Grumpy makes three a con.., p.16
Grumpy Makes Three: A Contemporary Reverse Harem Romance, page 16
***Ada***
“Ada! Ada, honey, are you there?” Mom sounded out of breath when she answered the phone on the sixth ring. “Ada?”
“I’m here, Mom. Why are you so out of breath?”
“Oh, you don’t want to know.”
I gagged and screamed. “Mom! That’s disgusting!”
She let out a laugh that pierced my eardrum. “Not that! Oh, my gosh. Your dad and I only do that on Saturdays.”
The phone clicked and then Dad’s voice came through. “Don’t tell our daughter about our sex life, Mandy!”
“Don’t say sex life!” I fell back into my bed and blew out a breath. “You guys… Get it together, please.”
“What I was saying, Ada, was that you didn’t want to know because we were scooping dog poop. It’s disgusting.” Mom knew what my next question would be. “Yes, we got a damn dog. It’s the size of a horse and it poops in piles as big as your head.”
I was speechless. My parents got a dog?
“Well, Ada, you haven’t given us a grandbaby and we’re getting desperate. Now I have this giant dog that sits on the couch just like my Uncle George did when I was a kid. Balls out and everything!”
“Mandy!” Dad sighed. “Sorry, Ada. Your mom hasn’t gotten a lot of sleep and she’s a little stressed.”
“Sorry, Go back for me. When did you get this dog? I spoke to you two days ago.”
“Today.” Dad sounded like he was trying not to laugh.
“Why didn’t she get a lot of sleep then? What is going on with you two?” I sat up and wished I was closer to them so I could check in more often.
“We had a small fire in the kitchen. Not a big deal. Your mother tried making a sweet potato casserole and she decided to torch the marshmallows. And the house.”
I jumped out of bed and started searching for my shoes. “I’ll be right there. Where is there? Where are you? Are you okay? Why did you get a dog after you had a fire? I’m so confused.”
“No, no. The house is fine, honey. We’re just staying at a friend’s house until the repairmen finish redoing the kitchen. We’re getting a kitchen remodel out of this! Isn’t that exciting?” Mom genuinely sounded excited about it. “Besides, you’re working and spending time with those handsome bosses of yours.”
A knock on my door startled me and I was still bent over, looking under my bed for my shoe when Collin walked in. I stood up so fast the blood all rushed to my head and I swayed. “Whoa.”
“Are you okay? I heard screaming. What’s wrong?” He hurried over and started checking me for injuries by running his hands all over me, not noticing that he was tickling me as he went.
“Collin! That tickles! Collin! I’m fine!” I forgot that my phone was on speaker and that my parents were listening to everything and were ready to comment.
“Collin? Ohh, that’s the middle one with the twins. Remember, Ken? He’s the one who got her that dress and those shoes!” Mom’s voice filled the room and I felt my face going bright red. Before I could make her go away, though, she kept talking. “Is she giggling? Did she forget we’re on the phone? You don’t think she’s going to have sex with him right now, do you? We’re right here!”
“Mom! Stop it! Stop talking!” I buried my face in my hands and groaned. “Oh, my god. I can’t believe you, Mom.”
“What? What did I do? I’m not even talking to you, Ada. I’m talking to your father. It’s not my fault if you’re being nosy and listening in.” She made a noise that said she couldn’t believe my audacity. “Tell the girl our house caught on fire and she tells me to stop talking. Where did we go wrong?”
“Your house caught on fire?” Collin had stopped moving with his hands on my hips and our bodies pressed right up against each other. He studied my face and frowned. “Their house caught on fire?”
“Oh, my! Is that you, Collin? Hi, honey! I’m Mandy, Ada’s mom! I’ve heard so much about you. Ada’s dad is here, too. Ken, say hi!”
“Hey, there, son. How’s it going?” Dad laughed and I could tell he was having a blast. “Our friends, Deb and Jerry are here, too, if you’d like to say hello to them.”
“Mom! Dad!” I groaned. “He doesn’t want to say hello to Deb and Jerry!”
“I could say hello to Deb and Jerry. I’m not rude, Ada.” Collin smirked. “And it’s nice to meet you, Mandy and Ken. About that fire, though? Is everything okay?”
I lowered my voice. “Stop it. Stop being charming with them. Act like your normal rude self.”
“Honey, we can hear you. You’re never going to give us a grandbaby if you keep being snotty to men. We taught you to play nice, so play nice.” Mom sighed. “I’m sorry, Collin, honey. She’s a ray of sunshine but she’ll burn you just like one, too.”
His smirk just got bigger. “Oh, I’m aware.”
“We’re out of the house for a couple of weeks, but that’s all, son. Thanks for checking on us.” Dad hesitated and I cringed at whatever was coming next. “Hey, how about we all meet up for dinner? Our treat.”
Collin buried his face in my hair while he composed himself but I could hear how badly he wanted to laugh in the tone of his voice. “Actually, sir, if you and your wife need a place to stay for a while, we have the space.”
I slapped his chest and shook my head ‘no’. Was he crazy? My parents couldn’t come to their house!
“Are you serious? Collin! That is so nice!” Mom sounded like she was crying. “Oh, honey, he’s so nice!”
“We could still have that dinner, of course.” Collin brushed my hair out of my face and smiled. “I am serious, though. You both can come tonight, if you want.”
“Well, we promised Deb and Jerry a movie tonight and we’re doing bingo and couples bowling tomorrow night. What about after that? If you’re sure!” Mom clapped her hands together and sang my name. “Ada! This is amazing! We’ve missed you so much, honey. We never see you and you still haven’t had any babies for us and the house… Plus, this dog. It’s so much.”
“Oh! The dog! You can’t bring the dog, guys. I think someone is allergic…”
Collin cupped my cheek and ran his thumb over my lips. “Nope. No dog allergies here. Bring the dog, too.”
“This is just going to be amazing! Thank you so much, Collin! If your brothers are as nice as you, I just know our Ada is in safe hands.” A loud crash came from their end of the line and mom swore. “Dammit, Kenneth! You broke their swing, didn’t you? Deb told you that you were too heavy! Oh, gosh, Ada, I have to go. Your dad just broke Deb and Jerry’s sex swing. I’ll call you back.”
I stared down at my phone in horror and then slowly back up at Collin. “What did you do?”
He actually looked a little concerned. “I don’t know but I think it’ll be fun?”
38
***Ada***
“You have to tell me everything! This is all the other nannies in the neighborhood can talk about!” Jules showed me the photo on her phone and jabbed her red-painted nail at it. “This is a picture of you, my friend, kissing Collin Carrington!”
I grabbed the phone and gasped. Yeah, that was a very detailed picture, alright. Part of me wanted to save it and stash it so I’d never forget just how good Collin and I looked that night. The rest of me was horrified that I’d been photographed making out with one of my bosses and it was going around the neighborhood. “I am mortified.”
“Why?! You reeled a big one in, lady! He’s kissing you in public, where he knew it could be photographed. That means it’s serious!” She fanned herself and leaned back on the kitchen stool. “You two look hot together. I can feel the tension through the phone.”
The pressure of my parents coming and having all three Carrington brothers spending more and more time around me paired with the photo made me crack. I dropped my head to the kitchen island and groaned. “I don’t know what I’m doing, Jules!”
“You’re bagging yourself a very wealthy man, that’s what you’re doing.”
I shook my head. “It’s not that simple…”
“Why not? What else-” She stopped. “Wait. Is there someone else?”
I couldn’t admit to her what I was doing. It was too crazy. Yet, I had to say something. I felt like I was going to scream if I didn’t get something out. “It’s not… It’s just complicated. I think… I think I have feelings for all of them.”
Jules’ face went blank. “What?”
I rubbed my eyes and blew out a shaky breath. “I just see all of them a lot, you know? And I think I feel something for all of them. Not that they know, of course. It’s just not as simple as I kissed Collin and now we’re getting married.”
“Whoa.” She reached out and took my hand. “You seem sad, Ada. Are you okay?”
It’d been so long since I had a close friend. Work and Camden had come first for so long that my friends and I had all just drifted apart. Jules had been there for me every week, though, and she was so kind. “I am a little sad. My dad calls me Sad-a when I’m like this.”
She squeezed my hand. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t want to like them. They’ve been jerks. They haven’t always been very good fathers. And then there’s the fact that there’s three of them! I can’t feel something for three men at the same time! I’m a Catholic!”
Jules snorted and then we both laughed at how ridiculous I was being. “Ada, you can’t help who you like. It’s obvious that Collin likes you, though. What about the other two?”
I looked away and shrugged. I didn’t want to say too much. I didn’t know what was okay to share and what wasn’t. “I don’t know.”
“They do! I can tell by the look on your face! Are you going to break up the Carrington brothers? Ada!”
That sobered me right up. “No. That’s not happening.”
She held her hands. “Okay, fine. You’re not going to break up the family. Are you going to sample them all at least? They’re so hot, Ada. If you don’t, it’s a crime against women everywhere.”
I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “I just don’t know what to do. I hated them just a little over a month ago. Now they’re having these moments of sweetness that melt me and I don’t know what to do. I should probably just leave. But I love the kids.”
“You love the kids?” Jules laughed. “Sorry. I just… Kids are great, of course, but… You’re clearly a very good woman.”
“I do love the kids. They’re great kids and I don’t want to leave them. Plus, Joe says I can’t leave. Which is infuriating because he’s such a controlling jerk sometimes but it’s also kind of hot. I feel like I’m going crazy. Tell me what to do. No, wait. You’re terrible. Your advice would get me in trouble.”
She wagged her eyebrows and nodded to the bottle of wine she’d tried to get me to drink when I first showed up looking stressed. I’d come for coffee, though. It was mid-morning. “My advice would get you tipsy and laid.”
“Trouble!” I laughed and waved her away.
“Sorry, I’m just processing what you said. Joe says you can’t leave?” She frowned. “That’s weird.”
“No, it’s not like a kidnappy type of thing. It’s usually when I’m threatening to quit because he won’t do something I think he should.” I saw her eyes go wide and winced. “Yeah, I think I’m a terrible nanny.”
“I think you’re a terrible employee!”
Groaning, I put my head back on the countertop. “No! I’ve always been a good employee. Until them. Now, I think I might be a monster.”
“It seems the Carrington brothers have a thing for bossy women, huh? I could be bossy.” She grinned at me when I looked up and narrowed my eyes. “What? If you don’t want them, someone else surely will. Those men are fine, Ada. Capital F fine.”
“Thank you. This has been a giant help. You’ve clarified everything for me.” I groaned again and forced myself to my feet. I’d walked over and I had to walk back but I didn’t feel like it. I felt like throwing myself a pity party instead. My parents were coming. It could only end in disaster. “I’m going. I’ll see you later, okay?”
“Text me if anything changes! I need to live vicariously through you!”
I waved goodbye and slowly made my way back to the mansion. I was almost at the garage entrance when Joe walked out, a frown on his face as usual. When he saw me, though, his lips tilted up in the slightest smile and my stomach erupted in butterflies.
“Hey. How was your walk?”
I locked my fingers together behind my back and rocked forward on my toes as I answered. “It was good. Not super helpful, but good. Where are you off to?”
“Walks are supposed to be helpful?” His eyes moved down my body and back up. “I was going to run to my office, the one in the city, but I could be talked out of it.”
“Am I hearing this correctly? The great Joe Carrington is offering to blow off work for once? Are you sick?” I reached up to feel his head and laughed when he batted my hand away and wrapped his arms around my waist, catching me against his body.
“One, I’m glad you think I’m great. Two, I’m willing to blow off work if the price is right.” He quirked an eyebrow at me and his slow smile was so sexy that I nearly melted on the spot.
I licked my lips, which were suddenly desert dry, and swallowed down the urge to say ‘yes, please’. “So all those times I tried to get you to come to family stuff and you wouldn’t, all I had to do was name the right price?”
His hand dipped low, his fingers rested on the swell of my ass. “I plead the fifth.”
“Well, then, I plead you can go to the office by yourself. I have to go get Milo from Jud anyway. Have fun, though.” I stretched up to kiss him on the cheek but he shifted at the last second and our mouths connected. As soon as they did, it was like fire scorching its way down my spine.
Joe held my ass in one hand and gripped the back of my head with his other and took my mouth in a heated kiss that promised so much. He growled against my lips and then he was walking me backwards until my back hit something hard and I was pinned.
I arched into him and wrapped my leg around his hip, already consumed by my desire for him. Then, the sound of a car horn exploded through my brain and I pushed Joe away like he was contagious.
He shot me a dark look before looking over his shoulder and swearing. “Fuck.”
“Oh, my god! If you’re going to do that, do it inside where all my friends can’t see it!” Kendall sounded pissed off and I was immediately terrified that I’d just done irreparable damage to our bond. “Wait. Ada? Dad! You’re making out with Ada?! That’s cool, I guess.”
I glanced around Joe’s shoulder and cringed. There were at least six teen girls watching and laughing. Kendall leaned back in the car and kissed the girl in the front seat on the mouth before closing the door and walking towards me and her father.
I grabbed her as soon as she was close enough. “Was that…?”
She nodded, cheeks going darker red than I’d ever seen. “Um… I’m going to go up to my room and pretend I didn’t see my dad making out with someone. Bye.”
I tugged her in for a quick hug and shook her a little. “I’m so happy for you, Kenny. Tell me everything later?”
She glanced at her dad and nodded before running into the house. The door slammed and I turned to Joe, not sure what to expect. He’d just seen his daughter kiss a girl and I was pretty sure he had no idea she was gay.
His face was pinched in anger. I prepared myself to hear something terrible and got ready to fight to my firing for Kendall. Joe turned away from me and paced the driveway in front of the garage. “Was that her first kiss? Has she been kissing people? She’s a kid! Jesus, she’s kissing people. I think I’m going to have a stroke. I’m not ready for this.”
I didn’t even realize I was smiling at him like an idiot until he stopped pacing and glared at me. I charged him and wrapped him a tight hug, even though my arms wouldn’t reach all the way around him. I pressed an embarrassing amount of kisses to his face and only pulled back when he wasn’t frowning anymore.
“What the hell was that?” He was fighting a smile and even made a big show of wiping his face.
“You’re not so bad after all, Joe.”
“You’re nuts. One of these days I’m going to wake up and you’re going to be standing over me with a clown mask and a bat. You’re way too fucking happy all the time and you don’t make any sense. You’re so goddamn bossy and everyone around you just listens because you smile that pretty little smile at them and you’re driving me crazy. You know that?” He growled out the words and then studied my face like he thought he’d hurt my feelings. When I just kept smiling, he shook his head. “You’re absolutely nuts. I have to go.”
I kissed his cheek one more time and then backed towards the house. “See you later, Joey.”
He paused. “Unless you want to…”
I laughed and shook my head. “I’m busy, Joey. We can’t all take so much time off of work, you know?”
His growls of frustration followed me into the house.
39
***Ada***
I wasn’t entirely sure how I’d let myself be talked into modeling for Jud’s painting. It wasn’t like he didn’t have enough paintings of me to last a hundred lifetimes. He’d asked with such compelling puppy dog eyes that I hadn’t been able to resist. I guess that was how. Through a series of Milo related events, I hadn’t been able to go to his room until almost midnight.
It felt like a secret rendezvous but I just kept telling myself that I was only acting as a model, nothing more. That was why I’d put on more lipstick before leaving my room. It was for the painting.
Jud welcomed me into his room with a warm smile on his face. He pulled me in for a hug and kissed the side of my head before pointing to a lounge chair in the corner of the room. “I think I want you right there. Stretched out across it.”
“Like one of your French girls?” I groaned as soon as I said it. “Ignore me and any Titanic jokes I might make.”
