30 Everleigh Tired of Running—Dylan Gossett
Everleigh
Tired of Running—Dylan Gossett
“Everleigh! Why does my latte taste alcoholic?”
Sharing a grin with Maverick, I bite back a laugh. “I thought you needed loosening up, Cass.”
The annoyed redhead comes stomping in from the kitchen, holding her coffee with one hand fastened on her hip. Yep, she’s mad. Though she hasn’t exactly been sunshine and daisies since she got the keys to the new premises.
“You.” She points at Maverick. “You’ve corrupted her.”
“Hey,” he whines, toolbox in hand. “It wasn’t me.”
“She never would’ve pranked me like this six months ago.”
“Blame the culprit, not the inspiration!”
“I’m just trying out a new recipe,” I say innocently. “Boozy coffees for when the tavern reopens. Now that’s a drink I can sell.”
“What the hell is in this?” Cassidy frowns, lips clacking together.
“Erm, rum and coffee liqueur. It’s called a Calypso.”
When she takes another sip, her glare morphs into a small smile. “You know, it’s actually pretty good.”
“See!” I laugh. “Told you.”
Maverick laughs deeply as he sets his tools down next to a newly constructed bar table. At this rate, we’ll be building furniture for the next year before this place is ready to open.
“Can I have one?” he requests.
“If you pay for it,” Cassidy snarks.
“Hey! I’m working my ass off here, boss.”
“And being paid for it. Shut up and build my chairs . . . Please.”
“Did she just say please?” My eyes widen into spheres.
Equally disturbed, Maverick inches backwards. “Apparently.”
“Fuck this.” Cassidy flips us both off. “I need new staff!”
“Good luck!” we call back.
Both bent over laughing hard enough to rattle ribcages, it heals something inside me.
It’s been a rough few weeks, settling back into a life that felt unfamiliar at first. Shaking off the events around Christopher’s arrest is going to take some time, but unlike Fletcher, I don’t need convincing to get help.
Leo celebrated with homemade pizzas after my first online session with a trauma specialist. I drank and played cards with Sterling. Then we whittled the summer night away in the garden, watching Fletcher chip away at his latest project, beer drunk and happy.
“You good here if I go? Fletch should be home from speech therapy soon. We talked about taking a hike.”
“Go.” Maverick waves me off. “You’re shit at building furniture. Besides, August will be here shortly for a drink. He can help me get this crap assembled.”
“Oi! I never proclaimed to be good at it.”
“Stick to making coffees, mystery girl.”
“And pouring pints,” I add. “Anyway, who is August?”
“Erm, I guess he was my friend growing up before Leo arrived and we grew apart. Just came back to town. You remember old man Melville from the gallery opening?”
“The shrivelled-up librarian? He’s hard to forget.”
He scoffs. “True. August is his grandson.”
“How come he left town?”
“He’s a musician. Been off touring Europe.”
“Wow . . . we should get him to play on opening night.”
“I can ask, but he’s kinda reclusive these days,” he explains, shrugging. “You know, I’ve got a hell of a launch night menu planned for this place.”
“Do I get to hear it?”
“Oh, no. This is top secret. I want you to be amazed.”
“Well, your sister thinks you flirt with sandwiches, so it better be good enough to prove her wrong.”
His nose wrinkles. “I do not flirt.”
“Give it up, Mav. We’ll find a girlfriend for you soon enough.”
“Alright, matchmaker. Go away so I can do manly shit.”
I pick up my handbag, calling goodbye to Cassidy in the kitchen. “Later, Casanova.”
“Smart ass!” he shouts.
“Love ya too!”
Outside the new, Grade II–listed building a mile or so from the original Lakeside Tavern, I pull up short at the ever-dirty red truck lingering on the kerb. Two of my three guys wait inside the cab, blasting music on high volume.
“Taxi?” I lean through the window to peck Sterling’s lips.
“Depends,” he teases. “You see a hot bartender around here?”
“Only an out-of-work one, I’m afraid.”
“Well, not for long. We’d better enjoy our time with you while you’re still available.”
“Mm. Now you’re talking.”
Unlike the first time we rode together, Fletcher scoots over without hesitation to let me climb inside. Only he grabs my waist before I can sit down and pulls me across his lap, pressing his crotch into my backside while his arms form a makeshift seat belt.
“E-Ev,” he tries to whisper.
“Hi, Fletch.” I twist to capture his mouth. “Good session?”
Rather than nod, the blistering kiss he replies with could melt flesh and bone. No one could ever accuse Fletcher of failing to communicate these days—through touch, gestures, mouthing and notes, he gains in confidence every single day. And when he can muster a word or two, it’s fucking electric.
I shift on his lap, letting myself melt into a muscular embrace that feels safer than I ever thought possible. They taught me quite the opposite. Not only is it possible, but I’m blessed enough to share my heart with three men of equal importance.
I’m loved.
And fuck, do I love them back.
When our cottage comes into view, I baulk at the sight of a glittering new vehicle parked on the cobblestones. Sterling pulls up, chuckling under his breath.
“That smug shit really did it.”
“Is that Leo’s new car?” I gape at the vehicle.
“Yup. He wanted to surprise you.”
“Holy shit.”
“It’s not that nice,” Sterling huffs.
Underneath me, Fletcher snorts in his chest. Hah. Jealous Sterling is such a brat.
“Well, I like it.”
“Whatever,” he grunts.
My smile grows achingly wide. “Come on, grumpy.”
The canary-yellow Jeep is an absolute beauty. Rugged. Bulky. Huge off-road tyres fit the large steel frame and glossy black roll bars. As we climb out, the cottage’s front door is thrown open for Leo to bounce outside towards us.
“Look at her!” he cries. “Isn’t she gorgeous?”
“It’s yellow,” Sterling deadpans.
“Figure that out all on your own, genius?”
“I like yellow,” I compliment.
“Thank you, Everleigh! See? Gorgeous. I was right.”
“It’s alright, I guess,” Sterling harrumphs.
“Green doesn’t suit you, bro,” Leo snarks.
“I’m not jealous!”
“Tell that to your face.”
Running my fingertips over the new paintwork, it’s sleek and flawless. I’ll definitely be giving this baby a whirl once I can convince Leo I’m not going to joyride it to London again or get into another wreck.
The goof in question sneaks up behind me and lifts me up by the thighs. I screech, spun in his arms, then plonked down on the car’s bonnet so he can step between my parted legs.
“So you like it?”
“Yes,” I purr back.
“If you want a ride, you’ll have to make it worth my time.” Leo brushes his mouth over mine, shamelessly teasing.
“Is that how it works, huh?”
“It is around here.”
My fist bunches in his T-shirt. “Then perhaps you should take me inside so I can start convincing you.”
“We’re not alone, sweetheart.”
“I’m aware.” I seal my lips on his. “Is that a problem?”
Devious intrigue sparkles in the grey ashes floating through his irises.
“I’m game if you are.”
My legs cinch around his waist, bringing us flush together. “Does that answer your question?”
“Perhaps.”
“Take me inside, Leo. Now.”
Sterling and Fletcher take no convincing to follow us, despite our bodies entangled and mouths locked together. I can hear their eager steps following in hot pursuit.
We crash through the front door, and Leo pushes me up against the kitchen wall, his lips attacking mine with ferocity. I kiss him back just as enthusiastically. For the first couple of weeks, they treated me like I was made of glass.
It soon got old. My bruised and battered body took time to heal, plus it’ll be a while before I can get my scarred tattoo patched up. But I don’t need to be handled with kid gloves. Especially not by them.
One hand on my waist, the other moves to grab a handful of my ass. I growl in encouragement, letting my teeth nip his bottom lip. Leo’s tongue swipes over mine, as intoxicating as ever. My tattooed ball of sunshine always knows exactly how to wind me up.
“What happened to sharing?” Sterling grunts from behind.
Separating, I gasp for air while peering over Leo’s shoulder. “If you want something, come and take it.”
“You’re being demanding again, love.”
“When have I ever not been demanding?”
“You heard her.” Leo scrapes his mouth down my throat to lick along my collarbones. “Come and take it, Sterl.”
Stalking around his brother, Sterling leans over to seize my chin and twist my head to face his. I accept the bruise of his mouth slamming on mine. He can be gentle, but today, I don’t want to feel their reverence. Instead, I want their touch to erase every mark that sick bastard left on my body.
Leo tugs the neckline of my loose tank top down to expose my bra line. I moan into Sterling when he pulls my nipple free to secure his lips around it, laying down bites that make my spine tingle.
Having both brothers laser focused on me is brain scrambling. I let Sterling drink his fill, content to claim every inch of my mouth with his tongue and teeth. He tastes like the darkest of sins, but it’s an illicit cocktail I’d accept any day.
Heat floods my pores and shoots south as Leo massages my other breast, taking his time to suck my nipple into a stiff peak.
“You’ve never had all three of us feast on you,” Sterling murmurs, his tone strained. “Are you ready for that?”
“Yes,” I mewl.
“We can stop right here, baby. There are no expectations.”
“Stop acting like I’m going to break at any moment.”
“Just respecting your boundaries, love.”
“Enough. I want all of you.”
Releasing my breast, Leo places a kiss on my hardened bud, then steps back. The front of his cargos is tented. With him moved aside, I have a clear view of Fletcher, leaning against the kitchen cabinets to rub the lump in his sweats. Moisture swells in my mouth.
“Please, Sterl.”
“So greedy,” Sterling comments. “What’s to be done about that?”
“I can think of a few solutions,” Leo replies.
“Me too, little brother. Me too.”