Lucy noticed that Ransome and Val, who strode along silently with them, drew plenty of longing looks from the women, too.
“Ladies, you are both looking mighty fine today,” Ransome finally said as they continued down the long walkway. Lucy noticed they’d shortened their long strides so that the girls could easily keep up in their heels. She appreciated that because she knew her feet would be killing her by that evening, even though the shoes were fairly comfortable. Walking around on concrete all day was going to do a number on her feet. It’d still be worth it though. She loved this event.
Jayne softly replied, “Thank you, Ransome. I could say the same about you two.”
Ransome shrugged. “Is it true that you’re a librarian, Jayne?”
Jayne nodded. “Yes, I hold a degree in Library Sciences and I’m the head librarian at the Divine Memorial Library.”
Lucy nearly jumped out of her skin when Val stroked her upper arm with the backs of his fingers. The sensation wasn’t unpleasant but it also didn’t have the same effect as if Beck or Patrick had touched her. She glanced at him and he didn’t seem to be coming on to her but merely trying to get her attention.
“Can I ask you a question, Lucy?”
“Um, sure.” She waited for him to ask her if the threesome sex was really hot or if that was all hype. She wasn’t sure how to answer a question like that because her men hadn’t taken her at the same time yet. She was one hundred percent certain her men wouldn’t want her discussing it with him. The ladies’ room was just coming into sight but not soon enough.
“Are you really involved with both Owen and O’Malley?”
She glanced up at him as they continued on. The curiosity in his eyes was genuine. Ransome and Jayne were caught up in a conversation about e-readers and their effect on library patronage and weren’t paying any attention to Val’s question to Lucy. He cleared his throat and murmured, “I don’t mean to embarrass you, Lucy.”
“It’s okay. Yes, I really am involved with both men, Val. Going on three months.”
Val crossed his bulky arms over his muscled chest as they walked. “And it’s going okay? No…jealousy or problems?”
She frowned, surprised by his question and his earnest tone but shook her head. His curiosity almost seemed clinical and she felt immediate relief. He walked silently beside her for a few seconds before he asked another question. “You know others who have successful ménages, besides Charity’s sister, Grace?”
“Yes, you met one of them, I think, the day of the Divine Trade and Craft Fair, when I met you. Her name is Summer Webster.”
“Nice lady. But her men weren’t there when we were.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Your men were justifiably territorial with you but I was curious if they fight with each other over you.”
Lucy shook her head vehemently. “No. It’d be a deal breaker if they did. I really worried about that at first.” She shrugged and turned to him as they drew near the restroom entry. “I guess it’s just a question of maturity and how bad do we want the ménage, you know?”
“Yeah. You seem like a very strong woman, like you don’t take any shit.”
“I do?” That was the second time someone had attributed that kind of strength to her. The first had been Emily Anne at Discretion the month before.
Val chuckled. “Yeah.”
“I don’t feel particularly strong, Val, but you’re right, I suppose. I know how to defend myself and I’ve had some…” Experience dealing with assholes with unrealistic expectations.
“Sorry. I don’t mean to pry.”
Lucy held up her hand to stop his apology. “It’s okay. I’m proud of it actually. I used to be a people pleaser.”
“And now you don’t give a shit?”
Lucy laughed. “I never said that. I’m a massage therapist. I like taking care of people, especially if they’re having pain or health challenges that I can make a difference with. But I don’t give a shit what people think of me anymore.”
“Do you catch hell for being in a ménage in a small town?”
Lucy nodded her head. “Yeah, the usual judgmental assholes. When I first opened my massage therapy clinic, my business suffered because of it.”
“Is it worth it?” Val asked as he and Ransome drew to a stop outside the restroom.
“The ménage?” she asked, a smile spreading across her face as she thought of her men. Yeah, they’re my men. “It’s worth any challenges we have. They make it worth it.”