Leon watched as an old man laughed at something Reilly said. It was easy to see the McKenna women were well liked in this community, and it was surprising to Leon that almost everyone seemed to accept Team Toretto like they'd always been there. One old man had even asked Vince if he could take a look at his tractor. The memory brought a smile to Leon's face as he remembered the look on Vince's. He was hard pressed to remember if he'd ever seen the Ol' Coyote stammer before.
A peal of laughter brought Leon back to the present and he watched as Reilly bent closer to the elderly man. The purple dress she was wearing stretched across her rear end and Leon couldn't pull his eyes away. He'd had plenty of women, chasers mainly, but this one seemed to hold his attention.
"Well, hello there sugar." A higher pitched female voice drawled from his right.
Leon looked over to see an older woman, not old just older, smiling at him. She was attractive in that heavily made up sort of way. Okay body, with large breasts, curly peroxide blonde hair that hit her shoulders, and brown eyes. The woman was wearing an extremely tight red dress that left very little to the imagination. Leon just raised an eyebrow.
"You must be one of them boys out staying with the McKenna girls." she said and placed a manicured hand on his arm. She ran her fingers up and down his arm lightly over the suit jacket he wore. "Lucky them. I'm Kelly Ann, what's your name?"
"I'm not sure the guard dog has a name Kelly Ann." Billy Sutherland had sauntered over. His dark eyes were filled with malicious intent.
Leon still hadn't said a word. "His name's Leon." Reilly said in her soft drawl as she joined the three. As soon as she was next to him, Leon snaked an arm out and pulled her tight little body up against his side. She didn't struggle or appear shocked. He liked that. Her hand came to rest on his abdomen lightly, and he found he really liked that. Leon was pleased to see the Sutherland man's jaw tighten. So, the man did still want Reilly, didn't want to just harass her. Interesting.
"You enjoying yourself?" He asked Reilly quietly.
"This year's turning out to be better than any in the past." she replied. Reilly couldn't help but stare at his mouth, and she didn't realize the heat she and Leon were putting off. She'd thought she had better control of this….crush?
"My, my, I think I'm gonna need a cold shower after watching you two." Kelly Ann's laugh was brittle. She wasn't used to a man not looking twice.
"You wanna dance?" Leon asked as he continued to ignore the other two.
"Oh yeah." Reilly smiled. As they headed to the floor she threw an eat shit smile towards Billy.
Dom had gone to the lavatory when Micah approached Quin. She'd been having such a lovely time. Dominic was attentive and hadn't left her side practically the whole time. Just thinking of the big man's smile brought a smile to her face and made everything tingle.
"Quin?"
She looked up to see Micah looking at her uncertainly. "Hello Micah. Are you having a good time?"
He shrugged. "It's been a nice party. Not quite what I expected."
"It has been a good party. I don't think it's been quite what anyone expected." she almost laughed as she saw Sloane and Jesse locked together on the dance floor. So that's how that was.
"Quin, Do you know what you girls have gotten yourself into?" he asked bringing her back to their conversation.
Quin's eyes shuttered. "Whatever do you mean?"
"These men you got living on the ranch. Do you even know what they're capable of? What that Dominic is capable of?"
For a moment a shot of fury burst through her, and then she calmed. Perhaps Micah was only trying to be a friend. "Yes Micah, I do. I knew who and what they were before they ever came out to the ranch. Before I ever told Brian yes. Would you like to know what they are, who they are?"
"Yes I would." he told her not liking her defense of them one bit.
"They're good men. Good people. They're people who've been nothing but helpful since coming to stay at our house. Do they have a past? Well, I reckon they do Micah, we all do. Am I gonna hold it against them? No, no I'm not."
"Don't be so damned blind Quin! Don't be so naïve! I don't know about all of them, but I do know that Dominic Toretto did time for killing a man. Did you know that? Did you know that the man you're cozying up to is a convict? Did you know he killed a man, violently?"
Now the anger did course through Quin. How dare he go into their private lives and dig! "Yes Micah, I did know that!" Neither of them noticed Dom approach or listen quietly. "Brian told me everything before asking if they could come. I know that Dom beat a man to death with some kind of tool. I know that he served time for that. I know that those men haven't always been law abiding citizens. You wanna know something else Micah? I don't give two shakes of a nanny's goat tail about any of it!" She'd stood now and her face was flushed with her anger. "I care about the men that came here and even though they didn't have to they took care of every vehicle on our spread. They bought any part on their own without using our money. They clean and care for Daddy's tools with respect. I care about the men who're turning the pile of junk in my garage into the dream that my brother had down to the very color he'd chosen." A lump had formed in Quin's throat and she stood. "I care about the man who's shown me that the ranch isn't necessarily the only thing to look forward to."
Quin jerked slightly as Dom placed his hand at her lower back, but then relief filled her eyes. Dom looked at Micah carefully, and saw that the man was biting down on his own rage. "You wanna know something about us, all you got to do is ask." Dom said evenly. "Let's go get some air Baby." She nodded once and he led her from the huge ballroom.
Torin had her drink. In fact she was on her third drink. She watched Sloane and Jesse dancing, and smiled to see her strong sister cuddled so close to someone. Even with Max she'd never seemed….cuddly. Kelly Ann had found Vince and she was flirting outrageously with the man. It made Torin want to spit, and ladies did not spit. Piss on being a lady, where had that ever gotten her. Torin sighed and took another swig of her beer. Maybe she should stop thinking about him. Maybe she should give in to that boy in her Anatomy IV class and go catch a movie.
"Torin, can we talk?" Kyle asked from her side.
Well hell, she hadn't even noticed him approach. "What about Kyle?"
"The whole episode at your ranch?" he said gently.
"Oh, you mean where you slapped me and Quin almost shot your ass?" She was pleased to see his jaw tighten.
"I'm sorry I hit you Torin." he said easing the tension from his face. "I'm not like that. I don't know what came over me."
"Actually Kyle, thinking about it I think that is exactly like you. I think that this calm, soothing you is the front." she told him and took another swig. "Anyway, it doesn't matter. It's over, done, moving right along now."
"Torin, I want another chance. If you don't want to get married right now that's fine. I can understand that. I mean, you've got school to finish and all."
"No, you really don't get it Kyle. I don't want to give you another chance." Torin said bluntly. She must be a little tipsy, blunt was hardly ever her thing. "I don't want to marry you, ever. If I had to get married tomorrow you would never be the choice."
"Why? Because you don't love me? Love's overrated Torin, love dies."
"Well, first off I think you're wrong. My parents loved each other up until the day they died together. But you're right I don't love you." There it was again. Blunt. "If I ever get married it will be to someone who sees me as an equal, someone who my sisters love as much as he loves them, and he will make me feel like the sexiest, most desirable and loved woman on earth."
"Jesus Torin, don't set your expectations too low." Kyle snapped.
Torin stood and smoothed down the skirt of her dress. "Ah, now see, there's the Kyle we all know and dislike." She stepped back and into a hard wall of Vince behind her. Torin's face showed her surprise. "Hi?"
"Let's dance." he muttered glaring at Kyle. He took her arm and led her to the dance floor. "What was that?"
"What do you mean?" she asked a bit tipsily.
"Should you be talking to him?"
"I wasn't, he was talking to me?"
Vince stared at her. "Don't play word games with me."
"Don't confuse me." she snapped.
His eyes narrowed and his hands at her hips tugged her closer. "How much have you had to drink?"
"Three." she said morosely. "I'm a lightweight."
He was silent for a moment before beginning to chuckle quietly. "A lightweight, wouldn't ya figure it. Coyote, what have you gotten yourself into?" he murmured the words faintly.
"Want to see something interesting?" she asked tipping her head up to look him in the eyes.
"Sure."
Torin led Vince out the back doors into an area set up with tables. She kept walking and led him into a barn. It smelled like fresh hay, and Torin kept leading him until she got to the end of the barn where several gated areas were. "Horses are normally kept here, well, they used to be kept here." she murmured. "Come here.' She opened one of the stable doors and led him into the small enclosure where several piles of hay were laying.
Vince had no idea what the hell they were doing there. "Um Torin?" he began and faced her.
She was quick and within seconds Vince found himself seated on his ass in a huge pile of hay. He was surprised as Torin moved towards him and straddled him; her dress sliding easily up her thighs. His eyes widened as she looked down at him. "Shut up Vince." Were the only words she said as she leaned in and attacked his lips with her own.
For a moment Vince was still stunned, but then he realized where they werem, and what she was doing. Vince shifted slightly and his hands went to her thighs. When he began to kiss her back she relaxed into him more pressing her lithe form into his.