Dial M for Ménage (16 page)

Epilogue

Eighteen months later

Flanked by Hunter and Liam, Kat crossed the sunbaked pavement of a strip mall’s parking lot. Summer had unfurled, bringing heat and humidity to wilt the hardiest flower, and when it came to Southern humidity, she was not hardy at all. Even though evening was on its way in, the halter dress she wore clung to her back and hips and her nape felt like it was sizzling despite a liberal coat of sunscreen. She was so grateful for air-conditioning that she momentarily forgot her nerves as the three of them stepped into the Fayetteville tattoo parlor.

Liam’s fingertips brushed her shoulder, the one she’d chosen for her ink. “Relax, K-K. You’ll be fine.”

She slanted a sidelong glance at him. “Like you’re an expert in receiving tattoos.”

“She’ll be sore,” Hunter said, not bothering to soften the truth.

Trying to take her mind off it, Kat examined the art on the walls. Hers wouldn’t be anything like the big, colorful, sweeping images of dragons or stylized angels she saw repeated over and over again. Hers would be simple, sweet and meaningful. Like a plain gold wedding ring, packed with more love than a bit of metal should be able to hold.

Hunter took point, walking up to the parlor’s service counter where a woman of indeterminate age, sporting an eyebrow piercing and full sleeve tattoos, greeted him with a professional flash of smile.

The woman tucked a pen behind her ear. “Can I help you?”

Kat joined Hunter at the counter and pulled a folded square of paper from her purse. She spread the creased paper on the counter and smoothed the edges down with her fingers. Her first ink. She was nervous as hell about the pain, but not about the decision to do this. “We designed something.”

“So you want these words done with a drop shadow?” The clerk asked after studying the three Latin phrases.

Hunter, standing to her right, said, “Just the second word in each phrase. So it looks like it’s inked in twice. The letters should be pretty small, on the back of the shoulder.”

“Discreet enough that a short-sleeved shirt would cover them,” Kat added, conscious of Hunter’s need for discretion.

The clerk glanced up and tipped her head, looking between the three of them. No doubt she suspected their intimate, unconventional relationship, but if Hunter didn’t care, Kat didn’t either. He wore civilian clothes and the three of them had elected to minimize risk by going farther afield than Jacksonville. They’d made a day trip of it, spending the day wandering through the Cape Fear Botanical Garden before driving into the city for ink and a celebratory dinner. The tattoos were Hunter’s idea, anyway, that they show their bond in this manner since he couldn’t wear a wedding ring and still preserve his privacy.

“Ok. I’m going to trace these so I can transfer them onto your skin. Can I ask about the translation?”

Kat bit her lip and studied the words.
Semper fidelis
, for Hunter.
Semper verum
, for Liam. And
Semper tibi
, for herself. Always faithful, always true, always yours.

“It’s personal,” Kat replied. She smiled apologetically. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be. Personal is cool with me. I’m Nita, you’ll be with me. You’ll have to take turns because we keep a shorter staff until later in the evening.” The clerk grabbed three forms and passed them, along with a pen, across the counter. “These are release forms. They’re pretty straightforward. Look them over, sign on the dotted line and we’ll get started. Which of you wants to go first?”

“She will.” Liam touched Kat’s back, volunteering her. When Kat started to protest, Liam kissed her cheek. “Get it over with, babe. If you have to watch me and Hunter go first, you’ll freak yourself out.”

“I’m not going to change my mind,” she said.

“Didn’t think you were going to. But there’s no need for the torture of anticipation.”

“He’s right,” Nita contributed. “If you’re nervous, it’ll only get worse.”

“Okay.” Kat blew out a breath. “Can they come with me?”

“Only one of them. We’re not really set up for a crowd.”

“I’ll wait out here,” Liam said. “Hunter wants to talk to you about something, anyway.”

Kat raised her eyebrows and turned to Hunter. “You do?”

She was proud of herself for not freaking out over the knowledge that Liam and Hunter had discussed whatever this was between them before bringing it to her. It was a work in progress, but she had meant what she said that night they almost broke. They were three separate people even when they were together, and being individuals meant they had different relationships with one another. Those one-on-one relationships made them a stronger whole.

“Yeah. Come on. We’ll talk while Nita works on you.” Hunter placed his hand between her shoulder blades and urged her step around the counter, where Nita waited to lead them into a curtained-off room. Liam grabbed a magazine and dropped onto a chair to wait. Kat glanced back in time to spot the smile tilting Liam’s lips before she and Hunter ducked through the curtain.

They were the only people in the rear of the shop, which was clean and tidy. Nita got Kat situated, talked with her and Hunter about ink placement and got to work. As soon as the tattoo gun started buzzing, Hunter started talking.

“I think we should move in together,” he said.

Her mouth fell open. She almost missed the first burn of needle and ink. Almost, but not quite. Still... “You do?”

“Yeah. I still need the personal and professional separation but I’m tired of the back and forth to pick up mail and clean clothes and shit. My CO isn’t going to show up to inspect my personal quarters. They don’t give a damn what my address is as long as I have an address. So I think we should have the same address.”

“That’s a big step,” she said, trying to block physical from emotional. Hunter had her complete attention. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure there are a lot of things I want to do with you and Liam, but can’t because of my career. If there’s anything I can do without endangering it, though, I want to do it. Living with the two of you like the family we are is something I can make happen. I want to sit down at a dinner table with both of you. Share closets. The Skype arrangement isn’t enough.” He held her hands, playing with her fingers while he talked. Kat didn’t interrupt and Hunter went on. “If anybody asks, I’m a roommate. It’s not uncommon for unmarried guys to rent rooms or live with friends instead of maintaining an apartment. Saving money, limiting responsibilities, those are just practical reasons. Commendable, depending who you’re talking to. So I want to do it. Liam does too. I just need to know what you want.”

“Everything.” She smiled, started to lean in to hug him but stopped at Nita’s quick word of warning. “I want everything, but that shouldn’t surprise you.”

Hunter smirked. “I’m familiar with your greed.”

“Ha,” she said. “It’s not like I’m the only one.”

“No, you’re not. I want everything too. It’s just going to take us a while to get there, and we might have to get creative. You think you can get creative with a roommate?”

Across the room, the curtain swayed as Liam pushed it aside. Even though he didn’t advance into the back room, his presence was enough.

“Oh yeah,” Kat murmured, looking between Hunter and Liam. The three of them had no problems with creative. Smiling, she squeezed his hands and let the sting of the needle into her field of awareness, embracing the small pain for what it was—promise of a future, commitment to facing it together, and the indelible sign of the unconventional fairy tale come true.

* * * * *

Is three really a crowd?

Find out how Kat, Liam and Hunter navigate their relationship in
Ménage on 34th Street
—available now!

Ménage on 34th Street

Katrina and Liam Holland have the perfect marriage, a home in the trendiest part of Baltimore, and a scorching sex life. As another Christmas approaches, there’s only one thing still on Kat’s wish list: Hunter Croft. But she made peace long ago with his decision to choose the marines over their relationship. Until seeing him again arouses feelings she thought were in the past...

Hunter has spent a decade outrunning his attraction to both Kat and Liam. But now that he’s stateside, his self-control crumbles when he comes face-to-face with the two people who star in all his favorite fantasies. Their reunion is both erotic and emotional—and has Hunter wondering if three’s really a crowd, after all.

Liam can’t imagine his life without Kat. But he
can
imagine a future where the three of them live and love under one roof. Liam and Kat have shared their bed with other men, but Hunter is the only one who could ever have a place in their hearts. And this holiday season, Liam intends to make their dream a reality.

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About the Author

Emily Ryan-Davis is a lifelong East Coaster whose passion for the written word saw her through jobs writing obituaries, press releases and grants before she decided “I’m going to do this” and sat down to write a book. And then she wrote a book. Several, actually, in a variety of steamy romance subgenres.

Life has undergone many changes since that first book. Now she spends her days writing full-time and parenting even fuller-time. All the usual author loves apply, with chocolate, coffee and cats at the top the list.

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ISBN-13: 9781426898273

DIAL M FOR MÉNAGE

Copyright © 2014 by Emily Ryan-Davis

Edited by Angela James

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All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

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