“They’re all so different. Jacob’s very fatherly and protective. Gentle, but in a passionate way. Adam’s the alpha, and he fucking shows it with every move he makes. Plus, he has this nickname for me. ‘Baby girl’. It makes me shiver when he says it. And the twins? Tanner and Tyler couldn’t be more different. Tanner’s got this nurturing side to him, and Tyler’s the protective one. Rough and tumble around the edges, but you don’t mess with what’s his. And Nick’s the youngest, but he’s also the most enriching. Full of life and always has a smile on his face.”
“Sounds like five very different men,” she said.
“They are. And I enjoy each one of them for all these different reasons. I’ll never be able to choose without feeling a little empty inside, and I’ll never be able to be with one of them without somehow being reminded of the others in some way.”
“Well, okay. It’s the twenty-first century. No one’s gonna judge you for some sort of open relationship because they happen all the time. If you’re happy, I’m happy. I want you to be careful, that’s all.”
“And I appreciate that. Thanks, Lindy.”
“Anytime. You ready to open this place?”
The door to the bar swung open and in came all the guys. They were eyeing me with stern glares, and I felt my heart sink to my toes. I looked over at Lindy as she drew in a deep breath, then she made herself scarce.
“I’m gonna go get the glasses for tonight. We’ll open up in ten,” she said.
“Got it,” I said.
“Could we talk?” Adam asked.
“Sure. You guys thirsty?” I asked.
“Just come sit down,” Jacob said.
He pulled out a chair for me, and I swallowed the bile rising in my throat. There was something behind their eyes that was troubling. I could see Nick’s uneasy stare as Adam kept his eyes hooked on me, and one by one they sat around the table. Tanner was jiggling his leg, and Tyler was tapping his fingers. They were nervous, I could tell.
My fear was that they were nervous about the money. Had Lindy been right? Were they about to collect for something? Or make a deal? Did they need it back? Holy shit, was I in trouble with their crew?
“Should I start?” Adam asked.
“Maybe not. Let me,” Jacob said. “Emma, you look wonderful tonight.”
“Cut the shit and get to the point,” I said.
“Told you,” Tyler said, murmuring.
“Emma, we wanted to know how you’ve felt since the last time we saw you,” Nick said, hesitating and choosing his words carefully.
He reached out and took my hand, lacing our fingers together.
“Is this about the money? Because if you guys need it back, I can take out a loan. Or keep working at the bar to pay you guys back. I promise. I was fine without the money. I can find a way—”
“Whoa there,” Tyler said. “This has nothing to do with the money. Not even close.”
“Then why do I feel like you guys are about to drop a bomb on my world?” I asked. “You’re making me nervous.”
“We didn’t mean to,” Tanner said.
“Fucking hell. Emma, how do you feel after we all fucked you?” Adam piped up.
“Jesus, Adam. Could you have been any blunter?” Jacob asked.
“Well, you guys are pussy-footing around,” Adam said.
“I don’t really know how I feel. It was fun. I enjoyed it. Why?” I asked.
“Was there someone you enjoyed more of?” Tanner asked.
I could hear the hope in his voice, and it crushed my soul. There it was. The bomb they were trying to drop. They were asking me to choose between them.