Page 57 of Beneficial Misfortune

Alex pops out of his chair and slaps his hands on Nathan’s desk hard enough that the sound rings out and startles me.

“I fucking told you!” he shouts with a laugh.

A hint of a smile pulls at Nathan’s lips as he reclines back into his chair. I swear he’s like a different person.Thisis the Nathan I’ve become used to over the last few weeks.

“I never said you were wrong,” Nathan shoots back, arching a brow at his brother in challenge.

Their sibling banter is kind of fucking adorable, but it’s not at all helpful.

“I’m confused…” I say, and both of them turn back to me as if remembering I’m there. “Am I not being fired?”

“Not even close, Cherry.”

“Okay… Well then, what’s going on?”

Neither of them answers; instead, they share a look, and Nathan gives the slightest nod. Whatever silent conversation they just had leaves Alex smiling from ear to ear as he turns to face me before stalking toward me.

“Do you remember our night together, Cherry?” he asks, and I don’t even have to answer; I know my face gives me away.

He stops in front of me, dropping to his knees and letting his hands rest on my knees, my very bare knees. His touch makes my skin tingle, and I’m not sure what to do. I want to lean intoit, soak up his touch, but I know I shouldn’t. Somehow, I’m not being fired, but that could always change.

“Do you remember how Desmond and I shared you?”

How could I forget?

But the better question is, why the hell is he asking me this now, in front of his brother, who happens to be my boss?

“Kat?”

My head snaps up at the sound of my name, and I find Nathan watching me, his gaze intense and not in his usual cold way. No, right now, he’s looking at me a lot like Alex had when he saw what I was wearing earlier, and it’s not just me he’s watching, but Alex and me.

“I remember,” I say, forcing the words out despite feeling like I shouldn’t say them.

“What if I told you it isn’t just Desmond and I who share?”

I’m going to get whiplash at this rate.

Alex is still in front of me on his knees, but I swear he’s closer, and there’s no denying the fact that his hands are slowly creeping up my thighs.

Goosebumps break out over my skin, and I press my thighs together in an attempt to try and hide my arousal from him. Of course, he notices, his eyes flicking down to my lap before darting back up to me with a knowing look.

Fuck, I should have just pretended I was asleep and not answered the door.

“Wh—what does that mean?” I ask, my breath catching as he continues to trail his hands higher.

“What if I told you we all share?” Alex asks, leaning even closer now. His fingers are dangerously close to the edge of my booty shorts turned sleepwear, and I swear my heart is trying to beat its way out of my chest.

“I don’t understand…” Shaking my head, I try to clear it so I can focus, but with his hands on me, it’s damn near impossible.

“What part don’t you understand?” Nathan asks, and I chew on my lip as I try and fail to think of how to word it.

“Kat.” His voice has just the slightest hint of demand, and I find myself wanting to answer him despite the fact that I might sound crazy.

“I don’t understand why you're not firing me or why you’re telling me this. Do you need me to stay hidden when you bring someone to the pool house? I only work here. It’s none of my business what you choose to do with your personal lives. And why did you look for me?” The last bit is for Alex, and I feel his fingers tighten around my legs as I turn my attention back to him.

“Why the hell wouldn’t we look for you, Cherry? Des said he left you his number, but you never called. Do you know how strange that is for us? Usually, we refrain from giving out our information because people abuse it, but you were different. He wanted you to call, but instead, you disappeared.”

His lips pull down in a slight frown as he looks at me, and I don’t like it. Alex and Desmond are a lot to handle, especially working here, but even with the teasing and embarrassment, I don’t want them to be unhappy, especially not because of something I did.

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