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J ameson had to stop himself from running into the house.

When he’d finally had time to look at his phone today, he’d discovered two texts. One from Jack asking him to come over and check on Maggie. And another from Ian demanding that he come over immediately and ensure that Maggie was okay.

It was probably just a scratch. Ian tended to exaggerate when it came to her. But Jack wasn’t prone to worrying over nothing.

He had his bag in hand as he entered the quiet house. He moved through to the kitchen where he found Ian preparing a tray of food. There was a bowl of fruit salad, sliced cheese, crackers, yogurt, and what looked to be a strawberry smoothie and an electrolyte drink.

“Aww, you didn’t have to do this for me.”

“I didn’t,” Ian snapped back.

He’d always struggled to recognize a joke.

“It’s for Maggie. Come on, you can come up with me.”

“She’s so sick that she can’t come down to eat?” Maybe he was wrong and Ian hadn’t been exaggerating this time.

“She’s not sick,” Jack said, coming up behind him.

Jameson jumped, then turned to scowl at Jack. The other man knew that Jameson hated when he snuck up on him.

“Mr. Mum here is just being extra fussy.”

“I am not. She was dizzy and had a headache earlier. She was dehydrated, and she hasn’t been eating lately.”

Jack’s face tightened and Jameson could see he was also concerned about her.

Fuck.

How did this girl have them all running around after her? Fussing over her?

What is it about her?

She was far too young for any of them. And she was just visiting. There was no reason Ian and Jack should be getting attached to her.

“Guys, what is going on?” Jameson asked.

“What do you mean?” Ian asked.

“I mean . . . this.” He waved a hand at the tray of food. “Making her food. Worrying over her. The two of you are acting like . . . like you’re interested in her.”

Ian stiffened while Jack whistled.

“I did ask her out,” Jack said, shocking him.

“What?” Jameson asked. He looked at Ian. “You’re both going to date her?”

Why did he feel so shocked? This was none of his business. Right?

“No. Jack decided to ask her out on his own.” Ian’s face was devoid of emotion. But Jameson knew he was hiding some strong feelings.

He had to feel betrayed.

He and Jack were a unit. Like the three of them had once been . . .

Fuck. He missed that. They were still friends. But he missed sharing a woman, the closeness that came with that.

It was your choice to leave.

“You could have come too,” Jack said to Ian. “I wasn’t shutting you out.”

“We are not courting Maggie,” Ian stated.

“A date isn’t courting.” Jack shrugged.

But Jameson couldn’t tell if he truly felt blasé toward Maggie or if it was an act.

“It’s not like I asked her to be our intended. We have dated women on our own before. And you . . . you’re not even a part of this,” Jack said to Jameson.

Fuck. That shouldn’t have hurt as much as it did.

“Right. Fine. Then maybe the two of you could stop texting me every time she stubs her damn toe.”

He turned toward the door but came to a stop as Maggie walked through the door. She was wearing an oversized dark blue T-shirt with a white diamond on the front and some black yoga pants. She squinted as she peered up at him.

As though she had a headache.

Actually, she looked terrible. There were dark marks under her eyes and she was pale.

Bloody hell. Maybe she really wasn’t well.

Fuck. Thank God she hadn’t walked in thirty seconds earlier and heard what he’d said.

And why would you care if she had?

“Oh, hi, Jameson.” She rubbed her eyes like a little girl. Fuck. So adorable.

“Hey, sweetheart. I heard you’re not feeling so great.”

“What are you doing out of bed?” Ian demanded.

She jolted, looking over at the big guy with a frown. “Because it’s four in the afternoon and I wanted to talk to my uncle about tomorrow. Is that okay with you?”

“No. You need to rest. I was about to bring you up some food.”

She glanced over at the tray of food he had set on the counter. There was enough on it to feed three people. But instead of looking at Ian like he was a crazy person, she gave him a soft smile.

“Thank you. That’s so kind.”

He and Jack shared a look.

Kind? Ian?

The guy could be a jackass. Demanding and cold. But there was a softness to him as he guided Maggie over to the island and drew items off the tray, watching over her as she reached for a piece of fruit.

Jameson frowned at the way her hand shook slightly. He walked closer to her. She got off the stool, swaying slightly.

“Whoa. Careful.” He reached out to place his hand on the small of her back. “Are you feeling dizzy? Have you got a headache?”

“I’m fine. It’s just a small headache. There was really no need for you to come over. Ian tends to overreact.”

“I do not. Now, sit down or you’re going back to bed.”

She frowned. “I’m fine.”

“Actually, I’d rather you sat,” Jameson told her firmly. “I want to check your vitals.”

“I really am okay.”

“Please. For me?”

She gaped up at him, swallowing heavily.

“Gosh, you’re beautiful.”

He tried to hide his grin, but he couldn’t manage it. Relief filled him.

There she was.

He didn’t know what it said about him that he was relieved she was looking at him like he was chocolate cake and she was starving.

Probably nothing good.

But she sat back on the stool and he took her pulse and checked her blood pressure.

“You guys were out in the desert today?” he asked.

“Yeah,” Ian said. “We noticed she was unsteady and looked like she had a headache. She seemed dehydrated, so we got her under the shade and gave her water and electrolytes.”

“How long were you out there?”

“Just a couple of hours.”

“Hmm. What did you have for breakfast, sweetheart?” he asked.

He ran his thumb over her cheek, before snatching his hand back. He had no right to touch her that way.

“I didn’t have breakfast.”

Jameson gave her a disapproving look. “That wasn’t smart. I assume you were doing quite a bit of walking.”

“And she insisted on carrying a lot of the equipment herself,” Ian told him.

“Really? Not smart when you have two strapping lads here. You should use them to do the heavy lifting, sweetheart.”

“Ian is a donkey,” she muttered. “So I guess you’re right.”

“A donkey, huh?” Jameson grinned over at Ian. “You’re correct. He is a donkey.”

Ian groaned as Jack laughed.

“You’re going to regret telling them that, Little Misfit,” Ian murmured into her ear.

Do not shiver. Do not.

Besides, if he wasn’t being a giant tattletale, then she wouldn’t have said a word.

“You need to eat breakfast every morning. And drink plenty of water. Especially as you’re not used to this heat and you’ll be outside doing a lot of walking. Understand me?” Jameson said to her sternly.

“I just wasn’t in the mood to eat.”

“Is there something else going on? Do you feel nauseous? Does your stomach hurt?”

“I was a jerk,” Ian said bluntly. “She was upset with me. Understandably.”

Whoa. She hadn’t expected him to just own up to that.

“And then I upset her as well,” Jack added.

“Wow. You guys are two for two, aren’t you?” Jameson said. “And you didn’t make sure she ate and drank? Especially before going on a hike in the desert? She’s sunburned. Did you make sure she put sunscreen on?”

Ian looked ashamed. Jack just looked like Jack.

“Hey! I had sunscreen on, even though it feels thick and gross and smells funny. I can take care of myself. It’s not their job to look after me.”

Ian made a low, grumbling noise while Jack just shook his head.

“Sweetheart, that is precisely their job.”

“And we’ve had conversations about this,” Ian added. “We fucked up. It won’t happen again.”

Maggie bit her lip. She wished she could believe that. Besides, it wasn’t really their fault. Well, Ian was a dick, but he hadn’t known she’d take what he said so badly.

And all Jack had done was ask her out on a date. Hardly a huge offense.

Sighing, she rubbed at her eyes.

“You don’t look like you’ve been sleeping, either,” Jameson said gently.

He would be right about that.

“Right. You’re to eat some food. Drink some electrolytes and then go back to bed. And you’re taking tomorrow off.”

“I can’t just take tomorrow off.” Although Uncle Willy was looking tired too. So perhaps it wouldn’t be a bad idea.

“You are. Doctor’s orders.”

Ian crossed his arms over his chest and nodded. Jack just hopped up onto the counter next to her and picked up a piece of melon, holding it to her lips.

Jameson pressed into her from behind. “Eat, Shortcake.”

Assbaboons.

She opened her mouth and took the piece of sweet melon. The taste exploded on her tongue. She let out a small groan of delight and swore that they all went onto high alert.

Yikes.

“I should be making you guys dinner,” she said. “That’s what I promised.” She attempted to get off the stool, but Jameson placed his hands on her shoulders while Ian shook his head.

“Not tonight. We’re looking after you right now,” Jameson told her.

It was almost too much. Maggie could barely breathe. Their scents were mingling, adding to her desire.

Her need.

“You’re going to eat your dinner,” Jack told her.

“Maybe take a nice, relaxing bath,” Jameson added.

“And go to bed,” Ian said.

Ooh, yeah. She wouldn’t mind going to bed with the three of them.

Whoa. Down, girl. Not happening.

“To sleep,” Ian added.

That seemed to break the spell. Jameson stepped away from her and she felt a pang of loss. Ian too, took a step away, searching through the fridge while muttering about dinner.

Only Jack stayed close.

It was for the best. They didn’t want more with her. And frankly, she felt the same.

Three men? Madness.

She didn’t live here. It wasn’t even possible.

But damn, a girl sure could dream.

“All right. Maybe tomorrow night, then?” she asked. “Uncle Willy is going to the palace for dinner.”

“Are you a good cook?” Jameson asked her.

“Sure. I’m really good. The last time I cooked, everyone came down with some weird virus afterward, but that had nothing to do with me.”

She was aware of them all staring at each other in alarm. Well, Jack didn’t look alarmed. He looked as though he was about to burst into laughter.

“Um. Or we could go out to eat,” Jameson said quickly.

“Oh. Sure. You guys could.”

“With you,” he added, staring down at her quizzically.

“I can’t really afford dinner out. But thanks, anyway. It will likely be a lot better than the mashed potatoes and sausages I was going to cook anyway.”

“I haven’t had sausage casserole in years,” Ian said, surprising her.

“Really?”

“Used to be a staple in my house growing up.”

“Us too. But if you’d rather go out, I understand. Hey, maybe I could eat first and come out for a soda or something.”

There was silence again. Jameson’s mouth opened, then closed.

“Is she for real right now?” Jack asked, sounding almost angry.

“Um, I am for real,” she said, wondering why he wasn’t talking to her but rather to the other men.

They all stilled, looking at her.

“For one, there’s no way we were letting you pay for your meal,” Ian said. “That’s not up for argument. If you come out to dinner with us, we pay.”

“But we’re just friends.”

“You come out to dinner with us, we pay.”

The other two nodded.

Okay, then.

“And you never ever sit and drink soda while we eat,” Jack added.

“That would be extremely rude,” Jameson said.

Oh.

“And I, for one, would love some sausage casserole and mashed potatoes,” Ian said.

“Really?” she whispered, her heart in her throat.

“Yep.”

“Me too,” Jack said. “I like sausage casserole.”

Jameson probably didn’t, though. He looked way too refined to eat sausage casserole.

“Tomorrow night it is, then,” Jameson added.

Warmth filled her, making her grin wildly.

She didn’t know what they were doing to her, but she couldn’t help but want more.

How the heck was she supposed to guard her heart against them?