“How about you? Do you love her?” Chance asked.
“It’s more complicated than that. I’m damaged goods. You guys are good together, you two make sense, but I don’t see where I’m bringing anything good to this situation.”
“That wasn’t the question, Sam.”
“Of course, I love her,” he bit out. “I’m just not convinced I’m the right man for her.”
“Then let’s just take this one day at a time. I think she really needs both of us. But let’s just see what tomorrow brings, okay?” Sam wanted to argue, but Chance had that look, that “What the hell let’s give it a try” look that had gotten Sam into trouble countless times throughout his teens.
“Okay, we’ll just take it day by day. But if I see that I’m hurting Josie, I’m backing out.”
“Hell, if you’re hurting Josie, I’m kicking you out,” Chance assured him. Sam nodded, satisfied.
Chapter 24
“This guacamole is to die for,” Kara Johansen said as she scooped another spoonful onto her flour tortilla and rolled it up. Lola and Josie watched in wonder as the statuesque blonde ate her fourth burrito. This was after she ate a plate of steak fajitas.
“Are you pregnant?” Lola asked. Josie watched Kara choke on her mouthful of food, and then took a large swallow of her margarita.
“What? What in the hell made you ask that question?” Kara demanded as she dumped the rest of the food down on her plate and glared at her friend. Josie had been having a really good time on her girl’s night out. She’d hired a newly graduated Fate Harbor boy who had just gotten his degree in restaurant management. He wanted to spend the first year out of college staying with his parents, before looking for a job in one of the big cities, so he was a perfect fit. As a result, she, Kara, and Lola had one of the Johansen brothers drop them off at the ferry at Fate Harbor, so they could come to this Mexican restaurant near the ferry stop in Snoqualt. They knew there was going to be a lot of drinking involved in tonight’s festivities, so no driving was allowed.
But as the night wore on, it became clear that something was bothering Kara, and Lola had had enough.
“I’ll tell you why I’m asking that question. You’ve been a moody bitch for two months, and you’ve probably gained fifteen pounds. So, are you pregnant?”
“Jesus, Lola, how could you even ask me that? Do you think I’d be drinking if I was pregnant?” Josie saw how hurt and offended Kara was, and immediately stepped in to try to smooth things over.
“Oh, sweetie, she doesn’t mean it. I think that’s Lola’s blockheaded way of asking what’s wrong.” Josie scooted her chair closer to Kara, put her arm around her, and glared at the smaller blonde who now looked ashamed.
Lola reached over and grabbed Kara’s hand. “I’m sorry, Kara. I don’t know why I said that. It’s probably just sour grapes,” she admitted. Josie and Kara both stared at her and waited. “The guys and I have been trying to get pregnant for the last five months, and it hasn’t happened for us, and…” Lola’s voice trailed off. Both Kara and Josie looked over at Lola and immediately scooted their chairs around the table, so that they could surround her in hugs. Lola waved them away. “Stop. That wasn’t the reason for tonight’s gathering. We’re here to dish the dirt on Josie’s perverted love life.” Lola gave a devilish giggle.
Josie looked between the faces of her two friends and realized that both of them were in pain. She might not know what was going on with Kara, but there was something. The least she could do would be to tell them what was going on between her, Sam, and Chance. What’s more, she desperately needed to confide in someone—she needed advice.
“Are you sure you want to talk about me?” Josie asked tentatively.
“Yes,” they both said simultaneously. They exchanged surprised glances and laughed.
“Well, okay then, because Chance and Sam are driving me absolutely crazy!”
“Of course, they are, they’re men,” Lola exclaimed. “Let me guess, Chance is driving you crazy, and you want to kick Sam’s ass.”
Josie’s eyes widened at Lola’s accuracy. “How’d you know?”
“I’ve known those two for a couple of years now, and Chance reminds me a lot of Jace. They both could sell ice to Eskimos.”
“Native Americans.”
“Huh?” Josie queried.
“Eskimo is the same as using the term Indians instead of Native Americans.”
“Thanks,” Josie said. She got that. Boy did she get that.
“She’s got it bad, ask her what tribe her men are from.” Kara prompted.
“Shut up, Lola.” Kara glared at the other blonde.
“What are you talking about?” Josie asked Lola. Obviously, the margaritas had gone to her head, because keeping up with the conversation was giving her whiplash.
“Kara is in lust or love or deep like with two hot Native Americans from Alaska. Their names are Ben and Quinn Shotbrook. I thought they were moving down here?” Lola questioned Kara.
“Look, I really can’t talk about it okay? Suffice it to say, a woman can only be told she’s not wanted so many times before she knows it’s true.”
“Kara, is that the reason for the serial dating? You’ve been on more dates than one of those dating shows.”
“Lola, I’m begging you, please just drop it.” Kara motioned the waitress for another round of margaritas. “You were telling Josie how Jace and Chance were alike.”
“Oh, yeah. Chance and Jace are both sneaky and are always trying to get us to do what they want. Therefore, they drive us crazy. And since I always want to kick Dale’s ass, it only stands to reason that you want to kick Sam’s ass.”
Josie smiled. “Well, that’s definitely true about Chance. He bought me a whole wardrobe, just so I would stay at their house.”
“Really?” Kara said in awe, her new margarita forgotten. “Did he get the sizes correct?”
“He got everything correct. I love it all. He even had a part of the house renovated so that there’s this big master suite for the three of us.” Josie plopped her head on the table and bounced it three times. The other girls laughed. When she looked back at them, she laughed as well.
“How do you say no to something like that?” Josie asked, clearly bewildered.
“It’s easy if you don’t love them,” Lola said.
“How can I not love Sam and Chance? They’re Sam and Chance. They are the best men I’ve ever met, and they make me feel so special, like I matter…” Josie trailed off.
“They make you feel loved,” Kara said wistfully.
“They make me feel loved. I never thought that would happen for me,” Josie said softly.
Kara and Lola both raised their glasses. “Welcome to Fate Harbor and the wonderful world of ménage relationships,” Lola toasted.
Josie slowly picked up her glass and clicked it with the other women, realizing that there were more ramifications to her lifestyle choice than she’d originally considered. If she was serious about this, and it seemed she was, she was going to have to have an earnest talk with her sisters, and that meant she’d have to see them in person. I’ll talk to Elise about covering two days.
“Let us in, Josie. We’re just going to stand here on your porch all night, if necessary.”
Josie sat on her couch and hugged her pillow harder. The sound of Chance’s voice hurt. He sounded so comforting, and she just needed a hug, but not right now. First, she had to get her head together. She wasn’t ready to face them. She’d be ready tomorrow. Tomorrow would be much better. She just needed a little more time.
“Josie, open this door, or I’m going to break it down.” And there was Sam. His demanding voice was somehow comforting, too. God, she was really one messed-up woman. She walked over to the door, not wanting to yell across the room. She leaned her head against the wood. The short walk from the couch to the door had made her dizzy.
“Please, let’s talk tomorrow after the shop closes. I just can’t do this tonight, okay?�
� She was proud that she’d kept her voice level. If she’d thought herself capable of doing that, she would’ve answered their phone calls, and saved herself this late night visit.
“It’s too late for that, Baby. You promised to keep in touch, and you failed. Now open. The. Goddamn. Door.” She was too numb to be scared or aroused by Sam’s dominant voice, she just responded to it. So, she unhooked the chain and unlocked the door, which was immediately opened by one large, concerned male. Josie looked up at Sam in a daze. Funny, she expected him to be angry.
“I wasn’t angry, Baby, I was scared.” She must have said that aloud.
“You did,” Chance answered. She turned her head to look at him, feeling like she was under water. How were they reading her mind?
“Zee, you’re saying everything out loud. Jesus, she’s burning up. Sam, get her to the couch.” Josie felt the room drop from beneath her, and then she was flying. Sam gently lowered her to the sofa. When she looked into his beautiful green eyes, she felt really happy, but he didn’t. Maybe he didn’t like her as much as she liked him.
“Jesus, Josie, you’re killing me here.” Sam’s hands felt so good against her forehead, so cool and dry. Why was he being nice, if he didn’t like her?
“I swear to everything holy, I like you. Did you catch something from one of your sisters? Are they okay?”
“You’re wonderful to ask that. You’re freaking wonderful. Why can’t they understand that you two are wonderful?” her voice faded. “Just wonderful.”
“Chance, get the thermometer, she’s not making sense.”
“Still looking, it’s not in her medicine chest,” he called from her bathroom.
“Are your sisters all right?” Sam asked again.
“No, they’re not sick, Becca’s sad. Not sick. The person next to me on the plane was sick,” she mumbled. Josie’s eyes shut just as Chance came back with the thermometer.
“About damn time,” Sam said, taking the instrument from Chance’s hand.
“Did you find out how it went in Florida?” Chance asked. “Open your mouth, Zee.” Josie opened her eyes and stared up at him. Then she saw that pretty sunny color that was Chance’s hair, and she moved her head.
“Josie, stay still, look at me, and open your mouth.”
“I think there’s problems.” Sam answered Chance’s question.
She turned back to Chance, and Sam immediately tipped her chin back toward him.
She didn’t want to move her head. It hurt. Hurting was bad. What Becca said had hurt. She didn’t want to hurt Sam and Chance. There was so much hurt.
“Take out the thermometer,” Chance instructed Sam.
“It’s almost one hundred and three! I think we need to take her to the hospital.” Sam eased her to a reclining position on the couch, pulling together the lapels of her robe.
“Hold on, let me call Mom.” Chance pulled out his phone and was immediately talking to Betty, explaining the situation. “Zee, have you been throwing up?” She looked up at Chance in confusion. Why did he want her to get up? She had just gotten comfortable. She struggled to sit up.
Chance crouched down in front of her, gently easing her back down onto the sofa. “Zee, can you understand me?” Josie nodded, struggling to focus on him.
“Have you been sick to your stomach?”
“Yes. I’ve been throwing up.” She thought it was the upset from Becca’s reaction.
“How does your body feel, does it ache?” She nodded, which just shot another stream of pain from her neck into her brain stem. She groaned, the room got fuzzy, and she had to just nap for a little while.
Chapter 25
“Yeah, Mom, everything you just said.” Chance listened intently. “Okay, got it. Thanks, you’re the best.” He turned to Sam. “She said it’s a bad case of the flu. If her temp stays this high for more than twelve hours, we should get her to the hospital, but she should be just fine after a few days.”
“I want to take her home,” Sam said.
“You and me both. Let’s get some blankets and some kind of bucket in case she throws up. I dibs driving,” Chance quickly claimed.
“You’re an asshole. I don’t care if she pukes on me, I want to hold her,” Sam’s tone was proprietary. Chance went down the hallway, smiling to himself. He loved seeing Sam play such a nurturing role. They got her bundled up good because it was raining. Sam carried her down to the truck, and the two of them got her situated into the back.
Josie was still out cold, despite all of the jostling, which was plenty of cause for concern to both of them. It took twice the time it normally would get to the house, because the rain was pouring heavily, and Chance didn’t want to take the turns too quickly for fear of upsetting Josie’s stomach.
Josie woke up when they opened the SUV door and the wind and rain whipped into the interior. “What?”
“Shhh,” Sam soothed. “We’ve got you. We’re getting you inside, and we’re going to get you warm and tucked in, in just a second.” The cold rain felt good against her hot skin, and she threw off the blankets they bundled her in, much to Sam’s consternation. By the time they made it into the house, she was wet and shivering.
“Are you out of your mind, woman?” Sam nearly shouted at her.
“It’s the fever,” Chance calmed him. He plucked Josie out of Sam’s arms and strode down the hall to the master suite, with Sam close behind him. Chance headed straight to the bathroom and started stripping Josie while Sam started the shower. Both just got out of their boots and shoes, and entered the huge shower stall, to get Josie warm.
“So co–co–cold,” she chattered.
“I know, Baby. I should have kept the blankets around you.” Sam cursed himself. He held her and rubbed her arms, ensuring that the water didn’t get in her face.
Chance touched her scalp. “The top of her head feels like ice, but her forehead still feels hot. I’m going to wash her hair.”
“Oh, please do,” Josie pleaded. “That would feel so good.” Despite their worry, both men grinned at one another at the sensual sound in Josie’s voice.
“If you get to wash, I get to condition,” Sam said.
“Deal.”
Chance got the herbal shampoo he’d bought for Josie and lathered her hair, and for the first time was truly conscious of the weight of it. “God, woman, how do you not have headaches all the time?”
“Hmmm?”
Chance realized she was out of it again. He lifted the heavy mass and thought that no matter how much he loved it, he was going to have to talk her into cutting it. While Chance washed her hair, Sam stripped out of his clothes, and while Sam conditioned her hair, Chance stripped. They both got her dry before putting her to bed.
“Mama Betty said we needed to get her to drink plenty of clear fluids,” Chance said. “You stay with her. I’m going to bring in some water and juice.”
When he got back, Sam had her bundled up in a semi-seated position, resting against his chest. Chance had found some straws, so he started with the apple juice. “Josie, can you hear me? You need to drink this and take some Tylenol.” He put the straw to her lips, and Sam kept her upright.
“I hear you, I’m just feeling woozy. Damn it, why do you guys always have to take care of me?” Josie grumbled.
Sam and Chance grinned at one another. Their Josie was back with them.
“Drink up, Zee.”
She drank half of the glass, then pushed it away.
“You gave us a scare,” Sam said as he stroked her damp hair, nuzzling her temple, subtly feeling her for fever. Sam gave Chance a look, telling him that she was still warm.
“Baby, what happened with your sisters about us?” Sam asked gently.
“Oh, Sam, I had to listen, you know. I had to let her vent. That’s my job, to keep it together, and not lose it. You know?” They both watched as her chin quivered. A tear stole down her cheek. “I don’t know how to make this better,” she whispered, sounding desolate.
“What
did they say?” Sam asked quietly.
“Just her,” she mumbled.
“Okay, what did she say?” Chance demanded.
“She doesn’t want this for me. She’s disappointed.” Two more tears dripped down.
“What did she say, though?” Chance asked.
“Hmmm? What are you talking about?” Josie asked as she fell asleep. Chance put the apple juice glass on the nightstand and placed his hand on Josie’s forehead. “She’s still hot, but it doesn’t seem as bad as it was in her apartment.”
“Should we take her temperature again? What did Mama Betty say?” Sam sounded anxious, and Chance didn’t blame him.
“She said that fluids and Tylenol should take care of things. We should check her temp every four hours.”
“Let’s let her sleep,” Sam suggested. “I could use a drink.” He got up, pulled on a pair of sweats, and they headed to the kitchen. This time they skipped the beer and pulled out the Scotch.
“It sounds like it didn’t go well with her sisters,” Chance said as he braced his arms against the kitchen island.
Sam slumped onto one of the barstools and downed his entire glass. “It never occurred to me that we might have another obstacle besides Josie. I mean, I was only thinking about convincing her this could work.” When he saw his friend arch his eyebrow at him, he continued, “Okay, and I’ve been an obstacle. I admit it. But, Jesus, Chance, give me some credit for working on it. I’ve been seeing that counselor that Leif recommended twice a week. I know it’s only been a couple of weeks, but it’s already helped.”
“I know, Sam,” Chance said. “I’m really impressed with your efforts. I know that shit has to be hard as hell. I don’t know if I could do it, but for a life with Josie, yeah, I probably could.” Chance slammed his glass down on the counter, splattering the contents everywhere. “I really thought those girls would be fine with this. They love Josie. I know they want her happy. They seem so well adjusted, and open-minded.”
“Have you met them?” Sam asked.
Theirs To Treasure: Happily Ever After (Fate Harbor Book 1) Page 18