Jardin's Gamble (Haven, Texas 9)

“Agree with Alec. Man’s job.”

Flick looked crestfallen, and Thea’s heart reached out to her. She saw Jardin watching Flick as well.

“Sometimes, a man just wants to wait for the perfect moment. We’re not always romantic. We don’t always see what’s right in front of us. But when we find that woman who is a part of our soul, we will do whatever it takes to keep her.”

Flick gave Jardin a small smile at his words. West turned to stare down at her thoughtfully.

Maybe he got the message.

Thea pulled her pajamas on in the bathroom. She couldn’t believe how huge this house was. Probably a good thing with how many Malone brothers there were. Even though most of them lived out in the bunk house. Ace and Keir were already fast asleep in one of the bedrooms.

All the Malones treated the boys, and her, like they were family. And they teased Jardin mercilessly. But he’d given back as good as he got. And not one of them found their relationship odd. Or looked twice at them. But then, it did seem to be almost the norm in Haven.

She walked into the bedroom and slammed to a stop as she saw the two of them lying on the bed, kissing.

Holy. Shit.

Jardin pulled back and looked over at her. “Shut and lock the door then strip and get your cute butt over here.”

She cleared her throat, her clit throbbing already in anticipation.

“Maybe I should sleep with the boys,” she said.

Both men froze and the look Jardin gave her was enough to have her heart racing. Oh, Lord, he didn’t want to hear that.

“And why would that be?” he asked calmly.

“In case they need me. They’re in a strange place, and I—”

“They know which room we’re in,” Jardin told her. “I also pointed out West and Alec’s rooms to them. If they need one of us, they can find us.”

“They’ll likely sleep like the dead,” Carrick added. “But if makes you feel better, I’ll check on them in the night.”

“I couldn’t ask you to—”

A growl escaped Carrick, something she was more familiar with coming from Jardin. “You’re not asking, I’m offering. Now I’m telling you. Let us help you for a change.”

Her mouth dropped open as she closed the door. “Help me for a change? You’re always helping me.”

Carrick frowned. “You barely let us help. You try to do everything yourself. That’s going to change. It’s not just you anymore, Thea. You’ve got us now. Let us carry the load.”

Tears entered her eyes and she blinked, looking away. “That’s going to take some getting used to. I’ve never had someone want to help me.”

“You do now,” Carrick told her warmly. “And we’re not going to let you get away with trying to do it all yourself.”

She gave a short nod.

“After all, that’s what you do for someone you love,” Carrick told her.

She gasped at him. “Did you just . . . are you saying . . .”

“I love you, Thea,” Carrick said.

“I love you as well,” Jardin added.

Tears dripped down her face. “I love you guys too.”

Carrick grinned at her while Jardin gave her an arrogant nod. These two men, along with Keir and Ace, were everything to her.