It’s working,” Andrew said as they followed Paisley’s car and pulled into the lodge parking lot behind her. Warmth bubbled through him as she stepped out of her car to wait for them.

She was gorgeous. Her blonde curls danced in the breeze and she wore a cute navy-blue track suit outfit. It hugged her curves and made some naughty primal urges race through him.

“I noticed. She’s not afraid of us anymore,” Adam replied.

“She’s almost back to her old self. It’s really nice to see.”

“No personal questions at lunch, agreed?”

“Agreed. We act casual and don’t frighten her off.”

Beside him, Adam nodded and unbuckled his seat belt.

“To tell you the truth, I think I’m still in love with her,” Andrew admitted. Man, he was seriously in love with her.

“You think?” Adam gazed at him with humor in his gaze.

“I know.”

“Me too. Keeping our distance from her is going to be hell. I feel like a freaking man in his late teens with out-of-control hormones. If we hadn’t been called away last night…”

“That’s an understatement. I wanted to fuck her right there in the bathroom when I saw her in that towel.”

“I wanted to take her right on that cold fireplace hearth in the Art House.”

Adam chuckled. “Cold is not good for the cock, my man. Shrivels it and doesn’t impress a lady.”

Andrew laughed as he climbed out of the car.

“What’s so funny?” Paisley asked as they approached her.

Heat fused Andrew’s face as he hooked his arm with hers. He said nothing. Heck, he didn’t know what to say.

“Inside joke. Too crude for a lovely lady like yourself,” Adam commented as he hooked Paisley’s other arm and they headed into the lodge for lunch.

Andrew was glad she didn’t say anything else about it, but he sure did like that sweet smile on her face.

* * *

Paisley gazed outside her cabin window and watched the sun dip behind the dark forest, bringing a blanket of eerie dark-purple shadows over the lake. Before she left, she would have to spend an afternoon here and paint a portrait from this window. She’d capture the solitude of the straggly pine trees and the calmness of the glass-like lake in autumn. She inhaled at the sight of the full silvery moon as it appeared in the eastern horizon. The moon cast a spooky glow over the water and made her think about her own life right now.

Solitary, yet happy.

Lately, she was becoming increasingly perturbed. She’d been staying here at the lodge for more than three weeks. She’d spent bursts of time with Andrew and Adam on a daily basis. They had rebuilt their friendship so easily.

Over the weeks, they had met for breakfast, lunch or dinner to talk about the Art House. They discussed the estimates and what contractors for her to go with. The contractors they’d picked had come and gone, their work quick and efficient. She didn’t know how she would have pulled everything together so fast had it not been for Andrew and Adam.

Paisley appreciated them so much that all she wanted to do lately was hug them and tell them thanks from the bottom of her heart.

There was only one problem. She’d begun to realize that whenever she posed a personal question to either man, the subject was abruptly changed to something of a less-personal nature. To make matters even more mysterious, they never asked about her past.

What was up with those two? Maybe they didn’t want to get reacquainted with her? Maybe they wanted to keep everything between them strictly business? Perhaps it was all wishful thinking on her part to maybe pick up where they’d left off years ago? Maybe the two kisses she’d shared with Adam that night when they had rescued her from the island hadn’t been as great for him as it had been for her and now he just wasn’t that into her?

She was thankful though, for the distractions of the Art House. Repair work was almost complete. A dark-green metal roof had been placed and she’d contracted a carpenter to put cute matching green shutters at each of the windows. The family of squirrels had been chased out of the attic, the outside stairs and back veranda were new and the electricity had passed inspection and was connected.

She’d ordered cute lanterns online for the exterior and they’d been installed by an electrician. Even the plumbing was in safe working order.

To her surprise, the ancient furnace had passed inspection too. The inspector had complimented it by saying they didn’t make tough equipment like that furnace anymore, and she should hang onto it as long as she could. The propane tank outdoors had been filled and the furnace was pumping out good heat.

The only huge things that needed to be finished before she moved in was the upstairs bathroom, some masonry work on the outside of the building foundation and the chimney repairs. That would happen later this week with a contractor who knew Adam and Andrew personally. He was setting aside some of his other work to do her a favor.

Come spring, she’d get a new dock placed so people could visit by water from the lodge, and she definitely would invest in her very own canoe.

Between meeting with the contractors and enjoying meals with Adam and Andrew, she’d been doing some canoeing to various areas around the lake to paint scenes. She’d also sat outside on the veranda of the Art House in her brand-new chaise, where she’d enjoyed the Indian-summer warmth caressing her face. She’d painted up a storm of various views of the picturesque lake. She already had several of her own gorgeous paintings hanging on the wall ready to sell.

Andrew had also brought all his pictures over from where he’d had them on display in the lodge and she’d placed them on the walls with hers. He was a fine wilderness oil painter, and although he stuck mainly to misty valleys and trees, the paintings were warm and full of life. She loved the bold colors he used and the strong, confident brush strokes on the canvas. He had seriously improved over the years and instincts told her that his paintings would sell quickly once the Art House doors opened in what she hoped would be next weekend.

Now if only Adam would pick up the brush again. She remembered he’d been quite good with wildlife portraits, and had only needed some practice for improvement. She hoped he would start painting again, and soon. She would absolutely love to see his paintings hanging up on the wall of the Art House beside Andrew’s and hers. Just like old times. But whenever she brought up the idea to him of him painting, he became irritated and changed the subject.

Paisley sighed and moved from the window into the kitchenette. Time for some coffee.

She grinned as she stuffed a pack into the coffee maker. Word had gotten around pretty fast that she was back here and opening the Art House. Old friends of hers who were still artists had contacted her, asking if she would place their paintings into the Art House. Several artists had come to stay at the lodge also. She’d agreed to do weekend workshops as well as take on their paintings, but only on a commission basis. This winter, she would start a website and sell online too.

Things were going along very well with her life, better than she had ever imagined. Yet, Paisley wasn’t as satisfied as she’d hoped.

She wanted…something. She just didn’t know for sure what. But something was missing and she wished she could put a finger on it.

When the shrill ringing of her cell phone split the air, she didn’t even jump with fright this time. That was another good thing with her staying here in these relaxing surroundings. She wasn’t as jittery as she’d been when she’d first arrived.

She crossed the room to the nightstand, sat on the edge of her bed and scooped up her cell.

“Hi Tatianna, how are you doing?” she asked as she spied Tatianna’s number.

“Things are rolling along here. Just got word that I deploy overseas next week, so communication is going to get spotty between us. You know how it is.”

Paisley frowned. “I wish I could wrap you up and keep you safe, sweetie. But I understand. We’ll make do as best we can. I’m going to miss your daily calls. You keep my spirits up.”

Tatianna laughed. “You don’t need me to keep your spirits up. You need to find a hunky outdoorsman boyfriend. Have you found one yet?”

Oh dear. Maybe two hunky guys. Or none if things continued to progress as they were.

“You did find someone! That’s why you’re suddenly so quiet!”

Heat flushed Paisley’s cheeks.

“No, nothing serious. Don’t get so excited.”

“Nothing serious? So, there is a guy. I knew it! Oh, sweet! That’s why you’ve been sounding so fresh and happy every time we call. Tell me about him. What kind of guy is he?”

“Um, no really there isn’t one guy.” That part was true. She actually liked two guys, not one. She’d cared deeply for both Andrew and Adam. Always had. The two came as a pair and she wouldn’t even think about having them any other way.

So why did you leave them? an inner voice suddenly asked.

Oh damn. Is that why Andrew and Adam weren’t interested in her? Where they afraid she would take off on them again? That thought shot pain through her heart. But she wasn’t that silly, naive girl who’d gotten swept off her feet by a smooth-talking asshole trucker. Not anymore. She knew what she wanted in life and she was never again going to allow anyone to sway her from achieving her dreams.

And I want Andrew and Adam as part of those dreams.

Sexual heat whipped through her as she thought about hopping into bed with the two of them. Maybe she should drive to the city and get a butt plug and some condoms and prepare herself…just in case?

“Earth to Paisley?”

Oh crap. She’d forgotten she was on the line with Tatianna.

“Listen, it is too soon to tell, Tatianna. So please, let’s change the topic.”

A squeal of delight made Paisley grimace.

“I do want you to be happy. Truly I do,” her friend gushed.

“I know, sweetie. I know.” But she could not rely on a man to make her content. She needed to find her own happiness. Being here did make her glad. Now she wanted more.

They chatted for several more minutes, mostly about Selena and her new fashion line and then about Tatianna and her deployment overseas. After they disconnected, Paisley discovered her room was now almost dark, except for the silvery beams of moonlight sweeping in through the windows.

She placed the cell phone back onto the night table, and frowned as an odd loneliness grabbed hold of her.

How much had she truly hurt Andrew and Adam? Yes, many years ago the three of them had been in a sexual relationship and she had cared deeply for them. She still did. She’d been young and innocent and to her a ménage relationship was virtually unheard of. It would have been deemed scandalous if any of her friends had learned of it. Or so she had thought. Then there had also been Paul’s veiled threats against Adam and Andrew too.

Paisley’s naiveté about domineering men must have been a field day for Paul. He’d threatened to hurt them if he discovered she’d even looked at them the wrong way. Back then, she had thought those kind of comments meant he loved her and was jealous because of that love. When he’d said he wanted her to go away with him, she’d left partly because of her fear for Andrew and Adam’s safety. Boy, had she ever been mixed-up back then.

Now she knew so much better.

Paisley shook her head as disgust settled over her. She’d been manipulated into leaving here and she needed to make amends to Andrew and Adam, but she didn’t have a clue as to how.

An odd thump, as if something had kicked the picnic table out on the patio, made her stiffen with alarm. Was someone out there lurking around in the darkness? While she’d been on the phone with Tatianna she hadn’t had a chance to pull any of the curtains. She was about to get up to do so when a dark shadow moved past her patio door. Icy shivers snapped up her spine.

Someone was out there. Was it Paul? Had he found her?

She grabbed her cell and pressed the number three on her speed dial. That was Andrew’s number and she’d programmed both his and Adam’s numbers into her cell after they had left her that note with their private numbers on her second night here.

Her hands shook crazily as she peered through the windows and waited.

* * *

“The month-end is all done,” Adam said as he settled back in his office chair, yawned, stretched his arms above his head and clamped his hands behind his neck. He appeared as if he didn’t have a care in the world, which was a good sign. At least Andrew hoped it was, especially since the man had been suicidal for quite some time after his wife’s passing.

“So how’s your son doing? You haven’t mentioned Jerry since your ex called this morning. Everything okay?” Adam asked as he caught Andrew’s gaze.

Andrew shook his head and tried not to get upset.

“The kid has the flu and she’s got him out of school, doped up on meds and he was crying for his damned crayons so he could draw. She says he’s drawing all the time because it makes him feel like his daddy is there.”

“Ouch. Guilt trip or what?” Adam replied with a wink.

“It’s working. I don’t like being away from him. He’s so young and needs me around as a full-time dad. Not some boy toy of hers playing surrogate father.”

“He’ll be fine. You’ll get him over the Christmas holidays and you guys can reconnect. He enjoyed his trip here, did he not? Summer was a blast with him around. All that waterskiing and hiking and archery. No shit he misses you. I’d be worried if he didn’t.”

Andrew nodded but guilt continued to drill into him. He really missed his little man. Missed ruffling his son’s soft brown hair whenever he praised him. Missed the wide-eyed look of wonder when the little guy heard the loons crying at night out on the lake or the cute way his mouth went into an O when they would catch a fish when out fishing in the canoe.

“I think he’ll like Paisley, don’t you?”

Andrew grinned at his friend. Yeah, Jerry was going to love her.

Just thinking of Paisley eased his sorrow over the kid. He knew the two would hit it off. He could hardly wait until they met.

Thinking of Paisley made him wonder. Was it cruel to her and themselves not to tell her about their feelings being very alive were she was concerned? Didn’t she have a right to know? Maybe she would take off if they confessed, but maybe she wouldn’t.

She seemed a very mature woman now compared to the free-spirited young woman back then. She knew what she wanted and was going for her dreams despite the risks of things not working out at the Art House.

“Did we at least make a profit this past month with the lodge?” Andrew asked and then held his breath as he waited for an answer. They hadn’t told anyone that the lodge had been operating at a loss before they’d taken over running the place.

It was why Mr. Jones had sold in the first place and retired. Mr. Jones had been barely able to eke out a living for several years before that. Unfortunately, due to his increasing ailments, the elderly man hadn’t been able to keep up with repairs and things had been deteriorating.

When the lodge had come on the market, and Andrew’s ex-wife had seen it and she’d remembered him mentioning that he’d had a great time staying here and painting. He’d never told his ex about Paisley. Paisley had been his little secret.

When his ex suggested he maybe look into buying this place, Andrew had immediately liked the idea. He’d mentioned it to Adam and they’d purchased it as partners. They’d hoped an infusion of modern conveniences and renovations into the wilderness lodge and newly built secluded cabins would help business pick up. It had, but barely.

“You will be glad to know that yes, we did make a modest profit this month. I think news about Paisley buying the Art House and her future reopening brought in the serious artists. Now, all we need to do is get some heavy-duty advertisements out about the new ski trails and skidoo trails we’ll be opening up this winter. And the fact we’re introducing ice-fishing on the lake with heated fishing huts will bring in some. Of course the mention of dead zones of cell phones in certain areas might be a deterrent to some, but we should still have a draw of winter tourists who will wander over to the Art House.”

“I guess I should cross my fingers, toes and eyes on a huge profit happening for us this winter, eh?” Andrew laughed.

Adam nodded and closed his eyes. His breathing slowed and a nice smile upturned his lips. Was he thinking about Paisley? Maybe they would make a go of this lodge after all and Paisley’s dream about making her place successful would come true. Maybe they could get their ménage relationship back on track.

Andrew grinned as he returned his attention to the Internet and gazed at the website advertising snowmobiles.

They’d hired temporary workers to clear the skidoo and skiing trails in the forest during the summer and fall. Now with winter approaching they needed to purchase heavy-duty snowmobiles in order to set down tracks for the tourists, as well as a few rental snowmobiles for those coming without their own machines.

The sharp shrill of his cell phone had him frowning. He hoped there wasn’t another drain blockage in the kitchen. That damned plumbing problem had been keeping them busy…his frowned turned into a smile when he recognized Paisley’s cell number.

“Guess who’s calling,” he said to Adam as he picked up the cell.

Adam’s eyes popped open.

“Hi, Sparky, how’s it going?” Andrew asked.

“I think someone is trying to break in. Can you please come?” The sheer terror in Paisley’s voice had him flying out of his chair and motioning to Adam to follow.

“We’re on our way. Get into the bathroom and lock yourself in. Do not open the door for anyone. Do you hear me?”

A sob came as an answer.

Oh damn! If anyone hurt her…

“Do it now! We’re on our way. Stay on the line with me, sweetheart.”

Another sob. But he could hear her breathing heavily and sensed she was doing what he’d told her to do.

“I’m scared it might be Paul,” she whispered.

Paul? Why would she be afraid of Paul? Dammit! They should have questioned her about her past and her divorce from that asshole. Memories flashed through his mind about something odd being in Paisley’s eyes the first couple of days she’d been here.

“We’re outside the lodge now. We’ll be there in two minutes.” Man, he didn’t even remember taking the stairs down to the first floor or going through the lobby.

“What the hell has happened?” Adam shouted the instant they stepped out of the lodge.

Andrew winced as the cold early-October air slapped against his bare arms and his face.

“Someone is breaking into Paisley’s cabin,” he replied and started running along the moon glow lit path that led to the several secluded cabins.

Behind him Adam cursed and shot past Andrew at a fast run.

“Are you still there, Paisley?” Andrew asked.

“Yes.”

“Do you hear anything? Is the intruder inside?”

“I…I don’t know.”

“Don’t look. Just stay there. We’re almost there. I can see your cabin. Just keep quiet.”

“Okay…I’m so sorry…”

“What for?”

“For causing so much trouble.”

Andrew blinked in disbelief. Trouble? Holy crap, she thought there was an intruder and she was causing trouble? When he got to her, some serious questions were going to fly and he didn’t give two shits if it was painful for her. He needed to know the truth about Paul.

* * *

Paisley stood glued by the bathroom door, not daring to turn on the lights. Nor was she brave enough to open the door and get her ass out there to confront whoever the hell was sneaking around. And someone was out there. She’d seen the shadow and she’d heard a noise.

What if it was Paul? What if he had found her? He’d been so angry that she’d taken off on him and filed for divorce that he’d even stalked her before she’d gotten an order for him to stay away. After hiding out at a woman’s shelter for a while and then getting a place with Selena and Tatianna, she’d been surprised that Paul actually had stopped calling her. She hadn’t seen hide nor hair of him since then. But still…

Another more horrible thought made her grab the doorknob. What if it was Paul out there and he did something to Andrew or Adam?

“Be careful, he’s very dangerous,” she whispered into her phone.

Her hands and body continued to shake and cold perspiration swept across her forehead and down her back. She hated being this way. So cowardly. But her psychologist had said she would need some work in changing her reactions to unexpected sounds. Paul had kept her on guard and tense for years. Something like that wasn’t easy to get over.

“Hey, babe, I have plenty of years of security guard experience. I’ve got eyes on the back of my head.” Andrew said. His reassuring voice gave her a burst of courage. Despite Andrew telling her to stay locked in the bathroom, she needed to go and see if it was Paul. She needed to protect Andrew and Adam.

Holding her breath, she slowly unlocked the bathroom door, opened it a crack and peered out. The only sound was that of the faint whir of the small refrigerator.

Maybe she’d over reacted? Maybe it had just been a branch she’d seen moving? Maybe it had fallen from a tree onto the veranda? Sweet mercy, if she was such a nervous wreck here at a cabin so close to a lodge full of people, how was she going to handle living at the Art House, which was even more secluded?

Oh dear. Had she made a terrible mistake in coming here? If something happened to Adam and Andrew…

She froze as a shadow moved almost in the exact spot where she’d first seen it.

“Oh my God. He’s still here. On the veranda.”

“Dammit! Paisley, get back in the bathroom!” Andrew growled in her ear.

“He’s not going to intimidate me,” she whispered. Try as she might, she could not move another step forward. Fear kept her riveted to the spot.

“I see something,” came Adam’s voice. Muffled sounds followed. She couldn’t hear Andrew breathing anymore. She couldn’t hear anything.

Oh sweet heavens! Please let them be okay.

Suddenly a loud bang hit the side of the cabin and Paisley cried out.

“Andrew!” she cried into the cell. She swore if she gripped the phone any tighter her hand would crack.

No answer. Just a muted sound she couldn’t even guess as to what it might be.

To her horror, the dark shadow moved away from her patio door and disappeared.

“He’s going,” she whispered.

A sharp knock erupted at the side door and Paisley’s heart snapped into overdrive.

“Paisley! It’s us. Open the door,” Adam shouted.

“We’re at the door, Paisley. It’s safe,” Andrew said in her ear.

Relief shot through her. She could barely walk across the room, her legs were trembling so hard. When she reached out to unlock the security latch, she had to make several tries before it worked.

The door opened and she was swept into a pair of strong arms as Andrew embraced her. Behind him, Adam smiled at her as he stepped inside. He looked pale, yet relieved.

“It was a bear,” Andrew whispered. “Just a bear. You left something out on the picnic table and he got into it.”

“You’re kidding?” Paisley gasped as she held tight to Andrew’s arms. She didn’t want him to let her go. Not yet.

Yes, she’d had a snack of potato chips and a pop earlier this afternoon. She’d gone inside to the bathroom and then had gotten busy doing some dishes and forgotten the remaining items out on the picnic table.

“I am such an idiot. I should know better. I am so embarrassed.”

A thumb slid beneath her chin and Andrew tilted her face until she was looking into his eyes. They blazed with something awesome. Something she swore might be love.

No, she was grasping at straws again. She shouldn’t be thinking such a way.

“Never put yourself down like that again, Sparky. You are beautiful and giving and you did the right thing calling us,” Andrew whispered.

To her surprise, Andrew’s head lowered and he caught her mouth in a sweet, toe-curling kiss that short-circuited all of her thoughts. She forgot her fear and embraced the heat-seeking pleasure that melted her knees.

Hungrily, she kissed him back. Her hands mindlessly slid up his chest and settled against the nape of his neck. She pulled his head closer, loving the way his demanding lips sparkled nerve endings all over her mouth.

Suddenly just the two of them existed. Two impatient mouths exploring each other. Needing each other. Loving each other.

She moaned as Andrew pushed himself against her. His big cock pressed intimately against the juncture of her thighs.

Something hot and heavy sizzled to life deep inside her pussy. An urgency of gyrating her hips against his package rocked through her like an explosion. She would have followed her instincts, too, had Adam not picked that moment to cough softly.

Andrew broke the kiss and chuckled against her mouth. As he drew away, she noticed that Adam was grinning where he’d taken a seat on the edge of her bed.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. She didn’t know what else to say. It just seemed natural for her to say sorry. She’d been saying it to Paul for so many years.

Andrew shook his head and she detected anger flash across his face. His fury frightened her. She knew his reaction shouldn’t scare her, but it did.

“I want answers, Paisley. I’m not going to pretend anymore that I don’t care for you. I do,” Andrew growled.

He did?

He gazed over at Adam, who nodded at her.

“We need to know why you left us all those years ago,” Adam said softly. “We need to know why you’re afraid of Paul coming here. What kind of hell did he put you through?”

She tried to pull away from Andrew, but he grabbed her hands and held her close. His endearing gaze almost made her break into tears.

“Will you tell us everything, sweetheart? So we can figure out how to deal with what’s going on?”

Embarrassment made Paisley drop her gaze to the floor. Suddenly, she wished she was anywhere but here.

She shook her head. “I can’t.”

Andrew squeezed her hands reassuringly.

“Sure you can. I’ll make us some coffee and you can start from the beginning,” Andrew replied. He nodded to Adam, who stood and strolled into the kitchenette. He started the coffee machine, grabbed a chair and sat down at the table, then patted the seat of the chair next to his.

“Come. Sit here. Tell us everything, so we can help.”

Paisley shook her head and disbelief overwhelmed her.

“Help? That’s all you two have been doing since I got here. I can’t keep depending on you for help. I need to do things on my own.”

To her irritation, Andrew grinned. He was not taking her seriously.

“Sparky, you’ve never been one to ask for help and you probably never will. We are offering it and for as long as we know you, we will always offer it, whether you like it or not.”

She wanted to tell him she wasn’t that way and she would ask for help if she needed it. But she knew he spoke the truth. It was why she’d been stuck with Paul so long.

These guys really were her superheroes. But they couldn’t help what had already been done. Could they?

Reluctantly, Paisley nodded.

“Fine. I will tell you everything and I won’t hold it against you if you want nothing to do with me anymore.”

“That will never happen, Sparky,” Adam said.

Andrew let go of her. She worried her lower lip as she sat down beside Adam and nervously knotted her hands into her lap. Where could she begin?