“It’ a deal,” Jeremy murmured against his lips. “I love you.”
Harrison’s eyes slid closed, as if he would never get used to hearing the words. “I love you back.”
“All right, you two. Quit making out in the driveway.” They both looked up toward the booming voice that came from on high. Brady grinned down at them from the railing on the top landing. “Get your arses up here before the coffee goes cold,” he said before disappearing again.
“That would be Brady?” Harrison said, looking at Jeremy sideways.
He nodded with a happy sigh. “Yep.”
Harrison laughed again as Jeremy dragged him up the first set of steps. “I like him already.”
Trina tried not to squeal too loudly as she threw herself at Jeremy when he walked through the door. “It’s so good to see you.” He laughed out loud as he caught her.
“You too,” he replied, pulling back to take her face in his hands. “How are you?”
She held up her left hand, her smile so wide it made her cheeks hurt. “Engaged to be married.”
“No shit, really?” Jeremy grabbed her hand so he could take a closer look and Trina made sure to wiggle her fingers so the diamond sparkled in the light. “That’s awesome. When’s the wedding?”
“A couple of months,” she said. “Which is why you only had one month left before we were planning to break the unspoken rule of our breakup and call you.”
He beamed with delight. “That’s so sweet. Because you can’t get married without me, of course.”
“It would be a little weird,” Brady added from behind her, “if the best man didn’t show up to the wedding.”
Jeremy’s eyes went wide and Trina put her hands over her mouth as she laughed at his expression. “I’m the best man?”
“No one else would do,” Brady told him.
Pumping a fist in the air, Jeremy let out a loud, “Yes!” before grabbing Brady in a bear hug.
Brady squeezed him tight around the middle. “It’s good to have you back, man.”
“It is good to be back.” Turning, he wrapped one arm around Brady’s shoulder before pulling Trina in under the other arm. “Okay, I’ve been a rude bastard long enough,” he said. “Brady, Trina, I want to introduce you to Harrison, the love of my life.”
The man in question, who had been patiently waiting by the door, stepped forward. He was stunningly gorgeous, the same height as Jeremy, with brown eyes and wavy dark-blond hair.
“It’s nice to meet you both,” he said, and the faint English accent just about made Trina swoon. “Jeremy’s told me all about you.”
Trina looked up at Jeremy with wide eyes. “Everything, Jer?” she whispered.
“We have no secrets,” Jeremy whispered back, before adding in a louder voice. “Isn’t he beautiful?”
“Yes.” The word came in stereo, from both Trina and Brady, before the three of them burst out laughing.
Harrison rubbed a hand over his forehead as his face started to flame and Trina took pity on him. “We are so happy to meet you,” she told him as she threw her arms around his neck in a welcoming hug.
“Thank you, Trina.” He took a deep breath as he hugged her back, and she got the feeling the words were truly important to him, which only made her happier that she’d said them. When they parted, he handed her the large brown paper bag he carried. “We brought croissants.”
She beamed at him. “Perfect.” Taking the bag into the kitchen, she started gathering everything they’d need for breakfast. Jeremy joined her and, as they worked, they surreptitiously watched Brady and Harrison shake hands as they sized each other up.
“What do you do, Harrison?” Brady asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
“I work with a security company. We handle large events, mostly.”
Brady nodded. “How did you and Jeremy meet?”
“At one of those large events.” He didn’t give any details and Brady’s brow furrowed slightly.
“Do you have any idea how incredible Jeremy is?” Brady asked, his protective side in full force.
Trina groaned low in Jeremy’s ear. “Imagine what he’ll be like when we have kids.”
“The thought is terrifying,” he murmured back.
Meanwhile, Harrison met Brady’s stare head-on, not backing down for an instant. “Yes, I do.”
“Just making sure you got the memo,” Brady said with a grin before winking at Jeremy.
“Anything else you want to know?” Harrison’s tone was direct, but with a hint of amusement.
“One more thing.” Brady tilted his head to one side, his eyes narrowing. “How’s your penmanship?”
Most people would have been confused by such a question, but Harrison’s sly smile told Trina he knew all about Jeremy’s love of beautiful writing. “Better than yours,” he told Brady, oozing confidence.
Jeremy gave a low chuckle when Brady raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Harrison also works part-time as a professional hand letterer,” he said before turning to Trina with a sigh of adoration. “The man makes writing look beautiful for a living.”
“That’s incredible,” she said, her heart bursting with happiness for him. “Was it love at first sign?”
Jeremy’s mouth moved in odd ways while a scattering of emotions played out across his face. “Sort of,” he said finally.
“That’s a story I want to hear,” she murmured, giggling in his ear. “But first, breakfast.”
As they sat down to eat, Trina couldn’t help but smile as she considered how far her life had come in less than a year. She’d been so convinced she was going nowhere, that her instincts had let her down. But now, as she looked back across the multitude of decisions she’d made over her life, she realised every one of those decisions had led her here. To this place where she was happy and fulfilled, and surrounded by love. She knew then, even if she had the chance to go back and do it all over again, she wouldn’t want to change a thing.
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Also by Rebecca Raine: Our Little Secret (Finding Forever, Book 1)
How does a sensible, modern woman indulge in a three-way relationship without getting all tangled up?
Julia Hearst is a practical, responsible accountant with no tolerance for salacious thoughts in the workplace. Even if those thoughts, inspired by her two incredibly hot gay employers, are running rampant through her own head. Julia is ready to embark on a new job and leave all these lusty feelings behind.
Long-time lovers, Derek Carrigan and Scott Mason, have always known they were meant to share their lives with a woman. As far as they’re concerned, they found her the day Julia walked in lo
oking for a job. Now she’s leaving, and will no longer be under their employ, it’s time to make their move.
Although shocked by their advances, Julia is seduced by the idea of indulging in a few weeks of sensual adventure before she starts her new job. Then, with the restless side of her satisfied, she has every intention of returning to her safe, predictable life with no one the wiser. It will be their little secret.
Derek and Scott, on the other hand, have their own agenda. Now they have Julia exactly where they want her, they’re not about to let her go.
Available Now on Amazon
Excerpt from Our Little Secret (Finding Forever, Book 1)
Chapter 1
“All I want for Christmas is those two hunks naked and slathered with whipped cream.”
Julia Hearst frowned as she looked up from her computer monitor. Her friend, Amber, stood in the doorway of her office. “It’s September. You’ll have to wait. Did you need something?”
The other woman continued staring out the door, toward the conference room on the far side of the hall. “Maybe I’ll add a cherry on top, just so I can have the pleasure of scooping it up,” she added, her tone dark with mischief and lust, “with my tongue.”
“Stop!” Julia cried out at the blatant words. “Are you trying to get charged with sexual harassment?”
“It would be worth it if I got what I wanted.” Amber walked into the room with a longing sigh and dropped a file into Julia’s in-box.
“May I remind you, when I agreed to recommend you for a job here, you agreed to leave your libido at the door?”
“Hey, you extracted that promise under false pretences. Why didn’t you tell me your bosses were so freaking hot?”
Julia stared at her in pointed silence.
“All right, fine.” Amber placed one hand over her heart and declared, “I hereby promise to be a good little boring accountant.”
“That’s better.” Julia rose from her chair, intent on closing the office door before anyone overheard them. They’d been friends since university, but Amber’s direct way of speaking was sometimes more than Julia could handle.
The moment she reached the doorway, she spotted the targets of the inappropriate comments through the conference room’s full-length glass wall. Her gaze ran over the long, lean bodies of the two business owners as they pored over a set of blueprints laid out on the table in front of them. One was an architect, the other a builder. Between them, they had created one of the most innovative new design and build housing companies in Melbourne.
Derek Carrigan, the architect, was the dark one. With his chiselled features and chocolate brown eyes, he could make women swoon with just one of his rakish smiles. Julia had clicked with Derek from day one. He was easy to talk to and quick to laugh. If she didn’t know him to be otherwise committed, she’d probably be half in love with him by now. But only probably.
Beside him stood Scott Mason, the builder. On the surface, Scott was the light to Derek’s shadows. Close-cropped blond hair and startling blue eyes. Cheekbones so sharp they could cut ice. Julia had no doubt his smile would be just as devastating, but as far as she knew his lips just didn’t work that way. At least, not when they were directed at her. The intensity of his gaze had always disturbed her in ways that made her stomach flutter and confused the hell out of her all at the same time. She’d given up trying to figure him out.
It no longer mattered anyway. Her one-year contract finished in a week and she would be moving on. When they’d asked her to stay she’d declined, instead accepting a position with an investment firm on the other side of the city. She had enjoyed working for the two men but, honestly, there was only so much fluttering her stomach could take on a daily basis and being around Derek and Scott always seemed to lead to a preponderance of, well, fluttering. Leaving was the only logical choice, given the circumstances.
“Careful,” Amber said with a smug tone, “you don’t want to be caught ogling the bosses.”
Jerking to attention, Julia pushed the door closed and returned to her desk. She took a deep breath and smoothed one hand over her hair. Her bun was still neat and secure, just the way she liked it.
“Even if seducing your employers wasn’t an inherently bad idea, you wouldn’t have any luck with those two.” Julia adjusted her wire-rimmed glasses and forced her attention back to the report she’d completed this morning. Sending it to the printer, she listened for the hum of the machine as it warmed up. She had a meeting with the aforementioned ‘hunks’ in five minutes and didn’t want to be seen as unprepared because of her glitchy printer.
“Why not? I’m sure my wiles could ensnare one of them.” Amber straightened, pulling her shoulders back until her breasts thrust out proudly. “I’m an attractive woman.”
Julia was pretty sure that was the understatement of the year. Amber was gorgeous, with thick dark hair that cascaded over her shoulders. Yes, that’s right. Cascaded. How many women actually had cascading hair? Not her, that was for sure.
“That’s exactly the problem,” Julia muttered as she emailed the report to both Scott and Derek.
The other woman lifted an indignant eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“Nothing. Forget I said anything.” Julia busied herself retrieving her report from the printer and stapling the pages together before she placed the stapler back in its place in the drawer of her desk.
She looked up to see Amber staring at her, arms crossed over her chest. “Don’t leave me hanging here. What do you know that I don’t?”
“Oh, all right,” she said, rolling her eyes. “The problem is you’re a gorgeous woman.” Her friend looked at her blankly and she added, “As opposed to a gorgeous man.”
Amber’s eyes widened and her jaw dropped. “You mean they’re gay?” she screeched. “Both of them?”
“Keep your voice down,” Julia begged, praying the men in question were oblivious to the fact their sexual preferences were being discussed just across the hall. She began to gather the materials she needed for her meeting. Last month’s report had to be here somewhere. A quick time check showed she had two minutes to find it. “I knew the moment I met them. Honestly, I’m just surprised I’m the only one who’s realised it.”
“I don’t believe it. They are not gay.” Amber sounded positively mortified at the idea neither man would be open to her feminine charms. “What on Earth makes you think that?”
Julia shrugged. She hadn’t really thought about it. Yet, somehow she knew she was right. “I don’t know. They just fit together somehow.”
“They are best friends. Everyone knows that. Maybe their friendship is what you’re picking up on.”
Julia shook her head. “It’s more than that. It’s the way they look at each other sometimes.” It was the softening around Derek’s eyes when Scott walked into a room. Like life was just better when he had the other man close by. And the way Scott would sometimes bite his bottom lip when he looked at Derek. As if he imagined biting something entirely different, but held himself in check.
The whole idea made Julia flustered until her normally unflappable demeanour came apart at the edges every time she ended up alone in a room with the two of them. It was like an ecstatic kind of torture. Which was exactly why she preferred to be completely prepared when she had her monthly meeting with them. It helped her look professional, even when she didn’t feel it.
“Why didn’t you tell me this before?” Amber asked, looking put out.
“It never came up, and besides what was I supposed to say? They never talk about it or refer to themselves as a couple. Obviously they prefer to keep their private lives to themselves and it’s nobody else’s business.” Actually, now she thought about it, she felt bad for being the one to let the cat out of the proverbial bag. “Maybe you’re right,” she said, hoping to put a quick end to the conversation. “I’m probably just imagining the whole thing.”
Amber laughed. “I for one don’t blame you if you are. I just want to be able to slide
myself in the middle of all that hot male goodness.”
Those words alone made Julia’s stomach clench. Made other parts, lower down, clench too. Images of the two men together, their mouths melding, their hard masculine bodies straining against each other, played through her head. She heard a tiny whimper, realised it had come from her and cleared her throat, hoping to cover it up. This kind of behaviour was unacceptable in the workplace. As a responsible adult she would not allow such salacious thoughts to interfere in her life. Well, not between the hours of nine and five anyway.
“Finally.” She held up the report she’d been searching for with a triumphant shake. “Just in time.”
A moment later there was a knock on the door and Derek poked his head into the room. “Good afternoon, ladies,” he said with a wide smile. “Julia, are you ready for us?”
She rose from her desk, desperately trying not to hear a double meaning in his words. “Of course.” With a quick wave to Amber, she followed him across the hall to the conference room where Scott waited. Let the fluttering begin.
Chapter 2
“You’ve done an amazing job, Julia. As always.” Derek closed the monthly report and pushed it aside as they wrapped up their meeting. “I only wish we could have convinced you to stick around longer.” He dished up the well-deserved compliment with a side of his most charming grin, and was rewarded when a flush of pleasure brightened her cheeks.
That was just the reaction he’d been hoping for. He wanted to make sure their prim and proper accountant was happy before he posed the question he’d been wanting to ask all week. “We’ll see you at the party tonight. Right?”
He and Scott had decided to celebrate five years in operation by hosting a small get-together for their employees in a local pub. Nothing fancy, just some drinks and nibbles to thank everyone for their hard work. Derek had his own reasons for hoping Julia, in particular, would be there.
Everything We Need (Finding Forever Book 4) Page 19