by Dace Everan
He chuckled, knuckles caressing the heated flesh. “Relax, sugar. It’s sharing a meal, not sharing our souls,” he offered.
Keena wanted to crawl inside herself and hide. How had a simple going out for dinner become such a hard thing to do for her? Four years ago, she would have jumped all over it and been all giggly and talkative and sharing her soul with whomever she wanted. Then she met David…Everything changed with him. She should have listened to her sister and stayed away from him.
George smiled at the hostess. “Evening, Jacquelyn. Busy tonight.”
Jacquelyn giggled, grabbing up two menus. “Yes, huge crowd expected in shortly. Would you like me to put you away from them?” she asked, glancing at the pretty woman he held close. Jealousy struck her. George was gorgeous and she had been crushing on him forever.
George nodded. “Would appreciate it. Don’t suppose I have freedom from others, do I?” he asked glancing around. His brothers frequented this place, and if they were here, they would be joining that group.
Jacquelyn squeaked. “Oh no, your brothers are out on the deck.” She felt like such a dork. How could she have forgotten? It didn’t matter with that family if they discovered one of the other brothers was here. They all tended to move and eventually group together. It was easier just to sit them all together when they all slowly started appearing.
George pursed his lips to the side. “Maybe just take us outside, then. You know how they get. No point in making you girls clean up two tables.”
Keena glanced up at him, confusion in her eyes. George offered a warm smile at the sight of eyes resembling those of a newborn deer—scared as hell. “Family. They would have made some big scene and tried to embarrass us.”
Keena nodded and clutched his hand tighter. Oh, God, when had she taken his hand? He gave her hand a squeeze, holding it closer to him, making her ease closer to him as well.
The brothers all raised a beer to him as he entered the area they had been seated at. Keena stammered at the sight of the large group. These weren’t just brothers. These were brothers and their families, and she knew two of them.
Kyla stood, a squeal on her lips. “Keena!” Kyla rounded the table and hugged her close.
Keena froze at the sudden contact. “Kyla,” she squeaked.
Kyla stood back and looked her over, eyes wide. “You look different.” Really different. This wasn’t the same girl she had gone to school with. She looked older, way older.
Keena shrugged, stepping back away from her. “Nope, same old Keena,” she murmured.
Kyla scrunched up her nose. She glanced back at Ty. Kyla was sure this Keena standing in front of her was completely different than the one she’d known in high school.
Ty shrugged. “Hey, Keena,” he greeted. Keena nodded a silent hello. Kyla retreated back to her seat, allowing George to introduce Keena to the rest.
Keena blushed when he got around to Jared and Lila. Both acted as if nothing had happened the night before. She was thankful. Keena was silent as the family chatted, her eyes continually drifting to the two other women at the table, Lila and Paula. She had remembered seeing Paula somewhere. She just couldn’t put her thumb on it.
After their second round came, Paula stood and looked right at her. “Keena…accompany me to the girls’ room would you?” she ordered.
Keena frowned, glancing at George, as if to ask his permission. She cursed herself silently. “Excuse me,” she whispered, tagging along behind Paula.
George raised his eyebrows at Lila. “What the hell?” He was sure Lila would have answers as to why Paula was abducting Keena. Lila and Paula shared everything, and everyone in the group knew that.
Kyla turned big eyes on George. “That’s Keena Alverez! You have any idea who her dad is?” she uttered. Ty chuckled, taking a swig of his beer. George gave Kyla an unamused look. Kyla sighed, slumping back, and looked at her mom. “You remember Mr. Alverez?” she asked.
Lila nodded. “Didn’t they move to Mexico or something?” she asked, plucking up a wing from numerous baskets of appetizers on the table.
Kyla rolled her eyes. “No! Well, his wife did, with the gardener. Her dad owns, like, three of the most prominent casinos! She’s loaded.”
Lila rolled her eyes. “Ahh, look, the greedy daughters stepping out again,” she crooned.
Rick chuckled. He liked when Kyla got all bug-eyed and gossipy. It highlighted her features more.
Kyla grunted. “I can’t believe you don’t remember Keena, Mom! She only came over, like, every day in eighth grade!”
Lila frowned, glancing at Ty. He nodded, a smirk on his face.
George gagged. “Oh, you messed with Keena! I’m getting second-hand—”
Ty chuckled. “No, she had an older sister.” He wasn’t saying anymore. His mother needn’t know what happened under her roof while she was out.
When the two women reappeared, everyone fell silent. Paula always had something to say. “Well, look at that. Silence among the Keepher brothers…mmm…” Her gaze fell on Keena. “Should I tell them or would you like to?” she asked.
Keena looked at her. Paula had been the one to help her in the hospital the first time she had run from her husband. How could she have forgotten? This woman had saved her life. Paula had told her there was life out there away from the man that was hurting her. She had encouraged her to leave, to run and never look back. “Go ahead,” she offered quietly.
Paula sighed, hand over her heart. She gazed at Sam, her beautiful husband. “Keena ran away from me years ago…She’s back now. I want a divorce.”
Sam burst out in laughter. “Bullshit!” he bellowed.
Keena giggled. That was funny. She had forgotten the humour this woman had. It had been that humour that had brought her mind out of a comatose state in the hospital.
Paula snorted. “Bullshit on you. Have you looked at her man? Are you fucking blind? I would take her back if she would take me back.” She winked at Keena. Keena was not going to play this game. She refused.
Kyla giggled. “That’s why you never hung with Ty! You weren’t interested in him!” Her jaw dropped. “Oh, God, the kissing thing, that wasn’t you practicing!”
Keena rolled her eyes. She couldn’t believe Kyla would even imply they had kissed.
The men howled out in laughter. Beers went up and glasses clanked. Keena sat absolutely petrified.
The night carried on with laughter and Keena lost herself in it, in these people. In their friendly banter, in their serious talks of world affairs. She marvelled at how loving they all were to each other.
Before she knew it, it was just her and George. She blushed. She hadn’t even known his name till Kyla had called him Uncle George and asked if he had seen any of his monkey brothers being curious. Keena had right-out giggled.
She peeked at him. He was reclined back, his arm draped over her chair. “So you want to come out for the fire and watch those dolts get plastered and do stupid things?”
Keena shook her head. She did, but she should go home…to her empty apartment. It was safe there.
George chuckled. “Oh, come now, sugar, you want to. Kyla will be out there. Think that one’s dying to get her claws on you.”
Keena shook her head. “I should—”
“Should nothing. Go out, have a few, relax. You know you’re safe,” he murmured. He shouldn’t push her, but he didn’t want the night to end. He didn’t want to go separate ways just yet.
She looked at him. No, she didn’t know she was for sure safe. This man named George wanted to take her who knew where, and feed her booze and do who knew what to her. She shook her head, grabbed her purse, and stood. Nope, she had to stand her ground. She would not melt under those beautiful eyes and that alluring voice.
George took hold of her hand and tugged her onto his lap. Keena froze. He was being way too forward with her and her person. She tried to hide the tremor that whirred through her body at the feel of him beneath her. Her pussy wept and she shiv
ered with want. How long had it been since a man had this effect on her? He embraced her with big, warm, muscled arms.
“Kyla would never let anything happen to you. There was a reason you went to her house almost every day in eighth grade,” he reminded her. Keena looked at him with big doe eyes. He was sure she was wondering how he would know that. George didn’t like the terrified look entering her eyes. “You trusted me last night, babes. Same rules apply tonight,” he murmured, and those rules would apply until she gave her permission for him to go any further with her, but he was going to damn well push her to her limits.
Keena swallowed nervously. He had only had one beer with dinner. After he heard they were all going to be going out to the Keepher homestead for the night, he stopped drinking. He had been sipping on ice tea the rest of the night. Her eyes fell to his neck. He wouldn’t hurt her. He had promised her that. She fidgeted.
“Come on, Keena. I’ll even let you sit with Paula,” he offered, grinning mischievously.
She smiled at that. She would probably start crying if she sat with Paula. She gave a nod. She could do this. Kyla was there, and Ty hadn’t looked like he’d changed any. Well, besides the handsome man who held his hand. Oh, she couldn’t believe that! Carmelita would have been blown away at that bit of information.
Chapter Six
George draped his coat around her slim shoulders as she crowded closer to the bonfire, holding her hands out for more heat. He was right. It was beautiful here. His parents were the nicest people she had ever met. Well, in regards of parents still together. David’s, her ex’s, parents had been together, but his mother had been strict and rude, and his father had leered at her in such a way that she had made only one appearance at their home.
She turned around, warming up her cold rear end. She was surprised at how the nights chilled so quickly out here.
George turned her so her front was to the fire and hugged her close to his chest. His heat surrounded her, as well as his scent and goodness. She could feel herself falling hard and fast for this man. Ty tossed George another beer. He had been sharing beers with her all night. Between the two of them, they had maybe drunk two. She felt a little tipsy, but still in control.
“So, Keena, why’d you come back from Mexico?” Ty asked, settling onto his stump across the fire from her. He remembered she had disappeared when her mother had run.
Keena frowned. “Mexico?” Why the hell would she go there?
Ty nodded. “Your mom?” he reminded her.
Keena shook her head. “I don’t know what you all heard, but my mother died.”
Kyla snorted. “No, she ran off with the gardener. You told me that,” she uttered.
Keena thought back. Shit! That was right. “Oh, umm, well, in the eyes of the family she is dead,” she corrected herself. Her heart pounded. How could she have forgotten? Father had told her to tell people that. Dread overcame her. She did not like lying to these people. They had been so open with her the whole evening.
She handed the beer to George, wishing she could leave, that she had just stayed home. She should never have come out here in the first place. Too many questions, answers she didn’t want to give. Answers she couldn’t give.
Leon, George’s father, looked at her. “Your daddy is Franco Alverez?”
Keena nodded before she thought.
Leon nodded. “Heard he was having a few problems with the casinos?”
Keena shrugged, reminded that George held her. “I don’t know. I haven’t talked to him for a few years,” she admitted.
Kyla raised a brow, taking a sip of her beer. “But your dad was so close to you and Carmelita. How is she, by the way?”
Keena furrowed her brows. “Carmy died a year and a half ago.”
Ty raised a brow. Carmy had a lot ahead of her in her young life. She had had big dreams of modeling in Europe and studying to be a nurse. What the hell had happened to the family?
Kyla’s jaw dropped. “Oh…sorry, what happened?”
Keena released a staggering breath. “She…” She furrowed her brows. Telling them she had gotten mixed in with the Mexican drug dealers was not what these people needed to hear, nor that her body had been found mutilated in a dumpster behind their very own home. “I don’t want to talk about it…” she mumbled.
George took that as his cue to save her from the torturous questions, and started a discussion on the garage, mentioned Rick maybe leaving. He had yet to talk to bird one to get red bird to feed little bird. Something had to happen with baby brother and Kyla. It was only a matter of time before those two either hooked up and lived happily ever after or they went their own ways and ended up with people they didn’t belong with.
* * * *
George glanced at her as she settled into the front seat. “Are you sure you want to go?” Well, that was a stupid question.
Keena nodded. “I’m sorry. You probably want to stay and have your family time.”
George chuckled. “Nope, I'm good. I have to come back tomorrow for supper. Had my fill for the day,” he admitted. “Actually, I could do with a good rub and soak in his hot tub.” He raised a brow at her. She opened her mouth, seemingly ready to refuse.
Keena stared at him as he waited for her answer. Oh, God, the man was relentless. She gave a slight nod and he grinned. “’Kay, buckle up, sugar,” he ordered, starting the car.
Keena cursed herself all the way to his place. Stupid, alluring voice and seductive eyes. This was entirely his fault, not hers in any way. He was the one pushing. All she wanted was to go home and be alone in her small, crappy apartment.
She peeked at him. Who was she kidding? She wanted to be with him, to feel him all around her. She tensed. She was just going to go soak in his hot tub, then head home. That was it. Nothing more. He said he would take her home as soon as she was done soaking. Her eyes widened when she saw the outline of his home. It was huge! It was a…barn? “What…”
George chuckled. “Yeah, usually I get ‘you live in a barn!’”
Keena laughed, looking at it. “It would be interesting to see the inside,” she quipped.
George nodded. “Rick’s on the main floor. I’m upstairs,” he filled in, pulling up next to the side of the house, a spotlight coming on in the yard.
Keena looked at the mountain of a staircase. “I would hate to move out of this place,” she murmured.
George chuckled. “Hated moving in. Love living in it, though.” He motioned for her to go ahead.
Keena grinned, starting up the stairs. Halfway up, the sensor on the light outside the house went out and she stopped dead in her tracks. George ran into her, and she squealed falling forward.
George grabbed her around the waist, stopping her fall. “Easy, sugar.” He eased her up. “You’ve got about eleven more steps.” He took hold of her hand. “Railing’s here,” he offered.
Keena nodded, taking a step in the darkness. Counting, she made sure as hell she was on a platform at eleven.
George rounded her and grabbed her hands. “Here, hug,” he ordered, wrapping her arms around him. “I don’t need you falling down that flight of stairs,” he murmured as he unlocked the door. He flicked on the light and Keena released a breath. She tensed at the sound of footsteps.
“Deeogee…” George bellowed as the husky barreled towards them.
Keena’s heart melted at the sight. She pushed past him and fell to her knees, holding her hands out, as if to hug the beast. “Oh, goodness, you are beautiful,” she crooned when Deeogee went into her arms, tail wagging.
George ruffled the fur on Deeogee’s head, passing her. “Let her up, Deeogee,” he ordered. The dog sat back and looked at Keena.
Keena giggled. “Precious…You named your dog ‘Dog’?” she asked.
George looked at her. No one ever got that on the first time. He smirked, nodding. “How’d you pick up on it?”
Keena giggled. “I had an uncle who did the same thing. It took me years to figure it out. Mind you,
I was seven?” she murmured. She missed Uncle Derek.
George smiled, closing the door. “Come on in. Make yourself at home.”
Keena looked around the enormous space. Make herself at home? She didn’t know how to do that. His place was gorgeous. A big, overstuffed couch and loveseat faced the biggest flat-screen she had ever seen. It took up all of one wall. She walked on beautiful hardwood floors, and there was the most modern kitchen she had ever seen…in a barn, or a man’s home, she supposed.
David had bought them a nice home. Oh, who was she kidding? It was a mansion. She had seen the kitchen once. It was beautiful. The cook had yelled at her and told her never to step foot in it again.
George checked Deeogee’s food and water. “Poor girl neglecting you?” He hummed, petting her furry head, then hugging her. “Probably want out, don’t you, girl?” He crossed the room, opening the door for her.
Deeogee looked back at Keena. Keena smiled. She had made a furry friend. George chuckled. “She’ll be here when you get back,” he promised.
Deeogee looked up at him, then back to Keena. Keena nodded. It must have been good enough for the animal. She trotted out and left them.
George left the door open a crack. “First thing I taught her was to close the door. She even locks it on occasion,” he shared.
Keena smiled. She loved dogs. David had gotten her a puppy for Christmas their first year together. The next summer he had taken the puppy out and shot her in the head for nipping at him when he had slammed his fist into Keena’s face. She chewed her lip and turned her attention back to his place. It was big, easily three times bigger than her tiny one-bedroom apartment.
“Tub’s out here,” he called, crossing through the living room.
Keena smiled as he pulled aside a curtain and revealed the French doors. She peeked out, eyes growing wide as saucers. “Oh, my God,” she uttered, stepping out onto to the deck. There was a hot tub to one side of her, a bistro set, and a swing, and still room to walk around and hang out. Potted plants surrounded the hot tub, making it look so welcoming, like a private oasis.