They talked a little about their life, too, and she found out that not only did they help run their family horse farm but also owned their own construction company.
“Wow, you guys must be very busy to do all that!” Cassie said with a grin.
“We like to keep busy, and with two other brothers to help run the farm when they aren’t in school, it isn’t that bad. Now that the construction company is a success, we work a little less than we used to. When it was really struggling, it seems like we were working twenty-four hours a day and then some.”
Zach nodded in agreement as his brother spoke.
“In fact,” said Zach, “we built the condos where you live. We finished them recently and are very proud of the project. I hope everything is okay there. If you have any problems, be sure to let us know, and we will come out and fix it right away. We have a crew that just does home repair.”
“You built the condos? They’re great. No issues whatsoever. In fact, Jillian and I were saying that it’s the nicest place we have ever lived. Most of the buildings in Chicago are older, and they always seem to have a lot of issues that need to be repaired.”
As the day turned into evening, Cassie talked to Zach and Chase about just about everything and found that she really liked them. She liked the fact that person after person stopped and talked to them through the afternoon. It seemed everyone knew them, and everyone liked them. Many people asked them their opinion about civic affairs, horses, or construction, and she was impressed they were so well-respected. Her natural reticence melted away, and she found herself wishing the day didn’t have to end.
Jillian came back for the evening fireworks, and afterward Zach and Chase insisted on walking both of them home.
“Really, Jillian and I will be fine,” Cassie protested. “We’re just a few blocks down the street.”
“Yeah, we know, Cassie. We built the condos, remember?” Chase said with a teasing smile.
Cassie blushed a little at his tone.
“Relax, it’s no trouble at all. Our mama would be scandalized if we didn’t walk you home. This is Plenty, not Chicago, and this is how a gentleman treats a lady.”
Cassie opened her mouth to protest again, and then quickly shut it. He was right. This was how a gentleman should treat a lady. She just had never met anyone who knew that.
“Thank you, then. We would be grateful for the escort.”
Chapter 3
The week passed quickly for Cassie, and she and Jillian headed for the hair salon after school on Friday. Cassie wanted to get her hair trimmed before her date, and Jillian decided that she could use a trim, too. They walked into the hair salon, the Snip and Sing, and Cassie took in the ultramodern design. The counter tops and sinks were all stainless steel and seemed to gleam. The floor appeared to be a shiny stone of some kind that swirled different shades of blue. The chairs were black leather and the walls painted a muted blue-gray. As she scanned the room, her gaze went to the back of the salon where several couches were placed before what appeared to be a small stage. And that’s when Cassie’s eyes flew open with surprise.
Two older women, both in plastic capes to protect their clothes and with foils in their hair, were standing on that small stage in the back of the salon…singing. Singing the Dixie Chicks, to be exact, and Cassie couldn’t help but gape at the sight before her. It was so bizarre that it took a few moments to realize that the women singing were really awful but more than made up for that with their enthusiasm. They seemed to be having the time of their lives, in fact, if their smiles were any indication.
“Hey, ladies. You must be Cassie and Jillian.”
Cassie and Jillian turned and saw the smiling face of a pretty blonde about their age.
“I’m Rebecca and will be doing your hair today.” She grinned at them and gave them a look that said they could go ahead and ask.
Jillian spoke first, as usual. “Okay, I’ll ask. What’s up with the karaoke?”
Rebecca started laughing, and Cassie and Jillian joined in although not sure what they were laughing at except the strangeness of the situation.
“Let’s get you shampooed, and I’ll explain while I cut your hair.”
An assistant washed their hair and led them to Rebecca’s booth, which was at the front of the salon overlooking the bustling Main Street. As Rebecca started on Jillian’s hair first, she explained, trying to keep a straight face but failing miserably.
“When I graduated from hair dressing school, my father said he would open up my own hair salon for me. I’d own it, but I had to let him have karaoke in the back. He loves karaoke, and the bar down the street had discontinued their Friday night sings. By the way, in addition to being your hairdresser and DJ today, I am also your neighbor. I live two doors down from you in the condo complex.”
Cassie had to smile at how everyone in a small town was connected in some way. This was one of the things she loved about living there.
As Rebecca worked on Jillian’s hair, they chatted and made plans for a “girl’s night in” the next night—pizza and a chick flick.
Rebecca laughed. “You’ll get used to how quiet a small town is. Our girl’s night in is about the most exciting thing I have done in weeks.”
At that moment, a tall, broad-shouldered, older, but still quite handsome man walked into the hair salon carrying a large box.
“Hi, baby! I picked up that box for your brother from the hardware store. Has he been by yet, and has Steve called?” he asked.
“Not yet, Dad. Let me introduce you to the newest town residents. Cassie Ames, Jillian Miller, this is my dad, Mike Parks, or better known around here as DJ Mike.”
The older man roared with laughter at that remark and only stopped when another man walked into the salon.
“Oh, Steve, I thought you were going to call when you got done with your last patient.” Mike Parks wrapped his arms around the other very handsome man and gave him a loving kiss.
“Get a room, you two!” Rebecca laughed, but didn’t seem too upset at the public display of affection from her father. In fact, she looked downright indulgent.
Cassie had to smile herself. It was obvious the two men were very in love. In fact, this was what she loved so much about Plenty. They were tolerant and open. They embraced everyone and didn’t care about social constraints. She loved this nonjudgmental town.
Steve and Mike hurried to the back of the salon, grabbed a cola, and began to blow off steam singing—in excellent voices—a rock song from the seventies. The two women in foils from earlier were now finished but were apparently hanging around to join Mike and Steve as backup singers.
“Great way to end the week, huh?” Rebecca laughed. “Those guys are two peas in a pod. They’ll be back there rockin’ out until I close tonight. They are really in love, too. I hope I find love like that someday.” Rebecca sighed.
Cassie couldn’t help but ask, “How did your dad and Steve get together?”
Becca’s eyes got a little sad. “My mom was in a terrible car accident. A drunk driver crossed the yellow line and hit her head on. Steve was the doctor on duty. He had the unenviable task of telling us that Mom was gone. He was so sweet and caring to all of us. His wife had also passed a few years before from breast cancer. Months later, Steve and Dad got a cup of coffee, and well, they fell in love. No one was more surprised than they were, although, our whole family was pretty shocked. But they’re happy, and I want my dad to be happy. Steve’s a great guy, too, and a terrific doctor.”
Before Cassie could reply, the door opened, and the sheriff strode in. He really was a handsome man, and Cassie sneaked a look at Jillian, who appeared to be a little stunned by his presence.
“Oh hey, Ryan! Dad brought your stuff from the hardware store. The box is in the back room. Have you met Cassie and Jillian?”
“Thanks, Becca, and yes, I had the pleasure of meeting them at the picnic. How are you, ladies?” He smiled warmly at them both but seemed to look more directly at Jillia
n.
Cassie looked sideways at Jillian, who seemed unable to speak at the moment.
“We’re fine, Sheriff, thank you for asking. We didn’t realize that Rebecca was your sister.”
“Yep, got a brother, too. Jackson is a firefighter and two years younger than me. Rebecca is the baby and two years younger than Jack.” The sheriff looked at Jillian, although, it had been Cassie who had spoken. He moved a little closer to Jillian and spoke to her directly this time. “And how are you today, Miss Jillian?” His voice was so smooth and warm, and Jillian looked positively panicked at his proximity.
But Jillian was not one to be panicked for long. With as much dignity as a woman could muster wearing a plastic cape and Velcro rollers, Jillian answered the sheriff, “Fine, thank you, Sheriff. And yourself?”
“Much better for seeing you today, Miss Jillian.” The sheriff smiled a devastating smile and walked to the back of the salon to speak to his father.
Rebecca smiled at Jillian as she glanced at her brother. “Ryan really is the nicest guy. He and Jackson are looking for a nice girl, and I think Ryan really likes you, Jillian. But he is a little shy when it comes to women. Jackson is the more outgoing one.”
“They share, too?” Cassie wondered just how many men in the town did that.
“Yep, they like to share. We didn’t grow up in a ménageamous home, but they still want to be like many of their friends. Now Zach and Chase, they grew up in a home with two fathers, so it probably seems very natural to them.”
Cassie looked surprised when Rebecca mentioned Zach and Chase, but Rebecca just laughed.
“Honey, there are no secrets in a town this small. Everyone knows that Zach and Chase got their eye on you. Other than my own brothers, those guys are two of the best you will ever find. Hard working and honest as the day is long. You’ll do fine with them. They deserve the best. A hell of a lot better than what they had. That bitch Amelia did nothing but use them and make them miserable. She treated them like trained poodles. Good riddance to her!”
This was a new name to Cassie, and although she wanted to respect the men’s privacy, she had to ask, “Amelia? I haven’t heard of her.”
“No, you probably wouldn’t have. Amelia grew up here in Plenty. She was the only child of one of the founding families, and spoiled is not too strong a word. Her daddy gave her everything she wanted and then some. She also wanted Zach and Chase, and for a while everything was okay, I guess. She treated them horribly in my opinion. She expected them to spoil her the way her daddy always had. She treated them like hired help and demanded they buy her things. They were just getting their construction business going at the time. They must have been working around the clock, but all Amelia did was piss and moan at them about every little thing. Eventually, she took a trip to Dallas to visit a friend and came back with a rich attorney fiancé. Married him a few months later and lives in Dallas now. As I said before, good riddance to trash. I know you’ll treat them with more kindness than she ever did.”
Cassie was appalled. What a terrible thing to happen to them. It wasn’t the same as what had happened to her, but it was close. She had been used as an obsession, and they had been used for what they could do or buy.
The two women who had sung earlier joined them in the front of the salon. Apparently, they had heard Becca talk about Amelia.
“Those poor boys. Amelia ran them around in circles,” said the dark haired woman. She appeared to be in her sixties. The other one nodded in agreement.
“Yep, Amelia always was a bad egg. Her father, bless his heart, never has been able to see that. He blamed Zach and Chase for not making his baby girl happy. No one could make her happy, even that rich man she married. Last time she came to visit, he looked downright miserable.” The woman eyed Cassie speculatively. “Heard those boys are sweet on you.”
Apparently, there were no secrets in a small town.
“Um, well, we’re going to the drive-in tonight.”
The first woman chuckled. “When I was young, we called it the Passion Pit. Why, I remember one night…well, never mind. It’s hard to believe those boys are all grown-up. I remember when they were kids and giving their mother a hard time. Chase was so sweet and charming. He would be inside talking his mom out of a cookie before dinner. All the while, Zach was outside getting a ladder to climb up on the roof to set a trap for Santa Claus. I think he fell and broke his arm, too. Nancy was fit to be tied. Zach was the quiet, adventurous one. He didn’t say much, unless something needed to be said. But he always got things done.”
The other woman smiled at the memories.
“I remember when Chase started his own rock band. It’s a good thing the Harper’s didn’t have any close neighbors. They were quite loud. Good, but loud. Chase has quite a voice.”
“Chase can sing? I had no idea.” Cassie marveled.
“Chase has an amazing voice. He can also play guitar, drums, and keyboards. He is an extremely accomplished musician. His band sang at my senior prom.” Becca smiled at the memory.
The first woman chuckled. “I do remember that. Remember when Zach, Chase, Jack, and Sheriff Ryan hopped a Greyhound to Tampa when they were teenagers? They wanted to see a Buccaneers game. I think they were grounded for a month. Simply gave them more free time to think up their next escapade.” The woman smiled at Becca. “Zach and Chase must seem like brothers to you. Thank goodness you never got caught up in their monkey shines.”
Becca giggled. “Nope, I always had better sense than that. Although, I desperately wanted to be allowed into the fort they built one summer. But the rule was ‘no girls allowed.’ Still makes me mad thinking about that. I always wondered what they did in that fort.”
The second woman rolled her eyes. “Probably read girlie magazines and had farting contests.” She peered at Cassie. “Do you have family, dear?”
Cassie didn’t really like to talk about her family, but she didn’t want to be rude, either. “Yes, although my parents divorced when I was twelve. So I moved back and forth between them quite a bit.”
Cassie didn’t mention how her parents had remarried other people and each started new families. After that, they hadn’t seemed very interested in their daughter. She must have been a reminder of their unhappy marriage. She had spent her teen years shuffling back and forth between her apathetic parents. She had found some solace in her friendship with Jillian. While Jillian’s family life was far from idyllic, it had been a refuge where Cassie could find love and support from Jillian, and Jillian’s mother and brother.
The woman tutted and shook her head. “Divorce is a nasty thing and hard on someone as young as you were. Well, you’re in Plenty now, dear. We’re all your family. And you can’t get rid of your family.”
* * * *
Zach waited impatiently in the front hall of their home. His brother better hurry the fuck up, or he was going to take the beautiful Cassie Ames out on a date and leave his brother’s sorry ass at home to watch reruns on television. He had been looking forward to this date all week, and despite how busy he had kept himself, the days hadn’t passed by quickly enough.
Zach smiled as he replayed the picnic in his mind. Cassie had finally relaxed around them, and they had enjoyed their time with her. He was anxious to spend more time with her. She was not only beautiful and sexy but obviously intelligent and funny. She was the total package. In Zach’s experience, the total package was damn near impossible to find.
He was at an age where he was ready to settle down and start a family. He was tired of going to bed and waking up alone. He wanted someone to share his life. He had grown up watching his parents’ happy marriage, and he wanted the same. Amelia had soured their outlook on love for a while, but he was determined to put the past where it belonged. Cassie’s arrival in Plenty was at just the right time. He wouldn’t lose a chance with a woman like her due to fear.
He wanted to make sure that Cassie knew how much they really liked her and respected her, but it had been damn
hard to be the gentleman at the picnic and not lean over and kiss her senseless and then some. He knew Chase, too, had struggled with his more primitive instincts that day. Cassie seemed to bring it out in both of them, but they would need to control themselves tonight so they didn’t scare her off. Although beautiful, she didn’t act as sophisticated about men as other women whom Zach had dated. And he had dated a lot of them over the years. In contrast, Cassie had seemed pretty shy. And hell, if she had ever dated two men who shared, he would be shocked. His brother running down the stairs interrupted his reverie.
“Mooning over her again?” Chase smirked.
“We both are, and you know it.” Zach sighed. “We need to make sure we move slowly with Cassie tonight. I don’t want us scaring her off. She’s special. We can both see it. We just need to make her feel special. So don’t go all caveman and fuckin’ blow it. Got it, bro?”
“I’m not the one who goes all caveman, asshole. I believe that honor belongs to you more often than not. But, hell yeah, I got it. I don’t want to scare Cassie, either. She blushed so much at the picnic, you would think she was a virgin.”
“Well, if by some remote chance she is, she won’t stay that way long with us around.” Chase laughed as Zach punched him in the shoulder.
* * * *
Cassie knew she was in big trouble. When her two men—she couldn’t help but think of them as her men—picked her up, she had almost fainted at how handsome they were. The heat had finally broken some, so they were both in button-down shirts and blue jeans that molded to their strong legs and highlighted two of the finest asses she had ever seen. They looked gorgeous, and she was glad she had taken extra time with her appearance. Her freshly trimmed hair was blown dry and loose around her shoulders. She had applied her makeup with a light hand and wore just a touch of perfume in a spot she swore these men wouldn’t be seeing any time soon. It was still very warm when the sun was up, so she chose a flowered skirt which flared just above her knee and a lacy, black blouse that matched the edging on the skirt. Black, high-heeled sandals completed the outfit. She figured she would need the extra height with such tall men.
Valentine, Laura - Plenty to Come [Plenty, FL] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 3
