Lena's Happily Ever After [The Town of Pearl 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) by Dixie Lynn Dwyer Read Free Book Online

that cost?” she asked.
    “It’s our cottage, our responsibility to make sure everything is on the up-and-up. I can go into town tomorrow and order one from Louis. It will probably take a week, though.”
    “That really isn’t necessary. I can use the grill, and I like salads. I can handle not having anything to cook on.”
    He saw the seriousness in her eyes. He hated imagining her rummaging through garbage cans to find food. She was too beautiful for that kind of life. He felt compelled to help her.
    He stepped closer to her and she didn’t move.
    “You have the most amazing color eyes I have ever seen. It’s like looking into the Caribbean sea.”
    She swallowed hard then turned away from him. A long strand of hair had come out from the ponytail holder that held the rest back from her face.
    He couldn’t resist the urge to touch the shimmering onyx. He reached out to touch the strand of hair, and she looked up at him.
    “Like silk, just as I imagined,” he stated before letting the black satin fall between his fingers.
    She tensed up. The last thing that he wanted to do was scare her. Usually women threw themselves at him. Go figure the one time in his life when he saw something in a woman that sparked interest deep inside him that she would have the ability to resist and possibly even fear his touch. Blake was compelled to talk his way through this and make friends with her quickly.
    “Don’t be scared of me, Lena. My fathers and my mother raised us well. We respect women and we are protective of what’s ours.”
    She pushed the loose strand of hair away from her face and behind her ear.
    “That’s nice to know but—” He placed his finger over his lips for her to stop talking. Then he stepped closer placing his hand on her waist.
    “I’m not just being nice. I want to get to know you. You don’t have to be alone anymore,” he began to say when her eyes widened and she took a few steps away from him.
    “I like being alone, Blake. It’s what I’m used to.”
    Before he could respond to her, they heard Will call from outside.
    “Lock up the house, we’re eating at our place. The grill isn’t working either,” Will stated, and Blake laughed as he shook his head, but Lena looked petrified.
     
    * * * *
     
    Bryant wondered what the hell had been going on the past week over at the old cottage. His house was a hop, skip, and a jump away, and the entire racket and yelling and laughing was driving him crazy. He chose this cottage to keep away from everyone, and now it seemed that his wacky parents were renting out to some chick.
    He forced himself out of the chair and walked closer toward the kitchen window. The moment his eyes locked on the woman, he felt his chest tighten.
    She was bending over, raking out weeds and clearing the overgrown bed by the side and front of the cottage. Her long, black hair was tied with a ribbon or something. It had to reach her waist. Who the hell was she?
    Before long, he was leaning onto the counter and keeping a watchful eye on her. She had on a tight pair of blue jeans that hugged her ass perfectly. Her tank top didn’t reach the waistline and showed off her body. He didn’t need his perfect vision to see from the distance that she was hot looking. His body reacted, too, and it had been ages since a woman affected him like that. Then again, he hadn’t been with a woman in a long time.
    He was annoyed for even reacting when he saw a rider show up and walk over to the woman. Was that Clay? That piece of shit was trying to get into her pants. He was a player. Why should I give a shit? Like most women, his new young neighbor was probably trouble, anyway. He downed his drink and stumbled back over to the couch.
     
    * * * *
     
    The days had passed and Lena was getting used to people stopping by to say hello or to check on her. She had heard the screen door next door pop open and close a few times during the night, but she never got a glimpse at the man who lived there.