Page 38 of The Companion Love Trap

Companion Rule #7—when in doubt, refer to rule #1.

I followed Jace and Kieran as they navigated the ship’s inner workings to find our staterooms. Jace kept looking at the paper and then the doors, a frown forming on his face.

“Um,” he said, then snapped his lips closed.

“What?” I asked. “Is this the wrong deck?”

“No. That’s not it.” His hazel eyes widened as he took his card from his lanyard and opened a door. Confused, I followed him, taking in the gorgeous room. It had a king bed against one wall, a couch and kitchenette off to the side, and a door for a bathroom hidden in the back. The curtains were pulled open on the windows, and I realized it led to a balcony.

“Wow, this is amazing. I doubt mine’s this nice.” My foot hit a piece of luggage as I moved toward the door.

“Um, about that,” Jace said, cringing. I turned, spotting him and Kieran arguing with their eyes. Cruz stood in the doorway with a satisfied grin as he watched me. His dark eyes were too much to take, so I looked down to move the luggage I’d tripped on.

“Wait,” I said, the piece of luggage sticking out the mint and taupe of my own. Next to it sat the black and silver of Jace and Kieran’s.

Three sets of luggage.

One bed.

Ah, fuck. I’d just been rom-comed.

twelve

EVERLY

My mouth dropped open all the way to the floor, like a cartoon character. I looked from the bed to the door where Kieran and Jace stood, then back as I blinked for good measure. Yep, still the same predicament.

One bed. Three people.

I should’ve been shocked when there weren’t two beds to begin with since I didn’t expect Jace and Kieran to snuggle. But hey, maybe that was their thing. I didn’t know them well enough to know or not. I could tell their dynamic wasn’t purely platonic, but it didn’t feel exactly romantic either. Lustful and protective, maybe? Lustive? Protectful? Heh.

A giggle erupted out of me at the insanity of the situation. Seriously. I’d almost be amazed at how easily I fell for it if it hadn’t happened to me. Just how far did this setup go? Which movie set had I fallen into? Maybe I’d hit my head on the location of the zombie one, and now I was hallucinating.

“She’s laughing. Do you think that’s good?” Jace whispered, leaning closer to Kieran.

“Sucks to be you both,” I said as I spun around to face them.

“How so?” Jace asked, crossing his arms as he watched me carefully. I had a feeling he knew I was up to something.

“That couch will be a tight squeeze for two men.”

“Huh?” Kieran asked, looking back and forth between the bed and the couch, confusion written all over his handsome face.

“I’m going to assume there’s not another room key and that if we go through the whole hokey-pokey of it all, and I shake it all about… That the ship will conclude that there are no open cabins.” I sat on the bed and crossed my legs, kicking my foot as I leaned back on my arms. “How am I doing?”

“You make it sound like this was intentional, lass,” Kieran said, glancing between me and then Jace, worry making his eyes crinkle at the edges. “I booked two cabins. Promise.”

“Oh, I believe you, sweetie.”

I patted the bed, wanting him to come and sit down, forgetting how much I’d liked hearing ‘lass’ in his Irish accent. Kieran did as directed and sat beside me, his body pressing into mine. Fuck. He was willing to follow an order. Why did I find that so hot?

I pushed my arm into his, knowing how much he liked the pressure. It seemed to calm him like a weighted blanket. Kieran didn’t let many people touch him, but we all needed it, so I’d be sure to give him as much as possible. The realization I already cared for this sweet, grumpy man shocked me, but I pushed it away for now. I needed to focus on the two troublemakers in front of me.

Fuck, they were hot standing side by side. It should be illegal to allow men that attractive near one another. I shook my head, trying to clear it of the lust.

“I’m just not sure how you two play into this, but I’m certain you’re both involved somehow.” I twirled my finger around in the air as I observed them. Cruz didn’t even hide his smirk, his dark eyes boring into mine like he was waiting for me to figure it out.

“I might not last long in jobs, but that doesn’t make me dumb. I read people better than most, and something fishy is happening here. So last chance to spill before I decide to shut you both out. I’m very easygoing in life until someone lies to me.” I narrowed my eyes, my smile dropping off my face as I waited for them to spill or seal their fate. It just might be a no-dick cruise, after all.

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