by Becca Van
“Three days? I’ve been in here for three days? Shit, what about the business? You’ve been here the whole time? We’ll fall behind and Dad won’t get his bonus.”
“Calm down, sweetheart.” Ivan rubbed her leg. “Take a deep breath.”
“We have everything covered,” Leo said.
“We called our dads and asked if they could spare some of their crew. They sent over five men since they’ve just finished what they were working on. They’re good men and have worked their asses off. The houses are nearly complete, darlin’,” Perry said.
“They are?”
“Yes, baby.” Leo smiled at her.
“Does my dad know?”
“Of course he does, sweetheart,” Ivan answered. “When we called and told our parents what was going on our dads were fit to be tied. They even went and visited Rick at the rehab center. From the way they were laughing and joking you’d think they’d known each other for years.”
“I’m glad they all get on so well.”
“We are, too.” Leo must have noticed that she was getting tired. She tried to stop the yawn but she couldn’t. “Get some rest, baby. We’ll be back bright and early to get you out of here and back in our home where you belong.”
They each kissed her gently and told her they loved her. Gypsy wasn’t sure they heard her mumbled reply because she was already drifting to sleep.
Chapter Fourteen
Gypsy was pleased that she was out of the hospital. Her men had been true to their word and had arrived to pick her up at 7:00 a.m. It had taken an hour before all the paperwork was signed and she was able to leave, but she was happy to be back in their home.
She was currently lying on the sofa, snuggled up with Perry, watching a movie. Leo and Ivan had kissed her good-bye, ordering her to rest, and then they had left for work. She was lucky to have three men she could rely on to take care of all aspects of her dad’s business.
With a sigh, she snuggled into Perry’s body and relished being in his arms.
“You okay, darlin’? How’s the head?”
“It’s okay. I don’t have a headache anymore, but the stitches are annoying.” Gypsy had been horrified when she’d seen the line of twenty stitches in the side of her head where her hair had been, but after some creativeness on her behalf, she’d managed to pull her hair into a ponytail on the side of her head to hide the stubble. She wasn’t really worried about how it looked and knew it would grow back. What was most important was that she was still alive. She could have been killed when the rack and pots had hit her on the head, or died in the fire. If it hadn’t been for Perry, Leo, and Ivan finding and rescuing her from her dad’s burning house, she would probably be dead.
“I never thanked you or your brothers for saving me.” Gypsy reached up and tugged him down so she could kiss him lightly on the lips. “So thank you.”
“We love you, darlin’. We couldn’t have lived with ourselves if you’d died.”
“I love you, too.”
“Close your eyes and rest, Gypsy. I can see how tired you are.” Perry ran his hand up and down her back. The soothing action was relaxing and she drifted to sleep in his arms.
Ivan stayed home with her the next day and since she was feeling a lot better they played poker and gin rummy. He had her laughing as he tried to cheat and she caught him out. He looked like a little boy when he pouted at her at being caught in the act but she just shook her head and smiled at him.
Gypsy had never felt so happy or lighthearted. She loved spending one-on-one time with them and was looking forward to having some alone time with Leo. She and Ivan had dinner prepared for when Perry and Leo got home. Each night whoever had been out at work would walk straight over to her, hug her, and kiss her gently. She fell deeper in love with them every day.
Jeanie and her dad had even come over for a visit and she was pleased to see the light back in her father’s eyes. Jeanie doted on her dad and he lapped up all her love and affection. Everything was right in their world and Gypsy was content. She was home and never wanted to leave again.
The next day, after showering without washing her hair, she dressed and headed to the kitchen. Leo was sitting at the table sipping a cup of coffee. He jumped to his feet and got her a mug of coffee and sat down beside her. She nibbled on her lip as she tried to figure out how to ask him a question.
“What’s bothering you, baby?” Leo frowned with concern.
“Why aren’t you sleeping with me?”
“We didn’t want to accidentally knock your head in the night and hurt you.”
“I don’t like being alone. I love all three of you and want you sleeping in the same bed with me.”
Leo tugged her from her chair and settled into his lap. “We’re having a hard time keeping our hands off you, Gypsy. We all thought it would be better since the doctor said no physical activity for you until those stitches come out.”
“I need you all beside me. That bed is so darn big I get cold. I want you snuggled up with me at night. I need to feel your arms around me.”
“Okay, baby. We’ll sleep with you from now on.” He kissed the top of her head.
“Promise?”
“Promise. What would you like to do today?”
“What do you usually do on your days off?”
“I like being out in the garden.”
“You do?”
“Yeah, I hate spending too much time indoors.”
Gypsy glanced out the window and although it was a lot cooler, the sun was shining. “I can help you in the garden.”
“No, you can’t, but you can sit on the veranda and watch me.”
“Okay.” Gypsy sighed and followed him out. She loved watching the muscles ripple beneath his T-shirt as he worked, and when he pulled his T-shirt off she watched a trickle of sweat meander its way down between his pecs and stop when it soaked into the waistband of his jeans.
“If you keep looking at me like that, I won’t be held responsible for my actions.”
Gypsy met Leo’s hungry gaze and licked her lips. She was horny and wanted him to touch her, make love with her. “I won’t mind. In fact, I would love it.”
“Not happening, baby,” he said in a cool voice as he stared at her, but the heat in his eyes belied the firmness in his voice. “Not until you’ve been given the all clear.”
Gypsy sighed and settled back on the lounge chair. She woke up when Leo carried her inside and settled her on the sofa. He crawled in behind her and held her against him while she slept.
The days flew by, and the morning she awoke to get her stitches out she was so happy she could have shouted out loud. Perry was taking her to the doctor’s and she was raring to go. She missed Leo and Ivan but knew she would see them later that afternoon.
After breakfast she hurried to the bathroom to brush her teeth and put her hair up. Once the rest of her hair had grown enough she was thinking of getting her hair cut short and starting to grow it out all over again, but she was lucky to be alive. And she was so in love she was ecstatic.
She met Perry at the front door and then they were on their way to the doctor’s office. She waited impatiently to be called in to have her sutures removed. When her name was called she jumped from her seat and hurried after the doctor. Perry caught up with her as she was about to enter the exam room.
“Slow down, darlin’.” He clasped her arm and smiled down at her. “You don’t want to trip over and hurt yourself again.”
She smiled at him, caressed his cheek, and sighed when he looked at her hungrily. When she heard the doctor calling her name she chuckled and went inside. Perry came in with her.
Ten minutes later she was thanking the doctor and walking out to pay the bill, but Perry beat her to the reception counter as he pulled his wallet from his pocket.
“I can…”
“Don’t argue, darlin’,” he said in a firm voice. “I’ve got this.”
As they were walking back to Perry’s truck he was texting on th
e phone and she decided he was probably letting his brothers know she’d been given the all clear. Gypsy couldn’t wait to get back home and wash her hair. She hadn’t been able to do that while she’d had the stitches and felt kind of grungy, even though she’d showered every day.
After Perry had put his cell away he lifted her up into the truck, kissed her, and then hurried around to the driver’s seat and drove her home.
As soon as she was inside she hurried toward the bathroom, calling to Perry over her shoulder. “I’m going to take a nice long, hot shower and wash my hair.”
“Okay, darlin’, take as long as you’d like.”
Gypsy rushed into the bathroom, stripped off, and stepped in under the hot water. She sighed at the pleasure of having the water run over her head. It was amazing what you took for granted until you couldn’t do it anymore. After making sure her hair was thoroughly soaked, she washed it twice with shampoo and then conditioned it.
The water was turning cold as she turned off the shower and she quickly dried off, wrapped a towel around her body, and then blow dried her hair. She was still going to have to wear her hair in a side ponytail to hide her almost-bald patch, but as she studied the style in the mirror she decided she liked it. It was a sort of flirty hairstyle, one that she’d never have done before losing her hair, but she thought it looked feminine.
With a snort at her wayward thoughts she opened the bathroom door to search for some more clothes. She paused in the doorway when she saw all three of her men in her room.
Leo was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. Perry was sitting on the edge of the bed, clenching and unclenching his fists, and Ivan was kneeling on the floor with his elbows on the bed and his face resting in his hands.
All three men looked unsettled.
“What’s wrong? Has something happened at the site? Is it my dad? Oh God.” Gypsy covered her mouth with her hand.
Perry pushed to his feet, took her hand from her mouth, and kissed the back of it. “Nothing’s wrong, darlin’, we just need to talk to you.”
“Are you sure?”
“Everything is fine, baby.” Leo walked over and took her other hand.
Ivan stood up and came to stand beside Perry. Gypsy began to get anxious when all three of the men studied her intently.
“Are you…”
“Shh, sweetheart. Just listen. Okay?” Ivan asked.
Gypsy nodded.
“I love you, Gypsy,” Ivan declared.
“I love you, too.”
“I love you, darlin’,” Perry whispered.
“I love you, Perry.”
“I love you, baby,” Leo said.
“I love you…”
All three men went down on their knees in front of her. Gypsy drew in a ragged breath as excitement fluttered in her belly and love filled her heart, but she wasn’t about to assume anything ever again. It had nearly caused them to break up and she wasn’t about to make that same mistake again. So she waited for them to continue, albeit a little impatiently.
“Gypsy, we all love you and you love us. Will you marry us, baby?”
Joy surged through her and tears of happiness spilled onto her cheeks. She didn’t care who she married on paper, she loved them all equally and knew they would have worked out which man she would marry legally, but in her heart they already belonged to her.
“Yes, I’ll marry y’all. I love you so much.”
Leo reached into his pocket and then he presented his open palm to her. In the middle of his hand was a beautiful one-carat diamond ring set into a gold band. Ivan and Perry held her left hand in both of theirs and Leo slipped the ring onto her finger. Before she could do or say anything they rose to their feet and surrounded her in their warmth.
“Do you think an hour will be enough time?” Ivan asked.
“For what?”
“For you to get ready for the ceremony,” Perry answered.
“What ceremony?”
“Our wedding ceremony, baby,” Leo replied with a gentle smile.
“B–But…”
“Don’t worry, sweetheart, everything has been arranged.” Ivan stroked a finger down her nose.
“It has? My dad…”
“Is waiting outside to give you away,” Perry said.
“I’ve got…”
Leo released her and walked over to the door and pulled something off the hook behind it. He held the dress, covered in plastic, up for her to see. “Jeanie picked this out for you as well as some shoes. All you have to do is get dressed. She hopes you like the dress but said if you don’t and want to wear something else that she wouldn’t be upset.”
“It’s gorgeous,” Gypsy whispered. The dress was white but only had one shoulder, leaving the other shoulder completely bare. It was fitted and would mold to her body, showing off her feminine shape with a lace-scalloped hem and small, delicate embroidered flowers on the bodice. Instead of a veil there was a long piece of material flowing from the back of the shoulder which would flow out and trail on the ground when she walked.
“The shoes are in that box, sweetheart.” Ivan bent down, picked the box up, and opened the lid.
Gypsy was glad the heels weren’t real high. She wasn’t used to walking in high heels and was more comfortable in her work boots but the shoes Jeanie had picked out for her were perfect. Everything was perfect, including her men.
“How long did you say I had?” Gypsy asked.
Leo glanced at his watch. “Forty minutes.”
“Shit. Get out.” Gypsy pointed at the door.
Leo handed the dress to Gypsy, kissed her on the cheek, and left. Ivan put the shoes on the bed, kissed her forehead, and he, too, left. Perry snagged her around the waist, being careful not to crush the dress, and kissed her on the lips.
“I can’t wait to be your husband, darlin’.” He released her and then he was gone.
Gypsy placed the dress on the bed and removed the plastic.
“Oh, God. I’m getting married.”
When someone knocked on the door Gypsy opened it and when she saw Jeanie standing outside the room, looking uncertain, she grabbed her hand, pulled her in, and slammed the door closed. And then she hugged her.
“Thank you, Jeanie. My dress is beautiful. I would never have known what to choose.”
Jeanie hugged her back. “You’re welcome. You’re my daughter now and I can tell we are going to be great friends.”
“Me, too.” Gypsy blinked to keep the moisture from falling. She felt like she just gained the mother she’d missed most of her life.
“None of that now.” Jeanie chuckled. She released Gypsy and then hurried over to the closet and pulled out a small bag. “Let’s get to work.”
Chapter Fifteen
Ivan stood beside his brothers and tugged at the tie. He and his brothers had been planning this surprise since they had worked things out with Gypsy and now that they had sorted out their problems they had no intention of letting her get away from them again.
Leo was going to be marrying Gypsy on paper, but he and Perry would be her husbands, too. They had approached Rick and asked for her hand in marriage, and after lecturing them about making his daughter happy and taking care of her he had given them his blessing.
All of Rick’s employees, their cousins, and their parents were in attendance. The only person missing was Gypsy. Ivan looked toward the back door when he saw Jeanie emerge, and she hurried over to Rick. She wheeled him to the bottom of the steps on the concrete pathway and turned his wheelchair so that it was facing the arbor.
It had been hell for him and his brother’s to keep Gypsy away from the back yard the last few days. They’d had workmen sneaking in and covering the arbor frame with flowering climbing roses, but it had been worth the effort, everything looked perfect. Ivan just hoped Gypsy thought so, too.
Someone pressed the play button on the CD player and he and his brothers turned to face the back of their house. His breath caught in his throa
t when he saw Gypsy. She looked so beautiful. Absolutely stunning and his heart thumped in his chest. She was theirs and they were hers. They had so much to look forward to and he couldn’t wait to start the rest of his life with their wife by his side.
* * * *
When Gypsy saw all three of her men standing in the rose-covered arbor in black suits, white shirts, and bowties she couldn’t take her eyes from them. They were all so big and handsome and they took her breath away. When the music started playing—Jason Derulo’s “Marry Me”—she couldn’t stop the tears of joy from falling and was glad that she was wearing waterproof mascara.
Gypsy walked down the steps and placed her hand on her dad’s shoulder and then bent down and kissed his cheek. “I love you, Daddy.”
“I love you, too, pumpkin. Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
She straightened up with her hand still on her father’s shoulder and kept her eyes locked onto all three of her men. When her dad stopped Jeanie came forward and pushed his chair off the path next to her and then Ivan and Perry came forward to lead her up to the steps of the arbor. Ivan placed her hand in Leo’s and then went to stand beside Perry.
The wedding ceremony was traditional but over before she knew it and then she heard the celebrant say “you may kiss your bride.” Gypsy lost herself in his beautiful eyes and then his mouth was on hers. He kissed her deeply, passionately, and only released her when people started laughing and clapping.
Ivan and Perry kissed her on each cheek at the same time and hugged her between them.
“We’ll collect out kisses later, darlin’. We don’t want to embarrass you in front of everyone,” Perry said.
“You won’t. I don’t care what anyone thinks. I love you all so much.”
“We love you, too, sweetheart.” Ivan wrapped his arm around her waist.
“Gypsy,” Leo called, and as Ivan and Perry moved aside he took her hand in his. “Come and meet our parents, baby.” He led her over to where three men and a woman were talking with her dad and Jeanie. “Dads, Mom, this is our wife Gypsy. Gypsy, this is Boyd, Brad, and Bernie, and our mother, Felicia.”