Page 144 of Their Naughty Student (Office Intrigue Duet 6)
“Jamie, will you sit by me at dinner?”
“Of course I will,” I told her. “Which seat is mine?”
“This one,” she said, pointing. “You’re pretty.”
“Thank you.”
The next hour passed by in a blur of conversation. I was introduced to nine-year-old Matthew and twelve-year-old Heidi. Both had joined us at the table, not bothering to hide the fact they’d rather be anywhere else. Through the conversation, I learned that Gretchen and Rick had been married for fifteen years. Both worked full-time. Gretchen was into hot yoga and Rick had a weekly poker game with the guys on Friday nights. They each had their own routines, their own hobbies, but they were happy.
Edge had shared with Gretchen my love for her bookstore/bar, which resulted in a long conversation about how it came about. Although I’d walked into the house a nervous wreck, somewhere along the way, I settled in, feeling more at home than I expected.
Right up until Gretchen moved us into the den. She excused herself to get Julianna in bed while Rick poured coffee.
“She’s gonna grill you on the relationship,” Rick noted, speaking to Edge as he placed the mugs on the coffee table.
“Probably.”
I had seen the look on her face when Edge had introduced me as their girlfriend. I wondered if the reaction would always be that way. I knew it wasn’t a conventional relationship, and back in the beginning, I’d been a little concerned about what others would think, namely my best friends. But once I’d shared the news and got their acceptance, I found I didn’t care what anyone else thought about it.
“She’s just curious,” Cav said. “It’s not every day her brother tells her he’s in a relationship.”
“Try never,” Gretchen said when she returned. “Not once in his thirty-six years has my little brother introduced me to a girlfriend. Much less…” She waved her hand between the three of us, sighed. “All right, brother of mine, you’ve got some explaining to do.”
She took a seat in the chair opposite Edge.
“About?”
She waved her hand to me and Cav. “You’re a we, huh? The three of you?”
“We are,” he said, not a hint of insecurity in the words.
“As in you love the two of them, they love each other and you?”
“Exactly.” It was obvious he didn’t want to delve into the details.
“How does something like this come about?” Rick asked, his genuine curiosity evident.
“It just does,” Edge stated.
Gretchen looked at me. “Are you a submissive?”
“Not really, no.”
“Did you meet at that club?”
I nodded. “Technically, yes.” I smiled. “But he was just giving me an introduction to the place.” I went on to explain my reasons, my doctorate and my dissertation.
“Hmm.” Gretchen glanced from Edge to me to Cav, then back to Edge.
“Say what’s on your mind, Gretch,” Edge said with exasperation.
He’d already relaxed on the sofa, his arm around my shoulders, so I could feel his tension.
Gretchen finally grinned. “You do make a very cute thruple.”
“Thruple?” Cav laughed. “That’s a new one.”
“You like it?” She waved a hand toward us. “It’s fitting.” Gretchen peered over at her husband. “Don’t you think?”
“I try not to get involved,” he said, looking directly at me. “My wife’s got no filter. She calls it as she sees it.”
“I don’t mind,” I assured him, snuggling closer to Edge and squeezing Cav’s hand, which mine was safely tucked into. “It is what it is.”
“I like her,” Gretchen said, meeting Edge’s eyes. “She can handle you.” She looked at Cav. “And you.”
“She can.” Edge grinned before pressing his lips to my forehead.
I didn’t know about all that, but I knew I was head over heels, and this was right where I wanted to be. Gretchen and Rick weren’t the last people who would look at the three of us and wonder how it all worked. As long as it did, that was the only thing I was worried about.
“Dad would’ve liked her,” Gretchen stated.
There was no mistaking the way Edge’s entire body went still. “Gretch. Don’t.”
“What? You haven’t told her?”
I glanced sideways at Edge, noticed the strain on his face.
“Don’t you think—?”
“Please,” I interrupted, lowering my voice. “When he’s ready to tell me, he will.”
Gretchen held my stare and something in her blue eyes softened. “You’re good for him, you know that?” She smiled, but not before I noticed there were tears in her eyes. “Really good for him.” She shot to her feet, made a beeline for the kitchen.
Edge stared after her and I pulled out of his hold. “Let me go talk to her.”
He looked at me and I could see the worry on his face. He didn’t want me to know the story. I cupped his face. “It’s fine. I’m just checking on her.”
When I got up, Cav moved closer to Edge. Before I was out of the room, Cav had changed the subject, engaging Rick in a conversation about sports.
