Chapter 14
Georgia
“They’re ready,” I set the pan of homemade cinnamon rolls onto the table in front of Miles, Emmett, and Brody. All of them are basically drooling, and Emmett, as per usual, is the first one to grab for one.
I laugh as I step back, tossing the towel on the counter. As I do, my phone buzzes in the back pocket of my jeans. I fish it out, expecting to see Daisy’s name on the screen, but instead, I see my father’s.
Shit. I’ve been avoiding him since I left on the trip with Brody. I take a deep breath and silence the call.
“Everything okay?” Brody arches his brows at me.
I purse my lips, tempted to tell him the truth. “Um…” I open my mouth, and then choose not to go there. “It’s nothing. Just spam.” Honestly, I don’t want Brody or any of the guys worried about my father.
He’s barely in my life anyway.
Not to mention the delicate balance between the three guys. It’s only been a few days, and while everyone seems to be adjusting to the fact that I’m seeing all of them…
There are still moments of tension.
But I guess it just comes with the territory.
“So, I have a meeting with one of the editors from Travel USA,” Emmett speaks up, shoving half a cinnamon roll into his mouth.
“I don’t know how long it’ll take, but he’s been wanting to talk to me about some idea for a new publication for some time now.
He was waiting until we docked here in Charleston. ”
“Ah, well, I hope that goes the way you want it to,” Miles says. “I need to get in contact with a few of the guys at the firm and see what happened at court yesterday. We have that corporate lawsuit with the Montana oil company.”
“So you’ll be MIA today, too?” I offer up, folding my arms across my chest. It’s not like I care if they’re busy. Honestly, I could use an afternoon to myself to process what’s going on with all of us.
“Yeah,” Miles gives me a sheepish grin. “But I promise it won’t take all day.”
“It’s okay,” I reassure him. “I was actually thinking about going to the markets. We need to restock on some food.”
“That’s fine,” Brody chimes. “I need to pick up some supplies, so I can drop you off there, and then we can meet up later.”
I nod, thankful he didn’t invite himself along. “Perfect.”
I continue to lean against the counter as the guys finish their breakfast, making a mental reminder that I still need to get back to Daisy. She’s sent me a lot of texts checking up on me, and I haven’t been very responsive.
Because I have no idea how she’ll take this news.
As soon as Emmett finishes, he pushes back from the table, taking his plate with him. He carries it to the sink, washes it, and then places it on the rack. Out of the three, he might be the biggest flirt, but he’s also the most straightforward when it comes to offering a hand.
“I’m going to get ready and get out of here for that meeting.” He plants a kiss on the top of my head, his fingers brushing my ass as he heads for the exit.
“Best of luck,” I call after him, watching him disappear from the main lounge area. There’s something about Emmett that always commands my attention, he’s just so damn charming…
“He seems stressed,” Miles comments. He grabs a second roll from the pan and then gives me a grin. “Your food always makes me go back for seconds. It’s a good thing I do my calisthenics every morning.”
“No kidding,” Brody agrees, taking the last bite of his roll. I offer to take his plate, but he shakes his head. “Why don’t you let us take care of this, and you go get ready? I’d rather head out sooner rather than later.”
“Sure thing.” I nod, my stomach knotting up. I’m a little nervous about being in Charleston. My father lives here when he’s stateside.
But he’s in Italy? Right? Isn’t that what Brody said?
I rack my brain, but honestly, I can’t remember. Ever since this trip started, my entire world has been turned upside down. I mean, I’m sharing three men for fuck’s sake.
That has me smiling to myself as I slip out of the main cabin area and thunder down the steps to where my room is. As I hit the lower deck, my phone starts buzzing again. I take a deep breath and pull it out once more, this time intending to answer it.
Just tell him the truth. You’re working for Brody.
But as I see the name on the screen, I realize it’s just Daisy.
Thank God. With her, I can be real and honest.
“Oh my god! You actually answered,” her voice comes over the line before I can even greet her. “I seriously was starting to think that you drowned. I mean, maybe in cum, but yeah.”
“Gross,” I curl my lip up, and shut my bedroom door behind me. “That is not what happened.”
“Okay, so care to tell me how things are going with this whole hot man mess?”
“More like hot men mess.”
She’s silent for a few beats and then lets out a breath. “I knew it. I fucking knew it. They’re all into you, aren’t they? Every single one of them!”
“No,” I immediately deny, and then shake my head, plopping down on my bed. “Actually, yes. And it’s been crazy. I feel like I’m living in a dream or something.”
“Yeah, a wet dream.”
I bite back a smile. “Still, it’s crazy.”
“It is crazy,” Daisy squeals. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me! I’m seriously dying right now. Like, look at you, landing all these hot rich men. Which one do you like the most?”
“None,” I answer her, twirling a piece of my hair. “I like them all the same, but like… different? I don’t know. This whole thing is so weird.”
“It’s modern. Though I have to admit…” Her voice trails off for a moment. “I can’t see it ending well. I don’t know a single man who’s into sharing long-term. It just sounds fun, but it might implode.”
I chew the inside of my cheek, already having thought of this. “There is a little tension.”
“Hmm… I can only imagine.” She giggles. “It must be so nice to have three men pining after you so much they’re willing to share, though. You’re living the dream, girl.”
“Don’t tell your husband that,” I tease, breaking into a smile. “But really, it’s been a whirlwind, and I don’t know what’s going to happen when the trip is over.”
“You’ll have three boyfriends?” Daisy offers it up, and I can barely contain my laughter.
“That sounds ridiculous,” I blurt out. “Can you imagine what people would think? And what about my dad? These guys are his friends.”
“Okay, so maybe it’s just a fling,” Daisy throws out, as I stand up and head for the bathroom. “It might be the best option, really. You get to have a ton of hot, crazy sex with these guys, then you get your cash, and you jet out of there.”
“Oh my god, that makes me sound like a prostitute.”
“A high-end prostitute,” she points out, just as the call shifts to FaceTime. My best friend’s pretty face fills the screen, and I set her up against the mirror as I start to do my makeup. “You look amazing, by the way.”
I eye her. “It’s just the tan.”
“No, it’s the glow of a woman who gets more dick than most.”
“Ha, yeah,” I snort. “But that part still feels… weird. It’s like,” I pause, trying to find the right words as I pick up my lip gloss. “It’s like I almost feel like I’m cheating on the other two when I sleep with one? Or like I’m hiding something from them.”
“Why not just have the other two join? Or watch?” Daisy offers. “Girl, that would be insane.”
“Yeah, it definitely would be.” I laugh, trying to imagine Brody, of all the men, being okay with watching Emmett or Miles fuck me. He still winces and occasionally looks murderous if either of them touches me. “I guess we’ll just have to see how it goes. I’m not sure at this point.”
“Valid,” she says. “So, where are you docked now? Or are you still floating off the coast somewhere?”
“Charleston,” I answer her.
“Your old home town.”
“Yep.” I take a quick look at myself in the mirror. I have on a black tank top with my khaki shorts, and while part of me thinks I should change into something nicer, the other part says fuck it.
And I let that part win.
I mean, what are the odds of actually running into someone I know?
“Well, I hope you have a lovely day with your dudes,” Daisy giggles. “I seriously have to get back to doing unfun adult things—like getting ready for a job that isn’t nearly as luxurious as yours.”
I give her a smile. “Tell your husband he needs to get rich. Pronto.”
“I’ll pass the message along,” she giggles. “Love you!”
“Love you.” I hang up and then take another look in the mirror.
Fuck it. I look fine. I grab my phone, my purse, and then slide my feet into sandals. I have no idea what this day is going to bring, but walking around by myself will at least give me a chance to process how in the hell I’m going to handle three men for the rest of this trip.
Three boyfriends…
There’s no way that’ll happen… right?
But the idea doesn’t sound like the worst, and my stomach knots up in an entirely different way as I kick it around in my brain. However, the thought of it not working immediately follows.
And it’s way more likely this will all just end when the job ends, I think to myself as I open my door. I’m met with Brody’s slightly annoyed gaze.
“You okay?” he asks, a smile on his face. “I was starting to think maybe you had decided to take a nap or something.”
“It was like twenty minutes,” I roll my eyes, stepping out into the hallway and closing the door behind me. “No need to come searching for me.”
“Oh, I’ll always come searching for you, Georgie.” He gives me a wink that makes my heart flutter, and then grabs my hand, lacing his fingers through mine. “You don’t ever have to worry about that.”
I peer up at him. I just hope it stays this way.
He squeezes my hand and then leads me up the stairwell.
The air in Charleston feels more humid, and as we step off the yacht, I note the overcast skies.
“Are we going to have another storm?” I ask Brody as he guides me toward the parking lot.