“I’m going to let go of your mouth and turn you around. When I do, you’re going to kiss me. Understood?”
The command in his voice undid her. How could a woman not love it when a man took control?
She did know that if Drew held her, Noah wasn’t too far behind. Those men hunted together like a team.
Nodding her head to answer his question, she waited for him to release her. In a matter of seconds his hand was gone from her mouth, and he’d turned her around and was kissing her passionately. Without thought, Cheryl responded. Pressing her body to his, she met him stroke for stroke. Opening her lips and giving him access to her mouth, she kissed him back with a fever of her own.
His hand sank into her hair, and she felt him tighten his grip. Letting out a moan she tightened her hold in the hair at the base of his neck. Two could play at that game.
“If you get any hotter you’re going to have to get a room. However, you’re giving the customers at the diner a real good show,” Noah said.
Drew pulled away from her with a smile on his lips. “I take it you missed me just as much as I missed you?” He ignored Noah, and she couldn’t help but smile at his teasing grin.
“Just a little bit.”
“Where’s mine?” Noah asked.
“You haven’t been a good boy,” she said, smiling at him. No matter the weather, Noah was always in leather pants.
“So, what’s brought you two men out on a lovely Sunday lunch time?” she asked. Drew didn’t let her go, and she was thankful. Her legs felt like jelly. If he let her go she’d probably fall flat on her face.
“We’ve been invited to Sunday lunch,” Noah said.
“Oh.” A pang of regret filled her heart. Noah and Drew still had family while she had no one. Other people had family who cared for them and would want to spend time with them. The only family she had left was a father who’d run off when her mother needed him most. “That’s nice. Have fun.”
Why bother to stop her when they had places to go?
“Gloria won’t let us eat unless you’re at the table,” Noah said moving closer to her and Drew.
“What?” She was saying that word a lot around these two men. They messed with her head and made it hard for her to think.
“My Aunt Gloria does a mean roast dinner. Mashed potatoes, roast chicken with roast vegetables. Lots of fat but tasty. She wants you to come.”
“But you don’t want me to go?” she asked, unsure what they were trying to say.
Drew cursed and shook his head, and Noah repeated the same action.
“Why don’t you just spit it out? What are you trying to say?”
“We want you to go to dinner with us. Not just because Gloria won’t feed us but as our date,” Drew said.
Noah stood next to them. She liked the fact Drew hadn’t let her go. With his arms around her, she felt safe. For so long she’d been the person who’d been strong with no one to catch her when she was weak.
“What’s it going to be, beautiful? A tasty dinner at the diner or a meal with family?” Noah asked.
She glanced behind her at the dinner, laughing when several of the local people’s faces were plastered up the windows. Family. Dinner. Fun and laughter.
Even though she was fighting the two men who owned her heart for fear of what would happen if she gave them everything, she still wanted to spend time with them. Nodding her head, she turned back to them. “I’d love to spend Sunday lunch with both of you and your family.”
“Excellent.” Noah pulled her out of Drew’s arms and escorted her over to his truck.
“Were you guys following me?”
“Nope. We were just waiting for the perfect opportunity to catch you at a weak moment. What were you thinking about?” Noah asked. He lifted her in the truck and followed her in. Drew got in the other side and started the beast up.
“You don’t want to know,” she said. Her thoughts had been morbid. Sharing them wouldn’t bring her mother back.
“We’ve got a ten minute drive. Tell us. We want to know,” Drew said.
“You really want to know what I was thinking?”
Both of them nodded.
Letting out a breath, she waited for them to begin moving, and then she told them. “I was thinking about my mum. She loved Sundays. They were her favourite day. She’d bake cookies and muffins for the coming week and then put a big roast in. We didn’t get to eat ‘til two in the afternoon, but it tasted delicious. I haven’t got her anymore.” She stopped to lick her lips and to allow the lump in her throat to go away. Drew held one of her knees giving her comfort while Noah held the other. None of them spoke and waited for her to finish. “I was thinking about how quiet the house is, and I don’t like it. It’s hard to deal with the pain. Some days I feel I can get through it with time, and others I don’t know how I’m going to cope. I’ve got no one left in the world.”