The Brothers Rule - Carolyn Faulkner Page 0,46

unspoken agreement.

The next morning, the two younger brothers exchanged glances when they noticed that Laurie was sitting quite gingerly—when she couldn't avoid it all together—so they arranged to make a cushion surreptitiously available wherever she sat.

Their eyes also met when they realized that she was now referring to their older brothers as "Sir,” exclusively.

And that kind of told them everything they needed to know about the relationship among the three of them and the woman who was rapidly becoming a very important part of all of their lives.

Chapter 7

The three of them had come to her during the middle of that week with a suggestion for something she hadn't really thought of, but that she liked the sound of once they'd proposed it.

It was Adam who started the conversation, while Jace looked somewhat uncomfortable. "Honey, we've been talking, and we just really want this whole thing to be as clear and above board as possible. We never want you to feel taken advantage of, and we just thought that it might be the best thing if we had something written out about it that we could all sign that kind of defines our roles a bit more clearly and puts down on paper some things we've just talked about, maybe?"

Laurie had known that something was up, because she was sitting on the couch by herself; no one had lifted her onto their lap, as had become their habit.

"Would you be comfortable with Nick sitting in on a discussion and maybe drawing up an agreement amongst us?" Ryan asked.

Laurie shrugged. "I guess so."

"You're sure?" Jace asked then sighed. "We just want to do this the right way, and it seemed right to us to get some things spelled out. We'll probably never refer to this thing again, but we thought it might make you feel more… protected." He watched her eyes—and her body language—carefully. "Or are we just over-thinking things, and this would be too much?"

"No, I think you're probably right."

"And you're comfortable with Nick? Or would you like to find someone else?"

As if she could afford to hire an attorney of her own! But she didn't say that, knowing that they would just offer to pay for one. "Nick's fine."

And he really was. She knew from some of the conversations they'd had that he was the one who had suggested this arrangement in the first place, and she was as comfortable around him as she would be around anyone, she supposed.

"Okay, tomorrow night, we'll all meet in my study and talk about this."

When, the next day, they all got up as soon as Nick got home and trooped there together, Tanner was left sitting alone in the living room. "Hey! What about me?" he whined.

"This doesn't involve you, brat," Nick teased.

When they were inside, Laurie took a seat of her own, and to her surprise, Nick brought one of the office chairs over so that he could sit next to her.

The three other brothers frowned at him, because they were sitting on the couch, well away from her.

"Hey, why do you get to sit there?" Ryan asked, sounding more than a little butt hurt.

Nick took his seat and answered smoothly, "Because she's my client, not you. If any of you would like to retain counsel, you're more than welcome to do so and we'll reschedule until you do."

More dark frowns. "But you're our brother!" Adam complained.

"Yes, and there are three of you—all big, strapping guys with money and property—and then there's Laurie, who is all alone. And I am firmly on her side," he replied without the slightest hesitation.

Jace took exception to that. "Surely, you're not saying that we're trying to take advantage of her. You were the one who suggested we do this!"

"First of all, don't call me Shirley."

Laurie laughed at that, but the other brothers did not.

"Secondly, I am saying nothing of the sort. I'm merely pointing out that, of the four of you, she is the one most in need of representation."

Although he wanted to, Jace knew he really couldn't argue with that. Nick was right.

They hashed out a lot of things—some of which had everyone in the room blushing, including Nick, who tried to remain as professional as possible as he took notes.

"So, there's a schedule, and you're going to be in charge of it, right, Laurie?"

She nodded.

"It's going to spell out who is with whom and when?"

"Yes, with compensatory time for the others if I go on vacation with someone or whatever."

"I'm going to throw