Page 34 of Four Times Taken

Her brown irises flared. "Don't you hear what I'm saying? This is just a joke to you, isn't it? This is why we could never work. This is my life, Eric. My mother, being her nurse, caring for her basically 24/7. I can't just get up and go on dates. What don't you understand?"

"I get that," I responded. "That's why I brought my friends."

Her lips turned up, and she got ready to remove the puree from the microwave. Even her scowls made my pulse race in adoration.

"I told them I wanted to take you out on our first real date," I said as she ignored me, moving about the kitchen. "And they volunteered their services."

"Their what?" She paused to look at me, her forehead knitted in annoyance. She breathed hot, exhausted air back at me before placing the warmed-up puree on a tray and heading into the bedroom. She sighed when my shadow moved over the doorway.

"At this point, you're like a stalker," she scoffed.

She's right. I felt like one too. I didn't think I liked it.

"I'm sorry. Maybe I misread the situation and got overexcited? I want this, Lily, but if I've made a mistake sticking around, let me know, and I'll be out of your hair." Stepping toward her, I tried one last thing. Sometimes, you've got to play a little bit dirty to get what you want. Or in this case, a little bit flirty. There's one thing I couldn't deny. Despite whatever was going on in her head at the moment, whatever conflicted thoughts she had about me, this morning and last night wouldn't have happened if she weren't at least still attracted to me. It's not much compared to what I wanted. Her heart. But I could work with this.

I might be a nice guy, agreeable, some may say, but even I knew how to twist and bend the so-called rules to make things work in my favor. We're all a little bit manipulative, aren't we? Brushing her hair behind her ear, I leaned down to kiss her cheek and let my breath linger across the back of her neck for a second too long before walking away.

Lily

How can someone feel cool and hot at the same time? A collision of temperatures like that is a recipe for pneumonia. Yeesh. I'm blasted by it, and my body jerked in response, a slight shiver rattling me, causing the tray in my hand to almost toss the soup toward the wall next to me. I grabbed hold of it, managing to save the contents, chuckling and fuming all at once. Damn, my body didn't know what to do with itself. I focused on feeding my mother, all the while controlling the heat between my legs, the dampening of my skin, and the puckering of my nipples.

My mother was more stubborn today than usual, but hungry, as she forced her lips shut and kept her head turned toward the corner of the room as if I'd offended her. Yet, I found the patience. Somehow, knowing that Eric was in that room, offering me something else, other than my mother and my mundane existence, gave me a sense of lightness, which had been hard to come by, in well, forever. Drawing used to give me an escape, I can't remember the last time I drew. So, did hanging out with him. I wonder if for our date, we could just have a peaceful day painting without a ticking clock.

What date? What are you talking about? My 'stabilizing' inner voice jumped in to protect me. You don't want him here, remember?

My mother surrendered to the spoon of soup that touched her lip, surprising me. She usually kept this going for a while longer. Sometimes I'd get up and leave for a few minutes, come back, and try again. I might take her out for a walk and see if it would put her in a better mood before feeding her, but I'd been lost in my thoughts, triggered by that flutter of a kiss that had left me in a state of disarray. I fed her without thinking, my hand working on autopilot while my mind lingered on Eric.

I wanted him.

As I left the room, the scent of all their colognes still filling the house, I found myself looking for him. Just one more night wouldn't hurt, would it? I'm aching for the release he teased and a break if I'm being honest. One that won't have me flustered, checking the time to make sure I haven't overindulged in myself. That sounds amazing. Although, I'm not sure how his friends' services will help.

His friends. He's asking for a relationship, I remembered, when I put the tray in the sink. I still hadn't wrapped my head around Ryan. I wanted Eric, and if Ryan weren't around, this decision would already be complicated enough. This was just bitter icing on the top of the cake because my feelings for Eric were the same as they'd always been. Back then, he was my person. When he left, I lost my person. Then, I had to make peace with the fact that he didn't choose me back. Now, he was choosing me, and this should be the answer to everything I'd wanted.

But I couldn't tell if I'm ready to commit to him because I'm supposed to want one person, right? Isn't that how relationships work? Reaching for a glass of water, once again, wishing it were something stronger, I gulped it down, the chill of it shocking my teeth and freezing my brain, pausing my thinking for a welcome few seconds. I didn't know if saying yes to the date was saying yes to a relationship on the spot.

What I'm certain of at this moment is that my body wants Eric. It also wants Ryan, but Ryan and I don't have any history. If I'm being honest, more than just my body is interested in Eric. So, I'll have to get over this lust for his best friend. And soon too if this relationship is going to be a thing.

Swallowing, I stepped into the living room. Eric stood. All four men looked up at me, and I froze for a moment. They're all good looking. I'm not sure how I feel about Ethan and Matt yet. I'm not sure of much of anything right now. But I made an impulsive decision, hoping it wouldn't backfire.

"When you say your friends will offer their services, what did you mean by that?" My heart was hammering, and a lump rose in my throat.

Eric's eyes lit up, and he sauntered over to me with a smile so hot, I blushed. He wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me against his hard body, and I'm ready for us to excuse ourselves so I can make more bad decisions with him. Of course, I can't do that. My mom's just been fed, and there's still a lot left to do. They have no clue what they've signed up for, and this could all just be a fantasy without any footing for solid ground. So, I couldn't wait to hear how they could possibly help.

You know the saying, "You help more by not helping?" That's kind of what I foresaw now that I thought about it, and my heart was back in my throat. Yeah, I wasn't relaxed anymore. They had no training with the elderly. They were men, and I'd seen how 'men' handled my mother. They didn't know my routine. This wouldn't work.

Before I could change my mind, they were up and moving about my house. I stood with my mouth agape as Ryan ambled into the kitchen, and Ethan and Matt headed into my mother's bedroom. Breaking free from Eric's arms, I rushed forward, unable to be in two places at once.

"What are you doing?" I gasped, my hairs standing on end. Heading to my mother's bedroom with Eric on my heels, I stepped between them and my mother. "Would someone like to explain what they have in mind before just jumping in and making decisions without authority to do so?" I asked.

"The idea is that you'll be able to relax, while we take care of things for you." Eric smiled, proud of himself. I got the gesture, but I was getting tighter by the second.

"Yes, but you weren't going to even ask me about my routine or anything first?" I huffed, moving to transfer my mother from the bed to her chair.

Matt stepped in. "I can do that. I mean... May I do that?" he asked, attempting a smile with me. I knew he didn't like me. I could read people. I saw it in the coffee shop. Yet, he was here, offering to help. I had to wonder if Eric held a gun to his head.

"Look, we can all just take it slow. The last thing we want is for you to be more stressed. We're here to help you and our boy. Isn't that right?" Ethan smiled at Eric, then at me, before dropping his eyes from mine as if he caught himself doing something he shouldn't. Like what? Look at me? "So, put your feet up and delegate. We'll learn your routine in time," he assured me in a soft, gentle tone I hoped was genuine.

I gulped. What was I supposed to say to that? No? Chase them out of my house? Panic and crawl back into my comfortable shell of a life?

---