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Ember
With Aiden's help, I had put together a good outline for my essay on To The Lighthouse. There was still work to be done, but needing a break, I went downstairs to get a bottle of water from the refrigerator. I didn't mean to eavesdrop on Logan and Aiden, but they were kissing, and I didn't want to interrupt.
Besides, it was super hot. The way their tongues fought for control. Hips grinding against one another. Hands running over bodies. Aiden shoved his hand down the front of Logan’s pants. Despite feeling like a peeping Tom, I could feel my arousal rising.
Getting off to the sounds of them screwing was one thing, but watching them share a moment of intimacy felt like a violation of their privacy. I stepped into the kitchen and alerted them of my presence, hoping they might invite me to join. But they pulled apart and flushed with embarrassment at having been caught screwing around in the kitchen. Aiden asked if I would like to go out with them for the evening.
It was not a tough choice. I could stay home, alone and keep working on my essay or I could spend time with not one but two sexy men. “Sure, where are we going?”
Aiden said he was part of the fire department's dart team. Tonight, they were playing their archrival, RW&SD, at Stoney’s Tavern. It took me a minute to realize what the letters meant. “Your archrival is the water and sanitation department?”
Logan explained. The two best teams in the Riverdell Municipal Services Dart League are the water department and the fire department. Four years ago, Water stole the championship from Fire, on a very controversial call. There's been bad blood between both groups ever since.
When I tended bar at Squirrely’s, there were at least five leagues that played there regularly. I quickly learned, in Riverdell, darts are serious business. But there was a problem. I only had one pair of jeans and one top that was suitable for a night out and I had worn them already. “Can I use the washer and dryer? I need to do laundry if we're going out tonight.”
“Anytime you want. You don’t have to ask,” Logan said. “But Aiden and I have been talking.”
“Between school and work, you are going to need more clothes than you have right now. After dinner, we are going to the mall so you can pick out an outfit for tonight.” Before I could tell Aiden, I didn’t have the money for more clothes, he said, “I will put it on my credit card, and you can pay me back with the insurance money.”
“Then tomorrow, you and I can go shopping for anything else you need,” Logan said. He must have sensed my discomfort. “If it makes you feel better, you can sign a promissory note. That way, there are no strings attached. Just a simple business transaction.”
The generosity of the offer and its phrasing, which allowed me to keep my dignity, had me once again holding back tears. It was getting harder and harder to convince myself the attraction I felt was only physical. They were two of the sweetest men—no, that's not right—they were the only men who had ever cared for me. And despite my best efforts, I was having feelings for them.
Men have taken advantage of me all of my life. They only ever wanted two things from me. Money or sex. But Logan and Aiden seemed to have no need for money. Nor to my growing frustration, showed any interest in sleeping with me.
After dinner, we headed to the mall. Aiden handed me his credit card and said he was going to Barnes and Noble. An hour later, I found him still in the bookstore; I returned his credit card and gave him the receipts. In the bags was an outfit so sexy that even he would take notice.
CHAPTER NINE
Logan
Aiden and I had already showered and changed. Dart night is a rather informal affair. We were wearing jeans and sweaters. Ember was still upstairs, getting ready.
“Did Shaughnessy have any information on Ember's car?” Aiden asked. “Have they recovered it yet?”
I recounted what Ted told me. The car was too old to be of any value for parts. The original theory was that it was just some kids looking for a joyride and they would find it abandoned a day or two later. Since that had not happened, it was safe to assume it had been sold for scrap. It is illegal to buy cars without a title, but high demand for scrap meant some yards turned a blind eye.
“The more I think about it, I’m starting to think you are right,” Aiden said. “First her car gets stolen and two hours later, her apartment burns to the ground. It’s too coincidental to just be bad luck.”
“Way too coincidental. I can’t prove it, but I am convinced her ex had something to do with it. I would love to know what he was arrested for.”
“If the records are sealed, we will never know.” He removed a speck of lint from his sweater. “But I think it is best that we keep him away from her. God only knows what he might try next.”
“Who are you talking about?” Ember asked. She was halfway down the steps, and I forgot all about Reggie.
“Damn. You clean up well.” The long-sleeved crop top hugged her body perfectly. A matching skirt highlighted her toned legs. But it was her exposed belly button that drew my eyes. So perfect, I wanted to kiss it. I elbowed Aiden in the ribs. He had been staring, speechless, since Ember had entered the room. I had never seen him react to a woman like that before. “Doesn't she look nice?”
“Beautiful,” was all he could manage.
“Are you sure it’s not too much?” She asked. “I could change into jeans and a sweater.”
“No,” we both said quickly and a little too loudly. “You look perfect.”
“So do the two of you.” She linked her arms in ours and asked who’s driving.
Aiden had recovered and insisted we take his car. “It is safer than that damn Mustang.”
Riverdell has as many bars as it does churches. A few years back, the Holy Redeemer outgrew its previous location and built a new building near Highway 19. It only seemed fitting when Stony Palumbo bought the old church and turned it into a tavern.
