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Her dark eyes dart around the room. The remnants of the opening ceremony are still scattered around because we didn’t have time to clear it all. “Is there anyone else here? Or is it just us?”
“You’re our first residents, but we have another two families arriving tomorrow.” I was surprised when I received two more referrals just before Ellie and her siblings got here, but I’m more than happy to accommodate as many people as we can.
“Is it safe?”
“We have a state-of-the-art security system, and my partners are also here. They’ll make sure nothing happens to you, I promise.”
Her brow creases in a frown. “Partners?”
“They’re my business partners, but also my boyfriends,” I explain. I’m not going to hide who we are.
“Who owns the bikes?” The oldest of the three little kids, who I know is seven and is named Jayden, nods at the helmets near the entrance.
“They’re ours. You like bikes?”
He nods. “My uncle had one.”
I glance at Ellie, wondering if the uncle can possibly help them. “He died a few years back,” she says, as though reading my mind. “We have no one else. Our mom…” A tear runs down her cheek.
“You don’t have to explain right now. It’s late and you all must be hungry. There’s a fridge full of snacks in your room, and the kitchen is fully stocked. Help yourselves to anything at all. This is your home now.”
Ellie blinks at me. “But your partners. Where are they?”
“In my office down the hall. You want to meet them?”
She hesitates, then straightens her shoulders. Her tone has grown steadily more assertive each time she’s spoken, and I can’t help but admire her grit. “I guess we should if they’re gonna be around here. Then the kids won’t get scared if they see them.”
Iris and Melody, ages three and four, blink up at me through mops of blond curls.
“My office is on the way to your apartment. We can stop in on the way.”
I knock on the closed door before opening it to find Ace seated behind the desk and Romeo perched on the edge. “I have some people here who’d like to meet you.”
They both smile widely as Jayden saunters into the room, followed by his three sisters.
“Hey. So you’re our first guests, huh?” Romeo asks.
“Is this like a hotel? Can I get room service?” Jayden asks.
“Jayden, no,” Ellie scolds.
“This is better than a hotel, buddy.” Romeo gets off the desk and crouches down. “You don’t need room service when there’s a kitchen stocked with the best candy you can ever imagine. And you can go there any time you like,” he whispers the last words like they’re a secret, and Jayden laughs.
“Candy?” one of the girls squeals.
Jayden looks up at his big sister. “Can we go check it out?”
“Maybe later. Once we’re settled.”
“You need anything at all while you’re here, Ellie, just give one of us a call. Anything at all. If anyone calls you or bothers you in any way, you let us know and we’ll handle it,” Ace says, and Ellie nods softly.
I smile at my handsome, strong men, my partners in every sense of the word, and mouth a silent thank you before I turn back to Ellie. “Shall I take you to your apartment?”
“That would be great. Thank you.”
After making sure Ellie and her siblings are settled, I leave them to make themselves at home. During the planning phase, Ace, Romeo, and I agreed it would be a good idea to stay here a few nights a week or more while the place is getting up to full capacity, especially until we have a full security team in place, and we converted the room next to the office into a studio apartment for ourselves.
It’s small though, and there’s barely enough room to brush our teeth without stepping on each other. I leave the guys in the bathroom and head back into the bedroom to change. A few moments later, they come out. Ace jumps straight onto the bed, but Romeo comes to stand in front of me. With a frown on his handsome face, he yanks on my T-shirt and peers down my neckline. “What the hell are these, Fuck-up?”
