ChristmasisComing (12 page)

During the quick drive to the pub, she let
her mind prod and worry at the problems she’d experienced with her latest
developmental product. Soon the local council would put up Christmas
decorations and festoon the street lamps with greenery and bright red candles.
The big Christmas tree would go up near the cafe, ready for the Christmas
parade and Santa’s arrival in Sloan.

The pub was busy for a Thursday night. She
parked her car, grabbed her handbag and took a deep breath to steady the swirl
of nerves in the pit of her stomach.

If anything, the gossip column had made her
come to a decision. She wanted Fletch and Liam in her bed, both together and
separately, whether they were testing Fancy Free products or not. She loved
both men already and was rapidly falling
in
love with them. No matter
what friends and family said or how they judged, she didn’t intend to back away
from a lifetime of possible happiness, not without exploring the potential.

Gaby pushed through the double doors
leading into the Cricket. Live music from a local band poured from the right
side of the large room and several couples were struttin’ their stuff on the small
dance floor. She scanned the crowd, smiling at the people she knew and ignoring
the snubs from those who turned away. Oh yeah. Everyone read the
Sloan
Gazette
.

At the bar, she slid onto a barstool and
ordered a glass of sauvignon blanc before glancing around to see if people were
still staring. The first person she noticed was Fletch’s younger brother. He
sauntered up to the bar and slung an arm around her shoulders.

“Hey, Gaby. How are you doing?” Craig
asked. They’d gone to school together and had even dated casually a couple of
times. With no romantic spark between them, they’d graduated to friends.

“I’ve had better days,” she said. “You?”

“Fletch and Liam keep us busy. You want to
come and sit with us? We’re hanging out near the pool table. Grayson and Marie
are crowing that no one can beat them. What do you say we whip their asses?”

“If you’re sure.”

Craig squeezed her shoulder in quick
reassurance. “If my big bro is clever enough to catch you, I say he’s smart.”

“And what about Liam?”

Craig whistled softly. “It’s true?”

“Your ears only. To anyone else I’m gonna
deny everything.”

A speculative glint entered his gaze then
he grinned. “Two smart men. Only you could keep those two in line. I’m not
judging. You’re my friend.”

“Other people have opinions.”

“Fuck ’em.” Craig waved at the bartender
and ordered several drinks. “Want a top up?”

“Thanks.” Gaby picked up several drinks and
followed Craig over to the pool tables at the left side of the bar.

“Look who I found,” Craig said.

Gaby realized she’d tensed and forced her
shoulders to relax. Deny everything. She didn’t owe anyone explanations, but
she was aware of the wave of furtive whispers following her through the pub,
the conjecture. The open disgust in some people, some of them supposedly her
friends, hurt.

“Gaby,” Marie said with a smile. She
glanced past her to study the crowd. “Where are Liam and Fletch? They’re
usually half a step behind you.”

Gaby wasn’t blind to the intense interest
in her reply, their avid attention waiting like a caged beast ready to spring
and take her down. Marie’s question was an innocent one—she hadn’t meant to
draw attention—it was there in the widening of her eyes and the horrified
expression. She clapped her hand over her mouth.

Gaby laughed. “They’re at work. We’re roomies,
not attached at the hip.” She paused to take a sip of wine, pleased with her
performance, the lack of tremor in her hand.

“Is Fletch dating anyone?” one of Marie’s
friends asked.

“I think he’s been too busy at work,” Gaby
said, taking care with her answer because this question held a possible trap.

“It’s true,” Craig said. “We’re doing a lot
of overtime at present. You ready for a rematch? Gaby has agreed to play.”

Although Craig’s friends talked to her
during the course of the evening, she was aware of the whispers behind her
back, the rumors flying from mouth to ear. Gaby ignored them to concentrate on
the pool game. She leaned over the table, eyed the corner pocket and struck the
white cleanly. The ball dropped into the pocket.

“Great shot!” Craig said. “Do it again.”

Laughing, Gaby sank the black and ended the
game.

Craig whooped and drew her into a bear hug
and pressed a noisy kiss to her cheek. Gaby drew back laughing, her merriment
dying when she noticed a woman standing near Marie and the others.

Rachel
.

Great. That was all she needed.

She let Craig guide her back to the table.
He handed her glass to her and she accepted the wine with a smile.

“Excellent game,” he said.

“Gaby is good at games,” Rachel said in a
loud voice. “She makes a game of stealing other women’s men.”

Gaby gasped. “I do not!”

“If it wasn’t for you, Liam would accept
me. He wouldn’t throw me away like yesterday’s trash and reject our baby.” Her
fingers curled around her glass so tightly Gaby feared it might not stand the
strain. Gaby’s attention went to the drink. If Rachel was pregnant, why the
heck was she drinking alcohol? Because call her stupid, but Rachel’s drink
didn’t look like a soda.

Gaby backed up, not wanting to engage or
encourage any more animosity. Rachel prowled after her, not giving her the
chance to escape.

“You’re ashamed,” she said, a triumphant
note in her voice. “And you should be.”

A hand settled on Gaby’s shoulder and she
jumped in fright.

“Steady,” Liam said in a low voice.

Rachel’s features twisted, her eyes turning
flat and hard. Determined. “Why are you doing this to me?” She tossed her drink
in Gaby’s face, burst into tears and fled, pushing her way through the crowd.

“You okay?” Liam asked, ignoring the
interested bystanders to wipe off her face.

“I’m fine.” Gaby scowled in the direction
Rachel had disappeared.

“You should marry her,” someone in the
crowd said.

“Yeah, you can’t have your fun and not
accept the consequences,” someone else muttered.

Fletch joined them and the mutters
increased.

“It’s sick,” a woman said in a loud voice.
“Against god’s laws.”

Another woman added her five cents to the
conversation. “You’re a selfish woman, snapping up two good men instead of
being happy with one.”

“I’m going home to change out of these
sticky clothes,” Gaby said.

“Why did you come to the pub?” Liam
demanded in a low voice. “You must have realized everyone would gossip and give
you a hard time.”

“This isn’t the place,” Fletch said. “Let’s
go.” He wrapped his hand around her waist and propelled her from the pub.
“Keys?”

Gaby pulled her keys from her handbag and
handed them to him. He opened the passenger door and waited for her to get in
before closing the door and heading around to the driver’s side.

“I’m not an invalid.”

“Humor me, okay? Liam and I’ve had a crap
day. All I want to do is go home, have a shower and crawl into bed with both of
you.”

Gaby swallowed at the sheer need in his
voice, the depth of feeling. He’d verbalized exactly what she craved.

When they arrived back at their house,
Fletch parked her car. “Wait there.”

“You don’t have to act the gentleman for
me.”

“I want to look after you,” he said,
jumping out of her car before she could formulate a reply.

“You don’t open the door for Liam.”

“I would if he’d let me,” Fletch said. “But
we’re keeping things low key in public.” He hustled her out of the car before
she asked more questions, but they littered her mind. So many questions and
possible answers.

Liam unlocked the front door and stood
aside for her and Fletch to step inside. The door shut behind them and the
tension ratcheted sharply upward. Not scary hostility but something right and
natural.

“Let’s get you out of this wet shirt,”
Fletch said.

“I’ll turn on the shower. Rachel’s aim was
off and I’m sticky too.” Liam brushed a kiss over her cheek and left them alone
in the entranceway. Seconds later the water went on in the bathroom.

Fletch tugged her into the bathroom and
bent to unfasten her shoes. He helped her balance while she kicked them out of
the way. Standing again, he undid a couple of buttons and lifted the fitted
shirt over her head then reached behind to unfasten her bra. “God, you’re
beautiful.” He brushed his knuckles over the swell of one breast. “The only
thing that’s kept me going today is the knowledge I was coming home to spend time
with both you and Liam.”

He pushed her jeans down, taking her tiny
panties with them. She stepped out of the denim. “Into the shower with Liam.”
He swatted her butt as he sent her on her way.

When she glanced back, she saw him watching
her, lust on his face. She winked and waggled her butt, making him laugh.
Smiling, she joined Liam who was already standing under the water.

“Rough day?” She edged him away from the
nearest showerhead and let the warm water pour over her chest to wash away the
sticky drink.

“Rachel’s father tore up our bid and he’s
spread the word. The work we’d lined up is drying up for one reason or another.
We’ve received several cancellations.”

“Can they do that?”

Liam dragged a hand through his hair and
shrugged. “They’ve done it.”

“Can you keep your crew on?”

“Not if we don’t get any jobs.” Fletch
stripped rapidly. “Don’t use all the hot water.”

Gaby grabbed the soap and scrubbed it over
Liam’s back.

“Squish over,” Fletch said, joining them in
the wet area.

Liam cursed when his back hit the cold
wall. “Damn, we need another shower head. I told you we should have put in
three.”

“Stop whining,” Fletch said. “Get your ass
moving into the bedroom and I’ll warm you up.”

Liam stilled. “Promise?”

“Things might have turned to shit at work
but I don’t intend to let vicious tongues kill the best thing in my life. You
and Gaby belong here with me.”

Liam pushed away from the wall, out of the
reach of the water and grabbed a towel. “I thought you might have changed your
mind.”

“Not me.” Fletch’s gaze drifted from her to
Liam, his usual humor absent for once. “I say we ignore the crap and ride out
the storm. Another scandal will come along and people will forget about us.”

“You think?” Gaby stepped out of the water
and relaxed into Liam’s embrace, allowing him to help her dry off.

Fletch turned off the water. “It’ll take
awhile, especially with Rachel fanning the flames.”

“I still say she’s not carrying my baby,”
Liam said.

Gaby shrugged. “I vote we change the
subject.”

“I’ll second that.” Liam grabbed her right
hand and dragged her from the bathroom toward Fletch’s bedroom. He lifted her
off her feet and tossed her onto the bed. He spread her legs and lowered his
head to get busy. His warm tongue going down her slit brought a moan of
delight.

Fletch sauntered into his room. “Now that’s
a sight to behold. Is there room for me?”

“Oh god.” They intended to kill her with
sex. Already, she trembled on the cusp of orgasm, climbing fast with a few
flicks of Liam’s tongue.

“I think she likes the idea,” Fletch said,
the edge of amusement in his husky voice. “But first…” He kissed Liam. Not a
gentle kiss or an easy one he typically bestowed on her. This was more
aggressive, laced with passion. Promise.

Gaby braced on her elbows, watching them
through narrowed eyes. “I’ve said it before and it bears repeating. It makes me
incredibly hot to see the two of you kiss.”

The two men parted, both turning to stare
at her.

“It really does?” Liam asked.

“Oh yeah.”

“I like watching you and Fletch too,” Liam
said, his expression telling Gaby the admission surprised him.

Fletch chuckled, gave Liam another swift
kiss before lowering his head to lick around her clit. “Pretty,” he said, the
puff of air from his words sending a shudder of decadent warmth through her.

Never in her wildest dreams had she
considered a relationship so much out of the norm. Another shudder went through
her as she considered the coming confrontation with her mother. She’d probably
disown her. Luckily her father was a bit more progressive, although this situation
might throw him.

Then Liam and Fletch drove her concerns
away, the flicker of their tongues over her labia and sly forays across her
clit shoving her on edge. Her hands gripped the duvet cover, creasing the
cotton as she attempted to stave off the waiting leap into pleasure. They
petted her, licked her and occasionally paused to kiss each other.

“Don’t hold back, love,” Liam said.

Fletch stroked her hip with his calloused
fingers. “Yeah, we have more in us.”

Their encouragement sent her flying hard and
fast. A small scream erupted from her, the pulse of her pussy going on for long
moments.

“I think she liked that,” Liam said.

“Can you take both of us?” Fletch asked,
already reaching for the lube.

“Yes.” If there was one thing she needed
tonight it was togetherness and reinforcing the invisible strands of their
relationship. “We’re not going to let close-minded people ruin this for us.”

“I’m in for the long haul,” Fletch said
instantly.

Liam tugged on her nipples hard, the streak
of pain jolting her. “Why would you think otherwise? If we lose jobs, things
might be a bit tough financially, but this is one thing I’m positive about.
I’ve never had people in my life like you and Fletch. We’re family. The two of
you fill the empty spaces inside me.” He shut his mouth with a snap of teeth
and a faint tide of color seeped into his face, highlighting his gorgeous blue
eyes.