“They don’t go anywhere, anyway. Just to the supermarket and, once, to the farm,” Bret said to them.
“To our farm? When?” Sparrow asked.
“Yesterday. You didn’t see them there? The kid liked the chickens. Laverty was there, too, and asked me if that was them. He said Ford told him to keep an eye on them if he sees them. We both noticed that Lois, the mom, was clutching a light sweater tightly around her and wore sunglasses like Valentina. They didn’t really socialize, just picked some things and then left quickly,” Bret explained.
Sparrow felt uneasy, but one glance at Jace, who usually disappeared this time of week, and he realized he was listening and seemed to care. Maybe he saw and felt the same things they had but wasn’t contributing. That would be surprising.
Jace had really closed up since they’d returned home. He didn’t spend much time at the farm, except to help load hay and do some chores. It made Sparrow wonder if his brother was attracted to Valentina. Then he thought otherwise. None of them entertained any women or went out on dates. They didn’t find anyone they were interested in dating and didn’t care to prance around town or go to dinner, or the movies, or walks and shit. They were Green Berets. They lived to do outdoor stuff—to hunt, fish, hike, and shoot shit up.
“We should go fishing this weekend?” he blurted out.
“Can’t. The farm has opening strawberry picking day, remember? We all said we would help,” Beck told them and they sighed.
“Maybe next weekend, then,” Sparrow replied, and they finished cleaning up from dinner. Everyone was being awfully quiet. It felt different in the house. Strange. Like something was on their minds and no one was willing to talk about it. Could it have something to do with their new tenants? Or just something to do with Valentina?
* * * *
Valentina was driving down the road on her way to town when she saw some people having a yard sale outside on a lawn. What stood out was the house, which looked to be a business of some sort, and there were a lot of kids running around. The various signs indicated that they were having some sort of fundraiser. She spotted several small bikes with training wheels and one tricycle in red. Plus, there was some sort of little jungle gym just the right size for Kenny.
She parked the car. got out, and was greeted by several little kids, all about ten years old.
“Good morning, miss. Would you like to buy some lemonade or some cookies form the bake sale?” She couldn’t help but to smile at the kid as he winked and then blushed. He was a little salesman.
“Sure thing, but can I look around first?” she asked. They nodded and then followed her around the yard sale.
“Are you looking for a bike?” the other little boy asked her as an older lady smiled and fixed some small toys on the table she was near.
“Actually, I am looking for a bike, for my nephew.”
“How old is he?” a little girl asked.
“Four, but he’ll be five in a few months.”
“So is he ready to learn how to ride a two-wheeler?”
“I don’t think so,” she said to the young man, who seemed to be the salesman of the group.
“I’m interested in maybe that one, with the training wheels.”
His eyes widened.
“That was my bike when I was just a little kid. I’m a man now, that’s why I let my mom sell it today,” he told her as he pumped out his chest and winked.
The other kids laughed, as did the older lady.
“How about the jungle gym? That looks pretty cool,” she asked and walked closer to it. Valentina thought it would be great in the yard for Kenny. She wondered if the landlord would mind it. Maybe she needed to wait. Then she realized that it was too big to fit into her car.
“You know what? It won’t fit in my car. I think I’m going to have to pass.”
“Awe!” they all exclaimed, and she chuckled.
“What’s going on over here?”
She heard the deep voice and turned to look who was there and was shocked to see Beck. She pushed some strands of hair behind her ear.
“She’s going to buy my old bike and the jungle gym for her nephew, but she doesn’t have a truck. I’m going to ask my brother. He’s like twenty, close to your age, and I bet when he sees you he’ll offer his truck,” the little boy said to her.
“And ask for her number,” the other boy said.
“She won’t say yes. She’s too pretty for your brother, and he’s always cursing,” the little girl exclaimed.
Valentina felt her cheeks warm, especially as Beck listened to the whole exchange with his arms crossed in front of his chest and a gleam in his eyes.
“If she really wants them, then I’ll take them in my truck,” Beck told the boys and they all moaned out in disappointment. She chuckled.
“Thank you for your help, though,” she added.
“Are you still going to buy some baked goods?” the little girl asked.
“Definitely,” Valentina replied and smiled.
“How much ya gonna spend?” asked the boy who had been helping her as he gave Beck the evil eye. It seemed he was really intent on having her meet his brother. She couldn’t help but laugh.
“If you have a box to hold enough things in it, I’ll probably take ten dollars’ worth. I’ll be over in a few minutes,” she said to him and his eyes widened.
“Yes,” he exclaimed and pumped his fist. All the kids went running.
“Looks like you made some friends,” Beck said to her as he swept his eyes over her body. She ran her fingers through her hair and turned away from him a moment to look at the jungle gym. Then she looked up at him.
“Is it okay with you and your brothers if I get this for my nephew and put it out back? I’ll understand if you don’t want to see the kids’ things around the yard.”
“I don’t think they’ll mind at all. It would be nice to see your nephew outside. I hardly see any of you out in the back, or even leave the house,” he said to her. She felt a bit insulted. He was right, though. She really needed to get Lois and Kenny to come outside more. The weather was getting warmer and the days longer. She needed to help Kenny transition back to a normal life where he could feel safe and secure instead of dependent and fearful. She felt a hand on her shoulder and she gasped and stepped to the side.
Beck looked at her strangely and she quickly recovered.
“I’m sorry, I was lost in thought.”
“You know, you should get a few things for him. Maybe a baseball glove and bat, or a football. We used to always play in the back yard growing up.”
She stared up at him. He was very tall and muscular like a martial artist.
“I suppose so.”
“In another couple of weeks, you can take him swimming down by the water hole,” Beck said as she continued to walk around with him right next to her.
“The water hole?” she asked, glancing up over her shoulder at him.
Just then, a couple of little kids came running by them, and she stepped back out of the way and immediately felt Beck’s hands on her hips. He was pressed up behind her and instantly she felt an attraction, a sexual desire for the man. She swallowed hard and pressed forward.
“The swimming hole is a place we all go to swim once the weather is warmer. It’s a bit of a ways down from behind our house. Does your nephew know how to swim?” he asked her.
“Not really. He hasn’t had any real practice or been around water much. We lived in the city, and he hasn’t even started school.”
“Shouldn’t he be in school now?” he asked her
As they walked around the yard sale, she felt his hand at her lower back, guiding her. She looked up toward him, feeling pretty comfortable talking to Beck. He stopped her and she turned around to face him. He kept his hands on her hips and she could feel his thumb caressing her skin right where the hem of her shirt didn’t quite reach the waist of her blue jeans.
“Kenny is very shy to begin with. Back in New York, he went t
hrough some…some intense things that he hasn’t really recovered from. My sister and I need to take our time transitioning him into school and especially moving out here. This is all so new to him. That’s why when I saw the bike and the jungle gym I figured it might help him feel like a little boy and begin to like living here. He lived in an apartment in the city, so this country living is different, too.”
He held her gaze, his blue eyes remaining on her lips a moment, and she got a funny sensation.
“Then we definitely need to get the bike and the jungle gym. Maybe even a small basketball hoop and ball, too?” he suggested.
She chuckled.
“I’m on a bit of a budget. Plus, I have those baked goods to buy, too,” she said with a wink.
“Are you going to share them with me?” he asked. She felt her cheeks warm. He was completely flirting with her, and she didn’t think this was a good idea.
She looked away, picking up a small jewelry box and then placing it down.
“Well?” he asked, whispering against her hair and sliding his hand along her waist as he passed her then stood right next to her other side.
“Well what?”
“You owe me, so the least you could do is share the baked goods.”
She swung her head to look at him.
“I owe you? You mean for taking the items in your truck back to the cottage for me?
He smiled. “Well, that, but more importantly,” he said and lowered to whisper to her as he placed his hands on her hips from behind. “For saving you from little Tommy’s eighteen-year-old brother.”
She chuckled. “That bad, huh?”
“Unless you like pimply faced wise guys who weigh about two hundred and eight pounds. He isn’t tall, either,” he said and winked. She chuckled.
“Well, I’m certain I would have been able to handle declining his offer of a date. I don’t rob the cradle,” she said to him as she faced him.
Valentina was completely caught off guard as Beck reached out and cupped her cheek, using his thumb to trace her lower lip. “Sometimes robbing the cradle is real tempting when it comes to a beautiful woman like you.” He winked and she couldn’t even breathe. They stared at one another and she thought perhaps he shocked himself by saying that to her. Especially since he had to be a good eight years older than her, or more.
She chuckled nervously.
“Good one,” she said and pulled to the right.
“So, are you interested in both of those items?” the older woman asked and then looked at Beck and smiled.
“Yes, ma’am, and how much is that small basketball hoop and ball, plus the football, too?” Valentina asked, and Beck smiled.
“You may owe me more than just some baked goods, darling,” he teased and she laughed and shook her head at his flirtatious words.
* * * *
Beck pulled out his cell phone to call his brother Sparrow as he drove his pickup truck to the cottage. He couldn’t believe what he was feeling right now or how much he’d flirted with their new tenant. Valentina was gorgeous, her blue eyes stunning, her personality, when not completely on-guard, was appealing. Hell, she’d even gotten him to talk a bunch, too.
“Hello.”
“Hey, Sparrow, I’m going to be a bit late. I got sidetracked,” he told his brother as he pulled down the road.
“I’m still here at the house. Jace and Ridge were pulling out those dead hedges on the side of the house.”
“Well, I can help with that after. I’m making a delivery for Valentina.”
“Say that again?” he asked, and Beck laughed. “You’ll see,” he said and then disconnected the call. As he pulled his pickup truck behind Valentina’s car, he saw the front door was open and her sister was standing there, holding her sweater tightly against her body. The little boy, Kenny, was clinging to her leg. His gut clenched and he couldn’t help but wonder—what the hell happened to them in New York? What was the traumatic event that made them both look so scared, that made Valentina on guard?
“Hey.”
He looked up to the left as he got out of the truck and saw his cousin Evan and his brother Ridge. “What’s going on?” he asked them as Valentina spoke to her sister, who looked none too happy about all these men near the cottage.
“Have you met Valentina, her sister, and nephew yet?” he asked as Valentina walked over, carrying the very timid-looking child.
“No, we haven’t,” Evan said, and Beck watched his cousin take in the sight of Valentina and the kid.
“Howdy, ma’am. I’m Evan Brazos, Beck’s cousin,” he said, introducing himself immediately.
“Nice to meet you, Evan. So you live next door with your brothers, right?” she asked him.
“Yes, ma’am. So if you need anything at all you just holler and I’ll be right on over,” Evan said and winked.
She chuckled and Beck gave him a smack to his belly.
“You’re such a moron. We’re her landlords. I think if she needs anything, she’ll come to us first,” he said and then raised his eyebrows up at his cousin, who immediately got his drift. He smiled. “Oh. I see,” he said, and Valentina walked past them and to the back of the truck, hopefully not picking up on his public proclamation. If any man was going to stake a claim on Valentina, it was going to be him. That thought made Beck look to where his brothers were working in the yard.
* * * *
Evan spotted the other woman standing on the front porch holding a sweater tightly against her thin frame. She looked sad and a bit scared at their presence as she kept her eyes on the kid and Valentina.
“Hi.” He waved to her. She widened her eyes and just stared.
“Evan,” Beck called to him and shook his head at him. Evan wondered what was up with the other young woman in the doorway.
“See how cool this stuff is? I got it all for you. We can play basketball, throw around a football, or you can ride that bike or climb in the jungle gym,” Valentina told the little boy.
“Thank, thank you, thank you, Aunt Val,” the kid exclaimed and hugged her neck.
Evan saw Valentina’s eyes brighten and fill with tears as she hugged the boy. A glance at Beck and he saw his cousin smiling and wondered what was up with that.
As they began to take the stuff out of the truck and bring it around the back, he watched Valentina bend over to help with the first part of the jungle gym. He gave his cousin a nudge.
“She’s gorgeous. Where are they from?” Evan asked.
“New York.”
“She’s the one that pulled the gun on Jace, huh? That must have been a sight to come up on. Both of them on top of one another, pointing guns to their throats. A match in the making,” he said and chuckled.
“Mommy, Mommy, come see what Aunt Val got for me,” the little boy said and ran to his mother, took her hand, and pulled her over toward where they all stood. Valentina and Beck were putting together the jungle gym.
“Okay, I see what she got. It looks like fun,” she said, and then Valentina stood up and smiled. “I couldn’t resist. I was driving down the road and saw the yard sale at this little house and office.”
“That’s the schoolhouse and tutoring center. It’s kind of like homeschooling, and they also offer special classroom settings for kids with learning problems or special needs. It’s an offset site from the medical center outside of Salvation,” Evan told them.
“That’s great.”
“Yes, and they were having a bake sale, too,” Beck reminded her.
“Oh, God, I forgot about the baked goods and your pay,” she said and winked. She ran to the side of the house where her car was. Evan looked at the sister.
“I’m Evan,” he said to her.
She stared up at him a moment and he saw she shared similar qualities with her sister, like the blue eyes and blonde hair, but her eyes weren’t as bright. They seemed dull and sad.
“Lois,” she said, and she kept her arms wrapped around her midsection. He got the feeling if he stuck
out his hand for her to shake that she wouldn’t accept it. The woman appeared nervous. She looked from her son, Kenny, to where Valentina had walked off. When Valentina came back around the house carrying a box, Lois looked relieved.
“We can sit down on the back deck if you both want to have something.” She opened the box and offered them one of the baked treats.
“Wow, those look great. I should have hit that yard sale on the way over here,” Evan said and took a cookie. She turned the box toward Beck and he winked at Valentina, then took a brownie.
“Lois?” she asked her sister, who shook her head and stared at Evan. She was definitely on edge, and his curiosity had the better of him.
“What’s going on over here?” Ridge asked, joining them with Sparrow. Jace remained behind, digging by the house.
“Just delivering some things from the yard sale that Valentina picked out for Kenny. What do you think?” Beck asked as he popped the last piece of brownie into his mouth.
“Hey, kiddo, this looks like fun,” Ridge said to Kenny as he bent down and looked into the jungle gym. He made a funny face, or did something to get the kid to laugh. Valentina smiled.
“Would you guys like some?” she asked, holding open the box.
“Me, too,” Kenny said and ran to her. She bent down to show him the box and Evan saw the tattoo on her hip. One glance at his cousins and he knew they were all checking out her tattoo. He smiled to himself. Seemed they had their eyes set on Valentina, after all.
* * * *
Valentina was shocked at how nice the men were being. They even played with Kenny and started tossing him the football, showing him how to hold it and throw it. It was Sparrow that knelt down and fixed the placement of Kenny’s hands. She felt a nudge to her shoulder and looked up to Ridge. She was trying not to stare at the men. They were so muscular and good-looking. She was starting to get used to them being around and them being her landlords.
The American Soldier Collection 16: Seeking Love in Salvation (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 5