. “But I’m remembering it all now.”<
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“Good.” Diego laid a hand on her shoulder and gently spun her back in his direction. “Because we never forgot you.”
Lexa found herself mesmerized by a pair of dark eyes and a smile that made her panties damp. “Outside. Air,” she muttered, her brain only partially working.
“I think that might be a good idea, we seem to be holding up the auction.” Beau laughed and Lexa glanced around to see everyone was watching their reunion.
“Shit,” she breathed. “Just great. I so love being the center of attention.”
Diego slid an arm around her shoulders and Beau’s hand landed in the small of her back and Lexa found herself being escorted to the nearest exit caught between two handsome men who towered over her. They guided her out into the hotel lobby and headed away from the main doors, leaving Lexa confused as to their destination.
“Uh, guys? Where are we going?” she asked, struggling to keep up to their much longer strides, no easy feat when she was the only one of the three wearing heels.
“We know a place.” Beau glanced down and winked at her. “Nice and private. We can catch up and play hooky from what would have been an incredibly boring evening.”
“But I—dinner—we can’t just leave and not come back.” Lexa looked from Beau to Diego and back again. “Can we? I mean Simon brought me, I shouldn’t leave him sitting there for very long.”
“Would you rather go back to Simon than talk to us?” Diego asked, his voice dropping to a low rumble.
“Well, no. I was going to try and track you guys down soon anyway so of course I want to talk to you.” She tossed a look over her shoulder as the lobby disappeared from sight. “But I was thinking five minutes out front, not—where the fuck are you two taking me anyway?”
“Did you just curse at us?” Beau’s delectable mouth was quirked up into a grin that made it hard for Lexa to remember she had asked a question.
“Yes, I cursed at you. I do that a lot when I’m annoyed. And right now I’m getting very fucking annoyed. You two lugs can’t just swan in and whisk me away like that. It’s rude!” Lexa dug her heels in and forced the men to stop. “I’m not going another damned step until you two tell me where we are going.”
“I don’t remember her being this stubborn,” Diego said.
“Then your memory is faulty, she was always this bloody minded.” Beau ran his hand slowly up Lexa’s spine, leaving a path of tingly heat in his wake. “She wasn’t this gorgeous though.”
“I’m right here. You can stop referring to me in the third person, Beau,” Lexa grumped and tried not to quiver as his fingers reversed course.
“Believe me, we know you’re here.” Diego moved so he was facing her, his fingertips brushing over the bare skin at the nape of her neck. “We’re very happy about that. You have no idea how happy.”
Lexa looked up into Diego’s chocolate brown eyes and was amazed at the heat burning in their depths. “Guys? We’re in the middle of a hotel. Whatever you think is going to happen, is not happening, and it is especially not happening out here in public.”
“Just a taste, please?” Diego murmured and lowered his head until their breath mingled and she could feel the heat of his skin shimmering against hers.
“Whoa, Dig! What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Diego’s childhood nickname tumbled out of Lexa’s mouth as she tugged her head back and away from him. She tried to move away but Diego’s hand spanned the back of her neck, making it impossible to step backward more than a few inches.
“I’m saying hello to an old friend,” Diego stated and then kissed her, his lips gentle as they lingered over hers. Before she could muster the brainpower to react he withdrew, leaving her heart pounding and her legs shaking in response to his touch.
“Hell, if you get to say hello with a kiss, so do I,” Beau said and moved in behind her so that her small body was tucked up against his. She could feel every hard inch of him as Beau leaned in and kissed her cheek. “We missed you,” he whispered against her skin and then moved back just enough to nuzzle her ear. “Can you tell?” Lexa’s insides turned to liquid heat and a shiver of eager need raced through her, obliterating every thought and instinct but an overwhelming urge to throw herself at one or both of the breath-stealing hunks currently touching her.
“Mhmm,” she murmured something insensible and both men moved a little closer, effectively pinning her between them.
Diego’s fingers twisted into her hair and then gently tugged her head back before dropping his mouth to hers once more. This time his kiss was as hot as fire and tasted like sin and spiced rum. For a single beat of her heart Lexa held back, but then she gave in to temptation and kissed him back. The moment she opened her mouth to his he growled in approval and deepened the kiss, his hand tightening in her hair until her scalp prickled, sending zings of sharp pleasure straight to her clit.
Beau’s hips rocked into her and she could feel the hard ridge of his cock pressed against her back as his mouth closed around her earlobe. His teeth scraped along the tender skin and she shuddered, moaning into Diego’s mouth as the sensation of two men touching her nearly caused her to combust.
When Diego finally lifted his head to suck in a deep breath of air, Beau moved in, turning her toward him to claim her mouth with a kiss that branded her lips and made her toes curl. Arms curved around her waist, holding her up as her knees buckled and she leaned into Diego for support. Beau’s hand cupped her cheek as he teased her lips apart and dipped his tongue into her mouth as if she were a dessert to be savored.
Her lungs were burning and the world was spinning off-center by the time Beau ended the kiss with a distracted groan. “Damn. That was way better than the last time we did this.”
“What?” Lexa’s eyes snapped open and she stared at Beau. “What the hell are you talking about? We’ve never done this before. Hell, I’ve never kissed two men at once, ever.” Her eyes narrowed as a sick suspicion soured her stomach and cooled her overheated blood. “You boys have done this before though, haven’t you? You tag team women, and you think I’m one of the ones you’ve been with before.”
She shook them both off of her and pushed Beau away with an angry shove. “Sorry to disappoint, but I’m not who you think I am. And boy, you two are not who I thought you were either. It’s been twenty years though, so I suppose that’s not a surprise, especially since you’re still here on the island of sexual misfits.”
“Still got that temper, do you?” Beau grinned, entirely unaffected by her tirade. “That’s how we met you know, I tried to kiss you on a dare, and you shoved me off the dock.”
“Believe me, if we were on a dock right now you’d be swimming again,” Lexa snapped and took another step backward.
“Stop,” Diego reached out, taking her hand and holding it firmly in his, keeping her from bolting. “Please. We were just going to take you out to the beach, it’s down this way. It’s quiet at this time of night and then we can talk. I’ve waited a long time for you to come back, I don’t want you vanishing again.”
“Neither of us want that.” Beau stepped up and took her other hand, weaving her fingers with his. “And for the record, we both know exactly who you are, Alexandra Fox. You’re the friend we’ve been missing for twenty-three years, and we have absolutely kissed you before. I guess you really don’t remember everything.” He winked at her. “Please, come with us and let us fill in the gaps.”
Diego shot her a grumpy glower. “And neither of us are sexual misfits, thank you. You really were gone too long if that’s how you remember this place.”
Lexa felt a pang of guilt for her comment. She’d spent her life fighting for acceptance, and here she was acting as bigoted and nasty as anyone she’d ever been bullied by. “I’m sorry for saying that. My mother…she…well. Let’s just say that after I left you guys my life changed. Until I came back here, I really didn’t remember very much of it. I guess I didn’t want to.” She glanced from Diego to Beau. “You’re both cops, right? So I�
�m going to be safe if I go with you?”
“Safe as houses,” Beau swore, holding a hand over his heart.
“Lexa, you may have forgotten us, be we’re still your friends. We’d never hurt you, cops or not.” Diego lifted her hand to his mouth and turned it to press a light kiss to the pulse point in her wrist.
“All right then.” Lexa’s hormones were cheering and her brain was screaming in panic as she made her decision. “Let me go get my purse and say good night to Sam and everyone, and I’ll go with you. There’s no way we can catch up on everything in a few minutes, and I don’t want to just disappear on everyone.” She snickered. “Besides, I believe you two owe Gladys a check for an insane amount of money. You do realize it’s my boat right? If you wanted to go out on it you just had to ask.”
“It wasn’t the boat we were bidding on.” Diego’s eyes heated and Lexa’s pussy clenched in response to the look he was giving her. “No way were we going to let anyone else have a romantic cruise with you as part of the package.”
“Not a chance in hell,” Beau agreed and squeezed her fingers as his thumb caressed the back of her hand.
“Oh.” The realization that these two sexy men had just spent two thousand dollars to make sure she didn’t go on a date with anyone else hit her like a semi with no brakes.
“Just keep that in mind when you go say good night to Simon,” Diego told her and the two men turned, still holding her hands as they headed back toward the ballroom. “He lost the bidding war. No consolation prizes.”
“He’s my employee, not my boyfriend. No matter how he might wish things were different, I’ve already made that very clear to him,” Lexa said, half amused and amazed that they were jealous of poor Simon. Not that he wasn’t attractive, but Diego and Beau were in a league of their own. Yeah, one I shouldn’t even consider trying to play in. I must be losing my damned mind.
“Glad to hear it,” Diego muttered and Lexa had to suppress the urge to roll her eyes.