Trading with the Boys: A Reverse Harem Romance Read online

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  1 - Serena

  2 - Jacob

  3 - Serena

  4 - Tate

  5 - Serena

  6 - Serena

  7 - Serena

  8 - Serena

  9 - Serena

  10 - Serena

  11 - Serena

  12 - Tate

  13 - Serena

  14 - Serena

  15 - Cole

  16 - Serena

  17 - Serena

  18 - Serena

  19 - Serena

  20 - Jacob

  21 - Serena

  22 - Serena

  23 - Serena

  24 - Serena

  25 - Serena

  26 - Tate

  27 - Jacob

  28 - Serena

  29 - Serena

  30 - Serena

  31 - Serena

  32 - Cole

  33 - Serena

  34 - Serena

  35 - Serena

  36 - Jacob

  37 - Serena

  38 - Serena

  39 - Serena

  40 - Serena

  41 - Serena

  42 - Serena

  43 - Tate

  44 - Serena

  45 - Serena

  46 - Serena

  Epilogue

  Three Christmas Wishes

  About the Author

  Trading with the Boys

  A Reverse Harem Romance

  Krista Wolf

  Copyright © 2021 Krista Wolf

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form without prior consent of the author.

  Cover photography stock models only.

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  ~ Other Books by Krista Wolf ~

  Quadruple Duty

  Quadruple Duty II - All or Nothing

  Snowed In

  Unwrapping Holly

  Protecting Dallas

  The Arrangement

  Three Alpha Romeo

  What Happens in Vegas

  Sharing Hannah

  Unconventional

  Saving Savannah

  The Christmas Toy

  The Wager

  The Ex-Boyfriend Agreement

  One Lucky Bride

  Theirs To Keep

  Corrupting Chastity

  Stealing Candy

  The Boys Who Loved Me

  Three Christmas Wishes

  Chronicles of the Hallowed Order

  Book one: Ghosts of Averoigne

  Book two: Beyond the Gates of Evermoore

  Book three: Claimed by the Pack

  One

  SERENA

  It was one of those glorious summer days that you pine for six months later, when the weather gets cold. One where the sun was gold and the sky was blue and the grass so impossibly green, it somehow emblazoned the day into your memory no matter what you happened to be doing.

  And what I happened to be doing absolutely sucked.

  Shit.

  I pushed away from the house and crossed the yard, realizing the dice were cast. There was no going back now. No chickening out or putting it off once he saw me, which would be any second now, as he shook the bag of freshly-cut clippings into the small patch of woods behind the house.

  Oh my God. Just look at him.

  He looked even better than usual, and his usual look was quite amazing. Dirty blond hair. Sun-bronzed skin. A broad, muscular back that cut downward in a perfect V-shape, all the way to where his slender waist disappeared into his grass-stained blue jeans.

  My pulse quickened as I drew even closer, still undetected. From here I could see the thin sheen of sweat he’d accumulated while mowing the lawn. The sexy dimples of his lower back practically winked at me with every movement, as he finished emptying the bag.

  “Uh… Joshua?”

  He whirled, startled, then turned about three different shades of red. Dropping the bag, my landscaper reached for the shirt slung over one of the arms of the big ride-on mower. He’d taken the shirt off thirty-one minutes ago. I knew, because I’d counted.

  “Jacob, not Joshua,” he grinned sheepishly. “And I’m sorry, Mrs. Nelson.”

  The giant glass of ice water had been in my hand for so long my fingers were numb. I thrust it his way, shaking my head.

  “No, don’t be sorry,” I said quickly. “And please, you don’t have to put the shirt back on. It’s so hot out here, I can’t even imagine—”

  I stopped as he wriggled into the shirt anyway. As his head popped through the neck hole, he caught me staring at his vast sea of amazing abdominals.

  “Sorry Jacob,” I said, correcting myself. God, after so many years you’d think I know his name! “And it’s not Nelson anymore, it’s McShane. Ms. McShane.”

  “Ah.”

  “You’ve probably noticed, but Mr. Nelson’s been gone a few years now.”

  He’d accepted the water gratefully, but was still waiting to drink it. I nodded toward the glass, and he began gulping it down.

  “Also, it’s Serena,” I added, watching his Adam’s apple bob sexily as the cool liquid rocketed down his perfect throat. “Ms. McShane seems way too formal for someone who’s been mowing my lawn as long as you have. Cookie?”

  I held up the chocolate chip monstrosity I’d baked specifically for him, as a sort of distraction. He eyed me for a moment before accepting it.

  “You’re right,” Jacob said, wiping his brow with the back of one arm. “I’ve been doing this lawn for a long time now. Hell, since I was just a kid.”

  “Yeah,” I said sadly. “About that…”

  My heart dropped into my stomach as I tried to form the words correctly. Only there was no right way. There was only one way.

  “I’m sorry Jacob, but I have to let you go.”

  I expected surprise. Shock. Maybe even a little bit of anger. Instead, the gorgeous six-foot three landscaper sweating in front of me only took another swig of water, then followed it up with a big bite of his cookie.

  “Umm…”

  The silence was awkward. So was the way he was looking at me.

  “Jacob? Did you hear me?”

  “Yeah I heard you.”

  “I mean, it’s not anything you did or didn’t do,” I said hurriedly. “You do great work. Fantastic work! It’s just that, well, I can’t really afford you anymore.”

  He nodded slowly, looking down at me with these incredible, sky-blue eyes. I hadn’t noticed them before only because I’d never been this close. I’d only waved to him in passing, and paid the bills as he dropped them in my mailbox every month.

  “I already charge you the minimum,” he said finally. “Mr. Nelson — I mean you — well, were one of my very first customers.” He looked up at the sun and winced. “If it would help you out, I could maybe drop the price by a few—”

  “No, no,” I said, stopping him. “That’s sweet, but I’m not looking for a discount. I just… well, I can’t afford the luxury of a landscaper anymore.”

  “So who’s going to cut your lawn then?” he asked nonchalantly.

  I shrugged, not even considering the question until now. “I guess I will.”

  “With that thing in your shed?” he chuckled.

  I already knew what he was referring to. In the back of the shed, behind the big mess of tools my asshole ex-husband had left behind, an old red lawn mower sat gathering cobwebs. It hadn’t been sta
rted in just about forever. I remember Eric using it a few times right after we’d bought the house, and then calling in a landscaper because he hated cutting the grass so much.

  “If it starts up, sure,” I said honestly. “If not, I guess I’ll pick something up. I really should work on getting a car first, though. I need that even more.” Looking away, I let out a little laugh. ‘Shit, now I’m rambling.”

  “If it’s a car you want, head down to River City,” he instructed. “It’s not a big lot, but they have reliable stuff. Ask for Tate. He’ll fix you up.”

  “Oh. Okay.”

  Jacob took another big gulp of water, draining the rest of the glass. He was looking at me now, sizing me up. Getting me lost in those amazing eyes.

  Hell, maybe he even knew it.

  “So I guess this is a last meal then,” he smiled, holding up the cookie.

  Although there was no good reason for it, I still felt shitty. I let my arms fall to my sides, my chin to my chest.

  “Sorry, Jacob.”

  Somehow, in the middle of everything, his hand touched my face. Two gentle fingers tilted my chin back upward, forcing me to look at him again.

  “Hey, don’t be sorry,” he said cheerfully. “It’s okay.” Then, adding a smile: “Really.”

  God, he was so amazing-looking! High cheekbones, full lips. His strong, masculine jaw was betrayed by a boyish, innocent grin that somehow went perfectly with it.

  “Well Ms. McShane, it’s been a good run,” he sighed. “And at least we finally got some face-to-face time.” His smile went wistful. “I only wish it had been earlier.”

  I nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly. Somehow my lips murmured the word “Serena.”

  “Okay then Serena,” he said, pausing as if tasting the word in his beautiful mouth. “Let’s you and I take a walk over to your shed.”

  His blue eyes flashed dangerously, and my heart skipped a beat. Did his smile just get wider? Go a little more mischievous?

  “Uhhh… okay.”

  “The least I can do for such a good customer is get your old mower up and running,” Jacob smiled.

  Two

  JACOB

  “A little harder,” I instructed. “And a little faster, too.”

  She bent to the task, putting more effort into it. I watched her head jerk back. Her strawberry blonde hair flew over one shoulder.

  “No, you’ve got to put your hips into it. Hang on. Let me show you.”

  I approached her from behind, where she stood bent over the lawnmower’s pull-starter. I’d drained it, re-fueled it, primed it up. It was old, but hardly used. In theory, it should start.

  “Okay, so it’s not in the arms,” I said, “so you don’t need muscle.”

  “Are you saying I don’t have muscle?” she asked slyly.

  “No,” I grinned, as I closed my hand over hers. “I’m just saying it’s more in the angle.”

  I folded my body over hers, feeling it mold itself into mine. She was soft, beautiful, feminine. But from here…

  From here I could feel the firmness of her back, her hips, and even her ass. The muscles coiled up in her sexy legs. Even her hands were strong.

  “Show me.”

  God, she smelled so good, too! Like lavender and citrus. Maybe coconut, as I dipped my face into her hair.

  “Straight back,” I murmured into her ear. My lips were right up against her now. I could swear I saw her shivering under my hot breath. “Just like this—”

  I yanked hard, bringing her hand with me. Pulling it toward my body, until I had it pinned tightly against my chest.

  The engine caught, sputtered, then turned over. A few puffs of black smoke later, the lawnmower roared to life.

  “NICE!”

  Serena was clapping happily, looking down at our handiwork. She was still dangerously close to me, though. We were no longer spooning, but our bodies were still well within the realm of each other’s personal space.

  I let the engine run for a good half-minute, until the smoke stopped and it was no longer sputtering. Then I slid the throttle back enough to kill it, returning us to summer silence.

  “So it’s that easy, huh?” asked Serena, her hands on her hips.

  “Yup.”

  “And I can just call you when I can’t get it started?”

  The grin on her face told me she was only half-kidding.

  “You know you can call me anytime, Ms. McShane.”

  “Serena,” she shot back, smarmily. “Remember? We’re friends now. After all these years, we finally introduced ourselves.”

  “Actually, we were introduced a long time ago,” I countered. “Back when I was in high school.”

  Her brow crossed, and what a cute little brow it was. I’d seen Serena up close only two other times. During each of them, I remember being struck with how beautiful she was.

  No, not just beautiful.

  Okay, fine. Hot. Mrs. Nelson — or Ms. McShane — or Serena rather, was hot. She was sexy too, in ways I suspected even she didn’t know.

  “Did you know David?” she asked sheepishly.

  “Uh huh. We played on the basketball team together.”

  David was her stepson, who’d graduated with me four years ago. He wasn’t exactly a friend, more of an acquaintance really. I hadn’t talked to him since school ended. Come to think of it, I hadn’t seen him either.

  “He’s not around anymore either, is he?”

  Slowly she shook her head. “He went away to college, almost two years now. That’s before he dropped out, anyway. Now he’s gone — took off for South America. Bolivia, I think.”

  “Bolivia?” I scratched my neck curiously. “And he doesn’t check in?”

  Serena sighed. “Only when he needs something.”

  I could see frustration peeking through, shattering the perfection of her pretty little smile. Even angry she was beautiful.

  “Yeah, well remember when we won the championship?” I asked. “Junior year?”

  “Of course.”

  “Mr. Nelson threw a little party for us,” I went on. “We came back here for pizza. You made cookies back then too,” I smiled, “but nothing as good as this.”

  I held up what remained of my chocolate chip consolation prize, which at this point wasn’t much. Serena chuckled as I popped it in my mouth.

  “I didn’t make those cookies, I picked them up at a big box store,” she said. “Costco’s finest.”

  “Ah. That explains it.”

  “So… you used to hang out with David?”

  “Not hang out, no. Not really. I mean, we traveled in the same circles sometimes. But we were never close or anything.”

  She nodded her head, squinting. Maybe trying to remember.

  But I remembered. Shit, I remembered her well. Back then Serena was young — too young to be David’s mom. Young enough to be his sexy stepmom though.

  Hell, she was still young now.

  “So you’re here all alone now,” I said abruptly. “Is that it?”

  “Yes.”

  “Divorced, you said.”

  “Nearly three years ago,” she affirmed.

  “And they left you with all this,” I said, swinging an arm over the yard grandly. “David and Mr. Nelson. To take care of it all by yourself.”

  “You catch on quick, Jacob.”

  She was looking up at me with those hazel eyes, the inner irises flecked with chestnut brown. Her lashes were long, her lips plump and full. I’d always thought of her as Mrs. Nelson, or as David’s stepmom. As someone who was taken care of by others, and therefore off limits.

  But now…

  Now I saw her as an actual woman. As someone beautiful. Sensual. Sexy.

  As someone attainable.

  I leaned in again, allowing myself to break the bubble of space between us. To her credit Serena didn’t flinch. She was backed up against the shed, but she didn’t turn away. She didn’t avert her eyes or change the subject, even as my face drifted closer to hers…<
br />
  “They left you here alone, while they went on with their lives,” I murmured.

  I let my voice go low and throaty as I said the words. Sullenly, she nodded.

  “That’s some grade-A bullshit.”

  Serena was cornered now, as helpless as a wounded animal. Even with the sun beating down I could feel the heat coming off her. The buzzing of insects around us was a cacophony of white noise.

  “You can call me,” I told her. “But not just to start the lawnmower.”

  I slid one palm against the shed and leaned in even further. Our eyes locked. We were so close now I could feel her breath against my lips.

  “I want you to call me when you need anything at all.”

  Three

  SERENA

  “You’re not going to believe this Nate, but I forgot my wallet at home.”

  I stood at the top of the oversized steps, with three other people waiting behind me. Not having the fare wasn’t just embarrassing, it was inconvenient. Luckily my favorite bus driver took pity on me.

  “I got you today, pretty lady,” the old man winked. His smile was warm, his stark white mustache spreading against his dark skin as he jerked his chin over his shoulder. “Go on.”

  Gratefully I squeezed his shoulder, then took my seat. I should probably buy a monthly pass to save money. Then again a monthly pass cost money up front, which I rarely had.

  Which you never have, the little voice in my head corrected me.

  Eventually there was the hiss of hydraulics and a jerk of movement. The thirty or so people beside me all lurched backward at once, as the bus left the curb and took off into the street. I had a fifteen-minute ride to the restaurant, followed by a ten-hour shift. I’d take an Uber home as usual, because by then the busses would no longer be running.

  This is not cost effective, Serena.

  No, it certainly wasn’t. Then again, at least I wasn’t buying gas or paying for car insurance. In the end it almost evened out, all things considered. But not having collision — and then subsequently getting collided — turned out to really put a damper on your freedom to run errands.