I probably should have questioned why I’d tucked that piece of information away, but I knew better. The attraction had always been there with all three of the brothers, even when I hadn’t liked them very much.
Once I was surrounded by black lace, I wasn’t sure what I was looking for. Preferably something that said fun and sexy more than desperate housewife. Noticing a babydoll with a plunging neckline and open back that came together with a silky black tie, I knew I’d found the one. It even had a matching lacy black thong.
When Petra caught sight of my selection, she whistled. “Now, that’s what I’m talking about.”
“It won’t make me look like I’m trying too hard?”
“Impossible. You’re going to look fucking hot.”
Well, okay, then.
When we finished in the boutique almost an hour later, I decided I was never taking Petra lingerie shopping with me again. She’d managed to talk me into buying more lacy garments than I knew what to do with. Of course, to her dismay, I’d also purchased a few practical items, like actual pajamas. I got cold while I slept, and I couldn’t always count on having a warm, male body next to me.
Not that I’d slept alone recently. I wasn’t sure if Leo and Tristin had devised some kind of schedule, or if it just happened naturally, but I always found one of them with me at the end of the night. And I definitely wasn’t complaining. I’d never slept better, especially after the removal of my cast earlier in the week. I was finally free, and I couldn’t have been happier.
The doctor hadn’t cleared me for all of my usual activities yet, which meant no bike riding. But I was doing my leg exercises religiously and was already feeling stronger when I walked. Since the football guys had still shown up with the golf cart all week, this shopping trip was my first real test of endurance. So far, so good, but we needed to get on with the real reason we were out and about—finding gifts for the guys.
I’d never been this nervous about purchasing gifts before. Aunt Emmy and I had only ever exchanged something small, and Tobias had always been happy with a new baseball tee. When it came to buying a nice, meaningful present, I was completely out of my depth.
“Where to next?” Petra asked.
“I was hoping you could tell me.”
She gaped at me. “You mean, you haven’t even come up with any ideas?”
“Well, not exactly. I’ve been kind of busy. You know, with finals and my leg and endless boy drama.”
Releasing a longsuffering sigh, she said, “Okay. It’s the thought that counts, right? They’re already rich, so there’s no point in spending much money on something expensive that they can buy for themselves.”
“True.” She stared at me, clearly waiting for me to do the work. “Tristin likes to read, so maybe a book or a series of books?”
“Perfect. There’s a bookstore across the street, so why don’t we start there while you brainstorm ideas for the others?”
“Sounds good.”
When we walked into the bookstore, I immediately felt overwhelmed. I didn’t even know where to start. It wasn’t like I knew what he’d already read.
Except…I had seen several books on his boat that one time I’d snooped around in the cabin. He’d had a copy of Dune and a couple of Percy Jackson books and one other that I couldn’t remember.
“Any thoughts?” Petra asked.
“Maybe another series by the author of the Percy Jackson books?”
“Rick Riordan.” She headed straight for the young adult section and to the books in question.
This time, it was my turn to gape. “You come here often?”
“Not anymore. I don’t really have time to read for pleasure, but I used to come here all the time in high school.” When I merely blinked at her, she shrugged. “What? I like adventure, and since I can’t afford to take many of my own, I read about them.”
“Fascinating.”
She shot me a playful glare. “You don’t know everything about me, you know.”
“Clearly.”
Turning to the shelf, she asked, “He’s already read Percy Jackson, right?”
“I’m pretty sure.” That was as confident an answer as I could offer.
“Then, I recommend The Heroes of Olympus series, since it’s the sequel.”
I started to reach for the individual paperbacks but then noticed a set of the hardbacks. It was kind of pricey but would be a much nicer gift. “What if he’s already read them?”
“That’s what gift receipts are for.” She slung an arm