Monroe, Marla - Desire for Two (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (12 page)

“Actually, that’s one of the ones I’d picked out as fitting best on their lot. You’ve got a good eye.”

“They’ve got a terrific view from that spot, don’t they,” she said.

“Yeah, they do. Look over the plans now and see if there is anything you want added, changed or removed. I’ll draw up the alternate plans from that.”

She nodded and took the plans back over to the table and spread them out. She spent another forty-five minutes going over them and making notes for Allen. There wasn’t much she wanted to change, but she did add a deck off the back and a mud room between the carport to the kitchen. If they had kids and they lived on the mountain, they were going to need a room to handle the dirty, muddy clothes. It was also perfect for the laundry room as well. That left an extra space for a pantry in the kitchen.

Desire handed her suggestions and the plans back to Allen to look over. He pronounced them all doable and promised to have the redrawn plans to her in two weeks to go over again.

“I’m not sure what our schedule is yet. They haven’t told me, so I’ll trust you’ll find us one way or another.” She gave him her number and he promised to call when they were ready. She would go from there.

Since she was finished nearly an hour early, Desire decided to have a look around the town on her own. She started out in a store filled with nothing but dresses. Every type you could imagine filled the racks, from slinky nightwear to tiny sun dresses. She spent a good thirty minutes browsing through the dresses. Once someone came up to ask if they could help her, and she smiled and told her she was just looking for now.

Then she crossed the street to the bath and body store. She wanted some lotion. She’d forgotten hers. That was where the men found her several minutes later.

“Allen told us you’d already left and Emily from the dress shop said you’d come here next,” Clay told her when she asked how they’d found her.

“Small town and all, I guess,” she said with a smile.

“What are you looking at?” Elliot asked.

“Oh, just some body lotion. I found some I like. I’m going to come back later and get it. Are you ready to work on that contract now?” she asked.

“Actually, it’s nearly lunchtime so we thought we would get a bite to eat first.” Elliot steered her toward the door.

“Okay, but I’m still full from breakfast,” she warned him.

They crossed the street again and walked into the diner. Clay caught up with them before she even realized he hadn’t been with them. He handed her a bag.

“What’s this?” She opened the bag and frowned at him.

“What?” I thought you would like it,” he said, obviously mystified at her reaction.

“I can buy my own things, Clay. You don’t have to buy stuff for me.”

“I know you can. I wasn’t implying you couldn’t. I just wanted to get you a present. It’s nothing, just a bottle of lotion,” he griped.

Instantly, Desire was ashamed. She wrapped an arm around him and pulled his head down for a kiss.

“I’m sorry, Clay. I’m a little sensitive about gifts. Thank you. It was very sweet of you.”

He perked up and hugged her back.

“Why don’t you like receiving gifts?” Elliot asked.

“It makes me feel, I don’t know, cheap. Like I’m a mistress or something.”

“Don’t every think that, pet. You’re not our mistress. You’re our girlfriend, and very sexy lover,” he added in a quiet whisper for their ears only.

Clay leaned in and added, “A girlfriend I’m crazy about.”

She didn’t miss Elliot’s stern look at Clay. What was that about? Why didn’t he want Clay to tell her that? Was he warning him not to make her feel too important? Well, she had no illusions there.

After diner she followed them back to the office and worked with them on the contract for the property surrounding the house. They already owned the spot where the house would be built.

“Allen said you picked out the perfect house for that spot. I knew you would know what to choose.” Elliot hugged her.

“It’s almost like the house was created for that spot. It was a no-brainer for me.” She smiled, enjoying their praise.

“So can you fix this up for us to take to the lawyer tomorrow?” Clay asked her.

“Won’t take more than a couple of hours to go through and make the changes and print it out, but I’m going to have to have one of your computers since someone didn’t think I’d need one while I was here.”

Both men had the grace to blush.

“You can use mine,” Clay offered.

Desire got right to work while Clay and Elliot made a conference call with a client back in the city. She soon had the contract ready to print out. She could hear the men arguing in the other room about something. She frowned. She couldn’t remember them ever arguing about anything in the past. What could cause a rift between them now?

She started to walk in and ask what all the fuss was about when she heard her name. She paused. She wasn’t one to eavesdrop. Instead of standing there, she knocked on the door and waited for them to tell her to come in.

When she entered the room, Elliot was behind the desk with Clay standing in front of it with both hands on the desk. They both looked a little guilty.

“You two sound like you are about to come to blows in here. What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Just a difference of opinion over something. Nothing for you to worry about.” Elliot walked around the desk and wrapped an arm around her waist. “Is the contract ready?”

“All it needs now is the third name and it’s ready to print,” she told him.

“Oh, right,” he said. “Go ahead and print it out like it is. I want the owners to look over it and approve it before we go any further anyway.”

Clay smiled and looked at Elliot. “Of course we could go ahead and add the other name now and finish this.”

“And I said not yet.” Elliot growled.

“I’m going to go print it out. You two need to agree on something, I can tell.” She walked out, barely able to keep the tears from escaping.

They already had the woman they wanted as a wife picked out and were arguing over letting her know it since they were sleeping with her. How could they carry on an affair with her while contemplating marriage with another woman? How could she have an affair with them when they obviously already had a fiancée picked out? What was wrong with her?

She hit print on the computer and looked at the package with the body lotion in it. She wanted to throw it in the trash now. Instead, she swallowed back the tears and concentrated on what her job was. She pulled up her e-mail and accessed her calendar to be sure she had everything set for their meeting tomorrow. Then she checked her personal e-mail. Byron had sent several in a row to her. She opened the last one first.

Where are you, girl? What is going on there? Why are they looking for a new admin already? Are you still with them?

A new admin? They were already looking to hire her replacement? She hadn’t even been working for them three months, and they were already trying to get rid of her. They’d said they wouldn’t get rid of her when the affair was over with. She should have known she couldn’t trust them.

Desire e-mailed Byron back.

Tell me what is going on. Nothing is going on here. I’m working with them on contracts. What does the grapevine say?

She wasn’t sure how long she waited before Byron answered her e-mail.

Word is they are tired of fucking you and need a new admin cause they can’t keep you now that they’ve had you. I’m sorry, girlfriend. I wouldn’t have thought that of them. They’ve always been men of integrity around here. Are you going to be okay? Do you want me to come get you?

Desire swallowed and ran a hand across her face, trying to think.

“No, not yet. I’m going to see my job through on this end. Then when we get back I’ll quit before they can fire me. I’ll be fine. Thanks for letting me know, Byron.”

“I’m here if you need me.”

The men walked back through the door and she shut down her e-mail program.

“The contract is printed and ready,” she managed to say in a steady voice.

“Great,” Elliot said. “Let’s walk it over to Daniels right now.”

“I’ll just wait for you here,” Desire said.

“We aren’t planning on coming back today,” Clay told her. “It won’t take but a minute to do it.”

She shrugged, picked up the contract, and slipped it into a folder before handing it to Elliot. Then she picked up the bag with the body lotion and waited for them to lead the way. Somehow she had to make it through the next few days. They hadn’t planned to stay but a few days. Maybe they would even go back tomorrow. Sunday at the latest, she decided. Then she could start planning what to do with the rest of her life.

Chapter Sixteen

The trip to deliver the contract took less than five minutes since it was to the owner of the tattoo shop down the street. He promised to read it that night and get back with them by the end of the weekend. While the men talked, she browsed around the shop, looking at the artwork on the walls. There were several pictures of men and women showcasing his art on their bodies. He was a talented artist.

Desire had never really thought about getting a tattoo before, but looking at the many designs, she seriously contemplated it. She looked over the piercing jewelry and thought about a belly button ring as well. Shaking her head, she turned to see that the men were watching her with odd looks on their faces.

“What?”

“Nothing.” Clay’s voice sounded strained.

The tattoo shop’s owner grinned at her. “You decide you want something, you come to me. I’m the best and the safest,” he said with a smile.

“I’ll remember that.” She smiled back at him, and Elliot and Clay both grabbed a hand and all but dragged her out of the building.

“Hey! Slow down some. I can’t keep up with you,” she complained.

“Sorry,” they said in union.

“I’m in a hurry to get back to the room,” Clay said.

“What on earth for?” she asked.

“I’ll show you when we get there.”

Desire hurried to keep up with them. What was wrong with them? As soon as they got to the room, Clay threw all the locks. Elliot grabbed her and thrust her back against the door and kissed her. He devoured her mouth, making it his. Clay began unbuttoning her blouse and had it off of her in seconds, followed closely by her bra. Clay and Elliot traded places and Elliot worked on her slacks while Clay took control of her mouth.

What was going on with them? First they were fighting and it concerned her, then she found out they were looking for another admin, and now they acted as if they couldn’t wait to fuck her. Desire wasn’t sure she could handle all the contradictions. Her emotions were going up and down like a roller coaster.

Elliot had trouble with her slacks because he forgot her shoes. He had to start over and remove her shoes before he could pull her pants off. When he tugged her panties down, he stopped and smelled them. That was so sexy. Clay was so busy eating her neck and shoulder that he didn’t even notice when she tugged on his hair.

“Wait,” she tried to say, but it wouldn’t come out very strong. “Wait.” She tried again.

“What is it, pet?” Elliot asked when Clay ignored her to concentrate on her breasts.