Lila's Loves

by Laylah Roberts

  Clay.

  Lila went into shock. She could feel everything around her slowing as she just concentrated on taking one breath then another.

  “Wow, he didn’t miss a beat, did he?” Colin said in a surprised voice.

  “Sure didn’t. He knew us better than we did ourselves,” Gavin agreed.

  “Lila?” Trace questioned. “Are you all right?”

  “I don’t feel so good. Can I go home?” she asked quietly.

  “Course we can. Come on, let’s go.”

  *****

  As soon as she got home, Lila raced up to her room. She didn’t want to be around anyone at the moment. She needed to think. She threw herself onto her bed, arms over her head, fully expecting a knock on her door to come immediately.

  So she was surprised when it didn’t come for another twenty minutes.

  “Lila, honey?” Trace called out.

  “Yes?” she asked.

  “Colin’s out on a job and Gavin has gone to check on the men. I’m just down in the stables if you need me, okay?”

  “Okay, thanks,” she said with a mixture of relief and disappointment. She needed some time alone to think and yet, she felt lonely without them here.

  “If you need to talk, Lila, I’m here for you,” Trace added.

  “I know. I just need some time to myself.” She tried to keep her voice steady, but knew there was a tremor that betrayed her.

  “Okay, sweetheart. Love you.”

  “Love you, too.”

  When the house went silent she rose and wandered downstairs, looking around the house through new eyes. She couldn’t believe Clay had left this place to her. When she’d first arrived it had seemed so huge and intimidating. But now it was her home.

  Their home.

  Because it wasn’t just hers, no matter what was on the title. It was theirs.

  Tears welled in her eyes as she moved into Clay’s office. She hadn’t been in here since Clay’s death. As far as she knew the only one who came in here now was Gavin, and then only to get something he needed for running the ranch.

  It still smelled like Clay. Every year she’d bought him the same cologne. She’d never really known if he liked it or not, but he’d always worn it.

  “Oh, Clay, why didn’t I tell you how much I appreciated you every day?” she whispered, lying down on the couch. When she’d first arrived, she’d lain on this couch at night, waiting for Clay to finish up his paperwork. Afterwards, he’d pick her up and carry her upstairs, tucking her into bed.

  The big, gruff rancher had never once lost his temper with her, or told her to leave him alone.

  “I love you so much, Clay. Thank you for giving me my family.”

  *****

  Gavin walked into the house to find Trace and Colin sitting in the living room having a beer.

  “Hey, where’s Lila?” Gavin had been worried about leaving her alone earlier, but Trace had been close by and they’d all figured she needed some space. In fact, they’d kind of felt the same way. The letter from Clay had reawakened the loss and to say they’d been surprised by the way he split the ranch up would be an understatement.

  Trace glanced up from the game they were watching on TV. “She’s asleep in Clay’s study. Poor thing looked so tired that I didn’t want to wake her. But you probably should or she’ll never sleep tonight.”

  With a nod, Gavin headed into Clay’s study. For the first time since his foster father’s death, he wasn’t stabbed in the chest with pain upon entering the room. Reaching the couch, he smiled as he found Lila sprawled on the large, leather couch, looking so tiny against the very masculine furniture.

  He moved an arm under her legs and back, lifting her gently, before sitting back on the sofa with Lila held on his lap.

  “Lila, baby,” he crooned softly, running his hand over her head. “Time to wake up.”

  She sighed. “Too early, don’t wanna.”

  “Baby girl, wake up for me now.”

  She turned her face into his chest and rubbed it against his t-shirt like a little girl.

  “Why’d he do it, Gavin?” she suddenly asked, opening her eyes to look up at him. “Why’d he split things up that way?”

  “Because he wanted to show us that he loved all of us and that we were meant to be together.”

  She nodded, nibbling at her full lower lip. “I wish I had told him more often how much he meant to me.”

  “He knew it.”

  Lila looked down at her lap. “I always held part of myself back. I was always a bit scared of being rejected, but he really did see me as his daughter, didn’t he?”

  “Yes, baby girl.”

  A smile crossed her face and she relaxed against him. “So I guess I own this house now. You better not upset me, huh, or you guys could find yourselves out on the street.”

  Gavin grinned. “That so, brat? And what would constitute upsetting you?”

  “Well, definitely spankings.”

  He placed a hand over her mouth, laughing. “Baby girl, you could own the whole of the USA and I would still roast your ass if I thought you needed it.”

  Tugging his hand away from her face, she pushed her bottom lip out. “Well, that hardly seems fair. My house, my rules.”

  “I think it’s more, our house, our rules, don’t you?”

  With a sigh, she gave him a kiss. “Yeah, I like the sound of that.”

  Chapter Eight

  A clap of thunder had her sitting up in fright, her heart pounding in her chest. Rain beat heavily against the roof of the house. Glancing out the window, lightning lit up the sky and she whimpered. Moving blindly, fear guiding her movements, she grabbed Tubby and ran for the bedroom door. Racing down the corridor, she found herself in front of Clay’s bedroom door before she even realized what she was doing.

  Another boom of thunder sounded, making her cry out. Trembling, she turned and raced into the closest bedroom. Trace’s bedroom. Pausing, she shook the fear free. What the hell was she doing? Just as she stepped out of the room there was a long, low rumble of thunder and she spun, racing to the bed.

  “What? Who?” Trace mumbled sleepily. She threw herself against him. “Lila, honey? What’s wrong? What’s the matter? What’s happened?”

  Thunder struck, lighting lit up the sky, rain slashed against the window and she huddled against him, trying to bury herself under him.

  “Oh, honey, that’s one hell of a storm, isn’t it? Hush now. Damn, you’re shaking like a leaf. It’s okay, little bit. They’re just God’s farts remember?”

  Yeah, if she hadn’t believed that when she was seven then she totally wasn’t buying it now. Rain pelted down, fast and heavy as Trace rocked her, running his hand up and down her back. Lila found herself relaxing slightly. Thunder boomed again, making her shudder, but she stayed where she was, safely ensconced in Trace’s arms.

  “Lila!” She heard Gavin yell. “Where are you?”

  “She’s in here!” Trace hollered back, causing her to giggle. Leaning over, he flicked the switch on the bedside lamp. Soft light filled the room, helping her fight her fear.

  “What’s so funny, little bit?” Trace teased, tickling her.

  “You guys. Just as well we don’t have neighbors; they’d be able to hear all of you over the thunder.”

  Colin and Gavin barreled through the door then, dressed only in boxer shorts. Muscles and tanned skin filled her vision, almost making her forget about the storm raging outside.

  Almost.

  Another clap of thunder had her burying her face against Clay. Gavin and Colin climbed in on either side of them as Trace pulled her to lie on top of him.

  “You okay, baby girl?” Gavin asked with concern. Tears filled her eyes and she buried her face against Trace’s chest as she nodded, not wanting them to see. She remembered so many storms that she’d spent alone, huddled in the closet of her apartment with Tubby, wishing she wasn’t alone.

  “Lila?” Colin questioned. “Honey, talk to us. Would
you rather we went to Clay’s room?”

  “No, no, I’m okay,” she said hastily. “Here is good. Unless I’m too heavy?” She looked up at Trace in concern.

  He snorted and gently pushed her head back against his chest. “Don’t be silly. Now, relax. The storm is dying off, we’re here, and we’re not going to let anything happen to you. I promise. Just relax, Lila. Relax.”

  With the heat of their bodies infusing hers, Lila found her eyes drifting shut. She yawned and snuggled down, letting sleep pull her in.

  Gavin ran his hand over Lila’s back, unable to stop touching her. As soon as he’d heard the storm, he’d gone looking for her, knowing she’d need him.

  “At least she came here and didn’t go straight for a closet,” Colin commented from the other side of Trace.

  “It’s where I looked first,” Gavin admitted.

  Lila had only been living with them for about a month when they’d had their first thunderstorm. She’d been tucked up in bed at the time, while the rest of them were downstairs, watching television.

  As soon as the storm had hit, Clay had glanced outside with a frown before telling them he was going to check on Lila. Gavin hadn’t paid much attention until Clay had come downstairs, his face worried, unable to find the little girl.

  They’d turned the house upside down looking for her, until Gavin had found her huddled in a closet, clasping Tubby close, her face wet with tears. It had taken a while to find her because she wasn’t in her closet. She was in Clay’s.

  It was where she’d felt safest. Not this time, though, this time she’d fallen asleep in their arms.

  “Do you think she often hid in a closet as a child?” Colin asked quietly.

  Gavin stilled. He didn’t want to think about that, about the terror and fear she’d faced as a child before she’d come to them.

  “Thank God she didn’t hide in a closet that night we found her,” Trace said.

  Gavin nodded, knowing what he meant. A sweet trick of fate had led them to her that night and if she hadn’t been there, if they had never met her… God, he didn’t want to even think about it.

  Instead he kissed her shoulder and sent a prayer to God, something he rarely did, thanking Him for sending her to them.

  Lila woke slowly, yawning, feeling warm and toasty, even if she was lying on something hard that kept moving. Blushing wildly, she gasped as she realized she was lying on someone. Looking up, her gaze connected with Trace’s amused one.

  “Morning, baby,” he rumbled.

  The bed shifted and she turned her head to see Gavin staring at her. Those gray eyes studied her before he leaned forward and he kissed her.

  “Morning, precious.”

  A tug on her hair had her turning the other way to look at a sleepy-eyed Colin. “Good morning, Lila,” he said quietly before giving her another kiss.

  She cleared her throat. “Wow, a girl, could get used to waking up like this.”

  “I’m glad you say that, Lila,” Trace told her. “Cause I for one would be glad to wake up like this every day.”

  She wriggled then stilled as she felt the hard erection poking into her stomach. Her gaze caught Trace’s again as she blushed wildly. Chuckling, he ran his hand over her hair. “That’s my normal state around you, Lila,” he told her. “I bet it’ll be cold showers all round this morning.”

  The others nodded, groaning.

  Lila blushed then moved back so she kneeled between Trace’s open legs. She’d pulled the covers back with her, revealing the three of them to her gaze.

  Three delicious, gorgeous men. All of them wore boxers. And only boxers. Gavin lay to her left. Thick muscles bunched as he raised his arms to place his hands behind his head. His biceps were so thick she doubted she’d be able to get her hands all the way around them.

  Her gaze drifted down, over his light sprinkling of chest hair to where his boxers tented with an impressive erection. Lila gulped, clenching her hands into fists to stop herself from pulling his underwear down. His gray eyes were serious, intent as he studied her.

  She moved her gaze over to Trace whose green eyes were filled with hunger as he watched her. He had a leaner build, like a swimmer, with narrow hips and wide shoulders.

  Finally, she glanced over at Colin. His chest was completely bare of hair, tanned and smooth. He could have been a Californian beach boy. His blond hair lay messily around his head as he cupped his erection, just watching her as he brushed his hand up and down his shaft. He’d kept his boxers on, but it wouldn’t take much for them to slip off.

  “Goddamn you’re gorgeous, Lila,” Colin groaned.

  She glanced down at herself. She was covered in a large t-shirt of Gavin’s she’d stolen. She hadn’t brushed her hair and she had no make-up on.

  And yet they were looking at her like she was the sexiest thing they’d ever seen.

  “Goddamn it,” Gavin said, rolling from the bed. “The longer I’m here in this bed with you the harder it gets not to touch you.”

  Colin nodded and climbed out of bed. “I think I need to go find one of those cold showers.”

  “Me too,” she said ruefully.

  *****

  Lila raced for the ringing phone.

  “Hello,” she said breathlessly. No answer, but she could hear someone breathing. “Hello?” she asked again, giving them the benefit of the doubt. “Get lost, jerk,” she yelled, hanging up. This was the third time this week she’d answered the phone to hear a breather on the other end. It was starting to get more than annoying. Rubbing her forehead, knowing she had, Lila walked outside to sit by the pool, staring at the glistening water. She couldn’t believe that it had been nearly two months since Trace and Colin had knocked on her apartment door. She’d gone from feeling lonely and in despair of her future, to actually looking forward to what was coming next.

  And it was all due to Gavin, Trace and Colin. They’d been here for her, holding her when she felt sad over Clay’s death, laughing with her, helping her. And she’d done the same for them.

  They’d made sure that as well as spending time together that each one of them spent time alone with her. Each of them had taken her on a special date this week. Gavin had taken her out for a romantic dinner then a movie. Trace had surprised her with dinner under the stars. Colin had taken her out dancing, they’d stayed out so late that Gavin and Trace had grown worried; calling them to make sure they were okay.

  And with each day that passed she fell more in love, and grew more and more attracted to them. They touched her often, caressing her, holding her hand, kissing her. She felt so on fire for them and they had yet to take that last step.

  Lila had finally figured out that she had to make the first move. She just needed to work out how and when. She probably to get something sexier to wear than her selection of oversized t-shirts. A trip to the spa wouldn’t hurt either. The only issue would be paying for it.

  Her inheritance hadn’t come through yet. She’d been helping Gavin with the bookwork, which worked out well for both of them, but she wasn’t about to let him pay her, not when they were paying for everything else.

  She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed being on the ranch until she’d come back. She’d even dragged out her old cowboy hat; one that Clay had given her years ago.

  Oh well, she had an emergency credit card, she could use that then pay it back when the money came through or she found a proper job.

  The phone in the house rang then and she groaned. Not again. She needed to get a whistle or something. Anger pumping through her, she jumped up, racing inside to get it.

  “Listen to me, asshole, I’m going to give you one warning—”

  “Whoa, what did I do?” a familiar voice asked.

  “Laken?” she asked with surprise.

  “Yep, you okay?”

  “Are, yeah, sorry,” Lila said, blowing a breath out. “Did you try to call me before?”

  “No, are you sure you’re okay?”

  “Yeah, I a
m,” Lila reassured her. “Sorry.”

  “So girlfriend, are you ready for a night out on the town?” Laken’s voice drawled down the phone.

  Lila squealed down the phone as she heard her best friend. “You’re home?” she asked. “I can’t believe you’re here. Why didn’t you tell me you were coming back?”

  “Yeah, well, the folks are always telling me I don’t visit enough, and I was getting a bit tired of New York so I hopped on a plane and here I am.”

  There was an undercurrent of unhappiness in her friend’s voice that had Lila immediately worried. She knew that Laken had been feeling a bit lonely lately, but now she sounded downright sad and dejected. Very unusual for her normally upbeat, self-assured friend.

  “And now that I’m home, I’m determined that you and me are going to hit the town.”

  Lila burst into laughter. “Have you forgotten that there are two bars in town and we’re only allowed in one of them?”

  Saxon’s was a private club that was open to members only and neither Lila nor Laken were members.

  “Oh well, we’ll hit Dirty Delights and have a blast like old times. Come on, what do you say? Saturday night will be girls night out.”

  Lila bit her lip. A girls night out did sound great and she’d missed Laken horribly.

  “Sounds like a plan,” she said. “And how about we hit the spa first? Hey, do you mind if I invite someone?”

  Max and Logan had brought their wife, Savannah, around for dinner a few nights ago. She and Lila had hit it off instantly. Lila knew that Savannah didn’t know many people.

  “As long as they don’t have a penis, I don’t mind,” Laken replied. “And the spa sounds like a good plan to me.”

  The spa was a new thing for Haven. Before, they would have had to have gone into Freestown, but a resort had opened about ten minutes from town and it had a spa that was open to everyone.