Christmas with my Three Best Friends (Lucky Lady Reverse Harems)

Chapter 1

1

Selina

A Few Days Earlier

T o put it succinctly: I'm in a tight spot.

Tighter than a camel toe in skinny jeans.

Using one's workspace as a makeshift home? Yep. A glaring sign things have gone south.

Imagine, if you will: Me, two weeks ago, entering my home to find my boyfriend of four years – initiating a "neighborhood meet-and-greet" in my bed.

But what stabbed my soul was seeing the two of them sprawled on my organic bamboo sheets.

Dammit, I miss my beloved bamboo sheets!

Four years tolerating Kieran and his tragic fashion choices. Wasted.

Sure, I could be staying on a friend’s couch, but my pride is as tall as a stiletto, and sometimes as painful. That’s what happens when you’ve managed to get by solo your entire life.

Now my glamorous life involves cozying up in a sleeping bag tucked behind the staff break room.

No one's the wiser. Not my boss, my coworkers, and definitely not the janitors who can't help but spread all the juicy gossip.

I work at one of the most luxurious fashion hubs in town, and I've mastered the art of glamping between haute couture.

Thank heavens for my top-tier ninja skills in managing the CCTV system. A little camera angle magic here, some footage editing there, and voila! My secret remains intact.

My entire life now fits in one suitcase. It's like a sad rom-com, minus the romantic lead.

There simply isn’t any room left for more failure.

My phone rings.

It’s Kieran. Again.

The man has the persistence of a dog with a bone, but I'm in zero mood to play his games.

Ignoring the call, I remind myself of tomorrow’s agenda: hit the downstairs gym first thing in the morning, pretend I’m working out for fifteen minutes, then make use of the showers.

Talk about a hot mess.

Keeping up this ruse has been exhausting.

"Was that Mr. History?" Phil inquires, arching an eyebrow as he wraps up the day's figures. As the shift manager, Phil has traded tales of heartbreak with me during many late-night shifts.

“Yeah, he still won’t leave me alone.”

“I can’t believe he did what he did,” Phil replies. “Especially after everything you put into that relationship to try and keep it going.”

“Honestly, he did me a favor, I should’ve ended things a long time ago. We’d been running on fumes for a while.”

“You deserve better. I never liked the dude. He was always so into himself. It’s time to find someone who deserves your time,” Phil says as he tries to comfort me, but then his expression lights up and his posture goes ramrod straight as Etienne walks into the store.

My heart jumps.

Shit what’s he doing here? I silently ask myself.

I hadn't factored in surprise visits from the higher-ups into my master plan.

The Sartorialist thrives on its pristine reputation, prioritizing its polished image and elite clientele above employees' personal challenges.

The idea of an employee treating the sales floor as their makeshift bedroom? That would be a PR nightmare.

“Mr. Lacroix, what a pleasant surprise!”

Etienne grins, looking like he's fresh out of "Dapper Gents Monthly." With his navy-blue suit, crisply ironed white shirt, and a red tie that might as well have its own spotlight, he's truly a sight.

“Sorry to pop in unannounced,” Etienne says in his subtle French accent. He came to the U.S. in his early twenties, but the French flavor is still just as smooth with every word coming out of his mouth. “I won’t be staying long. I just wanted to say hello before I head back to New York for the rest of November.”

“It’s a pleasure to see you, sir,” I say, smiling softly.

“How is everything here?” he asks.

Phil finishes wrapping up and grabs his phone, bag, and coat before coming around the counter to shake Etienne’s hand. “We’re very good, sir. I reckon we’ll have a profitable couple of weeks before the Christmas shopping season even starts,” he tells Etienne.

“I’m glad to hear that,” our boss replies, then looks at me. “And how are you doing, Selina? I trust you’re happy with your position here?”

“Absolutely, sir, thank you,” I say.

He turns to Phil and puts a hand on his shoulder. “How about I take you out for a nightcap before you head home? It’s been ages since we’ve caught up.”

“That sounds nice,” Phil replies, only slightly surprised. “Selina, would you like to join us?”

I force a smile, trying to keep my voice light. "You two should savor the evening. I've got a gourmet microwave dinner waiting for me at home," I quip with feigned enthusiasm. "Still, thanks for the offer. Always a pleasure, Mr. Lacroix."

I hope he didn’t notice the tremor in my voice. Inside, panic consumes me. The last thing I need is for him to realize how desperately I wanted to avoid him now that he's back in town.

Etienne laughs, we say our goodbyes, and I watch the two of them leave. I patiently wait for the sound of their footsteps to recede before I prepare to close the store for the evening.

Slowly, I go through the closing protocol, one step at a time.

I turn off the computers and tablets and plug them in for the night. Next, I lock the cases that hold the most expensive jewelry, including the designer cufflinks. Whenever I glance at the cufflinks a warmth rises within me - and today was no different.

Memories of Matthew, Sully, and Jason – three of the most irresistibly dashing clients – come flooding back. Their visits were never just transactional. The atmosphere would noticeably thicken with each lingering conversation, every teasing remark, and the playful challenges about who could make the better coffee, though we never actually shared one outside of these walls.

Their eyes told stories that their words never did. Matthew’s smoldering gaze would often drift from my eyes to my lips, making my heart race. Sully, with his witty banter, always managed to make me blush, while Jason’s soft-spoken compliments would send shivers down my spine. The raw, unspoken chemistry between us was palpable.

Despite the undeniable tension, the boundaries of the store were never crossed. I was in a committed relationship. If only I’d known what a ponzi scheme said relationship was.

Though we exchanged tales of travel, dreams, and weekend plans, the allure of what might happen next kept our encounters strictly within the confines of the store. Their intermittent visits meant that their absence was deeply felt, leaving me yearning and wondering about the possibilities.

Just as I'm about to lock the front door, I spot Kieran's unmistakable figure looming in the entrance.

He’s radiating disdain and arrogance.

"Why are you here, Kieran? We're done," I assert, attempting to mask my unease.

His eyes, sharp and condescending, meet mine. "Selina, you're overreacting. We need to talk."

"Overacting to what exactly?" I counter sharply. "Your latest escapade with Sandra from next door?"

He moves to step inside, frustration evident. "Selina, listen..."

But there's an unmistakable menace in his approach, and my heart races. His towering frame casts a shadow over me, and I realize how vulnerable I am.

"I said, leave."

The door eases open, revealing a trio that never fails to quicken my pulse.

Today, they look especially captivating, and the timing couldn't be more perfect.

Matthew stands tall six feet, his dark hair peppered with strands of wisdom. Those penetrating gray eyes, set in a face that’s both rugged and refined, hint at tales of Marine exploits and mornings in the gym. Every tailored piece he wears, highlights a physique that's both powerful and graceful. He exudes a command that’s hard to overlook.

Beside him is Jason, the embodiment of sun-soaked allure. Standing six-foot-three, his athletic build contrasts perfectly with that shaggy blonde hair and those mischievous blue eyes. Despite his casual, beach-boy demeanor, the tailored edges of his attire showcase an underlying sophistication.

Then there's Sully, the tall, dark, and undeniably handsome of the trio. At six-foot-five, he's a heady mix of mystery and strength. His dark eyes, sharp cheeks framed by a day's stubble, and his sleek attire give off a magnetism that's difficult to ignore.

Each ex-Marine, with their own brand of charisma, has, for years, occupied my most indulgent daydreams.

Seeing them now, looking irresistibly dashing, it's clear why.

The mood shifts palpably as Kieran's confidence falters in the presence of the three men, and I feel a rush of relief.

“Hey, babe,” Matthew says, smiling broadly as he walks past Kieran.

He doesn’t bother to acknowledge his presence as he comes toward me.

I’m breathless as he gets closer and then kisses me.

His lips press against mine, beckoning me to soften and open up.

Heat instantly blows through me, my core ignited as I try to understand what’s going on while also reveling in this unexpected snippet of intimacy. “Sorry I’m late, there was a lot of traffic on the interstate.”

“Huh?” I mumble, barely able to discern my surroundings at this point.

“Yeah, we tried to get here earlier, but it’s the weekend and everybody’s in a rush to get out of the city,” Sully says.

He and Jason stand by the door, hands in their jeans pockets as they watch me, flustered and wide-eyed and unwittingly leaning into Matthew.

Kieran, on the other hand, is pale and downright terrified—likely by the fact that another man just kissed me. And not just any man, either, but Matthew Parker, a renowned businessman and future heir of Dawson-Howes, one of the biggest import-export conglomerates in the United States.

“Selina,” Kieran manages, but he can’t find the rest of his sentence anywhere.

“Ready for dinner?” Matthew asks me, as if taken out of a completely different movie and plopped right into this one. “I got us that reservation at Oyster Dream. You’ve been talking about it all week.”

“Oh yeah,” I mumble. “Oyster Dream, right.”

I give Sully and Jason a wandering glance while also admiring their chiseled broad chests and playful eyes.

That’s when it hits me: They must’ve overheard me arguing with Kieran and decided to step in. I look up at Matthew just in time to catch the subtle wink in his eye. I’d kiss him again, but I still can’t move.

My lips tingle.

“Oyster Dream!” I exclaim and quickly settle into my role. “Oh, honey, you remembered!”

“Selina!” Kieran snaps, but the speed with which Sully and Jason turn to face him instantly reduces his frustration. He’s small, all of a sudden, flanked by two tall men with broad shoulders and square jaws, the kind of men who would snap him like a twig if he so much as raised his voice at me again. “I can’t believe this…”

“Who’s the guy?” Matthew asks me.

I shrug. “Nobody. He was just leaving.”

“Selina—”

“Goodbye, Kieran,” I say in a forceful tone, emboldened by the guys’ presence as I give him the coldest side-eye that I can muster.

He takes another second or two, but finally, he gets the message and leaves.

A minute passes in the most awkward possible silence before I’m able to breathe again.

Matthew’s musky cologne works its way through my lungs and tousles my senses, forcing me to take a couple of steps back to regain my grip on the present.

The entire moment was way too intense.

Matthew eyes me intently. “I apologize for my gesture, but I had to sell the whole thing, otherwise he wouldn’t have gotten the point.”

“Yeah, I figured as much,” I reply, barely able to look him in the eyes.

“Are you okay, Selina?” Sully asks, equally interested in my well-being. I can’t help but feel stunned by their care and sudden involvement. I mean, we always have some amazing interactions while they’re in the store, but I never imagined they’d stumble into such a scenario and deal with it so efficiently. “We heard you two arguing, and Matthew figured you had a problem that needed taking care of.”

“I can’t thank you enough,” I tell him and Jason, then turn back to Matthew. “We broke up a couple of weeks ago, and he still won’t accept it.”

“Pretty sure he got the message now,” Jason chuckles dryly.

I can’t help but allow a short laugh to escape from the back of my throat, as well. Despite the tension and the discomfort, as I look back to Kieran’s befuddlement, well, it’s funny. Not to mention fully deserved after how he made me feel. My heart is still racing, albeit for different reasons, as I give the guys a curious glance. “What are you three doing here at this hour?” I ask.

“We’re sorry,” Matthew says. “But we kind of needed some last-minute shopping before we go away for the winter holidays. This place is always our first choice. Would you mind letting these three stragglers in before you close the store tonight? We’ll make it worth your while.”

“I could never say no to my three favorite fellas,” I giggle sheepishly as I motion for them to settle in and shop at their leisure.

As miserable as I’ve been feeling and given all these emotions burning through me, overwhelming me on every possible level, I could do with a triple-manned distraction right about now.