His eyes squinted at her and his hold tightened. “I don’t like this. You’re keeping secrets, and my brothers and I are concerned to say the least.
“We sure are,” Kenneth said, standing there with his hands on his hips and his shirt undone. Had she done that while he kissed her?
She swallowed hard.
“I already explained when Caroline was in trouble that I had a bad relationship. I’m trying to be independent, to establish my career and take care of myself. I don’t want or need anything else in my life right now.” Bender widened his eyes, and she could tell she probably insulted him. This wasn’t working. They were both staring at her, determined to break her down. She needed to get away from them. Being in their arms felt so good.
“We’re not going to hurt you,” Kenneth said as he reached over and gently caressed a curl of her hair from her cheek and placed it over her shoulder. His thumb brushed over her cheekbone.
“We’ll take things slow. We’ll work through your fears and reservations.”
“There’s nothing to work through. I just can’t get involved with you.”
“Tell us right now if this relationship you were hurt in is over, or if this has the potential of turning into something like what your sister was involved in,” Bender said, shocking her. Even when everything happened with Caroline, no one asked her about her last name being different, or about why she left New York and came here. These men knew she had a bad relationship but they didn’t think it was anything like Caroline’s with Cameron. Skip was worse. Skip had turned out to be a masochist. She found out that he was cheating on her and into some crazy shit when she walked into his apartment to surprise him on her lunch hour and there was a woman tied to the bed with welts and cuts along her back and ass. But the biggest shock was the dark smile on Skip’s face and the pleasurable moans that came from the woman’s mouth.
She shivered.
Bender gripped her cheeks.
“See, right there. You were thinking of something bad, upsetting even now when we’re talking to you.”
She shook her head. She felt the bile in her throat from the images she remembered. “I can’t,” she whispered.
“Shelby Ann, please,” Bender said to her. His hands were on her, holding her, keeping her close, and she felt so safe, so secure with him and Kenneth there, but she couldn’t do this. She couldn’t let them in. What would they say when they saw the scars? How would they react when they found out what Skip had done to her? What would they think if they found out what she allowed Skip to put her through, and made her submit to or die?
“I don’t want this, and I don’t want you or your brothers. Please leave me alone or I will call Max,” she threatened again, and she pressed away from Bender.
Bender released her and he wasn’t happy about it as he exhaled then clenched his teeth and held his fists by his side.
She hurried away from them and into Spencer’s. She felt like shit. Like the lowest possible piece of dirt for hurting them like that. But they were better off without her. Better off with someone who wasn’t scarred the way she was and emotionally unstable.
“Shelby, what’s wrong?” Caroline asked as she hurried to her, stepping away from Hunter. One look at her sister’s men and she could see their instant concern. It hurt to know that she could have that, too, if it weren’t for her past and for what Skip had done.
“I need to go home. Now,” she said to Caroline.
Caroline looked over her shoulder and squinted her eyes at Shelby.
“What did they do?”
She held onto Caroline and forced a smile.
“They didn’t do anything. I can’t give them what they want, Caroline. Please, understand.”
Caroline looked confused. Her facial expression went from concern to sadness. She had her hand on Shelby’s shoulder.
“I love you,” Caroline told her.
“I love you, too. Stay, enjoy the night,” Shelby replied, forcing a smile.
“Is everything okay over here?” C.J. asked, approaching.
“Yes, just fine. I need to head out. I’m not feeling well,” Shelby lied.
“Want one of us to give you a ride home?” York asked, joining them along with Hunter. Shelby was touched by their instant care for her, too. They didn’t need to look after Shelby. They needed to always look after Caroline.
“I’ll be just fine. I hope you are enjoying the party, C.J.,” Shelby said to him. He gave a smile and then wrapped his arm around Caroline’s waist and pulled her close. “Very good time. Thanks for coming.”
“Of course. Good night then,” Shelby said and the men kissed her good night.