Their Virgin Secretary (Masters of Ménage #6)(90)

"Revenge?" Confusion widened her eyes.

Eric had been thinking along the same lines. "Back in Dallas, you were very upset with us. You thought we were rejecting you. Maybe you think it's a good idea to reject us right back. It won't work, Belle. You'll regret it."

"I am not doing this for revenge."

"Then you're pulling away because you're afraid," he shot back. Those were the only two reasons for her to be so standoffish.

"She is and she won't admit it." Shaking his head, Kellan headed for the door that led to the dining room.

"Afraid of what?" she challenged.

"C'mon, Belle. You're too smart to play stupid." Kell pushed the door open. "I'm going to start background checks on everyone who was here yesterday."

Belle opened her mouth to say something, but Kell left.

And Eric shut her down. "Don't. Do not be stubborn enough to stop us from watching out for you. Think very carefully before you say whatever is about to come out of your mouth. The last twelve hours aside, we've been friends for a long time, and I will be deeply offended if you choose your pride over your safety. Before you told Tate he could leave on the next plane for all you cared, did you think about the fact that someone broke into this house and tried to scare the hell out of you?" 

Tears spilled from her dark eyes, down her cheeks. "Damn it, Eric. You make me sound cruel and awful. I did not say that."

"Not in those exact words, but I assure you that's what he heard. And you're probably about to tell me to get out, too."

"No, I appreciate you looking into the suspects. If there's any help I can give you, let me know." Her big, hurt eyes were like a punch to the gut. He wished he could take back the whole morning. Or that they'd just stayed in bed. "I can't keep you here, Eric. And I can't lie to Tate and tell him I'm willing to do something I'm not. If that means he has to go, I'll understand."

Pain wracked his system. "You're not even willing to see what we could have?"

"What do you think we could have? I can't go back to Chicago. I really believe I need to be here. But I can't let you guys give up your careers to move because I can't promise a relationship will work out. Tate wanted commitment from me this morning. We've never even gone on an actual, romantic date. I have no idea where you stand, and Kell is out on the whole relationship thing, so why should I be thinking about cohabitation already? I don't know that I'm ready. It would be unfair to ask you guys to give up everything back in Chicago when we might not have a future."

Eric sighed. That's how she saw the situation? So maybe they hadn't exactly communicated their wants and expectations to her. But she also hadn't tried to meet them at least a little closer to halfway. Either she was getting her revenge or she was terrified. His money was on the latter.

"We can't leave until we know you're safe. That's not open for negotiation," Eric stated unequivocally.

Tate wouldn't be able to leave her vulnerable and alone either. Sure, he could threaten to walk away, but he would stay here tonight and every night until he was sure Belle was safe.

It wouldn't matter that she refused to love them back.

More tears spilled onto her cheeks, and it took everything Eric had not to brush them away. "What do we do, Eric? I don't want you to leave, but I can't tell you that I'm ready for anything more than a casual relationship. Maybe you think this is stupid, but I don't think it's going to work without Kellan. You three are a team. I've watched you for a year. You're happiest together. You'd resent me if I came between you."

She looked so miserable, Eric couldn't stop himself from cupping her cheeks and wiping her tears away. "But you hurt Tate. You have to understand that this isn't the first time a woman has pushed him out of the relationship."

"What do you mean?" she frowned.

"We've dated women who didn't want to see Tate outside the bedroom. Once we explained that we wanted a more established relationship, they quickly let us know that Tate could pop in for sex, but they didn't want to see him socially."

Belle gasped. "That's terrible."

The utter horror in her voice made Eric breathe a little easier. "It's true, and now he thinks that's what you're doing. He's convinced you prefer Kellan to him, but that you're willing to fuck him because he's good in bed." At Belle's shocked frown, Eric shrugged. "It's exactly what our last girlfriend told him."

"I didn't mean anything like that. I had no idea anyone had treated him so awfully. I just need time to figure out where this is going, Eric."