Chapter Sixteen #2
It’s more like a loft. A king-size bed is in the center of the room with a canopy, the bars encased in a black, filmy fabric.
It faces the door, and at the back of the room is a sitting area with a couch, chair, and a coffee table.
Windows line the wall behind them. There is a door to the left of the bed, which I assume is the bathroom. My heart might explode if I look at it.
“Do you like it?” Lawson asks.
“Like isn’t the right word.” I walk to the bed and trail my hand across the fluffy burgundy blankets. I bite my nail and glide my other hand over the headboard as I walk around the back of it. “This is mine?”
“Yes,” Remy says softly.
“This can’t be mine.” I shake my head and stare at the other door I didn’t notice.
“That's the walk-in closet,” Hunter says.
“Walk-in,” I say faintly. Tears gather in my eyes. “Can’t be.”
“Sunshine?” Lawson steps close.
“As I said, my house was like a mansion.” I clear my throat.
“My father took everything as his right. My room was white. The walls, the floor, the bed, everything. I didn’t want to be ungrateful, and my bed was very comfortable.
” I lick my lips and tangle my hand in the hem of Lawson’s shirt.
“I like color.” I stare at the deep red, glossy dresser between the closet and bathroom doors.
“It never felt like home. It doesn’t really matter what the color or size of a home is.
What matters is the way you feel while living in it.
” I exhale slowly, trying to stop the tears I know are coming. “This feels like home. My home.”
“It is,” Bane whispers.
“Can I hang up my mom’s pictures?” I glance at the wall. There is plenty of space for them.
“You can do whatever the fuck you want,” Hunter says.
“Do you want to do it now?” Lawson asks.
“I would love it.” I turn my head and smile.
“We’ll get them,” Remy says and turns to leave the room.
“I’ll come too.” I tug Lawson around the bed, and we retrace our steps. I look around as we enter the bottom hallway.
“Wait inside,” Bane says, and I nod. Releasing Lawson, I walk through the kitchen, opening cabinets.
“Remy has everything organized as he likes,” Hunter says, and I glance at him.
“I expected dishes in the sink.” I laugh. “I should have known.”
“He likes everything in its place,” Lawson grumbles.
“Law hasn’t learned his lesson yet,” Hunter tells me. “He likes to provoke him and leaves dishes everywhere.”
“I’ve threatened him with no food,” Remy says as they return with the crates, and the painting supplies Bane got me.
“He hasn’t done it for a while.” I grin and walk toward him.
I unlatch one of the clips holding the crate closed.
“We have visitors coming.” I look at the door, and don’t hear anything.
“Who?” Hunter asks, moving quickly around everyone.
“The lions,” Bane says, and I stand straight.
“They are friends, right?” I look around Hunter as he stands in the doorway.
“Remy knows them well,” Bane says.
“I met Las first. We became friends, and then I met his brothers, Logan and Lucas. They brought their mate to my restaurant shortly after meeting her,” Remy explains, leaning against the counter. “We don’t get together a lot. I’m sure they heard about you through the family.”
“Sally probably sent a group text,” Bane says, pulling out his phone. “I haven’t been paying attention.”
“So, the three of them are mated to one woman?” I ask. I vaguely remember Sally saying something about them at the club, and I’m curious to meet the woman.
“Yes, they share her,” Remy says.
“Mmm…” She would be nice to talk to. “What’s her name?” I ask as I hear a vehicle stop.
“Breeane.” Hunter leans on the inside of the doorframe, his head twisted to see outside. “She was human when she met them.” Four doors open and shut, and he turns to watch their approach. “How did Sally know Haven was moving in?”
“Bane,” a man says.
“She’s my friend,” Bane says when all of us look at him.
“She’s definitely efficient,” Remy mumbles, standing straight. Hunter moves back, and four people enter the house.
Damn. Everyone is beautiful.
“Haven, meet Las, Logan, Lucas, and Breeane,” Hunter says, pointing to each of them.
“Our mate,” Remy says, moving toward Las. “How are you?” They do the man-hand-clasp, half-hug thing.
“I should be asking you that. Congratulations,” Las says, grinning. He’s tall, handsome, and muscular. He has an aura of command in his frame.
“Appreciate it,” Remy says, nodding at Logan and Lucas. “Breeane, are they treating you well?”
“Why wouldn’t we?” Lucas asks. He's slimmer than Las, with shaggy brown hair and an easy smile.
“Of course.” She grins and winks at me. Breeane is stunning. She has long red hair, curves, and a huge smile. “Nice to meet you. We came to meet you but also to offer help if you needed it. Do you have more things to move in?” She looks beside me and tilts her head.
“Not yet. I didn’t expect to need to bring my things.”
She moves away from her mates and stops in front of me. “Are those paintings?” she asks.
“Yes. My mom’s.”
She narrows her eyes, and I notice the crate fell open slightly. “Can I see?” she asks.
“Sure.” All the guys watch us interact in silence. I unclasp the remaining metal and open the crate.
“No way,” she breathes, crouching. “Your mom is Maggie Marie?” The painting is a gorgeous scene of the beach. It gives me peace to look at it.
“She is,” I say softly. “That was the name she chose to share with the public.”
“Princess, what's she talking about?” Hunter asks.
“My mom was fairly successful,” I say.
“That’s an understatement,” Breeane snorts.
“Everyone who loved art would have paid any amount for her work and there is still talk about her talent. I studied her history in school. Our art teacher was a huge fan. She rarely had shows, and instead stayed secluded. No one knew much about her, but it just added to the mystery.” She cringes.
“Sorry, I’m telling them as if I know more than you. ”
“It’s fine,” I laugh. “I love hearing how much she affected you.”
“She was inspired,” she says, standing. “I can’t believe I’m meeting her daughter. I’m so sorry she passed.”
“Thank you,” I say softly.
“She was talented,” Logan says, moving to stand by Breeane. I nod. It’s difficult to speak when you look into his eyes. His hair is buzzed close to his scalp, and his face is the ultimate masculine beauty.
“You didn’t mention that your mom was famous,” Bane says.
“She was well known,” I mumble.
“I remember one of her pieces sold for a million,” Breeane says.
“Yes, well…” I clear my throat. “We were about to hang them up. Do you want to help?”
“I would love to.” She looks at her mates. “We have plenty of muscle to carry them.” She grins.
“Lead the way,” Las says.
I step back, and Breeane threads her arm through mine.
“Are you putting them in your room?” she asks.
“Yes.” I move back down the hallway, and she stays at my side. “Have you been here before?”
“Yes, a few times, but I haven’t been upstairs,” she says. Her easy friendship doesn’t surprise me since I’ve met other women in the family, and it’s nice to be so easily accepted.
The guys follow behind us carrying the pictures. I don’t like to think about the fact that they could have been in my father's hands if Bane hadn’t gotten them. Retracing my steps, I’m still in awe as I walk into my room. It’s going to take time to get used to it being mine.
“Do you have a drill?” Logan asks.
“I’ll get it,” Lawson says.
“What a room,” Breeane gasps.
“Beautiful, huh?” I smile as she pulls away and explores the space.
“Do you want all of them up?” Hunter asks.
“Just three of them,” I say, and walk toward him. “The others should remain in the cases.” They are too valuable and personal. I motion to the three I want. Hunter puts the others in the closet, and the guys get to work.
“My mates have a construction business.” She stands beside me, nudging me with her shoulder. “Sometimes I go to work with them, just to watch,” she whispers.
“I don’t blame you,” I whisper back, staring at the seven men hanging up three pictures.
“Are you hungry?” she asks.
“I could eat.” I tilt my head, and she nods.
“You guys should go get some food,” she says, and her mates look at her.
“There is a chef and a baker in the house, and you want us to get food?” Lucas asks, his hands on his hips.
“Yes.” She smiles.
“I can make something,” Remy offers.
“No, we want something from town,” she says, and my mates look at me. “You guys can catch up while you drive to get it.”
“I see a red ass in the future,” Las rumbles softly as he walks past her.
“Bring it on, Daddy,” she says, and I blink.
“Princess, what would you like?” Hunter asks, stopping in front of me.
“I’m not picky.”
He leans down and kisses me briefly. “We’ll lock the door,” he says.
“I won’t let anything happen to her. My lion will protect her,” Breeane says.
“Definitely a red ass,” Logan says.
Bane touches my nose before walking out the door. Lawson kisses me, and Remy glides his hand over my hair.
“Be good, slugger,” Lucas sings.
“You like me bad,” Breeane says.
“True.” He winks and leaves.
We don’t move as they descend the stairs. They talk as they move through the house, and out the front door. The silence is startling when the sound of the vehicles fades away.
She called Las Daddy, but didn’t hesitate to order them out of the house.
I think I’m going to like her.