Page 34 of Theirs to Treasure

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“At the restaurant tonight, there are going to be two other triad couples having dinner. We’re going to introduce Josie. She’s going to get a little Fate Harbor immersion therapy,” Sam smirked in the dashboard lights.

“That’s brilliant.”

“Yes, it is.”

It was good hearing his friend have such a high level of confidence. Chance grinned and felt himself calming down. This was going to work out just fine.

* * *

The view overlooking the harbor was gorgeous. Sam introduced Josie to a young mother named Kim and her two husbands seated at the table next to them. Lance and Fareed owned a small construction company in Fate Harbor and Sam had helped them out on a job once when they were short-handed.

“I used to work in an accounting firm in Seattle,” Kim explained. “Then Lance and Fareed convinced me that there were perks to living here in Fate Harbor. Now two husbands, three kids, and one dog later, I have to agree.”

Fareed leaned in for a kiss. “Don’t forget the new kitten,” he said.

“Oh yeah, we have a kitten now,” Kim laughed. “I think there might be a turtle if my youngest daughter has her way.”

Josie smiled. She liked them. It wasn’t just the fact that they were another ménage couple, but the fact that one of Kim’s husbands was Indian was also nice. It made her feel even more comfortable to see an interracial triad couple besides her and her men.

“Honey, what would you like to drink?” Chance asked.

Sam bent toward her and opened his mouth to ask what she was sure was going to be a stupid question.

“Sam Booth, I am more than capable of determining what I can and cannot drink. If you’re going to be an overbearing ass, you can go home.”

He leaned in closer and whispered. “I was going to ask you if you had ever thought about getting a turtle.”

He looked so hurt. She felt terrible. Her hand shot up and stroked his cheek. “I’m sorry, Honey, I didn’t mean to get defensive.”

He took her hand and kissed the tips of her fingers. “It’s okay, we’re still learning one another. That’s the whole point of dating.”

She relaxed. He was right. They ordered their food. It was the best meal of Josie’s life, and she knew it was the company. As they were leaving, they ran into another triad—Betty’s best friend Isla Johansen and her husbands. Josie had heard so much about her, she felt like she knew the woman.

“Josie, I’m so pleased to meet you,” Isla said as she got up. The two men at her table immediately stood up as well. “Let me introduce you to my husbands. This is Leif and this other handsome man is Conner.”

Josie thought her neck might literally break since she had to tilt her head up so high in order to look into their kind, smiling faces.

“You must come to our house one night for dinner. I’ll invite Butch and Betty as well as these two nice young men,” Isla laughed, since her husbands were in their late fifties.

“How are your children doing?” Chance asked.

“Weren’t you just out running with Leif Jr?” Conner asked Sam.

Sam nodded. “Yep, he seems to be doing well.”

“If you come over to dinner,” Isla said, “we’ll invite the whole crew, Dane, Eric, Leif, and Kara as well as Butch and Betty. Trust me, we have a big table.” Josie really liked the woman, and the idea of spending an evening with the interesting family sounded like fun.

“I would really like that,” Josie smiled.

Isla gave her an easy hug. She looked up and saw the four men in deep conversation. “What’s going on over there?” she asked Isla.

“My guess is that my husbands are warning your two young men to treat you well. We look out for our own here in Fate Harbor.”

Josie blushed. “But Sam and Chance mean well.”

“I’m sure they do,” the older woman said. “But having someone hammer home that you’re being watched out for, never hurts.”