by Tara Rose
Every woman that had ever rejected him had been a constant reminder of his mother, walking out on her children when they’d needed her more than ever. Chad had tried over the years to understand her point of view, but he couldn’t. He simply couldn’t. His mother had known that her own husband was sexually abusing Claire—her fifteen-year-old daughter—and she’d left anyway. She’d known that Chad was getting the shit kicked out of him for nothing, nearly every day, and she’d left him to his own defenses.
If Annalise rejected him, too, he wouldn’t be able to handle it. Dustin was his best friend but he couldn’t chase away this particular fear. There was only person who could.
* * * *
Annalise strolled down Market Street late Friday afternoon, one arm linked around Dustin’s arm and the other around Chad’s. Yesterday had been the best birthday she’d ever had, and she’d told both men that several times since waking up this morning. She wanted to shout it from the rooftops.
It was rare that she had both a Thursday and Friday off, and even more unusual that Chad and Dustin had the same. She suspected a few of the residents of Racy—specifically Sean, Luke, and Hannah—had conspired to make this come about, but she certainly wasn’t complaining.
Both men had been giving her more than the usual intense looks all day, and she hoped everything was okay. They’d already exchanged a fair amount of quick glances when they thought she wasn’t looking.
“Your earrings look pretty in the sunlight,” said Dustin.
Annalise smiled. “I love them. I seriously love them. I’ve never had anything so beautiful.” She stopped in front of Dan’s Bakery, sighing at the sight of fresh cannoli in the window. If only the damn things didn’t go straight to her hips.
“Want some?” asked Chad.
She shook her head. “No way. My ass is getting too big as it is.”
“I beg your pardon?”
She laughed at the incredulous look on his face. “I said my ass is getting too big.”
“Um, I beg to differ with you, but your ass is just fucking perfect the way it is. And if cannoli helps keep it that way…” He took her hand and pulled her toward the door of the bakery.
“No, Chad.” Annalise was laughing too hard to put up much of a fight. They made small talk with Dan Rutherford, who told Annalise he had owned the bakery since long before Chad and Dustin had been born, and then they sat down at one of the little round tables he had arranged around the shop while they drank coffee and ate pastry.
“I hate men,” said Annalise.
Dustin and Chad both raised their eyebrows at the same time, in identical gestures. It was so funny that Annalise laughed again.
“You do?” asked Dustin. “Well, ah, forgive me for pointing out the obvious, but it doesn’t show.”
“That’s not what I mean, silly. I mean you can eat any damn thing you want to and you never gain an ounce. It’s ridiculous.”
“Dustin’s getting a bit chubby,” said Chad, taking a large bite of his pastry. “Haven’t you noticed?”
“Fuck you,” said Dustin. “At least I’m not getting uglier every day, like you are.”
“Stop that,” said Annalise, between giggles. “Neither of you are fat or ugly. You’re both perfect. You’re both so perfect that I can’t get enough of you.”
Chad gave her a look that would melt steel. “And we can’t get enough of you, Annalise. I hope you know that.”
She put down her cannoli and swallowed against the sudden lump in her throat. She stared into Chad’s eyes, wanting desperately to tell him that she loved him.
Dustin covered her hand with his. The warmth of his touch had her blinking back tears. His dark eyes filled with what could only be called love. “We’re both crazy about you, Annalise. Surely you know that?”
She nodded. “I know it.” Her voice came out breathy and unsure. “I’m crazy about both of you, too.”
The smile Dustin gave her in return was bittersweet, but Annalise didn’t have a chance to analyze what it meant. The bell over the door of the bakery tinkled and a large group of young teens came in, talking loudly and pushing each other good-naturedly.
“Let’s get out of here,” said Chad. “Luke said he’d give us each a free drink if we stopped in today, in honor of Annalise’s birthday. What do you say?”
Dark thunderheads loomed overhead and the air felt sticky as they walked down to Luke’s Bar. It was as crowded as she’d expected it to be early in the evening on a Friday. It felt weird not to be working. They took a table near the wall and she made gossipy small talk with Ria, who came over to take their drink orders. Annalise would have loved some food as well, but she knew better than to eat here. They would probably stop in at Nan’s Place after their drink and then she could add a greasy cheeseburger and fries to her cannoli. That ought to keep the padding firmly in place on her ass cheeks.
She leaned close and lowered her voice as much as possible, hoping the guys could still hear her. “Did I say something to upset you in the bakery?”
“What?” Chad looked confused. “Of course not. I just didn’t want to have such a private conversation in front of a group of kids.”
Annalise glanced around. “This isn’t much better, is it?”
“We’ll talk later.”
Annalise glanced toward Dustin but his expression gave away nothing. Had she done something to upset them and they just weren’t saying? That didn’t seem likely. They both usually said what was on their mind right away if they were upset with her, which was rare. Their drinks arrived, and Annalise tried to relax. It was probably nothing. She was jumping to conclusions. What could she possibly have said or done, after all?
A striking woman with dark, spiky hair who she didn’t recognize walked into the bar. Annalise admired the highlights in her hair, and she was just about to ask the guys if they knew her because she didn’t think calling over a total stranger and asking about her hair was something she should do, but the look on Dustin’s face stopped her cold. He looked like someone had just told him that he was going to die within the next five minutes.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, her pulse racing.
“Oh, fuck,” muttered Chad.
“What’s going on? What’s wrong?”
Chad glanced at Dustin. “You want to leave?”
Dustin gave Chad a long look then turned his gaze on Annalise. She watched several emotions cross his face, none of which she understood. He seemed to be making a difficult decision. Finally, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, and he leaned over and kissed her. It was quick, but his mouth was warm and full of promise. “No. I’m not leaving.”
Annalise smelled strong perfume as the woman wove her way toward their table. To say the expression on her face was murderous was an understatement. Who was she, and why was she so upset at the sight of them?
Dustin stood. Chad started to get up, but Dustin waved him down. “I can handle this.”
Annalise watched Dustin’s face then glanced at the woman again, and then she watched Chad’s expression. Just before the woman finally reached them, understanding filled her. She was looking at Susan, Dustin’s ex-wife. It had to be. She gripped Chad’s hand tightly and swallowed hard, fighting against the sharp hot fear that raced through her body.
Chapter Twenty
Annalise fought against memories, but they bubbled up anyway. Confronting Jim’s girlfriends at work had been the most difficult thing she’d ever done. The pain and humiliation were suddenly as fresh as if all that had happened yesterday rather than over a year ago. It surprised her how something as innocuous as the expression on someone’s face could trigger such powerful memories and the emotions associated with them.
What was Dustin thinking right now? The only thing that gave her any comfort was the realization that Dustin was definitely not happy to see Susan. But what was she doing here? And why was she looking at the three of them like she wanted to kick the shit out of someone?
She’d been
calling him—that much she knew—but she didn’t realize that Susan was back in Racy.
“Well.” Susan glared at Annalise before turning her attention to Dustin. “At least now I know why you haven’t called me back.”
Annalise bit the inside of her cheek as the tears bubbled up. He’d told her about the phone calls. There was no reason to think it had been anything more.
Chad squeezed her hand, hard, but she refused to look at him. She was watching Dustin and hating the surge of jealousy that raced through her like a fast-acting poison.
“I didn’t call you back because I don’t want to talk to you.”
Annalise let out a sigh of relief at Dustin’s words. But it still didn’t explain why his ex-wife had kept calling him, or why she had any reason to be so upset right now.
She quickly glanced around. Most of the people in the bar had stopped talking and were watching them with wary expressions on their faces. Ria was standing next to a table where her friend Marisol sat with two other women. Annalise had seen them in the bar before, but she couldn’t recall their names. The four leaned close and whispered, pointing toward Susan.
“Calm down, Susan,” said Chad. He took his cell out of his pocket and placed it on the table. “Someone might have to call the police again.” His voice was soft and full of humor, but what did he mean by that statement? Had someone called the police on Susan? Why hadn’t they told her about any of this? Why were they hiding it from her?
Annalise struggled to stay calm inside. The guys had never given her any reason to mistrust them. But then again, she’d never seen the signs with Jim, and she’d known him a hell of a lot longer than she’d known Chad and Dustin. Was her world falling apart again? No, it couldn’t be true. She’d never been this much in love with Jim. Chad and Dustin were every fantasy she’d ever had, but they were better than all of them combined because they were so real. She couldn’t lose even one of them. She just couldn’t.
“Go to hell, Chad. You, Sean, and or anyone else in this hick town can’t prevent me from talking to Dustin.”
Annalise didn’t miss the sharp intake of breath around her as Susan called Racy a “hick town,” and she didn’t miss the sudden hushed conversation that rippled around the bar. Clearly the people in this bar weren’t on her side, but that still didn’t explain what was going on.
“I don’t have anything to say to you, Susan. Get out of here. You don’t belong in Racy anymore. Why did you come back here?” Dustin’s voice was soft, but with an edge that Annalise had never heard before.
“I told you on the phone. Todd and I split up. We’re getting a divorce.”
Oh, holy fuck. So that’s why she was here. She wanted Dustin back. And had she just said she’d told him that on the phone? Had they actually talked or had she left that tidbit of info on a voice mail message? Either way, why hadn’t Dustin told her?
“So? Why do you think I give a shit?”
The entire bar was now silent. Annalise suddenly understood the expression about being able to hear a pin drop. Even Ria and Marisol had stopped their gossiping long enough to listen. They stared at Susan with their mouths open.
Susan took a step forward and placed a manicured hand on Dustin’s shoulder. “Dustin, come on. I’ve learned my lesson. I miss you so much, baby.”
Annalise’s stomach contracted. Chad squeezed her hand again and this time she glanced at him. He mouthed the words “It’s okay,” and the look in his eyes told her that it would be. She suddenly didn’t care what had happened. She only wanted them both to know how much she loved them.
She glanced up into Dustin’s face and saw the truth. He didn’t want Susan. He hadn’t returned Susan’s phone calls. He probably hadn’t told her about Susan being back in Racy because he didn’t give a shit about her. Dustin wasn’t Jim, and neither was Chad.
They’d both proven how much they cared for her over and over again, with every glance, every touch, and every kiss. Each time they’d held her and made love to her, they’d given her so much more than sex. They’d given their hearts and souls. She’d simply been too afraid to see it. She’d been too blinded by past fear and pain to open her eyes and her heart. But not anymore. Tonight, both her men would know how much she loved them and wanted to be with them.
Dustin brushed Susan’s hand off his shoulder. “I’m not your baby.” His voice was filled with disgust. “Get out of here. I have nothing to say to you, Susan. Not now, not ever.”
Annalise had expected Susan to look sad or angry, but all she did was laugh. What an odd reaction. It was difficult for Annalise to imagine Dustin married to this woman.
“Oh, Dustin. You always were so dramatic. I’ll leave the bar, but I’m not leaving Racy. You’ll come around.” Susan touched his chin. “I know you will.”
This time Chad laughed. It was soft, but everyone in the bar heard it. “Susan, for God’s sake. Give it up. Can’t you see he’s over you? All you’re doing is making an ass of yourself. Go back to Chicago.”
Susan gave Chad a droll look. She glanced at his hand, still holding Annalise’s. “Shut up, Chad. You know Dustin can’t handle a threesome. So you worry about Miss Big Boobs here and leave the grown-up stuff to me, okay?”
Chad let go of Annalise’s hand and stood, his blue eyes blazing with anger. His left hand curled into a fist, and for one second Annalise was convinced he was actually going to punch Susan. “Her name is Annalise, and she is more beautiful to me than any woman in this room could ever be, especially you. I’m in love with her.” His voice broke for a second. “Crazy in love with her.” Chad glanced down at Annalise with so much love in his eyes that this time she didn’t bother trying to stop the tears.
She stood and took his hand. “Chad, I love you, too. So much…” She looked into Dustin’s eyes, and put her other hand across her heart as she realized she saw the same love in his. She took his hand as well. “And I love you, too, Dustin. I love you both. I want to be with you both of you for the rest of my life.”
“Is this a joke?” Susan’s voice was small and tight, and Annalise wasn’t sure anyone else heard it. The bar had suddenly erupted into a cacophony of gasps, cheers, and clapping.
“I should have told you before now,” said Annalise, her gaze on Chad and Dustin. There was noise all around them, but they might as well have been the only three in the bar. “I should have told you both. I was so afraid to give my heart away again, but I want to now. I want to give it to both of you. I want to be your lover and your sub for the rest of my life. Please say you’ll have me.”
Dustin pulled Annalise into his arms and kissed her, tongue and all. The roar of the crowd around them swelled. When Dustin released her, he cupped her face. His eyes were wet. “Annalise, I love you so much. We both do. We want you to be with us forever, as our lover and our sub. I should have told you sooner, too, but I didn’t think I could handle this. Now I know that I can, and I want to. Can you ever forgive me?”
“Oh, Dustin…of course.” Annalise wiped at the tears coursing down her cheeks.
Chad embraced her. “I should have told you, too, Annalise. I was afraid to give my heart away, too, until I met you. Now, I can’t imagine any other life. We want you with us forever.”
The cheering and clapping around them was so loud now that Annalise could barely hear her own thoughts. She threw her arms around Chad and cried out with joy, laughing as he twirled her around. When he placed her back on her feet, he kissed her as Dustin had done, right there in front of everyone.
Dustin kissed her again, and suddenly everyone in the bar surrounded them, clapped them on the back, offered congratulations, and whooped with happiness. Annalise glanced around at their faces and noticed that Susan was gone. Good riddance.
She gazed into the faces of her men with a smile so big that her cheeks began to ache. Her life was complete. She had all she needed, right here in their arms. And she’d spend the rest of her life showing them both just how much she loved them.
; THE END
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tara Rose loves to write about small towns and the quirky people that inhabit them. You’ll find engaging characters, budding romance, intrigue, and plenty of hot steamy ménage sex within the pages of her books. You never really know what goes on behind closed doors, but her books will take you there, and leave you panting for more.
When she isn’t writing, Tara spends time with her husband—her real-life hero. She loves to cook, collect antique pottery, and she will read just about anything. Tara also plays the cello, and loves decorating her house for Christmas.
For all titles by Tara Rose, please visit
www.bookstrand.com/tara-rose
Siren Publishing, Inc.
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