by Sienna Blake
I didn’t become the youngest marketing executive at Prescott Agency for nothing. I know my shit. We have a great product, interested press, a hungry market and an event to outshine any event in the whole damn country.
What could possibly go wrong?
Savannah
Finally, the night of the event is upon us.
The guests first gather in the lobby of one of the buildings, canapes and drinks in hand. So many VIPs are here. So much is riding on this. The farm. Our family. Our happiness. The night needs to go perfectly.
I stand partly hidden in an alcove. My nerves are wound around so tight, I jump when a pair of hands slides onto my shoulders.
“Relax, it’s just me.”
Aiden.
A tingle runs down my spine. Aiden still won’t speak in public, but he’ll speak to his brothers and me in private. It still gives me a thrill to hear his voice.
His touch relaxes me instantly, but the second he starts to massage me with his fingers, I turn to liquid.
I let out a low moan. “Oh, God, Aiden. That’s so good.”
He chuckles in my ear. “Careful,” he says, “or they’ll think I’m doing more than massaging you. And the other two will know I’m breaking the rules.”
The four of us have agreed to keep our unconventional relationship private. It’s nobody’s business and people can be…judgmental. Nobody could possibly know how much love there is between us. It isn’t about sex, although I have never been so damn sated in my life. There is real love, real affection between us. We work as a perfect unit. A team. A family.
For the first time in my life, I’ve found home. I’ve made one with these three amazing brothers, each incredible in their own unique way.
Our rule is they can’t touch me in public and I can’t touch them.
But in this alcove, Aiden and I are hidden. It feels private. I dare to move back closer to him, my ass pressing against his front. I feel him harden instantly. Now it’s his turn to let out a moan.
“Jesus, Savannah, you can’t do that to me. Not here.”
A thrill runs down my spine. We’re being so naughty. I love it. How far can we go in this alcove? Slowly I rock my hips, rubbing the curve of my ass against his dick. His fingers freeze and he lets out a choked groan.
“Savannah,” he warns, his voice breaking on my name.
Fuck. It makes me so hot to know that I make him crazy. I want more.
I want to corrupt my sweet Aiden. To tug his cock out, stroke it in my hand before pulling it inside me from behind under my short dress. Right here in front of everyone.
I slip my hand behind me to rub at his thick, hard—
His hand falls from my shoulders and grabs mine, stopping me in a firm hold.
I giggle.
“Sorry.”
I’m so not sorry.
“I should go…barn…make sure that…” He doesn’t stay to finish his thought.
He moves along the side of the lobby towards the back exit, walking slightly awkwardly.
I stand there sighing quietly to myself, pleased that I’m able to have such an effect on him, and I eye the crowd. They are already buzzing, adding to my heightened senses. Tonight is going to be incredible.
I catch Fionn’s eye from across the room. He shoots me a smirk, a twinkle in his eye.
Naughty girl, he mouths.
Fionn must have spotted Aiden and me from across the room. My blood heats even more knowing that our private moment was witnessed by a man who I also call mine.
Fionn raises an eyebrow and I nod. It’s show time.
My lust is temporarily forgotten as Fionn leaps up like an agile cat onto a chair and clinks a fork against his champagne glass. My nerves jangle like a bell over a toy shop the day before Christmas.
“Attention, everyone,” Fionn calls across the heads of the crowd. “Firstly, I’d like to thank you all for coming…”
His voice is clear and confident as he addresses the crowd. I’m almost envious of how sure he looks. He seems to be enjoying himself. I have to fake my confidence when I speak in front of a group of people.
I watch Fionn play up to the crowd. He makes them laugh, he makes them gasp, within minutes he’s got them in the palm of his hand. Pride surges through me. That man could charm the pants off the queen of England. He’s the perfect “face” of our country getaway. I don’t think he’s ever looked more handsome than tonight in his tailored suit, showcasing his broad shoulders, his usually unruly hair gelled back off his gorgeous face.
“Now if you’ll follow me…”
Fionn leads the crowd through the farm, pointing out the features of the country estate and each of the guest buildings, his voice booming and clear. I trail after the crowd, hanging back, letting him have center stage.
Finally, he leads them into the main barn for the main event.
The main barn looks stunning. We’ve set it up to showcase what it could look like for a wedding: lights glowing along the exposed stone walls, fairy lights strung across the room, ivy hanging from the exposed beam rafters with a rustic iron chandelier hanging from the center over the dance floor. Tables set up with white cloths are topped with bouquets of wildflowers in crystal bowls and platters of finger food, the air filled with the delicious savory smell of meat and baked desserts. Waiters from the catering company we’ve hired weave through the crowd distributing more champagne, more food.
“Now,” Fionn says as he finishes, “I invite you to eat, drink and mingle. I’ll be around all evening to answer questions. Or you can find the lovely Savannah Wolff.” Fionn shoots me a wink as he waves his arms to indicate me, and a room full of heads turn my way.
I feel my cheeks heat at their attention. But I keep myself poised and wave back.
Fionn nods his head to the live band set up in the corner and they start to play a slow rock ballad. The room fills with the hush of talking and clinking glasses.
The Untouchables are playing, only Ireland’s hottest rock band. The instant the lead singer’s voice starts up, I understand why.
Danny O’Donaghue, a man Rolling Stone magazine named hottest male singer of the year, has a deep crooning voice that would make Chris Isaac jealous. He pours emotion into each lyric and note. It washes over me and makes my skin prickle.
Turns out the O’Callaghan brothers are cousins of Danny, the broody lead singer with hair like midnight and the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen. Their mothers were sisters.
“I can’t believe how beautiful this barn looks,” Killian says as he steps up to my side. “Savannah, you’ve done the most incredible job.”
“Thank you,” I say with a side glance. “Nice to see that I’m not completely useless.”
Killian lets out a laugh at my reference to his impression of me when I first arrived. The smile he gives me is warm and the dimple that so rarely appears makes its presence known on his cheek. “Not completely useless after all.”
Our shoulders brush and a flare of heat rolls through me. I lean into him, drawn in by the affection in his expression and the flare of hunger in his eyes. He leans in, too.
I realize where we are…in public.
I jolt back. Killian composes himself too, running his large hands down his tie.
God, he looks so handsome in his black tailored suit.
I tear my eyes away, hoping that no one is watching me as I’m sure that my feelings for him are showing on my face.
I stare at the band as Killian and I stand almost shoulder to shoulder in silence, just listening to the music.
Danny looks our way and gives Killian a cool nod of his head. Then his eyes find mine, the intensity in them hot and fiery. For a moment I believe he’s singing to me and I blush, tearing my eyes away. The star power of this man is epic. He’s destined for such great things.
Aiden joins us, quietly sliding to the space on my other side.
“Everything is running smoothly in the kitchen,” he says.
“Perfect,” I say to him. I can’t help b
ut reach out to grab his hand, squeezing it for just a second before I drop it.
Public. We’re in public.
I spot Fionn weaving through the crowd towards us, stopping to say hello to guests, charming them and making them laugh within seconds, but his eyes don’t stray from me for long. It makes me happy to know that no matter who he’s with, Fionn knows where I am in the room.
Finally, he breaks away from the crowd and strides towards me with his confident swagger, his trademark lopsided grin on his face.
“Savannah,” Fionn says as he stops in front of me. “This party has an incredible turnout. I can’t believe who’s here. I just spoke to the travel reporter from The New York friggin’ Times!”
I flush under his compliment. “Thank you. But this was a group effort. This couldn’t have happened without the four of us working together.”
“A team,” Killian says with a nod.
“A family,” Aiden says, his voice quiet.
“We’ll have our mortgage payments and then some in no time,” Fionn says.
“Don’t count your chickens, Fionn,” Killian warns, but even he is smiling, confidence beaming from his face. Because we know how successful this event is going to be.
“I love you, guys,” I say low enough so I can’t be heard by anyone else over the music. “So much.”
Here we are. My three men.
My heart.
My loves.
My family.
I stare around our tight circle and I know—I know—nothing is going to tear us apart.
Movement at the barn entrance catches my eyes over Fionn’s shoulder. My heart is jammed up in my throat, choking me.
I spoke too soon.
Because standing at the entrance to the party is Theodore Henry William Prescott.
My ex-fiancé.
Savannah
The O’Callaghan brothers know something’s wrong. I can’t hide the shock on my face.
“Excuse me,” I say, pushing past them.
I have to handle Theo alone. If the brothers get wind of who he is, they’ll kill him.
I stride through the crowd, desperate to get to Theo before he walks into the room. How the hell did he even know I was here?
His eyes widen as I stop before him.
“Savannah.” His eyes roam my body.
I’m in a body-hugging red dress that sweeps across my shoulders and drops to my knees. Since I arrived on the farm my arms and legs have become more toned. I’ve gotten a real tan from working outside. I know I look good and by the look on his face, he thinks so too.
“What are you doing here?” I demand in a low voice.
He frowns. “Is that how you greet your fiancé?”
“What?” I snap, louder than I intend.
Fiancé?
He still thinks we’re engaged after what I caught him doing? My head almost spins off my neck.
I can feel a few eyes turning towards us. We’re already making a scene. “We’re not engaged,” I hiss.
“Because of a little indiscretion? Get real, Savannah.”
A little indiscretion? I splutter.
He has the nerve to look pissed off. He’s not going to leave this or me alone.
This can’t get any worse.
But then it does.
Because the two people who walk into the barn behind him are Mr. and Mrs. Edward Reginald Wolff.
My parents.
My father is a stern-faced man, lines cutting across his forehead from a perpetual frown. You can tell he was once handsome in his younger years, strong jaw, striking green eyes.
He is the first and only man I’ve ever been afraid of.
My mother, Geraldine Elizabeth Wolff, cuts a tall, slim figure in a conservative Valentino dress, a cool disapproving stare on her angular face. I inherited my cheekbones from her, but where mine are slightly full, her cheeks are gaunt from a lifetime of dieting. She’s always chastised me for my “fuller figure”. As if hips, breasts and thighs are something to be ashamed of.
Her gaze narrows at me. I force myself to stand my ground. I remind myself I’m a grown woman. I haven’t lived under their roof since I met Theo and moved in with him. Not that it ever stopped my mother from dropping by unannounced whenever she pleased and disapproving of everything from the way the towels weren’t perfectly folded in my guest bathroom to the lack of shine on the granite countertops.
I stare at my parents, blinking. Hoping that they’re some kind of mirage. “What are you doing here?”
“We’re here to bring you home,” my father says, his eyes darting around the room. Likely to see if there is anyone he knows in here.
“This is my home.”
“You can stop this nonsense right now,” my mother hisses. “Do you know what people are saying back in New York? About why you’ve disappeared? And to end up living on a farm, for God’s sake, with three men like it’s some…some kind of hippie commune.” My mother’s voice cracks on the word commune as if it meant whorehouse or crack den.
I thrust my chin up in the air. “I’m not leaving. Now, if you’ll see yourselves out. I have party guests to attend to.” I turn to move back into the party.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Savannah.” Theo grabs my arm. “There’s only so many excuses we can make for your absence.”
I yank my arm out of his grip. “Did you tell them why I left New York? Huh? Did you tell them I caught you face down in another woman’s cunt?”
It’s at that very moment that Danny stops singing. The c-word seems to echo throughout the barn.
My mother lets out a horrified cry. “Savannah, how could you say that horrible word?”
Not how could he cheat on me but how could I say the c-word.
If she only knew the words that had coming out of my mouth lately…
And why.
“Keep your voice down, Savannah,” Theo says. “Someone could overhear you. There are some important people at this function.”
I roll my eyes. “It’s only ever been about image to you, hasn’t it? You never loved me.”
“You can’t stay here, for Christ’s sake,” my mother says. “Do you know what people will say about you? Have you no decorum?”
“Actually, Mother,” I say through gritted teeth. “I don’t give two shits what anyone says about me anymore.”
She turns so pale I think for a moment that she might faint.
“Savannah,” my father says, his harsh voice like a whip crack, “stop upsetting your mother. You are coming with us and this is final.”
I feel myself start to buckle under his authoritative voice. To cave. Suddenly I’m seven again and I have no power. I’m helpless. I feel my shoulders start to sag.
“What is going on here?” Killian’s voice breaks through my thought.
I feel a presence all around me. My heart soars when I realize it’s not just Killian, but Fionn and Aiden who are standing around me like my own personal guard. Suddenly, my lungs inflate again. I feel like I can take on the world.
My heroes.
My protectors.
I thought I wanted to battle my past on my own. But I don’t. These three brothers are my present and my future. I am no longer alone.
They stand beside me. And I beside them. Always.
Theo bristles, his fists clenching by his sides. He looks like he wants to lunge at the brothers, but he doesn’t. There are three of them to his one. All imposing in stature, their shoulders broader than his will ever be.
My mother lets out a hiss. A hiss, for Christ’s sake. Like they’re devils.
“And these are the farmhands you’ve decided to eschew your responsibilities, your life for?”
“Farmhands?” Fionn says, his voice rising in volume. “We’re not—”
Killian shoots him a warning look, cutting him off. Aiden places a hand on Fionn’s arm to calm him. Fionn presses his lips together even though by the glare on his face, there are a lot of things he wants to say, probably including
a ton of four-letter expletives. I’d love for him to let loose. My mother would have a complete fit.
“Mr. and Mrs. Wolff,” Killian says, his voice calm, his authoritative presence forcing them to listen to him. Killian can always command respect wherever he goes. “This is not the time or place to discuss these matters. If you let us know where you’re staying in town, I can book us a table at a nearby restaurant for breakfast tomorrow. We can all sit down and have a mature, civilized conversation.”
“I’m not sitting at a table with you three,” Theo counters, disgust clear in his voice.
Killian cuts him a scathing glare. “We haven’t decided whether you’re invited to the meeting. It’s for adults only.”
Theo splutters, then turns to my father. “Are you going to let him speak to you this way?”
Coward.
Why hadn’t I realized what a spineless drip Theodore was?
My father and the three O’Callaghan brothers face off, the brothers closing around me to stand in front of me like an imposing wall of muscle, the rest of us watching this silent battle of wills.
Finally, my father blinks.
“Fine,” my father says, “we’ll discuss this tomorrow.”
Theo looks like he’s about to argue, but one stern look from Killian and he shuts up. Theo shoots me a pleading look, as if I would argue on his behalf. I ignore him.
“Come, my dear,” my father says to my mother, whose mouth is open.
I don’t think she’s ever seen my father back down from anyone. I haven’t either.
Thank God, my parents turn to leave.
I let out a sigh of relief. Crisis averted. Our event can continue without a hitch.
“I’d like everyone’s attention,” a female voice calls out at that moment over the loudspeaker.
What the hell? I turn to see a familiar female with red hair standing up on the small stage.
It’s Emer.
Fionn’s ex.
Savannah
Emer is standing at the podium, staring out at the crowd, their attention on her. Even my parents and Theo have stopped to watch.
What is she doing here? What is she doing at all?
