There were two people waiting for her back at the apartment. Daniel appeared pained and Erin looked perky. Perky but subdued.
Her boyfriend sat at a battered table opposite their visitor. He slouched down in a camping chair, a cup of coffee in hand. The slow smile he gave her lured her in, held her tight. Letting her know without words everything was alright. “Erin just arrived. She wants to talk to you, baby.”
There were dark circles beneath his blue eyes, still bloodshot from the previous night. His hair was damp from the shower and dark strands clung to his gorgeous thick neck. Everything about him called to her.
He pushed himself out of the chair and came to her, as big and beautiful as ever. Without thought, she slipped her arms around his waist, cuddled in close enough to catch the scent of him.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah.” She looked up at him and smiled, pulled him down for a kiss because she wanted to and she could. If there was some territorial display attached then so be it. Erin could go screw herself, and Daniel didn’t seem to mind. He kissed a path down her neck, stopping at a fresh bite from Finn. “I’m glad you got things sorted out with him. I’m gonna go find Sam and investigate these plans of his for keeping us busy. Stay close to home, okay? I shouldn’t be long.”
“Hmm.” She watched as Daniel clomped down the stairs, her heart beating double time from love and lust. Everything about him cal ed to her, from the breadth of his shoulders to the strong lines of his chest. The movement of his ass in particular was enthralling. He looked up and caught her hanging over the railing, ogling him. The side of his mouth kicked up, and he gave her a wink before he slipped from view.
Which meant it was time for the unpleasant part of the day.
“Why are you here, Erin?”
The girl winced and got to her feet, abandoning her cup of coffee. “I owe you an apology.”
“Alright.”
“I didn’t realize when Dad introduced them as being with you that he meant they were with you. The both of them.” Erin tucked her dark hair behind her ears, studied her shoes for a moment. “I’m sorry. I know I caused trouble between you guys.”
“Yes, you did.” Ali leant back against the wal . “And Finn was giving off conflicting signals, which didn’t help. But that’s between me and him.”
“Look, you don’t know me, but I would never come on to someone else’s boyfriend. I don’t do that,” Erin said. “I real y didn’t realize that’s what was going on here.”
“The situation’s unconventional, but it’s our choice and no one else’s business really.”
“Don’t get me wrong.” Erin put out her hands. “The three of you, it’s great. Two men, you’re my hero.”
“Why don’t we let this go?”
Erin’s smile was megawatt. “I would appreciate it.”
“Please sit, finish your coffee.”
“Oh, thanks, but I’m due next door at Riley’s to help with sorting.” Erin paused, considered. “Why don’t you come? Good chance to start meeting some people. I could show you around town a bit later if you like.”
When Ali hovered, undecided, Erin took a step toward her with a tentative smile. “Come on, let me be useful here. I feel terrible about the way we got off on the wrong foot. Plus, if you don’t go out, they’ll start popping in, and trust me, that’s bad.”
“Oh?”
The girl shook her head emphatically. “No. You do not want that. Civilizations may crumble and fall, but small-town gossips never change. Give them an in and you’ll never get rid of them. They’ll be in here, searching for the satin sheets and mirrored ceiling, the candelabra you swing naked on, that sort of thing.”
Ali smiled despite herself. “Going out it is.”
A few minutes later, Ali stood on the sidewalk outside Riley’s department store, proudly established in 1903. There were towers of boxes piled high. “You guys are serious about stockpiling,” she said.
The place was a hive of activity as people unloaded even more off the back of a pick-up truck. These people were dropping off weapons, faces somber, obviously fresh back from a trip outside the town walls.
“As Dad says, you never know.” Erin greeted the two men and one woman busy handing down boxes from the back of the truck.
“This is Ali. She came in with the party yesterday.”
The two men nodded hello and got on with their work, faces tense. Made her wonder what they had seen out there.
“Let me take that.” She held her hands up for a box and the woman smiled and passed it down. More helpers ambled out of the shop and got in line behind her.
“Thanks.” The woman was in her forties, handsome rather than beautiful, with ash-blonde hair in a braid. Add the rifle slung on her back and she looked eminently capable and al business. “Welcome to town.”
“Ali, this is Lindsay. My other personal hero.” Erin put her hand over her heart and the woman smiled, snorted a laugh. “When the men tried to protect us poor weak women by taking us off watch-and-supply rotation, she led the charge to defend our rights.”