The Gift of Three

by Kaitlin Maitland, Allie Quinn,

  “Yes, but I was the one who met her. I was the one who took her to dinner. Then I failed to tell her we’re a package deal.” He trailed off. Andrew didn’t argue with him. “This time, I thought we should talk to her together, maybe offer her dinner, tell her what’s what, let her decide before either of us gets too attached.”

  “All right. We’ll try it your way. As long as we don’t scare her away and she leaves before she’s finished decorating, since as soon as she’s done there, according to her contract, she’ll be here decorating this one next. It’s a shame Henry broke his leg and couldn’t finish these two malls for us, but I’m glad you found her.” There was amusement in Andrew’s voice as he added, “Besides, I was getting damned tired of waiting for you.”

  Jake looked at Maggie’s shapely legs—not too long, not too short, but curvy in the right places. He wanted to feel them wrapped around his waist. He wanted even more to see them wrapped around Andrew’s waist. The only thing he liked as much as great sex was watching Andrew enjoy great sex. “Well, Henry’s bad tackle playing football with his kids was to Maggie’s advantage. And I’ll do my best to make sure we don’t scare her away.”

  “I’ll be there in an hour.”

  * * * *

  Maggie looked around at her handiwork. The courtyard was magnificent if she did say so herself. It seemed every holiday, she outdid herself. She smiled and thought of her mom as she said her mom’s words out loud. “You are a true decorator, Maggie.” And, Mom, you are the only person who never thought I was crazy when I said I wanted to decorate places when I grew up. Thank you for believing in me. She smiled at the memory. She remembered arguing that, no, she didn’t want to be an interior decorator and pick out wallpaper or paint. She wanted to pick out decorations. There was a difference. She stared up at the huge tree she’d just completed, wishing her mom could see it.

  Maggie pulled out her phone and did the next best thing—she took a picture and texted it to her in Florida, where she was now happily retired.

  Her phone buzzed with an incoming text. She frowned. That was unusual. It was early morning. She didn’t expect her mom to be up yet. Besides, her mom generally didn’t reply until evening. The text wasn’t from her, though.

  Oh my. It was from her hot, tall, dark, and handsome new boss, Jake McGrew. When she’d caught him watching her a short while ago, she’d nearly lost her balance on the ladder.

  She couldn’t believe she was actually here, working for Jake McGrew. Hell, he was the owner of this mall and a number of others. All the malls were higher end, upscale. They screamed money and wealthy patrons. He might dress in casual business clothes here at the mall, but he was way out of her league. Besides, she was his decorator. He’d hired her. He paid her. She’d signed a contract with him. She worked for him. The last thing she needed was a broken leg or worse, falling off a ladder because she couldn’t control the way he made her stomach tighten or her heart race or…

  No, she was not going to think about the way he made her hot and needy or her panties damp with desire. She was not going there. Not again. Not for a long time. Maybe never. Not after last Christmas, when she’d given her heart to a man who’d turned her on, only to discover he’d had a fiancé who’d hired her to decorate the reception hall for a Christmas wedding for them. It didn’t matter that he told her he loved her. He even made it clear they could continue to see each other, since he was only marrying the other woman because of a family obligation and for her money.

  What did he think she was? Desperate? Stupid?

  Not yet. Nor was she that naive young woman who fell in love with the first man to show her some attention. Not any longer. Which was why she was going to ignore any reaction she had toward Jake McGrew.

  Besides, she had another tree to finish and the new mall that was about to open to decorate for him. She slid the screen on her phone and read the text.

  Please come to my office.

  It was a simple, direct text. She tried to look beyond the way her nipples responded as she read it. She looked again at her phone. It was just after six in the morning. This was the time Maggie preferred to decorate, when there were no shoppers about. The mall wasn’t completely dark, but the stores were. She wasn’t sure being alone with Jake was a good idea, especially after the way he’d watched her less than an hour ago. She shrugged. He probably had a wife and three point five kids or at least a girlfriend. He probably just wanted her to add something to the decoration theme. His question about the naughty list didn’t really mean anything at all.

  She was letting her imagination run away with her. Hadn’t she just reminded herself that he was in a way different league than she was?

  Maggie reached the mall office suite. Through the door was a receptionist’s desk, to her left was the security personnel office, and at the end of the hall was the door to Mr. McGrew’s office. A security guard buzzed her in through the locked door. He offered her a smile, and they exchanged greetings before she headed down the hall. The reception desk was empty.

  She heard voices as she neared Jake’s office door. Maggie stepped closer, trying to distinguish what they were saying and couldn’t. She took a deep breath and knocked. The talking stopped. Then Jake McGrew’s rich voice came through.

  “Come in.”

  She opened the door and stepped into the lush office, her footsteps silent on the deep blue carpet. The last time she’d been in here had been to sign her contract. It had been daytime and raining outside. Now only the dark gray of an early-dawn sky could be seen through the open window.

  Jake drew her eye first, but her attention was caught by the other man in the office. He was the total opposite of Jake. While Jake was tall with dark hair and eyes the color of the evening sky, this man was shorter, stockier, with noticeable muscles beneath his shirt. He raked his hand through his sandy, wavy hair. His short fingers looked as if they were rough from work—as though he did physical labor.

  “Please join us, Ms. Little.” Jake waved her closer.

  Maggie took a deep breath. She wouldn’t let his sexy voice get under her skin and make her heart skip. But oh, the way he said Ms. Little, as if her name was important to him, as if she were one of his associates, not one of his employees. She stopped beside the chairs and licked her lips. Her mouth was dry.

  “Is there a problem? Something wrong with the decorations?” His was the largest contract she’d gotten thus far. She needed the money, true, but more than that, she needed the reputation decorating for a man like Jake McGrew could give her. She couldn’t afford any screwups. Besides, there was so little time before the holidays. There wasn’t time for any drastic changes right now.

  “No, no. The decorations are perfect, thank you. I admit, I was a bit concerned about the mistletoe you’ve hung in various places about the mall, but it goes well with the vintage style you’re using.”

  “Thank you.”

  “This is my partner, Andrew Harper.”

  “Mr. Harper.” She extended her hand.

  His warmth closed over her with his touch and filled her insides when he looked into her eyes, brought her hand up, and lightly kissed the back.

  She almost swooned. First from the lust that gesture brought forth and then from the fact that it was the most romantic thing a guy could do to a woman. And she loved anything and everything romantic. That was why she loved vintage and the Victorian era and everything having to do with chivalry.

  It was the most out-of-character action she had ever experienced. A guy who looked more at home around tools and building houses didn’t strike her as the type to kiss a woman’s hand. He looked more the type to hold her against the wall and kiss her until she was senseless.

  She’d never before felt anything so…so…sensual. Her breath caught. She let it out with a forced chuckle. The feather-like touch of his lips sent a tingle all the way to her shoulder. She finally pulled her arm back and cradled it against her stomach as she tried to get the tiny little sparks he’d set off i
n her to fade.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

  Mr. Harper’s voice was almost as deep as Mr. McGrew’s was, with a bit of an East Coast accent. It touched her with warmth—and there was also a hint of amusement there. He wasn’t sorry at all. She realized it had been some sort of test, and she wasn’t sure if she’d passed or not. “You didn’t embarrass me,” she admitted. He had turned her on, though. Completely.

  She wasn’t even certain how that was possible. Good God, barely an hour before, she’d been turned on just by the way Jake McGrew had looked at her. Damn, what was wrong with her? Obviously, she was due for some much-needed quality time with BOB.

  There was too much testosterone in the room. That little quiver in her pussy had her wishing she’d brought BOB with her and could sneak off to the nearest ladies’ room. Her chest grew tight, her mouth dry. And her lips…

  She was beginning to wonder—hell, why not admit it? Since she’d met Jake in his office and signed the contract and now since meeting Andrew, she was beginning to dream about what each man’s lips would feel like on hers.

  Maggie mentally shook herself. She was a professional woman working under contract. She shouldn’t be entertaining thoughts about her boss or his friends. And certainly not entertaining any sexual ones! She seriously needed to finish up with the decorations before the mall opened at nine and go home before she completely and totally embarrassed herself.

  Mr. Harper let go of her hand.

  She was able to breathe.

  “Is there a reason why you called me here, Mr. McGrew?” Shit. Was that her breathy voice? Damn, it was getting hard to form a coherent sentence. Her bra was suddenly too tight. She felt her nipples against her blouse and fought the urge to fold her arms across her front.

  “Yes, there is. Please, sit down.”

  That wasn’t really a good idea. She should probably turn and leave while her knees could still hold her up.

  She hardly knew either of them. Hell, she’d met Andrew less than five minutes ago. How was it that both men could make her so hot and wet with need, make her legs go weak? And so quickly? She’d been in Jake’s office before, alone with him. And while his good looks, his charisma, his charm, and his voice had her thinking about him, she hadn’t until now wanted to unbutton the top buttons of her blouse or do other crazy and rash things. She tried to draw in a calming breath as she sank into the chair Mr. Harper had pulled closer for her, but her tight chest was making it difficult. She laced her fingers and waited, hoping whatever they wanted to tell her didn’t take long.

  Mr. Harper took the chair next to her.

  Oh my. She just barely caught herself from fanning her face. It was bad enough she got all flushed and weak around Jake. Now she had the other hottie on her other side.

  Jake stood, then moved around to the front of his desk, where he leaned casually against it.

  Both men watched her.

  “Should I feel like a deer surrounded by wolves?” she asked, hoping to lighten the tension and make them laugh. They didn’t.

  “I certainly hope not,” said Mr. McGrew.

  “I don’t know. I kind of like the expression on her face. She wants to bolt, but she doesn’t,” said Mr. Harper, amusement still evident in his voice.

  Maggie rose. “I’m starting to think she should.”

  “Wait, please. Don’t go.”

  Jake McGrew put his hand on her arm, and the world stopped. Heat raced through her like a lightning bolt.

  Maggie met his gaze. She no longer needed to unbutton her top buttons. No, now she simply needed to rip the shirt right off. She didn’t move for fear she’d do just that.

  She hardly even breathed.

  “Let me explain. Please, sit down. And don’t let Andrew’s twisted sense of humor bother you.”

  “I didn’t find anything humorous in his thinking I looked like a deer.”

  “You were the one who put the idea in my head, sweetheart.”

  He watched her as though he’d like to eat her alive. But then, so did Jake. She slowly sank into the chair again, not really afraid but needing to know the reason she was here. Jake squeezed her arm, drawing her attention back to him.

  “Let me do the talking, Andrew.”

  He addressed the comment to Andrew without taking his gaze from her. When she glanced down at his hand on her arm, he released her. But his heat remained. It melted through her, made her nipples tingle, her pussy tighten, and sent shivers down her back.

  “Let me explain. Hear me out, please.”

  Maggie nodded. Jake licked his lips. She stared at his tongue, imaging how it would feel on her neck. So engrossed was she in her thoughts that she missed his first few words.

  “Andrew and I are partners. He knows the construction side of malls; I know the business side. We’ve been best friends since we were very young. We share a home, several, as a matter of fact. We share good times, good fortune, sometimes meals. We also share women.”

  The room was silent for a long moment.

  Had she heard him correctly?

  “I…I beg your pardon?”

  “I said we share women.”

  “Oh, cut to the chase, Jake.” Andrew leaned closer to her as he spoke, and Maggie caught the subtle scent of fresh-cut lumber, the outdoors, and man. “What he means is that we like to take turns with a woman, be with a woman together, at the same time.”

  Maggie blinked, seeing the picture and not seeing the picture. Two guys with one gal? Was that even possible? “Uh, I don’t care if you guys are gay, really…” Although it would be a waste.

  “We aren’t gay.” Jake drew her attention. “That’s not how this works. I don’t have sex with him.”

  Andrew continued. “But it turns him on to have sex while I watch. And it turns me on to watch him. I really love kissing a woman or sucking her nipples while Jake makes her come or watching while Jake gets sucked off and I’m buried deep in a tight pussy.”

  Maggie felt for certain she’d just jumped into a vacuum and all the air got sucked out of her lungs. A tornado of emotions tore through her. Just the vision of having one man thrusting into her while the other man’s cock filled her mouth made her pussy clench. Her panties were suddenly so wet, she was afraid to move. Only one man had managed so far to be buried deep in her pussy, as Andrew had just described, and he’d managed to bury himself in so deep, he’d broken her heart.

  She was afraid to look at either of them. “Why are you telling me this?” Her whispered words sounded loud in the quiet room.

  “We’d like you to be with us,” Jake said. He was much more subtle than Andrew. Yet at the same time—he wasn’t.

  Maggie fought down a slap-happy laugh, thinking about how Andrew might have worded it. I’d like to be buried in your tight pussy while you suck off Jake.

  “You’d like me to have sex with you,” she stated, just to confirm she’d heard them correctly.

  “I’d like to get to know you. I’m attracted to you. I’d love for it to lead to sex, yes. What you have to understand, though, is that Andrew is part of the package. Most women have trouble with that part.”

  “I’ll bet.” Maggie wasn’t certain what there was to have trouble with. One man. Two men. Even better, when they were both hunks. What woman wouldn’t want two men to want her? What woman wouldn’t want to be touched all over, as four hands could do better than two?

  “We wanted to be up front with you about this. And you understand the importance of our being up front with you, don’t you?”

  “I understand, and I appreciate it.” She was quiet for a moment, looking from one to the other, trying to read their thoughts and finding it impossible. “What about love?”

  The two men looked at one another. Then Jake met her gaze with a fierce, undeniable heat. “There is always room for love. But you have to love us both. And if things don’t work out—or if they do—you do not discuss our relationship with the press or anyone. The last thing any
of us needs is damage to our reputations. Understand?”

  And Maggie understood. At some point, some woman somewhere had loved only one of them and something had happened. Something bad.

  The phrase “You understand the importance of our being up front with you, don’t you?” kept repeating, confirming in her mind that, yes, there had been a misunderstanding in the past, something they both wanted to avoid.

  “We would never want to scare you, nor would we want to spring anything on you either.” Jake held her gaze.

  “I understand,” she said again. “Can I have some time to think about it?”

  “Of course,” Jake said.

  Maggie stood, surprised her knees weren’t shaking. Actually, she was surprised she could stand at all, since they’d just figuratively pulled the rug out from under her. Feeling the heat of their gazes, she forced her legs to move. She made it across the room and out the door. She closed it and leaned against the cool wood. She realized she was holding her breath and let out a sigh. Thank goodness the guard was gone and the room was empty.

  She sucked in three more breaths, slowly, one at a time, and waited for her fingertips to stop tingling.

  Her pussy shuddered, as if saying, Please go back so we can enjoy both of them. Her heart felt as if it shuddered too. Her throat was dry. She forced down a painful swallow. She thought of BOB, how lonely it made her feel. It was nothing more than a battery-operated boyfriend. And although it never complained, waited for her patiently, never married other women, and didn’t care at all if she cheated on it, it could never do for her what Jake and Andrew could.

  Then she thought of Stan and how he’d declared his love both before and after telling her he was marrying another woman. Maggie closed her eyes. She couldn’t deny that she found herself drawn to both Jake and Andrew. She liked how they’d been so up front. That had been refreshing.

  She frowned. She’d forever tried to be the “good” girl and play by the rules, and look where it had gotten her in relationships—not very far. Maybe it was time to bend the rules a little.