“Oh, baby.” Patrick was the first to reach me. He pulled me into his embrace. “There is nothing to be ashamed of. Nothing.” His breath warmed my cheek, his body heat and strength bringing me comfort.
“Don’t worry, Cassie.” Travis came in front of me, looking at me in worry. He brought his hand to my cheek and caressed it. I leaned in to his palm, closing my eyes for a moment. Despite everything, I felt better. “You are not alone. We are going to take care of it.”
“Yes. We’ll help you. Don’t worry about anything.” Patrick’s hold on me increased, warming me from the inside out.
Travis moved his thumb over my lower lip, and I shivered. “You will move in with us while you get things sorted out.”
My heart swelled with some unusual emotion. I swallowed hard, wanting to kiss them and show them just how much they meant to me.
They were here. They were worried for me and they wanted to help me.
I was speechless for a few moments, looking at Travis’s beautiful green eyes that stole my heart from the first moment I saw them. They were good to me from the start, and what did I do? I’d lied, pretending I was someone who I wasn’t, and now I was becoming a burden.
“No,” I refused, separating myself from Patrick so I could look him in the eyes. I looked between Travis and him. “I can’t do that. That would be too much, and I don’t want to bother you. This is my problem, and I will do something to solve it—”
“What are you talking about?” Patrick frowned, placing his hand on my shoulder. “There is no way we would let you deal with something like this on your own. You’re moving in with us.”
“No. I don’t want to be a burden—”
“Please, stop,” Travis interrupted me and stroked my cheek again. “Don’t speak nonsense. You aren’t a burden and we would love nothing more than to help you. That’s the least we could do. So it’s settled. You’re coming with us. We’ll help you pick your things up and bring you to our place.” He hugged me, holding me flush against his body. “You’re trembling, sweetie, and we need to warm you up.”
His gentle words and actions only made me more miserable, because they were so kind to me, but I hadn’t told them the truth. I had to tell them this.
I took a step back and looked at them with a serious face. Okay. Here we go.
“Look. There is something I need to confess to you. I can’t let you help me without knowing the truth.” I took a deep breath. “Actually, I’m broke. Completely. I’m in debt and I need money.”
“That’s okay, baby. We will help you with money. You don’t have to—”
“No, that’s not the point of my story,” I interrupted Patrick, horrified with the prospect of borrowing money from them. There was no way I would do that. I wasn’t a gold digger. “Please, let me finish. Since I needed money badly, I was desperate to find a job, but I couldn’t find any. I went to so many interviews, but I was always rejected. The job of a legal assistant in LQT was my last option.”
Travis cocked his head to the side. “What do you mean—your last option?”
I sniffed, taking another deep breath. I could barely even look them in the eyes. “I’m not a law student. I already graduated.” Their faces twisted in confusion, and my heart skipped a beat. I had to go on and tell them the whole truth. I clenched my fists. “I’ve actually passed the bar, and I’d searched for a job of an attorney, but all of them asked for experienced candidates. That was why I’d applied for your job.”
For several moments they were just looking at me, and tension spiked. Oh no. This was not going to end well. I fought against my tears, and began rambling, “I’m so sorry, guys. My intention wasn’t to hurt you or anything. I was just desperate. I had to pretend during the interview because I needed a job badly, but then we started sleeping together ... I don’t want you to think I’m just using you or anything. I don’t want your money. I just need a job.”
Travis was the first to move, taking my hand in his and curling his lips into a slight smile. “Hey. Don’t worry. We don’t think that.”
Patrick nodded, taking my other hand. “Yes. We don’t think like that at all. We’re just stunned. I mean, you went through so much on your own, and even though you lied to us, I actually admire you. You fought to deal with your difficult situation in the best way you could then, and you managed to get a job.”
They gazes filled with admiration. “Yeah, Cassie. We aren’t angry. You are brave and strong. It’s completely understandable.”
“Actually, we knew that you are brilliant—we could tell. The way you handled your interview was amazing. Your smart answers completely surprised us, and we knew from the beginning you were capable and knowledgeable.”
I erupted into tears—this time crying from happiness. They weren’t judging me. They thought I was brilliant. How lucky I’d been to meet them?
“So I’m not going to get fired?”
“Fired?” They looked at each other,
shocked, and then they burst into laughter. “Are you crazy?” Travis asked. “Of course, you aren’t going to get fired! We need you, Cassie. This doesn’t change anything. We want to be with you and we are going to help you now. Come on, you are trembling. We’ll wrap you up and take you home.”
Home. My heart contracted. I was so happy.
I pulled each of them for a kiss, giving in to the passion that was filling every part of my being. Yes. Home was definitely where they were.
***