Page 43 of Triplet Tease

“Ittook losing our mother to give us the impetus to go and do somethingthat we loved doing and that we could have done even if she wasalive. What we’re going to do next and where are wide openquestions, but all three of us would like you to join us.”

I opened the cab door. “I’ll think aboutit, all right. Take him back to the Bretton building, he’s paying,”I instructed the cab driver. I jumped out and closed the door.

God. It was such a man’s world.

I watched the car drive away before making amove to go inside.

Men!

Didn’t they understand it wasn’t that easyif you didn’t have money or qualifications or contacts?

I would have to talk to my mom. That’d be astrange conversation after earlier.

I’d congratulate her on her surpriseengagement. I vaguely recalled she was seeing someone, and she mighthave mentioned an architect, but I didn’t pay much attention as Ihadn’t realized it was serious.

I also had to face Gill and tell her those guyshad a drink with Lee, but they weren’t involved in his shadydealings or the police raid.

And then I had to find another job fast,because the nice sum Finn paid me wasn’t going to last long. Thankheavens, at least I’d gotten that money.

I walked into my home to discover a team ofpolice offers completing a search through our things and Gillpreparing to go down to the station to help with their inquiries.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

HARRY

On the short drive back to the apartment, Iwondered if I’d said enough. I figured she’d need time to thinkabout what I’d said, and then, hopefully, she’d understand why mybrothers did what they did.

They didn’t mean to hurt her by not tellingher the full truth about our background. She had to understand theywanted her to like them for who they were and not how much money theyhad in the bank. But did she understand just how much they liked her?

And what about me? I didn’t know her. Shedidn’t know me. I was horny, she was there, and I took advantage.

I thought she wanted it, too. She could havesaid no, but maybe she didn’t consider that was an option. It waslate, she was tired, and she’d been paid to stay the night.

The thought that she may have felt obliged tohave sex with me made me sick to my stomach. If I could have goneback and undone it all, I would’ve.

There was nothing to excuse my behavior,although it didn’t seem out of line at the time.

I’d thought the sex was the start of a newrelationship, and I’d fall in love with her, as my brothers haddone. I didn’t for one minute doubt their judgment on this. If theythought the relationship would work, I believed them.

If they thought she was the perfect princess tomake all our dreams come true, I believed them because I trustedthem.

Did she know how close we were as brothers, orunderstand the sort of relationship we wanted with her? Had any of ustold Siena any of that?

Hell, she’d been right; that brief cab ridehadn’t been long enough to tell her everything.

I didn’t want her to regret sleeping with me,yet, I felt guilty about it. What had happened in my bed should haveput a light spring in my step, but my entire body was heavy withregret.

I hadn’t taken the time to get to know her,but my brothers were smitten, and if things didn’t turn aroundquickly, they’d be heartbroken.

What next?

Even if she listened, Siena wasn’t going tocall us.

I’d be left with a couple of brokenheartedbrothers and wondering about what might have been. I hadn’t knownher long enough to fall in love. I only saw the missed opportunity.And on top of all that, I’d have the memory of one night with thesexiest woman I’d ever met.

Outside the Bretton building, the taxi driverpulled up behind the squad car in exactly the same spot as before.Without turning around to look at me but catching my eye in themirror, the driver called out a price.

If we wanted her, we would have to execute theplan I suggested and show her the kind of life we’d like with her.

---