Page 205 of Charlie

"Nope."

"Nothing in a storage unit?"

I shake my head.

"Thank God. Let's get the fuck out of here."

"Where are we going?" I ask after they dump a couple of boxes in the trunk, our suitcases stacked between Cam and me in the back seat.

"Home," Lach says, meeting my gaze in the rearview mirror.

"You were able to schedule the flight that quickly?"

Jack laughs. "He's had the plane on stand-by the entire day, Sassenach."

The whole day? That must have cost a fortune. "We're really going home? Right now?" I wipe away tears of relief with the back of my hands.

"Right now, little witch."

My nervous energy turns to exhaustion the second we're in the air. I blink up sleepily at Jack as he lifts me into his arms and carries me back to the bed, getting under the covers with me, my head pillowed on his bicep. The next time I open my eyes, we're on the ground, and the guys are busy carrying all my worldly possessions to the waiting car. I stop at the top of the stairs, the wild Scottish wind whipping my hair around my face. It feels like it's been two days since the trial, but the sun is only beginning to set on this first day of the rest of my life. I grin at Cam as he jogs up the stairs, his blue eyes sparkling behind those dark-rimmed glasses. My heart fills to bursting as he folds me into his body, the embrace like something out of a movie.

"Ready to go home?" he asks, framing my face with his hands, neither of us able to keep the smiles from our lips.

"Yes," I breathe, blinking rapidly.

The sun sinks below the horizon as we pull into the driveway of the house, the sky streaked with orange and pink as the gravel crunches under our tires.

"Welcome home, mo chridhe. For good this time," Jack says as we pull to a stop, the castle lit up like a Christmas tree. It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

Lach opens my door, extending his hand to help me out of the car. "We have a surprise for you, Carebear. Would you like to see it now or in the morning?"

"Now!" I bounce up and down on my toes, excitement coursing through my system. The guys guide me around the side of the castle, along the loch, and up into the orchard.

"Close your eyes, little witch." Cameron ties a t-shirt over my eyes and takes my hand, drawing me out of the orchard and into the forest. I trip over a root, but strong arms sweep me up, whiskey and leather permeating my senses. A handful of steps later, Jack sets me down, removing the blindfold, his hands gripping my waist.

My heart thuds in my chest as I crack open my eyelids. Strings of fairy lights weave through the trees, warmth illuminating the run-down stone cottage I fondly remember. Except it's not run-down anymore. Glass has been fitted to the borders of the crumbling rock, extending the walls another story, making what looks like a giant greenhouse glowing from within.

"What is this?" I whisper, looking between them.

"Go inside," Lach says roughly, a smile pulling at his lips. I slip around the side of the building and push through a heavy wooden door. I stop dead in my tracks, tears streaming down my face. Overflowing shelves fill one entire wall – neatly stacked canvases in every possible size, all kinds and colors of paints and brushes. A stack of easels leans against the opposite wall, the center of the room left open except for a gorgeous tufted leather couch. I look up at the soaring glass ceilings, dying to see the daylight streaming through, my fingers itching to pick up a paintbrush.

"When did you find the time to do this?" I ask, choking on a sob as I turn in a full circle.

"We worked on it before we left, but Isla's the one that pulled it all together so we could surprise you," Jack murmurs, coming up behind me. Lach and Cam stand to either side, looking around like they can't believe what they're looking at either.

"It's perfect," I whisper. "More than perfect. How can I ever thank you guys enough?"

"By painting us and hanging it on the wall so you don't forget we exist while you're holed up in here," Cam says, chuckling.

"I don't think it's possible to forget about you guys, but I would love to paint you." Lach starts unbuttoning his shirt, those perfect pecs making my heart jump. "Now?" I breathe, my gaze following his fingers down, down, down.

"Now." Lach folds his shirt and sets it on a shelf, doing the same with his pants. I gulp at the firm roundness of his ass, boxer briefs clinging to his skin and hiding absolutely nothing. Cam and Jack follow suit, and in under thirty seconds, I have the three hottest men I have ever seen standing in front of me, waiting for instructions. Fuck. I cross my legs casually, trying to stem the heartbeat that has taken residence between them, but Jack notices. I almost choke when his nostrils flare, his gaze locked to the V of my thighs like he can see through my clothes.

My artist's brain takes over quickly, and I know exactly how I want them. "Jack, you sit in the middle of the couch, lean back and drape your arms over the back. Lach, you sit on his left, your back in the corner, your legs angled toward Jack." I watch as they get into position. "Cam, you do the same things as Lach but on the opposite side. Good." I step back a couple of steps, studying them. "Both of you extend your outer legs, pointing them toward Jack," I instruct, pointing to Cam and Lach. "Perfect. Now reach toward each other with one arm – like in the Creation of Adam painting." With that reference, their posture changes to take on the fluidity of the painting. My heart jumps to my throat, their beauty hitting me in the gut. I swallow hard and clear my throat. "Let me snap a picture so you don't have to stay like that." I pull out my phone and take several pictures. I'm studying the photos, ensuring I've captured all the important details when I see the bulge in Jack's boxers. Fuck. I look up from the phone to find all three of them walking toward me, gazes dark, lust written clearly over their features.

"Let us celebrate you tonight, Charlotte." Jack reaches out, the rough sweep of his thumb over the back of my hand making my nipples pucker.

"We can help you forget all the shitty things that happened today," Lach says, cupping my face tenderly.

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