They were all silent. He looked up and stared at them.
“Come on now, you know it’s what each of us want but haven’t found. Perhaps, it will work out correctly this time,” he added.
Nash threw down his cards.
“What’s that supposed to mean, Zane?”
Zane never really cared for Maggie, nor did the other guys, but they were supportive.
“Nothing, Nash. Forget it. Let’s play. This is poker night, and women talk is off limits until we hit the club outside those doors,” Zane said, but Nash felt angry. Riker and Nash cared for Maggie. Her death had killed them inside, and he couldn’t understand why their best friends never really trusted her.
Chapter 4
Chastity didn’t dare step up to the highest rung on the ladder to see if this colored bulb made the custom light fixtures stand out more. She stood on tiptoes as she twisted the bulb into the fixture. The other workers were in the adjacent room, and she couldn’t bother them just to insert these bulbs. Right now she was over the table of the booth she’d redesigned, minus the curtains. If she lost her balance and fell, at least she would hit the table and booth seats, instead of the stone tile flooring.
“Oh shit,” she said as she began to lose her balance while trying to hold the fixture and insert the bulb. It seemed that someone hadn’t screwed in the fixture base completely, and now, it was moving. The hand-blown stained glass fixtures were shaking as she held on to one of the three thin poles they descended from as well as the bulb.
Instantly she felt the large hands on her waist.
“Don’t move. I got you.”
She nearly jumped out of her skin from the feel of Nash’s hands on her waist.
She glanced down at him and took a deep breath as she absorbed his casual attire. Dark blue T-shirt, designer, she was sure, and blue jeans. Her belly did a series of flip-flops and then came the embarrassment of being caught like this. Add in the fact that her low-rising jeans needed to be pulled up, her belly was exposed, and that she was probably flashing her thong right now, and yeah, humiliation was hard to swallow.
“Can you let go of the bulb and fixture?” he asked, holding her by her hips.
“Not exactly. It seems that one of the workers was a bit rushed and didn’t screw in the base tight enough. If I release this now, we’re going to have a mess on our hands. These fixtures are expensive.”
“Your safety is more important, Chastity.”
“Just go grab one of the guys and he can get a screw driver and fix this while I hold it in place.”
“I’m not releasing you. You’ll loose your balance and crack your head open.”
“What’s going on in here? Did she finally say yes to trying out the booths?” Riker asked as he entered the room.
“Riker, really?” she reprimanded, then nearly lost her footing. He really got her temper flaring. “Hold still, Chastity.” Nash raised his voice, and his grip was strong on her waist. She felt his warm fingers against her very sensitive skin. Her nipples hardened and her breasts tingled. God, she was so sexually attracted to these men. But why? They were totally not even her type at all.
“What do you need?” Riker asked, and Nash told him to grab a screwdriver from one of the guys.
“Just send one of the workers in here. Ask Bobby to come in.”
“He’ll get it,” Nash stated, and she felt his hands move ever so slightly on her waist. She swayed slightly, and he gripped her snugly. “Don’t move around so much.”
Riker returned with a screwdriver in hand.
Chastity removed the lightbulb with one hand then handed it to Riker. She then took the screwdriver, reached up higher, and screwed the screws in tighter.
All the while, she felt her entire body shaking with these two men watching her and staring at her backside.
“Is that a tattoo?” Riker asked as she finished tightening up the base of the lighting fixture and could finally lower her arms. She felt his fingers against her skin, and she jumped, turning toward him.
Luckily Nash was holding on to her still.
“Whoa!” Nash stated, and she climbed down the ladder, pushing his
hands from her waist the lower she got.