Free Quatre by Em Petrova

her. “Of course she wouldn’t call you, Danny. She’s devastated by what happened.” He pierced her in his gaze. The intensity of it—his unchecked passion and fury and sadness—took her breath away. “I don’t know why I’m admitting this to you, but I’m pretty shattered too.” A puff of air left Jane. Perhaps he could open up to her and listen to her reasons for coming here. For a heavy heartbeat, their gazes 46

    Em Petrova
    held. A heated blush began to climb over her throat and spread to her cheeks. Damn, she hadn’t blushed like this since...she’d met Ethan.
    The realization struck her, and she began to mentally flounder, wondering what she was doing here alone with this man when she was obviously attracted to him. He was stunning in his own rights, from his overwhelmingly male body to the fact that he loved Margot too.With his slightly limping step, he crossed to the table carrying the mugs. He set hers before her and asked if she took cream or sugar.
    She covered the top with her palm. “Black is fine, thank you.” His lips twitched. “So you and Margot...are lovers.” The sound of the words created a warm pool in her belly. Lovers.
    A beautiful word. And one she might never again associate with another woman. After giving her heart to Margot, she couldn’t imagine entrusting it to any other. Besides, Margot was perfect for her.
    To cover her emotion, she took a sip of the scalding coffee. “We started something up a few months ago, and I instantly fell in love with her.”
    He flinched at her admission, but she plowed on.
    “I don’t have to tell you she’s a wonderful woman. Warm and giving. The most caring. When we first got together, she was suffering from a lack of self-esteem after her divorce, and I’ve seen a blossom-ing in her since.”
    Something cold moved behind his eyes. “So where did your husband come into the picture?”
    She drew up a little at his tone, guarding her heart and on the defensive for Ethan’s sake. “It was the natural course of events, considering Ethan is my husband, my soul mate. We are very open with one another about our wants, and when he realized I needed Margot in my life, he didn’t hesitate to include her. At first, she was a little worried, but soon realized it was a perfect fit.”
    “And there are emotions involved? Between those two?” Reluctantly, Jane nodded. Though she rejoiced at the idea that he didn’t mind her feeling love for Margot, she felt he wouldn’t exactly approve of a heart connection between Margot and Ethan.
    Danny set his cup down with force, sending the table wobbling.
    “Damn, I don’t like to hear that. So she used me, for what? What did she get out of a relationship with me when she already had two people to love—a man and a woman?”
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    “Margot longs for the happily ever after. She wants that with you.
    The husband to come home to when she’s had a rough day at work, who will draw her into his arms and unconditionally love her. Of course she can have that with me and Ethan any day, but it’s trickier with us, because we all have children to protect from rumor. Margot goes home to a lonely house and an empty bed.”
    “So she does want a man. Besides Ethan, that is.”
    “Absolutely. If you can give that to her, be there for her and love her, Ethan and I can back off. We can give her up.” Her voice broke.
    Tears burned her eyelids, and she simply couldn’t hold them in any longer. They dropped, one by one, falling faster as the pain swallowed her.For a long moment, silence reigned. She wrapped her fingers around her mug and let the warmth seep into her, wishing Ethan was here to lean on.
    After a minute, Danny’s big hand covered hers. Curled around her fingers and threaded his way past the walls she’d just thrown up.
    “I’m sorry that you’re hurting. It’s obvious how much you love her. If it’s any consolation, I feel the same way. Heartbroken. Lost.
    Adrift on a sea. It’s the