Page 301 of Tempted By her Daddies

Hmm. She could steal something.

But she was hardly likely to be around at Christmas.

“Perhaps if I get you, I could give you this cardigan.”

More silence.

“Oh! Sorry, you probably wouldn’t want something I’d worn.”

She was messing everything up.

“No, no, I totally would. It’s just . . . you can’t give me something that nice.”

“Why not? You obviously love it. Here.” She attempted to take it off.

“Wait!” Erica cried

“Tamsyn,” Roman said, laying his hand over hers.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,Malyshka,” Alexei added, placing his hands over her shoulders.

“Wait, wait, wait,” Charlene mused. “Are the three of you . . . you are, aren’t you? The three of you are together! Like Alina and the princes! Oh my God.”

More staring.

Did these people not know it was rude? She was starting to feel self-conscious and she didn’t know why.

Maybe it was just that she wanted everything to go well, and it felt like nothing was going how it should. She slid back in her seat, trying to disappear behind Salem’s shoulder.

“Darling girl? Are you all right?” Roman asked quietly as Salem attempted to explain their relationship.

Charlene and Erica were asking lots of loud questions and she started to feel overwhelmed.

“All of you, quiet.”

To her surprise, it was Jad that spoke. Huh, seemed that might be where Salem got his quiet dominance from. Because Jad didn’t even need to raise his voice and everyone shut up.

“You are being rude to Tamsyn. And Salem, Alexei, and Roman. Their relationship is not our business.”

She peeked up at Jad and saw him give her a quick, warm look. She smiled at him, feeling relieved and . . . and welcomed.

The tension started to leave her.

“What is this about your relationship? What relationship?” Sara demanded as she walked in, carrying a wooden board filled with cheese and crackers, dips, and fruit.

It looked absolutely delicious and her mouth watered.

“They’re all in a relationship like Alina,” Con said.

Salem’s mother froze. The tray in her hand wobbled.

“Mum, watch out!” David yelled.

Salem quickly stood and took the tray from her hands, setting it down on the coffee table.

“Mum? Are you all right? Mum?” He took her hands in his and led her to the free recliner. They had fit a lot of furniture into a small space. “Mum?”

“Um, what?” The older woman gaped at him.

---