Restoration Hearts

by Kiera Jayne

  “Joining us for another threesome, then?” Flynn joked.

  Vaughn smirked and leaned against the wall. “Anytime.”

  Perie attempted to hide her desires by getting back to demolishing the walls and floor, while Flynn got to work on extracting the bathtub and Vaughn focused on the mildewed ceiling. They moved to the laundry not long after, and gave it the same treatment and soon, they ended up with the bare bones of both rooms.

  “Denise’s room next,” Flynn decided.

  Perie swallowed the lump in her throat and followed behind him. She stopped in the doorway, causing Vaughn to bump into her. She watched, distraught, as Flynn began to lift the mattress off the old metal frame. This was it. Once this bed was out of here, that would be the last piece of Denise gone.

  “I need a hand here,” Flynn grunted as he flipped the mattress up onto its side.

  Vaughn’s hands wrapped around Perie’s upper arms. “Are you okay?”

  Flynn’s brow crinkled as he took his focus off the balancing mattress to Perie.

  “It’s fine,” she said before he could say anything. “Just do it.”

  Vaughn stepped past her and took a hold of one end. “You ready?”

  Flynn nodded. Perie stepped to the side and watched the boys lug the mattress out of the room together.

  Perie wrapped her arms around herself and looked around the room. “Bye, Aunty Denise,” she whispered.

  ***

  Outside, the guys hoisted the old mattress into the dumpster and dusted off their hands.

  Vaughn stared up at the house in the direction of Denise’s room. “She’s taking this hard.”

  “Yeah. Perie has a few abandonment issues. She’s a tough girl but losing her aunt has brought everything to the fore,” Flynn explained. “It isn’t just Denise’s death, though, or her dad’s inability to stay put.”

  “What else could it be?” Vaughn asked.

  “Her mum moving to the UK has been hard on her, and our four-year-rift still has its effects. Everything with you . . .. She never got over you, mate.”

  This revelation hit Vaughn hard, knocking out his breath. He knew how he felt about Perie—he always had. He knew how he felt about the man standing in front of him, too. Memories of both of them were what helped him through the toughest times in Afghanistan. Now they were here in this place, together at last.

  Vaughn placed his hands on his hips. “Do you think we can make this work between the three of us? Can we all be in one, big, successful relationship?”

  Flynn shrugged. “Why not?”

  Vaughn sighed. “You know why not . . ..”

  Flynn cocked his head to the side, a silent question.

  “We’re in a safe little bubble here, Flynn.” Vaughn’s gaze wandered toward the gate at the end of the driveway. “But out in the world, in society, we’re sure to get judged.”

  “Fuck society,” Flynn scoffed.

  “It’s not as easy as that, and you know it. God help me if anyone tries to hurt Perie because of us.”

  The protective glint in Vaughn’s dark eyes was sexy as hell because Flynn felt protective of Perie, too. “I know one thing, Perie can take care of herself. She’s a businesswoman, remember?”

  “Even more reason to be careful about this,” Vaughn said.

  Flynn cupped Vaughn’s cheek with his hand and whispered, “You’re so sexy when you worry. But don’t.” Flynn kissed Vaughn for a few moments. Vaughn drew Flynn to him, his hands pressing into the small of the blonde man’s back.

  “You don’t have to stress about me, Vaughn.”

  Vaughn snapped his head in the direction of the young woman. She’d startled the shit out of him. Flynn held him steady when he tried to pull away and placed a lingering kiss on his cheek.

  Perie wrapped her arms around both men. “This is fine, more than fine . . . it’s right. We were always supposed to be together like this, we just didn’t realize it before.”

  “That was our problem. We were trying to conform,” Flynn added.

  With a deep breath, Vaughn initiated a kiss with Flynn this time. When Perie pressed her ear to his chest, he knew he couldn’t disguise the way he was feeling. She was sure to hear how fast his heart was beating. Flynn stroked Perie’s hair as Vaughn kissed her, too.

  “This is us,” Perie decided.

  “Right. Well then, ’us,’ which one of you wants to come help me sort out my shitbox of a car?” Vaughn asked.

  PERIE LOOKED GORGEOUS IN her large, wire-rimmed sunglasses as she leaned against the side of Flynn’s vehicle. Flynn couldn’t help but check out her tiny body, clad in denim shorts and his white singlet top she’d been wearing all day. There was something deeply sensual about a woman wearing a man’s shirt the morning after they’d had sex. Even if he hadn’t actually been the one to fuck her this time.

  She looked bored. Cars were never Perie’s thing. She didn’t understand the obsession some guys had about their cars. Frankly, Flynn didn’t, either. Even though he took exceptional care of his vehicle, he’d never been into hotted up things.

  Flynn sauntered over to her and rested his hands on either side of her head. He saw her eyebrows arch behind the rims of her sunnies.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Perving on my new girlfriend,” Flynn replied.

  “I’m not exactly new.”

  Flynn grinned. “No. But it’s new that I can call you that.”

  With a smile, Perie draped her arms around Flynn’s neck. “I like the way boyfriend rolls off my tongue. Flynn Brewer, my boyfriend.”

  “Two boyfriends, you lucky girl,” he hissed.

  “Shh!” Perie gasped. “I want to keep that to ourselves for as long as possible.”

  “Well, that’s a bummer. Because I want to kiss you so badly right now.” Flynn gathered her into his arms and allowed a hand to travel to her arse.

  Perie leaned into him, losing herself in his kiss. It was the first time she had ever kissed him openly in their hometown, and it felt so good.

  “See? Not so bad, is it?” Flynn told her.

  Perie huffed at the cockiness in his voice. “Stop it.”

  “Why?”

  “Because your mother’s coming.”

  Flynn chuckled. “Bullshit.”

  “Flynn, she is!” Perie exclaimed and smacked him.

  He jumped and turned around. Sure enough, his mum was wandering along the footpath, expensive cream handbag hanging from her right shoulder.

  “Got it! Let’s get this show on the road!” Vaughn bellowed as he lugged a radiator over to the Amarok.

  Brooke slowed her pace and looked at the three of them, her mouth slightly agape.

  “Hey, Mum.” Flynn’s voice shook slightly at the sight of her. He put his arm around Perie’s shoulders and rubbed his fingers over them in a circular motion. It was as though he was trying to draw confidence from her.

  “Hi, sweetheart.” Brooke glanced up at the auto shop. “Car trouble?”

  “Not me. Vaughn. Cracked radiator.” Flynn jabbed his thumb in the tall bloke’s direction.

  Vaughn set the new radiator safely into the back of Flynn’s vehicle and straightened up to give Flynn’s mum his attention. “Hi, Mrs. Brewer.”

  “Actually, it’s Mrs. Cooper,” Flynn corrected through gritted teeth.

  “It’s . . . nice to see you, Vaughn.” Brooke turned a confused and partially suspicious look towards Perie and Flynn.

  “You, too. I hope you’re well,” Vaughn responded.

  She flashed the ex-soldier a cautious smile and nodded, then turned back to her son. “I’m pleased to run into you. I’ve been wanting to talk to you about the other night. I don’t like how we left things. Could we try again?”

  Flynn scoffed.

  “Not dinner with the family. Just us. I want to be included in your life, Flynn. Yours and Megan’s. You’re my children and despite what you might think, I do care about you.” She sighed. “I know I’m not always good at b
ridging the gap between you two and Chris’ family, and I’m sorry for that. Will you give me another chance?”

  Flynn wasn’t sure what he wanted. Every time he tried to let her in, the snobby stepfamily got in the way. She was always too timid to stand up for herself, and for him and Megan.

  Perie nudged him forcefully.

  Flynn sighed. “Yeah, okay, Mum. But only you. Leave the rest of them out of it.”

  Brooke pressed her hand to her chest. “I promise.”

  “You could always come out to my place sometime. Lunch, maybe?” Perie suggested.

  Brooke’s smile was full of relief. “That would be lovely.”

  Perie and Vaughn both nudged their boyfriend this time, urging him forward. With a sigh, Flynn pulled his mother into a hug.

  ***

  After a few hours sitting by the roadside in the heat while they installed the new radiator, Vaughn slowly rolled his car to a stop beside Flynn’s snazzy ute and turned off the car. It was a shitbox, alright, but he was relieved to have it home safe.

  Home.

  Was he beginning to think of Perie’s place as home? He felt a smile stretch across his face as he watched Flynn and Perie walk, hand-in-hand, towards the front stairs. When she set a foot on the first step, Flynn tugged on her hand, urging her past the house instead.

  “Vaughn! Come on, mate!” Flynn shouted.

  Vaughn’s smile grew larger as they waved their hands in the air, begging for him to come along. He got out of his car and followed them down the back of the property to the creek. Hidden at the bottom of a small incline, behind some bottle brush bushes and young gum trees, was a creek he hadn’t even realised was there.

  He hesitated as Perie and Flynn disrobed. “Skinny dipping?” he asked.

  Flynn squinted against the sun so he could look at Vaughn. “You up for it?”

  “Uh . . . I don’t have my cover,” Vaughn replied.

  “For what?”

  Perie understood immediately. “For your foot?”

  Vaughn nodded.

  Flynn looked between his two companions. “His foot? What are you talking about?”

  “He has a prosthesis, Flynn.” Perie was careful about her words.

  Flynn tried to hide his surprise as best as possible, however his jaw dropping open was a dead giveaway. “Oh.”

  “Is that a problem, Flynn?” Vaughn asked in a snappier tone than he meant to use.

  “No way! I just don’t understand how I didn’t notice it last night.” He ran his fingers through his hair.

  “We had other things on our mind . . ..” The guys smirked at each other.

  Perie hugged Vaughn. “We’ll help you.”

  “Alright, then. Give me a minute.” Vaughn sat down on a rock and started to undress, beginning with his shoes and working his way up. He shamelessly checked out Perie and Flynn’s naked bodies. “You’re both way too attractive for your own good, you know that?”

  “Back at you,” Perie replied with a wink.

  Vaughn removed his prosthetic foot and set it aside. He slowly lifted his gaze to the two of them, nervous of their reactions. He usually didn’t care about people’s opinions so much. But these two weren’t any old sods on the street . . .. They were people he cared for deeply, always had.

  Perie held her hand out to him without hesitation. Vaughn placed his hand in hers and she pulled him up. Flynn took his other hand and with their support, Vaughn made his way into the creek. The water was lovely and cool on his clammy skin and once they reached the deeper section, Vaughn was able to tread water on his own. They paddled together in a small circle and glanced at each other. They basked in the comfortable silence that fell between them, simply enjoying being in one another’s presence.

  “This is nice,” Vaughn said. “I’ve never skinny dipped before.”

  “You what?” Flynn couldn’t believe his ears.

  “We didn’t do this when we were dating?” Perie asked.

  “No.” Vaughn chuckled, trying to avoid staring at the way her breasts bobbed beneath the water’s surface.

  “Fail, Perie,” Flynn teased.

  “Agreed. I’m bloody useless.”

  “Better late than never, right?” Vaughn winked at her, causing her to blush. “Wait a minute. Are you telling me you do this regularly?”

  “Once upon a time, sure. Not so much now that we live in Brisbane. We’d get arrested,” Flynn answered.

  “City people are great, but . . . some of them can be kind of prudish,” Perie added.

  “Am I a prude, too, then?” Vaughn joked with a grin.

  “No, Vaughn. I think you’re a bit shy, is all.” Flynn brushed his hand over the other man’s broad shoulder.

  “I don’t think I’m shy.”

  “Not shy . . .” Perie mused. “Introverted. Strong. Protective. A strong sense of duty.”

  Vaughn frowned. “Because I’m a former soldier?”

  Perie nodded.

  “Perie, I didn’t join the army because of a strong sense of duty. I didn’t give two hoots about serving my country, not at first. I joined because . . . I was floundering.”

  “You were? Why?” Flynn asked.

  Vaughn scoffed, “Do you honestly need to ask me that, Brewer?”

  A cautious glance travelled between Flynn and Perie.

  “I lost you both, all at once. I ruined what we had, Perie-Berry. You and me, Flynn, we went about things the wrong way. We both hurt Perie. Then I lost Mum to melanoma, and I couldn’t handle being in this town with all its memories. I didn’t know of a way out until I saw a recruitment ad in the paper. I joined the following week.”

  Flynn’s mouth hung open. “You joined because of us?”

  Perie gasped. “You lost your foot because of us?”

  “What? No!” Vaughn exclaimed. He took in Perie’s distraught expression and waded over to her. “I lost my foot because of the bastard who set the landmine. Our falling out led me to the army, but never ever blame yourself for my injuries.” He lifted her chin and peered into her hazel eyes, his line of sight catching the gold fleck in them. “Promise me.”

  Perie twisted her mouth up. “Alright.”

  Vaughn put his arm around Flynn’s shoulders and drew him closer. “You, too. You got it?”

  “But I didn’t—” Flynn started.

  “You got it?” Vaughn repeated.

  “Yeah, righto.” Flynn’s breath hitched at the way Vaughn gazed at him. Flynn’s hand cupped Vaughn’s cheek and captured his lips in a kiss. Vaughn’s fingertips dug into Flynn’s shoulder as he responded.

  Vaughn felt Perie snuggle into his body. She placed a kiss atop his tattoo and his heart tripped inside his chest. He turned to her and kissed her deeply. Her tiny sigh was so beautiful. As he broke the kiss, he noticed Flynn’s fingers buried in her hair, massaging her scalp.

  “I’m falling in love with the both of you again,” Vaughn mumbled. “I hope that’s alright?”

  Perie lay her palm over Vaughn’s heart. “I was hoping you were.”

  Flynn’s blue eyes were heavy with want. “I didn’t want to admit anything at first . . . but I’m all in.”

  THE TRIO BECAME SO busy over the next couple of weeks, they barely had time for anything but work and sleep. Perie and Flynn were on a schedule that they had to adhere to, and time was beginning to get away from them.

  Knuckling down was good for them and the project and soon, they had made the basic changes they needed to make. The new bathroom and Perie’s master bedroom were coming along nicely, as was the kitchen, which Vaughn took on as his personal project—to Perie’s specifications, of course. A modern country kitchen was what she wanted, and it was what she would get. In went the white, French-style cabinetry, the light brown, timber bench tops, and he hung the matching white cupboards. The sunken farmhouse sink and fancy, Victorian-style taps would be installed when the plumber visited the next morning.

  Once he was done, he went to check on Flynn’s progress wit
h Perie’s bathroom. The massive window was fantastic, offering uninterrupted views across the bushland behind the property. He knew where the bath was going to be situated, thinking it a stroke of genius on Perie’s part. She certainly had a knack for this sort of thing, and he was looking forward to seeing the finished product. Vaughn watched as Flynn expertly installed the wool insulation and covered it over with the waterproof green board sheeting, using his trusty nail gun to hold it in place. The ease in which he moved was like nothing—this was second-nature to him. This was Flynn in his element.

  Vaughn was handy, sure. He could fix the mowers that came into his dad’s shop, he could tinker with his car alright, help in the yard, and around the house. But he didn’t have a specific skill set. Not like Flynn and Perie, who had built their own businesses from the ground, up. The things Vaughn knew how to do well were more military-specific—radar, weapons knowledge, missions. If you needed someone for a peacekeeping mission, Vaughn was your man. It wasn’t easy coming back to civilian life, because frankly, Vaughn had never been much good at it. But he had to trust in this—in Flynn and in Perie. He believed they could help him simply by being themselves and loving him, just as he loved them.

  Then again, should he rely on them for his happiness?

  He glanced across at Perie, who was arguing with someone on her mobile phone. With a concerned frown, he crept closer as she hung up in a huff and threw the phone down onto the card table beside her laptop.

  “Hey. What’s wrong?”

  Perie peered up at him as he pulled up a chair and sat in front of her.

  “The air-con guy just bailed on me. He was supposed to come at the same time as the electrician and the plumber tomorrow so they could coordinate the setup of the reverse cycle system I wanted installed.” Perie slumped back in her chair and rubbed her forehead.

  “So, then, let’s find someone else,” Vaughn said.

  “Who’s going to be available on such short notice?”

  “You never know until you ask around.” Vaughn spun the laptop around to face him. “Who did you have?”

  “A local guy.”