MenageaDare (35 page)

Bartholomew Stratham could be relentless and he’d insisted
that if Eve didn’t come home on the first flight out of Nevada in the morning,
he’d either come get her himself or send in the big guns, the Maddox brothers.
Eve didn’t want anyone rushing to Nevada. She wanted to deal with her dad one
on one.

“Most of them,” she admitted after a second. “Please
understand, I’m a little homesick and worried my father will never accept the
two of you in my life.”

Jaxon lifted their joined hands to his mouth. “If you leave,
are you ever coming back? Is this the end of the three of us? Be honest,
Evelyn.”

“No, it’s not the end,” she stated firmly. “Once I know
everything’s all right, I’ll come back and we’ll figure out how to be together
long term.”

“Why do I have a feeling you’re keeping something from us?”
Remy questioned.

“Remy, you know my dad. If he says he’ll pull the plug on
your show, he will. If he says he’ll call even one of the Maddoxes, you know
he’ll do it and they’ll stomp all over Dare demanding answers from you and
Jaxon. I won’t let that happen. I love you both too much to let anything or
anyone threaten you.”

Almost on cue, Eve’s phone went off. Digging it out of her
small shoulder bag, she frowned. Her father called again.

“See,” she said, turning the screen so the men could see how
many missed calls from her father had come in between the time they’d left the
senior living facility and arrived at the inn.

“All right,” Remy agreed. “For the record, if you don’t
return in a couple days, I’m hauling my ass back there to speak with him in
person.”

“Don’t drive back alone,” she insisted. “Please, if I don’t
come back in a few days, wait until Jaxon can join you.”

“That’s a good idea,” Jaxon agreed. “I don’t want either of
you to leave at all. However I realize you’ve lives to get back to.”

Eve inclined her head gratefully, feeling guilty as hell for
not mentioning the call she’d made to Dr. Martin. Maybe she was avoiding the
issue, maybe she was in denial or using everything that happened that day as an
excuse to explain what she’d found in her breast as a bruise.

Maybe that was all she was dealing with. If so, she’d be the
happiest woman on the planet. If it was serious, she’d tell the men she loved
and hope they would stand by her the way her father stood by her mother. As
difficult as he was, he’d loved his wife and still missed her.

Trying to ease her fears by concentrating on her phone, she
apologized to Jaxon and Remy and crossed the room to speak to her father in
private. When the argument became heated, she was relieved when Remy took the
phone, assured her dad that she was coming home in the morning and turned the
device off.

Soon after, he and Jaxon took Eve to bed. They didn’t have
sex, as no one seemed to be in the mood when things were left unspoken. To
their credit, they didn’t press her. They simply held her while she slept
restlessly.

In the morning, she slipped out of bed, took a quick shower
and dressed. Before leaving, she kissed her men goodbye, promising to call when
she got home. They saw her to the door, offering to join her in the lobby until
Gabriel and Taylor met up with her, but she told them she’d be fine.

Walking away, Eve bit back tears. She didn’t want to leave,
hoped it was a temporary situation and all would turn out all right. In the
lobby, Taylor and Gabriel were already there waiting for her.

Within minutes, the slipped into a waiting taxi and were off
to the airport. The closer they were to leaving Nevada, the farther Eve felt
away from her men, guilt and fear plaguing her.

Dammit, she should have told them, she should have confided
her worst fears. By leaving, she’d only given in to them and may have ruined
the best thing that ever happened to her.

Half an hour later, as Eve sat with Taylor in the private
jet, Gabriel walked by pausing, his eyes questioning. Inclining his head, he
said he’d file a flight plan and they’d depart when granted permission then
disappeared into the cockpit.

Taking out her phone, Eve pulled up Remy’s number, hitting
send. When his phone went to voicemail, she left a message.

“I love you, Remy. I love Jaxon. Please forgive me, but I
need to see Dr. Martin. That’s why I’m really going home. Forgive me and know I
will call back to explain as soon as I can.” Ending the call, she was tempted
to try again but decided to wait.

Sad that she left the way she had, she thought back to the
first night she’d spent with her lovers. They were good men. Jaxon had been
emotionally reserved at the beginning but when he’d made love to her, she’d
been given reason to hope that he would want their relationship to continue for
the long haul.

Since then, a lot had happened, but she’d been just as
guilty of not telling him she loved him, of letting her doubts rule rather than
her heart. Remy and Jaxon were important to her, she needed to fight for them
and believe that they’d weather this storm.

Setting the phone on airplane mode, she set it on her lap,
waiting and hoping Remy would call or text her back.

Sprawled out on a hotel bed, Remy listened to the sound of
running water and a razor occasionally tapping against a sink. Jax was shaving.

It should’ve been gratifying to know one of his lovers was
nearby, yet it wasn’t. His heart ached. Eve left and it felt as if a distinct
part of them was gone.

Hoping to find out why she did a one-eighty since yesterday
when everything was just fine, he picked up his cell phone from a side table
and realized he’d set it to vibration the day before. Having missed a call from
Eve, he listened to her message, his heart squeezing harshly when she mentioned
Dr. Martin.

Oh, shit, oh shit, when they were in Colorado, Eve mentioned
that Dr. Martin was her gynecologist and his blood ran cold. If she suddenly
needed to see a doctor she trusted, that could only mean one thing.

“Dammit, Eve, why didn’t you tell us the truth last night?”
he demanded, belatedly realizing the bed dipped beneath the weight of a man.
Jax’s hand landed on Remy’s thigh, squeezing.

“Talk, Remy. Why’d Evelyn leave?”

“She’s gone home to visit her GYN. Considering her mother
had breast cancer, maybe she felt something during a self-exam or something
else could be wrong. Whatever it is, it must be serious enough to make her
leave so abruptly.”

“When I joined her in the shower yesterday she became testy
when I touched her breasts. Hell, I should have paid more attention to her body
language. She was definitely not in the mood.”

“I have to go home, Jax. Eve shouldn’t go through this
alone.”

“You’re right. I’m coming with you,” Jax replied.

“Your mom and stepdad have been through quite an ordeal.
Maybe you should stay until you’re sure they’re okay. Once Eve sees Dr. Martin,
I’ll come back or both of us will.”

“Mama was already more lucid when we left her apartment last
night. Gerald’s going to be fine. I’ll call their doctors and make sure it’s
safe to go, but I can’t let Evelyn think I wouldn’t be there for her too.”

“I don’t understand why she wouldn’t tell us what was really
going on with her.”

“Yesterday, she packed a picnic basket. I think she brought
it up to the clearing to have lunch with us.”

“If you’re right, why didn’t she stay?”

“I can only guess, but perhaps she overheard me say I loved
you and was a little hurt that I haven’t said the same to her. I’d intended to
when I caught her alone in the shower, but she was evasive and I panicked a
little.”

“You really do love her, don’t you?” Remy asked.

“Yes, I love Evelyn very much and I’m going to do everything
I can to make sure she never doubts her place in my heart,” Jaxon confessed,
picking up Remy’s hand and holding on tight. “Without her, the three of us are
not whole, I’m not whole.”

“I’ll call Gabriel and see if it’s not too late to stop the
plane. If necessary, we’ll book a flight to Boston. You call Gerald and your
mom.”

Jax agreed, getting up to find his phone. It was a relief
for both of them that Saraphina Wynter was doing well when they left the hotel
in a taxi, heading to the airport at record speed, intent upon reaching Eve
before it was too late.

* * * * *

Onboard Gabriel’s incredible jet, Eve waited for takeoff.
Taylor remained at her side, calmly talking about everything from planning
Avery’s bridal shower to her work with cars.

Eve appreciated the conversation. As complicated as life was
at the moment, it was a welcome distraction. Although every time she looked
around the cabin, her heart broke at the realization that she should have
trusted the strength of her relationship with Remy and Jaxon.

It was a mistake to leave the way she did, she knew that
now. Her only excuse, weak though it was, was panic over thinking she could be
sick. She didn’t feel ill. But then again, her mom hadn’t felt unwell when
she’d gone to her doctor for physical.

Eve would never forget what her mother went through during
her illness, treatments, surgeries, weakness, hair loss, wigs and more
treatments. She’d thought her mom was incredibly brave, always having a smile
for Eve when it must have been terribly difficult to do so.

Her father stood by week after week, his devotion
unwavering. As difficult as he could be, he’d loved his wife and Eve knew he
loved her. She had to believe she could overcome his reservations about her
lovers.

Looking out the window, Eve was tempted to call and leave
yet another message for Remy. She’d even left one for Jaxon, but neither was
answering their phones or returning her calls.

Saddened, she dropped her head back against the seat,
closing her eyes in an attempt to forget what was going on only to have her
phone vibrate.

Hoping it was Remy returning her call, she looked at the
screen and saw it was her doctor. “Hello, Evelyn Stratham speaking,” she
greeted before it could go to voicemail.

“Evelyn, I’m so glad I caught you. How are you feeling?”

“A little nervous, but fine otherwise. I’m on my way back to
Salem for my appointment tomorrow morning. Are we still on as scheduled?”

“You’re still in Carson City? Oh I see, considering our
conversation last night, I was hoping to have you come later this afternoon.
I’ve appointments scheduled until six o’clock this evening. Do you think you
could make it by then?”

Gabriel’s voice came out over the intercom. “We’re next on
the runway, should be in the air in fifteen minutes.”

“Evelyn, are you still there?” Dr. Martin asked.

Eve thought she’d have time to come to terms with what
tomorrow would bring. That the hours were stepped up was a good thing, but it
didn’t stop her from shaking.

“Yes, I’m here. We’re leaving soon. I should reach you
before you close this evening. If there’s a delay, I’ll call right away so that
no one is kept waiting,” she said, ending the call and staring at the phone but
seeing absolutely nothing.

She blinked, her vision blurring, her cheeks were damp. Why?
She was crying again. Since when did she blubber so much?

Since her father threatened to cut funding to Remy’s show
and Jaxon called her
love
but never said he loved her. Since she
examined her breast and felt something that shouldn’t be there.

All of a sudden two pairs of arms, Remy’s and Jaxon’s came
around her, lifting her up out of her cushy seat. How that was possible didn’t
matter. All she knew was that they didn’t seem to want to let go.

“Remy, Jaxon, how did you get here?” she heard herself
question.

“Gabriel delayed departure for us,” Remy answered. “Let us
hold you. Let us help you.”

A slightly smaller, extremely ripped man pressed himself to
her back, his face close to her ear. “I love you, Evelyn. Don’t leave without
us, please forgive me.”

“You didn’t do anything wrong, Jaxon,” she murmured.

“You weren’t sure where you fit in our threesome and were
uncomfortable sharing your health concerns as a result. Just know that I love
you, Remy loves you. Whatever you need, we are here for you. I am here for
you.”

“I love you too, Jaxon,” she said, relief flooding her so
quickly, she had to sit down. “I was so scared you didn’t. It was silly of me
to think that. I’m sorry, so sorry.”

Jaxon eased her into her seat, buckling her seatbelt and
taking the seat beside her. Remy sat down last, buckling up before taking her
hand.

“Remy, forgive me for not telling you everything last night.
I should’ve been braver.”

“You did the right thing by arranging to see a doctor you
trust. That was exactly what you should’ve done.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, letting them hold her.

“When we came in you were on the phone,” Jaxon said. “Was it
your doctor?”

“Yes. She invited me to come see her before the end of her
appointments this evening.”

“What can Gabriel and I do, Eve?” Taylor offered.

“Get us to New England?” Eve answered.

“Already happening,” Taylor said, drawing Eve’s attention to
the fact that at some point the jet was no longer idling, it was on the runway
and gaining momentum.

With her men seated on either side of her, Eve’s confidence
returned. She was still terrified of what Dr. Martin might say or find. But she
was no longer afraid of dealing with the outcome alone.

Her lovers had come for her. Jaxon loved her. Remy loved
her. Miracles really did happen every single day. They were her miracles. She
knew that now with every part of her being.

Given the all-clear, the jet lifted off the runway with
ease, hitting a few air pockets but smoothing out once they were well and truly
on their way to Manchester Airport in New Hampshire.