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Jameson was whistling as he cooked up the bacon and eggs. Jax sat in the chair at the table dressed for the day in dark dress pants and a dark-burgundy shirt.
“We need to make some changes right away,” Jax stated.
Jameson turned toward his brother as he pulled the last pieces of bacon from the pan then turned off the burner.
“What changes are you referring to?”
“We need her here with us. We should have her things brought here, the last month’s rent paid so she can leave and move her in here immediately.” Jax pulled out his phone. “I can have everything done within the next few hours.”
“Whoa. Hold on a minute. I think Mariana is going to have something to say about this, Jax.”
Jax tried to calm his breathing.
“She was almost raped, Jameson. Men look at her and want her. She’s ours,” he said so firmly and with such conviction he even shocked himself. He was acting like an animal, an alpha male staking his claim.
Jameson ran his fingers through his damp hair.
“Listen, I feel exactly how you feel, but Mariana is scared. For Christ’s sake, Jax, she didn’t hit the panic button right away even knowing that we were there for her. She’s used to being alone, dealing with things on her own and with no help. If we come into this relationship and smother her, we’ll just be pushing her away. We need to ease into this. This is the real deal for me. Marriage, a family, and maybe spending more time in the country. She’s been on her own and she needs reassurance from us.”
“I don’t like it. Let’s cut out the bullshit and just tell her this is the way it is.”
Jameson shook his head.
“No. Trust me on this one. She’ll bolt. I already think she wants to leave now.”
Jax stood up.
“Leave? She’s not leaving and going back to that neighborhood. Something might happen to her. She’s staying here and that is final.”
“Jax?”
They turned to see Mariana standing in the open foyer from the hallway where the bedrooms were.
She had her arms wrapped around her waist and the robe was way too big for her small frame.
“Good morning, baby. Breakfast is ready. How was the shower?” Jameson asked as he swiftly made his way toward Mariana. Jax thought she looked gorgeous and so petite standing there in the huge black robe. He could wake up to seeing her like this every morning for the rest of his life. The feelings struck him hard as he quickly turned away from her.
* * * *
Mariana didn’t know what was going on, but by the sound of their muffled voices, Jax and Jameson were having a heated argument. It just validated her thoughts that it was time to leave.
Jameson pulled out a chair for her to sit, and then he placed some eggs and bacon onto the plates.
They all sat at the island in the kitchen and quietly ate. She just picked at the bacon and eggs. Normally she would be in heaven eating a breakfast like this. She hadn’t had time to hit the store this week and she was surviving on yogurt and peanut butter sandwiches, minus the bread. Her stomach rumbled, and despite her fear of their response when she told Jameson and Jax that she needed to head home, she ate.
“I guess you like my eggs,” Jameson said, and when she looked up, both men were watching her.
She felt embarrassed as she wiped her mouth then took a sip of juice.
“They’re good.”
“When was the last time you ate?” Jax asked with a tone that made her belly quiver and her nipples harden. He was so damn forceful all the time.
She was scared to answer him. Jameson placed a hand on her knee, and she jumped then looked at him.
“When?” Jameson asked.
She cleared her throat. “Last night at the gallery, why?”
