by Jess Dee
“Ouch!”
“That’s for being stupid.” She smacked her again.
“Ow.”
“And that’s for being even stupider. You don’t just go and dump someone you love because he was with your friend first. You don’t give up on love for anything. If it’s right, you fight for it. Damn it, Vi, if Dec’s right for you, fight for him. Fight for both of them.”
“But I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Declan hurt me six months ago. And it turned out to be the best thing he ever did for me. I met Andrew. My future’s all tangled up with Andrew, not Dec. I’m so, so happy. How can you possibly think I’d deprive you of a chance at that kind of happiness?”
“Dec was yours. Long before anything happened with us.”
“Was. He was mine. He’s not anymore, and if you think I’d stand in the way of your happiness, you must be crazy. Sheesh, Vi, you didn’t interfere with my relationship with Declan—even though you loved him before I ever met him. Why on earth would I interfere with yours?”
Dazed, she stared at her friend. “It…it honestly wouldn’t bother you if I was involved with Declan?”
“Of course it would bother me. He hurt me, so I know he has the potential to hurt you too. That would bother me every day.”
“He wouldn’t hurt me, Tor. Ever.” Dec had hurt Tori too badly to ever subject another person to that kind of pain. He wouldn’t be able to bear it. “And I know exactly what I’m getting with him.” The secrets he’d kept from Tori he’d shared with Violet.
“Then do me a favor and get your ass out of my kitchen. Go fight for them. If Declan and Noah are what you want, go and get them.”
For the first time since lunch, Violet felt the cloud of misery lift. “You wouldn’t hate me for being with Dec?”
“The only thing I’d hate is if I were responsible for your not being with him.”
Violet smiled. “I knew there was a reason you were my best friend.”
Tori looked at her with mischief in her eyes. “Maybe I’m not.”
“Huh?”
“I just changed my mind.”
Violet’s hopes plummeted. “I-I can’t have Dec?”
“Oh, you’re welcome to Declan. And Noah.” She ducked down and grabbed something from the floor. “But starting now, you can’t have my shoes. I’m taking them back.” Chuckling to herself, Tori ran out the kitchen, beautiful red sandals in hand.
Winslow and Maurice scrambled after her.
From somewhere in the bowels of the house, Tori yelled, “Let yourself out, okay? And say hi to Declan from me.”
Violet left the house with her feet bare of shoes and her chest free of guilt.
Chapter Thirteen
Declan stared morosely at the empty fireplace in his hearth. It was as absent of heat and flames as his heart.
For one glorious day he’d had it all. Everything he’d ever wanted. He’d tried to grab on to it, intent on securing it forever, because nothing less than forever with Violet and Noah would satisfy him now.
But he’d fucked it all up. Fucked up every bit of happiness he and Noah could have had. Violet had walked away because of Declan’s past. In the end, she refused to sacrifice her friendship with Tori to be with them. And Declan couldn’t blame her.
A vacuum formed in his diaphragm, making breathing difficult.
“Hey.” Noah quit pacing and came to stand behind him. “It’s not your fault.”
“What are you? A mind reader?”
He placed comforting hands on Declan’s shoulders and massaged the tense muscles in his neck. “Nope. I just know you well enough to guess you’re blaming yourself.”
Good as Noah’s touch felt, it didn’t rid Declan of the knots in his neck. “It’s my fault.”
“That Vi values her friendship with Tori? That’s not a fault. It’s a strength. One of many that made me fall in love with her.”
“It’s my fault she had to choose between us. I’m sorry for that. Sorry you got caught up in my shit.”
Noah’s hands stilled. “I’ve been caught up in your shit from the beginning. By choice. I could have walked away at any time. I chose not to.”
“Then you’re an idiot.” Seriously, what kind of moron would hang around with him anyway?
“Maybe. But this idiot loves you. You’re worth getting caught up in—even if you don’t believe it.”
“I love you too.” Declan had sworn to tell Noah as much every day, and there was no time to start like the present. “But she’d be here, with us now, if not for me.”
“How long are you gonna keep this shit up?” Noah dropped his hands and resumed his pacing. “Get over it. Your past is in the past. Leave it there.”
“And our future? Are we just going to accept Vi won’t be a part of it?”
“Hell, no.” Noah thumped his hand on the wall in frustration. “She belongs with us. You know it and I know it. Now we need to convince her of it.”
“Got a plan?”
“I’m working on it.”
“Anything you want to share?”
“Not yet.”
“So you don’t have a plan?”
Noah sighed. “Not a single fucking one.”
“Me neither.” Dec twisted his lips then added, “Yet. It’s getting her back without hurting Tori that’s going to be the tough part.”
“Tori. Hmm…”
“Hmm?”
“Have you considered going to see her? Talking this out with her?”
On this Declan was one step ahead of Noah. “I’ve already phoned her.” For all the good that had done.
“You have?” Noah stared at him, surprise written all over his face. “When?”
“Fifteen minutes ago.” After he’d waited for the ten or fifteen new voice and text messages to download. He’d made the call without acknowledging a single one of them. They could wait until tomorrow. Or even next week. Nothing was more important than getting Violet back.
Nothing.
“When you went to the bathroom?”
Declan shrugged. “I didn’t go to the bathroom.”
“Ah, right. Okay. And she spoke to you?”
“For a bit, yeah. She always speaks to me.”
“You’re in touch with her?”
“I phone every couple of weeks. Just to check in. Make sure she’s okay.” The calls were awkward, sometimes even excruciating. But Declan phoned regularly anyway. Regardless of their history, Declan cared deeply about her.
Tori always spoke to him, always assured him she was fine, but they never had any deep or meaningful conversations.
Which hurt. One of the things he’d loved about Tori was how easy she was to speak to. There’d been a time when they’d chat long into the night. Maybe not about his deepest desires, but about everything else. Tori had never hesitated to spill her heart to him…then.
Now was another story altogether.
“I had no idea.” Noah shook his head, surprise still evident on his face. “So? What did she say?”
Declan frowned. “She spoke about her shoes.”
“Her what?”
“Shoes. Red sandals, I think she said. Told me she didn’t know she was missing them until she had them back, and now that she does, she’s never letting them go.”
Noah held up his hands in confusion. “What?”
“Yeah.” Dec nodded. “That’s exactly what I said too.”
“Did you talk to her about Vi?”
“I tried, but Tori kept changing the subject back to her shoes.” He clicked his jaw. “She said something…odd.”
“Odd?”
“She told me the shoes helped her understand.”
“Understand what?”
“Fuck knows.” Declan was as lost as Noah. “She told me if she’d just taken one shoe back, she’d never be able to balance properly. She needed the pair to feel complete.”
Noah hmmphed. “That’s kind of how I feel about you and Violet. I need you both to feel c
omplete. And balanced.”
“That’s how I feel exactly.” Declan stared at him, stunned. “I didn’t think so at the time, but maybe Tori was making sense.”
Noah looked dubious.
“Just before she hung up, she told me I should hold on to both of my shoes too.”
“You have red sandals?”
“It’s a metaphor, asshole. I think Tori was telling me to hold on to both of you.”
Noah screwed up his nose. “That would imply she knows about you, me and Vi.”
“Maybe she does. Maybe Violet went to her after she came home from the Hunter?”
Noah rubbed a hand over his chin. “Maybe she did.”
“And if Tori told me to hold on to the two of you, maybe she said the same thing to Violet.” Declan’s heart started to pound.
“There’s only one way to find out.”
Declan flew to his feet. “We’re going to Violet’s place.”
Noah yanked up his keys. “I’ll drive.”
They were jerking open the front door thirty seconds later. And they would have been in the car, tearing through the streets of Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs another thirty seconds later, if not for the person standing on Declan’s front doorstep, her hand poised to knock.
“Vi.” Noah’s voice was hoarse, but at least he got her name out. Declan could only stare.
“Um, hi.” She looked from Noah to Declan to the keys. “Is this a bad time?”
Declan didn’t answer. He just drank in the sight of her.
“No.” Noah took Vi’s hand and plucked her inside, slamming the door closed behind her. He tossed his keys on the small table in the entryway. “It’s a perfect time.”
“But you were on your way out.”
“Not anymore.” Noah hauled Violet into his arms and tucked her tight against his body. “We were coming to find you.”
“Oh.” A sigh of relief whooshed from her lips, and she seemed to melt into Noah’s embrace. “That’s good. Very good.”
Declan’s heart slammed into his ribs. The vacuum in his lungs shrank, and breathing became the slightest bit easier. He let his gaze feast on her, gobbling up every inch of her lithe, sexy body, her gorgeous face and her honey-gold hair.
Violet looked exactly as she had when she’d left them, except for two things. In place of the utter devastation in her brown eyes, there was now hope. And she was missing her shoes.
“You’re barefoot.” See? He could talk. It was difficult, but he could do it.
“I am.” Violet held up her foot and wiggled it. “Tori stole my sandals.”
Declan looked at Noah, and Noah looked at Declan. Declan felt the corner of his mouth tug into a smile. “You’ve seen Tori?”
“Now. I’ve just come from her house.”
“And she stole your shoes?”
“To be fair they were…” Temporarily distracted by Noah’s chest, Violet leaned in and pressed her lips to the spot above his heart.
Noah moaned softly.
Declan swore he felt her kiss on his own chest.
“…They were, um, her shoes first,” Violet said as she replaced her lips with her hand. “Your heart,” she whispered. “It’s racing.”
“My heart always races when you’re around.”
“Even though I walked away from you today?”
“Even though.” Noah confirmed. “You’ll always make it beat faster.”
“That’s good.” She nodded. “That’s really good. Dec?” She looked his way.
“Yeah?”
“There’s something I need to tell you.” She held out her free hand to him. “Can you come over here? Please? I need to tell you both.”
The instant he took her hand in his, fire shot up his arm.
Violet twined their fingers together and tugged him in closer until Dec stood pressed against Noah on one side and tucked against Violet on the other. Violet held their hands to her breast.
Now he could feel her heart beating. And like Noah’s, it raced.
“Tell us, Vi,” Noah urged.
“Here’s the thing,” Violet said, her voice unsteady. “I, uh, I love you. Both of you.”
Declan’s heart soared. A daft grin settled on his mouth, and he knew he must be smiling like a fool.
Noah shifted, wrapping his arm around Declan’s waist, so the big man held them both. Declan slipped his free hand into Noah’s back pocket.
The vacuum in Declan’s lungs vanished. Oxygen washed through him in a heady gush.
“I wanted to tell you at lunch, wanted to let you know then, but I couldn’t. I felt too guilty about Tori.”
“The shoe stealer?” Noah asked with a light in his eyes.
“Yeah, Tori, the shoe stealer. Only…I felt like the thief. I was stealing her ex-boyfriend, and I couldn’t do that, you know?”
“Hey.” Declan nuzzled her cheek with his lips. “It would only be stealing if her ex hadn’t given his heart to you freely.”
She tilted her head, giving him freer access. “I know. But I couldn’t get past my guilt. Until…”
“Until?” Noah prompted.
“Until I spoke to her.”
Declan nipped her earlobe. “What did she say?” He hoped Tori hadn’t been as cryptic with Violet as she had with him.
“She told me if I want you two badly enough I shouldn’t give you up. I should fight for you.”
“And?” Noah pressed, his voice rough. “Do you want us badly enough to fight for us?”
“It’s why I’m here.”
A breath whooshed from Noah’s chest.
Declan’s eyes closed in relief. “You don’t have to fight,” he whispered. “We’re already yours.”
Violet made a funny noise, like a sob had gotten caught in her throat. “And I’m yours. Totally and completely yours.”
“What about Tori?” Declan asked.
“She’s fine with it. She just wants us to be happy. In fact, she, uh, she sends you her love.”
“Nice of her, but…” He didn’t want Tori’s love. “The only love I want is yours and Noah’s.”
“You have it,” Noah said fiercely. “You have all of mine. Both of you.”
“You have mine too. You and Noah,” Violet said. “I-I want this threesome. For a lot longer than just a weekend.”
“Will forever do?” Declan asked.
Violet bit her lower lip. “Can forever start right now?”
“Yeah, baby,” Noah rasped. “Forever can start right now.”
“Then forever will do.” Vi sighed happily. “Forever will definitely do.”
And as Noah dipped his head and kissed Violet, Declan knew his deepest, darkest desires had just become his reality. He was finally living the life he’d always longed for.
About the Author
Once Jess discovered it was okay to leave the bedroom door open in her romance novels, she decided to leave everything open. Buttons, zips, pants, number of lovers… Which is why her books are all steamy erotic romances.
While Jess lived most of her life in South Africa, the last twelve years have been spent in Australia. From the fast-paced Sydney lifestyle to the laid-back islands and beaches, there’s always another gorgeous Aussie setting for a contemporary romance.
Jess loves hearing from readers. You can email her at [email protected] or find her at:
Her website—www.jessdee.com
Her blog—jessdee.wordpress.com
Twitter—@jessdeewriter
Facebook—www.facebook.com/jess.dee.921
Like Jess on Facebook—www.facebook.com/Jessdeewriter
Look for these titles by Jess Dee
Now Available:
Office Affair
A Touch of Confidence
The Tanner Siblings
Ask Adam
Photo Opportunity
Circle of Friends
Only Tyler
Steve’s Story
A Question of…
A Question of Trust
&n
bsp; A Question of Love
Fire
Winter Fire
Hidden Fire
Three of a Kind
Going All In
Raising the Stakes
Full House
Bandicoot Cove
Exotic Indulgence
Island Idyll
Afternoon Rhapsody
Speed
See You in My Dreams
Colors of Love
Rhythm of My Heart
More Than
More Than Friends
More Than Lovers
More Than Words
Tastes of Seduction
Summer Wine
Red Red Wine
Print Collections and Anthologies
Three’s Company
Risking It All
Red Hot Winter
Three of a Kind
Tropical Desires
Red Hot Weekend
Tropical Haze
Two To Tango
Rhythm of the Night
More Than This
She’s tantalizing…tempting…and taken.
Red Red Wine
© 2014 Jess Dee
Tastes of Seduction, Book 2
When Andrew Stafford’s business partner banishes him from work with strict instructions to take a much-needed holiday, the offer of five days relaxing in wine country is too enticing to refuse. As is the woman he encounters the minute he arrives at the hotel.
She’s everything Andrew’s ever wanted in a partner, and meeting her should be the answer to all of his prayers. Except for one thing—she’s strictly off limits.
Tori Worthing has never been happier. She’s about to marry an amazing man, and her life is laid out perfectly before her—until her dream winery wedding becomes an unexpected nightmare. Her heart shattered, she turns to the one place she never expected to find comfort—a stranger’s arms.
Tori and Andrew both know theirs is a rebound affair destined to end when the week is over. But when the time comes, letting her go proves to be the hardest step Andrew’s ever had to take.
Warning: Jilted brides are not supposed to have this much fun. Especially when the fun involves a bottle of red, a sexy man and getting naked in the gazebo at midnight.
Enjoy the following excerpt for Red Red Wine: