Page 72 of His to Protect

Chapter 16

Trina

Gabriella was right.

Her friends were not only incredibly welcoming, seemingly some of the friendliest people I’ve ever met—which was saying a lot, considering I was from the South, where everyone was nice to everyone—they were also a little bit crazy.

As soon as Gabriella introduced me to the group, everyone treated me as if I had been meeting them for emergency girls’ nights out forever.

From Paige’s happy-go-lucky attitude, and from the things she said about her husband, I figured the girl believed Snow White was brought back to life with a kiss from her true love.

Chelsea was soft-spoken and kind, and Camden seemed to be the only woman who held herself back a little bit. Her deep-auburn hair was pulled back into a tight bun at the base of her neck, and even her straight-line skirt and professional blouse made her seem like she needed to loosen up a little bit. I liked that about her, though. I had never been an open book myself.

Suzanne looked at me all night as if she had a burning question on the tip of her tongue, but was waiting to ask it. As drinks were ordered, stories told, introductions made, and food delivered, it seemed like the wait was practically killing her.

Being thrown into a group of women who had known each other for years made me more nervous than the time I was at a fundraising dinner and met the president of the United States, three years ago.

Somehow, shaking hands under the watchful eye of Suzanne intimidated me more than shaking the First Lady’s under the discerning glare of Secret Service.

But those first few minutes of introductions quickly led to margaritas by the pitcher, nachos by the platter, and conversation that quickly dissolved into laughter. It was a friendly atmosphere I hadn’t experienced since college.

When I mentioned my marketing and promotion idea about having a firefighter calendar shot on the Fireside Grill property, inside and outside, both Paige and Suzanne jumped in and explained that their husbands knew several men who worked in the department, and they’d be all for it. It took less than ten minutes for them to make some phone calls and plan a date. The only thing that remained was finding a photographer, but Camden spoke up and said she might know someone willing to help on our tight budget.

I had never known such a supportive group of women, not to mention completely hysterical.

I was loving it.

“So what’d you think about the apartment?” Chelsea turned to me and said as she set her glass down on the tabletop.

Blue had mentioned that I was staying with Declan for a while, but hadn’t explained why, for which I was grateful. But I saw the questioning look in all the other women’s eyes as Chelsea asked the question.

“It’s really beautiful.”

“But?”

I chewed on the inside of my lip, debating how much honesty I wanted to spew forth with a group of women I liked, but didn’t really know. Besides, some of them, Suzanne in particular, seemed a bit possessive about Declan in a way that confused me. From what I’d already learned, she’d been married since right after college.

“But I like being at Declan’s.” The tequila in my drinks must have loosened my lips.

At that, Paige giggled, Blue grinned, Chelsea and Camden smiled, but it was Suzanne who leaned in from across the round table, her hands braced on the tabletop.

“Finally!” she exclaimed. “Now we’re getting somewhere with you.”

My head jerked back in shock and Blue’s grin turned into a laugh. “Declan tried to warn you about her.”

“I don’t get it.” I shook my head and looked at everyone at the table with wide eyes.

Paige and Blue laughed harder.

“You’re staying with Declan. The man of all men. And you’re considering leaving that hunk alone at night? You’re either crazy or stupid, and you don’t look dumb, so you must be insane.”

Suzanne’s tirade made my eyes widen further, and before I could say anything, although for the life of me I couldn’t find words to say, she continued. “If that man wanted me with him, no way would I be walking away.”

“You’re married,” Camden chided her, but even I could see the playfulness in her rich-green eyes. “Happily married, remember?”

“Suzanne forgets everything when Declan is around,” Chelsea supplied, teasingly.

“Um.” I took a drink of my margarita.

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