Twice the Charm

by Marie Carnay

  She blinked.

  Dixon elaborated. “However you want to structure it, we’ll do. Fifty-fifty, ninety-ten, one hundred percent you with us as advisors. We don’t care about the money, Harlow. We care about you and your dream. We want you to be as successful as you can be.”

  “Are you serious?”

  “Very.”

  Harlow exhaled. They were overwhelming. First declarations of love, now an offer to help her in any way she wanted, no contract required.

  “There is one catch, however.”

  She paused. Was this all too good to be true? With a catch in her voice, Harlow asked the inevitable. “What is it?”

  Dixon smiled. “You have to quit that terrible job of yours. From now on you’re the head of Crane Matchmaking, nothing else.”

  Harlow nodded her agreement as Maddie popped her head around the corner.

  “Is it all clear? Can we come in now?”

  Harlow waved her in and Clark and Mitch followed a close two and three. “Have you been there long?”

  “Long enough to know these two love you just as much as I thought they did.”

  “You never did doubt us, not even a little?”

  Maddie shook her head at Foster’s question. “If a man drives his low-riding sports car on these country roads just to chase down a woman, he’s already committed.”

  Foster smiled. “Thanks, Maddie.”

  “Anytime.” She held out her hands toward Clark and Mitch. “Foster, Dixon, I’d like you to formally meet my two men of the house, Clark and Mitchell Hill.”

  The men all shook hands and Maddie winked at Harlow behind their backs. She’d managed to not only come in at just the right time, but get the four men together just when Foster and Dixon might need the support.

  The woman had impeccable timing. Harlow tugged her closer. “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome. So what are you going to do now?”

  Harlow shrugged. “Go back to the city, I guess.”

  Maddie bit her lip to keep from grinning.

  “What did you do?”

  “Nothing much. Just booked you three the honeymoon suite at the bed and breakfast down the street.” Her best friend’s smile practically split her face in two.

  “You didn’t.”

  Maddie nodded. “You can’t say no. They have the best chicken and waffles in the state.”

  “I’m sold.” Dixon leaned over close enough to whisper in Harlow’s ear. “We’ve cleared our calendars for the next two days.”

  “There’s a strawberry farm not too far from here. All you can pick.” Foster grinned.

  It was a conspiracy, all pointing at her. Harlow shook her head. “What if I hadn’t forgiven them?”

  “Never would have happened. You three are perfect for each other.” Maddie smiled and wrapped Harlow up in a quick hug. “Now get out of here before I tell them all about that time you danced on the bar in Vegas.”

  “You wouldn’t.”

  “Would too.” Maddie stood up and headed toward the door. “Better get a move on. They serve wine and cheese until four.”

  Chapter 27

  HARLOW

  Maddie outdid herself. When she’d described the historic inn as a little bed and breakfast, she’d taken a few liberties. With thirty or so rooms and views overlooking rolling hills and woods, it was exactly what the three of them needed to relax.

  She picked up her glass and swirled the red wine, smiling to herself before taking a sip.

  “Something funny?” Foster stepped up behind her, slipping his arms around her waist.

  “You have to admit, this whole thing is a bit crazy.”

  He nuzzled her ear. “I happen to think this is a perfectly ordinary inn in the county.”

  She elbowed his side. “You know what I mean. A threesome isn’t the usual relationship structure.”

  “So what? We’ve always seen potential when others didn’t. It’s no different than taking a risk on a startup. In five years, no one will bat an eye.”

  “You think so?”

  “I know so.” Dixon stepped up beside them. Any trace of the tension and anger he’d carried the day before was gone. “Foster and I never back down from a challenge. Once we’ve set our minds to something, there’s no stopping us.”

  Harlow smiled. Navigating the wants and needs of three people might be a daunting task, but Harlow was ready for it. Dixon and Foster proved they could move past hurt feelings and misunderstandings. It might take more work, but she couldn’t wait to get started.

  Her life had changed so much from a few weeks ago. She had not just one man who loved her, but two. Two men who were strong enough to admit when they were wrong and not let their egos ruin what could be the start of something amazing.

  She reached out and took Dixon’s hand. “I love you both, so, so much.” She squeezed Dixon’s hand as she leaned into Foster. “Thank you for not giving up on us.”

  Foster kissed her cheek. “Sorry we didn’t get our heads out of our asses sooner.”

  She smiled. “Apology accepted. Next time, though, how about you just ask a few questions first?”

  Dixon pulled her hand up to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “We promise.”

  He tugged Harlow closer, pulling her away from Foster before plucking the wine glass from her fingers. “Enough talking. I can think of a million things I’d rather be doing.”

  “Can you now?”

  Before Harlow could tease him any more, Dixon swooped in, kissing a trail up her neck and behind her ear. He licked her earlobe and she sighed. All of their mistaken assumptions and hesitations disappeared when their bodies came together.

  Foster slid up behind, body close against hers, and Harlow leaned back, head lolling against his shoulder.

  They’re here. They want me. Love me.

  This is real.

  She closed her eyes and let go of the hurt and fear and uncertainty. She loved Foster and Dixon, not just for how they made her feel, but how they each came to the relationship wanting her and willing to sacrifice exclusivity to get her.

  They were willing to check their egos and concentrate on her. On her needs and wants and what made her happy. She wasn’t some trophy or some conquest to achieve. They were ready to make a future together, not just pass the time.

  Foster eased her shirt over the head, fingers hot as they pressed into her skin. Harlow raised her arms and he tugged the fabric free as Dixon unbuttoned her jeans.

  Inch by inch he wiggled them over her hips, down her thighs, on and on until her feet were free and all that separated her from the two men she loved was plain white underwear and a sensible bra.

  She squirmed in their embrace. “I wasn’t expecting to see you. If I’d known…”

  “The clothes don’t matter.” Foster flicked the clasp of her bra and it fell away.

  Dixon eased her panties to the floor. “You matter, Harlow. To think we almost lost you. That I wouldn’t ever again be able to touch this,” he eased his hand between her legs, “or kiss this.” He planted his lips on her nipple and Harlow cried out.

  “We were fools, Harlow. But we’ll make it up to you. Starting right now.” Foster scooped her up and carried her over to the enormous four-poster bed. He laid her down on the white sheets as Dixon stripped.

  In moments, they were naked. Hard. So damn sexy.

  Harlow reached for Foster but he refused, instead sinking to his knees at the edge of the bed. “Tonight’s about you, Harlow. Tonight and tomorrow and the day after that. They’ll always be about you.” He eased her thighs apart, hands gentle but firm on her knees.

  She quivered in anticipation.

  Foster leaned in, breath hot, tongue wet, and lapped across her clit. Harlow bucked against his hands as a burst of pleasure flooded her body. How had she doubted this? How had she thought about throwing all of this away?

  The mattress dipped as Dixon climbed up beside her. He bent to kiss her lips, tongue invading her mouth and swirling
around her own. He tasted of red wine and chocolate and love. So much love and lust and the promise of forever.

  Harlow wrapped her arms around Dixon’s neck, dragging him closer as Foster flicked her swollen clit. She needed them as much as they needed her. Foster lapped across her folds, licking and kissing until she trembled and her breath came out in stolen pants between Dixon’s lips.

  A hand found a breast, another her hip, a third reached for her waist and Harlow broke apart. The orgasm rushed through her like a river overflowing its banks, a torrent of heat and wonder. She shook on the mattress, body unable to contain the bliss.

  Sex had never been like this before Dixon and Foster. Sure, she’d gotten off, maybe even surprised herself a time or two. But there had never been this type of connection. This crazy out-of-body sense of time standing still.

  Her ex hadn’t come anywhere close.

  Harlow rolled over and Foster took her by the hips, pulling her body back toward his. “How’d you know what I wanted?”

  She smiled. “Lucky guess.”

  Foster pulled her up onto her knees and motioned for Dixon to join them.

  The man didn’t hesitate. Before Harlow knew what was going on, Dixon had slid between her legs and spread them apart until her knees rested on either side of his hips and his cock pointed straight at her core.

  Harlow palmed the bed on either side of Dixon’s shoulders, nipples grazing his chest. “I love you.”

  Dixon’s face lit up as he leaned in for a kiss. “I love you, too.”

  Snaking his hand between their bodies, Dixon found her still-sensitive clit and rubbed, dipping his fingers in her liquid heat before sliding back up to circle some more.

  Harlow twisted around to catch Foster’s eye. “And I love you, too. Didn’t mean to leave you out.”

  Foster tightened his grip on her hips and with a smile, thrust into her. His cock sliced through her folds, filling her, stretching her, making her whole. “I love you, too, Harlow.” He pulled back and thrust again, rocking her hips forward as he bottomed out inside her.

  Dixon rubbed her clit, Foster fucked her, and it was everything she’d ever wanted. The two of them together, working her body, making it sing.

  She reached for Dixon’s cock and wrapped her fingers around it, stroking in time with Foster’s thrusts. “I want you, too.”

  “Same here, babe.” Dixon rose up to kiss her, but she pushed him back. “No. I want you right now. Fuck me.”

  Foster pulled back and Harlow took over, impaling herself on Dixon’s cock. Fuck. Incredible. Both of her men, so different, yet so in sync.

  She reached for Foster, his dick still slick with her desire. “You, too. I want you both, right now. Together. I want you coming inside me.”

  Foster hesitated. “You’re sure?”

  “Yes.” She leaned over, crushing Dixon to the bed as she bared her body to Foster. “Please.”

  He crowded behind her, cock pressed tight against her ass. “You can change your mind.”

  “I won’t.” Harlow urged him on, guiding his cock with her hand on his shaft. Harlow came again the second his cock slipped inside, the rush of sensation tipping her over the edge and into oblivion.

  Dixon and Foster took over, riding her pleasure, coaxing the orgasm on and on. She was the sacred vessel and they were the men worshipping at her altar, filling her up and spilling their seed as they came deep and unrelenting.

  Harlow cried out, another wave of pleasure cresting on the edge of the last as first Foster and then Dixon came. Every jet of release, every throb of their cocks was amplified, her body the only separation.

  Foster pulled back, his padded feet as he walked to the bathroom the only sound besides Harlow’s heart. It thudded in her ears, against Dixon’s chest, and through every vein. She’d never felt more alive. More complete. Satisfied.

  She eased onto her side and Dixon tucked her close, his beard a gentle tickle on her cheek.

  The damp chill of sweat cooling on her skin made Harlow shiver. “There’s a clawfoot tub in the bathroom.”

  Dixon smiled against her cheek. “Is it big enough for three?”

  “If we get creative.”

  “Hmm. Lucky for you, creativity is one of our specialties.” Foster’s voice made her smile. She turned to him as he scooped Harlow off the bed.

  “Foster!” She flailed as he lifted her in the air and pinned her to his chest. “Ladies first.”

  He carried her into the bathroom and perched on the edge of the tub before reaching down to turn on the water. As they waited for the tub to fill, Foster tucked a damp lock of hair behind her ear. “So what’s your plan for Monday morning?”

  Harlow raised an eyebrow.

  “A letter, a speech, a grand gesture? Have you figured out just how you’re going to quit?”

  Harlow laughed. “None of those things. I’m hoping to sneak in, grab my stuff, and be out before anyone even notices I was there at all.”

  Foster shut off the water and stood before lowering Harlow down into the tub. “The stealth quit, I like it.”

  “You do?”

  He reached for the soap with a grin. “Mm-hmm. Anything that gets you back to us quicker, I like.”

  Harlow leaned back and closed her eyes. Life didn’t get better than this.

  Chapter 28

  HARLOW

  The revolving door rotated on its axis and Harlow stepped inside just in time. This is last time I’ll be here. She still couldn’t believe it.

  Dixon and Foster wrote up a new contract the day before, explaining all the terms and giving Harlow an advance for the fifty percent stake MacSwift Development acquired in Crane Matchmaking.

  She had more money than she knew what to do with. She never needed to work a day job again. Foster and Dixon had complete confidence in their ability to turn her matchmaking company into a national success.

  They envisioned ultimate expansion into an app, online network, and even satellite offices where clients could come and meet face-to-face. It would be incredible. Everything Harlow wanted for her business but had been scared to go for. Now she had the capital to make it happen and a pair of businessmen who knew what they were doing to support her.

  She didn’t need this dead-end job. In fact, all it would do was hurt her.

  With a deep breath, she walked onto the elevator, men and women in suits squeezing in all around her as the doors closed. She hadn’t even bothered to dress for work, opting for jeans, a T-shirt, and a simple scarf. Who needed to dress up to quit?

  A minute later, the doors to her floor opened and Harlow eased through the crowd and off the elevator. The doors shut behind her and she exhaled. Here we go.

  She walked straight to her desk, an empty cardboard box tucked under her arm. Before Harlow could even take the lid off the box, a familiar sound made her smile. Bill appeared at the entrance to her cubicle, the jangle of the loose change in his pocket silencing as he stopped.

  “Nice of you to grace us with your presence.” He frowned, eyes darting from the cardboard box back to her face and back again. “Spring cleaning?”

  She smiled. “Nope.”

  Bill shifted on his feet and pushed his glasses back up his nose. “Is there something going on I should know about?”

  Before Harlow could respond, Leanne popped up over the edge of the cubicle, her eyes wide as she processed the scene. “Tell me that’s what it looks like.”

  Harlow nodded with a huge grin.

  “Yes!” Leanne raised her hand, about to high-five Harlow when she saw Bill. She turned the gesture into a small wave. “Hi, Bill.”

  “Leanne.” He nodded in her direction. “How’s the new project coming?”

  She sighed. “Totally on schedule, but that has nothing to do with Steve. He hasn’t contributed at all. You really should look into moving him to marketing. The man doesn’t know enough about coding to be in this department.”

  Bill’s frown deepened.

  “Did som
eone mention my name?” Steve sauntered up, forearms coming to rest on the top of Harlow’s cubicle.

  It was practically a going away party at this point.

  “Hey, Steve.” Harlow kept on cleaning up, tugging the photos of her matches off the wall and setting them inside her box.

  Steve took one look at her and let out a whoop. “So you finally did it. Way to go, boss. I told you she needed to be fired months ago.”

  Bill cleared his throat. “Harlow hasn’t been fired.”

  Steve’s mouth fell open. “No?”

  “No, I haven’t.” Harlow palmed her hip. “Is that really true? Have you been trying to get me fired?”

  “Uh, well…” Steve backtracked, eyes darting around as he tried to cover. “You have to admit you dropped the ball on that inventory project.”

  “And I picked it up, no thanks to you.” Leanne crossed her arms across her chest and glared at Steve. “All you did was bitch about your girlfriend and waste time.”

  Steve fired a cheap shot back at Leanne and the two of them got into it, trading barbs and raising their voices. The more they argued, the more color drained from Bill’s face. He almost looked green.

  Harlow interrupted. “Do you see what a mess this department is, Bill? You really need to get a handle on it. With me gone, you’re down a coder and Leanne can’t pick up the slack. She needs some help.” Harlow cast Steve a nasty glance. “Help that actually does the job.”

  “What do you mean, with you gone?”

  Harlow smiled. “I quit.”

  Bill’s eyes widened and he wiped at imaginary sweat across his brow. “You can’t quit. You’re… you’re…”

  “Good at my job?”

  “Necessary to the success of this department. I need notice. Time to hire a replacement.”

  Harlow raised an eyebrow. “I thought my work was subpar. That Steve could more than pick up the slack.”

  Bill opened and shut his mouth like a dying fish. “Are you going to a competitor? We can match their offer. Give you a raise.”

  “Don’t worry, Bill. I haven’t been poached. I’m leaving to focus on my own business.”