Party of Three: A H.O.T. Cops Novel Read Online Free PDF

that it seemed important to say something more, anything at all, before things had a chance to feel awkward— he’s here for sex, we all know he’s here for sex, and we’re just standing around acting like that’s normal —so she managed a smile and said, “What’s in the box?”
    “Ethan called before I hit the road—said the one thing he forgot was a birthday cake. So I picked one up.”
    She spared a quick glance at her boyfriend, who gave a light shrug—she supposed he’d had a lot to organize here and most of it had taken priority over cake. Then she stepped up and took the box from Rogan, her fingers brushing against his as she did, and the mere touch skittered up her arm like electricity.
    She peeked through the clear cellophane window on top, expecting to spy swirled icing, sugary roses, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MIRA —so it took her aback when instead she saw something much simpler. “Cheesecake,” she said, lifting her gaze back to Rogan.
    “Of course,” he said. “I remember what you like, Mira.”
    Oh Lord. The words melted all through her because they instantly had her thinking about so much more than dessert preferences. And his dark eyes said he was thinking about more than cheesecake, too. His look locked on hers, so intense that after a few seconds she felt forced to glance elsewhere. But her breasts ached and heat rushed to the spot between her thighs.
    And glancing away didn’t change the truth. She loved Ethan, but she remained deeply attracted to Rogan. Had Ethan bargained on that? Had he really thought through that aspect of this little arrangement? Had he realized that by involving her ex-boyfriend he might be stirring up old feelings inside her, old responses that suddenly felt way stronger than when she suffered them from a distance, across a softball field?
    She let out a breath. So much to think through. Her attraction to Rogan should make this easy. But … to be with two men for whom she’d experienced the deepest sort of emotions—that might be harder. Because she wasn’t supposed to feel those kinds of emotions for Rogan—but she feared already that being intimate with him might bring them all rushing back. And maybe Ethan knew all that—maybe it was a testament to his love for her that he would risk that, or that he would have enough faith in their relationship to think it wouldn’t matter. But what if he didn’t know all that? What if he’d forgotten she’d once been completely wrapped up in the other man he wanted to share her with?
    Thankfully, Ethan and Rogan had started making small talk now about Rogan’s drive up, and the bakery where he’d gotten the cheesecake. Which felt … almost normal. Almost.
    “I’ll, um, just go stick this in the fridge,” Mira finally said, actually glad to escape the two of them. In one sense that seemed odd to her, but at the moment she might feel a little safer alone. So she started to walk away, heading for the cabin’s front porch.
    “And Mira,” Rogan said, causing her to stop in her tracks, look over her shoulder. “Happy birthday.”
    And God, even just that—two very simple words, spoken in his deep, slightly rough voice—made her nether regions tremble. For some reason, she found herself answering with the same reply that she kept pointing out to Ethan. “My birthday isn’t until tomorrow.”
    “I know, honey,” he told her. “But I figure we’ll be celebrating it all weekend long—starting tonight.”

Chapter 3
     
    I t was to Mira’s great relief and surprise when, after that, things actually started feeling kind of normal. Truly, honestly normal. As if she and Ethan were the same couple they’d always been and they were just hanging out with a friend.
    Of course, there was no denying the weirdness involved in the way the cabin was laid out. It was a cute but overly simple place—basically one large room divided into areas, like a studio apartment. Which meant it came with one bed, queen size, its