Chapter 5

five

F our hours later, Adam sat on one of the breakfast bar stools. Every muscle in his body was aching, but the house was starting to come together. “I think we made a big dent in the house today,” Adam said as he took a long swig of beer.

“Yeah,” Mick said looking out the front window.

“Stop doing that.”

“What?”

“You look like a creeper.”

He shook his head, but didn’t move his gaze away from the direction of Serenity’s house.

“What?”

“There’s a dude over there.”

“And?”

“Well, just, I didn’t think she was involved with anyone.”

“She never said that,” Adam said. “You assumed because you wanted her so badly.”

“Still, she went out with us.”

“She didn’t go out with us. She had dinner with a group.”

Wanting a look at the guy because Adam couldn’t help himself, he frowned when he saw the truck.

“There’s no guy.”

“I saw the back of him when he went into her house.”

“Don’t get like this. She can have friends. Hell, she can have lovers.”

Mick tossed him an angry look.

“Tell me you don’t want her.”

“For fuck’s sake, Mick, we just met her. She had a whole life before us. And again, you’re creeping me out, so I am sure you will creep her out by this behavior.”

Mick grunted, and returned his gaze back to the house.

This was a bad sign. Mick was already starting to obsess, and that could be a problem. He wasn’t a weirdo, but he tended to latch onto ideas. Once he did, he could never let them go. It usually ended with him being horribly disappointed and broody. And then Adam would have to kick his ass.

“Mick.” No response. “Vincent.”

He made a face, but finally turned his attention away from Serenity’s house. That was half the battle won.

“I know you’re attracted. I am too. But she’s our neighbor and she seems like a sweet woman. Let’s take it one day at a time. If she’s involved with someone, it isn’t any of our business.”

“But… Shit. You’re right.”

Adam watched Mick as he walked over to the kitchen table and sat down. He followed him and continued to study him.

“What’s up? There’s something else bothering you.”

He shrugged and tore at his beer label. “Nothing really.”

“Mick, you don’t go all depressed on me unless there’s something nagging at you.”

He sighed. “We’re good, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

He wasn’t really, but he knew this would just fester if he let it go. Setting his beer on the counter, he stepped in front of Mick, and settled his arms over his shoulders.

“I know that, but there’s something else. Something that’s bugging you.”

“I don’t know, really. We got the house, now what?”

He should have known. Mick was a happy person. Constantly in a good mood, even at six in the morning. But, he leaned toward being goal oriented. His parents had raised him that way. It made him a kick ass security expert, but sometimes, it made it hard to live with him. He just didn’t always seem to understand goals are good, but they don’t always come to fruition.

“Are we missing anything in our lives? Do we need anything else?”

He sighed. “Not sure. I just…”

Now he was getting worried as he studied Mick’s bent head.

“Spit it out.”

“It’s stupid because I have always been okay with us. I love you and don’t want to ever lose you.”

“But?”

“I want children.”

He blinked. “What?”

“I want children, and I want a woman in our lives. Like permanently.”

“Huh.”

Mick glanced up at him. “See, that’s why I never said anything. I didn’t want you to think that I found anything lacking between us.”

“But, apparently, you do.”

He tried to drop his hands, but Mick grabbed one and brought it up to his mouth. He pressed his lips against the inside of his wrist.

“I want you in my life forever, but I think we both need a woman here. We’re bisexual, not homosexual. It is unconventional to even think about it, but I think our lives would be better with a woman.”

“In what way?”

Mick threaded his fingers through Adam’s. “Maybe we need someone to complete us.”

“That’s…corny.”

He smiled and leaned up to brush his mouth against Adams. That little taste had his heart racing.

“Yes, but did we buy this big house just so Mom and Dad have a place to stay? I don’t think so. We were both thinking of the future. We can adopt, but I know both of us would like to try to have children. We need a woman in our lives for that.”

“We could use a surrogate.”

Even before he finished the sentence, Mick was shaking his head.

“It isn’t just that. You know what I’m talking about, right? Together we have an edge. Masculine, wonderful,” he said as he released Adam’s hand and cupped his face with one hand. He brushed his thumb over his mouth. “But, with a woman, we could soften that edge. Maybe, I’m going senile in my old age, but I like us when there’s a woman with us in bed. I’d really like to see what it’s like when she’s in our life.”

“First, you aren’t old. And I get what you’re saying.” And he did, even though he wasn’t completely sold on it. “It doesn’t mean it has to be Serenity.”

“No. But, she’s…” he sighed.

“Yeah. She is.”

His gaze moved past Adam to Serenity’s house. “There she is.”

Mick popped up off the barstool and headed for the door.

It was a good thing he loved Mick, or he might just have to kill him.

“Those are going to sell, Serenity,” Dai said as she followed him out the door.

“Are you sure?”

He smiled at her. He was about ten years older, had the kindest heart, and she counted him as one of her few friends in Hawaii. That’s why she turned him down when he asked her out a couple years ago. He hadn’t let that get in the way of their working relationship.

“You always ask me that. They will sell. How’s the book coming?” He stepped into his slippahs.

“Okay. Slow.”

“You’ll get it done and everyone will love it.”

“I think I should call you daily so I can have you say nice things to me.”

He chuckled. “I gave you that choice, Hiwahiwa. You turned me down. Now I am happily married.”

“To Sherry, who is your soul mate, so I think I deserve a call every day just for that.”

He chuckled and gave her a hug. “I’ll get those printed up in the next couple of weeks.”

“Sounds good,” she said as she released him.

“Hey,” Mick said.

She blinked. “Oh, hey, Mick. Howzit?”

“Going well. We have the bedroom and living room set up.”

Adam came up behind him, a look of apology on his face. She had no idea what that was about.

“Dai, this is Mick and Adam. They bought the War of the Roses house.”

“Ah, well it’s good to know there is finally someone out here by you.”

“I can take care of myself.”

“I know you can, but Sherry worries.”

She rolled her eyes as he kissed her cheek. He gave her a wink the other men couldn’t see. “I’ll let you know when I get those printed up and they are for sale.”

“Thanks,” she said.

“Nice to meet you two.”

Then he climbed into his pickup.

“Was there something you needed?”

“No,” Mick said. Adam rolled his eyes.

“Sorry. Mick just wanted to stretch his legs. He goes a little nuts being stuck inside all day.”

“Okay.” She wanted to invite them in. She wanted to touch them. And there it was. That bit of her that was going to hell.

“Well, I don’t want to be rude, but I’m going out for some shoots this afternoon.”

“No worries,” Mick said smiling at her. “We still have a ton of crap to do. Just wanted to say hey.”

As she watched them walk back to their house, she shook her head. They were sexy and cute. Sweet even. But they were not for her. They were together and that was all that mattered. She would have to remember that and just fantasize about them when she was alone.