She watched Brent for a few moments. When he didn’t say anything else, she circled around in front of him and waited for him to look down at her. Pain and wariness swirled in his dark eyes. “I’m not going to say what you’re expecting, at least not right now. My only comment right now? I don’t think you forced Jared into anything. Knowing him, the plan was already in his head before he crawled into bed with you that night. He needs you as much as you need him.”
He needs you as much as you need him. How Brent wished that were true. Seeing Jared with Arin had firmed up his thoughts about what Jared actually needed versus what Jared accepted. The boy would make a great husband and father. That dream had been shattered so many times over their history, and all because Jared wouldn’t walk away from Brent.
Brent was going to fix it though. He’d tell Jared to move on with the plan to find someone. He wasn’t going to keep his best friend from happiness. And Brent knew Jared and Arin would be happy together. He couldn’t be with her by himself, not like Jared thought. But Jared could. He’d be the husband who was the envy of all others. He’s make her happy. She’d accept a normal relationship with one of them, he knew it. She watched Jared with barely covered love already and she’d only been around him for a couple of days.
The ache in Brent’s chest intensified as he imagined the lodge without Jared and Arin. It’d be quiet, but he would survive. Wanting the two most important people in his life to be happy would mean he’d be alone, but that was okay with him. If they could find love and joy, he’d let them go.
“Stop, Brent. Stop it. I can almost hear your thoughts. Look at me.” His eyes focused on a very irritated Arin. She still held his hand, but her other was resting on a cocked hip and her toe was tapping. If his heart hadn’t been hurting so much he’d have grinned at her show of anger. She huffed, then started poking him in the chest with her free hand. “You are not going to give up on us. Jared needs you. You need Jared. If this is how you deal with the past and find some measure of happiness and security, then so be it. There is nothing wrong with wanting love, no matter what form it comes in. Wanting a triad is just different, not wrong. Any girl would be stupid to walk away from the two of you if you loved her.”
He blinked a couple of times, digesting her words, then felt the constriction around his chest loosen. She was angry because he was thinking about backing away. He wanted the Band-Aid ripped all the way off though. He cleared his throat. “Any girl? What if that girl was you? Would you stay if we asked, Arin?”
She looked away for a moment, then swung her gaze back to his. He held his breath. Her face was a mask of seriousness. “If you truly loved me, and not just the sex-lust kind of love, then yes, I’d stay. You’ve been honest with me, so I’ll be honest with you. I already love both of you. It’s not that all-consuming love yet, but it’s well on its way there. At this point I can walk away and just pine after you two for a few weeks. But in another couple of days…” She sighed. “In a few days I’m not sure I’ll be able to get over you guys so easily. But I’m not making a life-changing decision based on a week of great sex, Brent. I walked away from the only real relationship I’ve ever had. I’m not hurting nearly as much as I thought I would, but I’m still hurting.”
“But you love us?” He needed to hear it again, almost more than he needed the next breath.
She smiled and gave his hand a squeeze. “Yes. I love you. I love both of you.”
Brent grabbed her around the waist and spun her around. The lovely little squeal she made had a laugh rolling from his chest. She loved them. Loved. It wasn’t just sex or lust or infatuation with their lifestyle. He wanted to shout to the sky.
“Put me down, you maniac.” She laughed and beat lightly against his chest.
He set her lightly on her feet and pulled her into his arms. Before she could turn him away he leaned down and captured her lips with his. He swept inside her mouth with his tongue when she gasped, and swallowed her moan as they deepened the kiss. His cock responded to the sounds she made while he poured his need into the embrace. He tasted her with each sweep and grinned when she nipped his lip with her teeth.
Leaning away from her for a moment was painful in more than one way, but he needed to tell her. “I think I love you too. I know Jared does. He’s a sap, but don’t tell him I told you already. We really want you to stay, but I understand your concerns. Stay for a few days. That will make you safer and us happier.”
Her eyes took on the sheen of unshed tears and he was afraid for a moment that he’d said something wrong. But then she launched herself against his chest, wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down to her lips. Her kiss was warm, harsh and salty from her tears, but he wouldn’t have given it up for anything. He pulled her harder against his body when she whispered against his lips, “Thank you.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Jared watched Brent and Arin from the front porch. He wiped away the tears coursing down his cheeks. To see Brent smile like that, like the old days, was enough to make anyone cry. Maybe he was ready to heal, finally. Jared knew a silly grin had spread across his face, but he didn’t care. He’d waited for years for someone to finally touch Brent’s heart. There was no way Jared would get in the way of that. Brent deserved joy and acceptance.
He sighed. He could see the end of his time at the lodge written in his friend’s smiles. Arin was likely to walk away from them. He could stop her—he could walk away. Brent would be hurt but she’d be there to pick up the pieces. Now that Brent had found someone he could love, it was Jared’s job to make sure nothing screwed it up.
The phone rang inside the lodge and Jared frowned. He wondered if it was a bad omen. But he’d deal with whatever it was. There was nothing on the Earth that would make him interrupt the embrace happening on his front lawn.
“Hello. Four Oaks Lodge. Jared speaking.”
“Hey, Jared. It’s Sam. I’m calling to let you know that the guy Brent wanted me to keep an eye out for just walked out with keys to a Bronco.”
“Shit. Okay, thanks, Sam.”
“Yeah, not a problem. Let me know if there’s anything else I can do for you guys.”
“Will do. Bye.” Jared hung up the phone and chewed his bottom lip. It would take Robert at least twenty minutes to reach the lodge. They could take off and get to the creek if they left now, avoiding the dickhead. Or they could stick around and confront him.
“Who was that?” Brent’s concerned voice floated into the kitchen from the hallway.
“Robert is on his way here. Sam says he just left the airport.” Jared looked up just in time to see anger and worry cross his friend’s face.
“Shit,” Arin shouted. She stomped into the kitchen and started opening and closing cupboards, hard. “What is wrong with him? Why can’t he just let it go? I don’t want him anymore. The fucker was fucking around with that fucking slut. But for him to fly all the way out here… What does he think I’m going to do? Go back with him?”
Her angry tirade continued but she’d lowered her voice to a menacing growl. Jared couldn’t quite make out the words but the emotions were clear. She was spouting a lot of anger but fear was there in spades. He watched her for another moment as she methodically went through every single door, opening it, peering in and slamming it shut. He had no idea what she was looking for, if anything at all, but he didn’t want her breaking one of the doors. She’d feel guilty about it, and right now he didn’t want her worrying about anything.
“Arin. Stop.” He waited but she didn’t act as if she’d even heard him. He slid farther into the kitchen and grabbed her arm, lightly pulling it away from the cupboard. He turned her in his arms. “Stop. What are you looking for?”
She glanced up and he nearly stepped back. The raw pain and fear etched around her eyes was enough to make him recoil. She blinked a couple of times and finally recognition crossed her face. She sighed. “Sorry. I don’t know what I’m doing. I started out looking for a glass but then I think I p
anicked.”
He wanted to groan when she burrowed into his arms but he refrained. He was so happy to have her turn to him. Guilt flashed through his guts. He was supposed to be turning her toward Brent, not giving her comfort. Glancing up over her head, he found Brent watching her, eyes full of emotion. Jared wiggled his fingers at his friend, beckoning him over to take her. Brent came with only a small hesitation, then wrapped his arms around both of them instead of taking her from Jared.
Brent crowded behind Arin and wrapped his arms around her just below Jared’s arms. Warm weight settled against Jared’s hands as Brent leaned his chest against her back. It felt right to have the extra warmth and security wrapped around Arin. Jared closed his eyes for a second and took in the moment. For once he and Brent were on the same page and the girl between them was worth working for. He gave her a little extra squeeze as he tried to convey his feelings. She answered with a squeeze of her own and he grinned.
“So we have about fifteen minutes before he gets here. Do we need to be worried about guns or anything? Should I be calling the sheriff?” Brent’s deep voice vibrated through Arin and shook Jared’s chest. His guts churned with the thought of Arin or Brent getting injured.
Arin struggled to get loose and Jared could see an answering reluctance in his friend’s face. They let her move but they didn’t step away. She needed them at the moment and nothing was going to keep Jared from keeping her safe. He watched the worry on her face.
“I don’t think so, but in all honesty he’s never been like this before. I mean, yeah, the guy was always really pugnacious, but this goes beyond anything I’ve ever witnessed from him.” She looked around the kitchen, then sighed. “So let’s assume he could be dangerous, but I don’t think he’ll have a gun. He didn’t even like handling them when he went a couple of times to the range with me and my dad.”
Jared could only watch her wring her hands for a moment before he grabbed them in his. They were so cold and small nestled in his grip. He rubbed his thumbs over the back of her them, trying to calm her. “You don’t need to worry, okay? We know how to throw down with angry guys. He won’t hurt you, and I promise we won’t be hurt either.”
She started to argue but in the end she nodded, eyes steely and anger pulsing off her in waves. “Fine, but you won’t try to fight this without me. He followed me, fucked me over. I get to do some yelling.”
He chuckled and looked over her head at the silent Brent. Anger twisted his friend’s face, and with a nod Brent turned to leave the kitchen. He’d strap his pistol on and grab Jared’s. It didn’t hurt to have firepower available if it was needed.
While they waited, Jared pulled Arin back into his embrace. He rocked her slightly, rubbing his jaw across the top of her head. His next task was to lighten the mood. He chuckled before he said something he knew would get him smacked.
“So, it looked like you might get nekkid and boink Brent in the front yard earlier. I was getting the camera ready.” Jared smirked.
Arin sputtered and leaned back. She knew she was gaping like a fish out of water. “What?”
“Babe, you were crawling under his skin like a chigger, but way cuter. They’re disgusting little things, but you—no, you’re adorable.” He grinned and she couldn’t help but want to kiss him…after she hit him.
“I was not.” She smacked his chest, then pinched his side with the other hand. “Take it back or I’ll get even.”
“Ow, stop that. Pinching isn’t ladylike.”
Arin couldn’t help it. She laughed as he squirmed around her. She stopped pinching and started digging her fingers in instead. She didn’t know if he was ticklish or not, but it seemed a good time to find out. When he let go of her, jumped back and shrieked like a little girl, she figured that answered the question.
“No tickling, babe. The consequences will be dire.” He scowled at her but the laughter in his eyes translated to his dimples showing and his lips twitching.
She grinned. How could she not? He was trying to make her feel better, and in all honesty, he was. If Jared wasn’t worried about Robert’s imminent arrival, then she wouldn’t let it get to her too much.
“There, that’s better. I don’t like seeing you angry and scared. I promise I won’t let anything happen to you. He’s an asshole, but you have the two of us to protect you.”
Jared stepped into her space and she closed her eyes when his hand cupped her cheek. She felt his hand twitch slightly against her skin and she opened her eyes to find him looking over her shoulder. Arin turned to find Brent leaning against the doorjamb, watching them. He’d been silent since they’d heard the news about Robert. She hoped he wasn’t rethinking anything they’d talked about. She would beat Robert’s ass if he caused Brent to hide from her after he’d opened up.
She pulled away from Jared and gave him a little wink. Wandering around the island, she walked into Brent’s open arms and curled against his chest. Both men had wonderful hugs. She wrapped her arms around his waist and gave him a squeeze, then looked up to find him smiling down at her.
“Thanks.”
“For what, darlin’?”
She smiled up at him. “For being here, for not freaking out about my ex-boyfriend showing up in your town bent on retrieving me. For giving some of the best hugs around.”
She watched the play of emotions across his face. He settled on a grin, which was what she’d wanted. He pulled her in to his chest and rumbled his reply against her cheek. “Welcome.”
“Okay, warm and fuzzy time is over. I hear a car coming up the drive.”
Those words were enough to get her panicked. Her stomach rolled, and if she didn’t have a strong will she would have vomited all over the kitchen. Her hands shook as she pulled away from Brent. She could do this. She’d known the man for years. He wasn’t really going to hurt them—he was just angry and so far he hadn’t gotten a grip on it. Her pep talk wasn’t doing much for her but she did know that she had to confront him. Running away hadn’t sounded like a bad idea the week before but perhaps ignoring all of his calls had been.
She took a deep breath, looked at each man, then squared her shoulders. “I can do this. Let’s go meet the asswipe at the front door.”
The grumbling reply behind her brought the ghost of a smile to her lips. They’d have her back—she knew they would—and that strengthened her more than anything else. She turned and grabbed their hands, dragging them out the front door. The guys took up spots on either side of her and after a moment they each wrapped an arm around her. Jared’s around her shoulders with his hand draped over, dangling millimeters from her breast. Brent’s around her waist with his fingers dipped into the front pocket of her jeans. She would have laughed at the show of possessiveness if she hadn’t been so nervous. She did grin up at each of them in turn, though. It meant the world to her to have them there.
They stood together watching the black Bronco round the last bend of the driveway. She could see Robert through the windshield. His face was twisted with anger but seeing him brought out her big-girl panties. He was the weenie who’d cheated on her. He was the one who had put her down for years. She didn’t have to be afraid of him, because he was a weak asswipe. She took a deep breath and wound her arms around the waists of the guys standing as sentinels next to her.
Jared scoffed. “That’s Robert? Really? Oh Arin, this is going to be fun.”
She looked up to find a predatory glint in Jared’s eye and almost grinned. Yep, this is going to be fun. For once in her life she was ready to let someone else fight her battles for her and it was a heady feeling.
“Arin.” The accusatory tone had her fighting a cringe as Robert stepped out of the truck. He tsked. “Honey, why don’t you come give me a hug? I’ve missed you. Leaving me home wasn’t a great idea on your part.”
She flinched, then berated herself. You will not cower. She firmed up her back. “Robert, what are you doing here?”
“I came to finish out our vacation. After a few days
without you I realized I really should have come with you.”
She blinked, stunned. “What do you mean you should have come with me? We’re done, Robert. I came on vacation to get away from you.”
She watched anger roll across his features before he schooled his face into a mask of humor. “Oh you are so funny, honey. It took me a couple of days to realize you came without me, but I’m here now even if we only have a day left.”
Arin watched him walk around the front of the truck and fought the urge to step back. Jared and Brent gave her a tiny hug, bringing her back to them. Right. She had backup. “Robert. This isn’t your vacation. You lost your right to be here on my dime when you screwed that woman in my bed. Now I would suggest you turn around, get back in the truck and go home.”
Robert stopped walking, looked at her and nearly snarled. “You are mine, Arin. You’ve been mine since high school. I am not leaving without you. I don’t know what I have to do to get you to forget about Sharon, but I’m not going anywhere.”
Jared and Brent both growled at the same time and she almost laughed. She gave their sides a quick poke to keep them quiet. This was her fight. “Robert. I don’t know why you think I’d ever forgive you. I will never, ever, ever forgive you for sleeping around behind my back. You know that. Go back home to her, or whoever else you’re sleeping with, and leave me alone. I don’t love you. Actually, right now I’m bordering on hating you.”
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