Paying Their Piper with Passion and Love [Loving in Silver 6] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) by Lynn Stark Page A

people, but he couldn’t protect her from everything. Locking away a person to protect them was in its own way a form of torture. Why couldn’t he see that?
    Sighing, Piper was relieved when Colt began talking about a project he was planning. One thread led to another and soon she was telling him about her ideas for creating a doggie spa. It would be in addition to the help center for unwanted pets and people needing advice or financial aid in caring properly for their furry loved ones.
    “What a wonderful idea!” Colt exclaimed, pleased with her idea. “A doggie spa! With all the people who come here to vacation, it’s something which should do very well, especially when there’s nothing else like it in Silver. There are a couple of kennels, but they really don’t do much outside boarding. Most pets are left crated in their rooms or the hotel staff attends to them.”
    Brimming with excitement, it was all Piper could do to eat the food on her plate. They discussed her plans throughout the meal. As they did so she saw Colt relax somewhat. She was glad. She didn’t like seeing her friend hurting as he was. And she did believe he was hurting. His life was in upheaval at the moment, even if he didn’t recognize the fact. But as she picked at her green beans Piper thought about other aspects of her own life and wondered what she was going to do about her unexpected attraction to two men.
    She didn’t have all that much experience with men. Her father’s babysitters while in college had made it almost impossible to date like any other girl on campus. One or two dates was about all she got out of a guy before they made some lame excuse and she never saw them again. Only one guy had been brave enough to stick around for a while. Whether it had been attraction or rebellion, Piper didn’t know, but he had gotten her virginity and taught her a little bit about the pleasures a man and a woman could have together.
    Now she had to think about Merck Rushton and Jace Hunter. Dealing with either man would be challenging enough. But the two of them together? Was she crazy to consider it?
    Okay, Piper told herself, stop thinking about them. Maybe later when you’ve gotten your own life straightened out. Besides, if what Colt suspects is true, they have each other now.
    It was a dismal thought, despite Piper telling herself that she didn’t really want them.
    Then there they were, being shown to a table not far from where Bliss and Clarissa were lingering over coffee and dessert.
    They hadn’t noticed her yet and she was relieved. Colt, however, had noticed them. “Ah, I see your men have come in for supper. It’s too bad they came so late, they could have joined us.”
    “They’re not my men,” Piper grumbled. “And I thought you wanted me to have time to grow a backbone?”
    Colt laughed. “I do, sweetheart. But there’s nothing saying you can’t tease them a bit. They both want you and they can’t have you. It will drive them crazy.”
    “That doesn’t sound very nice.”
    “Okay. You be nice. I’ll be me. I think I’ll make them want you so much they won’t know which end is up.”
    Piper stared at her friend for a moment. Then she was laughing and shaking her head. “You really are evil, aren’t you?”
    The flashing white grin Colt gave her said it all. When he was in this charming, devilish mode she began to feel things she shouldn’t really be feeling for a friend. Some parts of her body got hot, others got hard. And one place in particular was beginning to quiver and dampen. Wow, she was starting to feel a little slutty.
    “I try. Now, I think we’ll order a cherry cobbler to share. We will take turns feeding each other.”
    “What about Clarissa and Bliss?”
    While Piper didn’t really believe Merck and Jace were interested in her, she would play Colt’s game. But in the process she didn’t want to do anything to hurt the two women.
    “They’re leaving now. A couple minutes of play-acting