Belonging to Them - By Brynn Paulin Page 0,4

paused, again wondering if it was okay to speak the truth then decided it was entirely possible she’d never see anyone from this town again after this episode. “Well, I’ve always kinda wondered. What it would be like. You know?”

“I know, sweetie. I’m not going to try to influence you, because it has to be your decision, but I do hope to see you around again. I get a little lonely for girl talk—company in general.” She grinned and slid from the booth. “So…can I get you anything. Another coffee and pie?”

Rayna pressed a hand to her stomach. “Gosh, no. It was great, but I’m good for now. Do you have Diet Coke?”

“Sure thing, sweetie. I’ll bring it right over.” She looked up as three men came into the diner and slid into seats at the counter. They immediately zeroed in on Rayna and made no pretense about staring.

“New around here?” one asked.

“Please, God, say yes,” the youngest of the group, who looked in his early twenties, pleaded. “Say yes and unattached.”

Leena, who was now behind the counter, swatted the young man’s head with a handful of napkins. “Back off, junior. The O’Keefes’.”

“Dang,” he muttered then tilted his head at Rayna. “Welcome to Daly, ma’am.”

“Thank you,” she replied as the others echoed him.

“You even sound pretty,” he said. “You sure you want those O’Keefes?”

Rayna smiled and looked down at her table as Leena smacked him. So far, Daly was proving to be a nice place. Even discounting “The O’Keefes” and their proposition, the whole place gave her a sense of welcome she wasn’t sure she’d ever felt anywhere. Could she belong here? Patrick said just for fun and pleasure, but… If she wasn’t with them, was there something else for her here? Not a job. She’d have to find something in the city, but—

God Lord, what was she thinking. Three hours in town and she was considering making it home? Seriously. The place must have some sort of weird hoodoo magic entrancing visitors to stay.

Or maybe it was the lust inducing men.

She bit her lip and glanced out the window at the service station. Sean and David had rolled her car to a carport beside the building and now were cleaning something in one of the bays. Patrick was sweeping the front porch, his hands looking as if they could easily crack the handle of the broom.

What he didn’t understand was that he’d made up her mind with a single word. A word that echoed in the emptiness inside her. It was the one thing she’d always wanted. She hadn’t felt with her fiancé who’d made her feel inconsequential until she’d left or her family who’d treated her as insignificant and frankly somewhat stupid or at her job where she’d been considered highly competent but replaceable.

Belonging.

With the way Patrick, David and Sean looked at her… Could she chance that feeling then give it up? A hot prickly sensation crawled up her back and her stomach knotted as she considered saying no and heading into the city.

Leena brought her soft drink and Rayna sipped at it, still watching the men go about their business. A few cars came through and one or more of the O’Keefes would come out, pump gas, check the cars’ fluids and air levels—full service station, she noted, adding it to her list of the town’s features. As she observed, the sky started to cloud over, threatening rain. To her surprise, she saw a man leave the back room of the garage. It wasn’t any of the three men she’d been staring at. They were still tending various tasks.

This fourth man was as large as the other three, but she couldn’t tell more. He was huddled in a black hoodie, his face shrouded in shadows and his hands shoved into the pockets. He headed briskly toward the big Victorian, his gate marred by a pronounced limp.

My cousins, my brother and I are here most days. There’s four of us O’Keefes.

Chapter Two

Holy Pete, there were four of them, not three. How had she missed that when Patrick had clearly said it? Rayna stared after the man. Something about him with his hobble and hunched shoulders drew her. Her heart jarred in her chest as if it had flipped right over at the sight of him.

“It’s going to start pouring. Coming?”

She jumped at the voice near her ear. She’d been so consumed in watching the fourth O’Keefe walking down the street that she hadn’t realized Patrick had entered the