Page 3 of The Gift that Keeps On Giving

I’m positive they’re about to jump me.

I’ll be discovered by the next customer who enters the shop. So, like, three days from now. Which is pathetic. There aren’t even enough customers to find my corpse before it starts to decompose.

The redhead’s gaze tracks down to the stack of overdue bills.

She nudges her friend. They trade a long look, their mouths curling into smiles.

“We have a proposition for you, sweetie,” says the redhead, setting her Prada tote on the counter. “We are women ofextraordinary means. We have everything we want in this world, except two husbands who can get along. Let us rent you a nice house on the beach for a few days. We’ll send Cam and Dean over for a little…reunion.”

I’m the most confused girl in the world. “I don’t understand.”

“Don’t you?” pouts the brunette. “We’re bluebloods from Connecticut. We’re not fanciful about fidelity, Ruby, and like I said, we love our men in our own way, but these marriages were more of a merger than romance.” She does a little shimmy. “Let our husbands scratch their itch, so we can all move on as friends. We want to go to Malta together in the fall, and that requires Dean and Cameron to be on speaking terms. We’re tired of this nonsense.”

“Exhausted.”

My jaw is on the floor. “You want me tosleepwith yourhusbands?”

“Yes,” they say simply, in unison. “In return, we’ll take care of that nasty little stack of bills. Butonlyif they return home as friends.”

Her friend nods in agreement. “Oh yes, we need to get what we paid for.”

“Are you in?”

This is all happening so fast. I never expected to hear the names Dean and Cameron again. Though…I would be lying if I said I don’t think about them. Too often for comfort. Those two compelling men took up all my air that semester during freshman year. They barely let me breathe, they were such an overwhelming presence. They merely competed for my approval, at first. But the competitive fun took a downturn rather quickly, didn’t it?

Do I want to get wrapped up in that again?

I’m the product of a very contentious divorce and I will never be in a relationship of my own. That has been my vow to myselfsince childhood. Emotionally, it is far safer to be alone. I have fictional stories to entertain me. I don’t need real-life drama and turmoil.

However.

There is a physical need within me that has never been fulfilled. A physical need that was sparked to life by Dean and Cameron, two men I resisted at all costs. They were taken, so I ignored what my body begged me to investigate.

Is this my chance to explore my own desires and pull myself out of a financial hole at the very same time? Will I ever get another string-free chance like this?

“I’m in.”

Chapter Two

Dean

My wife, Polly, dangles a set of keys in front of me.

I sigh, sliding my hands into the pockets of my khakis.

Our kids are back at the hotel with the nanny. Polly asked me to bring her for a walk on the beach, but we’ve stopped in front of this modern, ocean-front property, complete with infinity pool and wall-to-wall windows. Now, she’s handing me keys with an odd look on her face. A cat-who-caught-the-canary type of look.

Jesus. I wouldn’t be surprised if she bought this place without asking. Wouldn’t be the first time. Wasn’t it just last year we became the owners of an Italian villa?

“What is this?” I drawl. “You like California enough to buy a vacation home here?”

“No,” she responds in an extra-sweet tone. “Not exactly.”

“Why are you being mysterious?”

Before she has a chance to answer me, I see them. Polly’s best friend, Molly, and her asshole husband, Cameron. AKA my ex-best friend.

“What the fuck are they doing here?” I snap.

---