Page 4 of Ferocious Protector

Blake joins us and I stop talking mid-sentence.

He scans the front and sees that the guys have escorted the riffraff at the front out the door. “First day in Deadwood is turning out to be mighty interesting,” he says, turning those gleaming blue eyes on me.

“I can fend for myself usually, but there’s something about Tucker. He makes me feel cringy every time he’s around. So, thank you.”

“Anytime, Patti Ann.”

My mouth gapes. “Nobody calls me that.”

He grins. “Well, I just heard Lacy call you Patti Ann. Tell me I didn’t.”

I huff. “That’s different. The only time she ever calls me that is when she’s trying to pretend to be my daddy. It’s a joke.”

The handsome devil smirks. “Well, I like it. It suits you, Patti Ann.”

My cheeks heat as he shifts in front of me causing me to glance down at his crotch. And of course he catches me looking. Damn that man.

“I don’t know about anyone else, but I could go for an ice-cold beer,” I say, turning and heading back to the table, glad that I took the entire week off from the veterinarian clinic to spend it with my friends before their big day next Sunday.

Damian and Dereck exchange a look as they return to the table. “What was that look all about?” I ask as everyone settles in.

Cole answers. “We recognized a few of the Chicago crew. They told Lettie they were just sending a message. They were trying to sneak in and out but found us here in broad daylight instead. It took them by surprise.”

Lettie walks over with a tray of beer and the guys jump up, helping her balance it and set it on the table before passing out the round. Her cheeks are red. “Those assholes make me madder than hell. They think they can just waltz in here anytime they want. Is it ever going to stop?”

Damian turns so he can meet her eyes. “It’s one of those situations where you hold the enemies at bay, but you don’t want to squash them completely because you don’t know who’s going to take their place because they might be worse. The Chicago boys know their boundaries. The Larussios gave them more than a warning last year, but if they come looking for trouble this summer, they’re going to get another message a whole different way.”

Krissy arches a brow at Cole. My friends aren’t letting them get away with not telling us exactly what’s going on. Lacy narrows her eyes at her husband and his friends. “What message did they leave?” she asks.

Damian and Dereck exchange another look involving Cole and Garrett this time too. “You might as well tell them because if you don’t, we’re not going to get a wink of sleep tonight,” Garrett says, putting a playful arm around Lacy.

Cole sighs. “The message wasn’t any different than other years. The boss says sell now and save yourself and your employees a lot of headaches.”

Lacy drinks an entire glass of water down. “I swear those Eldridges and Chicago boys, they are never going to stop. What’s it going to take to get them to leave Kenny alone. They no doubt heard about the weddings and have come back to town to cause a whole mess of trouble we don’t need. I swear they make me so fighting mad.”

PJ looks at Lacy. “Don’t let them get under your skin, you know that’s half of it for Jake Eldridge. He just doesn’t want you to be happy.”

PJ clinks glasses with Jules. “But Jules and me, we are not letting any one of those fools spoil our special days. Come next Sunday, we’re going to be walking down that beautiful path we set up at Cole’s, right into the arms of the men we love.” She looks at each of the bodyguards. “And I expect every single one of you to keep those Chicago boys at bay. Don’t you let them interrupt our wedding, understand?”

They all smile, and Mason draws her to his side and kisses the top of her head. “Nothing is going to happen, you can count on it.” Beckett puts a possessive arm around Jules. “We’ve got the best sharpshooter around sitting at our table tonight. They come anywhere near that wedding and Blake here’s going to send them packing.”

Blake grins. “Count on it,” he says, holding up his beer in solidarity with the crew.

I turn to Blake. “Military?”

He takes a sip of his beer. “Yes, ma’am.”

It’s really none of my business but now I’m curious, and it’s not because he’s been flirting with me all afternoon. “Home on leave, and then stationed where next?”

“No, actually done with my tour and working full-time with these guys,” Blake says, gesturing with a nod to Damian and Dereck.

I glance at them. “And where are the little ladies at?”

“They couldn’t make it but sent along a couple gifts,” Damian says. “I wish it would have worked for them to come out with us. Usually, it does.”

Blake stands. “I’m going to head up to my room and catch a little nap. Didn’t sleep at all on the flight in. You guys want to meet up for supper tonight?”

Cole stands and shakes hands with his friend. “Sounds good. And thanks for coming. We appreciate it. Krissy and I are going to head to the house for a while. We’ll spend a little time with the kids and then meet you here about six-thirty for supper? There’s a live band that plays every Friday and Saturday night. It’s pretty good. My guess is Kenny and Eileen will be around later, too.”