Page 5

ALEX

I f Makayla reacts the way I hope she will, she won’t be the first woman my brothers and I have shared. It’s an unconventional arrangement, but we make it work. Kellan and Oscar are my best friends, and somehow sharing is ten times sexier than dating one-on-one.

“God, this feels so nice. I don’t want it to end,” she says, her cheeks rosy and glowing as tendrils of steam curl around her.

“What have you been up to?” I ask. “Like I said, it’s been a minute.”

“I don’t know why it seems like such a long story—it really isn’t.” She giggles. “I’ll give you the highlights. I went to college.”

“Brava. You’ve always been a smart woman,” Kellan says. “What was your major?”

“Marketing, with a minor in Hotel & Tourism Management.”

“So you’re planning to run a chain of luxury hotels around the world, then?” I say.

Makayla laughs. “For some reason it doesn’t sound crazy when you say it, though it does when I do.” She smiles. “Honestly, I figured I’d start by opening a winery in California—once I get my feet back under me.”

“What happened?” I ask, my brow furrowing with concern.

We may not have seen her for several years, but we have always cared about her. Even now, I feel an inner need to keep her safe, to protect her from whatever life might want to throw her way. Makayla was always strong and resilient—it doesn’t mean she should face everything on her own.

It’s bad enough that she and Bryan lost their parents at an age when they both still very much needed their guidance.

“I got an internship at a social media company not long after I graduated,” Makayla explains. I want to reach out and touch her hair. The damp ends cling to her shoulders, and the sight is dangerously distracting. “It was great. They offered me a permanent position after about six months.”

“That’s fantastic,” Kellan says. “Sounds well deserved—exactly what I remember you being capable of.”

“I thought we were starting over as strangers,” Makayla quips.

I lean closer, and I can see the goosebumps dancing across her skin as our eyes briefly meet. “We are, but that doesn’t erase what we already know about you. If anything, it completes the picture of who you are today. So tell us about the social-media gig.”

“For a while, it was great.” She sighs. “I’m a high performer. I nailed every quarterly bonus. I helped bring millions in revenue through several campaigns. Hell, I loved the gig and I thought I’d be there for a while longer. The experience was incredible.”

Kellan nods slowly. “Bryan mentioned you’re between jobs now, which is why you can join us for the entire trip.”

“I had to quit.”

“Why?” I ask.

Makayla shakes her head. “Let’s just say my boss and I stopped seeing eye to eye on a few key parts of my job.

” For a heartbeat I consider pushing for details—I hate the gray, distant look in her eyes.

But she recovers quickly, flashing Kellan and me the brightest smile she can manage.

“How about you two—actually, all three of you? How have the past few years treated the Anderson triplets, eh?”

Kellan and I exchange brief glances, and he gives me a subtle nod. He wants me to lead this part of the conversation.

I have a hard time focusing, however, because of this gorgeous woman sitting between us. My gaze keeps sliding beneath the water, tracing the lush curves of her full figure. But I want to make a good impression. I can’t remember the last time I was this beguiled by a woman.

“Well, as you already know, your brother and I got into business together,” I say. “It’s been great from day one—though we’ve had our ups and downs, hit a few snags. Every setback taught us something.”

“Some harsh lessons,” Kellan grumbles, but I shake my head at him.

I refuse to be reminded of those darker times. I’d rather focus on how we emerged stronger—and better for it. “It’s been good, Kay —made even better by this trip. It started off boring,” I confess, “until I found myself in a hot tub with a beautiful woman I haven’t seen in ages.”

“I don’t think it’s been that long,” she says with a laugh. “Maybe a decade. Has it been a decade?”

“It’s been long enough,” I say. “Last time we saw you, didn’t you have braces?”

“Oh God,” Makayla moans. “I wish I could erase every photo ever taken from that period of my life.”

“Is that a yes?” I tease.

“Yes,” she says with a sigh.

“It was all for the best,” Kellan quips. “Your smile rivals that sparkling horizon over there.”

“It still can’t beat Alex’s trunks,” she fires back, and it throws us both for a loop.

The more we talk, the more relaxed I feel—and, at the same time, the more eager I am to know her, to get closer to her, body and soul. Makayla’s presence is deliciously intense, and I intend to savor every damn sip.

“What happened at your job, Kay?” Kellan insists.

I’m not sure now is the right time to push that button.

I hold my breath while she looks at him, then at me. I half expect her to pull the plug and slip back inside. Instead, Makayla refills her glass and takes a long sip before she answers.

“I had to choose between losing my job and sleeping with my boss.” The words leave her on a single, shuddering breath. “And yes, I filed an HR complaint—they say they’re investigating, but I’m not sure. Either way, I couldn’t stay there.”

“Wait, what?” I blurt out.

She nods slowly. “There’s a lot more to it. It didn’t happen all at once—it started with accidental touches, suggestive comments, the old ‘let’s grab drinks after work,’ and it kept escalating until my annual review.”

“What’s the name of the company?” Kellan asks.

“It’s… It doesn’t matter anymore.”

He lurches out of the water, fury tightening his features, apparently oblivious to the fact he’s still buck naked. “It matters to me! To us!”

Water sloshes down his midsection, and I can see Makayla staring at him.

The silence that follows seems to last forever until he sits back down. It’s too late, though. The damage is done. “Sorry,” he mutters.

“It’s okay…” She stares off into the tub, as if reliving the moment in her mind.

“I did say I liked the view.” Another beat, and I’m stunned again by how quickly that smart mouth of hers seizes control of a situation.

“As I was saying, it’s done and dusted. I filed my complaint.

I quit my job. I’m ready for a fresh start. ”

“You just quit? It feels like he should pay for treating you that way. Are you sure you don’t want to sue?” I ask.

“I guess I could,” she says with a sigh. “But I don’t want to see him again—and if I sue, I’ll have to relive everything in court.”

“I get it, but if you change your mind at any point, we’re willing to help you out however we can,” I tell her. “We’ve got a great legal team, Makayla, and your brother would back you without hesitation.”

She gives me a grateful nod.

I lean back, resting my elbows on the edge of the tub. I catch her looking again, this time at me, her gaze dipping beneath the surface. Perhaps she wonders if we’re equally endowed. I recognize that mischievous glimmer in her eyes.

Kellan follows my lead, stretching his arms out.

“Am I dreaming?” she whispers.

“Not yet,” Kellan replies.

“I’m sorry—I just have to ask. If you’re identical…” She glances down at my crotch. “You know what? Never mind. Stupid question.”

“We’re the same size,” Kellan says, flashing a devilish grin. We might as well entertain this sweet madness since it is clearly testing her resolve.

Makayla swallows hard. I can see the wheels turning in her mind, and I hope they’re turning our way.

It’s one thing to hint at the possibility, but another thing entirely to commit to the act.

The last thing either of us wants is to pressure her, so I just relax and let my gaze wander up to the beautiful mountain view.

“It really is gorgeous here,” Makayla says.

“It really is,” Kellan agrees, never taking his eyes off her.

A flush creeps up her neck and she licks her lips almost involuntarily.

“What’s on your mind, Kay?” I ask, catching the hint of a smile playing over her perfect Cupid’s bow.

“Since you asked—and because I’m prone to foot-in-mouth moments,” Makayla says with a soft giggle, “I was just thinking this feels like the beginning of a porno.”

Kellan and I trade another look, hope and excitement unfurling in tandem. It’s written all over his face—and, I’m sure, mine. What was just a naughty idea is beginning to shape into a palpable possibility.

“With your consent, we could turn it into reality,” I murmur.

She shoots me a startled look, but Kellan rolls with it.

“It makes sense,” he says. “Two open-minded guys, one gorgeous, brilliant woman, a hot tub, champagne, and this breathtaking view. It would be a shame to waste all that.”

“Especially when the chemistry is undeniable,” I add, leaning in to inhale the warm, floral scent at her ear.

She shudders from the proximity, lips parting slowly. “Oh, you’re… you’re serious.”

“Or not. It’s entirely up to you,” I whisper.

Kellan mirrors my movements and flanks her from the other side, planting a soft but decisive kiss on her cheek. “You’re in control, Kay,” he tells her.

Slowly, she turns her head to look at me.

The sun climbs to its zenith, flooding the balcony with a golden shimmer. It brings out the specks of green in Makayla’s eyes as I try to read her body language.

Her skin begs for my touch.

She straightens her back, pushing her breasts out. I lick my lips, aching to taste her, while my brother tucks a damp lock behind her ear.

“Unless I’ve been reading this whole thing wrong,” I say, “and there is absolutely nothing happening between us. You decide, Kay.”

“You… you both want me?” she asks, her voice threaded with hope.

Heat surges, making my swim trunks suddenly feel too tight. “More than either of us thought possible,” Kellan says.

“Do you want us, Kay?”