Chapter Two
What in the world?
I don’t even know the man’s name or anything about him, but he single-handedly gave me the best kiss of my life before he handed me to his buddy, took care of my ex, and then put me back on his lap.
How is this even real life?
I pinch the inside of my arm. Yep, I’m awake, and this isn’t a dream.
“Well, thank you. Uh, you didn’t have to do all of that, but I appreciate it more than you know.” I go to stand, but he doesn’t let go of me.
“Stay, please. Let’s have another drink darlin’,” one of the guys across from me says.
“I appreciate you guys playing along with me, but I know I’m not your type, so it’s best if I go. I don’t want to bother you any longer.”
The one on my left tilts his head to the side and studies me as the man behind me hands flex on my hips. It’s the one on my right who speaks, though.
“Did your ex make you feel that way often? Or was it someone else in your life?” he asks.
“Excuse me?”
“Did your ex make you feel like you weren’t good enough? Make you feel like you were too much?” he presses.
I open my mouth, but nothing comes out.
How did he know? Is it really that obvious? The man doesn’t even know my name, but he read the situation immediately.
“I should have hit him harder,” the guy behind me mutters.
The one on the left shakes his head at the one on the right. “Back off, buddy. You’re coming on a little strong.” He turns to me with a bright smile. “Forgive my brothers, I’m Hudson, this is Levi, and you’re sitting on Walker. What’s your name?”
“Esme,” I say quietly.
“Esme, a beautiful name for a beautiful woman,” Hudson says.
I feel my cheeks heat. It’s nice to be complimented even if it’s not true. I’ve always been a sucker for words of affirmation, something Troy never understood.
“Please, we would love for you to stay and talk with us. Unless you have somewhere else to be,” Hudson says.
I stare at the two men in front of me and see nothing but sincerity. They aren’t offering to hang out with me just to appease me. I look behind me and see Walker staring at me with his heated eyes. He definitely doesn’t want me to go anywhere either.
I don’t want to leave. I want to stay and get to know these guys.
The realization hits me hard and fast.
“Okay, but only if you’re sure,” I tell them softly.
Both Levi and Hudson smile as Walker makes a pleased sound that vibrates through my back.
I look over my shoulder at Walker. “I should probably get off your lap.”
“Are you uncomfortable?” he asks gruffly.
“N-no.”
“Then stay.”
“So, what brought you into the bar tonight?” Levi asks, bringing my attention back to him.
“I was supposed to meet a friend for drinks, only she didn’t show. I was about to leave when my ex showed up.”
“I guess it’s a good thing you met us then. Do you want a drink? Water, alcohol, you name it, we will get it for you,” Hudson offers.
“Anything fruity, please. Only if it’s no trouble.”
I wince, waiting for them to criticize my drink choice. Something Amber and Kimberly used to do often, only it never comes. They never approved of all the calories I put into my body.
“One fruity drink coming right up,” Hudson says as he gets up.
I watch him walk away and wonder once again how I ended up here. It feels a little weird to be sitting on a stranger’s lap, drinking with three guys who tower over me in size when I don’t know them. Yet for some reason, I feel safe. Instinctively I know that they won’t hurt me.
So I stay.
Even if it’s not the smartest thing in the world I’ve ever done.
I watch Hudson order my drink, and when the bartender starts setting drinks down in front of him, he turns his body toward me so I can see everything.
I don’t think I’ve ever had someone go out of their way to reassure me they never slipped anything in my drink.
To say I’m touched would be an understatement.
When he comes back, he hands me my drink and the others water, keeping one for himself.
“Are you guys not drinking?”
Hudson shakes his head. “I’m going to finish my beer and then switch to water. We have a strict drink limit we stick to when we’re out.”
“That’s smart.”
“All right, give us a crash course on all things Esme,” Hudson says.
“I don’t know where to start,” I confess as I take a drink.
“Want me to start?” he asks, pointing to himself.
“Sure.”
I lean back into Walker and let myself relax. When he hums with approval, I can’t help but smile.
“Well, my name is Hudson, as you know. I’ve lived here my entire life. I’ve known these assholes for just as long. I’m an only child, but don’t worry, I know how to share.” He winks, making me blush.
I don’t know why, but I don’t think he’s talking about sharing his toys.
Levi shakes his head. “And if you haven’t figured it out, he’s the habitual flirt.”
Hudson scoffs, making me giggle. “You say that like you don’t love that about me.”
Levi rolls his eyes but smiles.
“What about you?” I ask, not looking away from Levi.
He studies me for a moment before he speaks. “Levi, two siblings, but I don’t talk to them.”
“Walker, no siblings,” he rumbles behind me.
I pat his leg. “I also have no siblings. Although with Hudson over here, I feel like you still got the experience.”
The three men tip their heads back and laugh.
“You aren’t wrong about that,” Walker grumbles from behind me.
“Don’t worry, darlin’. You get used to my brand of crazy.”
The twinkle behind his eyes tells me he isn’t lying. I could see myself getting real used to the way he makes me feel.
“Now I’m sad that I won’t get to test that theory,” she jokes.
“Why is that?” Hudson asks.
“Well, this is a one-time thing, isn’t it?” she asks.
Hudson goes to speak, but I cut him off. “Tell us about you?”
I know I should cool it down. Hell, Walker is already coming on strong as fuck, but I can’t help it.
I want to know her even if I know I shouldn’t.
I keep telling myself it’s because of the way Walker is reacting to her, but the truth is I felt it too.
That ping of rightness when she settled onto his lap.
“I’m Esme, also an only child, and I’ve never been good at sharing.” She winks at Hudson. “And I moved here when I came to college. So I’ve been here roughly eight years now.”
If she came here at eighteen for college, that means she’s twenty-five.
More than legal despite how young she looks.
Walker wasn’t wrong when he called her a pixie.
She’s thin with long blond hair that looks like a halo around her shoulders.
Hell, calling it blond doesn’t seem right either. It’s just different.
She’s gorgeous, though, and exactly our type. Or what I think our type would be. We have never had a woman in our bed together. Never found anyone worth being that vulnerable with.
Could she be the one?
Maybe.
No, I shake the thought away. The last thing I need to do is get my hopes up.
“Let me grab you another drink,” Hudson says as he jumps up.
“Are you sure? You said you aren’t drinking anymore,” she tells him softly.
“You know what, I’ll have one more with you if it would make you feel better,” he offers.
A little line forms between her brows, and I want to rub it away.
“Are you sure? I don’t want you to do anything you are uncomfortable with.”
He smiles. “I wouldn’t have offered if I wasn’t. Be right back.”
She smiles and leans back into Walker as she watches Hudson.
Shit, she looks good with him. She’s so small in his lap, her feet don’t even touch the ground when she reclines against him. One of his hands is on her hip while the other rests over the tops of her thighs, blocking us or anyone else from looking up her skirt.
It’s so damn tempting to tell Walker to walk her skirt up little by little.
Is she wet?
Is she as into us as we are her?
Jesus Christ, what’s wrong with me? Usually it’s Hudson who jumps in headfirst. Walker is the one who is hesitant when it comes to the opposite sex, so it’s strange seeing him so invested in someone after not even knowing them for a couple of hours.
Me, I’ll jump in if I’m feeling it, but only then.
With Esme, I’m feeling it. I would love nothing more than to take her home tonight and corrupt her, but I know it won’t happen. It’s too soon, and it’s never that fucking easy.
I might not be able to bed her, but I can get to know her.
Hudson comes back with a beer for himself, another bottle of water for Walker and me, and a red fruity cocktail for our girl.
Our girl.
I like the sound of that.
“Thank you,” she says as she takes it.
I watch Walker’s eyes roll back into his head as she does a little happy dance in his lap.
She has no idea how fucking beautiful she is.
“Tell me, Esme, what’s your favorite food?” Hudson asks her.
“Pasta, closely followed by potatoes,” she says with no hesitation.
“I fucking love pasta,” Hudson says, making her giggle.
“Do you make your own, or are you a store-bought kinda girl?” I ask.
Her head tilts from side to side. “When I have time, I’ll make my own, but for convenience purposes, I usually buy some. Same goes for sauce.”
“I’ve never had homemade sauce,” I tell her.
Walker hums in agreement.
Her eyes light up. “It’s so good. You’ll have to try it sometime.”
Maybe you can make it for us sometime.
I don’t know how, but I manage not to say it out loud.
“So you like it here in Linburgh?” I ask, changing the subject.
“I love it. I knew this was the place for me as soon as I toured WSU. Actually, that’s kind of a lie. I knew this is where I wanted to be as soon as I got the offer. Something about the packet they sent me just spoke to me. You guys don’t realize how lucky you have it, being from here.”
“Where are you from?” Walker gruffly asks.
“A little town in Arkansas.”
“Your family didn’t care that you wanted to go to school so far from home?” I ask.
She shakes her head as she takes a sip of her drink. “I don’t have any family, so no.”
“Oh shit,” Hudson hisses quietly.
Well damn, I unknowingly stepped in it.
“Before you get all weird about it, I’m good. You don’t have to feel sorry or offer condolences. It is what it is, and I’m good with it.”
Walker looks at me, and I can read him clear as day.
He wants to tell her that she has family now. That she’s no longer alone.
I can see how her admission would speak to him. He also has no family. None of us do, really, but it hit Walker the hardest. He never even knew who his family was.
I subtly shake my head.
“Okay, enough of the depressing shit. Ask us something else,” Hudson says, making her giggle.
“What do you guys do for a living?” she asks.
“If you’ve lived here for years, did you ever go to the street races?” I ask, changing the subject.
Her nose crinkles. “No, I had friends that did, but it was never my scene.”
“That’s a shame. You could have met us sooner,” Hudson teases.
“Oh, you guys like cars?”
“Sure, but we are more into motorcycles.” I tell her.
“I figured. I mean, the leather vests kind of give it away.”
“Cut. It’s a cut,” I mumble. I don’t know if she hears me, though.
Thankfully she’s had enough to drink that she doesn’t realize we didn’t answer her question about what we do for work.
If we have our way, she will find out soon enough as it is.
We just need to ease her into it.