Colters' Gift (Colters' Legacy #5)(25)

Ethan ruffled her hair affectionately. “Not too long ago, that would have been the truth. I have the fire extinguishers on standby.”

Noah and Liam both wore peculiar expressions, as if they weren’t sure how seriously to take the bantering. Lauren just laughed and hugged Holly again.

“I think you’re a wonderful cook, Mama C. I’ll be happy to eat whatever you fix.”

Holly beamed and patted Lauren’s arm. “I always knew you were my favorite child. Come into the kitchen with me. We can talk while I finish up and we’ll leave the men out here to do whatever it is men do when they’re together.”

Then she sent another glare in her husbands’ direction. “You don’t say another word about my cooking. You’ve liked what I’ve cooked just fine.”

Ethan put his arm around her. “Sweetheart, you’ve only cooked twice more since Christmas. Give us time to adjust. We’re too used to having the fire department on standby when you venture into the kitchen.”

Holly shook her head then reached for Lauren’s hand. “Come on. I’ve got nothing left to say to these men.”

Lauren allowed herself to be dragged into the kitchen, though she felt a brief moment of guilt for pitching Noah and Liam to the wolves. They’d probably get grilled by the Colter men. Hopefully the others would arrive soon. At least Noah and Liam knew Max and Seth already.

But on the other hand . . . If she was truly going to entertain having a relationship with Noah and Liam, the Colter family was going to be something they would have to get used to, because the Colters were too important to Lauren.

They were her family.

“Sit and keep me company,” Holly said, steering her toward the L-shaped bar that curved from the kitchen counters.

Lauren slid onto one of the leather stools and propped her elbows on the counter.

“So what are you cooking today?” Lauren asked.

Holly grinned, her eyes twinkling mischievously. “I’m totally cheating. Lily brought me three pans of lasagna yesterday, premade. All I have to do is pop them in the oven and voila, a mouthwatering Italian dinner. I have bakery rolls from town and bag salad from the store.”

Lauren laughed. “I won’t breathe a word.”

Holly took the lasagna from the fridge and slid them into the double-wall oven, set the timer and then came back to the bar and peered across it at Lauren.

“So tell me about Noah and Liam. I sense there’s more to this whole thing than their being some random strangers Max hired to protect you.”

Heat crept into Lauren’s cheeks and she fidgeted nervously on the stool.

“Why do you say that?” Lauren asked curiously.

Holly smiled. “Baby, the way those men look at you tells its own story. And the way Liam talked about people going through him and Noah to get to you? If you were just a job, they would have had some polished spiel they regurgitated for every client. There was passion in his voice and I absolutely believed him when he said he wouldn’t let anyone hurt you.”

Lauren sighed. “I wanted to talk to you about them.” She dug her fingertips into her temples and rubbed.

Holly’s look turned to one of concern. “What is it, Lauren? You know you can talk to me about anything.”

“They want a relationship with me. Like the one you have with your . . . husbands.”

Holly’s eyes widened a bit and then her brow furrowed. “Isn’t it a bit soon? Didn’t they just arrive?” Then she broke into a wry smile. “Like I can talk. Adam, Ethan and Ryan took one look at me and decided I was the one. They never looked back. It was the same when Seth first laid eyes on Lily. People laugh at the idea of love at first sight, but I’ve certainly witnessed it firsthand. Over thirty years later, here I am, still just as much in love with those old fools as I was as a starry-eyed naïve girl in my twenties.”

“I love hearing about you and the dads,” Lauren said wistfully.

Holly leaned across the bar and took Lauren’s hands in hers. “Back to Noah and Liam. You’ve talked about this? Already I mean?”

Lauren shook her head. “Yes, we’ve talked, but it’s not like I just met them. Max hired them when I was still in New York City. Before he and Callie came to bring me here. They started out a giant pain in my butt.”

Holly laughed. “Sounds like a typical start to a relationship to me.”

“According to them, the attraction was there from the beginning.”

“And what about you?” Holly asked softly.

“I noticed them,” Lauren hedged.

Holly laughed again. “Kind of hard not to notice those two. They tend to stand out in a crowd. I figure Dillon’s going to get along with them just fine. They’ll be comparing tattoos and earrings. I swear I don’t know where that child of mine got his tastes.”

“How hard is it, really?” Lauren asked in a quiet voice. “I’m scared of messing up. I’m drawn to both of them. I love the idea of having these two wonderful men both devoted to me. But I’m using your husbands and Lily’s husbands as measuring sticks. I don’t want to go in with unrealistic expectations. Am I crazy for wanting this? To agreeing to try it with them?”

“Oh, sweetie, you’re overthinking this. There’s really one question to ask. Do you love them?”