Free Love Under Two Navy Seals by Cara Covington Page A

it came to making their desires known.
    They just had to prove to her that being strong, demanding men did not mean they would run roughshod over her or treat her with anything but loving respect.
    They didn’t want a doormat. They wanted a wife, and a mother for their children.
    “After we eat, and the dishes are done, we’ll head on over to the museum. We’re all very proud of our heritage here in Lusty.”
    “The town was founded by Benedicts?” Drew asked.
    Julia’s entire face lit up. “Actually, it was founded by two families—the Benedicts, that would be Sarah Benedict and her husbands, Caleb and Joshua—and the Jessop-Kendalls, created when Amanda Dupree, Sarah’s cousin, married two men who were already a couple, and in love with each other—Adam Kendall and Warren Jessop. It is a fascinating story.”
    “The town of Lusty was founded in the 1880s by two ménage families?” Drew’s eyebrows had shot up.
    Julia grinned. “We like to say that our townspeople have earned the name, time and time again, ever since.”
    Dev chuckled. “I was under the impression that living ‘alternative lifestyles’ was an invention of the new millennium.”
    “Oh, not at all. Someday you should sit down and do an Internet search. There are several well-documented and famous examples of ménage relationships throughout history.”
    “Now I’m intrigued,” Drew said.
    Dev felt the same way. Of course, what Julia had just said went a long way toward explaining that interesting first meeting they’d had back in New York with her grandmother, Kate Benedict.
    “Then,” Julia said, “after we finish with the museum, I’ll take you to meet my best friend, who happens to be the sous-chef at the restaurant in town.” Julia chuckled. “We’re kind of a tight-knit community. You just might get to meet a whole lot of cousins—Benedicts, Jessops, and Kendalls, including the sheriff.” She leaned forward. “I’ve always been one of his favorite cousins.”
    “Good. We’d like to meet as many members of your family as possible,” Drew said.
    “What about your brothers, sweetheart? Will they likely show up at the restaurant to check us out, too?”
    “No, thank goodness! Fortunately, they’re in Houston. They left New York not long after I did. They’ve decided to move the headquarters of Benedict International from New York back to Texas.”
    “That’s too bad. I was particularly looking forward to meeting them.”
    “Well, if you don’t mind, I’d just as soon put that off for as long as possible.” Her brow furrowed, and he wanted to smooth out the worry lines with his lips. “My brothers—all six of them, but especially the triplets—can be really nosy and intrusive when they put their minds to it. The last thing you want, believe me, is to have them give you a hard time.”
    Dev flicked a quick glance at Drew, who responded by grinning. Julia might be dreading the usual interference and high-handedness of her siblings because she was afraid they’d try to make things uncomfortable for them.
    Dev knew that in this, as in most things, he and Drew were on the same page. Julia’s brothers were welcome to try and make things difficult for them. In fact, he sincerely hoped they would.
    The sooner they found out Julia now had two completely devoted champions, the better.

Chapter 7

    “This is one of my favorite photographs.” Julia stood aside so both Devon and Drew could get a good look at the sepia-colored print.
    She would point out to them, when they went to the Big House later, the very spot where this picture had been taken. The family still used the side lawn for picnics, although these days it was a much larger group that would gather there for such events.
    In this photo, that had been digitally reproduced, enlarged, and enhanced, were the founding families of Lusty, Texas. Sarah Benedict, seated in a rocking chair, looked serenely happy holding her twin sons, Charles and Samuel. Behind her,