Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 61100 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61100 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
They don’t order coffee for the next two days, but Hutch stays in touch with brief text messages, and Christian messages me about plans for our dinner. He offers several restaurant options, and I pick a place off the island, so there’ll be less of a chance of my brother hearing about it from anyone.
I really don’t like sneaking around, but the four brothers in ink are so very worth it.
22
CHRISTIAN
It feels wrong meeting Rose at the restaurant rather than picking her up, but she insisted, and I chose not to argue. She has her reasons, though I have concerns about those reasons.
I arrive early so I can watch for her to pull into the lot, and be there to open her car door for her. She’s stunning, as always. I can’t decide whether I like it better when she’s dressed up, or when she’s looking casual in jeans and a t-shirt.
The dress she’s wearing tonight is like a long, oversized shirt with buttons that run down the front, from her chest halfway down her thighs. The access those buttons could provide reminds me that I prefer her wearing nothing at all, but there’ll be time for that later.
“Hi.” I fold her into my arms as soon as she’s out of her car. Her sweet scent makes me inhale deeply, breathing in her warmth. My hands slide over her back, the need to touch her like a primal instinct.
“Hi,” she echoes with a smile after I kiss her.
With her hand in mine, we walk to the restaurant, where we’re immediately shown to our table. When I hold out her chair for her and push it in as she sits, she says, “This feels like a real date.”
I take the seat across from her, my brow furrowing. “It is a date. What else would it be?”
Her laughter is light as she looks down at the white-clothed table between us. “I guess you’re right. I just meant … dates often involve an intention to find someone for a relationship, and I know that’s not what’s going on between us.”
I’m still frowning, wondering what impression she’s gotten from the four of us. “What makes you think that?”
Her almost ever-present smile falters and she bites her bottom lip. “Am I wrong?”
A waiter appears and tells us about a drink special, which Rose orders. After I order a dark beer, he leaves Rose and I alone again.
“I’m curious why you don’t think this is a real date and why you think we might not want a relationship with you.”
Her finger absently traces a small invisible pattern on the table. “Well … we are so different. Age being the biggest difference; you all have so much more experience than I do.”
My brow arches. “All the better for us to teach you things.”
A light blush colors her cheeks, and she hesitates before asking, “Have you ever been married?”
“I have. It only lasted two years.”
The waiter reappears, delivering our drinks, and we direct our attention to the menus for a few minutes before Rose returns to our discussion.
“Do you think you were too young when you got married?”
“No, that wasn’t our issue. Things just didn’t work out.”
“Have any of the others been married?”
I shake my head. “Hutch has had a couple of serious relationships, but none got to that point.”
“Any of you have kids?”
“No, and I’m glad. If you asked the others, they’d probably tell you this world is too fucked up to bring children into it. So many wars, so much hate.”
Rose nods, but she’s frowning as she does. After taking a long sip of her drink, she says, “Another reason I know you’re not looking for a relationship is because there’s four of you … all … getting involved with me.”
“You don’t think a relationship can work that way?” I ask.
“Relationships are one on one, aren’t they?”
“There’s no reason they have to be.” Beneath the table, I find her leg and gently rub the tip of my shoe against a spot above her ankle.
“Committed relationships, with multiple partners?” Her voice is heavy with skepticism.
“Yes,” I say, nodding slowly. “It’s becoming more common all the time. Love is love, right?”
She’d been about to take another drink, but lowers her glass abruptly. “Love?” Her eyes flicker with teasing amusement.
“You know what I mean, but yes, relationships with multiple partners are very possible. They come with their own set of challenges, but they also offer unique rewards.”
Realization dawns on her quickly. “You’ve been in that sort of relationship before?” When I nod, she adds, “With your ink brothers?”
I nod again, and she stares at me. Her mouth opens to say something, but then she closes it, apparently at a loss for words.
“We’ve shared women a couple of times, and once we were in a committed relationship with one.”
We’re interrupted by the arrival of our appetizer, but even after the waiter exits, Rose is unusually quiet, though I can tell that thoughts are swirling in her head. Her face has changed, but I can’t read her expression, as she seems to very purposefully focus on spreading some of the burrata onto a miniature piece of toast.