BareBottomGirl (5 page)

“That’s my job,” Greer interrupted. “I can do it.”

Liam stroked her hair. “No. It was my fault. I startled you.”

He left before she could say anything else. Chas opened his
bag, laid out what he needed then snapped on gloves.

“Okay,” he said matter-of-factly. “What’s wrong?”

She sighed. “I told you about my job history. I’ve had
really rotten luck, and it just seems to be starting again. I mean…first I have
the panic attack, now this, and,” she paused, “what am I really doing here?
There’s hardly any cleaning to do, and now Liam is out there cooking dinner.”

Chas took her hand and unwrapped the towel without saying
anything at first. Finally, as he began cleaning her finger, he said, “You
couldn’t help either thing, Greer. I know right now it seems like there’s not
much to do, but there will be when Wyatt… Here, set your hand on the towel. I’m
going to use a topical numbing agent.”

“No shot?” Thank God.

He grinned at her. “No, sweetie. No shot.” He carefully
spread the gel over the area. “Okay, we’ll wait a couple minutes and let that
get good and numb. If my sewing is going to make you queasy, you might want to
look the other way while I do it.”

“No, I’m good there. Just shots.”

He nodded. “That’s okay. More people are that way than you
might suspect. Now as to what you feel like you should be doing around here?
Trust me when I tell you, there’ll be plenty to do whenever Wyatt comes to
visit. He was here for a week before we started advertising for a housekeeper
and ran Liam and me both ragged.”

“Is he that bad?”

Chas laughed. “No. I’m sure he’s a perfectly normal
three-year-old. We just happened to both be really busy while we were trying to
juggle our work with fitting in the needs of a little boy excited to be
spending so much time with his dad. It was his first extended visit since I
moved in.”

Chas picked up the suture kit.

“I won’t feel it, right?” Greer whispered.

“Might feel a tug, but no, you shouldn’t.” He stopped,
holding the suture in a pair of tweezers. “You’ll be fine, Greer. I have the feeling
you’re a lot tougher than you think.”

Something in his gaze reassured her. She nodded. “If you don’t
mind, I’m not going to watch.”

He chuckled. “Not a problem. Look, if you’re worried about
things to do around here? You’re welcome to go to the barn. Do you ride?”

“It’s been a while.”

“Well, the horses can always use exercising. There’s a pool
out back if you want to swim…or clean it. Liam and I usually share that job,
but another hand pitching in would be okay.”

She felt some small tugs on her finger and took a deep
breath. This was okay. It was just Chas in the bathroom, not a hospital. “Are-are
you almost done?”

“Yep. Let me get a bandage on this. Keep it dry for a couple
of days. Liam and I will handle the kitchen cleanup. Anything you do around the
house, I want you wearing a glove, understood?”

Greer’s throat tightened. She touched his hand with hers. “You
guys are great, you know?”

Chas arched a brow. “Even if we are lovers?”

Heat suffused her cheeks.

“Does it bother you?”

How was she supposed to answer?
Yes
—a lie.
No, in
fact I masturbated on the bed where you probably fucked each other last night.
“No.”

He stripped off his gloves and tossed them in the trash can
along with the rest of the trash from his finger repairs. “No? That’s all you
have to say?”

“No…I mean yes.” Greer stared at him. “It’s okay. I mean, it’s
not my business, is it?”

His mouth firmed, the teasing light in his eyes dimmed. “No,
it’s not. But we certainly don’t want to flaunt anything that would make you
uncomfortable.”

When he stood and started past her, Greer caught his hand. “Please.
I don’t know what you want me to say. It’s okay. Really.”

He smiled a little absently. “You’re not to worry. Just
settle in, Greer. We want you to be happy working for us.”

When he left, she stared in the mirror, feeling absurdly
like bursting into tears. She’d missed some opportunity, and she wasn’t sure
exactly what. When she closed her eyes again, the picture of Liam and Chas
overhead came back. Would they be there tonight, right above her own room,
their hard bodies slick and thrusting against each other?

Chas was relieved when Liam wasn’t in the kitchen. Through
the window, he saw him on the patio lighting the grill. Leaving his bag on the
counter, Chas dashed up the back stairs. When he stepped inside the room he
shared with Liam, he saw the bed had been made, the clothes picked up, and he
knew if he checked the bathroom, it would be clean as well.

Chas rubbed a hand over his chest. He wasn’t sure exactly
why he was so disappointed. Oh fuck, he knew why. For the first time in God
only knew how long, he was attracted to a woman—and it seemed she didn’t feel
the same way. Why Greer? He encountered plenty of beautiful women every day, so
why was Greer the one who had finally tripped his trigger? And just how would
that work with Liam? He certainly didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize
their relationship, but he had to admit—even if it was only to himself—Greer
made him feel things he’d never felt with a woman before.

He ditched the scrubs and stalked into the bathroom. He
should probably be helping Liam, but he needed a shower and some clean clothes,
plus some time to think first.

As much as her words had disappointed him, Chas couldn’t
help thinking there was a lot more going on with her than she’d shown them. He
thought of the blush on her cheeks when first Liam, then he had mentioned their
relationship. She wasn’t as indifferent as she wanted them to believe.

So he would see, keep an eye on her reactions. Now she knew
he and Liam were lovers, they could be more open, and he’d see how she
responded.

Why was he even going there? Did he really think she’d be
into a relationship with the two of them? For that matter, would Liam? His ex
had really given him a headfuck before she’d walked out, unable to deal with a
spouse attracted to both men and women. As far as Chas knew, Liam hadn’t been
with any woman since.

As for Chas? His experience was limited, at best. What would
it be like to kiss Greer? His heart thudded. He stroked his finger down his
cheek. Her skin had been soft, the expression in her eyes startled, confused,
wary. Maybe not so different than what he felt.

When he got back to the kitchen, Liam was holding Greer’s
hand and checking out the neat bandage Chas had applied.

“Inspecting my work?” he asked casually, confused by the
feeling of possessiveness he felt…for both of them.

Liam glanced his way, a slumberous look in those velvety
eyes that instantly made Chas’ cock twitch as he pictured Liam cuffing him to
his office chair. Liam smiled as if he knew exactly what Chas was thinking.

“Yes. Making sure between the two of us we haven’t crippled
her for life.”

As if aware of the undertones, Greer slipped her hand free. “I’ll
set the table.”

“Why don’t we eat outside?” Chas said. “The heat’s not bad
and I could use some fresh air after being in the operating room all afternoon.”

He helped her with the plates, the condiments and the
drinks. Their hands brushed a time or two. Their eyes met. She blushed and Chas’
body tightened. Maybe it was true. Maybe they didn’t really need a housekeeper
most of the time, but Lord she was a nice addition. Chas liked the way she’d
fit herself so seamlessly into their lives in just a few days.

She kept to herself in the evenings, but he and Liam could
work on changing that. He wanted to know her better, wanted to know why there
was a wounded look that never quite left those big gray eyes. He glanced at
Liam. Chas wanted Liam to want her the way he did. When he caught his lover’s
eyes on her, Chas released his breath. Lee was just as aware of her. Thoughts
of the three of them together teased Chas’ imagination. Could it become more
than a fantasy? His attention reverted back to Greer.

She stretched across the table to set a plate on the
opposite side. As she reached, her short T-shirt sleeve rose. Chas’ eyes
narrowed as he saw the edge of what was obviously a burn scar.
What the
fuck?
He took a half step forward just as she turned. Something about the
look on his face must have revealed his thoughts. Suddenly, her expression
simply closed. There was no other way to describe it, almost as if she’d
checked out or walled herself off.

“Excuse me,” she murmured. “I’ll go get the silverware.”

He stared after her, eyes narrowed.

“What was with that?” Liam asked.

Chas shook his head. Whatever it was, she wasn’t ready to
share it, so neither would he.

She was gone a lot longer than it took to simply get
silverware. When she returned, she had a different shirt on, one with longer
sleeves. When he arched a brow, she muttered, “I noticed my shirt had some
blood on it, so I changed.”

While it was a plausible explanation, he doubted that was
the real reason, but he wasn’t going to press it. He wanted to find out more
about her, but the way she’d closed right up when she caught him looking at her
was enough to tell him, she would run if they pressed her too hard. He thought
of that panic attack again, the way she’d swayed as though she were about to
faint when she’d thought she might have to go to an ER.

Panic attacks were often the result of some major trauma.
The edge of the scar he’d glimpsed was enough for him to know it wasn’t
anything recent, but it would have been a major trauma…

“Wake up, Chas,” Liam said. “Dinner’s ready. Greer’s gone to
grab some beers.” He glanced toward the house. “What’s going on with you two?”

Chas brushed a hand over his hair. “Hell, I don’t know.”

Liam smacked his ass as he passed. “She knows we sleep
together and is still here. That’s a plus.”

“Maybe.” Chas wasn’t so certain. “Do you think she likes us?”

“I think she’s curious,” Liam said with a smile. “It’s
obvious you like her.”

Chas arched a brow. “And you?”

Liam’s intense brown eyes softened. “I do, but I think I
scare her. I don’t mean to. Maybe we could talk about it a little later. You
know, about where we’re headed. I won’t risk losing her services as a nanny.”

Chas had no chance to respond as Greer returned with three
bottles of beer.

As they filled their plates, the only noise was the clink of
silverware against dishware and in the background, the hum of cicadas and tree
frogs. Chas leaned back, just listening to the sound of a summer evening. He
needed this.

“You okay?” Liam asked.

Chas nodded. “Rough afternoon. Surgery took longer than
expected, and I’m not sure it will be a success.”

“Chas is a trauma surgeon at St. Mark’s. If he’s not
patching up gunshot wounds and accident victims, then he ends up doing any kind
of general surgery that comes into the emergency room,” Liam told Greer.

She set her fork down. Sipped her beer. Just a faint tremble
in her hand, but Chas noticed. “Have you ever been there?” he asked, then could
have kicked himself. So much for not pushing.

She set the beer bottle back on the table. “Yes.” The smile
on her face was anything but genuine. “I mean, who hasn’t? It’s the biggest
medical complex in the area.”

Oh it was a hell of a lot more than that to her, and he was
going to find out.

Liam waved a French fry at her. “Tell me about the drawing table
we moved into your sitting room.”

She shrugged. “I use it like a desk. It’s nothing.”

Liam tilted his head. “I can hear the bullshit in that,
Greer. You draw?”

“Some. It’s a hobby.”

Liam leaned back in his chair. “People who draw just as a
hobby don’t invest in a drawing table.”

“Liam…” Chas cautioned.

Greer held up her hand. “No it’s okay. I was an art major,
but I never finished.”

“Why?” Liam was nothing if not direct. And this time she was
shutting down. The light in her eyes was gone, and her soft lips looked as
though she were fighting to keep them from trembling.

“Things happen. People change.”

“I’d be happy to look at some of your work.”

Chas did a double take. Liam never offered to look at anyone’s
work. Chas had known him long enough to know he was barraged wherever he went
by people who wanted him to look at their paintings, their sketches, their clay
projects. Liam shut them down. Always.

Now the reverse was happening.

Greer shook her head. “No. It’s not something that’s ever
going anywhere. It’s just a hobby now, Liam. But thanks.”

His eyes narrowed, but he dropped it. Chas was relieved.
Greer looked pale. He touched the bandage. “You getting some pain now?”

She nodded, her eyes shadowed. “The numbness is wearing off.”

“I can give you a painkiller. Might make you a little drowsy
since you’ve had a beer.”

“It’s not as if I have a hot date. If you guys don’t mind
having a snoring housekeeper, I could use something. Maybe it will help me
sleep.”

Chas gathered his plate. What he really wanted was a
housekeeper who didn’t feel like she had to hide from them, one who didn’t have
unexpected shadows in her past wiping the smile from her lips and her eyes. “Let’s
get this stuff inside,” he said gruffly, “Then we’ll get you squared away.”

When she started to help with the dishwasher, Chas gave her
a gentle push toward her room. “Why don’t you get your pajamas on, then I’ll
give you the meds. If you start snoring on us, we can just tuck you in and turn
out the lights.”

She nodded. When the door to her room shut, Liam snagged
Chas by the waist. “Let’s take her into the family room. We’ll watch a
movie—even a chick flick if she wants. I’ll get this cleaned up and bring in
some coffee.”