Page 27 of Three Bossy Boyfriends (Honeysuckle Harbor #3)

Finley

I wake up with a heavy arm draped across my breasts and hot breath fanning my neck.

Normally, that would annoy me. I would want to get away from that immediately. I’m not really a cuddler. But this morning I take a deep breath and I snuggle closer to all of that heat.

And it’s not just because of the cooler weather outside. Though I’ll never admit that it’s because Evan makes me feel safe and cared for when he cuddles up to me like this.

I know it’s Evan because this is how I woke up with him the first time we slept together.

Then I remember there’s another man who should be somewhere in this bed. We went to sleep with me between the men, but at some point in the night, I got up to pee and came back to bed, crawling in on Evan’s opposite side, putting him in between me and Christopher.

I keep my eyes shut. I’m not going to look for Christopher or wonder where he is or how he looks when he sleeps.

This was a one-time thing. I’m glad I got more than one time with Evan, but I am not going to be tempted by a sweet-looking, sleepy Christopher.

It’s going to be hard enough to leave this house later this morning. I’m just going to soak in a few more minutes of being half asleep against a really hot, really awesome man before I leave and turn him over to his true love.

“Hey, you awake?”

Unless, of course, Christopher is already awake and is whispering to me in a husky voice.

I open one eye and look around. I’m on my back and I realize that Christopher is leaning over my side of the bed. I open both eyes and turn my head toward him. He is fully dressed.

“Want to go get breakfast stuff with me?” he asks with a smile that is almost boyish.

“Did you come in here to wake me up?” I asked him in a whisper.

His smile grows as if we’re conspiring. “I only pulled the cover back away from your foot so your toes would start to get cold.”

I wiggle my right foot and realize it is out from under the blankets. That is probably what started waking me up.

“Mean,” I tell him and try to tuck my foot back under the sheet.

He grabs it, his big hand wrapping around the arch of my foot. “Come on. Come with me. We’ll let Evan sleep and surprise him with brunch.”

There’s something about the way he’s smiling at me and stroking my foot that makes me realize I am definitely going to say yes to this.

Christopher almost seems playful. And just like I wanted to soak up a few more minutes up against Evan, I’m very interested in seeing more of this side of Christopher Davis.

“Fine,” I tell him, shifting carefully toward the edge of the bed, trying not to disturb Evan.

Christopher leans over and lifts Evan’s arm, helping me out from under the weight. “He sleeps really hard after sex,” he says.

There’s that grin again. I can’t help but return it. “So doubly hard after double sex?” I ask.

Christopher gives me a wink.

I slide out from under the sheets and realize as I sit up on the edge of the bed right in front of Christopher that I am completely naked.

His gaze sweeps over me appreciatively. “Good morning, Miss Anderson.”

I’m sure I’m blushing, and I hate that. But I also kind of love it. He can make my whole body tingle with just one hot look.

One night together or not, there’s no way I’m going back to the office and going to be able to call him Mr. Davis or have him call me Miss Anderson and not think of last night.

“Don’t start the Miss Anderson stuff with me if you don’t want to wake Evan up.”

Christopher’s eyes go to my mouth. “You do have a hard time staying quiet, don’t you?”

I let my gaze wander over him in return, settling on his fly. “We talked about ways to keep me quiet.”

He clears his throat and nods. “We did.”

Yeah, if I’m going to be walking around constantly turned on at the office, I’m not going to be the only one. Especially when the fact that I can turn Christopher Davis on is such a rush.

I reach out and rest my hand on his arm. “I don’t think Evan will mind if we wake him up.”

I want more time with them. More naked time.

But also just more time in general. They’ve given me no indication that they’re eager for me to leave.

They’ve said nothing about when, or how, I should go home today.

But I feel like there’s a countdown going, ticking off the minutes to when the alarm will ring and they’ll tell me it’s time for me to go.

Christopher and Evan are together now. When I leave, Evan gets to stay.

A jab of jealousy stabs me in the chest. But not just jealousy that Evan needs to have Christopher.

Or jealousy that Christopher gets to have Evan full time.

Or jealousy that they get to be together, or that they get to have a long lazy day together, spend the evening together, make dinner, hang out while I go home alone.

Oh, sure, I have my sisters. I won’t be alone .

But it’s different from what Christopher and Evan will have.

Christopher shakes his head. “I have a plan.” Again, he gives me that smile that makes him look ten years younger and makes it seem that he has some big secret.

I can’t resist that. And hey, at least he’s including me in whatever that is.

“Fine. Give me a few minutes.”

“I’ll meet you in the kitchen.”

I quickly remember that I came over in only baggy sweats and a hooded sweatshirt. Not even any underwear. And for a second, I regret my bratty choice. Not that I will admit that to Christopher.

I pop into the bathroom to clean up, pull a brush through my hair, and swish mouthwash around my mouth. Then, I pull on my discarded clothes and head into the kitchen.

Christopher is scrolling on his phone, but he immediately straightens. He gives me a grin. “I thought we could walk to City Market. They have a ton of amazing pastries. We can pick up some fruit and coffee. Maybe some stuff for lunch.”

Lunch. Okay, that sounds like maybe they’ll want me to stay around for that long.

I nod. “Sure. Sounds great.”

His grin widens. “Let’s go.”

We head out into the beautiful late February morning, and Christopher turns us down the sidewalk. He’s walking with a little extra bounce in his step, and I finally have to laugh. “Have you ever been to City Market before?”

He looks down at me. “Sure. Several times.”

“Then why are you acting like this is some amazing, exciting adventure? I mean, City Market is great, but you’re acting like we’re going to the carnival or something.”

He gives me a self-deprecating smile, then reaches out and takes my hand, threading our fingers together. “Because I’ve never done it with a date. I’ve never gone to get food to bring back to my boyfriend. But I’ve always wanted to.”

I study him. “Do you not bring people back to your house?”

He shakes his head. “I really don’t. I usually go to their place. Sometimes hotels. But it’s been a really long time since I’ve been with anyone overnight.”

“How long?”

“Since I met Evan,” he admits.

“Wow. You fell for him hard and fast.”

He nods. “I definitely did.”

“Still, I find it hard to believe you don’t have people over to your house. You have a gorgeous home. Obviously full of things you love. It’s very homey. Why wouldn’t you bring a previous boyfriend…or girlfriend there?” I ask. “You really haven’t been that serious about anyone?”

“I really haven’t. Sharing my home, making brunch, doing all of that is something I’ve really wanted. But it had to be with the right person. Until recently, I had almost given up on it happening.”

I’m surprised for a moment by how serious Christopher seems to take relationships. Then I realize I shouldn’t be. He’s serious about everything. He takes his job seriously. He’s very committed to clients. It actually makes sense to me that he would want a serious romantic relationship.

I look up at him. “You were waiting to fall in love?”

He nods.

“You’re attractive, successful, charming, intelligent. You’re a total catch. Why would you think it wouldn’t happen for you?”

“Because I’ve dated a lot, and it never has. I was looking for someone special. The One.”

“And now you found it with Evan?”

I feel a weird ache in my chest. It’s a combination of emotions. In part, I love the fact that Christopher has finally found the person he’s been looking for. I also love that he fully appreciates how awesome Evan is. Everyone deserves to be with someone who’s been waiting for them that way.

But I also feel a strange yearning. I want that too. I want someone who feels like they’ve been waiting for me. Who sees me walk in and says, ‘Wow, she’s something special. I want her to be mine.’

“I do think I found it with Evan, yes,” he says. He’s quiet for a moment, then he says. “I take relationships seriously because I’m an only child. And I lost my parents about twenty years ago. Car accident. I’ve been on my own for a long time.”

I gasp softly and squeeze his hand. “Oh my God, Christopher, I’m so sorry.”

He nods. “Thanks. It’s been a long time.

I thought I’d gotten used to being alone, and day to day I guess I have, but I’ve never stopped wanting to not be alone.

If that makes sense. I’ve always had this hope that eventually I wouldn’t be.

Navigating the world on my own has made me realize how much I want a family.

I want a home. I want it filled with people I love.

I want people to celebrate holidays with, who I can celebrate on their birthdays and anniversaries, who I can encourage and celebrate when amazing things happen for them at work and personally. ”

Oh, damn. I like him so much. I’ve liked him from the start. He’s charming and funny and smart. And hot. But now, after last night and today, being given more looks inside at who he really is…I like him as much as I like Evan.

I sigh. “Just so you know, it’s going to be very hard to hide that I’m attracted to you at work from now on.”

He smirks down at me. “Darn.”