With a smile, tears filling her eyes, she walked over to him, letting him draw her down to lie next to him on the sofa.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
He patted her bottom. “You should have told us. Do you really think we care about some rumors? Did you think we’d think less of you?”
Dropping her head, she nodded. “I was an idiot. I know you would never think less of me because of her, I was just taken by surprise and I never want anything to hurt you guys, especially me.”
“Do you know what does hurt us?” Gavin asked.
“What?”
“Knowing that you don’t trust us.”
Her jaw dropped. “What are you talking about?”
“I had hoped that you would trust us a little by now, at least enough to let us help you, to know we wouldn’t leave you. You would have gone off to meet that bitch alone and given her a huge chunk of your inheritance. Do you know how dangerous that is? She could have done anything to you and we would have had no idea.”
Lila sat up and stared at them. “I do trust you. I know it may not seem like it, but I just wanted to protect you guys.”
“Not your job, honey,” Gavin replied. “Our job is to take care of you. Yours is to let us. And to love us.”
“I do. I do.”
Lila stood and walked slowly
over to Gavin who was now sitting on an armchair. She owed it to them to completely open up to them. Kneeling in front of him, she took his hands in hers.
“I’ve always found it hard to trust. When I was young, my mother would always promise that things would get better. Then she’d start drinking and doing drugs and the men would be back with their mean eyes and their grabby hands. I remember the first time one hit me; I must have been around six. My mother just sat there and laughed. I couldn’t see out of that eye for nearly a week. That’s when I started hiding in the alley when men came over.”
“Baby,” Gavin began, reaching for her, his eyes softening.
Lila shook her head. “No, let me finish before I lose my nerve. I don’t like to talk about my life before Clay found me in that alley, because I had no life. More than likely I would have ended up like my mother, whoring for enough money to buy booze and drugs. The thought of it frightens me. But I didn’t end up like that because of Clay and you guys. I owe him, all of you, everything. Clay gave me a life, showed me love and gave me you three. The thought of that woman touching any of you with her filth, I just, I would do anything to protect you guys.”
Gavin sighed and clasped her face in his hands. “And we feel the same way about you. We want to protect you, and you’re making it very hard.”
“I’m sorry, I do trust you, I do. I knew you wouldn’t blame me for her actions, but I guess I’ve always had problems believing that I deserved to be here, believing that I deserved your love. Just give me some more time, love me, and don’t ever leave me.”
Gavin drew her up, holding her close. “We’re here for you, baby girl. Always.”
“Umm, what are we going to do about her?” she asked.
“Oh, we’re going to make sure that she never bothers you again,” Trace said with some relish. “And we’re going to make it very clear that if she tries to spread one nasty rumor that her life won’t be worth living.
“What are you planning? Are you going to meet with her?”
“Yep,” Gavin answered.
“I’m coming too, then,” she insisted.
“Like hell,” Gavin said with a frown. “I don’t want you anywhere near her. You’re going to stay right here.”
“No way, I’m coming too,” Lila said. “Remember how you said we needed to talk things through? This can’t be all one way. I get that you want to protect me, but she’s my mother and while I’m glad you guys are helping me, I have to see this through.”
All three men looked at each other. Trace nodded. Good, one down. Colin shrugged. Number two was on her side. Now for the hardest one. She looked up at Gavin. He was scowling, obviously wishing he could keep her here. But he couldn’t wrap her up in cotton wool. She loved the way they looked after her, but she wouldn’t be smothered.
“We’d be there with her,” Trace told him. “And it would show that bitch that we are all on the same page. Plus give Lila some closure.”
Lila bit her tongue, just waiting.