Page 260 of On A Manhunt: Complete Series

MELLY

“If I wasn’t already pregnant, I would be watching this,” Lindy said, her eyes squarely affixed to… I thought, was her husband’s ass. Maybe a few of the others.

We were on Daniel’s deck, kitchen chairs brought outside for us to sit on while we watched the men. They’d brought tons of food which was spread out on the table inside. We’d eaten some, but like little boys, the guys had been more interested in playing outside.

There was something ridiculously elemental and caveman about males throwing heavy things. Getting sweaty. Showing their strength.

And when ten of them were doing it as a group? They only needed two more for a sexy man calendar.

Wow.

It was potent. I squirmed in my chair and not because it was a little hard and uncomfortable.

“Did you hear that?” Mallory asked. “That was my ovary exploding.”

Bridget pushed her glasses up her nose. “Someone’s getting lucky tonight,” she said seemingly to herself. But all the ladies piped up.

From Eve: “Hell, yeah.”

Mallory: “Uh huh.”

Lindy: “Absolutely.”

I agreed and smiled. For once, I was going to get lucky, too.

“Way to go with Daniel,” Lindy added. Fred was on her lap leaning in to the ear scratch she was giving. Two pregnant ladies together. “He can’t stop looking at you.”

I doubted that because he was busy teaching–and demonstrating with potent virility–how to toss a huge log. Mac had done it before, but none of the James brothers.

Still, I liked the praise, liked feeling like I was part of a girl club who were all going to get lucky tonight.

The five Pearson brothers, who–when not staring at me through a window–were rugged and gorgeous.

I knew Deek and Sebastian, although the guys kept calling him Sea Bass for some strange reason, since they were working on my driveway.

I was introduced to the other two brothers when I arrived.

The identical ones. Fortunately, they didn’t say a peep about catching me in their brother’s house in only his shirt.

“What more could a woman want in that lineup? CEO, doctor, pro hockey player, oh, another CEO, firefighter, lumberjack #1, lumberjack #2, lumberjack #3, and identical twins, who are mechanics?” Mallory fanned herself.

“I know. I’m writing them all into books,” Lindy added. I didn’t know until recently that she wrote romance books. I’d stocked the three she had published at the library, but it was our secret what her pen name was.

“Be right back. Bathroom,” I said, ducking inside.

I peed, washed my hands, swiped on some lip gloss I had in my pocket.

Coming out of the powder room, which was down a short hall near the garage, I heard men’s voices carry through the home’s open plan layout.

“You make it seem easy.” That was Mav’s deep voice. “Just lift and toss. It’s a hell of a lot harder than it looks.”

I set my hand on the log wall and listened.

“Practice,” Daniel replied, as if anyone could pick up a log and fling it. “Helps I chop down trees for a living.”

“Did,” Deek reminded, slapping him on the back. “Now you toss wood for fun. And prize money.”

“We should add it to the fire workout.” Mac. The town fire chief wasn’t nearly as big as Daniel or Mav, but he could hold his own when it came to muscle and strength. “I bet you’re eager to get the hell out of Hunter Valley.”

“Can’t wait,” Daniel replied, his voice full of eagerness. Maybe relief. “I’ve been ready for years. Hell, I’ve always wanted to go.”

“A kid can derail your plans. You quit college for Danny and stayed here instead of roaming the world like you wanted,” Mac said.

“Sure did.”

“Time wasn’t wasted. You made an impressive business,” Mav praised.

“And Danny’s a good kid,” Mac added. “Smart. Even took up being a wildland firefighter like me.”

Daniel laughed. “Yeah, that conversation you had with him about playing with matches really went sideways.”

“He’s grown,” Mac told him. “A man. It’s cool you can go start your life.”

“Hell yeah.”

“Scotland for a few months, then what?” Mav wondered.

There was a pause. “Not sure. Like you said, I raised my kid. I grew my business. Sure, family’s everything, but it’s time I did my thing. All I know is my life here’s done. Want another beer?”

I heard the fridge open.

“What about–” Mav asked.

The slider opened. “Hey, this baby’s sitting on my bladder. Bathroom?” Lindy asked.

“Just around there,” Daniel told her and I assumed he was pointing in my direction, although it was clear the guys didn’t know I was overhearing.

“Better get these beers out to the others,” Mav said.

Heavy footsteps cut across the house to the sliding doors.

Maverick barely knew me. Hadn’t grown up here. Didn’t know the years of image work I’d done to seem shy and meek and sweet. To hide myself. Obviously, Mac bought into the whole little Melly Harwood thing.

It was what I wanted. No men. No relationships. Especially with an older man who only wanted a little fun. Daniel was older and while he hadn’t said those words, that was all that was between us. A good time. He was having a good time with me, just like Creepy Carl wanted to all those years ago.

Have sex, have fun, then toss me aside for someone else. In Daniel’s case, to finally start his life. My mom never taught me to keep a man or create a relationship or a life with one, only to spread my legs for a little pleasure. Then find another who could give me a little more.

What I had with Daniel wasn’t a Creepy Carl situation. Daniel gave me more orgasms than he’d had himself. He saw to my needs, listened. Watched. Gave. He respected my boundaries, even reminded me of them.

Yet hearing him say his life here in Hunter Valley was done, hurt.

It only reinforced what I already knew and perhaps ignored in my two days of sexual bliss.

He wasn’t staying. His life wasn’t here which meant I wasn’t part of it.

We were having sex as we agreed. Really good, insane sex, but that was it.

He and his talented hands, skilled mouth, and incredible dick were going to Scotland.

No matter how I felt for him, which that little kitchen conversation made me realize, was more than just attraction. I liked him.

And I shouldn’t. It was dangerous. Because everyone left.

My dad. My mom. Sure, my grandmother was the only solid and true family I had, but she wasn’t around most of the time either.

With Daniel, I’d known he was leaving and jumped him anyway.

Did that make me stupid? I thought not, but that was when I didn’t feel something for him.

Shit.

Lindy came around the corner, rubbing her big belly.

She was one of those women who looked adorable pregnant.

She glowed. A smile was always on her face, and I doubted her ankles swelled even a little bit.

Plus, she had the nicest, most gorgeous, ridiculously attentive husband.

Who was sticking. Who was making a life with her together. A baby.

I was jealous. I was falling for a man who’d already done the baby thing and certainly didn’t want to do that again. Wasn’t staying in town. Was only interested in me for sex.

That. That was it. His conversation with Mav and Mac proved that. He was holding up his end of the contract. I couldn’t be mad, and I shouldn’t be hurt.

But I was.

Lindy cocked her head and grinned. “There you are, I thought you fell in or something. You’re going to come to my shower on Sunday, right?”

“Wouldn’t miss it,” I told her.

“You done in there?”

I pasted on a smile and nodded. “Yeah, I’m done.

” Or I would be when Daniel’s plane left.

Because while he was gorgeous, and nice–but I wouldn’t tell him that because I had a feeling he liked being thought of as gruff and growly–and ridiculously attentive, especially in bed, I was nothing more than someone else he was leaving behind.