by Harper West
I walked out of the office and froze when I saw Ronan and Liam. Both of them looked incredibly sexy, especially in their expensive suits.
“What, I mean-didn’t you guys get my letter?” I had hoped they did because if they didn’t, then saying it to their faces would be something I didn't think I was capable of.
I’d have to have Baron explain the whole situation. My stomach formed knots as they just stood there, staring at me with confused looks on their faces. “Please tell me that you got my letter!”
They didn’t answer my question. Instead, Ronan and Liam looked at my bags and then back at me. Liam walked over to me. “Why are you packing your bags, love?”
Standing that close to Liam again made me want to fall to my knees. His perfect, red spiky hair and tight clothes awakened my senses all over again, and I needed to think. How could I tell him that I had to marry that guy, the same one he’d saved me from, after our newfound relationship?
If only they had gotten the letter. I felt even worse about the situation now that I had to explain what was going on.
"But…I…you didn't get the letter?" My voice trailed off.
“We sure did,” Ronan said, walking over. “And we have one for you, too. It’s probably not what you’re expecting, though.”
I looked at both of their faces, confused about what they were talking about.
Baron’s face lit up, and he rushed to the door and locked it.
“Baron, why are you locking the door? You know that…"
He cut me off and put his hands in the air. “Stop talking and read the damn letter, woman!”
I looked at all three of them, then accepted an envelope out of Liam’s hand. Liam had a big smile on his face by that point, which started to ease my tension.
I pulled a piece of paper out and unfolded it. My mouth immediately fell open. It was a deed for the entire property, not just the bookstore. It included all of the shops that were sitting on it.
“What, why, I mean, how did you guys do this?” I knew it was a stupid question to ask since it had been evident all along they had money.
The deed was in my name, which meant that I was free to do whatever I wanted with the property. Unlike that investor, who would have undoubtedly put it in his name while having me run it, I wasn’t beholden to anyone.
“You know how we’re in media, love?” I looked up at Ronan and nodded. “Well, we own our media company. Buying the land was worth it since it means you get to stay here in Ireland.”
“Plus, now you’ll be in charge of the deli next door with those delicious pastrami sandwiches.” Ronan rolled his eyes, and Liam smiled at me.
Suddenly the thought of cooking for a man didn’t bother me so much. On the contrary, I realized that I’d love to make him all the pastrami sandwiches he could fit into that gorgeous body.
I started to cry again, but this time it was for a different reason. I looked over at Liam, who was grinning from ear to ear. He picked me up in his arms and twirled me around, only letting go when Ronan wanted a spin.
“What about me?” We all laughed, but instead of passing me onto Baron, Liam decided to twirl him around too.
“Wee,” he yelled while holding his hands out like an airplane.
“Thank you guys so much! I don’t know what I’d do without either of you!” Baron cleared his throat, and I nodded deeply. “And Baron, of course! Now I don’t have to marry that douchebag! I love all of you guys so much!”
I walked over to the front door and pulled the shade down, then turned around and gave Ronan and Liam a flirtatious look.
“Before you get all frisky on each other,” Baron said, “are we closed for the day? Because if we are, then I’m going to go find me a lad too.”
I laughed and nodded, then opened the door so he could leave.
I turned around and smiled at Ronan and Liam, then slowly unzipped my dress and let it fall to the floor. Liam walked over and picked me up, and I instinctively wrapped my legs around his waist.
“Can we at least close blinds on the windows,” Ronan said and rushed over to each one.
Liam and I kissed as I pushed my body against his, feeling his manhood growing in size. I felt Ronan walk up behind me, wrapping his arms around my chest and unbuttoning my blouse.
“Shall we take this upstairs, boys?”
Liam had a different idea, though.
He carried me over to a stack of bookcases, and Ronan trailed behind. As he laid me down on the floor, right there on my back, he took off his shirt, and Ronan stood over my head.
“I think this is a more appropriate place to celebrate, love.”
And right there in the stacks, I finally found my happily ever after.
Epilogue
One Year Later
Alexia
I woke up in our California King size bed, right in the middle where I always slept. Straight ahead of me were two French doors that opened up to our balcony. I looked to my right and then to my left, but both Ronan and Liam were no longer in bed with me.
After sliding out of bed and into my red satin robe, which the guys had given me on our first night in our new home, I walked out onto the patio and breathed in the fresh air.
It was hard to believe that it had been a full year since we moved in. Life had been nothing short of amazing. Ronan and Liam had sold their condominiums, and we all moved into a mansion on 15 acres of land. It was just the three of us in that vast place, but it came with an additional four bedrooms and three bathrooms.
I breathed in the fresh air and headed back into the bathroom before making my way downstairs and into the kitchen. As usual, Ronan was making breakfast while Liam was sitting naked at the counter. I walked up and pinched his butt. He turned around and kissed me on the lips.
“I don't think I ever walk down here and find you wearing clothes.”
Ronan rolled his eyes while sliding pancakes onto a large platter. They weren’t just any pancakes, though.
I saw him putting strawberries and bananas on a few. “Oh, and you made my favorite!”
“First of all,” Liam said, sipping juice, “what’s the point? The nearest neighbor is several miles away. And second of all, it’s nothing that you haven’t seen before.”
He was right. It wasn’t unusual for us to find him mowing our lawn entirely in the nude, either. I thought it was kind of dangerous…but he was all about it.
Ronan lifted a brow. “What are you gonna do when someone we know pays us a visit and they see your bare ass pushing a lawnmower?”
“Serves ‘em right for not calling ahead,” Liam said matter-of-factly.
I walked over to Ronan, who greeted me with another one of his long, passionate kisses, and held out my plate.
“Three strananacakes for my baby." Liam cleared his throat and Ronan nodded. “I mean, our baby. Sorry.”
We all sat down in the backyard, eating breakfast while enjoying the view. The rolling green hills of Ireland was the perfect backdrop to start every day. It was Saturday, which meant that none of us had to work and could just relax at home. Everything had been going great at the bookshop, too.
Once I became the owner of all the businesses, my workdays became more hectic than usual. I often found myself having to leave the bookstore to attend another meeting. While I didn’t mind it, I needed help. So I made Baron the Assistant Manager and even hired three more employees.
Liam and Ronan continued expanding their production company, and everyone at the office seemed happy for us. Being in that type of relationship was new for us, and we weren’t sure how people would react. Luckily their parents seemed okay with our situation, and all of them welcomed me with open arms at our housewarming party.
A breeze blew, and my robe dipped, exposing my left nipple.
Liam snickered. “Guess I’m not the only one who’s naked.”
I rolled my eyes at him.
I drank my coffee in peace, trying to contain my excitement. There was a strong possibili
ty that I was pregnant, and I had just taken a test before coming down to breakfast. I didn’t want to say anything until I knew for sure.
I thought about what life would be like if I were, in fact, expecting. Ronan would be the stricter of the two, of course. The kind of father who believed that school should always come before play. I envisioned him helping them out with their homework at night and encouraging them to study harder.
Liam, on the other hand, would encourage them just to be kids while they had the chance. Throughout our relationship, I always got the sense that Ronan's parents had been too strict with him. Liam's parents, on the other hand, had been very laid back, and he learned the hard way.
Our children would be so lucky to have the best of both worlds.
Ronan cleared the plates, and Liam took it upon himself to get a little frisky.
“While that nipple is exposed,” he said.
I just shook my head, letting him know that now was not the time. He gave me a pouty lip, followed by a smile, and kissed me on the forehead.
After Ronan and Liam bought the property from the investor, we didn’t hear about him for a while. They took it upon themselves to look him up every day, but it appeared as though they had scared him into hiding. Then a few months before, while all of us were out to dinner, Liam received a Google alert.
“Would you look at that,” he had said. “That investor has filed for bankruptcy. He lost everything!”
Ronan immediately ordered a bottle of champagne, and we celebrated the fact that karma had won.
Baron ended up getting married to a man he met at a bar, George O’Leary. It wasn’t love at first sight, though. George kept making eye contact with him, but Baron didn’t find him that attractive.
That is until he stood up.
They ended up having drinks together, and within six months, they were engaged and living in the apartment above the bookstore. It was a perfect situation, especially since it meant that Baron would be able to open the store, and I could tend to the other businesses.
His husband was a landscaper, and I hired him to redo the entire bookstore property. The sidewalk was full of fresh flowers, both potted and hanging, and I never had to worry about a lawnmowing. I often came into work to see him riding his lawnmower, smiling at me while he kept the place looking beautiful.
“Is something on your mind, love?” I looked up at Liam and smiled, wondering how he’d react if the pregnancy test turned out positive.
He’d probably be overcome with excitement, while Ronan would process his emotions a bit calmer. I pictured Liam shrieking as Ronan tried to decide which room to put the baby. “I’m fine, honey. Just enjoying the morning and my coffee.”
He smiled and went back to, scrolling through his phone.
Ronan had filled me in on all of Liams’ publicity stunts, and he agreed to cut back unless it was appropriate. The last one he did involved having a plane fly over the local soccer stadium with a banner that read, “Stop Wasting Your Money On McMarty’s Media!” Usually, I would have been upset with him, but McMarty’s media had taken out ads targeting theirs.
Even though we weren’t married, Liam and Ronan made me a business partner with their media company. My plate was already full with the bookstore and shops, but I appreciated the added security. It was their way of letting me know that we were a family, regardless of what happened.
I stood up and went inside. There was Ronan, drinking another cup of coffee while listening to symphony music. He saw me and held out his hand. We danced for a few minutes before I excused myself, eager to run upstairs and see the results of the pregnancy test.
“You seem to be in a hurry,” Ronan said.
“I had three cups of coffee,” I replied with a smile. “I’m only human, after all.”
Just then, my cellphone went off, and I noticed that it was Cecilia.
Cecilia was still back in the states, and she was planning on coming to visit us in Ireland. She still couldn’t believe that I was in a relationship with both Ronan and Liam. I thought about calling her back, then realized that I hadn’t gotten back to her from two days ago.
“Who’s that?”
“Cecilia,” I said to Ronan and picked up the phone. “I am so so sorry, Cecilia! I meant to call you back. Please don’t hate me!”
“Sure you have,” she said with a laugh. “You’re just busy having sex with two guys every night, right?”
I blushed and sat down on a nearby sofa. “Well, you’re not entirely wrong. Speaking of which, I think you’d like one of Liam’s brothers.” I pictured her and his brother getting along very well. “Then you two can get married and live near us in Ireland!”
“Woman, you’ve gone mad,” she said. “Besides, what about my job?”
“What about it? Most of the time you do telehealth, so it’s not like you need to see your patients in person. Besides, I know you’re going to love it here. And believe me when I say that his brother is just as hot.”
As she started talking about her job, I didn’t notice that Liam went upstairs. I must have lost track of time because the next thing I heard was him screaming from our bathroom.
“What’s wrong?” I looked up at Ronan, who immediately ran upstairs. “Alexia? Are you alright?”
“I think so,” I said. “But that was Liam-oh, God! I have to go!”
I quickly hung up the phone and raced upstairs, finding Liam jumping up and down on our bed.
“We’re having a baby! We’re having a baby! Ronan, we’re going to be fathers! Alexia, why didn’t you tell us?” I laughed so hard at Liam’s excitement as he continued jumping while holding the pregnancy test.
Ronan scooped me up in his arms and carried me to the bed. I laid on my back as Liam jumped off. “Is it true, love? Are you pregnant?”
I looked into Ronan's’ eyes and nodded. He leaned down and kissed me, and then Liam playfully pushed him aside and kissed me too. We did that for several minutes. All of us excited about welcoming a baby to our new family.
“You are going to make one hell of a mother,” Liam said, pulling down my robe and fondling my breasts. Ronan's hands slid underneath, cupping my opening as he kissed my neck.
“And you two are going to make amazing fathers,” I replied breathlessly.
As we kissed and caressed each other, Liam pulled back and looked at me. “You know what I just realized. Twins run in my family, and they also do in Ronan’s. What about yours, love?”
I scrunched my face and thought about my own family. “There are a few sets of twins, yes. Why?”
I looked at them with confusion.
“Well,” Ronan said, “having twins on all three of our families increases the likelihood that you’ll have them, too. In addition to that, are you aware that you can be pregnant with twins, and each of them has a different father?”
I sat up and processed what they were saying.
“Oh my God,” I said. “I could have a little Liam and a tiny Ronan!” I was both excited and nervous about having twins. “That means twice the amount of work, guys. We’ll need two beds, a double stroller, double everything! How am I going to do it? I’m running all the businesses, including your favorite pastrami shop. Cecilia is coming to visit. I have a board meeting with the media company this week, and now twins?”
“Relax and breathe,” Liam said, laughing, placing his hand on my belly.
Ronan put his hand on it, too. “We’re all in this together, and you are not going to be alone.”
I did as he said and breathed, slowly in and out, as I laid back down.
“I’m having twins,” I said. “I can feel it. Is it possible to have a mother’s instinct so early on?”
Ronan and Liam smiled at me, then both of them nodded. “Yes, love. Now can we celebrate?”
We spent the day doing what we loved to do the most. A little laughter, a little planning, and a whole lot of sex. Life was changing again, but this time, I knew it was going to be amazing.
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Chapter 1
Elise
Mr. Partridge walked up behind me and glanced over my shoulder. “Remember the shadows. They move with the flow of the body, over the hips, down her side.”
I nodded, bringing my charcoal to the paper. It was my once a week art lesson. After graduating from NYU, I felt like I needed to keep up with it, to continue learning the arts and techniques of my craft. Even after four years in one of the best arts programs in the country, I felt so small and untalented next to the greats.
“Alright, everyone,” Mr. Partridge said, handing our model her robe and clasping his hands together as we put our things away. “Class is almost over, but I wanted to take a moment to make a couple of announcements. First, next week's class will be one hour later, as you know, but I wanted to remind you. Second, the reason for that delay is the application process for the six-week-long internship program being offered.”
Everyone mumbled amongst themselves, but I had no idea what he was talking about. He patted his hands in the air, quieting everyone down. “For those of you who don’t know, the NYU Public Arts Program has partnered with Emanuel Livingston. He will give six weeks of private instruction under an internship in his mansion. All food and board will be provided as well as the ability to meet and learn from this elusive yet brilliant artist. All portfolio submissions are due by tomorrow evening. Bring them here to the studio to submit.”
The whispering grew louder, but I couldn’t hear it. As soon as Mr. Partridge said Emanuel Livingston, I was lost in thought. He was my favorite artist. Emmanuel was legendary, and his paintings hung all over the world. Yet, no one knew what he looked like, or even how old he was. Really, no one knew much about him at all. He stayed hidden in secrecy in his mansion outside of the city. I had seen the estate a couple of times with my father when we traveled upstate to visit my grandparents, but there wasn’t much to really see. A nine-foot-tall, solid, black metal fence surrounded the grounds, and you could only see the peaks of the dark roof from a distance.