Page 16 of Timeless Pages

Chapter fifteen

Isa

T he doctor left, and I looked at my three hosts apprehensively.

I didn’t know what happened next. Would they want me to leave?

Now that my head was a little clearer, I couldn’t deny that I felt safest being with them.

I didn't feel good about going back to the bookstore with my father still on the loose. I could get a hotel.

The doctor had taken the oxygen with him because I didn’t need it anymore, and told me as long as I went slowly, I was free to move around. I pushed the blankets off me and moved to get out of bed.

“Where are you going? What do you need?” Evan asked. The three men rushed to the side of the bed, blocking me from standing, with worried looks in their eyes.

“I could use a pair of shoes if you have them,” I whispered. Oh yeah, Doc also told me I couldn’t make any sounds above a whisper until my throat healed. Not that I found I had much of a choice in that. Whispering was the only way it didn’t hurt.

“Why do you need shoes?” Nate asked, eyes narrowing.

“Because I’d rather not walk around town barefoot?”

Dom knelt in front of me. “Are you leaving?”

“I don’t want to be a burden,” I whispered. They filled me in on what was going on and that Dave had called them after he called the police. “I doubt you intended to have a house guest when Dave called you. I can stay at a hotel until Father is caught, and it is safe to go back to the shop.”

“You aren’t a burden,” Dom replied. “We’d prefer it if you stayed.”

I eyed him uncertainly. I didn’t exactly fit into their lifestyle, whatever that was. And if they were just saying I wasn’t a burden to make me feel better, I’d rather leave.

“Ok. Truth time, Little Bell, since I’m done playing games and skirting around the issue,” Nate said, pushing Dom out of the way and invading my space.

He leaned over me, forcing me to lie back and prop up on my elbows. His hands landed on either side of my hips, and the bed dipped with his weight, bringing our faces closer together.

“We like you. Romantically. As in, we’d like to get to know you better and one day get married and have tons of babies.

” My mouth fell open at his bluntness, and his eyes dropped to my lips momentarily before returning to meet mine.

“We want to take care of you and keep you safe. Daniel is one of our lawyers, and we asked him to take your case.”

“Dude!” Dom exclaimed, running his hand through his hair. Evan looked equally nervous.

“That may piss you off, but I don’t care because his firm is the best around, and he will be able to help you win,” Nate said defiantly.

“So you can be mad at us for interfering and helping when you asked us not to, but if you stopped being a stubborn brat, you would see it was for the best. If it helps, he would have taken your case whether we asked him to or not because he wants to help you. We just got you in the door.”

I wasn’t sure what I was maddest at—finding out about Daniel or being called a stubborn brat. “Don’t call me names,” I growled, wincing.

Nate’s expression softened slightly. “Isa, I will never call you a derogatory name in anger. I will never belittle you. But I will call it like I see it, and if you’re being a stubborn brat, I will tell you. I won’t tiptoe around you because I respect you more than that.”

Why the hell did my stomach do a little flip-flop when he said he respected me?

Oh, hell, did I have a praise kink? It would make sense if I did, but I wasn’t sure I wanted them to know about it yet.

Wait. Did I want them to know about it at all?

Fuck. He said they wanted to get married and have babies!

Nate distracted me with the stuff about the lawyer.

“I don’t understand,” I said.

“What about what I’ve said so far confuses you, Little Bell?” Nate asked.

“The marriage and babies part.”

“Do you not want to get married or have kids?” Evan asked. “We can have whatever life you want.”

“I don’t understand why you want to do that with me. Why are you interested in me?” I assumed they were the ones who dressed me, so they had to have seen how hideous I was.

“Why wouldn’t we be?” Dom asked.

“Look at me,” Nate said softly. I met his eyes, and within them, I saw understanding.

I felt more seen than I had ever felt before.

“Is it the scars?” I nodded. “We don’t care about the scars, Isa.

Do you know what I see when I look at you?

I see a girl who has faced more pain and torment than any one person should have to face in such a short amount of time.

Each one stands for a time that you suffered but endured. ”

“But they’re ugly,” I protested.

“They’re beautiful because they are part of you,” Nate replied.

“I see a woman who could have let her scars harden her. Instead, you are full of kindness and empathy. You let a homeless drunk sleep in your store every night instead of on the street. You frequently walk around town with pre-made sandwiches and water to hand out to anyone in need.”

I looked at him in surprise. How the hell did he know that?

“That’s right, I’ve asked about you around town because I was desperate to learn everything I could about you.

You didn’t let your pain win, and that’s just one of the many things that make you beautiful.

And if you still want to leave and go to a hotel, then ok.

But we’ll be going to the hotel with you because I’m not letting you go, Isa. I can’t.”

“We can’t,” Evan corrected.

“You’ve become far too important to us, Beauty,” Dom added.

I honestly didn’t know how to respond. This was like a scene straight out of one of my smutty books.

In my books, the woman would say something clever, sexy, and purr or something.

Then they would all have crazy monkey sex where everyone obviously fits where they are supposed to without any complications.

That would lead to fifty orgasms easily cleaned up with a warm washcloth in the end before blissfully falling asleep.

This wasn’t a book, though, and I’m not sure I knew how to purr. This was real life, and I had three men waiting for a response. I blurted the only thing that came to me. “Oy with the poodles already.”

Nate shifted back in confusion, likely checking to see if I was having a seizure. Evan’s brow wrinkled, also confused by my words. Dom, though, busted out laughing.

“I love Gilmore Girls !” He plopped down on the bed beside me. “Have you watched A Year in the Life yet? What am I saying? It’s been out for years now. If you can quote the show randomly, you’ve seen it.”

I latched onto the subject change like a drowning man clings to a piece of driftwood. “I loved it!” I replied. “I was so mad about the way they ended it. Did you know that was how they had planned to end the series initially?”

“I know!” Dom replied. “Honestly, I would have been more angry about that being the series finale. I hope they do another one. I need to know what happens next.”

“Me too!” Evan and Nate looked between us with confused expressions still on their faces, causing me to giggle.

“What do poodles have to do with anything?” Nate asked, sending me into a laugh that hurt my throat, but it was worth it.

“It’s a line from a show,” Dom chuckled.

“ Gilmore Girls , yeah, I got that much,” Nate said, “I’m just not clear on how it applies here.”

“I believe I’m correct in assuming that Isa didn’t know what to say, so that fell out of her mouth,” Dom answered, looking at me for confirmation. I nodded. “I thought so. Beauty, we don’t need a big declaration of love. All we need to know is that you’re open to exploring a relationship with us.”

I nodded emphatically. I was open to it. I still didn’t fully understand how they didn’t find my scars repulsive, but maybe in time, I would.

“Words, Isa,” Evan prompted.

“Yes, I’m interested,” I whispered.

“Thank fuck,” Nate groaned seconds before his lips crashed into mine.

It hurt. All of it hurt, but fuck if I was going to let him know and cause him to stop.

His hand supported the back of my head as his teeth nipped my bottom lip.

I gasped into his mouth, giving his waiting tongue access to dip in.

The kiss was possessive and just shy of desperate.

It also immediately ignited a desire that made me whimper with need.

It was that sound that had Nate pulling back slowly.

He rested his head against mine as we panted.

“No strenuous activities, remember?” he said.

I nodded. I’d never wanted to disobey an order more.

Reluctantly, Nate stood and put some distance between us. “Still want to go to a hotel?”

“No. As long as you’re sure you don’t mind me being here, I’d like to stay.”

“You can stay forever if you wish, Isa,” Evan replied, “We don’t mind.”

“You should get some rest. We have work tomorrow, but one of us will always be here with you,” Dom said as he got off the bed. “Sweet dreams, Beauty.”

They filed out of the room, closing the door softly behind them.

I climbed back under the covers and switched off the bedside lamp.

I closed my eyes, expecting to fall asleep quickly, but it wasn’t long before they popped open again.

With a sigh and an extra heap of courage, I left the room and followed the sounds of low voices down the hall.

I walked into the open-plan living area and found them standing around the kitchen island talking. Evan noticed me first.

“Everything ok, Isa?” Nate and Dom turned to look at me as I gnawed on my bottom lip.

“I can’t fall asleep,” I replied. “I… I don’t want to sleep alone.” There. I said it.

“Would you like one of us to come lie with you or all of us?” Nate asked.

“All of you, please?” God, this felt borderline humiliating.