“How old is that girl?” Mick asked.
“I believe the term for females over eighteen is ‘woman.’ She’s twenty-five.”
“You’re how old? Forty-five?”
Asa flipped him off. “Thirty-seven.”
Mick rolled his eyes. “She’s too young for you. She’s your midlife crisis and you’re her sugar daddy.”
“Sugar daddy?” Asa barked a surprised laugh. “Is that what this is about? She’s got more money than I do. She’s a Colman. As in Colman Enterprises? She has her own business, which is successful. She’s not too young for me, and I’m not having a midlife crisis.”
“Anything younger than a decade is officially too young. I have socks older than her.”
“No, you don’t. You’re so full of shit.” Duke shook his head. “She doesn’t need a sugar daddy. She’s got talent. Real talent, and all the connections she needs on her own. Her family is more steeped in car culture than we ever will be.”
Asa shoved Mick toward where the Oldsmobile was. “See that paint job? That’s her. All her. Triple metallic. Perfect. She doesn’t need me for this. She’s got it on her own.”
Mick prowled around the car, peering closely at it until he came to a stop at Asa’s side again.
“I’m impressed by anyone with that sort of skill. But she’s so young, Asa. Innocent. I bet she has freckles and polishes apples she takes to the teacher.”
“And so what if she does? She’s a big girl. She knows how to say no, and that’s all it would take.” Not even that. He was in tune with her. Listened to her responses so he could avoid a situation where she’d have to say no in the first place.
“Take my word for it, Penelope Jean isn’t doing anything she doesn’t want to do. I’ve come to know her over the last months. You owe her an apology and some chocolate.” Duke shrugged. “Also, she didn’t polish an apple for you. I seem to recall you got the finger and an admonition to eat a bag of dicks. She brings me cinnamon candy popcorn because it’s my favorite.”
Asa laughed. “PJ is capable of handling herself, but in this case, you’re my friend and she shouldn’t have to. I won’t let you hurt her, Mick. She’s important to me.”
Mick leaned against a light post.
“Is this chick even your type? I’ve never seen you with a woman like her.”
Duke spoke this time. “Interestingly enough, she seemed to be your type. Don’t think you looking at her ass was a secret. Something you want to tell us?”
Mick blushed hard enough that Asa could see it even in the dim light.
“I’ve never hid that I like women too. She just reminded me of someone for a moment. That’s all. She’s pretty, no lie. Great body. She’s just not your usual. Young. I jumped to conclusions and got protective and weird.”
Mick slid a palm over his head. That sound, the scratch of skin on the stubble of the scalp their friend shaved regularly, was so normal, something Asa had heard during every situation imaginable.
This was Asa, Duke, and Mick. Like it had been for years.
“Jesus. I bet she’s going to make me pay. She seems the type,” Mick said.
Young and crazy, she’d teased him. Asa’d had his share of crazy women, and she really wasn’t in that category. Which was a very good thing. But she had enough of that energy, enough sass and sense of self that she embodied the things he dug about those sorts of intense people without the restraining-order parts.
“She’s not a pushover. And you were an asshole. Also, I should have told you this up front, but she’s got a temper, which you’ve seen a bit of. That middle finger was just the tip of that iceberg. Wear a cup.”
Chapter Fourteen
She’d just settled into bed and had started to drift off when the knock came at her door.
Asa had texted her earlier to see if she was still up, but she’d just wanted to go to sleep, so she’d ignored it. Also, she was annoyed at him and his friend and she didn’t want to deal with any more foolery from them that night.
She pulled on a robe and headed out, looking through the peephole to be sure it was him. And it was.
Seeing him sent all her annoyance skittering away. He looked so good out there on her porch. He’d smell good too. And make her come at least once. But since he’d be feeling guilty she could probably count on a minimum of two orgasms.
She opened up.
He gave her a smile but stayed outside. He held up a couple of shopping bags. “I come bearing gifts. Chocolates. Caramels. Some wine. Me.”
PJ put a hand at her hip. “You’re trouble.” Which was why she would let him in, of course.
“I know. But I’m usually worth it in the end. Can I come in?”
She stepped to the side, locking up once he’d come in.
“Mick is going to be calling you this week to apologize. I feel like I should tell you a little about him. Not to make excuses for what he’s done, but maybe to help you understand some.”
“Come in. I was in bed. Bring the chocolates, caramel, and you.”
He snorted, getting rid of his boots and then following her to her room.
She slid the robe over the top of her door and got back in bed.
“Am I safe getting in there with you?”
She grinned. “You’re an adrenaline junkie, Asa. Take your chances.”
Laughing, he pulled off every last stitch of clothing and jumped in bed with her.
“Mick was in the army with me and Duke, as you know. We met early on. He and Duke were in the same company, and I came along after one of their buddies got killed.”
He shook his head, his gaze going far away for a moment, and she realized how little he spoke about this stuff.
“He’s the youngest of seven kids. They’re very religious and he’s bi. They didn’t kick him out or send him to therapy, but they have quietly and gravely judged him for being gay since he came out.
“He’s my brother, like Duke is my brother. He’s protective and he saw you as a threat because you’re young and pretty. He thought you were out to use me. But we hashed it out. Duke and I both talked with him about you. He’s a hothead, but he’s also got honor. He’s not used to fitting anywhere. But he does with us, and you came into that space and he freaked. I hope you’ll give him a chance once he apologizes, but if you don’t I get that too.”
Well, how could she not give the guy a chance after that story? “I’m not a heartless brute.” She snuggled down under the covers and he spooned her from behind.
“I have an idea. Something to help you sleep,” he said, nuzzling the back of her neck.
“Stop talking, that works best,” she muttered and he laughed.
“I’m sorry.” He said it quietly, his lips against her pulse on her neck.
“For what?” She turned to face him.
“I invited you somewhere and then you got treated poorly by my best friend. That’s a shitty thing to have to deal with. It shouldn’t have happened. I’m sorry you had to.”
She sighed. “It’s all right. I mean, it’s not cool that he was such an insulting dickbag. But if he’s sorry, truly, and he apologizes, and it was because he wanted to protect you, I can get past it. Shit happens. Wait till you meet my family. It’ll be so much fun.”
He guffawed. “I’ve met your oldest brother and your sister.”
She rested her chin on his chest, closing her eyes a moment when he played his fingers through her hair.
“I’m still sorry.”
He wanted to protect her. It hit her hard, so she turned her face to kiss his chest over his heart as she tried to get her head around what it was that Asa had just shown her such a private side of himself.