Hat Trick

by Cerise DeLand

  I’m closing the business. The B & B too. Don’t love it any longer. Don’t need the money. Don’t want the hassle. Don’t want to be tied down.

  At that revelation, she trod water and smiled to herself. She knew she must look Looney Tunes loco.

  She dived under again and did four laps.

  As she climbed the three steps up to the deck, she wiped water from her face and saw her two lovers watching her at the doorway, smiles hitching up one corner of each man’s mouth, arms folded, powerful thighs braced against the wall.

  “Prettiest damn sight.” Trey licked his lower lip.

  “Venus rising from her pool,” Gage murmured as he picked up at pool towel and stepped to her to wrap it around her and scrub her hair as if she were a kid. “How are you, baby?”

  “I’m good!”

  “Yeah?” His blue eyes gleamed. “How’s that?”

  “I feel great. Shall I tell you?” She gave each man a kiss on the lips.

  “We’re all ears, cara. What’s happening?”

  “I’ve decided I am closing Sterling Events.” She told them why.

  “When?” both asked.

  “Soon. Now. Yikes!” She startled. “I forgot! Marilee Betterton!”

  “What? Who?” Gage asked.

  “A bride. Gets married next week! Oh my god!” She pulled away from them. “I’ve got to go!”

  “You’d better come back right afterward,” Gage insisted. “We have lots to tell you from our trip this morning.”

  They had gone to Brewster County and taken Jed Bainbridge and Carla with them to look once more at the other parcel of land they liked.

  “Oh, how was it?” Belle stopped to examine each man. Trey and Gage were ever so much more important than Marilee Betterton. “What did you think?”

  “Ah, no sneak previews,” Trey told her and turned her around to smack her ass. “Get out of here. Go see your client, cara!”

  “When you come back—” Gage wiggled his brows wickedly, “we’ll tell you. One thing though—“

  “Yeah?” She laughed. “What?”

  “You have to dress for the meeting.”

  She put one hand on her hip. “Do tell. What should I wear?”

  Trey pointed at her naked body. “That.”

  Gage winked. “Now get the hell out of here.”

  * * * * *

  Marilee brought her mama with her today for the first time.

  “Good to see you, Doreen,” Belle greeted the lady who had once tried to do her wrong with Walt before he and Belle were married. “Marilee has done a terrific job of planning this.” Belle smiled at the young woman who beamed back at her.

  “Thank you, Belle,” Doreen said. “I am very proud of her. She has chosen well and I want her to have all the advantages to starting off in her married life on a good foot.”

  “I think she has created a wedding that all of you are going to enjoy with her,” Belle told Doreen.

  For a few minutes, Belle answered Doreen’s questions about the bridal bouquet, the limo to the church and over to the country club. Finally, Belle went over the finances with them.

  “Marilee even kept within your budget, too, Doreen.”

  “I know you have helped rein her in, Belle. I would never have been able to do that. Mothers can’t say no, can they?”

  Belle stared at Doreen, then snapped her mouth shut. There was a kernel of truth here that Belle’s mind frantically searched for and suddenly, found. “You’re right, Doreen. That is tough. But we should declare what’s right for us, shouldn’t we?”

  Doreen nodded and laughed. “More often than we do!”

  Question is, can I?

  As mother and daughter left, Marilee headed out first. Doreen hung back.

  “Thanks Belle for everything with Marilee. I love her to death. But she is a handful. I knew you could help her. You have such a good handle on life.”

  Do I?

  “She told me what you told her a few weeks ago and I am grateful for that too.”

  “I’m sorry, Doreen. I-I just don’t know what you mean.” Am I brain dead? Or just blocked?

  “Your three rules for a happy life?”

  “My three rules.” Oh, wow. I had forgotten them.

  “Yes. ‘Love the man you marry. Love him so well that keeping only unto him is no hardship. And commit to doing whatever you each want in bed where all great marriages are made’.”

  My three rules. Useful to me my whole life with Walt. And now?

  Belle felt gutted by her own words. She let the other woman take her hand and shake it.

  “Wish I’d followed them when I was young.” Doreen smiled sadly, the corners of her mouth quivering in sadness. “I would have lived a happier life with one man I loved.”

  * * * * *

  Belle sat in her office for so long that the sun went down and the shadows gathered before she realized how dark it was.

  In her heart. In her mind.

  “If you can just pick this apart,” she demanded of herself, “you’ll see what’s true for you.”

  She got up and paced.

  Finally, she turned to her desk, pulled open a drawer and put her hands on the huge book she wanted. The faded, cracked white leather had gold lettering, Our Wedding. The pictures inside were of young, happy people and a young deliriously happy couple, she in white, he in black.

  “I loved you, Walt.” Belle ran her fingertips over his handsome image. “You were the best husband a woman could ever want.”

  But now you’re gone.

  I’ve changed.

  And I love two men, Walt.

  Two.

  She ran her fingers over her own image, age twenty, perky, red-haired and oh so eager to get into bed with the man she adored.

  And now, I love these two men.

  I don’t need to, don’t want to choose one to marry and hurt the other.

  Keeping to the two of them, being loyal to what we have would be an honor. A privilege.

  And heaven knows, committing to keeping them each happy in our bed never was in question. For me. Nor amazingly, for them.

  So there it is. My three rules.

  Belle closed the book and put it back in its drawer.

  Then she went to her computer to see if her three Cougar friends had responded to her.

  From Autumn, she got a message that made her put a hand to her chest in gratitude for the woman’s logic.

  Belle, baby, you must do what your heart tells you is right for you. How important is anyone to your daily life but the people you love? Neighbors, friends, even some family come and go. Who do you love, Belle? And who do you want to spend your days with?

  Let me know what you decide, Belle. Love you, Autumn.

  From Lori, she found another truth.

  Hi, Belle, I hear you thinking this over, worrying it to death. From the start of your decision to take the Challenge, you knew age had nothing to do with great sex. Now you know age has little to do with loving another person. Even two other persons. Accept that. Embrace it. Best to you, babe! Lori.

  And Rissa addressed the one question that troubled Belle’s heart.

  Oh, boy. Well, I didn’t get to tell my kids. Mariah figured things out and was very upset until she got to know JD. I think she was worried that my being with him would change our relationship. Robby never had a problem. He and JD hit it off from the get go.

  Don’t wait. Gage and Trey could get hurt, feel that you are embarrassed to be with them. Sit down with your son and tell him the facts. You are a woman in your prime, your life is far from over and you have the right to enjoy yourself. Make sure he understands that your relationship with him won’t change. That you will always love him. And tell him how happy you are with Gage and Trey. Knowing Mom’s happy will most likely be his primary concern.

  Belle knew Rissa was right. She’d never flinched from speaking frankly to her son about so many other facts of life. She wouldn’t turn away from the need to tell him now that
she loved two men. Two younger men.

  She shut down her computer and stood. Then she turned off the lights in her office, paused on the threshold to say goodbye silently to so much of her past thinking, and quietly closed the door.

  * * * * *

  At home, Trey stood out on the patio at the grill. Inside the kitchen, Gage had donned her pink apron once more, with clothes on beneath this time, and worked on a salad.

  “Hey, baby!” he called to her as she strolled in and threw her keys on the granite counter. “We were getting worried. Were you at the office all this time?”

  “I was,” she said and gave him a whole-hearted grin. “I missed you.”

  “Then get that pretty ass over here and prove how much.”

  Chuckling, she kicked off her high heels and strolled over to wind up plastered to his chest and feeling the way his cock rose hard against her pussy.

  “Mmm.” After a swell French kiss, she licked her lips. “You taste like you’ve been sampling the wares.”

  “Not yet, baby.” He ogled her. “But after dinner, you can bet on it.”

  With a grin, she turned on her heel and went out to kiss Trey hello. “Hi, honey. Ohhh,” she praised him as she inhaled the aroma of beef and shrimp fajitas, “you’re so good. Can I hire you?”

  Trey arced a dark brow. “To cook with you? Hell, yes, anytime, cara.” He whipped his hands and closed the cover on the grill. “Bring those margaritas out here, man. We have some fast talking to do.”

  “Give me a minute!”

  “Come sit down, Belle.” Trey led her to a group of three poolside chairs. “How was your bride?”

  Gage came out with a tray with a pitcher and three salted glasses. As he poured for them, she summarized the meeting. But knowing she was not yet ready to explain her intricate thinking on her three rules, she let that pass. She wanted to sit with it herself for awhile. Wanted to let what her Cougar friends had said sink in, too.

  “The mother didn’t have any words that referred to us?” Trey asked.

  Belle shook her head.

  “No intimations that she has heard rumors about us three? No insults?”

  “No,” Belle told them, realizing that lack for the first time. She smiled, not feeling relief, and realizing she was free of the bug-a-boo of what others thought. “Nothing. Doreen is not one to throw stones.”

  “Why is that?” Trey asked as he leaned forward.

  Belle lifted a shoulder. “Maybe because she knows she’s not perfect.”

  Gage raised his glass. “Here’s to Doreen. Long may she be rational.”

  Belle threw back her head and laughed, then toasted the woman, as well. “To all rational women.” Who do as they want. Take what they want. Know that they are only human.

  “Rational is definitely what we’re interested in here,” Gage said.

  “How so?” she asked as she settled back in her chair and sipped her margarita.

  Trey inhaled and looked at her, all business. “We had another look at that land in Brewster County and we have decided that is what we’re buying. All two thousand acres of it.”

  “Oh, Trey! Gage! That’s terrific!” She was so happy for them.

  Trey nodded. “We got the land reports from the engineer on that job, the water table reports and even met the county commissioner today. We are convinced this is the best spot to develop. We’re going to begin price negotiations as soon as Jed decides if he wants to go in with us on this or not.”

  “He doesn’t like the land?”

  Gage winced. “Well, Carla’s miffed at him and us that we don’t want her folks’ ranch for the project.”

  “Ouch.”

  Trey looked pained. “Yeah. That’s what we say, too. She was on a tear into him when we left them earlier. Hard to witness.”

  Belle scowled. “Carla wants what she wants. I hate to say it.”

  Trey huffed. “Well, it is damn true. Gage and I are grateful, cara, there isn’t a damn ugly bone in your body!”

  She guffawed. “Gee, guys. Thanks. I think. Besides, by now you do know my bones.”

  “Yeah.” Gage rolled his eyes. “And you know ours. Very well.”

  They had the first belly laugh together in days.

  “On that suggestive note,” she rose, “I think I’d better check your shrimp and beef, Trey.”

  “Ah, ah! You sit! I am cooking here tonight!” He shot to his feet. “Let me turn these and then we’ll tell her, Gage.”

  She examined Gage who had a mellow look in his blue eyes. Whatever it was they were going to discuss, it couldn’t be bad. They had been so wonderful these last few days, letting her think and not pestering her for a clue to her progress. “What’s on your minds?” she asked them as soon as Trey settled back in his chair.

  Trey lifted his glass at Gage. “Your idea so you talk. I’ll sit and enjoy the view.” He smiled at Belle.

  “If this land deal goes through, we want to get to work on this project quickly. Whether or not Jed goes in with us, we are committed to getting this up and working. It’ll be a very expensive operation and we cannot afford to make any mistakes.”

  Why was her heart sinking? You are leaving me? She froze in her chair.

  Gage saw her flinch and frowned. “Listen to me, baby.”

  Trey took her glass from her hands. “We’re losing her here, Gage. Talk faster.”

  Gage grasped her hand and pulled her to his lap. “Hey, darlin’, don’t assume. Stick with me now.”

  Tears gathered on her lashes. “I don’t want to lose you.” She’d lost Walt. She’d survived. But this? This joy. These two wonderful men. They had made her life so full, so exciting. Could she part with them and live? She couldn’t grab a breath.

  “Sweetheart.” Gage lifted her chin. “Oh baby, don’t cry.” He rocked her in his arms.

  She dropped her face into the crook of his neck and wanted to sob.

  “We want you to come with us,” he told her. “Move to Brewster County with us! Live with us. Love us.” He whispered as he pushed her back and brushed tears from her cheeks.

  She heard a buzzing in her ears. She shook her head, not understanding.

  “I love you, baby. More than I could ever imagine loving anyone. Trey has told you how he feels the same way about you. I’ll let him show you in minute how much he cares. But now you listen to me.” He gripped her arm and gave her a little shake. “We want you to come with us. And more, we want you to work with us.”

  She sniffed back her tears. “Work?”

  “Sure! You’re closing up shop, right? No more wedding bell blues for you, true?”

  She nodded. “Right. I am done. I definitely am. All these brides can figure it out on their own.”

  “There you go!” Gage tapped her on the tip of her nose.

  “What do you say, Belle?” Trey asked, his fingers gathering hers and caressing hers.

  “What would I do?”

  “Be our manager. Our CEO. We pay very well and there will be great benefits, cara,” Trey promised with a tempting glint in his eyes. “Will you come live with us and be our love?”

  ‘“And we will all the pleasures prove?’ Marlowe!” She chuckled through the remainder of her tears. “Only from you two can I get Christopher Marlowe’s love poetry, logic and a damn good proposition, all in one cocktail hour!”

  “So what’s your answer, baby?”

  Chapter Eight

  By Friday night at ten when Clay and his girl walked through the door, Belle greeted her son with a big kiss. And a case of nerves that had eaten at her sanity all day.

  “Sweetie!” She gathered him into her arms and hugged the stuffing out of him. “Let me see you.” She cupped his face. Walt’s spitting image. Tall and sturdy. Dark and beautiful. Like a young Pierce Brosnan. “God, honey, you look as tired as hell! I am so glad you’re here and we can feed you till you pop and let you sleep!”

  He chuckled and swung her round, then planted a big smacker on her lips. “Mo
m, I plan on eating your biscuits and gravy and laughing with you like a fool. Damn! You look great! So good to be home. The plane was a tuna can, and June and I had seats near the bathroom!”

  Belle made a face.

  “Yeah,” Clay said, “My opinion, too.” He undid himself from her arms. “Let me introduce you to June.”

  My god. Belle put a palm to her chest. Her son’s choice for a bride was a stunning creature. Amber hair. Blue eyes. Slender as a model. With a big wide smile and a gracious walk and manner. She put her hand out. “Mrs. Sterling. How wonderful to meet you.”

  “The pleasure is mine, June. Come in. Do.” She looked at their backpacks. “Let’s get the rest of your luggage.”

  “We can help, Belle.” Gage stepped forward.

  Trey was right beside him.

  Belle introduced them all and everyone shook hands. “Gage and Trey are staying in two of the bedrooms upstairs. B&B.”

  Hell! Her voice was quavering.

  Clay nodded and smiled. “Mom told me she had guests. Glad to meet you.”

  “Luggage?” Trey pointed to Clay’s rental in the driveway.

  “No. No more.” Clay looked from Trey to Gage and over to Belle.

  Does he suspect already? My eagle-eyed boy.

  “June and I brought only a few things in our packs. Just for tonight and tomorrow we figured we wouldn’t need a lot.”

  “Right.” Belle said, flapping her arms. “So. Let’s shut the door.” Oh, good, now I sound like a first grade teacher. See Belle look stupid. “Would you like something to eat?”

  “No, thanks, Mom.” Clay set his pack down at the door and June did the same. “We ate in San Antonio just after we left the airport. But a drink would be great.”

  “What would you like?” She beat a retreat to the kitchen.

  The four of them seemed to be frozen in the living room. Puppets waiting for the master puppeteer.

  “Actually,” Clay said, “I’d love a margarita.”

  Belle hadn’t made a ’rita in so long she was at a loss and looked at Gage, dumbfounded.

  “Can I do the honors?” He picked right up on her need.