Claimed by Three (22 page)

“Lillie, we’re with Sephanie. We don’t feel anything for you.” Kassius eased closer to Sephanie.

Teague didn’t know if he bought the innocent routine, but he wished Sephanie had held back her suspicions. She could have made herself more of a target than ever. On top of that, it might cause them trouble later. He wouldn’t put it past Derek Malone to use a situation like this if he thought it would help him achieve his goal.

Although he agreed with Kassius making their position clear, he doubted it had made an impression with Lillie. She was intent on Sephanie.

“Why don’t you go tell your daddy, then? I’m sure he’ll be more interested in anything you have to say than anyone here would be.” Sephanie glared at Lillie. Her body tensed, and she watched Lillie as if she expected the woman to physically attack her.

“You’ll be gone from their lives soon. Remember this the next time you see them with me.” Lillie lifted her chin.

“Sweetheart, if you’re with them, they’ll have more than enough problems. Their friends might insist on hospitalization to make sure they’re in their right minds.” Sephanie shrugged. “If they’re stupid enough to take you, that’s their problem.”

“I’ll have them.” Lillie glared at Sephanie and stormed away from them.

“Damn.” Teague took a deep breath and turned his attention to Berenger when Lillie was gone. He would rather face a situation such as this after they had Sephanie fully committed to them.

“How did she manage to delay you?” Kassius asked.

Teague could hear the tightness in the other man’s voice and guessed he worried about Sephanie’s reaction. Would she think there was something between them and Lillie? Did she believe they’d lied to her? The questions and uncertainty were as bad as any reaction she might have.

Berenger scowled at Kassius. “I was getting the drinks, turned around, and there she was.”

“And you couldn’t find a way around Lillie?” Teague wished Berenger could have avoided the woman.

“You three couldn’t seem to do that when you were together. You expect him to do something none of you could do before.” Sephanie glared at Teague and then at Kassius.

“Thank you, Sephanie, but it’s not necessary. They’re right. I should have gotten rid of her.” Berenger put a hand on her shoulder.

“How? I don’t think a blunt
Go away, you diseased daughter of a bastard
is going to work with her.” Sephanie exhaled heavily. “She’s determined, and I don’t think it’s because she is attracted to you three.”

“How about we talk about this on the way home?” Kassius held out his hand.

“Already?” Sephanie grimaced.

“That scene will attract attention. I don’t want anyone to get a chance to attack you.” Kassius nodded.

“Well, we need to go tell Julie we’re leaving. We can’t disappear and allow her to wonder what happened,” Sephanie said. Her voice flattened, and her mouth turned down at the corners.

“We will.” Teague exhaled at her easy agreement. Kassius was right. The encounter might draw trouble to them.

It didn’t take long to find Julie and explain to her they were leaving because there had been a scene. Julie seemed to understand their urge to protect Sephanie and promised to talk to Sephanie later.

They walked to the Duce. Teague hated to cut the outing short. She needed the opportunity to relax and enjoy herself. The day hadn’t gone like they’d planned, but then again, they’d known they might leave early. She’d agreed to go along with them at the first sign of danger, but here there was no overt danger.

Berenger helped her into the vehicle and climbed in after her. Teague climbed into the pilot’s seat. Kassius paused at the side of the skimmer.

“I have to help work my booth. I’ll be home soon.” Kassius reached in and gave her hand a squeeze.

Teague knew Kassius wanted to come with them, but he had to at least go talk with the people working for him. When Kassius walked away, Teague looked back and saw Berenger making sure Sephanie’s belts were secure before he took her hand in his.

“Are you ready to talk? Why did you immediately start on Berenger after you saw Lillie cornered him?” She folded her arms across her chest. Her eyes were locked on Teague.

Teague grimaced. “We were irritated she’d managed to detain him, but in my case, I was also concerned about how you’d react. I didn’t want you to think we were playing some kind of game.”

“You don’t think I can recognize a setup if I see one? I wouldn’t doubt she had someone watching for the moment one of you left me.” Sephanie rolled her eyes. “She didn’t do anything but stay in his way until we arrived.”

“I thought you’d believe I was interested in her.” Berenger smiled at her and leaned down to brush his lips over her cheek.

“I give you credit for more intelligence than that, Berenger. If you planned to do something behind my back, I’m sure you wouldn’t do it while I’m waiting on you to bring me a drink. You wouldn’t take the chance someone would come looking for you and you’d be discovered. On top of that, you’re not stupid enough to do it in such a public spot.” She lifted her chin.

“I wouldn’t do that at all, but thank you,” Berenger said.

“I’m happy you’ve come to trust us.” Teague focused as he took the skimmer up to entry height.

While Teague hadn’t said “but,” it hung in the air. Sephanie looked at Teague.

“That tone sounds familiar. There’s something after ‘you’re happy,’ isn’t there?” Sephanie tone was distinctly suspicious.

“Who else has that tone?” Berenger asked.

“My brother, my father. Usually it amounts to something similar to
That’s good, but you haven’t thought this through
.” She barely glanced at Berenger. Her attention remained on Teague.

Teague silently cursed. Those weren’t the words that would be used. What they had to say would come off close enough. Teague thought it was necessary to say something. Sephanie might have given Lillie an idea, but he hoped to avoid making her angry. Since she’d admitted she trusted them, he couldn’t resist taking the opportunity to get her agreement to move in with them.

“Maybe this will sound that way, but perhaps we should be cautious of who we accuse,” Teague said slowly.

“I’m not afraid of her or her daddy. I don’t know if you are, but both of them can take their attitudes and—” She stopped before Berenger’s palm cupped over her mouth.

“He’s not afraid of either of them. That’s not why he brought up the subject.” Berenger exhaled slowly as he removed his hand so she could talk.

“Then why is he trying to caution me about what I say?” She narrowed her eyes on Berenger.

“We don’t know who attacked you. You could have given her, and thus her father, ideas. They don’t need the extra help.” Teague’s voice hardened, and his hands tightened on the controls.

Teague hoped to keep the issue logical and unemotional. They all wanted to protect her, and her argument with Lillie might have put her in more danger.

“Do you have any other crazy people who’ve been in your life lately? I know I don’t have any in mine. The paint and the box are Lillie’s style. Impulsive and juvenile. The other, well, I have no idea, but those two instances fit her.” She shrugged.

Teague felt his lips twitch at her words. “She’s a pest. I don’t think she has the motivation to do it. Until now, she’s never made a claim to indicate she was interested in us. I don’t know if she’s involved in this.”

“She is the woman who found you two times and stayed close enough for others to believe she was with you. She stalked you, even if you don’t see it.” Sephanie leveled a doubtful glare on Teague. “On top of that, she seems to hate me on general principle. Don’t know why, but she’s always doing or saying something calculated to antagonize me anytime she’s nearby.”

Teague grimaced. When he thought about those nights, Lillie’s appearance did seem suspicious. Still, he couldn’t see Lillie taking the chance of ruining her life. Especially when they’d given her no reason to believe they wanted her. Her father, on the other hand, was known for his ruthless behavior and was on the suspect list. Teague wasn’t disregarding Sephanie’s suspicions, but the risky behavior seemed at odds with what he knew of Lillie. If Lillie had any involvement, the investigation into her father should provide some hint of it.

“I don’t think Lillie would be involved in any attacks,” Berenger said slowly.

“Why? Why couldn’t she be involved?” Sephanie’s tone was scathing.

Berenger groaned, obviously not willing to answer that. From her attitude, Sephanie wouldn’t like it or agree. Teague decided someone had to say something.

“She’s…” Teague searched for the right words but couldn’t come up with any.

“Is the phrase you’re looking for ‘a woman’ or maybe ‘too innocent’? She puts up a good front. I’ll give you that, but she could be behind it,” Sephanie said and gave a distinct
humph
.

He knew better than to agree to either of those options. “No, she doesn’t seem focused enough to do it. On top of that, she always seems to put herself first. I don’t think she’d risk her freedom.”

“Yeah, believe that. I’d bet she has something to do with these attacks.” Sephanie’s voice softened. “If it turns out she is part of this, I will enjoy saying I told you so. I don’t know how that witch has so many men fooled. She’s mean and might be more ruthless than her father.”

“And if you’re wrong, will you apologize for accusing her in public?” Teague raised an eyebrow. Her assessment of Lillie surprised him. What did she see about the woman that he didn’t? He’d have to ask her about it when she wasn’t quite so tense about the subject. If he was missing something, he wanted to know about it.

Sephanie paused as she considered. “She kissed one of my men. She’s lucky I didn’t rip her away from you by her hair. If I’m wrong, I might speak to her privately, but she should consider it a learning experience. Don’t mess with another woman’s men.”

“I think I adore a jealous woman.” Teague guided the skimmer into the orchard.

“You’ll like me more if I don’t have to peel women off you at all,” she said.

Chapter Twenty

Sephanie eyed the three men sitting on the brown couch. They were planning something. She didn’t know what they intended to do, but she felt hunted. She had most of the afternoon.

After she returned to the orchard with Berenger and Teague, the men escorted her inside. She took a shower. Although she invited them to join her, neither one of them had. By the time she was finished bathing, Kassius had arrived. She thought they’d talked about something while she enjoyed that warm water.

They were solicitous for the rest of the afternoon but hadn’t pressed. Every time she moved, their watchful stares tracked her. She became suspicious when they’d kept their distance. Maybe she’d gotten spoiled over the past few days, but she liked them touching her, not watching her.

On top of that, occasionally two of them would leave the room and return shortly. Something made them tense. She wished they’d start talking to her about it. Whatever worried them couldn’t be that bad. Her eyes widened as she realized she should take her own advice. She needed to stop sitting here, growing tense.

“What’s wrong?” She rose from her seat in a chair, easing around the low table positioned in the center of the seating area and to an open space near the creamy yellow wall and a big window. The anxiety built within her, and she had to move. She couldn’t wait for them to tell her.

The three men looked at one another and then back to her. She’d apparently caught them off guard. Was she supposed to be blind? She’d have to be not to notice their behavior or the tension in their bodies.

“Nothing’s wrong.” Teague smiled.

She shook her head at that deflection. “What’s troubling you or on your mind? You three are quiet and acting strangely. Don’t tell me it’s nothing.”

Kassius chuckled. “We’ve been thinking. You’ve been happy with us over the past week?”

“Yes, I’ve been happy.” She frowned, not sure where this discussion was going.

“Come sit.” Kassius moved over to make room for her.

She didn’t know if that was a good idea. They were too intense for such a simple question. Their eyes locked on her. She had a feeling they’d come after her if she tried to walk out of the room. A larger goal existed behind the query, but she couldn’t watch them grow more stressed. After deciding she had to know what caused their obvious worry, she walked over and sat down on the couch.

“All right, what has you three so tense?” She looked at Kassius since he’d been the one to speak.

“We’re not tense. We wanted to give you time to relax after the confrontation before we talked to you tonight.” Berenger put a hand on her thigh.

“That might have been more effective if you’d acted normally. You haven’t kissed me since we returned to your house. That did not help me relax. You touch me, maybe just my shoulder as you walk past. Not this afternoon. It left me wondering,” she said.

“A touch or kiss wouldn’t have satisfied us. We’re after more than that.” Teague got up and moved behind the couch. His hands rested on her shoulders before slowly beginning to massage there.

“And when I invited you into the shower, why didn’t at least one of you join me? It seemed a perfectly clear invitation to sex to me.” She glanced back over her shoulder.

“But we expect more than sex.” Kassius cupped her cheek and turned her so she looked at him again.

“We’re living together. That’s more.” She began to see what they intended to ask. Damn, they were back to the argument again. She wouldn’t hurry that decision. Not since there was so much tension and possible danger around them at the moment. She’d thought they’d settled this argument.

“You know what we want,” Berenger said. “Don’t try to act oblivious.”

She turned and glared at him. He should be the one most aware of the fact it was too soon to talk about this again.

“You said you knew I wasn’t going to change my mind about this. That arguing about it wouldn’t help.” She took a deep breath and tried to remain calm. She felt ambushed.

“We didn’t know you trusted us.” Kassius’s deep voice drew her attention back to him. “He didn’t lie to you.”