I nodded, looking at Declan and Hayden when they both grunted. A moment later, only the three of us remained, and I cleared my throat.
“I’ll see you guys around?”
The way my voice shook embarrassed the crap out of me.
Dear Lord, what the crap is wrong with me?
The longing I felt when I looked at them tugged at something deep within me, making me hate leaving. Insane. It was my only excuse. My dad suffered a heart attack, and except for my best friend, he was alone in the hospital. Dad’s Alzheimer’s probably made him even more confused than usual, and I didn’t want to walk away from two men I barely knew. It wasn’t like we were together. Not really.
Declan stood first, quickly followed by Hayden, and my heart jumped into my throat. I thought they were leaving me, but instead they came to me, their big, strong bodies side-by-side before me with an arm each wrapped around my waist. I stood stock still, staring at their chests.
Declan’s voice rumbled as he murmured, “You need anything, sweetness, and we’re your first call, understand?”
I nodded, tears sprang to my eyes, and my chin trembled. Hayden tilted my chin up so I was looking at them. Their gazes were so different. One blue-green. The other chocolate-brown. But they were both so warm that all I wanted to do was curl up and take a nap in them.
“Katie said your mama’s gone, and other than your dad and your friend Gavin, you’re pretty much on your own.”
Hayden’s words reminded me just how alone in the world I was. I nodded, and he leaned down so our noses brushed.
“You’re not alone. You have us, colibrí. Do you understand?”
Declan’s hand cupped my neck as Hayden’s lips took mine. I gasped as need coursed through me. His kiss was soft yet still somehow demanding, so unlike the other day.
When he released me, I looked at Declan, and a soft, sweet smile filled with heat bloomed on his face. “His kisses are addictive. You’ll find yourself longing for them at the weirdest times.”
“Just his?” I asked, my eyes widening at the audacity of my question, and I already knew they were. They weren’t all I thought about, but every time I looked at either of their mouths, mine longed to be taken, possessed, owned by them.
Declan chuckled and pressed his mouth to mine, our tongues slipped and slid together, making me forget everything but the two of them. He pulled away, a smirk firmly in place.
“Nope. Not just his. I’m pretty sure I’m going to need a support group to deal with how much I crave that mouth of yours.”
Heat filled my cheeks, and I giggled. “I…”
“Hey, Foster said the plane’s ready.”
Hayden’s head swiveled toward Priest, and he grumbled, “She’ll be there in a minute.”
“Hmmm. One would think you were the gunny instead of the other way around.”
“Call us when you land, colibrí. We’ll be waiting up.”
I nodded, and unable to help myself, I lifted onto my tiptoes and pressed my lips to first Hayden’s and then Declan’s. I moved out of their arms, and Priest held out his elbow as I approached.
“Your chariot awaits, ma’am.”
I chuckled, so thankful for these three men who helped lift my spirits somewhat. At the door, I turned to look over my shoulder. Hayden stood watching us walk away, a scowl on his face and his arms crossed over his broad chest. Declan stood behind Hayden, his arms around Hayden’s waist, his chin on his shoulder. I waved, committing this picture of the two of them, painted to memory.
21
HAYDEN
“C’mon, Papi. Let’s go to bed.”
“Fuck that. We should be on that plane with her. Not Priest and Cameron.”
“Yes, I agree, but we both promised to see Jackson and Katie through this mess. And you said it yourself, we needed to be on solid ground before we thought of adding a third.”
“I don’t give a flying fuck. It was always just a matter of time, which this situation has wrested out of our hands. Now, our girl, and don’t you dare come at me about her not being our girl because we both know better, is getting on a plane to Nashville to care for her ailing father with only Priest and Cameron there to take care of her.”
