And just like that, the two became three.
THE END
About the Author
Dorothy f. shaw
Dorothy F. Shaw lives in Arizona, where the weather is hot and the sunsets are always beautiful. She spends her days in the corporate world, and her nights with her Mac on her lap. Between her, ever-open heart, her bright red hair and her many colorful tattoos, she truly lives and loves in Technicolor!
As Dorothy sees it, the journey is the best part.
Dorothy’s co-written debut novella, about a former pro-bowler, Spare Hearts is published by Grand Central and can be found via all major e-sellers. Dorothy welcomes emails at: [email protected] and can also be found on:
Facebook.com/dorothyfshaw,
twitter.com/DorothyFShaw
www.dorothyfshaw.com
What can happen between three friends in three days?
Ménage by Monday
By
Louisa Bacio
Acknowledgements
Thank you to my partners in ménage: Kim Carmichael, Dorothy Shaw, Solera Winters and Chelle, and especially Sascha Illyvich for editing my novella.
Credit for the awesome image on my cover goes to the talented Jenn LeBlanc / Illustrated Romance. The cover design was done by Lex Valentine with Winterhart Design.
Finally, thank you to all the readers who enjoy exploring the love of multiples.
Friday
Shadows from stooped trees darkened the steep staircase. A warning shiver crawled up Shannon’s back. She’d never cared for weeping willows, or their cloying, clutching branches. They appeared so soft and gentle, and then killed everything that needed sun to survive.
Five years had passed since she last visited Thomas at his family estate. She’d gone away to college, vowing never to return to this one fast food drive-through town. Degree in hand, and out of work, she’d come when he called for help. His mother had died back when they were in junior high, and his cantankerous (asshole) father—the one who threatened that she wasn’t good enough for his son—finally stopped running from the Grim Reaper.
It didn’t matter how much of a bastard the guy had been, Tommy still loved his dad, and in his grief, he needed assistance settling the financial plans. Shannon wasn’t a wiz with numbers, but she could help oversee the running of the household, and support Tommy as he settled into his new role. Since he’d called her, she was pretty sure he’d also pull in Zack. The thought of seeing him again brought a flush to her throat, and a warmth between her legs.
She did her best not to daydream about her former crush too much. As a high school girl, she didn’t have much to offer him. Now as a woman, well, she shouldn’t let her fantasies distract. Football star turned attorney, Zack was a couple years older than them. On paper, they never should have been friends – too different, and yet when Tommy and her were sophomores and Zack was a senior, something clicked over their failed attempts in Spanish class.
No hablo Español was about as far as they had gotten.
Shifting her bag onto her other shoulder, she grabbed the handle of the roller suitcase and started thump-thump-thumping it up the cement stairs. Tendrils of ivy reached out across the mold-tinted steps, and she mentally catalogued what needed to be done. The gardener needed to be called in and take care of this obstacle. If one wasn’t careful, they could trip and fall.
On the top landing, she rested, and glanced back down. Damn, she’d forgotten how many steps it took to reach the front door. Well after today, she’d be using the private entrance around the back. As she neared the front door, she noticed a flat engraved stone in the garden. Mud caked the “Welcome” inscription and ground covering threatened to swallow it whole.
It couldn’t be, could it?
She stooped, dug her fingernails under the edge and lifted. A bevy of dazed roly-polys scurried from the muted sunshine.
“It’s still there.” A man’s deep voice startled her.
With a yelp, she dropped the rock and stood, wiping her fingers – and the accompanying mud, across her trousers. Well, damn.
Forget the trees blocking the sunshine. This fine specimen eclipsed the surroundings. Her heart pounded, and her palms grew sweaty. He raised his eyebrows, casting a quizzical look on his face.
“Did you forget me, Shannon?” He opened his arms, waiting for the leap of faith.
While all her insides wanted to squeal with excitement, the adult being fought for control. She was past the girlish screams. Even if it was him.
“Zack?” She didn’t need to ask, really, but kind of felt the need.
His quirky grin twerked up the right side of his mouth, and she wondered what it would be like to kiss it right there. To lick it into submission. What about her amused him so much?
“Were you expecting someone else?” he stepped forward, “come here.”
The choice of hugging him was taken away from her, against her will. But she wasn’t complaining. His strong arms enveloped around her, pulling her in tight against his chest. She slipped her hands under his arms, and around his waist, tucking her head into tight muscles of his chest. He smelled like Obsession cologne. Still wearing it after all these years.
* * * *
The top of her head barely rested under his chin, and he snuck a whiff of her fruity scent shampoo. One glance, one smell and one feel, and catapulted him back to high school when she might as well be the untouchable little sister and he the football bully counting the moments before he could get the hell out of town. Starting something with her back then wouldn’t have been fair to either of them. No matter how much his young heart may have wanted her, he knew it wouldn’t be able to last.
That was then. Now. Damn. Shannon McGray had all grown up. Soft rounded curves pressed against him. He wanted to lift that fuzzy sweater over her head, pin her arms back into a makeshift tie so she wouldn’t be able to protest, and tongue her nipples until she ached for release.
His cock grew semi-hard in his jeans, and it pressed up against her belly. She stiffened in his arms ever so slightly, and he pulled back before his obvious arousal made her more uncomfortable.
“What am I going to do with you under the same roof?” he mumbled.
“What?” She looked up at him. The waning light reflected off her light brown eyes, highlighting glimmers of gold. He used to tease her that the sparkles looked like magic fairy dust.
“I mean, it’s going to be fun, right? All three of us together again?”
“Right.”
The tone of her voice said she wasn’t quite convinced. Truth, neither was he. Since becoming a lawyer, Zack had worked for Tommy’s father. He sometimes questioned the old man’s ethics, but he wasn’t paid to tell him if what he was doing was right or wrong. Instead, his job was to make sure all the paperwork was in order, in case anyone came calling with questions.
Up until recently, Tommy stayed as far away as possible from the family business. He didn’t give a shit what happened day to day, as long as his dividend checks cleared and the ATM card continued to work.
“So our rock’s still there?” Zack said. “The one with our initials engraved on the bottom?”
“Sure is, but you had to have known that, right?”
“Maybe.”
Before Shannon left for college, they carved all their initials onto the stone, and placed it in the garden for safekeeping. In some ways, it seemed kind of weird since it looked like a threesome SM + ZT + TM. They joked that someone in the future would be confused at the potential polyamorous relationship. Who knows, may it wouldn’t cause such a scandal in the future.
The way Tommy talked about Shannon, Zack knew he wanted to have something more than a friendship with her. While Zack may not have felt like he had a chance or a right back in the day, seeing her right now changed everything. Friendship or not, he might have to beat poor-little-rich-boy Tommy to the bed.
The door creaked open, and a shadowed figure stepped out on the arch.
�
�Are you two going to stand out there gabbing all day, or are you going to come inside and help me get to work?” Tommy ordered.
Guess the getting-reacquainted period had ended. For now. Later, Shannon wouldn’t get off so easily. Or, then again remembering the rush of heat when he had her in his arms, maybe she would.
* * * *
The same sense of awe whooshed into Shannon’s chest as she stood in the entranceway, looking up at the winding staircase to the second floor, and the hidden labyrinth of rooms that she knew led toward the back of the house. After knowing Tommy for so long, she realized there was so much of his home she’d never seen – or been welcome to visit.
“Come in, come in,” he said, gesturing further into the house. “Put down your bags. Someone will see you to your rooms later.”
She noticed that Zack carried a smallish duffle bag. Either he traveled super light, or he didn’t plan to stay for long.
“Sorry to hear about the passing of your dad,” Zack said, stepping forward with his hand outstretched.
The guys shook, and gave a half hug like only men do—no full-length body parts touching. Zack patted his friend on the back. “I appreciate you coming,” Tommy said, his voice rising higher with emotion. “The old man could be a bastard, but I’d gotten used to him.”
Seeing them together tugged at her heart. The three of them made quite the combination: the jock, the brainy socialite and her. Where did she fit into all of it? She never quite fit any of the preconceived social circles. She was never a cheerleader, and didn’t qualify for any of the advanced placement classes. Pure average, middle-of-the-road. More girl-next-door than drop-dead-gorgeous. She made do with the gifts and traits she’d been given.
As Zack stepped back, Tommy eyed her in anticipation. The last time she’d been to the house hadn’t been a pleasant visit, and while they’d kept in touch, he’d never come to see her at college either. He was always “too busy,” but she suspected it was way more of his father’s influence.
Perhaps, now, he’d learn to stand on his own. Ironic with already calling in back-up, and here she was one of them. Still, she couldn’t ignore his plea. When she hugged him, it was almost impossible not to physically compare him to Zack. He was maybe five-ten, a few inches taller than her, and a bit “softer,” not all hard planes. The rims of his glasses pressed against her cheek when he leaned in close.
“I know it wasn’t easy for you,” he said, “thank you for being here. You don’t know how much it means to me.”
A lump lodged in the back of her throat. No matter what had happened, right now, she was glad she’d come. She found it weird that he’d waited until after the memorial service to call. His father didn’t want a big to-do. She didn’t know how long she’d last, but that’s not what mattered.
Moment over, they broke apart, and Tommy pulled a phone from his back pocket and called someone. Within a minute, an older gentleman in khaki pants and a crisp white shirt – a modern day’s butler’s uniform – arrived and picked up her suitcase.
“You’ll be staying upstairs,” Tommy explained, “I’d like to have you close by, and it’s safer. Zack if you don’t mind I’ve stuck you in the old guest quarters off the back. I figured you may want a bit more privacy.”
“As long as I get a place to crash, that’s all that matters,” Zack said. “I don’t plan on doing much entertaining while I’m here.”
As he said the words, he looked at Shannon pointedly. The heat flared through her body again. Privacy worked well for her.
“Why don’t you both get settled, clean up and we’ll meet in the dining room for dinner,” Tommy said. “We can set a game plan for the next few days.”
A week tops, is what Shannon told herself when accepting the offer. Maybe if he was real bad off, she’d stretch it out to a full month. She couldn’t imagine staying in the oppressive house that long, but friendship went a long way.
Julius led her upstairs, toward the back of the house. After passing what looked to be a master bedroom suite, they turned a corner and he opened the door at the end of the hall. Shimmering light flowed through the entryway, casting aside any doubts. Inside, the walls were painted a light rose, and an oversized bay window was stuffed full of pillows. It would be a perfect place to unwind and read. She crossed the room to look outside, and was surprised to see a view of the ocean.
While everything else had been so dark and dreary, this room screamed life.
“Young sir had the room painted this week. Hopefully, it’s to your liking.”
Did that account for his delay in contacting her? Did he want to get everything ready first? Now that he’d mentioned it, she caught the faint smell of new paint. “It’s lovely. Thank you.”
He set down her suitcase, and pointed to an armoire. “All the drawers are empty, and feel free to use anything you’d like. The bathroom has whatever toiletries you may need. If we missed something, please write it down and someone will pick it up on the next trip to the market.”
“Thank you again. I’ll just…” She gestured toward the bags.
“Of course, miss, and if you don’t mind me saying, thank you for coming. Young sir has been quite not himself the past few days, and he seems to be coming around the bend now.”
With a final ducking of his head, Julius exited.
Shannon sank into the pillows on the window’s seat and cranked open the window. A cool ocean breeze filtered in, unfettered. An assortment of leather-bound books rested on a shelf in the window. They were classic romantic tragedies, including Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton. She’d read the novel in college, and remembered the stark contrast between the frozen setting of snow, and the lack of love in the main character’s life. He lusted after his wife’s young cousin, and every description of her was filled with sunshine and warmth. After placing the book back on the shelf, she gazed outside at the setting sun. She took a deep breath, ready to take on anything before her.
* * * *
Shannon fingered the silverware. How many forks would they use? Dinner at home usually consisted of some type of stir-fry that easily could be made in a wok, or take-out. At times, she ate straight out of a pot to save from doing dishes. Here, steam poured out of a half dozen serving bowls. Plates rested inside of plates. Why did they need multiple layers and a bowl on top?
When she went to sit down, Julius appeared from nowhere, and pulled her seat out. The guys came out, and rather than one of them taking the other side of the table, each chose to sit next to her, with a leg so close their heat crossed the spatial boundary. It was like a shimmering presence caressed her outer thigh.
Tommy rested his forearm against the table, and angled his body toward her. “Have you thought about what you want to do now that you’ve graduated?”
Resisting the urge to roll her eyes, she wondered what to tell him. She’d come up with some pat responses but he didn’t deserve those.
“I can pretty much get an administrative job wherever. It’s figuring out what I really want to do. I’d like to work with kids – those that fall into that underprivileged category.”
“Like you?” Tommy said.
He didn’t mean to put her down, but still it happened. She needed to not feel bad about her past.
“Exactly. Without the scholarship I got, I wouldn’t have been able to go to college. Or it would have taken me a lot longer. Some kids need extra help.”
“That’s quite noble of you,” Zack said. “So what’s keeping you from doing it?”
“Money,” she said, before she could think about it, and then backed up. “They don’t pay well. It’s not like I’m a counselor or psychologist. Working in an office would be about all I could do right now. And a lot of those are volunteer positions. I need to work for a paycheck.”
There she went, making a comment that might zing Tommy. Not that she’d meant it either. After not seeing each other for so long, they needed to get used to each other again.
An attractive blonde woman brought
out a soup tureen and served some sort of creamy orange concoction. She cast a glance at Tommy. He sipped from a spoon. Thank God he didn’t hold his pinky out.
“Damn, dude, is this baby food?”
“Butternut squash,” he replied.
The only way she liked squash was slathered in butter and brown sugar. This serving didn’t qualify as either. Still, she took a spoonful. After swallowing it down, she decided something had to be done.
She pushed aside the bowl, and opened a few other containers: brown rice, vegetables and salmon. It wasn’t her first choice, but it would have to do.
“Grab a plate, and fill them up, guys, we’re going off-road.”
The flare of Tommy’s nose said he looked downright scared. “What do you mean? Dinner is served at the dining table.”
As she leaned over the table, his gaze went toward her cleavage. “Don’t you make the rules now?”
Saturday
“Who’s the boss?”
Tommy sat behind his home office desk, trying to sort through financials but mental distractions kept plaguing him. Last night’s challenge by Shannon turned Tommy’s world upside down. Or maybe more like right-side up. He’d invited his two closest friends to stay with a purpose, and keeping to his normal routine wasn’t going to cut it. He only had until Monday before they were supposed to leave.
After gathering their meals, Shannon directed them into the den. She yanked throw pillows off the couch and tossed them on the floor before settling down herself. “Voila! Living room picnic.”
If his father would’ve been there, he would have thrown a fit. The phrase, “rolling over in his grave” took on a whole new meaning. Tommy’s stomach tightened and he ran his hand through his hair. Growing up, he used to ask about eating outside of the dining room, especially when his parents were out. Sitting at the huge formal table solo increased the loneliness. As a teen, he started to eat at friends’ houses or out.
Three Times Lucky: Five Sizzling Tales of Three-Way Love Page 23
