by Jane Jamison
“I’m sorry. I wish I could keep you. I’ll tell you what. What I can do is write you one hell of a recommendation letter.”
“Thanks.” He had to know as well as she did that no letter, no matter how glowing, would get a prospective employer to look past the problems in her life.
“Anyway”—he hurried on, obviously eager to end the call—“I’ll mail you your final check. That way you don’t have to come into the office to pick it up.”
In other words, don’t come around again.
“Okay. I guess.”
His tone sounded brighter, relieved. “Since you never actually stopped working, I’ll forget about your two weeks’ notice. That way I can let you go now and you can collect unemployment. That should help.”
Yeah. That’ll help two years from now when I finally get a job cleaning toilets at the local strip joint.
What more could she say? He was doing the best he could for her. “I hope so.”
“Good luck to you, Harper.”
“Thanks.” She tossed the phone on top of the bed.
What did she do now? She couldn’t go back to her apartment. Even if the police didn’t have it closed off as a crime scene, she’d be too afraid to stay there alone.
“Harper! Hey, Harper!”
She’d almost forgotten where she was. Opening the bedroom door, she called down to Roth. “I’ll be down in a minute, okay?”
I just have to change out of my uniform and into regular clothes.
Her reflection mocked her from the nearby mirror. Yellow ducks adorned her light blue work scrubs. Maybe it wasn’t the most adult outfit, but the children who came in for a cleaning enjoyed the animal print. Not that she’d need the uniform any longer.
“Sure thing. Take your time.”
But she didn’t. Instead, she hurriedly threw on a T-shirt and a pair of jeans, along with a worn pair of running shoes. Other than a couple of dresses she saved for special occasions, her wardrobe consisted of either uniforms or very casual clothes. She hurried down the stairs to find the men waiting for her.
“Damn, but you look good.”
She almost preened under Pike’s admiration. “Thanks, I needed that. The day’s not starting off very well. Then again, most things have gone to pot lately.” Except for meeting you guys.
“What’s wrong?” Roth cringed a little. “Other than…you know.”
“I just got fired.”
“You’re kidding.” Anger flashed in Coltrane’s eyes. “How? You haven’t gone into the office yet.”
“He doesn’t want me anywhere near the place. He sent me a text message letting me know that I was being laid off.”
“Hell, he didn’t even give you the courtesy of a phone call?” The corner of Coltrane’s mouth lifted into a snarl. “What a pussy.”
She wasn’t going to argue. He should’ve called her instead of texting her. Still, she understood his position.
“He canned you because of what happened, didn’t he?” asked Roth.
“Right. I mean, I’m out of a job, but I can’t really blame Dr. Lambert. He has to keep everyone safe, and I’m a major liability right now.” Hopefully, it was just “right now” and not for much longer. Logically, she knew he couldn’t hold her position open forever, but she couldn’t help but hope that, one day, when all the awful events had grown more distant, she’d be able to talk him into giving her a job again.
“It’s his loss.” The anger subsided in Coltrane. “You look amazing.”
“It’s just jeans and T-shirt.”
“Nah. It has nothing to do with what you’re wearing,” added Pike. “It’s more about how you’re wearing it.”
Coltrane huffed. “Good God, man, just say it outright. She looks hot.”
“I think I already did.”
She smiled, enjoying the way they bantered back and forth. They were grown, strong men who could still act like boys together. Anyone could see that they had a real bond with each other. She hoped they wouldn’t mind her asking for more help. “Look, guys, I’m kind of in a bind.”
“You’ve had a really rough time. Is that what you mean?” Roth took her hand and pulled her off the stairs. “But don’t worry. We’re here for you. What do you need?”
“Well, I’m kind of homeless since my apartment is tied up in yellow crime-scene tape and I don’t have anywhere to stay. I’d stay with Megan or another one of my friends, but I’m afraid that if I did…” She couldn’t put any of her friends in danger. Thinking about it was hard enough. Saying it out loud was beyond her ability right now.
“You don’t want to put your friends in danger.”
She gave Roth a smile for understanding what she couldn’t put into words.
“Then you’ll stay here with us.” Coltrane pushed Roth aside and swept his arm around her waist. “Consider our home your home for as long as you want.”
For as long as I want? “But why? I mean I’m grateful for everything you’ve done, but I’m a stranger, and you’re willing to let me stay with you? For more than a few days? I don’t have enough in the bank to put a deposit down on another apartment, much less survive for more than a couple of weeks.” Her nerves tightened the longer she thought about her situation. “You don’t even know me, but you’re opening up your home—”
Coltrane put his fingers to her lips, cutting her off. “Look, Harper, we’re happy to help.” He took her hands and turned to face her. Roth and Pike smiled from behind him. “But it’s more than us trying to help out.”
“It is?”
Pike leaned on his friend’s shoulder. “Yeah. Don’t get all freaked out or anything, but we think there could be something between us.”
“What?” She couldn’t have sounded more surprised.
“Like he said,” interjected Roth. “We don’t want to sound creepy or anything, and I don’t want to sound like I’m in a romance movie, but we feel a connection between us.”
“Hey, guys, back off.” Coltrane dropped her hands and thrust out his arms, making the other two take a step back. “Look at her face. We’re coming on too fast.”
She wiped what had to be a shocked expression away and adopted what she hoped was a cautious, yet friendly expression. What would Megan say? No doubt she’d tell her to either run or drag them into bed. Neither option sounded right to her.
“I’m not sure what to say.” Stay back? Take me? If she were truthful with herself, she’d take the latter option. But she had to think about it first. “Thank you? Help? Stranger danger?”
Were they talking about relationship with all three of them?
Coltrane laughed and drew her close again. He felt so good, so right against her. What she was feeling was a strange mix of emotions. On one hand, being near them excited her. On the other hand, she felt safe and at ease with them, as though she’d known them her entire life. Strangely, she was comforted and turned on at the same time.
“I know we sound crazy, but let’s just let it ride for now. You’ll stay with us, in your own room. You can come and go as you please. The only thing we want right now is to keep you safe.”
“But why do you want to put yourselves in danger for someone you don’t really know?”
“First, because it’s the right thing to do. Pike found you and knew you were in trouble. From the minute he decided to bring you home, you became our responsibility. A responsibility we’re glad to take on. Next, because, like we said, we feel something for you. You know how you can just click with someone? That’s how this is, only stronger. And lastly, because there’s a murderer out there, it’s our civil duty to help bring him to justice.”
She narrowed her eyes, giving him a look. “Seriously?”
He laughed, the sound warm and sexy. “Okay, maybe not so much about that last one.”
“Okay.” Being around them made her feel better, and she couldn’t deny feeling a connection to them. Was it because they were hot? Or could there be more to it? They were handsome, with the looks of he
roes, but they were also brave, trustworthy, respectful, and good-hearted. How many guys would put their lives on the line for a girl they barely knew?
“Enough talk. Let’s get it straight right now.” Pike edged closer.
His body heat wafted over her, sending the temperature inside and outside several degrees higher. Specks of red burst into his eyes while the intensity behind them deepened. As the three of them captured her between them, she became enveloped by an energy she could feel against her skin.
“We want you, and we think you want us. But we’re willing to give you time.”
“A little time,” added Roth.
Pike shot him a look. “For now, we keep you with us, and we keep you safe. Anything else that happens beyond that is pure gold to us. Are you okay with that?”
She nodded, the thickening, sweltering air making it difficult to speak.
“Good. Then you’re going to work with us. We could use an extra hand.” He pulled her along with him, past his friends, and outside.
“Where are we going?” It was hard to keep up with him as he rushed toward the pickup. “Shouldn’t we stay inside the house where it’s safer?”
“Trust us. It’s safe where we’re taking you. We know everyone there, and the place will be locked down just to make sure no one gets in without us knowing it.”
He helped her inside the cab, placing her in the rear seat. Coltrane hopped in beside her while Roth ran around the truck and got in on the other side of her. Pike gunned the truck and pointed it down the long drive toward the gated fence surrounding their land.
Chapter Seven
Harper was having the time of her life. Four hours into helping the men at a local veterinary clinic seemed like so short a time. But then again, when having fun, time always seemed to go too fast.
“Harper, can you take Smoochie back to his pen?” Coltrane scooped up the black and white Shih Tzu puppy and handed her gently to Harper. Living up to her name, Smoochie gave Harper several quick kisses. So quick that Smoochie was able to land a wet one against Harper’s mouth.
Coltrane grinned at Harper’s scrunched-up face. “You’ve got to watch out for her tongue. She’s fast.”
Harper wiped the back of her hand over her lips. “I don’t mind puppy kisses, but on the mouth is a little too personal.” As though understanding what she’d said, Smoochie whipped her tongue along Harper’s cheek. Harper giggled and hugged the puppy. “Still, puppy kisses on the mouth are better than no puppy kisses at all. At least her owner gave her the right name.”
A darkness clouded his expression. “Her owner called her Dog and treated her like shit before dumping her at a shelter. We gave her the name Smoochie for obvious reasons.”
“It’s a perfect name for her.” She looked into the pup’s sweet eyes. “But no more kisses on the mouth. Anywhere else is good, though.”
“Don’t bet on it. She’s come a long way and wants to show you her appreciation.”
“I didn’t do anything. You guys did.” Cuddling the puppy against her, she pushed the door open and left the pet examination area to go into the rear area where the cages for sick and injured animals were. Smoochie was recovering nicely from a beating her abusive ex-owner had given her. Once she was fully recovered, she’d be searching for a new and forever home. Harper hoped the new owner would love her the way she should be loved.
She placed Smoochie inside the kennel and on the soft blanket. A few more kisses wet her hand. “We’re kind of in the same boat, baby. We’re both homeless. Or would be, if it weren’t for the guys.”
Locking the door, she turned and, not for the first time, watched the bustle of activity in the animal clinic. She was amazed at the story behind the place. According to the other workers, all of whom were volunteers, the clinic had gone out of business. When Pike, Roth, and Coltrane, all licensed veterinarians, heard about it, they’d reopened the place and turned it into a free clinic for pet owners who couldn’t afford to pay for health care for their animals. The men took care of all kinds of animals, large and small. From what she’d seen while helping out, they also helped the pet owners as well, often giving them anything from a shoulder to cry on to handing over money to help ends meet.
They can’t be this good. No one is this good.
Yet she couldn’t find any fault with them.
“Taking a break?”
She jolted at the sound of Roth’s voice and turned to face him. “Do you need me?” Heat swamped her at his pointed look.
“Sure. We’ve got a line of people waiting outside.” He wiped his hands then tossed the towel onto his shoulder. “I wish we could get here more than once or twice a week, but the ranch takes a lot of our attention.”
“And now me.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m taking up your time now, too.”
He pulled her to him and into a corner out of the view from the others. “Stop saying shit like that. We’re doing what we do because we want to. Both with you and the clinic.”
“You’re doing a great job.”
“Thanks. We love it. Sometimes I wish we could do this instead of the ranch.”
“Why can’t you?”
“We could. The ranch is important, too, and now that we have other vets donating their time here, we get to enjoy the best of both worlds.”
“You’re lucky.”
“Yeah?” He leaned closer. So close she could feel his breath against her face.
“You get to do a job you love. Two jobs you love.”
“So you don’t like being a dental hygienist?”
“Not really. When I decided not to go to college, I figured it was a quick way to get into a profession.”
He still held her as though he had no intention of ever letting her go. “If you could, what would you like to do?”
She glanced around at the animals in their cages. The animals were happy right now, with each of them getting the best care possible before returning to their homes. Or, as in Smoochie’s case, their new home, once they found it.
“You’ll probably think I’m saying this because I’m here, but I always wanted to be a small animal vet.”
He scowled. “Does that mean you don’t like big animals like horses?”
She giggled, knowing he was teasing. “Of course I do. I just feel more comfortable around animals that aren’t bigger than I am.”
“Then why don’t you do it? Why not go to veterinarian school?”
“I don’t think I have it in me. Right now, I think I’d love being a vet assistant.” Especially if I’m assisting vets like these men.
“Then do that.”
“Um, remember me? No job, no home, and no money, especially for school.”
“Let us send you.”
She stepped away. They’d told her that they wanted her, but were they trying to buy her? “No thanks. I don’t take money from friends.”
“Then who would you take it from?”
She stared at him, unable to figure out what he meant. “Um, no one.”
“Not even the men you love? Like your mates?”
“Mates? That’s a funny way to put it.”
“Husbands, mates, whatever. Wouldn’t you let them send you?”
“Sure, I guess. Maybe.”
“Hey, what’s going on? We were wondering where you’d gone.” Pike’s voice flowed over her.
She felt guilty, as though she and Roth had been hiding from Pike and Coltrane. “We were just talking.”
“We were talking about her becoming a vet tech.”
“Yeah? That’s a great idea.” Coltrane slid his hand along her arm then gripped her hand and eased her away from Roth. It felt as though they were always doing that. As though they were jealous of each other. Yet hadn’t they said they all wanted her? She’d assumed they’d meant sharing her, which, to her way of thinking, was one of the most exciting ideas she’d heard in a long time.
“I second, or maybe third, the idea,” added P
ike.
“And I was telling Roth that I can’t let you guys do that. It’s too much.” She resisted the urge to accept their offer no matter how much she would’ve liked to.
“No it’s not. Especially if it’s an investment.”
“An investment?”
“Sure. We send you to school, and you promise to come back and work in the clinic.”
She drew in a breath, her dream suddenly feeling as though it could come true. “So it would be an arrangement?” She hurriedly added, “A business arrangement. Is that what you’re saying?”
“Exactly. We have lots of volunteers, some trained, some not, but it’d be great to have another trained person keeping everyone in line. You’d be part vet tech and part office manager.”
Was she really about to get a new job? The way they’d met was awful, but every time she was around them, her life seemed to get so much better.
“Is that something you’d consider?” asked Roth.
“And you could live at our place so you wouldn’t have to worry about paying the bills.” Coltrane’s eyebrows shot up. “So? How about it?”
Yes and yes again. Instead, she took the cautious route. “Can I have some time to think about it?”
“Sure thing.”
“Dr. Killian?” The volunteer that appeared behind them cast his gaze down, trying to seem as though he wasn’t intruding.
Pike shrugged. “Back to work for all of us.” He led the way out of the back area toward the front where the examination rooms were located.
She stayed where she was, watching the men talk as they strode ahead of her. Their backs appeared even wider than ever, and their strides were confident without being cocky. Happiness swelled inside her. Could she really take them up on their offer? As long as she worked in the clinic, it wasn’t a handout, right? And the thought of staying with them, with a purpose in mind, was thrilling.
She rushed after them, a huge smile on her face, as she followed Pike into an examination room. Her smile widened at the fluffy cat waiting for them.