“Sparrow,” she reprimanded.
“You two go ahead and we’ll help Lois with the kids,” Evan said with a smile. Lois felt instantly sick. Her sister must have seen her expression as well as Sparrow. He squinted at her and released Valentina.
“That’s okay. There’s no time for naps. We have to gather the kids’ things for school Monday and go shopping for their snacks and their first-day-of-school outfits,” Valentina said and took her sister’s arm and hugged her close. Lois smiled.
“It’s going to be wonderful knowing that Kenny, Tye, and Lena have one another to go to school together. Tye and Kenny will be in the same classroom and Lena right across the hallway. The teachers are very nice, too,” Valentina said. Lois felt that uneasy feeling again as she thought about leaving Kenny and not knowing what to do without him for the day. In the past, she thought about how other moms felt leaving their kids, letting them go off to school like that. For her, it was different. She still felt fearful despite the reassurance from everyone, including the teachers, her therapist, and Valentina, that Kenny would be safe and that this was a good thing. It would mean time for herself—a chance to think about a job, gaining her self-confidence, and getting rid of the fears.
Valentina released her arm as the kids came outside looking to snack on the milk and cookies. Lois went to walk over toward them when she felt a hand touch hers.
She pulled away and looked wide-eyed at Evan. Ford just stared at her from under his black Stetson.
She was embarrassed for reacting like that, but she didn’t appreciate being touched. What gave him the right to touch her hand like that? She was angry and scared, especially since she didn’t want to accept the instant attraction she felt toward the men. Evan licked his lower lip and stared down into her eyes. He was big and tall, filled with muscles, and very serious looking. All his brothers shared that expression. It caused this fearful reaction, despite their good looks. Evan was handsome with a little scruff along his tan skin. Ford was tan, too, but more mysterious. He was a man of few words, and that made Lois question everything about him even more.
“You’ll have some downtime with Kenny in school. If you need any help with anything, feel free to call us. Any of us are here for you,” he offered.
She wanted to tell him no thank you, or bug off, or something, but she was caught in the dark brown of his eyes, his sexy smile, and how him being this close to her unnerved her. She glanced at Ford, who was very tan with dark eyes and an expression of dominance and control that put her on edge. He had his thumbs resting in the loops of his black jeans. His eyes narrowed at her in that serious manner that was all Ford, a man of authority and power.
She turned away without a response and walked toward Valentina and Sparrow, who had watched the whole exchange.
“She’ll let you know if she needs any help. Your Aunt Dora is going to be watching baby Grace for me on Monday after Lois and I drop off Lena, Tye, and Kenny at school. Lois and I have appointments in town.”
“We do?” Lois asked her. This was the first she’d heard about it.
“Yes, we do. A bit of pampering, thanks to Sparrow and his brothers.”
“Pampering?” Evan asked as Valentina offered him and Ford a cookie each, which they immediately took.
“Yup, the works at the salon,” Sparrow said with his arms crossed in front of his chest. He smiled and winked at Lois.
“We’re getting our hair done, and manicures and pedicures, too. Then lunch at the café,” Valentina said to them.
“A massage, too?” Evan asked and held Lois’s gaze. She panicked and looked at Valentina. Valentina caressed her hand and gave her a wink.
“No massages. We have to get back home for the kids and to pick up baby Grace at your mom’s house. I thought Lois and I would walk down to the school to pick them up with Grace, too.”
“That sounds nice. You deserve some pampering,” Evan said to her and Valentina. They were quiet as the kids ate cookies and drank milk.
“These are delicious,” Ford said and reached over to take another one.
“They’re Lois’s secret recipe,” Valentina said, and Ford and Evan looked at Lois.
“They’re delicious. Do you like baking?” Evan asked her. She couldn’t help the uneasy feeling she had. She didn’t want to do small talk or get to know them. They put her on edge and made her feel nervous. Evan, Ford, and their brothers had reputations of being kind of crazy and really assertive soldiers. She had overheard stories Sparrow and his brothers told with their dads. They did dangerous work, and Ghost and Ford were still trying to transition into civilian life after retiring only six months ago.
“She knows how to make a bunch of different kinds, but these are our favorite, right guys?” Valentina answered for her and spoke toward the kids, who then cheered and said how yummy the cookies were. Valentina reached over and wiped Lena’s cheek, which had milk on it, and gave her a smile.
Lois didn’t like the fact that Ford had his hand on the back of her chair, or that Evan was sitting next to her with his leg brushing against hers every time he reached forward. She glanced at him. His dark expression had her clasping her hands in her lap and trying not to move. He was so close, and each time his thigh touched hers, she felt a massive amount of heat.
“Want some milk, Evan?” Sparrow teased. They chuckled.
“How about some iced tea?” Valentina asked and went to stand up.
“I’ll get it,” Lois said and rose from her chair. Anything to get away from the two Brazos men. They made her nervous.
She clutched her sweater as she squeezed by both men. Ford held her gaze as she looked up into his eyes. She was so petite compared to them. Even that intimidated her.
Lois went inside and passed the living room, seeing Beck and baby Grace sleeping. She couldn’t help but smile. She headed toward the kitchen, being quiet as she made the iced tea and grabbed some glasses. She heard footsteps and looked up to see Evan there. He looked her body over, making her feel on edge. He was a good-looking man, but he was a soldier, a man who represented the things she feared. So he was nice, seemed friendly, and sweet fro
m the moment they met. It didn’t matter. She’d thought Caden was a gentleman, a protector and a real man. He had turned on her quickly, hit her without hesitation, and then did what he did in a fit of anger and without a thought of Kenny as he raped her. She swallowed and felt that slight constricting feeling. Evan stepped closer. “Lois, are you okay?” he whispered.