Page 24 of Tara's Warriors

“Persuasive argument,” Tara said in a dry voice, “but denied.”

“Awwww,” Jillian gave her cutest pout. “Please?”

When Phin gave Tara a hopeful look as well, she couldn’t help but laugh. “No. I don’t care how adorable you all are, I’m not getting Jillian a sword. But…I did see someone selling light up hula hoops. I might be persuaded to get one for a little girl who does all her chores without complaining and helped her aunt and uncle feed the cows and chickens this morning. Come on, let’s grab one for you and a couple for Nikki and Bridget, then we’ll take you back. Go tell your Auntie Melinda, okay?”

“Yay!” Jillian ran off in a flurry of sparkles and long, flying hair.

Internally cringing, Tara looked at the men as she stood. “Um, I hope you don’t mind if we take her to get some hula hoops.”

“Of course not,” Karwin said quickly. “But what is a hula hoop?”

Walking between the two men, Tara had to bite back a giggle at the way the crowd before them parted. People’s eyes would grow wide, and they’d instinctively make way for Phin and Karwin, with Tara sandwiched between them. On her third peach margarita, she was feeling no pain as the men catered to her every whim despite her protests. Not that she really minded. It was nice—more than nice—to be with a man who treated her like something special. Okay, it was nice to be withmenwho treated her like she was something special.

To be honest, she didn’t quite know what to make of how they were acting. Most guys she knew would be competitive for a woman he was interested in’s attention, even if they were friends. But Phin and Karwin didn’t seem to mind when the other flirted with her, or when she responded to that flirting. If anything, they seemed more relaxed when she paid them both attention.

Tossing her empty cup into a garbage can, she stretched her arms above her head, feeling incredibly alive.

And it wasn’t just the tequila making her feel that way.

Phin and Karwin flanked her again as she glanced at the clock. They’d been there for four hours, had eaten everything they wanted, seen all the sights, and watched the fireworks together. Surely she wouldn’t seem too forward if she invited them back to her place? Maybe, once they were alone, she could get a feel for which one of the men she’d be taking to bed tonight. And maybe she’d sober up enough to stop considering taking thembothto bed.

Then again, she wasn’t getting any younger. Maybe that was one experience she could check off her before unknown sexual bucket list. Something she didn’t even know she had before Phin and Karwin entered her life.

“You guys want to come back to my place and hang out a little bit before you head back to your base?”

Both men exchanged a glance over her head, then growled in tandem, “Yes.”

Too tipsy to feel nervous, she said, “You guys mind driving? I’m afraid I’ve had more than a few margaritas.”

“Of course,” Phin cupped her face in his and examined her in an oddly clinical manner. “Yes, you are intoxicated.”

Placing her hand over his on her face, she almost nuzzled into his palm as she said, “Nope, just buzzed, but too buzzed to drive. You’ll probably want to take your car, so you aren’t stuck at my house all night. I mean, not that I would mind that, but I’m sure you have to go home at some point. Not that I want you to go home…”

“Come,” Karwin barked, “Let us leave this place.”

Aware that more than a few people watched her leave with Phin and Karwin, she hid a smile at the thoughts of the gossip that would be flying around about her.

Oh well. Wouldn’t be the first time she’d been the source of a scandal in her small town.

After she told them her address, they led her to a shiny new silver sedan with the familiar BMW logo on the hood.

“Nice ride.” She whistled as the lights flashed when Phin hit his key fob.

“It does not belong to us.” Phin held open the rear door for her. “We are borrowing it from a friend.”

“Oh, well, I’ll try not to puke on the backseat.”

Instantly, the men became alarmed. Both of them crowded her against the side of the car, the interior lights throwing harsh shadows on their unfairly handsome faces.

“Are you ill?” Karwin asked, his hands skimming up and down her sides.

“She is merely intoxicated,” Phin said as he rested his hand against her cheek again. “And tired. Water and rest will restore her.”

“I will ride next to her,” Karwin announced. “In case she is feeling unwell and needs assistance.”

Before she knew it, they had her stuffed in the backseat of the car and comfy cozy in the super soft leather seats.

Running her hand over the wood trim on the door, she smiled as they pulled out onto the main road, where the police directed the crawling traffic with their light up wands. Next to her, Karwin spread out his legs slightly, taking up so much room that his body pressed up against hers. Her skin tingled where they touched, and she really, really wanted to squeeze his thick forearm to see if it was as solid as it looked.

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