Chapter Thirty-Two
Derek’s heart burst with love as he gazed at Ella sleeping in his bed. I’m going to have a family. Babies. I’m going to be a father. Ella wants more children. She wants my children. He ached to fuck her, but she needed to heal. He’d brought her home early from Colleen’s to rest.
“Cade is on his way here,” Garrett whispered from behind him. “He got stuck in the same traffic your parents did on the interstate and missed the wedding ceremony. He swung by the reception and talked with Colleen and Sammy, but missed you and Ella.”
Derek turned around and motioned for Garrett to follow him. “So, he’s come to his senses?”
“He’s all over the place.” Garrett walked into the hall beside Derek. “I didn’t help matters by telling him how I feel.”
“Did you tell him what his father said to me?” Derek slipped his hand into Garrett’s and led him into the guest bedroom next to their bedroom where Ella slept.
“I didn’t get to. He mentioned his father thought we should all move in to Cade’s place. Together. Me. You. Ella. Cade. Under the same roof.”
Derek closed the door and walked to the bed. “Ella’s hell-bent on buying land and building a house and warehouse. We’d have to convince her.” Cade would demand she marry him. She would lose the Winthrop name.
“She wouldn’t need much convincing. He’s the one who is stuck in yesterday’s trauma.” Garrett let go of Derek’s hand and sat at the edge of the bed. “I can’t believe I gave him a hand job. Shit. I know he’s freaking out. Remember when you did that to me the first time?”
“Do I ever.” Derek stepped between Garrett’s legs and embraced him. “I was so worried you’d beat the shit out of me, but hoped you’d accept me.” He rubbed his hand down the powerful muscles of Garrett’s back. “I saw a future with you and the woman of our dreams back then. We have it now, but we need Cade. Our Ella needs three men. If we were in the same house, we could be a true family. My parents could move in here.”
Garrett’s hands slid under Derek’s jeans. “I loved you back then. I didn’t want to hurt you. I wanted to kiss you, but it scared me. Cade is scared. We have to convince him that it’s okay to love a guy. That he hasn’t changed. That the three of us can keep Ella safe. That we’re all better when he’s with us.”
“We’ll convince him,” Derek said. Ella is safe when we work together. We’re all safer as a unit. He patted Garrett’s back. “Let me talk to him.”
“I need him,” Garrett whispered. “I don’t want to live without him.”
“We all need him. He manages all our lives outside work, even mine. I don’t know how he keeps up with my schedule at the hospital, but he does. He sends a box of snacks to the hospital for me once a week. He adds reminder notes to pick up Ella for sleepovers at our house, not his.”
Garrett laughed. “He sends me dinner at the office most nights.”
“He wants to be with us. I bet he’s going to sit down with us and hash out a plan for the future.” I’m going to need Cade with a houseful of kids. I’ll have at least three. Cade could have a couple with Ella too. We can plan our family together.
Garrett slapped him on the ass. “I’m going to take a shower. You go and see if he used his key or is standing at the door waiting for us.”
“I’m going to try to talk to him either way,” Derek said. He pivoted and walked out of the bedroom and down the hall. He peeked in on Ella.
The covers were crumpled in the middle of the bed beside Cade. Ella’s head tucked under Cade’s chin, and her nude body sprawled over his bare chest. His shirt, tie, and jacket were laid on the chair in the corner.
Derek walked into the room and over to the bed. “I’m glad you came in and made yourself at home.”
Cade whispered. “I took my shoes off in the foyer. I saw the note.”
So you do follow rules? “Can we talk?” Derek whispered.
“I don’t want to wake her.” Cade closed his eyes. “This is killing me.”
“We can work this all out. Ella loves all of us. We’re in good financial shape and comfortable with our sexuality. It would be unorthodox, but we can live together. Your parents and mine both support our relationships.” You’re here, so at least a part of you wants to make our situation permanent.
“I don’t see how,” Cade mumbled. Tears fell from the corners of his eyes. “She wants children, and I can’t give them to her. I’m not staying. I’m going on a business trip overseas in the morning.”
“You can’t leave. Not now. You can have children. The twins could be yours.” Why don’t you believe me? I’ve never lied to you.
“I can’t have kids. I called. I double checked. I’m flying up there to get my medical records and have a consultation with two other doctors to see if the procedure can be reversed.”
I don’t know who you’re talking to, but they are total fucking idiots. I have showed you the results of the tests I ran. They aren’t fucking mistakes. “Have them send me the records and put me on conference call with them during your consultation. Do not let anyone do anything without me being there.”
He nodded. “Okay.”
“We need to talk about you and Garrett,” Derek said. “What happened between the two of you—”
“—was a mistake, and one that will never happen again.”
Ella moaned and shifted. She rolled her hips and lined her pussy up with his bulge.
Cade gently rubbed her ass. “I love you.”
She sighed.
Garrett is right. You, Cade, are one hundred percent freaked out over the hand job. You’re making sure your desire for her is the same. It is. I promise. You’re into her more than you’ve ever been into anyone, but you love Garrett. Maybe you’ve never married because you need a man in your life too? Garrett is the same. I am too.
“Don’t fuck her. She’s healing,” Derek said.
Cade inhaled and opened his eyes. “I’m not going to. I love her. I don’t want to hurt her.”
“Leaving will hurt her. You’ll break her. Please, don’t go.” Derek shoved his hands in his pockets. You can’t get on a plane tomorrow. I have to stop you.
“She’s safer without me. Please, let me have some time alone with her before I have to go. I promise I will call you and Garrett every day.”
“Do not leave the house without telling me,” Derek said.
Cade turned his head to the side and closed his eyes. “I’ll talk to you later.”
A miserable pit formed in Derek’s stomach. He wanted to throw up. Ella will never get over you. Garrett won’t either. They don’t fall often, but when they do, it’s with their whole heart. Don’t throw their love away. “This is not goodbye.” He walked out of the room and closed the door.
Garrett stood nude at the door to the guest bedroom. “I think we’ve lost him.”
Derek’s heart sank to his stomach. “Me too.”