Lumberjack Weekend(Divine Creek Ranch 21)(11)

Josh tilted his head and slid his callused fingertip over her knuckles. “When we asked you out a few months ago, you said you were seeing someone. We assumed it was the guy who called and texted you all the time while we were working there. Your phone rang while I was there today, and I noticed you were upset when you hung up.”

She thought she’d hidden her emotions better than that. Still, he deserved honesty. “Yes, it was him. But no, we’re done. We’ve been done for a while now.” I just wouldn’t admit it to myself.

“Good.”

“Was I that obvious?”

“About what?”

“When those calls and texts would come?” No woman wanted to think she was so transparent.

Josh shook his head, but it was Lucas who answered her question. “It was obvious, but only in the sense that he seemed to cause you more stress than happiness. We don’t like seeing you hurt.” He looked as though he had plenty more to say on the subject, but he kept it to himself.

Violet couldn’t speak so she simply nodded, thinking of every time Bodie had contacted her and come to see her, and wondered if he’d ever been in the store when Josh and Lucas had been working. She’d felt more tawdry and a little more used each time, to the point where the physical gratification wasn’t worth the cost to her spirit. The last year and a half had just been a long, drawn-out breakup process.

Josh murmured, “If he’s out of your life, does that mean you’d consider going out with us now?”

She kept her eyes on the coffee steaming in her cup. What they offered was a recipe for disaster. She was attracted by the notion, but she’d just promised herself no more ménages. Opting to be cool about it, she shrugged nonchalantly. “I’ve been thinking about getting out more and having some fun…now that I’m over him. Play the field a little.”

Lucas shook his head and leveled green eyes on her. “We’re not talking about playing around, Violet. We don’t share well with other men.”

Oh Lord. But I bet you’d share well with each other.

The horns of a dilemma. That was what people called situations like this. The Abbott brothers were undeniably attractive, but pleasing two men was more than she could handle. Committed ménage relationships required trust, and she’d never forget the betrayal she’d felt when she’d discovered Victor’s true feelings. She couldn’t afford to forget.

“I’m sorry, Lucas…Josh. I can’t.”

Josh’s blue-green eyes were laser-focused as he encompassed her fingers in his warm hand. “Was it a man who hurt you? Or men?”

“I’d rather not talk about it.”

“Why?” Josh asked, his tone riding the fine line between compassionate and highhanded as he held her gaze.

“It’s painful.”

The way his eyebrows knit said it all. “I’m sorry they hurt you.”

She pulled her hand back a little, but he kept it in his gentle grip. “How did you know?” Crap. “You overheard what I said to Jessica and Cassie?”

Josh gave a slight shrug and looked down at her hand. “I didn’t intend to eavesdrop. They must be dumbasses if they let you go. You know there are a lot of successful ménages in Divine?”

“Yeah, I guess I’m the odd duck.” Sometimes she felt surrounded by all the committed ménages around town, which served only to highlight her own failure.

Lucas smiled a little wider. “You know we’re planning on changing your mind, right?”

That’s what I’m afraid of.

Josh finally released her hand but left his lying on the table. “So Miss Play-the-field, what are you up to next weekend?”

That was a good question. “Why? Are you asking me out?” Poke the bear, why don’t you?

“I’m curious to know if you’re serious about getting out and being a social butterfly or if you’re just attempting to hold us at arm’s length.”

He licked his lower lip, and she saw the challenge clear in his eyes. Lucas seemed almost apologetic when she looked to him to see if he felt the same.

“As a matter of fact, I have plans for the whole weekend, at a…retreat in Morehead.” Yeah, that’s what it is.

Josh lifted an eyebrow, and his half-smile was starting to irritate her a little. “A retreat…in Morehead, huh?”

“Yes…for…um…business owners.”

Lucas raised his eyebrows. “You don’t say? We could consider ourselves business owners, even though it’s a family business. Dad might like us to check something like that out.”

Shit! “Well, um…it’s geared toward retailers like me. You wouldn’t be interested.”