Vivian Arend - Whirlpool

“All this time it was the chemicals?” Chelsea asked.

Jamie shrugged. “I’ve checked a few other ideas but keep coming back to that one as the most likely.”

“How is that possible? That just her presence is enough to bring things back under control?” Braden leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms.

“Are you kidding?” Jamie asked. “You change that massive bulk of yours into sparkly lights without so much as blinking, but you think it’s not possible there’s a mystical connection between your leader and her people?”

Braden chuckled. “Point taken.”

Alexia turned to Braden. “What’s it been like since I returned? Have things improved?”

He nodded. “One hundred percent. We’re back to being a nice quiet little tourist destination.”

She sighed. “Another item added to the list of things I wasn’t aware of before assuming this position. Your speculation makes sense. I hope I can ask you to work, maybe with Anthony, on that backup system you mentioned. I hate the thought of being so irreplaceable.”

Jamie bowed his head politely. She was not what he’d expected, but then, who knew what the rules were anymore in this game?

She gave him that look again, the one like she was reading his soul. “You are planning on staying around?”

Jamie let his grin escape. “Well, sort of. I’ve got this awesome job cataloging a pretty amazing collection, and there’s this girl I’ve met in the area…”

Chelsea laughed and it warmed his soul. He blew her a kiss without thinking then turned back to the trio, his face heating.

Alexia’s lovers, Anthony and Joshua, exchanged glances. “He has it bad, doesn’t he?” Joshua asked.

She leaned over and elbowed Joshua softly. “Behave.”

She stared at Jamie, a gentle smile on her lips. An eerie sensation crept over him, as if a hand had stroked his mind. It swept past his heart and the warmth that rose in her eyes settled all the worry inside him. She accepted him, not only his knowledge of the merfolk, but his relationship with Chelsea and Braden. As strange as it seemed, her approval was vital.

“You’re telling the truth and you feel nothing but goodwill toward us.”

Everyone in the room relaxed, as if a balloon had released its air. He hadn’t realized just how keyed up everyone had become, waiting for Alexia to decide. She rose from her chair and came around the table to give him a quick hug.

Funny. While she was damn attractive, he didn’t feel the same rush that touching Chelsea brought, or Braden for that matter.

She stepped back and brushed his cheek lightly with her fingers. “Thank you for adding your talents and skills to our group. Although I’m curious what you’re planning to do after this job is completed. It doesn’t seem like there’s a lot to keep you in the cove.”

He joined Chelsea and Braden, the tension inside leaching away. “I’ve got some ideas, but we need to discuss it first.”

There were myriad possibilities, but for now, knowing that they had all their options open to find a way that would work for the three of them made the future a lot brighter.

Chelsea pushed open the door with her shoulder, juggling groceries in both hands. She caught a glimpse of the guys in the living room and gave a hello shout. “You would not believe what they’ve got down at the shops for Halloween candy. I’m tempted to dress up and go house to house myself.”

She dropped the bags on the counter and finally clued in to what was happening on the couch. Oh yeah, that looks mighty interesting. “Shit—sorry, don’t let me interrupt.”

Jamie untangled himself from Braden. He rose and adjusted his shirt, trying to hide his hard-on. His flushed face made her smile.

“Hey, Chels.” He kissed her and she tasted Braden on his lips. Yum . She slid a hand down his torso until she cupped his hard length lightly. Double yum.

“Hmmm, hello, but didn’t you hear me? You and Braden don’t have to feel guilty if you want to fool around when I’m not here.”

“It’s not that. We just got good news and one thing led to another and…” Jamie hesitated.

Chelsea paused. He was hiding something, and even though he was only slowly opening up to more physical interaction with Braden, she didn’t think the secret was about them getting caught necking. She glanced at Braden. Yup, he looked guilty as well.

“What are you two plotting? Other than sex?”

Braden laughed. “I told you we’d never keep it under wraps.”

“Yeah, yeah, you win.” Jamie peeked into the grocery bags and grimaced. “You didn’t buy any chocolate.”

Chelsea poked him in the side. “Quit stalling.”

Jamie held out his hand to her. She smiled and accepted it, walking with him to the couch. It felt so right to be together with both Braden and Jamie, and other than the occasional twinge of fear that someday Jamie would find Jaffrey’s Cove too quiet, she was happier than she thought possible.

“Braden and I have been talking over some long-term plans. A colleague at Boston University contacted me a few weeks ago about a temporary position that’s opened up. I’ve agreed to teach a series of guest lectures next semester, beginning January.”

And there it was. Her heart fell. “You’ll be leaving us?”

Braden pulled her into his lap. “Actually, you’ll both be leaving me . Your mom told us you’d applied to Boston as well as UCLA, so we checked into your paperwork. You were already approved there as well. Jamie talked to a few people and they’ve found room for you to start in January. You’re in.”

Chelsea frowned in confusion. Boston ? “How can I…? Are you saying he used his influence to get me in? And I still can’t afford it and I don’t want Jamie to pay for me.”

“Actually, I paid half and Jamie the other half. Baby, consider it a loan if you want, but it makes no sense for you to not go. Let us do this for you. Plus, he didn’t use his name for anything more than rushing the process a little. You were already accepted all on your own.”

She stayed silent for a minute, her gaze darting back and forth between the two of them. A trickle of hope stole through her. Getting to go away to university? Live on the east coast and explore another part of the world? Excitement tinged with an edge of uncertainty remained. Braden. How could she leave him? She touched his cheek lightly.

“You don’t mind if I go away?”

“Honestly? I’m going to miss you like crazy. I love you, baby, but at the same time I want you to go. Knowing you’ll be with Jamie makes it tolerable. And I expect you to email and video conference and send me tons of whatever the hell those weird things you type on the phone are.”

Chelsea let the budding happiness inside burst into full bloom. “You never answer my texts anyway.”

“No, but I read them.” Braden kissed her tenderly.

She nodded slowly before responding. “I’d be crazy to not leap at the opportunity, but guys, you should have included me in the conversations.”

Jamie shook his head. “Didn’t want you to be disappointed if I couldn’t swing it.”

“I understand, but I’m a full part of this relationship. Don’t leave me out anymore.” A bubble of inspiration hit. This might be the chance she’d been looking for. She planted her hands on her hips, raising her chin to challenge her men. “So while I want to say thank you for being so incredibly generous, I’m claiming a forfeit from both of you.”

Braden tweaked her nose and she smacked his hand away with a laugh. “Okay, baby. We give. You’re right, and we promise not to organize your life without you again. What’s our punishment? You want us to take you out to dinner?”