Lumberjack Weekend(Divine Creek Ranch 21)(26)

His higher thought processes ground to a halt as Joseph led Violet into the room. Every thought in his head, his plans for the weekend, his desires for the future, solutions for all the reasons she couldn’t handle a permanent ménage—all of it faded to static noise in the background. Lucas was sitting across the table from him, and Josh heard the change in his breathing and when he gulped in reaction.

“Damn,” Lucas whispered before he rose from his seat. Josh followed suit as Joseph led her over to their table.

Then he saw how uncomfortable she was. She glanced over her shoulder at the crowded room and kept maneuvering so the room wasn’t at her back. There was a flush at her throat, but it wasn’t from pleasure. It was from nerves.

Lucas frowned and said, “You okay?”

She bit her lip and looked between them, and in a rough voice, she said, “I’m practically naked.” There was no twinkle of anticipation in her eyes. She was mortified. That wasn’t what Josh had intended.

He was about to speak soothing words when Joseph lifted a hand and said, “She seems to think her appearance is disgusting to some of the guests.”

A tiny little growl came from Violet, and her succulent lips scrunched up into a tight little moue before she glanced nervously at Josh and Lucas, but she kept any thoughts she had to herself.

“Gentlemen, I’ll leave her in your tender care. Enjoy your breakfast…and the morning.”

Josh pulled out her chair, and when she gestured at one that would position her with her back to the room, he shook his head and pointed at the seat that would place her where everyone could see her—and, more importantly, where she could see everyone else. Her only reaction was a slight drawing together of her brows before she sat.

The blush-colored fabric floated around her gently flaring hips, and her gorgeous breasts filled out the sheer bodice and caused him to imagine them filling his own hands, so lush and perfect. He couldn’t hide his smile as he looked her over. The only problem was that she had the neckline pulled up over her shoulders. Her gaze was bouncing all around the room, avoiding everyone’s eyes. Rather than reaching out to fix the neckline, he took her hand, which was cold as ice.

Lucas took her other hand and leaned toward her. “You’re beautiful, Violet. Absolutely perfect.”

She flicked a glance at Lucas and pursed her lips, but she kept her thoughts to herself. With her hand trapped between his, he felt when she tugged, as if she wanted to cover herself, but he wasn’t going to let that happen. She finally took a deep breath and seemed to settle enough to speak.

“I feel very exposed. How long do I have to wear this?”

Not long. Soon enough it’ll be coming off. He kept his thoughts to himself. “Before we talk about that, I want you to take a few deep breaths and let them out slowly. You’re so nervous I can practically hear your heart pounding.” Her effort was shaky, but she complied, and his heart went out to her as he encouraged her to do it a few more times.

A cup of coffee was placed in front of her, and she gave Josh a tremulous smile after he asked the waiter to bring her honey to sweeten it. When the waiter returned with the honey, she stirred a spoonful in, seeming relieved to have something to do with her trembling hands.

Lucas stroked her cheek. “I hope you like Eggs Benedict. It’s what we ordered for you.”

“Sounds wonderful.” There was a slight tremor in the hand lifting her china coffee cup to her lips.

Taking mercy on her, Josh struck up light conversation with Lucas about a work project they had coming up later in the month. It didn’t require a lot of concentration, and he observed her as they talked. She hated being the center of attention or, worse yet, an object of curiosity. She blushed when a waiter placed her breakfast in front of her, seeming completely unconcerned by her state of dress, even though many of the other guests were dressed much more scantily than she was. She hadn’t realized that yet.

He and Lucas kept talking as they dug into their breakfasts, and it was clear to him when she began to notice the other women in the room, a couple of whom smiled encouragingly. She smoothed the transparent fabric covering her lap, took a long breath, and let it out slowly.

Joseph made announcements as the guests finished their breakfasts and left their tables. She observed them as they mingled for a time before making their way out of the dining room to wherever they planned to play. By the time the plates were cleared, she seemed, if not comfortable, at least at ease with the two of them.

He inched his chair back and angled it so he faced her, and she blushed as she glanced between the two of them and then took a sip from her nearly empty coffee cup. “How are the nerves?” he asked.