Rock You Like a Hurricane: Stormy Weather, Book 1 (4 page)

“She does.” Jack waved the light from side to side. “This is a flashlight.
Flashlight
. Sheesh. To think they put you in charge of molding young minds.” With mock disgust, Jack headed down the hallway toward the living room, leaving Greg and Olivia alone at last.

Greg shook his head. “I don’t get what you see in him.”

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” she said with a mysterious smile.

Interest piqued, he wrapped the towel around his waist and picked up the candle. “Try me.”

She looked at him over the flame and smiled. “He reminds me a lot of you. And you of him.”

Startled, Greg jerked back so fast he caused the candle to flicker. “I’m nothing like him.”

“Told you so,” she teased before disappearing into the hall.

“You told me nothing, woman,” he said as he followed after her into the bedroom. “Nothing that makes sense. Mechanic Mike and I are nothing alike. Nothing.”

Olivia shrugged. “It’s probably a girl thing. You’ll never understand.”

“Understand what?” Jack asked as he entered the bedroom with an oversized duffle bag in his arms.

Greg set the candle on the nightstand next to the side of the bed. “How the two of us are alike.” Just saying it aloud seemed wrong.

“Ummm.” Jack set a bag on the bed. “We’re both men and we have dicks.”

“Apparently there’s more.”

Jack frowned. “Impossible.”

Greg held his hand out in a sweeping gesture. “See, even he agrees.”

“Neither of you have to see it.” Olivia climbed on the bed and folded her legs beneath her. “I do.”

The storm must have her more out of sorts than he realized. Shaking his head, Greg picked up the sweatpants he’d laid over the bed and slipped them on. He didn’t bother with underwear. He just had to have the necessities to keep him dry and warm. He was about to do the same with his T-shirt when he spotted some of the items Jack was pulling from his own bag. “You came prepared.”

“I was a Boy Scout.”

“Of course you were.”

“Our motto was ‘Be Prepared’. This is me being prepared. Two eight-hour, battery-run lanterns.” Jack promptly turned them on, bathing the room in much needed light. Olivia let out a pleased sound of joy as she took them from him and set them up, one on each nightstand. “I also have two propane lanterns. Candles. Matches. Lighters. Water, granola and energy bras, and the
pièce de résistance
— two decks of cards and a board game.”

“Impressive,” Greg said as he pulled on his T-shirt. “A bit of overkill, but impressive just the same.”

Jack left the bag open and set it on the floor. “And what did you bring to the little party?”

“The only thing that mattered. Myself.” Greg leaned over and blew out the candle. When he was done he faced Jack again. “I came to here to be with Olivia, not set up a bunker for the second coming.”

Jack smirked. “Those who can, do, and those who can’t, show up in a suit in the rain.”

“You know,” Olivia’s sharp tone brought both men’s attention to her and from the displeased look on her face she wasn’t happy with either of them, “if the two of you keep this up, it’s just going to make the night longer.” The sudden sharp crack of thunder shook the rafters of the old house, and Olivia flinched and shuddered. “I can’t handle the two of you
and
the storm.”

“Liv, darling.” Jack dropped his attitude and joined her on the bed, rubbing her arms. “It’s going to be long no matter what.”

“Then why not play nice?” She sat back against the headboard and crossed her arms over her breasts, deftly putting herself out of Jack’s reach.

“This is nice.”

Finally, something Greg could agree with. “It could be worse.” He sat down next to her on her free side. “We could be wrestling.”

Olivia’s eyes lit up with interest. “Would there be oil involved?”

“No,” Greg immediately replied. She looked a little too fascinated for his peace of mind.

“In that case then, don’t you dare,” she said with a little pout. “You know, if I had any sense I would make you both go home.”

“Or one of us,” Greg eyed Jack warily.

“Or both of you,” she reiterated, but her voice lacked any real heat.

“Don’t. We’ll behave,” Jack insisted. “Besides, you know if you made us leave I would just worry about you being here by yourself. You don’t want to make me worry, do you?”

“No, but…”

Greg hated seeing her so upset. “But what, love?”

“I don’t want to spend the night worrying about whether you guys are going to go at it.”

After her oil comment, Greg felt the need for a little clarification. “Go at…it?”

“I didn’t mean it
that
way.” Even with the dim light of the lanterns, Greg could tell she was blushing.

“Good thing,” Jack said. “For a moment there I was worried I was going to have to do something drastic.”

“Drastic.” Was that the best word the other man could come up with to describe the “hell no” situation she’d hinted at. “How about downright unthinkable?”

“I don’t know.” Jack eyed him lazily. “If you lose the stubble I bet you’d be pretty enough.”

“I happen to like the stubble.” Olivia smiled. “It’s very dashing.”

“And I’m not pretty.” The matching looks of delight from Jack and Olivia caused him to frown. “What?”

“It’s probably the accent.”

“And the big blue eyes,” Jack added with a grin. “They are kind of dreamy.”

For some reason, Greg felt more undressed than he had when he was actually standing unclothed before them. “This conversation has wandered into the absurd.”

“Pretty is a compliment,” Olivia said.

“No, it isn’t.” Especially coming from another man.

Jacked rolled his eyes. “Come on, Big Ben. I was just teasing you. Don’t be the stereotype.”

“What stereotype would that be?”

“You know, English fuddy-duddy. Chill out. Relax, have a bit of fun.” Jack slipped his arm around Olivia’s shoulder and pulled her to him. “You never know, we all might be entertained tonight after all.”

Somehow, Greg didn’t think his version of fun would coincide with Jack’s, but by the ease with which Olivia cuddled up next to the other man, Greg knew he better either step up his game or end up spending the night watching her other lover win her heart. “You know what, Jack, you’re right.”

“I am?”

“Yes. It’s time for a little fun.” Greg leaned forward to kiss her. When he pulled back he looked into Jack’s stormy eyes. “I’m feeling more relaxed already.”

Olivia did her best to keep her surprise and excitement to a minimum. Greg was acting so un-Greg-like. In most respects he was pretty conservative, but because of this competition with Jack, he was throwing caution to the wind. And Olivia had to say she liked the idea a lot. Greg was smiling like the Cheshire Cat and Jack, for once, was looking as if he’d missed part of the play and was running to catch up.

Olivia, on the other hand, wasn’t as afraid as she usually was. With both her men on the bed with her, she felt protected and safe. And loved. Now if only she could get them on better footing with each other, things would be perfect.

“So, do you guys want to play cards or something?”

“Sure.” Greg made himself comfortable on the bed. Lying on his side with his head facing the foot of the bed and his feet tucked in next to her. He rested his head on his hand. He truly appeared more at ease now than she could ever remember him being. “What game do you want to play?”

“How about poker?” Jack tossed in.

“Sounds good,” Olivia readily agreed. Jack had taught her the basics of the game and she had actually beaten him once or twice.

“You can play poker, Professor?” Jack’s question held a hint of challenge.

“Surprised?”

“Frankly, yes.” Jack flashed her a smirking smile before returning his attention to Greg. “Poker isn’t really a gentleman’s game. I figured you more for Whist or maybe a Cribbage fellow.”

“The things you know about me wouldn’t fill a thimble.”

“To be fair, I didn’t know you played poker either.” Olivia ran her hand lovingly across his legs. “What more is there?”

“Probably plenty. What do you want to know?”

“I’m not sure.” At one time she would have said she knew everything there was to know about both her lovers. Maybe it was time for her to find out. “I have an idea, a special kind of card game. If you’re both up for it, that is.”

“I’m up for anything you can throw my way,” Jack boasted.

“Anything he can do I can do better,” Greg retorted.

Olivia pressed her lips together for a moment, wondering just how far she should push things and then figured, “what the hell”. “We shuffle the deck, spread it out, face cards down and we each pick a card. The person who pulls the highest card gets to ask the question.”

“Could be dangerous,” Greg said.

“Count me in.” Jack hopped up from the bed and made his way to the duffle bag, where he withdrew a deck of cards. “You know what else we need?”

“Drinks,” Olivia answered for him.

Jack pointed the deck of cards at her and grinned. “That’s what I’m talking about.”

“Professor,” Jack called out, garnishing Greg’s attention a second before he tossed the deck of cards at the other man. “Get these ready as I gather the rations.”

Greg saluted. “Aye, aye, Boy Scout.”

“Good man.” Jack grabbed his flashlight off the nightstand and headed out of the room.

“This will be interesting,” Greg said as he opened the deck.

“If you don’t want to play…” Although she was offering him an out, she hoped he didn’t take it.

“Why are you trying to coddle me?”

“I’m not.” Greg was a big boy who could more than take care of himself.

“I disagree. You laugh and joke with him, and you put me in a category I’m uncomfortable being in. Like I need to be protected or something.”

“I…I don’t do it on purpose.”

“Don’t you think I can be bawdy? That I wouldn’t mind having a drink with you that isn’t the God awful port you keep around apparently just for me. I like beer, Olivia, I like salty nuts, football games on the telly, and occasionally I like sex rough and hard. These are the things I want you to know about me. And if playing this game will help you see I can be the,” he placed the cards down on the bed and made air quotes, “blue collar guy too, then I’m fine with it. I may not be able to fix cars, but I can fuck you on the boot of one with absolutely no hesitation. Him and me, we’re nothing alike. But there’s nothing he can give you I can’t.”

“Greg…I don’t know how to respond to that.” His speech had left her dumbfounded. And he was right. She did put him in a different category than Jack. But he’d never complained before now, so hearing the words out of the blue had her fumbling for a response.

“Think about it and know I’m not going to go easy on you. If I get the high card, I’ll ask you questions so I can figure out exactly what it is he’s giving you that you think I’m not. So I can learn to do it, and you can learn to do without him.”

“It won’t be as easy as you assume. I care for Jack.” Just as much as she cared for Greg. Which was why her heart was breaking at the thought she might have to give one or both of them up.

Greg snorted. “Why do you think I dislike him so much?”

“But I care for you too.” Olivia wanted the words out there. She might be thinking them, but he needed to hear them as well.

“I know.” Greg shook his head ruefully. “Why do you think he dislikes me so much?”

“Have I really ruined things for all of us?”

“No, what you’ve done though is make it impossible for either of us to take you for granted ever again.”

Well that was something at least
. “When you put it that way, I should be pleased.”

“Pleased about what?” Jack asked as he entered the room with his arms loaded with goodies.

Greg stood up, ever the gentleman. “Let me help you.” He took one of the grocery bags filled with beer and laid them out in a row on the dresser across from the bed. He snagged three bottles then made his way back to the bed. While he was busy, Olivia and Jack had opened a bag of chips and poured them into a bowl.

“I’m going to have ants like crazy tomorrow if we don’t get this cleaned.”

“When the lights come back on I’ll vacuum for you,” Jack promised.

“Think they’ll be back on tonight?” she asked hopefully.

“I don’t know,” Jack said. “But if not, I’m sure we can think of plenty of fun things to do in the dark.”

Olivia smiled to herself. She didn’t doubt it for a second.

“Have a beer.” Greg handed one each to Jack and Olivia before settling himself back on the bed. “And let’s get this party started.”

Jack wiggled his eyebrows, picked up the deck and began shuffling. Suddenly Olivia wondered if she’d jumped in the deep end with no life jacket. No use worrying about something she initiated, however. Instead she was ready to embrace all the knowledge she was going to learn.