Free Monroe, Melody S. - Deception Fantasy [Fantasy Resort 4] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) by Melody S. Monroe

You take the head, and I’ll lift her body. On my count.”
    This was the tricky part, but at least the girl wouldn’t remember much of the experience, given her state. The basket neared, and she and Jack worked in tandem to lift the girl and place her safely in the mesh cage. Diana tucked the sleeping bag around the girl and prayed she’d be okay.
    They stepped back and gave the go signal. In seconds, the girl was inside the chopper and the noisy machine disappeared into the black night.
    “I’m glad she’s in good hands.” Jack continued to watch the white dot as it traversed the sky.
    She ran a hand down his arm. “Thanks for helping.”
    He nodded, as if it was all in a day’s job. “We better head back. Trace should be on his way.”
    Maybe it was better that they hadn’t started kissing. Getting hot would have added to her frustration, and there was no way they could have had sex with the chopper about to arrive.
    They both gathered their gear. The hard part would be climbing up the rock face in the dark. “Jack, you go first. I’ll shine my light on the rocks where I think would be easiest place to climb.”
    His lips pressed together, probably thinking about whether his ego could take direction from her. “Okay. When I get to the top, I’ll guide you.”
    “That works for me.”
    His ascent was slow and steady. He took all of her directions without question and made it to the top rather quickly.
    “Good job,” she called up. “You’re a natural.”
    She couldn’t see if he smiled, but she imagined he was damned glad he’d made it. True to his word, he kept his light on the path as she climbed up.
    They arrived at the campsite only a few minutes before Trace did.
    He was out of breath. “They come?”
    “Yes. She’s safe.”
    “Thank God.”
    He dropped to the ground, looking more out of sorts than she would have expected from a former soldier. Something must have happened to him in the past to create such distress. He dropped his head in his hands.
    “She’s going to make it.” Not that she could tell for sure, but there was no use being negative.
    “I was so worried.” He dragged a hand down his face. “My phone kept cutting in and out. I didn’t think I would be able to explain where you were.”
    “We had flares. That helped.” She didn’t want to minimize his contribution.
    She sat next to him and placed a hand on his thigh. He looked up. “Did something happen like this before?”
    He straightened. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
    The pain in his voice cut right through her. “It might help to let it out. I’m a good listener.”
    He gently turned her face so their lips were inches from each other. “It’s not easy to open wounds, but if you tell me why you really came to the resort, I might be willing to tell you why seeing that little girl all crumpled on the ground ripped me apart.”
    She couldn’t move or breathe. A tear formed in the corner of her eye at the sadness coming from him. Mr. Brave had a hard shell and maybe a too-soft center. Could she tell the two men she always thought she loved that she too was broken? Would that even help? She had to give it a try, especially if would get Trace to open up.
    “I was lonely.”
    He lowered his hand and leaned back on his elbows. “I don’t believe that for a moment.”
    “Why? Because you think I look okay? It’s not that easy to find someone you can relate to, talk to, bare your soul to.” He should know. He was gorgeous and yet he had no one, as far as she could tell.
    Trace was silent for a moment. Even Jack kept his thoughts to himself.
    “Maybe you’re right. There are things in life you try to keep buried, and that means you need to build a shell around your heart to protect yourself. Each year, that shell grows harder, doesn’t it?”
    Wow. He understood. “Yes.”
    He dropped his head back and looked up at the stars. She wanted to rub his arm or kiss him to show him how much she cared, but he