Page 21

21

I an was losing his mind with worry.

They’d been at the hospital for close to fourteen hours now. Several times, he’d tried to get Maggie to leave. He’d tried bribery, cajoling, threats.

But she’d ignored all of them, telling him that she wouldn’t be leaving her uncle.

It felt like she was fading away before his eyes. She was so pale that it was scary. The dark marks under her eyes were becoming more pronounced and she sometimes swayed in place. As though she didn’t have the energy to hold herself up.

Jack peered into the room. “Ian.”

Ian walked over to him.

“You need to go get some sleep, mate.”

Ian shook his head. “No way. Not until she does. She needs to go home to bed. She won’t eat anything and she’s barely drunk any water.” It was unacceptable.

“Ian, you need to get it together before you get us kicked out. Beck is going to be here soon to keep watch.”

“I’m not leaving her.”

“I know that. But we’re not in any shape to guard either of them like this. Look, let’s try to get her to rest here.”

“This place isn’t restful.”

“I know. Wait, here’s Beck.”

Jack shut the door, and Ian went back to pacing and watching Maggie. His protective instincts were roaring at him to keep her safe. And his Daddy side wanted to bundle her up in blankets and tuck her into bed.

With him.

Bollocks.

She was in his head, and he wasn’t sure there was any way he’d free himself of her.

Or if he wanted to.

Do you want her? The Little Misfit? She’s a brat. She wouldn’t fit with the three of you.

Although Jack liked her a lot.

And so do you . . . she might not be your type. But when did that ever work for you?

But Jameson would never go for her . . . would he? Though Ian had seen the way he watched her.

With hunger.

He pushed all his thoughts aside. Right now, what he needed was to concentrate on Maggie. And what was best for her. Taking care of her.

The door opened and he jumped, tensing. He realized Jack was right. He felt hyper-focused on her and they were in no condition to guard William.

Not when all they wanted was to watch over Maggie. Fuss over her.

Jack was carrying something in his arms. A large blanket.

“Baby. Hey.” Jack crouched next to the chair where she sat. She turned slowly toward him. As though it hurt to move.

Ian clenched his hands into fists so he didn’t yell at her.

That isn’t helping anything, asshole.

“This is a heated blanket. I’m going to put it around you. Can you stand for me?”

“I don’t want to go home.”

“No one is making you go home.”

Ian let out a pained noise and Jack sent him a look.

“Not yet,” Jack added. “All right?”

As she stood, she seemed to stumble and looked like she would fall. Jack grabbed her, holding her against him.

“Always falling for me.” He grinned down at her.

To Ian’s surprise, she smiled back. The tension eased out of his shoulders. Moving to her, he helped hold her steady as Jack wrapped the blanket around her.

“Ian, sit in the big recliner,” Jack directed.

Ian moved to the big leather seat in the corner of the room. Jack picked Maggie up.

She made a noise of protest, trying to wiggle out of his arms.

“No.”

That was all Jack said, but Maggie stopped immediately. Ian guessed she wasn’t used to seeing Jack’s Dominant side. It was there. He just didn’t show it to many people.

“That’s my baby girl,” Jack murmured. He carried her over to Ian and placed her in his lap.

“What are you doing? I want to sit by Uncle Willy in case he wakes up again.”

He’d woken up twice since Ian and Maggie had entered his room. But each time, he’d only said a few words before falling asleep again.

Ian was worried about that. Nurses were constantly in and out checking on him. But was it normal for him to sleep this much?

Jack crouched in front of her. “If you want to stay here, then you need to rest. You’re no good to anyone, especially your uncle, if you get sick from lack of sleep. So your choice is to cuddle on Ian’s lap and have a nap or to go home and sleep in your bed.”

“What happened to easygoing Jack?” she asked.

“When it comes to your health and safety, he becomes less easygoing and more demanding.”

“Have you been taking lessons from Ian?”

“Nope. This is all me, baby. Now, a nap here or at home?”

“Here.”

“Good. Close your eyes and snuggle in.”

Ian was grateful that Jack was letting him hold her. Already, he could feel his stress levels dropping. The other man stepped back and took the seat closest to William.

“Ian?” she whispered.

“Yes, Little girl?”

“I needs Ziggy. He’s in my handbag.” She buried her face into his chest after telling him that.

Ian ran his hand up and down her back soothingly. She didn’t have to be embarrassed about her needs around him. Or around Jack.

“Jack, can you get her handbag?”

“Sure.” Jack grabbed her handbag and brought it over. “Does she need some painkillers or something? Does she have a headache?”

“She wants her toy zebra.”

“Ian!”

“You don’t need to be embarrassed. Jack doesn’t care if you sleep with a stuffie, do you, Jack?”

“Nope. I think it’s cute.” Jack winked at her with a smile and Ian felt her relax against him.

He sent Jack a grateful look. The other man shrugged as she pulled Ziggy from her handbag. Then she turned into him, holding Ziggy. Glancing down at her, he saw that she’d slid her thumb into her mouth. He pulled the blanket slightly higher to shield her in case someone came in.

Not that anyone in this hospital would ever say something to her about sleeping with a toy or sucking her thumb.

Not if they wanted to keep their jobs anyway.

As she fell asleep in his arms, satisfaction filled him.

This felt so right.

Like she was meant to be his.

He glanced over at Jack, who nodded at him.

Theirs.

He nodded back. Not the moment to tell her. And they needed to talk to Jameson first and sort things out. But Ian wanted her. So did Jack.

If Jameson didn’t . . . well, maybe it was time to think about finally moving on from his dream of where the three of them shared the same woman.