Dare to Forgive [The Dare Series 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Read online

  She stopped by the deli in town and grabbed a salad and an ice tea. It was beautiful out today and considering she would be stuck in the meeting room with her bosses for the rest of the afternoon, she should enjoy lunch outside.

  As she found a spot near the small park, she set up her things and pulled out her iPad. She saw text messages from Alicia and Marlena and then her phone went off as Mercedes texted her. She read the texts from Mercedes.

  Going to Spencer’s tonight for a few drinks with Alicia and Marlena. You have to come, too. I can’t be stuck with all their men and feeling like I’m the single tag-a-long friend. Pleaseee.

  Adel chuckled. Mercedes was so funny, and she was right. Adel went out with Alicia and Marlena a few times with their men and she felt out of place. Their men were touching them, kissing them, and being affectionate. That made the one single girl not only feel out of place but also in the spotlight for loser guys to come over thinking she was desperate for a man . She texted back immediately.

  Sure thing. I’ll meet you there at 7:00.

  Adel began to eat her lunch and in between she searched online for a new ceiling fan for her bedroom. The damn thing broke it was so old and considering her small cottage didn’t have central air , she only had a window AC unit and the bedroom fan to keep her cool at night. She needed one desperately.

  “So this is where you disappear for lunch.”

  She gasped and looked up to see Will standing there and holding a brown bag and an ice tea. His hazel eyes were blocked by some designer sunglasses that hid his eyes completely.

  She didn’t know what to say but he sure did.

  “Can I join you?” he asked, taking a seat and setting up his stuff alongside her.

  “Sure. I guess,” she replied and then looked back at her iPad and noticed the prices for some of the basic fans. She exhaled.

  “What are you looking at fans for?” he asked, and then bit into a large sub sandwich.

  She turned to look at him. He removed his sunglasses and his hazel eyes held hers a moment. She could smell his cologne or was it the damn appealing soap he used in the shower this morning? She thought about the way he looked as he ran into the meeting room. His hair was practically still dripping. He must have been out late last night. Or maybe up all night. Was he alone in bed, or had some lucky woman gotten whisked off her feet by the very handsome and charming Will Ferguson?

  She swallowed hard. He wasn’t her type either. A playboy who slept with a lot of women just because he could.

  “Mine broke. I need a replacement one,” she told him then scrolled down to a cheaper one.

  “Do you really need one? Doesn’t your cottage have AC?” he asked.

  She shook her head. “Just a small unit in the window. It’s supposed to get hotter next week and I’ll be miserable if I don’t get a new one installed right away.”

  “If you don’t mind one in brown or white, I think we have some overstock in storage from the last construction site.”

  “How much?”

  He smiled.

  “You don’t have to pay for it.”

  “No, I couldn’t do that. They were all paid for originally. What is the price? I’m on a limited budget.”

  “Why is that? We pay you really well,” he asked. God he was so forward. He hadn’t a clue about struggling to make ends meet. He had money most of his life. She was on her own now and left home with five thousand dollars to her name. She couldn’t tell him how she needed a new dryer and was hang-drying her clothing outside. She couldn’t tell him her oven was leaking gas and she had to disconnect it because she didn’t want to blow up the small cottage she now owned. It was tough but she needed to be independent.

  She felt the hand on her knee and Will gave it a squeeze. Immediately her breasts felt full, her nipples hardened, and her pussy was on alert. All from a simple touch.

  She instinctively pushed his hand off her knee and scooted slightly to the right.

  He looked insulted, maybe hurt, and she turned away.

  “Adel, let me help you out with the fan. If you want to give the company fifty bucks to feel better about it then do it. I can get over to your place to install it this weekend,” he told her then took another bite of his lunch.

  She was shocked that he offered and realizing how she reacted to his touch, there was no way she could let him in her home never mind her bedroom to fix the fan.

  “That’s okay. Steve said he could help me out with any installations I need.”

  He squinted his eyes at her and seemed pissed off. “Steve is not going to your place to help you with anything.” He emphasized the word help like there was so much more meaning to it. Then it hit her. He knew Steve flirted with her. Maybe Will thought Steve would make a move at her place. Hell, Steve would make a move on her at her place and especially in the bedroom.

  She worried her lower lip.

  “Maybe you’re right. Steve is a flirt and he could take me asking for his help the wrong way, but you wouldn’t do that,” she challenged him and tried to read his facial expression.

  “Of course not. You’re our personal assistant. My brothers and I have told you numerous times that if you need any help with anything, just ask.”

  “Of course, but if you’re sure you’re not too busy. I mean I know how you enjoy a lot of parties and social events on the weekend.”

  He appeared insulted at her comment.

  “Not this weekend. Helping you comes first,” he said then took another bite of his sandwich. She closed her iPad and then finished her lunch.

  “So, any plans for tonight?” he asked.

  “Just meeting my friends at Spencer’s for a few drinks.”

  He smiled.

  “Well, I could get that fan for you and come over to your cottage tomorrow if you want? It won’t take long to install.”

  “Tomorrow? That soon?” she asked, surprised that he could get it done that quickly.

  “Sure. How about eleven? Will that give you enough recovery time from drinking tonight?” he asked with a smirk.

  “I don’t tend to drink a lot. In fact, I don’t like being around people who drink a lot either. It makes me uncomfortable,” she told him.

  “Well, I don’t blame you. People sometimes act differently when they’re drunk.”

  “Yeah, some people act like idiots and can be hurtful.”

  “Sounds like you’ve had some experiences with that?”

  She looked at him and those sexy hazel eyes, the way he sat there appearing so big, so accomplished and capable. She let the words leave her lips without thinking.

  “I’ve seen people do some terrible things when they’re drunk. Even the nicest guys could turn into monsters.”

  As his eyes widened and then scrunched together she realized what she said. She was thinking about Bentley and how he hit her, grabbed her forcefully, and made demands on her in a drunken state.

  “Hey, are you okay?” he asked her as he placed his arm over the back of her chair. She felt his thumb caress against her bare skin on her arm and she cleared her throat.

  “I’m great, but I think lunch is over. I’d hate to get your brother angry by showing up late.” She started gathering her things and he seemed hesitant to leave. Was he enjoying their conversation?

  As they stood up and gathered their garbage, Will touched her hand.

  “Hey, not all guys are assholes. Sometimes alcohol just reveals who they really are.”

  “You don’t have to tell me,” she said and chuckled as they began walking back to the office together. As they got to the sidewalk toward the front door her phone rang.

  She answered it without looking at the caller ID.

  “Hey, baby. I’ve missed your voice.”

  She heard Bentley’s words and his voice and she stopped short. Tears hit her eyes and Will stopped short.

  “Adel, are you there?” he asked.

  “Excuse me. I need to take this call,” she told Will.

 
He nodded and she turned around and headed to the side a bit.

  “Why are you calling me? I told you not to,” she stated firmly.

  “Baby, don’t be like that. I’m worried about you, and so are your parents.”

  “Yeah well, I’m fine and I certainly don’t need you checking up on me.”

  “But I care about you. I worry about you. Are you working?”

  “That’s none of your business. I asked you to leave me alone. Why can’t you just do that?”

  “Because I still love you, baby. I want to talk to you and make things up to you.”

  “Bye.” She clicked the phone off and exhaled. The tears hit her eyes and she growled low.

  That son of a bitch. Why can’t he just leave me alone? What does he want from me?

  “Adel?” She felt the hand on her shoulder and instinctively, she abruptly turned around and was shocked to lock gazes with Will. He looked concerned and she closed her eyes and kept her hands at her side.

  She felt his hands caress her arms and held her there. Her eyes popped open.

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  She shook her head.

  “Do you need my help?”

  “No, Will. I’m sorry. It’s personal. I’ll be fine. I can take care of it.”

  “Are you sure?” he asked, reaching for her chin and tilting her face up toward him so she could lock gazes with him.

  “Yes, Will, I have to be.”

  She turned away from him and headed inside.

  * * * *

  Will watched Adel walk away and he was concerned to say the least. Whomever called her was obviously bothering her and not listening to her request to leave her alone. Was it an ex-boyfriend? Was the guy abusive? Maybe someone who drank a lot and hurt her? His mind was assuming so many things after their nice conversation during lunch and what she shared. Hell, if her ex—well, if there was an ex—who drank a lot and was abusive to her then he would give up drinking if it made her uncomfortable. He wanted to know who the guy was. He wanted to help her and to take the look of fear, of anger and sadness from her eyes. He had to talk to his brothers.

  They had all witnessed her taking calls from her mom and how sad she got. They knew nothing about her family, her past, or even where she worked before. Their father Harold knew her and recommended giving her the job. They accepted their father’s good judgment and they hadn’t been disappointed since. In fact, they spent more time around her than they needed to. Having her help with this new business venture was a plus. He needed to talk to Leo. If some guy was harassing her, together they would take care of him and protect Adel. She was going to be theirs eventually. They just needed to gain her trust and prove to her that they weren’t going to hurt her.

  He felt sick. What if Adel had been abused? What if the guy still wanted her? He had to find out. He exhaled and entered the building searching for Leo and Hank, but it was time to meet again in the meeting room and Adel was already there looking professional and ready. Her smile seemed sincere, but he knew she was hiding her emotions. Something was going on and he and his brothers would get to the bottom of it.

  Chapter 2

  Adel looked around Spencer’s as she sipped on a glass of white wine. She wasn’t in the mood for drinking, for socializing for that matter. Bentley called her again and it was making her crazy. Why did he want to know where she was working and if she was handling things okay? She just wanted to be left alone and to have the past behind her, but she was uptight, on edge, and it didn’t help that Steve was here and so were his brothers. All four of them were watching her, and then she saw Will and Leo. She swallowed hard. They stood out in a crowd with their designer dress pants and solid polo shirts. Add in their attitudes, the way they walked around like they owned the place, and oh yeah, they grabbed every woman’s attention in the place.

  “Hey, beautiful, will your friends let you leave them long enough for me to buy you a drink?” Steve asked, interrupting her zoned out time. She felt embarrassed and hoped no one noticed her staring at two of her bosses.

  Mercedes raised one of her eyebrows up at him. “Are you kidding me? And leave me to fend on my own with these lovebirds surrounding us?”

  Adel laughed and so did Steve. He reached both hands out to the two of them.

  “Come on both of you. We’ll buy you a drink.”

  Mercedes took Steve’s hand and so did Adel and then they walked with them toward his brothers and some group of guys. Adel noticed Deputy Taylor Dawn, out of uniform of course, and two of his brothers, Kurt and Warner. Their eyes immediately roamed over Mercedes and she looked away from them.

  Adel had the feeling that the Dawn brothers were interested in Mercedes. Warner and Kurt were pretty mysterious men who had military pasts. She could remember hearing some gossip about them being spies and very resourceful. Mercedes worked in the sheriff’s department so she probably heard things, too. Mercedes had a hard childhood and young adult life, so Adel could understand her fears. Hers were similar. If she couldn’t trust her own father and mother, how could she ever trust any man?

  Adel felt the hand on her lower back and then Steve whisper next to her ear.

  “What are you drinking?”

  “Oh, I’m good actually. I’ve been sipping this all night.”

  “Maybe you need something different?” he asked.

  “Yeah, like one of those girly drinks your friend Marlena is sipping,” Caleb, Steve’s brother, suggested as he nodded toward Marlena where they’d just left. Then his eyes roamed over her body again. She felt self-conscious and she also realized that she wasn’t attracted to any of these men.

  “I’m good for now, but thank you,” she replied. She glanced to the right, back to where she had seen Leo and Will but they were no longer there. She felt disappointed and then she felt like an idiot. Why was she paying attention to them and worried about where they were? Leo and Will were all wrong for her and they were out of her league. She took a sip of wine and listened to Mercedes correct the story that Taylor was explaining of a recent burglary attempt not far from where she lived. They had gotten some new evidence and even a lead in the case.

  Adel couldn’t help but to smile. As much as Mercedes tried to hide her attraction to Taylor, Kurt, and Warner, they tried even harder making it obvious that all four of them were interested.

  “Good evening, everyone.” She heard the voice and felt the hands on her shoulders at the same time. She nearly spilled her drink.

  Will approached along with Leo as Will pressed up against her back.

  The men greeted him and Leo as Leo took position right next to her and winked, then smiled before he took a sip of his beer.

  Will’s hands massaged her shoulders and then she felt his lips next to her ear.

  “I got that fan we talked about. I’ll meet you at your place at eleven?” he asked but it seemed Steve had heard him. Steve squinted his eyes and Adel could hardly breathe having Will this close to her and smelling so good. His hands felt amazing on her shoulders and she wished she were wearing something that covered them completely instead of the tank style blouse.

  She looked at him and nodded her head.

  “If you’re sure it’s no problem. I mean if you have plans or something it’s no big deal. I could get someone to help me install it.”

  “The fan? Heck, Will, if you’ve got some hot date or want to take your boat out for the day, I’d be happy to help Adel install a new fan in her bedroom. It’s the bedroom right?” Steve asked and held her gaze. She could tell he was flirting as usual, but Will didn’t find it amusing and nor did Leo as Will squeezed her shoulders again and then released them and stood on her other side.

  “No. We’ve got this covered. Adel comes before everything else,” he said and she looked at Will like he was crazy, but Will had that firm Ferguson expression on his face that made her pull her bottom lip between her teeth and wonder why he was being so intense. His tone was different than when they were in the offic
e.

  She watched expressions exchange between all of the men. Then suddenly Steve looked affected and then looked at Will and Leo then back to Will.

  “Since when,” Steve asked in regards to her coming before everything.

  “For quite some time,” Leo replied.

  “Do we need to discuss this in private?” Will asked, placing his hand at her lower back.

  Adel locked gazes with Mercedes, who looked shocked. What was Adel missing here? It was like some silent conversation was going on about her and she was the one out of the loop.

  “Might be,” Steve replied, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

  “Really? Because I’m thinking there isn’t anything to discuss at all,” Leo said with attitude.

  “What’s going on here? Did I miss something in this conversation?” she asked.

  The men seemed to all rein in their anger and their expressions softened.

  “Not at all, Adel. So what do you say? Girlie drink?” Steve asked her.

  “No, I’m good, really, but thank you, and thank you for offering to help with the fan, but considering Will got it I guess it makes sense for him to install it.”

  “Yeah, I guess it does,” Steve said and then looked Will over, giving him the evil eye.

  She looked at Mercedes and shrugged her shoulders. Mercedes smiled.

  “What time will you be done installing the fan, Will? Adel and I have plans to hit the lake for some sun and relaxing time,” Mercedes asked him.

  “No more than an hour,” he replied. Then looked Adel over. “Maybe a little longer.”

  Adel felt her cheeks warm. It was instant but that was the effect Will had on her.

  “That sounds like fun. Are you ladies headed to the lake near Marlena’s place?” Warner asked.

  “Yes, you know it?” Adel asked.

  “Of course we do. We’ve gone to another one a mile down the road from where your cottage is, Adel,” Steve told her.

  “If you guys want to come along you can. I think we’re trying to organize the food and some hibachis to BBQ down there and maybe set up a campfire in the evening. It should be fun,” Mercedes added.