Ashton
T he guys decided to take Regan to a little local bar for their first date. Ash knew that no matter where they went they were going to catch some shit for the three of them being out together. It wasn’t a secret that he and Jamison liked to share women, but this was the first time they were going on an actual date with a woman, and he knew that would garner some unwanted attention. He breathed a sigh of relief when he found that Travis and a few other buddies were already at the bar drinking. Ash knew that if things got a little out of hand his friends would step in so he and Jamison would be able to get Regan out of there safely.
They found a little corner booth, hoping to have some privacy. “I hope this place is okay with you, baby,” he whispered. Regan nodded and slid into the booth, sitting between him and Jamison.
“Is the food good here? I’m dying for a burger and is that a mechanical bull?” Regan shouted excitedly over the music.
Ash couldn’t help but smile at the thought of Regan up on top of that mechanical bull trying to hold on. Whenever someone from out of town visited the bar they always thought that they could best the bull, but no one ever did. Still, her enthusiasm was infectious, and Ash found himself pulling her closer to steal a kiss. Jamison must have felt the same way, letting his guard down to take a kiss after Ash was finished with her. Ash looked around the bar to find some of the locals peeking over their booth, trying to figure out what the three were doing but Regan didn’t seem to notice the unwanted attention.
Travis cleared his throat, standing at their table, “You guys are just jumping right in, aren’t you? Well, that’s one way to go.” Ash couldn’t help his smirk; he knew that Travis liked to keep a low profile so showing up at their table was probably out of his comfort zone. Still, the big guy looked right at home at the little dive bar with his cowboy hat and tattoos, everyone usually left him alone.
“Hey Travis,” Regan gushed, and Ash quickly pulled her into his side. It was funny that he never felt even the slightest pang of jealousy when Jamison and Regan were together. But Regan even looking in Travis’s direction drove him a little crazy.
“Hi, Regan.” Travis smiled down at her and Jamison growled. Travis laughed, “Calm down boss, I know she’s yours. And from the looks of it, you two have nothing to worry about.” Regan nodded her head, seeming to catch on to their jealousy.
“He’s right, you know? I am yours.” Ash loved the way she so easily accepted that she belonged to them now because that was exactly how he felt about her.
“Damn straight,” Jamison growled.
“So, if you guys need anything you know the drill—just holler.” Travis winked at them and returned to his friends at the bar.
“He seems like a nice guy and a good friend,” Regan shouted. “Boy, this music is loud.”
Ash stood and pulled her from the booth. “Dance with me, baby.” He held out his hand as Regan hesitantly looked back at Jamison.
“It’s a nice thought, Regan but the town isn’t quite ready to accept the three of us dancing together. We can do that later, at home,” Ash whispered in her ear. Jamison nodded as if telling them to go on and Regan took Ash’s hand to let him lead her out to the dance floor.
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close as they swayed to the slow country song the band played. She felt so right in his arms; all he wanted to do was get her home and strip her out of her clothes again. Knowing that she was wearing the plug that he put inside her earlier made him half-crazy with lust. Regan deserved some fun first. A night out was what the three of them needed, after all, they were still getting to know each other.
Jamison ordered drinks and food for the three of them while Ash spun Regan around the dance floor for a few more songs. When the next slow song played, Jamison cut in and Regan willingly went to him. Ash kissed her lips, passing her off to Jamison who pulled her close to sway to the music. None of them missed the way they were being watched. They were all determined not to let the spectators ruin their fun.
They ate and drank a few beers and as far as first dates went, this one was going well. Ash knew that things wouldn’t always be easy for them but if tonight was any indication, they were worried over nothing. Well, that was until a very drunk Katie showed up at their booth spilling half her white wine onto Regan’s lap.
Regan jumped up from the booth. “Hey, watch what you’re doing, Katie!” Ash watched as Regan stood her ground and he had to admit, it was pretty hot.
“You need to be careful, newbie. I warned you earlier this won’t end well for you, Regan, is it?” Katie was slurring her words and Ash knew that nothing good was going to come from this little scene.
“Ladies, why don’t we just part ways and call it a night?” Regan nodded and turned to get her purse from the booth. Katie grabbed her arm and swung her around to face her again.
“Don’t you turn your back on me, you little whore. I’m trying to be a good person here, but you don’t know what one of those looks like, do you? They hired you to get into your too-tight, booty shorts, bitch.” Regan’s eyes widened as Katie drunkenly swung her limp fist trying to punch her. Regan ducked and Ash caught Katie’s arm, and she fell limp against Ash’s body. She practically threw herself into his arms and it was all he could do to keep her standing on her own two legs.
“Did you come here with anyone Katie, or should I call you a cab?” Ash wanted to shove her against the wall and beat the shit out of her for trying to punch Regan. If Katie was a guy, he would have done so already but with the entire bar’s attention, he played the gentleman. Travis pushed his way through the crowd and removed Katie from Ash, helping her into a chair.
“I’ve got her boss. I can make sure that she gets home safely. You two just get Regan out of here.” Ash nodded his thanks and turned to find Regan with her face buried in Jamison’s chest. Travis was right, they needed to get their girl out of there and home. Katie shouted foul comments at Regan as they tried to pull her from the bar.
“You’re just like all the others, honey. They took one look at your pretty face and hired you to be their sex slave. You think you're special but you’re not, they’ll just use you and throw you away.” Ash wrapped his arm around Regan and Jamison flanked her other side. Regan allowed a sob to escape as they helped her into the truck and it just about gutted Ash.
“Please don’t cry, honey,” Jamison begged.
Ash slid into the driver’s seat, “Sit in the back with her, Jamison. She needs one of us right now.” Jamison nodded and slid in next to Regan, pulling her into his body, and holding her close.
“She’s nothing, baby. You can’t let her upset you like this.” Ash watched her in the rear-view mirror, and he couldn’t get home fast enough. He pulled down their lane and watched as Jamison kissed her forehead, pushing her raven hair back from her face.
“I’m going to fucking kill Katie,” Jamison growled.
“She was drunk,” Ash said. “She won’t even remember the crap she said tomorrow.” Ash shook his head disgusted by the way their first date ended.
“Why did she have to make a scene like that? Everyone thinks that you hired me for sex now.” Jamison shot Ash a look in the rear-view mirror as if telling him to keep his fucking mouth shut.
“She’s just a nasty person, honey. Katie was looking for a way to tear down your defenses, she just said whatever she could to hurt you,” Jamison said.
“Well, mission accomplished. I’ve been here just a couple of days now and in that time, I’ve been attacked verbally by one of your crazy ex-lovers and made to feel like I was a common criminal when I tried to use your credit card at the grocery store. I just don’t know how to go forward after tonight.” Ash parked the truck in the driveway and got out to pull Regan from the backseat.
“You are not going to give up on us, Regan. We all agreed to try. You just need to ignore all the assholes in town. Give us a chance, don’t quit after just a few days.” Ash banded his arms around her body and hugged her so close, he was sure that he was crushing her.
“I know and I’m not giving up on what we have. I just don’t understand where Katie would even come up with the crazy idea that you would hire me for sex.” Ash cringed, and he knew that Regan noticed.
“Is there something you need to tell me?” She looked between Jamison and him, a little fire back in her eyes.
“Nope,” Jamison said. Regan didn’t look convinced.
“We might have hired you because we liked your profile picture, that you sent online with your application,” Ash whispered. Jamison groaned and crossed his arms across his massive chest.
“Why the fuck would you tell her that Ash?” He knew that Jamison didn’t think it was a big deal, but Ash didn’t want any secrets between them. The fact that they hired her based on wanting to make her theirs felt like a huge omission. Hell- it felt like a complete lie they were living with.
Ash watched Regan, knowing that he had to just lay it all out there and hope that she would forgive them for not being completely honest with her.
“It’s not what you are thinking, Regan. Please just give us a chance to explain,” Ash begged.
She squinted her eyes. “Well then, by all means, , please explain to me how you two saw my picture on the job application and decided that I looked like a good fuck.”
“That’s not how it happened,” Ash yelled. “I got your job application and opened your file. As soon as I saw your beautiful picture, I felt this nagging feeling that you were supposed to be here, with us.” Ash ran his fingers through his overly long hair making it stand on end.
“Ash asked me to come in from the field because he was so excited about wanting to hire you, honey. He felt a connection and after I saw your picture, I know it sounds crazy, but I felt the same way.” Jamison reached for her, but she took a step back, staying out of his reach.
Regan barked out her laugh, “Yeah, I just bet you both felt a connection. Most people call that lust but you two like to sell the whole soul mate thing, don’t you? How could I be so stupid? Here I thought you hired me for my cooking skills, but you just wanted to pop my cherry.”
Ash felt his anger boil, but he knew that wasn’t going to win Regan over. He took a deep breath, trying to find his calm.
“We did hire you for your cooking skills, but you also lied about them. Your resume wasn’t exactly based on truth, baby.” Regan gasped at Ash’s words.
“We also didn’t know you were a virgin, honey,” Jamison added.
Regan shook her head. “I told you that I had no choice. I lied about my age because no one wants to hire a twenty-two-year-old with only minor cooking experience. I needed to get out of that town and away from Mike. I told you everything; I was honest with you both before we all agreed to be in a relationship. You both have kept this secret from me since we met. I let you have my body, and you never thought to tell me the truth of why you hired me?”
“I wanted to tell you after our first night together.” Ash shot Jamison an angry look. “Jamison thought it wasn’t a big deal, so we kept our mouths shut.”
“It isn’t a big fucking deal. We all agreed on this relationship and everything that it has entailed. We have all told lies, we’re all guilty of that. We need to just move on and figure out a way forward.” Jamison looked at Regan with so much hope and when she shook her head and started for the front door, that hope faded. Ash had a sinking feeling that they just watched the best thing to ever happen to them walk away for the last time.