Plenty, FL 7
Plenty to Give
Sadie Stewart has made Plenty, Florida, her home. After a nightmare of a childhood, and the last several years working crappy minimum wage jobs, she’s ready to find some peace and happiness. Taking a job with Meyer Smith and Logan Farraday was a godsend.
Meyer and Logan take one look at Sadie and know she could be the one to complete their family. They’ve been looking for years, but in Sadie they see what’s been missing. She’s skittish and unsure as they start to court her, but failure for these two men isn’t an option.
When Meyer and Logan face an old nemesis, Jean-Luc, things turn personal. He’s evaded them once already, and now he’s managed to gain access to their home and computer files. Upping the ante, Jean-Luc kidnaps Sadie, the only person who can identify him. It’s going to take everyone working together to find her before it’s too late.
Genre: Contemporary, Ménage a Trois/Quatre
Length: 53,691 words
PLENTY TO GIVE
Plenty, FL 7
Lara Valentine
MENAGE EVERLASTING
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK
IMPRINT: Ménage Everlasting
PLENTY TO GIVE
Copyright © 2014 by Lara Valentine
E-book ISBN: 978-1-62741-112-7
First E-book Publication: January 2014
Cover design by Les Byerley
All art and logo copyright © 2014 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.
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Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
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Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
About the Author
PLENTY TO GIVE
Plenty, FL 7
LARA VALENTINE
Copyright © 2014
Chapter One
Sadie Stewart careened into the hospital parking lot, the tires on the car squealing against the pavement. It took two minutes to find an empty parking spot and two more to run into the lobby, get an elevator, and make it to the fourth floor. The familiar antiseptic smell had hit her nostrils the minute she’d entered the building, twisting her stomach into double knots. By the time she saw familiar faces milling around the waiting area, she was out of breath, nauseous, and near panic.
She raised her hand and waved to her friend, Leah Davis-Reynolds, a tiny, auburn-haired woman and owner of the local bookstore. Leah put down her paper cup and headed straight for Sadie, greeting her with a big hug.
“You got our message. Logan’s back there.” Leah indicated a set of double-doors a short distance away. “The doctors are looking at him but we haven’t heard anything yet.”
Sadie tried to breathe normally but her body was shaking in fear. Logan Farraday was one of the nicest men she’d ever met. He and his partner Meyer Smith had given her a job at their investigations firm when she was down on her luck. They’d become her friends, in addition to her employers. Now she was being told he was injured after a motorcycle accident on the back roads around Plenty.
“Where’s Meyer?” Sadie looked around the waiting area and could see Linc Davis and Justin Reynolds, Leah’s two husbands, but Meyer was nowhere in sight.
“He’s in the stairwell calling his mom and dad. Meyer’s parents are basically Logan’s parents. They’ll probably head here once he tells them. Let’s get you some coffee, girl.”
Sadie shook her head but followed Leah. Leah was in drill-sergeant mode and resistance was futile. “I’ve already had my one cup of the day.”
“Then we’ll get you a soda. You need to sit down. Your face is pale and you look like you’re about to faint.”
I don’t like hospitals. I’m worried about Logan.
“I’m fine. How did you find out?”
Leah pointed to the couch. “Sit while Justin gets you a drink. We don’t need two patients in the hospital.”
Justin, former rock star, smiled serenely at his petite wife as if he were used to following her orders. “Diet or regular?”
“Regular. Thank you.” Sadie sat down before her knees gave out.
Please, God, let Logan be okay.
She’d spent too much time in hospitals getting bad news. Each and every one of those days was currently flashing in front of her eyes, making her head spin and her lunch start to rise in her throat. Leah sat next to her and patted her hand.
“Jason got the call about the accident since he was on duty. When he realized it was Logan, he called Linc, who gathered me and Justin and headed here. Jason said he tried the house but you weren’t there and you weren’t answering your cell.”
Sadie lived with her friend Sami, and her men, Gabe Holt and Deputy Jason Carrington. They’d taken her in when she’d been beaten up and put i
n the hospital by Sami’s con artist blackmailer. Sadie was determined to start a brand new life in Plenty. It couldn’t be any worse than what she’d lived in Orlando.
Sadie blew out her breath in frustration. “I was at Becca’s getting my hair trimmed. I’d turned my phone on silent while I was there. Shit. When I turned my phone back on, I got your message and Jason’s.”
“It’s okay. Getting here any earlier wouldn’t have made any difference.” Leah squeezed her hand. “Now put on a brave face. Meyer’s heading this way.”
Meyer’s normally healthy color was washed out and ashen. She stood on shaking knees as he strode forward, his close-cropped dark hair askew from his fingers raking through it. She’d seen him do it a number of times when he was working on his computer and things weren’t going well. He never did it when he was relaxed and calm. His intense gaze zeroed in on her and he held out his arms, barely giving the others a glance.
Sadie didn’t hesitate, flying into the haven of his outstretched arms. He felt warm and solid, and she breathed in the comfort he offered. His hand stroked her hair and patted her back as she burst into tears.
“Easy, Sadie. You don’t want Logan to see you crying, do you? He’ll never let you live it down, you know. His ego is already almost too big for the building.”
She hiccupped and scrubbed at her face, now deeply embarrassed she’d run into his arms. She barely knew these men but they’d quickly come to represent safety and security in her upside-down world. She tried to tug away but he held her gently but firmly.
“I’m okay. Really. It was just the shock of hearing Logan was hurt.”
Meyer’s bright blue eyes were almost gray with concern. “I’m glad you’re here. I know Logan will want to see you. The nurse told me he was conscious when they took him back.”
“That’s good, right? If he was talking and everything, that’s probably a good sign.” Sadie wanted it to be true more than anything.
Meyer nodded. “I’m no doctor, but I think so. I’d be more worried if he was unconscious. Knowing Logan, he’s probably telling the doctors what to do at this very minute.”
Sadie smiled. Meyer liked to kid Logan about being bossy, but Meyer was just as bossy in a much more quiet and determined manner. He managed to get his way quite a bit without ever seeming to exert his will.
“Can we get you a coffee or soda?” Justin offered. “It could be awhile before the doctors come out and give an update.”
Meyer turned and nodded to his friend. “A soda sounds good. Is Jason still here?”
Linc shook his head. “No, he went back on duty. He said he’d check in later. Do you know who called the accident in?”
Meyer loosened his hold on her but kept his arm around her shoulders. “A passing motorist saw the accident happen. Another car turned right in front of Logan and he had to lay the cycle down. He was going pretty fast and he slid a good distance.”
Sadie shuddered and Meyer’s arm tightened. Logan was the love of Meyer’s life and he had to be scared to death but he was being so strong, not just with her, but with everyone here.
“Was he wearing his leathers?” Leah asked. “They would provide some protection.”
“He was.” Meyer nodded. “Logan’s a smart rider. He was wearing a helmet, leathers, boots, and gloves.” Meyer accepted the soda can from Justin. “Hopefully, the protection did its job.”
The double doors swung open and Dr. Mark Miller stepped out. Sadie knew Mark was Jillian’s brother and Becca’s husband. Sadie had met him when he did her follow-up appointment after she was released from the hospital. He’d been gentle as he’d examined her bruised ribs and had a calm, reassuring bedside manner. She searched his expression for any clues as to Logan’s condition. To her relief, he had a small smile on his face and relaxed body language.
Mark had a clipboard with a file folder on it in one hand and he flipped open the folder with a smile. “Good news. The tests we’ve run on Logan show he has no internal injuries.” Sadie and Meyer sagged against each other in relief. “He does have a slight concussion. It would have been much worse if he hadn’t been wearing his helmet. He also has a couple of bruised ribs, contusions, scratches, and cuts.” Mark gave them a lopsided grin. “Basically, he’s going to feel like he was run over by a truck for a few days, maybe a week or more. It will depend on his pain tolerance and if he’s a good patient. He needs to take it easy for awhile and let himself heal. To make sure, we’re going to keep him overnight for observation.”
Meyer shook Mark’s hand. “Thanks. I’ll make sure he doesn’t over do it. I promise.”
“It’s important he gives those ribs a rest.” Mark pulled a slip of paper from his pocket and handed it to Meyer. “Here’s his prescription for some pain medication. Tell him to take it. Being a hero isn’t going to make him better any sooner. Just breathing in and out with those injuries is going to hurt like a bitch.”
“When can we see him?” Meyer asked. He was clearly relieved, the color back in his face.
“They’ve moved him to a room on this floor. 404. I warn you, he’ll be loopy as hell from the pain medication and he’ll probably fall asleep between sentences.”
Meyer grinned. “Got it. I’ll take some photos to blackmail him with later.”
Mark laughed. “I never heard you say that. You have my cell if you need me.” Mark headed down the hallway and through the double doors again. Sadie took a deep breath and held out her hand.
“Why don’t I get that prescription filled while you see Logan?” Now that she knew Logan was going to be fine, it felt like the walls of the hospital were closing in on her.
Meyer frowned. “Don’t you want to see Logan yourself? I’m sure he’ll ask me about you.”
Sadie couldn’t imagine why Logan would do that. Yes, she had been working for them for almost a month, and yes, they’d become good friends in that time, but it didn’t mean Logan would want to see her after his accident. Besides, she needed out of this place. Badly. The only reason she’d lasted overnight at the hospital when she was admitted was because they’d sedated her.
“I’m sure the two of you will want some privacy.”
Meyer regarded her for a moment. “I want you there. It will take the pressure off of me. You know I don’t always know what to say.”
Meyer was a quiet man and while Sadie was no chatterbox, she was good at making small talk. She’d had lots of practice at her crappy jobs talking to customers. She couldn’t tell him no. Both men had been too kind to her since she’d come to Plenty. They’d given her a job and treated her well. The least she could do was go see Logan with Meyer. She did want to see with her own eyes that he wasn’t dead.
And later she could find a quiet, secluded place and scream her head off.
“Of course I’ll go with you then.”
Linc slapped Meyer on the back. “It sounds like everything is going to be okay. We’ll head off and stop by the house tomorrow. We’ll call first to see if there’s anything we can bring so you don’t have to leave him.”
Leah hugged Sadie and headed off, flanked by Justin and Linc. Sadie stiffened her spine.
This isn’t about me. This is about Logan and Meyer. Stop being a pussy.
Meyer grabbed her hand and they moved down the hall, past the nurse’s station. Meyer stopped in front of a closed wooden door. “This must be it. 404. Are you ready? Smile big for Logan even if his pretty face is all scratched and bruised, okay?”
He was moving forward but she tugged on his hand. “Wait. Mark didn’t say anything about Logan’s face.”
Panic started to rise. Her stomach tumbled and she felt sick.
Meyer shrugged. “Last time he had a lot of bruises and scratches so there’s a possibility he could have them again. He was pretty self-conscious about them for awhile.”
Sadie recalled a scar above Logan’s eyebrow and one on his chin. “He’s done this before?”
“And he will again knowing him as I do. He likes the adr
enaline rush from the bike. Let’s go.”
This time she allowed Meyer to lead her into the hospital room. Her chest tightened as she spied Logan, the back of his bed raised so he was sitting up. Despite his injuries, he looked tanned and fit against the blue of his hospital gown. He had an IV drip in his arm and appeared to be watching the television mounted on the wall. As she moved closer she could see the angry scratches on his arms, hands, neck, and face despite the protection of the leather he’d been wearing. There was a large cut on his jaw, the opposite side of the scar on his forehead.
“Logan, how are you feeling?” It felt like Meyer spoke loudly but the room had been eerily quiet. Logan turned toward them slowly, a grin spreading across his face. His eyes didn’t seem like they were focused on them but he was probably on powerful painkillers. She remembered how badly her own ribs had hurt after she’d been beaten.
Logan raised his hand for a high-five. “Awesome, lover. I feel awesome.” Meyer gently tapped Logan’s hand. Logan kept his hand in the air. “C’mon, sexy girl. Give me a high five.”
Sadie had moved to the other side of the bed. She raised startled eyes at Meyer. Logan had never called her “sexy girl” before. They’d been friendly and casual but this was something else. Meyer nodded and she tentatively touched Logan’s hand with her own, not wanting to hurt him in any way.
“Hi, Logan. You scared us.” Sadie gripped the metal rail on the bed.
Logan chuckled. It was deep and sexy and despite her distress, she felt a shiver run up her spine. Even injured, Logan was an attractive man. They both were, actually, but in very different ways. Meyer leaned down and gave Logan a quick kiss.
Plenty to Give [Plenty, FL 7] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 1