What Love Sounds Like Read online

  

  Cherry Hill 12: What Love Sounds Like Ivy has had a thing for her brothers' best friends, the Shelton brothers, for quite some time. They admit they feel it, too, but so much is at risk. When she takes an opportunity to sing in a local dance hall, which has been a dream of hers, she never expects the attention she gets or the men that push to get her into bed. It sets the Shelton brothers in motion to take the risks and claim Ivy as their woman once and for all. But it seems like certain people are trying to tear them apart by making up lies, making them question their commitment to one another and loyalty, as well. When danger surrounds Ivy, and her friends and her life is on the line, Johnny, Bronc, Keller, and Angus remain by her side trying to protect her. They are happy and in love, and celebrating together when disaster strikes.

  Genres: Contemporary, Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Romantic Suspense Length: 39,082

  CHERRY HILL 12:

  WHAT LOVE SOUNDS LIKE

  Dixie Lynn Dwyer

  

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  Cherry Hill 12: What Love Sounds Like Copyright © 2019 by Dixie Lynn Dwyer

  ISBN: 978-1-64243-797-3

  First Publication: May 2019

  Cover design by Les Byerley All art and logo copyright © 2019 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  W A RNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

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  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  For all titles by Dixie Lynn Dwyer, please visit www.bookstrand.com/dixie-lynn-dwyer

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  CHERRY HILL 12:

  WHAT LOVE SOUNDS LIKE

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Epilogue

  CHERRY HILL 12:

  WHAT LOVE SOUNDS LIKE

  DIXIE LYNN DWYER

  Copyright © 2019

  Prologue

  “ Don’t get angry at me for saying this, Ivy, but if you need me to distract your brothers so you can get some action, I’m more than willing to make the sacrifice,” Cherise said and the girls all laughed.

  Ivy snickered. “You and about half the female population that notice them when they show up at Harper’s. No, I’m shy, and not really into messing around,” Ivy replied.

  “You’re better off. Take it from me, guys pretend to be nice guys but then they turn into assholes, and you wind up scarred for life, physically and emotionally,” Candice said and then lifted her top to show them the deep scar from the knife wound Simon caused when he attacked her.

  “Thank God Isabella knew those self-defense moves and had all that training, or who knows what could have happened,” Faith said to them.

  They leaned back in the lounge chairs by Ivy’s house and just absorbed the sun. Spring had come early and they were already talking about the swimming hole, barbecues with friends and planned concerts and activities to attend.

  “Oh, I almost forgot. Rambli’n 7 is playing in Benter in a couple of weeks on Thursday night. Who is in?” Leeann asked.

  “Me!” Faith and Ivy said.

  “Cherise and I are working at Harper’s,” Candice told them.

  “Well, maybe another time then. I think they’ll be playing in Coldsberry next month,” Leeann said.

  “Well, I’m sure we can come up with at least one concert we can all attend together. I’ll start looking them up when I get home later,” Cherise told them.

  “So how is Isabella anyway? She’s been taking off a lot,” Leeann asked.

  “Well, I don’t believe her men want her working at Harper’s. The uniform and the men,” Faith said.

  “I don’t blame them. I get tired of men hitting on me, staring at my body and then thinking that I’m easy or something. I can’t even tell you how many phone numbers I get on paper,” Candice said to them then took a sip of her sweet tea.

  “Tell me about it, and I’m so much younger than most of the guys that go there. Seriously, it’s like when you’re single the men just assume you’re looking for a relationship, or a roll in the hay,” Faith said.

  “Poor Ivy was cornered the other night by those two cowboys from Benter. Jake and Crespy, I think their names are,” Cherise said to them.

  “I was a bit intimidated, that’s for sure. I was ready though. They’ve come in a lot the last month, and they always ask me out.”

  “Maybe you should tell your brothers, or even Seren,” Faith said to her.

  “I’d rather not turn it into a situation. They’re just guys looking for action, and it isn’t like there’s something wrong with them. They’re just older and a bit rugged. I get asked out all the time, and I’m pretty good at turning men down so it doesn’t turn into something creepy. My brothers have taught me well, and I’m always aware of what’s going on around me. The key to not becoming a victim is to be aware at all times. That’s why it’s important when we all go out that we stick together. No hooking up with some guy or guys and disappearing,” Ivy said and then gave the stare down to Leeann.

  Leeann’s mouth gaped open as they chuckled. “One time. One, and you throw it in my face repeatedly.”

  “Um, Leeann, we thought the guy was going to force you into his truck. I think you can agree it was a stupid thing to do, walking outside with him alone. You know as well as I do that there have been stories about young women being abducted and raped. You have to be smart, no matter how nice a man’s ass fits into his blue jeans,” Cherise said and they started laughing.

  “Okay, okay, so I got lustful. Can ya blame a girl when it’s been two years since I’ve gotten any action?” Leeann said.

  “Use a vibrator, then you won’t be so desperate to jump on the first possibility,” Candice stated. They laughed some more.

  Ivy felt her cheeks warm. These women had a few years on her and Faith was a year older, but they were definitely more experienced when it came to men.

  “Does that really work?” Faith asked.

  Candice, Leeann, and Cherise looked at Faith.

  “I say you should wait for the real deal to pop your cherry, honey. You and Ivy don’t need vibrators, you need to experience a lover or two,” Cherise told them.

  “Or they can wait, like a lot of our friends have,” Candice said and then looked somber.

  Everyone got quiet.

  “I wish I waited. My first was full of bullshit,” Candice said.

  “You were eager for a boyfriend. It happens to the best of us,” Cherise said to her.

  “What’s your story then, Cherise? You seem the most experienced and you’re twenty-six, what’s your take?” Leeann asked.

  Cherise took a sip of her sweet tea. “I fell in love at twenty. With a Marine and his two brothers, also Mar
ines. We were inseparable except when they went off on their tours of duty. Mission after mission, more time in between them showing up, and that love slowly diminished, but not before it became about sex only. Like I was there for them when they returned and they got laid and then went back. I was tired of feeling like an object, and I broke things off with them. Case died a month later. His brothers changed and I did, too. Never felt loss like that. Anger like I did for Case dying, and his brothers never coming back to me. I’m really not as experienced as you think, as I am more practical, and guarded. If I meet a man and we hit it off and the attraction is strong enough for sex, then so be it. But I don’t think I’ll ever fall in love again. I don’t think I can take the pain when it falls apart.”

  “I can’t believe you never told us that story. I hope one day you can move on from that pain and give love a chance. You never know. Especially around Cherry Hill,” Ivy told her. Leeann gave a soft smile.

  “You’re young, just be smart, Ivy. Men a lot of the times are looking for one thing. They find out you’re a virgin, and they’re even more determined to grab that from you and make it theirs. You watch yourself. Men like that put out all the maneuvers to get between your legs. Remain in charge. That’s the best advice I can give you and Faith.”

  “Well, on that note, maybe we need to do a women’s day out or night out where it’s all about us and has absolutely nothing to do with men, or getting laid,” Candice said and they started chuckling again.

  “To not getting laid,” Leeann said and raised her glass. They clinked glasses and laughed some more. Ivy couldn’t help but to smile. These women were her best friends, and she hoped to have them in her life forever. Ivy wanted happiness for each of them, and after hearing about Cherise’s broken heart, she really hoped true love found her friend, and quickly.

  “What’s going on out here?” Eric asked, walking onto the back patio with Landon and Kenny, as well as their friends Angus and Bronc. He immediately looked at Cherise, who was a good ten years younger than him, but she was one sexy woman, with a bit of an attitude, and also his sister’s best friend. All these women were.

  “Just hanging out, anticipating this warm, spring weather,” Leeann said as Ivy got up off the chair.

  “Well, it’s definitely a warm enough day. Heard tomorrow it’s going to be a little cold again, but should start showing more spring temperatures soon enough,” Landon said and then walked closer to the ladies.

  “Ivy,” Angus said to Ivy as she walked closer.

  “Hello, Angus, Bronc, how are you?”

  “Good, but wondering why you haven’t been in class,” Angus asked, with his arms crossed in front of his extra large chest. The man was six feet three, and built like a linebacker. All of his brothers were big and tall men and they towered over Ivy, who right now looked totally intimidated.

  Angus couldn’t take his eyes off of Ivy. His best friend’s kid sister, and he was attracted to her. Hell, his brothers were too but didn’t want to face it or consider her an option. They knew once they made a move it would be permanent, and she was young. Absolutely stunning with bold baby blue eyes, thick eyelashes, and long blonde hair. She was sweet, soft-spoken, and was exceptional at martial arts. His brother Johnny, the local doctor in town, liked her, too, but was concerned about staking a claim to a woman so young. So they held back. Angus didn’t want to. He feared that the longer they waited, the greater a chance some other men would come along and sweep her off her feet.

  “I’ve been busy this week. I took on giving some guitar lessons to Mrs. Garrison’s sons and they’re a handful. She had to rearrange the schedule this week because of pre-season training for baseball,” she told him.

  “I expect you there tomorrow morning,” he told her firmly. Her gorgeous face flushed and then she swallowed hard.

  “I thought you were going to give up teaching guitar,” Kenny asked her. She looked upset about his comment.

  “Why would I give it up when I love it?” she said to her brother.

  “She’s so good at singing, too. We’ve been trying to get her to get up on stage when we go to a concert and they pick people out of the audience,” Leanne said to Kenny.

  “Oh yeah, but she shyly pulls back,” Candice added.

  “That isn’t a smart idea. You know the guys in those bands are just looking for some naive young woman to be starstruck so they can get you backstage and make some moves. Promise you they got the connections to turn you into a star,” Kenny said to her.

  “That isn’t true,” Ivy replied.

  Her brothers looked at her.

  “You’re too sweet and nice, and never expect the worse in people. That’s why you need watching over,” Landon added abruptly.

  “Whatever.” She walked past him and then called over her shoulder. “Anyone need more sweet tea?” she asked.

  “Sure,” Faith called out and the ladies were all giving Ivy’s brothers dirty looks.

  Angus followed her into the kitchen along with his brother, Bronc. Bronc took a seat at the island.

  “Don’t mind your brothers, you know they only have the best in mind for you,” Angus said to her as he eyed over her body in her skin tight blue jeans that hung low on her waist. She wore tennis sneakers in white and a midriff blue shirt that showed how perfect her abs were and how well endowed she was for a woman who was all of about five feet four. She was also sporting a sexy belly ring and a trail of bright bold, tiny blue flowers in a tattoo that went pretty low from what her brothers said. They sure were pissed off about the tattoo. Angus and his brothers were more aroused by it and how low it dipped.

  “I’m not. I ignore them,” she replied as she prepared some more sweet tea for her friends.

  “Well, I wouldn’t exactly ignore them. They give great advice, being older and all,” Bronc added.

  She turned around to look at them and he saw that fire in her eyes that was all Ivy. The woman didn’t know what she did to him and his brothers. How they wanted her, lusted over her. She had a body made for sin, that drew attention immediately, and a face like an angel.

  “They don’t understand. They had their careers in the military and now in the martial arts MMA place you all own and operate together.”

  “You work there, too, in between Harper’s.”

  “That isn’t going to be my life, Angus,” she retorted and then turned around and finished what she was doing. Bronc stood up and walked closer. She turned to look way up at him, the sight bringing on waves of possessiveness and protectiveness Angus couldn’t explain.

  He reached down and caressed her hair. “You’re young.”

  “Jesus H. Christ,” she blurted out and shook her head and began to walk away but Bronc grabbed her upper arm. She paused, stared up at him.

  Bronc held her gaze. “Settle down with that temper you got. We aren’t the enemy. We care.”

  “I’ve got four older brothers. I sure as hell don’t need four more ganging up on me. No need to ruin the day.” He released her arm and she grabbed the pitcher of sweet tea. “If you want some, just grab two more glasses,” she said and walked out of the kitchen.