Lumberjack Weekend [Divine Creek Ranch 21] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Heather Rainier

  After getting a bottle of water from the case in her office, she sucked down half of it, hoping it would stay put. She hadn’t had any luck earlier that morning and hadn’t been able to keep the Tylenol down either. It was probably a blessing Josh and Lucas had already been gone by the time she woke, considering her early morning sprint for the bathroom.

  The sun went behind a cloud, and she breathed a sigh of relief, the pain diminishing slightly behind her eyeballs.

  “Okay, here we go,” Bunny said as she hurried back into the store. “This is the best hangover remedy in Texas. Works for me every time.”

  Violet took the small white Styrofoam cup from her and shook the contents gently. “It’s not a whole lot.”

  Bunny grinned, and her eyes twinkled. “You’re gonna be glad of that in a minute because you have to drink it all at once.”

  “What is it?”

  “It’s a Bloody Mary…sort of. Bottoms up.”

  She closed her eyes and drew on the straw, trying not to breathe in the pungent fumes. She downed the concoction and covered a cough as she set the cup on the counter, oh-so thankful there was still no one in the store. “Good Lord, where did you get this?” A shudder rippled through her as she swallowed again.

  “Rudy’s. He makes a great Bloody Mary.”

  “There’s something…familiar about it,” she said as her stomach gurgled.

  Bunny giggled and nodded. “He includes his special recipe barbeque sauce in it, but I also asked him to add my secret ingredient.”

  “Which is?”

  “Cayenne pepper.”

  “Which explains why my epiglottis is on fire,” she gasped.

  Bunny chuckled and said, “Yeah, but it works like a charm. You’ll see. Drink a little water to wash down the burn. No need to suffer…unless you enjoy that sort of thing, I mean.”

  They both laughed as she disposed of the cup and drank some more water. Bunny wouldn’t accept repayment and said, “When I came in earlier, I wasn’t totally sure if it was you or not. Your face paint last night was so detailed, and well…you were nude, or nearly nude, both times we encountered each other.”

  Violet surprised herself, giggling. It seemed like a dream she’d had, but she’d really had guts to follow through on her fantasies, thanks to Josh and Lucas, and Joseph, bless his sadistic heart.

  Speaking of…

  “Well, Bunny, you’ve done a good turn for me, since I’m already feeling a tad better. So what can I do for you?”

  Bunny’s gaze darted around the store, and then she said, “I need you to help me find some information about submission…and domination…and all that stuff. I’ve never been much of a reader, but I know I don’t want anyone beating on me, and after this weekend, I…Well, let’s just say I think I need a little more information.”

  “Really?” Violet asked, trying to hide the smile that kept breaking through as Bunny continued stammering.

  “Yeah. I want to know what I’m up against because I’m not going to let someone just push me around…or all that other stuff. But I think I need a better understanding. And well, shit, I’m not even sure why I’m bothering, because…” She paused and bit her lip. “I don’t do submission. Not for anyone.”

  Violet nodded slowly, gestured with her head toward a bookshelf in the corner, and led her in that direction. “But you’re curious about why women, or men, might be into that sort of thing?”

  “Men? Are you serious?”

  “Absolutely. People from all walks of life. Secretaries, police officers, schoolteachers, members of the military, moms, dads. Submission doesn’t mean you want to be mistreated or walked all over. It means giving up control—”

  Bunny shook her head, and her defensive posture with her arms crossed over her chest spoke volumes. “Like I said, I don’t do submission. I can’t imagine ever not being in control. I just—I just wanted some information. I need to know more about it but only because I’m curious.”

  Violet wondered if Bunny was attempting to reassure her or whether she was speaking to herself. Her cheeks were nearly as red as her flaming scarlet hair, and Violet nodded sympathetically as she stroked the spine of a book before moving on, looking for the one she wanted. Best to start with the basics. “I’m going to suggest a couple of books for you, and I have a sitting area back here where you can get comfortable and look through them before you make a purchase, if that would help.”

  Violet selected two notable books, one pertaining to the life of a submissive and also handed her a book written by a well-reputed Dominant with real-life anecdotes. She tried to hold back her smile as she wondered at the root of all this turmoil in her new friend. Joseph had evidently burrowed under Bunny’s skin as much as she had his.

  Bunny looked at the covers, holding the books as if they might bite her. “It’s okay. I’ll take them. I think I’m gonna need some sangria to go with this reading material. Please don’t mention this to Joseph, or—or anyone because I’m just curious. I don’t do submission.” She said it almost as if she was speaking to herself, like a mantra.

  Keep telling yourself that, sweetie. I’m rooting for both of you.

  It took force of will to hold back a giggle when she realized Joseph might very well have met his match.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Lucas rode in the passenger seat of Josh’s truck as they made their way toward downtown. Between them, sitting in the cup holder of the truck console, was the receipt for the down payment on Violet’s engagement ring.

  He and Josh weren’t twins, but from a young age, they’d been that close, despite their differing temperaments, and sometimes it was as if they communicated through shared thoughts. They’d had one of those moments early that morning as they’d tucked the blankets around Violet and kissed her brow before silently leaving her little home.

  The chorus of crickets, the soundtrack of summer, and the occasional birdcall were the only sounds breaking the humid stillness of the morning as they had stood on her porch after locking her front door.

  Not usually one to linger, Josh had leaned against the porch railing and paused to look at her house and then turned to him and quietly said, “I know we only had the weekend with her, but I’d ask her to marry me today—and not only because it doesn’t sit well with me to slink off in the dark like this.”

  “I’d ask her today, too, if I thought she’d say yes.”

  And that had been all that needed to be said. They’d gone home to sleep a while and then showered and called Clay Cook about a ring. Lily and Clay had invited them to lunch at Rudy’s, where Clay had talked to them and sketched out a design for the perfect ring for Violet.

  Clay had given them the approximate date the ring would be ready, and they’d given him a down payment and asked if there was any way to rush the ring.

  Outside the restaurant, before they went to their vehicles, Lucas had shaken his hand and said, “Pleasure finally doing business with you, Clay.”

  Lily had chuckled and said, “I imagine we’ll be seeing your faces in the jewelry store on a regular basis from now on.”

  Neither he nor Josh had been able to hide their sappy grins.

  They’d talked to their parents that morning, and though they’d been a little surprised, they were forward-thinking people. His parents had gotten to know Violet during the renovation project and his mother had “mentioned,” to no one in particular, on a regular basis that she thought Violet had a good head on her shoulders and would be a catch for some lucky fella. After their revelation, Mom had hugged them both and asked to see the ring when they had it picked out. So he’d texted the picture to her while they’d finished up with Clay and Lily.

  Somehow, Josh had convinced him on the way to the Emporium that they should wait until they had the ring in hand to propose.

  “Okay, eager beaver,” Josh said, chuckling as Lucas opened the truck door even before Josh had put the truck in park. “Let’s go see our lady.”

  “You’re sure yo
u want to wait?” Lucas said as they walked past the sheets of bare plywood covering the two windows.

  “Positive. Wouldn’t you rather have the ring in your hands when we propose? I know I would.”

  “I guess,” Lucas said, still not fully convinced as he pulled open the door.

  He’d always been struck by the atmosphere of the place, even, when they were still doing the construction and restoration work, before the Emporium had been officially reopened after the expansion into the main building.

  It’d been a hardware store years ago, and he could recollect going there with his father to buy supplies for projects around the house or on the job. What she’d done with the place was really something. She’d respected the original lines of the structure and had asked them specifically to use materials in keeping with the original construction.

  Their older brother, Samuel, had updated and redone the nightmare that had been the electrical system, bringing her building up to code, while their next oldest brother, David, had put in central air conditioning and heating. The rest of the brothers, Paul, Thomas, Jude, and Mark had assisted in the carpentry to create the establishment Violet had dreamed of ever since inheriting the buildings from her old bachelor uncles. They’d owned and operated the hardware store for many years and had left the buildings and a tidy inheritance to their favorite great-niece.

  They might’ve done the work, he thought, but as he’d breathed in the scent of the place, a pleasing mix of books, wood, and herbs—maybe lavender or rosemary—he knew it was Violet who had created the peaceful, welcoming atmosphere. They’d worked on a lot of homes and business around the area, but this had been the one he was proudest of, but that might’ve been because this was also the place where he’d fallen in love, one day, one conversation, one softly spoken complimentary word from her at a time.

  “You’re not just a carpenter, Lucas, you’re an artist,” she’d said one day as she stroked the freshly sanded surface of the oak sales counter at the front of the store. He’d worked hard to make it perfect for her, and she’d swiped a tear from her eye when he’d showed it to her during the construction.

  Josh waved a hand in front of his face and grinned. “Hello? Daydreaming already? She hasn’t said yes yet.”

  “Yet,” Lucas affirmed as they headed to the left side of the Emporium, where the bookstore and Violet’s office were located. “I hope Clay finishes it fast.”

  “You need to learn patience,” Josh replied and then stopped in his tracks. There was a loud commotion in the back, coming from Violet’s office, women’s voices raised and all talking at once.

  Curious, but not wanting to intrude if she was with her friends, Lucas hesitated to go any farther. He was turning to go check out the work Josh had done on the new chandelier when he heard an all too familiar, loud voice.

  “I’m so damn sorry, Violet! Oh my God, please forgive me! I thought they’d already proposed!”

  “No!” Violet replied, and she sounded as if she was crying.

  Josh and Lucas gaped at each other in horror and Lucas said, “What is Delilah doing here?” Leave it to their baby sister.

  “Shit,” Josh ground out under his breath. “I’m gonna strangle her.”

  Delilah said, “Josh and Lucas are gonna strangle me! They’re never going to forgive me.”

  Violet sounded like she was in shock. “I can’t believe it!” Other voices added to the commotion, and she finally said, “Shut up! Shut up! Y’all are giving me another headache! Cassie! Jessica! Hush! I think the doorbell rang. Lizzy, would you go see? Oh my God, what am I gonna do?”

  Stunned, Josh and Lucas turned to make a hasty exit, fleeing like Tex with his tail on fire the time he’d gotten too close to the soldering iron. It wasn’t very manly, no, but his internal twin speak was telling him they needed to regroup before going back in.

  “Stop!” a feminine voice called from the archway separating the bookstore from the main sales floor. “Don’t go.”

  They turned to find Lizzy, Violet’s second-in-command, striding toward them. “I guess you heard all of that, huh?” she asked, a sympathetic smile on her face as she motioned for them to come to the back.

  Lucas still wanted to retreat, at least to strategize before they faced whatever was going down in the office. The damn cat was definitely out of the bag, and Delilah, that blonde buttinsky was at the bottom of it.

  Violet must’ve heard what Lizzy said because no sooner were the words out of her mouth than she appeared at a run, with Cassie Resendez, Jessica Bright, and a shame-faced Delilah in her wake.

  Josh growled in disgruntlement at their sister, and she mouthed, “I’m so sorry,” before putting her hand over her mouth and averting her bloodshot eyes.

  Violet looked back at her friends, and Lizzy nodded and shooed them all past Josh and Lucas, shock and worry on their faces. Whatever it was, it must’ve happened in the last few of minutes because they’d only just left Rudy’s.

  Looking as though she’d received a jolt, Violet fumbled for words as she clasped their forearms and drew them back toward her office.

  Once in there, they shut the door behind them. Concerned because she was paler than usual, Lucas said, “Baby, you need to sit down.”

  She flopped into her chair and stared at them as they squatted in front of her beside her desk. Her lips flapped for a few seconds before she finally said, “You…”

  “Baby girl, you okay? How’s your headache?”

  “You…” she murmured, blinking at them. Her cheeks grew pinker as she stroked under both eyes with the sides of her hands and sniffed. Slipping her hands into the ones they each offered to her, she finally smiled. “You were going to propose?”

  “Are you upset?” Lucas asked, cognizant of what Josh had said in the dark on her porch. They’d technically been a ménage only three days.

  Josh gave her a confident nod. “We special-ordered your ring today. We were planning to wait until August when Clay is finished with it, to give you time to get used to us and to come around to what we already know.” He glanced at Lucas and dipped his chin, encouraging him.

  Lucas turned her hand and stroked the lines on her palm. “I want to hold this hand, kiss it, and be touched by it until my dying day, baby. I love you. In truth, I’ve loved you a long time, and I want to be by your side, giving you the love, encouragement, and acceptance you deserve. I don’t have a ring to wow you with…but will you marry me?”

  Tears streamed from her eyes, and she sniffled, her smile making her face glow as she nodded in affirmation. Lucas’s eyes grew a little blurry as he leaned down to kiss her palm and hold it to his cheek.

  Josh held her hand, clasped in his, to his chest. “I’ve wanted you ever since I met you, baby girl, but I remember the exact moment I fell in love with you.” His voice cracked a little, and he stopped to take a breath and kiss the tips of each of her fingers. “It was a few months ago. I was up on a ladder, and we were hanging one of those fancy light fixtures.

  “They were heavy, and my arms and shoulders were tired because you kept asking me raise it and lower it and raise it again. You insisted it had to be just the right height, and you kept apologizing for changing your mind. We had it turned on, so you could see how it looked lit up. I thought my arms were going to fall off, and then you made this little sound.”

  Violet’s cheeks were filling with a rosy blush, and she made a pleased giggle-purr sound as she looked down, nodding as though she was remembering, too.

  “Yeah, that’s the sound,” Josh affirmed, letting out a rumble of enjoyment. “I looked down at you, and your eyes were sparkling, and your face was lit up, and…to me it was from more than just the light. I would’ve held the thing up until my arms broke off so I could see that pleased look in your eyes. Then you said, “Perfect,” and all I could think was, ‘Yeah, she is.’ You are, and I want to be your man. Marry me, Violet. Please.”

  Falling forward, she wrapped her forearms around their heads and sobbed.
“Yes! I’ll marry you. You’re crazy, though. You haven’t known me long enough.”

  Lucas pulled away long enough to look into her lovely whiskey-brown eyes and said, “Have you known us long enough to know you’d marry us?”

  She paused for a few seconds, which felt like an eternity, and then she nodded. “For a long time, not just since last weekend.”

  Sudden bawling through the wooden door drew their attention, and then the door fell open, with all four women piled on top of each other, all crying, and Cassie said, “That’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard!”

  “I know!” Delilah wailed as she picked herself up off of the floor. “I’m sorry, guys. I hate myself for ruining your surprise.”

  Tex strolled into the office, yowling cantankerously at all the histrionics, jumped into Violet’s lap, and began making biscuits and purring.

  Josh stood up, still holding Violet’s hand. “Yes, about that, sis—”

  “What the fuck, D?” Lucas butted in.

  Delilah had the grace and good sense to look repentant. “I was in the office when you texted Mom. I saw the picture and your message and misunderstood. I thought you’d already proposed and she’d helped pick out the design. I came over from the office to fuss at Violet for not telling me right away.”

  Delilah and Violet had become instant friends when they’d met the day Violet had come by the family construction business offices. While Delilah’s twin brother, Thomas, worked in the field as a carpenter, Delilah was the company bookkeeper, and their mom was the office manager.

  Violet picked up the story and said, “And Cassie and Jessica had come by to check on me and see how the fantasy weekend went—

  “The what?” Delilah asked in confusion.

  Both brothers, in unison, said, “None of your business.”

  “Sheesh. Bite my head off.”

  Violet giggled and continued. “Anyway, they’d just walked into my office when Delilah came barreling in, demanding to know why I hadn’t called her to tell her I was engaged to her brother.”

  Josh and Lucas, in unison again, said, “Brother?”