Page 197 of Twins for Three Bad Boys

Now I’m here.

Still scared, yes. Still unsure about some things, absolutely. But not alone. Not disposable. Not waiting for the ground to disappear under my feet.

My phone buzzes softly in my bag, and my stomach immediately tightens.

I hate that reflex, hate it that even with everything else shifting into something better, the thread of fear is still there.

Rex’s hand stills on his thigh.

“Hey,” he murmurs. “You good?”

I nod quickly. “Yeah. Just… habit.”

Wayne’s jaw tightens, just slightly.

Fletcher’s eyes flick toward my bag, then back to my face.

They don’t ask, but I can feel the quiet awareness. The protection.

“June Hartley?” the nurse calls.

My heart jumps into my throat. “That’s me.” I stand too fast, then laugh nervously. “Wow. Okay. This is happening.”

Rex rises immediately, offering me a hand like I might need help, which I absolutely do not. But I take it anyway. “Easy,” he soothes.

Fletcher straightens beside me, his presence solid.

Wayne’s hand comes to the small of my back as we follow the nurse down the hallway.

It’s instinctive—I lean into it without thinking.

The exam room is smaller than I expected. Dimmer too, once the nurse adjusts the lights. There’s a narrow bed with crinkly paper stretched over it, a machine off to the side, and a monitor angled where I’ll be able to see it.

My pulse starts racing again.

“Go ahead and lie back,” the nurse says kindly. “We’ll get started in just a moment.”

I climb onto the bed, smoothing my dress down with hands that suddenly feel clumsy.

Fletcher moves to stand near my shoulder.

Rex leans against the counter, arms crossed but eyes locked on me.

Wayne stays close beside me, always the closest.

The technician comes in a moment later, introducing herself with a warm smile that flickers, just briefly, when she registers the number of men in the room.

“Support system?” she asks lightly.

I hesitate for half a second. Then I say, “Yeah.”

Because that’s what they are.

Her smile softens. “Good. All right… this might be a little cold.”

She’s not kidding.

I gasp as the gel hits my stomach. “Oh, wow…”