Chapter 5
My stomach ached from all the laughing. I was glad I’d accepted Johnny’s dinner invitation.
By the looks of her, Brenda was pleased she’d said yes to Malcolm, too.
The Cooper brothers didn’t lack wit, humor, or good looks.
They could carry on a wicked conversation.
More than a few times, I’d cursed whoever or whatever it was that prevented us from seeing them as more than friends.
Why couldn’t we get the old days back, when we drooled over them and couldn’t get them off our minds?
They’d fed several girls’ dreams growing up.
As adults, I knew they had no trouble finding women.
Ms. Paulette would often lament that they needed good women like us to encourage them to settle down and have some great-grandchildren for her.
Brenda and I always apologized for not feeling more for them.
Both men were very handsome, well-built, had great jobs, and were engaging.
Dinner had been so much fun that when they suggested we go elsewhere to have a drink and dance, we threw out all caution and said yes.
Where most men would barely two-step, they’d always been fantastic dancers.
We’d gone to dinner in Jacksonville, so they decided we’d go dancing there as well.
They told us about a newer club that everyone was talking about. They wanted to check it out.
We arrived just after nine o’clock. It was a Friday night, so parking was at a premium, with a line outside waiting to get in. I almost said to forget it, but I knew they were stoked to see the place, so I kept quiet.
Standing in line, I noticed that those waiting with us ranged from people in casual jeans and T-shirts to those like us in dressier date-night clothes to those with money to burn.
Their clothing and shoes shouted it. They reminded me of Cormac and the three women who visited him and his brother at our work.
I disgustedly pushed the thought of them away.
I refused to let my night be ruined by thoughts of a man who had no genuine interest in me.
I agreed with Brenda when we talked about the O’Sheeran brothers.
They were playboys who had been bored and wanted to change up their usual kind of woman.
The fact that Cormac captured my attention unlike any other man only pissed me off more.
It was the desire to forget him that made me say yes to Johnny.
I hated feeling nothing but friendship for such a great guy.
Brenda was the same way with his brother.
Maybe if we went out with them, feelings would change.
Once we were inside, we made a circuit first. We soaked in the ambience of it all.
It was a lovely place. There was a massive bar with plenty of seating and then a stage for a band.
Surrounding it and spreading outward was a dance floor, along with numerous tables and booths.
Toward the back, there was a roped-off section.
A scary guy stood there, guarding the entrance.
When we asked a waitress what that was, she explained it was the VIP section and how one qualified to be in it. The amount of money she named was way too steep for us. I’d remain out where we were.
The guys found us a table, helped us get seated, and then headed to the bar to get our drinks.
Johnny had offered to be the designated driver, so it left the rest of us free to drink.
I wasn’t thinking of getting drunk, but I had the option if I changed my mind.
If I believed it would help me sleep, I might have to do it.
My sleep had been restless and full of dreams for days. I was ready for them to stop.
It wasn’t long before they were back, but they had no drinks in their hands.
“What happened? They ran out of alcohol,” I joked.
“No. We got lucky and ran into the waitress who works in this section. We gave her our order. We didn’t think it was smart to leave two beautiful women like you alone.
We saw that guy stop, say something, and then walk off dejected.
And then there was that woman. She wanted a piece of both of you.
We figured if we didn’t get our asses back here, we’d lose our dates,” Malcolm joked.
“She was rather persuasive with all the ways she could make us a better date than you guys. And she disparaged your lover’s abilities, too,” I told both of the guys.
I knew my words were the same as waving a flag in front of a bull’s face. They puffed up and began arguing why they were the better option. The conversation and laughter that followed carried us from receiving our drinks to the next topic.
By the time I had drunk my first mixed drink, it took no time to cajole me to go to the dance floor with Johnny.
Malcolm tugged Brenda to her feet and then led her to the floor.
Time swam by as more drinks were consumed and the music pounded.
I swear it felt as if the drum and the bass were in my literal bones.
Brenda and I shook our asses and shimmied our bodies to the beat.
Johnny and Malcolm were great dancers, period, not just when it came to slow dancing.
After about an hour of dancing nonstop, I needed to use the bathroom.
Brenda went with me. No woman should wander alone.
There was a short wait to get a turn, but we eventually got the deed done.
On our return to our table, because the bathrooms were located near it, we passed the VIP section.
I noted in passing that it was packed more than it was when we arrived.
I only gave it a cursory look. As we moved on, I almost thought I heard my name being yelled, but I must have been mistaken.
It was probably some other Cyndi. We arrived back at the table just as a slow song started to play.
“Come on, they’re playing our song,” Johnny teased as he jumped up and snared my hand. Laughing, I let him lead me to the dance floor. On our heels were a laughing Brenda and a smiling Malcolm.
Johnny’s arms slid around me and brought my body close to his. “It’s like the last time, just relax and let your mind float. You’re stressed,” he reminded me.
Sighing, I placed my cheek on his chest. The warmth invaded me. Sighing, I spoke to him, but kept my eyes closed and my head where it was.
“Johnny, you dance beautifully. Ms. Paulette must’ve beaten that skill into you and your brother. I’ll have to thank her the next time I see her.”
“She’ll be happy if you merely mention it. She taught us because she adored dancing. She said that before she died, we’d learn to dance and not just ballroom dancing. We sometimes still take her on a spin around the living room,” he confessed.
“Good. I’d give anything to have a picture of that. Ms. Paulette was the glue that held the entire neighborhood together. And if you needed news or advice, she was always there,” I murmured.
“She still is in some ways. Malcolm and I wish she’d let us move her to live with us, though. The thought of her being alone in the neighborhood worries us.”
I lifted my head and looked up at him. “Why? Is there a particular reason you’re worried? Or is it worry due to her age?”
“Her age does concern us. People who are her age tend to need assistance. Many no longer live alone, yet she does. And the neighborhood isn’t the same as it was when we were kids, Cyn.
You can’t leave your doors unlocked. People can’t let their children play outside alone as we did.
We saw the baseball bat and crowbar that you and Brenda held to answer the door.
Granny tells us about the strange cars that come and go at all hours of the day and night from a house down her street.
She’s convinced they’re drug dealers. The reality is, they might be. ”
His concern throbbed in his voice. Wanting to reassure him in some way, I lifted one hand to his jaw. I rubbed soothingly over the prickly hair he wore on his handsome face.
“Johnny, you can’t drive yourself insane wondering what if. Yes, there’s always a chance she’ll have trouble or fall and hurt herself. If you’re really concerned about her, we can check in on her for you. If she needs anything, we’ll take care of it or let you know if it’s more than we can handle.”
There were a few moments of silence before his huge grin peeked out.
His sudden lifting me, whirling me in a circle, and proclaiming that I was fantastic put a smile on my face.
He didn’t temper the volume of his voice, so I knew we attracted attention, but who cared?
When he set me back down on my feet, I was dizzy.
I was trying to recover when his lips met mine.
It wasn’t a passionate kiss, more of a thank you, so I didn’t shove him away.
When Johnny was done, he lifted his head. “Thank you, Cyndi. You don’t know how much that’ll relieve our minds. And thanks for not slapping my face for the kiss. It was meant in friendship.”
Brenda and Malcolm had danced over next to us.
“What’s all the celebrating and kissing about?” his brother asked.
“Cyn agreed to—”
A deep, angry voice cut off the rest of his explanation.
One I recognized. I whipped around to see if I was hallucinating.
I wasn’t. Standing there, bigger than life, was Cormac O’Sheeran.
Next to him was Sean. Cormac was glaring at Johnny while Sean eyed Malcolm.
Both looked ready to fight, but why? Their appearance tied my tongue.
“What’s the meaning of this?” Cormac snapped.
“The meaning of what?” Brenda asked.
“Who are these guys?” Sean added.
“I don’t see how that’s any of your business. And what does your brother mean? What’s the meaning of this?” Brenda demanded to know.
The O’Sheeran men studied us through squinted eyes.
Their expressions screamed anger. Standing a discreet distance away from them were the guys from the last time.
They must never go anywhere without them.
A catty thought made me wonder if they stood in the room while they had sex with all those women.
If so, did they receive extra pay for that, or was it considered a bonus for watching?
“Hey, you need to back off. There’s nothing here that concerns you. Please leave. You’re making our dates uncomfortable,” Malcolm stated.
The Cooper brothers had manners, but that didn’t mean they weren’t scrapers.
The number of fights they’d been in and won growing up had been numerous.
I assumed it was the same as adults. Nervousness invaded me.
If they touched one of those mobsters, their lives would be in danger.
I moved closer to Johnny. I reached up and tugged his head down so I could place my mouth to his ear.
“Don’t say or do anything. Do you know who they are? They’re those mobsters, the O’Sheerans. I don’t want you or Malcolm hurt or killed. Let Bren and me handle them.”
“Cyn, we won’t hide behind you. We’re men. I don’t give a damn who they are. What right do they have to insist on answers from us? Do you know them?” he whispered back.
I was about to explain our connection to the O’Sheerans when heat hit my back, and then hands gripped my upper arms. The hold wasn’t painful, but it was firm.
Glancing over my shoulder, I saw a massive chest covered in a fine black silk shirt.
Skimming upward, I encountered the patch of dark chest hair peeking out from behind the two buttons that were undone, and then those brown eyes of his. They were blazing, but with what?
“Come with me. We need to speak alone,” Cormac demanded.
There was no asking. I wiggled to loosen his hold even though I knew it was futile. When he didn’t free me, I got verbal with him.
“Mr. O’Sheeran, let go of me. You have no right to touch me,” I hissed.
“I have more right than this joker does. And I told you, drop the Mr. O’Sheeran crap. After what we’ve done together, it’s not necessary.” His tone changed to a smoldering one filled with innuendo.
Even if he was making me angry, my body reacted to him.
His touch, scent, the sound of his voice, and the sight of him made my body light up like a Christmas tree.
Heat spread inside me. My nipples became taut and tingling.
That tingle centered in both nipples, making them burn.
Between my legs, my sex was becoming hot and wet with my cream.
More streaks of fire hit my clit, causing my pussy to contract.
Stop it! I told myself sternly. I was searching for the right combination of words to make him let me go and leave, but none were forming. He addled my brains as well.