Read Sharing Hailey for Free Online Page A

hand to stop her. “Don’t.”
    “But I—”
    “Hailey, not a word.”
    With difficulty, she clamped her mouth shut.
    Mark placed his hands against the wall on either side of her waist, trapping her. The position pressed his hips against hers. And she didn’t think that was a gun in his pocket. For one thing, the board shorts didn’t have pockets.
    He stared past her shoulder. “How long have you known me?”
    “Long time.” Hailey swallowed. “Twenty-five years, give or take.”
    Mark nodded, and his gaze returned to hers, his brown eyes as serious as she’d ever seen them. His brows furrowed, and the lines around his mouth were fewer and less deep than when he laughed or smiled, but no less tempting.
    He must have read her mind because those lips dropped to hers, lightly brushing against them, their warmth melting her resolve. As Hailey answered his kiss, she released the death grip she had around her own waist to rest her hands on his hips, barely resisting the urge to rub up against him.
    Slowly, he lifted his head, and his narrowed gaze searched hers. “What have I done in that time to make you think I would use you like that?”
    Hailey dropped her head, confused and embarrassed, and stared in wonder at their hips fused together. They’d never touched like this. “Then I don’t understand,” she whispered.
    “I don’t imagine you do.” Tony’s voice came from the corner of the guesthouse.
    Hailey’s head whipped around, and Mark stepped away from her to lean his hip against the wall.
    “About time you got here,” he grumbled.
    “It would have looked odd if we’d all come down together. Meredith would have assumed the party was moving and come with us,” Tony said as he crossed the patio to stand on the other side of her. He mirrored Mark, resting his hip against the wall with Hailey between them.
    “Yeah, I think she’s in love,” Mark said.
    “Too bad I’m taken.”
    “I didn’t know you were dating anyone,” Hailey said, her voice pitched higher in surprise.
    “I’m not…yet.”
    “But—”
    “Mark and I have decided to end the stalemate.”
    “What stalemate?”
    “We’ve both wanted you for years,” Tony explained as he entwined his fingers with hers. “We couldn’t decide who would get you, so we’re both going for it.”
    She whipped her head back and forth between them, as if she were watching a tennis match. They couldn’t be serious. They were both going to pursue her and make her choose. No way.
    Something wasn’t right. There was no tension between the two of them. It was all directed at her. They weren’t posturing or growling at each other. They seemed perfectly content with their competition. No animosity.
    They had to be joking. Her heart plummeted, even as relief washed through her. They were playing with her. She tried to laugh at the joke but couldn’t. Because the way she felt about them wasn’t funny. It was impossible, and right now, it hurt as her heart twisted and tears choked her throat.
    If they knew they’d hurt her, they’d beat themselves up. She closed her eyes and swallowed hard.
    She managed to force a “ha-ha” past her lips, but it was weak and tears burned her eyes.
    “Ah, shit,” Tony said softly as he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. “We didn’t mean to upset you, sunshine.”
    His gentleness released the tears she’d tried to hold back and they quickly fell, dripping on his T-shirt. She sniffled. “Then how could you joke about something like that?”
    “This isn’t a joke. We’re serious.”
    “It has to be a joke. I can’t choose between you.”
    Mark pressed against her back. One hand pushed her hair away from her neck. The other rested on her shoulder. Oh God, they felt good. Hot, smooth skin surrounded her. Their unique scents mingled.
    Mark’s firm lips brushed the side of her neck before he murmured, “That’s why we want to share you.”
    Hailey stiffened seconds before her head popped up