Naughty Temptations

Epilogue

EpilogueOne year later

Depoe Bay, Oregon

ADDISON

Reclining on a lounger, serenaded by the sound of waves crashing into the rocky cliffs, I closed my eyes and sighed in relief. Thick fog blanketed everything beyond the deck rail, cocooning me in my own little private haven. I wished it could last forever but knew it would soon come to an end. The craziness of my life was about to increase threefold.

In two weeks, our parents would be checking in at the B&B and staying for at least a month. They wanted to be here when I went into labor, which should happen a week after their arrival, according to my due date. Considering I carried triplets it was doubtful I’d make it that long.

Good God, three babies. Talk about the shock of a lifetime. When the doctor gave us that news, I’d started hyperventilating and almost passed out. My mother laughed and informed me that my being an only child was a rarity in our family and multiples were the norm. Case in point, mom was a twin.

Gee, thanks Mom for telling me that after I got pregnant.

Considering my men, I pray the babies are not girls because I don’t even want to contemplate how their overprotective, dominant natures would be amped up to the extreme with daughters. The poor girls would never be able to date or bring a guy home. I can easily picture all three fathers cleaning their weapons on the porch while waiting to greet any boy brave enough to show up at our door.

All three men had vastly different reactions to my pregnancy and were slowly driving me insane. There was only one thing they felt the same about, s*x. My changing body and beached-whale belly turned them on bigtime. Although once I hit the eight-month mark, Dylan became worried that s*x would hurt the babies. He still participated, but he was incredibly apprehensive, constantly stopping to ask if everything was all right.

My calm in the center of the chaotic storm is Jagger. He helped keep Hendrix and Dylan from going overboard and is my biggest ally. Whenever a decision needed to be made about something, he firmly supported whatever I wanted, unless there were safety issues involved. He read all the baby and parenting books, and was my partner in birthing classes. When I increasingly couldn’t sleep because of being unable to get comfortable, Jagger was right there rubbing my back, ankles, feet or belly, somehow managing to calm the hyperactive babies with his presence.

But still waters run deep. Of the three brothers, he worried the most. Jagger just did so in silence. Having done the research, he knew the risks involved with carrying and delivering multiple babies and it terrified him. I saw it in his gray eyes, which became more shadowed with each passing day.

Dylan, on the other hand, had no problem voicing his concerns. Every step I took came with warnings from him, urging caution. I rarely walked anywhere that he didn’t have a hand on me to ensure I didn’t trip or fall. My morning sickness had been absolute hell for him. He’d paced and fretted worse than a mother hen and constantly issued orders for his brothers to do everything for me so I didn’t have to move or lift a finger. I dread having him in the delivery room because I know he’s going to badger the doctor to the point of needing to drink on the job.

Then there was Hendrix, who was giddy as a schoolboy about the triplets and loved everything about me being pregnant. He swore all three babies were boys and got in a verbal knockdown with anyone who said otherwise. Rix talked to my belly all the time, thrilling when the babies became active while listening to his voice. The bigger I got, the more fun he had watching the babies shift positions, kick and punch, various body parts protruding to distort the shape of my belly in ways I found disturbing. Hendrix just laughed and swore he knew which one was winning their tussles, declaring that baby was most like him and therefore his child.

My moments of peace and solitude were definitely numbered!

Our relationship is not perfect—not in the least. When we first settled here, the people in town had varied reactions to three men sharing one woman. It can’t really be called polygamy since we’re not married, although I heard that word whispered from many pairs of lips. Those whispers quieted down as the town became accustomed to us and realized we are committed to each other and running our business.

The four of us disagree a lot, get mad, fight then work together at finding a compromise everyone can live with. Hendrix enjoys instigating arguments because he is hooked on makeup s*x. Have I mentioned that he’s a complete and total horndog?

While it may not be anyone else’s idea of a dream, the life we created is pretty amazing and sounds like a fairytale. The Queen of Hearts and her Three Kings living a simple, happy life on the seashore.

The guys have been wonderful about keeping the B&B clean and uncluttered, yet this morning I went on a cleaning frenzy. Jagger calmly completed the tasks I barked at him to get done, telling his brothers I was nesting. Dylan flipped out over the chemicals in the cleaning products and the stress I was putting on my body. Yes, in hindsight I should not have climbed the ladder to dust the crown moldings but his reaction had been ridiculous. He’d climbed up the ladder behind me, swept me up into his arms, carried me down and told Hendrix to call the doctor. That had sparked an argument between the brothers and allowed me to escape for a moment.

Before long they’d realize I wasn’t in the room and tear the place apart until they found me. Especially Rix who would be anticipating making up. For now, I was enjoying the peace and solitude. Even the babies were calm and quiet for once, not flopping around as if they were in a bouncy house.

Glancing down at my abdomen, I cringed. Christ, if I got any bigger I was going to bust apart at the seams. My skin was stretched beyond taut and my navel, which had always been an innie, now protruded visibly through my clothes. I had to pee every five minutes and I swear the babies were using my bladder as a trampoline.

I would never admit it to Dylan, but he’d been right. I’d overdone the cleaning. My back ached and the muscles spasmed. Before long, I could no longer sit and found myself pacing the deck as I rubbed my rigid belly. And I needed to pee…again.

I heard all three of them before the French doors burst open and they spilled out onto the deck. Spinning on my heel, I intended to tell them off when warm water gushed down my legs and across my feet. I’m pretty sure my mouth hung open and my eyes widened in horror as I stared down at my wet pants.

Hendrix hooted his excitement and Dylan’s face took on a greenish cast. Jagger calmly came to my side and took my arm, guiding me back inside. “Everything’s fine,” he assured. Meeting Dylan’s panicked gaze he said, “You will not freak out. Not now.” Patting my hand he announced, “It’s time.”

I shook my head in denial. Suddenly, the idea of giving birth terrified me. “No. I’m not ready. I have three more weeks.”

“You may not be ready, but the babies are.”

Sometimes I hated his unflappable calm. But while his smile was reassuring, I saw fear in his eyes that amped up my own anxiety.

“Lieutenant,” Jagger barked at Dylan, who stood motionless. “Let’s go. Remember the mission plan?”

Dylan nodded numbly then scowled at Hendrix, who was doing a strange happy dance in front of the doors, blocking the way. Marching over to him, Dylan unceremoniously shoved Hendrix aside to clear a path. After that, I saw the soldier in him come to life. They all switched into Ranger mode, working together like a well-oiled military machine. Jagger stayed with me, helping me change out of the wet clothes, while Dylan went to retrieve the suitcase I’d prepared last week. By the time we made it to the front door, Hendrix had pulled up the SUV and had all the doors standing wide open.

“I’m driving,” he declared and no one protested.

After helping me up into the backseat, Jagger rested his forehead against mine and instructed, “Breathe. Like me. In…and out. There you go. We’ve got this.”

While I was certain they had this, I wasn’t so sure about me.

JAGGER

All the possible complications and statistics associated with multiple babies ran through my head like a horror movie I couldn’t turn off. Preterm delivery, low birth weight, pre-eclampsia, placental abruption, c-section, death of one or more—

NO!

Hell no. We’d made it past the thirty-two week average gestation for triplets and hit thirty-seven, which was considered full term. Addie was big as a house so the babies had to be a decent weight. There hadn’t been any indications of pre-eclampsia or placental abruption. I’d deal with surgery if it came to that. And I had to believe all three babies would be born healthy.

Being so involved in every step of the pregnancy had been amazing. With the first delivery video we’d watched, Rix and Dylan had turned into p*****s. That had left me free to attend every doctor visit and class with Addie. My brothers had no idea what they’d missed out on.

Now, with the time upon us, they were out of their element and simply following the mission plan we’d devised while I got to take care of Addie.

When we were settled in the SUV, I instructed Dylan, “Call Doctor Fraser.”

The hospital was located fourteen miles up the coast road. Being former soldiers, we planned everything, driving the route at various times of day to see how long it took. Since it was Saturday, I knew we were in for at least an hour drive.

Whipping out his phone, he hit the speed dial and waited. When it was answered, Dylan barked out, “Addie’s water broke. We’re on our way to the hospital.”

His head spun toward me in the backseat, horror filling his features. “What do you mean he’s not there?”

I explained what I’m sure the answering service also told him, but Dylan needed to hear it from someone he trusted. “It’s Saturday, not an office day. They’ll page Fraser and he’ll me us there. It’s fine. We have plenty of time. Labor lasts for hours.”

Meeting Rix’s wide-eyed gaze in the rearview mirror, I continued. “Don’t worry. There’s not going to be a roadside delivery today. Slow down, lead foot.”

Rix nodded and eased up on the gas pedal.

“Tell him to f*****g hurry,” Dylan commanded and disconnected the call.

The whole drive consisted of more of the same freaking out with me reassuring everyone. By the time we reached the hospital, Addie’s contractions were steady and five minutes apart.

Soon as Rix brought the SUV to a stop, Dylan charged out of the passenger door and ran inside. I sighed and helped Addie climb down. Before her feet touched the pavement, Dylan was back with a wheelchair. After getting Addie settled, I took the handles and wheeled her inside with both of my brothers urging me to move faster.

Christ, I was going to kill them if they didn’t chill out.

Dylan handled the paperwork while Rix parked the vehicle and a nurse took Addie’s vitals. The woman flashed me a thankful smile when I calmly provided all the pertinent information about the pregnancy, what time Addie’s water broke and how far apart the contractions were.

We were taken up to the labor and delivery floor, shown to a suite and Addie was instructed to change into a gown.

Much to my relief, a petite angel of a nurse quickly arrived at the bedside.

“My name’s Rachel. I’ll be taking care of you.” She patted Addie’s hand then glanced between my brothers and I. “Who’s the father?” she asked, barely batting an eye when all three of us claimed the role.

Rachel had a calming presence and the easy confidence from having assisted in delivering many babies. She even got Rix and Dylan to relax a little, which was a miracle. Once Addie was settled in the bed and hooked up to a monitor, Rachel performed a quick pelvic exam.

“Okay. Everything looks great. You’re fully effaced and dilated three centimeters. I’ll update Doctor Fraser.”

“Why the hell isn’t he here yet?” Dylan snapped.

Rachel chuckled good-humoredly and patted his arm. “We have a way to go yet. He’ll be here when it’s time.”

HENDRIX

I swallowed hard, struggling to breathe through the fear gripping my heart in a tight fist. “But what if he doesn’t make it in time?”

The nurse smiled. “Don’t you boys worry about a thing. I’ve assisted with hundreds of deliveries and even handled some alone.”

“Alone.” Dylan’s pale face took on a green cast and he swayed.

Rachel proved she had everything well in hand, moving swiftly, her calm demeanor turning into that of a large-and-in-charge drill sergeant. She slid a chair in behind Dylan, pushing him down when his calves hit the seat, and instructing him on his breathing. All the while, her quick gaze assessed Jagger then locked in on me. Pointing to my brother, she commanded, “Get him in a chair before he hits the floor.”

Was she telling me to get a chair for Jagger? Because I couldn’t feel my legs, much less move. As my brother headed in my direction, I realized she’d been talking about me. Hey, I was fine, thanks.

My ass landed on the chair hard and the breath was knocked out of my lungs. Next thing I knew, the nurse was waving a foul-smelling capsule under my nose.

“I did not pass out!”

My protest was ignored.

“Now listen here. This,” she waved a hand around, indicating the room. “This is my domain and I am in charge.” Her glowering gaze met each of ours in turn. “I have enough on my hands taking care of momma and the babies. You are three are grown-ass men. Straighten up and act like it or I’ll boot you out the door. Understand?”

A chorus of yes ma’ams earned us a nod of approval.

“You three have one job—support Addie. Got it?”

She waited for another round of affirmations before hustling off to call the doctor, secure in the knowledge we’d been properly put in our places.

Rachel was the s**t. “Damn, I like her.”

I grinned over at Dylan, who looked about as uncomfortable as a fish out of water. He didn’t enjoy being outranked and dressed down. Especially not when it came to Addie.

Jagger hovered next to the bed, taking Addie through the breathing exercises when another contraction hit. Christ, the way her belly went harder than rock was frightening, but apparently normal. Otherwise, Jag would have sent one of us useless lumps after Rachel.

What a f**k up. It was go time. Addie had to do all the work. The least we could do was be there for her, helping her through the birth of our children.

When the contraction ended, Jag praised our girl then turned on Dylan and me, calmly telling us what I’d just figured out. “If you had come to the birthing classes, you’d know how to help Addie and not be a nuisance.”

Jagoff!

Resting a hand on his forearm, Addie assured him, “It’s okay.”

A smile tugged up the corners of my lips until she continued. “That’s why I have you. And you can help your brothers.”

I scowled at the kiss ass, who grinned as if she’d named him King of the world.

Addie cringed in pain as her belly went rigid and the machine indicated another contraction. Rachel and Jagger were right. Dylan and I had to get our s**t together and be there for Addie. This was all about her. She had to take on all the pain and work of bringing our children into this world. I, for one, intended to be a part that miraculous event, not passed out on the floor. I wanted to be one of the first faces our sons saw. Dylan might get his ass kicked out of here, but not me.

Rising, I moved to the other side of the bed and took Addie’s hand. “You’re like a pro at this already, baby.”

She smiled up at me in thanks. A surge of pride washed over me and my heart did a flip in my chest. I may not have attended the classes or read all the doom and gloom stuff Jagger had but I understood the seriousness and risks involved. It was time to man up, forget my fear, and comfort the woman I love.

I soon discovered how exhausting and emotionally draining labor could be. We’d been at it for more than four hours with no relief in sight. Each time Rachel checked Addie’s progress there had not been much change.

And then we were thrust into a real-life nightmare.

DYLAN

I held my own until all hell broke loose. The monitors went crazy, alarms started beeping and I heard the pounding of feet running down the hallway. Glancing down I became fixated on a slowly expanding pool of blood staining the previously pristine white blanket. I stared at the blood with remembered horrors faced in combat flashing through my head as the room filled up with medical staff, who shoved all three of us out of the way. Shocked, we hovered in a corner of the room as medical terms that were a foreign language to us were called out.

Within seconds all the monitors had been moved onto the bed and Addie was being wheeled out of the room.

“What the f**k is happening?” I demanded.

Rix attempted to dart forward but Jag and I held him back.

“Let the doctors do their work,” Jagger numbly mumbled.

Finally, with our woman being raced down the hallway, a man in blue scrubs and a blue cap tied over his head approached us. The grim expression on his face made my knees buckle and once again, I was shoved into a chair.

The doctor said a bunch of stuff I didn’t understand because his voice sounded as if he was underwater. Or maybe I was? I had no idea.

We were taken to a sterile, private little waiting room and left alone for what felt like an eternity. When the doctor reappeared sometime later, I braced myself for bad news and prayed for a miracle. He told us that something I can’t pronounce had ruptured inside Addie and they’d had to do emergency surgery and it had been touch and go for a while but she and the babies were stable.

The grim look returned and I wanted to throat punch the asshole so he couldn’t tell us whatever bad news I saw coming.

There was a lot of medical mumbo jumbo before he finally said that to stop the bleeding they’d had to do a hysterectomy. I knew that one and what it meant. Addie wouldn’t be having any more babies, not that we gave a s**t. All we wanted was our girl, happy, healthy and in our arms. Nothing else mattered.

“I want to see her,” Rix demanded. When he didn’t a great response fast enough, he added, “Now!”

We were told Addie was still in recovery and had not woken up from the anesthesia yet. Then three nurses took us into a dressing room, garbed us up in the blue Smurf scrubs, hats and booties, and took us into a room with three molded plastic bassinets. The first held a baby wrapped up burrito style in a blanket and contentedly sleeping. The second baby had fought its way out of the blankets and was angrily kicking, punching and crying. The third was wide awake and stared up at us with squinted, assessing gray eyes.

Hendrix’s face was scrunched up in concern as he approached the second bassinet. He reached inside and one tiny hand wrapped around his finger, holding on tight.

One of the nurses sat Rix down in a rocking chair then picked up number two and showed him how to hold the baby. He started talking and the infant stopped crying, appearing to listen to his voice. Jag and I were also given rocking chairs and handed a baby. He was given number one and I got number three.

I looked down into the wrinkly little old man face and felt my heart seize. Nothing in the first thirty years of my life had prepared me for the moment I’d come face-to-face with my child. Me—a father. Holy s**t!

My head snapped up when I heard a nurse say, “Three healthy, perfect baby girls.”

“Girls?” Rix adamantly shook his head. “No. These aren’t our babies. We’re having boys.”

The nurse just chuckled and patted him on the shoulder. “You have girls.”

I’m pretty sure I heard her say, “God help them,” under her breath, but the newest shock had left me dumbstruck.

Girls. Three of them. Tiny, innocent girls who would grow up to be as beautiful as their mother. We had to protect them! The weight of that responsibility landed heavily on my shoulders.

“They’re never dating,” I grumbled, and looked to my brothers, who nodded in agreement.

Jagger gazed back down at the infant in his arms. “Soon as they can walk we’re teaching them how to fight.”

Our girls were going to be tough, able to kick some ass and skillfully handle a weapon. We’d teach them everything we know and show them the importance of being loyal to each other. Addie could help them with the girly stuff.

The nurse stayed with us through rocking, feeding and diapering our girls before we were taken to the recovery room to see our woman. Addie looked pale but when she caught sight of the six of us, her face lit up with joy.

“You look so beautiful,” Jagger praised.

Addie brushed it off saying she was a mess, but she was wrong. I’d never seen her look more stunning. And when Rix put baby girl two in the crook of her arm, she glowed. Jag put baby girl one in her other arm. I gently laid baby girl three across her chest and staggered back a step, stunned by the incredible sight.

The Queen of our hearts and our three princesses.

I met each of my brother’s gazes, a silent agreement forming between us. The Three Kings would protect all four of our Queens with our lives.

“All girls,” Addie laughed, sounding a bit crazed. “God help us!”