Nat tried to take a deep breath, but the air wouldn’t quite sink into her lungs.
“Here, try some tea.” The woman with the golden hair who just happened to be Chase and Ben’s sister handed her a small cup.
Nat took it because it was better than dealing with Gretchen. “Thank you.” She took a long sip, remembering the lovely scene that had been interrupted. She’d enjoyed feeding the Dawsons. She’d pretty much loved everything about the morning with the singular exception of Chase telling her she had to choose.
Why was that so hard to take? Why had she shut down? It wasn’t like she knew Ben. Hell, she didn’t really know Chase, but the thought of choosing had frozen her.
She sniffled a little and took a long sip of the tea. And nearly coughed it back up. “What the hell?”
Georgia smiled down at her. “Oh, I had them put a bunch of vodka in the tea.”
“Georgia!” The man named Logan tried to pin Georgia with that Dom stare of his.
Georgia didn’t seem very pinnable. She waved him off. “Alcohol always helps.”
“Give me some of that.” Gretchen grabbed the cup and downed the rest as Kitten stroked her hair. She sniffled, her face still a brilliant red. “I was so sure someone was going to kill me.”
Kitten moved closer. “You’re safe now.”
Nat needed to breathe. She got up and moved toward the balcony. God, at least she might find some freaking peace there. All Gretchen had managed to do was tell her that everything she owned was ruined and since she lived beside her they would never be safe again.
Gretchen was a drama queen.
Nat pushed the curtains aside and walked onto the balcony. The rich seemed to have a completely different lifestyle. Her window looked out over the little pool. Ben and Chase’s enormous balcony had a spectacular view of the grounds.
She didn’t belong here. She belonged in her little place. But now how would she ever feel safe there again? Gretchen was right about that.
“Hey.” Georgia stepped through the doors, glass in her hand. Orange juice. “That hysterical freaky woman took your tea. Gosh, you would think she’d never like gotten her place broken into. That’s what insurance is for and then you get to meet hunky cops.”
“There are no hunky cops out here. The sheriff is a reject from Redneck Island.”
The gorgeous girl wrinkled her nose. “Okay, ewww. Are you still thirsty?”
She could use something cool. Too bad Gretchen had taken the vodka. She gratefully took the glass of juice. “Thanks so much. Gretchen can be a little overwrought.”
Gretchen knew what it meant to be violated. She simply didn’t know what it meant to keep a cool head about her. It was odd because at first, she’d thought Gretchen would be the one she could count on to help her. Gretchen had been bitchy, but she’d seemed strong. Kitten had been so quiet, but it had been Kitten who snuck the knife out of the kitchen, Kitten who held Natalie while she cried because she’d had to kill a man, Kitten who had found a phone and called her cousin.
Finn will help us. Finn won’t let us down. Kitten loves you, Natalie.
Georgia’s hand came up, brushing away tears Nat didn’t realize she was shedding. “Are you all right?”
Nat took a deep breath. “I’m fine.”
Georgia gave her a grin. “I doubt that. It’s why I snuck vodka into the juice. Logan told me not to, but he’s totally fun to disobey.”
“Oh, thank god.” Nat took a long drink. She kind of loved Georgia in that moment.
Ben and Chase’s sister shrugged. “I put vodka in lots of things. It’s the language of love where I grew up. So you’re involved with my brothers?”
She slipped it in, but there was no way to ignore the protective tone. She might be a little sister, but she cared about her brothers. “Not really. I thought I might be, but I don’t think I could choose.”
Cool blue eyes assessed her. “Most women can. Most women choose Ben in a heartbeat.”
“I thought I was choosing Chase. I didn’t know Ben existed. I made a connection with Chase and then I made one with Ben.”
“Okay, I don’t see the problem. They always share.”
“Chase wants me to choose.”
Georgia practically seethed. “That ass. Ben has shared for years.” Her mouth dropped open. “OMG, Chase is totally into you. Is it the BDPTSD stuff?”
“Huh?”
“You know the leather and whips and stuff.”
“Uhm, it’s BDSM, though I’m mostly on the D/s side. And I’m not anymore.” Except she kind of had been last night. And if Chase hadn’t said what he had, she would have let him have her. Even knowing everyone was in the next room. She would have followed his instructions. At least she would have tried.
Georgia smiled, a little uptick of her lips as she leaned on the railing of the balcony. “I was joking a little. I’m not as naïve as everyone thinks. I grew up in a houseful of dudes. And all of my brothers are into this stuff. Winter is even harder core than Chase. I was staying with him one time and I actually walked in on him with a woman suspended from the ceiling. Weird. And then he yelled at me like I was the one who suspended her. Anyway, the point is I know more than I like to tell them. And I know that Chase is into you. That means something.”
Maybe, but it didn’t mean anything but heartache if she couldn’t choose between them. “I’m not going to come between two brothers over what would only be a short-term affair.”
“Not so sure about that.” Georgia stared out over the grounds. “I’ve never seen Chase look at a woman the way he looks at you. Ben is the easy one. Ben wants to be happy. Chase thinks he does. Chase won’t ever be truly happy without Ben because Ben completes him. They’re like these weird halves of a whole. Think about it. I have for a long time. Of all my brothers, Ben and Chase are the ones I feel closest to. Ben is the happy one. It’s almost like his natural state, but he would accept far less than he deserves without Chase. Chase thinks too much. Chase wants too much. If you’re the woman who can give him what he needs, then I think he will give you the world. If you want Ben, then just refuse to back down.”
She made it sound so simple. “I don’t know. He seemed certain.”
“Chase thinks he’s certain about everything. You have to make him understand that you need Chase for Chase and Ben for Ben. Do you understand?”
“You want me to play a game?” The idea appalled her.
Georgia sighed. “Wow. I thought I was naïve. Everything is a game, Natalie. It doesn’t mean we’re cruel to play. You can play a game with the deepest desire to win and to love that thing you can win. Just be sure why you’re playing. I have friends who play strictly because they can’t stand the thought of not winning. Play the game because you love the prize. Because you can’t live without it. God, I want to play that game. I’m ready to play, but I can’t find the prize.”
Nat felt a deep connection to Georgia. She laughed a little. She seemed to feel for all the Dawsons. She held out the glass and Georgia took a drink.
“See,” Georgia said, her grin making her practically glow, “vodka makes everything better.”
It kind of did. The warmth filled her belly, and she was well aware that it had been a long time since she’d let herself go. It was what D/s had afforded her. She remembered her only Dom. He’d been a truly nice man she’d played with. She hadn’t taken his collar, but she’d trusted him implicitly. She could drink at a party and he would take care of her. He would never let her down.
He’d actually turned out to be gay and in the closest, and she hadn’t called him in the longest time. He’d left a million messages. Why hadn’t she called her friend?
“You’re so sad. What happened? Was it my brothers?” Georgia’s blue eyes glistened with tears.