Brokenhearted Beauty(Divine Creek Ranch 19)(14)

Her earlier fortitude suddenly deserted her. “Guys, um, I don’t know as much about ménages as you probably think I do. And I really did mean it when I said I was tired. I’m not sure I’ll be very good at playing the insatiable sexpot with you tonight.”

James chuckled as he went to the kitchen and shut off the lights. “Well, then it’s a damn good thing we didn’t invite whoever this insatiable sexpot person is over to spend time with us. We wanted you, honey. We want to make you feel good, not wear you out even more. I think you need to just relax and see how things go.”

Vincent said. “If we wanted to swing from the chandeliers we’d be dating an acrobat. I’m kind of tired myself, but not so much that I can’t take care of my lady.”

“Same goes for me,” James declared as he stretched his shoulder. “That training exercise today proved I need to get back into better shape.”

Leah looked at him disbelievingly. “You?”

“We had to sprint and then climb rope ladders,” Vincent said, now rubbing his knee. “I guess I’ve gotten a little complacent, too.”

“You’re just trying to make me feel better,” she replied. “Since we’re all whining, my feet hurt.”

“Then I know what to massage first,” James said with a chuckle.

The hallway led to what she assumed was the master suite, based on its size. The hardwood floors were burnished to a coppery red and brown color and one wall was dominated by windows that she assumed looked out over the river below. The lights weren’t on out back so she had no hint of the view.

The very large bed took her by surprise and she suddenly turned to them. “You both sleep in here every night?”

Vincent shook his head. “Not until tonight. We have our own rooms on the other side of the house. This room…this was just our dream for you. Don’t worry, no other woman has ever slept in that bed or on those sheets. This was…hell, I guess it sounds pretty pathetic. Patterson insisted that we should begin as we meant to go on. We decided to do a little bit of remodeling and redecorating after Dad moved out. The bathrooms and kitchen were updated and this bed and buying new furniture for the master bedroom were also part of that project.”

Leah walked to the sleigh bed and caressed the heavy oak footboard. “Patterson picked this out?”

Warmth surrounded her on both sides, and no other answer was needed as she closed her eyes. She could hear Patterson’s chuckle in her mind.

Did it for you, fluff. It’d be better if you were nekkid in it, though.

The chuckle caught in her throat, but at least she didn’t start crying again. “Show me the rest.”

The bathroom was exceptional. There was a separate glass-walled shower in the corner, done floor to ceiling with large dark red tiles. The tub was along a wall and it was enormous.

James gave a little cough and said, “The big-ass tub was picked out by Patterson, too.”

Leah saw the worry in his eyes and said, “It’s okay, guys. We’re here now. We can talk about him and say his name and it…it’s okay. I almost feel like he’s here with us.”

And if I was, you’d be nekkid already, fluff.

She let out a sigh and for once didn’t try to evade the vaguely painful ache in her chest. She let it be. Catching another glimpse of herself in the mirror over the vanity, she saw the half smile on her face. I guess there’s something to be said for facing your pain.

Vincent and James stood there watching as she took in each facet of the room until she stopped in front of the tub faucet. She looked back at them and then pushed the stopper on the drain and turned on the water. “I think a soak would help me relax.”

Both men nodded and James said, “I bought a bottle of wine. It’s the stuff I’ve seen you order when you’re with the girls. Would you like some?”

He paid attention to the sangria she drank on the few occasions she’d joined Juliana and Teresa for a girls’ night with Grace and their friends.

“I’d love some, with ice, please.”

She scanned the glass jars and bottles that were lined up on the edge of the tub under the window. Lavender-scented bath salts, foaming bath soap, bath oil, and bodywash all from Madeleine’s Day Spa. She dumped a couple of scoops of the bath salts into steaming water and the herbal scent filled the air.

“They went all out,” she murmured. Movement in the mirror drew her gaze and she realized Vincent had gone back into the bedroom and was lighting candles. They’d thought of everything.

Moments later, the bedroom lights flicked off and they rejoined her. There was nothing left to do but undress. She took the cold wineglass James offered her and lifted a foot to remove her high-heeled pump.