Total pages in book: 173
Estimated words: 174632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 174632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
She thought about protesting, but that seemed silly when they would help. So she took them without a word.
“Ian started fussing at her to eat again, lecturing her about taking care of herself, while Jack brought her over some fruit to tempt her.
And all the while, she was aware of Jameson’s gaze on her. She wished she knew what he was thinking.
Jameson approached Ian and Jack after Pippa and the princes had left. Everyone else was sticking around to tidy up while William took some photos of the camels and scenery. Everyone was tired. Although no one looked as exhausted as Maggie.
Jameson had to resist ordering her to sit down and rest. He wanted to bundle her up, carry her home, and pamper her.
“Can I speak to the two of you?” he asked.
Ian eyed him for a long moment.”
“We’re watching Maggie,” Jack said.
“There are a several other guards here. And she’s in full sight of them. This is important. It’s about Maggie.”
Ian looked around, then nodded. “Two minutes.”
“Can we go over by the cars?”
They followed him around the tent.
“What’s going on?” Ian asked.
“I want to talk to you about us,” he said. “About the three of us being a team again. About sharing the same woman.”
“You’ve changed your mind? Why?” Jack asked suspiciously.
“Because I’m fucking lonely,” he blurted out before he lost his nerve. “It’s not . . . it’s not easy for me to speak of my weaknesses. My emotions.” That was something his parents had drummed into him. Emotions were something a St Bede couldn’t indulge in. “But the only time I’ve ever been happy was with the two of you. I miss you both.”
“We miss you too, brother,” Ian said gruffly. He wasn’t a man who liked to talk about his emotions either.
Jack tilted his head. “You know we’re with Maggie. We want to be with her.”
“I know. And I want that too. Or I thought I did.”
“Did?” Ian asked.
“Did you know her uncle wants to stay, but that Maggie is the one that wants to leave? She doesn’t want to stay here. With us.”
Ian shook his head. “What are you talking about?”
“William said he wants to stay but when he talked to Maggie, she said she couldn’t.” Had she been stringing Ian and Jack along? He felt sick at the idea.
“Couldn’t or wouldn’t?” Jack asked. “There’s a difference.”
“Why wouldn’t she be able to stay?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” Jack replied. “But until we talk to her, then we won’t know, will we? There’s no use making assumptions. She’s not Elizabeth.”
“Jack,” Ian warned.
“No, he’s right,” Jameson said. “For a long time, I’ve been using Elizabeth and what happened as an excuse to hide away. To lick my wounds. To suppress my needs. I realized that I’ve been letting her ruin my life. I won’t allow her to do that anymore. To upset what we could have. I want that back and I won’t let her stand in our way. If that’s what the two of you want as well.”
48
Maggie stepped out behind the tent, breathing in deep. She was utterly exhausted. They were close to finishing up and she was grateful as she didn’t think she could handle much more.
She wanted to head back home with her guys. Maybe take a dip in the pool. Perhaps she could wear the outfit that Ian had bought for her yesterday. It was a pale green dress with a zebra on the front.
It was adorable and just what her Little wanted.
Where were Ian and Jack? She’d looked around before coming back here, but hadn’t seen either of them.
She headed toward the vehicles. Uncle Willy wanted a special filter for a few more photos. Most of the security was gone except for Beck and Hux.
Still, it was weird that Ian wasn’t following her around, pressing her to eat and drink. Or that Jack wasn’t there to tease her. He’d pulled her behind the tent at lunchtime and kissed her until her legs had turned to jelly.
“I realized that I’ve been letting her ruin my life. I won’t allow her to do that anymore. To upset what we could have. I want that back and I won’t let her stand in our way. If that’s what the two of you want as well.”
She froze at the voice. Was that Jameson?
Who was the ‘she’ he was talking about? Was he talking about her? Did he think she was standing in their way? How would she be ruining his life, though?
She quickly hid behind the last car and peeked over to where the three men were standing. Jack and Ian had their backs to her while Jameson was facing her way. It seemed that he hadn’t seen her, though.
“You know that’s what we want,” Ian said. “It’s what we’ve always wanted. That’s why we moved here. For you, mate. After what happened, we knew you needed space. We understood it.”