Blair, Samantha - Pioneers [Protectors 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour)

by Samantha Blair

  Gage had been quiet most of the conversation, but it was apparent to Annie as she watched the dynamic between the three of them, that if anything ever tried to get between him and Sara or Tyler that “anything” had better watch out.

  “Well we have dominated the conversation long enough,” Sara said. “Annie, tell us how you met the good cops.”

  “Well…I own a little diner just a couple exits up the highway and…well…you know cops and donuts,” Annie teased. Everyone laughed.

  “Do you actually serve donuts?” Tyler asked honestly, and everyone laughed at that as well.

  “No. But the coffee isn’t too bad, and they don’t complain much about the pie either.”

  “No, we don’t,” Ryder agreed.

  “So, I have to say, they caught me a little off guard when the two of them asked me out on a date together, but so far it’s been pretty great. I’ve felt a lot of those same things that you were describing, Sara, when you first got connected with Tyler and Gage. It’s overwhelming but amazing. I can’t even imagine falling into a relationship like that while being attacked by a crazy ex-boyfriend. I would have fallen apart at the seams.”

  “I think it was all so surreal that I really didn’t process a lot of it until months later. I was really blessed to have it all work out as well as it did. It takes some getting used to, but the three of us have found a rhythm. We all work at different jobs so we all have time away from each other, and we make sure to schedule time as couples, too. That’s been really vital.”

  “That’s something we haven’t really done yet,” Annie said, looking at her men who were seated on either side of her. “I’d like separate dates once a while.”

  “I imagine we could accommodate that,” Ryder said. “Actually, it’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot. The fact that they have different jobs means that they can more easily manage to be together in different ways at different times. With Andrew and I working the same shift most of the time, that’s harder.”

  “You thinking we should ask for new partners, different shifts?” Andrew asked abruptly.

  “No. Actually, I was thinking about more of a whole career change.” Seeing Andrew’s obvious discomfort at the idea he held up a hand. “Don’t go gettin’ ahead of me. Nothing is decided yet. I just thought that maybe the three of us could kick around some ideas.”

  “What kind of ideas did you want to kick?” Annie asked.

  “I’m glad you asked. I’m thinkin’ about buying that old campground.”

  “The campground?” Andrew asked suspiciously. You could hear in his voice that he thought Ryder must be at least partly off his rocker.

  “If I may,” Tyler interjected. “It was partly my idea. See, we’re starting a new community here. Gage and I have been looking for a long time for a place to settle down where we would be safe, further away from bigotry, and in a place where we could be ourselves. But after a few years of moving around we realized that there’s no such place, and after meeting Sara we realized that we’re not the only ones who needed shelter. We want a community that shelters battered women, people of any sexual orientation, a place where people can live without fear of judgment. We’ve come to realize that if we want an accepting community like that, we’re going to have to develop it ourselves.”

  He took a sip of wine from his glass and then continued, “I have a couple of very dear friends who are moving here from Washington DC, a pair of gay men, and we’ve been buying up the property around here so that we could have a place for them. We now own our original ranch, and the property between Sara’s old homestead and ours, plus Sara owns her property. So we’re planning to start an intentional living community. We’re going to sell the houses to people who want to be a part of this. Or maybe sell them land so they can build their own houses or businesses.”

  Tyler paused and looked around to make sure that the listeners were still following him. Everyone was. “When the campground went up for sale, I considered snatching it up, but I’d need someone to run it, and it’s easily a full-time job. There are no hotels in the area, so as we invite guests to come and check out the new alternative town, we’re going to need somewhere for them to stay.”

  “So rather than have Tyler buy it,” Ryder interjected. “I thought maybe I would. I don’t make a ton of a money, but I don’t spend much either, so I’ve got enough saved up for a down payment, and Sara thought that maybe her bank could help me with the rest of the financing. As you have pointed out, Andrew, I don’t know much about campgrounds, but I can hunt and fish with the tourists, and I can do basic upkeep of the cabins and grounds, and Gage has offered to help with any larger remodeling that we might need. I can handle checking people in and out, and I’m overqualified for the security that we might need. There’s even a restaurant,” he said, turning to face Annie, “and while I’m not asking you to give your place up, I was hoping you’d at least take a look at it.”

  Annie opened her mouth to respond but she wasn’t entirely sure what to say. “To be honest I’ve been thinking about a move. The place I’m leasing now is working, but the owner hasn’t been very generous about remodeling options, and it’s starting to look tired. I’m not saying yes, but I’d go and see it, at least.”

  “That’s all I’m asking,” Ryder confirmed.

  Annie turned and looked at Andrew who was holding his beer with white knuckles. It was obvious to Annie that he wasn’t wild about the whole idea. She wondered if it was the campground he didn’t like, or being surprised with the idea at dinner, or maybe something else entirely.

  “Well, I brought pie, if anyone is interested,” Annie said, breaking the silence that had followed that surprising conversation.

  The rest of the visit went smoothly and Annie felt as if she’d made some new friends who would be good friends. Andrew lightened up too and even joined the conversation, but Annie continued to wish she could get in his head and figure out what he was thinking.

  Chapter 12

  Andrew watched Annie brush a hair back from her face before lifting her wine glass to her lips. She was beautiful, and he was already so attached. On the other side of her, he watched Ryder, his longtime friend and partner talking about giving up their careers together to start some business he knew nothing about. What was he thinking? How were there so many things about Ryder that he didn’t know?

  Ryder said he wanted more alone time with Annie. Was that the plan? Run the campground so that Annie could run the restaurant and they could be together all the time? Well what about him? Would the two of them just carry on without him while he worked long shifts with some new partner?

  Andrew ran a list of the other officers on the force through his head. He didn’t want a new partner. He wanted Ryder. How could Ryder come up with a plan for himself and Annie and not include him in it? They’d just started to get a good thing going here and now Ryder wanted to change it all? What if the business fell through? Who would provide a stable income during this whole thing?

  Annie glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and shot him a half smile that looked full of concern. Andrew tried to smile back. He didn’t want to worry her, at least not until they’d talked it all out, but he just couldn’t believe that Ryder would spring this half-baked idea on him like this. Especially since it was obvious that he was the last to know. Ryder had already discussed remodeling, and financing, and a possible list of clientele with Gage, Sara, and Tyler, but did he ever think to mention a major life to change to his partner?

  When dessert was finished and they all got up from the table, Tyler pulled Andrew aside. “Andrew, I know this whole discussion tonight must have been a surprise for you, and I don’t want to overwhelm you with anything else right now. However, things are going to start changing around here pretty quickly, and no matter what happens with the campground, what the three of you decide, I’d like for you to be a part of this thing we’re doing. We’re going to change the town, and part of that is going to happen through chan
ging the local government and law enforcement. There’s still a vacancy in the sheriff’s department. When Jeremy went to jail they brought in an interim, but there will be an election for the permanent position in November, and I’d like for you to consider running.”

  Andrew stared at him dumbly. “You want me to run for sheriff?”

  “Well maybe. You’re certainly qualified, but technically you’re not a resident so you’re not eligible. You would be if you bought the campground any time between now and the election, as long as your name goes on the deed, too. I know it’s a lot to think about, and really no pressure today, but the summer is going to go by quickly, and I wanted to put a bug in your ear.”

  “Consider me bugged,” Andrew responded. Could this day get any stranger? Why not just uproot everything he thought he knew?

  “You okay, man?” Ryder asked, coming up behind him as Tyler walked away.

  “I dunno,” he answered. “Can’t say I’m wild about you making all these plans without telling me.”

  “Nothing is decided. I really didn’t mean to make it sound like I had it all figured out, I don’t. I just…I want us to have a good life together. You and me and Annie. And I think Tyler’s got a good vision for this place. Those people who are coming up from DC? They aren’t just your average Joes. One of them was senior staff at the White House. These are powerful people with money and big ideas. I think they are going to make this happen, and I want to be a part of that. I’m sorry I didn’t break it down for you sooner, I just thought maybe it would go over better if you heard it from these guys.”

  “It seems like you’ve got your part all figured out, but what about me? You expect me to just get another partner? Keep doing the job without you?” Andrew asked. He tried to keep the anger and disappointment out of his voice, but he wasn’t sure he’d succeeded.

  “No. I mean you could, if you wanted to, but I kind of figured you’d pick your own new position. We could do the campground together if you want, I imagine there’s plenty of work for all three of us, but I didn’t think that would be your choice either. I know you love law enforcement. I did too for a long time, but I’m tired of it. I’m ready to settle down here, be with you and Annie. Personally, I think you should take the sheriff gig.”

  “I’ve never run for public office. I wouldn’t have the first clue where to begin.”

  “No, but Tyler has run a lot of campaigns, and so have these guys from DC. This is nothing compared to a campaign for Senator or President. I believe they can get you elected. Hell, I believe you could get elected all by yourself, if you really wanted. You’d make a wonderful sheriff, and the people in this town already know you from the thing with Jeremy. They’d feel safe with a state police officer with an outstanding record.”

  Andrew looked at his long-time buddy with some skepticism. He wasn’t sure he was up for being the sheriff.

  “Listen, Andrew, I’m really not asking for a commitment today. I just want to have the discussion. Come look at the place with me. If you and Annie don’t love it, and you don’t want to live there, then we’ll scrap the whole idea and go back to life as we know it. I’m just asking you to look at the campground and see if it sparks any ideas.”

  “Okay,” Andrew agreed. “Let’s go look.”

  Chapter 13

  Well, they’d both agreed to stop at the campground on the way home and look around. It wasn’t exactly the overflowing fount of good faith that Ryder’d been hoping for, but maybe when they really saw the place they’d warm up to it. He wanted this. The idea had really been growing on him, but if it didn’t suit Annie or Andrew he’d let the opportunity pass. He could always find some other way to get involved in the new community.

  Andrew’s question had surprised Ryder. No, of course he hadn’t just expected his partner to continue on with the old job without him. In fact it surprised him that Andrew would even fathom such a thing, but when he really took the time to think it through, he could see how that was the obvious conclusion. Ryder was convinced, had had been for some time now, that a life with Annie and Andrew was the right thing, and he was taking as many steps as possible to get them there as quickly as possible. But maybe it was still too new to the others. They weren’t quite caught up to his vision yet.

  He pulled off the road and parked in the campground’s main office parking lot, next to a red SUV. The real estate broker was already there with the keys.

  Taking a step back he let Annie and Andrew explore together. He’d already seen the place, and he was much more interested in their reactions than in the statistics the broker was giving. They started with the guest cabins, which were all mostly the same. Heated and air conditioned, they were one- or two-bedroom floor plans, each with a large bathroom, a small kitchen, and living room with a fireplace. The two “honeymoon cabins” also had Jacuzzi tubs.

  These would be perfect places for guests to stay while they checked out the town, or even temporary living spaces for people while their homes were being built. There wasn’t a lot of space, but really, it had everything you’d need to live comfortably for a while.

  There were two medium-sized fishponds, one of which was still stocked with small trout. The ponds were both connected to a large creek that ran along the back of the property, but the previous owners had left all of the fish instructions, including how to keep the fish in the ponds and out of the creek. Fish management was not his area of expertise, yet, but Ryder had confidence that he could figure it out as he went along.

  The whole campground sat on twenty-two acres so there were a couple of hiking trails that went up to the more remote tent sites and the road looped around to a large grass and gravel area where the campers could park and get access to water and electricity.

  The restaurant was up next on the tour and Ryder hurried ahead so that he could see Annie’s initial reaction. So far the only person talking had been the real estate broker, so Ryder wasn’t sure if the other two were impressed or not. Everyone seemed to be lost in their own thoughts, but the best parts were still to be seen.

  Chapter 14

  Annie stood in the dark entryway of the campground’s restaurant and waited for the broker to turn on the lights. Thanks to the days getting longer, the sun was just setting when they’d arrived, so they’d gotten to see the grounds, but it was pretty dark inside. She wanted to like this place. The hope on Ryder’s face when he looked at her and talked about the campground was enough to make her want to agree to it sight unseen, but she was a more rational person than that at heart. Was she really ready jump headfirst into something like this?

  The guest cabins were nice, but a little outdated. They’d been well maintained, and they were clean, but the wallpaper was at least twenty years old and would have to go. Still, if paint and a new couch or chair here and there was the worst of it…

  The lights came on startling Annie out of her thoughts. The restaurant was one big room with beautiful old hardwood floors, and hardwood tables and chairs to match. It was easily double the size of the place she had now. A row of cozy little booths lined the outside wall to her left, and at the far end sat a row of stools in front of the grill. Nearly everything was made of the same wood, which was good. A little more uncomfortable for the customers’ butts, perhaps, but the seats wouldn’t wear like the vinyl upholstery in the current diner.

  Her first thought, to her own disappointment was that it was a little gloomy, but as she took in more details she began to realize that cheering the place up wouldn’t be too difficult. The walls had been painted an ugly green color that took away your appetite, but Annie reminded herself, it was only paint. That was fixable. There would be a lot of natural light in here if they took down the equally horrid curtains that blocked the windows. Really, it was quite charming, if you didn’t look at the walls or the windows.

  To her right were the restrooms, and in front of that was a cash register stand with no register on it, and a short row of bakery display cases. She smiled when she saw them, th
inking of how she’d just been wanting one of those. There was even a bench for waiting on, when the line was too long, and enough room in the entryway to manage to-go orders or bakery sales.

  Ryder was bouncing on his toes looking at her with anticipation. She couldn’t help but smile at him, too. He was like a kid in a candy store.

  “What do you think?” he blurted, clearly unable to keep it in any longer.

  “I think it could work,” she answered honestly. “I love the display case, and there’s plenty of room. The curtains have to go, and so does the paint, but that’s minor. How’s the kitchen?”

  “Let’s go see.”

  They went as a group to look behind the counter at the grill. There were lots of cubbies for clean plates in easy to reach places, which was a necessity. A small toast station was next to the grill. The rest of the kitchen was through an archway and mostly hidden from view but not too out of the way. The refrigerators and freezers had obviously gone with the previous tenant because the room was nearly empty, but there were some industrial shelving units and a long prep counter.

  “We’ll need to buy refrigerators and freezers,” she thought out loud. “And ovens, depending on what we want to serve…probably a fryer, and maybe a mixer, too. I own the smaller appliances, blenders, toasters, plates, silverware…but some things belong to the owner of the place I lease now.”

  “Do you think you’d still be open for as many hours?” Andrew asked. It was the first time he’d spoken since they’d arrived, and Annie wondered if he’d been thinking through schedules this whole time. Getting enough time together seemed to be at the forefront of both men’s minds.

  “I dunno,” Annie answered. She’d tried a twenty-four-hour approach a couple of years back but she really couldn’t justify being open all night. They closed up around 10:00 p.m. on the weekdays and 2:00 a.m. on the weekends now. “I guess. Unless you think it would disturb the people sleeping in the cabins. We don’t do much middle of the night business anyway, but on the weekends sometimes it’ll get busy.”