Page 18 of The Rule of 3

“They look more like light porn to me with all the half-naked guys on the covers,” he observed.

Zoë laughed, “Some people refer to this genre as Mommy Porn. And I don’t deny the books are hot.”

“Do you have a favorite?” he probed.

Zoë sat back. “Tanner, what’s the deal with all the probing questions about my reading material? I like racy books. Is there something wrong with that?”

He laughed, “Nothing wrong in the least. I like the idea, but I never saw you as a threesome kind of woman.”

Blinking at him she squeaked, “Me? What are you talking about?”

Tanner leaned forward and pulled outTwo Times the Funagain and opened it to a page where the corner was folded down. He began to read at a random spot:

Isabelle could feel both cocks rubbing each other deep inside her. The feeling was like nothing she had ever imagined. Ramone lay behind her, grunting as he thrust into her over and over. The feeling was exquisite torture. Tristan impaled her from the front, and he moaned with his own pleasure, rhythmically grinding against her clit with his pubic bone. Her excitement grew with each pounding entry of her hard men. They crooned loving words into her ears as they writhed with ecstasy. Finally, all three of them cried out their release.

“Well!” Tanner cleared his throat, realizing he had a titanium boner now. “That’s certainly something.”

Zoë blushed and answered, “It’s just a harmless fantasy.”

* * *

Tanner had thought he’d propose on New Year’s, but he didn’t want to take the focus off of his sister’s wedding. Still—he had a ring now that was perfect, and it was burning a hole in his pocket. When he saw Zoë, all decked out in a gorgeous off-the-shoulder formal gown with her long hair done in a becoming and complicated updo with sweet tendrils falling gracefully around her kissable face, he couldn’t take it any longer. Just before the limo was due to arrive to take them along with his parents to Louisville, he stopped her in the living room and dropped to one knee. “Zoë, you are the woman of my dreams. I’ve loved you since I was seven years old—never stopped for one single day. Will you marry me and make me the luckiest and happiest man alive?”

Zoë blinked a few times, and her right hand went to her heart. “Tanner!” He produced a ring and clasped her left hand. As he slid it onto her finger, she smiled sweetly and answered, “Yes.”

Madison and Halden’s wedding was a small, formal affair at Halden’s place with just their families and closest friends in attendance. It wasn’t until after the beautiful, though brief, ceremony was over that Tanner and Zoë quietly let Madison and Halden know that they’d just gotten engaged. Madison was bursting with excitement, exclaiming, “Zoë, this is the happiest day of my life! Not only did I marry Halden, now my brother has his act together finally, and he’s making you mysister. This is fantastic!” Then she hugged Zoë and Tanner, who looked over the moon.

On the limo ride home the next day, Tanner’s mother, who was beside herself with happiness about their news, seemed to need to take over their wedding arrangements. She hadn’t been consulted about her daughter’s plans, and she apparently needed to plan someone’s wedding—so why not her son’s?

Zoë and Tanner were touched by this and knew to accept with grace. Tanner’s campaign was ramping up, and that left him with no extra time at all, and Zoë had her hands full keeping up with school and Tanner.

The wedding was set to take place on Valentine’s Day— that would fall on a Saturday that year. Mrs. Lassiter contacted her library guild and book club members, the ladies at the Episcopal Church, the school board, the town council, and any random friend she could think of to pitch in and help. The Sewing Bees—the Honeybee Hollow stitchery club—immediately invited Zoë to come to their meeting for a fitting and showed her dozens of dress ideas that they offered to make for her completely gratis. When Madison heard about this, she donated whatever materials they needed for the dress as she could get everything at a huge discount through her business. Zoë was so touched by everyone’s thoughtfulness and generosity she could barely see the dress photos through her tears.

When the handsome and most beloved young mayor decides to marry the beautiful and equally beloved kindergarten teacher in a town like Honeybee Hollow, it not only makes the news, it becomes a civic event. Meetings were held all over town for the various committees, and everyone had a job to do that they did with joy.

Eli made sure the press stayed well-informed. He was in his element.

The town became even better known throughout Kentucky, and Tanner’s name seemed to be on the tip of everyone’s tongue. It was the sweetest love story ever, especially when the society bloggers got wind of the fact that the bride and groom had been friends virtually their whole lives. Someone dug up an old photo of the two of them at around six and seven years old, holding ice cream cones and watching the town’s Fourth of July parade. Even then, Tanner hand his arm around Zoë and they were laughing. It was frequently juxtaposed next to their formal engagement photo and melted many a heart.

On February first, Eli was scheduled to arrive in town, and Tanner was thrilled that his best friend would be there. It was time for Eli to pitch in not only as best man, but also as Tanner’s campaign manager. He needed to be hands-on from here on out rather than controlling things from a distance. He’d already hired a staff who had been working from campaign headquarters located in an office complex in town. The primaries would be in June, so there was a ton of work to do. He had Tanner booked into all sorts of speaking engagements all over the state, making it easy on him by using Eli’s own private plane and pilot to get around the state and back home to Honeybee Hollow again.

Flying around the state wouldn’t the most fuel-efficient way to go, but Tanner still had to do his job as mayor, so he planned to crisscross the state, wowing possible voters.

Chapter 18

The day Eli arrived, Tanner and Zoë offered to meet him at the nearest municipal airport. However, Eli had also employed a limo company that would chauffeur Tanner and him all over with the added protection of security. So, on Sunday, February first, they waited anxiously for him to arrive. And finally, as a limo pulled up in front of the house, Tanner, who’d been looking eagerly out the front window, hurried to the door and rushed outside. Zoë was a bit slower, but right behind him.

The first thing Zoë noticed was that experiencing Eli’s arrival was like watching the Oscars. The limo door opened, and out stepped the most incredibly beautiful man she’d ever imagined. Tall, lean, and broad-shouldered, tousled black hair, with penetrating eyes that went straight to Tanner’s face. His bright smile was welcoming and genuine. She could almost imagine flashbulbs going off as the paparazzi recorded his entrance on the red carpet.How could Tanner ever get anything done around so much physical beauty? Oh, that’s dumb. He’s a guy. Guys don’t think that kind of thing about other men. And stop perving on Eli. Tanner’s gorgeous too—and your fiancé!

The next thing she noticed as she mentally fanned her face was their bro-hug.They sure are happy to see each other! She knew they were close, and they hadn’t seen each other in a couple of months. If the hug went on a little too long, she failed to note that. Zoë also failed to register their undercurrent of melancholy and desperation, for at that moment, she noticed the final thing.

Mid-hug, Eli’s eyes shifted to Zoë. When their eyes met, it was as if his hazel stare made a laser beam go straight through her. The expression on his face morphed from happiness to shock and a sense of recognition when he focused on her. It was only for a second, but it was there. Quickly, Eli schooled his features into a friendly smile as he broke loose from Tanner’s embrace. He stalked toward Zoë with the confidence of a runway model and gently put his arms around her.

“Zoë, it’s so good to finally meet you,” he purred in her ear and then he kissed her cheek. “I feel as if I’ve known you for years—through Tanner, of course.”

Zoë stood stock still, not knowing what to make of it as a frisson of desire streaked through her body with that one tiny, little, hardly-there peck on the cheek. She had to make a conscious effort to close her mouth because she knew she was gaping at him. Shaking herself mentally, she stepped back and offered her hand. “Eli, it’s… um... so good to finally meet you too. Tanner says nothing but the nicest things about you always.”

When Eli took her hand and enveloped it in his large, warm one, Zoë wondered,Holy cow! What’s wrong with me? I love Tanner!

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