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Like why Evan would send Moira a letter and not me.
Moira Kelly’s house was at the end of a winding subdivision. The two-story home backed up to one of the many small water inlets leading to the ocean. I even spied a dock around the back. The colonial home had a stately appeal with its ivory columns, pale blue shutters, and sweeping circular driveway. There was a massive oak tree that had to be close to two hundred years old in the front yard.
I pulled into the driveway lined with Black-eyed Susans in radiant bloom. The rumble of our Harleys had curious neighbors peeking out their windows. They could look all they wanted. We were here for one thing, and then we’d be gone.
Turning off the engine, I climbed off my bike. Let’s get this over with. I’d rather be on our way to Maine to freeze my nuts off than deal with this woman. Before I could head up the drive to the stately wraparound porch, the front door opened, and a slender woman appeared on the stoop.
I had seen pictures of Moira over the years. Evan showed me pictures of the two of them from time to time. So I knew she was a looker, because that’s what Evan had gone for, but I wasn’t prepared for being in her presence.
She was a tiny thing. Topping out at a little over five feet, she wore a pair of cutoff denim shorts that displayed her tanned and toned legs with a deep purple tank top that fit her chest and torso like a second skin. She had thick, dark brunette hair that fell in loose waves to her mid-back. From this distance, I couldn’t tell what color her eyes were, but then I was struck dumb by her gorgeous face. Gently arched dark brows, golden tanned skin, a slender nose with the tip upturned slightly, and a pair of lush, top-heavy lips. Her presence zapped through me like I’d just stuck my finger in an electrical socket.
She plunked her hands on her hips and cast a bright smile that made me feel the warmth of the sun on my face. “Well, I’ll be. You must be Evan’s friends. Y’all are a long way from home, aren’t you?”
I took the lead and stepped closer to the porch. “Yes, we’re Evan’s friends. We served with him.”
The smile she directed at me felt like I’d been punched clean through the chest. No wonder Evan loved her. Moira was stunning. Her eyes danced when she smiled.
“Why don’t y’all come on inside? I’ve got some time before I gotta head into work.” She nodded her chin toward the front door.
Ah. I guess we were right on time. None of us figured she might have to work. I was more curious than I cared to admit about the woman who broke Evan’s heart and turned down his marriage proposal. I made it onto the porch just as a huge yellow lab that had to weigh as much as Moira rushed out the door, his tail wagging excitedly as he pranced on the porch.
“This is Tater. He’s harmless. But if you don’t want him jumping on you, just shove him off,” Moira said, holding the front door open for us to enter.
Tater barreled right up to me, romping in excitement, his tongue lolling out. I held out my hand for him to sniff. “Hey, boy.”
I got licked by a huge doggy tongue. Then Tater laid on his back, belly up, with what looked like a smile on his face. I laughed at the dog’s antics, knelt, and gave him a quick belly rub as the others joined me on the porch.
“Oh look, you’ve found yourself a new girlfriend,” James teased.
My spine snapped straight at the insinuation. I didn’t want Moira. It was absurd. He, of all people, should know why I didn’t want anything to do with her. I shot James a hard glare that would make lesser men wilt. “Excuse me?”
“You and the pup. It looks like love,” James commented with a wry grin.
Fuck, he meant the dog, not the woman. I needed to get my damn head in the game.
“Don’t be jealous,” I replied, rising from my crouch as I played it off. We entered Moira’s home single file. I passed by the woman and caught a whiff of her scent. I couldn’t make out what the fragrance was, something understated and exotic. Much like the woman.
“Come on in. Why don’t we have a seat in the living room, and we can chat?” she murmured, swishing past me and the others.
Jesus, she had a killer ass in those tiny jean shorts that were giving me immoral thoughts.
It took everything in me not to lose it. I fought against need with heaping doses of guilt. It had been a long time since I hooked up with a woman. That’s the only logical explanation for why I was imagining all manner of dirty deeds with Moira. This woman betrayed my friend, and she acted like it was no big deal.
I didn’t care how attractive I found her because I would never act on it. She was Evan’s ex-girlfriend, which put her in the strict off-limits category. Anger roiled in my gut as we trailed down the hall, our boots stomping over golden pine hardwood floors.
“Why don’t y’all have a seat? I’ll get us some refreshments for your visit.” Moira nodded toward the sofas in the living room.
It was comfortably appointed with deep-seated, dark gray couches that invited a body to come stay awhile. The walls were a tasteful taupe with ivory crown molding and an ivory stone fireplace. It wasn’t what I expected of a stripper. But then, I guess I didn’t know a whole lot about strippers beyond that they removed their clothes for a living.
She left us before I could inform her that we didn’t need anything to drink. All I wanted to do was hand her the letter, make sure she read it, and then leave. In that order.
If we left Charleston within the next two hours, we could get another few hours on the road and head north toward our second stop.
I was far too restless to sit while we waited. Although Lucas, Aiden, James, and Wyatt weren’t of like minds. Each took a seat on the couches while I paced the room.
“Relax,” Wyatt said in that calm voice of his that drove me bonkers. We could be in the middle of a firefight, insurgents all around us, and he would still be calm, cool, and collected. Like nothing got under his skin, not even potentially facing death.
“You relax. I just want to get this over with.”
