James, however, clutched his stomach and doubled over cackling. He only stopped when Eli launched the keys in his direction. “I brought your car back after those modifications we made.”
James snagged them out of the air and bounced up, jogging to the window to look at his miniature green hybrid car. It now resembled some sort of urban warfare tank. If a tank also looked like a booger.
“It’s got reinforced steel panels and bulletproof glass.” Eli laughed. “Not sure what that’s going to do to your mileage, but you should be safe from these idiots backing into you or even the rest of those big ass trees around the parking lot in case there’s another storm.”
“Perfect!” James clapped, then hugged Eli.
Meanwhile, Aarav stood and stretched, the last of his reservations evaporating. At the end of the day, this was his home and his family. They might have made a mistake, but they weren’t evil and they would do their damnedest to make things right.
Cash looked over at Sola then Aarav and shook his head. “This is the most random bunch of people I’ve ever met. Don’t make me regret my decision.”
Aarav didn’t bother to tell him he hadn’t had much choice. They wouldn’t have let him leave and risk his life now that they knew what side of the equation he was on. But he allowed the other guy to think it had been a voluntary stay.
“Come on. We’ll show you around and introduce you to all these weirdos.” Sola grinned as she took one each of Cash’s and Aarav’s hands and tugged them toward the crowd.
8
Sola couldn’t fully explain the anticipation racing through her as she showed Cash the parts of her life at Shields that made the place so much more than simply where she worked. At least partially it had to do with Aarav being by her side, knowing they were going to be living together for a while. Not across the hall from each other. Not pretending they were merely friends.
But maybe, finally, exploring what they could be to each other if they allowed themselves to take the risk. And with Cash in the mix…
She kept playing over the facts he’d relayed, even if they weren’t for the purpose her mind was putting them to now. He was bi. He obviously had liked what he’d seen in the plane bathroom the night before, and his jokes about being tied to the bed between her and Aarav took on an entirely new spin now that she knew he wasn’t opposed to either of them or being open-minded about the various flavors attraction could come in.
Maybe what she was feeling was relief. A lessening of the guilt weighing her down. She’d so recently gotten exactly what she’d been craving for months when Aarav had let her be his first lover, only to suddenly be moved by an instant and potent connection to a man who wasn’t her partner. Holy shit.
Was this how Kennedy had felt when she’d clung to her love for Knox, her childhood sweetheart, while also embracing her newer devotion to their fellow Shield, Marcus?
She bet it was. But what was Aarav thinking?
Hell, it had taken her damn near a year to get him to even consider sleeping with her. Now that his walls were down, would he allow her in deeper or would Cash’s presence reset the progress they’d so recently made?
“Wow, you’ve thought of everything, haven’t you?” Cash seemed suitably impressed given how he’d grown up. “It’s like you have the necessities without any of the waste. Nothing is simply for show, is it?”
“Nah, that’s not our style.” Aarav glanced around the gym. An indoor track circled a rock-climbing wall and more weights and machines than the local fitness center had. Beyond it was the pool area where Tavish and Legend dove in to do a million and a half laps as usual.
“The stripper pole is a nice touch.” Cash seemed suitably impressed as Laurel worked through her routine.
Sola tapped him in the gut with the back of her hand. “I don’t blame you for gawking. That’s Laurel. She used to be a professional and prefers to keep in shape by dancing. She’s been teaching Ruby and the rest of us some tricks. We’re nowhere near as good as her, but James is picking it up the fastest so far. Guess it runs in the family. They’re siblings.”
“Feel free to show me your routine sometime.” Cash grinned, risking Aarav doing more than just tapping him.
“Not likely.” Sola glanced away, still unused to such blatant attention given Aarav’s usual distance.
“Why not? You’re beautiful when you dance.” Aarav nearly knocked her on her ass when he spoke up, maybe to make Cash envious. No matter, she would take the compliment. “Beautifulandpowerful. That takes a lot of strength and grace.”
“Thank you,” Sola said as she met his stare.
“Plus it makes for good scenery when we’re working out.” He flashed one of his rare and slightly wicked grins. “I’ve lost count of how many times Ace and Liam have dropped their weights on their toes when they couldn’t take their eyes off Ruby. Never gets old.”
Cash laughed along with Aarav at that. “I bet. So does everyone in this place hook up or what?”
“It seems that way lately.” Aarav surprised her with his honesty. “It’s a little hard to be around so many blissful couples, or trios, or whatever you call James and his Powertools—they’re a construction crew and also get it on sometimes—when you’re not in a relationship yourself. Maybe it’s seeing so many people be that ridiculously happy that convinces you it’s a good idea, or maybe we’re all drawn to each other because of our common beliefs, but it does seem like Middletown is a matchmaking hotbed.”
“Maybe its magic can rub off on me.” Cash stared off into the distance before clearing his throat. “Uh, is there a kitchen around here? I’m starving.”
“Of course.” Sola guided him down the hall toward the giant communal cooking and eating space where they often gathered together for meals even though they each had their own facilities in their generous and well-appointed living areas upstairs. “Sorry, I know it’s been like twelve hours since we ate.”
“I didn’t have much of an appetite before.” Cash cleared his throat. “But I’m feeling better about things now. I’m probably an idiot for saying this but…seeing you all together. That you have standards and morals, well, I think you’re probably the most respectable people I’ve ever known. Even if you are…you know…the M word I’m not supposed to say.”