Trouble Travels in Threes (Trouble, Tennessee 3)

“Traded with Draegan,” Allister replied, leaning over the wall. “He had plans tonight, too.”

“This I know,” Markie sang. “You coverin’ him all night long or just until the sizzle fizzles out?”

“It ain’t gonna fizzle with that one.” Mac appeared next to Allister then. “What’s your date’s name?”

“Ya takin’ notes?”

“Do I need to?” Mac fired back.

“You always were the pushy McCall. Don’t ‘cha have anything better to do than devil me today?”

“Not really,” Mac replied, grinning. “Want me to come down and wait with you?”

“Absolutely not,” Markie fired back, brushing off his shoulders. “The last thing I need is another man intimidated because he feels inferior to a McCall.”

“Ah now, come on Markie. Turnabout is fair play. How many times did you try to run off our dates, dishing out kisses and winks, calling us sugar and patting our asses?”

“Man’s got a point,” Allister said.

About that time, Markie’s phone buzzed. He looked down at the message and grinned. “Special is right on time.”

“Special?” Allister frowned. “Have you already been out with this fella?”

“No, it’s his Manlist ID and I like it.”

Mac threw his rifle over the wall and fiddled with his sights.

“What the bloody hell do ya think you’re doin’?” Markie swatted at air, indicating Mac should drop his weapon.

“I’m setting my sights on you so I can get a good look at this Special.”

“Give up his name, Markie,” Allister said. “You know the rules. If anyone goes off property, we need names and numbers.”

“I don’t have a name other than Special.”

Allister said something under his breath. Mac fiddled with the gun’s sights again.

“Please, fellas. How do ya think I’m gonna explain this when he arrives?” Markie glanced at his phone again. His date would be turning the corner down the street in another minute or so. Once he took that curve, he’d easily spot the guardhouse.

“Dude driving a limo?” Harley leaned over the wall next, shoving what looked like the last of a brownie in between his lips.

“Yes, why?”

“Markie’s moving up in the world!” Allister sang, slapping Harley on the back.

The boys were all laughing and smiling and Markie couldn’t help but stop his bitching and stand back and admire the young men he’d come to think of as his brothers, too. “Ah well, shucks.” He shooed them away. “Boys will be boys. Have your fun now. Paybacks are a trained bitch when I’m in control, my sweet fellas.”

“Go on now, Markie,” Allister called out, nodding at the limo. “Just tell Special that Mac here has a nervous trigger finger and he’d better keep that in mind.”

Markie threw his hand up in the air and added an extra sway to his hips as he made his way toward the car. The chauffeur leapt from the driver’s seat and opened the back door.

“Oh, why thank you.” Markie fluttered his eyelashes and looked the young hunk up and down, quickly coming to the assumption he was staring at one fine piece of available ass.

“Have fun, hon!” Allister called out, clearly taunting him in much the same manner he had once teased all the McCall brothers. “Curfew’s at ten!”

“Move out of the way, Markie!” Mac called out, clearly determined to get a good look at Markie’s date.

Markie waved once more and leaned inside the limo. Locking eyes with Special, he said, “You’re a pretty sharp cookie. My buddy was trying to scope you out.”