The Sinful 7 of Delite, Texas 7: Her Double Delite Angels (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (8 page)

“How about you, Colton? Do you know what you’d like to order?” she asked him. His brother had to clear his throat to snap Colton out of his stare at Ava.

“I’m probably going to get a burger.”

“That sounds good,” she stated and he looked at her funny. Some women pretended to eat light to impress a man, and others pretended to eat a decent meal to impress the men. But once they got involved, the women either puked their food out or gained so much weight they were miserable. He’d seen it happen to some of his military buddies. Not pretty.

“Can I take your order?” the waitress asked. They gave their order, and Ava ordered the grilled chicken wrap with fries.

“The fries are so good here, aren’t they?” she asked.

“Yeah, I like them,” Evan said.

“Not worried about your weight?” Colton asked and Ava turned to look at him.

“Why, Colton, what are you trying to say?” she asked but with such a sweet smile, he felt like an asshole.
Why the hell did I just ask her that? What the hell is my problem?

“Just ignore him. Colton’s in a bad mood. That chick who came over here has been hounding him for a date for the past week. She even showed up on the ranch yesterday,” Evan said.

“It must be tough, being so popular when socializing is obviously not your thing.”

“Not my thing?”

“Sure. It’s obvious.”

“What’s so obvious, miss social butterfly?” Colton asked with an attitude. This woman was challenging him, and she’d find out he wasn’t some pushover.

“You’re either socially dysfunctional or you’ve been burned in the past. Either way, I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t assume that all women are alike.” Before he could retort, the waitress was bringing over their drinks. Colton had to admit that the woman had guts. He was a big man, and a mean-looking son of a bitch, which surprised him that women paid attention to him at all. Sure he had big muscles and was in superb shape, but still, he didn’t flirt or encourage it. Right now, he thought about pulling Miss Know-It-All into his arms and kissing her just to get the urge and need out of his system. He was certain that it would be one time and one time only.

“So, how about we take a walk through the park after lunch?” Evan asked.

“Sounds nice, but we’ll see. I should be heading back home. I’m kind of tired,” she admitted.

Colton felt bad. He was ruining this entire thing because of that woman who was bothering him.

“Hey, Ava, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be such a jerk. You’re right about one thing, I’m not used to having to watch my tongue and socialize with everyone. I enjoy being alone. I can leave and let you two go on with this date.” Once the words left his mouth, he wished he could take them back.

The waitress came over, delivering their food. Then Ava turned toward him.

“Colton.” He looked at her, and God, did her olive-green eyes look amazing. His heart did a little pitter-patter like never before. He could get lost in those eyes. He wanted to see those eyes light up from being with him and Evan.

“I’m sorry, too. I’ve had a bad few days and I’m under a bit of stress right now. I almost cancelled this date because of it all. Why don’t we forget about the first twenty minutes and just be ourselves. Friends first. It’s the way it needs to be.”

He smiled and nodded his head even though he wondered what she meant. Friends first? Did he just fuck up royally? He didn’t have women who were friends. Never did, and he wasn’t sure right now and with this particular woman, who got his blood boiling, his cock harder than a steel rod, and his heart beating like it was in a warzone, was the right time to start. He wanted to tell her no. He wanted to convince her otherwise, but one look at Evan and he dropped the subject, smiling and nodding his head. If there was a God, he’d get through this date without making a total ass of himself.

* * * *

Evan felt like ripping his brother a new asshole. What the hell was wrong with Colton? He had never seen him act like this before. He was like a ticking time bomb, a villain without a cause, the master of disaster, and he was going to ruin their chances in getting to know Ava. Evan started to think that Ava intimidated Colton. Either that, or the man was already so attracted to her that he didn’t know what to say or do.

They went about eating their lunch while a few people stopped by the table to say hello. Colton was annoyed once again, as some old friends of the family wished them well and told them how proud they were of his and Colton’s service in the military. They also were glad to see them back home in Delite.

“So, what took you guys so long to move back here? A lot of people seem to know you and your family,” Ava said as they waited for the check.

“We don’t have any family left,” Colton snapped at her.

“We just retired from the service six months ago. It was time. Colton’s thirty-five and I’m thirty-three, and we wanted to try and enjoy life a little. It gets harder and harder living in the desert and in a constant war zone.”

“I couldn’t imagine. I suppose after a while, you start wondering what’s next and just want to give up having that constant fear that someone might hurt you or worse, end your life,” Ava replied.

“Did you date someone in the service?” Evan asked, and immediately Ava tensed up. He saw her eyes glaze over a moment, and then she took a deep breath.

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to pry. You don’t have to answer that.”

“I did date a man in the Army. He was overseas and in Iraq for six years. It was tough on him and a different kind of hard once he returned to civilian life.”

The waitress dropped off the check and Evan paid the bill. The three of them got up to leave and when they went outside, Colton stopped Ava.

“What happened to your Army soldier?” Colton asked, again with an attitude, and Evan thought he sounded angry or accusatory.

Ava straightened out her shoulders and stared up at Colton.

“He was my husband, Colton, and after waiting until he was done doing his duty in the Army and after only about two months of marriage, he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He died. That’s what happened to my Army soldier.”

Evan was shocked, and he was filled with mixed emotions. Ava had suffered greatly. That was obvious. She had been hurt and her heart broken in a different way than his from Chelsea, yet just as badly, if not worse. He was about to say something to her as they walked down the sidewalk, but Colton beat him to it. Evan watched as Colton wrapped his arm around her waist, turned her toward him as he held her in his arms.

“I’m sorry about your husband. You sure do get under my skin like no other woman or person I’ve ever met.”

Evan stood next to her and waited for her reaction. She appeared uncertain, yet completely captured by Colton’s hold on her.

“I guess I’m glad to not be typical or even like that brunette from before.”

Colton lowered his face toward Ava’s. “Honey, you’re anything but typical and have way more class than that brunette. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. Sorry, but starting off as just friends just ain’t gonna happen.”

He covered her mouth and kissed her deeply. Evan waited for a sign of struggle or something to show she wasn’t interested, but instead, he saw her wrap her arms around Colton’s shoulders best she could and kiss him back. Evan never felt happier in his life. This was going to be the beginning of a miracle. He just knew it.

* * * *

Ava was lost in Colton’s kiss. Although he was a big man, filled with muscles and solid as stone, his kiss was gentle and filled with promises. When he finally released her, he didn’t just pull his lips from hers, instead he laid soft, tiny butterfly kisses along her lips, her jaw, and then to her ear. She heard his rapid breathing and was grateful it matched hers. The man sure did pack a hell of a punch. He rubbed her arms then took a hold of her hand.

“How about that walk?” he asked, and she nodded, then swallowed, feeling a bit overwhelmed at his sudden three-sixty personality change. As they strolled along the sidewalk, she felt Evan take her other hand. She glanced at him and he smiled. Shyly she lowered her eyes as they made their way toward a bench by the lake.

She sat down, crossed her legs, and fixed her skirt then folded her hands on her lap. Colton sat on her right and Evan on her left as they looked out toward the water.

She felt a bit at peace for the time being as she absorbed the people walking around, the kids playing kickball on the grass, and the multiple couples enjoying the warm summer day. In the back of her mind, the uncertainty of what this week would bring clawed at her moments of happiness.

She felt Evan inch closer, as he placed his hand on her knee.

“It’s nice at the park. Colton and I never really got to come here as kids.”

She turned toward him. “Why not? Wasn’t it always like this?”

Colton placed his arm over the back of the bench and her shoulders as he crossed his ankles.

“No, it’s a lot nicer now. Our mom didn’t always have the energy,” Evan began to say when Colton cut him off.

“It doesn’t matter. That was over twenty years ago. This is nice though. Again, Ava, I’m sorry for my attitude before. Believe it or not, I’ve never even gone out on a date. It feels like I’ve been in the service forever,” Colton admitted. She looked up at him. His firm jaw was tilted up toward the sun. She noticed the shadow of whiskers along his neck and the slight wrinkles by the corners of his eyes. The sun was bright, and he was handsome as could be.

“Jonathan and I knew one another since elementary school. We hadn’t actually started dating until high school and even then, we were always together, so there was never a first date. We did go to senior prom together, so I guess that counts as a date. He enlisted the summer before his third year in state college. He wanted to go. He wanted to serve in the war and was compelled to do it.”

“That must have been tough, him leaving you like that?” Evan asked as he caressed her thigh. She felt the tiny sensations moving along her skin. God, he was so good-looking, and his green eyes held hers a moment as she stared at him.

“I guess it was, but we were best friends.” She smiled.

“Is that why you said friends first, back there in the diner?” Evan asked, and when she lowered her head and clasped her hands on her lap, she felt Colton caressing her shoulder.

“I suppose.”

Evan turned to her and placed his fingers under her chin to tilt her face up toward his. His eyes sparkled, his lips looked firm and masculine, and she wondered how they would feel against her lips, her skin?
Oh God.

“When I think of friends, I think of hanging out casually, having some fun, and maybe stealing a touch or a hug at the end of the night. None of that comes to mind when I look at you. I want intimacy, Ava, and I want to explore these powerful feelings running rampant through me right now. Tell me you feel it, too. Tell me this is the start of something amazing.”

Before she could respond, he brushed his lips against hers, ever so softly. It was sensual, stimulating. His lips brushed against hers again and again, before he kissed her fully and deeply on the mouth. She laid her hand against his cheek, confirming how firm and muscular his jaw was, and then he slid his tongue deeper, exploring her mouth and kissing her with gusto.

So she did some exploring of her own. She caressed her fingers through his wavy, shoulder-length hair. She had imagined doing that and wondered how it might feel. It was soft, yet thick and masculine, like Evan. When she felt Colton’s mouth against her shoulder, she tightened up, surprised at his public display of affection. Evan released her lips then brushed his finger down her cheek as he smiled at her. “So good, Ava. You taste incredible.”

She leaned back against the bench as Evan and Colton told her about their ranch and their plans for riding next weekend.

“You should come with us. You ride, don’t you?” Colton asked her. Reality was beginning to set in. As nice as this was, she needed to slow things down. She couldn’t make plans for a future she wasn’t sure she had. The thought froze the moment in her mind. She needed the results and the confirmation of the doctor to say she was free and clear of cancer before she moved on and explored this part of her life.

“I have a busy schedule next week. I’ll let you know, though. Perhaps the following week might work better for me.” As she said the words, she couldn’t help the pessimistic thoughts running rampant through her mind. Thursday, she would know how much of a future she had left. She swallowed the emotions she felt and focused on the sounds of Colton’s and Evan’s voices and the feel of their hands caressing her.

She was content and damn it, attracted to both men, like nothing she ever felt before. As she sat there, she silently prayed. For help, for survival, for love, and maybe even those special angels that others had spoken of before. Anything, to allow her to explore this attraction to two very special soldiers.

* * * *

“I lied to both of you about where I went with Ava the other day,” Susanna said. She finished buttoning her blouse as Monte and BJ got dressed. They had just made love in the late morning, and Monte and BJ needed to get back to work. BJ placed his gun belt on and adjusted it on his waist.