Page 30 of The Gift that Keeps On Giving

“Yeah,” Cameron says, clearing his throat. “We’re good now.”

“That’s…” Polly blows out a breath. “That’s amazing news. Ruby, you’re a miracle worker.”

“They’re the ones who worked it out. I was just a bystander.”

“You’re being modest,” Molly says, folding her arms. A beat passes while the wives observe us, the three of us standing as close as we can possibly get without touching. “Polly and I have been wondering something, Ruby. About Sip and Flip. Don’t you think it’s a business model that would work better in the Northeast? Those cozy tea nooks and your moody aesthetic would pair well with Connecticut, wouldn’t you say?”

Ruby in Connecticut?

Just like that, my heart is racing.

What’s going on here?

“Well…” Ruby hedges. “I’ve often thought the store’s vibe doesn’t really fit into the sunny California coastal scene, but…that’s where I built the shop. Moving it would be…”

“Easy,” Polly interjects. “With all of us to help you. And lots of money, of course.”

“Did we mention we have lots of money?” Molly says, batting her eyelashes.

Cameron’s chest is rising and falling. “What’s going on here? What are you two proposing?”

“We’re proposing that Ruby move to Connecticut and bring her adorable bookstore.” Molly shimmies her shoulders. “We like our new friend and want to keep her.”

“And…” Polly’s eyes are beginning to sparkle. “We’re guessing you boys want to keep her, as well. To put it mildly.”

Too good to be true, a voice whispers in the back of my head. “What’s the catch?”

“No catch. We have a three-bedroom guest house on the property. I don’t see any reason why Ruby can’t stay there, so you can both visit her easily.” Molly looks at Ruby with a raised eyebrow. “If that’s whatshewants, of course. If she wants us to pay her for the last three days and walk away, we’ll do that, too. A deal is a deal.”

Ruby is nonplussed, a lot like me and Cameron. “I…I don’t understand,” she whispers. “You would want to bring me into your marriages permanently?”

“I’m sure it’s very confusing, Ruby,” Polly says, pink creeping into her complexion. “Let me see if we can spell it out for you.”

My jaw drops when Polly leans over and plants a soft kiss on Molly’s lips, before deepening the contact with a low sound, both pulling back from the kiss appearing dazed.

And deliriously happy.

“Holy shit,” Cameron chokes, sending me a shocked glance.

“Holy shit is right,” I stammer. “How…long?”

“We denied it for a long time, but…” Molly shrugs a shoulder, looking pointedly at Ruby. “You could say this vacation was eye opening for a lot of reasons. And we don’t want to deny whatmakes us happy anymore. We don’t want that for our husbands, either.”

“We do, however, live in blue-blooded Connecticut with children to think about, so appearances must be kept. For now.” Polly chews her lip, while twining her fingers together with Molly’s. “As long as we can all be discreet, I don’t see why this arrangement can’t be a beautiful thing.”

I’m having a hard time filling my lungs with oxygen. Ruby Lang. Living on my property. Never having to let her go. On top of the shock of finding out my wife is clearly in love with her best friend, I’m flooded with relief and joy so immense, it almost knocks me down. Cameron is reeling, too, looking like a pauper who just won the lottery.

Ruby’s expression is uncertain, though. Of course it is.

We’re asking her to move her entire life for us.

“Can the three of us speak privately?” I ask, herding a shell-shocked Ruby toward the sliding glass door. “Outside on the deck.”

“Agreed,” Cameron says. “We need to talk.”

A moment later, the three of us are standing in the sunshine, ocean waves crashing down below. “Ruby, look at us,” I say urgently, tilting her face up and noting the trepidation there. “I know you never wanted to be in a relationship, but we’ll do this on your terms, baby. If you only want to see us once a week, I’ll suffer through that, because—”

“The alternative isneverseeing you.” Cameron rakes a hand through his hair. “Christ, I wouldn’t be able to stand it.”

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