“Ice called me. Let me finish this up and then get your release papers, Don, and also some instructions to follow to keep this clean.”
Cooper took her hand to stop her.
“We’re still on for tonight. Can’t you help him with those instructions tonight?” Cooper asked and pulled her close.
“Cooper. I’m at work. We’ll talk later.”
“Okay. You remember my brothers, right?” he asked, holding her hand and then reaching up to caress her cheek.
She glanced at Cody and Jeremy. Cody looked her over in that nurse’s uniform and white medical coat she had on. She looked so sexy.
“Of course I do.”
“Good. I’ll pick you up at your place around seven.” He leaned forward and kissed her lips.
Cody felt his cock harden and couldn’t take his eyes off of Catalina. He could feel the sexual chemistry in the room. He had a bunch of questions for his brothers. Holy crap, he couldn’t believe how affected he was at seeing her. Was she seeing Cooper and Don, and for how long?
Were they seeing her? How long had they been? Why hadn’t they told him and Jeremy? Did this have to do with why they’d asked him and Jeremy to visit? Would she be interested in all of them? Were they sleeping with her?
His expression must have been super serious, and the same with Jeremy, because as Catalina stepped away and headed toward the door, she looked scared.
The second the curtain closed, Jeremy spoke before Cody had a chance to.
“What the hell is going on? You’re seeing her?” Jeremy asked.
Cooper smiled as he leaned against the examining table where Cody still lay waiting. He smiled, too.
“We just started seeing her,” Cooper told them.
“Is it serious?” Cody asked, moving closer and watching his brothers.
“We’re going to take that new job. Does that answer your question?” Don asked.
Cody swallowed hard. Why hadn’t they told them over the phone? Did they want to share her or keep her for themselves, and why did that question make him feel sick and utterly disappointed?
The curtain to the bay opened and in came Catalina. She was carrying some papers and a pen. She avoided eye contact with Cody and Jeremy and went to Don.
“Okay, Dr. Anders said you need to follow these instructions to the T, or else. Just sign here and I can get things moving quickly so you can head home to rest.”
Don signed the papers. “Not rest entirely. You’re coming over for dinner.”
She glanced around the bay.
“We can do that another time. Your brothers came into town to surprise you.”
“It appears we’re the ones who are surprised. You three get together, and we’ll fend for ourselves tonight,” Jeremy said.
“Don’t be ridiculous. You come over to our place and stay with us. We rented a house a few blocks from the beach. There’s plenty of room for all of us,” Cooper stated.
“All of us?” Cody asked and eyed over Catalina.
“Definitely,” Don replied and then handed her the paperwork.
She placed the documents down on the small table and then handed Don’s copies to Cooper. She started to help Don to sit up, and he totally took advantage of the opportunity to grab onto her. She caressed his shoulder, and Cody watched how sincere and caring she was, as Don looked a little peaky.
“That dizziness will pass.”
She caressed his cheek, and he turned his face and kissed her palm.
“I may need a bedside nurse tonight, Catalina.”
She chuckled as she placed her hands on his hips and held his gaze.
“You’ll need those painkillers and lots of rest.”
“I’m fine, baby. I was looking forward to seeing you all day today.”
She smiled at him. “Then let me wrap things up here. I’ll see you later.”
“I’ll pick you up at seven,” Cooper stated firmly, and she nodded and headed out of the room.
* * * *
They all sat in the living room with Don as he lay on the couch.
“So you saw her at the Station and started talking to her, and then ask her to come home with you?” Jeremy repeated and shook his head. He wanted to know all the details. His brothers looked so happy.
“It was an intense moment, man. She looked so sexy and beautiful. I was overwhelmed with emotions and feeling so damn possessive. Man, even that day Don and I were headed to Sullivan’s and these guys were bothering her, I was so ready to tear them limb from limb.”
“Me too,” Don added.
“Did they try to hurt her?” Jeremy asked, sitting forward in his seat.
“No, we got to her in time. It just pissed us the hell off. But then we had lunch, and we talked and made some plans. We only went out one other time, and again, it wasn’t planned. She had just finished her shift at work, and I was walking down the boardwalk, getting ready to meet Don. We bumped into her again and grabbed dinner. Ate on the boardwalk by the park.”
Jeremy glanced at Cody, who sipped a bottle of Bud.
“We’re happy for you guys,” he said, but felt his tone weaken.
“We’re glad, but this is just the beginning,” Cooper told him. “We were kind of hoping that you both felt the same attraction to Catalina. It’s why we called and told you about the job offer, and to consider moving here. We’re tired of the way things were. Treasure Town is an amazing town filled with great people. You two would love it here. Maybe consider staying here with us. We’re supposed to look at some houses for sale this Sunday.”
Jeremy exhaled as he stood up. He paced half the room.
“Did you even discuss this with Catalina? I mean, she met the two of you, has an attraction to the both of you, but you can’t force this kind of relationship, Coop.”
“Don’t you think we know that? We talked to her about it in the beginning. Her fear is that she doesn’t want to be a possession, an item.”
“That’s understandable, but is she even interested in a ménage relationship with four men?” Cody asked.
“She’s not dead set against it. Her friends are involved in them. We said we’d take things slow, and we have,” Cooper stated and looked at Don.
“You sleep with her yet?” Jeremy asked.
“No. It’s new. Your timing is perfect, Jeremy. She could be the woman we’ve been waiting for, the one that completes this family,” Cooper said to him.
“But Cody and I don’t know what we’re doing about work yet. It wouldn’t be fair to try and have a long-distance relationship until we can figure shit out. It is bad timing,” he said, feeling insecure about the whole thing and not even knowing if Catalina was attracted to him and Cody, too.
“Let’s just see how tonight goes. She’s really sweet and a damn good kisser,” Don stated and leaned back, placing his arms behind his head as he exhaled.
“And she’ll probably cater to you all night as you pretend to be some invalid,” Cooper said and threw a pillow at his brother’s head.
“Hey. I could have lost my fucking leg.”
“But you didn’t.”
Jeremy and Cody laughed.
“I’m going to go pick up Catalina. One of you want to come with me?” Cooper asked Jeremy and Cody.”
“You think that’s a good idea?” Cody asked.
“If she’s going to get used to all of us as a package deal and get to know you then, yes, it’s a good idea,” Cooper said.
“You go, Jeremy. I’ll sit here with Don,” Cody said.
“No, you go. Don and Coop stink at cooking. I can get the potatoes ready and sauté the vegetables while Don takes a little nap,” he teased, and they chuckled.
Cody stood up and wiped his hands on his jeans. “I’ll be right back,” he said and exited the room.
Jeremy looked at Cooper.
“I don’t want to ruin this for you guys. I’m really not in the right frame of mind. I know we talked about being a family, following our parents’ tradition, but things have changed so much. I don’t even know what I want to do with my life. I’m not even sure I know if I can do anything different from being an undercover agent. I just feel out-of-sorts right now.”
“It’s understandable, and there’s no pressure here. All we ask is that you’re honest about what you feel and, if you’re attracted to Catalina, that you take your time and you don’t fake anything. Don and I feel she’s the one. If you and Cody can’t love her and don’t feel it like we do, then don’t lie or pretend. Just move on because we’ll always be your brothers, no matter what.”
Jeremy nodded as Cody came out smiling.
“All good, Romeo?” Cooper teased.
“Well, you had a first date with her. I don’t want to come across as an escort or third wheel, okay?”
“So you want to kill her with cologne?” Cooper teased and waved his hand in front of his nose as if trying to get rid of the smell of men’s cologne.
“No, I want her to win her heart with my sexy, masculine ways. You’re just jealous because I’m bigger,” Cody told Cooper and Jeremy, and Don chuckled.
“Your head is bigger, that’s for sure. Let’s go.”
“My head is bigger than all of yours, and not the one on my shoulders. Peace out, Don, Jeremy. We’ll be back with something sweet and sexy. Start cooking dinner,” Cody teased. Jeremy shook his head and Cooper chuckled.