Three of Diamonds (Hamden Series) (11 page)

“Afraid I can’t do that,” he said, for the first time, embarrassed by his own inability to flush her out of his system.

Shocked at his confession, she couldn’t allow even the slightest chink in her emotional armor to give. No, she needed to be loud and clear with him, even if it was the exact opposite of what she truly wanted. “Why the hell not?”

“Damn if I know.” He answered, equally as quiet, but never breaking eye contact with her beautiful, yet raging, stormy gaze.

“I signed that stupid form. I’m not going to tell anyone about the kinky shit you get off on.” She whispered viciously, hating that many of her fantasies that starred him, were all about his kinky side.

She watched as he dipped his head low, letting out a small chuckle. What was he thinking? And why did she have this overwhelming urge to break the distance and feel for herself, if his body really was as strong as it looked.

“Have a good day,” he said, as he walked past her. Wes didn’t bother to look back, as he opened the door and walked through it, closing it on any further discussion.

“Maybe we should call and check in?” Natalie Cross said, already pulling her cell out of her bag.

“Babe, we’ve been gone all of forty-five minutes. The girls are fine. CeCe is in her glory, alone. I wouldn’t be surprised if she has the locks changed when we get back.” Dylan said, trying to reason with his wife, as he thought of his self-declared adoptive sister. They had just sat at one of the high pub tables in the newer part of Cal’s with their friends, grateful for getting a table. The place was packed and he had really hoped to have some adult alone time with his wife. He loved his daughters, but he was still in newlywed mode. Fuck, who was he kidding, with Natalie, when he’s ninety, he’ll still want her with every breath he took.

“But, what if Ria gets fussy again taking the bottle? And you know how Cat gets if she isn’t put down in her swing after her bottle. I didn’t tell CeCe that.” Natalie said fretting.

“No, you didn’t. I did. Relax, babe. This is our first night out since the twins came home. You promised you would relax and have a good time.” Dylan said, almost pouting.

“Spoken like a true man.” Mae Finn said shaking her head at Dylan’s audacity. Turning toward her beautiful blonde friend, “Natalie, the girls are fine, I’m sure. But if it will give you peace of mind, then give a call. Only mothers know what it feels like leaving our babies for the first time.”

“I don’t want to be like this, but it just feels wrong being here without them.”

“You are preaching to the choir. When Seth was finally able to talk me into going to the grocery store without Cody, I called every aisle to check on him.”

“She isn’t kidding, every aisle. By the time she got to the cereal aisle, I just told her to come home and I would go later.” Said Mae’s husband, Seth, with a smile as he draped his arm over the back of his beautiful curvy wife’s chair. Seth ran his massive fingers over Mae’s delectable back and thoughts flooded him of how he planned on entertaining her privately, when they got home.

The mothers talked quietly about their broods at home, while Seth and Dylan enjoyed a cold beer together. Dylan had just told his wife to call and check on his baby girls, because secretly, he missed them terribly, too, when he noticed his other best friend sitting at a table tucked in the corner.

“There’s Wes. Thought you said you couldn’t get a hold of him?” Dylan asked, tilting his pilsner glass toward Wes’ direction.

“I couldn’t. Left him couple of messages. Honey, Wes is over there, we’ll be right back.” Seth said kissing Mae indecently, before leaving with Dylan to head to Wes’ table.”

“Hey, man, we tried calling you. Where have you been? Natalie and Mae were about to make us send out the National Guard.” Dylan said sliding into the seat opposite Wes. The view sucked for the stage and dance floor but was perfect if you were looking at the bar. Christ on a crutch, the female bartender was definitely worth a look. But this was Wes, he never made his attraction known. “Not that I’m saying the view isn’t agreeable, but what the hell you doing over here?”

“His new favorite past time, watching Lola.” Seth answered, chuckling as he brought his pilsner to his lips. He choked on the cold liquid as Wes’ fist connected with his midsection.

“I assume that beautiful piece of woman behind the bar is Lola.” Dylan asked, receiving a nod from Seth, confirming.

Hearing Dylan call Lola beautiful, grated on Wes. Obviously, he was just stating the truth, because she was gorgeous, but knowing that another man noticed it, caused Wes to feel things he had never before, until he met Lola.

Unaware of the internal battle taking place across the table from him, Dylan said, “You mean, hell has really frozen over? There is a woman out there that is immune to the charm known as Wes Thompson?”

“Whenever you two are done, feel free to go back the way you came.” Wes said, hating how Dylan nailed the issue on the head. Just because he kept his interests and relationship close to the vest didn’t mean he wasn’t above being hurt when his advances have gone unanswered.

“So you’ve been shot down?” Dylan asked, all kidding aside. He had never seen Wes so put out by a woman.

Laughing without any humor behind it, Wes ran his fingers along the sides of his glass. The amber liquid, didn’t even seem to hold its appeal. “Yeah, shot down, driven over and then again for good measure.”

“Ouch.” Seth said, then looked over at his wife and waived. He was a damn lucky bastard, to not only have one great love, but to have two. Now that Dylan was off the market, Wes was kind of left as the fifth wheel. If Lola was who he wanted then Seth would do anything he could to help. “So, not going as planned?”

“That is the understatement of the century. I can’t even get her to have a conversation with me longer than my drink order.” Wes answered, watching Lola dance behind the bar in beat with the music coming from the band playing.

“What she got against you? Most women are usually falling at your feet. If she isn’t interested, move on. Since I’ve chosen to leave bachelorhood behind, the numbers are in your favor,” Dylan said, knowing Wes would never so easily be lead astray. He hoped humor would help bring Wes around.

“She saw behind the curtain and apparently thinks it isn’t worth the trip through Oz.” Wes said quietly, as he continued to watch her.

“What?” Dylan asked.

“Nothing, I guess I’m just glutton for punishment.”

Lola tried to be herself at work, but she was anything but. Wes was here, again! For the past month at least three times a week, always three nights she was working, and now practically every night for the past two weeks. He comes over to the bar to order his scotch, and then goes and sits for hours, never saying another word. She tried to flirt with the regulars like she always did, but every time she went to say something sass filled, she found herself looking toward Wes. She knew he watched her, but he never said anything or approached her, unless it was for a refill. Since his impromptu visit to her apartment, he hasn’t sought her out at all, except for here at Cal’s. Even tonight, with the place packed and the band rocking, she just couldn’t bring herself to let go and enjoy herself like she usually did.

“Lola…HELLO…Earth to Lola.” Hank called.

“Oh, sorry Hank. My mind is somewhere else.”

“Obviously. What gives? You have this dreamy look one moment than panicked the next.” Hank said, honestly concerned that something was bothering his friend.

“All’s good. So, plenty of chicks here tonight, you going to make your move on any of them?” Lola asked hoping the redirection of conversation would be accepted.

“Only one chick I’d consider taking home, and she’s here until at least last call, so I’ll wait to act.” Hank said winking toward her.

“Oh Hank, you couldn’t handle me. I’d want to ride a thoroughbred; you strike me as a carousel pony.” Lola said, feeling herself relax as she made a mock curtsy to the crowds approval of her witty jab.

She turned to take an order from a waiting woman. “Hi hun, what can I get you?”

“Two Pinots please. Are you Lola?”

Lola looked at the attractive woman with quizzical but kind eyes, wondering how she would know her.
Must be this small town life thing
. Lola was still getting used to it. “That’s me.” She said giving a guarded smile as she popped the cork on the bottle of white wine.

“Well, please excuse me, but I must say, I can see what all the fuss is about. You are stunning.” The brunette said, as she smiled causing a dimple to peak out.

When Lola didn’t respond, she continued. “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable. I’ve just heard a lot about you. My name is Mae Finn. I’ve heard around town everyone saying what a looker Cal hired on.” The beautiful brunette extended her hand, and offering Lola what could only be a genuine smile.

“Nice to meet you, Mae. Usually when women approach me like that, they are accusing me of stealing their husbands.” Hoping Mae would understand the jest.

The two woman chatted for a few moments and then Mae headed back to deliver Natalie her wine, and fill her in.

Across the way, Seth watched his wife do what Mae did. She approached and conquered. Wes was going to kill her, after he killed Seth for sharing the little bit he knew about Wes’ infatuation. Seth turned back around to face Wes, and was caught red handed. Wes saw the exchange and he knew Seth was guilty. “What? You try keeping something from Mae. Trust me she has a very special talent to get what she wants out of someone.” Seth said, loving just how special his wife’s talent was for extracting information out of him. He purposely withheld things just to endure her intimate torture. “I can’t help it if she is worried that you are lonely. She’s a mother hen. You know that.”

Wes did know that about Mae. She loved taking care of everyone around her. No matter what you needed, Mae would come through for you. He was so happy when Seth married her. Dylan and Natalie too. Natalie was the sweetest thing in the world, and she hooked, lined and sank Dylan. Wes was just happy he got to see it. Wes had never wanted the settled down life; he enjoyed his life the way that it was. But now, his thoughts changed to what it would be like to have someone in his bed every night. To know someone was waiting for him when he got home. Maybe it was because he was pushing forty, but his secluded life wasn’t holding that much appeal as of late.

“Come on, let’s all go back over there, so you two can control those wives of yours. Hell, who am I kidding? You two are so pussy-whipped, it’s amazing you still carry your balls around in your pants,” Wes said as he rose to walk towards his friends. Laughing as he ignored the descriptive directions of what he could do with himself and his words.