Hearts on Fire 6: Healing Sophia(10)

She nodded, and they walked down the street.

Cerdic was shocked at what he was thinking and feeling. He wanted to learn more about Sophia. He wanted to make her feel safe and have the new start she deserved, but something told him that getting her to let her guard down would be hell. He even wondered if he could keep his promise about not getting personally involved with Sophia. Maybe Lew and the others would find it too difficult, too.



* * * *



Sophia was surprised at how comfortable she felt around Frankie and all the men. Frankie had an outgoing personality, and before they’d finished lunch, she told Sophia if she ever wanted company shopping or doing errands that she could pick her up and take her into town or even meet for lunch.

“The girls get together at least a couple a times a month for ladies night out or even a day excursion. Manicures, pedicures, boutique shopping, a movie, a boat ride, whatever we plan. In fact, Friday we’re going to a wine tasting event, where you learn to paint a portrait from instructors while tasting wine and eating gourmet food. It should be pretty funny. Sometimes some of the ladies drink too much and we get hysterical over the finished artwork.”

“She’s not kidding, and she’s brought home some doozies,” Hal teased, and Frankie gave him a light slap against his arm.

“Hal!” she reprimanded, and the guys all laughed.

One glance at Lew and Cerdic and Sophia saw something flash in their eyes, and then they looked so serious.

“You should come with me. I’m the designated driver this time around so my artwork should be superb. Thank you,” Frankie said sarcastically.

Hal pulled her close and whispered into her ear as he kissed his woman. Sophia watched and could see the love, the bond, between Frankie and her men. Even the big bad sheriff, who intimidated Sophia big time, smiled and gave Frankie a sweet wink.

Frankie looked at Sophia, waiting for an answer.

“Oh, I’ll see. I’m not sure,” Sophia replied.

Cerdic placed his arm over her chair. The move not only made Sophia freeze. The table grew very quiet. Frankie’s eyes widened, and Jake, the sheriff, Hal, Hank, and Nate all watched with interested expressions.

“You can go if you want to,” he whispered close to her ear. “It might be nice to make some friends so you feel more comfortable here.”

Her heart pounded, and her breasts felt fuller, aroused by Cerdic’s close proximity, his heated breath, and sexy, caring tone.

She didn’t look at him. Instead she looked down at her lap.

“I’ll think about it.”

“Good. We’ll exchange numbers and keep in touch. It’s only a few days away. You’ll have a blast, and the women are all really sweet,” Frankie told her, and then they started talking about a place called the Station and how they would all meet up there for beers while the women were out Friday night.

Sophia thought about how normal and happy they all seemed. Even these ménage relationships were so acceptable and common, and they truly seemed happy, loved, and cared for. Frankie’s men were definitely protective, too, and in a good way not an abusive way. Watching them in action with Frankie made Sophia understand the difference and realize, even more so, what her relationship with Mateo had lacked. Trust, commitment, and, mostly, respect.



* * * *



Throughout lunch, Cerdic watched Sophia’s reaction to their friends and to Frankie. She really seemed to hit it off with Frankie, and he thought that was great. But as she excused herself to go to the lady’s room, and Cerdic saw multiple men checking Sophia out, he couldn’t believe the jealous, protective feeling he had. It was instant, and it shocked him. But one glance at Lew and Cerdic saw that he looked so serious with his eyes glued to Sophia, and then he gave a near snarl at the men who blatantly watched her.

Frankie got up to take a phone call so Cerdic and Lew were left with the guys.

“So, how are things really going? Is she getting more comfortable?” Nate asked.

“Well, she’s been with us for a couple of weeks now, and today is the first time she’s allowed us to take her into town. She wants to come in alone, but I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” Lew said with his gaze bouncing toward the group of three men who had watched Sophia walk to the lady’s room.

Jake looked over his shoulder.

“Why is that?” Nate asked.

“Just want to be sure she’s protected,” Lew replied.

“Or maybe you don’t like the fact that other men are looking at her, and you guys are attracted to Sophia,” Jake said.

Cerdic kept a straight face.

“We’re just doing the job you and Jeremy asked us to do,” Lew replied.

“Doesn’t look that way to us, but hey, stranger things have happened. It’s not like she’s some criminal,” Hal added.

“No, she isn’t, but she’s been through hell, and she needs time to recover. She sure doesn’t need four non-commitment-type SEALs fucking with her head,” Nate said very seriously.

Cerdic sat forward, his temper getting the better of him.

“What the fuck do you think, Nate? That we would take advantage of her?” Cerdic asked.

“Who said we’re the non-commitment types? You haven’t even seen us in years. You don’t know what type of men we are, what type of team,” Lew said, very seriously but calmly. Cerdic knew that tone. If this little argument went further, fists might fly.

Nate looked at Jake, and Jake nodded his head and smiled as he leaned back in his chair. He crossed his arms in front of his chest.

“So, are Gideon and Andreas attracted to her too?” Jake asked.

Nate snorted as he shook his head.

“Holy shit, who would have fucking known the four of you badass SEALs would wind up robbing the cradle big time?”

The other guys laughed, and then Cerdic exhaled and leaned back in his chair. Lew, however, retorted right back.

“My understanding is that Frankie is a good ten years younger than you, old man, so I wouldn’t talk,” Lew stated, and Cerdic chuckled.

“Ten years is one thing, but last I checked, Sophia was twenty-three, and you’re thirty-six,” Jake replied, and they all chuckled.

“Hey, all kidding aside, what’s your plan of action?” Nate asked. “I mean she’s not out of danger. Jeremy could show up and whisk her away if these men who are after her come too close. She was hurt pretty badly from my understanding.”

Lew exhaled, and Cerdic watched the door waiting for Sophia to come out. Frankie headed that way, too, after her phone call.

“I get the feeling,” Lew said and then glanced at Cerdic before continuing, “that she was abused by this guy. Today on the beach, I kind of snuck up on her. I thought she would have sensed me coming closer, but she was so lost in thought, looking out at the ocean, that when she turned around toward the house, she gasped and grabbed her cover up. I saw something on her back. I tried to see what it was, but she freaked, and tears filled her eyes. There was something there.”

Cerdic swallowed hard.

“Bruising and injury?” Jake asked. Now he looked just as angry as the others did with his eyes wide and his arms crossed in front of his chest. All these men had complete respect for women and were protective of all. Of course they would show concern and be upset over this.

“Nothing was in the file Jeremy gave you guys?” Jake asked, and Lew shook his head and leaned back.

Nate exhaled. He looked around them.

“I know what it has to be. But, fuck, I hoped it hadn’t been what Jeremy meant when he said she’d suffered and he couldn’t take not getting Sophia out of there,” Nate said.

“What? What do you mean?” Cerdic asked.

“You read about this fucking guy. He branded his men, anyone close to him.” Nate then looked away, exhaling and running a hand through his hair. At first Cerdic wasn’t sure what he meant, and then it hit him like it hit Lew, Jake, Hal, and the others.

“He branded her? Burned her with a prong like she was some object, a possession?” Lew asked, teeth clenched.

“Oh fuck, no.” Hal blew out a long breath.

Lew’s eyes popped up, and then Cerdic saw Sophia and Frankie coming from the bathroom.

“They’re coming back,” Hal said.

Cerdic watched the men flirt with Sophia and Frankie. One stood up from the stool, and Cerdic and Lew were standing up in a flash that alerted the others, who all stood, too. But before they moved, Frankie pointed at the guys, saying something as she looped her arm through Sophia’s and then pointed to Cerdic and Lew and the others. The men immediately placed their hands in the air and sat back down, but their gazes roamed over the women’s asses.

“Sit down, we’re fine,” Frankie said, letting go of Sophia’s arm.

Cerdic moved so she could sit, and he couldn’t help but to touch her arm.

“Okay?” he asked, and she nodded, and they all sat back down. Everyone was quiet.

“So, Sophia, you really should consider going out with Frankie and the girls Friday. It will be fun, and the place is right outside of Treasure Town.”

“Say yes, Sophia. I promise it will be fun,” Frankie told her, and Sophia looked at Cerdic and at Lew.

Cerdic gave her a nod and a reassuring smile as he kept his arm over her chair behind her shoulders.