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disgusted with us, Jasmine gushed.
I don t know of many men who are up for the three a.m. feedings, Trinity added. Drew is just
as amazing at helping me out. I couldn t imagine doing this all on my own.
Do you get to stay at home with them? Nicole asked.
We own a shop together but only spend minimal time there, and the babies always come with us.
Ryan built us an amazing nursery and a play structure for the older kids. We get to have a business
that s ours. We take pride in it but still get to be the kind of mothers we want to be, Trinity told her.
Nicole was filled with a bit of envy, which she instantly felt guilty about.
It would be so heavenly to not have any worries and get to be a full-time mother. She felt more
like a mom to Patsy instead of a big sister, and she wished she d been able to be with her more, but
she always worked hard to keep a roof over their heads and to have the supplies Patsy needed to get a
good education. She d spent every free moment with her, though, which was another reason she didn t
date. She really had a full plate.
The sad thing was, she didn t think she d ever get to hold her own child in her arms. Maybe
someday, she thought wistfully. The women continued to visit, and Nicole got her baby fix, holding
little Jaxon in her arms.
The men slowly walked into the kitchen like it was a war zone. They were afraid the women were
going to send them away again, and the alpha males didn t like the feeling of being told to go away.
They crept through the doorway, and there was an audible sigh of relief from all three men when they
saw the women laughing. They once again looked at each other as if they really couldn t understand
the complicated minds of women. The women saw the faces of the men and exchanged knowing
glances. The men would never know why one minute, they were sobbing together, and the next minute,
they were laughing as if all was right with the world. That was just one difference between the sexes
that would always exist.
Can we help you with anything? Derek questioned.
You can get the steak going. The rest of this food will be ready before you know it, Trinity told
them. They grabbed the marinated steaks and made a quick exit. The girls giggled at the guy s haste.
I know it s terrible to play with them, but sometimes it s simply way too much fun not to,
Jasmine said with a giggle.
Agreed, Trinity said. Nicole nodded, although she was afraid to play with Ryan. She had a
feeling, if she tried to play, she was going to get seriously burned. She put it out of her mind and
simply enjoyed her time of peace in a world which had been shattered for many years.
They all enjoyed a wonderful meal, then sat by a fire, where Nicole found herself laughing more
than she d ever done in her life. The cousins were certainly entertaining and Nicole forgot, for a
small moment in time, how much stress she was under. When it was past midnight, the family headed
out, and she was uncomfortably aware she was alone with Ryan. She didn t know how to behave, or
what to say.
I m really tired, so if you could tell me where I m sleeping, I ll leave you alone, she mumbled
at him.
You ll be sleeping in my bed again, but this time I won t lie awake half the night in frustration,
he growled at her.
I m not sleeping in your bed, Ryan, she said with her own rising temper. He couldn t force her
to sleep with him.
Ryan glared at her and slowly stood up. He seemed more of a predator than she d ever seen
before. She was somewhat terrified but more aroused than she d ever admit. He was an impressively
masculine man and, with that look of desire mixed with fury in his eyes, her stomach turned into a
quivering mass.
Ryan slowly started stalking toward her, and she couldn t help herself from slowly retreating. She
wanted to stand firm, but she was too afraid of what would happen if he touched her. She wasn t
convinced of her own willpower.
Ryan, you need to back off. I know we have an agreement, but I m tired and not ready to share
your bed yet, Nicole tried to reason with him, still backing away as he made a steady advance
toward her. He said nothing as he continued to stalk her, as if she really was his prey. He didn t
speed up. He didn t yell. He did nothing but follow her.
She looked behind her and realized he was backing her into a corner. She knew it was the
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