Free Keeping Katie by Angela Castle Page B

painkillers were working.

    "Good." Jack stood up, grabbing her hand pulling her into the kitchen. "I believe you promised to cook for us."

    "I promised to cook for Jordan. You're just an optional extra," she teased, with an impish grin. Katie glanced over at Jordan. He was watching her with Jack. If he was jealous, he didn't show it.

    Katie turned her attention back to Jack, "Can you cook?"

    "No, not really."

    "Can you follow instructions?"

    Jack gave a laugh. "Kitten, I'm a lawyer. I can follow them to the letter. Tonight I am at your command." He gave an overly dramatic bow, capturing her hand to kiss the back of it. She giggled before grinning over at Jordan who was now leaning against the table.

    "And you?"

    "Hey, I thought I was your boss." Jordan's boyish grin could seriously accelerate global warming. "Okay, okay I'll get the drinks. How about some music? Ladies'
    choice."

    "Anything but eighties music."

    ~ * ~

    Katie felt good; there was no uneasy awkwardness between her and her two men.
    She paused to think about her train of thought and where it was heading. They weren't her men. She realised they could be for the moment, at any rate.

    Jordan had clearly stated they wanted a woman to share. Could she do that? Could she be that bold? She didn't know what it was like to have one man let alone two.
    But she wasn't at all repulsed by the idea. Maybe her life was taking a turn for the better. Could three people in a relationship really work? Not that Katie wanted any kind of relationship.

    Dinner took a little longer to get ready as both guys were acting the fool, each trying to outdo the other in making her laugh. She was still giggling through the meal.

    "Oh, this is fantastic, Katie. You know now we're going to have to keep you chained in our kitchen," Jack said taking another mouthful. His expression was one of divine pleasure.

    "You are not taking away my worker or we'll never get out of this place." Jordan pointed his fork at Jack. "Our dream home." Jordan gave her a wink. She felt there was more meaning behind his words.

    "Jordan says your grandfather was a builder."

    She nodded, her giggles fading as she looked at Jack. "How did you end up living with him? I though you said your mother was back in Australia."

    She lowered her head. Taking in a deep breath, she knew they would start asking these questions sooner or later. Katie didn't want to deal with those emotions, not in front of Jordan and Jack. She didn't want to look like an emotional cripple to these guys.

    "I went to live with my Grandpa when I was ten. After my family was killed in an accident." A short, simple explanation, she hoped they wouldn't press her further.
    She looked up to see the questions in Jack's gaze. Quickly she moved on to more present issues rather than deal with questions of her past.

    "My grandfather died two months ago. My aunt Penny invited me to come and live in the UK. My aunt and uncle are the only family I have left."

    "I'm sorry for your loss, Katie," Jack said. She could feel the sincerity behind his words.

    "She spent the last few years caring for him. He had Alzheimer's," Jordan explained, reaching out to gently rub her shoulder, the simple touch sending jolts of white-heat through her body.

    "You haven't had much of a life if you've had to care for your grandfather."

    She attempted to look casual but failed miserably. She tried to blink back the tears that threatened to fall and failed again. They escaped, sliding down her cheeks.

    "Sorry," she muttered, swiping at her tears with the back of her hand.

    "Don't be sorry, sweetheart." Jordan, the tender-hearted, had moved off his seat to pull her into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his waist, comforted by his warmth and his delicious masculine scent. Jordan pulled back, leaning down to whisper into her ear.

    "You don't have to be alone anymore, sweetheart. We are both here for you." Katie realised Jack too had left his seat and was standing