Nanny for the Army Rangers by Krista Wolf

 

Forty-Eight

 

 

DELILAH

“So I have a confession to make,” I said, cradling the glass of wine in my palm. It was a big glass of wine. Bigger than any the guys had poured me before.

I had to wonder if that part was intentional.

“I guess it’s not so much a confession as it is a love problem,” I went on. “And it’s not even a problem at all. In fact, it’s just the opposite.”

Liam and Duncan looked confused. It occurred to me that, for once, they didn’t know something beforehand.

“Delilah, what are you—”

“While you guys were on base Julius told me he loved me,” I said simply. “And I told him I loved him too.”

Draping my arms up on either side of the couch, I carefully examined their reactions.

“And it’s not just that,” I said, “because I’ve thought it over for days now. There’s no question about it. I love you all.”

Liam and Duncan were sitting opposite me, in chairs of their own. They were leaning forward with interest now. A half-finished beer dangled from Duncan’s fingertips, wholly forgotten.

“Are you surprised?” I asked. “I’m not. After all you wanted a girlfriend, and a girlfriend comes with emotional as well as physical attachments.”

Liam looked about to say something, but it was Duncan who opened his mouth first. I stopped him with an outstretched hand.

“I mean I knew I cared about you,” I went on. “Who wouldn’t? But when we started this thing I wasn’t looking ahead. It didn’t even occur to me that I could love more than one man, but that’s exactly what happened. Only it makes perfect sense when you think about it, because this whole relationship hasn’t really been a one-on-one thing. It’s been about being together, all of us. Being a team.”

“We’ve always been a team,” Liam breathed, “even before you came along. It’s what we do.”

“Exactly,” I agreed. “We’re not just four people having four different relationships, we’re having one relationship together. And it’s a big one. A huge one. But at the same time it’s also—”

“An awesome one,” interjected Duncan.

I nodded, smiling. “I was going to use the word ‘incredible’, but yeah, awesome works too.”

One by one they got up and sat down on either side of me. I took another long pull of wine. Whatever they were about to say might change the course of everything.

Instead of saying anything they kissed me, one by one. Liam went first, his mouth pressing softly against mine. Duncan’s kiss was more insistent, but no less full of passion and meaning. As they drew back, I could feel my whole lower body tingling.

“You didn’t think for a single second we didn’t love you too, did you?” asked Duncan.

Very slowly I shook my head. It was the truth.

“Good,” said Liam. “Because we do. And we don’t just love you, Delilah. We’re in love with you. We have been since the first time you made our little ones laugh.”

His hand slid to my thigh, squeezing me possessively. Pressed tightly against the other side of me, Duncan did the same.

“We’re glad Julius broke the ice too,” said Duncan. “Socially he sucks at a lot of things, but the one thing he’s good at is telling it how it is.”

Liam nodded. “We wanted to tell you for a while now, but… well… we were afraid.”

His statement floored me. “Afraid of me?”

“More like afraid of scaring you away,” explained Duncan. “Think about it: all three of us, sitting you down and telling you we loved you? That’s gotta be overwhelming.”

“It’s not!” I protested. “I mean, it wouldn’t have been, had you done it. I think it’s sweet. Actually I think it’s perfect.”

I couldn’t help myself: I had to kiss them too. I did it slowly, more sensuously, starting with Duncan this time and ending with Liam. By the time I was finished, both men tasted like wine. My body also felt ten degrees hotter all over, but especially in my face.

“You’d never scare me away,” I told them. “In fact, I’ve been given the chance to leave. Not once did it cross my mind, though. The more I thought about it, the more sure I was, too.”

They stared back at me in surprise as I told them all about the guest house on my sister’s property, and the offer from Patrice and John. For a minute or so they actually looked worried, but now it was my turn to place my hands on their thighs and squeeze them reassuringly.

“I’m here because I love you,” I said wholeheartedly, “but also because I love the children too. I love the life we have, the relationship we share. I love all the crazy things we’re building around us.”

I gestured all around the room, and especially toward the plastic construction curtains. The guys followed my hands all the way back to their laps.

“But there’s one more thing,” I said solemnly. “Something else that needs to happen if we’re going to continue.”

I sank to the floor and turned around, just so I could look at them both at once. Sitting on my feet, holding the wine glass between my thighs, I waited until I had their full attention.

“I need to be kept in the loop,” I said plainly.

They were staring at me candidly, quietly. Or maybe they were just staring at my thighs, I wasn’t really sure. But it was Liam who finally spoke.

“The… loop?” he asked quizzically.

“That’s right,” I nodded. “If I’m going to be your girl…” I paused, letting my gaze drop into my wine glass. “And I am your girl, make no mistake about that…”

“You want to know everything,” said Liam. “About us. About the Shop.”

“About everything,” Duncan added, finally understanding.

I sipped my wine and nodded. “Yes.”

The guys settled back into the couch, as I glanced up at them again. For once, they didn’t have to consult each other. Their heads bobbed together in unison, but independently.

“Okay.”

My heart filled with a rush of acceptance and happiness. It was the last obstacle. The only thing still standing between us that wasn’t transparent or shared.

And it was finally coming down.

“First, we need to tell you about the Shop,” said Duncan evenly. “You should know exactly what we do there. How we do it. Why we do it.” He swallowed the rest of his beer. “And after that…”

Liam patted the place on the couch where I’d been sitting moments ago. I hopped back into it as he slid his arm around me.

“After that, we’ll tell you why Julius isn’t here.”

I felt warmer than ever. Loved and accepted. They were taking me into their fold, their circle of trust. It was an important moment for them, and me as well.

“I want to know these things,” I said softly. “All these things, and more. But first—”

I rose abruptly, setting down my wine glass and reaching back for each of their hands. When I had them, I pulled the boys to their feet.

“First I need to take you down this hallway and show you both how much I’ve really missed you…”