That should be the end of it but stories circulated about that bad brother, where he went and what he was doing. But we know he had a wife because he had three boys who went to school right here in town. But they were known as the bad Kingsley’s, as opposed to their more refined cousins.
And as soon as they were done with school, if not a bit before, those boys also disappeared back up into the mountains, never to be seen again. (Accept they were seen in town, getting supplies, or having a drink at the pub. But we must not let the truth get in the way of a good story.)
There are some wild rumours about the Kingsley brothers. Like they are rich and live in castles hidden within the mountains. Or one story is that they were raised by wolves. Or are part bear or werewolves. It was a scary story told around thecampfire. You better be good or the bad Kingsley brothers will get you.
I feel someone watching me from that dark corner as I move around the bar. I try to ignore it. I smile bright as the locals call me Annie May and listen to me talk about the Valentine’s Day festival. So crack a joke and I laugh along. But I keep glancing towards that corner. Wishing I was brave enough to approach the Kingsley cousins.
Chapter 2
Thorne
We grew up together. We ran all over these mountains together. Hell, we have even served in the army together for a brief time. But my brothers feel like strangers to me. They’re back, that’s fine. I’m glad they have come home. But there is to be no trouble. No here, not in my town. I won’t allow it.
All of us are trained to serve and protect. That’s why we choose the darkest corner of the bar. We hide in the shadows. It comes from a lifetime of training.
My talk didn’t go over well. But they have been warned. I wish I had the right words to make us all a family again, but I’ve never been good with words.
Out in the carpark a flash of red catches my eye. Bright red. It’s the girl who was in the bar, all smiles and curvy delights. I’d watched her in the bar, blushing when she talked to the bartender. When she looked over towards the dark corner where I sat the light shone on her like some sort of miracle.
I pause for a moment and watch as she talks to two guys. They are standing far too close. Maybe she knows them. But something tells me the girl is in trouble. The way she is pullingback from them. The way she is trying to shrink into the truck behind her. Her bright smile from earlier is nowhere to be seen. My heckles are up. I may not like to get involved but I won’t stand by and leave a woman in trouble.
I’m a big guy. Army trained. It’s not hard for me to look menacing. I’ve been known to make grown men turn the other way with just one look. Walking over to the trio, I fix a dark frown on the two men. They are definitely hassling the girl. My protective instincts kick in. I’d like to just bash their heads together but the same rule goes for me as I just laid out for my brothers. We don’t cause trouble here in our home town.
“Is there a problem here?” I ask in a soft tone. One boy gives me a look, he is the one closest to the girl. “Why don’t you mind your own business, old man.”
I take a menacing step towards them. His friend grabs him by the shoulder. “Shit, that is Thorne Kingsley. Let's get out of here.”
They run away like the fires of hell are chasing them. Good. It’s nice, after talking to my brothers, that some people around here still fear me.
“Thank you.” The girl’s voice is soft and breathless. Blinking up at me like I’m some sort of hero. Feeling uncomfortable, I shrug. I’m nobody's hero. But she is damn cute, looking like a strawberry in her red coat, pink scarf wrapped up to her chin and pink beanie. All big eyes, pink lips, cute little nose and a sprinkling of freckles.
She straightens her jacket, looking flustered for a moment. And then, shoulders back, she looks up at me. “I was just aboutto tell them to get lost. But I’m grateful that you saved me the trouble.”
I find her false bravo amusing, but I don’t show it, keeping my expression blank. She looks me up and down and shakes her head. “You’re Thorne Kingsley? You don’t look so bad. Not beastly at all.”
I let out a half scoffing, half choking sound. All my life I’ve been big. It’s normally the first thing people mention. It did me well in the army. It did me well when I worked as a bodyguard. But this little lady telling me I don’t look beastly makes me want to return her smile.
Instead I give her a dark frown. “Just stay out of trouble from now on. Stay away from the bar and drunk boys. A girl like you could get in trouble around here.”
Feeling like I have done my civil good deed for the day, I turn on my heel to walk away.
Princess rescued, I don’t need to stick around to talk about it.
But the girl skips along beside me to match my long strides.
“I’m Annie. My best friend is dating your cousin, Carter.”
I ignore that fact and continue to walk back to my truck. She’s a pretty girl. I like the way her eyes light up and she has a pretty smile. But I don’t have room in my life for pretty, curvy girls. She continues to jog along beside me.
“I am also friends with Poppy who is dating Peirce. And I know Peirce’s daughter, Lily. We all love Lily.”
I stop and stare at her. Cute but chatty. “I get it, you know my family.”
She takes a deep breath. “Well, it means we are sort of friends by relations. Or, well, we could be friends.”
I grunt. “I don’t need any friends.”
“Well that is crazy.” She grins up at me. “Everybody needs friends.”
