One of Six (Den Hollows #1)

11. Beatrice

11

BEATRICE

I wonder about Essex as his five brothers take me to their home. I'm curious about where they live. I've been kept away from boys because of my family's obsession with image. It should bother me that I feel comfortable around these Redd men. Ever since I met them, I've felt like I belong. It's the strangest feeling.

Nothing good will come of my association with them if my family find out. No doubt they will, after what happened tonight. I'm not sure what to do. They saved me when Jason stood there and watched. What was wrong with him?

Galen steps forward and opens a gate. I gasp at the beautiful house in front of me. It's a two-story ranch with lights intertwined in the spindles of the wrap-around porch. Torches light the way along the walkway to the steps leading up to the front door. I see an abundance of flowers everywhere I look.

"This is the most beautiful house I've ever seen," I whisper in amazement. "It feels like a real home." My eyes remain focused on my surroundings as I feel the men's eyes on me.

"Who do you have there?" A woman's voice draws my attention to the front door.

"Mom, this is Bea," Galen says. "Bea, this is our mom, Maggie Redd."

I run forward and offer my hand. "Mrs. Redd, it's nice to meet you."

Her eyebrows rise in surprise, but she shakes my hand, her eyes narrowing to her sons behind me. "Do I want to know why there is a pretty girl on my doorstep wearing Essex's clothes?"

"I can explain," I say.

"Inside," Atilio says, coming to my side. "She needs something warm to drink after her fall in the ocean.”

Mrs. Redds face flashes with surprise. "Come into the kitchen." She puts an arm around my shoulders and leads me into her home.

In the kitchen, she helps me sit down and sits across from me.

"Thank you," I say a few moments later as Boone sets a cup of coffee in front of me.

"So how did you end up with my sons?"

"Mom..."

"Atilio, I'm sure Bea can speak for herself." She reaches over and pats my hand. "I'm not angry, Bea. I'm curious." She smiles.

I return her smile. "I had a date at the country club." I wince. "We walked to the end of the jetty. A few words were exchanged, and then, well, he hit me. I lost my balance and fell into the water. I can't swim."

“He hit you?” She swallows hard. “One of my sons will teach you to swim."

I continue, "Nico was in the water and he saved me. He took me back to the boat. It was a huge relief."

"Please call me, Maggie, and I'm not sure how to get you home without your parents knowing the situation."

"You know who they are?" I ask, surprised.

"Everyone knows who they are." She pats my hand. "Your father will cause problems for my boys if he finds out about tonight."

"I don't want that. Maybe I could go back to town. Tell them a couple on a boat dropped me off at a dock on the way. I don't want any trouble for them." I wave my finger where the men hover.

Maggie leans over and pats my hand again. "I know that, Bea. But I have an idea." She looks at her sons. "Atilio, go and get Evelyn."

My heart pounds. "She can't be involved. She's too close to me. I can't let her lose her job. She needs it. And I need her there."

"Don't worry. Evelyn may know a way to get you back to the house without the sheriff catching you."

"Oh yeah! That would be good."

"I'll go get Evelyn," Ridge volunteers.

Atilio breathes a sigh of relief and sits close to me, taking my hand. His affection does not go unnoticed by his mother. I like his touch, which is soft and gentle. It doesn't make me tingle like Essex's touch had.

Nico clears his throat and chuckles. "I'm going to get us pizza. Galen and Boone can come with me." He puts an arm around my shoulders and catches my eye. "What do you like on a pizza?"

"I've only ever had cheese. I'd like to try something with meat, if that's what you're getting."

His face breaks into a grin. "We all get a full meat."

Excitement bubbles in my stomach. "That sounds perfect."

He squeezes my shoulder and starts to pull away when I grab his hand. "I just wanted to thank you for rescuing me."

"You're welcome." He kisses my hand and grins before leaving with his brothers.

"Make sure you get enough," Maggie calls to their backs. To me she says, "Let me dry your clothes."

I watch as she picks up my clothes and goes into another room.

"I like your family, Atilio." I say to him, stifling a yawn.

"They like you too." He plays with a strand of my hair. "I could take you home across the river."

"That's not a good idea," Maggie says, coming back into the room. "You went into the water, and instead of helping you to land, Nico took you to the boat. It's a problem."

I pull my hand away from Atilio's and cover my face. "I'm sorry. I just wanted to get away from Jason. I wasn't thinking. This is all my fault."

Arms go around my back and I hear Atilio whisper, "Nothing to be sorry for." He kisses the side of my head.

Maggie glances between us, brows furrowed. "Ridge is back with Evelyn."

"He is?!" I jump to my feet and run to Evelyn as soon as I see her. "What am I going to do?" I mutter into her neck.

She looks at me and chuckles. "As much as those clothes suit you, you should change quickly and then we have to go."

"Gleeson's bringing his boat around to pick up Bea," Ridge says.

"That won't explain how she ended up on it, because there's no way anyone's going to believe Gleeson swam and saved her," Atilio offers.

Evelyn gives me one last hug before letting go. "We'll figure it out. No one should worry. Bea, get changed quickly. It won't be long before the sheriff shows up."

That gets me moving. Maggie hands me my slightly damp clothes and I grab my sandals from the floor where Galen left them. I go to the bathroom Maggie shows me.

Behind the locked door I smile in delight at the beautiful bathroom. The walls are white with sketches of fishing boats scattered about. The bathroom suite is dark gray with matching towels.

There is a feeling of warmth in this house, something that is missing from mine. With these thoughts, I quickly remove Essex's shorts and t-shirt. I fold them up and place them on top of my bra and search for my panties. Where are they? Surely, I didn't drop them. My cheeks heat at the thought as I pull on my dress.

The zipper sticks as I struggle with it. Oh, bother! I pull on my shoes and breathe in slowly. Exhaling just as slowly, I feel ready, even though I feel strange without my underwear. I hope they fell overboard and not on the floor on my way to the bathroom. That would be embarrassing.

I don't find any panties in the kitchen, but I do smell pizza. My stomach rumbles, which surprises me after the steak I had earlier.

"Thank Essex for loaning me the clothes," I say to Atilio. "And thank you all for everything."

Atilio approaches me with a grin and says, "Hey, firecracker, you can't leave without eating some pizza."

I take the slice he offers, embarrassed by all the eyes on me. I'm sure they're expecting me to take a small bite, but I don't. I smile and take as much as I can fit in my mouth. The flavor bursts on my tongue and I close my eyes, wanting to savor this moment. Tomatoes and herbs hit me first, followed by chorizo, pepperoni, chicken, and onion, and as I swallow, I get a hit of chili. I groan and open my eyes. For a second there is silence in the room and then the men dig into the pizza.

Maggie frowns, as does Evelyn. When I catch Evelyn's eye, she snaps out of it. "We have to go. Maggie, I'll call you and let you know how things go."

Evelyn takes my hand in a chorus of goodbyes, and then we're outside. I take another bite of the pizza, enjoying my first taste of fully loaded meat.

"We have to hurry," Evelyn says.

The dock is at the end of the Redds front walk, and now there are two boats. We hurry close to Mr. Gleeson's boat, but I stop. "I have to thank Essex. I'll be quick."

Without giving Evelyn time to refuse, I dash to the Redds boat. I climb aboard and scurry to the side where I caught Essex climbing up.

The rungs of the man-made ladder have large gaps between them, so I hitch my dress to my thighs and climb.

"I wondered how long it would take you," Essex says, his face turned in my direction.

"I'm leaving, and I wanted to thank you." My eyes sweep over the man stretched out before me, wearing only shorts. I feel my cheeks heat, but I can't help it. Something about him is calling to me.

He rolls towards me and removes the last piece of pizza from my grasp. He smiles while my eyes follow his mouth as he chews. When he's finished, he grabs my wrist and sucks my fingers into his mouth.

I feel like I can't breathe with the heat coursing through me. "You won't forget me now," he whispers, releasing my fingers. "You'd better go before I decide to keep you."

My mouth falls open in shock. Essex reaches out and strokes my jaw, tilting it upward. "Until next time, Mermaid Girl." He rolls away and continues to stare at the sky.

I shake off the urge to crawl up and lie next to him, and scramble down and off the boat.

Evelyn gives me a strange look as I join her. I don't pay it much mind, my attention focused on the Redds boat, hoping to catch a glimpse of the man who makes my heart pound.