Marie Harte - Roane

Feeling more than uncomfortable at being the center of attention, Kelly scowled. “I wouldn’t know.” She glared at Zack and Ace. “What are you two smiling at?”

“So I guess you and Stephen are on the outs? That’s too bad.” Ace sounded way too hopeful to be sincere as he and Zack slapped their money on the table.

Kelly didn’t bother to reply. She had no explanation as to why such a nice man bored her to tears. Stephen was tall, handsome, and charming. He didn’t curse in front of her, and his kisses were warm and pleasant.

He was dull.

“Stephen’s very nice.” Her defense sounded pitiful, as evidenced by the knowing grins passing around the table. Yeah, Stephen’s nice. He’s just not either of you. She stared at Zack and Ace, hungry for the two men she wanted with her last breath. Was Caitlyn right? Did they both feel for her, even a little bit, what she felt for them?

“So, Kelly.” Zack paused. “You want to hit a movie tonight?” The others stared at him, and if she wasn’t mistaken, the large male flushed. “With the rest of us. We were thinking of seeing the new Bond movie.”

Ace glared at him. “Bullshi -- I mean, that’s crap. We’re going to that horror flick.” Hale sighed. “I thought we’d agreed on that political thriller.” Then Derrick added his two cents, and the intimacy of the moment passed. Kelly didn’t feel left out, though. She belonged to this odd group, who felt more like a real family than her father back home. Kelly’s heart eased when around these men. They might not realize it, but they needed her to keep them real. To keep them organized and human, aware of what living around a female entailed. And she finally admitted to herself how much she might really need them.

Her gaze lingered on Ace and Zack. The pair noticed and smiled, their eyes glowing with the promise of something special, something just for her.

Maybe I need to take control of the situation with these two. Something inside her cheered at the notion. A flare of aggression took Kelly by surprise. It was with some effort that she swallowed down the demands building at the base of her throat.

“Tell you what, guys. We’ll see the political thriller tonight and the horror flick next week. Zack, I already saw the Bond movie with Caitlyn, so I’m out.” He sighed. “Now, how about we go double or nothing? I say Caitlyn’s pregnant within the next six months.”

“Three. You’re on.” Derrick gave her the fifty he owed her and bet another twenty.

As the others scrambled to catch up, Kelly scratched her arm, smoothing the itch under her skin, and downed another aspirin.

“Headache?” Ace asked quietly as the others argued.

“It’s nothing.” Nothing some hot sex with you and Zack won’t cure. She started. The low growl resounding in her mind was very much not her own. Ace shifted, and she caught his scent, like warm vanilla and an unidentified spice, one she could never mistake for anyone but him. Her fingers suddenly tingled, as if something needed to come out. She stared at her hands, alarmed and trying desperately not to show it.

It was definitely time to see Doc again.

Soon.