BareBottomGirl (3 page)

She shook her head, easing away. Her smile was tinged with
wariness. Chas wanted to hold onto her, keep her from leaving. And just where
the hell was that coming from? But he had the feeling the harder he tried to
hold her the more she’d fight to get away. Instead, he stepped back and watched
her slide behind the wheel. This time she started the car. With a faint,
lopsided smile, she put it in gear and rounded the circular drive to head back
toward the gates.

“You like her.” Liam’s voice held nothing accusatory, just
an observation.

Chas looked over to where Liam leaned against one of the
porch pillars, his hands jammed in the pockets of his khaki slacks. Peepers and
crickets buzzed and chirped in the background. “I think she’ll be good with
Wyatt. She seems like a sensitive young woman…”

“Stop it.” Liam growled, his brows diving together. “I saw
the way you reacted to her. When I say you like her, I mean she turns you on.”

Chas stood in the middle of the driveway, staring at the
best lover he’d ever had. More than that, Liam was the best friend he’d ever
had. They had never kept secrets, but they’d also never really discussed
bringing a woman into their relationship. Hell, they’d never seriously
discussed either one of them on their own fucking a woman. Chas had simply
accepted Liam had an ex-wife, and Liam had simply accepted Chas was mostly
married to his work, just like Liam was to his sculpting. What was between them
worked because they were friends first and foremost.

“She’s young. She’s pretty. What’s not to like?”

Liam snorted. “You’ve got young and pretty around you at the
hospital every day.”

“True. All right, yeah. There’s something about her,” Chas
admitted. “Maybe I just feel sorry for her. I mean she’s had some pretty rotten
luck when it comes to work.”

Liam closed his eyes and tilted his face to the sky. “I had
pictured someone older to hire, but you’re right. There’s something… Hell, I
don’t know…sweet, sad, kind. Wyatt could use kind, something Julie and her
parents aren’t overly endowed with. So what do we do about that?”

“Hire her, provided she passes a basic background check.”

“That’s a given. Wyatt has enough crazies in his life with
Julie and her family. Somehow, I don’t think Greer will have a problem with the
background check. What if we’re attracted to her?” Liam opened his eyes, staring
at Chas through the descending darkness. “How’s that going to work?”

Chas spread his palms. “I don’t know. Can we just play it by
ear? I don’t get the feeling she’s looking for anything more than a job. And I’d
guess that hasn’t been easy, not with the panic attack we saw tonight.”

He walked across the drive and up the two shallow steps to
where Liam was. He slung an arm around his shoulders and grinned. “Sex with the
nanny. A bit cliché, wouldn’t you say? The thing is, I really do think she’ll
be good for Wyatt. I wouldn’t want to turn her away because she’s young or
lovely.”

Liam’s hand stroked his cheek. “Do you know what a turn-on
that is—you worrying about my son?”

“In this case, I find I’m worried about our prospective
nanny too. Not about the panic attacks. Those can be controlled. It’s the look
in her eyes. Funny, huh?” Chas turned his face so his lips touched Liam’s palm
before he asked, “You want to call her, or you want me to?”

“I will,” Liam murmured. “Tomorrow. Right now? Kiss me.”

Chas wrapped his arms around him, snugging their hips
together before locking lips with him. The instant heat was something he didn’t
think he’d ever get used to. “Let’s go to bed. I’ve got early rounds downtown.”

Liam’s hand slid between them, rubbing Chas’ hardening cock.
“Is that for me or because you finally set eyes on a woman you find attractive?”

Chas stared at him. “It just is. I’m a guy.”

Liam smiled. “Well, we better play it low key if we hire
her. She seemed a little spooked about something. In the meantime, I believe I
can take care of your little problem.”

“Little? Take your time. We’ll see how little it is.”

What it ended up being was fast and furious, clothing
already coming off as they raced up the broad staircase and down the upstairs
hall to the master suite. Chas wanted to top, and while Liam was willing to go
there, he wasn’t willing to relinquish all his authority, pushing Chas onto his
back and crawling over him until he straddled his thighs.

“Hand me the lube,” Liam said.

Chas passed it to him then leaned back against the pillows
with a grin. “Even when you let me fuck your ass, you still have to stay in
control, don’t you?”

Liam raised his brows. “Complaining?”

He rubbed lube over Chas’ thick shaft.

“God, no. Mount up, baby, and let me slide inside.”

Liam positioned Chas’ cock at his opening, then holding his
gaze, slid over him. As the head of his cock popped through the ring of
muscles, Chas loved the way Liam’s eyes widened. Chas’ shaft swelled even more,
making Liam grunt as he impaled himself.

“That’s it. Ride me.” His gaze was glued to the way Liam’s
cock bounced with his movements. “Touch yourself.”

Chas loved watching Liam’s hard body glisten with sweat,
loved the way his lean, aristocratic features tightened and sharpened with
passion. He couldn’t help himself. Reaching out, he replaced Liam’s hand with
his, watching his lover through narrowed eyes.

“Have you ever thought about what it might be like to add a
third?”

“Yes. Fuck!”

Chas grabbed the lube, added some to his hand, making the
contact even slicker. Liam panted, his ass tightening around Chas’ shaft. The
fantasy of bringing a woman into their bed was an incredible turn-on. He tried
not to put a face to that, instead just imagining how it might feel. With a
growl, Chas grabbed Liam’s hips and slammed himself home as hard as he could.
There was nothing gentle in what they were doing tonight, just raw, fast sex.
With a final push, he arched off the bed and came, feeling his seed shoot
inside Liam again and again.

As they lay on the bed, side by side a few minutes later,
Liam began to laugh.

“What’s so funny?”

“You do realize the housekeeper’s rooms are right below the
master suite.”

“Holy shit.”

* * * * *

“How did your interview go, Greer?” her mother asked as soon
as Greer stepped back through the doorway.

With both her parents watching expectantly, she wanted so
desperately to be able to lie and tell them it had been wonderful, but they
would find out soon enough that wasn’t the case when she didn’t get the job.

Clutching her purse tight to her stomach, she whispered, “I
had a panic attack.”

Greer hated the sympathy in their eyes. It had been like
this ever since she’d gotten out of the hospital.

“Before or after the interview?” her father asked.

Greer clamped her lower lip to keep it steady. Taking a deep
breath, she said, “During. They were very nice. Lee Carle is hiring a nanny.”

“The sculptor?” Her mother sounded awed. “I don’t know why I
never made the connection, but honestly, the last name’s common enough in this
area. Was his wife there too? She might be more understanding.”

Greer frowned slightly. “No. I think he’s divorced, because
they said his son, Wyatt, is only there for visitation a couple of times a
month. A doctor shares the house with him. Charles Lynch. Chas. They’re
friends.”

Her father’s dark brows rose.

“Daddy!”

“Well, it is a little odd, though I suppose the house is big
enough you might never run into another person living there.”

Greer shrugged. “It doesn’t matter, anyway. No way are they
going to give the job to someone who went into a full-fledged panic attack. Who’d
want that around a small boy? Besides, they were really looking for someone
older than me.”

“I’m sorry, honey,” her mother commiserated. “Mrs. Lawson at
work mentioned she’s looking for someone to help with her kids while school’s
out. That might give you something for a couple months so you can look.”

Greer tried to summon a smile. “Thanks, Mom. Is it all right
to call her at the store?”

“Yes, but let me leave you her cell number too.”

Greer made the excuse that the panic attack had left her
with a headache and slipped away to her own room. After changing into the
t-shirt and boxer shorts she usually slept in, she opened her laptop. She was
curious now about the two men at the Carle estate.

As she waited for the computer to boot, her glance slipped
to a framed photo of Markus. He sat on the gunwale of one of their friends’ ski
boats, grinning and squinting into the sun while the wind ruffled his
sun-bleached hair. He’d be older than her right now since his birthday was last
month…or would have been if he were still alive. Greer flipped the picture
frame face down on the shelf behind her desk.

She didn’t want to relive the accident, not tonight, not in
the wake of that panic attack. Not in the wake of finally feeling some
curiosity about other men…man, she corrected herself. As in one.

She typed in Liam Carle’s name. In addition to images of his
work, several images of him came up as well. The one that caught her eye was an
image from a recent art exhibition. Dressed in a tux, he was standing next to
none other than Chas Lynch. Liam was the night and Chas was the day. Her glance
shifted from one to the other. It seemed to her their personalities went along
with their coloring. Her dad thought they were gay. Greer rolled her eyes. In
this day and age, who cared? From a purely feminine standpoint, she admitted it
was too bad. They were both gorgeous.

Greer Googled Chas. She found Dr. Charles Lynch, surgeon,
listed at St. Mark’s Medical Center. She shivered, her memory instantly taking
her back five years ago. She remembered St. Mark’s all too well. She’d been in
so much pain, not just from the burns, but from the fractures to both legs.
Even worse was finding out Markus hadn’t made it.

Greer shut down the laptop, shut off her memories, and forced
herself to think of something else. In this case, she stared at the artwork on
her walls. Mostly sketches or pen and ink drawings of animals, they were all
her own work.

She wished Liam and Chas would hire her. Just to be able to
work near a sculptor like Lee Carle would be incredible. She shook her head.
What was she thinking? Even if she got the job, she would never be invited into
his studio.

* * * * *

Chas woke him with a kiss. God Liam loved that almost as
much as he loved the sometimes rough sex they shared. Feeling his lover’s mouth
on his made his throat tighten. Chas gave him something he’d never had…simple
affection with no strings attached. Chas didn’t want anything from him other
than his company, his friendship, and his love. Could any woman match that
without some ulterior motive? Liam wasn’t sure. At one time he had been
confident around women, but Julie had changed that making him question what a
woman wasn’t saying just as much as what she did say.

“I have to get going,” Chas muttered. “I’ve got rounds
followed by surgery around lunch time. I may be late.”

“I’ll be in the studio most of the day.”

“Don’t forget to call Greer. Get her okay to do the
background check.”

Just the thought of Greer Davidson’s wide eyes and uncertain
smile was enough to improve his mood. Liam smiled lazily. “I will. My
attorney’s drawing up the employment agreement. When do you want her to start?”

Chas laughed. “Yesterday? I don’t know. As soon as you can
get everything in order. Thanks for giving her a chance, man. I know you’re
going out on a limb since we are talking about Wyatt’s care and all, but I just
have a feeling she’ll be perfect. She might not have years of experience, but
it’s obvious how sweet she is.”

Liam thought of that as he finished his morning coffee a
couple of hours later, wondering just how soon he could convince her to start.
Chas really seemed confident she would be great for the job, great for all of
them. Liam wasn’t quite sure how that was going to work. Women hadn’t been high
on his list since his divorce, but he wanted Chas to be happy. If she was good
with Wyatt and Chas liked her, that would be enough. They probably wouldn’t see
much of her anyway. She’d have her own quarters. She would be just an employee,
nothing else, so there was no reason to personalize anything.

It surprised him how nervous he felt about calling her. He
glanced at the clock. Eight-thirty surely wasn’t too early. The line rang
several times. Liam was about to hang up when he heard a breathless voice on
the other end.

“Greer?” He paused, thinking of her panic attack the
previous evening. “Are you all right?”

“Liam. I mean, Mr. Carle?” She sucked in a deep breath. “Yes,
I was running on the treadmill.”

He pictured her not in sweats but in some of those skimpy running
shorts and a little jogging bra. When his cock twitched, he glanced at it in
surprise before her voice brought him back to task.

“If you’ve decided not to hire me, I’d just as soon you told
me and got it over with.”

God, had he been silent that long? He adjusted his pants to
provide more room for his aching dick.

“That’s not it at all. We want to hire you, Greer. Chas and
I both think you’re the best fit for us and for Wyatt. We’ll need to do a
background check. I’ve got your resume, but a social security number would
speed things up.”

“No problem.”

He scribbled it down as she rattled it off.

“I know we didn’t talk about salary…”

“I’m sure it will be fine…” She sounded breathless, but this
time he didn’t think it was from the running. So was that little hitch for him…for
Chas…or just the excitement of getting a job? Get real. She wanted a job. He
wanted help with Wyatt and the house. Period.

He cleared his throat and told her the figure he and Chas
had agreed on, but all he heard over the phone line was silence. “You’ll have
your own suite of rooms. You can choose to eat with us or on your own, but we’re
not formal. Of course, when Wyatt’s here, we’d expect to eat as a family.” When
she still didn’t say anything, he asked. “Is that okay, Greer?”