Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 30329 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 152(@200wpm)___ 121(@250wpm)___ 101(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30329 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 152(@200wpm)___ 121(@250wpm)___ 101(@300wpm)
“Basically, this tutor came between our husbands. And now, here we are, six years later, and they still refuse to speak to each other.”
I’m battling the urge not to drop down behind the counter and hide.
These women. They are the wives of Dean and Cameron?
This is a nightmare. Almost worse than the past due notices on the counter.
Please, please don’t recognize me.
“You know, I wish they’d just slept with her and gotten it out of their systems. We’d all be sharing an Aperol spritz by the pool.”
“Seriously, I think the same exact thing all the time,” mutters the redhead. “How much easier life would be if they’d just banged the tutor a few times.”
My face is piping hot.
“We got everything we wanted. Attractive, well-educated husbands. Two beautiful children each. Houses across the street from each other in a nice Connecticut town.” They look at one another thoughtfully. “It was never our intention to marry for love. We were taught to marry for convenience, and that’s what we did.”
“Exactly. But there’s nothing convenient about our husbands refusing to be in the same room. Or even share the same sand.”
“You said it, babe—”
To my horror, the tall brunette cuts herself off with a gasp.
And she’s looking right at me. With dawning recognition.
“Oh my God, it’s her.”
The redhead frowns at the book she’s holding. “It’s who?”
“The tutor. That’s how you recognized her!”
I want to melt into a puddle. I think my body could actually pull it off right now, I’m so warm from embarrassment. Both palms press to my cheeks. “I’m sorry. I’m…oh my goodness, I had no idea they would…that this would still be going on six years later.”
They’re both standing in front of the counter now, gaping like they’ve seen a ghost.
“Holy shit, it is her. Ruby Lang.”
“Holy, holy, holy shit.”
My face is so hot, I’m worried my skin is melting off. “I promise, I didn’t do anything inappropriate with either of them. I was only there to be their tutor. I didn’t realize a rivalry had formed until it was too late…and I resigned as their tutor right away. It was never my intention to come between Dean and Cameron.”
I’m positive they’re about to jump me.
I’ll be discovered by the next customer who enters the shop. So, like, three days from now. Which is pathetic. There aren’t even enough customers to find my corpse before it starts to decompose.
The redhead’s gaze tracks down to the stack of overdue bills.
She nudges her friend. They trade a long look, their mouths curling into smiles.
“We have a proposition for you, sweetie,” says the redhead, setting her Prada tote on the counter. “We are women of extraordinary means. We have everything we want in this world, except two husbands who can get along. Let us rent you a nice house on the beach for a few days. We’ll send Cam and Dean over for a little…reunion.”
I’m the most confused girl in the world. “I don’t understand.”
“Don’t you?” pouts the brunette. “We’re bluebloods from Connecticut. We’re not fanciful about fidelity, Ruby, and like I said, we love our men in our own way, but these marriages were more of a merger than romance.” She does a little shimmy. “Let our husbands scratch their itch, so we can all move on as friends. We want to go to Malta together in the fall, and that requires Dean and Cameron to be on speaking terms. We’re tired of this nonsense.”
“Exhausted.”
My jaw is on the floor. “You want me to sleep with your husbands?”
“Yes,” they say simply, in unison. “In return, we’ll take care of that nasty little stack of bills. But only if they return home as friends.”
Her friend nods in agreement. “Oh yes, we need to get what we paid for.”
“Are you in?”
This is all happening so fast. I never expected to hear the names Dean and Cameron again. Though…I would be lying if I said I don’t think about them. Too often for comfort. Those two compelling men took up all my air that semester during freshman year. They barely let me breathe, they were such an overwhelming presence. They merely competed for my approval, at first. But the competitive fun took a downturn rather quickly, didn’t it?
Do I want to get wrapped up in that again?
I’m the product of a very contentious divorce and I will never be in a relationship of my own. That has been my vow to myself since childhood. Emotionally, it is far safer to be alone. I have fictional stories to entertain me. I don’t need real-life drama and turmoil.
However.
There is a physical need within me that has never been fulfilled. A physical need that was sparked to life by Dean and Cameron, two men I resisted at all costs. They were taken, so I ignored what my body begged me to investigate.