Page 92 of Hot Summer Nights

I rereadthe email three more times before I collapse back into my chair. Our poor girl. Struggling to keep afloat, working two jobs, and caring for her sick friend. She’s been carrying this around and dealing with it by herself. No wonder she never met us when we invited her out. She was busy working two jobs, trying to pay the bills.

Aspen’s phone number is listed underneath her information and I quickly type it into my phone. We had given her our numbers weeks ago but she has never used them. I debate sending her a text but she would want to know how I got her number and I don’t want to tell her that I had one of my security friends dig into her and her friend.

Flynn finds me still sitting in my chair staring at my computer screen an hour later and he can immediately tell that something is wrong.

“What is it?” He asks urgently.

I forward the email to him and wait while he reads through it.

“Damn.” He says under his breath.

“I know.” I say.

“She must be so scared. To lose the only family she has. The only family she’s ever had.”

“We have to help her.” I say.

“Maybe we can use this.” Flynn says hesitantly.

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“Maybe we can offer her the money in exchange for her going out with us.” He says all in a rush.

“Flynn.” I say, not believing that he could even suggest that.

“Roman, hear me out. She’s it. I know you can feel it too. If we both weren’t 100% sure that she was our One then we would have stopped pursuing her weeks ago. We can leverage the money and spend time with her. Get her to see that she belongs with us. That we can take care of her, we can take care of both of them. That she’s the one for us.”

I think about what he’s saying and I know it’s wrong. We should offer her the money with no strings attached but we’ve been trying for weeks and we’re both so desperate for her.

“It’s worth a shot.” I say as I look across the desk at Flynn.

“We’ll make her the offer tomorrow.” He says.

I just nod in agreement.

“Are you about ready to head home?” He asks as he stands from the chair and heads for my door.

“Yeah, I’m ready whenever you are.” I say.

I shut down my computer and grab my briefcase from beside my desk, shoving my chair back under my desk as I head out after him.

FOUR

Aspen

It’s beena slow morning and I wipe down the already spotless counters as Bianca wipes down tables and clears away dishes. I look to the door for what has to be the hundredth time this morning but my guys still haven’t come in yet. I shake my head; I shouldn’t be calling them my guys.

I’ll never admit it but I look forward to seeing them every day. Their sweet flirting and sexy smiles. I want to accept their invitations more and more every time that they ask me out but then I remember Adeline. She’s been worse lately, losing weight and getting weaker every day. I need to focus on her right now.

Still, maybe a night out with those two would do me some good. I know that’s what Bianca keeps telling me. She pushes me in their direction every time they come in.

The bell chimes as the door opens and I look up to see Flynn and Roman walking in.

“Morning, Kitten!” Flynn says in a silly sing-song voice as soon as he sees me.

I bite my cheek to keep from smiling back at him.

“Morning.” I say.

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