Plenty to Believe [Plenty, FL 5] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Lara Valentine

  Leah gaped at the amount of food Justin was planning to ingest at breakfast. She usually had a muffin and some orange juice. He’d dragged her to the diner this morning after stopping at her home so she could shower and change for work. He insisted on feeding her breakfast after their, as he termed it, night of debauchery. She had to admit she was hungrier than normal. Perhaps he was right that a night of lovemaking had to be fueled with carbs.

  “I’ll have one of the Belgian waffles with strawberries.”

  Justin beamed in approval. Somehow, she’d known he wouldn’t have been happy about a bran muffin eaten as she walked to the bookstore.

  She sipped her coffee. “I rarely eat a real breakfast. I usually just grab a muffin on the way to work.”

  Justin leaned back in the booth, looking devastatingly handsome for so early in the morning. “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. When I’m up early enough to eat it, that is.”

  “You’re a night owl, I take it?”

  He shrugged and took a large gulp of his cranberry juice. “I am now. After years of touring, performing concerts, traveling, and sleeping during the day, my body clock has adjusted to this vampire-like lifestyle. Opening a nightclub was a no-brainer. We’d already been living the hours for years.”

  She didn’t want to talk about Linc, but couldn’t seem to help herself. She’d been thinking about him all morning. Last night had been wonderful, but without Linc, it was as if something was missing. She’d grown up in a ménage house and had always wanted the lifestyle for herself.

  “How long have you known Linc? Was he a musician, too?”

  Justin grinned. “I was at the University of Washington when I met Linc. He was already managing a couple of bands in the Seattle music scene. Damn, he was one of the smartest guys I’d ever met. I was working for drinks at the bar where he found me. He gave us some advice, dragged us to an audition at another bar, and next thing I know we’re making actual cash every night. He negotiated for a piece of the door.”

  “And then you became a star.”

  Justin threw back his head and laughed. “I wish it had been that easy, honey. I dropped out of school, pissed off my parents, and went on the road. We spent the next three years playing bars, nightclubs, county fairs, hell, any place we could get booked in. Linc pooled every cent he had and underwrote a demo tape. He sent it to every record company in town. We finally got a contract with Place Records. Everything happened from there. If it weren’t for Linc, I probably would still be playing dive bars for drinks. Fuck, I’d have given up by now. Gone into the family business like my dad wanted me to.”

  The waitress came by and warmed up her coffee. “What’s the family business?”

  “Furniture. My parents were third-generation furniture builders. Handcrafted tables, chairs, beds. Stuff like that. They had a retail store in Seattle. Still do, actually. My sister runs it now. My parents are retired. I paid off their house after my first album.”

  “That’s sweet. You’re close to your family then?”

  “I guess so. I see them at all the major holidays. They’re coming here for Easter. I went there for Christmas. They still bug me about getting my college degree.”

  Their plates were set in front of them and Leah’s stomach growled. She pressed a hand to her belly and grimaced. “I guess I was hungrier than I thought.”

  Justin waggled his eyebrows. “We worked up an appetite last night.” He signaled to the waitress for coffee, pushing away his empty juice glass.

  “What about you? I know you have a cousin who’s a deputy. Do you have other family?”

  The first bite of her waffle was heaven. She really ought to make time to eat breakfast more often.

  “My parents passed away when I was eight. My mother and dads were flying back from Atlanta. One of my dads was flying their small-engine plane. They lost oil pressure over northern Florida and crashed.”

  Justin grabbed her hand. “Aw, honey, I’m sorry. I wouldn’t have asked if I’d known it was so sad.”

  She shook her head. “It was twenty years ago. I’ve learned to accept what I can’t change. I went to live with my aunt and uncles. I already spent a great deal of time with them. In fact, I was staying with them when my parents were on their trip. Well, me and my brother, Gabe. We grew up as their children. They had a son, Jason, and three daughters who were younger than me.

  “My aunt and uncle became my second parents. Gabe and Jason are, well, were, like brothers. The bookstore belonged to one of my dads. My aunt ran it until I was out of college. Then I took it over. My other dad ran an auto repair business. It’s all closed up, of course. At one point, I thought Gabe would take it over. It didn’t work out that way.”

  “I don’t think I’ve met Gabe. I have met Deputy Jason.”

  She wasn’t sure what to say about her brother. What used to be so simple wasn’t anymore. “You haven’t met him because he left town about two years ago. When he came back from Iraq, he had some anger issues. He and Jason were dating a beautiful girl named Samantha. We all thought they would get married. Then Iraq happened, and Jason came back changed, but Gabe…Gabe came back a different person. He and Jason fought and eventually Gabe left.”

  She looked into Justin’s sympathetic blue eyes. “He’s coming home in a day or two. He’s going to stay with me. He says he’s all better now.”

  “Do you believe him?”

  It was an easy question. “Yes, I do. He even sounds different on the phone. Sure of himself. Commanding, but calm. Yes, I think he’s better now.”

  Justin played with her fingers. “Maybe they’ll all three get back together.”

  She shook her head. “No. Samantha left town even before Gabe did. She couldn’t take the anger and issues. Jason blamed Gabe, and Gabe blamed himself. It’s sad really. Gabe and Jason always wanted to share a woman like my parents and Jason’s parents did.”

  “Linc and I feel the same way. There’s something bonding about loving the same woman. Making her happy, bringing her pleasure. It’s more than I’ve ever felt on my own.”

  She pushed her plate away, her appetite gone. “Then being with me is stupid. Linc doesn’t want me. If you want to share a woman, you need to find someone else.”

  Justin lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. “Bossy, aren’t you? We’re not in the bedroom, so I guess it’s okay.” He pinned her to her seat with his stare. “Listen to me, honey. Linc wants you. He’s wearing his ass as a hat right now, but he wants you. Just be patient.”

  “He said—”

  Justin held up his hand. “I don’t care what he said. Men say shit. Growing up with two males, I would imagine you know by now men say things they often don’t mean and later regret. Linc wants you. I know he’s hurt you so I wouldn’t blame you if you made him grovel when he finally does come to his senses. I wouldn’t mind watching him beg.”

  A picture of Linc on his knees, begging and contrite, made her smile. “He’d have to beg and grovel an awful lot. If he really wants me, that means he was a royal jerk last night.”

  Justin sighed. “He was. I thought for sure he would join us. He has a higher sex drive than I do, and I know you turn him on, honey.”

  Leah gulped her coffee. “Higher than yours? Holy crap, maybe it’s just as well I’m only with you. There’s no way I could keep both of you happy.”

  Justin tucked into the cinnamon apples with gusto. “You’ll do fine. We’re not unreasonable men. We can control ourselves. Although, it’s not easy around you.”

  “You made it look easy these last months. In fact, Linc made it look damn easy at the Halloween party. Those two blondes looked ready and willing to help with any libido problem either of you might have.”

  She pressed her lips together. She sounded jealous, which she was. She also sounded like a shrew. It wasn’t attractive and right now she wasn’t feeling too great about herself.

  Justin pushed her plate back in front of her, his jaw tight. She’d managed to
piss him off and it was only nine in the morning.

  “First of all, finish your breakfast. Second, I wasn’t with those two blondes. Third, Linc’s being a jackass.”

  She slumped in the booth. “I’m sorry. I hate being jealous. I fucking hate being insecure. This isn’t fun for me. I don’t like myself at the moment.”

  He nodded. “Then stop. You don’t have any reason to be jealous or insecure. We only want you. I told you earlier. Make Linc and I toe the line, behave ourselves, spoil you. Be confident. If anyone walks away from this relationship, it will be you. You hold all the cards.” He picked up her fork and held it out. “Normally, I don’t hand over the power in a relationship like I just did. But, lady, if anyone needed the power it’s you. You’ve got us on our knees, Leah. It’s up to you how you’re going to treat us now that we’re there.”

  She took the fork he was offering and resumed eating her waffles. She’d never held all the power in a relationship, but Justin was right. If this was going to work out, she needed to woman up right now. No more feeling insecure and inadequate. These men were going to behave and treat her the way she deserved to be treated.

  Now, what was she going to do about Linc?

  * * * *

  She couldn’t seem to stop yawning. She was reading a book about a dog that ran away from home to a group of toddlers and their mothers, and it wasn’t the most riveting stuff. After every other page, she would duck behind the book and yawn again. Justin had kept her up most of the night. Not that she was complaining. She’d pick hot sex with the sexiest man alive over sleep any day.

  “And Scooter was happy to be home with his humans. The end.”

  The kids started getting restless now that the story was over. She pointed to the front table and froze. Gabe was standing there nibbling on a cookie, a small smile on his face. She cleared her throat, the emotion she felt thick. She hadn’t seen him in two years, and the last she had, he’d been angry and bitter. Today, he looked calm and in control.

  “There’s cookies and juice at the front table. Any children’s book purchased today will be fifteen percent off. Thanks for coming to Story Time with Leah. Next week, we’ll be reading a story about a ferret who saves his family.”

  He stood there patiently, not saying a word, while she waited on all the customers. Finally, the last one left the store and it was only the two of them. She walked up to the door, locked it, and flipped the sign to Closed. She couldn’t help herself any longer. She launched herself at him, hugging him and crying. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed him until this moment. She also hadn’t expressed her anger. She started beating on his chest with her hands.

  “Damn you, Gabe. Damn you. Why did you have to stay away so long? Damn you! I’m so angry with you. I’m so pissed, you selfish son of a bitch!”

  He let her beat on him until she was exhausted, helping her into a chair when she was done. He sat across from her, holding her hand.

  “Good for you, sis.” His voice was soft, but firm.

  She tried smacking his hand away, but he held on tight. “Good for me?”

  “Yes, good for you. I deserve every bit of your anger. I was a selfish son of a bitch and I’m sorry.” He squeezed her fingers. “I’m sorry I had to leave you. I’m sorry I stayed away so long. You know, the Leah I used to know wouldn’t have given me hell. I like this girl.”

  Her lips twisted. The anger was already draining away. She hadn’t expected a sincere apology within five minutes of his return. He had never been one for acknowledging his mistakes in the past. In fact, she would have called him downright pigheaded and stubborn as a mule.

  Her newfound resolve was firm. She’d turned a corner this morning in bed with Justin. She wasn’t powerless. Acting insecure and weak was getting old and it wasn’t any fun. “I’m trying something new. I’ve decided to make sure the men in my life treat me well. You didn’t.”

  He nodded. “I know. It’s something I intend to rectify now that I’m home.” He grabbed another cookie. “Damn, I missed your cookies. Chocolate chip was always my favorite, though.”

  “You and Jason both.”

  A flicker of sadness crossed his features. “How pissed off is Jason?”

  “Angry. Confused. Frustrated. Same as me. Although he’ll probably punch you.”

  Gabe smiled. “I’ll give him one free one. He deserves it.” He looked her over. “You look good, sis. Happy. The store seems to be doing well, too.”

  “I have the same issues all brick-and-mortar bookstores have, but luckily the town has been very loyal.”

  Gabe stood up and looked out the large front window that looked over the street. “That’s Plenty for you. Loyal. I can’t believe how much the town has changed in just two years. New businesses. New faces. Hell, I drove by some sort of nightclub on the outskirts of town on my way here. I think the name was Party Like A Rock Star. We actually have a nightclub in this town. Never thought I’d see the day.”

  “That club belongs to Justin Reynolds and his manager, Linc Davis. They came here to retire.”

  Gabe’s eyebrows went up. “The Justin Reynolds? I’ve got some of his music on my phone.”

  She licked her lips and gathered up all her courage. “I’m dating him.”

  Gabe laughed and shook his head. “I have been gone a long time. My bookworm sister is dating a rock star.”

  “I don’t really think of him that way. He’s really a nice man. We have a lot in common. Books, movies, television.”

  She tried to stop her yawn, but didn’t succeed. She could use a nap, but she wasn’t going to get one. Gabe looked at her through narrowed eyes.

  “You look tired, sis. Has said rock star been keeping you up? Do I need to have a talk with him about his intentions?”

  She stood up and poked him in the chest. “Don’t you dare, Gabriel Christopher Holt. You can’t come waltzing in here and start acting the big brother.”

  “I’ll always be your big brother. Tell me one thing. Is this guy treating you right?”

  She thought about how Linc had hurt her not once, but twice now. He certainly wasn’t treating her right, and she’d been thinking about it all day and how she was going to handle it. Around lunchtime she’d made the decision he was going to have to come to her with a damn good explanation and some heavy-duty groveling and begging. She wasn’t going to be the girl who faded into the background anymore. If he truly wanted her as Justin said he did, he was going to have to show her in every way.

  “Justin treats me great. No complaints there.”

  It wasn’t the complete truth, but she didn’t need Gabe pounding down Linc’s door. She pulled her spare house key out of the drawer by the cash register and handed it to her brother.

  “I need to open the store back up. You can make yourself at home in the spare room. Tonight we’re having dinner with Jason at Charlie’s.”

  Gabe started to protest but she waved him off. “No excuses. Leah has spoken. You can start dealing with the anger now. It won’t get any better if you wait a day or two. If anything, he’ll be hurt that you didn’t see him right away. Besides, I know you love Charlie’s pizza.”

  Gabe chuckled as he headed out the door. “I do love this new woman, sis. I’ll just say ‘Yes, ma’am,’ and head home. If that’s okay with you?”

  He tried to look humble but he couldn’t pull it off. This new Gabe was far too confident and self-assured. Whatever had happened to him in the last two years had been profound.

  “It’s okay with me.” Gabe started to leave, but she caught his arm. “I like the new you, by the way. I really like this guy.”

  He kissed her forehead. “Thanks, sis. I like this guy, too. Let’s hope everyone in Plenty likes him. I have a bad reputation to live down.”

  Gabe headed out of the store. It was the way in small towns. People got put in boxes, and others liked to keep them there. Both she and Gabe were going to have to work long and hard to claw their way out of that trap. It looked like
they were both well on their way.

  Chapter Six

  It had been the worst week of Linc’s life. That was saying something. Worse than when his mother had remarried and his stepfather was a jerk. Worse than just about every single day at school. Worse than when his grandmother died on his tenth birthday. Every single day had been a slow torture. There wasn’t enough whiskey to deaden the pain.

  He’d spent the time trying to avoid Leah, and to his chagrin it was working, most of the time. She apparently didn’t want to see him any more than he wanted to see her. Not seeing her hadn’t helped, however. Although he didn’t see her in their home, he knew she had been there. Her scent was everywhere, imprinted on the sofa, the bathroom, even the kitchen. It was driving him slowly insane. Several times he had almost given in and sought her out, begged for forgiveness. Only the memory of his family’s disappointed faces held him back. He never wanted to see that again.

  He leaned his forehead against the glass of the window overlooking the nightclub, a crush of bodies on the dance floor below. It had been his idea to build their office on the second floor with a view to the floor below. He could keep an eye on everything going on but stay out of the spotlight. People wondered if he was jealous of Justin’s fame, but Linc had never sought attention. It suited him fine to be a player behind the scenes, making the power deals. He’d found something he excelled at. He knew, without conceit, he was one of the best. He’d worked hard to make sure of it.

  “Hiding in here?” Justin was wearing a smirk. He tossed his keys on his desk and joined Linc at the window.

  “No, I’m not. I was signing invoices. Where the hell have you been? The crew started changing the stage, and when I asked why, Cheryl said it was on your orders. What’s going on?”

  Justin waggled his eyebrows. “I had an early dinner with Leah, then we went back to our house for some…one-on-one time. Too bad you weren’t there. But I guess you’re not attracted to her, so it’s no big deal, huh?”