Read Online Quality Assurance by Cheryl Dragon - Free Book Online

Lizzie’s weren’t much different. Marry a nice Cajun boy and run a good home while they go hunting.” Everyone had family crap. She blamed them for her high school mistakes, but she’d been strong enough to go away to college on a scholarship. She’d refused to stay back and get married the way mom had wanted.
    “That’s tough, but you’re independent,” Fred said.
    “Not as much as I’d like. Being home feels like I gave up on my childhood dreams. But you guys started over here when other plans didn’t work out.” She smiled.
    Xavier nodded. “My family wasn’t thrilled when I moved north even though it’s only to central Louisiana. They’re gulf people and weren’t going to leave.”
    “But you never would’ve met Jackson.” Ash couldn’t imagine those two not together.
    “I dragged Xavier up here so he owes me,” Fred said.
    “I do. Back home I took crap for liking both. My brothers said just date girls. Quit exploring. High school was hell. We all have our problems. Here, I feel like I’m accepted without questions. Especially by you.” Xavier shrugged.
    “I never judged people or was as mean as people thought, even back in high school. The crowd I hung with projected an image. Besides, there are four of you and one of me. It’s overwhelming in a good way. But I understand about family and pressure.” She squeezed his hand.
    “Everyone knew what I was. I couldn’t hide it.” Fred smiled.
    “Why should you? None of us should hide the truth,” Ash replied.
    “Damn right.” Fred pointed to a big metal bin. “That’s the scrap.”
    Ash watched as a forklift heaved a load of metal into the bin. “So a recycling place comes and picks it up?”
    “Yes, they weigh it and pay us by the pound.” Xavier shrugged.
    “Interesting. Is there a reason you guys haven’t invited me over again?” She wanted to wait and keep their relationship out of work, but the question just slipped out.
    “We didn’t want to be high pressure.” Xavier looked at Fred.
    “Exactly. You’re not at our beck and call. We’re friends with benefits. Things can grow from there, but only if everyone wants it.” Fred held her hand briefly.
    “Someone doesn’t want me around?” she asked.
    “Is that what it felt like that night?” Xavier turned her question around.
    “No, but men love sex. I loved it too, but I’m not trying to complicate things.” She wanted to kiss them right then but held back.
    “Last night, we did the weekly cleaning crap so it would’ve been a bad night to have you over,” Fred said.
    “Okay. Whenever works for you guys. No pressure.” She turned and headed back to her office, not worrying if the guys were coming with her or not.
    Either she didn’t fit in or Eli didn’t want her. They were being so nice she couldn’t tell, and even with so few women around, she still didn’t feel in high demand by the Lucky Springs male population.
    Men! They’d never been her talent, no matter how pretty and popular she was. She never fully understood what they did or how they thought. Like it or not, Ash had to focus on her career because men weren’t the answer to any problem.
    * * * *
    At lunch, Xavier finally got Eli to turn off his computer.
    “Fred and I had a chat with Ash earlier. She wanted to know why we haven’t invited her over again.” Xavier directed his comment at Jackson but knew Eli was listening.
    “Then I say we invite her over tonight.” Jackson smiled. “She hasn’t made work awkward or talked about us. I haven’t even heard a cross word about Eli.”
    “I haven’t been rude since the first day.” Eli opened a soda.
    “You haven’t exactly been nice. Every time she tries to apologize, you shut down the conversation. She wants to clear the air, but you block her.” Fred leaned on the big table. “We see her at work and talk to her. Something is holding her back.”
    “You said sex and nothing more. Now, you guys sound like she’s got you.” Eli stared