“And you don’t think they should have gone on that date?” he asked.
“They fought a lot. I thought that was how it was supposed to be. They both had issues, but they were trying to work it out. More time together had been the supposed cure for them. Some guy ran them over while they were crossing the street. Killed them instantly. I think it was instant. The cops never went into detail.”
“How old were you?”
“Ten. There was no one else who wanted me. I was placed in the system and then moved from house to house. I was in several of homes, but they never stuck.”
Connor didn’t force her to talk. He knelt by the bath tub waiting for her to talk. “I can’t talk anymore,” she said.
He stroked her hair, pressing a kiss to her temple. “How many people have you told that?”
“None,” she said.
“Then we’re good.”
She smiled. It was the first real smile he’d ever seen from her. He stayed and waited for her to wash her hair and lather her body. When the sponge began soaping her whole body, he almost blew his load inside his pants. He shook his head in an attempt to gain control of his rioting emotions.
After she rinsed the soap from her body, he grabbed a towel and helped her out of the bath. He dried every inch, wishing he were licking her with his tongue. She’d taste so damn good. His arousal getting the better of him, he leaned down and swiped each nipple giving them a generous lick.
When she bent down to grab her shirt, Connor stopped her. “No, wear this one.” He pulled the shirt he was wearing off, and handed it to her.
“Thank you.”
He waited for her to put the shirt on then held his breath. She looked damn good. Her nipples were hard as they pressed against the fabric of the shirt.
“I made up the spare room for you.” He opened the bathroom door as Brent walked past. The other guy stopped and stared at her.
The shirt he’d given her only covered her ass and the top part of her thighs. She looked damn good, and looking at the expression on Brent’s face, he was as affected by her as Connor was.
“I’m taking her to the spare room,” Connor said.
“Great, I sleep there,” Brent said, pointing at the partially opened door. “Come and get me if you need anything.”
“I will, thank you, Brent.”
Brent nodded his head. Connor sensed the tension between the two. Zoe stared down at her feet.
“I’ll get you settled in.” He took her hand and pointed out Jake’s room and then his own.
She made her way into the guest room.
“Thank you for letting me stay. I don’t think I could have gone back to my apartment,” she said.
“You’d have gone back. The only difference is the fact that you’d have been gone out of Law Castle tomorrow.”
“How do you know that?”
“I just do.”
Connor kissed her head and then made his way out of the guest room and down to the kitchen. Jake sat at the counter looking at the picnic picture.
“How is she?” he asked.
“Fine, I think.”
There was silence between them. Connor felt Jake get up and move closer. He turned ‘round to stare at his friend. “What? I know you’ve got something to say. Why don’t you just say it?”
“You and Zoe have a connection. A really close one.”
“So?”
“I want to know how you feel about Brent and me.”
Connor sighed. He closed the fridge and turned his full attention toward Jake. “Spit it out, Jake.”
“We got involved as we always believed we’d share a woman. The three of us together through thick and thin.”
“Nothing has changed.”
“Yes, it has. We both know you keep secrets, Connor. We’ve known for a long time. Your mood swings are pretty much evidence of that.”
“If you’re trying to get me to open up, Jake. Forget it. What happened is in the past, where it will remain.”
“Do you intend to keep Zoe for yourself?” Jake asked.
Out of all the things Jake could ask him, that was the biggest shocker of all for him.
“You think I want Zoe for myself without you guys?”
Jake didn’t say a word.
“Jake, that is the one thing in my life that I’m the clearest about. I want Zoe. Yes, there’ll be times when I want her all to myself, but I want us all to want her. Are you getting my meaning here?” Connor asked, deciding to put his cards on the table.
“What are you meaning?”
“I’m not looking at Zoe for a good time, Jake. I’m looking at her as the woman I want to be with. I think you and Brent need to get on the same page because I’m there and have been for a while.”