Lila's Loves (Haven, Texas 1)

She hadn’t really been into town since she’d been back, other than to drive through on her way to the hospital to visit Clay.

“That would be nice.”

They were soon sitting in a booth, a large slice of pie and two steaming cups of coffee sitting before them. Peggy, the owner, had given her a large hug when she’d walked in. She’d owned this place for years and Lila always liked her.

She dropped her gaze to the piece of pie, feeling sad.

“What’s wrong, baby?” Gavin asked gently.

Lila raised her face. “Nothing, just remembering the first time Clay brought me here for pie. I’d never eaten at a diner before, never tasted pie either.”

“He was a good man,” Gavin agreed. “He didn’t have to take in a surly, attitude-filled fifteen year old boy, but he accepted me without a word of complaint. We must have pushed his temper so many times. I mean, he had an easy, bachelor life then one day he comes home to find his best friend dead. And suddenly he has a household full of teenage boys. It’s a wonder he didn’t kill us.”

“Or wallop you every day.”

“And twice on Sunday’s,” he agreed. Spooning her up some pie, he held it to her mouth.

She looked around. “Ahh, do you think you should be doing that?” she asked.

“What?” he asked. “Feeding you?”

A flush covered her cheeks. “Well, won’t people think it’s strange? I mean, we’re practically brother and sister.”

He raised a brow. “But we’re not, and our feelings towards each other are not what a brother and sister feel. Did you really think we were going to hide how we felt for you, Lila?”

“Ahh, well, I mean, what will people think when they see me with each of you?”

He leaned back, staring at her. “Since when do you care about what people think?”

“Since I don’t want you guys to suffer!” she whispered back. “You have businesses to run, Colin and Trace, especially. I don’t want to do anything to wreck that.”

Gavin cupped her chin with his hand. “Honey, we would never allow that to happen, just like we would never allow anyone to disrespect you. You know there are a few ménage relationships around.”

“I know.” Her friend Laken had two dads. “But this is a little different, isn’t it?”

“Because we grew up in the same household? Baby girl, no one is going to even blink at that, I promise. And if anyone ever said anything to you then you would tell one of us straight away, wouldn’t you?”

She frowned slightly.

“Lila,” he warned. “Listen to me now. We are responsible for you. That means that if anyone is causing you any problems, we expect you to tell us about it.”

“I don’t want you to handle all my problems, Gavin,” she said, even though the thought of having them to lean on was undeniably attractive.

“Do you remember Logan and Max Ferguson?” Gavin asked suddenly.

She frowned slightly, wondering what the Ferguson brothers had to do with anything. “Sure they’re friends with Colin,” she said.

“Yep. And Colin was best man at their wedding to Savannah last year.”

She felt her jaw drop open. “Both of them? They share her?”

He smiled. “Sure do. In fact the number of ménage relationships in Haven is growing. You know we’re a bit more open-minded around here. Having a partner means the men have help protecting and caring for their woman, and the women, well, they don’t complain.” He winked at her.

Lila nodded. Once, her car had broken down as she was driving herself and Laken home from school. Mac Donaldson, who was a friend of Clay’s, had stopped and fixed her car, scolding her for not calling Clay immediately.

She’d called Clay at Mac’s assistance and he’d come out to meet them, following them home to make sure they made it there safely. At the time she and Laken had rolled their eyes, but secretly she’d felt warm at how Clay and Mac had taken care of them, like they’d been important

.