“And now she thinks she’s better than the Queen of England,” Tobymutters.
“Personally, we didn’t have an issue with Sheila until she started pressuring our father into knocking Asher and Toby out of the will, particularly where the ownership of his financial companies is concerned,” Cole says with a heavy sigh. “My brothers may have businesses of their own, but they’re still Morgan men. The companies need to stay with us.”
“She wants Terrence in the will, I know,” I nod slowly. “He mentioned something about it more than once.”
“Let’s just say you dodged a bullet with that prick,” Cole says and leans in closer, taking me by surprise.
My body responds before my brain has a chance to process the sudden proximity. “To be perfectly honest, I was close to calling it all off,” I say. “I just kept hoping he’d change.”
“A man like Terrence doesn’t change,” Cole says.
“And a man like Terrence wouldn’t know how to make a woman like you happy,” Asher adds, leaning in from my left.
I find myself under the sizzling attention of three of New York’s most handsome and most successful men, and I don’t know what to do with it. Terrence and Sheila’s jabs still echo in the back of my mind, fueling insecurities I’ve struggled with since middle school. Insecurities I thought I’d gotten over.
“I’m too fat for Terrence.” I blurt it out, holding back tears under a strained smile.
“No, Terrence’s an idiot. And Sheila’s his mother, so don’t expect her to be any better,” Toby replies. “You’re a beautiful and successful woman, Willow. Don’t ever let those parasites make you feel like you deserve less.”
Cole’s gaze drops to my cleavage, hunger darkening his eyes. “You’re all woman, Willow, from top to bottom. Poets wrote about bodies like yours. Painters were inspired by your curves. And your character just makes you the total package.”
“I am flattered. Thank you…” I giggle softly.
“I’m not looking to flatter you,” he says, getting even closer.
I hold my breath. His lips are mere inches away. His eyes drill holes into my very soul. I should push away, I should move, I should do something, but… I don’t think I want to. I think I like this, perhaps more than I should. I’m a free woman now. And the heat spreading through my core feels natural. It’s filling a void that Terrence could never even touch.
“Like I said, we meant it,” he adds. “You’ll be seeing more of us, Willow, not less.”
“Wait, you really were serious,” I gasp.
Asher chuckles softly, then whispers into my ear. “As a heart attack.”
His lips brush over my earlobe, and a thousand tiny pinpricks spread across my skin. I can feel my nipples hardening, struggling against the fabric of my dress. All I can do is pray they don’t notice.
The Morgan brothers arrange for a ride back for Jamie, and I promise my best friend that I will see him first thing tomorrow at our office, over coffee and lox and cream cheese bagels—our “gossip” breakfast routine.
Cole, Asher, and Toby then escort me to their limo and have the driver take us to my apartment in Lower Manhattan before they head home. The conversation flows in the meantime, and I find myself growing more and morecurious about them, about what they’re like, about where this might lead, because a quiet promise hangs in the crisp air between us as they get out of the limo to escort me to the building’s front door.
“It was a surprisingly lovely evening,” I tell the brothers as I turn around to face them at the base of the steps. “Thank you for that.”
“The only way you can thank us is if you let us take you out some time,” Cole declares, squaring his shoulders.
“Take me out…”
“On a date, Willow.”
“Okay,” I say and muster a shy smile.
“We’ll see you soon then,” he replies and kisses me right on the lips. I fail to react, his lips quick to silence me, to arouse me, to turn me inside out and to make my insides quicken with brimming desire. It’s short but intentional. It speaks volumes.
“Have a lovely evening,” Asher adds and takes over as Cole steps back with a hungry smile.
I’m about to say, “You too,” when Asher kisses me too.
Breathlessly, I welcome him, his tongue briefly playing with mine before he, too, pulls away to let Toby seal the deal.
I’m flustered and wet, my heart throbbing maniacally as I breathe in the deep notes of Toby’s cologne while his lips caress mine. I’m helpless.
