Page 50 of Claiming Ours (Anchor Bay #2)

“Yeah, well, it’s just that he and I had never…

.” Ethan cleared his throat and shifted on his feet.

A red tint stained his cheeks and the tips of his ears.

Holy hell, what happened to get the most even-tempered man so flustered?

“We always did our thing separate. He had his fun, I had mine, and then we would head back to Anchor Bay the next day.”

I nodded, unsure of where he was going with the story. “Okay.”

“Yeah, so we went to this bar, and there was this fucking smoke show. Alone. He and I started talking to her, and we both realized we were totally into her. There was just something about….” He sighed, a small smile forming.

“Anyway, not sure how it all happened, but the three of us ended up together, and things got—” Ethan cleared his throat, that red tint now a deeper crimson. “—close.”

“Close?” I leaned forward, pressing both elbows onto my knees.

“As in… fuck.” He scrubbed a hand over his beard. “I’ve never been so damn close to another guy’s junk before, Baylee. We’re not all doctors here.”

I barked a laugh, startling the two dogs and Ethan.

“First, I’m not a people doctor. The only balls I see at work are usually when I’m removing them.” Ethan winced, and I swear the dogs did too. “Second, okay, I understand the awkwardness between the two of you now.”

“That and….” He mumbled the rest under his breath.

“What was that?”

“There might have been some touching,” he stated a little clearer this time.

“Oh. Oh ,” I exclaimed. “And you didn’t want it?”

“And I didn’t know I’d like it.” His hazel eyes met mine, searching as if to see if I’d judge him for the truthful admission.

“The sharing piece, all of it. Fuck, what’s wrong with me?

After that night, now I actually want to be around people,” he growled, clearly annoyed with the emotions and feelings that night evoked.

“People,” I hedged, “or just one person?”

His eyes narrowed on me, and I held up both hands in surrender. Clearly he wasn’t ready to dissect all those feelings just yet.

“Now we’re both frustrated that we had the best fucking night, and now she’s gone. Neither of us got her name or where she was from. The only thing we know is she was on the tail end of a cruise and flying out the following day. And she ghosted us, left before either of us woke up.”

“And you want to find her?”

“Yes, fuck yes. I even signed up for fucking Facebook, thinking that would somehow help us magically find her. Who am I right now?” He tossed both hands up in the air in frustration.

“I just need to get out in my element. If anyone needs me, they can reach me on the sat phone. I’m going to head out on the trail until I find something of hers. ”

I stood so abruptly, the chair slammed against the wall. Both dogs barked and jumped up on all fours.

“Ethan, that’s not safe,” I said, worry in my tone.

The frustration faded from his features, and a genuine grin tugged at his lips, making his beard twitch. “I’ll be okay, Baylee. Promise. Don’t worry about me.”

“But I do, and I will until you’re back. I can’t help but worry about my friends.”

“They’re lucky men,” Ethan said after a second. “I hope they know that. You’re a gem, Baylee. A motherfucking gem.”

With that, he turned and left, the front door’s bell signaling his exit.

I slumped back into the chair with a groan. I really would worry about him. I couldn’t help it with everything going on around Anchor Bay.

Leaning back, I stared at a blank spot on the wall, mulling over everything that had happened the last few days.

From starting a physical relationship with Liam, Memphis arriving and him joining our new relationship, losing my virginity in the best way possible, to finding a dead body, it was a lot in a short amount of time.

Even the run earlier couldn’t settle the undercurrent of anxiety keeping me on alert.

Not sure how long I spaced out, but the need to check in had me pulling my phone out of the drawer. Grimacing, I cleared all the missed calls and clicked to the messaging app. A small smirk tugged at my lips at finding one waiting to be read from Liam.

Sat Phone 5: Don’t forget to eat lunch, Little Bit.

Me: Don’t worry, Daddy.

Sat Phone 5: That… is interesting.

I bit my lip to stop the widening smile and shifted in the chair to ease the throb between my thighs just typing that had triggered. Fuck, what would happen if I actually said it out loud?

Me: Interesting bad?

Sat Phone 5: Not sure if working a chainsaw with a fucking hard-on is good or bad.

I barked out a laugh, making the dogs glance up at me like I was crazy.

Me: Ah. How is the cleanup going?

Sat Phone 5: Good. Should head out tomorrow.

Sat Phone 5: I need to see you.

Me: Miss you too.

Sat Phone 5: Go eat. I know you haven’t.

Shaking my head, I set the phone down, unable to stop smiling. How in the hell did I get so damn lucky? Twice. Wait, three times?

My grin slowly slipped, and tears filled my lower lids.

It still felt a little like cheating, feeling this way about someone other than Dean, but even more than that, I felt guilty knowing I never felt this deeply for him—ever.

Maybe it was because we were so young when we met and were just shallow in life.

But how Liam and Memphis made me feel loved and wanted and needed, it was overwhelming.

How many times had I wished I had that with Dean when he would leave me to hang out with his friends after I said I wanted to go?

The times I wished he would’ve shown care or concern when a wicked storm blew through College Station, and he didn’t even check in to make sure I was safe.

Sometimes he was deployed, but those weren’t the times that stood out in my mind.

It was the nights I knew he was stateside, and he ended our call early, despite not even asking how I was or how my day went, so he could go out with his friends. Toward the end, it was all just so damn superficial.

And now I was in deep with Memphis and Liam.

Deep feelings.

Deep emotions.

Deep everything.

And I never ever wanted to lose it.

The bell over the door ringing had me shaking out those thoughts of the guys and pushing out of the chair. An alert Elvis and Hank stayed at my side as I walked toward the front. I frowned, not understanding why I needed the security escort, until I rounded the corner and stumbled to a stop.

“Can I help you?” I asked, voice strained with tension.

“Sorry to surprise you like this, but I knew this was my one chance to get you alone. We need to talk.”

I swallowed hard, my heart racing with the growing panic. Both dogs inched forward, their dangerous growls filling the waiting room, clearly sensing my rising fear.

Damnit.

This was not good.

Not good at all.