Just one little problem: I made my own rules.
Chapter Two
Leaving Luke to finish talking to his attorney, I headed into the office. They had another mediation meeting with Meredith on Monday. Today was Saturday, and this had just become a clusterfuck. That meant crunch time for Cessily. For me, it meant a chance to catch up on all the things I still had to do to get this place open. It was starting to feel like a never-ending cycle.
I'd barely sat down at my desk when Cy stepped in. He gently closed the door behind him, but he didn't sit. The look on his face was calm, yet I could see the worry in his eyes. Swiveling my chair around to face him, I had a pretty good idea of what was on his mind.
"We got this," I assured him. "It's a couple weeks, Cy."
"I forgave him."
Those words were soft, but they meant so much. When Luke dumped us, it had broken Cy's heart, and he didn't handle that well. It had taken him thirteen years to patch things up with Ash, and that had only happened because Luke had been dragged into the middle. Now, though, it sounded like things were finally starting to work out.
"When?" I asked.
"This morning," he admitted, finally moving to the chair in the corner. "I knew what you were planning, Vi. And Ash was doing everything in his power to take the fall first. The two of you!" He huffed in frustration. "I get it - but neither of you even thought about what you'd leave behind. You were both working too hard to be the heroes again. The thing is, I asked Luke to stay, and he..." Cy's tongue darted out to moisten his lips. "He agreed. It was just before the phone rang, but he agreed that we'd keep Southwind going until you or Ash - or both of you - came back." He leaned over his knees. "Ijustforgave him."
"And it's a couple weeks," I said again. "Faith goes back to school on Tuesday. Think of this as your chance to get to know him, and not just get in his pants."
He chuckled at that. "Ok, fair point. I'm just not good at this. I mean, what does this mean for us?"
"I'm with Luke," I reminded him. "You're with Ash, and Faith seems to accept that. Keep it above the waist in her presence, but she knows we're all close. She knows that you're one of my best friends."
His lips curled at that, and those dark eyes of his raised to meet mine. "And when she's not around?"
"We've always been good at keeping our business to ourselves," I assured him.
Cy just stood again, reaching over to twist the lock on my office door. "But you aren't so good at being quiet, Vi."
I opened my knees, giving him a little more room to come closer. "Oh, I promise I can manage."
His hand found the side of my face and he leaned in. "I can keep my hands to myself, but that doesn't mean I'm any good at keeping my feelings in the closet, and I don't want to anymore."
Then he kissed me. The first brush of his lips was soft, giving me the chance to stop him, but I had no interest in that. Cyan Marshall was the kind of man who was irresistible. Hell, all of these guys were, and I'd have to be a fool to say no. Needless to say, my grandmother didn't raise fools.
My lips parted and I pressed in. Cy's fingers tightened, shifting back and into my hair as his tongue explored. He took. What started soft grew hot quickly. I felt his hand press down on the arm of my chair, then he leaned a little more, pushing me back. Without thinking, I lifted my hand to his hard, broad chest, grasping at the fabric of his shirt.
"Cy," I breathed.
He stole the words, kissing them away. His teeth found my lip, taunting me, but I wanted to be closer. I wanted to press my body against his, grab the muscles of his arm or a handful of his ass. Instead, I just hooked my leg around the back of his, bringing him even closer.
"Don't ever," he growled against my mouth, "do that again. Don't you fucking leave me behind, Violet."
"I won't," I swore.
"If you're going to do something so fucking stupid, you talk to me first." He kissed me again, even harder this time. "We stay together. All four of us. I don't fucking care if it's secret, but I will not stop loving you, and if you try to leave again, I will chase you to the ends of this earth."
I moved my arms around his neck and tilted my face to press my brow against his. "I had to make sure Faith couldn't get hurt like you did."
He just crouched before me, breaking the contact, but it put us on eye level. "I know. That's why I didn't stop you. I never said I'll stop you, but quit trying to keep me safe. Ash and I are always going to be your shadows. We're here to hold you up. You do you, Violet, but let us help, ok?"
I nodded. "Promise."
"And I'm going to work up to a torrid love affair with your boyfriend."
A laugh slipped out and I hugged him again. "Since he's Ash's boyfriend now too, does this mean he's your boy toy?"
"Mm, that sounds like fun," Cy agreed. "You know, I always thought you were exaggerating about how hot he is, but that cowboy is sexy."
