by Tara Rose
When she released the kiss, she smiled shyly and picked up her menu. Wes wiped away the beads of sweat that had collected along his hairline and picked up his own menu, but it might as well have been written in ancient Greek. Their drinks arrived, and Wes told the server that they’d need a few minutes to order. He had no idea what Dalton wanted and wasn’t going to guess.
“I think I’m just going to have a sandwich,” she said.
“Which one?”
“The ham and cheese looks good.”
He put down his menu again. “Ham and cheese?” It was the least expensive item among the sandwiches. “Summer, that sounds like something you’d take to work for lunch, or that you’d pack for school. I’m going to order for you, all right?” He took the menu out of her hands, then took a long sip of his drink for courage. This whole Dom thing was foreign to him, but what he did love about it was the way it made him want to care for Summer and her needs. “Any food allergies or total dislikes that I should know about?”
She shook her head.
“Okay then. That makes it easier.”
He glanced up as Dalton finally joined them. “Sorry about that. I haven’t been in here for a while. Did you order yet?”
“Not yet. I told Summer I would order for her.”
Dalton grinned, and Wes resisted the urge to punch him. He really wished he’d stop doing that, as if Wes were his protégé or a pupil. It was humiliating. “Good for you. In fact, let’s make that part of protocol, okay? Summer will let us order for her, but of course we won’t make her eat anything she really doesn’t want. You did ask her what she likes, right?”
“Dalton, of course he did.”
Wes wanted to pump his fist in the air at the tone in her voice. He flashed her a look of gratitude.
“He’s not a child. Please stop talking to him as though he were.” Her voice was soft enough so that only the three of them would hear it, but she might as well have shouted, judging by the look on Dalton’s face.
“Are you trying to earn a severe punishment?”
“No. I’m trying to ask you to stop talking to Wes in that condescending tone. You’ve been doing it all day.”
Dalton actually backed off. It was eerie to watch the sudden change in his face. What kind of hidden powers did this woman have? Was she even aware of them? “I’m sorry, Wes. I didn’t realize I was using that tone.”
“It’s okay. I know you didn’t.”
Dalton glanced around for a server, who came hurrying over. He ordered an expensive bottle of wine, and then he addressed Summer again once the server left. “I owe you an apology as well.”
She practically slammed her drink down and put her chin in her hands. “No, you don’t. I’m just lost here, Dalton. I don’t understand what we’re doing, and I don’t understand my role in it. Last night was…it was the most erotic night of my life. But I need to slow down and figure this out. I don’t even know you two. And every question I ask just brings up more intrigue and mystery. I have so many questions.”
He nodded as she spoke. “Okay. I get that. You’re right. We did do this backwards, didn’t we? I don’t want you feeling so insecure, Summer. Please, ask your questions. Anything at all.”
“I don’t even know where to start.”
“Start with the question that comes to mind first.”
Their server returned, made a show out of opening the wine and allowing Dalton to taste it, and then took an inordinate amount of time outlining their specials. Finally, Wes ordered for himself and Summer, and then Dalton decided what he wanted, and at the last second added an appetizer.
“Okay. That’s done. We’re all yours, Summer. Ask your questions.”
* * * *
Summer drained the rest of her margarita, knowing it was probably the worst move right now. She was starving, and should really wait until she ate something to drink any more alcohol. When she got very hungry, she also got very emotional. She took a deep breath and tried to form her questions. “Okay. What exactly is my role? Am I a submissive to both of you?”
“We’d like that,” said Dalton, cutting his glance toward Wes for a second. “I mean I’d like that.”
“I would, too,” said Wes.
Summer was so glad that Dalton had finally allowed Wes to speak for himself. “But what exactly does that mean? Is there a rule book somewhere?”
Dalton grinned, but it wasn’t a condescending one. “No, hon. There’s no rule book. There is no right way to do this. As long as we keep everything safe, sane, and consensual, we aren’t doing it wrong. We get to set the ground rules for our relationship.”
“Really?” That did surprise her. She’d heard people talk about safe, sane, and consensual, but hadn’t realized that so much was actually negotiable.
“Yes,” said Wes. “Our roles as Doms are to take care of your needs, Summer. To make sure you’re safe, protected, and cherished. The play is a bonus. Your submission is a gift. And in turn, you give us the gift of respect and obedience. But that doesn’t mean you give up your identity, or that you have no say-so in your life. We want to help you become the person you want to be, not the woman we think you should be.”
Summer’s breathing had turned rapid and shallow as Wes spoke. She didn’t know if she was more turned on by his words, or the look of astonishment and admiration on Dalton’s face. It was as if the lightbulb had suddenly gone on, and Dalton had finally seen Wes for the intelligent, level-headed man he was, rather than as some neophyte he needed to guide and make a man out of. Summer wanted to shout it from the rooftops and kiss them both until none of them could breathe.
“Wes, that’s exactly right. I couldn’t have said it better.” Dalton glanced at Summer. “Does that help answer your question?”
She raised her wine glass. “Yes, it does. It’s perfect. Thank you, both of you.” She took a sip. “Wow. That’s delicious.”
Dalton grinned, sending a rush of wetness to her panties. He had one of the sexiest grins she’d ever seen. “Glad you like it. It’s always been one of my favorites. Do you have more questions for us, Summer?”
“Yes. When exactly am I supposed to call you both ‘Sir’?”
“You don’t need to right now,” said Dalton, glancing around. “Only when we’re someplace private, at the club, or in text messages. And during phone calls where no one else can hear you is fine.”
“It’s a sign of respect, Summer,” said Wes. “And in turn, we’re here to protect you. And I do mean from anything and anyone. Don’t ever feel that you can’t tell us something. We want to know about it.”
“Okay. Do I need your permission for everything? Like what to eat or what to wear?”
Wes and Dalton exchanged a quick glance before Dalton spoke. “I’m not so strict that I want to tell you what to eat, although I am a bit concerned that you seem to be strapped for cash. Are you able to buy enough groceries?”
Summer swallowed hard and averted her gaze.
Dalton leaned closer and lowered his voice. “I’m not trying to make you uncomfortable, Summer. Only doing what I said it’s my role to do. I want to help you if you need it.”
“I have a job.”
“And I know what you earn,” said Wes quietly. “It’s barely enough to live on. If you need help, you let us know, okay?”
She grasped the stem of her wine glass and was about to take another sip when their appetizer arrived. A huge plate of mozzarella cheese balls wrapped in bacon and smothered in more cheese, scallions, and peppers was placed in the center of the table, along with tortilla chips for dipping. Summer’s stomach rumbled.
“Dig in,” said Dalton, nodding toward her.
She filled her plate and began to eat as the guys did the same, watching her. “Thank you,” she said.
“For the appetizer? It’s good, isn’t it?”
“For everything, Dalton. For what you two offered.”
“It’s our pleasure. Do you have more questions?”
“Ye
s. What else am I supposed to do? I know you mentioned the ordering in restaurants, but what else? What about what I wear?”
“You seem to dress fine,” said Wes. “Although from now on, if you need to go clothes shopping, let us take you. You mentioned club wear in a text message. Do you need some?”
Wes glanced at Dalton. That meant the two had shared her text messages earlier, but Summer didn’t mind that. In fact, she loved the idea of them doing that. Suddenly, this whole thing seemed to make sense to her in a way it hadn’t before, and for the first time all day, she felt like she was on solid ground. “Yes. I was looking at some in Sassy Brassy this morning.”
“We’ll take you shopping for it,” said Wes.
“Okay. Thank you.”
“What else?” asked Dalton.
“That’s it for now I think. I’m sure more questions will come up, though.”
“Just ask as they do.”
Summer smiled at each of them and finished eating her appetizer. She did still wonder about some of the things Dalton had hinted at regarding his family, but for now, she was going to let it go at what they’d just told her. She did feel a lot better with some food in her stomach, and convinced herself that most of what she’d been confused about had been the result of a combination of hunger and so many new experiences coming at her at the same time. Everything was going to work itself out. She felt sure of it.
Chapter Twelve
The guys made small talk all through dinner, which was so good that Summer ate more than she normally would have. She couldn’t help it. The food was incredible, and she complimented Dalton on it more than once. Wes looked more at ease now than he had all day, and that helped Summer relax as well. She found that she didn’t have to ask quite as many questions as she’d been formulating all day, because once the guys opened up, they were more than happy to talk about their families.
She learned that Wes’s two older brothers, Adam and Seth, pretty much ran things now at Pacos Farms, and that all three brothers had trust funds that assured they’d never have to want for anything. She’d already known that Wes’s full name was Wesley, but hadn’t known until now that his middle name was Takoda, and that he’d been given that name after an ancestor. The Danburys had Native American blood in their family tree, and Wes’s middle name meant “friend to everyone.” She thought that was quite appropriate for him, and could have sworn he blushed when she told him that.
“I work with you, remember? Everyone at Notus likes you, Wes. Your teammates don't make fun of you behind your back like some of the other managers get, and they totally respect you.”
“Thanks for saying that, Summer. I appreciate that.”
“May I ask a really personal question?”
“Of course.”
“Why do you work there? I mean, you obviously don’t have to.”
He smiled, but it wasn’t a sarcastic or indulgent one. It was genuine, and Summer realized how much more comfortable Wes seemed now than he had during their lunch dates. “I want to work. If I couldn’t do this job anymore, I’d be working alongside the ranch hands. The whole business end of running the farm bores me to tears.”
“Dude,” said Dalton, “writing code is boring. How do you do it all day long?”
“I don’t write all that much, to be honest. My job is more projects-oriented, and helping troubleshoot software or hardware issues that someone on my team can’t figure out.”
“Our computer system is huge,” said Summer. “I don’t know what we’d do without all of you to keep it running.”
Wes gave her a look full of lust and admiration, and Summer’s pulse raced. “And, I can’t imagine not seeing your smiling face every morning when I walk into the building, or popping down to the lobby to hear the latest gossip.”
Summer laughed. “I don't gossip with just anyone, you know.”
He winked at her. “I know.”
“You must hear some great gossip in your position,” said Dalton.
“Oh, you have no idea. I sit there and answer the main phone lines, and greet visitors, but the employees treat me like I’m one of your bartenders over there. They tell all their secrets to me.”
“What an awesome job,” said Dalton. “You know the dirt on everyone in the building.”
She laughed “Most of it.” Summer wanted the focus off her and back on them. “Okay, so we’ve heard about Wes’s siblings. I’m an only child, but you both already know that. Dalton, you don’t have any brothers, but you do have a sister, right?”
Dalton told them that his older sister, Bethany, was married to a man named Mike, and they lived in Phoenix with their three kids. When Summer asked why she’d moved away from Passion Peak, Dalton’s eyes had grown distant and he’d mumbled something about Bethany having met her husband in college. Summer let it go, and instead asked him about The Black Whip. “What made you decide to buy it?”
“I wanted to do something other than run corporations in foreign countries.”
“Is that what your family is into now?” asked Wes quietly.
“Unfortunately. It’s cheap labor, you know.”
“You don’t approve, do you?” asked Summer.
Dalton stared at her for a few seconds, as if deciding how much to say. “I don’t, only because there are so many people here in our own country who are out of work. We used to own some businesses in town and in several nearby states, but we’ve been ‘shifting our interests,’ as my father calls it, for close to ten years now.”
“Was this place one of the businesses your family owned?”
Dalton shook his head. “No. I bought this. It was run-down at the time, but I saw the potential, you know? When I started hanging out in Nash’s club, we talked about how people liked to go out to eat afterward. Nash actually thought about opening up something similar on his property at one time, but then this place came up for sale, and I thought why not? I wanted to make it someplace upscale, but where anyone could hang out.”
“Well, you’ve accomplished all that and more, Dalton. It’s really beautiful.”
He beamed, and that surprised her. Didn’t he know how successful he was?
“What does your father think of it?” asked Wes.
Dalton snorted. “You’re kidding, right? He hates it. He hates the fact that I’m a Dom at Nash’s club, but he hates that I own this place even more.”
“Because of the fact that it’s not part of your family’s fortune, or is there another reason?”
“It’s a saloon. And we have gambling. It’s scandalous.”
This time Wes laughed. “There’s hypocrisy for you.”
“No shit.”
“You have gambling?” asked Summer, craning her neck.
“There are slot machines in the other room, as well as a blackjack table. We’ve also been known to run a poker game or two in here.”
“Why do you two say it’s hypocrisy? Are you talking about your family’s past, Dalton?”
He gave her an odd look that Summer couldn't interpret. “You really don’t know all this, do you?”
She shook her head.
Dalton took another sip of wine, and then pushed away his plate. “Okay. Here goes. I guess it’s no secret that Nash’s grandfather Colson, and Carma’s great-uncle, Battista, used to be in business with my grandfather, Bryce, and a man named Jeb Monroe. The businesses weren’t all legal, however. Colson and Battista had a falling out with Jeb and Bryce when accusations were made by those two. They felt they weren’t getting their fair share of some scheme or heist. Remember, we’re talking about stolen loot here.”
Wes nodded. “Ian said something once about Nash’s family having ties to Carma’s.”
“Oh, they have strong ties to her family. This town was settled by miners, but when that fell through, the Mafia moved in. Literally. This was a good place to hide because of the isolation and the mountains. The Mandanici brothers practically ran this entire town at one time. My grandfather and Nash’s grandfather w
ere knee-deep in it, too. Of that I have no doubt.”
“Dalton, do you think they’re still into illegal things?” asked Summer in a near whisper.
He shook his head. “No. Not anymore. But I hate the way certain people in my family try to downplay our history, as though it never happened.” Dalton took another sip of wine. “And then we have my father, who is just the opposite. He’s still living it, which makes his hatred of this place so hypocritical. There were certainly more than two bars or gambling halls in this town back in the forties, and they were all fronts for what the Mandanici brothers, Colson, Jeb, and my grandfather were really up to.”
“That sounds like something out of a gangster movie.”
“It is indeed, Summer, and I grew up listening to these stories. We have more damn money than anyone could spend in two lifetimes, but all my father wants to do is find what is supposedly hidden behind the walls and in abandoned mine shafts all over town.”
“So, he believes in the legends, then?” asked Wes.
“Oh, they’re not legends, my friend. Don’t let anyone tell you that. Trace Coleman is back in town for a damn good reason.”
A shiver ran down Summer’s spine, but this time it wasn’t from desire. This subject had pushed Dalton’s buttons—that much was obvious—but something in the tone of his voice told her that not only did he know exactly what he was saying, but that it was also true. She couldn’t help but wonder if what his father was looking for had had something to do with his mother’s accident. It was a terrible thought, but suddenly it all fit with his earlier reactions to that subject, as well as his reluctance to talk about his family. But how could they be connected?
“Why do you think Trace is back in town?” asked Wes.
“He’s here to find something. And I think my father might have been the one to lure him back.”
“Why do you think that?”
“I walked in on a video conference a few weeks ago. I’d been in Meeker taking care of some things at the court house for my mother’s care at Shady Pines, and when I came into my father’s office to give him some documents he had to sign, he was talking to Jack Monroe. That’s not unusual, but my father had maps of the town spread out on his desk. Old maps, from the looks of them.”
