Carter

The fearful look on Evie's face has my heart dropping like a stone to my gut.


'No, it's a good talk," I say.

'We love you," Leonard says, his gaze fast on hers. 'I love you. So goddamn much."

She opens her mouth, closes it again. Her eyes are shining with tears, but I can't tell if they're tears of happiness or despair. Fuck. The idea of her feeling sad absolutely wrecks me.


'Evie," I whisper. 'Is it okay? We can't help our feelings, but if you say the word, we'll back off. We just want you to be happy."

She shakes her head. 'I don't—no. I mean, I know. I'm just saying, I love you, too."


Toying with the little shoulder strap on her dress, I say, 'Those words are just what I needed to hear."

'My dad doesn't fully understand, but I talked to him," she says.

Leonard grins. 'I talked to him, too. He's not cool with this exactly, but like us, Evie, he just wants you to be happy."

'Happiness looks to be within my reach." She takes both of our hands. 'Yep. I just reached it."

'Can we kiss you, out here in front of everyone?" I ask.

She nods and says, 'Yes."

It feels almost like our own private wedding ceremony, standing here together among the roses, as Link and I take turns kissing our future bride.

No, we haven't proposed, not yet. But from the very beginning, I've had the same thought: she's the one for us.

The three of us walk, linked together, along the sidewalk, enjoying the roses and the beautiful summer day.

* * *

Evangeline

The following Friday, the doorbell rings.

'Your dates are here, Evangeline," Dad calls up the stairs.

Dates. Yep, my dad is on board. Maybe he doesn't love the idea if he thinks too hard about it, but he's accepting me and the guys as a romantic unit, and that's enough.

He didn't even freak out when I told him that I'm going to move in with them next month. The only reason I'm waiting that long is because he's going back to Japan, and I want to spend more time with him before he goes. Even then, though, we won't be far apart. I won't let anything come between me and Dad ever again. Not my mother, not lies nor hang-ups about my relationship with Leonard and Carter, nothing.

I hurry down the stairs, my dress swishing around my thighs. The white dress is new, a gift from Carter because tonight there'll be black lights all over Vice, and he wants me to stand out.

Dad, Leonard, and Carter are standing in the entryway, chatting, but their talk comes to a halt when I come down the stairs.

'Hi," I call.

'Hey, Evie," Leonard and Carter say.

'Guess, what, I have a job!" I squeal, throwing myself at them.

Behind me, my dad chuckles. I've been going on and on at him for the past thirty minutes.

Earlier today, I was chatting with Maya and Saige by the pool, and Saige mentioned that her favorite author, Sammie Starr, was looking for German and French translators for her books. One introductory email later, and I was on a phone call with none other than Sammie herself.

'My books are really steamy," Sammie said. 'Like, there's a story to them, but there's a lot of sex in each book. Are you comfortable translating high-heat sex scenes, many of them kinky and taboo?"

I didn't even have to think about it. 'Yes, that won't be a problem for me."

Not going to lie, I'm super curious now as to what she writes. But after the way she cautioned me so strongly about the high-heat sex scenes, I've been afraid to look.

'A job is great," Leonard says, hugging me tight.

Carter adds, 'And you look beautiful tonight."

'Thank you," I say primly, stepping back to give them a little curtsy. 'And thank you for the dress."

'You're welcome," Carter says, kissing my cheek.

Over my shoulder, I say, 'Bye, Dad. I'll see you tomorrow sometime."

'But your curfew is midnight," he says with a frown. Before I can freak out, he laughs. 'Have a nice time, you three. I'll see you tomorrow."

'Thanks, Dad." I blow him an air-kiss and walk to Leonard's car, Carter's hand warm on my elbow.

'So, tell us about the job," Carter says as he settles himself into the back seat so I can sit in front with Leonard.

I recount the basic details of Sammie Starr's large backlist of titles awaiting translation, and how she isn't in a rush so I can work at my own pace.

'There's a salacious aspect as well," I say.

'Really?" Leonard asks, perking up at the word salacious. Such a guy.

'Yeah. She writes erotic romance."

'Does she?" Carter says. 'Let's see one of her books, then."

I purse my lips. 'Oh. Um, I was going to look through them later."

'You can look now, Evie," Leonard says. 'We'd like to know, too."

'But we don't want to do that. I mean, tonight's not about work, right?" I say. 'We're going dancing, we should have fun instead of looking at boring old books."

Carter snorts. 'Nothing boring about these titles."

I turn around to see him on his phone, his green eyes reflecting the screen.

He reads, 'My Father's Best Friend. Her Passionate Professors. The Brat and the Bodyguard. Crushing on My Bestie's Dad. I could go on. She's rather prolific, this author."

My face gets hot. These guys are going to embarrass me every time I sit down to work.

'Which one should I buy?" Carter asks. 'They all look so good. Oh, here's one about a princess and her bodyguards, that sounds fun. Their Sweet Princess. Let's see…a couple of clicks, and yep, here we go. This book is mine now."

'Carter," I say, 'we don't have to read that. I don't want you guys to make fun of me."

'I'm not making fun, doll, I promise."

And then he starts reading.

I thought his body was sexy…but his voice is just as hot. He takes us through the set-up of the story—a rebellious princess who keeps trying to shake her security detail. And the two stern, protective bodyguards who are determined to keep her in line.

Leonard holds the wheel with one hand and rests his other hand on my bare knee. Carter reaches from behind me and toys with the chain of my necklace while he reads. I close my eyes, losing myself in the story.

She frowned up at Kellan, at his huge, imposing figure and those dark eyes full of heat and danger. He didn't scare her. Well, maybe he did a little. But she wouldn't let him, or anyone, stop her from going out. ‘You aren't my boss—I'm your boss. And if I want to go to this party?—'

Kellan replied, ‘Don't make me spank you, little girl. I'm in charge of your safety and I'll do whatever it takes to make sure you let us protect you.'

‘I'd like to see you try,' she said, whirling around.

Strong arms banded around her waist. She could feel his heartbeat against her back, and…what was that hard length against her thigh? Was that his…

Carter's hand tightens over my throat. I'm melting against this seat, my body flush with expectation.

But where's the rest of the story?

'Was that his what?" I ask.

'We're here." Leonard's voice is laced with amusement.

'Wait, no, don't stop the story now," I say.

Carter tightens his grip on my neck before releasing me. 'Can't keep reading, we have somewhere to take you."

My pussy is throbbing. I can only guess where the story was going, and I am one hundred percent on board with it. I'm going to get to translate these kinds of stories? Whoa.

Leonard parks at a garage down the street from Vice. He turns in his seat to face me. 'What kind of panties are you wearing?"

'Um. White bikini cut."

'Lacy?" he asks.

'There's some lace, yeah."

He folds his arms across his chest and arches an eyebrow. 'Take them off."