20. Tessa

20

Tessa

K ade's words from last night reverberate in my head and the more I think about it, the more I curse my stupidity for thinking Cin would ever see me as anything other than a worn-out mother of two kids.

No doubt he was just trying to ease my embarrassment at being caught flashing my boob. Deflecting to hide his disgust.

Cin could have any woman he wanted. Kade made that clear last night. Men too, apparently. No doubt he and Madden have a thing going on. The sexual tension between them is hard to miss, and the way he sometimes calls Madden "Daddy" tells me there's definitely something sexual between them.

Which is all kinds of hot.

I shove some dirty clothes in the washing machine, trying to ignore the pulse of heat between my legs. Unfortunately, knowing Cin isn't really interested in me hasn't eliminated the unresolved lust that's plagued me since I arrived.

And a mental image of Madden fucking him isn't helping.

Guy-on-guy is a weakness of mine. I don't watch porn all that often - there isn't a lot of free time to be found with two small children - but when I have found the time to watch it I enjoy watching clips of two hot guys together.

After adding some detergent, I squint at the programs, trying to decide which one to use. This machine is way more complicated than the basic model I have. After deciding on a hot wash in the hope it cleans the nasty stains from Chloe's borrowed onesie after her diaper leaked, I press the start button.

The washing machine rumbles into life. Satisfied it's working as it should, I head back into the kitchen to hunt for some cleaning supplies.

Madden and Cin went out first thing this morning, loaded up with tools to clear more of the fallen trees. Once again, Kade stayed behind to babysit me and the kids, but to my relief, he muttered something about work and then disappeared.

Harry's watching a kid's program on the TV and Chloe is napping in her crib. I've decided I can't sit around doing nothing, so I plan on earning my keep by cleaning the kitchen.

Not that it's filthy. Far from it, actually. These guys are clearly more domesticated than Enzo, who never lifted a finger in the house.

Just as I'm running hot water into the sink, the side door flies open and Madden comes in half carrying Cin. Blood gushes down Cin's leg from a nasty gash.

"First aid kit, top cupboard on the right," Madden grunts, gesturing above my head. I quickly find the kit and pass it to Madden while Cin drops into a chair.

"What happened?"

"Chainsaw hit a knot and slipped. Caught me out."

I blanch at the ragged edges of the wound. He's lucky he didn't hit an artery or major vein, or he might have bled out. The wound looks bad, but with a few stitches, it will probably be fine. Madden cleans the area with hot water and antiseptic, flushing it out, and presses a dressing against it to stem the bleeding.

"Hold this while I wash my hands. It's gonna need some stitches."

Cin's pale beneath his tan, but he sits quietly, not making a sound.

"You OK?" I ask in a low voice, thankful Harry hasn't noticed the commotion and come to investigate.

"Yeah. I've had a lot worse," he grins. "The shrapnel wound in my butt was the worst. I couldn't sit down for a week."

"And he didn't stop bitching about it," Madden confirms as he pulls out a suturing kit.

"Hold my hand, please?" I roll my eyes, knowing full well Cin is probably used to this kind of shit if he's been in a fucking war-zone, but his pitiful expression is hard to resist.

While Madden gets to work stitching the wound, Cin squeezes my hand each time the needle goes in.

"You make a good nurse," Cin says with a smirk once Madden has finished stitching and dressed the wound. "I may need a bed bath later."

I release his hand and step back. "I'm sure you'll be just fine," I reply, ignoring his flirty grin.

"What happened to you?" Kade exclaims from the doorway.

"Chainsaw slipped," Madden tells him.

Kade's gaze swivels from Madden to Cin. "Were you fucking around?"

"No!" Cin's annoyance is clear when Kade suggests the accident is his fault. "I don't fuck around with chainsaws. I'm way too pretty to lose a leg. So, bro, it looks like you're on log-splitting duty this afternoon. Don't worry, I'll watch Tessa."

Cin smirks like an asshole while Kade scowls and Madden rolls his eyes. The tension between the two brothers is palpable. It feels like there's an unspoken conversation going on. One I'm not privy to.

"Fine. Whatever. I need a break from my screen, anyway. Maybe you can do some research for me if you're playing the victim."

"Sure. Tell me what you need."

I tune them out as I resume cleaning the kitchen, not bothering to suggest they leave me here on my own with the kids. There's no chance of that happening.

Cin's obviously fine, despite his attempt to coerce sympathy. If he can handle a shrapnel wound, a chainsaw gash is minor.

Perhaps he'll stop pretending to be interested in me and leave me in peace if he thinks I'm occupied with house chores.