Colters' Gift (Colters' Legacy #5)(40)

Lauren burst out laughing. “Oh my God, you two are killing me!”

“So which is it?” Lily demanded.

“Uhm, well . . . both,” she said, dropping her voice so there was no chance of being overheard.

“What?” Callie squeaked. “Oh my God, you lucky bitch.”

Lily’s eyes widened. “Really?

Lauren nodded.

“Wow,” Callie breathed. “I swear I’m the only one who took on one man.”

“Yeah, well, can you imagine two of Max?” Lily pointed out.

Callie rolled her eyes. “No kidding. I’d never survive. Max is like having three men. Still, there are times when I look at you and I look at mom and I think, wow, that must be so awesome to have three men who absolutely worship and adore you. And now you, Lauren. You have two drop-dead gorgeous, stacked guys who want to spend every waking moment cherishing and protecting you? Jealousy is going to eat me alive.”

Lauren blushed again. “We’re still working through some stuff. I mean this is completely brand new to all three of us. None of us have experience in this and we’re having to feel our way around.”

“None of us had experience with it either,” Lily said in a serious tone. “I know it sounds crazy because of the way Seth, Michael and Dillon grew up, but they never considered for a moment that they’d have the same kind of relationship their parents had. So when they met me, they had things they had to work out and we definitely had to be careful in the beginning. We’re still working at it.”

“Is it hard and stressful?” Lauren asked.

Lily smiled. “At times it can be, but the good times far outweigh the bad, and I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to have the love and devotion of three of the most terrific men I’ve ever met. I feel like I’m the luckiest woman in the world.”

“I feel that way too,” Lauren said quietly. “It scares me to death and yet it’s thrilling all at the same time. I don’t want to mess this up and for it not to work out.”

Callie and Lily both reached for her hands.

“You’ll do just fine,” Callie said, her expression fierce. “They’re lucky to have you.”

Lauren grinned. “That’s what I love most about you guys. Even when I’m wrong, you still take my side.”

Callie sniffed. “Colters are never wrong. Just ask my mother.”

They all laughed. Evie brought out Lily’s and Callie’s plates, and the two women began eating.

After a moment, Lauren reluctantly rose, knowing she needed to get back to her tables so Evie wasn’t stuck covering the whole diner.

“I’ll see you two later, okay?”

Callie and Lily both waved a fork at her, and Lauren headed back to her section of tables.

Chapter 17

LAUREN knew something was wrong the moment Liam and Noah entered the diner at the end of her shift. She met them just a few feet inside the doorway, anxious as she surveyed their expressions.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

Liam touched her elbow. “Are you finished?”

She hesitated. “I just need to go in back, put my apron up, collect tips and clock out.”

“Go on and get done,” Noah said. “We’ll wait for you here.”

She hurried away, dread tightening her chest. She hated the flutter of anxiety that bubbled in her stomach. What could possibly have happened in the short time they’d been gone?

She hastily untied her apron and threw it on the hook behind the kitchen door. Evie was already in the back counting out the totals, when Lauren hurried up.

“It was a good day, Lauren!” Evie exclaimed.

Lauren tried to smile. “I’m going to clock out, okay? Think you’ll be done by then?”

Evie frowned. “Is everything okay, hon?”

Lauren nodded. “Yeah, just need to go. I, uh, have plans. That’s all.”

Evie’s expression eased and her eyes gleamed. “Anything to do with those two hunky men who’ve been hanging around all day?”

Lauren pretended she didn’t hear as she went to do her time card. She called out a good-bye to Clark and hoped that Evie would be done with the tips when she got back.

Evie pushed a stack of bills across the small counter when Lauren returned.

“There you go. Have fun and I’ll see you tomorrow!”

Lauren smiled brightly and pocketed the bills, not even bothering to count as she usually would.

“See you tomorrow,” she said and headed out of the kitchen.

Liam and Noah were where she’d left them. She didn’t even worry over the scene they were causing. Every single person in the diner was staring hard at the two men, and even more so when they directed Lauren out the door to the street.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

“We’ll talk in your apartment,” Noah said grimly.

They flanked her as they crossed the street and she noted that their gazes were scanning the sidewalks in both directions as they hustled her toward the steps to her apartment.

Only when she unlocked her door and they were inside did they seem to relax. But even then she could feel the tension radiating off them in waves.

Noah paced a circle in the tiny living room. Liam just stood to the side, his face so tight she could bounce a brick off it.