by Sable Sylvan
“Haha, very funny,” said Abby.
“Who said anything about joking?” asked Clove. “We both have two gorgeous bedrooms and a house full of food. We can go heat up leftovers and sit up here and talk all night if you want to. I have so much to tell you. Well, my bear and I both do. So what do you say?”
“That sounds lovely,” said Abby. “But I already had dinner, so if we’re going to have more food…we better work up an appetite.”
That was all Clove needed to hear before he started round two with the woman that he had started out doing anything to avoid at the start of the winter vacation. Now, she was the woman he would do anything to be with. She always had been. He just needed a little help realizing it from a certain special furry friend. Truly, it was the beast who got the beauty.
Chapter Ten
Over the next few days, Abby and Clove got lots of work done. They took their talk to heart and treated each other the way they ought to have treated one another from the start, and each one helped the other be less hard on themselves. They talked about plans for the spring semester and of course, both got into the holiday spirit. Christmas was steadily approaching, and Christmas meant decked halls, delicious food, and of course, presents.
“Ladies first,” insisted Alice. She gave everyone their packages. All the gals had received tins of the mint green tea that everyone had been drinking all break, but Herb got something else.
Herb opened his package. Inside was a small wooden box. He gently opened the puzzle box and pulled out a metal band.
“Is this…an engagement ring?” asked Herb. “For me?”
“That’s right,” said Alice. “I know it’s not as fancy as the one you got me, but…”
“It’s perfect,” said Herb. He showed everyone the ring which had a small recessed diamond and read ‘Alice’ on the inside before he slipped it on his ring finger.
Next was Abby. She gave everyone shirts from her college. They’d asked her for years to bring them home, and she had always said she was waiting for her college to release nicer shirts. Well, they finally had, and she got all her sisters big shirts with her college’s name on it. She gave Herb and Clove shirts as well, with extras for Clove to take back to his brothers when he got back to England. Luckily, the shirts for the younger Scovilles had come in the mail in time for Christmas, as she had ordered them over the last few days, with priority shipping.
Next was Addison. She had knitted everyone gorgeous scarves. Alice’s was hot sauce red, as was Herb’s. She had knitted Abby a scarf with stripes in her school colors and knitted a forest green scarf for Clove. Kai and Savina got scarves in their school colors as well.
Kai was next. As a goof, she had school supplies with the Quincy Sisters’ faces printed in a pattern all over the items. There were journals, pens, pencils, and school supply pouches. It was hilarious and practical, the perfect gift.
Next was Sav. Unlike Abby, the Quincy Sisters hadn’t had to beg her to bring shirts, and she had gotten the shirts during the back to school sale, storing them in her dorm closet until the holidays.
After the Quincy Sisters had doled out their gifts, it was time for Herb to give his gifts.
He led them all outside to see his surprise for Alice. The snow had disappeared as quickly as it had come, and near the Nordic grill house was a different kind of structure, a greenhouse. It was everything Alice had ever dreamed of.
Herb passed Abby an envelope for her gift.
“What’s this?” asked Abby.
“Open it and find out,” said Herb.
Abby opened the envelope. “‘Bear Buns’? What the heck is ‘Bear Buns’?”
“You seriously got her a trip to Bear Buns?” said Alice. “That’s hilarious.”
“It’s for your graduation party,” said Herb. “I thought you gals might like to take a trip up to Denver.”
“So is it a night club or a show or what?” asked Alice.
“A bit of column A, a bit of column B,” said Herb.
“It’s an all shifter strip club,” said Kai. “A bunch of gals I know says it’s the bomb.”
“There are enough tickets for all of you to go and check it out,” said Herb. “And yes…that includes Alice.”
“Really?” asked Abby, a hand on her hip.
“Hey, I can look, but I can’t touch,” said Alice.
“I’m a very generous patron of the arts, what can I say?” said Herb.
“And humble, too!” teased Savina.
The next gift recipient was Addison. Herb passed her a folder and she opened it quietly, and then her eyes widened.
“What? Is this a joke?” asked Addison.
“No, it’s serious,” promised Herb.
“What did you get?” asked Savina.
“Herb…you arranged all this?” asked Addison.
“He only told me about it last night,” said Alice. “But why don’t you fill your sisters in about where you’ll be going?”
“Guys…Herb arranged for me to do a semester abroad,” said Addison. “I’ll be going to Bonimolean for a semester. I always wanted to, but I didn’t apply last year because I didn’t think I would get in, or that we would afford it. Herb, did you pull some strings?”
“I talked to a few people,” said Herb. “Well…my money talked for me. Do tell me how the Scoville Science Center looks when you’re there. Take lots and lots of pictures. I had a wonderful time at Bonimolean, and it’s a privilege to get to share that with you. Clove…”
“Take care of her, got it,” said Clove. “Are we going to be flying back together?”
“First class, of course,” said Herb. “And do take her shopping in London, so she fits in, no offense.”
“None taken,” said Addison. “I know Bonimolean’s posh. This is so generous. This has been my dream since I was in middle school. How can I ever pay you back for this?”
“You can pay me back by making your dreams come true,” said Herb.
Herb passed the next gift to Cayenne.
Cayenne opened the present. Inside, there was a set of plane tickets and some pamphlets. They were in a folder like the one that Addison had received.
“What did you get?” asked Alice.
“Herb, this is too much,” said Cayenne.
“What is it?” asked Abby.
“Herb…I don’t know how you did it, but, this is perfect,” said Cayenne. She got up to give her future brother-in-law a hug before she sat back down and passed the folder around.
“These are tickets to the most exclusive hospitality industry convention in America,” explained Cayenne. “They’re only offered by invitation only. In that folder is an invitation for me.”
“Your hotel has been paid for in advance,” said Herb. “You’ll be staying in the convention hotel, and of course, we’ll make sure you have an ample per diem so you can have a great time at the convention. Make lots of connections and hustle hard. I know you won’t waste this opportunity.”
He passed the next gift to Savina.
Savina opened her envelope. Inside were a bundle of tickets.
“Oh my gosh,” said Savina. “Are these…”
“Tickets to the premiere of that movie you were talking about over Thanksgiving,” said Herb. “And plane tickets to take you to LA, and hotel arrangements. There’re tickets for you and a friend.”
“Thanks a ton, Herb,” said Savina, and all five Quincy Sisters piled in to give Herb a big bear hug.
Next was Clove.
Clove gave his gifts to the other four girls first. They all received gift baskets of European treats. Of course, there was a special gift for Abigail.
Clove passed Abigail a small package that was wrapped nicely.
Abigail opened the package. Inside, there was a small wooden box.
Herb exchanged a look with Clove. He knew what was in that box.
Abigail opened the box.
Inside the worn but sturdy box was a ring.
The ring had a knotwo
rk design. It looked old, like it had history. The grooves of the ring were tarnished, and inside some of the spaces between the loops of the knots were gemstones. The gems looked new, a series of brilliant diamonds embedded under the surface of the ring.
“That ring has been in the Scoville family since the age of Vikings,” said Clove. “The betas of the clan have given this ring to their future wives through the ages. This ring was worn by our Viking ancestors as they sailed the seas, by their wives as they rode in caravans through the Silk Road in search of exotic spices. This ring has been through times of war and times of peace…and uncountable moments of passion. Now, this ring is being offered to you, Abigail Olivia Quincy…if you will do me the great honor of becoming my wife. You are not just the only beauty to capture my heart. You’re the only one who has tamed the beast within, with your sass and your take-no-prisoners and take-no-nonsense attitude. Will you accept this ring?”
“Clove, of course I accept,” said Abigail, as Clove slipped the ring onto her finger. “Clove…ever since I learned we were fated mates, this is all that I’ve wondered about, about what the next step for us will be. I’m sure that even long distance, we can make this worth it. After all, we’re fated to be together, forever.”
“Wait, you two are fated mates?” asked Savina. “When the heck did that happen?”
“Do the math,” said Addison. “I can’t believe both my elder siblings are engaged! So…when is the wedding?”
“I haven’t even thought about that,” admitted Clove. “I wouldn’t want to steal Alice and Herb’s thunder…”
“Every thunderstorm has more than one thunder clap,” said Alice.
“What are you talking about?” asked Cayenne.
“Grandma always said that there’s more than one thunder clap for every thunderstorm,” said Alice. “I’m saying there’s more than enough thunder to go around…and we’re Quincy gals. We’ve got to have a wedding that’ll be the talk of the county.”
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” asked Herb.
“I am,” said Alice. “Double wedding.”
“Double wedding?” asked Savina. “Wait…you mean…”
“That’s right,” said Alice. “Abby, Clove, it doesn’t make sense for our families to fly out twice for two separate weddings within such a short period of time. We should have a joint wedding. Twice the fun, and if I know the Quincys and the Scovilles, twice the trouble. What do you say?”
“Alice, that sounds perfect,” said Abigail. “I’d be honored.”
“Clove?” asked Herb.
“I was planning on being your best man, but I’ll settle for co-groom,” joked Clove. “It’d be my honor to get married alongside you, brother.”
“Then it’s settled,” said Abigail. “I guess the next thing for us to do is call our parents and give them an unexpected Christmas present.”
Epilogue
January
Although Clove and Abby hadn’t been able to hide their feelings for one another from the staff, they had hidden it pretty well from Alice, Herb, and the rest of the Scoville Brothers and the Quincy Sisters. Everyone had been shocked to hear that Abby and Clove were engaged a mere few months after Alice and Herb had announced their engagement. The only thing more shocking was that Alice and Herb had offered to have a double wedding with Abby and Clove and now, there would be a double Scoville-Quincy (or Quincy-Scoville) wedding at the end of the next summer.
Clove and Abby went back to their respective colleges. Long distance was hard, but not as hard as not being together at all. Clove promised to visit, and he did. When he couldn’t visit, he had flowers and other gifts sent to her regularly. To protect her privacy, he only signed them, ‘C.’ Abigail sent him tokens from America as well.
Speaking of mail, Jason was expelled for abusing his mail room privileges to stalk a student, and he was slapped with a restraining order. The Scoville legal team had been pretty bored, so this was a fun activity for them, although it was like shooting fish in a barrel. After all, there was footage of the fight from the security cameras on the porch, and security camera footage from the campus post office that showed him taking pictures of Abby’s mail with his phone. It was an open and shut case, and neither Abby nor Clove needed to testify.
Of course, Alice and Herb had finally perfected the ‘Awesome Sauce,’ a roasted habanero sauce that was like a fire in the mouth and spreading like wildfire online. They finally had a sauce to call their own. Grandpa Elijah’s ‘Special Sauce,’ the jalapeño sauce that Alice ‘Allie Penny’ was named after, was popular. However, having a sauce of their own, based on Grandpa’s recipe (if you can call it that) with their own special twist meant that they had not only brewed new sauce for the store, but a new chapter in their story. The people of Bright Star County raved about the sauce everywhere from local church picnics to steakhouses. The Feminine Mesquite had new orders coming in from all over the county. That sauce was dedicated to Abigail ‘Abby O’ Olivia and Clove Scoville, because of their engagement. Next on their radar for The Feminine Mesquite was a chipotle adobo sauce.
Kai and Sav were back off at their colleges, studying hard, and Addison was off in England, at Bonimolean University. She had flown over with Clove, who promised to keep an eye on her. After all, as the clan beta, he had to take over the alpha’s roles when the alpha was away, and that meant caring for the clan’s young…which now included Addison. After all, two Scovilles and two Quincys were getting married. They were becoming one big family.
One Saturday afternoon, Abigail had her scheduled call with Clove. Because of the time zone differences, they planned calls to make things easier. They would often study together and work on their thesis over the computer, video chatting while pouring over their notes. Although it had taken a lot of effort on both their parts, they had kept on treating each other the way they wanted to be treated, and their relationship grew into a healthy relationship between two young adults who were no longer bickering like children over things that, compared to true love, really didn’t matter very much. That isn’t to say that they took bullshizz from each other. They just learned how to talk about their feelings and deal with their issues in much healthier ways, to choose their words more wisely and not to get a week’s worth of cardio through jumping to conclusions.
“Is this thing on?” asked Abigail as she set her mic up.
“I can see you, can you see me?” asked Clove.
“Yes…and you’re wearing my college shirt,” said Abigail with a laugh. “Hilarious. Anyone think you’re a transfer student?”
“Ha, if I could only be so honored,” said Clove. “I’m not the only one wearing one today.”
“What, did you manage to fit Basil or Mace into one?” asked Abigail. “That’d be harder than catching a grease-covered pig.”
“Who are you calling a pig?” came a familiar voice. Clove moved from the screen, and somebody else sat there. She almost looked like a younger version of Abigail. She had her signature curves, which were showing off a shirt with Abby’s school’s name on it, but she had a spunk and a sass that surprised even her older sister.
“Addison? Hey, what’s up?” asked Abigail. “How are things over in England?”
“Abby…you have no idea,” said Addison. “I have so much to tell you. It could fill a whole dang book.”
“Then I guess you better start at the beginning,” said Abigail, nibbling some of the Belgian chocolate that Clove had sent her.
“Well, you know Clove’s great, and so is Herb…but his brother, Sage? He’s the worst,” started Addison.
Abigail couldn’t help but smile. It sounded like her younger sister and Clove’s younger brother had a lot to learn…about The Feminine Mesquite.
Sneak Peek: “Spicy Beauty”
My dear readers,
A special sneak peek of the third book in this series, “Spicy Beauty”, is coming up next. “Spicy Beauty” and the rest of the books from “The Feminine Mesquite” series are a
lready available on Amazon!
Get your official “The Feminine Mesquite” hot sauces and teas now! You can find all these items and more on www.shopsablesylvan.com !
Love this book? Join the Sable Sylvan ARC (advance reader copy) team today! Learn more about it here:
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Yours,
Sable Sylvan
Recipe for a red hot fairy tale:
- one dreamy BBW bookworm with more curves than a racetrack
- one polar bear bad boy billion heir who parties like a rock star
- just a pinch of BDSM
- juicy grilled meat that is above all else, spicy!
- witches, dragons, poison, two big balls, and two fancy dances…!
It's a fairy tale dream come true...
Addison 'Addy O' Quincy is the quiet bookish middle sister of the Quincy family. This spicy beauty sleeps in because she stays up every night with her nose in a book. She might be shy, but she lets her curves do the talking. Sage Scoville, playboy, badboy, heir to billions, is the gamma of the Scoville Polar Bear clan of bear shifters, so he doesn't need to play by the rules. These two couldn't be any more different, but even if they aren't alike...can they fall love?
A whirlwind European adventure fit for a princess...
Addison has always dreamed of visiting the renowned Bonimolean University, the finest university in Europe. Set in the English countryside, the university has educated the world's finest authors, inventors, and world leaders. It's no place for a girl from Fallowedirt, Texas with an empty wallet and a heart full of dreams...but when Addison's older sister, Alice, and her new fiance, Herbert Scoville of the Scoville Polar Clan, pull some strings, Addison's dream comes true, and it's off to England for the semester of her dreams...until the one man who can make her look up from her books crosses her path. Addison isn't the only one in the Quincy-Scoville family that is spending junior year at Bonimolean...
