6. Rosa

Rain poured while trees swayed with the harsh wind outside. I had been so busy during the weekend, I hadn't thought about checking the weather. Storms felt like they popped out of nowhere in Seattle. I don't know why I thought it would be different in the summertime.

Just watching the trees almost dance outside made a knot tighten in my belly. The way they bent and swayed made me worry they would fall right into the pool. Or worse, through one of the many floor-to-ceiling glass walls throughout the house.

I didn't mind the Seattle rain, but storms were a whole other thing.

I'd never enjoyed them, but having been born and raised in Southern California, I hadn't really had to deal with them. Not until I moved here.

I was grown enough to admit lightning and thunder scared me. I"d hated the sound since I was little. Add the fact I wasn't feeling a hundred percent and every inch of my body hurt, and the guys weren't home, had me on edge.

Guys?I shook my head and scolded myself.

"?Que haces, Rosa?" I whispered to myself. What was I doing thinking about them like that? They were my bosses, not my guys.

They were simply my bosses, that was it. I just had to make sure to remind myself of that.

Thunder boomed in the dark sky, and a couple of seconds later, the sky flashed bright with the crack of lightning, and I jumped. I really hate storms.

But more than anything, I hated being alone during them. I stepped back from the glass wall of the living room after giving it one last wipe.

"Hay va, all done," I whispered to myself.

The house was finally back to normal and clean. I grabbed the tote I carried most of my supplies through the big, empty house in. Like I had since I started working here, I looked around the space with awe.

Their home was beautiful.

Majestic almost yet homey and welcoming. The architecture and attention to detail of the house were incredible. House, a voice whispered in my head. This place was a mansion. Especially compared to my sister's tiny two-bedroom bungalow with a finished basement, where I crashed on my days off. I rolled my neck when I reached the closet where I stored everything. My muscles protested, and I shivered.

I wasn't feeling well.

I probably had whatever bug the kids had brought home. I swallowed and winced. My throat was sore and scratchy. That"s new. Well, there was nothing I could do if I was sick. I just had to keep moving.

Thankfully, the house was back to normal. I could start with laundry and the rest of the things in the morning. I glanced behind me before I headed toward the long, dark hallway that led to my room at the far end of the house. It was a little after seven thirty, and no one was home. I frowned.

I was tempted to call Casey or Jett to make sure they were okay. There hadn't been a night when at least one of the three men had arrived no later then six thirty.

"?Que te importa? Why do you care? It's none of your business where they are." My stomach growled, but I ignored it.

I'd left the food that Malcom had had delivered with an apology note in the fridge to make sure it wouldn't spoil. He'd been the world's biggest jerk this morning. Not that I was all that surprised.

Malcom"s cold words and intense gazes were his usual MO. But this morning had hurt, and I only had myself to blame. I really thought I had started to gain his trust. But from his comment about me suing them for sexual harassment, of all things, it was obvious I didn"t.

I loved my job, but Malcom's cold attitude cast a shadow over it from the very begging.

If it wasn't for the fact I helped my sister financially, I had a feeling I would have quit. Liar, a voice whispered. I shook my head and stepped into my bedroom. As cold and rude as he could come off, there was a warmer side to him, too. One that drew me and my traitorous body.

I took a step across the threshold when thunder struck again. Every nerve ending felt like it was on edge. I felt like I was about to come out of my skin. I grimaced. I hated thunder more than lightning. My room had a glass wall and suddenly, it lit up from the inside.

Nope. I was wrong. I wasn't sure which one I hated more. Lightning sucked as much as thunder. I decided I hated both equally.

I glanced over my shoulder and frowned. I hated how dark the rest of the house suddenly felt. I should have left a couple more lights on. I closed my door and didn't notice I left it a smidge ajar.

I walked through my room, focused on grabbing some fresh clothes to wear after a shower. A hot shower after a long day always felt good, and it never sounded better than when you didn't feel too great.

It was summer, but the house felt cooler today. Jett, Casey, or Malcom must have turned down the thermostat. Usually, the AC didn't bother me, but with the storm raging on outside and me not feeling well, I felt like I was freezing. I just needed a hot shower, change, and get into bed. A good night"s sleep would make everything better.

My stomach growled again, but I ignored it once more. I grabbed a lightweight oversized sweater and a long cotton sleep shirt. With my PJ's and a towel in hand, I walked into the bathroom that was attached to my bedroom to take that shower.

Once I was showered and changed, I stepped out of the bathroom. I combed my short curly hair then placed the comb down on my dresser and picked up the TV remote when suddenly, the lights in the entire house went out. The sky decided to boom at that very moment, and I screamed. Moments later, the sky lit up with lightning, and I screamed at what I saw outside. Or what I thought I saw.

Someone was out there.

Someone with a mask in nothing but black.

"Rosie!" a deep voice called, and I rushed toward it. Opening my bedroom door, I threw myself into thick, strong arms and had never felt safer.

"What is it? Honey, talk to me," Mal's deep voice whispered sweetly against my hair. "What's wrong?"

"Honey?" I repeated. I pulled back a little but only to see Mal's beautiful warm gaze looking at me like I was the prettiest thing he had ever seen.

"Power went out," he shared, his thick dark brows bunched. "Did something happen?"

"I just, umm, I thought I saw someone outside." My voice sounded scratchy.

"Jett and Casey went to get the back-up generator going."

"Oh, maybe it was them." I felt silly. Who else could it have been? Maybe I imagined the mask?

"Baby, you're hot."

"Oh?" My face did feel like it was burning. "You think I'm hot?" I blinked, but for some reason, neither one of us moved.

"You got scared." He ignored my question.

"I hate storms," I whispered. His hand rose between us, and before I knew it, not only had he cupped my face with his strong, gigantic palm, but I had leaned into it like a kitten snuggling with its daddy.

Daddy? I blinked away the thoughts that brought to life. Dirty ones I had no business thinking when I was in Malcom's arms.

But I didn't move.

Not when the pad of his thick thumb stroked my face. "You're burning up, honey." His tone dropped an octave, and I wasn't sure if I imagined it or not, but I could have sworn his eyes were focused on my mouth.

"Because you think I'm hot?" I asked, slightly confused. I had no idea what bubble I was in that Mal, out my three bosses, was the one holding me in his arms, but I couldn't force myself to move away.

"I think you have a fever, baby girl." Baby girl. Oh gosh. I knew that would be replaying in my head late at night when I tried to get myself sleepy.

"Oh." Whatever sense I had left perked up, but before I could pull away, he had me in his arms. Carrying me like a groom would his bride, staring down at me with so much adoration I melted into his embrace.

"Where are you taking me, Mal?"

"Mal?" he repeated.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I meant Mr.—"

"No. Mal was right. Maybe you could call me something else soon." There was something in his eyes that drew me in.

"Something else?" I asked. My head suddenly felt too heavy for me to lift, so I rested it against his broad shoulder.

"Shh," he whispered against the top of my head, and I smiled. I liked how easily Malcom carried me. How good it felt to be held. How long had it been since someone had hugged me who wasn't my sister or her kids?

"Rest for me, baby. Have you eaten anything?"

"No." I shook my head and regretted it immediately.

"Did the food I ordered not arrive?" I had been clear minded enough, I would have noticed something in his gaze.

"It did but…" I started to explain, but I knew how bratty I was going to sound.

"But you were trying to teach me a lesson?" I pressed my lips together. My shoulder rose and fell but felt heavy. Every inch of my body felt heavy.

"Maybe," I pouted.

"Maybe, huh? Maybe I should spank you," he said so low I didn't know if I had actually heard him say it or if it was wishful thinking. I opened my mouth and quickly shut it then covered my mouth to sneeze.

"Bless you, baby."

"Thanks." I sniffled and shivered. "You're warm." Before I knew what I was doing, I had burrowed into him, snuggling my body close.

When I looked up at him, I was clear-minded enough that I realized two things. One, we were no longer in my room. Heck, we weren't even in the far end of the house. Nope. We were in his room and on his bed.

"How did I get here?"

"Hey, Mal—" I lifted my heavy head up from Malcom's shoulder to see Jett at the door. My body went cold, and worry struck. I didn't want Jett and Casey to get the wrong idea.

Not that the right one of what I felt for all three of them was any better.

There was no way they would understand how I felt for them. The things I wanted when when it came to my bosses were wrong. I had tried to convince myself I had a crush, when what I felt was more than that.

I'd fallen in love with three men.

Three men who were so different and way out of my league. Three men who didn't see me as more than an employee who kept their home tidy and together. If they knew, they would think I was some kind of freak. A perv.

"Rosie?" Jett said my name with so much affection I dreamily sighed as I leaned against Malcom's chest that radiated heat my body shivered for.

"The storm freaked her out. And I'm pretty sure she has a fever."

"Shit. I'll go get the thermometer."

"Good, then make some soup. I sent some earlier with dinner, but she didn't eat it."

"That's because you were a jerk this morning," Jett reminded him. I would have giggled if I hadn't been so tired.

"Jett," Malcom warned. I wasn't sure if it was my foggy mind that was making up this whole moment.

Maybe I am dreaming? Maybe I had fallen fallen asleep after my shower and this whole thing was my mind playing tricks on me.

That has to be it.

"Is this a dream?" I asked curiously, looking up at Malcom's deep, soulful brown eyes. It has to be. That"s the only thing that makes sense.

"It sure feels like it," he muttered. "But no, baby girl. You're not feeling good. But we will get you back on the mend soon enough."

"We?"

"Yeah. We." He winked.

Malcom Jennings actually winked.

This whole thing definitely had to be a dream, for sure. One I wasn't sure I was ready to wake up from. I nodded like I thought he made the most sense ever before leaning back against his chest, breathing in his unique, manly scent, and purred.

"Mmm, okay," I mumbled. The moment his finger started to thread through my short curly hair, my eyes drifted shut and I quickly fell asleep.