He reached the small distance and took her hand. She gasped, he felt her slightly try to pull back but with little effort.
He brought her fingers to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “Look at me, Sage.”
Her eyes darted from his mouth on her knuckles to his eyes staring deeply.
“You feel the attraction between us. Between all five of us.” Her eyes darted to the others who now surrounded them. She shook her head.
“Don’t deny it,” Quaid added.
“Ain’t any use in fighting it, Sage. You’ve instantly snagged my attention,” Dale told her. She glanced at Virgo. He remained silent, but that was Virgo. He feared opening up his heart, and showing any vulnerability. From what Matt knew from Dale, every time Virgo thought a woman had feelings for him, she turned him down or went for another guy around him. Not now. This was different.
“You’re wrong. There’s nothing to feel. You’re mistaken,” she said, her voice quivering. Dale moved closer and placed his arm around her waist.
“No use in getting freaked out now, darling. We know we can be intimidating, especially to a pretty young thing like yourself. But we’re honest, noble men. Men that would never hurt you.”
“Men that want to take that look of fear off your face and make you smile. You’re real pretty when you smile,” Virgo added, and Sage looked up toward him. She swallowed hard.
“I’m sorry. But I don’t date. More than likely I’ll be leaving come the end of summer.”
“Leaving?” Quaid asked, sounding shocked.
She took a deep breath and released it. “I haven’t really made my decision yet.”
“Why not look for a job in Croton or even Keanter? It’s a little bit of a commute, but at least you can stay around here where you’re safe,” Quaid told her.
“Safe?” she asked, and then looked away from them. He wondered why she said it like that. Did she not feel safe here, in Pearl? That angered him. After all, he felt that he, Quaid, and the sheriff were doing a great job protecting the women.
“I need to go. It was nice talking to you guys. Enjoy the party.”
“Wait, I’ll walk with you. I think the food has been out for a little while already,” Virgo stated, and Matt watched the two of them walk away.
“What the hell was that all about? She seems fearful. Did you get that feeling, too?” Quaid asked.
“Sure did, and I didn’t like it one bit.”
“Maybe it’s just the way she feels. You mentioned that she had a past. How bad were things for her, Matt?” Dale asked, and now he sounded angry and upset, too.
Matt turned toward him. “I’ll explain what we know.” He looked past Dale and saw Kenny and Bryant Jones heading over.
“We got company coming,” Quaid stated.
* * * *
Kenny was trying his hardest not to run over toward the table where Sage was talking with Matt, Quaid, Virgo, and Dale. He was concerned for Sage. She looked so nervous over there between the four extra large men. It seemed to him and to Bryant, that the men were staking a claim to Sage. Neither of them were feeling too excited about the possibility. Matt and Quaid were hard, experienced men. Men who had dangerous pasts and still did secretive things for the government. He also didn’t know much about Virgo and Dale except for their military backgrounds and that they lived in Delite, a place where a lot of Bryant’s friends lived after retiring from the military. Bryant said he could make some calls. Maybe that would be necessary.
“Are you guys planning on joining the party, or are you only interested in my daughter?” Kenny stated, with Bryant right beside him.
Matt gave his typical straight-faced, no-bullshit look that probably made most men fearful. Truth was, Kenny did feel a bit intimidated by all four of the men. They were each over six foot three. Virgo and Dale were buffed out, and their dress shirts looked snug against their muscles. Matt and Quaid were less bulky, but he could tell the men were physically fit. Hell, he’d seen Matt and Quaid when they were angry, and it wasn’t a good thing. He glanced over his shoulder, back toward the table where Virgo and Sage now sat eating together.
“
She’s a grown woman, Kenny. You know I care about her,” Matt told him.
“As do I,” Quaid added.
“And you and Virgo?” Bryant asked with attitude toward Dale.
“Not that it’s any of your business, but Sage is a beautiful, smart, young woman. We look forward to getting to know her better,” Dale told them.