The Brothers Rule - Carolyn Faulkner Page 0,39

of taken aback at just the idea of it, but then, I had the same kind of reaction when Jace told me I'd been sleeping with all of you when I didn't know it, too. It kind of makes sense, in a way. I hate to sound like a broken record, here, though, but I need to think about this."

"Of course, hon. We all love having you here…" he looked to his brothers for confirmation, and they nodded enthusiastically, "… as I hope we've managed to convey to you, and it's about much more than just you cooking for us, although that is definitely the way to our hearts. We just love having you around. None of us wants you to feel pressured in any way about any of this."

"Yes," Adam took over. "Regardless of what you decide, we want you to think of the ranch as your home and us, your family."

It was Jace who said what was in all three of their hearts. "Please remember, while you're thinking, that we adore you, darlin'. Every little bit of you. You're one of us, no matter what."

She could feel the flush creeping up into her face at all of the wonderful things they were saying to her. "I-I guess I have more—very different—thinking to do, then."

They were even more surprised when she asked to talk to them again a day later. It was Sunday. Since everyone was home, the four of them went into Jace's study.

Nick took a swig of his beer as he watched them all disappear into that room. "Wonder what that's about."

Tanner popped a piece of homemade Chex mix that Laurie had made for them into his mouth. "I hope they're going to get off the pot and take your suggestion, but Jace and Adam are hard to read, and I have no idea what she might be thinking."

"Whichever way it goes, it's going to be very interesting around here."

Tanner grinned.

"Shall we bet on the outcome?"

"Why? Which way do you think it's going to go?"

Tanner rubbed his chin a bit while deep in thought. "I think they're going to do it."

"Really?" Nick sounded amazed. "Jace and Adam agreeing to that? I can't see it, myself."

His younger brother stuck out his hand. "Bet?"

Nick didn't offer his yet. "What are the stakes?"

"Fifty bucks?"

"Bet!" he said, shaking Tanner's hand then pulling him into a headlock.

Inside the study, Laurie sat behind Jace's big desk, in his big chair, and he loved the picture she made. He'd bet her feet didn't touch the floor as she sat in his chair. She looked incredibly cute.

They were lined up on the couch, waiting for her to speak.

"Thanks for talking to me. I just have some questions."

"Shoot, babe," Ryan encouraged.

"So, if I said yes to this, how would things work out?"

"Things?" Adam asked.

Laurie rolled her eyes at them, saying again, more pointedly this time, "Yes, things. As in who sleeps with whom and when?"

"Oh."

That seemed to stymie them for a moment.

"Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but I haven't really thought much about the particulars. I figured we'd do that when and if we decided to go forward with this arrangement. But I suppose there would need to be some kind of schedule," Jace suggested.

Ryan brought up, "Yeah. You had that Google calendar going. That worked nicely."

"Okay." She didn't sound enthusiastic about that, but no one had any better ideas, at least not at the moment. "Um, this is really private stuff, but then… Jesus, this is awkward. So, I don't know how much you guys talk amongst yourselves, but," she took a big breath, "I'm submissive to all of you."

"Yes," they agreed.

Well, that settled the question about whether they all knew about how she was with each of them. "So, I would just continue to be submissive to all of you?"

"I'm not trying to criticize in any way, love, but why would you think you wouldn't be?"

Laurie glared at him. "Because you're all so friggin' dominant! The three of you? In the same house? All of you watching over me and punishing me?"

Adam grinned. "I don't see a problem with that in the least. Jace?"

Even he was smiling. "Me, neither. Ryan?"

He, too, was wearing a big smile. "Absolutely not."

"Yeah, well, as the one whose ass would end up blistered by multiple men, I don't think that I'm as enthusiastic about that idea as the rest of you might be. At least when we were living apart and dating, it wouldn't all