Page 54 of Nanny for the SEALs

Then the next thing I knew, Rick was standing by my side.

“Are you going to tell me what has got you rattled? You missing the twins already? Must admit, I’m doing the same, but…”

I didn’t wait for him to talk. I could tell he was nervous, but I had to get this off my chest before we boarded the plane. I had to find out where I stood. “Why did you and Pete decide the twins should stay behind?”

He rose an eyebrow, his green eyes searching mine as if to look for the answer between them, and to read my thoughts. “Thought you would love to see the city.”

I bit my lip again. He knew this wasn’t what I was asking, and probably he could sense it by the disappointment on my face.

“And we thought it would be nice to spend time with you. You know, the three of us together.”

I moved away as his hands, which cupped my shoulders, were distracting me. He said the right words, but it wasn’t enough; this wasn’t what I wanted or rather needed to hear.

“As some kind of sex toy,” I barked. Even my words and tone shocked me.

He shook his head, then with one hand, he skillfully moved the cases and the other moved me to the side.

“No. Not at all,” he muttered, but my heart was beating out of control. I started to get angry, feeling like a fool as I’d been for so many years with Ben. I promised myself I wouldn’t be a fool again, especially because this was getting out of hand. I said that I would find a place to stay, get some money, and do something with my life. Yet, I could feel myself falling for not only one brother, but the both of them.

“So, what’s going on, Rick? You going to get bored with me like you did with Maite once things get serious?”

He shook his head. “That’s not fair. You asked me what happened with Maite, and I told you. It had nothing to do with being bored. More of a case of I wasn’t in a good place, and she just happened to be there.”

As we stopped walking, we came to a dramatic stop. I decided to put it all out in the open and just say exactly how I was feeling.

“It’s just… I’m falling for you, and not just you, but Pete, too. And I’ve been hurt. I’m twenty-three and all I’ve done is put my life on hold and follow some jerk. I just don’t want to do that again. I can’t. I need to be a better person.”

He smiled, and for a second, I felt as if he was mocking me, but yet again, he put his hands on my shoulder.

“This is what Pete and I were talking about last night.” He cupped my chin and gently said, “We’re falling for you, too. Hook, line, and sinker. We don’t know where we’re going with this, but you being in our lives makes us better men. That part we’re clear on. And we want you in it, and not just to be the twin’s nanny, but something more. If you’re up for it.”

I wrapped my arms around him, feeling silly for not trusting him and thinking this was all part of some game. His tall frame lifted me as I wrapped not only my arms, but my legs around him.

“I’m more than up for it.”

He held me, then planted a gentle kiss on my lips. I closed my eyes thinking this was all too good to be true.

“I’m so into you, Rick Steele.”

He smiled. “I’m into you a lot more, Katie Baldson. Now, let’s go and get on the plane.”

He didn’t need to tell me twice. He gently put me on the ground, and I held on to his hand like a lost child as he guided me through the airport. The only thing on my mind was the trip, the one I was going to enjoy with not only one ex-Seal, but two.

* * *

As we landedin San Fran and went through the airport, I saw Pete looking through the crowd. He had a heart-shaped balloon and flowers in his hand. No one had ever given me flowers, let alone given me such a reception for meeting me.

Rick was right.

They were serious about having me in their lives, and they were all out to show their appreciation. As I closed nearer, no more was he searching the crowd as he smiled, “There you are!”

I ran into Pete’s arms. There was something erotic about being picked up and being swung around and kissed at the airport. I couldn’t resist it. I jumped up and kissed him. I know passengers were probably wondering what was going on, since Rick and I could hardly keep our hands off during the flight and here I was, running into another man’s arms. The crazy part about it was I didn’t mind leaving Rick. It was as if there was some mutual respect for our relationships, and they both knew they were important to me.

Also, even though they were triplets, I missed them for different reasons. Pete was the wild lover, the kind who would whisk me into the bathroom and want to get down and dirty. Rick was more the polite one. He kept his feelings more under wraps, but under the sheets he was a tiger. They both made me feel desired and wanted, something I craved in my relationship with Ben, who made me feel that I was the needy one. The one who wanted too much, and it wasn’t normal in a relationship. I’d seen family members and friends act that way. I was too young to just settle down, it was clear as both Rick and Pete had showed me there’s so much more to a relationship and I wanted all of it.

We’d only just started, but the passion of his lips enveloped me in the aiport.

I heard a voice, Rick’s. “Guys, keep it down. We can go home and do that.”

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