Their Masquerade (The American Soldier Collection 6)

“I didn’t mean to come across as sweet. I like you. Always have. Is there another reason why you wouldn’t want to move back to Texas?” She heard someone yell out Axel’s name and, of course, she immediately turned around to look. She spotted him right away, and he looked right at her.

She looked back at Randy, and Randy didn’t seem too pleased to see Axel. Apparently neither man liked one another. But she wondered why. As far as she knew, they’d only met at Michael’s wake.

“What is he, like a chaperone?” Randy asked.

She was surprised by his attitude.

She squinted her eyes at him.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, it seems like he followed you here. Him and his buddies were the reason why it was so difficult to set this lunch date up. You were busy with them.”

“Randy, I have a full week here at home. I have interviews and appointments plus, yes, time spent with Uncle Jeb and the guys.”

“Well, maybe you should let them know that you’re busy. I’d like to take you out for dinner this week, and maybe watch a movie at my place or something?” he said as he pulled her hand up toward his mouth and kissed the top of her hand.

“I thought I saw you over here, Mariah.” Axel approached from behind, making Mariah pull her hand from Randy’s grasp and become immediately stiff as he placed his hands on her shoulders.

The feel of his big, hard hands, gently massaging her tense muscles, was unexpected. What was he trying to do?

“Hi, Axel, Nice to see you again,” Randy said, and stood up to shake Axel’s hand.

Axel released one shoulder to shake Randy’s hand and he must have squeezed it hard because Randy seemed surprised a moment and then pulled his hand away. When Axel placed his hand on Mariah’s shoulders again, he squeezed a little harder. She gripped his hand.

“Axel, what are you up to?” she asked him.

“Just getting ready to meet Deacon and Quentin. They should be here soon.”

Axel released her shoulder and sat down on the chair next to her, but he scooted it across the floor and brought it up close to her. As his thigh touched hers, she stared at him. He placed his arm over her shoulder, and his cologne, his masculinity did a number on her libido. Her pussy actually clenched with need. How the hell do they do this to me?

How?

“You look really nice, Mariah. I like that dress on you, and those boots are very stylish.”

She scrunched her eyebrows at him, wondering what in the world he was up to. Then it hit her. He was trying to get her to feel uncomfortable so she wouldn’t be interested in Randy. He wanted to ruin this date. They all wanted to control her and decide who she could and couldn’t be with. Well, they weren’t going to get away with it. She scooted her chair closer to Randy. Axel showed off one of the meanest expressions she had ever seen.

“Well, we were just in the middle of a conversation,” she stated.

“Yes, we were making plans for dinner tomorrow night, and a movie at my place after?” Randy asked, holding her gaze. She’d somehow wound up in the middle of a men’s pissing contest. She swallowed hard and nodded her head.

“Yes, that sounds perfect.”

Axel looked toward the door and then he stood up.

“Well, I’ll leave you two to your lunch. See ya in a little bit, Mariah.” Axel got up to leave, but as he did, he caressed her hair and gave a strand of hair a light tug. A tingling sensation traveled through her scalp, over her neck to her breasts. As her nipples instantly hardened, she shook her head. Her body knew their touch. Her body reacted immediately. Why couldn’t Randy’s touch or some other man’s touch do this to her? It would make her life a hell of a lot easier right now.

She looked up at Axel and he winked at her. As she followed him with her eyes, she spotted Deacon and Quentin and gave a quick nod of her head in acknowledgement before she turned toward Randy.

“They’re taking the whole big brother act a bit too far. You’re a grown woman. You can date who you want. They need to get lives or their own women to dote on.”

“Randy, they’re good friends, more like family.”

He scooted his chair closer as he took her hand into his. “You’re a grown woman. Do you really need those men around you? I’ve heard things about them. It concerns me.”

“Things?” she asked, holding his gaze.

“They’re into some pretty kinky stuff, and they can be aggressive. Michael wouldn’t want you to be around that.”