Emily
E mily texted Mercy and Regan to tell them that she was going to be away for a few days. Jackson had also demanded that she and Travis take off some time from work until they could get a handle on everything that had happened. She had to admit that spending a few uninterrupted days with Travis and Jack made her a little giddy. rarely took a day off and she had a ton of vacation days stockpiled and the hospital couldn’t say anything about her using them.
As they pulled through the security gates of her parents’ estate, she wondered if she had made a mistake in asking Jack to take them there. One of the security guards knew her but the other was new, and she felt his scrutiny as he searched her vehicle and asked her a few questions about her stay. Her stomach sank when the guard informed her that they had to clear up her visit with her parents, she knew that she was going to receive a very unpleasant phone call about the whole matter. Once her father got wind of her being there with not just one but two men, he’d probably have them all thrown out.
“Wow Em, you didn’t tell us that you’re loaded,” Jack teased. She shot him a glare from the passenger seat and he smiled back at her. “Not something that you like to talk about, right?” shook her head, not knowing how to explain that she hated everything to do with her parents’ money, and tried to distance herself from it for all these years.
“No,” she whispered. “And I’m not rich, my parents are.” Travis sat forward in the back seat and took in the huge house that they were pulling up to.
“Fuck, it’s massive,” he whispered. “Em, you grew up here?” nodded and looked out her window at the house that held so many lonely memories for her.
“I did,” her voice sounded melancholy even to her ears.
“Let’s get into the house and get settled. Then you can ask questions, Trav,” Jack offered. Travis sat back again, taking Jack’s cue to not press her and she was grateful.
“I’ll introduce you to Connie. She’s in charge of running the place while my parents are away.” She barked out her laugh, “Like they are ever here. She lives here and uses the house while my parents are off doing whatever they please.” sighed and opened her door jumping out to stand in the entranceway. Two security guards were there to greet them and help with their bags. They didn’t have much, so it didn’t take long to unpack the SUV. Connie was there to meet them, a smile on her face as always.
Growing up, Connie was like a mother to . When her parents took off for parts unknown, leaving her behind to attend school, Connie was the person left in charge of her. She started working for the family when was just eight years old. Even though refused to stay at the house now, she saw Connie regularly. She was always popping by the hospital to make sure that was taking care of herself and eating properly. could tell that Connie worried about her and honestly, it was comforting to know that someone cared.
Her mother seemed more interested in running her life and her father usually showed up to lecture her on what he thought she was doing wrong. Between the two of them, she felt like one major fuck up. After she graduated from medical school and Connie was the only person to show up for her graduation, she knew that she needed to make a few changes. That was when she completely cut herself off from her parents’ money. If they didn’t fund her life then they would have less say in the way that she ran it. She saved her salary for the first year, living in a little rundown apartment that would have terrified her parents, and she bought her townhouse. It was hers and she was so proud of herself for doing it on her own. Her parents had never even stepped foot in her house, but they had plenty to say about it being the wrong place for her.
“Hi ,” Connie said, pulling her in for a tight hug. “Are you all right?” nodded, not trusting that she wouldn’t burst into tears again at Connie’s kindness.
“We are so thankful that you are letting us stay the night. I promise, as soon as we can figure out our next move, we’ll be out of here.” Connie patted her back and smiled.
“You take as long as you need. This is your house too,” she soothed. “Security alerted your parents that you are here and that you brought company,” Connie grimaced. “I have orders to have you call your father as soon as you are settled in your room—alone.” ’s laughs sounded bitter. Of course, her father would be trying to control whom she slept with even from another continent.
“But what your father doesn’t know won’t hurt him,” Connie gave an exaggerated wink and turned to introduce herself to both guys. After they exchanged pleasantries, Connie showed them all to the room that they would be staying in without questioning if they would all be sharing a room, just assuming that they would be. felt her cheeks heat when she took in the massive bed and thought about what she hoped the guys would do to her in it.
“If the three of you need anything, please let me know.” Connie pulled in for a quick hug and turned to leave the room. She stopped in the door frame, “Call your father, ,” she shouted back over her shoulder and then disappeared down the hallway.
sighed knowing that the guys would have a million questions, and her father probably had about the same. She decided to get the phone call over with first then she would find the courage to face Travis and Jackson.
She pulled out her cell and slumped onto the sofa that sat at the foot of the bed. Her father picked up after only one ring and she could almost feel his anger at the other end.
“, tell me that you did not bring two strange men into my home while I was not there,” he barked. cringed and turned the volume down on her cell phone. She had her father on speaker, deciding that it would be easier than recounting the conversation for the guys once she ended the call.
“Well, it’s good to hear your voice too, Dad.” She knew that her sarcastic tone was only going to set him off more, but she couldn’t help it. needed to remember that she and the guys needed a safe place to stay for the night, so she didn’t want to piss her father off too much.
“This isn’t funny, young lady. I want to know what is going on,” he demanded.
“My—” hesitated, not knowing what to call Travis or Jackson. They hadn’t been together long enough to discuss what they were exactly. Were they both her boyfriends or should she just call them her friends? She was pretty sure her father would flip out if she said that they were just two guys she was having wild, crazy sex with. Hell, Travis and Jackson would probably be pissed off by that description also because they were all becoming so much more to each other. looked up to find that both guys were standing in front of her smirking as if daring her to call them her boyfriends. She never backed down from a challenge.
“My boyfriends and I ran into a little trouble. We needed a safe place to stay, and I thought of the house. If it’s not all right, we can just find a hotel.” Her father’s laugh sounded mean, and she was afraid that she would push him too far.
“Boyfriends, as in more than one? , what have you gone and done to yourself? It’s as if you have forgotten that you are a Jude. We don’t have multiple partners, and we certainly don’t parade them through town.” Her father’s words felt like a slap across her face. She gasped and suddenly felt the dam inside of her—the one that kept all her hurt emotions down—break.
“How dare you insinuate that I’ve done something wrong! I’ve found two wonderful men who treat me with respect and kindness, and you act as if I’ve done something dishonorable. You know what Daddy; I think the only thing that I’ve done wrong here was to hope to find some solace in your home. At least I’m brave enough to show the world who I am and not hide my mistress away on the side. You have only one partner, Daddy?”
stood and started gathering her things, not wanting to stay in her parents’ house one more minute than she had to. “The three of us will find someplace else to stay. Don’t worry Dad, you won’t have to put up with me sullying your good name for much longer. You can just go ahead and fully disown me—that’s what you want, isn’t it?” Her father’s sigh was the only sound that told her that he was still on the line. She thought that he might have ended the call from the silence on the other end.
“ let’s both calm down and discuss this rationally. You have to understand my side of this and well, I’ll try to see yours.” choked back tears not wanting her father to hear that he broke her. She never cried in front of him, it would show weakness, and he wouldn’t have her weak.
“Fine,” she spat. “But I won’t change who I am or whom I’m with if that is what you are hoping for, Daddy.” She stood and paced the room, feeling the guys stalking her every movement, watching her. It was comforting just knowing that they were both there for her but if she let them touch her, hold her, she would break down.
“Please feel free to stay at the house for as long as you’d like, . Your mother will be delighted to hear that you have finally returned home. Our only concern is your safety, and I know you are safe in my house.” Her father’s words made her nauseous. He acted as if she was moving back home for good and that would never happen. She could never live under his thumb again.
“I want the security cameras turned off in the right wing, Dad. I will be checking to make sure that happens. I won’t have my privacy invaded again, not now. You and mom have to accept that I’m a grown woman, I’m almost thirty.” wanted to stomp her foot with those last words but knew that would only make her look even more bratty.
Her father grunted, “Fine, I will order the cameras turned off in that area of the house. Anything else?” He seemed to be waiting her out as if she’d have more demands.
“No,” she conceded. “I can’t think of anything right now.”
“Please feel free to use anything that you need, . All my resources are at your disposal. And —call your mother. She misses you.” Her father ended the call.
“Well, he seems great,” Jack teased, and she couldn’t help her giggle.
“Yeah well, he never won the Father of the Year award if that’s what you’re thinking,” whispered. “I think I owe you guys an explanation.” She sunk onto the sofa again, trying to gather her scattered thoughts, not knowing where to even begin.
“You don’t owe us anything, baby,” Travis growled sitting down beside her and pulling her onto his lap. Jack sat on the other side of her letting her legs rest on top of his. They were always touching her, giving her the comfort that she needed. She was quickly losing her heart to these two men, and she wasn’t sure they would even want to stick around after they found out that she was just a spoiled, rich brat.
“No,” she shook her head. “You both have been so open with me, sharing your lives and I feel as though I’ve only shown you what I wanted you to see. This,” she gestured around the grand bedroom, “was my childhood.” She felt sick just saying those words.
“I grew up in the house and as an only child, I was always lonely. Connie started working for my parents when I was about eight and she became like a mother to me. She took care of me when my parents were off gallivanting around the globe,” she choked.
“I’m so sorry that you were alone like that, honey,” Jackson whispered, kissing her cheek. “But I’m so thankful that you’re ours now. We promise that you will never feel that way again.” Travis nodded beside her and pulled her in for a quick kiss.
“I appreciate that guys, I do. But we’ve only known each other for a matter of days, how can you make a promise like that and keep it? You can’t.” knew that hoping for Jackson’s words to be true was a long shot. What if they got tired of her or if they couldn’t deal with her crazy work schedule and decided to leave? That thought gutted her. She let her sob escape and they both wrapped their arms around her holding her tighter.
“, you might not be ready to hear this and I know it sounds crazy since the three of us have only been together for a few days but I think that I’m falling in love with you both,” Travis’s voice cracked and she wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Travis,” she whispered, “it's not crazy because I feel the same way. I was beginning to think that I was losing my mind. How can I have these feelings after just one weekend? I’m falling in love with you and Jackson and that scares the shit out of me. I’ve never felt this way about anyone in my life,” wiped at the hot tears that now freely spilled down her face.
Jackson cleared his throat, “I know that I don’t easily share my feelings with people, hell I suck at it. When I told my father that I was bi, he all but disowned me. I’ve never let people in because I was afraid of being hurt like that again. Meeting you two has shown me that I don’t have to be afraid anymore. I love you guys too, both of you.” leaned forward on Travis’s lap to wrap her arms around Jackson, pulling him in for a kiss. She felt like for the first time in her life she was finally home sitting between the two of them. ’s lonely past seemed to fade away leaving only the bright promise of her future with her two guys. There was no way that she was about to let anyone take that from her.
“So, how do we catch the asshole that’s doing this to us? I’m ready to kick some butt and get the hell back to our lives.” Travis and Jackson laughed, and she knew that they would find a way to get through this. The three of them could conquer just about anything together.