by Nikki Jacks
The easiest thing was going to be the ice cream. Thanks to Sapphire, all I needed to do was contact the factory with the flavors I wanted and they would have them delivered the next day. I was thinking we’d have standard flavors that everyone loved along with some of the Flying Horse special flavors that were big sellers.
Then, of course, there would be the “sexy flavors.” I needed to talk to Lance about those. I also needed to get some of the Jizz Cream so I could practice spelling it to taste like specific people. I knew it was going to be tricky, but if I could get the spell right, I had a feeling this Jizz Cream would be a hit with the people who wanted to order it. I was hoping the spells my mother had taught me to enhance certain parts of my body could be reworked to use on food. I was going to have to work hard to get the perfect results. I couldn’t afford to lose my deal with Sapphire.
I was just finishing up with my list when I caught the sound of my phone buzzing. Walking into the front room where I’d left it charging on the bar, I saw that Maryn was calling me. I’d been ignoring calls and texts from my parents. I’d turned location services and GPS off so they couldn’t track me. Knowing Maryn’s call had to be important, I answered.
“It’s about freaking time! Do you know how worried I have been? Your parents have been by Wanderlust almost every day asking about you. I keep putting them off, telling them I don’t know. I know they don’t believe me, but what can they do? Yesterday, Marlon showed up asking about you! I left a message to call me as soon as you got the message. But here it is, well after brunch hours at Commander’s, and I still haven’t heard from you! Are you safe? Did your parents find you and drag you home? Lotus! Will you answer me?”
“If you would take a breath, I’d answer, Maryn.”
“Don’t take that tone with me, Delilah Annabelle Metairie! I’ve been worried!”
“Don’t say that name!! Sorry, Maryn. I meant to at least text you yesterday, but then Evan, Drake, and Lance said they wanted to help me get all the furniture in place and that they would put stuff together. So, I had to buy pizza and beer to thank them. Then they wanted to talk about how they all were attracted to me and wanted to date me. At the same time, Maryn! So, by the time they left, I was pretty wrung out and needed to wind down and go to bed.”
“Wait! Back it up there, missy! What do you mean they wanted to talk to you about all of them liking you and wanting to date you? Why am I just now hearing about this?”
“Because I have been focused on other things, like not letting my parents or Marlon find me. Besides, what was I going to say? ‘Hey, Maryn, when I first got to Silver Springs I met three incredibly good-looking men and had sex with one in his office and it was mind-blowing.’”
“You had sex with one of them? You shameless hussy! How could you not tell me about that? Here I was thinking we were besties for life and you hold back vital information? I was joking about the hussy comment, but maybe I should let it stick.”
“Well, to start, we both know you are the bigger hussy in this relationship. I knew that if I told you, you would start to badger me about Drake, and then it would lead to questions about Lance and Evan. Then you would continue to keep at me until I couldn’t take it anymore because I like three guys way more than I should, and what does that make me? Two of them are brothers! They got into a fight in Drake’s office when Lance walked in just after we’d put our clothes back on! I couldn’t deal with all that and still work on my plan. Now I have to figure out how to date three guys who want to do things for me, even though I’ve told them that I want to stand on my own. That part of the reason for my move was so that I could be independent and stand apart from my parents.”
“Oh, Lotus. Your poor, dumb thing. Love you, but, damn.”
“Poor, dumb thing? Maryn! You’re supposed to be my best friend!”
“And I am, even if you aren’t that great at being one. I said that because, girl, if those three guys are all willing to date you, then they aren’t going to stop wanting to do things for you. You do know you can let them do things for you and still be an independent person, right?”
“Yeah, right, Maryn. If I let them start this out doing things, before I know it, they’ll be trying to run my life. Also, how in the heckatrons am I supposed to date three men? It’s unseemly!”
“You really need to throw away that puritanical Southern belle bullshit your parents raised you with. In many supe societies, polyamory is a well-practiced and well-regarded part of life. If these guys are supes, they are probably familiar with the practice and understand what they need to do if they want to be part of your life.”
“They did say that polyamory was not a big deal as long as we were all honest and open about our feelings. They even said that there were lots of polyamorous relationships in Silver Springs.”
“There you go. You now live somewhere people won’t look at you crossways for having feelings for more than one person at a time. You have three someones who want you. What is your problem? And again I ask, why haven’t I heard about this before now?”
“Because…” The sigh that left me was heavy. “I was embarrassed by what happened and didn’t know how to explain what I was feeling. And I didn’t want you to look at me any differently. If I didn’t have you in my life, what would I do with myself?”
“Well, you know how to yank the wind from my sails, don’t you?” Maryn’s chuckle held no hard feelings. “It’s a good thing you are alive and that you’ve finally told me what’s going on. Now I can help you figure this crap out and get your life sorted. Tell me about these men.”
Just like that, I was in my bedroom in New Orleans gossiping about school, the neighborhood, and the local supe community. It was good to talk to Maryn and get her advice on what was happening in my life. She was the thing I’d miss most about New Orleans.
After hanging up, I felt more comfortable about my budding relationship—relationships—who really knew? But I was confident in my feelings for Evan, Drake, and Lance, and their feelings for me. I wouldn’t put pressure on me or them. We’d see what happened. More than anything, I had to maintain my independence. Having some fun was okay, but I couldn’t let my feelings consume me. It would undermine everything I was trying to do in my life.
17
Lotus
Evan’s bed was just as delicious to sleep in as it’d been the night before. I’d slept well and was ready for a new day. I was planning to go into the shop and start some basic planning. I also needed to make groceries. I couldn’t keep eating out. I missed cooking and was eager to start creating in the kitchen.
I texted Lance and asked him where the nearest grocery store was. His reply was quick, and he offered to come show me more of Silver Springs and then take me to the best grocery store for people who liked to cook.
I was excited at the idea of being able to see him again, so I agreed and then started getting ready. I grabbed a pair of black bootcut jeans and a pink Henley. After a quick shower, I tossed some product in my hair and let it air dry. I kept my makeup light, but emphasized my eyes. If we were going to be outside, the air would take care of blush. Deciding I was ready, I needed to grab a cup of coffee before Lance and I headed out.
Lance
I couldn’t believe it! She had avoided seeing us for weeks, and now that we were here and had talked to her, Lotus was willing to try dating all three of us. If things worked out the way Drake and Evan talked about, we’d be able to talk to Lotus about being our mate sooner than we’d thought.
It was going to be hard, but I was going to do my best to wait for Lotus and take her cues. I wanted nothing more than to claim her as my mate, but I knew she wasn’t ready for that.
I wasn’t thrilled at her determination to be independent—my leopard wanted to provide for his mate—but I could understand. When Drake and I first left our shadow, I wanted to do everything on my own. I didn’t want to be the little brother who couldn’t survive away from our family. Drake helped me understand that even if I a
ccepted help in areas I wasn’t skilled in or knowledgeable about, it didn’t make me weak. It actually made me stronger. I recognized areas where I was weaker and was making them stronger by the people I let help me.
We decided to give Lotus a day or two to herself to get unpacked and situated in her apartment. After the conversation Drake and I had with Evan, followed by the conversation the three of us had with Lotus, we all needed a little space.
But I was impatient and didn’t really need to think about things. I’d just thought about calling Lotus and offering to show her more of the town when she texted and asked about a place to get groceries. She called it making groceries, but I just left it alone. Who knew what other crazy Southern things she’d say? I offered to show her around town and then the best place to get groceries. I punched the air when she said yes.
I wanted to put my arm around Lotus’s shoulders or hold her hand so everyone would know that she was spoken for, but since it was our first time out, I didn’t want to feel like I was pressing. As we strolled along, I pointed out some of the businesses in town. I pulled us to a stop as we got to Buttercup’s Bake Shop.
Buttercup’s was on the outskirts of town, but her creations were delicious. Silver Springs was growing, and I’d wanted nothing more than to show my skills as a pâtissier; but Buttercup had opened her shop first and I wasn’t going to try to compete.
This was just another way Lotus was perfect for me. Thanks to her ice cream shop, I’d be able to put my skills and training to practice creating delicious treats for her customers.
I watched Lotus’s face as she took in Buttercup’s. I swear her pupils dilated as her eyes flitted across the sugary treats. I chuckled as she licked her lips and drew in a deep breath.
“Can we go in?”
“Of course we can. Buttercup has some seriously delicious treats.”
I had barely finished speaking when I felt Lotus’s hand grasp mine. Lotus abruptly stopped as we stepped through the door. Leaning over slightly to get a view of her face to make sure she was okay, I was shocked to see her eyes closed and a small, serene smile on her face. Taking a deep breath, Lotus opened her eyes and stepped up to the pastry case. I swear she looked like a kid at Christmas.
“Pick what you like, we’ll take it back to your place and sample them.”
An impish grin spread over Lotus’s face. “You seriously underestimate my ability to eat sweet things, sir!”
“I’m sure you’ll do just fine. But trust me, I’ve got a big appetite and can take care of whatever you don’t nibble on.”
Buttercup had come out from the back when we’d come in and was standing behind the case, silently chuckling as she watched us.
“Take your time about your choices and please ask any questions. Are you new in town or just visiting? I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”
“Hi, I’m Lotus Culcannon! I just moved here from New Orleans. I’m going to be opening an ice cream shop across from Jewels Café.”
“In the old bakery building?”
“No, the one next to it, on the corner. I’ll be sellin’ Flying Horse Ice Cream! Lance here is going to make cones and bowls, plus sweet treats that work well with ice cream. You know cookies, brownies, macarons, that kind of stuff. He’s a trained pâtissier.”
“Really? I didn’t know that we had someone so skilled in pastry arts in town. Well, good luck to you. Let me know when you decide on what you want.”
Lotus hummed in thought as she looked things over. I was watching her when I felt eyes on me. As I looked up, I saw a mountain of a man staring back. Thanks to my shifter nature, I was tall and well-built, but this guy made me look small. My leopard wasn’t happy about this feeling and started growling. He wanted to make sure this supe—because there was no way he wasn’t a supe—knew who was more dominant.
The supe stepped fully into the front of Buttercup’s and walked toward me. It took a lot for me to control myself and not growl out loud at his approach.
18
Lance
“Did I hear the lady right that you’ll be baking treats to sell in her new place of business?”
“Hey, man. Yeah, you heard her right. Nothing big, just some stuff to sell with the ice cream. I mean, who doesn’t like a brownie with a little ice cream on top, right?”
“I’m not going to let you think you can open this shop and hurt my mate’s business.”
“Magnus! What are you doing?”
“Lance? Is everything okay?”
Magnus swung around as I looked at Lotus.
Buttercup stepped up to her huge mate and poked him in the chest.
“No threatening people! We’ve talked about this. Business is business, and if Lotus and Lance want to sell baked goods in their ice cream shop, then that’s okay! It’s not like we’re hurting for customers.”
“If they sell them, they will be competing with you. I won’t let anyone destroy your business because they want to make some brownies to go with their ice cream.”
“They aren’t threatening me or the business, Magnus. It’s not like they are opening a bakery next door or even the next block. They are going to be on the other side of town. I’m not worried about Lotus offering up treats that work well with her ice creams, and you shouldn’t be either.”
Magnus dipped his head so he could look Buttercup in the eye as he caught her hands in his own and replied, “I’m sorry. I just don’t want you to worry. I know you wish you had a location closer to the center of town, and I don’t want anyone offering things you do. Even if they could never be as good.”
I’d been watching the conversation between Buttercup and Magnus, but at Lotus’s sharp inhale I looked at her. Her brow was pinched, and she had a small frown on her face like she was thinking about something.
“Buttercup? I’m sorry! I didn’t think about a bakery in town and how selling baked goods in the shop might affect someone else’s business. Listen, I’m not trying to steal business or compete. What if we stuck to our bowls and cones and maybe just brownies? This way you’ll still have the full market for everything you sell?”
“Oh, Lotus, thank you for that. But honestly, if you sell cookies and brownies, and even macarons, it would be okay. My cakes and cupcakes are my biggest sellers. Besides, variety helps with business, right? Don’t worry about Magnus here. He just loves me and doesn’t want to see me hurt.”
“That’s so sweet! I heard him say you guys are mates.”
“Yes, Magnus is one of my mates. He’s big and intimidating, but he’s really a great guy, and I can’t imagine my life without him.”
“One of your mates? Do you mind if I ask how many you have? I’m dating Lance and two other guys right now, and that’s a bit of a stretch for me. In New Orleans, at least where my parents live, you didn’t see something like that in the open; so I’m kind of getting used to the idea, if I’m being honest.”
“Oh, I have four mates. It was a surprise for me when it happened, but I love them all and my life wasn’t complete until I met them. And don’t you worry about having three men. In Silver Springs, it’s not unusual to see a woman with more than one mate.”
“Oh, they aren’t my mates! We’re just dating to get to know one another and see if one of them might be suitable for something more long term.”
While Magnus and I had been chatting, I’d been keeping an ear on Lotus’s conversation, and now I was happy I had. I stepped over to the women and set a hand on Lotus’s shoulder just as Buttercup gave a small cough and said, “Really? Well, either way, it’s no big deal. People aren’t going to give you a second look to see you with three men.”
“Lotus, it’s getting late, why don’t we pick out our treats so we can head back?”
“Oh my, it is! Buttercup, can we have one of everything in the case? It all looks so good, I can’t decide.”
“Sure you can. Give me a second to get it all boxed for you.”
“Thank you! Also, can I ask you another question?”
“What’s up?”
“Well, I met a woman named Igor yesterday, and she mentioned that you make candied house flies for her? She said it would be great if I kept them in stock so she could have them added to her ice cream.”
Buttercup was chuckling as she answered, “Oh, Igor! She’s great. Quirky, sure, but she’s great. I do make the flies for her, even though it weirds me out a bit.”
“Oh, great! Can I buy some from you? I’d like to have them in stock if Igor is going to be requesting them. Instead of trying to recreate what she loves, I’d rather just have you supply them, if that’s all right?”
“Tell you what. Why don’t I have one of my mates deliver some to you every few days until you get an idea of how often Igor will be coming into your shop?”
“Oh, thank you, Buttercup!”
I caught Lotus by the hips as she gave a little jump and smiled.
Chuckling at Lotus’s excitement, I looked at Buttercup. “Thank you, Buttercup. I’ll admit, I don’t know if I can bring myself to make candied flies, even if they are for Igor.”
“My pleasure, Lance. Hopefully, you two enjoy your treats as much as Igor enjoys her flies. Let me get this order of yours taken care of.
19
Lotus
I was delighted with all the treats I was going to get to sample and that I was going to be able to carry Igor’s candied flies.
Lance carried our treats in one hand, and as we walked down the sidewalk, he slung his free arm around my shoulder. “Well, I think that went well. Magnus is a big guy.”