4. Chapter 4
Frank
I felt the chill in the air from winter rolling in, and the trees were coloring the scenery. Cruising through the neighborhood, I appreciated the houses.
While we were over in the sandbox, he spoke highly of his hometown and that made it easy to find Romeo’s place. I pulled into the driveway and watched as the garage door creaked on its way up. Once it finished, his mama, Miss Cora, stood there smiling at me.
“You shouldn’t park that beautiful bike outside.” She waved me in.
“I appreciate that, ma’am.” I pushed my bike inside the garage, noting her small SUV.
“Now, now. No need to ma’am me.” She smiled. “Come on in and get comfortable. I am sure you could use a shower and some rest.”
She wasn’t wrong, and I learned young not to argue with my elders. I undid my duffel from the bitch seat and took out my small bag of necessities before following her in.
Miss Cora set me up in her guest room, complete with a private bathroom.
“Now you just make yourself at home.” She gave me a hug, handed me a garage door opener, and left me to do what I needed.
Pulling my phone out, I shot off a text to Romeo after setting my shit down.
Your ma wants you hitched
No shit
She suggested me getting hitched so you’ll follow suit
Lemme guess, she called it peer pressure didn’t she?
Haha
You know your mama well
Is ma doin okay?
Sure is
She’s a spitfire and she’d be better if you were married
She’ll deal
Why didn’t you tell me the diner had more than food to offer?
Because what they have was jailbait when I left, one might still be
The one that caught my eye was far from jailbait and damn her mouth
Don’t let ma hear, she’ll be set on hooking you up
She shot me down
…
Who?
Edith
Her brothers are protective
And the youngest? She’ll lop your nuts off, then river dance on them while you watch and bleed out
That sounded brutal, but from the little I’d seen at the diner, I believed it.
Stay safe, brother.
Always.
Talk soon.
Romeo could do worse than coming back to put down some roots and hell after some of the shit we’ve seen and been through?
That’s what he ought to do.
I tossed my phone down and stripped, then made my way to the bathroom and started the water. Once I had it as hot as I liked, I got in the shower. The water pressure was spot on and hit my muscles in ways no masseuse ever had. Once my shoulders felt relaxed, I soaped up my hair and scrubbed down.
Sometimes all it took was being welcomed in a warm place where you were wanted. Romeo told me his mama would treat me like a third son. And so far, she’s done exactly that.
I thought about Edie and her full figure, complete with an ass that would fill my hands. That image alone was all the help my cock needed to wake up and take notice.
He wanted her, too. I pictured her on her knees before me.
Lips open, pink tongue lapping at my head. Then I could fill her mouth, giving her something good and dirty to distract her.
The way she spoke with dead, dry sarcasm?
Hell yeah! I loved a woman who wouldn’t take shit from anyone.
And her beautiful resting bitch face.
Some people found that off-putting. Me? It made me appreciate the smiles I got from them because they were genuine.
She tried to be gruff, but I’d lay money that underneath it, she was a softie.
Fuck. I pumped myself harder. I could see her riding me, hands braced on my chest, while I held onto her luscious hips. Running my hands all over every curve and feeling her lean over, smothering me with her tits.
I did my best not to stare at her.
But God. Damn.
Her big, beautiful tits needed an experienced man who knew how to handle them and treat them right.
I didn’t jack off often. Didn’t need to. I’d never had issues finding myself a woman to bury myself in. But something about Edie was different. I wanted to bury myself in her, but not just once.
Groaning at the thought of wanting to spend more than one night with any woman had me wondering what the fuck was wrong with me, but I had a feeling that one night with her would never be enough.
My hand worked hard and fast now. Thoughts of making her pussy sloppy wet made my head spin, and it came with thoughts of making her scream. My brain rapidly fired images of her naked, on her back, her side, flat against the bed, and on her hands and knees, made my knees wobble.
Bracing my hand on the wall, I bit my lip as I felt the first burst of cum pump out. My head dropped to my forearm, and I squeezed my dick as it pumped out burst after burst, splattering the walls and my feet.
I felt like I was hyperventilating, and I noticed the water getting cooler on my back.
Chuckling, I washed up again and rinsed my mess down the drain. Not the first time I’ve ended up in a cold shower. But I hoping it’s the last.
Once I shut the water off, I made quick work of drying off and slipped into some boxers to sleep. The sheets were cool and soft and smelled like fresh lavender. I twisted my body to flip off the light and grabbed my phone, noticing a new message from an unknown number.
Hi! This is Edie’s phone and I’m all alone in the diner without her
Maybe you could play the part of a hero and deliver me to her?
If that were my baby sister, I’d probably have killed her by now, but Evelyn was doing me a solid.
I rolled back out of bed, threw on some clothes, and almost bolted from the house.
Edith
Through the window, I watched him carefully put the food in a bag on the side of his motorcycle. Then he looked around and swung his leg up and over the bike. The way his jeans clung to his legs almost made me drool.
He lifted his head, and I felt like he was looking at me as he reached for the handlebar. His arms looked like a bodybuilder’s, and I saw them ripple and move under his shirt.
He popped on a helmet and did whatever motorcycle guys do to start their hogs, and off he went.
“His name is Frank.” Evie spoke softly next to me after he’s out of sight.
“Ugh. How long have you been there, Evelyn?”
“Long enough to appreciate that slab of man meat.” She handed me his ticket with money and smiled. “Frank says you should call him.”
“How do you know?” I turned to glare at her.
She shrugged with a giggle. “He wrote you a note.”
I snapped the paper from her hand. “Is nothing private?”
“Are you serious? It’s on a ticket, Edie. I cashed him out. He left you a forty-buck tip.” She swung her ponytail and went to the back, grumbling. “Lucky bitch.”
Giggling like a schoolgirl, I looked down at the note.
Hey Sweet Thing,
Here’s my number. Gimme a call if you need a break from life.
Frank
“Sweet thing? Who does he think he’s kidding?” Shaking my head, I put the note and my money in my pocket and looked at Dad. “I’m outta here.”
“Make good choices, daughter.” He lifted his cup of coffee at me with a smile as I walked backwards out the front doors.
Across from us, on the opposite corner, sat the Bearded Barrel Brewery and Pub.
It’s on the opposite corner of our restaurant, and my best friend Ronnie worked there. She paced outside on the sidewalk and looked like she’s about to throw down.
“What’s eatin’ you?”
She stopped and looked up with a sour look on her face. “Before I was sleepin’ with my boss, I could lift all the heavy shit I wanted. Now that we share a bed? I’m a delicate flower.”
“Ronnie, you knew Paul was like that. He just never felt he had the right to tell you not to do something.”
“Edith.” She stomped her foot. “Whose side are you on?”
“Yours.” I crossed my arms. “Want me to kick his ass? Or better yet, let loose my purse dog of a sister?”
She doubled over with laughter.
Throwing my head back, I joined her. It felt so good to laugh with her. She was one of the few people who understood me. I’m not some stick in the mud. Mom and dad depended on me more than the boys.
And we all knew Evelyn wouldn’t be the one taking over the diner when the time came. She’s made sure everyone knew her plans to travel and get away from Port Stella as soon as she could.
Big E and his best friend Tom had been dating for a couple of years and talked about opening a microbrewery/pub together in downtown Triton Falls.
Gene wasn’t sure what he wanted to do with his life yet. And that left me.
Ronnie blew out a breath and wiped the tears from her eyes. “C’mon, I’ll buy you a beer.”
“Finally. Someone is talking sensibly today.” I followed her into the brewery and took a seat at the bar. “My usual.”
Looking to my left, I noticed Lucy, Charlie, and Baxter, the local dogs of the bar sitting on their seats watching everyone. Lucy leaned over and put her head on my shoulder, and I gave her a good scratch behind the ear.
“One coffee stout coming up.” She drew up my favorite on tap and then pulled up a stool to sit on the other side of the bar next to Baxter, her Scottie. “Wait. I thought you were off today?”
“I was.” I took a deep drink and moaned in happiness. “Evie was singing at a wedding.”
“For the Cordova’s?” She leaned in conspiratorially. “I bet the mob paid her big bucks.”
I snorted. “Who knows.” We lifted our pints up in a silent toast. “I know one of these days she’s really going to be gone, and I’ll miss her like crazy. But right now? I want to kill her.”
“The joys of siblings.” Paul came over and kissed Ronnie on the head. “I’m sorry I forgot you’re a badass. Next time, I promise to let you do all the heavy lifting and I’ll stay in my office like a pussy.”
I lifted my glass to take another drink and hide the smile from that horrible apology.
“Dan helped you with your apology. Didn’t he?” She swiveled her head to glare at him.
“Maybe.”
Shaking her head, she shoved him away. “You can show me later how sorry you are. Right now, I need to know why Edie looks sad.”
Daniel Carson came over and sat next to me. “Does this have to do with Frank?”
“Who’s Frank?” Ronnie asked, looking between us.
“Wait.” I held my hand up. “How do you know about Frank?”
“Evie told me.”
“Fuckin’ Evie.” I threw my hands up.
“Bahrooooo!” Lucy howled next to me.
“Even the dog gets it.” I growled.
“Frank is the guy that rolled through town a couple hours ago.”
“Oh.” Ronnie’s eyes lit up. “The hottie on the Harley.”
Paul’s jaw dropped. Dan laughed and Ronnie looked over innocently. “I’m not dead, sweetheart. Just on a diet of only Paul.”
“He came in and Evie embarrassed me. Then he left me a note.” I shrugged.
Ronnie held her hand out. “Give it up.”
I pulled it from my pocket and handed it over to my friend, watching as she read it and her eyes lit up. “Gimme your phone.”
“No.” I pursed my lips.
“Edith.” She snapped her fingers.
“Veronica.” I shook my head.
“Gimme your phone.” She repeated in a firmer tone.
“No.”
Narrowing her eyes at me, Ronnie pulled her phone out, tapped the screen, then put it up to her ear with a smarmy smile. After a moment or two, she pulled her phone away from her head and looked at me.
“Edith. Where is your phone?”
I patted myself down and then growled again. Pressing her lips together, Ronnie looked like she’s about to burst into laughter again.
“Please tell me it’s not at the diner.”
“With Evie?” I whispered and knew I was screwed.
She nodded, and her face morphed from fun to shock. Before I turned to see what made her face do that, my phone appeared in front of my face.
“You obnoxious, wretched, vile bitch.” I snapped my phone from the person and turned to look into the sexiest blue eyes I’ve ever seen. “Shit.”
He leaned in and the hair from his beard tickled the side of my face as his hot breath warmed my ear. “That mouth, Edie, tsk-tsk. Gonna have to do something about that.”
Dan went around the bar. “Beer?”
“I’ll have what she’s having.” He thumbed towards me.
“Hi. Welcome to the Bearded Barrel Brewery, I’m Ronnie.”
Holding out his hand, Ronnie shook it, and then Paul did. “Frank.”
“Paul. Doofus over there is Dan and the man running around in back is my brother Tom.”
“Romeo said this was a good place with great people.” He turned his gaze my way. “So far, so good.”
“Romeo?” Ronnie looked at me.
“He means Wally.”
Snickers and titters went around as Dan handed him a beer. I tried to look away, but the way his throat worked as he took a healthy drink, I couldn’t help staring.
“This.” He held up the pint glass and looked at Paul. “Is the shit.”
“Thank you. My brother came up with it. He’s the brewmaster here.”
“My compliments to the man.” He turned to look at me. “What do you do for fun around here?”
Dan chortled. “Edie’s not the one to ask.”
Frank cast a glare towards him. “Well, she is the one I was asking.”
“I read. Crochet. And run a diner.” I turned to face Ronnie. I had to. If I kept facing him, I felt like I would grab him by the shirt and kiss him.
And that is not like me at all.
“Are there any sights to see?” His voice sent chills up my body.
Before I could open my mouth, Ronnie listed places off. “Well, there’s the lake. The park. Country club. Yacht club. Arcade. Sex Club. Dance clubs.”
“Make out point.” Dan winked.
I turned my icy glare towards him. “You know what? It’s been real, it’s been fun. It hasn’t been real fun. I’m out.” I glanced at my watch and slid off the stool. “Call ya later, Ronnie.”
Without another glance, I left the bar and walked back to the diner. Evie flitted around as the early evening patrons filled the booths and when she saw me she gave me her signature sorry, but not sorry, look.
Shaking my head, I went to the office and grabbed my purse and jacket. “I’m heading home, Pops.”
“Okay, my beautiful girl. Mom is home with Mattie.”
Nodding, I kissed my dad on the head and went home.
I’m twenty-seven, live in an apartment owned by my parents, and have a son. My life is just another day as the burger flips.