Lila's Loves (Haven, Texas 1)

Worry churned in his gut. “I’ll go up there, keep her company while you’re cooking dinner.”

He raced up the stairs without waiting for Gavin’s reply, slowing at the last moment before bursting through the door, remembering that she may very well be sleeping. He stepped inside to find her out of her bed and staring out the window. The t-shirt she wore barely covered her ass and he caught glimpses of her firm, round butt.

“Are you supposed to be out of bed, Lila?” he drawled, crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned back against the door.

She gasped and turned, one hand covering her chest, while the other went to the hem of her t-shirt, trying to tug it down. “Colin! You scared me, have you ever heard of knocking?”

“Well, I figured you’d be asleep.”

Wrinkling her nose at him, she moved to the bed, sitting on the side. “I’m sick of lying around. It’s boring.”

She looked better than she had this morning though, he noticed. Her cheeks held some color and those dark patches beneath her eyes had lightened. Seemed like an afternoon in bed was precisely what the doctor ordered.

“You look better,” he agreed. “But you did faint today. It’s been a tough few weeks, Lila. You need to give yourself a chance to recover.”

“You guys have been through the same stuff I have. I don’t notice you lying around in bed all day.”

“But we haven’t just recovered from a bad viral infection,” he reminded her, coming to sit beside her. “Tell you what,” he tapped her nose, “you hop back into bed and when I’m finished in the shower I’ll come and carry you downstairs for dinner.”

She rolled her eyes, but nodded. Colin grabbed her legs, tugging them up into the bed. Leaning down, he kissed her. Intending it to be just a small, sweet kiss, he was surprised when she opened her mouth, her arms wrapping around his neck as she pulled him closer.

Colin worried about whether this is what she really wanted. Or whether she’d change her mind once she experienced the reality of being in a relationship with three men.

He needed to get her into bed with them, show her how much she could enjoy three men. Then she’d never leave.

“I’m so happy you’re sticking around, babe,” he told her.

She smiled, a little nervous. “Me too.”

Colin brushed a finger over her nipple, she shivered as it hardened. Just then her stomach growled. He grinned as she blushed.

“I’m hungry.”

“Well, milady, let me go see about your dinner.”

“Why, thank you, kind sir,” she teased with a smile. Damn, she was beautiful with dark curls resting around her head and those wide, innocent eyes.

“I want to give you whatever you need.”

“Oh, well then, what I really need is to convince Gavin that he doesn’t need to spank me.”

Colin chuckled as he turned to walk out of the room. At the door, he turned around, safely out of her reach. “And miss out on seeing that delicious ass of yours turning bright red? I don’t think so. And Lila, you might not believe it, but a spanking is something you definitely need.”

He quickly left the room before she could retaliate.

*****

Lila left the doctor’s office the next morning, Gavin beside her, his hand resting on the small of her back.

“I could have paid the bill myself, Gavin,” she said with exasperation, although it would have wiped out her bank account. She really needed to get a job.

He snorted, ignoring her protest. “Want to stop at the diner for a coffee?”

“Don’t you have to get back?” she asked with surprise. She loved spending time with him, any of them, but didn’t want to hold him up.

Last night after dinner she’d cuddled up on the sofa with Colin and Gavin as Trace had cleaned up the kitchen. None of them would even hear of her helping. She’d basked in their attention, thrilled to just be with them.

“I have a bit of time. I thought you might enjoy some time away from the ranch.”