A sudden flash of anger stiffened Jake’s shoulders. He had never seen the lady before five minutes ago, but he felt as if he’d already staked a claim.
“He’s making damn sure the rest of us know she’s taken,” Danny muttered.
Jake sighed and angled his body toward his friend, ready to finish the beer and call it a night. “It’s just as well. I’m beat.”
Danny’s glance remained fixed on the table behind Jake then slowly narrowed. “Not so fast. I don’t think she’s that into pretty boy.”
Jake didn’t want to look, preferred to forget his impossible attraction, but he turned and watched the woman lean away from the arm draped behind her. Her eyebrows lowered, and those bowed lips tightened in irritation.
“Boyfriend” moved closer, ignoring the not-so-subtle clues, and tucked his face into the corner of her neck to nibble.
She shrugged, trying to escape, and her voice raised just enough for Jake to hear the tone but not the words.
“Think she needs rescuing?” Jake asked softly.
“Think he’ll listen? Or are you ready for a fight?”
Hell yeah, he was. Jake clapped his cowboy hat on his head and rose slowly, fisting his hands. “Watch my back.”
“Like I’m gonna let you be the white hat?”
“Bro, I’m wearin’ it.”
Danny grinned. He lifted his beer and emptied it, then slammed it on the table and followed.
Jake sauntered toward the table and halted in front of the couple, hooking his hands on his hips. The motion stretched his firehouse t-shirt across a chest he knew commanded more than a few stares.
The woman saw him first, her brown eyes widening as they trailed up his body to his face. “Boyfriend”, however, hadn’t a clue how close he was to dusting the floor with his expensive suit.
Behind him, Danny cleared his throat.
Jake lifted his chin and captured the woman’s gaze. “Baby, I thought I told you I don’t like it when you tease me.”
Boyfriend muttered and jerked back his head, taking in Jake and Danny in a single annoyed glance. “Beat it.”
Jake ignored him, turning his attention to the woman. “What do you say, sweetheart?”
Her lips quirked. “Honey, Malcolm, here, doesn’t take no for an answer.”
A scrape sounded beside him, and Danny set a chair backward at the tiny table and straddled it. Malcolm gave him a killing glare, but Danny ignored him, reaching for the bowl of peanuts at the center of the table and grabbing a fistful, which he held above his face and dropped into his open mouth in a steady stream.
“Guess the table’s gonna get crowded,” Jake murmured. “Name’s Jake, since you asked,” he said thrusting his hand in front of Malcolm’s face.
Malcolm’s narrowed glance looked at Jake’s hand, and then he angled his body toward the woman. “How about we blow this place?” he said, a trace of a pansy-assed British accent in his voice.
“I don’t think so,” she said evenly. “I only agreed to meet you because you said you wanted to talk about the proposal. I chose this place to kill two birds.” Her gaze rose to Jake’s again.
He nodded imperceptibly and smiled at Malcolm. “We have a date.”
“The two of you have a date with her?” he said, his tone disbelieving.
Danny coughed and held up his hand. Finally, he cleared his throat. “I think you get the drift, buddy. The lady’s ours.”
Malcolm’s mouth curled in disgust. “I knew you were a firecracker, but I had no idea. It’s a little crowded for me, love.” He straightened his tie, glanced around the darkly lit bar and stood, not looking back once while he sauntered toward a lone woman seated at another table.
“Thanks, I think,” the woman said, wrinkling her nose. “Now my reputation’s going to be in shreds. Not that that’s a bad thing,” she muttered under her breath. “And I can’t say I’m not glad to get him off me.”
Jake liked her easy humor, liked her husky, whiskey-laced voice even better. “Do you really think anyone will believe a word from that slimeball?” Jake said, settling into Malcolm’s vacated seat.
“Guess not,” she said, eyeing him then Danny. She took a deep breath. “Can I buy you both a drink since you rescued me? I can’t leave just yet. We’ll have to make this look good.”
“We’d be much obliged,” Danny said, grinning. “You’ve already met Jake, and I’m Danny.”
“Camille.” She cleared her throat and signaled to the waitress.
Jake and Danny shared a charged glance, and Jake knew exactly what was poking around Danny’s mind. The lady hadn’t looked all that shocked when “boyfriend” concluded she was dating the two of them. But if that was what enticed her to spend a little time with them, he’d bite back his natural urge to corral her all for himself.
Up close, the woman was even more attractive, if a little older than he’d originally thought, with pale, creamy skin and a small dent on the underside of her jaw. He liked the stubborn tilt of her chin as much as that little groove and imagined rubbing his tongue and anything else she’d like along the sexy notch.
“Malcolm’s still staring,” she murmured, turning her head and pointing with her finger hidden in her hair.
From the bar, Malcolm’s malevolent gaze was trained on the trio.
“Maybe he doesn’t believe you’re really with us. Why don’t we remove his doubts?” Danny said, his dark brown eyebrows giving a devilish waggle.
Her lush lips pursed as she considered, and Jake felt his body tighten.
“What do you have in mind?” she said, her voice sliding softer.
“Wanna dance with us?” Danny said.
Her brows rose. “Both of you?” Something wicked sparkled in her eyes.
Jake couldn’t resist that hint of interest. He met Danny’s glance, wondering how far his friend really wanted to take this. From Danny’s tightening expression, he surmised he was willing to let the lady set the course.
His fatigue melted away as a slow aching throb pulsed between his legs. His body was way ahead of his mind, it appeared. He slowly slid his arm along the back of her chair, not touching her shoulders but still crowding her a bit. Her gaze met his and locked. Her pupils dilated, her breath hitched, but she leaned back, easing into his embrace.
Jake liked the way her body relaxed against him and the waft of spicy perfume that teased his nose. “Probably wouldn’t call it dancin’,” he said, keeping his voice even although he felt a predatory growl rising inside him. “There won’t be much room for you to move.”
“Do you really think that’s what it will take for him to get the message?” she asked doubtfully. But while her response sounded reluctant, he detected a flare of heat entering her warm, cognac-colored eyes.
“I guarantee he won’t be able to miss it.” Neither would anyone else watching them inside the bar. “Come on. I promise we won’t do anything you won’t like.” He unwound his body from the chair and held out his hand.
Camille shook her head, her expression turning rueful, but she let Jake grasp her hand and tug her up anyway.
Danny fell in on her other side as they walked toward the small parquet square that passed for a dance floor. The music was loud and bluesy, the rumbling bass slower than a lazy heartbeat.
Jake turned her into his arms and waited for her to raise her hands and settle them against his chest. Then he gripped her hips and pulled her closer.
Her body stiffened, and her hands dropped to his wrists, but he resisted her attempt to move his hands, tightening his fingers to bite into her soft flesh. He bent to whisper in her ear, “I’ll stop if you really want me to.”
She tilted back her head. A flash of panic widened her eyes, but she held his gaze for a long moment before her body slowly relaxed. She took a deep breath and tucked her face into the corner of his shoulder. A soft moan warmed his neck.
Above her head, he gave Danny a subtle nod.
Danny moved in behind her, dropped his hands
to the sides of her thighs and scooped her bottom against his groin.
The three of them barely breathed for a long, charged moment until Jake slowly set the depth and rhythm of their movements, sliding his thigh between hers, and letting Danny crowd her back closer to his chest.
“I can’t catch my breath,” she gasped when Jake rubbed his thigh between hers.
He pulled back his head. “That a problem, sweetheart?” His gaze caught hers, and satisfaction filled him. He read the feminine fear and startled arousal in her widening eyes and softening lips.
“Guess not,” she whispered. Her fingers clutched the tops of his shoulders, and she nestled her cheek against him.
They swayed together, heat building between their bodies. Her belly trembled, and he felt it vibrate against his cock.
“You okay with this?” Danny whispered, his hands beginning to smooth up and down her thighs, drawing up her skirt to allow Jake’s thigh to press higher.
“It’s just a dance,” she bit out, her thighs clamping harder around Jake’s.
“Sure it is,” Danny murmured, and bent to nuzzle her neck.
The music changed to something faster, with a raw, raucous beat.
Camille took a deep breath and lifted her head. Her lips quirked into a strained smile, waiting for them to move away, but Danny lifted an eyebrow to Jake who gave him another nod.
Danny pulled back and turned her toward his body, settling her just as close as Jake had held her, sliding his thigh intimately between hers.
Jake cupped the tops of her hips and bent until his lips were just beside her ear. “Malcolm’s watching now.”
“Do you think I’m stupid enough to believe this is all about him?” she said tightly.
“We never thought that. Just helpin’ you kill those two birds.”
“Which birds are you referring to?” she asked, shivering delicately when his lips grazed her neck. “I’m not sure they’re the same species I had in mind.”
“Getting rid of boyfriend…and getting your groove on, sweetheart.”
“Not exactly what I had in mind.” But she groaned deeply, and another shudder trembled up her spine.
“Do you have any objections?”
A short, shattered laugh jerked her between them. “What are you guys? You’re both…huge.”
“Why thank you, ma’am,” Danny said, his voice thick and husky.
She groaned. “I’m talking about your bodies.”
“So were we.”
“Right.”
“Firemen,” Jake broke in, cupping her hips and massaging them. “We’re both firemen.”
“Firemen…figures.”
Jake leaned back, bending his knees and taking her with him so that her bottom molded against groin. His hips rubbed and ground, rocking her with the beat. Her head fell against his shoulder, and she gave a little shimmy, side to side, that nearly killed his composure. “Got something against firemen?”
“Of course not,” she said over her shoulder. “But it explains…the muscle.”
Danny bent toward her, nipping at her ear. “We’re big. Doesn’t mean we don’t know how to be gentle.”
“When it’s needed,” Jake said, finally unleashing the growl and enjoying the way she shivered in response.
“Jesus,” she groaned. “And I thought this was going to be a tedious evening.”
“Place yourself in our hands,” Jake said, whispering in her ear while locking gazes with Danny. “I promise you won’t be tempted to yawn even once.”
The second song ended, and Jake stepped away, giving Danny another silent message, this time to give her some room.
They trailed Camille back to the table, but she didn’t take her seat. She gathered her small clutch purse and gave them an apologetic smile. “I think I’ll head home.”
Jake felt a twinge of disappointment, more than he should have at striking out with an attractive woman. Not wanting to question why it was so important he couldn’t let this particular lady get away, he touched her elbow. “Did we come on a little too strong? We didn’t mean to scare you.”
“You didn’t, but you’re both a little overwhelming. And I’m really not sure what the hell I want.”
“How about we buy you a drink? We’ll keep our hands to ourselves. I promise,” he added, aiming a glare at Danny.
Danny’s lips twitched, but he nodded.
Her mouth twisted. “I don’t know. It’s been a long day.”
“It’s been a long week for us. All we were plannin’ on when we came here was one beer then bed. We’ve been up over thirty hours straight.”
Her gaze slid past Jake to the bar and Malcolm one more time. Then she lifted her chin. The tightening of her lips said she wanted to err on the side of caution.
“We’re the good guys here,” Jake broke in, knowing she was about to refuse. “We’re firemen. We rescue kittens from trees—”
“And children from burning houses,” Danny said, his expression free of carnal intent.
“And women from slimeballs.”
Her lips twitched then stretched into a grin. “You’re persistent. And I have to admit I’m flattered. All right. One drink. But let’s head to the patio. It’s stuffy in here.”
Jake breathed a sigh of relief, then gave her a smile and his arm and led her past the bar and Malcolm, to whom he delivered a silent warning. Once outside, they found a table next to the wrought iron fence. Danny held out a chair for Camille then slid into the seat next to her.
Jake stifled his irritation but sat backward in a chair directly opposite her, watching her mobile features reveal every thought that flitted through her mind.
Her gaze swept his shoulders then Danny’s. The pale light shining from the distant parking lot lamp was just enough to reveal the tension in her lips, the quickening rise and fall of her chest.
Either she was uneasy or she was aroused. God, he hoped it was the latter.
A waitress approached, carrying a tray loaded with a pitcher of margaritas and several glasses. “Hey, the guys who ordered this took a hike. Would you like some?”
Jake nodded and handed her money while Danny poured the drinks. Not their usual fare, they both preferred beer, but Camille’s appreciative moan made the sacrifice worthwhile.
“What is it you do, Camille?” he said softly to calm her.
“I, uh, own a business. A women’s clothing shop.”
He wondered at the quick downward sweep of her lashes and the blush that stained her cheeks. “What do you like to do in your free time?”
“There hasn’t been a lot of that lately. I usually catch up on chores around home, go through paperwork… Not very exciting, huh?”
“Any boyfriends?” Danny asked.
“Not a one. I haven’t dated in a while.” She lifted her shoulders in a careless shrug and drew a deep breath. “But enough about me. What do you guys like to do besides spend hours in the gym?”
Danny grinned then raised an arm and flexed it. “Have to work out to carry those women and children from burning houses.”
Jake cleared his throat. Danny wasn’t helping with the macho crap. “We work out when we’re on shift. It can get pretty boring waitin’ for shit to happen. When we’re off, we play league soccer. Hang out. Pretty boring too, huh?”
“Just different,” she said then looked around as though searching for something else to say.
“Sometimes we hike,” Danny said. “Along park trails, through the mountains. You should come.”
“I’m not that fit.”
Jake hated the sudden awkwardness that entered the conversation. Camille was looking for excuses to brush them off. “We wouldn’t expect you to keep our usual pace,” Jake said. “And I’d carry your sleeping bag.”
“Wouldn’t have to do a thing other than put one foot in front of the other. You have legs,” Danny said. “We noticed.”
Her lips crimped at the sides, and her glance settled on Jake. “Thanks for the invitation, but
we all know this isn’t leading anywhere.”
“Why’s that?” Jake asked, although he thought he knew. “We’re all single and healthy. We’re attracted.”
“Is it because we don’t have degrees or a high-powered job?” Danny asked, his expression closing.
She blinked as though surprised. “Not at all. This can’t go anywhere because you’re both too young.”
Jake sat back and snorted. Did she really believe that line of crap or was she looking for another excuse to brush them off? “You’re not exactly ready for a walker.”
Her brown eyes snapped. “I’m thirty-eight. You can’t be any older than what, twenty-five?”
Danny shrugged and nodded.
Jake bit out, “I’m twenty-seven.”
“So, eleven years there,” she said to him then turned to Danny. “Thirteen for you. It wouldn’t work.”
“Afraid of what everyone would say?” Jake said slowly.
“No, but I’m old enough to want my…encounters…to be meaningful.”
Jake’s eyes narrowed. “Think I’m not looking for a relationship?”
“I’m not,” Danny said. When Camille and Jake leveled their gazes on him, he lifted his eyebrows. “Just bein’ real. I’m along for the ride.”
Jake glared at Danny. Really not helping here, buddy.
“The lady’s laid it out,” Danny said. “I respect that. But she’s missing something.”
Camille’s expression was no less set, but she didn’t interrupt.
Danny sat forward and dropped his voice. “Right now, you don’t have anyone in your life. You’ve already admitted it’s been a while since you’ve dated. You might even have a little fear, right? About getting intimate with someone. But two someones… Doesn’t that intrigue you at all?”
If Jake hadn’t been staring, watching every change of expression, he might have missed the sudden yearning she quickly blinked away.
Jake leaned forward, sensing a crack in the walls she’d constructed to keep the men at bay. “Camille, if you don’t want to be alone, we won’t do anything you’re not comfortable with. This thing can be casual. Among friends.”
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