“You’re sticky.” Liddy pointed at my face, reminding me of the batter still in my hair and down my shirt. I laughed, and for the first time in years, my heart didn’t ache at all.
“Yes, I’m sticky.” A memory of Arthur’s face this morning right before he kissed me shot through my mind. The way he smiled felt like a rare treasure. His deep, booming laugh rattled the barriers I’d erected after my ex abandoned me and Liddy.
These men were not like him. Not at all. They were generous as well as kind. They gave without expectation, unlike my ex, who always made his generosity a production meant to be praised and rewarded. When it came to responsibility, he left us high and dry, taking his fake generosity with him and leaving us with nothing.
I squeezed Liddy’s hand. “On second thought, I’m going to clean the kitchen while I’m already sticky. Then we’ll go shopping.”
I had a job to do here and I refused to fail. Arthur, Scott, and Ryland might not expect much of me, but I knew my duties thanks to the list Deena left me. Some of them were simple, tedious tasks that would keep me busy, but also give my mind time to roam.
And I knew exactly where my thoughts would go to—my growing feelings for my three employers.
8
SCOTT
Iwas serious about Hannah and Liddy enjoying the pool. My motivations, however, were suspect.
SeeingHannah in her bathing suit made me have to adjust my cock when her back was turned.
She pickedup Liddy and helped her step into the shallow end of the swimming pool. Liddy splashed and giggled, but it was Hannah who held my attention. I’d expected her to be stunning in a bathing suit and she didn’t fail to impress. She wore a simple one-piece in electric blue that made her eyes pop. The suit cupped her ass and tits perfectly, the sleek material showing every curve leaving her back exposed as it dipped into a deep V that ended right above the curve of her ass.
I’d caughther kissing Arthur this morning. The heat between them was enough to light the whole house on fire. I’d never seen Arthur like that, so free and desperate. He’d looked ready to devour Hannah right there in the kitchen. I couldn’t blame him.Something about her called to me too, a clawing, greedy need that nothing else would satisfy.
“Scott.”The suspicion in Arthur’s voice brought out a devilish smile. Arthur rolled his head side to side, the muscles and tendons popping like they’d been under a great strain. “I thought you were cooking.” He stalked to my side and took a swig from his beer.
I flippedthe burgers and checked the brats. “I am.”
“Careful you don’t cookthe wrong dog.” Ryland backhanded my shoulder and pointed at my dick. “You’re getting awfully close to having a scorched wiener.”
“Fuck off.”I shoved him toward the pool and he took off with a laugh. A second later, he cannonballed into the water, splashing Hannah and Liddy, who both screamed with laughter.
I kept an eye on Arthur, who seemed incapable of tearing his eyes away from Hannah. I smirked. If he didn’t have any qualms about making a move on her, then neither did I.
Housekeeper or not,we had it bad for Hannah. I knew one surefire way to satisfy everyone, and I saw no reason to hold back. We’d shared girls in college, back when we were free-spirited and much younger.
“Catch me!”Liddy held her arms out wide as she stood at the edge of the pool, her pink floaties wrapped around her tiny upper arms. Ryland wiped water from his face and smiled wide enough to show every tooth in the idiot’s head.
“I got you,”he said as he held out his own arms, ready to catch her.
He had her alright,and Liddy had wrapped Ryland around her pinky within seconds after they met. Same with Arthur. Neither of them had anything close to family before, except each other. A tight ball of emotion crawled up my throat as I watched them. I swallowed it back down and stabbed one of the burgers, flipping it to check the bottom.
Liddy’sand Hannah’s giggles floated on the breeze, the sound light and effervescent as champagne bubbles. I wanted to capture them, freeze them in time, and hold onto the sound forever.
“Do you remember Bethany?”I asked Arthur, keeping my voice flat and quiet so it wouldn’t travel across to Hannah.
Arthur choked on his beer.“Bethany from college?”
“You know any other Bethany’s?”I flipped the remaining burgers. Motion from the pool pulled my attention back to Hannah. She stepped out of the water and crossed to a lounge chair. Water glistened on her skin, the droplets almost begging for a caress.
“What about her?”Arthur snapped his fingers in front of my face.
My gaze cut to Arthur,then back to Hannah. I wondered if they would be up for a little fun this summer though Hannah struck me as the kind of woman who held herself back. What I had in mind challenged most women, but I’d seen how she kissed Arthur. I’d noticed how she looked at Ryland like she’d rather ride his cock than breathe. We had a chance to experience something spectacular over the next three months. Hannah’s temporary role put us in a prime position.
What could possibly go wrong?
“Burgers are burning.”Arthur’s statement forced my attention back to the grill. I cursed and shoved them all onto a plate before they turned inedible.
“Let’s eat.”