“No, don't!” I shout, and he freezes, looking disappointed. “Look, it’s not that I don't want to, but the next time I want it to be the three of us, and a quickie in the elevator isn’t what I want for that first time. Later, sure, ravish me as much as you want, but I just want it to be special.”
I smile as my words melt the exteriors of the two men in front of me.
“That sounds perfect.” Oliver steps up and gives me a kiss, followed by Holden, but before we can say anything else, the elevator stops and the door opens.
“Okay, let’s go see what Nana wants. Maybe we can get the rest of the family moving, too. I’m ready to kick ass and take names in this family game night.” Holden strides out, and we follow behind him, bypassing the secretary who simply smiles and waves as we walk past.
“Oh, Harlow, you have no idea what you are in for,” Oliver mutters out the side of his mouth, but I just grin with anticipation. I love being part of this family now that they’ve laid the weapons down.
Chapter Fourteen
Thomas
When my office door opens without a knock, I know it’s going to be one of my siblings on the other side. So it’s no surprise to me when Holden, Oliver, and Harlow walk in. Nor is it any surprise that the three of them look a little rumpled and smell like they’ve been messing around. My brothers have made it no secret how much they’re into Harlow, and I’m happy for them... even if there is atinyball of envy sitting deep in my soul. Once upon a time, I probably would have been the first one of us to pursue Harlow. She’s sexy, intelligent, interesting, and has all the makings of what I would call the perfect woman. But that was before I became jaded with the world, before I had my heart ripped out and stomped on by the woman I had planned to make my wife. After that mess, I no longer see things through rose-colored glasses and will never make the same mistake again.
Though the memory of Harlow’s sexy body pushed up against mine in the garden room and the scent of her hair in my nose may very well haunt me for a long time to come. What was I thinking, getting so close to her like that? I should have known better, but I was so angry at her for taking more risks. Who knows who could have been around; it wouldn't have taken much for someone to hide somewhere and try for her again. Although the building is fairly secure, it’s still a big building and people can walk in off the street.
Watching her from under my eyelashes, I really am envious of the easy way she interacts with Holden and Oliver, the gentle touches and small smiles as they carry on the conversation they had been having as they walked in.
Steeling my spine and banishing those thoughts to the recesses of my mind, I clear my throat. “And to what do I owe this pleasure?” I ask drolly. Harlow stops suddenly at my question like she only just realized I’m in the room, her eyes shuttering with uncertainty. I feel like kicking myself for putting it there, but maybe it’s for the best. I would not be good for her, and my brothers certainly need her too badly for me to fumble into a relationship with her and chase her away. All too interested, I watch as she shakes it off and puts another smile back on her face as my two brothers continue into my office. I can’t help but admire the strength this woman has, especially after facing off against my blazing anger earlier. Most people would be cowering in the corner, but not Harlow. She just picks herself up and keeps going. Now, what she had to go through in order to instill that strength in her... I can’t think about that right now; it only makes me angry to remember that her childhood has some things in common with my siblings’ and even my own.
Soon enough, Oliver distracts me by throwing himself into one of the chairs in front of my desk, a lazy sprawl to his body that only he seems to have perfected. It’s been a long time since I had that kind of peaceful ease in me. I’m almost as envious of that as I am their camaraderie with Harlow. Holden comes around and stands next to me, clapping me on the shoulder before leaning his ass against my desk, hands in his pockets.
“Are you just about ready to get out of here? Do you know what anyone else is doing, if they’re ready too?” He sounds all chirpy and has a gleam of mischief in his eye even though he’s behaving himself at this point. I need to be on alert though because you just never know with my brothers.
I snort as I think about his question. “How would I know? When did I become everyone's keeper?”
“Oh, Tom, don’t be like that. You pretend to be a grumpy asshole, but we know the truth. We know how you really are inside. Buried deep,deepdown, you're a teddy bear waiting for his honeypot,” Holden coos, and I narrow my eyes at him.
“Have you been smoking weed at work?” Both Harlow and Oliver crack up at my question, but Holden simply smiles before removing his hands from his pockets and clapping me on the shoulder again.
“Nope! Can’t I just be happy? I’ve been given the mostly all clear, and I’m feeling much love for the world at the moment.”
Of course, he’s not wearing his sling anymore. Fuck, I really must be tired not to have noticed it. Sleep has been elusive all week since I’ve been doing background checks on every person I could think of from Harlow's life. It all came back with nothing, which is driving me halfway mad. The only lead we have is the mother’s possible murder, but fuck, she was into some shady shit, so it could have been completely unrelated. I need to figure out the identity of the woman who visited her the day of her death, but the trailer park had no form of security cameras nor did any of the surrounding trailers. I couldn't even find a working security camera anywhere around the entrance, so there is no record of anyone coming or going either.
The business card is a solid clue, but I want to take a trip out to CT and investigate it personally. No more trusting others to get the job done or risking another life. Whoever killed the PI is obviously determined to keep things secret. I’ve basically exhausted all avenues here, so I just need to find a time to head out to the East Coast. I really don't want to leave Harlow on her own, but would I be risking her life by putting her closer to where this all may have originated from? If the theory I shared with her about two different stalkers—not to mention two different motives—is correct, then there might be someone coming for her onbothcoasts. They were followed in Hawaii, and both our home and Neighpalm headquarters have been tainted by these “gifts” from the fucking creep, or creeps, so really nowhere seems wholly safe.
I shake it off and plaster a smile on my face for the sake of my brother. “Hey, that’s great, man. I’m happy for you. Just don’t overdo it too quickly, or you’ll find yourself back in the sling,” I warn him, and he grins, this one a touch softer. It’s the smile that says he thinks his big brother is being silly and overprotective.
“Don't worry, man. I’m being careful, but it’s nice to know you care.” He moves back around to Oliver and Harlow who have been watching our interaction with amused smiles on their faces. I’m sure Holden and Oliver are up to something, but I just can’t work out what.
A knock on the door has me calling out enter before I can accuse them of anything, and in walks Nana.
“Ah, there you all are!” she exclaims as she deposits kisses on those three before coming around to gently place one on my cheek. Her violet fragrance teases my senses, bringing me the comfort I always feel when I’m around this woman. If there was anyone who was going to restore my faith in women, it would be Grace Summers. Ever since I first arrived in their lives, she has been a shining beacon of love and warmth, things that were so sorely missing from my life up until then. She was the reason I had wanted to marry Clarissa and create a family and life with her. I wanted to give my children exactly what Dad, Nana, and Poppy have given all of us. Even now, I still can’t believe that I got it so wrong. I was completely blindsided when Clarissa sold us out. I thought for sure my biological family had been right in thinking that I deserved nothing but to be tormented.
“What a shame they couldn't have all shared her.” Nana’s tone has me looking up and rolling my eyes. I’m guessing that they're talking about what happened with Ninja Starfish. Declan had given me the rundown earlier. He was all excited to begin planning the new reality tv show that they’re going to use to choose a new member.
Harlow rolls her eyes. “No, Nana, I am a hundred percent sure they all dodged a bullet there. He was a selfish asshole, and she was a manipulative bitch. Good riddance to them both.”
Nana sighs. “Oh well, maybe they will keep it in mind when they choose their next member.” I can practically see her scheming. I swear the woman puts more effort into trying to fix people’s love lives than she does her businesses, and considering she’s a damn good businesswoman, that’s a terrifying thought. “Maybe I should have a word with them. Such nice boys, always so polite whenever I've seen them.”
Harlow, Oliver, and Holden are smiling at her antics, but of course they are because they’re all sexed up and have those good endorphins flowing. What happens when jealousy and envy come into the mix? I’m sure the smiles won’t be so free then. That’s when they’ll be glad that I kept myself apart from this. I’ll be around and ready to pick up the pieces.
“Thomas Summers, don’t you snort at your nana. Just because you're all jaded and bitter doesn't mean there aren’t others out there who would be happy to have love.” Like a child, I instantly feel bad when Nana scolds me, that is until I remember why I am like I am.
“No offense, Nana, but I have the right to be jaded and bitter. My fiancée sold me and our company out for money. And to be honest, I think a poly relationship sounds good in theory, but the reality is very different. You wait until the media gets hold of the news that Harlow is dating five of her adopted brothers. They’re going to crucify them all, but especially her. Let’s see how everyone stands up tothatscrutiny.”
The room is quiet so I look up from my desk to find three furious faces and one who looks like I stabbed a knife directly into her heart.
