by Anne Rainey
She nuzzled his chest, content to breathe in his warm, masculine scent for a few seconds before asking, “What is it? We need to be able to communicate, Con. This won’t work otherwise.”
“I know. It’s just…” He paused before saying, “I don’t know. Give me a few days to figure it out. Okay?”
She pushed back enough to look him in the eye. “Fine, but that’s all I’m giving you.”
He dipped his head and brushed his lips over hers. The brief contact scattered her wits. “You’re getting bossy, you know that?”
“I have to in order to hold my own against you two.” She felt another hard-bodied male behind her. Large, gentle hands caressed her bottom through the sheet. Tory’s legs shook at the knowledge that she was effectively caged in by the two men who had managed to slip inside her heart as easily as they had her body. When Con tugged the sheet down, revealing her breasts, Tory blurted, “Summer and I are going shopping today.”
“Mmm, what time?”
“Noon,” she replied, forcing herself to stay on topic. “It’s already after ten and I still need to shower and dress.”
Con grinned and stepped back. “No problem,” he growled, then he took her hand and led the way to the bathroom. She looked back to see Devon slipping out of his pajama bottoms once again. When his erection sprang free, Tory knew she was a goner.
“Con was upset today and I don’t know why.”
Summer swallowed a mouthful of fettuccini. “Upset?” she asked. “With you?”
Tory stared at her manicotti. It was her favorite dish at her favorite restaurant and yet she wanted nothing to do with it. She pushed her plate away and slumped against the seat. “He said it wasn’t me, but I’m worried. I’ve never seen him so quiet, Summer.”
“Con’s sort of…intense, though, isn’t he? He doesn’t strike me as the sharing type.”
Boy, didn’t she know it! Two months together as lovers and three years of friendship before that, and Tory still hadn’t managed to get him to open up about his childhood. Oh, she knew the condensed version. Living in foster care. Fighting just to survive. Taking himself from nothing and rising to the top. Everyone knew the story, but he hadn’t filled in the gaps. She wondered if he ever would. “He’s always been hard to figure out and he doesn’t like talking about…certain things. Still, this is different. I’m worried.”
Summer snorted. “That man loves you like nothing else. Whatever is bothering him, it’s not you. I would bet my bed-and-breakfast on that.”
“He and Devon got into an argument this morning. I thought they were going to start throwing punches. It was almost like Con was itching for a fight too.”
“What brought it on?”
“Con announced that he wanted to take us to Cancun this Friday. He’s booked the room for the weekend and everything. A Valentine’s Day getaway for three.”
Summer’s eyes lit up. “That’s really sweet. So, what’s the problem?”
“Devon was angry.” Tory picked up her napkin and fiddled with it. “He felt Con should’ve talked to him before planning something for my Valentine’s Day.”
“Oh, oops.” Summer set down her fork. “Boy, the dynamics of this relationship are tricky, huh?”
Tory nodded. “I suppose. The thing is, I’ve gotten used to thinking of them as one. I can’t imagine Devon without Con, and vice versa. I know it sounds crazy, but if Con decided to leave, it would feel like a part of my heart went with him.”
“You love them, don’t you?”
“Yes,” she muttered, before suddenly finding the placemat utterly fascinating. Of course, Summer saw right through her. Didn’t she always? Tory wondered if Con and Devon could read her so easily.
Summer nudged her foot beneath the table to gain her attention. “What?”
“Have you told Con and Devon that you’re in love with them?”
“I was going to wait until Valentine’s Day. It just seemed like it would be more romantic that way. With the mood Con’s been in lately, I’m not sure he even wants to hear it, though.”
“Okay, in case you didn’t hear me the first time, Con and Devon love you! Of course they want to know their feelings are reciprocated.”
“You didn’t see the way Con acted after we made love this morning. He shut down. No tender words or teasing remarks. He was…cold.”
Summer dabbed her lips with the napkin, then tossed it onto her plate. “You know, maybe he’s just having a guy moment.”
Tory’s brows furrowed in confusion. “Is that like male PMS?”
“No, dork. What I mean is…well, Con and Devon both have such dominant personalities. Maybe Con is struggling a little, knowing he has to share you with Devon.”
“He’s jealous,” Tory surmised.
“It can’t be easy for a guy to know he can’t have the woman he loves all to himself. He can’t even get you a Valentine’s Day gift without consulting Devon. That has to be hard to swallow.”
Tory watched her friend blush. “This is an awkward conversation, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, but I’m glad you told me.”
“I am too. And I think maybe you’re right. But if that’s the case, why isn’t Devon showing signs of jealousy too?”
“Devon seems less…”
“Savage? Wild? Rough around the edges?”
“Um, yeah.”
Tory took a sip of her diet soda and thought over Summer’s words. Devon was definitely more grounded than Con. Whenever the three of them made love, it was always Con who pushed her to her limits, while Devon tended to be gentler. “I think the only solution here is to go to Cancun. Once we’re there, I intend to tie that man to the bed and force him to talk.”
Summer picked up her soda and saluted her. “Sounds kinky. I like it!”
They both laughed. Tory quickly recovered when she saw Gage, Summer’s hunky PI man, striding toward them. He made a shushing motion with his finger. Tory smiled and turned her attention to Summer. “So, what’s Gage up to today?”
“He had some cheating spouse case he was working on, but he said he was going to meet us for lunch.” Summer glanced at her watch and sighed. “Considering we’re pretty much finished eating, I take it he got busy and forgot.”
As Gage came to stand directly behind Summer, he leaned down and murmured, “I’d never forget you, baby.”
Summer jumped and turned her head. “You sneak!”
Gage leaned down and pressed his lips to Summer’s. Tory let out a dreamy sigh. “You guys are so cute together.”
Gage chuckled. “Thanks.” He took the empty seat to the left of Summer. “You ladies looked like you were pretty deep in conversation. Did I interrupt something important?”
We were talking about tying Con to the bed. Tory’s face heated. “Er, just girl talk,” she answered.
Gage shrugged and turned his gaze toward Summer. “You know, baby, Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. And it’s our first.”
Summer smiled and Tory found herself smiling right along with her. “I know. I’ve already bought your present.”
Gage leaned across the table and whispered, “Does it involve lace and satin?”
Summer placed her palm against his cheek. “You’ll just have to wait and see.”
Gage took hold of her hand and pressed a kiss to the center of her palm before releasing her and sitting back. “I’m looking forward to it.” He looked at their half-empty plates and added, “Looks like I missed lunch. Sorry. Time got away from me.”
Summer waved a hand in the air. “It’s fine. It gave me a chance to catch up with Tory.”
“In that case, do you mind if I head over to the mall?”
Tory watched Summer’s eyes narrow in suspicion. “Depends,” she said.
Gage’s face split into a grin. “On?”
“What are you buying at the mall?”
Gage picked up Summer’s unused butter knife and started twirling it around. “Uh-uh. If you aren’t telling, then ne
ither am I.”
“Not even a little hint?”
Tory took another sip of her soda and watched the display, feeling a little like a voyeur.
“Give me one and I’ll give you one,” Gage growled. “It’s only fair, baby.”
“Okay. My gift involves…leather.”
Gage dropped the knife. “Leather?”
Summer and Tory both laughed. “Yep,” Summer replied. “Now you.”
Gage stood and stepped near Summer. He leaned close and whispered something into her ear. Tory was dying to know what. He straightened and sent a wink toward Tory before striding out of the restaurant. Summer merely sat, motionless. After several seconds drifted by with no sound coming from her friend, it became more than Tory could take. “Okay, spill it, woman. What’d he say?”
“I, he…wow.”
Tory reached across the table and smacked her stupefied friend on the arm. “You are killing me here!”
“He said my gift involves a lock and key.” Summer’s face turned such a deep shade of red Tory thought she’d have to call for help.
Tory’s mind spun with possibilities, and there was only one logical conclusion. “Whoa. He totally bought you handcuffs, didn’t he?”
“Either that or a jewelry box. And trust me, Gage isn’t the jewelry box type of guy.” A grin slowly spread across her face. “Handcuffs will go quite nicely with the leather bustier I bought today.”
“Sexy, intelligent and adventurous. I’d say he’s a keeper, Summer.”
Summer laughed so loud several other customers turned and stared. “You took the words right out of my mouth.”
Chapter Three
After Tory had left for her shopping trip, Con had thought to get a few things done from his home office. Two pathetic hours later and he hadn’t done anything more than stare out in space. He sat back in his chair and watched the numbers on the computer screen. Stocks were up. He should be thrilled. Instead he was miserable. The image of seeing Devon wrapped around Tory earlier that morning still ate at him. Damned if he could figure out why. He’d gone into this relationship with his eyes wide-open, hadn’t he? Devon and Con both loved Tory. They’d shared women in the past and it’d been great. The best part, Tory was more than happy to be shared. So why was he suddenly fantasizing about kicking Devon out of the happy little picture?
“What the hell is wrong with you?”
Con looked up from his desk to see Devon striding into the room. By the looks of him, he was good and pissed. Damn. Con had known this was coming and he’d dreaded it. “If you’re here to bitch at me, then get to it. I’m busy.”
Devon crossed the room until he stood on the other side of the desk, fists clenched at his sides. “Bitch at you? You upset Tory, Con. You booked Cancun without talking to me. And unless I’m mistaken, you looked ready to land a fist in my face this morning when you came out of the bathroom. So, I repeat, what the hell is wrong?”
Con scrubbed his hands over his face. He was frustrated with Devon and pissed at himself for being a complete ass. The hell of it was, Devon had it right. “I don’t know what to tell you, Dev.”
“Don’t give me the same bullshit you fed Tory this morning. I know you. You were jealous when you saw the two of us together on the bed. What I want to know is, why?”
Con stared back at his friend, his best friend. They’d been through some serious shit together. They’d both grown up on the wrong side of the tracks, but they’d worked their asses off and it’d paid off. They were successful and in love. What could be better? To have Tory all for myself. No, that wasn’t right. What Devon and Con had with Tory was good. It was whole. Wasn’t it?
Shoving that nagging question aside, Con said, “You’re right. I was jealous. I’ll deal with it.”
Devon frowned and crossed his arms over his chest. “Will you? Because from where I’m standing, it looks as if you’d be as happy as a fucking clam if I were out of the picture.” Devon planted his hands on the desk and leaned close. “I love Tory as much as you. I’m not letting her go.”
For a moment, Con was too shocked to speak. He could count on one hand the amount of times Devon had gotten up in his face about something. Hell, the man was always so friggin’ calm it bordered on annoying. “Christ, relax, will you? I never asked you to do anything. It was just a momentary lapse. I’m over it.”
Devon pushed away from the desk and took two steps backward. “You’re over it, huh? Then you won’t mind if I surprise Tory with a trip to Aruba for Valentine’s Day?”
Every muscle in Con’s body tensed. “What did you say?”
“The three of us in Aruba. I’m thinking of booking the trip today. In fact, maybe you should go ahead and cancel the trip to Cancun. Or go alone. Take your pick.”
Con shot to his feet and moved around the desk, a red haze of anger flooding his brain. “I already told you and Tory this morning. The flight is booked. The room is reserved. We’re going to Cancun.”
“And I told you it wasn’t your call alone to make. Tory isn’t yours. She’s ours. Get that through your thick skull.”
“So, what, now we’re going to make her choose between your trip and mine? That’s juvenile, damn it!”
“All I know is that I’m damn tired of seeing that look on your face when it comes to her.”
Con threw up his hands and shouted, “What look?”
“You want her for yourself. It’s so obvious it’s not even funny.”
Jesus, he really was transparent. “I never said that,” he hedged.
Devon pointed a finger at him. “You want me away from her,” he ground out. “Admit it, God damn you!”
Fury had Con speaking without thinking. “Fine! I want her for myself! I see you with her and my blood boils. I see her touching you and it makes me want to hit something. Are you happy? Is that what you want to hear?”
Devon shook his head. “No, Con, I’m not happy.”
Con cursed. He’d seen that look on his friend’s face only once before. They’d been nineteen, working dead-end jobs and trying to make ends meet. Con had come home to their shit apartment in a bad mood one night. Hell, he couldn’t even remember what had set it off. He’d taken it out on Devon, though. The final straw had been when Con had punched him in the face. He’d broken Devon’s nose. Devon had looked hurt—and not just physically.
“Look, man, I’m sorry,” Con muttered. “I’ll get my shit together, I promise.”
Devon didn’t look convinced. “You know this can’t work if we’re not both in it one hundred percent, right?”
Con shoved his hands into his pockets, feeling like the biggest jerk in the world. He was wrecking everything. Con Walker, always the screw-up. “I know, I know.”
“So, maybe we should do like we did at Christmas.”
Con stiffened. “What do you mean?”
“We leave the decision to Tory.”
“You really want her to choose between us? That’s not fair to Tory, and you know it.”
Devon shook his head and looked down at the floor. Con found himself holding his breath. When Devon’s gaze came back up to meet his, he could swear his eyes were a little too bright, a little too watery. “I’m not trying to get all sappy here.”
“But?”
“I care about you. Like a brother. That will never change.”
“Same here, Dev.” Con stepped forward, a sense of foreboding skating down his spine. Devon put up a hand in warning, effectively stopping Con in his tracks.
“I know you, Con. You aren’t going to get over this.” Con started to argue, but Devon rode right over him. “You want Tory and you want me gone. I can’t walk away. I can’t give her up—not unless it’s what she wants.”
How had things gone from great to shit so damn fast? This was a new record for him. “I wouldn’t expect you to.”
“Then we need to figure out a way to make this work. For all of us.”
Con had racked his brain trying to think of some way to get
over his growing possessiveness toward Tory—and he’d come up blank. “Got any suggestions? Because I’m fresh out of ideas here.”
Devon quirked a brow. “Actually, I do have a suggestion.”
For the first time in weeks, Con felt a spark of hope. “I’m all ears. Spill.”
“Not yet.”
“What the hell do you mean, not yet?” Con cursed under his breath. “My life is spinning out of control and you want to play twenty questions?”
“I’ll tell you and Tory at the same time. She should be kept in the loop here. We can’t make decisions like this without her.”
“Christ. Just give me a clue here. I’m drowning.”
“No, you can wait and hear my idea when Tory gets home. But, I can tell you that I’m not going to book the trip to Aruba.”
When Devon turned to leave, Con had the sinking feeling he’d lost something. Something he might never get back. “Devon,” Con called out.
Without turning around, Devon asked, “Yeah?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Me too,” Devon mumbled. Without another word, he left.
Con wasn’t sure how long he stood in the middle of the room, staring at the empty doorway. When he heard the front door open and close, it pulled him out of his misery. He crossed the room and sat in the brown leather couch adjacent to the desk. Was he really going to have to choose between the woman he loved and his best friend? No. Devon had figured something out. Whatever it was it would be a solution that would benefit all three of them. Devon was good at fixing things. Con was good at fucking up.
When they’d hatched their little plan to finally make Tory their own, it’d seemed so perfect. They’d both wanted her. Both knew, even then, that they were in love with her. At first it’d been bliss. Making love to her, sharing their nights wrapped around her. Waking up with her nestled between them. Even her snoring made him smile. There had been a few bumps in the road, but nothing big, nothing life-altering.
He wasn’t even sure when the first spark of jealousy had appeared. Not that it mattered, because it was a full-on blaze now. The only question left unanswered: Could he really choose between the love of his life and his best friend?