Pleasure Train (9 page)

Every time she thought about it, she got jittery, like she’d drunk four cups of coffee in a row. Was it excitement or nervousness? Fear?

She wasn’t sure. The guys had given her every reason to agree to their offer. She would live with them for free, have her own room, work if she wanted to even though they guaranteed her she wouldn’t have to. Where was the bad?

She had less than one more hour to go, and then she was off work, and the guys were going to pick her up today. Willow shook her head and scrubbed at the curved end of the countertop again, putting all her strength into it and keeping her back to the three customers who were having coffee and pie at the main counter. Why was this turning into such a hard decision?

“Can I get some service over here?” a male voice asked.

Willow froze in mid-swipe.
It can’t be.

“What can I get for you?” Sue asked from behind Willow.

“Let’s see what you have.”

Willow slowly turned around, clutching the cleaning cloth in her hand so tightly her fingers hurt.

Sitting in the third chair from the left was a ghost from her recent past. Kenny Nichols, her former fiancé, held a menu in his hand while Sue stood on the other side of the counter in front of him, her pad held at the ready. A rush of heat swarmed up Willow’s neck and flushed her face. Why was he here? What possible reason could he have to invade her world? Kenny had no business in Forever. No reason at all to be here. Anger reared its ugly head. She was going to find out right now.

Willow walked up to stand beside Sue. “Hello.” He hadn’t changed at all. Blond, close-cropped hair parted on the side with wide-set green eyes set in a slightly tanned face. He was a good-looking man, one who would turn most women’s heads. He looked like a solid businessman, one who would be a good catch if you were looking for a husband, a house with a white picket fence, and two point five children. Those things were nice, but they were not for Willow.

“I’ll have a slice of apple pie and a black coffee,” Kenny said to Sue, closing the menu.

Sue nodded, gave Willow a strange look, then stepped away from the counter.

“Hello, Willow. How are you?” Kenny asked, resting his elbows on the counter and giving her one of his trademark smiles.

“I’m fine. What are you doing here, Kenny?” The heat was beginning to drain from her face, only to be replaced by an icy-cold sensation. “Forever certainly isn’t on any tourist map.”

“Actually, I came to see you.” He reached for her hand which she had placed on the edge of the counter.

She quickly pulled her hand out of his reach, twisting the cleaning cloth in both hands to occupy them and mask the fact that they were shaking. “I don’t have the slightest idea why you would need to see me. I thought we cleared up everything between us before I left.”

“It’s been six months. I wanted to see if you’re finished with trying to find yourself or whatever it was you left me for.” He propped his head on his hand, looking at her smugly.

“Trying to
find
myself?” She crossed her arms beneath her breasts and fought to control the urge to laugh. “Kenny, did you not understand why I was leaving? Did I not make myself clear?”

“Willow, I love you,” he said, dropping his hands to the counter and leaning forward. “I’ve never stopped loving you, but you need to grow up. Now, I’m willing to forgive and forget the past six months, including the little tirade you spewed out when you left, but you need to give me a decision right now. Are you coming home with me or not?”

Sue reappeared and silently slid a dessert plate with a piece of apple pie on it and a steaming cup of black coffee in front of Kenny and backed away, mumbling, “Bet I don’t get a tip from this one.”

Willow pressed her lips together, trying to get her indignation under control. She really didn’t want to blow up at Kenny. He wasn’t worth the energy. Besides, there were other customers in the café, and she didn’t want them seeing her losing her temper. She took a deep breath and blew it out and, with it, part of her anger.

“Kenny, let’s get this straight once and for all,” she said, controlling the timbre of her voice. “You and I are no longer a couple. I told you when I left that I wanted something more than what we had. I wasn’t running off to try and find myself. I will admit I may have had something more exciting in mind when I landed here in Forever, but after much thinking about the whole thing, I’ve decided I’m going to stay.”

Kenny barked out a laugh. “How in the world could this place be exciting enough for you? This small town with its boring population.” He leaned forward again. “This can’t be enough for you. You could never love this place. Now stop being childish and come home with me. We’ll get married and start living an adult life, not a life where you’re constantly searching for the next best thing to stimulate your mind. A comfortable life.”

Comfortable life? Is he serious?
Willow sighed. “You haven’t changed a bit. You have no idea what it means to actually live your life.”

The bell above the door jingled, signaling more customers had arrived. Willow needed to get this conversation finished so she could do her job and get out of here.

“I don’t want a comfortable life,” she continued. “I want a thrilling, fully lived life. You can’t give me that. And for your information, I’ve found that life right here in Forever.”

“You can’t be serious.”

Willow looked past Kenny to the booth behind him. Mikey waved at her, Josh and Jack grinning from the other side of the table. A sense of excitement filled her. Those three men were the reason she was staying. She loved them, and it was time she admitted it. To herself and to them. But first, she had to put an end to the Kenny situation.

“I’m dead serious, Kenny. I’ve found more love here in Forever than you would ever be able to give.” She leaned over the counter, putting herself within an inch of his face. “And I’ve got three men who want nothing more than to please me, three men who love me—”

“What do you mean ‘three’? Have you finally got the ménage you’ve always wanted? You always were into kinky sex. Is that what sold you on this place?” Kenny asked, his eyes narrowed.

“It’s not the ménage that’s keeping me here.” She straightened and glanced at Josh, Jack, and Mikey before training her gaze back on Kenny. “Though the three men over there practice sensual mastery,” she said, pointing at the booth they were sitting in, “it’s the love I have for them that makes this place my home. The place where I want to live out my life.” Her voice rose in volume as she spoke. She noticed Jack, Josh, and Mikey were paying close attention to her conversation. “Those three—Mikey, Josh, and Jack—are the loves of my life, and I am moving in with them this weekend. Our relationship is one that will last forever, and you, with your boring, comfortable life, don’t hold a candle to even one of them, let alone all three. Why don’t you go back home, Kenny? You have no business being here.”

By the time she was finished, she was almost yelling. Every customer in the place had their eyes trained on her. When she finished and looked around the café, all of them jerked their gazes away and focused on their food. Except her three men, the loves of her life. They were now standing behind Kenny in a wall of emotional support.

Kenny reached for his wallet, threw some cash on the counter, and slid off the stool. “Have a great life, Willow.” He turned, stopped for a second in front of the guys, then quickly made for the door.

Willow reached up and brushed back a strand of hair from her forehead and blew out a breath. “Well, I’m exhausted,” she said, meeting the gazes of the men who loved her. All three of them were smiling.

“Since you’re so worn out,” Mikey said, taking a step forward, “why don’t we take you home and draw you a nice bubble bath while we make you some dinner?”

Willow didn’t care what anyone in the café thought about her relationship with these three wonderful men. She was sure they would be the talk of the town, but as long as they didn’t worry about it, she wouldn’t either. Besides, Willow knew their job here wasn’t permanent. Soon they would move on to another town or city to consult for another company about their techie stuff. She was going to get to travel, to love, to enjoy all the pleasure she could possibly stand. With a wide grin, she untied her apron and shoved it beneath the counter.

“Take me home, boys.”

WWW.CHRISTELLEMIRIN.WEBS.COM

Christelle Mirin loves a good story. Her love of reading led to her writing career. She writes every chance she gets, including carrying a notebook along with her to her regular job just so she can jot down notes and plot lines. Christelle lives in Ohio with her husband, son, two dogs, and once in a while, her grand-dog. She has two daughters who live in nearby states and one granddaughter who she loves dearly. Living along a river, Christelle’s family enjoys the water, whether boating, jet skiing or just sitting on the bank and relaxing.

To learn more about Christelle and her works in progress, visit her website at www.christellemirin.webs.com and find out more. There you’ll see some personal photos, learn what she’s working on, and while there, be sure to visit her blog.

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Ménage and More: Bonding Camp 2:
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Ménage and More: Bonding Camp 3:
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Ménage Amour:
Transference

Siren Classic:
Finding Home

Ménage and More:
Selling Secret Weapons

Ménage Amour:
Answering Her Desire

Ménage Amour:
Emma’s Heart

Available at

BOOKSTRAND.COM

Siren Publishing, Inc.

www.SirenPublishing.com