Page 72 of Ride a Cowboy

“What are you talking about?” Sadie glanced back at Joel questioningly. He lifted one shoulder. Oakley would explain it way better than he could. Knowing Oakley, he’d find a way to convince both of them.

“You’ll date me and Joel. At the same time.”

She laughed, but the sound died away quickly when neither he nor Oakley cracked a smile. “You’re being serious? What do you mean? Like a threesome?”

Oakley nodded as if it was the most obvious answer on earth. “Yeah. You, me and Joel.”

Sadie opened her mouth, rejection clearly her goal, but Oakley forged on before she could speak.

“Tell me you haven’t thought about the other night, Sade. Tell me you haven’t finished what we started about a million times in your head since then.”

She bit her lower lip, the proof creeping out in the form of a blush. It was rare to see Sadie embarrassed. Joel enjoyed it more than he should.

Just how had she fantasized about that night ending?

Oakley moved closer and pressed his lips against Sadie’s cheek as he whispered, “Tell me.”

She grimaced, then—as always—held back nothing. “I’ve played it out so many times I had to replace the batteries on my vibrator. Is that what you wanted to hear?”

Oakley chuckled. “That was what I thought I wanted. Now I’m sort of hoping for a more detailed description.”

She batted Oakley away playfully. “You’re the devil.” Then she turned to Joel. “Are you seriously okay with what Oakley’s suggesting?”

Joel wasn’t sure of anything except the fact Sadie had called him boring. And passive. He had to admit that had stung. Enough that he felt the need to shake her impression of him.

“Yeah. I am.”

Sadie’s shocked expression was nothing compared to Oakley’s. Sadie recovered first. And her answer was exactly what Joel had—and hadn’t—wanted.

“Fine. We can give it a whirl if you guys are sure it doesn’t bother you to share. This is actually sort of the answer to a prayer. I’ve been in a bit of a slump lately.”

“Slump?” Joel asked.

“A sexual drought. That I’d be happy to see end with the two of you.”

Neither he nor Oakley responded.

Sadie’s brow creased. “Wait. That is what you meant, right? Sex? Because I’m not looking for a relationship or a commitment or anything like that. God. Nothing like that. I suck at it.” And then, before either of them could respond, Sadie answered her own question with a light laugh. “I’m sorry. Of course that’s what you meant. Because who dates two guys at the same time?”

No one does. Joel had been a jackass to follow Oakley’s lead, doing exactly what he’d just yelled at his friend for today. He’d been thinking with his dick. Then, he realized Sadie had just confirmed what his gut had been telling him. Normal people didn’t enter relationships in threes, just pairs.

“So should we put some parameters on it? A time limit?” she asked.

Joel shook his head. “No time limit. We ride the train to the end of the line.”

She grinned at his analogy. “I had no idea you had such an impetuous nature, Joel. You’ve been hiding this guy. I like him.”

He was careful to keep a smile in place, too afraid she’d be able to see beneath the surface and figure out he was freaking the fuck out.

“I don’t…” Joel considered his mom. “I don’t think we should advertise what we’re doing.”

Sadie’s lips tipped up, her eyes widening. “No shit. I don’t think your mom is ready for something quite so scandalous from her good little boy. And my dad would have a heart attack. After he murdered both of you, of course.”

Joel tried to laugh, knew she meant her words as a joke. After all, she’d just offered him a sweet deal. He could have his cake and eat it too. He could sleep with Sadie and Oakley and keep it a secret from everyone else.

So why wasn’t he happier about that than he was?

Then he realized why.

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