Jayce’s arms fly away from me as Carson and Nathan race toward us. Jayce steps in front of me as they race up the stairs. Probably a bad move, but I appreciate his gesture.
“It’s okay.” I pat Jayce’s arm and step from behind him.
“Don’t you try to make a move on her,” Carson growls as they storm closer. The possessiveness of his tone takes on an annoying edge.
“I wasn’t making a move.” Jayce looks from them to me, confusion etched in his features. He’s picked up on the tension and looks ready to defend me.
I scramble in front of him before the guys get closer, and throw my hands up. “Nothing is going on. He was asking me for advice, and since I’m nothing more than your maid, you need to stay out of my business.”
“Like hell, you’re only our maid.” Carson’s in the growly-bear possessive mode that makes my sex tingle.
My eyes widen at his statement. I lift a finger to my lips to shush him.
“You are our business, our lover, and so much more.” Nathan blurts out, adding the reveal to the chaos.
Shit. What do I do now? Jayce stares at me expectantly. I shoot a look at Nathan. It wasn’t his place to say anything. I need to be more than someone’s little sex toy.
“Are you three…” Jayce’s words drop off. A smile takes over his face as he realizes he doesn’t have the only scandalous relationship on the block.
“You’re in no place to judge. I heard you stole your son’s girlfriend,” Carson says.
Jayce lunges at Carson and stops himself just short of them throttling each other. “That’s not how it happened. Mind your own fucking business.”
“I’m their live-in maid. They hired me for two weeks.” Will he buy the cover story?
“We want to hire you for a lot more,” Carson pleads.
Great, I can be their secret until they’re tired of paying for it. This goes way past the issue with Natalie or their clients or even the neighbors. I don’t want to be a secret. I deserve more. As painful as it is, I have to do right by me.
“It will never work. I quit. Don’t follow me.” It’s a split-second decision that feels like it took an eternity to play out in my brain. I have to get away from them. I run back to the house.
When I look over my shoulder, Jayce blocks them, giving me a head start. I worry they’ll stop me before I back out of the garage. I loved parking in it like I belong, but I don’t. And when I realize the guys aren’t chasing me, my heart cracks.
It’s not that I want to be chased. I want them to care.
Sixteen
Carson
Ilosemymindwhen Goldie leaves. Jayce grabs Nathan and me by the arms, forcing us to stop. I’m tempted to throw a punch and free myself but his words hit home.
“Nothing good will come from chasing her right now. Trust me. She explicitly asked you not to. Respect her space.”
“Fuck! Where the hell is she going?” I punch the air. It’s not satisfying. If we don’t get her back, I’ll never be satisfied.
“I don’t know what’s going on with the three of you, but get your shit together. I’ve had my share of disasters, learn from my mistakes.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” I shrug him off.
“Want to tell me?” Jayce’s comment is enough to give me pause. I want to tell him. I want to tell everyone. I can’t bear the thought of Goldie choosing anyone or anything but Nathan and me. We’re a package deal, and we need her to be complete.
Nathan yanks out of his other hand. I have to respect that the guy could detain both of us. I’m not small, and neither is Nathan. Maybe we knew he was right.
Once we regroup, I’m going to find her and never let her go.
We hash things out with Jayce, share some of his pain in wanting the forbidden fruit, risking judgment. Risking rejection.
Jayce says, “Sneaking around can be fun. But if you love her, it’s not right to hide her.”