Keeley's Fight (The Protectors 1)

Keeley just sat there a little dumbfounded. First, she wondered who their parents were, and then she wondered what was so special about her. She was just nobody with nothing going for her. What could they possibly want with her? She wondered, not really realizing she had said all of that out loud, so they could hear her. She was startled at Joy’s outburst. “Now you listen here young lady, you are somebody to us. And I don’t care how long it takes, you will realize this sooner or later! Got it?!” Joy told her empathically before walking out of the room. She heard Tyler and Nathaniel laughing softly, while she just sat there with her eyes wide and mouth open in shock.

“She’s right, Butterfly. You are most certainly something special to us,” Nathaniel told her.

“Who are your parents? And why do you keep calling me Butterfly?” she asked him, still slightly shocked.

“I call you Butterfly because you remind me of one. Graceful, elegant, unique, gorgeous, vulnerable, and you could fly off the second I look away,” he told her after he put her back on her chair and laid a soft kiss on her lips, like Tyler had. It was so soft that if she hadn’t been watching, she wouldn’t have known he’d done it. It left butterflies in her tummy, leaving a nice little hum of arousal for these two very sweet brothers that she was slowly becoming addicted to. “And your parents?” She asked when he pulled back.

“Amber, Jackson, and Andrew Maxwell. Ma said they come in almost every night,” Tyler told her.

“Oh yes, I know them. Nicest people I’ve met in my whole life. They tip way too big though.” She marveled at that.

“They just wanted to make sure you were taken care of was all,” Tyler told her. “Alright darling, your arm is only sprained and bruised, some ice should help with that and limit yourself when carrying heavy things.”

“But I have to work. I have to find a place to live. I don’t want to go back to that shelter.” She panicked.

“Calm down darlin’, we’ll help you figure something out. First, let’s eat this marvelous meal our aunt made, and worry about the rest later, alright?” Tyler said to her as Aunt Joy brought their lunch for them.

Keeley couldn’t figure them out. People were never this nice to her, like ever. She’d never known such kindness before. Never known what affection was until now. Her parents were always hitting her and talking down to her, but these men and their family were so wonderful to her, and she was a complete stranger to them. She had never been more confused in her life. There has to be a catch. You’re nobody, Keeley. They want something from you; no one is this nice for nothing.

“Why?” She finally found the courage to ask what she was thinking.

Everyone looked at her slightly confused, not understanding. “What do you mean, why, Butterfly?” Nathaniel asked her. Oh, how she loved that nickname.

“Why are you all being so nice to me? You don’t even know me. People are never this nice without wanting something in return. So I guess my real question should be, why are you being so nice to me and what do you want in return?” Blowing out a much needed breath, she waited. For what she wasn’t sure, yet.

Joy came and sat down beside her, grabbed one of her hands and waited for her to look up, and when she finally did Joy spoke. “I am being nice to you because you are a nice, sweet, young woman whom I suspect has had a pretty shitty life, and I simply want it to get better. And I want to be a part of that better life. Now, what I want from you in exchange for this kindness; which is way too foreign to you for my comfort, by the way…, hmmm.” Keeley held her breath waiting. “What I want from you, is simply for you to be happy. Yes, you have to be happy.” Joy just smiled at her dumbfounded look before kissing her on the cheek and whispering in her ear, “I suspect these boys might have a different answer though.” With a wink at her, and a stern look towards Tyler and Nathaniel, she left them alone once again.

Turning towards the men, she waited for them to talk. Finally, Tyler spoke up. “Darlin’, we’re being nice because it’s what you deserve from everyone you meet. You have done nothing wrong to be treated the way you have been up until now, and I swear if you give me, us, a chance, we’ll prove to you that we can and will take care of you.”

Nathaniel interrupted him and started speaking. “We’ll treat you like the princess that you are. The only thing we want from you is your trust, honesty, happiness, and a chance. We are very attracted to you and want to see where this could lead. So, instead of answering us right now, how about we eat before this food gets cold, yeah?” He squeezed her knee and nudged her towards her plate of what she now realized was one yummy looking, overly large burger and fries, cooked to perfection.

Smiling at them both she said, “I can’t possibly eat all this.”

“Oh, I bet you can Butterfly, give it a go and whatever you can’t eat we’ll take to go, alright?” Nathaniel told her.

Looking at him dubiously, she started with her fries and after the first bite dug in, wholeheartedly. They were the best fries she’d ever had. When she finished those, she looked at the burger thinking she’s not gonna be able to pick it up with her arm hurting so much. Just as she was about to say something, Tyler reached over and cut it in fours so she could grab it with one hand. “Thank you,” Keeley whispered with a small smile, and only feeling slightly embarrassed.

She moaned the minute the burger hit her mouth. She could taste every

spice in the meat, the sauce on the bun was fabulous, and there was just enough lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese to make every bite pure perfection. Before she knew it, the meal was gone. Not even realizing she had finished, or that the guys finished before her and had been watching her eat, she felt utterly content and full. She hadn’t felt full in far too long.

“Would y’all like dessert?” Joy asked as she walked in to clear their plates away. “Maybe some coffee, too?” She inquired.

The guys looked at her for an answer. “Yes please, very much. That was the most delicious meal I’ve had in a really long time,” she said shyly.

“Thank you Keeley, it’s always a pleasure to see my food is enjoyed. I’ll be back with coffee and dessert.” Joy winked and left them.

“So about this no home and possibly no job thing, we would like to make you an offer, if you’ll hear us out, please.” Tyler implored.

“Uhm, ok, I’m listening,” she told him.

*******

“Well, Nate and I own our own security company, Maxwell Secures. We’ve had it for nearly three years now and we’ve been looking for a personal assistant for the last six months. Someone to handle appointments, take phone calls, come with us on meetings with old and new clients; basically, someone that can keep us on track. We both tend to get ahead of ourselves and then overbook, and well honestly, it can be a real mess. We have a secretary, but she’s getting ready to retire and move closer to her grandchildren. What do you think?” Ty asked holding his breath.

“I, uh, I’m not sure I’m the right person for that job,” she responded with a look of defeat that he was slightly baffled by.

“Why not, Butterfly?” Nate asked her.