Men Times Three

by Edwards, Bonnie

  “Too much? Too deep?” Too fast, too rough.

  She grinned. “Really hit the spot.” Her eyes shot sexy sparks and he relaxed. Sooner or later, he’d learn her signals and their communication outside of bed would be just as good as in. She slid her hand from his knee to his crotch in the best style of communication they had.

  His cock responded the way it always did to Kylie. “Easy there, we’ll be home soon.”

  “Good, I’m tired of talking,” she teased. She turned her face to the passenger-side window. “When you go to see the Himalayas, will you go alone? Or do you have a travel buddy?”

  “I travel alone, unless you’d like to come?” The invitation slipped out easily. “We could go for a couple of weeks. Maybe after the inn’s doing well enough that we can afford a trip like that. I’ve got to get back into a work routine.”

  She removed her hand from his leg. “Don’t talk like that, Eli. It’s not fair.” She went rigid. “Show me the courtesy of being honest.”

  Stunned, he turned to stare at her. “Now, see, this is where we end up in an argument. I say something nice and you take it wrong. What’s the matter with suggesting a vacation at some point in the future?”

  “You want me to believe you’d like me to join you, when we both know that in a few weeks, you’ll be itching to leave.”

  “Why do you think I travel?” His curiosity was simple, but he doubted her answer would be.

  “To escape responsibility. Like all men!” she blurted, then immediately looked contrite, but he didn’t care.

  A burn started in his gut and worked its way to his face. Her eyes widened and she clamped her jaw tight. He faced the road, hit the accelerator and white-knuckled it back to the inn.

  Just as he passed the “Welcome to Port Townsend” sign, his phone rang. “What?” Beside him, Kylie jerked at his gruff tone.

  “Eli? It’s Sam Whitaker.”

  “Sam, yeah, what’s up?”

  “I’m working at the gas station today.” He sounded out of breath. Excited.

  “So? You want tomorrow off? Can’t come in?” Eli wanted Sam off the phone in case one of his brothers needed him.

  “No. It’s kind of weird…” He trailed off.

  “Sam, I’m tied up right now. Busy. What can I do for you?”

  “I saw this guy again today. He was buying gas. He filled five jerry cans.” Eli sat up straighter, looked over at Kylie and tapped her leg to get her attention. The burn of anger was doused with icy dread.

  “What guy bought jerry cans full of gas?” he said to bring Kylie up to speed. She blanched.

  “Remember that Holly told me to call about the job with you guys?”

  “Yeah, sure, Holly turned you on to us.” He nodded while Kylie hung on every word.

  “A guy was kind of in her face that day. He grabbed hold of her behind Deke’s truck when she put her propane tank in the back. I never said anything, because it looked sorta personal, you know, and once I saw her with Deke, I figured I should keep my mouth shut. I don’t want to get in anyone’s business.”

  “What do you mean you saw Holly with a guy and it looked personal?” he repeated for Kylie’s benefit. “Exactly what did you see?”

  “He had her from behind and, you know, slid his hand down, you know, under her—”

  “Jeans? He molested her?”

  “I figured he knew her, that she liked him! Then when I saw her with Deke, I thought I should keep my mouth shut. The guy didn’t hurt her or she would’a called out for help, right?”

  “Right, Sam. If he hurt her she’d have called for help. But are you saying you saw this guy today and he filled up jerry cans with gas? Did he say what it was all for? That’s a lot of gas.”

  “That’s what I said, you know, that it was a lot of gas, and he told me to shut the fuck up and looked a little, you know, wild-ass crazy. Kinda mad.”

  “When did he leave?”

  “About fifteen minutes ago. Church just got out and we’ve been busy like always at this time on Sunday and I just now got the chance to call you. I didn’t feel right not saying anything.”

  “Thanks, Sam. If this guy comes back, let us know right away, but don’t tell him you called me. I’ll see you tomorrow. I appreciate you calling me, Sam. You did the right thing.” When he slid the phone to the seat beside him, Kylie grabbed it.

  “We’ve got to call the others. Jack has jerry cans full of gas?”

  “And Sam said he had a wild look in his eyes. He’s dangerous and doesn’t care who gets hurt.” But she was already on the phone with Holly. What the hell was the bastard up to?

  If he was crazy enough to immolate himself for Holly’s sake, one can would be enough. But if he wanted to burn down the inn…

  “Call 9-1-1. Tell them there’s a possible arson at the Friendly Inn. Make sure you say possible. Never mind, just give me the phone when they answer.” When she didn’t quibble at being given an order, he lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. “Thanks.”

  TJ heard sirens in the distance before he even reached the turn that would lead him into the inn. A glow of light through the trees that lined the driveway said the firefighters would be fully engaged. “Oh, shit. Look over there; does that look like firelight?”

  “Oh God. Yes! Go faster!” Marnie cried.

  “We can’t block access for the fire trucks,” he said as he pulled to a stop at the side of the road. He opened his door and jumped out into the ditch. He left his four-way flashers on and helped Marnie down.

  Deke’s pickup roared up and TJ waved him over. As Deke rolled his window down, TJ said, “We’ll have to go in on foot.” Sirens wailed closer and Deke inched his truck as far off the road as he could. The light from the fire grew brighter and a distant crackle urged them to move faster.

  Marnie and Holly looked stricken as they all ran up the drive toward the flickering light ahead. The first fire truck overtook them and roared past. A water tanker followed.

  The veranda was already engulfed by the time they got to the clearing where they normally parked. Staying well out of the way of the working and focused fire crew, they stood in shocked silence as the red swing reduced to glowing cinders and collapsed under the chains they’d used for support.

  Eli and Kylie joined them by the time the water hoses attacked the flame. “Think they’ll save the building?” Eli asked.

  “Maybe. But this doesn’t seem big enough for five cans of gasoline.” TJ’s comment fell into a moment of horror as they all saw flames lick along the veranda roof.

  “We should check the cabin,” Deke said and started to run. The others followed immediately.

  When a fifth man caught up to them as they edged the drive that led around to the back, Eli grinned. “Chuck! Glad you could make it.”

  The officer tried to tell them to stand down, then gave up. “Never could tell you boys diddly squat. Smart asses, all of you!” His partner trailed behind.

  TJ had never been so glad to see his old football buddy. “We think we’ve got an arsonist.”

  Flames leaped inside the unfinished cabin and Chuck pulled out his radio. He called the fire department dispatch to send men with hoses behind the building. “Faster than running back to get the truck through here,” he explained to his young and dazzled-looking partner.

  “Think the hoses will run this far?” TJ asked as they crashed to a halt in the eerily beautiful light from the cabin fire.

  Deke ran to the garden hose and unwound it while Holly turned on the water. “I’m so sorry,” she shouted to everyone. “This must be Jack but I can’t see him, anywhere. Deke, what if he’s inside the cabin or the inn?”

  Chuck grabbed the hose from Deke and aimed it at the outside walls. “I’ll soak these good and maybe it won’t spread to the trees.”

  At Holly’s words, TJ took off at a dead run toward the cabin. Deke followed, which caught Eli’s attention and all three O’Banions disappeared around the corner of the burning ca
bin.

  Kylie screamed. “Eli!” She started to run, but Marnie caught her by the elbow.

  “No, if they’re after Jack, they don’t need us in the way.”

  “Marnie’s right, Kylie. I’m so sorry I brought this on. I’m—” She broke off as the firefighters appeared, dragging a hose. “Thank God,” she said. The women backed away to give the fire crew room to work. They huddled together, comforting each other, focused completely on the smoky haze on the far side of the burning cabin.

  “I can’t see anything, can you?”

  “I thought I heard TJ yell Jack’s name, though, did you?”

  “Yes! Then I heard Eli, too.”

  “Should we go look?”

  “There’s nothing we can do about the cabin—”

  “I vote we go.”

  “Maybe they need us.”

  “Maybe one of them’s hurt—” Kylie broke off and tore away from her cousins. “I’ll kill Eli if anything’s happened to him!”

  Marnie and Holly exchanged a look and followed.

  TJ tackled the man first, the smell of gasoline overwhelming. With loud grunts the two men went down in a pile of cedar chips and pine needles.

  The spout of the jerry can sprayed gasoline in an arc across the ground. “Gas!” TJ shouted as he grabbed a fistful of gas-soaked shirt. “Stay back!”

  But Eli and Deke paid no attention to the warning. TJ wanted to retch from the gasoline smell as he rolled closer to the burning cabin with the arsonist in a strong grip. “You’re not getting away!” He grunted in the guy’s face, but the eyes looking back at him were wild and he knew he wouldn’t get through to him.

  “Get back!” he screamed at his brothers as the madman’s overwhelming strength threatened him. Terror licked at his insides. If his brothers were burned, he’d never forgive himself.

  He could feel the heat edging higher. How hot could it get before his gasoline-soaked shirt went up in flames?

  “Holly’s gonna pay! She’s gonna fuckin’ pay!” Jack screamed in TJ’s face. But the last word ended in a howl of pain that rattled through TJ’s head. Had he caught fire? TJ struggled to get clear of him and scramble backward.

  Suddenly hands grabbed his shoulders while another pair had him by the ankles. Both pulled and twisted him away from Jack, but through the haze of rising smoke, he saw Jack being pulled back from the burning wall.

  Chuck flipped Jack flat to the ground and snapped cuffs on him while Jack howled in frustration.

  “Get your clothes off! Now!” Chuck ordered. “You, too, asshole!” He stripped Jack’s pants down his legs.

  Gasping for breath, nearly overcome by the stench, TJ unbuckled his belt and slid his jeans off as fast as he could. He did the same with his shirt, while his brothers undressed as well. Adrenaline pumped through him and he leaped into the air with a wild shout, fist raised.

  His brothers joined him in a victory stomp as Marnie, Kylie and Holly ran over. Each woman grabbed a brother and dragged them out of the firelight.

  “You’re okay?” Marnie asked, checking TJ over for welts and burns. Her hands felt cool and sexy as they ran over his chest and arms, down his back to his ass.

  “My knuckles are bleeding, but they’re fine.” He’d landed a couple of good blows to Jack’s face, but the guy had been so wild, he wasn’t sure he’d even felt them.

  As Chuck dragged Jack to his feet, TJ saw a split lip and cheek. But Jack just screamed his rage at Holly. Chuck shoved him toward his partner and they escorted him away.

  Holly collapsed against Deke. “I brought this here. This was all my fault.”

  “Your fault for refusing to see the worst in a guy? He never hurt you before, did he?”

  She shook her head. “No, not once.”

  “He snapped, Holly,” Deke comforted her. “He snapped and lost control.” The flames crackled behind them as firefighters worked to dampen the walls. The trees that surrounded the clearing were sprayed with water. The cabin was lost, but the surrounding woods were safe.

  “Eli!” Kylie kissed him hard and clung to his neck, her soft breasts spots of warmth against his chilled chest. “I’d have died if you’d been hurt. I’d have killed you first, though!” She sniffled against his neck. “Don’t leave me, Eli. Please. I love you.”

  He cupped her cheek and held her still for a kiss. “I’ve wandered the whole world looking for you, Kylie. If I’d found you anywhere else, I’d have brought you here to live with me. Believe that.”

  “I do. Oh, God, I do.”

  Epilogue

  Six weeks later, Marnie, Holly and Kylie stood behind the registration desk of the Friendly Inn and Resort, balancing on the balls of their feet. Excitement and edgy anticipation filled the room. TJ, Deke and Eli feigned interest in the tourist brochures set out on Jon Dawson’s hand-carved coffee table.

  Each man took up a station when the first car rolled up the drive. TJ leaned nonchalantly on the log mantel set into the stone fireplace, while Deke and Eli positioned themselves on the recovered love seats. They’d completed the veranda only an hour before. New furniture was on the schedule for next week.

  “Are we ready?” Marnie breathed, nervous and excited and completely committed to the partnership.

  “Ready as we’ll ever be,” Holly said, happy with her future with Deke.

  “I’m breathless,” Kylie said with a glance at Eli. “Thank you all for this.”

  This was her dream. The Friendly Inn and Resort, staffed by her own family, her partners, the people who loved her. The people she loved in the place she belonged.

  The front door opened and a couple strolled in. Their faces lit when they looked around the inviting space the women had created. “Welcome to the Friendly Inn and Resort,” the women said in unison. “We’re your hosts…”

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