Page 47 of Triplet Tease

It quickly became apparent that they weretalking about Liam.

It turned out he was unlikely to have anythingto do with animal smuggling but everything to do with taking moneyfrom gullible people at the slightest opportunity. Obviously, Liam,or Lee, was setting us up to hand over a hefty deposit, and then we’dnever hear from him again.

I had so little information that it didn’ttake long to give the cops my statement. We probably spent longertalking about them being twins.

Theydidn’t find it strange that we three adult men still choose to livetogether because they did too, and they even lived next door to theirstepsister. After what we’d just found out about our father’smatrimonial plans, it turned out wealsohadplans to stay close to our stepsister, but we didn’t tell theofficers that.

After they left, Finn and I were restless.Eventually, he suggested we sit down together and binge-watch a showto take our minds of everything.

He picked a gripping sword and sorcery saga,and the hours disappeared. We ordered food. Far more than we needed,in case Harry turned up with Siena.

Finn missed a call from our fatherdeliberately; Finn didn’t answer, and Dad didn’t leave a message.

It was evening when Harry finally turned upwith Siena. He only told us some of what they’d gotten up to, whichincluded meeting up with Simon. The supremely satisfied looks ontheir faces filled in the details of their day that they didn’tshare.

We shared food and talked.

With the pressure of time disappearing, we hadto discuss plans for the future.

The idea of slowly getting to know each otherwith a long-distance relationship didn’t appeal to any of us. Wewere racing ahead too fast, but it seemed right, and it was what weall wanted. This thing we had, this chemistry between us, was toogood for us to let this opportunity for love and happiness slip away.

We invited Siena to live with us in New York.It seemed the obvious thing to do as she no longer had a job, and wehad stuff to sort out in the city.

“It’s only a temporary arrangement untilour parents’ wedding,” I pointed out. “And in that time, we’llplan our next trip. It’s not as if we can take off on the nextflight to a remote animal sanctuary that needs volunteers. We need todecide where we’re going. Do our research. Get our inoculations ifwe need them.”

She didn’t say no, but she didn’t say yes,either. It was a big step, and she wanted to think about it.

“I have something I want to show you.”Harry tapped on the screen of his phone. “Scroll through those,”he said as he passed the phone to Siena.

“Did you take these photographs?” sheasked.

Harry shook his head. “No. I wish. But I havebeen in touch with the sanctuary in Borneo where they need help tolook after the orangutans that you see in those pictures. This wouldbe the place I’d like us to go next. It would take a while to setup.”

Although we’d thrown ideas around, we hadn’tseriously discussed where next. But that would be a dream job if wecould do it.

“I’ve heard they get more volunteersapplying than they have places, but we could be what they need.”Harry glanced at me. With a veterinary degree and experience inworking with primates, he viewed me as the ultimate ticket to get usinto any sanctuary.

Siena twirled her red hair around her fingersand made a cute joke about being closely related to orangutans. Isensed she was on board with the suggestion of coming with us to workin a faraway animal sanctuary, but there was a but.

“I don’t want to sound ungrateful, becausereally, you guys are a dream come true and I’m lucky to have thisoffer.” She looked at her hands as she stretched her fingers out infront of her. “I know many women would jump at the chance of movingin with you guys in Manhattan, but I don’t dream of becoming a keptwoman. I want to go away on an adventure with you, but I’m not sureI’m ready to move into your home and live with you in the bigcity.”

“We want to keep you as our woman,” Iquipped.

“You can keep me in that way. You know what Imean.” She looked around at each of our faces. “I need to earn myown money and pay my way.”

Harry wrapped a protective arm around hershoulder. “We don’t want you to worry about money, because wehave plenty. Our apartment in New York has had tenants in it while wewere away. We even made a profit.”

“You can work in New York if you want to.”Finn tilted his head as if wondering why she’d want to do that.

Herubbed his hands together and relaxed his shoulders. “Siena, out ofall of us, I’m the only person with a job to go back to in the BigApple. And Imustgoback, because my father’s counting on me to do certain things forHarker, Maxwell, and Associates. But I’m going to take the twomonths to finish up my involvement, tie up loose ends, and handeverything over. After that, I’m as free as all of you to go towherever in the world four volunteers are needed.”

“I’ve been offered a job.” Myannouncement would have come as a surprise. I hadn’t told any ofthem before. “There are a few places that need vets, so people whoknew I was coming back have been in touch. I wasn’t sure if we’dstay in New York, so I haven’t accepted anything. The one I’mconsidering does a lot of work for people who are living on lowincomes. It seems really worthwhile, and they haven’t got enoughqualified vets to do that work.”

Siena had what it took to care for animals.After we’d talked about pets, my intuition told me she’d be greatwith the animals and a dedicated hard worker. I wondered about askingher if she wanted to work with me as an assistant. I’d happily payher out of my own pocket if I had to.

“You can come and work with me, Siena. Avet’s assistant will be minimum wage but provide a much-neededservice.”

Sheshook her head, and I worried about losing her because our home wasfarfrom Arlington.We talked for a long time, making plans, and as we did so, wesnuggled up. Siena cozied up between me and Finn, which was onlyright after Harry had hogged her to himself for far too long. We wereall pretty tired, but none of us wanted to move, and eventually, weall fell asleep where we sat.

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