Jardin's Gamble (Haven, Texas 9)

“Not yet. But we’re planning on getting there,” Jardin told her. “Just need to find the perfect third.”

“You want a ménage again?”

Shit. Should she really ask something so personal? But why were they telling her?

“This is probably not a conversation we should be having.” She quickly stood and Carrick stood as well.

“Not here, no,” Jardin agreed. “Would you like to come to dinner with us, Thea?”

He wanted her to go to dinner with them? Why? Not that she could, but they didn’t mean they wanted her to be their third?

She shook off the thought as ridiculous.

Yeah? Then why was Carrick talking to you about BDSM? About being a sub? Why did he watch you with hungry eyes?

But what about Jardin? He was harder to read.

“I can’t. I have to pick up the boys,” she said quickly.

“Can you arrange a babysitter for this weekend? Maybe we could take you out to dinner on Friday night?” Carrick asked. “Then we could be on our own.”

“And you can tell us what’s going on with you,” Jardin told her.

Oh. So that’s why they wanted to get her alone. They wanted to know what was going on with her.

Disappointment flooded her.

You’re an idiot, Thea.

Well, that wasn’t happening.

“I don’t . . . I’m not sure why you’re asking me out to dinner. But I’m really sorry . . . I can’t . . . I have to go,” she said abruptly.

She walked around her desk to grab her handbag.

“Thea, wait,” Carrick said.

“I’m really sorry for the way I treated you,” she said hastily. “I hope you two will be happy.”

Jardin scowled. “Thea, what—”

She raced out of the room before either of them could detain her. And although Jardin’s voice was filled with clear command when he told her to stop, she paid him no heed.

It was better this way. She could have agreed to dinner, knowing she wouldn’t turn up but that didn’t feel right. And she couldn’t tell them what was going on without endangering them as well.

No, getting away was the right option.

* * *

Carrick ran his hand down his face. “Shit.”

“I should have stayed in my office.”

He looked over at Jardin and shook his head. “Not your fault. She wasn’t gonna open up to me.”

“I pushed too hard with the dinner suggestion.” Jardin looked unsure. It wasn’t a usual look for him.

“Not sure how we’re going to get her to open up to us when she won’t even give us a few hours of time,” Carrick said with frustration.