Plenty, FL 3
Plenty of Love
Becca Parks had given up on finding love, but she’s fallen hard for Mark Miller and Travis Andrews. When the two handsome men ask to court her, she’s thrilled. It’s clear they want her as part of their future.
Mark and Travis have been happily together for fifteen years. But the minute they clapped eyes on Becca in her Naughty Nurse Halloween costume, they knew she was their third. They can’t believe how lucky they are to find a woman so down to earth by day and so passionate and daring by night. There is only one obstacle. Before they can live happily ever after, they have to find the person who’s making trouble for Becca.
Becca loves her men and her brothers, but she can take care of herself. She’s all grown up and in charge of her life. It’s time to prove to everyone she’s more than your typical girl next door.
Genre: Contemporary, Ménage a Trois/Quatre
Length: 53,300 words
PLENTY OF LOVE
Plenty, FL 3
Lara Valentine
MENAGE EVERLASTING
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
ABOUT THE E-BOOK YOU HAVE PURCHASED: Your non-refundable purchase of this e-book allows you to only ONE LEGAL copy for your own personal reading on your own personal computer or device. You do not have resell or distribution rights without the prior written permission of both the publisher and the copyright owner of this book. This book cannot be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload to a file sharing peer to peer program, for free or for a fee, or as a prize in any contest. Such action is illegal and in violation of the U.S. Copyright Law. Distribution of this e-book, in whole or in part, online, offline, in print or in any way or any other method currently known or yet to be invented, is forbidden. If you do not want this book anymore, you must delete it from your computer.
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.
If you find a Siren-BookStrand e-book being sold or shared illegally, please let us know at
[email protected]
A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK
IMPRINT: Ménage Everlasting
PLENTY OF LOVE
Copyright © 2012 by Lara Valentine
E-book ISBN: 978-1-62241-989-0
First E-book Publication: December 2012
Cover design by Les Byerley
All art and logo copyright © 2012 by Siren Publishing, Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
PUBLISHER
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
Letter to Readers
Dear Readers,
If you have purchased this copy of Plenty of Love by Lara Valentine from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.
Regarding E-book Piracy
This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book.
The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment.
This is Lara Valentine’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Valentine’s right to earn a living from her work.
Amanda Hilton, Publisher
www.SirenPublishing.com
www.BookStrand.com
DEDICATION
To all of us who wish Plenty, Florida, was real.
PLENTY OF LOVE
Plenty, FL 3
LARA VALENTINE
Copyright © 2012
Chapter 1
“You’re a treasure, Becca. You really are.”
Becca smiled at Addie, the elderly woman she had been bringing a hot meal two days a week for the last four months. She was a volunteer for the meals program Dr. Steve had started to assist patients who had undergone serious surgery and long rehabilitations.
“You’re a treasure, too, Addie. I hope you like chicken and broccoli. It looks really good today.”
Becca pulled the foil-covered tray from the cooler and set it on the kitchen table. Although Addie had joined the program when a broken hip had impeded her ability to care for herself, she still liked to sit at the table and eat what she called a “civilized meal.” Becca always delivered to Addie last so she could sit and hear Addie’s stories of Plenty’s past. Addie was an avid storyteller, and Becca was her biggest fan.
“I do not like broccoli, but at my age you eat what is good for you. I’ll have gas all afternoon, thank you very much. Good thing I live alone.”
Becca smothered a giggle at Addie’s plain speech. She decided to change the subject. “What story are you going to tell me today? Last time we talked about the repressive fifties in Plenty.”
Addie bit into the steamed broccoli and pulled a face of distaste. “I’m not going to tell any stories today, young lady. You are going to tell me about the upcoming wedding.”
Addie’s blue-gray eyes got misty and far away. “I’ve always loved weddings. Plenty has seen some real doozies, too.” Addie shook her head and returned to the present. “But none I’m going to tell you about today. So when do you leave for Key West? It would be nice just to get out of the house now and then. You’re lucky.”
Becca’s father and his partner were marrying in Key West. They were not marrying each other. They were marrying Ellie Miller, recently from Chicago, Illinois. Ellie had come to Plenty over the holidays to visit her daughter and Becca’s friend, Jillian Miller. Ellie, Mike Parks, who was Becca’s father, and Steve had quickly fallen in love and started planning a wedding. To make matters more interesting, Ellie’s daughter Jillian had fallen in love with Becca’s two brothers, Sheriff Ryan Parks and firefighter Jackson Parks. They were all about to become one big, happy family.
“I leave in a week. I’m driving down with Jillian, Ryan, and Jackson. Cassie and her men will be right behind us in the motorcade. Leading the way will be Ellie, Dad, and Steve. I’m looking forward to getting away for more than a few days. I haven’t taken a vacation in over a year. Well, a real one anyway. I can get out of the salon for a day or two here and there, but it’s hard to get away for an extended time.”
Cassie and Jillian had moved to Plenty last summer to start new lives. They had certainly succeeded. Cassie, the former accountant, now taught math at the town school and was engaged to Zach and Chase Harper, local businessmen. Jillian, the former attorney, now taught history and was engaged to Ryan and Jack. Becca envied her friends. They had found their true loves. Ménage loves. Plenty, Florida, was a ménageamous town. The town was tolerant of alternative lifestyles, and polyamory was no exception.
Addie sighed. “Dr. Steve said I can start walking in my garden soon. I’ve missed my walks. Having the physical therapist come to my house just isn’t the same.”
Becca smiled in sympathy. Addie was used to being more active. She liked to garden and walk into town and have tea at the diner. She hadn’t been able to do that for months.
“You’ll be up and around in no time. Dr. Steve is the best doctor in Plenty.”
“He’ll have company soon, won’t he? Isn’
t your friend’s brother moving to town soon to join Dr. Steve’s practice?”
Becca nodded. “Dr. Mark Miller will be joining Dr. Steve’s practice. It will be good to have another doctor in town. We need one.”
Addie gave her a shrewd look. “Didn’t you spend quite a bit of time with Dr. Miller when he was visiting at Thanksgiving and Christmas?”
Becca’s thoughts drifted to Dr. Mark Miller, Jillian’s brother and a talented doctor from Chicago. He and his attorney husband, Travis Andrews, would be moving to Plenty in a few weeks. Both Mark and Travis were gorgeous and sexy. They were also totally taken—with each other. Becca simply had to stop fantasizing about the two of them. It was hard to stop. They were wonderful men that she had gotten to know when they visited at Thanksgiving and then again for a few weeks at Christmas. Each moment she spent with them only made her want to spend more time with them.
“I guess I did. I spend a lot of time with Cassie and Jillian, so it was only natural to spend time with Jillian’s brother and his husband. They’re very nice men.”
And good looking, too.
“I assume they’ll be at the wedding?”
“Yes, the whole family plus Zach and Chase with Cassie, of course.”
“Is Josh going with you?”
Becca bit her lip and considered how to answer the question. She had dated Josh Kent, the owner of Plenty’s one and only coffee shop, a few times. So far, it had been light and casual, although she suspected that Josh was more serious about her than she was about him. There was just no zing with Josh. He was gorgeous enough, smart, and very sweet. Why she had to spend her time drooling over Mark and Travis she had no idea. They were no better looking than Josh, really.
Okay, maybe a little better looking in her opinion. Mark looked like a surfer god with his blond hair, steely blue eyes, and broad shoulders. Travis was the brooding hunk with his brown hair, chocolate-brown eyes, and muscled arms. Whenever she thought of them, her body responded with a wet pussy and tight nipples. Her pulse was racing just picturing them.
“No, he has to stay and run the coffee shop. His silent partners haven’t arrived in Plenty yet. They’re still in New York. I’ll be all on my own. A single girl on the prowl.”
Addie snorted. “I can’t say that Key West is a great place for a single girl to find a man. It seems like you could use one, Becca. It’s not good for a young woman to be alone.”
Becca couldn’t agree more.
“I’m fine. I’ll find the right man one day.” Or maybe two.
“You have to look to find. Is Josh the one?”
Becca opened her mouth to say maybe then shut it in defeat. She shook her head. “No, he’s not. I wish he was, but he’s not.”
“Best tell him and move on then. It’s not fair to keep him thinking it could be something.”
“No, it’s not. But who do I move on to then? I know every man in this town. And it ain’t happening with any of them.”
“The Lord will provide. Until then, be on the lookout. The right man could show up at any moment.”
“Hellooo! Addie! Helloo!”
Addie smiled and waved as a man around Becca’s own age walked through the door. He wasn’t very tall but could be called handsome in a pretty-boy sort of way.
“Randall, I’m surprised to see you today. I want you to meet my friend, Becca. Becca, this is my grandnephew, Randall. I’ve told you about him.”
Becca knew Randall was a successful real estate developer in Orlando and the grandson of Addie’s deceased sister. Becca had also heard Randall was something of a ladies’ man. Ick. He definitely was not her type.
“I came to see my favorite great-aunt. Can’t a man be spontaneous? I brought you some of those cupcakes you like from the bakery near my house.”
Randall leaned down and kissed Addie’s cheek before turning to shake Becca’s hand. Becca’s skin crawled a little as he looked her up and down like he was appraising a painting. She pulled her hand away.
“It’s nice to meet you, Randall.”
Randall must have decided he liked what he saw. He gave her a slippery smile. “Please, call me…Randy.”
Ewww.
“Well, I need to be going, Addie, Randall. I need to get back to the shop.”
Becca owned the only hair salon in Plenty. That was why she hadn’t had a real vacation in over a year.
“Randy, please. I hope we meet again.”
Becca suppressed a shudder. There was something really creepy about this guy. She had good instincts about people, and Randall was someone she needed to stay away from.
Randall plopped down into the chair she had just vacated. “Now, Auntie, we need to talk about the investment opportunity again. I’m worried you’ll outlive your money. This investment is a sure thing.”
Becca knew there was no such thing but was too polite to say. She thought about lingering to hear what he was trying to talk her into, but it was really none of her business. She quickly gathered the cooler and headed for the front door, waving a cheerful good-bye to Addie. There was something not quite right about that man.
* * * *
Becca pushed open the door of Josh’s Java. Addie was right. She needed to talk to Josh and tell him there was no chance the relationship was going to move forward. He was a nice guy and didn’t deserve to be led on.
It was the middle of the afternoon and the shop wasn’t busy. Just a few customers sat near the back sipping coffee and staring at their laptops. She waved at Josh. He turned and gave her a big smile, his hand on another man’s shoulder. It was then she noticed the two men leaning against the counter. She had never seen them before, but Josh’s relaxed body language signaled they were friends.
Josh leaned down and lightly kissed her cheek. “Hey, I didn’t expect to see you this afternoon. I’m glad you’re here, though. I want you to meet my friends.”
Becca turned to introduce herself and was immediately taken aback. The tallest man, he must have been about six three or four, looked pale and haggard, as if he was just recovering from a nasty flu. Despite his pallor, she could see he was usually quite handsome, his jaw strong and his profile sharp. His eyes were shadowed. His head was shaved. He had wide shoulders, although his clothes hung on his large frame. Yes, this man had recently been ill.
The second man, on the other hand, looked like he had just stepped from the cover of GQ. Golden-brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail, which only highlighted his classically handsome face. He wore an impeccable blue suit, which looked incongruous in the casual atmosphere.
The right man could show up at any moment.
She looked at him and felt…nothing. Absolutely nothing.
“This is Brayden Tyler”—Josh indicated the taller man—“and Falk O’Neill.” He pointed to the male-model guy. “They’re my best friends since college days and my silent partners. They’re finally moving here from New York.”
Becca shook hands with each of them before turning to Josh. “I really need to talk to you, but maybe I should come back.”
“Of course not, I can talk to you now. The guys need to head to the house and start unpacking anyway. Right?”
The men reluctantly pushed away from the counter and headed for the door, bidding them both good-bye.
“Let’s go back to my office. Tommy can handle the counter.”
Josh led her back to his office and indicated she should sit while he sat opposite her. She plucked up her courage. This wouldn’t be easy. Josh gave her a gentle smile.
“Actually, I wanted to talk to you, too, Becca. You came at the perfect moment.”
“You did? Well, you go ahead then.” She wasn’t in any hurry to hurt Josh’s feelings.
“What did you think of Brayden and Falk?”
“Um, I don’t really know. I just met them. Why?”
Josh had a serious expression. “They’re my best friends. We didn’t pick this town randomly. We came here because of its reputation for tolerating ménage relation
ships. That’s what the three of us want.”
Josh’s words finally sunk in. “The three of you…with me? Is that what you’re asking?”
Josh nodded, his words careful. “Yes. I’ve been telling them about you. They were excited to meet you. Did you like them?”
Becca closed her eyes for a moment, knowing this was going to go badly. “I liked them fine. But…”
Josh’s lips twisted. “But?”
Becca sat back in the chair. “I came here to tell you that I don’t think this relationship is going to work out. I like you, but…well…there’s no…spark, you know what I mean? I’m so sorry. I really am.”
Becca felt terrible, but Josh captured her hand in his. “It’s okay. I think you’re wonderful, Becca. Sweet and pretty, and kind. I know we’ve only been out on a few dates, and here I’ve sprung two friends on you. It’s not like we’ve had sex, either. I’m disappointed, I admit it, but you’re probably right. I’ve never been in love before, so I wouldn’t recognize it if it happened.”
Becca’s heart squeezed as she thought of Mark and Travis. They were the type of men she could fall in love with given some encouragement. She wouldn’t get any encouragement, of course. But she could still let them star in her late-night fantasies.
“I’ve never been in love before, either. But from what I’ve seen you’ll recognize it when it happens. Love smacks you upside the head and throws you to the ground. If you don’t feel that way about me, then you’re not in love with me. I’ve seen it enough to know.”
Josh laughed. “Shit, that just sounds painful. How about this? How about we stay friends? I like you, and I like spending time with you. No getting smacked in the head allowed.”
Plenty of Love Page 1