Rebecca felt that familiar rush of excitement wash over her at a new discovery. “Oh, what a treasure it is to have those.” She chose her next words very carefully. “I’m in the library sciences. My expertise is in special collections. Something like this would make a priceless exhibit.” Then she pressed her lips together and waited.
“I found them in my mother’s things when we moved her down to Florida last year. I was just going to put them in a book for safe keeping.” Olivia was quiet with her thoughts for a moment. “Where are you affiliated, Rebecca?”
Rebecca took a breath. “The New York Public Library.”
“Hmm.”
Gavin sighed. “I can practically hear you plotting, Olivia.”
Olivia ignored him. “Why don’t you take a look at them and tell me if they’d make a good exhibit. It would be great for the campaign to be associated with such a serious subject as tolerance.”
“And love. Don’t forget love,” Gavin added.
“Yes. Tolerance and love.” Olivia was grinning by now. “That sounds like a great title for an exhibit.”
Rebecca grinned too, wider than she had in a week. “I think it’s perfect!”
“Oh, we should have Hunter Railways sponsor it! OK, it’s too late to get into the details now, but why don’t you stay on a few days and get everything all sorted. I want to see what you have in mind for an exhibit. Of course I have my own ideas too…and I’d want Thomas involved.”
But Rebecca had plans to leave with Manny tomorrow to head back to the city to the apartment that wasn’t hers and the job that wasn’t in Special Collections. This was delicate. Coming right out and asking Olivia to unpull the strings she’d pulled to cut her department’s funding would probably get her escorted to the door. It was likely that a woman in Olivia’s position didn’t even know the details of the carnage her edict on fiscal conservatism had wreaked. Rebecca needed to put a viable proposal together, to have tangible evidence that her department was too valuable to be shut down even in a budget crisis. Currently the whole idea wasn’t any more than a whim. She needed more time.
Rebecca thought about the personal days she still had at work. She had to try, even if she risked losing her position in fundraising. “I can make arrangements to stay a few days.”
“How will you get home?” Manny asked.
“I can take the train,” Rebecca said, even as the thought of the unexpected cost made her stomach curl in on itself.
“I’ll drive you home,” Kyle said. “I wasn’t planning on heading back to the city for a few days anyway.” Manny shot Kyle a questioning look, and Kyle shrugged. “Don’t you trust me to get her home safe and sound?”
“You’d better.”
“Wonderful. It’s all settled then.” Olivia sighed. “Ah, what a beautiful evening.”
Rebecca noticed that Olivia’s hand had found Gavin’s as they both stared off across the shimmering lake. But Olivia’s phone rang and she swept out of his grasp to fish the phone from her pocket.
“Yes, Thomas.”
Gavin frowned. “For God’s sake, Olivia. They’ve had you all day.”
She waved her hand at him, continuing to speak into the phone. “No, sorry, someone was talking. What did you say?” Gavin threw up a hand in disgust as Olivia took the box and headed back to the house. Her voice sounded more like the Congresswoman Hunter who Rebecca remembered. “I see. What kind of statement is appropriate for this situation do you think?”
Gavin sighed and got up. “Good thing I thought to record the rest of the tournament.” He turned toward Kyle. “Your sister went out, so keep the exterior lights on for her when you come in.”
“Sure thing, Dad.”
Rebecca’s head spun with ideas about the exhibit. She needed to get some of it written down. She stood up and noticed Manny’s surprised expression. “As much as I’d love to hang out here with both of you, my laptop is calling me.”
Manny gave her a weak smile. “A woman on a mission, I know better than to get in the way of that.”
“Smart man.” She blew a playful kiss at him, feeling downright giddy over the prospect of pulling her job out of the dumpster.
“I’ll stop by to say good night if you’re still up,” said Manny.
She turned back with a wave over her shoulder. “I’d like that.”
* * *
Kyle watched Rebecca make her way across his backyard. Even in the waning light, she wouldn’t quit pulling his attention. Oh, yes, Kyle liked women. He had never doubted it for a moment. But he liked Manny’s women most.
“Hey, Kyle. You wanna stick your tongue back in your mouth, bro?”
Kyle turned to him and grinned. “She is really hot. That ass of hers is so tight and round, like two cantaloupes under that dress.”
“You’re a Neanderthal, do you realize that?”
Kyle leaned into his ear. “We’re alone now. Want me to get prehistoric with you?” He bit his earlobe and swiped his tongue slowly up the side. Kyle’s cock twitched to life with only a tiny taste of Manny. What he wouldn’t do for a mouthful of him.
Manny sucked in a breath, remaining perfectly still. Kyle was certain he would pull away; it had only been a joke after all and Manny had made it clear he wasn’t ready. But Manny leaned into him, brushing his cheek against Kyle’s as he spoke. “You really hurt me, you know.”
Kyle knew instantly he wasn’t talking about the nip on his earlobe. “I do know. I’m sorry.”
Manny’s eyes narrowed, the emotion in them naked and raw. “I remember that day from the photo when we went out on your dad’s boat. My mom had just been diagnosed that past week. Everyone thought going out on the lake was a good idea to take my mind off of it.” He swallowed and gazed out at the glassy surface of the lake. “If you ever shut me out of your life again…Fuck, man, you’re all I have now.”
Kyle’s heart splintered in his chest. “I know.” He kissed him softly behind the earlobe and again on his neck.
“I didn’t cry when my mother died. Too busy showing everyone I was OK and trying to prove I wasn’t a kid anymore. Not when I buried Nana either. Too many people around I barely knew.”
Kyle stroked the back of his head and kept kissing him with soft presses of his lips to his neck. He didn’t say anything, because what Manny needed was to be comforted, not forgiven for the tears Kyle knew had finally gathered on the rims of his hazel eyes. Manny didn’t need him gawking if they broke free of his lashes and streaked down his caramel skin. Though none of this made their future any clearer, Kyle just laid one soothing kiss after the next on the only person he knew he’d never risk hurting again.
Manny cleared his throat and wiped his eye, a twisted smile directed at Kyle. “Damn, I almost lost it there.”
Kyle kissed his temple. “Manny, it’s me. You can let go. I got you.”
Manny lowered his shoulders slowly and turned his head to the side, away from Kyle. His chest heaved and a mournful groan came from inside him, harsh, vulnerable, and wounded. Kyle kept hold of him, his fingers wrapped onto his shoulder, stroking his thumb up and down the back of Manny’s neck. He should have been there, like this, for Manny when Jeanette passed away, and the fact that he hadn’t would always haunt him.
When Manny shuddered and took a few more deep breaths, he turned back to Kyle. Darkness had fallen, and though no tears or redness could be detected, Kyle knew that for Manny the unthinkable had happened. But Manny was truly smiling now, albeit weakly, his white teeth catching what little light came from the landscaping.
“Another beer?” Kyle asked him.
“Better go ahead and bring the whole six-pack.”
* * *
Rebecca thanked God she’d thought to pack her laptop. The purpose had been to show Olivia the listings of important collections her department had assembled and catalogued for the library, but proposing an exhibit that centered on Olivia’s heritage was so much more persuasive.
She e-mailed Craig, who loved the
idea. But he had a hard time understanding how she’d come across the opportunity.
Exactly how did you get your hands on letters belonging to Olivia Hunter?
Rebecca tried to keep things vague. Her son is a friend of a friend.
I had no idea you had friends in such high places. Actually, I’ve never heard you mention any friends before. Work/life balance is what it’s all about!
Rebecca frowned at the screen. Craig was lecturing her on a work/life balance when half the reason she worked so hard was because he was too incompetent and disorganized to handle his own workload? What a crock! She smashed her lips together and beat her response onto the keys.
It’s a long story and none of your business, but I’m living with his best friend.
So there!
Craig’s message came after a few minutes. OK, just know that I won’t be asking the library for funding. You’ll have to pull this off on your own.
She expected nothing less from that coward. Won’t be an issue. Hunter Railways is sponsoring. Just be ready to cash their check. She closed the e-mail window then, finished with Craig and ready to get to work.
Another message appeared, and she sighed. Only this one was from Wilson. A selfie of him with a bottle of French Bordeaux appeared in the preview screen and the heading read: This one is worth the wait. I hope you are too.
She rolled her eyes and closed her e-mail out entirely. Talk about not taking a hint! She needed to set him straight, and fast. But there was no time for that now.
* * *
The ideas spilled across her keyboard. The letters would be photographed and put into a book of their own, referenced in chronological order. The originals would be mounted under glass on separate pedestals, maybe positioned in a circle to symbolize the couple’s unity. Maybe a circle within a circle, each pedestal lit with artifacts of the time, perhaps something personal to Olivia’s family.
Rebecca let out an excited squeal. Even if her job hadn’t been on the line, she’d have been head over heels for this project. Tolerance and Love: Letters of Romantic Perseverance. At least she hoped they were romantic. Great-grandpa may have been all about getting into his future wife’s bloomers for all she knew.
She read over her notes, barely able to contain herself. Nothing put her on top of the world like the love of her work. She sighed and rested her chin on her entangled fingers, catching a glimpse of the bright moon. No, that wasn’t quite true anymore, was it? Rebecca spied the time on her laptop. Near eleven. Manny hadn’t yet stopped by to say good night.
Perhaps she should save him the trip.
The two guest rooms they’d been assigned shared an adjoining bathroom between them. She walked through and pressed her ear to the door leading to his room. Nothing. She leaned on the sink, shoulders hunched in a moment of defeat, and noticed the sheer blue fabric peeking out from the neckline of her dress.
Blame it on the adrenaline rush left over from all of that creative energy—Rebecca would go with that if anyone ever asked—but the truth could be summed up much more simply: Rebecca was horny. Ugh, she always hated that word, but it didn’t make it any less true. Her condition, however, didn’t really have a simple cure. She was buzzing on inspiration, and self-service just seemed like a letdown. Rebecca needed the man who had her flying on the touch of his lips and wanting to stay cocooned against him forever.
She began to undress. Maybe, just maybe, this gorgeous piece of lingerie could tip the scales in her favor.
She turned the knob and pressed open the door to find the room empty and dark. She took one last look at herself and shut off the lights in her own room, then closed the door to the bathroom and climbed onto his bed. Problem one: she had no idea how long she’d have to wait for him. Problem two: how exactly was she supposed to arrange herself to look slutty, but not too slutty?
Ten positions later, she now had time to run through the positions she wanted to try with Manny. Oh my, how the mind wanders when left to its own devices in a dark, quiet room. Soon her fingers were wandering too. Then the door opened and the light from the hall was obscured by not one but two male figures. She blinked, because just like in the movies she thought it would help make sense of what she saw. Manny backed into the room with Kyle pressing him to the wall just inside the doorway, their breathing heavy, their mouths busy with the other.
Kyle closed the door with the sole of his shoe.
“I’m so shit-faced. Is this your room or mine?” Manny whispered on an urgent breath.
“Yours. It was closer.” Kyle’s hands slipped under Manny’s polo shirt, stripping it over his head and leaving his arms tangled with it. Their hips gyrated against each other while Kyle tore at the buttons of his own shirt. Rebecca could tell that their cocks rubbed hard and fast through the soft cotton of their pants. She watched in amazement as Kyle ran his tongue flat up the side of Manny’s neck and grabbed a nice big handful of Manny’s dick, like he owned it. Her pussy clenched, and she soaked her thong in what had to have been a new world record.
Manny bent his head, seeking Kyle’s mouth with his own and their tongues flowed with short puffs of desperation escaping their lips. Rebecca inhaled at the sight of them kissing so deeply. They were so consumed with each other. Kyle explored the ridges of Manny’s abs with his hands, and he dipped his head to capture Manny’s nipple in his teeth. Then she watched him nibble over his rib cage, exchanging nips with licks.
Manny let out a groan. His eyes were closed with his head tilted back.
Kyle’s eyes were open.
And he was looking right at her.
Rebecca realized she’d been frozen in shock, splayed in exactly the same come-hither pose she’d been keeping when the door opened. God help her, her tongue was paralyzed too. She stared at them, saying nothing, seeing everything. Thanks to the bright full moon, she didn’t even miss the slow, smoky smile that crept onto Kyle’s face.
Manny looked down at him. “I’m going to tell her about us.”
“Um, I don’t think that’s necessary.” Kyle reached toward the wall and tripped the light switch.
At the sudden blast of illumination they all cursed; the pain in Rebecca’s pupils was the least of her reasons for the outburst. Her first instinct was to cover herself, though that proved damned near impossible as her second instinct, to bolt, had her crossing the room to the bathroom door.
Manny looked horrified, his eyes darting from her to Kyle and back again. She tried the doorknob and goddamn it all to hell, that motherfucker was locked!
“Oh dear Lord, just shoot me,” she muttered, steeling herself to look back in their direction.
Kyle had already taken a few steps toward her and continued with a lopsided smile and hooded eyes. He held up his hands. “This isn’t exactly how it looks.”
“Really?” she said, wrapping her arms around her boobs as tightly as possible. “Because it looks like you two were about to have sex.”
Manny raked his hands though his hair. “No, no. I wasn’t…”
Rebecca nailed him with her stare. What, did he lose his tongue all of a sudden? Maybe it was still down Kyle’s throat.
She winced. Now that was uncalled for. She wasn’t judging him. She was licking her wounded pride and trying to leave with at least a smidgen of dignity. In a softer voice she admitted her defeat. “It’s really none of my business.”
Kyle spoke, surprising her with his close proximity. “I’m pretty sure Manny is crazy about you, so it kind of is your business.” He jiggled the knob and gave the door a nudge upwards. The door opened and he shrugged. “Sorry, it’s an old house.”
Rebecca pushed the door further with every intention of slinking into her adjoining room and burying her head under the covers. But wait—Manny was crazy about her? She swallowed, wondering what she was supposed to do with that little tidbit when she’d just caught him attached at the lips with another guy. Was it some kind of a joke? She searched Manny’s eyes for the truth.
“I…you
see…” Manny started, but he just couldn’t seem to finish.
“Forget it. You don’t have to say anything.”
He shoved his hands in his pockets and shook his head. “Fuck, I didn’t want you to find out like this.”
“Don’t…it’s my fault, really. I have no idea what I was thinking breaking in here to surprise you. Ahhh…well, it was a surprise, all right.” Rebecca tried for a joke of her own. “You said it was bad timing. I just didn’t listen. Let’s just pretend nothing ever happened.” She was sure a butterfly had caught in her throat. Her words stuttered across her tongue in a high-pitched rant, sounding as though they came from someone else. Hearing herself, she wished that they did.
Manny took a large step forward. “No. I am crazy about you. That might be hard to believe with what you saw, but it’s the truth.” He shifted. “Kyle and I…”
Kyle leaned forward. “Yeah, Manny? Kyle and I…” he repeated, prompting Manny to finish.
“We’re working through some unresolved stuff.”
Kyle blew out an exasperated sigh. “Oh, come on, Manny, just tell her that you want us both.”
Manny cursed and then scraped his bottom lip with his teeth. “It’s so wrong. I know.”
“To want us both?” Kyle shook his head. “Why is that wrong when we both want you?”
Rebecca threw up her hands. “Oh, this is nuts.” She started through the door again, but Kyle stepped into her way.
“What are you afraid of?” Kyle asked. “Does the idea turn you on?”
“What? No.”
“No?” He reached out and took her hand. Rebecca meant to pull it away, she really did. Only he smiled at her as if he knew that it wouldn’t matter. He already knew the truth.
Kyle squeezed her hand softly and began to walk her over to Manny. She went, thankful that he’d taken the initiative when she hadn’t found the courage.
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