She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not (The American Soldier Collection 8)

She noticed how Donella, Sam, and Moira began to slink away, and the Lawson brothers moved in around her.

“I really can’t stand that woman. It’s good to know that a girly drink to her outfit could get rid of her so quickly,” Mace said as he moved next to her.

“I can’t believe that woman could say such things. We were involved in our own conversation. It’s so immature,” she replied.

Seno stood next to Mace watching her.

“You held yourself well. So what’s this about self-defense training?” he asked.

She lowered her eyes. “It’s Moira’s idea. Her brother Caprio knows some guy or something that does these classes in one of the training facilities by the racetrack. We might check it out this week.”

“Oh, I think I know who that is,” Mace said and then winked at Seno and Hunter. But Hunter immediately looked away when she glanced at him. She wondered if somehow, despite her standing up for him, if she also insulted him. More importantly, why did she even care when she didn’t know him or his brothers?

Mace continued to talk with Justice about some upcoming hand-to-hand combat games sponsored by the local YMCA. She had the opportunity to absorb their similarities as brothers as well as their differences. Seno was the only brother that had dark hair. The others were blond. They were all very tall, at least six feet, and well built. Justice and Mace had blue eyes where Seno and Hunter had green eyes.

Before long she found herself engaged in conversation about Casper’s and about what they did for a living as the crowd around them grew louder and bigger. There was a roar of excitement behind her, and when she turned, she saw some guys getting rowdy and picking one of their friends up in the air. They began to sing “Happy Birthday,” and the crowd of people moved causing her to step right in between

Hunter and Seno. The moment she felt the hand on her hip and the protective semicircle around her, she paused in awe. The four brothers surrounded her, being sure to keep her safe from the rowdy guys around.

It had suddenly become so loud from the singing that she squinted her eyes, and covered her ears with her hands turning toward the bar.

When she did, she locked gazes with Hunter who stared at her.

“I didn’t need your help,” he told her. She uncovered her ears and stared up into his eyes. Behind her someone bumped into Seno and she pressed closer to Hunter. She grabbed onto his arms to steady herself.

“I’m sure you didn’t, but she was obnoxious. I dislike obnoxious people.” He must have thought she was referring to him. His hold tightened.

“You think I’m obnoxious?” he asked, and the feel of his hands on her hips aroused her. Nothing seemed to matter but the lost, hurt look in his eyes, and the sensation that pulled at her heart.

“I don’t know you, Hunter. Although first impression is that you have an attitude.”

“Yeah, well my first impression of you is a woman who knows how to throw a drink to hit her target.”

She stared at him uncertain if he were flirting, or what?

“How about I buy you a new drink?”

“Hmmm. I don’t accept drinks from strange men I just met.”

He raised his eyebrows at her. “But you will defend them on intimate bedroom information publicly announced to a crowd of other strangers?”

She looked him over. He was handsome. He was rugged looking, but it was that look in his eyes, the fear, the sadness, that she recognized as familiar.

“I guess I was relying on instincts. You know, my gut.”

He gently used his thumbs to massage the sides of her hips as Seno pressed against her back, shocking her.

“What is your gut telling you now?”

Her mind erupted into some mighty naughty thoughts, especially as she looked to the right. There were Justice and Mace, close enough to kiss.

“I think it’s telling me I should run while I can.”

Justice smiled and then reached over and caressed her chin, making her look at him.

“When this night just got a hell of a lot more interesting? I don’t think so. Let us buy you a drink. That way we can work on getting your number and making plans,” he said confidently.

She chuckled. “Nice try. Has that actually worked for you in the past?”