Love Under Two Loners [The Lusty, Texas Collection] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Cara Covington

  Morgan shot a look at Rich. “We’ll talk, cousin.”

  “Oh, absolutely,” Rich said, laughing. “It wouldn’t be the first conversation I’ve had recently with a man about his sub.”

  That line made them all crack up. Iris handed back Hunter and sighed when Morgan deftly tucked his son in close. She caught the look both men shared with their wife. Iris figured that, behind the closed doors of their bedroom, Tamara likely would relinquish control. What woman wouldn’t want to when the men who received that gift took such good care of it and them? But beyond that, it was nearly comical—or so their brothers teased at Sunday dinner—the extent to which Morgan and Henry did their wife’s bidding.

  Much the same way, she’d been told, that Preston, Charles, and Taylor did Samantha’s.

  Music played, more guests arrived, and the buffet was open. Iris sipped on the sweet tea Rich had gotten for her, her gaze roaming the room. There were so many people here, and she knew most of them. Some she’d met as they’d brought their pets to the newly arrived veterinarian in the family, and some she’d met just being a part of Lusty.

  Her mother had sent her regrets, and Iris couldn’t blame her for not being here for her this time. Tom had surprised her with a belated honeymoon trip, an Alaskan cruise. Iris wasn’t sure what Doreen thought of her announcement that she was marrying two men. She mentally shrugged. When her mother and stepfather returned from their trip, the three of them would go to Austin. Iris wanted her men to meet her family, and she hoped she’d be able to forge a good relationship—a new relationship for her—based on family and love and not on obligation and servitude. But she wasn’t going to be devastated if that didn’t come to pass. Her men—her Doms—really were all the family she needed for now.

  Rich and Donny’s parents had accepted the invitation and had arrived the night before, along with both sets of their uncles and aunts.

  It had been quite a dinner at the New House last night—New York Kendalls and Texas Kendalls gathered as one very big, loud, and, yes, happy family. Over the course of the evening, there had been reminiscences, of course. Iris had finally heard the whole story of Samantha’s courtship, which had been inexorably bound to the discovery that there were New York Kendalls. Iris wished she’d had the chance to meet Martin, Nicholas, and Miranda, Samantha’s in-laws, as well as Judith Merrick, her men’s paternal grandmother. It had come to her last night as she’d listened that these people, who’d all lost loved ones, had learned the secret of keeping them close—by keeping them alive in their memories and their hearts.

  Maybe her mother would talk to her about her father now that she was once more a happily married woman. Iris’s memories of her father weren’t as sharp as she’d like for them to be. How could she talk about him to her men and, later, her children if she didn’t know him herself? She nodded once, happy with that decision.

  “Sweetheart? Here come the folks.”

  Donny drew her attention to those New York Kendalls now, entering the restaurant, with James and Lynn leading the way. “There are even more people here than when your cousins had their party,” Lynn said. She hugged her sons and then stood in front of Iris. Lynn took both her hands in hers. “I’m so happy to call you my daughter.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Kendall.” When Lynn raised her one eyebrow, Iris blushed. “I know you asked me to call you Lynn last night. But would you mind if I called you Mom, instead?”

  Lynn’s eyes teared, and her smile widened. “Of course not. I…yes, I’d like that.”

  Iris figured if she had enough love in her heart for two husbands, she could surely love two mothers.

  “Now, if my boys give you a hard time, you just let me know,” James said. “Their uncles and I will set them straight.”

  “Damn right.” Behind James, Keith and Derek stood, arms folded across their chests. They might be well into their sixties, but they certainly looked formidable.

  “There’s only one thing you have to remember, men.” Derek sounded stern. “Happy wife, happy life.”

  Iris stole a sideways look at her men. Rich was looking straight at her and raised his own eyebrow.

  She turned to face her future father-in-law and his brothers. “I don’t think I’m going to have a problem, sirs.” She directly addressed her future father-in-law. “Your sons already take very good care of me. And I promise you that I’ll take very good care of them, too.”

  “We can see that you already are,” Aunt Erica said.

  “Maybe even taking too good of a care of them.” Aunt Sabrina looked as if she wanted to laugh. Iris would have to remember later to ask her men if his parents, aunts, and uncles knew about their…proclivities.

  Samantha Kendall joined them. “Don’t any of you worry. Iris knows that Tamara and Ginny and I have her back.” The smile on her face left no one in doubt the lady would enjoy the role of avenger if the need arose.

  Rich shook his head then held his hands up, palms out. “All of you women together? I know when I’m bested.” Then he looked at Iris. “None of you have to be concerned. Iris is our life.”

  A stunning vow, Rich’s words apparently satisfied the older generation. The Kendalls headed off to grab some seats together, and the three of them were left alone for a few moments.

  “You’re my life, too.” Iris stretched up and kissed Rich. Then she turned and kissed Donny. She’d never get enough of these men.

  “Before more people arrive,” Donny said, “we have something for you. An engagement gift.”

  “You’re all the gift I need.”

  “Thank you.” Donny kissed her. “But we want you to have this, too.” He handed her an envelope.

  Both men were smiling and, she knew, anxious for her to open the envelope. What could it be? A gift certificate for a shopping spree? Tickets for a honeymoon trip? Despite her completely honest claim—she didn’t need anything but them—she hadn’t received very many gifts in her life.

  She finally put her attention on the envelop and withdrew the single piece of paper. It was a letter—from the dean of Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine.

  “I don’t…I don’t understand.”

  “When you’re ready,” Donny said, “you can begin to pursue your degree as a DVM. We’ll hire someone to help out at the clinic and to be our admin when we’re practicing, together.”

  She’d never really told them this had been her dream, but of course, they would have known.

  “I…” Tears filled her eyes. She threw her arms around Donny and then Rich. Usually she acknowledged Rich first because he was the head of their family. But she understood what this gift represented for Donny. A letting go of the past and a complete acceptance of her, heart and mind, as well as body and soul. So she cupped his cheek in her hand. “Thank you. I’ll be a good partner to you, in every sense.”

  “You already are.” He kissed her and then used his thumb to wipe her tears. “I don’t want people to get the wrong idea.” His grin made hers blossom.

  “They’ll all know those were tears of joy.”

  “Incoming,” Rich said. When she looked up at him, he slid his arm around her and gave her the sweetest kiss.

  Another group was coming through the door, and Iris didn’t know if it was a case of everyone arriving at the same time or if the two groups all knew each other.

  Arriving at the same time were the Lyons—Christopher, Rory, and Daisy—and another family of Kendalls—Adam, Jake, and Ginny. Iris wasn’t sure who the other three who brought up the rear of the group were with. Ramon Estevez and Clint Parrish—obviously off duty because he was out of uniform, were coming through the door. Between those two lawmen was a small brunette woman who seemed to be looking everywhere at once. Iris had met Marcia Crane a few days after Edith Claymore and Victor Swift had killed each other.

  As she’d predicted, Rich had needed to go to Houston to meet the young woman who’d been at the heart of so much adventure.

  Rich smiled when he spotted Marcia.
She wondered if he’d succeed in talking her into returning to school. The way Marcia looked first at Ramon and then Clint, Iris wondered if she didn’t have something else in mind, at least in the short term.

  “Welcome to the family.” Jake placed a sweet kiss on her cheek while managing to keep his son’s hands from latching onto her hair.

  Iris laughed and placed a kiss on Marty’s face. Though the two boys looked identical, they behaved totally opposite. Marty was flirty and busy and always laughing. Nicky had a more serious mien. Though he tended to prefer his mother, fathers, or big brother Benny, Iris had been able, since she’d been in Lusty, to get him to smile a few times. She’d even coaxed him onto her lap during a couple of Sunday dinners.

  She reached up to him, and he didn’t flinch. Instead, he laid his head on Adam’s shoulder and offered her one of his sweet smiles.

  Marty saw the interaction and reached out, trying to snag Iris’s hair again. “Our son does like to flirt,” Jake said. He finally took a half-step back, putting Iris’s hair out of Marty’s reach.

  “Well, boy howdy, Jake Kendall, he is his fathers’ son.” Ginny laughed and then gave Iris a hug. She also hugged Rich and Donny. “I think the Kendalls are catching up to the Benedicts in this town,” Ginny said. “I’m glad y’all decided to come here and that you’re staying.”

  “Thank you, cousin,” Donny said. “We’d hoped to find a new start here, and we found so much more.” There was no doubt about it. Iris was lucky finding two men who seemed to know how to say exactly the right things.

  Ginny took Nicky from Adam and walked with Jake over to the back of the restaurant. Iris had noticed the last time they’d all been here together that the adults formed a safe perimeter—sort of like a human playpen—allowing the toddlers to play without anyone worrying about one of them running off.

  “There’s something very comforting about this town,” Christopher Lyons said. “So we couldn’t turn down your invitation to your engagement party.”

  “We’re glad you’re here,” Rich said.

  He and Donny had become official members of the Club just last week. The next time they went, it would be under full protocol, and Iris hoped she had all the rules of interaction down by then.

  She accepted hugs from Christopher and Rory, and then she hugged Daisy.

  “Congratulations.” Daisy grinned. Her eyes scanned the restaurant, and Iris knew what she was looking at. “Rory and I feel the same way Chris does. The last time we were here, we shared a table and all held hands, and no one looked twice.”

  “There’s no place like this,” Iris said.

  She recalled the scene between Daisy and Rory that she’d watched during her one visit to the Lyon’s Den. It had been playing over and over in her mind for a few days, and she understood what that actually meant. She was reconsidering her opinion about performing a scene in public. She thought that, maybe, she just might enjoy it.

  “Any luck in your investigation?” Donny asked Ramon.

  “Not as of yet. But we’ve got a few new leads to follow. We’re committed to not only finding out who it is bringing girls and women across the border but to shutting down Torres as well.”

  “I would have thought that would be easy,” Iris said. “Considering…well, just considering.” Her gaze had settled on Marcia, and she hadn’t wanted to mention the way Ramon had found and then rescued the younger woman.

  Marcia met her gaze and gave her a smile. Iris didn’t think any of the trauma the woman had suffered at the hands of Sergio Torres had left any permanent affect.

  “Knowing something is happening and being able to prove it in a court of law are two different things,” Clint Parrish said. “We only have Ramon’s testimony, but that’s not enough.”

  “And the school? Have you been able to arrest the people involved in that scheme Swift ran?” Rich asked.

  “There we’ve had better luck. We’ve arrested the men involved, so those women no longer have to worry.”

  “I imagine some of them have to leave the school now?” Donny shook his head. “Since the scholarships they were given were fraudulent.”

  “They were, yes,” another softer, feminine voice said. “But they’ve been replaced by real scholarships, these ones paid for by the Lusty Town Trust.”

  Rich and Donny both smiled. “Grandma Kate! I was wondering if you’d make it back from Divine in time for tonight.” Rich kissed her cheek, and then it was Donny’s turn.

  Iris hadn’t spent that much time with Kate Benedict, but she had to admit that something about just being near the nonagenarian simply made her feel good.

  “Grandma Kate, you made it right for those women?” Iris received the woman’s fierce hug and smiled when she touched her cheek.

  “I did indeed, Iris. I can’t abide to see women being abused or taken advantage of.” She looked up at Ramon. “I know Christopher has extended his assistance to you, Special Agent Estevez. I’d like to do the same.” Her eyes twinkled. “And I’m not just talking money. You’d be amazed at how many people I know. If you need any wheels greased, you call me.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Benedict. I will definitely keep that in mind.”

  Kate nodded, apparently satisfied with his response. “We all need to do our part to see to it that young women can grow and mature in as safe an environment as we can give them. These times are difficult for a lot of people in a lot of ways. But we need to be sure to keep hold of our humanity. It’s our only hope for the future—and for our future generations.”

  “Grandma Kate asked some friends to sit on the board of trustees of the Claymore College,” Adam said. “They’ll be appointing a new dean within the week.”

  “That is good news,” Iris said.

  “Edwina did a good thing when she created that school,” Kate said, “dedicating her life to providing quality education for women. It would be a shame to see all her hard work ruined by greed and bad decisions.”

  Iris relaxed, her head on Rich’s shoulder, as the people from Lusty welcomed those who were not. Conversation flowed, and the sound of laughter, young and old, floated on the air, a sweet music. Coming here, she’d witnessed the ideal of what family could be, loving and accepting, with big hearts and open arms.

  “Moving here was the best decision we ever made,” Rich said.

  “It was.” Donny stepped even closer. He took her hand in his and kissed it. “I’m looking forward to the next fifty or sixty years with you.”

  “So am I.” Iris sighed. “So, very much, am I.”

  THE END

  HTTP://WWW.MORGANASHBURY.COM

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Morgan Ashbury, also writing as Cara Covington, has been a writer since she was first able to pick up a pen. In the beginning, it was a hobby, a way to create a world of her own, and who could resist the allure of that? Then as she grew and matured, life got in the way, as life often does. She got married and had three children, and worked in the field of accounting, for that was the practical thing to do, and the children did need to be fed. And all the time she was being practical, she would squirrel herself away on quiet Sunday afternoons, and write.

  Most children are raised knowing the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule. Morgan’s children also learned the Paper Rule: Thou shalt not throw out any paper that has thy mother’s words upon it.

  Believing in tradition, Morgan ensured that her children’s children learned this rule, too.

  Life threw Morgan a curve when, in 2002, she underwent emergency triple bypass surgery. Second chances are to be cherished, and with the encouragement and support of her husband, Morgan decided to use hers to do what she’d always dreamed of doing—writing full-time.

  Morgan has always loved writing romance. It is the one genre that can incorporate every other genre within its pulsating heart. Romance showcases all that humankind can aspire to be. And, she admits, she’s a sucker for a happy ending.

  Morgan’s favorite hobbies are reading, cooking, a
nd traveling—though she would rather you didn’t mention that last one to her husband. She has too much fun teasing him about having become a “Traveling Fool” of late.

  Morgan lives in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, with a mysterious cat, a nine-pound Morkie dog who thinks he’s a German Shepherd, and her husband of forty-four years, David.

  For all titles by Cara Covington, please visit

  www.bookstrand.com/cara-covington

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com