His thoughts returned to Bram’s suggestion of them all moving into his house. A fresh ache pierced his heart. He couldn’t imagine a future that didn’t include Lacey. Didn’t include Bram.

He’d never felt this fucking alone. Not even when he’d run away as a kid and struggled to survive on his own. The streets might have toughened him, prepared him for life, but they’d never prepared him for this. To the rest of the world, he might still resemble the self-assured guy he struggled at portraying, but inside he was a mushy mess, pining for a woman and a life he would never have.

His motions listless, he cleared the light dusting of snow from the headlights of his truck before making the drive into work. The fortunate part about handling the afternoon shift was missing morning rush-hour traffic on Jefferson Avenue. Even that bit of good luck did nothing to lift his spirits. He pulled into his parking spot in front of the Dockside and killed the engine. Pocketing his keys, he made his way inside the restaurant.

A few of the regulars up at the bar called out greetings. Pasting on a smile, he shot a brief wave in their direction and crossed to his and Bram’s office. He peeled off his coat and tossed it onto his chair. The door snicked open and he turned. His gaze locked with Lacey’s startled one.

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t realize…” Swallowing, she dropped her focus to the floor. Refusing to look at him, she hurried toward Bram’s desk.

He stared at her while she dug through the small pile of invoices. It’d been five fucking days since she’d slammed the restroom door on him and Bram and left them reeling.

God, she was ripping his heart out. “We need to talk.”

She glanced up at him, her expression wary. “I’m kind of busy right now.” She gestured toward the invoice in her hand.

“That wasn’t a request.”

Her lips rolled into a tight line, but surprisingly she nodded. He zeroed in on her mouth, wanting with every fiber in his being to tug her into his arms and kiss some sense into her. If they were anywhere else but here, he would have. But he knew he was treading on perilous ice as it was. One false step and it’d crack right out from under him.

His life was in enough turmoil. He didn’t need to sink it further. “I’ve missed you, baby.”

Her mouth trembled. “You see me every day.”

“It’s not the same. Do you know how hard it is to be this close to you and feel like you’re miles away?”

“Would it be easier if I was?”

His stomach pitched, threatening to send up the coffee he’d choked down earlier. “What are you saying?”

“M-maybe it would be better for all of us if I sold my share of the Dockside.”

It took two angry steps to reach her. Once he did, he gripped her shoulders, resisting the urge to shake her. “Don’t talk fucking stupid shit like that to me, goddamn it.”

She gulped. “I didn’t mention it to make you mad, but I don’t want this to end up something that could hurt the business. I wouldn’t do that to you and Bram.”

“No, you’ll just stomp on our fucking hearts, that’s all.”

Tears gathered in her eyes. “I asked you not to make this worse than it already is.”

“It’s too late for that, baby. You and Bram, you’re the two things in this world that have kept me going. Given me a reason to believe that my life is worth a shit.” He eased his grip on her, but the tremor in his hands didn’t lessen. “I can’t remember a time I didn’t love you. I used to think it was impossible for me to feel any more miserable, knowing I couldn’t tell you what was inside my heart. But that doesn’t begin to compare with what I’m going through now.”

He let go of her and plowed his fingers through his hair. “Hell, maybe you’re the smart one. Locking out any chance of love and running in the opposite direction. Maybe if I’d done that, I wouldn’t be slowly dying inside.” Despite his best efforts to control it, his voice broke on the tail end of his statement. Worried he was seconds away from completely unmanning himself, he pivoted and strode from the office just as Bram stepped out of the stockroom carrying reels of receipt paper for the registers.

Bram halted, his expression worried. “What’s going on?”

“She suggested selling her share of the business.”

Bram’s focus veered to the closed office door. “What?”

His mouth twisted with bitterness. “My words exactly. I told her there’s no fucking way we’re going along with that.”

“Maybe I should talk to her.”

“It won’t do a damn bit of good,” he bit out flatly. “She’s never coming around.”

He figured Bram’s stricken features were a mirror of his own. He felt like the world’s hugest bastard killing Bram’s last hope, but it was a necessary evil.

They both needed to face the facts. Lacey might love them, but she was too afraid to ever allow them access to her heart.


Pain cramping her chest, Lacey stared at the door Ry had vacated only seconds before. She had the odd sensation that although she was standing in Ry and Bram’s office, she might as well be a universe away from the comfortable world she used to know.

Charlie’s words echoed with harsh recrimination inside her head. Life’s too short to regret the things we let slip us by because it hurts too much to let go of the past.

Oh God. What the hell was she doing? Everything she’d ever wanted was outside that door. She’d sustained herself with the fantasy of Ry and Bram through the toughest time in her life, and now she was too afraid to go after the real thing?

Ry was right. She was a coward. The awful shame of it sat like a boulder in her stomach.

They’d been there for her. Always. And she was hurting them in a way that was worse than the betrayal she’d gone through with Dan.

Her heart squeezed and tears streamed down her cheeks unchecked. If there was one thing she’d come to realize, it was that running didn’t do a damn bit of good. These past several days of barely surviving more than proved that fallacy.

So what the hell are you waiting for, you idiot?

A desperate sob hiccupping from her throat, she rushed toward the door. Those six steps felt like the longest of her life. She twisted the knob, banging her hip on it in her haste to open the door. Ignoring the burst of pain, she stumbled out into the bar area, looking around frantically.

She spotted Ry and Bram at the register installing receipt tape for George. Other than the four of them and the handful of customers situated at the bar and the neighboring booths, the room was relatively empty. Elvis was crooning about a blue Christmas on the restaurant’s speakers. How fitting. She cleared her throat, praying it’d be heard over the music. It must have worked because every eye turned on her, including Ry’s and Bram’s. Their faces looked haggard. Resigned.

She’d done that to them. Time to make things right. “You’re wrong. It’s not better to lock yourself away from love.” She stepped forward, her knees shaky. “I’m tired of being afraid.”

Ry stared at her, a fraction of the dark clouds lifting from his eyes. “So what are you saying?”

She took a deep breath, expelled it slowly. “That I love you guys, and I want to make our relationship work.”

George’s jaw dropped and speculative whispers cropped up from a few of the nearby diners. Oh yeah, they were going to have a field day with this one. Oh well. Might as well make it extra juicy for them. “My house is too small for the three of us. Much better to move into Bram’s.” A twinge of uncertainty shuttled through her. “That’s if the offer is still open.”

Ry and Bram practically leapt over the bar in their haste to reach her. Bram got to her first. He swung her into his arms and planted a hungry kiss on her that pretty much cleared up anyone’s doubts regarding which direction their relationship swung. Bram pulled back, his expression joyous. “It’s definitely still open. In fact, I think we should go get you packed right now.”

She gave a sniffly chuckle. “We can wait until tomorrow. I’m not going anywhere.”

Ry cupped the back of her head, his eyes flashing a tender fierceness. “Promise?”

She nodded. He leaned in, his lips brushing hers softly. “We’ll make this work. We’re the three amigos. Together, we can conquer anything.” His voice held undeniable conviction.

“I love you both. So much.” She stroked Ry’s and Bram’s faces, the emotion inside her chest no longer terrifying, but freeing.

“Hearing that is the best Christmas present you could have ever given me, baby.”

“Me too, Lace.”

She gave them both hopeful smiles. “So does this mean I’m saved from having to sing naked karaoke?”

Ry and Bram glanced at each other, their expressions thoughtful. After a silent debate they both pressed their mouths to her ears and whispered, “Not a chance.”

She feigned a sigh. Really, she couldn’t complain. When it came to helping a girl mark off her naughty list and teaching her to love again, her boys had been more than accommodating. Besides, she had every intention of making sure they performed their own naked karaoke.

Hey, fair was only fair.