Page 24 of Triplet Tease

“Why,what happened?”

“Youdon’t know? She was killed at work, while on a shoot. She wastrampled by elephants that were scared by poachers. It was anaccident, but indirectly those poachers killed her when she was doingthe job she loved and trying to protect endangered species. It wastragic. It was over a year ago.”

“I hadn’t heard the full story. I’m sosorry.”

“That’s how we ended up in Ecuador. I guessEton told you about that?”

“Some of it.” I didn’t know nearlyenough, and I was eager to hear more about their lives from Finn.

“Eton found out about jobs for vets abroad atthe front line of animal conservation. He applied and took us withhim. We went as volunteers, all of us. They would have paid aqualified animal doctor, but these charities have minimal funds, andEton doesn’t need the money. The money is better spent employingpeople from the local communities to be involved in conservation. Andit was a way of paying tribute to our mom; it’s what she would havewanted. We knew we were making her proud.”

A lump formed in my throat.

Finn appeared just as passionate about thevolunteer work they’d done in the animal sanctuary as Eton. Thesejovial brothers had super-soft squidgy insides, and I suspected if wedidn’t change the conversation soon, I’d cry.

“Anyway, when you have a mom and a brotherwho are, or were, professional wildlife photographers, it probablyaffects the way you see pictures of animals,” Finn added.

“I guess it does. Shall we move on to thenudes,” I suggested.

CHAPTER TWELVE

FINN

“I don’t need to ask where you got to.”

When Eton and I returned to the apartment, wefound Harry sitting on the floor surrounded by boxes, empty packets,and new camera equipment.

“I haven’t seen a camera store like it insix months. Give a guy a break.”

“What about supporting the charity?”

“I hung out with Simon, and he doesn’t likecrowds. We shared photography tips. And promised to match whatever Ispent on camera equipment as a donation.” He held out his hands.“It turns out this loss cost rather a lot of money.”

“Do you plan to make it earn its keep whenyou go back to work?” I skimmed around the edge of the chaos to sitin an armchair at the far end of the room; from there, I surveyed thescene.

“One way or another,” Harry put down thetiny piece of equipment he’d been handling. I think it was a lens,and he sat back, looking extremely pleased with himself.

Good for him. It turned out we’d all had agood time.

Eton had a pleased-with-himself grin on hisface most of the day. He flopped down in the nearest chair.

“Well, now we are all together, and out ofearshot of the rest of the big wide world, I’ve got an announcementto make,” I said.

“Go on,” Harry encouraged. He had a smirkon his face. He was much happier now that he had new camera equipmentto play with than yesterday when he was tired and grumpy.

“Eton’s girlfriend is lovely, and I’d beopen to the earlier suggestion that we all get to share. It’s ashame you didn’t meet her, Harry.”

“She’s not exactly my girlfriend, not yet,”Eton pointed out.

“She will be. She was all over you, and youdidn’t stop touching each other.” They held hands and touched inlittle ways at every opportunity, I noticed.

“But we didn’t kiss. You were constantlywith us like a shadow.”

“And whose fault was that? You kept me thereevery time I tried to give the two of you a bit of space. It was likebeing out with my two brothers more than being the extra personcrashing a date.”

Eton sighed. “I must admit, I wasdeliberately keeping you in the date as much as possible. And itworked. You both liked each other; I saw the chemistry between you.”

I rubbed my hand over my face and consideredwhat Eton said. It did feel like there was something between us. IfEton wasn’t in the picture, I might have kissed her and invited herback to my place. The afternoon just naturally went that way.

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