Full Measure [Mastering Holly Oaks] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (2 page)

Ryan knew he felt stressed. James took the majority of the surgeries at the clinic. Without a technician, he couldn’t do more than spay and neuter. He’d even been sending emergencies to the trauma center in Denver because he didn’t have someone to truly assist. With a bit more hope in his voice, James detailed the last interview of the day. Apparently the little cutie had a biology degree from Penn State University and a technician’s degree from Virginia Tech.

“Why would a woman with a degree in biology go back to become a vet tech?” Ryan didn’t really get that. She could likely make more money with her first degree.

“No clue, love. I just hope if she’s as good as she seems, that she isn’t one of those blow-through-town types. I mean, what is a chick from the East doing here anyway? And if being away from friends and family doesn’t get her packing, our freaky-ass town probably will. I don’t have a choice, though. If I have to stand in surgery one more day and try not to stare at Suzy’s tits, I might start poking at them. Seriously. They look like one poke and they’ll explode.”

Ryan knew James couldn’t stand Suzy any more than he could, but if he started prodding in the name of science there could be an issue. Hopefully Miss Katherine Haynes was the answer they so desperately needed. “The last applicant’s ready. I’ll bring her on back.”

* * * *

The door opened, and James knew the day would end well. Not only was Katherine perfectly suited for this job, she was more than pleasing on the eye. Rich red hair fell in unruly waves down her back. Her eyes were a rather startling green. He’d never seen eyes so big and guileless. Flawless skin covered excellent curves. This was a woman. Dr. Gainer definitely liked women. Sadly, though he and Ry were looking for a third for their little family, they did not date coworkers. However, there was zero harm in looking at them.

After rising to introduce himself, James noticed little Katherine seemed to have a hard time making eye contact. She definitely exuded calm, and she finally managed to look him in the eye to return the greeting, but it did not go unnoticed that she added a natural-sounding “sir” to her “pleased to meet you.”
Interesting
.

Throughout the interview, she was very professional as she answered questions about vaccines, medications, and her experience with phlebotomy, X-rays, and surgery. Seemed she was comfortable talking about her work. Good. They did not need a wilting flower to take charge of the office. Suzy would eat her alive if she didn’t have a backbone. However, she definitely went back to lowering her gaze when they started asking personal questions.

* * * *

“What brings you all the way out here? It’s bit far for friends and family to visit.”

Kat wasn’t sure this line of questioning was normal for an interview. Maybe they didn’t mind crossing personal barriers in small towns. She didn’t want to screw up what was turning out to be her best interview of all time by looking shady, so she decided honesty was the best policy here. “I don’t have any family left. My ex won our friends in the divorce, it seems, and though it was years ago, I’ve been too busy trying to get my life back together to make new ones. I’ve wanted to come out to Colorado since I was a kid. There’s nothing left for me in Pennsylvania. This is my second chance, I guess.” She could feel the blush rise to her face. Great. She sounded pathetic, and now she probably looked like a beet.
Nice answer, Kat.

“I think you’ll find our little town is very welcoming. Most people here are transplants anyway. We all need second chances sometimes.” Wow. Everything this guy said just oozed sincerity. She didn’t even feel pathetic anymore. Just being in the same room with him seemed to calm her nerves. With a little jump, Kat noticed that Dr. Stromfield was still here. How had she forgotten him sitting there? They both were the most attractive men she’d ever seen. Usually that would have just made her more nervous. Somehow they put her at ease instead.

“Do you have a place to live yet?” Dr. Stromfield stood and crossed the room to stand next to Dr. Gainer.

“I haven’t had a chance to look. I just got to town yesterday. I’m still at the motel out on the highway.”

After exchanging a brief glance with each other, Dr. Gainer stood as well. “Well, welcome to Holly Oaks, Miss Haynes. I’d love for you to work here with us at the clinic.” Kat’s face broke into a brilliant smile. She jumped to her feet and tried not to stammer her acceptance. Finally something was going her way. She had to remind herself to refrain from doing the happy dance in front of these men.

Sweet Lord, she was going to get to work with these guys. She had no intention of ever getting involved in another relationship. She even accepted that she was not a normal sexually responsive woman and would likely never get why everyone else seemed to love the act so much. But she
was
still human. And my, my, working with two hunks every day would not be a hardship.

“Why don’t you join us this evening at the club on the edge of town tonight? We don’t have a lot of places for entertainment here, but there is a club most people frequent. It suits just about every taste in town. Part of the place is public and open for dinner, drinks, and dancing. We’d love to celebrate with you and introduce you around.”

Well, why not. If she was going to start this new life, might as well start it in full swing. And maybe someone would know of a place she could rent. She really needed to get out of the motel. “I’d love to.”

Mac Dunna was not in the mood to be at the club. After the week he had, he was looking forward to coming home and settling in with a drink. A little relaxation was not too much to ask, in his opinion. He was so tired he didn’t even want to make love to his slave. That realization shocked him a little. He was always ready to fuck. Had been since he hit puberty. Jesus, maybe he needed to cut back on his hours. Somehow the business just started taking over more of his life.

Thank God for Jay. They weren’t 24-7 Master/slave, but this wasn’t a game for them, either. That’s the way they both needed it. Mac needed to feel in control of his life. He needed to have someone rely on him to take care of them. In return, Jay needed to submit. He loved serving his Master, and he needed structure. Mac felt blessed to have a man who cherished and loved him. Jay might let Mac have the control in their relationship, but Mac knew it was really Jay who controlled his heart.

Love or no, however, his slave was adding up the punishment tonight. They both loved James and Ryan like brothers, but Mac did not care to celebrate a new hire with them tonight. He knew Jay really wanted to come out, so they agreed, but damn, Jay invited the whole fucking town. He’d have to have a little talk with his slave about the meaning of “low-key” when they got home.

Stewing over his drink was not going to improve matters, so Mac decided to take a breath and just try to enjoy the evening. As he looked to the entrance of the club, he realized that might not be possible. If the woman walking their way in that clinging black dress and the riot of red curls was this “new hire,” he might need to rethink the whole “no sex tonight” scenario. In fact, after catching a better look at that hourglass figure and huge green eyes, he might need to drag his slave to the private portion of the club for some relief before he embarrassed himself. If the look on Jay’s face was any indication, he was feeling the same way. Mac smiled as he thought of the perfect punishment. He could whisper filthy ideas in Jay’s ear all night and torture the man. Justice.

Before James got up, he leaned in. “Guys, remember she just got into town. Let’s just try and be as vanilla as possible for her first night. No need to scare her yet. I think two gay couples and that…what would you even call what you’re wearing, Kelly? Never mind, just be normal. If you can. We really like this girl, and it seems she could use a friend or two. Let’s try and make her comfortable. No spanking your sub at the dinner table, Kel.” Kelly Rivers, the only Domme in their little group, rolled her eyes. “I wouldn’t dream of frightening your little rabbit. And this is a very expensive dress! Just imagine what it looks like when I unbuckle all these wonderful straps.”

Mac closed his eyes in silent prayer and hoped they wouldn’t all find out before dessert. Now that he’d seen Katherine, he understood why James was concerned that she wouldn’t fit in around here. She seemed so lost and innocent with those huge eyes. She probably thought gay couples were as far as kink went. Man, someone better have smelling salts available when she found out that their little haven was full of transplants because people needed a place to live where they could be as freaky as they wanted and still live in a loving and accepting community. If they weren’t pushing the sexual boundaries of the societal norm, they were just downright crazy. But here in Holly Oaks, everyone was like family. Damn, he loved this town. Maybe Katherine would find it lovable, too.

* * * *

As Kat approached the table, she knew her eyes were about to fall out of her head. Honestly? What was this? How the hell did she live thirty-one years without being in a room with so many lovely people? And bully for her if they weren’t all at her friggin’ table. She really wished she at least had lost some weight before making this move. Not easy to do when all she could afford were carbs in mass quantity. Still, if she’d have known how frumpy she would feel now, she’d have figured something out.

Damn. What in hell kind of dress was that goddess of a woman wearing? One zipper was enough for her, thank you very much. She did not need attire that came with instructions. And why was everyone looking at her like that? If they didn’t stop, she was sure she would have a panic attack. Lord, that was all her new employers needed to know about her. Her anxiety problems were her own damn business. Nobody would need to know about them here. Her new doctor was in Denver, she had enough medication to last three months, and she would
not
be explaining that to anyone. Nobody understood it anyway. Here, she would hide her anxiety disorder and they would at least think she was normal. If they didn’t stop staring at her like that, she might bolt any second.
Not a terribly normal reaction, Kat.

“Katherine, please meet my friends. You already know Ry. This is Kelly Rivers and her date, Jason, and at the end are Mac Dunna and his partner, Jay Renolds.” Leave it to James to put her right at ease. Kat made sure they all called her “Kat” and shook hands round the table. When she got to the end, that feeling of ease just slipped right out through her toes. The warmth of Mac’s hand helped infuse life back into hers, but she wasn’t sure anybody could jump-start her brain. He was
gorgeous
. There really were no other words.

Midnight-black hair that was just long enough to curl slightly around his ears and deep azure eyes that seemed to paralyze her to the floor. He had little laugh lines around his eyes and mouth that just added to a sense of mature male beauty. And his hands! She never felt tiny, but sweet lord, it felt like his hand engulfed hers. What else would that hand be able to engulf?
Right, he’s gay. Get your head on straight, idiot.
The man-candy to his right had the pleasure there. She would likely kill to see these two together. Where Mac was all linebacker muscle and dark good looks, Jay was runner toned and sweet with beautiful, soul-stealing brown eyes and dark-brown hair. She kind of wanted to clap for them. Good job, gentlemen, on scoring each other! ’Course, applauding the table’s choice in partners would probably be frowned upon. Good lord, she almost burst into a fit of giggles from her own inner dialogue. She really needed a drink.

Kat sat between James and Mac and prepared herself for interview number two. It seemed that before the first drink even arrived at least four people stopped by the table to meet her. It was a bit unnerving. Mac seemed to sense her discomfort. In a silky-smooth voice, he asked her to tell him about herself. Okay. How to go through the story of her life without sounding like a pity case? “Well, there isn’t much to tell. ‘School, marriage, divorce, and work’ seems to sum it up nicely,” she announced with as much forced cheer as possible.

“I hardly think that’s an adequate summary, Kat. James told us about your degrees. Why didn’t you pursue biology?” Mac asked.

Well, he seemed genuinely interested. Maybe these people really did just want to get to know her. And she didn’t regret her decisions. They just didn’t work out like she hoped. With a little huff, she decided to just jump in.

“I really focused on animal studies at Penn State. I thought I’d go to vet school, but once I graduated, I realized just how much money I owed in student loans. I was seeing a guy and thought we were headed toward marriage, so I decided to get my technician’s degree instead. It seemed the perfect merger of my dreams at the time. I could have a marriage and family while still working with animals, plus I wouldn’t just sink myself further in debt. Four more years for vet school seemed a long time to wait. Having a family was always more important to me than a career. So…I chose the guy. Two years after we married, he divorced me for another woman and left me high and dry.” Wow, she actually managed to get that out without sounding too bitter.

Kat could feel the heated burn of tears begging to form. She swallowed the lump in her throat and reminded herself she was not in that place anymore. She was a strong woman who pulled herself out of heartbreak and debt. She moved across the country on her own. She was not a scared little girl anymore.

With a renewed sense of calm, her voice came out more clearly. “I really love my job, actually. I love the animals and the science. I don’t need to be the vet…just the one who tells him when I think he’s wrong.” Her sly smile let everyone know she had before and would continue to do just that if necessary. She was not a pushover, never would be again.