Unexpected Lovers (17 page)

“What happened?” she asked, pushing her own food away.

“I wanted to move to Los Angeles to make a career for myself. I had a scholarship to Stanford. She refused to leave Tennessee.”

“Have you seen her since?”

“No,” he murmured.

“How long has it been, Dad?”

“Thirty-five years.”

“You still love her.”

“Yes, Whitney, I do. I never stopped, and letting her walk away was the worst mistake I’ve ever made in my life. Don’t get me wrong, I love your mother, but it’s just not the same as the love you’ve looked for all your life—your soul mate or, in your case, soul mates.”

“Why didn’t you try to contact her?”

“I had my life, my wife, and my beautiful daughters.”

“And?”

“All right. Call it stubborn pride, I guess.”

“Is she still there? In Shelbyville?”

“No. She married and moved not far from where we grew up. Near Murfreesboro, I think.”

“I’m sorry, Dad.”

“Nothing for you to be sorry for, Whitney. I don’t want you to make the same mistake I made and walk away from the men you love.”

“But, there’s a difference here. You know she loved you, but you chose your career over love. I can’t make Brett and Ryan love me.”

He grasped her hand and squeezed her fingers. “All I’m saying, sweetheart, is give it a chance.”

Wrapping her arms around her father’s shoulders, she hugged him tight and whispered, “Thanks, Dad.”

The conversation turned to things at home as they finished their food and then dumped their trays on the conveyer belt.

“Let’s go up and say goodnight to Laura, and then we’ll head over to Brett’s.”

“Sure.” Aaron pushed the button on the elevator that would take them back upstairs.

* * * *

The house looked the same, but what did she expect? It hadn’t been that long since she’d been there, even if it felt like years since Brett and Ryan held her. Capturing her lip between her teeth, she bit down when she spotted the wall she’d fallen over when Eric hit her.
I’m not letting that asshole take everything away from me. He’s not going to come between me and the men I love.

The front yard still needed to be mowed and raked. A small smile drifted over her mouth.
Ryan still hasn’t gotten around to it.

“What a nice place,” her father said when they pulled up in front of the door.

“Yes, it is. And you should see the kitchen. It’s huge!”

Aaron chuckled, and she blushed. He knew how much she loved to cook.
Luckily, he doesn’t have any idea what else we did in the kitchen besides making food.

“You’ll have to whip up one of your special recipes for us.”

She was just about to ring the doorbell when the massive wooden panel swung open and Ryan grabbed her, twirling her around several times before setting her back on her feet and kissing her on the lips.

“Brett said you were coming.” He wrapped his arm around her waist and ushered her inside as she shot a glance over her shoulder.

If I didn’t know better, I’d swear he already knows about my memory returning.

“Mr. Morris. I don’t believe we’ve met officially. I’m Ryan O’Rourke.” Ryan stuck out his hand for her father to shake once they made it into the living room.

“Nice to meet you, Ryan. I understand you were the rescuer that picked up Whitney when she fell in the canyon and also the one who transported Laura to the hospital.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Well, then, son, I believe I owe you my sincerest thanks for taking care of my girls.”

She’d never seen Ryan blush, but the color staining his neck and splashing across his cheeks made her smile.

“No thanks needed, sir. Just doing my job.”

“I didn’t think it was part of your job to bring Whitney home with you.”

Ryan shot her a confused glance. “No, sir, but she needed somewhere to recuperate.”

“Don’t get me wrong, Ryan. I’m not chastising you for taking her in. I’m glad she had friends to help her.”

A sigh escaped Ryan’s mouth, and then he smiled with a flash of white teeth as he tucked her against his side again.

“What time is Brett supposed to be home?”

“Mmm…shortly.”

“Good. Where do you want my father to sleep tonight?”

His eyes narrowed, and she realized she didn’t ask where she should sleep.

“Brett said he could have the room at the top of the stairs to the left. You can have your old room.”

One eyebrow cocked questioningly as he waited for her to answer.

“And that is where?” she asked, not ready to let him know she knew exactly where the room sat.

“Down the hall next to the bathroom,” he said, tipping his head to the right.

“Thanks. I could use a nice, hot shower.”

Did his hazel eyes just got hotter?
Her breath hitched in her throat when a wicked smile crept over his lips.
We never did break in the shower.

“There should be clean towels and stuff in there for your use.”

Her father stretched exaggeratedly and smiled. “I’m going to find this bedroom of mine and get out of these clothes. My sweats are calling my name from the bottom of my bag. I’ll see you after awhile, sweetheart.”

“Sure, Dad.”

Ryan stepped closer after her father disappeared up the stairs. “I could wash your back,” he whispered against her ear, sending shivers down her arms. “Even if you don’t remember me, princess, your body does.”

“Ryan,” she whispered as she closed her eyes. Her nipples puckered against her top, and she fought the moan bubbling in her throat.

The front entrance swung open, and Brett stepped inside. With a guilty flush of skin, she stepped away from Ryan and turned to face the other man she’d fallen in love with.

“Hi honey. I’m home,” Brett joked, but his face fell when he noticed the proximity of her and Ryan. “Whitney?”

“You’re early.”

“Is that a problem?” he asked.

“No actually, I’m glad you’re here, Brett. The three of us need to talk.”

Brett swept past her, tossing his duffle on the countertop. “Talk?”

“Yeah.”

“About?” he asked over his shoulder as he grabbed a beer from the refrigerator and offered her and Ryan one.

“Thanks,” she said, taking it from his hand, letting her fingers brush against his. Happiness bubbled in her chest when he seemed affected by her touch still.

“You’re welcome.”

“Can we sit somewhere? The living room, maybe?”

He shrugged and swept his arm to one side.

Taking a seat in one of the arm chairs, she faced the two of them and took a long sip of her beer.

“The house hasn’t changed at all.”

“It hasn’t been that long since you’ve been here,” Brett replied, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

“No. I see you haven’t mowed the lawn either, Ryan.”

“I haven’t had time. I’ve been…” His voice trailed off a second before his eyes widened and he said, “Wait a minute. You remember?”

Swallowing hard, she nodded, moments before Ryan swept her up in his arms and kissed her soundly on the mouth.

When he finally set her back down, she glanced at Brett, and her heart dropped into her toes. He looked angry.

“How long, Whitney? Did you remember at the hospital?”

Biting the inside of her mouth, she fought the tears threatening to fall. “Yes. I remembered before I came up here. Actually, the memories came back when you called me Whit on the phone. You see, no one else ever calls me that but you and Ryan.”

“We’ve been going through hell the last two weeks! You could have at least told us,” Brett yelled and jumped to his feet.

“I’m sorry. I-I wanted it to be the right time. Why do you think I agreed to come and stay here tonight?”

“Brett, calm down. She remembers. That’s the important thing.”

“She lied to us, Ryan. I don’t know if I can forgive and forget that easily.”

Moving out of Ryan’s embrace, she stopped in front of Brett and placed her hand on his chest. “I didn’t lie, Brett. I just didn’t tell you right away.”
I’m screwing this up. God, he’s mad.
His skin quivered under her touch.

“What about the pregnancy? You were going to leave and not even tell us why. Even after what we shared.”

Shit.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, feeling the tears slip down her cheek. She knew she was in trouble when he didn’t even move to wipe them away. “I never meant to hurt you or Ryan, and it seems that’s all I’ve done since we met.” Stepping away from him, she turned and headed down the hall to the bedroom she’d sleep in one last time.

* * * *

“What the hell is wrong with you? Are you going to let her walk out of our lives again? I thought you said you loved her?”

“I do,” Brett whispered as he moved toward the window. Staring out into the darkness settling on the landscape, he fought the urge to go to her and wrap her in his arms.

“I don’t get you, Brett.”

“She can’t stay if she doesn’t love us, Ryan, both of us. I couldn’t stand to see her with you and not me, and I’m sure you feel the same way. She was willing to walk away from us because she doesn’t love us. I can’t be with her if she doesn’t love me as much as I love her. I won’t settled for anything less, and you shouldn’t either.”

He didn’t realize she’d come back into the room until she murmured, “You love me?”

Fuck.

She walked up behind him, and he could see her reflection in the glass. “Answer me, Brett. I need to hear you say it.”

Closing his eyes and pressing his lips together, his head argued with his heart, but the errant organ beating wildly in his chest won out. “I love you, Whitney.”

Her hand came down on his shoulder, and she tugged until he turned around and faced her. He felt her breath on his lips as he waited for her to say something, anything.

“I love you, too.”

Ryan hissed softly from his spot near the couch. “I’m glad you two found each other.”

“Don’t you dare walk away, Ryan O’Rourke. You’re a part of this too, so get your ass over here,” she demanded.

“But…”

“But nothing. We’re in this together, all three of us. I can’t choose between you two. I never could, and I want us to be a threesome or whatever you call it,” she said with a sigh.

“A ménage, princess,” Ryan answered with a smile.

“Fine. A ménage. It has to be you.” She touched Ryan’s face. “Me and you.” She brushed her fingers against Brett’s cheek. “I won’t have it any other way. I love you, both of you, and I refuse to let either of you walk away from me.”