Trusting Chance [Fate Harbor] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour)

by Caitlyn O'Leary

  “The Matushkas never had cinnamon rolls on the menu,” she explained, as she bagged up another order to go. By 9:00 a.m. they were out of cinnamon rolls, so Josie had to take those samples off the counter. However, she still had more customers coming in asking for them, since word had spread around town. She shook her head in amazement. Butch and Betty had been right. This had been a good move.

  The afternoon was slower, which suited Josie just fine. Elise told her to get ready for a big day in a few weeks, since there was a school carnival, and a lot of parents would need to bring baked goods to their children’s classrooms. Josie remembered having worked for a bakery in Florida where they baked ahead of time for events like that, but ended up with a lot of unsold items. She explained to Elise that she preferred to just keep normal inventory, and then take orders on top of that.

  “Okay, honey, whatever you think is best.” Josie appreciated the fact that Elise offered advice, but then allowed her to make the final decision, without a lot of fuss and bother. “Aren’t Betty and Butch back in town today?”

  “Yep, they said they would drop by this afternoon and take me to dinner.” That was another reason that Josie had been so nervous. The last time she had seen them in person, she had been eight years old.

  As soon as Betty and Butch walked through the door, the years just melted away. They might have aged, but they were still two of the dearest people that Josie had ever known. Betty walked forward, her arms open wide. “Josie, you look wonderful.” And just like that she was enveloped in familiar arms. Butch came up behind the two women, wrapping his huge arms around them, and Josie remembered this hug, this sense of safety and warmth.

  “My girls, it’s so good to have you back, where you both belong.” Josie looked up, stunned to see tears in the big man’s eyes.

  He stepped back, and looked around the shop, “My God, Josie, this is amazing. I can’t even believe it’s the same place. Business has to be booming.”

  “It is, Butch,” Elise piped up from behind the counter. “Your girl is doing a great job. Welcome to Sweet Dream Desserts.” There was pride in Elise’s voice.

  Betty still held onto to Josie’s arm, but she began to tour around the shop, oohing and aahing over all the displays and details that Josie had worked on to make the shop her own. Betty missed nothing, noting every light fixture and every type of treat in the display case.

  “Do you make everything Josie, or does Elise help?”

  “So far she only trusts me to make the batters and doughs. Josie does all the baking and decorating. I’m hoping to be promoted,” Elise said with an amused chuckle.

  Josie blushed, knowing she was a perfectionist, but it was her livelihood.

  “Wait until the school carnival in a few weeks, you’ll be sold out,” Betty predicted. “After that Josie will have no choice but to have you help with everything.”

  “Have you been to Hart’s Diner?” Butch asked in his booming voice. Josie shook her head. “We’d take you to the steak house, or the Italian place, but we want to introduce you to everyone in town, and Hart’s is the place to go. It’s one block over, right near the wharf.”

  “She’s met almost everyone, but she hasn’t put them into context, if you know what I mean,” Elise said sagely.

  “Well, she’ll know what’s what and who’s who by the time we’re done,” Butch assured Elise, and he looped his arms around Josie and Betty and guided them out the door.

  Josie wasn’t surprised at the greeting that Butch and Betty received when they walked into the homey diner. What did surprise her was how many people called out to her. There were three waitresses, and about forty patrons. Josie could see two men cooking in the back, and she found herself doing a double take. For a moment she thought they were twins, but then decided they were probably just brothers. Holy hell, they looked yummy! One of the waitresses walked up and caught her looking at the eye candy.

  “I know, pretty hot, huh? I pinch myself on a daily basis that I got that lucky.”

  “Oh, honey, they’re the lucky ones,” Butch piped up. Josie watched as the pretty blonde waitress blushed.

  “Butch, if Betty didn’t have you sewed up, and I didn’t have my hands full with my two husbands, I would sooo be knocking on your door. Now what can I get y’all to drink?”

  Josie’s eyes widened at the phrase two husbands.

  “Josie’s been living in the South, so I bet sweet iced tea sounds good to her.” Betty saved her when Josie didn’t reply. The blonde waitress smiled knowingly. It seemed it wasn’t the first time she had encountered that reaction when she had told someone she had two husbands.

  “Coming right up,” she said. “Just so you know, Jace got in some spectacular salmon from Sven today, so I would recommend that. It’s not on the menu, but it’s the best.”

  Josie’s gaze swung from Betty to Butch and back again. “Two husbands?”

  “Yep,” Betty answered. “Actually it’s a little more common around here than you would think. It took Butch a little getting used to as well. Me, not so much. I could immediately see the attraction.” Betty grinned at Josie.

  “A lot of this town was founded by fishermen and loggers from Alaska, so the population was skewed up there. When they came down, there were a few of these marriages already established,” Butch explained. “Some of the children and grandchildren of these families saw this as the norm, so they continued it.”

  “Does it go the other way?” Josie asked. “I mean two women to one man?”

  “I think that’s pretty limited to Utah. I haven’t seen it here in Fate Harbor,” said Betty.

  “And don’t think we’re going to foster some strapping forty-year-old ‘husband’ for you, Betty. Ours is just a two-person marriage.” Butch winked at his wife.

  The waitress brought the three teas to the table, and all three of them ordered the salmon. Butch asked Josie if she had met Karen yet, introducing the waitress. “I’ve been meaning to get over to your bakery, but the diner keeps me hopping. I have a proposition I want to run by you, Josie. Do you think you could stay after the dinner rush and talk to Jace, Dale, and me?”

  “Sure.” Josie was curious what possible proposition the owners of the diner could have for her. Betty and Butch smiled, as if they already knew what was going to be proposed. When Karen left and Josie asked them, she couldn’t get them to tell her anything.

  As they ate their dinner, they regaled her with tales of foster parenting, and she told them stories of her sisters. When they asked questions about her mother, she deflected them, which they respected. She noticed that they talked a lot about all of the children they fostered, but the ones they mentioned most often were she and Chance, as well as four others named Olivia, Brianna, Sam, and Finn.

  Finally the dinner rush came almost to a stop, and the two men came out from the kitchen and towered over the booth where Betty, Butch, and Josie were seated. Karen came over and stood between them. They each put an arm around her.

  Butch stood up and shook hands, introducing each man to Josie. “Josie, this ugly man on the left is Jace Hart. You can tell because he is just a little bit taller than his brother Dale.”

  “Actually, I’ve met both of you.” Josie tried to stand up, but it was difficult since she was seated between Butch and Betty in the booth.

  “Josie, you don’t have to get up,” Dale said, smiling.

  “We’re really hoping you can help us out. Well, actually, I’m hoping you can help me out,” Jace said.

  “Believe me, it would help all of us out,” Karen said. “Jace does all the baking, and he hates it. We’re hoping we can purchase baked goods from you. We’ll stop baking our pies, and just purchase everything from you at the price you sell them to your customers, to make up for your coffee sales.”

  “Hell, a lot of our customers brought in your cinnamon rolls to eat with their breakfasts anyway,” Dale chimed in.

  “I don’t care if you upcharge us, as long as I don’t have to bake
anymore. I know it would probably put more of a burden on you, and you might have to bring on part-time help, but I’m sick of it, and people expect baked goods at a diner.” Jace sent her one of the most charming smiles she had ever seen. Karen sure had her hands full. Josie was excited, and it wasn’t because this man was flirting with her. This would really be a boon to her business. She turned to look at Butch and Betty who just sat there, smiling at her. They were obviously not surprised by this turn of events.

  “Please, Josie, it would really make Jace easier to live with.” Karen smiled at her.

  Josie thrust out her hand. “There will be no upcharge. This will definitely be a great opportunity for my business.”

  “Thank God. You’ll be doing that before the school carnival, in a few weeks. I hate it!” Jace gave a heartfelt sigh of relief.

  “Not as much as we hate being around you,” Karen said.

  Chapter 5

  “You really shouldn’t be out here by yourself,” he admonished. Sam looked angry as he stared down at her. She should have been feeling a little panicked, maybe even a little scared. But how could she when she’d been ogling the man like he was sex on a stick for the last ten minutes as he had run around the lake toward her?

  Josie had easily recognized Sam, even from a distance. She’d noticed him the three times they’d been at yoga class together. There was something very distinctive about the way he held himself, and really, who could miss that chest and those legs? Josie found herself licking her lips, and she hoped it wasn’t actual drool that made her have to do that!

  “Sam, I’m perfectly safe. One of the main reasons I made the move to Fate Harbor is that there is almost a zero percent crime rate.” She smiled up at him, working hard to just focus on his face, and not the way his sweat-drenched T-shirt clung to his ripped chest. Yeah, it’s probably drool.

  “It’s the middle of the night, Josie,” he snapped. “What are you doing in the park in the middle of the night doing your goddamn yoga poses?”

  “It’s almost five in the morning. I’ve been up since two baking. I come here from 4:30 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. because I love seeing the hint of dawn before I have to get ready to open the shop. Sweet Dream opens at 6:00 a.m., so this is my yoga time.” She needed the stretching between the hard work of baking and the activity of running the shop.

  Josie was not happy that he was making her justify her actions. She was a grown woman who was very aware of her environment and took her safety seriously. She liked Sam, but she didn’t appreciate him trying to belittle her. She was in a kneeling position, so thankfully she was able to easily rise. She wished she was taller so she could look him in the face. “Don’t ever speak to me like that again. I take good care of myself, and I resent the hell out of you questioning my judgment.” Josie turned to get her things. She so wanted to make a dramatic exit, but realized she couldn’t without doing exactly what she told him she wouldn’t do. She never wore her brace or corsets for sleeping or morning yoga, so she bent gingerly to pick up her mat, towel, and bag. Carefully, she stood straight, ignoring Sam’s intent gaze, and started toward her car.

  Before she made it two steps, he had deftly and gently pulled the bag off her shoulder, and put his arm around her waist, so that they were walking in synch toward her small compact car. “I’m sorry. Josie, I didn’t mean to say you didn’t know what you were doing. I just got a little scared when I realized it was you out here all alone in the dark.” Josie let his words sink in, let them settle, and when they did, she found herself dropping her head against his shoulder as they completed the walk to her car. She immediately pulled herself upright when she realized what she had done.

  “You’ve never come by the bakery. Maybe you can come by this morning and I’ll treat you to a cinnamon roll and some coffee.” He took the towel and the mat out of her hands and placed them on the roof of her car. Then he pulled the car keys out of the side of her bag.

  “How’d you know where to find those?”

  “That’s easy. You’re OCD, like me. Of course they would be where they belong. In the side compartment where they would be easy to retrieve.” He opened the driver side door of the car, and pushed the button to pop the trunk. Before Josie could even start to get in, he had the towel and the mat closed away in the trunk and was back at her side. “About that Sweet Dream treat you promised me,” he said as he reached down to cup the side of her face. “What would you say if I told you I wanted my treat now?” As his head bent lower, Josie finally realized what he was saying. He actually meant to kiss her! This gorgeous man, with the dark hair and glittering green eyes, was saying that kissing her would be a treat, and that was the last coherent thought she could claim as his lips pressed against hers.

  The cool predawn air had chilled her skin, but the warmth of his lips immediately heated her. Sam took his time, coaxing her to part her lips, to want to get closer to the soft and subtle taste that enveloped her. Both of his hands were at her hair, one hand massaging her scalp, bringing her head closer to his mouth, the other hand pulling at her ponytail in counterpoint. She was confused at the conflicting sensations, but then she started to feel the back and forth tugs, and how good it felt, melding with that mouth that was now biting kisses against her mouth, forcing a response she was only too happy to give.

  Josie couldn’t believe the sparks of sensations flowing from her scalp to her mouth, and then shooting to her nipples as she pushed herself against his chest. She was so hot, and then his tongue thrust inside her mouth, and she moaned. It was perfect. Wanting more, she pushed harder against him, seeking the sensation of his hard body against her breasts. Josie needed to feel his rigid muscles abrading the sensitive nerves of her breasts beneath the lace of her bra. She was thankful that she had worn a slightly scratchy lace bra that morning, which provided just-right, rough sensation when it scraped against Sam’s ripped chest, teasing her nipples.

  “God, baby, rub some more! You feel so soft and good.” Josie took him at as his word, and rubbed even closer. She lifted her arms around his neck and pressed herself chest to breast, and felt him shudder. She froze. Oh, God, she wasn’t wearing anything but her yoga clothes and a bra and panties. She was rubbing her poochy tummy all over the man! She struggled to get out of his arms, but he just held her tighter. “Yeah, I love it when you wiggle. We’re going to set the sheets on fire, baby.” Sam brushed more kisses up the side of her neck, and Josie used both hands against his chest to push him away. Sam took a step back, but kept one hand at the back of her head, and moved the other to the back of her waist. “What is it, Josie? What’s wrong?”

  She looked up at him. She had a profound moment of déjà vu. Hadn’t she been in Chance Reynolds’s embrace a little over two weeks ago, and then running away because she knew he wouldn’t like how she looked? Only problem was, he was still running around after her, thinking that she was some kind of great catch because she was misrepresenting herself. Well, not this time! She took a step backward, and would have fallen into her car seat if it hadn’t been for Sam’s hold on her.

  “Let go,” she growled.

  “I’ll let go when you tell me what’s going on, baby.” Josie looked up at him, seeing the confusion. Who could blame the man? There she had been, climbing all over him, and now she couldn’t seem to get away from him fast enough. Well, this should take care of it. Josie steadied herself, grabbed the hem of her workout shirt, and yanked it over her head. She desperately wished she could immediately cover herself and slink away, but that wasn’t what this was about, so she looked up at Sam. She couldn’t read his expression. He seemed confused, but he also seemed to be stunned. He kept looking down, and then up to her face, and then down her body, and then back up to her face. She couldn’t stand it anymore.

  “Now do you see? This can’t possibly do it for you. This won’t heat up your sheets, so let’s just call it quits now.” She pulled at her shirt so that she could untangle it enough to get it back over her head. Sam grabbed it out of her hand
s, and threw it on top of the car.

  “Baby, what are you talking about? Let’s get you into the car where it’s warm, you have to be freezing.” He turned her and then guided her around to the passenger side of the car. He gently helped her into the seat, buckling the seat belt around her.

  “I’d be warmer if you’d just give me my damn shirt back,” she mumbled. He brushed his hands across her breasts and then down against the curve of her belly, causing every nerve in her body to stand up and take notice. He left the car door open, hitting the fob on the key ring to pop the trunk. He came back and carefully placed her towel around her shoulders.

  “It’s a quick ride over to my house. I’m alone for the next couple of days, so we can get this sorted out.”

  “There’s nothing to sort out.” Josie held onto the towel for dear life. What the hell had she been thinking when she had taken off her shirt? She just wanted to show Sam what her body looked like. No false impressions, nothing hidden. She knew she was overweight, she knew she wasn’t in his league. Just get it out there and move on down the road. They could be yoga classmates. No more of this kissing business. What the hell was wrong with the Northwest, anyway? She hadn’t even been here a month and she’d already been kissed by the two best-looking men she had ever met in her life.

  “We’re here.” Josie looked up, stunned. This wasn’t some little house. This looked like a log cabin mansion that would be written up in some magazine. Sam laughed at the expression on her face. “Yeah, that’s what I thought when I saw it the first time. You know I live with Chance, right?” Josie grabbed the towel tighter. This couldn’t be happening. Everything seemed so surreal. Sam and Chance lived together? Sam was bringing her here after she had done everything to chase him away?