Free Designing Woman (The Sloan Brothers Book 2) by Jo Willow Page B

to.  But who did I belong to?  He was quick to react in fits of jealousy, but he’d write me off if the mood struck.  What did that mean exactly and what did I want or expect?  Austin was right.  I was setting a dangerous precedence and I had no one to blame but myself.
    “You’re right Austin.  I need to give this some serious thought.”
    He turned from the counter where he’d been chopping vegetables for omelettes and looked at me.
    “Let me know what you figure out.”
    He turned back around and continued chopping, but I understood the implication.  He wouldn’t hold last night against me because we hadn’t started anything yet.  I had a feeling that if we did however, the security code would be changed and it’s activation would be an every night occurrence.
     
    “I think we’re gonna make it!”
    Sean’s declaration could have been a jinx, but with the last model leaving and the last alteration on his sewing machine, I couldn’t hold it against him.
    “Of course we’re gonna make it.  You had doubts?”
    I poured him another cup of coffee from the carafe that Austin had brought in earlier.  Those men were coming in handy.  They fixed breakfast and cleaned up afterwards.  I had yet to meet a man that would do that without asking.
    Sean stopped sewing to enjoy his coffee while it was hot.
    “Mel’, what’s the story with the hotties in the kitchen?  Are we hiring galley slaves now?  For the record, I’m all for the idea.  Wherever did you find them?”
    Ayla poked her head up from the mountain of paperwork she was sorting through on her desk.
    “Hey slut muffin.  One of those hotties is my brother.  For the record, they’re both as straight as arrows.”
    Sean shooed her protest with a gesture and a wink.
    “Nice gene pool there Ayla.  I know they’re straight.  Believe me.  More to the point, I’d know if they weren’t.  The question is, what are they doing here?”
    I shot a look at Ayla because frankly, I didn’t exactly know why they were here or why Ayla was shacking up with Pierce.  I fell into line because she was my friend.  But in the cold gray light of dawn, I had a few questions myself.
    She squirmed under the scrutiny and I had a decision to make.  I could let her off the hook or force her to ‘fess up.  Since the parties in question seemed a tad overly concerned about my security measures, I opted for the question and answer part of the program.
    I turned and focused on Ayla who obviously wished I’d distract Sean.  Not gonna happen.
    “Ayla, I know this is uncomfortable to you and you know that the three of us are as close as family.  I’ve done my best not to pry into your past or personal life, but I think we’re in neck deep now.  If there’s something we should know, then I’d rather hear it from you.  Why did you and Austin have to clear out of your place?”
    Her shoulders sagged with what looked like the weight of the world as she stood.  She walked to us and poured herself a cup of coffee before she sat down behind the serger and looked at both of us somberly.  We were both facing her, braced for whatever we were about to hear.
    “You’re right.  There’s a good shot you’re both in danger by association and it’s not right for me to keep this from you.  I’m not going to ask you to keep my secret Mel’, because Chase has already told Deacon.  That’s how we decided to leave the apartment.  But I will ask that it doesn’t leave your family.  Sean?  Sorry buddy, but you can’t tell or talk to anyone about this but us.  You’ll understand in a minute.”
    Something told me that I was about to hear something I’d later regret asking about.  She swallowed a couple of times and brushed her hair behind her shoulders.  Ayla had a few nervous ticks and we just saw two of them.
    “Austin, Chase, and I grew up in Boston.  Not in the nice part, but in the part that you don’t hear much about.  The neighborhood isn’t