by Leanne Tyler
Brand
Brotherhood Protectors World
Leanne Tyler
Contents
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Original Brotherhood Protectors Series
About Elle James
Copyright © 2019, Leanne Tyler
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.
© 2019 Twisted Page Press, LLC ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
No part of this book may be used, stored, reproduced or transmitted without written permission from the publisher except for brief quotations for review purposes as permitted by law.
This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, please purchase your own copy.
Brotherhood Protectors
Original Series by Elle James
Brotherhood Protectors Series
Montana SEAL (#1)
Bride Protector SEAL (#2)
Montana D-Force (#3)
Cowboy D-Force (#4)
Montana Ranger (#5)
Montana Dog Soldier (#6)
Montana SEAL Daddy (#7)
Montana Ranger’s Wedding Vow (#8)
Montana SEAL Undercover Daddy (#9)
Cape Cod SEAL Rescue (#10)
Montana SEAL Friendly Fire (#11)
Montana SEAL’s Bride (#12)
Montana Rescue
Hot SEAL, Salty Dog
Dedication
Pax and Michele – thanks to your support, counsel, and the lunches.
Acknowledgments
I’d like to give thanks to Kelly Rivers who was instrumental in the creation of Brand Chambers, Will McLeod, Carly Manning, Simone Reid, Jules Gentry, and Colleen Summers when we were writing together in 2003. Characters never die even if story ideas do. Big thanks for her allowing me to resurrect these characters and put them into this new series with her blessing.
Chapter 1
Carly Manning stood at the bar, threw back her head and downed her second tequila shooter. The aftershock riveted through her body like a good orgasm. Not that she’d had one in a long while, but that could change tonight. After all, her friends had brought her to the Pied Piper so she could put her failed marriage behind her and move on.
Like a one-night stand was the answer.
Maybe it was.
All she needed to do was get a little liquid courage into her system and find the right man to go home with tonight.
Without pause, she plunked the empty glass on the bar. “Hit me again.”
“Woohoo, that’s the spirit.” Simone danced with a chrome pole on a nearby eight by eight stage. Her reddish-brown hair shimmered in the overhead spotlights.
Carly grinned, leaning her back against the bar as she watched her friend. Simone was the free spirit of their group. Long legs, tiny waist, nice chest, and creamy skin tone. She was a real beauty, and men had trouble not watching her when she walked into the room. Simone shimmied against the pole, her spring dress rose higher and higher with each move.
Colleen swayed at the jukebox, her blonde ponytail bobbing to the music. Their quiet friend wore a sedate blouse and skirt and flats. Jules lounged at their table, her feet propped up, nursing a single-malt scotch on the rocks. Her rebel-without-a-cause attitude didn’t fool Carly for a moment. She knew her friend carried the load of the world on her feminine shoulders tonight. It would take more than a drink to wash away Jules' worries over budget cuts at the youth center. Despite this, her friend shook her spiky, dark brown hair in time to the music.
“You guys look like a hair color commercial,” Carly said, laughing.
“Look who’s talking.” Jules turned in her direction and gestured with her drink. “You’re the one who looks like something out of Victoria’s Secret catalog.”
“What? I’m well covered. Besides, you all picked it out.” She did feel a little exposed by the white clinging tank that only reached her midriff. But the light-weight faux leather jacket and matching black short shorts shielded her. The latter covered all the essentials and did marvelous things for her legs. And the black, silver studded, open toe, mid-ankle boots she wore added three more inches to her height.
Simone left the pole and danced over to the bar, looking her in the eye. “The whole point of this evening is to get you out of your comfort zone. You’re the one that wanted a change in your life. We wanted it to be a liberation, now that you’re divorced from that control freak Justin Porter.”
Carly downed the next shot of tequila, not wanting to think about her divorce from Justin. It had taken two long years of him fighting tooth and nail to keep her under his thumb. Yet, she'd received the divorce despite Justin's high priced attorney’s stall tactics. “Another one bartender,” she said.
Colleen rushed over and reached for Carly’s hand. “Pace yourself and don’t forget to drink water. You don’t want to find yourself flat on the floor,” She warned with a sweet smile, leading her back to their table.
Simone followed with a tray containing a pitcher of water and the next round of drinks. They toasted Carly and her newfound freedom. She couldn't complain if her friends thought she needed a hot-to-trot divorcée party. It wasn’t every day she could gather with them and celebrate her liberation as a single woman. After seven years of trying to be the dutiful and proper wife of Justin Porter, Carly deserved a little fun. She’d already given herself permission if she found something she had to have to go for it.
Not that she would, but she’d given herself permission anyway. That was the tiny first step she needed. Justin had taken away all her rights soon after they married fresh out of college. He’d started with her self-esteem and confidence. Despite her degree as an interior designer, he'd convinced her she didn’t need a career. His argument had been that because of his job as an attorney, he could well provide for them. His ambitions to excel at his law firm and in the political arena meant Carly hosting afternoon teas and luncheons at the country club. He also wanted her involved in fundraising events on a regular basis. Not to mention loathsome dinner parties they’d had to attend to ensure he kept up the appearance as a team player. That left no time for her to have a career of her own.
She couldn’t remember how many times she’d berated herself for allowing him to show her off like a trophy wife. She’d tolerated patronizing smiles and smarmy propositions from his colleagues. But, she kept quiet. Her parents had raised her that marriage was a partnership in and out of the bedroom. She should do her part to be the meek and accommodating wife if she wanted a successful marriage. Her father was an attorney as well so she’d grown up knowing what that was like and the sacrifices her mother had made. So Carly knew what to expect before she’d married. But in the end, she found she’d needed more in her marriage. To her, making a marriage work meant both parties worked to make it successful, not one. Carly felt she was doing all the work, while Justin reaped all the rewards.
It had taken her five years to get fed up with her lifestyle. Her miraculous friends helped wake her up from the nightmare of her
marriage. They stood by her even during the long two-year fight to finally be free of Justin Porter. While the ordeal had estranged her from her parents. That was the one thing she had not counted on.
A new song began to play, which got Jules on her feet and dancing with Colleen and Simone. Their little party was drawing quite the crowd at the Pied Piper tonight. The bar drew the sort of gathering that Carly had always wanted to be a part of, but didn’t fit with her proper upbringing. Her friends’ groupies varied from frat boys to the rising executives from downtown. They urged her to join them. Carly decided to sit this one out as she sipped water and enjoyed looking at the separation of styles. Martini-drinking yuppies sat on one end of the bar. Those doing shooters or drinking from longnecks sat on the other. Her upbringing should have put her with the martini drinkers. Yet tonight, she’d placed herself at the other end. A place she decided was having far more fun and was calling to her to let her hair down.
She downed her fourth or was it her fifth tequila? She wasn’t sure, but who was counting anyway? And went back to the bar, clunking the glass on the hardwood. She smiled at the bartender.
“Another one?”
“This girl deserves some fun tonight.” She leaned into the edge of the bar.
“What kind of fun did you have in mind?” a deep voice inquired from over her shoulder.
A warmth flowed through her at his nearness. She whirled around a little too fast to see if he looked as yummy as he sounded. The colors of the room blurred together and she closed her eyes, defeating the purpose of looking at the man.
“Grab hold of my arms and breathe deep,” he instructed as he stepped forward to steady her.
She did as he asked. Instant steadiness returned. Fear washed over her at having a total stranger in her personal space. Her eyes flew open in a flash and she let go of his arms. “Sorry. I forgot turning around so fast makes me dizzy.”
He grinned, showing perfect white teeth in the overhead lighting. She longed for the long-haired man to move out of her personal space. Yet, she didn’t want to appear rude. He wasn’t exactly what she had in mind as her prize for the night so she’d keep looking. “Thanks again for your help. Can I get you a drink?”
“Sure. I’ll have what you’re having.”
Carly looked back at the bartender. “Add one to my tab for him.”
The bartender nodded, turned away and came back a few seconds later with two ice-filled glasses of water.
“Hey, what’s the meaning of this?” the man said, letting go of Carly and planting his hands on the bar in front of him.
“I’m cutting her off,” the bartender explained. “If she can’t stand without you steadying her for as long as you did, then she doesn’t need another shot of tequila. Now if you’d like one, I’ll be happy to serve you.”
Carly snickered. She took the glass of water and raised it in salute to the men. Then she sauntered back to her friends, feeling lucky that punches weren't thrown.
“What have you been up to?” Simone asked when the song ended and her friends settled back at the table.
“Escaping the rough hands of the long-haired man at the bar. I’ve had enough shooters for one night.”
“We need food.” Colleen picked up the small menu on the table and rattled off the appetizers. “Let’s get the slider platter and the loaded cheesy bacon fries.”
“Girl, because you can eat like that and not gain an ounce, doesn’t mean we’re all blessed with your genes,” Simone said.
Carly rolled her eyes at Simone because she was tall and lean, without an ounce of fat on her size three body.
“Live a little,” Jules said, snatching the menu from Colleen. “I’ll go order and be right back with a round of beer for us all. Longnecks or a pitcher?”
“Longnecks.”
Jules returned with four bottles.
“Let’s toast Carly and her new life,” Jules announced, handing out the bottles. “Isn’t that what we’re here for?”
“Here. Here.” Colleen raised her bottle.
Carly blushed and tried to hide the fact by drinking her beer.
The waitress came shortly after with the sliders and the fries. The four talked, scarfed down the food, and then the girls showered Carly with gifts.
Simone squealed, stomping her feet happily on the floor as she produced a small tiger print gift bag with black tissue paper. “I hope you have lots of fun with these.”
Carly eyed the bag for a moment, holding her breath. Sticking her hand inside, she pulled out furry, leopard print handcuffs.
“This one’s from me,” Colleen said, sitting down another small, sparkly gift bag with bright tissue paper.
“Is there a theme to these gifts?” Carly asked.
“Yeah, that you use them,” Simone said.
The girls giggled as Carly reached inside and pulled out a handful of glow in the dark condoms. She held her hand suspended above the bag for a few seconds before she dropped them back inside. Then she reached for Jules sedate white gift bag with pink tissue.
“Do I even want to look inside this one? It looks all innocent, but that means it’s deceptive because it’s coming from you, counselor.”
Jules shrugged. “Depends on how adventurous you are.”
Taking a deep breath, Carly pulled out the pink tissue paper. She unwrapped a biker babe leather thong teddy and whip set. “Good heavens.”
The girls laughed some more as Carly’s cheeks flamed. When she recovered, she wrapped the items back in the tissue and stuffed them into the gift bag again. After placing the other two gift bags inside of Jules’ bag, she stowed all the gifts inside her large black bag. It was more than her purse. It contained a change of clothes in case she didn’t go home tonight.
“You guys didn’t have to do this or bring these here…tonight. You could have given them to me at my little apartment.”
Colleen shook her head. “That place is so small. I swear, my linen closet is bigger.”
Simone snorted, made a face, and then covered her nose and mouth with both hands.
“Sorry you don’t approve, but it was all I could afford. I wasn’t awarded alimony.”
“Which is asinine!” Jules stood up. “That is the one thing about your divorce I don’t agree with. How could the judge grant it without awarding you alimony? Justin Porter comes from money. Didn’t one of his ancestors found that country club he belongs to?”
Carly nodded. “One of the first members. But his family doesn’t like to brag.”
Simone snorted again. “Is that why he mentioned it so often when you were first dating?”
“Did he?”
“Yes.” Jules tossed a used napkin on the table. “He got the house, while you moved into a tiny apartment that you can't afford without any support. You have no job. Your parents aren’t speaking to you because you left him, it’s—”
“I have a job interview next week now that the divorce is final and I can focus on not going to court every day.”
“The legal system is screwy. Where is justice in the world?” Jules continued to fume.
Colleen patted their friend on the shoulder. “It’ll be okay. The youth center will find money somewhere to support the programs for the kids. There have been budget cuts before and the center has survived.”
Jules kicked the leg of a nearby chair. “Not like these cuts.”
“I’m sorry, Jules, I hadn’t realized it had gotten so bad this week,” Simone said. “Someone should have let me know when I got back in town from my business trip.”
Jules shook her head, sitting back down. “Enough about me. It’s Carly’s night out and we still have plenty of time before the bar closes. Another round of drinks? A round of pool?”
“A little pole dancing for our divorcee?” Simone suggested, getting to her feet and trying to persuade Carly to join her up on the stage. “You’re not going to find Mr. Right Now if you stay hidden behind a table all night. You gotta get out on the dance floor and move
your moneymaker.”
Carly shook her head and held up her hands. “Guys, please, stop. I’ve had more than my limit of alcohol for one night and dancing when I’m feeling like this is not going to be good. I won’t attract anything but a bucket and a mop.”
“Okay, then what would you like to do?” Colleen asked, reaching out and taking her hands in hers. “We’re here to please.”
“I want to spend time with my besties. Is that so wrong? I know you think I need to have a hot night out, but have I drawn a man to me tonight? Well, other than Mr. Longhair guy, but you know. Have you been asked out? No. Is there something wrong with us?”
“We’re sending off the wrong vibes,” Colleen said. “We’re woman, hear us roar, but stand your distance buster.”
Jules smirked. “You got that right.”
“More the reason you need to get up on the stage and shake your bootie.” Simone went to the jukebox, selected Firefly before going to the stage and proceeded to sway and gyrate.
Colleen ran to join her, laughing. They joined hands, raising their arms in a slow-motion wave.
“What do you say, Carly?” Jules asked.
Carly shrugged. “What the hell. Let’s get it on with Ed Sheeran.”
As they joined their friends, a few of the guys in the bar sauntered over and began dancing with them as well.
When a slow song played, Carly danced with a cute frat boy five years her junior, but she wasn’t about to quibble over age. It was a dance after all. It wasn’t like he was taking her home tonight. She’d come here alone and she’d already made up her mind that she was going home alone. It had been a good thought that she’d meet someone, but that hadn’t happened. Another night out with her friends might turn out different?