Page 8 of Unloaded
“I rest my case.” I can’t keep from giggling at the men and their interactions. I take Dalton’s hand, again noting there isn’t any tingling or gooseflesh rising at the contact. Dalton sits back down beside Kelvin.
“Oh, Kelvin!” Marley exclaims. “You didn’t hit on her, did you?” Kelvin’s gaze darts to Marley. His expression reveals his guilt while shrugging his shoulders without replying. His eyes drop to stare at the table.
“Good Lord! Please don’t tell me you are trying to take Bo’s place, now that he’s settled down?”
“Who’s taking my place?” a deep male voice demands from just behind us. Glancing over my shoulder, I see a man as tall, dark, and handsome as Rosco standing near our table. He has his arm around a very beautiful, curvy, blonde who is tucked into his side.
“Kelvin,” Marley grumbles to the newcomers. “It seems he’s vying to be the new playboy of the group.”
“I am not!” Kelvin denies, vehemently. “It’s not like I asked her to go back to my place for the night.”
I raise an eyebrow at him, because while he might not have said those exact words, I knew what he was hoping to have happen if I’d taken up his offer to ‘have a night I’d never forget’.
He glances at me briefly with concern. I have no intentions of calling him out. I’m not interested in continuing this conversation. I want to get on with the interview and secure the job. I need to get back to my brothers. They are seventeen years old, so they’re old enough to be left alone, but they tend to cause havoc if left to their own devices too long.
“We all know you would have gotten around to it.” The newcomer chuckles at his comment. The blonde with him, gives him a playful swat on the arm.
“Don’t embarrass him more than he already is,” she scolds, rolling her eyes as she shares a look with Marley. “What are we going to do with these guys? It’s impossible to keep them all on the straight and narrow.” Marley laughs, and the men grumble at the woman’s comment. I’m at a complete loss.
“Oh, Bo, Shelby, meet Rachel Miller,” Marley introduces me to the couple. “Rachel, this is another of Luke’s brothers, Bo and his fiancée, Shelby Brooks. We are here celebrating their engagement.”
“Congratulations,” I say to the couple, nodding to each one. “It’s nice to meet you both.” Bo pulls up a couple of chairs, and they join us at the booth. This has to be the strangest job interview I’ve ever had.
“So Rachel you were saying you just moved to the area?” Marley questions. I nod. “How long have you been here, and what brought you to the area?”
Debating how much to disclose, I decide a little truth is usually the best option. I can’t tell them the real reason I’m here or where we originally came from. No matter how nice these people seem to be, I can’t let anyone know my real identity. It’s just too dangerous, not only for me, but for my brothers, too.
“I moved here about two weeks ago,” I answer her first question. “As for the reason, I used to come here with my mother as a child. Some of my fondest memories are of the vacations she and I took before…she passed away five years ago. I guess being here makes me feel closer to her.” Marley gives me a warm smile.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” Marley conveys sincerity in her voice. “I can’t imagine not having my mom, even though I don’t see her as often as I’d like.”
“How are you liking Virginia Beach so far?” Shelby jumps into the conversation, seeming to sense my sadness and wanting to change the subject to ease my discomfort. “I recently moved here myself.” She smiles with deep affection at Bo, who leans closer to kiss her temple.
“It’s very nice,” I admit. “I’m still getting used to the area, but everything has been good, so far. I’m anxious to find work so we can get into a routine.”
“We?” Rosco asks from beside me. I’ve gotten so involved in the conversation I’ve managed to dismiss the man beside me. I turn to him startled to see the expression on his face.Is that jealousy?Surely not.
“Yes,” I reply, “I’m raising my twin brothers. I became their guardian when mom died.” Rosco’s tense posture relaxes. I refuse to believe it has anything to do with what I just said. I turn back to Marley and Luke.
“I’d love to sit and chat all night, because I rarely have the opportunity to have adult conversations, but I can’t stay, too long. Although they are nearly grown, at seventeen, if I leave them alone for too long, I might have to buy a no longer usable hotel.”
“Oh! Are they that bad?” Shelby questions, concern lacing her voice. I giggle at the dire expression on her face.
“No,” I assure her with a smile, “but boys will be boys, and my brothers can get very creative when they’re bored and motivated. They both have an affinity for the sciences and love to play pranks on me.
“They once booby trapped our front door. When I came home from work and opened the door, I got soaked with syrup and covered in feathers. The mechanics of it were impressive, but I was hard pressed to be proud of their skill. I had a hard time getting all the syrup out of my hair and it took them forever to clean up the mess.”
“Good Lord!” Marley exclaims, laughing. “That sounds like something these guys would do!” I look around at the men seated around the table with a raised eyebrow. Marley, noticing my expression, elaborates. “I know they look like grown men, but they act more like children half the time. Constantly playing pranks on one another. It’s all Shelby and I can do to keep them in line.” Her eyes dart to the man next to me. “Isn’t that right, Rosco?”
3
ROSCO
I’m losing my mind.It’s the only explanation I have for why I decided to sit next to Rachel when Marley invited her to join us. I have mixed feelings about my reaction to her. I’m drawn to her like I’ve never been to anyone before.
After witnessing a handful of guys approach her when she’d first arrived, including Kelvin, I wanted to be a barrier between her and all the horny bastards trying to make their move. It shouldn’t be any of my concern, yet I feel the need to spare her the aggravation of having to turn them all down.
At least, I think she would turn them down if her interactions with Kelvin and the others are any indication. A part of me hopes she would turn them all down, except for me, if I’d go there, but I shouldn’t.
