Valan Playboys (13 page)
“In the kitchen,” I replied instantly.
She appeared inside the kitchen in her footed pajamas, her brown hair a mess about her head, rubbing at her eyes in the bright glow of the kitchen. Her eyes widened when they adjusted, seeing her parents, but her gaze snagged on Vance, her lips curving in an enormous smile. Her bitty feet took off, racing across the kitchen, shouting, “Vance! Vance!”
Vance grunted quietly when she rammed right against him, yanking, and climbing up onto his lap, giving him an enormous hug. “Adam said you’d come.” My lips twitched when Vance sighed heavily, and then gave her a light squeeze in return. She leaned back, plopping both hands on either of his cheeks, reprimanding. “Lana was mad at you. She cooked dinner for all us. You missed it.”
Inside her hold, Vance glanced at me, his gaze running over my features before turning his attention back to her, stating quietly, “I know.”
She patted his cheeks. “She didn’t talk. I don’t like Lana like that.”
“I apologized.”
She nodded her head decisively. “Good. Daddy says you apologize when you do wrong.” Her grin grew, and she twisted so she was hanging on his neck by one arm, peering at her parents stating proudly, “Mommy, Daddy, this Vance.” Abruptly, she leaned over me, making Vance grab onto her to keep her from falling. She patted Adam’s bicep. “And this Adam.” Shoving off him, she settled back onto Vance’s lap, still grinning. “They Lana’s friends. They nice.” Her brows puckered slightly. “But Adam did hurt bad man.”
My eyes widened as my gaze slipped to the side. “What is she talking about?”
Adam peeked once at Hanna with a quiet, narrowed gaze before he sat back on his chair, his expression turning angelic. “It was at the birthday party.” He waved a vague hand. “There was a man who had ahold of her hand trying to take her out a side door. She didn’t appear to want to go with him. I made sure she didn’t.”
My jaw dropped. “What?”
Mrs. Manter sat forward, growling, “
What?
”
“Explain,” Mr. Manter rumbled quietly.
Adam’s jaw ground together, glancing between us. “He was taken care of. You have nothing to worry about. He didn’t hurt her.”
“Adam stuffed him in closet.” Hanna nodded her head grandly, then added, oh so, helpfully, “Bad man didn’t move.”
Adam instantly clarified, “He was still breathing.” His nose crinkled. “Pity, really.”
Blinking once, I mumbled, “Thank you.”
He shrugged a shoulder. “She really didn’t want to go with him. I’m surprised she didn’t injure her arm yanking like she was.” He rolled a finger. “You said you were extremely busy that day. I didn’t think you had time to add an emergency room visit to the mix.” His head teetered. “Or fill out a missing person’s report.”
Vance sighed heavily next to me, rubbing his own forehead.
Another blink. “Just say you’re welcome.”
“You’re welcome.”
Slowly, I peered back to my foster parents, my brows raised. “What were you saying?”
Mr. Manter stared at Adam for another long beat, then at Hanna, how she rested comfortable against Vance, who didn’t appear very comfortable with her on him. He then rubbed his hands over his face in quick jerks before he stared straight into my eyes, grumbling quietly, “Your door stays open when they stay the night.” With that, he stood easily to his feet, pulling his wife up with him, and then moved around the table, grabbing Hanna up into his arms, giving her a big hug and kiss. He bent, kissing my forehead. “Go to bed, hun. We can finish any other questions we have tomorrow.” A glance between Vance and Adam as he straightened, Hanna tight in his arms, even as he ordered briskly, “Door. Open.”
I watched silently until my foster family was out of the room, then glanced between Adam and Vance, asking quietly, “Was…uh…the boyfriend bit what you two were going to ask me about?”
Adam tilted his hand back and forth. “Close enough.”
Vance cast him a cross glance, and then peered back to me. “With exclusion.”
Adam sighed heavily. “That’s what a boyfriend is. Catch up with the young lingo.”
“No, not always,” Vance argued. “Sometimes, there are open relationships.” His dark gaze honed on mine. “We want exclusion. Nothing open. For any of us.”
I merely nodded. “That’s fine. It’s pretty much what I said to them.” I stood, rolling my head on my shoulders. “So, we’re good. We can go to bed now. Excitement’s over.”
Both stared for an extended beat, as if they thought I would put up an enormous fight, and then they quickly stood with small victory grins gracing their features. Both followed behind me as we treaded lightly up the stairs. Out of respect, I made sure the door stayed open.
Many months later…
“God, I hate snow,” Vance muttered crossly, stomping his feet on the welcome mat, knocking the first winters snow off his boots. Both had moved their people to this city—purchasing property from Queen Clover—to be closer to me, but Vance still hadn’t acclimated to the climate yet. “This is half the reason I chose California in the first place.”
Adam snorted, his lips curving up on one side. “Afraid of the cold stuff, Warlock?”
Vance shot him a fast glance. “Do I prefer grass and pigskin to snow and skis, yes, but I’m not afraid of it.” He shuddered, analyzing the snow covered lawn. “It’s just so…white.”
“And we’re back to you lurking in the shadows.”
“Whatever, Demon. You have no room to talk.”
“Both of you be quiet,” I mumbled, holding the steaming crockpot in my hands. “Ring the doorbell. I’m freezing.”
Adam sighed as he hit the doorbell, grumbling, “Which relative is this again?”
“Mrs. Manter’s dad.” I made a slight face. “He’s a grumpy asshole. The best option is for us to not enter his home. Once he gets you inside, he doesn’t let you leave until he’s done picking at you.” I stopped abruptly, plastering a pleasant smile on my face as the door opened. And there stood Grandpa Asshole wearing a pair of patched overalls. I held the crockpot out. “Merry Christmas. Mrs. Manter wanted me to drop this by.”
He sniffed at it and then motioned feebly. “Come on in, Lana. You’re letting all the bought air out just standing there. You can set it down in the kitchen.”
I kept my smile in place. “We’re actually in a hurry.” I wiggled the crockpot a bit.
He rubbed at his hands. “My arthritis is acting up. It’s hard to grip anything too carefully.” A bushy brow rose. “You wouldn’t want me to drop it and burn myself, now would you?”
Exhaling through my clenched smile, I mumbled, “No. That would be horrible.” Stepping forward, I moved into the house, Adam and Vance following in behind me while I made the introductions.
Grandpa Asshole shut the door, locking it, and pointed a finger at my face. “Now, haven’t I told you about wearing so much make-up?” He waggled a finger at Vance. “You attract those types when you look like you do.” A waggled finger at Adam. “And those types will just use you.”
And, here we go
. “They’re good friends of mine. There’s no using going on.”
He snorted, walking past us, expecting us to follow him, which we did slowly. “If there’s no using going on with two fellas who look like that, then maybe you’re into those ladies?” A glance back at me. “Is that it? Are you into the ladies?”
“No,” I simplified patiently. “No ladies for me.”
He grunted, eyeing me over his shoulder as he walked on. “I think you’ve lost some weight. Those legs of yours are still scrawny and your hips wouldn’t catch a man’s eye. No wonder there’s no using going on.” A waggled finger at the crockpot. “You’ll stay and have a bowl of that chili with me. Put some weight on you yet, young lady.”
My legs and hips were more than fine. “Of course, I will.”
“Good,” he grumbled, then glanced at Vance as we entered his small kitchen, shaking that finger again. “You aren’t carrying any weapons, are you, young man?”
Vance’s face was stoically blank. “No, sir.”
“Well, you should,” Grandpa Asshole scolded passionately. “There are crazies out there nowadays. You can’t be too careful.” A bushy brow lifted in Adam’s direction as he eyed him gradually. “I take it back, Lana. You wear make-up like that and you’ll attract the likes of that one, too.” His old gaze zeroed in on me. “He’s not as innocent as he appears. They rarely are.” Smart, he was. He patted the bar. “And what are you waiting on? I’m starving!”
Two hours later, in Grandpa Asshole’s driveway, sitting in the running SUV, all three of us sat mute, just staring forward—like zombies.
“He was…something else,” Vance mumbled.
Adam grunted.
My mind numb, I muttered, “We have to come back tomorrow to pick up the crockpot.”
They both groaned.
My brows puckered. “We’ll bring Hinkle. He likes the dog.”
“Mean ass old dog for a mean ass old man,” Vance rumbled.
Adam grunted.
My smile was slow, genuine, as I glanced at the two men in the car with me.
My men
. I couldn’t help the small laugh that slipped out. “I know I’m your mate. Next time, try not to keep secrets from me.” When they both jerked their gazes toward me, shock…and guilt showed in the extreme. I snickered, their punishment for not telling me sooner now extracted by dragging them to Grandpa Asshole’s. “Welcome to the family, gentlemen.”
A
BOUT THE
A
UTHOR
Scarlett Dawn is drawn to all things quirky and off-beat. She believes there are no boundaries for an imaginative soul. Her love of the written word started from at an early age, when her grandmother would take her to bookstores every weekend. Dreams came alive within the books she found there, and now, she is thrilled to share her stories with others who have fallen under the spell of taking fantastical journeys. Scarlett resides in the Midwest with her family.
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