Love Under Two Benedicts(65)

Kelsey eased into the water and closed her eyes. “Oh, God, that feels so good. How did I ever live without a spa?”

“I hope the spa isn’t the only thing that feels that good.” Matthew’s voice, after-sex husky, came from her right.

“No, of course not. That bed’s very nice, too.”

“Smart ass,” Steven said.

“It’s certainly smarting at the moment,” she quipped. Then she opened her eyes and looked from one to the other of her men. “It felt better tonight. Better and different.”

“Because our bond is growing,” Matthew said.

“Most boys’ fathers tell them about the facts of life. Ours had considerably more to say,” Steven said.

“When two men, or three, choose to share a woman, there’s a special responsibility to ensure that the woman never feels torn, or like she’s being pulled in separate directions. Dads told us that if we’re the right three people, then a special bond grows between us. We all three become connected in a unique way.”

“That’s what I was thinking as I wanted you. That we’d be one flesh,” Kelsey said.

With her lovers each holding one of her hands, Kelsey relaxed into the heat and steam, letting the spa work its magic on her. She nearly dozed, but Steven gently shook her. When she opened her eyes, she saw Matthew holding a towel out to her. She didn’t think she’d been in the tub that long, but as he gathered her up and lifted her, she noticed her fingertips had wrinkled.

They dried her quickly, then tucked her into the bed. Moments later they joined her, and Kelsey found herself sliding into sleep, a lover on each side of her, snuggled close.

An hour later, the phone rang.





Chapter 21



The sign for the Triple K Diner on the state highway outside of Gatesville proclaimed it stayed open around the clock “because the trucks of America never stop.” Matthew pulled Steven’s Jeep into a parking spot between two semis. He’d spotted Adam’s car, his own personal one and not the cruiser, and knew his best friend was already inside the diner.

He turned to look at Kelsey. “Mandy said Ginny’s still inside, nursing that coffee. Temperature dipped down tonight, so she’s likely hoping to stay as long as she can. She’s in a booth near the back.”

Kelsey nodded, then rubbed her hands together.

She’d asked to come with him. Steven had said he’d stay behind to be with Benny, no problem, as long as they let him know how things went right away. Now Matthew wondered if his woman was having second thoughts.

“You all right to do this?” Matthew asked.

“Yes. I just don’t want to say the wrong thing to her.”

“You won’t.” Matthew thought Kelsey was the perfect person to talk to Ginny Rose.

As they got out of the car, Kelsey yawned. Matthew put his arm around her and hugged her tight. “We’ll go sit with her and get some coffee into you.”

“At this rate,” Kelsey said, “I may not be going in to my restaurant tomorrow either. Or rather, later today.”

Matthew held the door for her, his eyes spotting the woman as soon as he set foot inside the long, narrow diner.

The place featured a Formica counter with stools and a row of booths along the opposite wall that was made up mostly of windows.

Adam sat at the counter nearly right across from Ginny.

Kelsey made her way down the length of the diner. She easily slipped into the booth before Ginny even looked up and noticed her.

“Oh!” The woman looked frightened when Kelsey slid over so that he could slide in beside her.

“It’s all right, Ginny. Benny’s safe. He’s sound asleep. We just want to talk to you.” Kelsey said.

Ginny looked from Kelsey to him. He’d already decided he’d stay out of it. Seeing how tired Ginny looked and how frightened just reinforced that decision. He gave her the best smile he could.

Ginny’s eyes filled with tears.

“You must think I’m a terrible mother,” she whispered.

“I don’t,” Kelsey said. She reached across the table and laid one of her hands on Ginny’s. “One thing I noticed when I saw you with Benny in my restaurant was the love on your face for him.”

“I was just so scared. Everything went wrong. I thought…Deke was so kind at first. I’d been alone with Benny since he was born. I worked hard, never went on welfare, you know? And I hardly ever dated. Benny’s my whole world. But…but I was lonely. And Deke, he came in to the coffee shop where I worked. He seemed so nice.”

Kelsey reached into her pocket and pulled out some tissues, gave them to Ginny, and then she simply let the woman talk.