The Baby Arrangement (A Winston Brother's Novel #1)

by J. L. Beck

  Micah swallows heavily. “B-but…I have never done that. I mean all the women I…” He shakes his head. “Besides, why are we sitting here deciding for her? I mean, she has waited all this time. Like most girls give it up by fifteen, for Christ sake! What if she doesn’t want us like that?”

  I chuckle, as does Trevor.

  “What?” Micah stares at us.

  “Kid, haven’t you seen when a woman wants you?”

  He nods. “I just always know. But she isn’t like any of them.”

  I feel interested in this. “Why?”

  He furrows his brows. “Why what?”

  “I want to know what you think she is like, since she isn’t like any of the others.” This is also true for me and Trevor too, I believe. So my focus is on how can that be. We do not like the same kind of women.

  “I have wondered that too,” Trevor adds. “I mean how can this woman be the one we all want? We are all different, we like different…” He looks at me and arches a brow.

  I glare back at him. “No S & M cracks asswipe, or I will so kick your ass.”

  He smirks at me.

  “Guys! Focus.” Micah cuts in. “See? That is my point. You two are so arrogant and cocky, strutting around as women fall at your feet. You get off daily, I imagine.”

  We both gape at him.

  I for one, do not get off daily, not anymore. But they will never know this.

  “That isn’t true!” Trevor defends and looks at me. “It might be for Master man over there, but…”

  Micah raises a brow. “So, in the last week, you haven’t fucked anyone?”

  Trevor stills.

  “HA!” I laugh at his expression.

  “And you…” Micah turns on me.

  I shrug.

  Trevor says quietly, “No, not in a whole week. In fact, not since the day Jenna started at work.”

  I take a sideways glance at him. The same is true for me. I had a session with a little angel that morning, but all week, I haven’t even thought about the club.

  Micah is staring at me, as is Trevor.

  “Okay, same is true for me. I have no urges for…well, the only urge I have is for Jenna,” I admit.

  “Dammit!” Trevor curses. “So, we are all in love with her?”

  I balk at this. I’ve never felt anything close that. “I wouldn’t go that far.”

  They stare at me.

  “Oh, really?” Micah asks. “So, this has happened before? You meet a woman then stop sleeping with other women?”

  I pause at this. “It’s only been a week.”

  Trevor rolls his eyes. “I haven’t gone a week in like…” His voice fades away. “Just that time I had the flu.”

  Micah rolls his eyes. “You two aren’t good enough for her.”

  We both swing our glares over at him.

  “What?” he asks. “You two are man whores, everyone knows this.”

  We give him beady eyed looks then lunge for him. This time, Trevor gives him a nuggie and I deliver a hard wedgie.

  “Stop it, you fuckers!” he yells.

  We both laugh evilly.

  “We can’t stop, kid,” I retort as I laugh.

  “Yeah,” Trevor adds. “We are man whores remember? We have no off button!”

  Laughter fills the limo.

  The weekend flew by fast. Too fast. I both dreaded and looked forward to Monday. I wrote furiously in my journal. I had to. Once I saw them out of the office setting, the hots level escalated for me.

  This time, I put down exactly what I wanted from each man. Yes, so naughty, but I figured no one would ever know but me.

  Then my mom arrives. This would have been a wonderful thing usually, but as much as I love her, she always snoops into my life. It really isn’t her fault. I mean she keeps on me about having no boyfriend and no prospects to even get serious, so that she can get some grandbabies, so she says.

  If only she knew. I have three men lined up as prospects. I shake my head. No, you don’t. You can’t. But this yearning is getting worse. I am at a loss about what to do.

  I did know one thing. The journal could not stay in my apartment while my mom is staying with me. She would burst at the seams if she ever saw it. She would think I was sleeping with them or have me in therapy when she finds out I haven’t even dated them and am fantasizing about three men!

  I figure I can’t chance it. I place it in my briefcase.

  Now here I am going up to the twelfth floor on pins and needles, wondering if they will all mostly act the same or if like I suspected, they would be acting different. Plus, I still feel mortified about acting batshit crazy with those two sluts.

  I roll my eyes as the floors go by. I mean they were sluts that still remains as my defense and they were harassing Micah. Not that I wouldn’t love to grab his ass myself. I huff out air in frustration. Only I don’t grab it. They just did it without even knowing him. Using him for the notoriety, wanting him only because he was the unknown artist. It’s disgusting. You need to want a man because you want HIM. Not what he can give you or do for you.

  DING!

  Okay, this is it. I shake it off. Maybe it will be nothing. They will act like they always have and the whole thing will blow over.

  I step out and halt.

  Employees are all standing up as I arrive.

  I suck in a breath.

  They all start applauding.

  I find myself holding the breath.

  What the hell?

  There are whistles and hoots.

  “Way to go, Hawkins!” someone yells.

  I am stricken. What is this about? Oh, god. What has happened?

  Dottie comes up and puts her arm around my shoulder to lead me down the hall.

  I am dumbfounded. “W-what was that?” I ask her almost not wanting to know.

  “There was a video on YouTube.”

  I gasp and shake my head. “Of what?” Again, I’m afraid of the answer.

  She laughs. “Of you kicking some girl’s butt! It was taken by a phone but it is pretty good clarity, it shows what was happening to Mr. Maxwell, those women groping him. Then you come marching up.” She starts laughing again.

  I am horrified. Someone taped it?

  We get to my desk and I stop. “Wait, Jake wasn’t being groped.”

  Dottie wipes the tears from her eyes. “What?” she asks.

  “They were groping Micah.”

  She nods. “Yes sweetie, they were. I was so proud of what you did.”

  I blink my eyes.

  Micah wanders up with donut box in hand.

  I stare at him.

  “Hey!” Trevor comes up from the hall. “Wait for me.” he is carrying the latte he always brings.

  I am still speechless and confused.

  Jake walks out of his office and grins at me.

  Okay, they are acting well… overly nice, but that isn’t what is bothering me.

  Dottie is smiling. “Your girl here is a star in the office, Mr. Maxwell.”

  “I know. Some asswipe taped that whole thing,” Micah says looking disgusted.

  My mouth pops open.

  Trevor chuckles as he sets the latte down on the desk. “Here let me get your briefcase and set it over here.”

  “Gosh, how sweet Mr. Maxwell,” Dottie gushes while winking at him.

  “Well, slugger here deserves some coddling.” Trevor nods.

  Jake steps closer. “Yes, I sure don’t want to piss her off.”

  “Right? Mr. Max—“

  “WAIT!” I yell.

  They all stop and stare at me.

  I swallow heavily and speak, “Dottie, why are you calling all of them Mr. Maxwell? I mean is this another like office joke? Like old man and kid?” I look around.

  The guys all look puzzled.

  “We’re brothers,” Jake replies.

  I gasp and take a step back. “No!”

  Trevor laughs a little. “Last I checked, yes we are.”

  Micah
nods. “Though, I’m so different than them, I often wonder,” he snickers.

  Dottie laughs.

  Jake is staring at me. “Um, Dot. We can take it from here. Have a good day.”

  She looks around at everyone. “Oh, okay. If you need me, Jenna, just call.” She walks down the hall.

  Jake steps close. “You mean you had no idea?”

  I am trying to get my brain together. How could I have missed this HUGE fact? I look at each of them. Cause they look nothing alike, that’s how! “No! I mean. You, I knew was a Maxwell, but…” I shake my head and sit at my desk.

  The three of them all look at each other then back at me.

  “I mean look at the three of you. Jake has dark eyes, Micah green and Trevor blue. Then you all have different features and your hair?”

  They are all smiling.

  I stand up. “This is NOT funny!”

  Trevor laughs. “I cannot believe…” He suddenly stops laughing and stares at me. “Does it matter?”

  I am huffing and puffing. Get control Jenna. Does it matter? Yes! I have the hots for brothers!

  Micah looks concerned. “I-I mean we never tried to fool you or anything, Jenna. It just never came up.” He shrugs.

  I know I am over reacting. I know it, but to not know that they are all related? I now feel so dumb. Protecting Micah and Trevor from maybe getting fired. Thinking of them as coworkers. I halt and am holding my breath again. OH! So, now I have the hots for ALL of my bosses!

  Jake steps close. “We all have the same dad, but different moms.”

  I am trying so hard to act normal, so I try to smile.

  “Jenna? Really, it’s okay.” Micah touches my arm in a comforting way.

  “Y-yeah. I just feel kind of…” Slutty, sick, weird. I mean brothers? “Umm, dumb is all.”

  Trevor smiles. “Really, we thought you knew.”

  “I-I should’ve’ but you just said, I’m Trevor.” I look over at Micah. “And the same for you. Just Micah.”

  “So, you are okay with it?” Jake asks as he stares at me intensely.

  OKAY? NO. No, I am not. I nod. “Okay, T-Trevor. I need that Latte now.” I let out a small laugh, pick up the coffee and take a sip, hoping I don’t choke.

  “Don’t forget the twist.” Micah pushes the little box forward and hands me a napkin.

  The twist? Yeah, I got the twist to all of this all right! I nod again. Act normal.

  “So, what did you do all weekend?” Jake asks as he sips his coffee.

  I am chewing on the donut. I wrote about how I want to fuck, suck and do brothers! I start to choke.

  They all look concerned.

  I nod and swallow as I cough.

  Jake pats me on the back.

  “Is she okay?” Micah looks upset.

  “Yeah, yeah. But maybe she…” Jake stops talking as he is caressing my back where he had been patting it.

  I look up at him.

  He is gazing at me with those dark eyes and they are blazing at me.

  I gulp.

  “Um, well…are you sure you are up to working today?” Trevor asks. “You look sort of pale.”

  I swallow and nod. “I’m fine.”

  Micah stares at me. “I just wanted to thank you for coming to my show. It made it the best night ever.”

  I smile at him. “You deserved a grand showing.”

  “Okay, guys. Let’s get to work.” Jake says and turns to me. “We all want to take you out to lunch today.”

  Trevor nods. “Yeah, sort of a thank you for your support at the gallery for Micah.”

  I look over at Micah.

  He is nodding. “Yes, would you please?”

  I want to run away. I want to say no. But they are trying to do something nice. I can’t hurt their feelings. I just don’t know if with this news of them all being brothers, if I can take being with them, away from the office where I can at least hide behind my job and desk. “Okay, sure,” I answer because what else can I do?

  “And as old man Maxwell, I declare that we will be taking a late lunch at 2, so that we can just all go home afterward.”

  My eyes round. “A-a three hour lunch?” Oh, god! I was summoning up the courage for just an hour and he wants three?

  “Way to go old man!” Trevor laughs.

  Micah is still watching me.

  God, he knows that something is up. I smile back at him.

  The three of us are waiting at our table for Jenna to come back from the powder room. “I don’t know guys. She really looked upset today.”

  Trevor and Jake look up from their drinks.

  “Well, first, she was stunned by the office ovation, then us being brothers.” Jake takes a sip of his vodka.

  “Yeah. Poor girl got some shocks today.” Trevor nods his head. “I mean to think she didn’t know.”

  “That’s my point.” I sigh and lean forward. “It was going to be a tough sell anyway. To…I mean for her to accept us three.” I look up at them. “But, I never considered that maybe because we are brothers that she would feel even more nervous about the idea.”

  “Yeah, I too, got that vibe.” Jake sets his drink down. “But she will just have to get over it.”

  I swing my gaze over at him. “What?”

  He leans in close to us, and whispers, “I have to have her.”

  We both stare at him.

  He nods. “You were right. Now that I know her a little better, I want more.”

  Trevor shakes his head.

  “What?” Jake asks.

  “You just want to fuck her.”

  “Hell, yes I do and then again and maybe five more times. Then I want her to talk to me for hours. I want to know everything.”

  My mouth falls open at this admittance.

  Jake shrugs. “And I’m not going to wait long. Patience is not my virtue.” He takes another drink.

  I sit forward. “And what is that supposed to mean?”

  He stares at me. “I know we need to be careful. But—”

  “Hey, guys.” Jenna walks up.

  All three of us stand from our seats like military men at attention.

  She tucks her head back. “Whoa.” She giggles a little.

  Jake steps around to pull her chair out.

  She blushes and sits. “Thank you, old man.”

  He pauses and laughs as he sits down.

  Trevor just takes her in. He looks like a lovesick puppy.

  I too, look over at her.

  We are all three staring.

  Her cheeks flood with color as she looks down at the table.

  I clear my throat.

  My brothers look up at me.

  I shake my head and point at my eyes shaking my head.

  They both seem to click with my message and stop with the staring.

  “So, Jenna what do you like to…eat?” Jake asks with a purr in his voice.

  Her head pops up and she stares at him. She laughs outright.

  We all smile and a laugh with her.

  “Um, well, what do you all recommend?” She looks around. “I mean the Tops restaurant? Like on the 13th floor? I’ve never been here before.” She looks down at her outfit. “I’m not even dressed up enough for this place.”

  Trevor grins. “You could wear a sack and be—”

  I kick his leg under the table.

  He glares at me.

  Jenna looks back and forth between us.

  “Never mind them. They are always acting up.” Jake grins at her.

  I fume. He acts like we’re the kids and he’s the man. But I do not want to scare her off by arguing.

  “Yes, we younger men like to have fun, be spontaneous. Fun.” Trevor snaps.

  I roll my eyes. Leave it to him to act up.

  Jake laughs it off.

  Jenna smiles at us. “I see it now.”

  We all look over at her.

  “What?” I ask. “You see what?”

  “What I should have before. Them calling you kid
. Trevor teasing Jake about being the old man. You all challenging each other…” Her voice fades away like she feels that she said too much.

  “Well, you really didn’t get the whole Maxwell experience until the gallery,” Jake adds.

  I suck in air. The whole… he is full on steam ahead when he knows we have to take this slow!

  Jenna laughs outright. “The whole Maxwell…” Her face flushes a hot pink.

  Trevor nods. “It might be more than Jenna can take…” Now his voice fades away.

  Oh, shit. This just disintegrated to a full blown innuendo fest. “So, have you seen the menu, Jenna?” I nod to the menu in front of her to help change the subject.

  She looks down and picks it up. Opening it, her eyes widen as she gasps.

  “What’s wrong?” Jake asks.

  “T-there’s no prices on this menu.”

  Trevor chuckles. “So? You aren’t paying anyway. Enjoy.”

  Her head raises again. “Oh, no. I always pay for my meals.”

  Jake shakes his head. “But we…” He motions to all three of us. “…Invited you here. That means it is our treat.”

  Jenna shakes her head and looks around at us. “I know you are all trying to be nice, but I have a rule. I never let a man pay for my meal.”

  Trevor was taking a drink from his whiskey when he chokes on the alcohol. He then swipes it from his lips and gapes at her.

  “What?” Jake asks looking stunned.

  I’m watching them. Yes, I figured this about her. It doesn’t surprise me. But I love seeing these two blown away and by a woman. It is such a rare treat.

  “You heard me.” She nods. “Even though I have told you all that I don’t date much. When I do. That is my terms. I never want to owe any man.”

  They both stare at her, their mouths hanging open.

  Oh, my god! I want to laugh. I don’t but I am biting my lip to keep it at bay.

  Jenna stands up. “I thank you for the time you spent and all, but…I probably can’t afford this place. I really don’t mean to be rude. You guys are wonderful. Truly. But…” She shrugs. “Thank you so much. I-I…well, I will see you at work tomorrow, okay?”

  Now, my mouth pops open. She’s leaving? I sit forward and watch her walk away. “Guys! She’s leaving!”

  They shut their mouths and look over at me wide eyed.