Three Little Words

“Why a math teacher?”

His smile was self-deprecating. “I’m a nerd. I can’t help it. I like math and science, but I wasn’t brilliant enough for anything theoretical. I thought about engineering, but after a couple of classes, I knew it wasn’t my thing.” He shrugged. “I like being around kids. I like the look on their faces when they figure out something difficult.”

“You’re the teacher they’re going to remember twenty years from now,” she said.

“I hope so. You know anything about dogs?”

She smiled. “I know what they are, but I’ve never had one.”

“Carter, Reese’s friend, got a German shepherd puppy. Now Reese wants one. I’m not sure we’re ready for a puppy. We already have a dog—Fluffy.” He held up his hand. “I didn’t name her.”

Her smile broadened. “Fluffy?”

“My sister is responsible for that. Fluffy was in training to be a therapy dog, but she flunked out. We took her, but she was close to a year when we got her. Now Reese thinks it would be cool to have a puppy. I’m less sure.”

“I know Felicia is taking their puppy into the office, but it’s not a school. She has more flexibility.”

“Felicia is Carter’s stepmom, right?”

Consuelo nodded. The sky was bright blue, the air warm. Kent wore a T-shirt over jeans. Sunlight brought out hints of brown in his dark hair.

She liked the way he smiled and the shape of his mouth. She liked how he seemed to relax as they talked and the way he kept his gaze on her eyes. Okay, every now and then he checked her out, but she was okay with that. Mostly she liked that she didn’t have to try to be something other than who she was.

She wondered what would happen if she kissed him. Just leaned over and—

She drew back. What was she thinking? In Middle America, women didn’t go around kissing men they’d barely met. It didn’t work like that. There were supposed to be dates first, and the guy did the asking. She had a feeling Kent was way more traditional than she was used to and she doubted he would appreciate her taking charge.

She couldn’t do this. Couldn’t be like everyone else. She didn’t know how, didn’t understand the rules.

She found herself wanting to hit something. An hour with a heavy bag would go a long way to making her feel better. Or maybe she could run a quick ten miles.

Not wanting to have to apologize for questionable behavior a second time, she reminded herself to smile pleasantly as she rose.

“This has been really fun,” she said, hoping she sounded genuine. “I need to, uh, go meet a friend. Enjoy the festival.”

Kent looked confused, but he stood when she did and didn’t try to stop her. “Sure. It was nice to see you.”

She walked away as quickly as she could. Her eyes burned, but she told herself it was just allergies. There was no way she was getting emotional over a man. Not now, not ever.

* * *

“YOU’RE BEING CRITICAL,” Charlie complained as she picked up a French fry.

“I’m not,” Patience told her. “I’m just saying last year was more emotional.” She turned to the rest of the table. “Last year after the parade, Annabelle was doing the special horse dance and then she was going to cut out the sacrifice’s heart. She thought it was Clay, because he’d volunteered, only it was Shane and he told her he loved her and proposed.” She glanced back at Charlie. “You just pretended to cut out Clay’s heart.”

“We kissed,” Charlie grumbled. “Fine. Hers was better.”

Isabel laughed along with everyone else. She’d missed much of the festival. Saturdays were busy at the bridal shop. She’d managed to spend a little time there on Sunday but had also wanted to catch up on the store’s books.

Noelle looked at her. “You okay? You’re quiet.”

“I’m thinking,” she admitted. Mostly about Ford. The man made her insane with his suggestions. But even more annoying, now she felt guilty for telling him no.

She realized everyone was looking at her.

“About what?” Felicia asked, then bit her lower lip. “Am I not supposed to inquire? Is this one of those times when as a woman I should wait for my friend to offer the information or a time when I’m supposed to prod her into telling?”

“Wait,” Charlie said.

“Prod her,” Noelle, Consuelo and Patience said at the same time.

Felicia nodded at Charlie. “You’re outvoted.”

“Yes, but that doesn’t make me wrong.”

Isabel was both amused and frustrated by her friends. “Does anyone want to ask me my opinion?”

“Apparently not,” Felicia told her. “So what’s the problem? Your reluctance indicates it must be about a man. The only other topics about which people are reticent are money-related topics. Sometimes politics, but we don’t usually discuss...” She sighed. “Sorry. Sometimes my analytical brain gets ahead of me.”

Noelle was sitting next to her and hugged her. “I love you so much.”

“Thank you. Your support is gratifying.”

Patience looked at Isabel. “Don’t think any of this has distracted me. What’s up?”

“It’s nothing,” Isabel said. “Really, it’s silly.” She paused, knowing there was no way she was getting out of it. Not unless she could think of a really good lie.

“Ford wants me to be his pretend girlfriend to get his mother off his back. I told him no and now I feel guilty.”

Five pairs of eyes widened.

“I didn’t know you were seeing Ford,” Patience said.

“I’m not. We’ve talked.”

“She came to CDS,” Consuelo offered with a grin.

“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.

His sisters followed him inside. Once he reached the hallway, he couldn’t decide where to go, which meant they had him trapped.

“She’s really upset,” Montana told him.

Dakota nodded, her gaze uncomfortably direct. “It wouldn’t kill you to humor her.”

“It might,” he muttered.

“All she wants is for you to be happy,” Montana said. “Is that so bad? She loves you. We all love you and we don’t want you to go away again.” Tears filled her eyes. “We missed you so much.”

That low blow was followed by Dakota setting up for the kill shot. “Just one date. How bad could it be?”

“Bad.”

“Ford, she’s your mother,” Dakota said, as if he were in danger of forgetting.

He could feel the doors of the prison closing. For maybe the thousandth time since coming home, he had the thought that life would be a hell of a lot easier if he didn’t like his family. If he could ignore them or yell at them.

What they couldn’t understand and he didn’t know how to explain was his mother’s plan was never going to work. He wasn’t going to meet a nice girl and settle down because he wouldn’t do that to anyone he liked. Most people wanted to fall in love and then stay in love. He didn’t.

When he got involved, he had a short attention span. When things got serious, he got gone. That had been his pattern since the day he’d left Fool’s Gold. He knew he wasn’t still in love with Maeve, so it must be a character flaw.

He’d tried to stay involved, to emotionally commit, but no matter what he did, he got restless and wanted to leave. He couldn’t summon more than passing interest. He’d liked the women he’d been with, but he’d never once been in love. Not even with Maeve.

But his family wouldn’t understand. He came from a long line of happy marriages. His mother had been a widow for a decade before she’d been willing to start dating again. Except for Kent, all his siblings were blissfully married. Both sets of grandparents had successful unions that had lasted more than half a century.

“I’m seeing someone,” he said, the words as unexpected to him as to them.

Montana looked pleased while Dakota’s expression turned skeptical.

“How convenient,” she murmured.

“It was hard to start dating a local girl before I got home,” he told her.

“Uh-huh.” She didn’t sound convinced.

“Really?” Montana asked, always the most trusting of the three. “You’re not just saying that to get us to leave you alone?”

He hated to lie, but if he managed to convince Isabel, then he wasn’t technically lying to them. He was telling a pretruth.

“I’m very interested in Isabel Beebe.”

“How interested?” Dakota asked.

He thought about how Isabel always made him laugh and the way she called him on his crap. The woman had mocked his car. She was also sexy and he would like to do a lot more than kiss her.

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