“Plenty of time for that later,” he said, grabbing the car keys. He swung his arm forward, tossing them to me. “But right now?”
I caught them deftly in one hand. Apparently I was driving.
“Let’s find the shittiest little dive bar this place can come up with.”
Thirty-Five
KAYLEEN
The snowy little village was absolutely adorable, from its tall, lodge-type buildings to the rows of tiny individual shops. Everything was lit warmly from within. Snow-kissed panes of glass looked into restaurants, bars, coffee houses, even a colorful candy shop.
As much as I longed to walk the streets flaunting my three beautiful boyfriends, it was just too windy and too cold. We made a beeline for a Bavarian-looking building that could only be a pub, ducked inside, and quickly ordered something to warm us up.
It felt good, finally being out of the car. Getting our legs back as we stood at the bar, toasting our little weekend getaway. Three cocktails later none of us were feeling any pain, except maybe for Burke who’d taken the bullet as our designated driver and was sipping straight up hot coffee.
We dominated the bar for a while, then took over
a pool table. We played 8-ball in pairs, with each of the guys taking extra care to ‘help’ me line up my shots. This of course included leaning into me from behind, pressing their firm bodies and even firmer bulges against my ass as they showed me the optimal angles.
More than once I was kissed on the neck. Each time it made me close my eyes and shiver with pleasure. Halfway through the game Chase returned with something called a ‘boozy hot chocolate’, and as the drink filled my belly with a slow, spreading warmth I began counting just how lucky I really was.
How long do you want this?
It was the first time I’d asked myself the question. The first time I’d actually worried about what came after.
Is this all over when the books are finished? The thought was an icy needle of fear, pushed through my heart. Does everything end when the arrangement ends?
I sure as hell hoped not. Looking at my three beautiful guys right now — playing and joking around with each other — I realized all at once how much I wanted and needed them in my life.
You love them.
A lump the size of a baseball formed in my throat. It was the first time I’d actually admitted it to myself. The first time I’d considered the possibility that yes, I could love three men. Three very different men, with different characteristics… all at the same time.
I was still staring off at nothing when a cheer went up from Nathan and Chase. The 8-ball was missing from the table. The game was over.
“You ready to blow this place?”
Nathan slid a long arm around me. The scent of beer was on him as he squeezed my ass suggestively.
“Yeah,” I smiled. “Definitely.”
It took twice as long to get back to the cabin, rolling carefully along the snow-choked roads. I was still daydreaming. Staring up at the swirling white flecks as they materialized from the dark sky. Nathan had two arms around me in the back seat, his legs spread sideways so I could snuggle into him. It felt so good, being wrapped in his long arms. So safe and protected.
You really need to tell them.
It was nagging at me all trip — the looming deadline with their publisher. The little meeting I’d had with Jay, that for some stupid reason I was keeping from them.
It won’t take much to come clean.
No, it wouldn’t. And it would make me feel better. More importantly, it might prepare them for what Jay was going to say when he found out they’d continued with the shared girlfriend storyline. That Juliana had become hopelessly entrenched throughout all three books now, and she was definitely here to stay.
We were back in the cabin when I decided to pull Nathan aside. Chase was busy lighting the fireplace. Burke had disappeared out back, doing God knew what.
“Can I talk to you?”
He’d seemed excited when I first pulled him into one of the side bedrooms. Now he just looked concerned.
“Honey, that’s wrong?”