Free The Sextet Presents... Playing in the Raine [A Toy Story] (Siren Publishing Menage Amour) by Mellanie Szereto Page B

sigh. She’d never felt so pampered in her life. Probably a bad idea to get used to it.
    Forcing her eyes open, she sat up. Time to face reality. “I appreciate the bath more than you know, but I have to work tomorrow. Which means getting up at five thirty in the morning. It’s my bedtime, guys.” There. I said the words. They’ll leave, and I can figure out how the hell to keep my heart from breaking.
    Matt frowned. “That’s too damn early.”
    Vince and Rafe didn’t look very pleased, either.
    “I have to drive two hours to a job site for an inspection tomorrow. Once a week, like clockwork.” Guilt weighed on her conscience even though she told the truth. It was still an excuse to put some distance between her and them.
    Rafe seemed to accept her explanation. “Tomorrow’s Friday. I want to cook for you.”
    Cook? I’m in trouble. “Sure, sounds great. I’m not sure what time I’ll be home, so why don’t I stop by your house when I get back in town?” I can tell them how old I am before this goes any further.
    “Excellent.” Matt smiled. “I want to show you one of my new paintings.”
    Under the water, Rafe continued to massage her foot. “Mind if we have dinner at your house? We’ll never fit four at our table comfortably.”
    She bit the inside of her cheek to distract herself from the ache in her throat. How was she supposed to answer him when she couldn’t even swallow? Room for four wouldn’t be an issue when they found out she’d misled them by answering their ads. A yawn crept up through her chest. She dragged it out a bit longer than it actually was, finally working past the lump. “Sounds terrific.”
    Vince helped her to her feet, wrapping a towel around her naked body. Then he carried her back to bed. His lips pressed a warm kiss to her forehead. “You’re a special woman, Raine. Tonight was just the beginning.”
    As he stood, Matt moved closer, leaning in to kiss her cheek. “Sleep well, sweetheart. Sweet dreams.”
    Rafe touched his mouth to her other cheek. “We’ll count the minutes until we see you again. Don’t worry about the door. We’ll lock up on our way out.”
    They passed around towels, each drying and dressing. Turning as one when they reached the bedroom doorway, their smiles made her stomach twist. Then they were gone, bounding down the stairs, and the front door clicked closed.
    She cried herself to sleep.

 

    Chapter 11

    Fighting the urge to order Matt to sit down, Vince watched him pace to the window. Again.
    Another lap. “It’s almost five o’clock. Shouldn’t she be here by now?” Matt shoved his hair out of his face. “We need to tell her.”
    Rafe walked into the living room from the kitchen with a wooden spoon in his hand. “Tell who what? Want a taste of the marinara?”
    Vince shook his head at Matt’s sprint to the sauce. “He wants to tell Raine we love her. Something was bugging her last night. I think if we move too fast, we’ll scare her off.”
    “Matty, Vince has a point. She seemed, I don’t know, kind of upset when we were leaving, even though she asked us to go. But, on the other hand, what if she thinks we’re just using her?”
    A knock interrupted their conversation.
    Vince grabbed Matt’s arm before he could race to the door. “Can we at least wait to see if she’s ready? Hell, for all we know she’s here to tell us she isn’t interested anymore.”
    “Fine. Okay. Now, let me answer the damn door.” Three long strides and Matty let in their guest.
    She wore a different suit from last week at the coffee shop, but the sight of her affected Vince no less than that first time he’d seen her. “Hi, guys. Thanks for e-mailing the directions to your house. I forgot to ask yesterday.”
    Matt gestured for her come in. “Want to sit? Something to drink?”
    She hid her nervousness well except for the discreet nibble on her lower lip. Vince’s stomach dropped to his feet. This was it. She was here to tell them she