Page 48 of Sinful Seduction

“Well, I wasn’t.Think of it from my point of view,” Jayla murmured in a stricken tone.“I was a nine-year-old who lost my world.I lost my parents, my home, and you, who I thought was the only other person in the world that loved me.”

Joseph pinched the bridge of his nose.“I fucked up, sweetheart.I know that now.I thought I was protecting you, but I wasn’t seeing the world through your eyes, just my own.”He looked up at her.“Do you think you’ll be able to forgive me someday?”

Jayla looked down at her lap.She didn’t know what to tell him.So many years of loneliness, disappointments, and fears had to be let go of for her to move on.

“I-I just don’t know,” she said and shrugged.

“I have a question, Sir,” Beau said.

Joseph tore his gaze from Jayla.“What is it?”

“Who packed her bag when we took her to the cabin?”

The three were amazed to see a flush cover the older man’s face.

“Well...”he stammered.

Jayla looked confused as she glanced at all three.“What’s going on?”

Diego reached for her hand.“We suspect he told whoever packed your bag to add certain things and leave others out.”

“I don’t understand,” she said.

“We thought it was weird how her bras, panties, and socks were forgotten.”

Jayla narrowed her eyes on Joseph.“What were you trying to do?”

“I wanted the three of you together.”

“What!”she burst out and stood suddenly, sidestepping the men as they tried to reach for her when she walked across the room.“That’s why my jeans didn’t fit.”By the guilty look on his face, she knew it was the truth.“Why?Did you think they’d take me away so you wouldn’t have to deal with me again?I’ve got a news flash.I was walking away anyway.You didn’t have to throw me on their laps.”She paced back and forth.

Beau tried reaching for her, and she flinched away.

She held her hands up.“Don’t.”She looked down with her hands covering her face.“God, I’m so embarrassed.”

“Why?”Diego said as he stood.

“Jesus, don’t you get it?You never had a choice.What red-blooded man out there would be able to keep his hands off any woman he was living with for so long?”

“Now wait a goddamn minute,” Beau burst out.

She shook her head.“No, you were manipulated.All three of us were manipulated.”

“He might have made it happen quicker,” Beau said.“But it would have happened eventually.”

She shook her head.“I want an honest answer.No, I deserve one.If you two had seen me out in a bar, would you have been attracted to me?”

“Fuck, yes,” Diego burst out.He stalked her across the room until he had her pinned to the wall.“Don’t you dare try to put this shit between us and think you’re getting away, because it’s not going to fucking happen.”

Jayla blinked several times to hold back her tears as she pushed against his chest.“I don’t know what to think anymore,” she cried out.

“You all listen right now,” Joseph’s voice boomed around the room as he stood.“I did not try to manipulate them to get you off my hands.I’ve known these men for years and have always respected them.They were the only men I would trust you with.I knew they were into the type of relationship your parents and I were in, and I wanted that for you so bad.You deserve double the love and protection.I know that now more than ever.”

“Listen to him, baby,” Beau said when he came to her side.“You were meant to be ours no matter what.We all felt it from the first.”

“I...”

Diego touched his nose to hers.“Right now, I don’t fucking care what stupid thoughts are going through your crazy head.”