Chapter 36
“ C an we go see the Christmas lights?” Indie asked as she ate her dinner.
She’d graduated to being allowed to eat at the table.
Go her!
She couldn’t believe that all three guys had slept in her bedroom for the last three nights.
And they were in a relationship.
The first thing she’d wanted to do the morning after was call Maggie, but she’d held herself back. This was new. What if it didn’t last?
That thought made her feel ill. But she had to be cautious.
Yeah? How cautious can you be when you already love them? And you live with them? When you rely on them for everything?
Hush, stupid inner voice.
They aren’t going to hurt me again.
Well, the three of them sitting at the table wouldn’t.
Quaid . . . he was hurting her already. But she wasn’t angry with him. Slade had explained that he was too busy beating himself up to feel anything else.
That made her feel ill .
She had to do something to help him. But that was difficult when she rarely saw him.
“It’s cold and dark out,” Slade said.
“Um, yeah, it’s nearly winter. In London. Of course it’s dark and cold. But it’s better to view the lights in the dark anyway. And we can get hot chocolate with whipped cream!”
That sounded delicious and she bounced on the seat before wincing and stilling.
“Stay still,” Spencer ordered. “You’re going to hurt yourself.”
She sighed. “Please.”
“I don’t want you in those crowds,” Slade told her. “You could get jostled and hurt.”
“Not if you guys are with me. You’ll protect me. And isn’t Billy meant to be in Wales? Please. Please.” She started bouncing again.
Ouch.
Damn it.
This sucked. Couldn’t a girl get excited about Christmas lights and hot chocolate without her ribs protesting?
Rock stood and walked around to her. To her surprise, he lifted her and then sat with her on his lap, his arms around her.
Whoa.
He was so nice and warm. And he smelled so damn good.
Spencer picked up her fork with a smirk and fed her a bite of her dinner. “Guess that’s one way to make sure you stay still.”
She glared at him.
That was rude.
“Perhaps she needs a highchair,” Slade said. “With straps.”
“I do not!” She could feel herself going bright red.
Rock kissed her neck, trying to soothe her.
“You don’t like the idea of a high chair?” Slade asked.
“I don’t need one.” Did she like that idea, though? She wasn’t sure.
Spencer fed her another bite of food.
They’d been doing more of this the last few days. Spending time with her together .
And apart.
However, they still weren’t keen on letting her leave the penthouse. Or on telling her what their surprise was.
Meanies.
Didn’t they know it was torture not to know what they were up to?
“How young is your Little?” Slade asked.
That was a good question. One she didn’t have a ready answer to.
“I’m not sure. Like I said, I don’t really have any experience at this.” She dropped her gaze to her hands which were twisted in her lap.
“Hey.” Spencer placed a firm finger under her chin, tilting her head back. “Nobody said you had to have any experience. And everyone starts somewhere. You just need to explore that side of yourself. Figure out how young you are.”
“How do I do that?” she asked. “Maybe by going to the club? Can I go with you guys one night?”
“No way,” Slade said.
“Not happening,” Spencer added.
Rude.
She turned to look up at Rock. He simply sighed. “When you’re better.”
“I am better.”
The all stared at her.
“Fine. I’m nearly all better. So once my ribs are all good, I can go?”
“Yes,” Slade said. “Then you can go.”
“And you haven’t forgotten about my appointment tomorrow, right? I’m having a scan. Then a check-in with my midwife next week and another appointment with my doctor. If my doctor says I’m fully healed, then we’ll go together?”
“Then we’ll go together, Princess,” Spencer agreed.
“Right. So tonight, lights, maybe a market?” she asked hopefully. “Please. Please. Please. ”
“You are so naughty,” Slade growled at her. “We are definitely getting a naughty girl notebook for you.”
“I notice you didn’t say no.”
They all gave her long-suffering looks.
“All right. We’ll go,” Slade said.
Yay!