King Maker (King Maker 3)

She shifted her gaze to her grandson. “It looks like you’re done. Upstairs with you and get ready for a bath.”

Gabe nodded obediently and skedaddled off. Then she turned to us. “There are two bedrooms left. I’ll leave you to decide who’s sleeping where.”

She left and I could feel the burn of both men’s gazes on me.

Fourteen

“Are you sure you’re okay with this? I could take Gabe’s room and he could share with you.” Turner chuckled. “This isn’t new to me. I shared a room and bed with my brother, something I’m guessing is new to you.”

He had no idea how I’d grown up and I chose not to share those details with him.

“Just keep to your side of the bed,” I said.

He shrugged, still amused. He wouldn’t be laughing if he knew why I’d agreed to this sleeping arrangement.

There was no way in hell I would leave him alone in a room so close to Bailey so he could sneak in with her. If that made me an asshole, so be it.

“I know her better than you,” he said as if he’d been holding that in for a while.

I almost felt sorry for him.

“You know the girl she used to be. I know the woman.”

He went for the checkmate.

“She’s made her choice.” He let that resonate before adding, “I’m going to take a shower.” He flicked his thumb in the direction of the washroom before turning.

I didn’t respond, annoyed with the situation.

Once the door was closed, I left the room. I found Ma sitting on Gabe’s bed with a book in her hands.

I sat on the opposite side. “Had an adventure today?” I scrubbed a hand over his head.

He nodded. “It was a great day.”

“It was. I’ll let Granny finish the story.”

“Will you stay?” he asked.

I had no other place in the world I wanted to be.

“Of course.”

When the story was over, Ma left and I stayed to tuck my son in.

“Will Bailey be my mommy?”

I was shocked for a second. Mommy was an American term. Then again, he spent the last two years learning their words.

I opened my mouth but found I didn’t have the words. I know what I wanted and didn’t have a clue how to tell my son.

“Bailey is a friend,” I decided.

“My friend,” he asked.

“Yes. Now it’s time to get some sleep.”

After kissing his forehead and tucking him in, I stood in the doorway a second longer. I knew how tough it was on him without a mother. Since he hadn’t asked about his biological one for a while now, I thought maybe his longing was over.

I turned off the light and closed the door. The next one I entered wasn’t mine.

My firebrand was a lit fuse when she turned around.

“I know this is your house, but you can knock,” she spat.

“Would you have let me in?” She rolled her eyes. “I didn’t think so and we need to talk.”

“Why? You despise me.”

“There are many words to describe my feelings, Miss Glicks, and that isn’t one of them.”

I didn’t waste time. I moved to get in her space, forcing her to step back until her back was flush with the wall.

“I—I—” she started.

It was too fucking sexy when she got all flustered.

“What do you want?” she asked shakily.

It wasn’t a question I wanted to answer. Not truthfully.

“Everything I shouldn’t.”

She shoved me and I allowed myself to step back.

“That’s all it ever is with you.”

I took back the distance she put between us.

“Really. I defied my father and potentially gave up my inheritance to bring you here. Do I need to remind you where here is? My mother’s house, a place I’ve never brought any other woman.”

Her eyes grew wide for a second before they turned shrewd.

“And that’s the problem. You’ve never been in a relationship before. You can’t possibly know what you want.”

I moved closer and leaned down to whisper in her ear, “I know exactly what I want.”

“And I want Turner.”

Fifteen

There had been no good reason for me to have said what I said other than self-preservation.

I didn’t understand how such a magnetic man would want me and only me.

If I could have taken it back, I would have instead of watching his heated expression turn to ice. In fact, I reached out to him, unable to vocalize the words, but he was gone out of room in only a few strides. The door closed behind him with a resounding thud.

My feet felt like lead and my heart like ash as I couldn’t take it all back. Four words had put an end to my world and I had to live with the consequences.

I fell onto my bed hating myself, unable to admit how much I’d fallen hard for a man like him. It was so much safer to be with Turner.

He was the personification of good and kind. He would take care of me with his last breath. We would have a good life.