Herd That (The Valentine Boys 1)

When I muttered a ‘thank you’ as I passed him, he followed shortly behind me, not bothering to wait for Callum and Desi.

He gestured to a booth that was in the corner and I moved in that direction.

When I sat, he followed directly behind me.

I tossed a scowl in his direction and said, “Why aren’t you sitting over there? Desi can sit beside me.”

“Do you see the size of the booth?” he asked just as the bells above the deli’s door jingled, indicating that Callum and Desi had arrived. “Do you honestly think that Callum and I can sit side by side in one?”

Just as he finished his question, Desi slid in directly across from me, and Callum followed behind her.

I looked at the space that was between them—barely any—and grimaced.

“Whatever,” I muttered.

The man at my side chuckled and reached for a menu that was beside me, forcing me to shrink backward so his muscled forearm didn’t graze across my boob.

I managed to get out of the way—mostly. He still managed to graze the tip of my nipple.

I barely swallowed back the moan that threatened to spill from my lips.

Jesus Christ.

Was that all it took? A little itty-bitty graze of his arm across the tip of a nipple?

Yes, yes it was.

I was a woman in need of a good fucking.

Or a better, more well-endowed vibrator.

I had a feeling that the one I had wouldn’t be good enough any longer.

“What’s good here?” Callum asked. “I haven’t been in a long time.”

I thought about that question.

“The jalapeño turkey crunch sandwich is to die for,” I admitted. “But the size is kind of small. You’d need at least two to fill you up,” I murmured. “And I order the kid’s nacho basket. It’s a bowl of nacho cheese and Rotel. They serve chips with it. I also get macaroni and cheese with that, as well as half of a spud to go with my sandwich. Oh, and a chocolate chip cookie.”

There was silence at the table.

“That was quite specific,” he admitted.

I thought about that.

It was, indeed, quite specific. However, was it wrong to know what I liked at the stores in town?

No.

At least I didn’t think so.

“I know what I like, and you asked.” I shrugged.

Ace put the menu down and leaned back, his arm going behind my shoulders spanning the entire seat of the booth.

He wasn’t touching me, per se, but he was so close to having his arm around me that we likely looked like a couple.

If, you know, I wasn’t the trash of the county and Ace wasn’t the hometown boy who shined like a shooting star.

Nobody would make the mistake of us being together.

“What’s that look for?” Desi asked curiously.

I blinked, unaware that I’d been so focused inwardly that I hadn’t been paying attention to what was happening right in front of me.

“Nothing.” I recovered quickly. “Do you think we’ll have to go up there and order?”

Ace looked over and grimaced. “Maybe. They look kind of busy today.”

Most days, the orders were placed at the tables, but on the days that they were super busy like they were today, you’d have to go up to the counter and place the order.

I nudged Ace with a shoulder. “Go. I’m starving like Marvin.”

“Who’s Marvin?” he asked teasingly.

I shrugged. “I have no idea. That’s just something my granddad used to say to me.”

He patted me on the thigh as he slid out of the booth. “I’ll go order. Callum, you get Desi’s order. I don’t want anyone stealing our seats.”

That was true. There were so many people now that there was a line starting to snake out the door.

Instead of arguing, I watched the two men go, getting in line at the to-go checkout stand instead of standing in the normal line.

“Do you think they’ll be able to place their orders there?” I asked Desi as I watched the two men.

“I’m fairly positive that young girl will shit herself when those two get up to her register,” Desi admitted. “I’d do anything for them.”

I looked at my friend. “You just swore off men forever, remember?”

She sighed and tore her eyes away from Ace and Callum’s backsides.

“You’re right,” she admitted. “But Callum’s different.”

“How?” I asked curiously.

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “And don’t think I didn’t notice all that sexual tension practically pouring off of you two.”

I felt myself blushing.

“He’s intimidating as fuck,” I said softly. “He asked me out on a date a few days ago.”

Her mouth fell open.

“And you went, right? Please tell me that you went,” she pleaded.

I shook my head. “It was a pity date. He felt bad.”

She frowned. “What makes you… oh, shit.”

I looked up at her frown and saw the reason for her ‘oh, shit.’

It was her ex-husband and his new girlfriend.

His new girlfriend that just so happened to be Ace’s ex-girlfriend from when he was in high school.