Double Trouble: A Menage Romance by Marie Carnay Page B

the fluffy white robe hanging on the wall behind her, smoothed her hair, and took a deep breath. Here goes nothing .
    Their low voices carried down the hall and Jess paused before entering the kitchen. Laughter was promising.
    She exhaled and stepped into the room.
    “Well, if it isn’t sleeping beauty.”
    She blamed her blush on the compliment. “Good morning.”
    Gage checked his watch. “Afternoon, to be exact. You’ve slept the morning away.”
    Her hand fluttered about her throat. “I didn’t keep you from anything, did I?”
    Gage chuckled. “No. Thanks to modern technology, we’ve handled all our emergencies for the day. The afternoon is yours.”
    No pressure . She tried to smile. “Can I start with coffee?”
    Holt reached for the carafe. “Of course.”
    An hour later, Jess had forgotten her morning mortification. Holt and Gage had managed to make her not only comfortable, but relaxed.
    Holt glanced at the time. “Can you be ready in half an hour?”
    Jess nodded.
    “Good. We’ve got a whole afternoon planned. The perfect way to get to know us.”
    She smiled. “For the article, right?”
    “Of course.”

    * * *
    T he crack of mallet to ball made Jess jump. “I never knew croquet was so cutthroat.”
    Gage grinned. “A MacIntosh can make anything a competition.” He walked up to the pair of balls and put his foot on his own. “Sorry little brother, it’s your turn to hit from the weeds." Gage struck his own ball and sent Holt’s careening across the grass.
    The man didn’t lie. The minute Gage picked up a mallet, he’d morphed into someone on a mission.
    She glanced at Holt traipsing through the lush green lawn to find his ball. It must have been hard growing up in Gage’s shadow. For years when she was younger, Jess wished for a sibling. Someone to share her days and horse around. Get in trouble and share secrets.
    Watching the MacIntosh brothers, she saw how difficult such a relationship could be. She swung her mallet back and forth as she walked up to Gage. “Were you and Holt close as kids?”
    He shrugged. “As close as two brothers can get, I suppose.”
    “Did you fight?”
    “Always.”
    “About what?”
    “The usual.” His gaze wandered to his brother standing thirty feet away. "Sports. Friends. Girls.”
    They waited as Holt took aim and shot his ball back into the field of play.
    “Ever serious?”
    “Once.”
    From the way his jaw ticked and his hand gripped the mallet, Jess guessed what the fight was about. “Over a girl?”
    He nodded.
    “What happened?”
    Gage’s gaze snapped to her. Pain and sadness and lingering anger all washed over his face as he attempted to control his expression. “We lost our father’s trust.”
    Oh . She’d excepted a broken nose or a trip to the ER. Not something so heavy. She swallowed. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”
    “Now you do.”
    Holt bounded up with a huge grin. “Never count a MacIntosh out. Who’s up?”
    “Me.” Jess tried to smile and took aim. Her ball rocketed through the grass and she chased it down to keep Holt from seeing her face. She knew what family discord did to a person. It had been the regular vibe after her mother passed away.

    * * *
    HOLT
    W hatever had transpired between Gage and Jess, the pair of them were in a funk. One he would drag them out of any way possible.
    He’d thought an afternoon in the park, playing an easy game and relaxing, would give Jess a chance to see their softer sides. It would be a glimpse at the gentlemen they could be. Perfect for a piece by NNT.
    But he didn’t want to play a part with her. Ever since the ride in the jet, he’d been entranced. He wanted to learn everything about the woman. What she ate for breakfast, what side of the bed she slept on, what made her laugh.
    It had been a long time since a woman had sparked this kind of interest inside him. He hadn’t felt this way since Bianca.
    He glanced up at his brother. Gage was lost in thought, scanning through