Page 19 of Double Take

“I’d love to.” He smiles and stalks toward her. “I would never violate the mistletoe rules and endure seven years of bad luck. Or is that breaking a mirror?”

She gnaws her bottom lip and brushes the palm of her free hand on her shorts. “You don’t have to kiss me. It’s a stupid rule.” She frowns. “Is it even a rule?”

“Hush.” He uses his thumb to push up her chin. “I’ll hear none of that. I’ve waited all day for you to feel better so I could kiss you.” He leans down and sucks her bottom lip into his mouth, and lets it go with a pop. “Why do you think we put it up?”

“I–”

Oliver seizes the opportunity to claim her mouth, and I watch in fascination as he deepens the kiss. Where he leads, she follows, and a rush of lust leaves my dick aching. But she’s not ready for what we want. This is only the second step in the plan. The first is to tend to her every need. The second is to warm her up to the idea of two men happily sharing her. And the third….

The third is blowing her mind.

Chapter Eleven

Rylee

It’s been three days, and I can’t get their kisses out of my head. It’s to the point that I’m questioning reality. Did it happen? Or did I fever-dream the whole thing?

As I answer a couple of emails and fill out an invoice for sheetrock, I float away to Axel kissing me first and how gentle and teasing it was versus Oliver’s more intense embrace.

Is that how they always are with women? Do they do that to knock a girl off balance? Because if they do, I don’t know how they don’t have a string of lovers barging in the door all day.

I shiver and forcefully block the scent of their cologne and minty tongues from my brain. It’s not like it matters. Soon after the mistletoe encounter, they left for the night, and I’ve barely seen them since. Oliver has been out on construction sites other than a brief meeting with Axel, where he said hi and disappeared, and Axel has been in closed-door sessions with clients almost non-stop.

Until yesterday, and neither of them came in. No message. Nothing. And nothing today.

I’m feeling ignored and pissy. Which is not me. I’m used to being ignored, so why is it bothering me? Because no one has ever treated me in the way that they did.

Girl, it was a false bill of goods, or you put way more into it than they meant for you to take it. They’re nice guys who like to help people. That’s it. End of story. They weren’t trying to convince you that together you could be this amazing couple–throuple–whatever you call it and that you could go from a narcissistic asshole ex to two men who couldn’t get enough of you.

Heat covers my cheeks as I flip from screen to screen. You’re foolish. You’re always foolish. No man will ever find you attractive. Let alone men. Mario’s words fill my head and send dread throughout my body. It doesn’t matter how far I get from him. He’s still there in my head, ready to drag me down.

My cell phone rings, jarring me from my negative thought cycle. It’s Charles. “Hello?”

“Hello, Rylee.”

“Hey.” The muscles in my back and shoulders tense as I brace for whatever he has to say. I loved working with him, but now, when he calls, I’m instantly on alert.

“I have some bad news.”

“What is it?” I clutch my chest, preparing for the worst.

“Mario was bragging at the bar last night that he found a receipt for gas at a station in Helena, Montana. I’d hoped by now he’d have moved on.”

“It’s fine.” I inhale and slowly exhale as I rotate my shoulders. “I told you he wouldn’t give up. That’s why I spent an extra three days driving around so I could lead him on wild-goose chases.” And why I continue to call stations on different routes every few days, making small purchases to keep him distracted as long as possible. And why I didn’t tell Charles where I really am.

“I’m sorry, dear. I feel like I lied to you, telling you that leaving would get him off your case. I’m afraid you’ll never be able to get away from him.”

“It’s fine.” I lean back into the chair, causing it to squeak under my movements. “He’s not going to stop until I’ve filed for divorce and my attorney sets his attorney straight. I have plenty of ammunition against him, so he’ll eventually stop.” I hope. Or I’ll have to keep running. The thought of never seeing Axel and Oliver again makes my stomach hurt.

“I’m glad you were expecting it, but I wanted to make sure you knew since you aren’t here to keep up with his whereabouts.”

“Thank you.”

I spent the rest of the day filing and updating paperwork while wishing they’d show up. But they never do.

It was a dream, wasn’t it? That’s why they’ve not mentioned it or repeated the kisses. I made it up in my head, and they’re going about their regular everyday lives. And I’m here feeling left out and lonely.

I glance at my watch. 5:30 p.m. How pathetic. I stayed an extra hour waiting for them to come back. It’s time to go before I’m late picking up Sunny. I sling my purse over my shoulder. Is it wrong to ask a four-year-old if I kissed Axel and Oliver under the mistletoe? Yeah, I don’t think an adult woman is supposed to pump her baby for information.

---