A Little Harmless Scandal Read online

  “Hey, yourself. Did you buy me a gift?”

  For a second, she said nothing, then the most delightful blush colored her cheeks. Damn, she was cute.

  “Uh...no. Oh, the box.” She handed it over to him. “They left it with me, on account that I saw them trying to leave it on your lanai and I marched over here and got it.”

  He chuckled and glanced at the name. It was Mick's and one of their favorite stores to buy gear at. He didn’t need a vivid imagination to figure out who Mick bought toys for.

  “Thanks.”

  “Because, you know, there are a lot of tourists around, and you never know what they are going to do. So, that's why I did it.”

  “Okay. Did you want to come in?”

  “Uh?” her gaze drifted down his torso once again.

  “I can throw on some clothes--”

  “Oh, no don't do that.” She closed her eyes and muttered something under her breath. “What I meant was that I need to get back to work, and I'm going out tonight.”

  “Hot date?”

  She snorted. “Not likely. I'm doing some nighttime shoots tonight.”

  Her tongue darted out and wet her lips. The woman was going to kill him.

  “I should go. Yeah. See you later.”

  She hurried down the steps and onto the path that led to her house before he could even say goodbye. He watched her until she disappeared into her house, then he shut his front door. Lord only knew what Mick ordered, but Adam was damned glad he had now.

  * * *

  * * *

  Serenity slammed her door shut and leaned back against it. Her skin was flushed, and her body lit up like some kind of bingo machine. Sex bingo. That is what it felt like.

  For two weeks she had tried to stay away, but today, she made the effort to be neighborly, and see what happened?

  “No. Just have to be some stupid donkey Girl Scout and run over there to save their package.”

  She snorted.

  “Like anyone really comes through here.”

  But she worried about it. And see what it got her? Hot and bothered and no way to relieve the sexual tension.

  There's a way, a naughty little voice whispered inside of her.

  “Shut up.”

  No. Two hot guys want to do you, but you are living like a nun.

  She rolled her eyes. Serenity stopped listening to the bad voice years ago. It had gotten her in too much trouble, and that's what those men were. They were sweet, but they were also trouble. For her sanity, mainly. What woman would just take up with two gorgeous men who wanted to give her pleasure?

  A very smart woman.

  “Go away.”

  Great, now they had her talking to her voice again. That was a really bad sign. But then, any kind of romantic or sexual relationship had always been hard for her.

  Dealing with one man was too much, so she was fairly certain she wouldn’t have the emotional capacity to deal with two of them. She’d spent years trying to figure out why men seemed to run from her, or vice versa.

  Emotionally distant.

  It was a term everyone used for her. Her shrink, several exes, her mother. She made a face. No need to bring Broomhelda into her thoughts today. Not when she had the pleasure of seeing one of the finest male specimens she had seen in a long, long while.

  God, he was gorgeous. All sinewy muscle, and tats. He had tats like Mick. Then that little happy trail of hair that disappeared beneath the towel...she was humming. With her voice, but also her body. She had wanted to do nothing more than to lean forward and lick one of those droplets of water that clung to his flesh. His gorgeous, golden flesh.

  Damn. She needed to get out of here before she made an ass out of herself. Mainly because that stupid voice was trying to get her to go back over to Adam and beg him to do her. Like all kinds of doing. It had been a long time since she had thought about that, or at least, thought about that with a man.

  She would go and do her shoot and work it out of her system. She’d been horny before and dealt with it. She would deal with it now.

  * * *

  Mick stepped out of his truck when he saw Serenity coming out of her house. She was carrying a camera bag as she hurried to her car.

  “Hey,” he called out. She glanced over and gave him a smile, but it wasn’t one of her grins. He had gotten used to those. This one was strained, and she looked like she wanted to avoid him.

  He walked over as she put her bag in the backseat. When she did, her cut offs moved up and gave him a better view of her ass. She wasn’t skinny and he liked a woman with a full, round ass. It was so nice to spank.

  “Out for a shoot tonight?”

  She started as if she hadn’t known he had come over.

  “Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you.”

  She shook her head. “Just a little stressed today. And how did you know I was going for a shoot?”

  “That’s your camera bag, right?”

  She turned around and looked back over her shoulder. She sighed. “Yes.”

  She was looking everywhere but at him. Even after he had told her about Adam and him wanting her, she had looked him in the eye. Something happened.

  “Are you okay?”

  She nodded and crossed her arms beneath her breasts. Every one of her physical ques told him to stand back. It was odd. From the moment he had met her, she had been welcoming. Even after he told her both he and Adam wanted her, she hadn’t acted like this. Now, she was standoffish, as if she was afraid he would jump her.

  “Okay, I guess I will let you go. Be careful.”

  “I will.”

  Then she got in her car and drove away. He watched until she turned onto the highway. Mick knew he wasn’t wrong. She was out of sorts and it had something to do with him. As he turned and made his way to the house, his gaze settled on Adam’s truck. Dammit.

  He hurried up the steps and into the house.

  “Just what the hell did you do?”

  Adam, who had been cutting up veggies to grill looked up at him.

  “Well, hello lover. Nice to see you too.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Hello. Now tell me what you did to her.”

  “Her?”

  “Serenity.”

  “Nothing. She did bring over this package.”

  He nudged a box on the counter.

  “Great. I was hoping these would come soon,” Mick said picking them up.

  “What did you buy?”

  “A few things just in case.”

  “Ah.”

  “So, what did you do that upset her?”

  “I did nothing.”

  “Nothing? Tell me what happened.”

  “I was taking a shower and was just drying off when she knocked on the door. I wrapped the towel around my waist and answered the door.”

  “You mean you answered the door naked?”

  “No. I was wearing a towel.”

  Mick rolled his eyes. He loved Adam but the man was obtuse about his effect on people. Built like a MAC truck, with tattoos and golden skin, the man was the epitome of a beach volleyball player. All that sun-streaked hair helped complete the picture.

  “And?”

  “And nothing.” He shrugged and picked up the plate and then grabbed the tongs. Then, just as if they weren't having a conversation, he walked out of the kitchen toward the back of the house.

  There was a good chance Mick could get off for justifiable homicide. Grumbling, he followed Adam out onto the back lanai.

  “It isn't nothing,” Mick said. “She wouldn't look me in the eye.”

  “Maybe she thinks your eyes are ugly.”

  “My eyes aren't ugly and you damned well know it.”

  Mick didn't miss the curve of Adam's lips. It was that half smile that always got to him. Fuck.

  “Adam.”

  He laughed. “Sorry, it was too much fun. But I do think our very lovely Ms. Jones is not as immune to us as she presents herself to be.”

  “Why do yo
u say that?”

  “She couldn't stop looking at my chest and she kept forgetting what she meant to say.”

  “Yeah?” he asked, his mood quickly changing.

  “Oh, yeah. She's attracted to both of us, but I don't know if she's interested in what you proposed to her.”

  “But definitely attracted?”

  He nodded.

  “Attraction is just one step. Now, we need to send out feelers again.”

  “Give it a break, Mick. God, you act like it's a military campaign. Just let it happen. You have a perfectly acceptable sexy companion for the night.”

  Mick slipped his hands around Adam's waist and kissed his neck. “There is that.”

  “Was any of that stuff in the box for either of us?”

  “Not really. Well, they would be for us to use.”

  He lifted a carrot to his mouth and Mick took it easily. “With Ms. Jones?”

  He nodded. “Yeah.”

  “Then I hope she takes a chance.”

  “She will.”

  His grunt told Mick he wasn’t so sure of it.

  “I need to get cleaned up and I’ll help with dinner.”

  Adam gave him a kiss on the cheek before Mick moved away. As he stripped his clothes off, he thought of Serenity and the need they both had for her. It was starting to become an obsession for him, and that was not a good thing. Still, he knew she was close to granting them their request. And if she did take that chance, it was going to be one of the sweetest things he’d ever experienced.

  Chapter Nine

  By the time Serenity returned home that night, her nerves were a jangled mess. Because she was an early riser, she had caffeinated herself to keep alert during the shoot. She had enjoyed it. Nighttime wasn't one of the most popular images to sell of Hawaii. People wanted sun, sand, and seduction. But, there was something about Hawaii at nighttime. The air was at its sweetest, less humid, and it clung to her. It was one of the things she loved about Hawaii, so she wanted to include it in her book. She'd taken the regular pics of the lighthouse and the beach at night. Then, she had driven out to the North Shore to get pictures of the moon dancing over the waves.

  With all the driving, she had to make sure she stayed alert. The problem with that was that Adam had her entire body purring like a well-loved cat. Granted, other than that simple kiss a few weeks ago, neither man had made advances. She appreciated it. Now though, she was paying for it. More than likely, she was going to spend the night with her battery-operated boyfriend.

  She parked in front of her house and tried not to look over at their house. If she did, and they were awake, she would be tempted to go over there. Just to chat. Just to...

  Dammit. She didn't need this complication in her life. She had made it worse by reading a few ménage romance books, and then the inevitable porn search. She knew how all the particulars worked, but it wasn't something she had looked for before now. Now, she was obsessing about it. It had been a problem for her most of her life. Every shrink she had had over the years said the same thing. Her obsession over subjects tended to blur her focus. Up until she had walked away from the mess of her life ten years earlier, men had always been the ones to fill that slot. And, now there were two of them who were occupying her thoughts.

  She grabbed her camera back when she heard steps behind her. Dammit. She didn't know if she could resist their invitation tonight. Not when her body wanted to betray her.

  “Hey,” Adam said. She glanced over her shoulder and saw that it was both men. They were going to double team her.

  Dammit. Now she had that thought in her head and the double entendre it created. Worse, they were both wearing hardly any clothing. Both were wearing tank tops. Even in the darkness she could make out the sculpted muscles both men sported. Or had she just memorized exactly how they looked?

  God, she needed help.

  “Hey,” she said.

  “We were a little worried about you.”

  She frowned. “Why?”

  “It's late and you were by yourself.”

  “Believe me, I know how to handle myself. I don't need a bodyguard.”

  The men shared a glance. There was some kind of silent communication between them.

  “Yeah, but you're our friend and we worry about you,” Mick said.

  It was dark but she could see the sincerity in his gaze. She nodded. “Sorry. I'm just not good company now.”

  “Is there something wrong?”

  “Something wrong? Naw. I just have you two standing there with tank tops on and board shorts like some kind of surfer wet dream.”

  Another shared glance. She ground her teeth.

  “And stop that.”

  Adam's eyebrows raised up. “Do what?”

  “That silent communication thing.”

  He opened his mouth but she plowed ahead. “I was up at five this morning and I need to get to bed. I'm exhausted.”

  They both nodded.

  “Oh, good lord, stop being so accommodating.” Silence greeted that comment. “What? What is it that you two get by coming over here?”

  Mick tilted his head to the side and studied her. “Get what?”

  “Apparently, it's a woman yelling at us,” Mick said.

  “I am not yelling!” Then she realized she was. Dammit.

  Mick snorted.

  “I just need to go to bed.”

  “I’m okay with that,” Mick said.

  “No. I need rest. In bed. Away from you. Far away from both of you.”

  With that, she marched up her front steps, and unlocked her front door. She knew they were back there, but she continued to ignore them when she slammed the door shut.

  If her nerves had been jangled before, they were tornado sirens now, screeching and annoying. It was all their fault. She had been happy to live in her little house by the water, away from the limelight and pressures she had dealt with during her childhood and adolescence.

  She heard the creak on her front lanai. “Are you sure you’re okay, Serenity?” Mick asked.

  She closed her eyes as embarrassment stole over her.

  “Yes. Just tired.”

  “Okay. Text us if you need to.”

  “Good night, Serenity,” Adam said.

  “Goodnight, guys.”

  Then, she heard them walk down the steps.

  * * *

  “I’m just saying that she is definitely thinking about it.”

  Adam ground his teeth together as he turned off Kam Highway onto the street that lead to their house.

  “Yeah, that was pretty obvious.”

  “Exactly. I think we should invite her over for dinner again.”

  “Just let it go.”

  “What?”

  “I just wish you would quit talking about it.”

  “I can't, because if I stop talking, then I start thinking about it, and man o man those are some bad thoughts.”

  As he turned onto the little driveway they shared with Serenity, Adam's heartbeat increased. Damn, his palms were sweaty. The woman was driving him insane and she probably didn't even know it. And, as Mick continued to drone on about her and her feelings, his cock was coming up with its own ideas.

  She was standing on their lanai when they pulled up. She turned when she heard them drive up. She smiled, but it wasn't one of those sunny smiles. Instead, it was guarded. He hated that. He didn't want her to think she had to hide her feelings from him.

  “What do you think she wants?” Mick asked.

  He shrugged, but said nothing. Mick was already slipping out of the truck.

  “Sorry, I thought someone was home because Mick's truck was here,” Serenity said.

  “We were working the same job today, so we rode in together,” Mick said.

  He could barely hear them because he was still sitting in the truck like an idiot.

  “Are you going to join us?” Mick asked.

  Adam didn't respond. It was hard to talk around the lump in his throat. He grabbed
his gun and slipped out of the truck. It was then that he noticed she was holding what looked like the mac bread she had brought over when they first moved in.

  “I just wanted to apologize for last night.”

  Mick glanced at him, then looked back at Serenity.

  “There's nothing to apologize for.”

  She opened her mouth to argue, but Adam wanted to have this conversation in private.

  “Let's go inside and talk about it.”

  “No, really. I just wanted to drop this off.”

  He heard the fine sheen of arousal in her voice. She wanted them, wanted to experiment. But she was a little wary.

  “We promise not to bite,” Adam said.

  She sighed. “I can't promise that on my end.”

  His libido went into overdrive.

  “Yeah?” Mick said. “Then you definitely need to come in.”

  She was wavering, it was easy to see. She looked to Adam.

  “That's a good idea. Hands off unless you want differently.”

  “Okay.”

  Mick smiled at him and walked up the stairs to the lanai. As he unlocked the door, Serenity continued to look at him as if she were waiting for him to say something. Again, he wasn't able to speak, because at the moment, he was overwhelmed. This woman was gorgeous, that much was true. But there was a true light within her that was easy to see. And it drew him like a June bug to a light.

  As soon as Mick had the door opened, she turned and walked in. Damn, she was going to kill him with those cutoffs.

  He followed the other two through the door. He set his gun down on the counter.

  “Give me a sec,” Mick said as he grabbed Adam's gun. He knew he was going to put them in their side table drawers.

  Alone with Serenity. Damn.

  It only took a few seconds for Mick to return, but it seemed like a lifetime. She continued to stare at him with those amazing whiskey-colored eyes.

  “I will happily take the offering,” Mick said, taking the bread from her.