Total pages in book: 173
Estimated words: 174632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 174632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
“I can hold the bottle myself,” she said, reaching for it.
“You can,” Ian replied. “You won’t.”
“You know that I’m not . . . I’m not your sub.” As soon as she said the words, she wished them back.
Why did she have to point that out? It wasn’t like they didn’t know. And she liked having them fuss over her. Even if she could do without the spanking threats.
Now, they were going to back off and she’d be on her own again.
They grew silent, sharing another look.
“But you are our charge while you’re here,” Ian said.
Right. A responsibility.
Woo-hoo.
She felt a stab of sadness before she pushed it aside. Even if they didn’t want to be with her, Jack had asked her on a date. And Ian could barely take his eyes off her.
Their obsession was totally obvious.
Any doubts were shoved into that box in her head. The lock on it was wearing thin. But it was holding for now.
If it ever cracked open, she’d probably go bald and crazy. But that was a worry for another day.
“I need to check on Uncle Willy. Make sure he’s drunk his water.”
“He’s a grown man,” Ian told her. “He can take care of himself. Drink more of this.”
“I’m a grown woman,” she pointed out. Not that she wanted them to stop fussing.
“No comment.” Jack grinned at her. “And your uncle looks like he’s packing up. So unless you want him to come over here and find Ian forcing that drink down your throat, you might want to drink up.”
“Fine,” she grumbled. “But I liked you both better when you were less bossy.”
“You like me no matter how I am,” Jack replied.
“And you said you didn’t want me to change who I am.”
She rolled her eyes. But it was true. She liked them both.
Too much.
16
Jameson had to stop himself from running into the house.
When he’d finally had time to look at his phone today, he’d discovered two texts. One from Jack asking him to come over and check on Maggie. And another from Ian demanding that he come over immediately and ensure that Maggie was okay.
It was probably just a scratch. Ian tended to exaggerate when it came to her. But Jack wasn’t prone to worrying over nothing.
He had his bag in hand as he entered the quiet house. He moved through to the kitchen where he found Ian preparing a tray of food. There was a bowl of fruit salad, sliced cheese, crackers, yogurt, and what looked to be a strawberry smoothie and an electrolyte drink.
“Aww, you didn’t have to do this for me.”
“I didn’t,” Ian snapped back.
He’d always struggled to recognize a joke.
“It’s for Maggie. Come on, you can come up with me.”
“She’s so sick that she can’t come down to eat?” Maybe he was wrong and Ian hadn’t been exaggerating this time.
“She’s not sick,” Jack said, coming up behind him.
Jameson jumped, then turned to scowl at Jack. The other man knew that Jameson hated when he snuck up on him.
“Mr. Mum here is just being extra fussy.”
“I am not. She was dizzy and had a headache earlier. She was dehydrated, and she hasn’t been eating lately.”
Jack’s face tightened and Jameson could see he was also concerned about her.
Fuck.
How did this girl have them all running around after her? Fussing over her?
What is it about her?
She was far too young for any of them. And she was just visiting. There was no reason Ian and Jack should be getting attached to her.
“Guys, what is going on?” Jameson asked.
“What do you mean?” Ian asked.
“I mean . . . this.” He waved a hand at the tray of food. “Making her food. Worrying over her. The two of you are acting like . . . like you’re interested in her.”
Ian stiffened while Jack whistled.
“I did ask her out,” Jack said, shocking him.
“What?” Jameson asked. He looked at Ian. “You’re both going to date her?”
Why did he feel so shocked? This was none of his business. Right?
“No. Jack decided to ask her out on his own.” Ian’s face was devoid of emotion. But Jameson knew he was hiding some strong feelings.
He had to feel betrayed.
He and Jack were a unit. Like the three of them had once been . . .
Fuck. He missed that. They were still friends. But he missed sharing a woman, the closeness that came with that.
It was your choice to leave.
“You could have come too,” Jack said to Ian. “I wasn’t shutting you out.”
“We are not courting Maggie,” Ian stated.
“A date isn’t courting.” Jack shrugged.
But Jameson couldn’t tell if he truly felt blasé toward Maggie or if it was an act.
“It’s not like I asked her to be our intended. We have dated women on our own before. And you . . . you’re not even a part of this,” Jack said to Jameson.