Captured in Ink (Montgomery Ink Boulder #4.5) - Carrie Ann Ryan Page 0,3

hate him all you want.”

“I heard that placating tone,” I said dryly.

“It wasn’t like I was hiding it.”

“You two are way too cute.” Holland smiled broadly as she looked between us.

I grinned. “Thank you. We try.”

“I still can’t believe it’s been over a year since I met you guys,” Holland put in. “I feel like it was just yesterday that I was coming into Ethan’s life and meeting you. And now look at us, everybody’s married and happy, and we’re all grown up.”

“It was quite an experience the first time we saw you,” Lincoln said dryly.

“That was quite a memorable way to meet,” Ethan added.

I smiled. “I don’t know what I would’ve done if I’d met Julia while she was in a big wedding dress, drinking wine out of a paper bag.”

Holland just rolled her eyes. “It was a bottle of wine in a paper bag. It’s not like I poured it into the bag.”

Ethan snorted. “I like how that’s what you get upset about.”

Holland grinned. “It was good wine. And I know they make good boxed wine now, but I just think it would’ve been worse if I was sitting there drinking out of a box or a true bag.”

“I stand corrected,” I said, and we all laughed again.

“How did you two meet?” Lincoln asked. “I just realized I don’t know.”

I looked over at Julia and held out my arm. She slid her hand into mine and squeezed it. “Over a book, of course,” I said, and she smiled.

“I went into the library to pick up some reading material for work, things that are hard to find online. And, over the books, I met a man who growled at me and told me I wasn’t allowed to take them away from the library.”

“I didn’t growl,” I corrected her.

“You growled. But I found it kind of hot.”

I winked. “Okay, then I growled.”

She laughed as I wanted her to, and I just followed the long lines of her neck with my gaze and imagined my mouth on her skin. Soon, I promised myself. I’d wrap that long, chestnut hair around my fist and have my way with her.

We’d have to go at it a little differently tonight than usual. Mostly because my leg hurt, but that’s what happened after another day of PT and getting fitted for my new prosthesis. I ached, but I would still have fun with my wife. That was why I was doing all of this. To have a life worth living.

“See? That’s a wonderful story. And not as dramatic as mine,” Holland said dryly.

“It’s good to have entertaining meet-cutes,” Julia put in, squeezing my hand before she went back to her wine. “Even if they seem subtle at first, they’ll always be memories.”

“Is it weird that I don’t remember the first time I met Lincoln?” Ethan asked.

Lincoln shook his head. “No, but I remember. I think. I feel like you’ve always been in my life, though.”

I chuckled as Julia and Holland both let out aw sounds. “See what you did? You just beat us all in the romance department.”

“I can’t help it, it’s the way I roll,” Lincoln said, grinning.

“You are so going to get lucky later.” Ethan winked, and Julia snorted.

“See, you went for sweet, and you just got perverted,” Julia said.

“Should I not have?” Ethan asked, his face serious. “I know we’re coworkers and all, is this wrong?”

Julia shook her head. “You’re at our home with your spouses, we’re going to joke. I promise. And you’re never inappropriate at work. You’re fine.”

“I still worry.”

“And that’s why you’re Ethan Montgomery. You’re a worrier.”

We continued talking for a bit longer and then cleared the table before the triad left. I knew they didn’t get out very often unless it was to go to a family member’s house or a friend’s. They did go out on dates in public, but they usually did their own thing at home or came over to our place or someone else’s. While the world had changed, not everybody agreed with their relationship. I had once been in a triad myself. It hadn’t lasted, and while my heart still ached a little thinking about it, I remembered the fierce looks from those who watched.

It hadn’t been easy to be in that relationship, and I knew that it would never be okay for some people. As long as there was open communication and true love and attraction between the triad, it could work. But some things had to be given up to have