“I don’t think we need details,” Cal said. “Unless you’d like to share about our exciting ride up here tonight.” He winked at me.
Jack’s face remained still.
“Nope¸” I said and moved to face them both. “If you two want to give each other hell, fine. But I’m taking myself out of the middle. Things between all of us need to get resolved on some level.” On a deep breath, I started the conversation I’d dreaded the entire trip up here. “I’ve had intimate moments with both of you.” No matter how I tried to spin the next part, I couldn’t be sorry for that.
I wasn’t looking to make problems, I’d given in to very strong, very deep feelings I had for them and allowed them to take over. And those brief moments I couldn’t be sorry for. Because while this was a mess, it wasn’t a mistake. I loved them and in our private moments, I got to feel that love. Even if it was fleeting.
“I’m aware you’ve been with both of us,” Jack said. Cal nodded in agreement.
“I know this isn’t a surprise to you. But I wanted to put it out in the open. It’s the only way to move on from it.”
“Agreed,” Cal said. “Though I don’t think moving on from every moment is necessary.” He was clearly referring to our time being something to hold on to. “But since we’re stuck here for the next couple weeks—”
“We should come up with some ground rules,” Jack cut in.
“Wait, we’re here until the New Year?” I asked. Christmas was right around the corner. Not that I had anyone to spend it with, but I had things to do. At some point, I’d wanted to find a job, but first, “I need to find what that key of my father’s goes to.”
“What key?”
I pulled the key and note out of my pocket and showed Jack. He read it quickly, then examined the key.
“I can tell you right now it’s a lockbox,” Jack said.
“How do you know?”
He just looked at me with the expression that read, “Don’t you know who I am?”
“I know what lockbox keys look like. I have several. We just have to figure out which bank. With the holidays, the banks will be closed frequently. Calling around is the best use of time until after the New Year.”
I gritted my teeth. Part of me hated him telling me the plan. Not asking, telling. The other part of me responded so quickly and wanted to say, “yes, sir,” because he was right. He was thorough and smart and made sense. Also, with those dark eyes and sinful voice, it was hard to deny Jack anything. And just the thought that he’d help—used the word “we” just like Cal had—made my heart stutter. He was helping. And in his way, he was trying.
“Fine. But ground rules then are going to be a must.”
Jack raised a brow. “You have some in mind?” he asked.
“Please say you want to enforce topless Tuesdays,” Cal added.
I rolled my eyes, but Jack seemed to like the idea as much as Cal. “Rule one, I’m not walking around topless,” I said quickly. Between Jack’s lethal glare and Cal’s charm, I needed to rein in my own control before I melted into a puddle of desperate lust.
Cal feigned a pout, and I knew if I didn’t hustle through my thoughts, his next suggestion would be naked Wednesdays. But before I could go on, Jack cut me off.
“Fucking,” he stated plainly. “I want to hear your rules on that.”
A short gasp hit my lungs. He was direct, but this was an issue we had to address. I looked at Cal, he waited quietly, as if wanting to hear the answer to Jack’s questions as much as he did.
“The past few days have been confusing,” I said.
“No,” Jack said curtly. “That’s not what I asked. I’m aware of the stress surrounding your life. I’m also aware of the situation Cal and I put you in.”
I swallowed hard. Jack was blunt, forcing me to meet his strong words, find my own strength, but there was a hint of raw honesty in his voice. He was taking blame for the situation. Didn’t say that I had sex with them both. Didn’t put any of it on me. He was acknowledging Cal and his part in this.
“Now’s not the time to be vague,” he rasped. That hit something deep in my soul. His dark eyes dared me to defy him, but I couldn’t.
“You’re right,” I said with an edge of my own. It was time to get my control back. To harness everything I’d learned from Jack and Cal and apply it. I had always been a good student, time to see the follow through.
Do what I have to do…
With a deep breath, I looked at Cal, then at Jack.