Help Line (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour ManLove)

by H. D. Nels

  The aroma of fresh cooking filled the air. Ian noticed the dining room table had been set for formal dining. His breath caught when Colby came in to greet him. The man looked gorgeous in his chinos, button down shirt that brought out the green in his hazel eyes, and an apron. The smile was dazzling. He mentally stripped Colby of everything but the apron, then quickly tried to think of anything to quell the growing arousal.

  Colby walked over and gave him a hug. He raised his eyebrows when he felt the firmness of Ian’s crotch press against his own. Brody smiled knowingly when Colby’s ears reddened and Ian quickly broke the embrace.

  “T-thank you for the reference. I met with Greg Holden today.” He glanced at Brody. “This fine young man gave me a ride there and back. I start tomorrow. The pay is good, the work is physical, and they plan to train me for more challenging things over time. I now have a place to live, a job and two amazing friends. Next step I guess is to adopt a pup, but maybe I should wait. If I get established, you may want me to get a place of my own. Come on, I’ll get dinner served.”

  Colby walked to the kitchen and Brody leaned toward Ian. “He gave you a boner, didn’t he? I know that look you get when you’re aroused, and I saw the surprise on his face when you hugged. He turns me on, too. I like having him around.”

  “Handsome, handy, and a marvel in the kitchen. Where did you learn to cook like this?” Ian was impressed with the meal and the decent chardonnay Brody bought to complement the food.

  “You forgot hung—handsome, handy, hung and a marvel.” He paused when the other two stopped to stare at him. “What? I accidentally watched him stroking himself the other night. It was something to behold.” He sent a mock-glare to Colby. “Don’t go blushing. I told you we all do it. Get used to having someone to share those experiences with. You’re not going to be single forever.”

  Ian was about to take a bite of his meal but stopped, fork almost to his mouth. He slowly set it down. “Is there something going on between you two? I’d rather you be up front with me so I don’t feel as though I’ve been kicked later on.”

  Colby shook his head while Brody nodded. “Mixed messages here, maybe we’ll have this discussion another time.” Ian felt his heart chill.

  Ian made his way upstairs while the other two cleaned up and went to play video games. He knew how easy it would be to fall in love with Colby. He also knew he was crazy mad about Brody. He didn’t want to lose his man, but wasn’t even sure if Colby felt the way Brody seemed to. He lay close to the edge of his side of the bed and pretended to be asleep when his boyfriend finally came in. He felt the kiss on his cheek and heard the sigh. It wasn’t long before Brody’s breathing was slow and even. It took a lot longer before Ian fell off to sleep.

  * * * *

  It had been a little over a month after Colby started his job. For the first time he looked sullen when he came home. He’d snapped at Ian when he asked if there was something wrong. Even Brody got a glare when he tried for a hug. Dinner had been a subdued occasion and Colby quickly cleared the table and stormed up to his room to read.

  Ian asked, “Did you two have an argument? He looks as if he emerged from a lover’s spat on the losing end.”

  Brody frowned. “You know as much as I. And as far as I know, people have to actually be lovers before they can have a lover’s spat. Where did that shot come from?” He was getting angry. Ian had been cool for a while, and at first, Brody wondered if it was his imagination. Ian’s comment suggested it wasn’t.

  “I don’t know. It seems that you’re more into our houseguest than you are to me. It hurt when Rene pulled his stunt and I’m not a sucker for punishment. I don’t want to experience that same shit with you.” Ian hadn’t realized he’d raised his voice.

  Brody stood to walk away. He turned back. “You seem to be so caught up in yourself and Rene. If I was only a rebound cushion you did a good job of making me feel special. If you still love the guy, tell me now and I’ll get myself an apartment. This tension is taking all the magic out of our home.”

  They both stopped when Colby spoke. His voice was even but firm. “I had a fucking bad few days at work. An asshole doesn’t like fags. We had words today—I’m sorry I brought it home. You’re both good together. If anyone should leave it’ll be me. I didn’t mean to cause anything between you. I’ll start looking for a place tomorrow.” He turned and slowly walked upstairs.

  Brody was about to turn to Ian, to chastise him for driving this wonderful man away. He bit his tongue when he saw the hurt and pain on Ian’s face. He walked to him and wrapped his arms around Ian. Ian kept his arms at his sides making no effort to return the hug.

  “You’ve fallen in love with him, too, didn’t you? He’s so easy to love. You should know that I don’t love you any less than ever. Are you angry because you think he may have chosen me over you? Let me set the record straight. We may both love him, but Colby is afraid of his feelings. He’s done nothing deliberately to show that he cares for us. Until just now. This is complicated, but if we keep our cool we’ll be able to figure it out.”

  Ian sighed. “I don’t want either of you to leave. I’m sorry I’ve been a jerk. Rene means nothing to me now, and he’d never come close to how I feel about you. Hell, I even have stronger feelings for Colby than I ever did for Rene. Let’s go talk to him.” He took Brody’s hand and led him upstairs. They knocked gently on the bedroom door.

  Colby’s eyes were red but he sniffed and held his chin up. “I like it here with you. Benny saved my life, but you’re both helping me live it. I’ll miss that, but I can’t come between you.”

  Brody looked at Ian and nodded. Ian said, “We don’t want you to leave. I don’t want Brody to leave. We’re good together, the three of us. Seeing you angry brought up my own insecurities.”

  Brody added, “Having you here seems to make our home feel more complete. We’ve got to get through our first Christmas together. Then there will be birthdays and vacations together. These are all special times that are best shared by three gorgeous men who happen to like each other—a lot.”

  “Tell us about the asshole at your work. Maybe we’ll have some suggestions to help you cope.” Ian was channeling Benny.

  Colby led them downstairs where they all sat. “The boss apparently told someone I was friends and living with you. Some of them apparently knew you’re gay and made assumptions, correctly, that I’m on your team. There’s only one guy who makes a big deal of it. I’m sure others get a kick out of some of his comments. Well, today I bit back and the boss heard. He didn’t say anything but I think I may be in shit. It’s a good job and I do my share, pretty darned well if I say so myself. I’d hate to lose it. I’m tired of comments about being so gay I probably squat to piss, or my skills as a cocksucker.” The guys noticed he was getting angry again.

  “I work in a gay bar and sometimes we get people in who like to make trouble with comments like those. I usually remind them that there are laws against such provocation. But often enough when I remind them of the stigma they’d live with after getting beaten up by a fairy, they back off.” Brody flexed his muscles before pounding a fist into his other palm.

  Ian reflected on the conversation with Sheila about sexual harassment. “If you’re like me, you don’t want to run to the boss. He may have seen this one occasion, but you might want to tell him about others. If this is happening to you, chances are others are getting abuse from this guy. The business has a legal obligation to deal with these things.”

  They left the conversation there and everyone got off to bed. Ian felt pretty confident that neither of his guys were going to move out. My guys—Brody was right. I do love them both. The beauty is I’ve got enough to go around. I wonder how it will work out if I act on it? He fell into a peaceful dreamless sleep.

  Chapter Eleven

  Angus George was in the reception area when Ian showed up for work. He had another man with him, and both were grinning like fools.

  “Ian Lawlor, I’d like
you to meet my brother-in-law, Greg Holden. He hired Colby Graham on your recommendation. Can we go to your office?” Angus was still grinning.

  Ian put on coffee and brought his chair around to sit with the two men. “How’s Colby making out? From our conversations, it’s clear he likes his job.”

  Greg said, “He’s great. He was quiet at first but eager to learn. We had an incident that I observed.” He flashed a grin and continued. “Yesterday, one of our senior guys made a comment to Colby. Along the lines of, ‘Hey cocksucker, we need to get a skid ready for immediate pickup.’ I was going to ream the guy a new one when Colby said, ‘Olsen, you asshole—shhh, I’m trying to cut down.’ He kept his voice level but Olsen looked at him, stunned. Apparently, nobody called him on his shit before.” He chortled. “We all fell apart at how calm Colby was in dealing with an intolerant idiot. When he gets to work today, I’m going to offer him a foreman position. He knows how to handle all aspects of the job, including managing difficult employees.”

  Ian felt a disproportional sense of pride. “He was pretty angry last evening. He said this had been going on for a while. How do you think this Olsen character will feel when a junior employee gets promoted?”

  “I’ll deal with that. I’ve got a scrum booked before lunch. I’ll make the announcement then, as well as having everyone scheduled for appropriate workplace behavior refresher courses. I wanted to thank you in person for the referral and give you an example of how Colby lives up to your reference. I’ve got to get back now. Pleasure to meet you, Ian. Feel free to refer anyone. If I don’t have an opening, I’m sure I’ll know of someone who does.”

  Ian and Angus talked about some work that Ian wanted to have done for the center. He gave Angus the specifications and timeline and walked him to the door. He sat back with his hands behind his head, wishing like heck he could spread the word. It was Colby’s to tell, and it would be done over a very special dinner. Brody was off from the bar, working his day shift at the housing developer. That was another situation handled adeptly by a man he loved. He called to book a reservation at Earls on Stephen Avenue. Good news should be shared without the distraction of anyone having to cook or clean up. He’d have a hard time staying focused on work.

  At long last, it was time to get home to meet up with his men. Brody was already home and rummaging through the kitchen for dinner ideas. Colby was due anytime. Ian walked over and slid his arms around Brody’s waist. He kissed his neck. “We’ve got reservations for dinner out tonight. How about booking a cab for six-thirty while I grab a quick shower and change?”

  Colby came in with a wide smile when Ian started up the steps. He turned and said, “Get showered and changed. We’re eating out tonight, my treat.” He waited until Colby greeted Brody and joined him to go upstairs. “We’re going to have a night on the town. A special dinner and maybe catch a play at Uptown Theatre. Liisa’s ready to debut her creation.”

  They made small talk during the ride to the restaurant. An elegant, young hostess escorted them to their table. Ian had requested a quiet, intimate corner near the fireplace. Ambiance was important. A waiter whom Brody knew from Chaps took their drink orders. Once served, Ian offered a toast. “To long-lasting friendships, love, and happiness.” They touched glasses and sipped.

  Brody turned to Colby. “Spill it, mister. You’ve got a shit-eating grin which tells me something good happened. Did you get laid?” He frowned. “You better not be cheating on us. What’s got you so spry?”

  “Oh nothing, other than a promotion and raise.” He continued with the story. Ian smiled and Brody guffawed when Colby told them about how he dealt with Olsen’s cocksucker comment. They enjoyed another toast as their meals arrived. It had been a pleasant evening. Colby tilted his head and looked at each of his companions. “I guess this would be considered my first date. Who would have figured it to be with a man, let alone two?” He narrowed his eyes. “I don’t put out on a first date.” The three fell apart laughing.

  At the end of the evening, after Liisa’s remarkable play, the three headed home. Colby met the other two in the living room and took their hand. He pulled each into a kiss. “Thank you for the support and confidence.” He took one more kiss before heading to his room.

  Brody sniggered. “Guess who’ll be rubbing one out a little later on? Pity we weren’t there to help him. I don’t think he’s ready yet. Tell me, lover, are you ready for the threesome we talked about not so long ago?”

  Ian nodded. “Up until recently, I’d have never even considered it. I have to admit, I’ve fallen for the pair of you. It’ll take me a while to get used to the idea of having two partners in my life. Then there are our parents and friends. They deserve to know. Mine are unconventional, so I don’t think they’ll struggle with the idea. And our partner is so lovable, how can anyone not fall under his charm?”

  They put out the lights and quietly went upstairs. Ian looked at Brody and grinned when he heard the moan coming from Colby’s room. “Yep, he’s rubbing one out,” he whispered. “We’d best be quiet so he can get some rest.”

  * * * *

  Brody kissed each of his men as they left for work. He’d started clearing the breakfast dishes when his phone rang. “Hello, Mother. To what do I owe the pleasure of your call?” They hadn’t spoken an awful lot after the blow-up with his grandma, and the strained relations between her and his parents. He didn’t want to be the focus of the alienation.

  “Hi, sweetheart. I got your few texts. I’d like to catch up on everything. We’re coming to visit. Don’t change any of your work or other routines; we don’t want to be a bother. I’ll book us in a hotel if you would be a doll and tell me the name of one close by to your place.”

  It was a very awkward moment, but Brody was good with those. “Mom, I’ll call you back in twenty minutes. I’ve got to finish something. Love you. Bye.”

  His first panicked call was to Ian. “My mother wants to visit. She wants to stay at a hotel near us. She doesn’t know about you. What do I tell her? I promised to call back real soon?”

  Ian snorted. “Duh, tell her we have plenty of room and you can’t wait to introduce her to your roommates.”

  Brody stood and held the phone out as if staring at it would drive some sense into Ian. “She’s not dumb. She’ll know how to decode ‘roommate’.”

  Another chuckle. “Exactly, I’d love for your mother to stay with us. Please? Maybe give Colby a call to get his opinion, but my vote is to stay with us. We’ve got plenty of room.”

  Brody mumbled, “Do I have plenty of patience?” before he hung up and called Colby.

  “Yep, your mom should definitely stay at the house. We’ve got plenty of room.”

  So, armed with the affirmation of his partners, Brody made the call. “Hi again, Mom. I spoke with my roommates. They want you to stay with us. Will Dad be joining you?”

  “Yes, honey, but we don’t want to be an imposition. Are you sure it’ll be okay?”

  What could the man say with two against one? “Sure, Mom. I’ll text you the address. When will you be arriving? If I’m off, I’ll pick you up at the airport.”

  Brody got the details, along with a strange feeling in his gut. Something didn’t feel right with the whole arrangement. A month before Christmas was a weird time for anyone to visit anybody. Then again, weird was in the family gene pool.

  Brody was leaving for his shift at the bar when Colby came in. He gave Brody a quick kiss and told him to have a good time at work. Brody couldn’t keep the grin off his face. Colby was taking this as seriously as he and Ian.

  “Why don’t you and Ian drop by the bar later? Don’t stay late, you both work days. It would be good to see my two best guys in my workplace. I can flirt and strut my stuff.”

  Colby rolled his eyes. “Lord, you do that at home all the time. What would be so different about it being at the bar?”

  Brody frowned. “Ass, there will be hundreds of eyes; enough to make both of you green with envy. You’l
l practically have to beat them off me to stake your claim.” He smiled sweetly. “Plus, I’ll get extra tips slinging drinks to the pair of you.”

  “Fine, I’ll see if Ian is up for a night on the town. I’m going to see what I can cook for supper.” Colby started walking to the kitchen.

  “I already made your supper, reheat the plates and serve. I’m not just a pretty face, you know.” He pouted.

  “Don’t I know it, you’ve got the cutest ass I’ve ever seen, and those lips give me all kinds of ideas. I think you’d better go now before I embarrass myself.” The blush was washing over his face.

  Brody grinned. “Maybe I should call in sick. We can put some of those ideas into practice.”

  Colby frowned. “Get your ass to work. We’ll be by later to see you.”

  Ian was walking up from the driveway. He kissed Brody and waved as he left for work. Stepping inside, he gave Colby a quick kiss and took off his jacket and boots. “Want a hand with dinner?”

  “Nope, the stud had it all prepared. All we need do is reheat and devour. Want to drop by his bar later? I’ve never been there, and it might be fun to see when he’s working.”

  It was decided, and after they ate and cleaned up, Ian drove them to Chaps. They found a table and expected to see Brody looking bright and chipper. He most certainly didn’t. He brought their beer and managed to look totally miserable while serving them.

  “This isn’t your usual Chaps smile. What happened, Brody?” Ian was concerned, knowing it had to be big to upset his lover while he was at work.

  “I got a fucking text from Mom after we confirmed everything. She and Dad are bringing Grandma along. The woman hates me. I don’t want to put this on you two. She didn’t tell me earlier. I don’t even know why Grandma had agreed to come.”

  Ian glanced at Colby before speaking. “Maybe she feels the time is right to make up for her past behavior. Maybe…I don’t know. Just accept it. They won’t be here long, and you’ve got the two of us for moral support. Don’t sweat it, babe.”