Chapter 5 Rosco
ROSCO
Six months later…
I tug at the neck of my shirt, wondering how I can bow out of this assignment without being seen as a jerk or worse, yet, a slacker.
My brothers will kick my ass, but I loathe wearing a suit and tie.
They know how much I hate it, but they’d insisted I take the lead on this event which requires wearing this torture device.
I adjust my tie for the ten thousandth time. I swear this fucking thing is trying to crush my windpipe. Why couldn’t someone else have led this event?
I understand why Luke chose me, and honestly I wouldn’t have trusted anyone else to watch over Marley, Shelby, and Rachel…uh, all their employees, but I don’t have to like it. Even if I am the best person for the job.
Baby Girl’s is catering a charity dinner and auction for a swanky socialite, Mrs. Evelyn Cruise.
She’s been a long-time client of Invictus Security and Protection Company and she’s loaded.
We provide her and her husband with bodyguards, security systems at their work places and homes, and additional protection at events like this. They’ve been long-time, loyal clients.
The woman is old enough to be my mother, but it hasn’t stopped her from flirting with me or any of the men who work at Invictus. She makes no effort to hide the fact she is ready and willing to sleep with anyone, even though she’s married.
She’d chased after Bo before he’d made it abundantly clear to her that he only has eyes for Shelby.
I’ve heard Mr. Cruise is fond of the ladies, too.
Perhaps they have an open marriage, which is fine, to each their own, but no one in our organization will cross that line. We never mix business with pleasure.
I scan the room looking for anything out of the ordinary. A grin ghosts my face when Marley and Shelby waddle out of the kitchen with platters of food for the buffet table. Both of them seem to be handling their pregnancies well, which is good.
It’s still sinking in that I’ll be an uncle times two in a few short weeks when my nephews are born.
Our family has grown fast in the last couple of years.
First our sister, Daisy settled down with Ace and retired from the Navy.
Then Luke fell for Marley and Bo for Shelby, giving us two more sisters and now nephews.
Rachel exits the kitchen carrying two large trays, catching my attention and pulling me from my thoughts.
Her face lights up in a smile when Marley turns to take one of them from her.
Rachel has become part of our family, too, but I don’t have brotherly feelings for her.
No, my feelings toward her are much more carnal.
Feelings I don’t want but haven’t found a way to turn off.
The last six months have been pure torture, being around her constantly but not allowing myself to touch her.
I can’t drag my gaze off Rachel. While all of the women are about the same height, Rachel stands out next to my sisters-in-law.
Her body has curves in all the right places.
My body takes as much notice as my eyes.
She bends over to adjust a table cloth. Her firm ass is on full display for my viewing pleasure. I shift my feet when my cock twitches and begins to stiffen.
“Enjoying the view?” Enos asks, suddenly appearing at my side. With great effort, I force myself to look away to scowl at him.
I shouldn’t be fantasizing about my sisters-in-law’s employee. It’s too tempting to act on those fantasies, and it would be a recipe for disaster, pun intended.
“I’m just doing my job,” I reply, making sure not to glance where the women are working. Enos snorts derisively.
“Yeah, right.” I glare at him. Enos loves to make inappropriate comments of a sexual nature. Of course, he is the youngest of us and none of us have been very mature, at least until Marley and Shelby came along.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I demand, turning fully to face my brother. I should keep my mouth shut. He’s baiting me and I know it, but for some insane reason I can’t.
“You’re staring at Rachel like you want to devour her,” Enos answers, giving me a side eye while he looks out over the room. “I don’t blame you. I bet she’d be delicious.” His comment raises my ire, but I force myself to stay calm.
“I’m not staring at Rachel,” I deny through gritted teeth. Enos turns to give me a wide-eyed look of shock.
“Really? That’s good, maybe I should ask her out. You know, since you’re not interested.”
My face heats in anger. How dare he? He can’t really be interested in her. He’s been drooling over Kristen for months. I’m not going to stand by and let him toy with Rachel just to make Kristen jealous or some such shit.
“Don’t you fucking da—”
“You’re too easy man, too easy,” Enos chuckles.
“The fuck?” I growl. “What the hell are you talking about?”
Enos laughs louder, drawing the attention of the women. They give us an amused look. Marley and Shelby likely know Enos is being a pain in my ass. They’re used to his behavior. Rachel looks curious, but when our eyes meet, she quickly turns back to her task.
“You like her,” Enos comments through his chuckles. “You don’t want to admit it, but you do. Trust me, I’m not interested in her, but I love busting your balls by acting like I am.” Asshole!
I punch his deltoid hard, making him stumble and another round of laughter erupts from him.
“Are we in middle school again?” I ask with a scowl. “I don’t like her. I don’t even know her,” I deny even though it feels wrong saying it. Rolling my eyes, I walk away before I deck him for real. Immature dickhead!
When I reach the front of the venue, I check in with Matthew and Jason, two of our security employees.
Both men are good at what they do and take their jobs seriously.
I trust them as much as I trust my brothers and our two best friends, Dalton and Kelvin, who have been with us since before the beginning of our company.
Dalton and I became close friends in middle school. We were in the same grade and found we had a lot in common. Both of us were being raised in single parent homes. He had a lot more responsibility than I did, since he was the oldest in his family, but our struggles bound us in friendship.
“Yo, bro!” Bo’s voice booms across the empty room. I turn to see him striding from the kitchen area. “Everything look good?” I nod, closing the distance between us.
“Yes, everything seems secure,” I inform him. “The girls need any help?”
Bo shakes his head, looking back toward Shelby and Rachel where they are placing more food on the table.
I’m again distracted by Rachel’s beauty when she smiles at Shelby.
She is everything I’d ever want in a woman if I was worthy of finding someone to settle down with, but it can never happen.
She’s too good for the likes of me, but damn, I’d love to see her smile at me like that.
“Nah, they have everything under control.” Bo turns back to me. I force myself to focus on Bo and not Rachel. I can’t be thinking of her as anything other than an asset to keep safe.
“What’s that look about?” Bo asks, his face scrunching up with curiosity. I frown pretending to not know what he’s asking. “You had an odd expression on your face. Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, why wouldn’t it be?” I ask, keeping my gaze averted. Bo and I have always been able to read each other well. I don’t want him picking up on my wayward thoughts and to be forced to explain myself. That’s the last thing I need.
I’d known when Bo first met Shelby something was different with him, but I’d had a hard time believing it had anything to do with a woman.
Once I’d realized what was going on, I’d warned him to stay away from her.
I hadn’t wanted him to hurt her. I’m glad he didn’t listen to me.
I’ve never seen him so happy as he is with her.
I begin walking toward where the women are working—Bo trailing behind me—to keep him from delving into my psyche.
“You know,” Bo begins, grasping my bicep to halt my progress across the room. His eyes study me intently. I work to keep my face blank, free of any emotions. “You can talk to me about anything, right?”
I nod, still not looking at him. My gaze locked on the wall to the left of him. I know I won’t be able to hide anything from him if we make eye contact. “Rosco.” With a sigh, I swing my eyes to meet his, clenching my jaw.
“I don’t need to talk about anything. I said I’m fine,” I growl in irritation, a little louder than I’d intended. “Just leave me be.”
Shelby, Marley, and Rachel whip their heads in our direction, obviously hearing my annoyance. Shelby and Marley step toward Bo and I, but Rachel heads into the kitchen.
“What’s going on?” Marley asks, her head bobbing back and forth between me and Bo. Her eyes finally setting on me. “Rosco, what’s wrong?” Her tone demanding.
“Nothing!” I huff loudly. “Would everyone just stop? I said I’m fine!” Three shocked faces stare back at me.
I really want to hit something. Instead I turn and head into the kitchen area with every intention of leaving through the back door. I need some fresh air and a few minutes alone to calm down. I’ve been on edge lately. They can all see it, but I don’t want to talk about it.
This time of year, the memories come rushing back.
I just wish they’d all let it go and give me the space I need to get myself together, but my assholes for brothers have always been in my business, just like I’ve been in theirs.
We look out for one another, which is great when I’m the one taking care of them, but highly annoying when it’s the other way around.
Forcefully shoving open the kitchen door, I start inside. Rachel is right there, just about to step out of the kitchen. My hand flies up to catch the door before it collides with her face.
“Fuck! I’m sorry,” I say, taking in her startled expression. “It didn’t hit you, did it?”