Ruled by her Daddies (Harem of Daddies)

Eight years ago, she’d glowed with health and vitality.

Now, she looked like a ghost of herself. Her skin was pale. Her cheeks sunken. Gaunt.

What had happened to her? Why did she look like this? How had she come to be in that alleyway?

And why did she keep talking about someone finding her? Who was she talking about? Where was her father? Was he looking for her?

Caleb reached up and brushed a lock of hair off her face. He set her stuffed pig down next to her.

“How long have you wanted her?” he asked Caleb suddenly.

Caleb stiffened. Then he looked over her at Aleki. Wolfe stood at the end of the bed, leaning against the wall. He appeared relaxed, but Aleki knew better. Wolfe never relaxed. He was always on alert.

“I don’t know what you mean,” Caleb prevaricated.

Wolfe snorted. “He means how long have you had feelings for her? He’s wondering if you felt this way back when he was dating her.”

Aleki glanced up at Wolfe. “Thanks for explaining that, man. I’d never have managed it myself.”

“You’re welcome.”

He rolled his eyes. Sometimes when dealing with Wolfe, you needed a great deal of patience.

Actually, always.

Always when dealing with Wolfe you needed patience.

“Who says I want her?” Caleb asked.

“Your eyes,” Aleki countered. “The way you stare at her.”

“The way you touch her. The way you talk to her. Jelly bean.” Wolfe gave Caleb a questioning look.

“I always called her jelly bean,” Caleb countered.

“Yes, but back then it was said to tease her,” Aleki pointed out. “Now it sounds more like . . .”

“Affection,” Wolfe finished.

“I care about her. She’s a friend.”

“Was,” Wolfe replied.

“What?” Caleb gave the other man a frustrated look. Caleb had more patience than a saint. But right now, he looked like he wouldn’t mind telling them both to take a running leap off a bridge.

“She was your friend,” Wolfe said. “You haven’t seen her in eight years.”

“I’ve never stopped worrying about her,” Caleb told them.

Making a noise, she tried to push off the covers again.

Standing, Aleki drew them back up.

“No. Off,” she said in that childlike voice he’d never heard from her before. Was it due to the fever?

The nurse had taken off her clothes, washed her down then dressed her in a cotton gown she’d had in her backpack. It had pictures of pigs all over it.

Caleb placed a hand over her head. “She’s still hot. Maybe we should let her have them off for a bit.”