by Mia Allen
After a short nap in each other’s arms, Damien takes Emma to the shower for a new round of lovemaking. The pair is reluctant to leave the room, but Vegas calls and there is always tonight. They find that they are ravenous and attack the all you can eat buffet. Gambling, drinks, another buffet, and Celine on stage rounds out the day. Emma and Damien then retire to their room for another night of ecstasy.
A stroll down the Vegas strip, gambling at another casino, caricatures on the street corner and a Britney concert round out their trip. Emma is exhausted, but gloriously happy as they leave for the airport. Damien can’t seem to keep his hands off of her and she giggles as they board the plane. Maybe the mile-high club is in her future.
Chapter 5
Emma returns to work with a smile on her face. Everyone comments on the sparkle she exudes and wants to know what brought it on. Emma is tight lipped, keeping her affair with Damien a secret from her coworkers. However, she can’t resist calling her best friend and going over every detail of the weekend. Emma’s friend wants to know if Damien has a brother for her.
An obscene number of flowers are delivered to Emma’s office along with a huge box of candy. She shares the candy with everyone, but keeps the graphic note that comes with it to herself. Damien is requesting a repeat of their last night in Vegas, to be reenacted at his home. Emma is more than ready for it.
Jonas meets Emma for lunch and notices the glow she emits. He is happy to see that she is enjoying life again, but wishes he could be the one putting the smiles on her face. It is going to happen at some point, he promises himself. Emma is full of stories about Vegas. She exudes enthusiasm about the lights, food, gambling, and shows. She carefully leaves out the nights of sex. After all, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Jonas isn’t fooled. He can read between the lines and guess at the things she is leaving out. He is young, with a big imagination. He also knows what he would have been doing with Emma on a trip like that.
That afternoon, Jonas is once again working on Emma’s lawn. Today he is replacing the flowers around the tree out front. Emma returns from work and finds him shirtless as usual and accepting a glass of lemonade from her fawning neighbor. She waves at them and quickly hurries inside to change, grab Patches and join the pair on the lawn. Emma is confused to find herself jealous once again upon seeing the neighbor’s hands caressing Jonas’s chest. Emma believes her relationship with Damien should take away her attraction to Jonas. Apparently, that’s not happening. She allows Patches to run between Jonas and the young neighbor, effectively separating them. The neighbor takes the hint and goes home.
Jonas smiles from ear to ear when Emma begins to help plant the flowers. He knows that Emma must be feeling something for him if she is willing to cause tension between herself and a neighbor. Jonas allows his hand to brush over Emma’s while they dig in the dirt. A jerk of her fingers signals that she feels the same tingle of nerves as Jonas. He is finally making progress and wants more. Soon he hopes to make Emma his. Jonas is a restless young man in need of a sexual relationship. The young college girls and their one night stands just don’t satisfy him anymore.
Emma and Jonas wash the dirt from their hands at the kitchen sink. Jonas feeds a yapping Patches as Emma orders pizza. She is free to eat pizza and play Nintendo games with Jonas because Damien has a business meeting. Jonas takes full advantage of the evening, flirting and bringing smiles to Emma’s face. He stays late in the hopes that she will suggest he stay the night since he needs to work at other homes on the street tomorrow. Emma doesn’t oblige and it is time to go. Jonas shocks her with a kiss on the lips as he is leaving. In parting he says, “Just think about it. See you tomorrow.”
Emma touches her lips with her fingers, wondering at the sensation still running through them. She can’t believe the kiss actually happened. Emma knows that she has an attraction to Jonas, but she is surprised to find that he is interested in her. Wow, what a rush. Emma has two younger men wanting her. She isn’t sure how that can happen. She sure isn’t going to fight it. This is going to be fun.
Emma falls asleep imagining all the scenarios that can happen with two men fighting over one woman. The dreams are vivid and cause a longing she doesn’t want to deny. Emma first dreams of her nights with Damien, waking up in a sweat. She lies awake fighting the urge to call him and ask him to join her. Eventually she returns to sleep and her dreams involve Jonas. She imagines his work worn hands caressing her body and his gray eyes shining as he enters her. She awakens from the dream breathing fast and yearning for more. No longer able to sleep, Emma grabs her laptop and goes to work. Editing a children’s book is sure to take her mind off of men.
The next couple of weeks is extremely busy for her and Emma is able to keep her dreams at bay. She barely has time for a few quick dinners out with Damien. She also manages to avoid Jonas and his ever-stronger hints most days. Thank goodness for work. What Emma needs is a break from all the tension. She calls her best friend and invites her to spend a weekend at the lake house away from men. They can laze around the lake, get tan, each junk, and watch chick flicks. No men are allowed except for Patches and her friend’s little dog.
Neither man takes the news of Emma’s departure well. She only tells them she needs time to relax. She refuses to tell them where she is going or that anyone is going with her. Emma gets a kick out of the looks they give when she reminds each of them she isn’t answering her phone all weekend.
Damien demands he be allowed to provide wine and snacks for Emma’s weekend. He also presents her with a bouquet of flowers to remember him by.
Jonas begs to come along, but Emma refuses to let him. He shrugs and gives her a book to read. She tries not to laugh when she looks at the cover. It is a young man in the throes of passion with an older woman. Jonas is very direct in his hints. No mixed messages from him.
Emma is relieved to be on her way. She picks up Beverly, her friend, and they turn the radio up and sing along as they drive to the lake. It’s good to be free.
Chapter 6
The sun feels glorious on her face as Emma sets the patio furniture out. It is a little musty after having been in storage since her husband’s death. The sun and lake breeze is sure to remedy that quickly. Beverly brings Emma a cold soda and they sit and watch the boats on the lake. A calmness comes over Emma and she relaxes, allowing herself to leave her worries behind.
Beverly sees Emma’s face relax and is glad. She knows Emma’s life is getting a little crazy. Emma confides everything to Beverly. This is a much-needed break, although Beverly is sure she would like to have two young men after her. And the sex that Emma describes having with Damien sounds fantastic to a lonely Beverly. If Emma grows tired of either man, she will gladly take him on.
The evening is filled with a funny movie, a game of cards and lots of snacks. The women enjoy a glass of Damien’s wine while watching the moon rise. They make a toast to Emma’s deceased husband for providing the lovely lake house.
Morning coffee is served on the patio along with some wonderful pastries that Beverly brought. The women put on their bathing suits, grab towels, lounging chairs and books, and head for the lake. They jump in the lake and scream with shock and laughter at the coldness of the water. A quick swim and then it’s back to the chairs to lay in the sun and read. The breeze dries their wet skin and the sun grows hotter. Afraid of sunburn, Emma suggests they go inside. She checks her phone and finds that the men didn’t heed her warning. There are several missed calls from each of them. Neither leaves a message.
Beverly wants to have lunch at the tiny cafe on the hill above the lake. It’s a great idea and the ladies decide to get some exercise by walking to the cafe. Their salads are delicious and the strawberry shortcake they have for dessert is even better. On the way back to the lake house Emma spies a little shop that is filled with handmade gifts. She finds gifts for the men and an adorable collar for Patches. Both she and Beverly discover beautiful hand-stitched skirts they must have.
Emm
a’s phone rings as she is gathering the food to cook on the patio grill. It’s Damien and she ignores it. As she and Beverly sit down to eat, it rings again. This time it’s Jonas. Emma shakes her head and asks Beverly, “Why can’t they let me have this time alone? They have lives too and I allow them to enjoy them without interference. I know that Jonas is dating and having sex. Damien might also be seeing other people for all I know. That’s their business. I would like to be given the same courtesy.”
Beverly answers, “I’m not sure why they can’t allow you a few moments of peace. I’ve always thought that men are like dogs. They have to mark their territory and if another dog comes along trying to take it over they have a pissing contest and the winner takes all. Maybe that’s what Damien and Jonas are doing. Since Damien has declared you his territory, Jonas is trying to mark you as his and Damien is worried it will work. I wish you luck with the pair of them.”
Emma isn’t so sure that either man wants anything permanent. She isn’t even ready for that. The lake house is proof of that. Everywhere she looks is something that her husband bought or that they decorated together. His clothes are still in the closet. His fishing boots are on the patio. There are wedding pictures on the fireplace mantle, reminding her of their love. Emma needs to bring Jonas and clear out the house. He can keep whatever he wants and she can redecorate, making the house her own. She refuses to sell this house. She is the one who picked it out and she loves it. Brushing tears from her eyes, Emma pushes the past from her mind and declares it time to get drunk, make fun of old movies, and battle it out in a long game of monopoly. Tomorrow is soon enough to come back to reality and deal with her men, both past and present.
Beverly chooses to sleep in while Emma takes one last dip in the lake before they head home. Emma notices there is someone at the house next door. She is surprised, since it has remained empty the entire time she has been coming to the lake. Emma waves at her new neighbor and he waves back. She walks over to say hello and introduce herself. His name is Mike. He appears to be about 45 and has a kind and friendly face. Emma asks to meet his wife and is saddened to learn that he is a widower. It seems he is selling his home in the city and moving permanently to the lake. He is a writer and enjoys being on the water. Emma gets his attention when she tells him she is an editor. They continue to talk until Emma hears Beverly calling out to her. She shakes Mike’s hand and walks away. This is the type of man she wanted to find at the singles bar.
Beverly drives them home while Emma dozes off. Her dreams have a new addition. She is sailing off into the sunset with Mike. Emma sits up, turns on the radio, and wipes Mike from her mind. Her life is confused enough.
Chapter 7
As Emma pulls up to her house, she is frustrated to see Jonas’ car in the driveway and Damien sitting on the steps. She takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly, praying for the patience to deal with the two young men at once. To her shock, the front door opens and Jonas walks out bringing Damien a beer. Both men come to help Emma get her things out of the car. They welcome her home with hugs and kisses without fighting. In fact, they are very polite to each other, as if they bonded while Emma was away.
Damien walks a bouncing Patches while Jonas leads Emma into the dining room where the table is set for three. Delicious smells come from the kitchen. At Emma’s questioning look, Jonas announces, “Damien and I made supper. We’re having spaghetti, garlic bread, salad and chocolate cake. I made my famous pasta sauce.”
Damien steps in and declares, “I made the cake. We wanted to welcome you home and let you know you were missed.” He pulls out a chair and motions for Emma to sit down. Jonas puts a plate of food in front of her and Damien pours her a glass of wine. Emma is beginning to think she is in an alternate universe. This is so surreal.
Dinner conversation revolves around Emma’s time away. The men want to know where she went. Emma gives in and tells them all about going to the lake house with Beverly. She tells Jonas, “We need to go back there and pack up your dad’s things. I want to spend more time there, but it hurts to see the life we shared everywhere I look. You can keep any of his things that you would like, even some of the furniture. I need to redecorate and make it mine.”
Jonas replies, “I guess it is time to take care of that. It’s the last of dad’s properties. It sounds like you want to keep it. Dad would have liked that. We can go anytime you want.”
Damien asks, “Can I help pack things up, or is it too personal for outsiders?”
Jonas answers before Emma can. He says Damien is welcome to join them. Emma is more surprised as the evening goes on. Whether the guys are getting along for her sake or they are genuinely friends, she doesn’t know, but it’s nice to enjoy a quiet night with them both.
After dinner, the group head to the living room to make plans for going to the lake house. Jonas reminds Emma that his college graduation is on the upcoming Saturday. She is happy and excited for him and of course she is attending. Damien asks what Jonas’s degree is in and becomes intensely excited to learn it is in sports medicine. He asks, “Would you consider working with my fitness centers? I have thirty spread out over the U.S. and I am going to open two here. The first is in the planning stages now.” Jonas is thrilled with the offer. Damien is leaving on a business trip on Tuesday, but will be back on Friday. They can discuss it more on his return.
Emma crawls into bed with her mind whirling. This is by far the strangest evening she has ever had. She isn’t feeling overwhelmed by the men fighting for her attention. Instead, Emma is relaxed and content. Maybe her life is smoothing out. She has great hopes for the future. Emma falls asleep and dreams of happiness.
Emma spends Monday night at Damien’s home. It is lovely, though masculine. He woos Emma with flowers, wine and caresses. During dinner, his hand slides up her leg to set the tone for the rest of the night. Emma awakens sated and gives Damien a kiss goodbye that reminds him of what will be waiting when he returns from his trip.
Tuesday, Jonas calls and asks Emma out on a date. She hesitates before replying. Is it wrong to date your stepson? It’s not like she raised him. He’s an adult. She isn’t in an exclusive relationship with Damien, so why not. Emma tells Jonas yes. He tells her to dress very casual.
Emma is glad she took Jonas’ advice to dress very casual. She fits right in at the college bonfire wearing jeans, a tank top and flats. The bonfire is a last blowout celebration for those graduating. The music is loud, beer kegs are in abundance, and dancing is a must. Emma loves it. Young men flirt with her and the girls act as if she is one of them. Jonas shows her a good time. They dance, drink, and kiss the night away. Emma likes the feeling of being in Jonas’s arms. Her misgivings about dating him are gone. Making out with a handsome young man in the shadows of a blazing bonfire brings back fun memories. Emma definitely isn’t feeling old tonight.
Thankfully, Jonas doesn’t ask to come home with her. Emma isn’t quite ready for sex with him yet, although she is considering it. Damien and Jonas are awakening a part of Emma she never knew existed. It is a powerful and heady feeling. Being a cougar is great for the sex drive.
Jonas’s graduation is held in the college football stadium. Emma is seated high in the stands. She cheers loudly when Jonas’ name is called. She is so proud of him for switching colleges to be near her after his dad’s death and for finishing his education despite grieving. Emma is treating Jonas to a celebratory lunch because he is spending the evening with his fellow graduates. She is saving her gift, a trip to the Bahamas, for tomorrow. Hopefully, the gift is a welcome distraction from the sad act of sorting through his dad’s belongings.
Chapter 8
Jonas is driving a small moving truck when he pulls up to Emma’s house on Sunday. He explains that it is for any furniture he wants to keep. It can also be used to take unwanted old furniture to the dump. Emma praises Jonas for thinking ahead. Damien arrives and decides to ride in the truck with Jonas. They can discuss Jonas working for the fitness centers on the wa
y to the lake house. Emma takes her car which is loaded with boxes to pack stuff in.
The group starts work immediately upon arrival at the house. Clothes are packed for donation except for a sweatshirt from Jonas’ dad’s college. This he wants to keep. Books are separated into boxes for keeping or giving to the library. A few of Emma’s favorites are left on the shelves. At lunch, they take a break for sandwiches and sodas. Emma chooses this time to present Jonas with his gift. He loves it, picking Emma up, swinging her around, and planting a kiss on her lips in thanks.
After their break, Damien and Jonas begin loading furniture into the truck. The things Jonas plans to keep go on first, then the one’s destined for the trash are put on the back for easy access. Emma is packing pictures and tossing outdated canned food. Everyone is hot and sweaty. A swim in the lake sounds amazing. The guys jump in wearing the shorts they came in. Emma keeps a bikini in the lake house for these occasions. She joins the men after changing.
Laughter abounds as the trio conduct races and a game of hide and seek under the water. Only Jonas notices when Emma climbs onto the dock holding her leg. He leaves Damien in the water and pulls himself up next to Emma. She is crying and in pain. Jonas can see a muscle bunched up in her calf. He picks her up and carries her into the house. Jonas carefully lays her on the couch and draws her leg into his lap. He uses his knowledge in sports medicine to work out the knot gently. As Emma’s leg relaxes, the massages turn to caresses and Jonas’s hand roams up her leg. She doesn’t protest when his fingers push aside the bikini bottoms and touch the prize underneath. Jonas takes more liberties and allows his finger to enter Emma. She is hot and wet. Her legs spread further, offering better access. Jonas takes the hint, unties the sides of the bikini and replaces his fingers with his tongue. One handed, he reaches down and pulls off his shorts. Damien enters the room and is instantly turned on by the scene. He takes one of Emma’s breasts in each hand, lifting them out of the tiny bikini top. Emma moans and writhes on the sofa. She holds Jonas’s head in place as she climaxes.