Page 69

I sank down into the pile of sleeping bags, which were laid over some pillows for extra cushion. The tent was spacious and sturdy, and tall enough that two out of the three of them could stand without bending. The portable electric heater they’d plugged into a battery kept it warm and toasty inside, but just touching my palm against the cold canvas walls reminded me of how fast the desert temperatures could drop at night.

“Obsessed?” Devyn asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Uh huh,” I replied glibly, nodding toward Maverick. “That’s the wordheused, anyway.”

One by one they sat down around me, their great muscles bending and flexing as they dropped to the floor. Gage rested casually back on his palms. Devyn sat with his arms locked around his legs, his hands fastened in front of his shins.

Damn, they’re gorgeous.

They really were. All three men sported model good looks, chiseled jaw-lines, and smoldering eyes. They had shoulders to die for, and arms for days. Even so, none of them knew what say.

“I came here because I needed to get away,” I said, in the absence of any other conversation. “Work sucks right now. New York’s finally getting to me, and that frightens me because I always loved it, even during the times when I didn’t.” I cocked my head and laughed. “Does that even make sense?”

“Yes,” said Gage. “More than you know.”

I nodded, considering the thoughtfulness of their expressions. All three of them were looking at me, eyeing me over. But not in the usual way.

“Juliana,” Devyn began slowly, “we need to tell you something. A few things, actually.”

“Oh boy.” My smile curled into a smirk. “Here we go.”

“They’re good things,” Maverick added quickly. “Important things.”

I wasn’t used to beating around the bush, and neither were they. These weren’t men who spoke hollow words or made empty promises. These were the kind of men who said exactly what they meant.

“Wewantthis child,” said Devyn, calmly. “We’d like to be a part of its life. We want to father it. Nurture it. Even help raise it… but only if that’s what you want too.”

A piece of canvas flapped outside, whipping rhythmically in the most recent gust of wind. It was the perfect metaphor for my heart, which was skipping wildly within my chest.

“There’s only one problem,” Devyn went on. “And it’s kind of a big one.”

My lips went tight as the other shoe was about to drop. “What?”

“We can’t have children,” said Gage.

I lowered my chin to look downward, then rubbed my stomach. “I have a swollen belly here that says very differently.”

“It’s not that wecan’thave them,” Maverick corrected his friend. “Obviously we can.”

“Obviously,” I shot back.

“But it’s in our contract,” Devyn explained. “No wives. No children. No distractions. Nothing to tie us down or keep us from duty.”

I stared at him for a few seconds, studying his handsome face. Wondering what kind of contract could decree something that specific, that bizarre.

Thatlonely.

“We’re to be ready to leave at any time,” Gage continued. “Go anywhere, for any reason, at a moment’s notice.”

I thought about the helicopter that picked up Devyn. About them betting to see which one of them it was actually for.

“I see.”

“Up until now this hasn’t been a problem,” said Devyn. “We’ve never wanted anythingbutthis kind of arrangement. But now…”

“When does your contract expire?”

“It’s been up several times already,” said Maverick. “And we’ve always renewed it.”