Page 76 of Three Hearts Hideaway

“Only becauseLoganneeded a few more months than I did.”

“Aw, don’t say it like that. You’re making me sound like a dick.”

“Well…”

“Banks. Not the time.”

Roman lifted his hands in surrender. “You’re right, Logey. Not the time.”

Ava waved the thermos in front of their faces. “I’m still here, remember? Your girlfriend? Sitting here, wondering what the hell is going on with you two?”

Roman faced her, sliding his palm underneath the blanket to rest on her knee. Logan’s hand cupped her shoulder and held her tight.

“Three…two…”

“Oh for fuck’s sake, Banks, we are not counting down. Say it to her. You saw her first. You met her first. You, well…just say it already.”

Roman tipped her chin in his direction and said, “I love you, Ava.”

A tingling sensation spread throughout her body, warming her to the core, even in the crispness of the day. She leaned forward and nuzzled into his chest. “I love you too, Roman.”

Logan cleared his throat behind them, then he slowly shifted her to face him. “Ava…”

The butterflies in her stomach were doing an intense shimmy, bumping their way into her chest and throat, making her feel alive inside.

“You already know what I’m going to say, but it’s true. I love you.” Logan’s admission didn’t come lightly.

She threw her arms around him, knowing how hard it was for him to let people in. “And I love you, Logan.”

Roman’s arms slipped around them both and pulled them in for a giant bear hug. One of her favourite things in the world. She nestled between them, comfortable and warmed by their body heat and the ridiculous amounts of blankets piled around them.

“No protesting the group hug?” Genuine surprise coloured Roman’s tone.

Logan wasn’t normally a fan.

“Not today. This moment needs it.”

She hid her grin against his chest. As much as he hated to admit it, Logan was softening up. Becoming more amenable to Roman and her little touches toward him here and there. She loved it. Their triad grew closer every day, and she didn’t see that changing anytime soon.

They relaxed against the back of the truck bed, enveloped in one another’s arms. The sun was lower on the horizon, casting elegant shadows across the lake.

A gentle sigh escaped her lips. “I’ve loved you both for a while.”

“We didn’t want to be presumptuous, but we guessed as much,” Logan said, and Roman murmured his agreement into her hair.

She slapped lightly at them both. “You did not.”

“There’s no other word for what we have, love. We couldn’t tiptoe around it any longer.”

“He’s right, sweetheart.”

“I know he is.”

They fell into a comfortable silence, watching the sun disappear behind the endless rows of emerald pine trees. An iciness filled the air, but she didn’t mind. Curled between her own personal radiators, she was warm and toasty.

Taking a deep, satisfied breath, she allowed herself to soak in the love surrounding her. Living in the moment with her two men.

No need to fill the silence. No desire to be anywhere else.

This was peace.

This was acceptance.

This was love.