Colters' Gift (Colters' Legacy #5)(18)

Chapter 8

LAUREN sat between Noah and Liam at her small dinette set that accommodated four people. Four normal-sized people. Noah and Liam weren’t exactly normal sized. They made her apartment seem overstuffed and crowded, where before she’d relished the warm, cozy feel of it.

They’d ordered dinner from Dillon Colter’s pub, and Liam had gone out to get it, leaving Lauren and Noah alone for a time in the apartment.

Lauren still wasn’t sure of herself in this strange, new environment she existed in, so she’d excused herself to take a shower and get into more comfortable clothing for lounging. By the time she’d returned, Liam was back with the food, and she’d sighed in relief.

“I meant what I said before,” Noah said around a bite of steak.

Lauren raised her eyebrows. “Oh?”

“About not letting our relationship interfere with our primary objective, which is keeping you safe and finding out any and all information we can uncover on Joel Knight. As discreetly as possible.”

She lowered her head and picked at her food.

“Don’t do that, honey,” Noah said softly. “Stop beating yourself up over him. Put the bastard in the past where he belongs. It’s time to move forward. With me and Liam. And we’re damn sure never going to give you reason to believe that we’re anything like that ass**le. Don’t give him that kind of power over you.”

She sighed. “I know. Logically I do. I’m smart enough to know that he can’t control me anymore. But it’s hard to shake that off, you know? When I think of what I allowed him to turn me into, I’m so ashamed, I can barely stand it. I’m supposed to be smarter than that, and I never saw him for what he was until it was nearly too late.”

The phone rang, interrupting the conversation. Lauren walked over to where her cell phone was charging and quickly unplugged it.

“Hey Max,” she greeted.

“How are things with you?” he asked.

“Fine. We’re just enjoying a quiet dinner in the apartment.”

“That’s good. I wanted to make sure you were still comfortable with the arrangements. I can always do something different.”

“You’re too good to me, Max. But I’m fine. I promise. I’m going to be okay this time. I’ve learned from my past mistakes. I don’t want to make them again.”

“You’re too hard on yourself,” he said quietly. “We all make mistakes, Lauren. I f**ked up royally with Callie. Not once, but twice.”

She smiled. “You sure did. It’s a wonder she took you back.”

“I was lucky,” he said in a somber tone. “I didn’t deserve the second chances she gave me.”

“She loves you.”

“And I love her. And speaking of Callie and her family. Holly wants you to come to dinner tomorrow and bring Noah and Liam with you. You know Mama C. She gets all nervous about her chicks, and you are definitely one of them now. She wants to eyeball these two men herself before she signs her approval to the whole plan.”

Lauren chuckled. “That sounds exactly like her. I’d love to come. It’s been a few days since I’ve seen her, and right now I could use her company.” And her wisdom and insight. There was nothing more that Lauren wanted to do than run to her with the situation she’d found herself in. Of all people, Holly would understand. She’d been a rock during the time that Lily was finding her way with Holly’s three sons. Always offering wisdom and advice. Maybe she could help Lauren sort out how she was going to make a relationship with two very demanding alpha men work.

After all, she was married to three of the most demanding alpha men on earth. Adam, Ethan and Ryan Colter. It had certainly been passed onto their three sons and to an extent their only daughter, Callie.

Callie was strong-willed, independent and had been raised by a houseful of overprotective men who thought nothing of spoiling the women they loved completely rotten.

Just thinking of the Colters made Lauren wistful.

Hope crowded in as she peeked up at Liam and Noah, who were enjoying the takeout from the Mountain Pass Bar and Grill.

Here was her shot at a relationship that mimicked the ones the Colters had. She had two very protective badass men determined to keep her safe from anything that threatened her. And they wanted a chance to make a relationship work between the three of them.

“Then we’ll see you tomorrow?” Max asked.

“Hang on just a moment. Let me ask Liam and Noah what they think.”

She had pulled the phone away from her ear and had started to ask permission, of all things, when it dawned on her what she was doing. She was acting as though she were with Joel. Always needing his approval for everything she did. She no longer had to do that. She made her own decisions. If she wanted to go visit with the Colters, then Noah and Liam could either come or stay behind. But she wanted to go.

With a quick frown, she pulled the phone up to her ear again, ignoring the raised eyebrows of Noah and Liam.

“We’ll be there. I’ll text Holly to let her know to expect us.”

She ended the call, angry with herself for being such a damn wuss.

“Any particular reason you look mad at the world?” Noah asked mildly when she returned to the table.

“I’m disgusted with myself,” she muttered.

“Why?” Liam demanded.