“What’s wrong?” she asked, heart pounding inside of her chest.
“Shh,” Lucifer whispered, and she felt the warm breath against her hair, and both hard male bodies protecting her from whatever it was they heard. Her heart was racing, and the sensation that even her breathing was too loud consumed her as she wondered what they heard and how these two big men could be so damn quiet.
“Who’s out there?” Salvatore called out.
“The question is who the hell are you?” They heard the deep voice, and then both men chuckled.
“Good evening, Shay,” Lucifer said as he petted Brutas and stepped from behind Lucia. A moment later Shay Anders came into view, holding a gun and dressed in dark clothing.
“Sorry if I scared you. I was keeping a lookout for Lucia. She’s usually back at the apartment before dark, and we were worried,” Shay said.
“We were concerned for her well-being too. Followed her up from the O’Brians’,” Lucifer told Shay.
“The O’Brians’? That’s a long trek. Damn, Lucia, you shouldn’t be walking all alone through town like that and these woods late at night. Dave and Ron were out last night and came across some hikers from out of town. They didn’t like the looks of them, and when Dave and Ron asked some questions, they all had attitudes. Really mean, unfriendly types. You definitely can’t be walking through these woods at night,” Shay added, giving Lucia a firm look.
It was obvious Shay was concerned. Once again, this town, these people surprised her with their actions.
“Thank you so much for looking out for me. I guess it would be smarter to take the long way on the road for now on.”
“Or you can make a phone call here and one of us will come get ya,” Shay added.
“We’ll take care of it, Shay,” Lucifer said rather firmly. Shay squinted his eyes at Lucifer and then Salvatore. “You sure about this?” he asked, and Lucia wondered why Mr. Anders suddenly sounded so fatherly.
Lucifer placed his hand on Lucia’s shoulder and squeezed it gently.
“As sure as we’ve been about anything, Shay.”
Shay nodded then looked at Lucia.
“These are good men. Them and their brothers, Lucia. Trust them and no more trekking around alone.” Shay turned around and headed through the woods, disappearing in the darkness.
She felt Lucifer’s hand caress down her arm to her waist, giving it a light tap that sent pretty damn powerful sexual currents through her entire body.
“Let’s get you home safe. Tomorrow, we’ll work your transportation out,” Lucifer told her, and they continued walking.
She was going to question his statement, but something changed in him. From the time Shay told them about the hikers until that moment when he told Shay they would take care of her means of transportation.
As they walked across the field, the side roads in view, and got to the small building of a one-bedroom apartment she was renting cheap, she turned around to question him.
She hadn’t expected Lucifer to press her up against the wall, one hand above her shoulder and one by her waist caging her in place. He loomed over her as her lips parted and she saw his intense stare. Her heart pounded inside of her chest, and she was shocked that the first thought to come to mind was Lucifer kissing her.
“This is your only warning, and I don’t want to hear about how independent you are, how you can handle things yourself, or any denial as to what we’re all feeling here. Strangers in town trekking through woods at night could lead to a very dangerous situation. If we weren’t with you, and if Shay weren’t out watching for you and these men came along...” He paused, closed his eyes, and took an unsteady breath.
He was really concerned, almost angry at the information, and it made her feel foolish and naïve.
“I’m sorry I didn’t know about the hikers. I know now. I’ll take precautions.”
He shook his head.
“Maxwell or Gabriele will be here at eight on Monday to drive you to work. If you’re going anywhere over the weekend, you have one of the Anders men call us and we’ll come get you.”
She shook her head.
“This is not up for discussion,” he stated then reached up with the hand that was above her shoulder, and he caressed her cheek, pushing a loose strand of hair from her cold cheek.
“There are bad men out there. Men that would think nothing of harming a beautiful, young woman like you. You wouldn’t be able to defend yourself, and that’s not something I’m willing to let happen. You need to know that men like that exist, even in some of the most perfect places.”
“I know that.”
“I don’t think you do,” Salvatore chimed in, standing right next to Lucifer. Both men looked down upon her, and she did feel intimidated, worried about strange men finding her in the woods and trying something. They were right. She wouldn’t be able to defend herself against even a man at average size. She was petite, untrained in any type of self-defense as she was pampered most of her life until she left for college.
“I know about bad men. Men that would think nothing of hurting a woman,” she whispered.
“I think Salvatore’s right, and you don’t know,” Lucifer said as he pushed off the wall and stood back.
She straightened out her shoulders, pulled the backpack in front of her, and reached into the front compartment to get her key.
“I know all too well about the violence, the capabilities of bad men. I’ll take extra precautions. Thank you for walking me home.”
She unlocked the door, saw their curious expressions, and she slowly closed it. Leaning back against the door, a mix of emotions filled her once again.
Could they possibly care or be attracted to her, or were they just following the rules like Shay was?
She turned and looked out the small window, the darkness illuminated by the light of the moon, and she saw both men and the dog heading down the hill toward the road. That’s when she saw the headlights and the large pickup truck. They had all followed her home. Gabriele and Maxwell in the truck on the road. Did they really care? Could they be trusted? Or were they just as dangerous as those mysterious hikers looking for trouble, and possibly ready to pounce on an unsuspecting female just trying to survive?
Chapter 6
Maxwell sat at the large kitchen table. It was made of solid oak wood, handcrafted by their grandfather, and an heirloom of the family. They could seat fifteen people at the damn thing, but never did anymore. Since their parents died, and they took over the house, expanding it, making it fit four large men who never entertained, it remained a vacant monstrosity in the kitchen. A reminder of better days, good times, shared memories as children growing up in their loving home. They all grew up together loving God and their country. Their parents and grandparents instilled good morals and values in them, wanting to make their sons more than just exceptional citizens of society. They wanted the Walters name to be a proud, strong one. Walterses were tough, no matter what.
“Coffee, Maxwell?” Gabriele asked as he prepared to pour himself a cup. Maxwell nodded his head and then ran the palm of his hand along the tabletop.
“I love this table. Lots of good times at it over the years,” he said.
“You’re not kidding. I miss those days. I don’t think we ever once had company over to fill it,” Lucifer added.
As his brothers gathered their cups of coffee, he thought about the trials and tribulations as they each transitioned into adulthood. Joining the military was something they all felt a calling to do. They each served their country then got out when the time was right. Well, at least he, Lucifer, and Gabriele did. Salvatore was dealing with his own survivor’s guilt after half his troops were wiped out in one strategic terrorist attack. That situation made him stay on and do another tour once he was healed from the minor injuries he sustained. Salvatore and four other survivors went on to do some seriously dangerous secret missions, which eventually led to his forced retirement and coming home. Sometimes Maxwell thought
that Salvatore wanted to die out there and give the ultimate sacrifice just as his good buddies had.
He took a deep breath and released it. They all had their issues, their dark nights of bad memories from their stints in the war, and of course the one night a couple of years ago with Salvatore and Lindsey.
He looked at Salvatore as he pet Brutas’s head. His brother had been lost, and they were slowly bringing him back. Brutas helped and working and living these normal lives seemed to help him heal day after day, but his reaction to Lucia couldn’t be ignored. Salvatore liked her, too.
“So, after last night, and hearing about those hikers, worrying about Lucia, I’ve made my decision. I want to talk with Wyatt, and I want to request guardianship of her. I want all of us to,” Lucifer told them.
“She’s a beautiful woman. It’s obvious that we’re all attracted to her. Knowing she walks alone day or night doesn’t sit right with me. Makes me have this instant protectiveness over her, and she isn’t even my woman,” Gabriele admitted.
“Yet,” Lucifer added.
“I think before we can all go to Wyatt and ask to be appointed her guardians, we should take some more time to get to know her. Gabriele and I just met her last night. She seemed intimidated by us,” Maxwell told them.
“Look at how petite she is,” Gabriele said and then smirked as he ran his thumb along the rim of his coffee mug.
“She’s real sweet. Has a hell of a body on her for such a petite thing,” Gabriele added.
“Salvatore? Your thoughts?” Maxwell questioned his brother.
Salvatore leaned back, that cold, dark expression of his enhanced by dark circles under his eyes. He must have had a bad night, yet they didn’t hear him. Concern filled his gut.
“I’m not going to be part of this. I can’t,” he said.
“Why the hell not?” Lucifer pushed.
“Because, I’ll only hurt her.”
“Bullshit, you’ll hurt her. She’s not Lindsey, and you’re not the same man you were a couple of years ago when you first returned,” Gabriele told him.
“Lindsey was five foot seven and filled out a lot more than Lucia. If I were to lose it one night in bed with her lying next to me, a half a second of a squeeze of my hand against her small, delicate throat could kill her. Then what? No. I can’t be part of this. I can’t chance it.”
“The hell you can’t. You’re not going to lose it because one of us will always be there with you. Can’t you see that this is the best type of relationship for all of us? We need one another. Always have. That’s why we live here together. We’ve helped one another get through some really tough times because our bond can’t be broken,” Lucifer told Salvatore.
Maxwell felt the same way. Suddenly it was all clicking into place.
“He’s right. A ménage relationship like this is special, and unique. It will take a lot of giving and understanding to share the same woman. But we’re close. We all feel safest around one another. That’s the difference with her for you, Salvatore. If by some chance you lose control and get caught in a nightmare, one of us, if not all of us, will be right there with you to calm you down, to keep Lucia safe, and to overcome any barriers because we’re together,” Maxwell told Salvatore.
Salvatore gulped.
“You doing this for me?” he asked, looking pissed.
“Hell no, we’re doing this for all of us. There’s never been a woman, a person out there who has affected all four of us instantly and in this way. Hell, I’ll admit it. I’ve fucked around a little. I’ve noticed a lot of single women in town eyeing me, eyeing all of us, but none of them do to me what Lucia does. It was instant. It happened to all of us, and that’s what is different and what is special.”
“But she looked scared last night, Lucifer. When we mentioned the capabilities of a man with bad intentions she mentioned knowing firsthand about that,” Salvatore reminded Lucifer.
“What?” Maxwell asked.
“What do you mean?” Gabriele added.
“She said that to us last night before she closed the door to go inside. I thought about it a lot last night. I think maybe she’s been hurt by a man before, and that’s what her comment meant.”
“Leaves us with a lot of questions. Questions we’re going to have to get answers to as we proceed with this,” Maxwell replied.
“As I said, I’m not sure I’m capable of this. I don’t trust easy. Hell, I don’t do emotions and I tend to resist feeling anything that makes me vulnerable or weak,” Salvatore told them.
“Hell, Salvatore, we all have trust issues, but if what you say is true about Lucia, it might turn out that she has those same trust issues as well. Things could work out for all of us. Isn’t it better to take the chance and see, rather than just do nothing and always wonder what if?” Gabriele said.
“Then we all agree? We’re going to get to know Lucia better and then let Wyatt know we want to be her appointed guardians,” Lucifer said to them.
Just then Maxwell’s cell phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID and then to his brothers.
“Looks like maybe Wyatt already knows.”
* * * *
Wyatt received a phone call at the department from Shay Anders this morning. He expressed concern over some strangers hiking along the backwoods of Pearl and appearing up to no good. He also told him about Lucia walking alone day and night through those woods, and how last night Lucifer and Salvatore Walters walked her home from the O’Brians’ when they found out she went all the way there on her own and was traveling back alone. He found the information quite interesting and wondered if the four brothers were going to request guardianship of Lucia.
“Good morning, Maxwell. Sorry to bother you, but I got a call from Shay Anders this morning with concern over a couple of things. First off, being a detective in Turbank, have you heard anything about these hikers coming through towns and stirring up trouble?” Wyatt asked him.
“No. I just heard about those hikers last night from Salvatore and Lucifer after they saw Shay.”
“Let me know if you catch wind of anything. I’m not sure if I need to step up some patrols or not, as of yet.”
“No problem, Wyatt. I go into work Monday. I’ll ask around.”
“Great. Shay also expressed concern over Lucia. Seems walking is her form of transportation. I’ve got a few men from town asking about watching over her.”
“Well, tell those men we’ve got her safety covered. My brothers and I were going to call you Wyatt.”
“You were?” Wyatt asked as a small smile crept to his lips. He was glad they were having this discussion over the phone. The Walters brothers didn’t seem like the type of men to take a liking to any form of teasing.
“We’re taking some time to get to know her better. Gabriele and I just met her last night. Lucifer and Salvatore are working with her on a project at Mrs. Higgins’s place.”
“Yeah, I heard Lucia was looking for a job and that Mary hired her. That’s great news. Seems to me none of us know a real lot about Lucia. I was concerned when I saw her the other day wearing a light sweater and no jacket.”
“She was wearing one last night,” Maxwell replied.
“I heard. Seems getting that job with Mary Higgins was exactly what Lucia needed. You let me know when you and your brothers make a concrete decision. In the meantime, I’ll try to keep the other interested parties at bay. But winter is coming. I don’t expect to see Lucia having to walk.”
“I understand, Wyatt. We’ll be in touch.”
Wyatt disconnected the call. That little twinge of concern filled his belly. He was always concerned when a group of men were about to request to be guardians to a single woman. None ever failed to turn into full, committed relationships, but there was always that risk. His curiosity and concern for Lucia were instinctual. There was something in her eyes, her demeanor that made him feel she was hiding something or possibly fearful. Knowing how a lot of women with troubled pasts wound up in Pearl, he wasn’t
going to take this instinct lightly, instead he would make a point of talking to her. Perhaps she would even confide in him so there weren’t any new surprises heading into town.
He couldn’t help but chuckle.
Nothing ever fell into to place so easily. He immediately thought about Anna and what she had been running from and hiding. Yep, something was up with Lucia, and hopefully the Walters brothers could figure it out.
* * * *
Lucia was sitting at the table in the town hall along with Anna, Diane, Sage, Abigail, and Doc Jones. They were all so friendly, immediately welcoming her to town and introducing her to other residents in the community. She sat right next to Lisa Burgos from the hardware store. She was twenty-four. A year older than Lucia.
“I’m so glad that you’re here. Your ideas about blocking off the main roads in town and having hayrides to the O’Brians’ are awesome. Look what you started? They’re all talking about setting the vendor tables up right on the streets. That will make more room for people to walk the sidewalks and in between the vendor tables. Amazing,” Lisa told her as she smiled wide.
Her bright-blue eyes reminded Lucia of blue-eyed grass indigenous to where she lived in South Carolina.
“This means we’ll have room for a few more merchants. With all the events, the decorating, and everything we have to offer, we’re going to need more tractors and wagons to take people to and from O’Brians’,” Anna stated next.
“We can call around and get a few more people involved. My concern might be the wait for some people,” Doc said next.
“You could just organize a schedule. Have the tractor rides leave every half hour or twenty minutes,” Lucia suggested.
“People don’t like to wait too long. That could cause some upset,” Diane said next. They were all quiet a moment.
“What if you spread the vendors out? I noticed when I was at O’Brians’ last night that they have a lot of room near the front entrance of their place. Since there won’t be any vehicles parking there, what if you set up some tables with vendors, people selling hot apple cider, popcorn, candy apples, all those things people like to have in the fall? Of course there’ll be some of those here in town, plus the regular businesses want to make some money too. Then, as people wait for the next tractor ride back into town, they can have a drink, some snacks, and truly enjoy the day and the night,” Lucia told them.
Just One Kiss: A Holiday Story [The Town of Pearl 8] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 8