Page 27 of Room Ten: Praise Times Three

Caiden shakes his head, his lips curled slightly at the corners as he exchanges a look with Reese. “Our girl thinks she’s clever.”

Reese hooks his finger underneath my chin and turns my head back to face him. “Now, doll, I know for a fact Caiden said you’re no longer allowed to sayI’m sorryin this house, and that includes all words that effectively mean the same thing. You never have to apologize to us for being emotional, vulnerable, or needy. We want you to need us. We want to comfort you. We’re here to protect you for as long as you need and want us to.”

I hear what he’s saying. I even understand what he saying, but I’m having a hard time comprehending and believing it. I’ve spent my life staying out of people’s way, prepared for them to be angry when I am too clingy or emotional. So he surely can’t mean what he says right now. He doesn’t want me to share my feelings with him. None of them do. But I appreciate the sentiment, so I smile and nod my head. “Okay.”

Reese tilts his head down and puts his mouth near my ear. I shiver when his warm breath hits my skin and unconsciously leans against his body. “Soren has had that damn computer on his lap all morning. I think he needs a break. Maybe you should ask him for a hug?”

I look up to find Reese smiling down at me. “Do you think?”

“Yeah. If you ask him for a hug, I’m positive he’ll put that computer down and come eat brunch with us.”

I grin, feeling light as a butterfly. Not only am I being given permission to initiate physical contact, I’m encouraged. “Okay.”

Without thinking, I lift on my tiptoes and press a kiss to Reese’s cheek before dancing across the room to stop beside Soren’s chair. His head snaps up, as if he didn’t even realize I was in the room, and closes his laptop. “Good morning, Leti.”

“Good morning.” I squat down next to him and lean my chin on the armrest, looking up at him through my lashes. “Can I have a hug?”

He narrows his eyes and then looks over at the kitchen before bringing his eyes back to me. His blue eyes morph from cold to dazzling. “You want a hug from me?”

I nod. “Please.”

His movements are smooth as he moves the computer off his lap and stands, pulling me to my feet. He pulls me into his chest, wrapping his arms around me and resting his chin on the top of my head. I melt a little. The amount of love and kindness they have shown me since waking up is overwhelming.

He chuckles. “You give amazing hugs.”

“Really?” I squeeze him even tighter.

“Yeah. I could stand here holding you forever.” He places a kiss against my temple. “But the murderous looks I’m getting from my partners say it’s time to eat.”

I giggle and let him go. “Let’s eat.”

After we get settled, and the guys dig in to their plates, Reese wipes his mouth with a napkin. “What’s a normal weekend look like for you, Leti?”

“What do you mean?” I say around a mouthful of pancake.

“What do you do when you aren’t working and not coupled up with a bunch of smelly guys in a safe house in the middle of Peoria?”

I giggle. “You guys aren’t smelly.”

“Not yet,” Soren points out. “Just wait until these two work out.”

“Shut up, ass,” Caiden chuckles and elbows Soren, who is sitting to his right.

I like the way they interact with each other. Kind of like brothers, but there is something more. While I feel protected by them, I feel like they’d also die to protect each other too. They have a real family vibe to them that goes beyond working together.

“Well, I get up at six every morning, go for a run, then take a shower. On Saturdays, I make myself an omelet, but on Sundays I bake something new.”

“You like to bake?” Caiden raises his brow.

“Yeah,” I duck my head. “I like to try new recipes. My mother was an excellent baker.”

“That’s nice. You keep her memory alive with your pastries,” Reese says, reaching out to rub my knee under the table.

“I could pick up a list of ingredients today if you want to bake while we are here,” Soren says.

I pick up my head. “Really?”

“Yeah. We love to eat.” He nods.

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