Cabin Fever (19 page)

“Oh, Sandy. I didn’t mean—”

“Oh, no, it’s okay really. More than okay. It’s that, I realized what you meant by me being your lover/playmate rather than your soul mate.”

Sean looked at her with concern all over his face. He took a seat next to her. “Sandy, I want you to know that I love you like a wife. The way I make love to you, or have sex in this case, or whatever words that come out of my mouth, in no way reflects how I feel about you.”

“I know that. I mentioned it, because it’s so much different than Patrick. I’m not comparing you two, but I’m beginning to understand the dynamics of this ménage thing, and how your love is a bit different from his.”

“I see.” Sean drank some of his coffee. “So the other night was okay with you?”

“More than okay. I loved it. I never had sex like that. I’ve always….”

“Always what?” Sean had her hand and stroked the back of it.

“Well, I’ve read in certain magazines and books ‘confessions’ of such lovemaking and always fantasized about it.”

“We have no secrets, especially if it has to do with us,” Sean said. “In fact, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. You said you’re fantasized about Patrick and me. You never told us, or even hinted.”

“I was scared. I didn’t want to ruin what we had.”

Sean nodded. “Trust me, it wasn’t easy for us, either. We’ve been discussing it for weeks, how to approach you.”

Sandra got up from the table and walked over to Sean and hugged him. “I’m glad you did.” She turned to leave, then looked over her shoulder and winked. “I don’t want you to think that you have to treat me like fine china or anything.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be as rough as you can take it.” Sean laughed behind his cup.

Sean walked into Patrick’s bedroom and saw him looking out the window. He went to him and slapped him across the head.

“Hey!” Patrick said, turning around and rubbing his head. “What the hell?”

“For having such a big mouth. Why did you tell Sandra that our lovemaking was so different? She’s confused enough.” Sean sat down in the window seat in front of him.

“I just wanted her to know that with me it wasn’t going to be a rough and tumble. Our night was pure lovemaking. She didn’t think anything bad, did she?”

“Well, I think it was more me than her. I don’t want her to think I love her less, because with me sex was just that…sex, and raunchy. But she seemed cool with it. She said she loved it and had never experienced anything like it. In fact, she’s fantasized about it.”

“See there. You worried for nothing. You don’t give her much credit.”

“Hmm, where have I heard that before?” Sean mused rubbing his chin.

Patrick laughed. “So you see, she understands how you feel about her. Don’t worry about it. Sandra’s the kind of woman who knows what she wants. If she’s asking, she realizes what she’s getting into.”

Maybe he worried too much about nothing. If Sandra wanted him to be his true self with her, then so be it.

Patrick grabbed his hoodie off the chair and left the room.

Sean looked out the window. Sandra made her way toward the Wolf Cabin, Probably to check on its progress one more time before they left. It needed the least amount of work.

He took a deep breath and headed outside. His feet sank into the snow, ankle deep. A freak overnight storm had dashed hopes of getting anything done by the contractors today.

He caught up with Sandra in the living area of the cabin. “Hey.”

She spun around. “You scared me. I thought you went to pack.” She wrapped her arms around him. “This place is really coming along.”

“It is. Let’s hope it stays within the budget. Or better yet, under budget.”

“Always thinking about the bottom line,” Sandra said.

“Hey someone has to be anal in this bunch.”

They both laughed and walked into the hall looking over the new wall coverings.

“Glad they took down the paneling,” Sean said, turning up his nose.

“Come look at the kitchen.” Sandra pulled him along.

“Hey, it’s looking good.” He looked through the cabinets and under the sink. “Copper plumbing.”

“How much do you think we should charge per person?” Sandra leaned against one of the kitchen cabinets.

“Now look who’s thinking about the bottom line.” He grinned and walked back into the living room. “Good question though. Tell you what. I will leave all research to you and your cousin as you develop the business plan.”

“Great, I’ll get on it as soon as we get back home. I wonder how the upstairs is coming.” She headed in that direction.

“Let’s see.”

They poked their heads in the first upstairs bedroom. “Wow, looks like they’re spending more time downstairs. They gutted this room and left it,” she said.

“They can only do so much at one time. Besides, it’s just been three days. So considering, I think it’s coming along fine.”

Sandra nodded, still looking around the room. She went to leave but Sean grabbed her arm. “Let’s just stay here a bit. We’re not leaving until tomorrow, so there is no need to rush.” He brought her to his chest and kissed the top of her head. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” Sandra said, wrapping her arms around his body.

“And you know I would never do anything to hurt you.”

She looked up at him. “Sean, what is it?”

“I just wanted to make sure you knew how I felt about you. I know I’m not as verbal as Patrick when it comes to my feelings for you.”

“But I know. If that’s what you’re worried about.”

“I will
make
love to you. I just want you to remember that.”

He looked into Sandra’s eyes, worried she might look at him differently, not understand how much he loved her.

Maybe his feelings were deeper than he thought. But Sandra wouldn’t push the subject. Like everything else in this relationship, she would let the chips fall where they may.

“Sean, I wouldn’t ask you to do something if I thought it would jeopardize my feelings for you. Why do you think I was wary about getting involved in a ménage in the first place? Besides, after talking with you and Patrick and knowing your true feelings for me, I know I will be loved and safe in your arms.”

Sean wanted to cry for joy. But in keeping his he-man façade, he shook it off, then smiled. He buried his face in her hair and gave her a bear hug. Luckily she worked out daily, otherwise, her ribs would have cracked.

“I do love you and I will always keep you safe. Even from a brute like me.” He chuckled. “Come on, let’s look at the rest of the place. I wonder how the landscaping is going.”

They went outside in the back. They looked at each other after seeing the carnage left behind from gutting the cabin.

“Maybe they’re waiting for the spring thaw,” Sandra said, with an unconvincing assurance in her voice.

Sean picked up on that. “Yeah, let’s keep telling ourselves that.”

***

Night fell and the three of them stood looking out the window by moonlight, watching the light snow. They didn’t want to leave. They’d shared and learned so much about each other, and Sandra believed that the reality of them returning to the outside world would finally hit them.

Would they still carry on like they’ve been doing the past couple of weeks? Was this just a good time? They loved each other, that much she understood. But that niggling feeling still remained.

Suppose no one accepted their relationship. Then again what business was it of anyone else’s?

“Penny for your thoughts,” Sean whispered in her ear.

“I think we’ll need more than pennies for that,” Patrick said.

Sean smoothed his hands up and down her arms.

“Just thinking about us and what we’ve learned about ourselves.”

“Ahh. Are you happy with the new revelations?” Sean asked.

“Most definitely.”

“Let’s say we make tonight not about sex. Let’s just chill, relax and absorb. ” Patrick led the way to the couch.

“Wow, he sounds all psychiatric.” Sandra said.

“Cool.” Patrick dropped down into the cushions. “Let’s watch the ballgame before hitting the sack.”

The three returned to a surprise welcome back party at Boot Camp. They hadn’t gone on a European tour, but it was still nice that the gang missed them. And so had their clients.

After the party, Sandra entered her office with an armful of gifts and cards. She sat at her desk and booted up her computer to tackle an overload of messages. As she scrolled through her e-mails, her phone rang.

“Sandra Peterson. May I help you?”

“Hey, girl.”

“Hey, Rhonda, I was just about to call you. We got in last night, and I was tired.”

“I figured that. What are you doing for lunch?”

“Catching up with everything. Why, got any plans?”

“Thought we could get together.”

“That sounds like a great idea. This stuff will still be here. I want to catch you up on the health spa issue.”

“Great, see you at noon.”

Sandra finished organizing her to do list when she heard a knock at the door. “Come in.”

Patrick entered.

“What can I do for you?”

“Got a family that wants to lose weight together. The father is diabetic and needs a good nutrition plan. They’re a walk-in.”

“Great, send them in.

“Business as usual, huh?”

“Like we never left.”

“Sean and I would like to take you out to dinner. Someplace special.”

“Okay.”

“So wear something nice.”

“I always do.” They laughed and he left. He was soon replaced by Brenda, her secretary. Sandra could tell that she had been itching to talk to her.

All the female employees and some of the male ones wanted a moment “alone” with her to talk about her vacation. She knew that’s not what they really wanted to talk about. Why would anyone want a moment alone with someone just to talk about what they did on vacation, unless they were trying to pump them for more information? Even with the mention of the new health spa, she could tell by the glassy-eyed stares of her colleagues they weren’t interested in the business aspect of their trip to the Rockies.

Brenda must have been sent to get the scoop, because she sat with notepad in hand, grinning from east to west. She had never been this eager to take notes.

“Yes, Brenda?”

“I thought maybe you had an agenda for me, to help you catch up on things.”

“Nothing right now. I’m still going through the list myself. But I’ll let you know.”

Brenda continued to sit.

“Yes?” Sandra prompted.

“Well.” Brenda closed the door and sat back down. “I was just wondering how your…you know…vacation was, with the boys.”

Lord love a duck
. The nosiness of some people. Even though Sandra was now very comfortable with her relationship, this wasn’t anyone’s business, except Rhonda’s, and even she was limited to some information.

“Our vacation was nice. We found out a lot of things about Sean’s uncle’s cabin. Like we mentioned earlier, it is going to make a great health spa. I think one day next month we’ll take the entire staff there on a field trip.”

“That would be great. Anything else exciting?”

“No, not really. It snowed a lot, and we saw deer.” Sandra sat with her hands clasped on the desk, awaiting Brenda’s next move.

“Oh, I see. Well, welcome back.”

“Thanks. We’ll get together later and start writing up agendas for the spa project. But that will be much later. You can send that family in now.”

***

“So, any juicy details that you haven’t already told me?” Rhonda asked then stuck a French fry in her mouth.

“No, except that Sean is very rough in bed.”

“Oh, I thought he was your gentle giant.”

“Well, he has a rough and nasty side to him. But I like it.”

“Ah,” Rhonda grinned. “He makes love like a porn star.”

“Yup!” They both laughed.

“Lynn is having a Mary Kay party tonight, want to come?” Rhonda asked.

“’Fraid not, the boys asked me to dinner. Someplace special.”

“They can’t get enough of you.”

Sandra leaned toward Rhonda. She glanced from side to side to see if anyone was listening. “To tell you the truth, I’m hoping all we do is eat. I’m exhausted.”

***

Sandra looked at herself in the full-length mirror. Her black velvet dress with the deep V front and her stiletto pumps made her look even more statuesque. She wore her hair in a French twist and her make-up was perfect. She looked like a classic movie actress, glamorous and elegant, if she did say so herself.

The doorbell rang, and she trotted over to answer while still putting on her earrings. When she opened the door, two of the most handsome men she’d ever seen stood in the doorway. She stood aside and allowed them in.

Patrick smoothed his hand over her gown. “Very sexy.”

“That dress brings out your best assets. Then again, you could wear a paper bag,” Sean said, kissing her cheek. “We’ve made reservations at Cellini’s.”

“Good, I’m in the mood for some Italian.”

“As long as it’s not men.” They laughed as they left.

They were quickly seated in a cozy corner. Sandra looked over the menu as the waitress came by with the wine list. So many choices. Luckily, they were in no hurry.

“Just the calamari for now,” Sean said. The waitress left and Sandra put down her menu, still unable to decide.

“So, what’s the special occasion?” she asked.

“Well,” Sean started, then looked at Patrick, who nodded. “We wanted to cement our relationship.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, and not just with us making love and saying we love you, but with something more tangible,” Patrick continued.

“I see.”

“Here, maybe this will help,” Sean said. They took three small velvet boxes from their back pockets. Sean had one and Patrick had two. “Open your hand.”

Sandra did so, and the guys opened the boxes. Sandra laid eyes on three diamond rings, each with an interesting shape.