“Because I don’t really know them. I didn’t want to come off easy. It was the first date and…”
“And what?”
“I’m scared to.”
“Aw, honey.” She clutched Frankie’s hand. “Does this have something to do with your ex and the past you refuse to talk about?”
Frankie nodded.
“He did a number on me. In some ways he’s somewhat like them, yet they’re totally different. It’s hard to explain. I’m worried, too, because he had cheated on me. I couldn’t make one man commit to me completely. How the hell am I going to make four be faithful?”
“Oh, honey, your ex was stupid. A ménage relationship is different. It’s sacred, and there’s a special bond that exists. They are brothers for one, and they are bound to one another, blood and all. From my understanding, this type of relationship involves a big commitment and no cheating, no hiding information, and being upfront. Men involved in a ménage cater to a woman’s every need, desire, and, of course, protection. With more than one man committed, a woman would never feel alone, unprotected, or cared for. It’s special,” Cassidy told her and then looked out toward the water. She thought about Peter and his brothers and the way they described it to her.
“How do you know so much about these types of relationships?”
She shrugged. “I’d consider it if the right men came along.”
“Really?” Frankie asked. Cassidy nodded.
“Well, let’s think about this. What specifically reminds them of your ex? Or is it one of them that does?”
“I really don’t want to talk about that.”
“I think you should. I don’t want you to miss out on being happy. After all, it was you who helped me get out of a dangerous relationship with Keith, who, by the way, showed up at my apartment on Sunday with roses and promises of making things up to me.”
“Oh God, what did you do?”
“I told him I wasn’t interested. I told him to leave me alone. He was pissed off and tried to force his way in, but Manny was home next door. He came out of his apartment with his cell phone and a baseball bat and asked if everything was all right.”
“Oh God, you should have called the police. You have that order of protection.”
“I just want him to leave me alone. I think calling the cops would have enraged him more. Besides, it is over, and I moved on,” she said, and Frankie chuckled.
“Who is he?” she asked.
Cassidy was surprised. Then again, it seemed in the last few months they had become such close friends it was as if they’d known one another forever.
“His name is Peter. He has four brothers, which is why I was kind of hoping that you would engage in the ménage experience.”
“Oh shit, you like all five of them?”
Cassidy smiled.
“They’re first responders. Cops and firefighters, actually.”
“Oh God. Just be careful. Make sure you don’t jump into bed with them. Sometimes first responders aren’t exactly as perfect as you may think.”
Cassidy saw the expression in Frankie’s eye before she looked down at the beach towel.
“Is that who hurt you? A first responder?”
Frankie was silent a moment. She looked up toward the beach and then back down.
“He was a cop. I trusted him. I thought I was going to marry him, and he cheated on me.”
“Oh man, Frankie. That’s terrible. No wonder you’re giving the Hawkins men such a hard time. Did you tell them about your ex?”
“No. No way would I talk about him. I’ll get past it. It’s a long story, and it’s from my old life. After Sunday night’s date and the way things went, I’m feeling pretty positive that I can move on. I want to move on.”
“That’s great. I want to move on, too.” Just as Cassidy said that, her phone buzzed with a text message.
She glanced down and saw that it was Peter. He was at Sullivan’s café with his partner, Todd.
“It’s Peter. He and his partner in the police department are having lunch right up on the boardwalk at Sullivan’s. They want us to join them.”
“Oh, you go. I’ll stay here.”
“No. Don’t be silly. I want you to meet him,” Cassidy said.
Frankie gave a small smile. “Okay.” She reached for her cover-up as they both stood up. Then she gathered their towels and beach bags.
“It’s hot out. I can use one of those big iced teas from Sullivan’s,” Cassidy said.
“That sounds great.”
They both stopped at the top of the beach where the ramp was to wash off their sandy feet and put on their flip-flops. Cassidy reached for her cover-up.
“Hey, gorgeous.”
She turned around to see Reggie. “Oh my God, what are you doing here?” She hurried up the ramp and accepted the hug and kiss hello from Reggie, Peter’s brother.
“Peter said he was going to see if you were down here, and I was picking up some supplies for dinner tonight. Are you still coming over?” he asked her.
But then she noticed Reggie looking at Frankie. “This must be Frankie.” He reached his hand out to her. Frankie smiled and said hello.
“Come on. Join us for lunch, and we’ll talk about dinner tonight. You should come, too, Frankie. We have a few friends coming over as well,” he offered.
Cassidy grabbed Frankie’s hand and smiled. “She would love to.”
* * * *
Frankie couldn’t help but smile. Cassidy seemed so happy. As they walked across the wooden planks to the entrance to Sullivan’s, Cassidy gasped and then gave Reggie a smack on his arm.
“They’re all here. You surprised me,” she said.
Frankie watched as Cassidy was greeted by men who appeared to be Reggie’s other brothers and some friends. Then Cassidy introduced Reggie.
Some of the guys were dressed in dark T-shirts with fire station insignias on the front and others in police uniforms, and a few wore plain clothes. Sullivan’s was packed. One of the guys held out a chair for Frankie.
“I’m Max,” one of them said to her.
“Hi, Max. Nice to meet you.”
“Same here, beautiful,” another said, and Cassidy chuckled.
As everyone continued to talk and order food and drinks, Frankie noticed the way Max took position next to her and would whisper things to her to get close. She felt uncomfortable. He was flirting, and she didn’t want to be rude. Cassidy looked so happy.
She felt Max’s arm against her arm as the waitress delivered their drinks.
“You sure you don’t want something to eat?” Max asked her.
“Yes, thank you. I’m fine. Actually, I ate a big breakfast this morning. I think I’ll take this iced tea to go.” Frankie stood up and so did Max and two other guys.
“Frankie, don’t go,” Cassidy begged her, and Frankie sat back down.
“Okay, okay. So tell me how you guys met,” Frankie said, causing Cassidy to smile.
Reggie pulled Cassidy closer, and Peter took her hand and brought it to his lips.
* * * *
“I can’t wait to sink my teeth into Sullivan’s pub burger. Damn, I’ve been thinking about it since last night,” Marcus Towers told Mike as they headed toward Sullivan’s.
“I’ve been listening to him going on and on about eating that damn burger. I should sneak the waitress a twenty to bring one well done out to you,” Marcus’s brother John teased, and Mike chuckled.
Mike peeked down at his cell phone again. Still no response from any of his brothers about Frankie. Nate had called Charlie and Lure to get in touch with Frankie but hadn’t had any luck. He was hoping to get together with her this week. Hell, only two days away from the woman and he felt frantic to see her.
“Look who’s here,” Marcus said as he greeted the other guys who had a large table outside.
Mike looked up as he heard his name and started shaking hands and then his eyes landed on Frankie. She was sitting between Max, a firefighter, and Todd, a cop. She sat forward as though she was uncomfortable as both men kept a hand on the back of her chair. She wore some kind of cover-up that hugged her figure and was partially see-through.
“Mike, oh my God, what are you doing here? Are you having lunch?” Frankie asked as she stood up.
Todd and Max gave Mike the dirtiest looks, and of course, Mike gave his own nasty expression right back. It was funny how it didn’t matter how long Mike had known Todd and Max or that they’d gone to the same high school. They were too close to his woman. He would make everyone see that Frankie was his. He’d never felt so jealous or possessive in his life.
“We thought we’d have heard from you today. Nate called Charlie,” he told her, and she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth.
“I haven’t called into Prestige today. They were doing some changes to the schedule, and I may be working this week for some special parties.” She stepped around the table and the guys to come closer to him.
He could tell they wanted to move in on Frankie. He was pissed off.
Mike gently reached for her wrist and pulled her closer. He softly rubbed the skin on her shoulder with one finger as he wrapped his arm around her waist with his other hand.
“Getting some sun, baby?” he asked softly.