“Tell me again why we thought this was a good idea?” Rafe asked.
Gio chuckled but didn’t respond. Primarily because Rafe had posed that same question at least a dozen times in the past week. “Just keep sanding.”
“I fucking hate sanding,” Rafe grumbled.
“Hello?” they heard Keeley call out from the front door.
“Back here,” Rafe replied. “The office.”
It had been one week since he and Rafe had taken Keeley on a date rather than just crashing her preexisting ones. Eight days since Gio had asked her to stay here with them, the three of them sharing Rafe’s bed every night.
Well, actually it was the four of them, he thought, as he glanced across the room at Cricket, who was rolling around on her back beside Albert’s old recliner. Keeley had been right when she said it looked like someone was petting the dog’s belly.
Cricket typically started each night in her dog bed, simply because he, Rafe, and Keeley never went to bed with sleep on their minds. However, sometime after they all drifted away, she made her way up the doggie stairs and nestled in the middle of the bed with Keeley, the two of them even sharing a pillow.
The only time they’d parted during this last week was for work, though Gio wasn’t sure they could count that because they sure as shit hadn’t accomplished much. Rafe and Keeley hadn’t left the mansion at all, Rafe running the businesses from here, while the two of them had begun to sort through the boxes in yet another room. So far, they’d cleared out the office and what they’d called Box Room One. Right now, they were halfway through Box Room Two, with another one to go.
They still hadn’t found the boat or the combination to the safe, and Gio knew Rafe was beginning to give up hope of either.
Since Moretti Brothers Restorations had just recently completed a big on-site project, Gio had decided to treat himself to a few “work from home” days, which meant he’d converted one of the four outbuildings around the mansion into a workshop, where he’d moved a lot of his woodworking tools. The company’s next job had him creating custom-made cabinets, which was something he was able to do in his shop.
Not that he’d scratched the surface on the job, something that was going to have to give soon. Tony had questioned his progress a couple of times, and he’d fudged the truth on how far he’d gotten. If he didn’t buckle down, his brothers were going to kick his ass for slowing down the project.
The problem was, he’d been too distracted by Keeley, unable to stay away from her.
Oh, hell…from them.
For eight days, the three of them had christened far too many flat surfaces in the mansion, including his workbench, the floor in Box Room One, Rafe’s desk in the office, the couch, the kitchen counter…the list went on and on. They would come together in a flurry of desire and passion. It was always hot and sweaty and, God, almost desperate, frantic. Then, when it was over and their arousal slaked, they’d drift back to work for a few hours before the need grew too great again, and they’d start all over.
It had been the best sex of Gio’s life, and he never wanted it to end.
Today, Keeley had put her foot down, informing them she was working a full day in her office at Eclectic, away from them.
Rafe and Gio had reluctantly agreed with her decision, so after she left this morning, Rafe went to his office and Gio to his shop. By noon, Gio was chomping at the bit and ready to head to Eclectic. He’d suggested to Rafe that they surprise Keeley with lunch, but she’d put the kibosh on that when she texted to say she was having lunch with Jess, Penny, Gianna, and Liza to discuss Penny’s wedding. Apparently, Penny wasn’t interested in Gage’s offer of a long engagement and the two had set a date in February.
Keeley walked into the office, frowning the instant she saw them. “You’re working on the room without me?”
“You’re late,” Gio groused, putting his sander on the floor.
She glanced at her watch. “It’s only quarter to six.”
“You said you’d be home at five thirty.”
“So, I’m fifteen minutes late,” she said nonchalantly. “I didn’t realize I needed gas in my car until I left Eclectic, and the light turned on. Had to stop to fill the tank. Let me change out of my work clothes really quick. Don’t do anything video-worthy until I get back.”
Rafe snorted. “I don’t think that’s going to be a problem.”
Keeley had been trying—to no avail—to capture footage of them working on the inn that she could use for the videos she was determined to create. So far, he and Rafe had been less than entertaining, something they’d warned her about when she’d suggested the idea. Gio felt like an idiot trying to talk about what he was doing as he worked, and Rafe didn’t like the work to begin with, so all he’d managed to do was bitch and moan.
Regardless, Keeley had remained undeterred, and she’d managed—somehow—to get enough material to make a surprisingly decent first episode, which she was ready to upload.
Keeley narrowed her eyes at Rafe. “You two need to figure out something to talk about before I get back because I’m not giving up on this. My goal is to put up a new video every three or four days, so get on board. This is happening.”
Satisfied that she’d laid down the law, she started to walk out, but Gio stopped her. “Where do you think you’re going?”
She turned and looked at him. “I just told you. I’m changing my clothes.”
He shook his head and crossed his arms, looking at Rafe with exaggerated incredulity. “You believe this shit? We’ve been knocking ourselves out, giving this gorgeous girl the greatest good-night kisses she’s ever had. And now? We can’t even get one lousy hello kiss from her.”
“Ridiculous,” Rafe agreed.
Keeley laughed and crossed the room, acting like she was put out by the request. “Well, okay,” she sighed. “But make it quick.”
Gio grabbed her as soon as she was within arm’s reach. “Nothing worth doing happens quickly. You gotta take your time with the important things.”
He looked down at her but made no move to kiss her. This was her hello kiss after all. Keeley stared at him for a second before she realized what he was waiting for.
She lifted onto her tiptoes, but Gio leaned away. “By the way, little one, this is one of those important things.”
Keeley gave him a mock salute. “So noted.”
There were several attributes that Gio had always considered commonalities amongst the Morettis, like the fact they were all loud, that they talked with their hands, that they were honest. And now, as he looked into Keeley’s dark brown eyes, he decided the Morettis also had a knack for knowing when they’d met “the one.”
Tony had known Jess was the woman for him and Rhys. Layla had fallen for Finn and Miguel pretty much at the exact same time. And now that Gio had opened his eyes, had allowed himself to see Keeley for who she was instead of as Kayden’s younger sister, he knew all the way to his bones, she was his future. His forever.
Their future, that annoying voice in the back of his head whispered. For his own sanity, Gio had tried to look ahead to his life as a couple with Keeley, though those attempts had been a complete bust. Because Rafe was a vital part of the equation, even if the stubborn fool wouldn’t admit it.
Keeley’s lips brushed against Gio’s playfully. She still wasn’t finished teasing him. Ordinarily, Gio would go along with the joke and give it right back to her. But she’d been gone for too long today, and any patience he’d had disappeared around ten o’clock this morning.
Gripping her hips, he dragged her closer, letting her feel for herself exactly how much he’d missed her. She hummed her assent, wrapped her hands tighter around his shoulders, and deepened the kiss.
Her lips parted and Gio took advantage, loving the way she tasted of cinnamon. She’d become addicted to the candy after finding Albert’s seemingly endless bags of Red Hots stashed all over the mansion.
Keeley had paid attention to his demand that she take her time and do it right. The kiss lingered, neither of them willing to be the first to break the union of their lips. Now, as always, Gio felt Rafe’s gaze on them, watching, waiting for his turn.
Finally, he released her, making her laugh as he placed one last quick kiss to the tip of her nose. “Rafe’s been patient enough,” he said, his voice huskier than before, aware that this interlude most likely wasn’t going to end with mere kisses.
Keeley stepped over to Rafe, who lifted her up and placed her ass on the edge of his desk. He pushed her knees apart, stepped between them, then took over the hellos.
Keeley pulled back after a few seconds. “I thought I was the one giving the kisses.”
Rafe smirked. “I think you should know me better than that by now.” He lowered his head, his kiss rougher, hungrier than before, reiterating his point not only with words but actions. Keeley’s fingers clenched the cotton of Rafe’s T-shirt.
Rafe’s tongue slid along her lower lip, then he pulled away. Not to end the kiss but to advance it to the next level.
He drew Keeley’s shirt over her head, unfastening her bra with one hand—a skill they’d both mastered in the past few days, as neither he nor Rafe liked it when she covered her gorgeous tits.
Lowering his head, Rafe sucked one of her tight nipples into his mouth. Gio stepped next to the desk, closing the distance between them. As Rafe used his tongue and teeth to tease one breast, Gio claimed the other with his hand, pinching the turgid nipple, pulling on it, watching the impact their rough touches were having on her. Keeley reached back, holding herself up, her palms flat against the surface of the desk. Her eyes had drifted shut.
Rafe still stood between her legs, something she took advantage of by lifting her ankles and wrapping them around his waist, moving him even closer so she could gyrate against his pelvis.
“Please,” she whispered breathlessly.
Gio had become accustomed to the sound of her pleas, to her sex squeaks and moans, and he knew what each and every one meant. This “please” meant she wanted them, which proved they hadn’t been the only ones suffering through too many hours of abstinence.
“You’re working from home tomorrow.” Rafe was pulling the boss card. And it was cute that he thought it would work on Keeley.
She shook her head, even as she thrust her pelvis more firmly against Rafe’s covered cock. “No. At some point, we have to learn how to control this.”
They all knew what she meant by this, but Gio wasn’t in the mood to control a damn thing.
Rafe, the king of fighting dirty, unbuttoned and unzipped her jeans, shoving his fingers inside her panties.
Keeley gasped when he found her clit, stroking it firmly.
“Fuck self-control,” Rafe muttered. “You’re staying home tomorrow. Keep fighting us on that, and I promise Gio and I will tie you to the bed if that’s the only way to ensure we get our way.”
Keeley’s eyes darkened, not with anger or fear but with arousal. She was by far the most adventurous lover he and Rafe had ever shared. And they’d yet to scratch the surface on all the ways they wanted to take her, all the things they wanted to do to her.
Keeley, their clever girl, had learned exactly how to get her way. She grasped Rafe’s wrist, halting his movement, and said, “I’m going to work at Eclectic.”
Rafe, rather than chastise her, chuckled darkly, shaking off her grip. “I was hoping you’d say that. I look forward to tomorrow.”
Keeley laughed briefly, the sound cut short when Rafe resumed stroking her clit. “So. Do…ahh…I,” she said between gasps, too overwhelmed to get the words out.
Gio continued to play with her breasts. They were sensitive and one of her favorite erogenous zones.
“Gio,” she murmured, in her “stop fucking around and give me more” tone.
He lowered his head and took her nipple into his mouth.
She yelled out Rafe’s name in a way that told Gio his friend had added more fuel to the fire, stoking the flames with his fingers inside her. Keeley came quickly, dropping from her hands to her back on the desk surface, her face flushed, her breathing erratic.
Rafe pulled his hand out of her pants, the two of them looking down at her. It took her a few moments to compose herself. When she opened her eyes, she gave them a cat-who-ate-the-canary grin. “I like the way you guys kiss hello.”
Gio chuckled, then offered her a hand so she could sit up.
She gave them both a southern-regions glance, taking note of their obvious erections. So she was surprised when Rafe helped her stand, then took a step away.
“What about you two?” she asked.
Rafe sighed. “There’s nothing I’d love more than to take you right here, right now, but we ordered Chinese food for dinner, and I suspect it will be here any minute.”
“Shit,” Gio muttered. He’d forgotten about that.
No sooner had he spoken, the doorbell rang.
“I’ll grab the food,” Rafe offered. “Go on and change, beauty, and we’ll meet you in the kitchen. Then—dammit—we can record some more footage for your videos.”
“Sounds good,” she said as she grabbed her shirt and bra and darted upstairs topless. “Back in a flash.”
An hour later, all three of them were back in the office, and Keeley was a lot less happy with them. Her phone was out, and she was waiting to hit record, as had become her habit whenever they were working on the house.
“Oh my God, guys. Are you going to give me something I can use or not?”
Gio glanced over his shoulder and winked at her. “I told you. Joey is the showboat in the family. That guy was born talking and he hasn’t stopped yet. Of course, ninety percent of what he says is bullshit. Aunt Berta likes to say he’s got diarrhea of the mouth and constipation of the brain.”
Keeley laughed, then said, “So channel Joey.”
Gio faked a shudder. “Hell no.”
“What if you pretend you’re just talking to me? Like, what are you doing right now?” she asked, hitting the record button.
“Sanding a chair rail.” Gio kept his response short on purpose because pushing Keeley’s buttons was quickly becoming one of his favorite pastimes. She was cute when she got fired up. Like right now, when she rolled her eyes so hard, she had to be staring at her brain.
“Let’s attack this from a different angle,” Keeley said, trying again. “So, Gio,” she said, her tone short of patience. “What is the purpose of a chair rail?”
He grinned at her, then decided to give in a little. “Nowadays, most folks put chair rails in new homes as a decorative feature, but when this house was built, it served a more practical purpose. The rail kept the high backs of chairs from damaging the plaster walls.”
Keeley brightened up, delighted he’d played along. She was convinced they would find a following with these videos and that it would be great marketing for the inn. Considering it was his business, and she was helping, he should probably stop giving her such a hard time.
Unfortunately, his mature side wasn’t as strong as his immature, playful side.
“That’s a great answer!” she praised. “And a terrific segue into some of the history of the house. Rafe, why don’t you talk about when the house was built and—” Keeley stopped, looking at her phone as the ringtone “Boss of Me,” by They Might Be Giants, started playing.
He and Rafe exchanged a glance, aware that song was her tone for Kayden. He hadn’t called Keeley since he left for Vermont a week earlier.
None of them had mentioned Keeley’s brother or how they were going to handle dropping the bomb about the status change in their friendship. Gio called it a relationship in his head, but didn’t say it aloud because…
Fuck.
He was tiptoeing around Rafe and his commitment issues, and he hated himself for it, but Gio was desperate to keep this menage with Keeley going for as long as he could.
Because this was it. What he wanted for the rest of his life.
The three of them fit, even better than Gio had imagined they would.
Unfortunately, he knew where Rafe stood, and he feared that this would all be over the second Keeley asked for more.
He’d been a jackass for pursuing this, for drawing Rafe in. If he’d had a brain in his head, he would have asked Keeley out on his own, would have seduced her into his bed…alone. Would have protected her heart better.
Because Keeley wasn’t hiding her feelings for them as well as she thought. And while his heart skipped a beat every time she looked at him like he was her Prince Charming, his chest tightened painfully when she looked at Rafe the same way…because he knew what was coming.
The longer he let this affair go, the harder it was going to be for both of them when Rafe walked away. When he’d asked her to stay with them, three weeks felt like a short enough time to keep any hurt feelings to a minimum. He could see now he’d been dead wrong about that.
There had never been a single thing Gio couldn’t discuss with Rafe. While he and his brother, Luca, shared that twin bond thing, both experiencing a sixth sense when it came to the other, in many ways, he felt even closer to Rafe.
Yet he was hesitant to bring up the subject of the two of them making a real go of this thing with Keeley.
Too afraid of losing the best thing that had ever happened to him.
Keeley answered the phone. “Hey, Kay. What’s up? How’s the trip?”
Gio didn’t even pretend to turn his attention back to the chair rail. Instead, he leaned against the wall and watched as Keeley listened to her brother talk about his hike, offering him the occasional “mmhmm” and “that sounds cool.”
She glanced up when she realized both he and Rafe were eavesdropping on her conversation, but her poker face was in place. Gio didn’t have a clue what she was thinking or what she was going to say.
Then she laughed at something her brother said. “I’m glad you were able to get showers.” She pulled the phone away from her mouth and said to them, “Apparently, Aldo was starting to smell a little ripe, so they came off the trail today to get a hotel. They wanted beer, pizza, and showers, not necessarily in that order.”
She listened once again. “Yeah. Sorry. I’m with Rafe and Gio. I was just telling them—” She stopped talking midsentence, frowning. “Why would you want to yell at Rafe?”
Gio had no intention of hiding anything from Kayden, but he wanted to talk to his friend in person, to explain what was happening, to assure him his feelings were genuine.
Her question to Kayden took him aback. How the hell could he know anything about them? And why would he only be mad at Rafe?
Keeley snorted, the sound instantly setting his mind at ease. “He’s not working me to death,” she replied, exasperated. “Why the hell are you looking at me on Find My Friends? You’re supposed to be on vacation.”
That stupid app. None of them had considered the fact that Kayden could look up Keeley anytime he wanted and find her location.
“Yes, I know I’m over here all the time.” Pause. “Yeah, I realize it’s been late some nights, but that’s because I’m recording Gio and Rafe working on the inn, and we’re night owls. I told you, I’m posting videos about the project on Facebook and YouTube, showing the work at all stages. It’s great promo for the business.”
Wow. Keeley was one cool customer. Then Gio grimaced, recalling she’d had years of practice when it came to stretching the truth—or lying, actually—to her brother.
She fell silent again as Kayden spoke.
Gio wished he’d told her to put it on speakerphone. Then he realized he was following the conversation pretty well without hearing Kayden’s side of it.
“Oh, believe me, it’s been like pulling teeth. They’re both doing this under duress.”
Gio chuckled. Kayden was a good friend, and he knew them well. As such, her brother understood exactly how much they hated making these videos.
“Yeah. Gio said the same thing, but Joey’s not exactly available. He’s busy making his own show.” She glared at them playfully. “And no doubt he’ll be a huge success because at least he tries.”
She was quiet again, and then she said, “Nope. No dates lately. I’ve…” She paused as she looked in their direction. “I’ve been too busy with the inn videos.” Pause. “Okay, I will.” Pause. “I’ll tell them.” Pause. “Love you too. Have a good time—and stay off Find My Friends or I swear to God I’ll stop sharing my loc—” Keeley sighed heavily. She’d made that same threat a million times, so she should know exactly how much it panicked her overprotective, seen-some-terrible-shit cop brother. “You know I won’t—” Keeley rolled her eyes. “He’s right here.” She handed the phone to Gio. “He wants to talk to you.”
Gio took her cell. “Hey, Kayden. Sounds like you’re having a great trip.”
“Yeah, it’s been incredible. I can’t tell you how good it is to get away. I feel about a thousand pounds lighter. No stress, no work, no rushing from here to there,” Kayden replied, sounding more relaxed than Gio had ever heard him.
“Good for you.”
“Listen, I know you’re probably hating every second of that video shit Keeley’s making you do, but do you think you and Rafe could keep playing along with it for the next couple weeks? It seems to be keeping her off the dating apps. I can’t tell you how relieved I am every time I pull up Find My Friends and see that she’s with you guys.”
“Sure, man. No problem,” Gio reassured him. “We’re not going to let anything happen to her.”
Keeley closed her eyes and shook her head. “Jesus,” she muttered.
“Thanks, Gio. Okay, Aldo’s finally out of the shower. My turn. I’ve been dreaming of hot water for eight days, so the bastard better have left me some.”
Gio chuckled.
“Say hello to Rafe and give Keeley a big hug from me, and tell her to behave.”
“Will do. Talk to you soon, Kay,” Gio said. He hung up and handed Keeley her phone back.
“What did he say?” she asked.
Gio looked at Rafe. “Kayden says hi.”
Rafe nodded.
Then Gio walked over to Keeley. “He also told me to give you this.” He wrapped her up in a big hug, loving the way Keeley’s arms slid around his waist, holding him just as tightly as he held her. “And to tell you to behave.”
“Of course he did,” she replied, her voice muffled against his chest. He stole a quick kiss before letting her go, then grinned.
“He also wants us to ‘play along’,” Gio finger-quoted, “with the renovation videos until he gets home because it’s keeping Keeley off the dating apps.”
“Shit,” she muttered. “On the one hand, I want to be annoyed as hell at that request. On the other, he’s given me a great way to ensure you star in my videos. Because…my profile is still live on all the dating apps.”
Gio narrowed his eyes. “Take it down. Get yourself off those things. You don’t need them anymore.”
Keeley studied him for a second, and he could see he’d gone too far with that declaration. Not that he had a problem with it. As far as he was concerned, she was spoken for and off the market. Forever, if he had his way.
It was just…Rafe was being too quiet.
“I’ll hide my profile,” Keeley said.
Hide, not delete. Gio noticed the difference. He wondered if Rafe did as well.
They were tromping through a minefield here, so Gio returned to his work. He expected Rafe to do the same, but he didn’t.
“I noticed you didn’t tell Kayden about us,” Rafe observed.
“I…” Keeley paused, then apparently rethought what she wanted to say. “We haven’t discussed it yet, haven’t decided what we’re telling people, or if we’re telling them anything at all. In the past, you’ve kept these affairs a secret, right?”
“We have,” Rafe answered simply.
“So the same is true for us?”
Gio held his breath, awaiting Rafe’s response.
When it came, it offered absolutely none of the insight Gio was hoping for.
“It’s only been a week. Why don’t we let the dust settle?” Rafe said. “Kayden doesn’t get home for a couple more weeks. We’ll discuss what to tell people then. Who knows? Maybe you’ll get sick of us before that and there won’t be anything to tell.”
“That—” Keeley started to say something but stopped almost immediately. That was when Gio realized he wasn’t the only one tiptoeing. Rafe had made his feelings about love and commitment very clear. He’d also basically told her point-blank their menage would end the moment she decided she wanted more.
Keeley, the clever woman, knew better than to reveal her feelings.
Gio’s jaw clenched with disappointment and a fair amount of anger that the two of them felt as if they couldn’t be honest with Rafe. Though Gio knew that wasn’t exactly fair.
Rafe hadn’t lied about his feelings, nor was he acting out of character. His friend never jumped into anything without careful consideration. The problem was, Gio couldn’t see a fucking thing here that needed to be thought about. The three of them were amazing together, a perfect fit, a slam dunk. They’d lived, eaten, worked, and slept together for eight days straight, and every single day was better than the one before.
And while he knew it was stupid to think it was always going to be smooth sailing, he knew these people. Rafe was the brother of his heart, and Keeley…
Well, he couldn’t believe he’d been so blind. She’d been standing right in front of him all these years. She was funny, smart, independent, sarcastic, easygoing, and gorgeous. And while she was younger than them—six years younger than Rafe, seven younger than him—she didn’t act like it. She was mature and confident, and she didn’t defer to them.
Gio wanted a woman who knew her own mind, made her own decisions, charted her own course.
Keeley ticked every box.
“Fine,” Keeley agreed. “We’ll just stay the course until Kayden gets home. No problem.”
While her tone was easy-breezy, something flashed in her eyes that told him she was disappointed too.
He and Keeley were on the exact same page.
The problem was going to be getting Rafe there as well.