An Indecent Proposition (17 page)

What did they do? What should she say? What
could
she say?

Something dropped onto the bed beside her and her head snapped up.

Erik stood at the foot of the bed, where he’d set a pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt.

“I didn’t figure you wanted to put on your clothes.”

Her gaze met and held his, even as her eyes burned. “Thank you.”

He grimaced and huffed, the sound holding so much self-disgust she almost smiled. “Yeah, I’m a real gentleman. Come down whenever you’re ready. We’ll be there.”

He walked out without a backward glance.

And all she could think was,
God, the man has a great ass.

“Ugh.”

What the hell was wrong with her?

Pulling on Erik’s clothes, she tried not to think. Which was easy to do for a few seconds because his scent drenched her, a mouth-watering mix of sandalwood and sharp citrus.

It made her hungry again. Horny.

For both of them.

Which made no damn sense, at all.

She wanted to fall on the bed and flail around, just for a few seconds, like a toddler having a temper tantrum. Instead, she took a deep breath, closed her eyes and tried to clear her mind, at least for a few minutes.

But all too soon, she was trying to make sense of all the different thoughts running through her head.

This isn’t right. You need to let one of them go
.

Damn it, she didn’t want to. Call her selfish. She didn’t care. It was their own damn fault for spoiling her that first night. She wanted both.

Yeah and how’s that going to work?

People in this town already thought she was a slut. What would they call her if she started hanging out with two guys? Two older, wealthy guys? Who’d already given her money to sleep with them?

“
Argh
.”

No more stalling. Straightening her back, she stood.

She knew what she
should
do. Now, she just had to do it. Taking a deep breath, she headed downstairs.

As her foot hit the last step, she almost faltered, her knees wanting to lock so she couldn’t go any farther.

She pushed ahead.

And when she stepped into the only room on the first floor with light shining through the doorway, she caught back a sigh.

They’d taken up positions on opposite sides of the room. Keegan sprawled in a leather wingback chair, staring at the wall beside him. Erik stood in front of the bay window, hands shoved in his pockets, bare shoulders hunched.

Both seemed to be in deep thought and she had a few seconds to observe them before Keegan turned and snagged her gaze. She didn’t make a sound but Erik must’ve heard Keegan. Or maybe they were just that attuned to each other that Erik sensed a disturbance in Keegan’s force.

She would’ve laughed at her own joke if it’d been even the least bit funny.

Neither of them spoke so she crossed her arms over her chest.

“So, how do you want to do this?”

She sent the question out there, not really knowing how they’d respond. Not sure how she wanted them to respond.

Keegan spoke first. “I don’t think that’s the question you want to ask, Jules.”

She thought about what he’d said for a few seconds before she realized that’s exactly what she’d meant to say. “Actually, it is.”

Keegan’s brow furrowed as he thought that over, like he was trying to find the bombshell hidden in her words.

It took him at least half a minute but he finally shook his head. “I’m not sure there is any way to work this.”

She’d expected him to say something to that effect but it still hurt. “So you don’t even want to try?”

He rose from the chair with an explosion of movement then began to pace. “Try what? A relationship between the three of us? Are you serious? How the hell would that even work?”

Her heart pounded, her lungs tightening with anxiety. And anger. “I don’t have a clue. I’ve never done it before. I guess the question is would you even want to see if it could work? I know you and Erik have taken other women to bed together before. You’re too good at it.”

Erik snorted but didn’t turn from the window. And he didn’t say anything. Keegan sliced a vicious look at his friend but Erik continued to ignore him.

“So…,” she infused as much sarcasm as she could in her tone. “Let me guess. You didn’t do relationships. You only did sex.”

She knew she was right when Keegan stopped to glare at her before continuing to pace. When she slid a glance at Erik, she saw he’d bowed his head.

Her hands went to her hips as her temper continued to build. “So that’s your response? Ignore me? Not going to work. Why the hell did you come to that reception tonight, Keegan? If you didn’t want anything to do with me, why didn’t you just leave me the hell alone?”

His lips twisted. “I just wanted to make sure you were okay—”

“Bullshit.” She slashed a hand out in front of her, and he halted in his tracks. “Jesus, could you please not lie. If that’s all you wanted, how did we end up fucking in a
closet
?”

Keegan flinched and the blush leached out of his cheeks. “I’m sorry. You’re right. That’s unforgivable. So slap me. Tell me to fuck off.”

He took a step closer and she had a brief flash of fear. She’d been hit by a man before, by the one man who never should’ve laid a hand on her. Her father had slapped her when she’d confronted him. After he’d left them. After he’d cleaned out the bank accounts and moved in with his new girlfriend.

But as Keegan drew closer, she saw his anger wasn’t fueled by rage. It was directed inward.

“Why don’t you just tell me why you’re afraid to even try?”

When his gaze flashed at Erik, she knew what she was thinking was right. This wasn’t only about her. This was about Erik, as well.

Maybe Keegan really did have sexual feelings for Erik that he wasn’t willing to admit. Maybe she was simply a scapegoat. Or a stand-in.

Her anger started to get the better of her.

“You want him, don’t you? I was just a way to be able to have him. Christ, I’ve been such a fool.”

Keegan had been shaking his head almost since she started to speak. “That’s not it. God damn it, Jules.”

“Then explain why you look at Erik like you have something to say to him but don’t know how. What could you possibly not be able to tell him?”

A tense silence fell and she heard two sets of heavy male breathing. With another shake of his head, Keegan turned away from her, yanking his hand through his curls. Which was exactly what she wished she could do. Sink her hands in his hair and pull his head down so she could kiss him. Then she wanted Erik to plaster himself against her back and kiss his way down her neck to her shoulders.

But apparently, it was all just a stupid dream on her part.

They’d used her for their own purposes and she’d been paid. She should’ve stayed away.

“God damn it, Keegan.” Erik’s voice startled her out of her thoughts and she looked up to find him closer than he’d been. Actually, he was closer to Keegan. “Say it. Go ahead, just fucking say it.”

Keegan’s hands curled into fists at his side for several seconds before he made a conscious effort to release them. “Whatever you’re thinking, you’re not right.”

Erik shook his head, his expression sarcastic. “How the hell would you know what I’m thinking? We don’t fucking talk anymore.”

“That’s not all on me.” Keegan finally turned to face Erik and Jules knew she’d just been sidelined. But she didn’t move.

“I know that.” Erik shook his head but this time didn’t look away. “I know I’ve been a bastard. But that’s not her fault. Don’t make her pay for things I’m guilty of.”

“You’re not guilty of anything.”

“And neither are you!”

Erik was shouting by the end but she didn’t flinch this time. She couldn’t take her eyes off Keegan. He looked so tortured, she almost felt sorry for him. Sorry she’d started this.

“I don’t know—”

“Don’t fucking
lie
,” Erik shot back. “Did you really think I wouldn’t get it? Why you’ve been so damn apologetic? You walk around like a kicked puppy. What happened to me was
not
your fault.”

“But
I
should’ve been there that night!”

Jules’ eyes popped wide.

Oh wow. That explained so much.

Erik scraped a hand through his hair and pulled it back, apparently forgetting, for once, to keep the scarred side of his face covered. “Jesus, Keegan. When the hell are you going to let that go? What happened to me was
not
your fucking fault. The fault’s with whoever set up that explosion.”

As Keegan shook his head, Jules frowned at Erik. “You think someone deliberately tried to hurt you?”

Erik turned to face her. “I think so, yeah.”

She turned to Keegan. “And you don’t?”

Keegan closed his eyes and shook his head. “I never said that.”

“You don’t have to say it.” Erik’s voice sounded flat. “I can read it in your face. You think I’m delusional—”

“Oh, that’s utter fucking bullshit.” Keegan’s hands clenched into fists at his sides. “You’re not delusional.”

“I know that. I know there’s a goddamn reason why that burner blew other than a simple malfunction.”

“You think someone sabotaged your lab?” she asked.

Both men turned toward her but she kept her eyes on Erik, watching him come closer.

“Yeah, I think someone deliberately set it to blow.”

“Do you know who?”

Erik shook his head. “I have some suspicions but nothing concrete. Not yet.”

“And you’re driving yourself crazy trying to figure it out.” Keegan slammed his fist again the wall. “You need help, damn it.”

Erik threw his hands in the air. “And there you go. You think—”

“Fuck it, you know that’s not what I meant. If you really think someone rigged that explosion then you need to hire someone.”

Apparently this was an ongoing battle between the two of them but she couldn’t help but ask, “Why won’t you get someone to help you with the investigation?”

“Because what if he’s wrong?” Keegan’s voice held a bitter tone. “What if whoever we bring in proves him wrong? You’re never wrong, are you, Erik?”

Erik shook his head, his expression bitter. “Oh, please. You know that’s bullshit.”

“Then why won’t you let me hire someone?”

“What if this was an inside job? What if we bring someone in and tip off whoever did it? No. I can do this. I just need a little more time.”

“And in the meantime, you leave me to keep everything else going. This is supposed to be a partnership, Erik.”

They seemed to have forgotten she was there again, squared off against each other.