66. Enslee #2
“It's nice to see you again, sweetheart.” Another endearment had even more warmth filling my chest. He leaned in and kissed my cheek, much to my disappointment, but I managed to hide it well.
After, he released me and moved over to one of the other chairs.
“Come sit with us,” he said as he motioned to another of the chairs.
As I moved over to one, I noticed both men were wearing low-slung jeans and T-shirts while I was dressed for a fucking club.
I instantly regretted my decision, but the way the men kept staring at me made me feel desired.
I took a seat on the chair closest to the pool and went to kick off my heels until Declan spoke.
“Leave them on. I love seeing your legs in those ‘fuck me’ heels.”
“They’d look damn good thrown over one of our shoulders,” Brogan added.
“Hello! I’m sitting right here,” I reminded them in aroused amusement.
“We’ve noticed,” Brogan replied, and my cheeks flooded with heat.
“Everything’s ready,” I heard a woman say, causing me to spin around. I was almost jealous until I turned toward the doorway and noticed the woman’s uniform. She’d been hired for something. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll leave you three to your night.”
“That’ll be all,” Declan said to her, and she smiled at him.
That green-eyed monster roared to life as her gaze lingered longer than I liked, but soon she disappeared inside the house. “I’ll see her out,” Declan said before he hurried inside.
I had no time to even frown because Brogan rose to his feet, causing me to do the same. “We should go ahead and make ourselves a plate, then we can eat out here.”
“Sounds great,” I said before taking his extended hand and following him inside.
“If we make our plates quick enough, we might even catch the sunset as we eat,” Declan said as he rejoined us.
“That’d be amazing.”
“It won’t be the only thing amazing,” Declan murmured and I shivered. His hand rode low on my back, and when I felt his fingers just above my ass, I remembered him fucking me there.
God, I need to quit this before I combust!
I noticed the glasses of wine already filled sitting in the center of the island next to some dark-colored plates.
Declan pointed to another long counter with several serving pans lined up across it.
The men both picked up a plate, so I did the same, and when I moved closer to the counter, I sniffed the air appreciatively.
“I-is that barbecue?”
“We remember the other night when you were telling us how much you missed the barbecue you had a few weeks ago in Austin.”
“It was one of the best places I've ever eaten. Is there something similar to it here?”
“Maybe, but since you liked it so much, we’d catered it directly from Texas for you.”
“You what?”
“What he said,” Declan replied. “We flew the owner here to make this meal for you.”
“You didn’t have to go through all that trouble.”
“It's no trouble at all. What you've done for and with us, there's no way we could ever pay you back for it all. Anything your heart desires, consider it yours,” Declan said.
“Go ahead and make your plate so we can catch the sunset together,” Brogan urged, and I forced myself to move.
They uncovered pan after pan of food, and my eyes watered knowing they’d done this all for me.
I was sure their money and status had helped, but I was still touched beyond words.
I stared at the offering, and it all looked so good that my hesitation was now on what to select from the spread.
There were ribs, brisket, pulled pork, sausage links, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, coleslaw, and what looked like baked beans.
“You really didn't have to go through all this trouble for me.”
“I just hope this lives up to your praises,” Brogan said.
“Don’t mind him, darlin’. Brogan’s a food snob.”
Something I recognized as a burnt end flew past me and hit Declan.
I shook my head, then started to make my plate.
When I’d gotten to the end of the counter, I spied the circular container.
“What’s that?” Declan removed the top, and I realized it was a white barbecue sauce. “Is that really what I think it is?”
“You’d also mentioned the only thing that would’ve made that meal better was if you would’ve had some Alabama barbecue sauce. They were able to make it for you.”
“This is way more than you should’ve done.”
“You deserve to have anything and everything you want, sweetheart.”
“Thank you,” I said before adding a little to my plate and moving back outside.
The men soon joined me, but with much larger plates than mine, and we settled into a comfortable silence as we ate.
This food was every bit as delicious as it’d been in Texas.
I was deeply touched that they’d not only remembered me talking about it but also brought it here to me.
In the past, I’d been lucky to have a man pay for my takeout or chain restaurant dinner special.
These men were billionaires, though, so I knew whatever the expense was, it was negligible to them at best. Still, the thought behind it was priceless.
Twenty minutes later, I’d finished what I could off my plate while they’d cleared theirs fully.
We’d all also drunk two glasses of wine, which would explain the tipsiness I now felt.
Although a bit lightheaded, it wasn’t enough to make me unable to function or think.
Declan got up and later returned with a bottled water for each of us, which I needed at this point.
I’d guzzled nearly half of it when Brogan cleared his throat, then pointed to the sky.
Turning my attention to it, a smile spread across my face as the sun began to set.
“It’s so beautiful.” The men were talking in hushed voices, but I didn’t even care.
I put my elbows on my knees, then rested my chin in my upturned palms as I gazed out at the sun setting over the ocean.
Once the skies grew darker, I ignored the men’s earlier wishes and kicked off my heels, then tucked my legs up under me.
The outside lighting came on, casting a dim, and dare I say even romantic, glow over the space.
“Did you get everything you needed for your next podcast?” Brogan asked.
“I can’t wait to catch that episode,” Declan added.
I turned to stare incredulously at them. “You both still watch my podcasts?” I mean, they said that they did, but I’d never really believed it.
“Of course, we do. Most weeks, we watch them together.”
A sense of joy filled me knowing they took time out of their day to watch me. It would’ve been unbelievable had I not detected their sincerity. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You command the screen, and I should know. You’d put all my leading ladies to shame.”
I laughed at that. “Not likely, but flattery will get you everywhere.” I realized what I said the moment both of their gazes dropped to my chest. “Nothing compares to your leading man. I’m just so thrilled to see you both back together and so happy.
I don’t want to be one of those know-it-alls, but I think I might’ve told you both so.
After Layla was found, this was all I’d wanted for you two. It’d upset me so much to see you—”
“We don’t need to talk about any of that. Our past is where it should be. Yours, however…” Declan said as his voice trailed off.
“My what?” I asked.
“We want to know about you and your past,” Brogan replied.
A shiver that had nothing to do with the breeze wracked me, and I felt the sudden dread of unease.
They were both looking intently over at me, so I knew I had to say something.
“You know about my past. I’m a podcaster from Alabama who travels the country visiting prisons and those accused or otherwise suspected of a crime.
I like to talk to two incredibly stubborn men and binge-watch one of those men’s many movies and television shows. There’s not much more to tell.”
“There’s a lot more to tell,” Declan said.
“And you’re going to spill it all tonight for us,” Brogan added.
I had no idea what they wanted from me. I was sure I must’ve had a few slips of the tongue over the time we'd known each other.
Had they been filing those away so they could ambush me with it?
I now felt irritated about dinner. I didn't talk about myself, especially my past, for a number of different reasons.
“I'm often interviewed—” Declan started before Brogan interrupted him.
“And I've been interviewed more than I'd ever liked. In fact, we’d met you at an interview. I’ve always been a fast study, so I think it’s time we interview you.”
“There’s really nothing to tell. I’ve lived a boring life in a small town. My most interesting stories have come on the road, and all of which are publicly available on my blogs and podcasts.”
“We want to know about your life, Enslee. Your childhood. Any parents or family—”
“There was none,” I said to them.
“Someone had to have cared for you and brought you up in this world. You’ve mentioned a grandmother before. Tell us about her.”
Tears sprang to my eyes. Pearl Byrne had been everything to me, and if anyone deserved to have praises sung about them, it’d be her. The only problem was that remembering her made me remember him.
“I can’t,” I whispered as a vision of her smiling started to fade from my vision. “Of everything he’d stolen from me, her memory is the most painful.”
“Why is it painful? And who is he?” Declan asked.
I shook my head. “Don’t make me talk about this.”
“Whatever it is cannot be that bad, Enslee. Hell, you know about some of the worst times of our lives. We only want to get close enough to know yours as well,” Brogan said softly.
“Please. Some things are better left unsaid.”
How can I tell these men who I came from? What I’d endured… What I’d done…
“Agreed, yet you made me say them anyway,” Brogan said.
I knew he was referring to his conversion therapy. “This is different. I just can’t.”