Read Online Anita's Triple Temptation [Men of Montana 4] (Siren Publishing Menage Amour) by Eileen Green - Free Book Online Page B

saw that the woman was watching the men, gauging how they related with her. A warm fuzzy feeling was actually beginning to spread through her body at the love and affection she was receiving.
    Steeling up her nerve, she spat out the distastefulness of the words. “Virgil wanted me to live with him.”
    “What?” Dave bellowed.
    The hospital staff and anyone in the vicinity all turned in their direction to see what had caused the outburst. James patted Dave on the shoulder to calm him though he was as outraged as his friend was.
    “Explain, darlin’,” James said, keeping his voice level and low. “And don’t leave anything out.”
    An exasperated sigh escaped Anita. “Virgil had been coming around every so often to find out how we were doing. He seemed harmless enough, like he cared about us. A month ago he came by the house and he propositioned me.”
    A red haze descended upon Kevin’s vision as anger consumed him at her words. The vision of Anita lying bloody and unconscious in Dave’s arms the previous night along with her current statement caused his muscles to clench within his body. He hated that she was in pain but more than that, he hurt because she didn’t trust them enough to let them know she was in financial straits along with Virgil making advances on her.
    Kevin only realized he was hurting her when she tried to pull her hand from his. He had been crushing it as the news crushed his heart and soul. The deep exhales of the two men he wanted to share Anita with were confirmation that they were just as upset with the news as he was. Letting his thumb gently rub across the soft knuckles of his woman, a silent apology to the roughness she experienced just moments earlier.
    Swallowing down the shout that threatened to emerge from his vocal cords, he practically whispered, “Go on.”
     
    * * * *
     
    The anger rolling off all three men frightened her. This was one of the reasons why she hadn’t said anything to them. The other was the uncertainty of the ménage relationship.
    Anita’s stomach was doing a tango as she took a deep breath. She hoped she wasn’t going to be sick. Feeling her mother’s hand pat her forearm, she felt a bit of strength reenter her body though she kept her eyes lowered.
    “Virgil came to me right after New Year’s and told me that since the accident was due to negligence on Craig’s part there wasn’t going to be a pay out from the life insurance company. I had to go to work because we needed the money.”
    Neither man holding her hand relinquished their hold when she tried to pull away. Shame consumed her that she was the one who caused them this anger. Also for the fact that they were here tending to her instead of attending to their jobs. Tears began to form again in her eyes.
    Dave’s hand came up and cupped the nape of her neck. “Little one, I know you are uncomfortable with this, but we need the truth to be able to protect you. We aren’t here to pass judgment on you, sweetheart. Just tell us what happened.”
    His words were so gentle that the tears streamed faster as the ache in her heart grew. But for the first time in years, it was a good ache. She didn’t want to see them hurt any more than they wanted to see her hurt.
    Sucking in a breath, she squeezed the hands that were holding hers and then leaned into Dave’s hand. And, while her mother didn’t agree with the relationship that was evident, her hand remained on Anita’s arm in support.
    “Virgil said that since I was having problems making ends meet, I could move in with him and he would take care of me. I told him I wouldn’t do that and he told me that I would give in soon and I’d be his.” Her eyes remained lowered so she missed the glance the men gave each other.
    “If that happened a month ago, darlin’,” James coaxed, “what happened last night?”
    Sniffing back tears, she shrugged.
    “Damn it, Anita!” Dave hissed. “Don’t hide the truth from us!”
    Defiance overtook her.