Stowaway Bliss: MMF Menage Romance: The Stowaway Bride Series, #2

By Cari Griffin

Too many rumors, not enough trust, and a three-way that's destined to fail…

Kayla Dodge thought she'd done everything right. She'd grown a spine, had stood up for herself, and had gotten out from under the thumb of her controlling parents and terrible boss to find her perfect love—a polyamorous relationship with Brett Sheehan and Liam De Luca, the two hot firefighters who'd rescued her from her almost-disaster of a wedding.

But it seems that Kayla might have spoken too soon. Her parents show up, determined to "help" her get her life back on track. Her best friend won't stop pushing her to find a new career. And one of Brett and Liam's co-workers, Ava Delaney, wants Liam all to herself. But worst of all, Brett and Liam have issues of their own, ghosts from their pasts that won't let them forget and move on. Kayla will have to dig deep to find that spine…and fight hard for the men she loves, or she'll wind up even worse off than she started…

Reader note: contains MMF bisexual menage, firefighters, a runaway bride, male male love, and a happily ever after

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wolf Hill Publishing
• Release date: Aug 15, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201613167

Book preview

Table of Contents

Cover

Table of Contents

Look for these titles from Cari Griffin

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Title Page

Copyright Warning

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Epilogue

About the Authors

Also by Cari Griffin

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STOWAWAY BLISS

MMF Menage Romance

The Stowaway Bride Series Book Two

CARI GRIFFIN AND ISLA SEA

Etopia Press

Copyright Warning

EBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared, or given away. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is a crime punishable by law. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded to or downloaded from file sharing sites, or distributed in any other way via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000 (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/).

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are fictitious or have been used fictitiously, and are not to be construed as real in any way. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales, or organizations is entirely coincidental.

Published By

Wolf Hill Publishing

1643 Warwick Ave., #124

Warwick, RI 02889

STOWAWAY BLISS

Copyright © 2022 by Cari Griffin and Isla Sea

ISBN: 978-1-949719-83-3

All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

First Etopia Press electronic publication: June 2022

PROLOGUE

Kayla Dodge stepped out of the employee break room of the Bowl-A-Million bowling alley, her heart still beating from excitement. Her body was still trilling with the afterglow. Had they really just done it on the break table? The same one where her awful ex-boss, Tony, always sat eating Cool Ranch Doritos all day instead of working?

Come on, Brett Sheehan said from behind her, looking like a tall, blond runway model. Don’t let everyone see us loitering outside the break room, or we’ll never live it down.

Yeah, Liam chimed in. Shorter, darker, and more muscular, Liam De Luca was just as hot. Last thing we need is half the crew of the 135th making more jokes than usual.

Kayla opened her hand and looked down at the apartment key Brett had just given her. She’d been staying with Brett and Liam, her two firefighter heroes, who’d hidden her from her annoying, controlling parents after she’d run from her wedding and hid in the back of their fire engine. And now, they’d made it official by giving her a key.

There was nothing that could stop the three of them now. No matter their pasts, or their issues, they were right for each other. Perfect. The three of them. Together.

Could this day get any better?

Nope. She smiled as she slipped the key into the pocket of her pink and white sundress. This day—and her life—could not get any better.

She headed with Brett and Liam back to their lane. All the firefighters and paramedics and their spouses or dates who had come to the impromptu bowling party were busy laughing and goofing off. None of them could even bowl, but none of them seemed to care. And none of them seemed to notice she and the guys had even been gone.

One of the firefighters bowled a gutter ball, and his friends erupted with laughter. One couple—Matt and Alaina?—were doing what looked like the bastard offspring of swing dancing to the scratchy elevator music tapes that Tony, the cheapskate owner, refused to upgrade. Kayla’s best friend and former roommate, Sophi, was sitting arm in arm with her new boyfriend, Michael, gazing into each other’s eyes and mindlessly petting each other’s hands.

Kayla grinned. She never thought she’d ever have a good time at the Bowl-A-Million.

How had she gotten so lucky? In the last few days, she’d escaped a doomed wedding, made a bunch of new friends, escaped her controlling parents, found a new job, and best of all, she’d fallen in love with her two soul mates.

It has been crazy. She’d had no idea what she was doing when she ran from her wedding. She’d been acting totally on impulse when she towed away in the fire truck that came to put out the little fire her cousin Melinda had accidentally started in the dressing room. And she’d been totally gob smacked when the back doors of the fire truck had opened to reveal the two hot firefighters who’d become her entire world. Brett and Liam.

She’d thought she was running from something. But she realized now she’d been running toward something: the most amazing life she’d never had the courage to even imagine.

There they are! one of Brett and Liam’s friends called when they approached.

Kayla didn’t remember his name, but he put a beer in her hand and grinned at her.

I ordered another round, he said, grinning. But by the time it got here, you three seemed to have…uh…disappeared. The amused look he gave the guys glowed with speculation.

So apparently, someone had noticed they’d disappeared. Kayla smiled and took a sip of her beer, hoping to hide the smile she couldn’t hold back.

Brett smiled unconvincingly and took the other two beers from the guy. We, ah…went looking for Tony to order more beer. He turned and passed one bottle to Liam.

As Brett turned, Kayla noticed the single Cool Ranch Dorito stuck to the ass of his jeans. A remnant of their little session on the break room table, around the table, next to the table…

Kayla reached out and brushed the Dorito off his ass before anyone else noticed.

He turned to look back at her questioningly.

Just some lint, she said. She glanced at the guy who had passed them the beers, but he just chuckled and winked at her, then turned to go back to his friends.

Kayla grinned. It was great being with people that didn’t judge her. That seemed to understand her relationship with Brett and Liam and…approved? So different from what she’d been used to.

Disapproval. Negativity. Control.

She had never realized how much she’d been living a life that wasn’t even remotely hers. She’d just been moving through life like a robot. Dating the guy her parents approved of. Being treated like crap at this awful bowling alley job and being grateful for the opportunity. Being the good little girl her parents expected. God, the stuff she used to put up with…

You’re up, Liam said to Brett, passing him a bowling ball. Kayla watched Brett line up his shot, step up to the line dramatically, and let his ball go. It thumped hard onto the wood, then rolled immediately into the gutter.

She laughed as Brett did a little sarcastic victory dance as if he’d just bowled a strike.

He loved this new life. These new people. Her new self. She wasn’t the same person she’d been. It was like she’d landed in Oz and stepped through those fire engine doors into a world of brilliant color.

And she was never going back.

Sophi suddenly appeared at Kayla’s elbow. Kays, you’re not gonna believe this.

Believe what? Kayla asked, admiring the two heroes who’d taught her to stand up for what she wanted. Brett, all tall blonde smolder, and Liam, all steamy, muscular passion. Her two hot firefighters. She’d sent Melinda a picture of the three of them with a snarky thanks for setting that fire. But she honestly ought to thank the girl for real.

Sophi tugged at her arm. Kayla, seriously. Look at me.

The note of alarm in her friend’s voice broke Kayla out of her reverie. What’s wrong?

You are not going to believe this. Sophi turned at pointed toward the front door. Your parents are here. And they look pissed.

CHAPTER ONE

Kayla’s stomach dropped, leaving her momentarily unbalanced. "What are they doing here?"

What are who doing here? Liam asked, turning to look in the direction Kayla was staring.

My parents, she said. And they don’t look like they’re here to bowl.

Her mother, as usual, wore her standard below-the-knee skirt and blouse with her ubiquitous three-inch heels. Her father was also in his standard uniform: short-sleeved plaid shirt and Wrangler jeans, with his characteristic glower over his horseshoe mustache.

Brett turned to the door too. Well, I guess it’s time to take the bull by the horns.

Kayla sighed. If only my parents were as sweet as your average bull.

A hard rock of despair settled into her gut. It felt as though everything she’d done, everything she’d accomplished the last few days was about to come to an end.

Even though the place was crowded with firefighters and their dates and spouses, her parents homed in on her immediately. They made a beeline for her, not stopping when Tony called out to them that they needed bowling shoes to enter the lanes.

She wasn’t sure which made her stomach churn more. Her mother’s look of disgusted disapproval or her father’s unforgiving anger.

Liam tensed beside her and put down his beer.

Kayla turned to him. Please let me handle this. OK?

Liam glanced at Brett, and they both stepped back. Kayla’s breath started to come faster, and her palms broke into a cold sweat. She wished she could disappear into the floor.

Her mother reached her first. Well. I can’t believe what I’m seeing. It’s true, isn’t it?

What are you doing here? Kayla managed.

"What are we doing here? I think the question is, what are you doing here. Her mother turned to sear Brett and Liam with her disdainful gaze. Then she looked out over at the large group of firefighters and their dates, laughing and drinking and having a wonderful time. Is this how you spend your time, now? Drinking and… With two men?"

Her father just stood there like a mountain, concealing a hidden volcano that Kayla knew was about to blow.

Mom, what are you doing here? Kayla asked again.

"What are you doing here? Her mother pulled out her phone and practically shoved it into Kayla’s face. It was the picture Sophi had taken of Brett and Liam each kissing one of Kayla’s cheeks, which she’d sent to her cousin Melinda. She’d thought it would be funny to send her a pic with the caption, Thanks for setting that fire. Hashtag Two hot firefighters! Hashtag And I’m not sharing!"

Her stomach dropped. Why on earth had she done that?

She gazed up at her mother’s face. I should have known she’d send that to you.

"Well, of course she did. With your filthy description, too. Two hot firefighters, and I’m not sharing?"

Kayla’s hands felt cold as ice, and her blood was pounding so hard she thought she might pass out. It was just a joke. Look at the picture. Does it look filthy to you? It was just an innocent kiss on the cheek.

Not with that…disgusting innuendo, it wasn’t.

Kayla took a breath. It was just a joke. Melinda nearly set the church on fire, remember? I made some friends at the fire station, and I wanted to tell her about them. See? She swept her arm out to encompass the group of people in the surrounding lanes. These are all my new friends.

At the next lane over, Jake and his very pregnant wife, Livie, turned to see what the commotion was all about. A few of the other firefighters closest to them did, too.

Kayla’s mother scoffed. A bunch of drunks and their floozies, it looks like.

Drunks and floozies? Livie said. Are you seriously calling me a floozie right now?

Well, Kayla’s mother said, if the rather unflattering maternity top fits…

More of the firefighters turned toward the disturbance, and the sounds of their joking and laughing grew quieter. All attention was soon on Kayla and her parents.

From the corner of her eye, Kayla saw Liam take a step forward. She turned to him and shook her head before turning back to her mother.

You need to apologize to Livie, she said.

Oh, apologies are certainly due. But not to these…people.

Mom, this is ridiculous. You’re making a fool of yourself. People are staring.

Sweetheart, her mother said. You’ve clearly crumbled under the stress of the wedding and setting out on a new life with Jon. But that’s OK. We can fix things. Jon’s back from North Dakota. He’s leased the cutest little apartment for you to fix up however you like. He’s willing to forget this whole thing ever happened and take you back, if you apologize. Now go get your things. We’ll discuss it all once we get home.

The strength Kayla had hoped for deserted her, and tears sprang to her eyes. I’m sorry. I know running from the wedding like that was wrong. I’m sorry. But I can’t marry Jon.

Her mother smiled tersely. Nonsense. You’re just upset. It’s been a difficult few days.

I’m serious. I can’t marry him, Kayla said again, tears streaming down her face. I just… I don’t love him.

Of course you do, her father chimed in. Now, enough of this nonsense. Get your things. We’re leaving.

Kayla opened her mouth to argue. She wanted to insist she would not do that. But the words would not come.

Finally, she managed a whisper. No.

Her father glared at her. What do you mean, no? What else are you going to do? Work at a bowling alley forever like some white trash from the trailer park?

She should have known Melinda would send it to her mother.

Kayla felt her mouth drop open. You were the ones telling me not to quit! You said—

That was only until you found a husband to take care of you. What do you intend to do now? Live on the streets with no money, no husband, no family? No daughter of mine will disrespect our family that way.

Her mother stepped forward and put her arm around Kayla’s shoulders. Sweetheart, we only want what’s best for you. You’re twenty-five years old. You’re not getting any younger. If you don’t marry Jon, what kind of future will you have?

Kayla shook her head, but the words wouldn’t come. Her heart was beating so hard she could barely hear herself think. She knew this was the time to stand up for herself. To pull away from her mother’s possessive grasp and answer the question.

What kind of future was she going to have? The kind she