Lena's Happily Ever After [The Town of Pearl 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (6 page)

“It’s okay, Abigail. They’re just fine and they’re stainless steel. Those handles might look real old, but look at the pans. They’ve held up forever.”

Abigail smiled.

“I guess you’re right. My husbands would like that you talked me out of going on a shopping spree.”

“That’s definitely appreciated.”

They both turned to see Will standing by the front screen porch.

“Come on in, Will,” Lena exclaimed with a smile, and he began to open the door.

“I brought company with me and something I thought we could try out for dinner tonight.”

“Oooh, I wonder what it could be?” Abigail asked and Lena smiled. They were amazing people.

As Lena walked outside following Abigail, she caught sight of yet another very handsome cowboy. Dressed in blue jeans, a black button-down shirt, and a matching Stetson, he held her with his blue eyes and she stopped walking.

“Howdy, ma’am, the name’s Blake.”

Oh shit! It’s son number three.

It had taken her a few days to get over Quinn and even Kenny. He stopped by twice today in uniform and seemed suspicious. He was getting on her nerves.

“Nice to meet you, Blake. Abigail has told me so much about you.”

“Well, I’ve heard a lot about you as well,” he stated then winked. For heaven’s sake, no wonder why women grabbed two and three brothers at a time around here. They were simply irresistible.
Oh God, what the hell am I thinking?

“Well, we just replaced our grill a few weeks ago, and Blake stored it in the shed out back. I think it would be perfect out on the back patio,” Will stated as he pointed toward the back of a huge double-wide black truck with tinted windows. It had to be Blake’s truck. Will drove a regular pickup truck.

“Oh God! No, Will, I couldn’t,” she began to say as Abigail took her hand and pulled her down the steps. She passed Blake slightly, bumping into him on the way down and she felt instant heat and awareness of him.
Jesus I’m losing my mind
.

“We’re not using it, and I’m not sure about how safe that oven and stove are in there. That’s why Blake and Will are here. They know about things like that and can at least see if the stove and oven are usable,” Abigail stated.

“I won’t be able to pay you back if you keep giving me so much, Abigail.” Lena felt the tightness in her chest and tears nearly sting her eyes. She hadn’t gotten emotional over anyone in years. As a matter of fact she thought her heart had hardened. The realization caught her off guard as they all stared at her as if they noticed.

“Excuse me,” she stated and hurried back inside.

* * * *

Abigail smiled at Will.

“You are something else, Abby.” Will shook his head.

“What’s going on? Why did she look so sad?” Blake asked, and Will explained what they knew so far about Lena.

He had a scowl on his face the entire time they set up the grill then walked inside to look over the stove. He could see Lena from where he worked on the stove with his dad. She was quite stunning, but her eyes, bold, aqua-blue, and sparkling, were filled with emotion. She seemed tense having them all around. He was certain, hearing about her being homeless, that she was used to being alone. With his mother around that wouldn’t be possible.

“Abigail and I are going to set up the tables outside then start the grill up,” Will stated and Blake continued to look over the stove. He glanced at Lena.

“I don’t think this is going to do, Lena. I don’t like that the gas line is rusted out or that there’s been some water damage back here. I say we install a new one,” he told her as he leaned against the counter after tossing the wrench onto the tool box.

“Oh, well, how much will that cost?” she asked.

“It’s our cottage, our responsibility to make sure everything is on the up-and-up. I can go into town tomorrow and order one from Louis. It will probably take a week, though.”

“That really isn’t necessary. I can use the grill, and I like salads. I can handle not having anything to cook on.”

He saw the seriousness in her eyes. He hated imagining her rummaging through garbage cans to find food. She was too beautiful for that kind of life. He felt compelled to help her.

He stepped closer to her and she didn’t move.

“You have the most amazing color eyes I have ever seen. It’s like looking into the Caribbean sea.”

She swallowed hard then turned away from him. A long strand of hair had come out from the ponytail holder that held the rest back from her face.

He couldn’t resist the urge to touch the shimmering onyx. He reached out to touch the strand of hair, and she looked up at him.

“Like silk, just as I imagined,” he stated before letting the black satin fall between his fingers.

She tensed up. The last thing that he wanted to do was scare her. Usually women threw themselves at him. Go figure the one time in his life when he saw something in a woman that sparked interest deep inside him that she would have the ability to resist and possibly even fear his touch. Blake was compelled to talk his way through this and make friends with her quickly.

“Don’t be scared of me, Lena. My fathers and my mother raised us well. We respect women and we are protective of what’s ours.”

She pushed the loose strand of hair away from her face and behind her ear.

“That’s nice to know but—” He placed his finger over his lips for her to stop talking. Then he stepped closer placing his hand on her waist.

“I’m not just being nice. I want to get to know you. You don’t have to be alone anymore,” he began to say when her eyes widened and she took a few steps away from him.

“I like being alone, Blake. It’s what I’m used to.”

Before he could respond to her, they heard Will call from outside.

“Lock up the house, we’re eating at our place. The grill isn’t working either,” Will stated, and Blake laughed as he shook his head, but Lena looked petrified.

* * * *

Bryant wondered what the hell had been going on the past week over at the old cottage. His house was a hop, skip, and a jump away, and the entire racket and yelling and laughing was driving him crazy. He chose this cottage to keep away from everyone, and now it seemed that his wacky parents were renting out to some chick.

He forced himself out of the chair and walked closer toward the kitchen window. The moment his eyes locked on the woman, he felt his chest tighten.

She was bending over, raking out weeds and clearing the overgrown bed by the side and front of the cottage. Her long, black hair was tied with a ribbon or something. It had to reach her waist. Who the hell was she?

Before long, he was leaning onto the counter and keeping a watchful eye on her. She had on a tight pair of blue jeans that hugged her ass perfectly. Her tank top didn’t reach the waistline and showed off her body. He didn’t need his perfect vision to see from the distance that she was hot looking. His body reacted, too, and it had been ages since a woman affected him like that. Then again, he hadn’t been with a woman in a long time.

He was annoyed for even reacting when he saw a rider show up and walk over to the woman. Was that Clay? That piece of shit was trying to get into her pants. He was a player.
Why should I give a shit?
Like most women, his new young neighbor was probably trouble, anyway. He downed his drink and stumbled back over to the couch.

* * * *

The days had passed and Lena was getting used to people stopping by to say hello or to check on her. She had heard the screen door next door pop open and close a few times during the night, but she never got a glimpse at the man who lived there. She had an interview at Rocky’s Bar and Pub yesterday, and after one look at her body, Rocky hired her on the spot. The outfit was a bit wild and short, but when she visited on a Wednesday during the week, it was so crowded she knew that tips would be really good. She spoke to one of the waitresses, Stella, and she told her the average money she made in tips was about five to six hundred for a Friday or Saturday night. The other plus was that Rocky was willing to hire her without any identification and completely off the books. She had lied about her last name the night Kenny and the Sheriff caught her outside of Doc’s office. They never said anything about it and she wasn’t about to bring it up. She was twenty-one and old enough to work the bar scene. She was used to working the bar, but Rocky wanted her serving drinks and delivering food to hungry patrons. They mostly served bar food and sandwiches. These were the typical munchies people wanted as they drank themselves into a stupor. She thought about Sage again and wondered if she was still working at the restaurant in Detroit. She hoped that Ariel and the guys hadn’t stopped her. Sage was weak, and she needed guidance. If Lena made enough money, maybe she’d go back for Sage and bring her out of Detroit.

Tonight was going to be Lena’s first night working, and she asked Doc if she could leave early.

“You sure you want to work there, honey? There are always fights going on and people getting drunk. My son Kenny and the sheriff, Wyatt, get called there often.”

“I really need to work so I can start paying for things. I can’t allow you, Will, Frank, and Abigail to take care of me financially. I will be fine, Doc. I’ve worked as a bartender in some of the toughest places in Detr—” She stopped talking. That was her past life. This was her new life.

“You were going to say Detroit? Is that where you lived?” he asked.

“Lived? I don’t think that would be the best term for it, Doc. I’d say more like survived, because if I didn’t get out of there, I’d be dead right now. I’m going to take the bike, okay?”

“I can drive you or call one of the guys.”

“No. I need to do this, and I like the exercise. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Be safe, Lena.”

She headed outside and got onto her bike. She carried a small bag that had her uniform in it, which consisted of a short jean miniskirt and a low-cut tank top that said “Rocky’s” across the bust. It may as well have said “Hooters” because her boobs were big and the shirt was mighty small. She didn’t worry about it. She hoped that tonight she made some serious money.

* * * *

Doc Jones stopped by to see Bryant.

“I told you not to come by here.”

“This place is a fucking mess, Bryant. When was the last time you cleaned?”

“None of your business.”

“Bryant you need to come into the office for X-rays and to schedule more rehab.”

“Why bother? I’m all fucked up, and it doesn’t matter.”

“It does matter. If you would continue to do the exercises, then you would feel better. Drinking yourself into oblivion is not going to help you heal.”

“I like drinking myself into oblivion. Just leave me alone.”

“You look like you haven’t slept in a while. Are you in pain?” his father asked as he walked around the room, trying to pick up some of the garbage.

“I can’t sleep with that new neighbor living a few yards away. What the fuck is that all about anyway?”

“It’s about helping a young woman who was living on the streets. She’s a real nice young lady. She’s been working hard at the office and now at Rocky’s.”

“Rocky’s? What the hell? If you all really gave a shit about her, you wouldn’t throw her to the wolves like that.”

“I’m not happy about it, but she’s trying to make money so she can take care of herself. She doesn’t have any family.”

“Well, you should adopt her and leave me the fuck alone. Get out!”

Doc shook his head. It was becoming more and more difficult to handle his son’s disrespect and bad attitude.

“I know you would like nothing more than to be left alone, but you need help. You need someone to come clean your house, cook a decent meal for you, and help you with your exercises.”

Bryant ignored him.

“Bryant?”

“You’re still here?”

“What are you going to do if something happens when you’re here alone?”

“Die a lonely death. It’s what I hope for.”

* * * *

“She’s working where?” Kenny yelled as he, Quinn, Blake, Will, and Doc sat on the back patio of their house. Abigail and Frank were inside of the house.

“I know, I truly understand your concerns and upset, but she insisted that she could handle it,” Doc replied then took a slug of beer.

“Handle it? Little Lena, the same young woman living in that cottage that flinches every time one of us comes close to touching her?” Blake added, filled with annoyance.

Kenny glanced at his watch. “It’s eleven o’clock. What time does she get off?” Kenny asked his father.

“I don’t know, Kenny. She’s a grown woman, and we have to respect her desire and need to work for a living.”

“Fuck that. We should head over there and check on her. You know, make sure that no assholes are trying anything with her,” Quinn stated as he stood up and tossed his empty beer bottle into the trashcan.

“Is there any particular reason why the three of you are compelled to take care of Lena?” Will asked his sons.