Monroe, Marla - The Bikers' Babe [The Dirty Dozen 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (11 page)

“If you’re sure you don’t mind me staying, I’d like to.”

“Of course we want you to stay.” Cole reached over and grabbed her hand to squeeze it.

“Do you mind if I have my things shipped here then?”

“Not at all. You’ll need your things around you to feel comfortable. Plus, you’ll need your uniforms. How soon will they get here? Didn’t you say you have to start work Thursday night?” Cole asked.

“If they aren’t here by Wednesday, I’ll go out and buy a couple of scrubs. It’s no big deal.”

“I hate that you didn’t already ship them when you first got here,” Zack told her.

“Well, twenty-twenty and all that.” Tina smiled and picked up her plate to take it to the sink.

Zack stopped her. “You cooked, we wash dishes.”

Cole picked up his own plate and carried it over to the sink.

“We love it when you cook. You clean up as you go.” Zack grinned at her. “Doesn’t leave much for us to worry with.”

Tina laughed and left them to it to turn on the TV and watch the news. The announcer discussed the latest traffic accidents and local incidents, then continued with the national. Lastly, he touched on the fact that the Truck Stop Killer was still at large though he hadn’t taken another victim.

“Why are you watching that?” Cole asked, changing the channel to
Wheel of Fortune
.

“I wanted to know if they had caught him yet.” She stood up to look him in the eyes.

Tina knew he didn’t want her obsessing over the incident. Watching the news to find out if they’d caught him or not, bothered him. Well, she couldn’t help it. She needed to know. She wouldn’t feel truly safe enough to ride alone until he was in prison.

“Back off, Cole,” she warned him.

“I can’t help not wanting you to have to think about it. You’re not going anywhere without one or both of us until he is caught.”

“Cole,” Zack warned.

“Fuck it, Zack. I’m worried she’s going to take off on her own. The idea of her riding to work at night scares me. Don’t tell me to stop worrying, because I can’t.” Cole stomped off and slammed the back door.

Zack sighed. “Tina. Give him some space for a while. He’s worried about you and can’t stand to feel helpless. You riding to work alone makes him feel helpless because we’ll still be working when you go to work.”

“I don’t understand why he’s so worried. He acts as if we’re married or something.”

“Tina, we’re serious about you. You’re very important to us. This relationship is important to us.” Zack took her in his arms and hugged her.

“Relationship? I guess I didn’t realize you two felt so strongly. I thought this was just a short-term fling. I never expected to get serious.” Tina was taken aback. She’d figured they were only indulging in an affair.

“That’s what you think? Are you telling me you don’t feel something for us? Are you just using us to scratch an itch or something?” Now Zack was getting mad.

“What is your problem? I thought we were enjoying each other’s company. I care about the two of you, Zack, but I’m not in love with you.” The minute she said it, Tina wasn’t so sure that was true. She shoved it in the back of her mind to think about later.

Zack huffed out a breath and shook his head. Then he turned around and walked out the carport door to where the bikes where. It looked like she was going to have to find another place after all.

Tina walked into the bedroom and began to pack her things in her knapsack. She would stay in a hotel room until she located an apartment. She’d have to hurry since she was due to start work soon.

“What in the hell are you doing?” Cole walked into the bedroom.

“What does it look like I’m doing? I’m packing. You obviously don’t want me here anymore. Zack doesn’t, anyway.”

“The hell he doesn’t. You’re staying here with us.” Cole shoved his hands on his hips.

“Look, we had fun while it lasted. Obviously we can’t handle being around each other long term. It’s best if I find my own place.”

“You start work on Thursday night. You won’t have time to find anywhere that quick. At least wait until your rotation off,” Cole said.

If she didn’t know any better, she would say he sounded desperate. She couldn’t see him being desperate about anything, much less about her.

“You’ll stand a better chance of finding something you really like and will be comfortable in if you have time to look.”

She closed her eyes and then sighed. He was right. She didn’t have to like it though.

“Fine. I’ll stay for the workweek. Then I’m out of here. I’m causing too much trouble.” Tina left her bag where it lay. She’d dress out of it so she could leave if she needed too.

Zack walked in and looked at her bag on the floor. His eyes grew cold.

“You’re leaving?”

“No, she’s not. She’s going to stay until she’s off again so she can find a decent apartment,” Cole said.

Zack nodded and headed for the shower. He didn’t ask her to join him. She realized his feelings were hurt. Or worse, he no longer wanted her. That hurt.

Once everyone had had their shower and was ready for bed. Tina fully expected them to go back to their rooms, so she was surprised when they climbed into bed with her. She managed to act like it was the natural thing for them to do and got comfortable hugging her pillow. Neither man attempted to wrap his arms around her, and she felt bereft without them hugging her.

An hour later, she was still awake and both men were snoring as if nothing was bothering them. What was she going to do about them? She knew deep in her heart that she cared a little too much for them. Getting attached hadn’t been in her plans when she agreed to come home with them.

Tina sighed and tried to get comfortable. Finally, she drifted off to sleep to the sounds of their soft snores.

* * * *

She woke up Wednesday morning to an empty bed. The men were already up and gone for the day. They hadn’t bothered to wake her up and say goodbye. Why did they want her to stay if they were pissed at her? She couldn’t get her mind around their thinking.

She dressed and made a call first thing to the shipping company who had her things to go ahead and ship them to their address. She’d have to move them, but she could hire a truck to do that.

Next, she decided to go ahead and buy a couple of scrubs to be safe. She located a uniform shop easily enough and picked out the blue scrubs that they wore in the emergency room at that hospital. Among her things, she had several of just about every color since she changed jobs so often. Each hospital had their own color code system of scrubs for each department.

When she packed her purchases in her saddlebags, she looked up and saw a van parked across the street from the uniform shop. Immediately, she began to get nervous and hurried to get her helmet on and climb on the bike. She knew deep down it was foolish to get so upset. There were literally thousands of vans in Dallas. She couldn’t panic every time she saw one.

Still, she hurried to pull out in traffic and head in the opposite direction the van was parked. She circled back around and sure enough, the van was gone. She kept looking behind her expecting to see it following her, but never saw it again. She was panicking for nothing.

By the time she had made it back to Zack and Cole’s house, she’d calmed down. She washed her new uniforms then pressed them and taped up the hem until she could get them professionally altered.

She checked the time and realized the men would be home soon. She didn’t feel like cooking, so she would suggest a pizza. If they didn’t want one, fine. She’d order her own.

They didn’t show up at six like they had the last night. She waited till seven and finally ordered her own pizza. She’d just finished eating when they walked in at a quarter of nine. They smelled of beer. So they had obviously stopped off on the way home. She was glad she hadn’t bothered to cook.

“How was your day, dear?” Cole asked pulling her in for a sloppy kiss.

“Did you ride home drunk? I thought you had more sense than that.” She crossed her arms and leaned away from him.

“I’m not drunk,” he said sounding much more sober than he had to begin with.

Tina sighed. “Fine.”

Zack didn’t bother to hug her. He went and sat at the bar and finished off her pizza.

“Guess you gave up on waiting to eat,” he finally said.

“Yeah. I thought we’d order but when you didn’t show up, I just ordered for me. I’m sure you can still get it if you want one.”

“We ate hamburgers at the bar,” Cole said, having the grace to look guilty.

“Good.” Tina walked to the bedroom and commandeered the bathroom first.

She opted for a nice long, hot bath. They could wait on her, now. It might have been petty, but so was sulking and not bothering to let her know they weren’t coming home so she could go ahead and get something to eat.

“Tina?” Zack walked in without knocking.

She should have locked the damn door, she realized too late.

“Yeah?” She sighed and sank further in the sudsy water.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what, Zack?”

“For acting childish and not coming home. We were just going to have a beer with the guys but decided to eat there instead of coming home. We should have called you.”

“I don’t have the right to expect that, so don’t worry about it.”

“See, that’s just it, Tina. You do have the right. You’re living with us, even if it is only for a short amount of time. We deeply care about you. It hurts to know you don’t feel the same about us, but it’s no excuse for treating you that way.”

“Zack. I do care about you two. More than I should. But it can’t go anywhere. I’m a loner. I like being on my own and riding from place to place. I would think you would get that.”

“I do on some level, but it’s hard to understand you, as a woman, not wanting to settle down and have a home.” Zack leaned back against the counter and stuck his hands in his pockets.

“Maybe one day I will, but not right now.”

“Okay.”

“Just like that? You’re okay with it?” Tina couldn’t believe he was serious.

“Yeah. We can’t change how you feel no matter how much we want to.”

“Why isn’t Cole in here with you, then?” she asked.

Zack grinned. “He doesn’t express himself that well. He feels the same way, but he’s worried about you. You’ll be leaving at night to go to work and getting off early in the morning and coming in alone.”

“I’m used to doing that. I’m careful, Zack.”

“I know. We’re still going to worry.”

She sighed and went back to bathing. Zack just stood there watching her. Finally he knelt by the tub and took the cloth from her. He began to scrub her back for her. When he’d finished he rinsed her off and let the water out of the tub.

“So much for a nice soak,” she pouted.

“I’ll make it up to you with a nice massage,” Zack promised with a grin.

“I’m holding you to that.”

She wrapped the towel around her and walked into the bedroom to find Cole already undressed and in the bed. He had a light scowl on his face.

“Do you forgive us?” he asked.