by Lauren Dane
She realized that though she automatically nodded, she truly was. “I am. They’re good to me. Good to each other.” She shrugged. She was in love and it was impossible to deny it. They’d come into her life and had turned it all upside down and inside out and in the end, after all was said and done, after they’d done what she’d asked and backed off to give her time, she had to admit what she’d known three months before and was afraid to accept.
They ate lunch together before returning to work, just visiting and catching up. And she smiled the whole time because it had been good to finally let herself accept the truth.
Nine
Charlie came to her door. He raised his hand to knock but she opened before he could. “Hi.”
So pretty. Her smile was his reward for a long day of hard work.
He stepped close and pulled her to his body. “Hi yourself” He kissed her hard and fast. “Before you hear it from anyone else, Hatch got hurt today.”
Her eyes widened. “Where is he? Is he all right? What happened?”
“He’s just finishing up at the urgent care. One of the machines was jammed. He reached in to clear it and got cut.”
“Let’s go to him now. Let me turn off the stove.”
She hurried and met him at the door.
“We can wait for him here. You know he’ll come to us when he’s done.”
She rolled her eyes. “Would you just wait for him to come to you?”
Charlie liked that. Liked that she had connected to them, to their relationship enough to act that way.
They headed out the door to the urgent care clinic.
He circled back to her question as they went. “Well, no. But I know you’re wanting to take things slow. We just didn't want you to hear it from someone else and panic. He’s all right. I promise. He just needed to get it cleaned up and stitched closed.”
“Taking things slow doesn’t mean I don’t care if you’re hurt.”
Her bottom lip quivered and he paused, pulling her close. “Hey, I’m sorry. I know that. I’m trying hard not to overstep. If it were up to me, we’d all be living in the same place, together all the time.”
She nodded. “You’re not overstepping. But we’re all together. I want to know this stuff. I care about you. I worry every day when you’re out there.”
The knot in his belly eased. She made things better and seemed to have no idea. He kissed her. “Come on. He may end up meeting us halfway. I stayed until they’d started the stitches and he sent me to you. We knew once people started coming back into the village you might hear it from someone and we didn’t want you to worry.”
He took her hand and she squeezed back as they walked.
Up ahead he caught sight of Hatch leaving the clinic. He stood talking to Lenore, one of their team leaders and the person who’d offered Hatch a supervisory position earlier that day.
Roots. Hatch had accepted and would start in a week. Which meant Charlie had the time and opportunity to find a permanent job in the village. Roots were important and this was just another step in the right direction. A huge one.
Summer’s reaction was everything he’d hoped for. Oh yes, they’d had a relationship. They clearly all worked together physically. They were good with one another. She’d slowly been opening herself up to them. Each time some new intimacy had clicked into place was a victory.
Summer made a sound. A little growl and Charlie turned to her. “What’s wrong?”
“Who is that and why is she touching Hatch?”
Jealousy. Interesting.
He looked closer and tried to see it from her perspective. Lenore was touching Hatch, yes. People liked to. He was remote and people seemed to want to draw his attention by touching him.
It hadn’t occurred to Charlie to be jealous. He’d seen it happen and Hatch’s reaction so many times. Hatch always came home to him. He might throw that intense sensuality around but his focus—his intimacy—was where it belonged.
“That’s one of the team leaders.” He started to reassure her, but realized this was one of those moments when she and Hatch needed to work through something. Hatch did indeed come home to Charlie every night, but he hadn’t come home to Summer.
He got it right at that moment. This was the last hurdle. She could depend on them and she knew it. They loved her. And he knew she loved them too. But there was that last gulf to breach, which was that Hatch hadn’t come home to her.
That she was jealous was a good sign. She wasn’t jealous of Charlie, who’d had Hatch in the years Hatch had been gone from her life. She’d accepted Charlie and Hatch as a unit. But Lenore was an interloper.
Summer accepted them and what they all had. Enough to be suspicious of anyone she perceived as a threat.
Hatch turned, the distance in his gaze when he’d been talking to Lenore wisped away when he focused and recognized Charlie and Summer.
Summer leaned into Charlie and then moved to Hatch. She cupped his cheek. “Are you all right?”
Hatch’s grin sent a shiver through Charlie just watching. “I could always use a kiss to make it better.”
Summer snorted but blushed. “How did I know you’d say that?” She looked down at his forearm, bending her head and kissing over the bandages. “That’ll have to do for now.”
She turned and smiled at Lenore as she slid an arm around Hatch’s waist.
“Summer, this is Lenore. She’s one of the harvest team leaders. She brought me here after the accident.”
“Thank you for that.”
Charlie wisely withheld a smile as he moved to Hatch and Summer. “Hey, Lenore. Summer and I will take it from here. Thanks for your help today.”
Lenore got the hint and stepped back. “No problem. Remember, Hatch, I don’t want to see you until next week when you start at the processing center. Take care of yourself. See you tomorrow, Charlie. Nice to meet you, Summer.” She waved and walked away.
“I have excellent pain medication and an empty stomach.” Hatch grinned at Summer and then to Charlie.
“Come back to my place. We’ll get you settled. I’ve had a stew on all day so there’s dinner.”
Charlie watched Hatch play it up for Summer, who doted and got him tucked up on her couch before she brought him some tea and some biscuits to eat before he took his pain medication.
Charlie kissed Hatch’s forehead before he went to the kitchen to help Summer.
“Glad I thought to do this when I got home earlier today. Someone brought me two pheasants, all dressed and everything, so I thought it would be a good starter for a nice thick stew.”
Charlie pulled her close. “You’re taking care of us.”
“Of course. You take care of me too.”
True, of course. But it felt so good to have her do it. He kissed her nose and then her lips. “It’s nice. I like it.”
She blushed. “Oh. Well. Thank you.”
She pulled out some deep bowls and he dished out big helpings for each of them.
“Go on and take them in to Hatch so he can eat some more. Those pills are going to send him to sleep soon enough.” She grinned and Charlie laughed.
He grabbed the tray.
“I’ll be in shortly. I’m just going to get you and I some tea.”
“She made us stew.” Charlie announced as he helped settle Hatch.
Hatch grinned. “She totally did. Pain meds just hit. I’m loopy.”
“I noticed. You’re also totally playing this up. I’ve seen you keep working with way worse injuries than this one.”
“I like it when she fusses over me. Plus, she knows me. She knows I’m exaggerating for attention. She indulges me. Like you do.”
Which charmed Charlie even more.
“Lenore ruined my surprise,” Hatch muttered.
“She also touched you way more than a boss needs to,” Summer said as she came in, handing a tall glass to Charlie before settling and grabbing a bowl of her own.
“Are you jealous?”
; She frowned. “I don’t like it when random people who aren’t me or Charlie rub all over you.”
Charlie guffawed. “Sunshine, rubbed might be an exaggeration. Though I agree with the idea that no one but you or me should be rubbing on Hatch,” he added at her glare.
“She was just asking after me.”
“Are we pretending you’re not completely aware of your appeal, Hatch?”
“It’s not my fault I’m irresistible.”
She leaned in and pinched his side. Hatch yelped. “Hey!” He took a few spoonfuls of his stew. “Jealousy makes you mean.”
“I had lunch with Jemmy today.” She sent Hatch a raised brow.
He frowned and though Charlie knew what she was doing, he frowned too. “The tattoo guy? Your ex?”
“Yes. Are you jealous?”
“Yes. But I never fucked Lenore.”
“Which is why I didn’t punch her. Or you for letting her rub her boob on your arm.”
Hatch smirked. “Did you really have lunch with your ex today?”
“He came to sit with me while I was at my lunch break. He’s working things out with his partners. He asked about you two. We talked about ink. Yours to be specific. I told him about your left sleeve. Said you both had great tattoos.”
“He asked after us? After our relationship?” Charlie gave Hatch a look.
“Yes, of course. He’s my friend.”
“He was seeing if you were single.”
She waved a hand. “No. He’s not a villain. He’s in love with his triad. He thanked me for reminding him what was important. I talked about you two pretty much the whole time. And he didn’t touch me a single time. Not even a hug goodbye.”
Hatch settled back against the pillows. “You’re the kind of woman a man would hate himself for losing.”
She sucked in a breath and leaned back. “Really now?”
Charlie held back a groan, hoping Hatch had something to add because Summer was sensitive on this subject. Hatch’s words had slowed down a little as the medication hit.
Hatch took her hand. “Yes. So I get it if he wanted you back. I’m living with the consequences of failing you once and glad as hell you’re giving me another chance. I’d burn the world down if I lost you again.”
Her features softened and she smiled. “You’re really good at this stuff.”
“It’s the truth.”
Summer leaned forward, kissing his forehead. “Sleep a while.”
They cleared dinner away and left Hatch in the bedroom to sleep.
“I’m going to run back to our caravan and get some clothes for tomorrow.”
“All right. I’ll keep an eye on him.”
Charlie put his arms around her waist. “He’s fine you know. Just some stitches.”
“Oh I know. If it were you, I’d hover too.”
He cocked his head. He’d known that, but it was nice to be reassured. “Yeah. I know. It makes me happy that you and I have our own thing.”
She traced over his eyebrows and along his cheeks. “It wouldn’t work otherwise. Of the three of us, you’re the strongest, you know.”
“What makes you say that?”
“He and I will always be at each other. You’re aware of that, right? When we were kids it was the same. We’d get into these huge fights over stupid stuff all the time. But it never really mattered. Still, you’re the buffer.”
“Can I tell you a secret?” He moved to lean against the porch and pulled her in so he could kiss her.
“Was that the secret? Because I think I knew it already.”
He laughed. “Smartass. I’m glad it’s no secret how I feel about you. Because I’ve felt it since the moment we locked gazes that first day. The secret is, the energy between you and Hatch is ridiculously hot. It gets me off. Makes my cock hard and my skin tingle. I like being the buffer between you. You’re both volatile and passionate. It turns me on. But more than that it’s why I love you both so much.”
She was quiet for long moments.
“You’re not going to argue that I can’t possibly love you?”
She shook her head. “No. How can I argue when I’m so glad?”
He smiled and she leaned close to kiss him. He gathered two handfuls of her luscious ass and tugged until he could grind himself in all that softness.
“I’ll be back in a few minutes.” He spoke against her lips as he broke the kiss.
“I believe you.”
Ten
Hatch realized he’d forgotten to tell her more of the details about his new job. Lenore had spoiled it by mentioning it outside the clinic, but he hadn’t given Summer anything more than that.
They needed a long conversation to move to the next step in their relationship.
He stopped at the stall in the afternoon. She looked up from the counter and saw him. Such a beautiful smile his heart seemed to expand to fill every part of him.
“How’s the arm?”
It had been three days and he was fine. “Just went and they checked the stitches. Everything is fine. Healing fine. No signs of infection. Tonight how about you meet me and Charlie? Just the three of us. We’ll have dinner out on your back porch. Day off for you and Charlie tomorrow so we can stay up late and be naked.”
“Okay. That sounds good. You’re not going to work are you?”
“No. I have a few days left before I do. I have some things to do though so we’ll meet you at your place when you get off, all right?”
She held up a finger. “Hang on a second.” She asked Lucy to watch the counter and disappeared into the back for a minute or two and then came back out with a key she handed to him. “I’ve been meaning to give you two a key. I asked Dulce to make me extras. If I’m not home, just let yourselves in.”
That made him ridiculously happy. First because she’d been leaving things unlocked for them and he didn’t like the insecurity of that. And second because she was stepping into new territory with opening her life to them more. He grinned. “Thank you.”
She tipped her chin. “Customer rush for lunch. I’ll see you in a few hours.”
He blew her a kiss and she smiled before turning to her customers and getting back to work.
He and Charlie had spoken that morning and he knew Charlie and Summer had come to the point Hatch so desperately wanted to achieve with her.
Hatch knew in his gut that she understood she meant everything to him and Charlie both, but all this waiting for her to say so had been hard, but worth it. He’d had to really do the work to face the whys of his own behavior and how he’d make it up to her. Not just with sex or a bouquet of flowers, but coming back to her.
Every day.
Still, he was anxious. He knew her. She needed to be pushed that last little bit. Had to make a leap, like she did into every pool of water they came across.
He had a list for dinner and went off to get all the items and to get cleaned up before Charlie got back and Summer got off work.
Summer pretty much skipped home with a huge grin on her face. There were flowers in a pretty pitcher on her windowsill. Hatch wasn’t around, but there was food in her fridge when she slid some of the things she’d brought home in to keep cold. Some fresh cheese and a crock of pear cider.
After she put the bread away, she grabbed her favorite sundress from her armoire along with a towel and her toiletries and headed to take a shower. She could have done it at her place, but the water was warmer and had better pressure at the community showers.
It had been a particularly hot day so she washed off the dust and sweat and flour that seemed to collect in her pores on days like that one. She used the soap she’d just bartered for the week earlier, and the body cream that went with it.
Her hair would dry naturally, but she did put some almond oil on her fingertips and combed it through because it wasn’t only hot, but humid and her mass of curls was even more unruly than usual.
“Someone has a date.”
Summer looked up as Dulce came out f
rom the soaking baths into the dressing area where she’d been putting on some makeup.
“I’ve got two handsome men making me dinner.”
“How’s Hatch’s arm?”
“He said he went to the clinic and they checked his stitches and everything looked good. Healing well and all that.”
She finished lining her eyes and put on the earrings Charlie had given her a few weeks before.
“You look pretty.”
She grinned at her sister. “Thanks. I’ll walk with you if you’re on your way home just now.”
“I’m actually heading to my shop. There’s a new doctor in town. I guess there’s some sort of instrument he needs that won’t work. I said I’d take a look at it.”
Summer kissed her sister’s cheek. “Okay. I’ll see you later then.”
Charlie was there when she came in, sitting out on her back deck, looking over the lake and the mountains in the distance.
“Hey, you.”
He held a hand out and she took it, letting him tug her into his lap.
“You look lovely. And you smell really good.” He nuzzled her neck.
She hummed, pleased, and ran her fingers through his hair, which was still wet.
“Where’s Hatch?” she managed to ask after he paused kissing her for a few moments.
The sun had begun to set, which meant they’d been out there for an hour or so.
“He said he had to stop off at the packing offices. I don’t want to spoil the surprise.”
“Hm.” She stood. “I’ve got pear cider in the cold case. Would you like a glass?”
“That sounds perfect.”
He followed her inside and they moved around the kitchen easily. She filled glasses and they sipped.