by Alice Gaines
I adjusted my gown and robe and let myself out of their cabin.
Chapter Three
If places retain the emotions of the people who go through them, passenger terminals must resonate joy and grief. All the reunions—lovers, parents, children walking into open arms. But trains took loved ones away, too. For me, this platform was, very literally, the end of the line for the relationship I’d enjoyed for the past two days.
Several yards away, Nigel and Tom stood at the baggage car, waiting for their luggage. I ought to join them. I could use my own suitcases as an excuse. My feet wouldn’t move in that direction, though. Without words, I’d said good-bye to them when I’d left their cabin the night before. I’d be damned before I’d exchange empty let’s-keep-in-touch-es with them. As short as our time together had been, it deserved honesty. Our relationship ended here, and the sooner I got used to that fact, the better.
Nigel spotted me and smiled. After elbowing Tom, he headed toward me. Shit, it appeared we’d have to exchange pleasantries, after all.
When he got to me, he took my hand. “You left last night. You should have stayed.”
“I would have crowded your bed.”
“We all would have fit.”
Tom joined us, tugging two rolling suitcases behind him. “There you are.”
“She was going to run away without saying good-bye,” Nigel said.
Tom tipped the bags on their ends and released the handles. “And, here I thought you’d respect us in the morning.”
“I do,” I said, much too loudly. “It’s just…”
Tom lifted my chin. “That was a joke, Cass.”
“I know. I…”
“I think she’s embarrassed, mate,” Nigel said.
“All right, I am.” They’d trapped me, and I might as well blurt it out. “I didn’t know that you two already had a relationship. I feel as if I intruded.”
“We didn’t,” Nigel said. “And you didn’t.”
“But last night…you couldn’t have been doing that…for me. You didn’t know I’d see.” Okay, now I was dithering. Nigel chuckled.
“That was our first time,” Tom added. “After our tryst at the castle, Nigel and I got to talking and figured why not try something new?”
“You gave us new ideas in more than one way,” Nigel. “Thanks, love.”
“It seemed to work out for you.”
Tom’s cheeks colored. “It was more fun after you got there.”
Something warm settled in my chest. Pride, definitely. Affection, too. They were two remarkable men.
“So, as a great man said once, where do we go from here?” Nigel said.
“You said that,” I said.
He grinned. “I thought it sounded familiar.”
“Enough. We don’t have enough time for clowning around,” Tom said. “Let’s talk geography.”
My heart fluttered. “Geography?”
“As in, how do we hook up again?” Nigel said.
Better and better. “Do you guys live in Australia or the U.S.? Or somewhere else?”
“The states,” Nigel said. “I’m an honorary Yank now.”
“Great.” I could hardly keep from dancing with joy. “East Coast, West Coast, center?”
“West Coast,” Tom said.
Hot damn. “Where exactly?”
“San Francisco.” They both said it at once.
“Oh, my God.” I tipped my head back and laughed. What were the chances?
“You find San Francisco funny?” Tom asked.
“I live in Oakland.”
“Oakland?” Nigel laughed, too. “You’re shitting me.”
“Nope. I live ten miles from you across the bay. I could probably see your house from Grizzly Peak.”
Tom reached into his jacket and pulled out a business card. After fumbling some more, he slapped Nigel on the shoulder. “Give me a pen, asshole.”
Nigel found a ballpoint in his coat and handed it to his friend. While I got a card from my wallet, Tom scribbled something. When we exchanged information, I found a phone number and e-mail address.
“We’d better go, or we’ll miss our plane.” Tom kissed my forehead. Nigel did the same on my cheek. Innocent. Domestic, even. Like two husbands leaving for work.
“See you in a couple of weeks, love,” Nigel said.
“Your side of the Bay Bridge or mine?”
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ISBN: 978-1-4268-3195-9
Menage on a Train
Copyright © 2009 by Alice Brilmayer
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