Three Little Words

“Thanks for the support,” Isabel told her. “I wanted to clear the air. He’s in the apartment above the garage. I didn’t want him to think I was stalking him or anything. So we talked and it was nice. We’re friends now.”

“Have you had sex?” Charlie asked flatly.

Isabel was glad she hadn’t just taken another bite of her salad. “What? No. Of course not. We’re not dating.”

“Technically, dating isn’t required for sex,” Felicia said. “With Gideon, I...” She pressed her lips together. “Never mind.”

Patience grinned. “That’s right. You were wild with him. I was so impressed.” She turned to Isabel. “No wildness from you?”

“We’re just friends.” The brief kiss had been nice, but even though there were tingles, she wasn’t all that interested in sex. The act never lived up to the hype, and she wasn’t in the mood to be disappointed yet another time by a man.

“Didn’t you used to be in love with him?” Consuelo asked. “When you were younger?”

“I was fourteen, so no, it wasn’t love.”

“You could use him as your interim relationship,” Felicia said. “There’s extensive research on the value of having an interim relationship. It helps break the emotional bond with a long-term partner. In your case, your ex-husband.”

“She’s helpful.” Charlie picked up her burger. “I like that about her.”

“In addition,” Felicia added, “from all accounts, Ford has a reputation for being an excellent sexual partner. Over the years, several women who slept with him have expressed their approval.” She paused. “Not that I have personal experience.”

Isabel felt her mouth hanging open. Even Charlie looked a little shocked.

“It’s true,” Consuelo said with a grin. “All the ladies say he’s hot.”

“Did you...” Noelle began, then flicked her wrist. “You know.”

Consuelo shook her head. “Not my type. We worked together. I’m not interested in him that way.”

“There you go,” Patience said with a triumphant smile. “A plan and your friends’ approval.”

“I’m not sleeping with Ford!” Isabel announced, her voice a little louder than she’d planned. Patrons at other tables turned to look.

She lowered her voice. “I’m not. That’s not what this is about. He asked me to help him.”

“Be careful,” Consuelo told her. “He’s charming and sexy. Not to me, of course. I find him annoying and emotional. But other women are all over him. He tells them he doesn’t do relationships and they never believe him. They always think they’ll be the one to change him. And then he breaks their hearts.”

“I’m not interested in forever,” Isabel said firmly. “I’m leaving Fool’s Gold next year and moving back to New York.”

“So you’re fine,” Patience said with a grin. “But seriously, the fake-girlfriend thing? You need to tell him you want perks. Sexual perks.”

Charlie raised her eyebrows. “When did you get slutty?”

“Since I started sleeping with Justice.” Patience laughed. “I can’t help it. I’m so happy and he’s so amazing in bed. I want everyone to have what I have. Just not with him.”

Noelle sighed. “I want that, too. I’m ready for hot monkey sex, even if it doesn’t involve a relationship. If you don’t want Ford, tell him I’m happy to be his pretend girlfriend as long as there are perks.”

Everyone laughed. Conversation turned to sexual etiquette and then somehow moved on to Felicia’s trials of potty training the new puppy in her house. Apparently dog behavior wasn’t as predictable as the how-to books promised.

Isabel listened but didn’t participate. She felt uncomfortable—as if there was something wrong with her.

Did everyone like sex but her? Was there a secret she didn’t know? Had she been doing it wrong all this time?

With Eric, a lack of passion was understandable, but what about before? Billy had been her first time, and the back of a truck wasn’t exactly romantic, so maybe it wasn’t a surprise she hadn’t had much fun with him. There had been only a couple of guys in between, mostly because she hadn’t seen the point. The kissing was nice and the touching, but when things progressed beyond that, she lost interest.

When lunch was over, she still didn’t have an answer to what about her was different. A problem for another time, she told herself.

They all walked out and started to go their separate ways. Consuelo stopped her.

“Do you have a second?” the other woman asked.

“Sure. What’s up?”

“I need to ask you something.”

Isabel smiled. “Honestly, I can’t think of a thing I would know that you don’t already, but go ahead. I’ll give it my best shot.”

“You grew up here. I thought you’d have insight.”

Isabel nodded. “Sure. Is this a town thing?”

Consuelo shifted her weight, then glanced around as if making sure they were alone. “Not exactly.”

Stranger and stranger, Isabel thought.

“I’m interested in someone,” Consuelo admitted.

“I’m surprised.” Isabel shook her head. “Okay, that came out wrong. I don’t mean I’m surprised you like someone. I guess I’m surprised that you think you need advice.”

“I know I’m attractive.” Consuelo glanced down. “I work out. I have all the right parts.”

“I think you’re selling yourself a little short. You’re stunning and sexy and you move like a panther.” She didn’t need a PhD in sex to understand that Consuelo had something that left other women looking as exciting as fence posts.

Maybe that was her problem, she thought. She wasn’t sexy enough. If she acted sexier, maybe she’d be sexier. Something to consider later.

“The panther thing might be the problem. I want to be seen as a woman, not a predator.” She made a fist, then relaxed her hand. “This is stupid. I can’t change who I am. When someone annoys me, I punch him out. Who am I kidding? I’m not going to be nice and normal. It’ll never work. Thanks for listening.” She started to turn away.

Isabel grabbed her arm. “Hey, wait. You can’t give up, just like that. I don’t believe you simply punch people out. I’ve been annoying and you’ve never punched me out.”

Consuelo managed a smile. “That’s different. You’re my friend.”

“But still—you have the skills to control yourself. What’s the issue with the guy?”

The real question was who was the guy? She couldn’t imagine anyone in Fool’s Gold upsetting Consuelo. The woman was always in control. Ford and Angel both jumped when she told them to. And it was pretty darned great to watch.

“We were talking and I wanted to kiss this guy,” Consuelo said. “But I remembered that guys are supposed to make the first move.”

“I’m not sure he’d mind you kissing him. He’d probably be happy.”

“What if he’s not?”

“Any—” She started to say “straight guy” only to realize that hit a little too close to home for her. “What’s he like?” she asked instead.

“He’s sweet,” Consuelo murmured, glancing at her feet, then back at Isabel. “Smart and funny. Cute. A good guy. I like him. But I’m not a soccer mom. I don’t know how to be normal. You know, like you.”

“Ordinary and boring, you mean.”

“No. The kind of woman a man wants to be with for more than sex. I don’t want to be a conquest. I want to be...”

“In a relationship?”

Consuelo nodded slowly. “He’s the first guy I’ve liked in a long time. But he’s nothing like me.”

“Isn’t that a good thing? Opposites attract and all that?”

Consuelo sighed. “I should just go kill something. I’ll feel better.”

“That’s certainly one solution,” Isabel said slowly, hoping her friend was kidding. “Or you could take a chance. Go out with him a couple of times. See where it leads.”

“Maybe. Is the sex different?”

“Excuse me?”

“Between normal people? Without the threat of danger or death?”

Isabel opened her mouth, then closed it. “I’m so the wrong person to ask. I’ve never had dangerous sex.”

“Right. It’s mostly indoors and in a bed.”

Except for those few experiences in Billy’s truck, yes. “You prefer it outdoors? You can ask the guy. I’m thinking he’ll be thrilled to be flexible.” This was ridiculous. Talk about the blind leading the blind. “Maybe you should ask someone else about it. Someone more adventurous.”

“I don’t want anyone else to know. You won’t say anything, will you?”

“No.” First, because she’d given her word, and second, because there wasn’t anything to say. She didn’t know who they were talking about or what Consuelo was nervous about.

“Any guy would be lucky to have you in his life,” she offered. “The next time a guy you like asks you out, say yes. If you want to kiss him, kiss him. If he reacts badly, please don’t kill him.”

Consuelo got an odd look on her face. “You’re saying I shouldn’t have sex with him and then slit his throat.”

Isabel laughed. “Probably not.”

But instead of chuckling in return, Consuelo shook her head. “I’m never going to get this right,” she muttered, before stalking away.

Isabel stared after her, not sure what on earth had just happened.

CHAPTER FIVE

“I LIKE THE PLAN,” Jeff Michelson said, walking with Ford through the CDS building. “The combination of challenging physical activities and classroom time is perfect.”

“I’m glad you think so. The Gold Rush Resort has plenty of rooms for the weeks you’re interested in, and we can extend the reservations into the weekend for anyone who wants to bring his or her family. We’ll have transportation from the resort to CDS and run a shuttle into town. Car rentals are available, too.”

“Great.”

This was Ford’s second presentation of the week, and they’d both gone well. He was going to get a contract from both. So far he was significantly above the projected sales target, but Ford figured with the company just starting, he was picking low-hanging fruit. There would be more challenges later as he had to hunt down clients.

The plan was for the companies to be so pleased they came back every year or two, which would give them repeat business. But it would take a while to kick in.

The two men went back to Ford’s office. He confirmed the tentative dates, printed out the contracts and handed them over.

Jeff took the folder. “We’ll make our decision this week.”

“I’ll hold those two weeks until Friday,” Ford told him.

“You have other companies interested in them, don’t you?”

Ford smiled. “We’re getting busy, but don’t worry about that. As soon as I hear from you, the time is yours. I’ll hold the hotel block of rooms, as well.”

“I saw the casino on my drive into town. Could we stay there?”

Ford leaned back in his chair. “You can, but I’ll tell you, the casino offers a big distraction. Your people will stay up later gambling, so they’ll be less focused the next day. If you want to offer them accommodations there, I would suggest they switch hotels Friday night and then stay the weekend.”

“Good point,” Jeff said.

They rose and shook hands. Ford walked the other man out. As they reached the parking lot, he saw two blonde women walking toward them and sighed heavily. Jeff noticed, as well.

He whistled softly. “They part of the team?”

“No. They’re my sisters.”

“Sorry, man.”

“No worries. They’re both married, by the way.”

“Right.”

Jeff nodded and got into this rental. Ford thought about ducking into the building but knew there was no point. He had no problem running from a fight when it came to his family, but Dakota and Montana would simply continue to hunt him down. Disappearing meant postponing the inevitable.

So he waited as the two women approached.

They were the same height, with the same attractive features. Brown eyes, blond hair. Montana wore hers longer. Their other triplet—Nevada—was missing, but Ford knew he would be hearing from her soon enough.

“Hey, big brother,” Montana said as she reached him and leaned in for a kiss. “How are you?”

He hugged her. “Wondering how much of a pain you’re going to be in my ass.”

She stepped back and laughed. “Bigger than you know.”

“Montana, don’t,” Dakota said, taking her turn for a hug. “You’ll scare him off.”

“I don’t scare that easily.” He put his hands on Dakota’s shoulders, looked into her eyes and said, “No.”

“I haven’t asked a question yet.”

“You don’t have to. I know that’s why you’re here and that I won’t like it. So no.”

“It’s about Mom,” Montana informed him.

He dropped his arms to his sides and headed for the safety of CDS. If only there was some kind of security system so he could lock them out. There was food in the fridge—he could make do for a while. Hole up here until they forgot about him.