Screwdriver (6 page)

She wasn’t sure either man wanted her at all. They’d both
spent a large part of yesterday telling her how great the
other
guy was.
What if neither of them was interested and they were each trying to find a way
to pawn her off on the other? She swallowed heavily and put the thought from
her mind. Everything would be clearer after Friday. She’d just have to hang on
until then.

She stood and walked around her desk. “Thanks for listening
to me.”

Sophie stood and hugged her. “That’s what friends are for.
And for what it’s worth, I think either one of those guys would be lucky to
have you. Now it’s time to start worrying about the really important stuff.”

Jordan frowned. “Like what?”

“Like what you’re wearing to the party on Friday.”

Casey picked up a rag to wipe off his hands and walked to
the front door to see who was knocking. It was nearly midnight—his witching
hour. He��d been working on his new sculpture for nearly twelve hours straight,
letting the clay take shape and form while relieving his stress.

He opened the door. “Gabe. What are you doing here?”

“You got a minute?”

Casey stepped aside and pointed toward the living room,
gesturing for his friend to enter. “It’s kind of late, isn’t it?”

Gabriel took in the destroyed state of Casey’s living room
and shrugged. “I know you. Figured you’d be up working.”

There were drop cloths over most of the furniture and a fine
film of white dust covered the TV screen. In a fit of playfulness, Casey had
drawn two stick figures in an obscene position. Cartoon porn. Gabriel chuckled
when he saw it.

“I got bored,” Casey said nonchalantly.

Gabriel had given him shit for years about the
impracticality of using his living room as a studio, but whenever the artistic
urge struck, Casey followed, not caring where he was.

He walked over and pulled the cloth off the couch. “Want a
beer?”

Gabriel nodded as he sat down. “Yeah. That sounds good.”

Casey grabbed two Coronas from the kitchen and then plopped
down next to Gabriel. He handed him the beer, tapped the necks together in an
unspoken cheers and took a swig.

Finally, he turned to Gabriel. “Let’s have it.”

Gabriel gave him a rueful grin. “You’re gonna make me say
it? I feel like it’s pretty obvious we’re both gunning for the same girl.”

Casey had spent most of the day trying to lose himself in
his art in an attempt to forget that fact. “Yeah. I guess we are. Listen. Don’t
worry about it. I’ll back off, man.”

Gabriel frowned. “Why?”

“Because I knew when I met Jordan she was special to you.”

“So I had first dibs? Not sure it works that way, mate.”

Casey leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “You
want me to spell it out for you? I’m not fucking Bruce. I’m not going to steal
your girl.”

“Jesus. I’ve been a pretty shitty friend lately, haven’t I?”

Casey shook his head. “No. I think I’ve been the asshole. I
knew you were hurting after Paula, but I didn’t say anything. Just sort of let
you go into this self-destruct mode.”

Gabriel took another swig of beer. “Self-destruct, huh?
Damn. Apparently I’m more screwed up than I realized.”

“You know what I mean.”

“I do. And you did everything right, Casey. You didn’t nag
me like my mom, giving me shit about my dating habits. You didn’t take my dad’s
route and offer endless platitudes about getting back on the horse and there
are a lot of fish in the sea. You didn’t write me off as a friend like a few
other guys. You just let me work through it.”

“Two years is a damn long time to work through getting
dumped. Took everything in me not to tell you to grow the fuck up and get over
it.”

Gabriel chuckled. “I stopped sulking over Paula about a year
ago.”

“So what’s this last year been about?”

“Fuck if I know. At some point I turned into this new Gabe
and I couldn’t figure out how to turn him off again. Didn’t have a reason to.”

Casey picked at the etching on his Corona bottle. “And now
you do?”

Gabriel didn’t respond. Instead he put his beer on the
coffee table and stood. He walked over to the sculpture Casey had been working
on with a frenzy that bordered on manic. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d
been gripped so tightly by his muse.

Gabriel studied the form and Casey prayed it was too rough
to be recognizable. He’d been an idiot not to cover the thing before opening
the door.

“It’s not finished,” Casey said lamely. “In fact, it’s
nowhere close to looking like it will when—”

“Three lovers?”

Fuck.

Casey laughed uneasily. “Crap. Is that what it looks like? I
must be losing my touch.”

Gabriel didn’t look away from the sculpture. In fact, he
committed a major faux pas in Casey’s book—a mistake he’d never made in the
past. He reached up and touched the damp clay. “Jordan’s hair is a bit shorter
now with her new hairdo. That part needs work. And while I appreciate the
compliment, I’m not sure my arms are quite that muscular.”

“Gabe.” Casey’s words failed him.

Gabriel turned to face him. “Is this your answer? We share
her?”

Casey shook his head, uncertain what he’d been thinking when
he started the damn piece, and then he shrugged. When he began, he’d just
started cutting figures without any plan of who he was creating.

Jordan had been first to emerge from the clay, which is why
she was so recognizable. Then Casey began to create the man—his features
fluctuating between Gabriel’s and his own. In the back of his mind, Casey
thought the piece would make an awesome wedding gift.

When the man looked like Gabriel, it was a gift from the
best man to his friend. When the man looked like Casey, it became a gift for
his bride.

Finally, he gave up on the man in front of the woman and
began adding the man behind. Once his internal battle ended, the art flowed
faster, easier.

“I’m not sure that’s an option. Seems a bit out there,
wouldn’t you say?”

Gabriel glanced at the sculpture again. “I would have said
so…but
this
doesn’t look so out there. In fact, it’s really beautiful.”

Casey wasn’t sure if Gabriel was referring to the idea or
the sculpture.

“Have you ever…” Gabriel pointed to the sculpture.

“God no. Jesus, don’t you think you would know if I had?”

Gabriel chuckled. “Yeah, I guess that
is
something
you’d brag to your best friend about. It’s not like we have many secrets from
each other. I recall one night back in college, sleeping on the top bunk and
listening to you with your girlfriend in the bottom bed for hours.”

Casey closed his eyes, shaking his head in halfhearted
regret. “Yeah, well, I was a lot younger, a lot stupider and three sheets to
the wind. That’s also a lot different then what we’re talking about now.”

Gabriel nodded. “You’re right. This is different. Have you
ever fantasized about a threesome?”

Casey shoved his hands in the back pockets of his jeans.
“Sure. But it’s always been me and two hot chicks.”

Gabriel made a pained face. “Christ. It’s a nice fantasy,
but can you imagine the reality of trying to get two women off?”

Casey rolled his eyes. “In my dream, the women are helping
each other along too. It’s not just me doing all the work.”

Gabriel looked at the sculpture once more. “That’s not
exactly the dynamic you’ve set up here, though.”

“No. It’s not.”

Finally, Gabriel faced him once more. “I know you’re not
Bruce. And Jordan is light-years away from Paula. I’ve been acting like a
selfish, spoiled asshole these past couple of years.”

“You were hurt. You—”

Gabriel lifted his hand. “My life’s been one long
predestined event. Every decision I’ve ever made was because I thought it was
what was expected of me—my major in college, moving home, taking over the
business, Paula. I convinced myself I was in love with her because that’s what
I was supposed to feel.”

Casey stood. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but I
think you did love her.”

Gabriel nodded. “I loved her. I wasn’t in love with her. And
when the master plan failed, I struck out. Decided to buck the system by dating
women my parents couldn’t stand, refusing to settle down. All of that was easier
than facing the fact that for once in my life I was going to have to make my
own decision. Risk making a mistake. Face being genuinely hurt. Paula didn’t
break my heart, but she did shatter my oversized ego.”

Casey chuckled. “Pride I can understand.”

“You’ve stuck by me through everything, Case. You’ve never
let me down, never failed to be there for me. And I know you’ve been trying to
provoke me to jealousy, thinking it would get me off my ass in regards to
Jordan.”

“Did it work?”

“Sort of.”

Casey frowned. “What’s that mean?”

“When I walked by and saw you and Jordan holding hands at
the mall, I wanted to punch the fucking shit out of you.”

“So you
were
jealous?”

Gabriel blew out a long breath. “I also wanted to stand
there and watch you kiss her. You two looked pretty hot together.”

“Jesus,” Casey muttered.

“I know, right? Yesterday sort of kicked me in the gut all
the way around.”

“How so?”

“After you left, I was sitting with Jordan and something
occurred to me.”

“What?” Casey asked.

“I thought Paula had beaten the ability to feel love out of
me. She didn’t.”

It was a breakthrough. Casey wondered if it would screw
things up if he shouted, “High five!” Instead he asked, “How do you know?”

“Because I’m definitely falling in love with Jordan.”

Casey’s elation wavered. “Cool.” His tone was quieter, not
completely convincing.

Gabriel turned back to the statue. “You are too.”

His friend spoke so softly Casey wasn’t sure he’d heard him
correctly. Regardless, he was too afraid to ask him to repeat himself.

Gabriel walked toward him. “Keep going on the statue. It’s
really good. I told Jordan I’d pick her up at six thirty for the party. I’ll
have the limo swing by here at six. You’ll ride with us.”

Casey shook his head. “No. It’s your date.”

Gabriel put his hand on Casey’s shoulder. “No way. I’m not
doing this ‘taking turns’ routine with her. You’ve thrown out an option. We
should test the waters.”

“The sculpture is a fantasy. What you’re suggesting is way
more intense than that. You really want to have a threesome? You, me and
Jordan?”

Gabriel shrugged. “Honestly, I don’t know. And if we do end
up in bed together, just don’t fucking look at me, man, or I might lose it.”

Casey burst into laughter. “Goddamn, Gabe. You’re insane.”

“If I am, it’s your damn fault. You planted the seed with
your art. I think we should go out with her together and see how it feels.”

Casey went numb. Gabriel wasn’t going to let this go. “How
it feels?”

“Yeah.”

“You’re suggesting we play this by ear. Go with our gut
instincts. That’s your big plan? Really?”

“I suspect by the end of the night we’ll know whether or not
it would work.”

Casey crossed his arms. “Is there going to be some sort of
signal?”

Gabriel grinned. “Nope. I like the element of suspense.”

“Of course you do.”

“So it won’t be my date or yours. It’ll be ours. See you
Friday.”

Gabriel let himself out while Casey reeled over his friend’s
unexpected comment.

Ours?

Casey glanced at the statue, at the three lovers. He hadn’t
said anything to Gabriel, but he knew how it was going to feel.

Incredible.

Gabriel was right. The sculpture was beautiful. He let the
image soak into his skin.

Ours.

Jordan watched the first couple take to the dance floor as
the band began playing. Gabriel and Casey were talking to an older gentleman about
the chandelier in the ballroom. She’d been shocked when they had arrived at her
apartment together to escort her to the party.

Strangely, it hadn’t felt odd in the least. They were all
friends, so the conversation flowed easily in the limo and continued through
dinner. She’d laughed more in the past few hours than she had in months. Both
men were charming, witty and, if she wasn’t mistaken, flirting with her. The
weird part was whenever one made some sexy innuendo or touched her lightly, the
other man watched without a spark of jealousy or concern.

It was driving her nuts. And making her horny as shit.

“Jordan, do you mind if we leave you alone for a few
minutes? Mr. Porter wants to see the electrical setup for the room.”

She lifted her wineglass and smiled. “No problem. I’m fine
here.”

All three men walked away. Jordan didn’t bother to hide the
fact she checked out Gabriel’s and Casey’s asses. Both men were extremely
handsome, though their appearances couldn’t be more different. Casey’s
golden-blond hair and tan seemed even lighter next to Gabriel’s dark hair and
complexion.

If you really want to shake things up, fuck both of them
at the same time. How freaking hot would that be?

Jordan squeezed her legs together and silently cursed
Stephanie for daring her to dream such an impossible dream. Last night, her
fantasy had continued to evolve as Casey took a turn between her legs while
Gabriel sucked on her breasts. She’d brought herself to climax twice before she
finally managed to sleep.

Sophie had suggested it would be easier for her to decide
between them after a few more dates. Unfortunately, tonight only made that
choice more impossible.

“Argh!”

Speak of the devil.

Jordan grinned when Sophie plopped down on a seat recently
vacated by a man who’d headed to the bar for a refill. “Is something wrong,
Soph?”

“Not something. Someone. Marc Garrett.”

“Oh wow. Is he here? Where is he?” Jordan had heard the
man’s name several times over the past few months—each time spoken with more
venom. She was dying of curiosity to see what the man who gave “unflappable
Sophie” fits looked like. Marc had become her friend’s archenemy, though Jordan
couldn’t figure out exactly why. All she knew was whenever Sophie’s path
crossed Marc’s, things quickly went south.

Sophie waved her hand over her shoulder but didn’t turn to
point out the free-aid lawyer who irritated her. “Over there somewhere. I
should have had security escort him out. Arrogant jerk.”

“Damn. What happened?”

Sophie opened her purse and pulled out a mirror to check her
still-perfect hair and makeup. Jordan could have told her she looked fantastic,
but Sophie didn’t appear to be looking at herself. Instead she was using the
mirror to glance at the crowd behind her. Jordan studied the group of men
gathered around the stage, but none of them stood out to her. Then a handsome,
dark-haired man turned and looked toward their table. Jordan couldn’t be sure,
but she thought he winked.

Sophie quickly snapped her mirror closed and put it back in
her handbag.

“Why do you talk to him if he bugs you so much, Soph?”

“It’s not like I seek him out. Asshole cornered me in the
coat-check room.”

“What did he say?”

Sophie shrugged and stood. “Nothing. He never says anything
important.”

Before Jordan could ask for more details, Casey and Gabriel
returned to the table.

“You and your committee did a fantastic job planning this
event, Sophie. You should be very pleased. Bridget told me you’ve already
surpassed your contributions goal.”

Sophie smiled. “It’s been a terrific night, Gabe, but let’s
not fool ourselves into thinking the success had anything to do with the party.
It was kind of you to allow us to host it here as your grand opening for the
inn. The tickets sold out in record time because half of Portland was dying to
see inside this place. The remodel is incredible.”

Gabriel put his hand on Casey’s shoulder. “That’s because of
this guy. He’s an architectural genius.”

“Christ. Don’t go spreading that lie around, Gabe. Someone
might hear you and believe it.”

Sophie rolled her eyes. “Modest ’til the end. I have to go
check in with the band’s manager. Make sure they have everything they need. You
guys get Jordan out there on the dance floor. She has a tendency to play the
wallflower at parties. I’m counting on you to prevent that tonight.”

Casey gave her a salute. “Aye, aye, captain. We’re on it.”

Sophie quickly walked toward the stage as Casey and Gabriel
reclaimed their seats.

Gabriel pointed to Sophie. “I swear that woman could win the
Boston Marathon in those high heels of hers.”

Jordan agreed. “I’ve told her the same thing several times.
I can’t even walk in shoes that high and she spends hours dashing from one end
of the bar to the next in them.”

Casey sipped his water. “After watching her in her
country-club-party-planner glory, I have a hard time remembering Sophie waits
tables at Books and Brew for a living.”

“Well, she does more than wait tables. She’s our marketing
person too. I swear she could sell eyeglasses to a blind man. She’s incredible.
As soon as this event is over, she’s already warned me she has a big thing
planned for the store. Some sort of bachelor auction.”

Gabriel winced. “If she thinks she’s going to rope me in to
something like that, she’s nuts.”

“Well,” Jordan drawled. “I do remember your name being
mentioned.”

Casey laughed. “I think you should go for it.”

“I wouldn’t laugh, Mr. Woods. She has your name on the list
too.”

“Fuck,” Casey muttered. “Save us, Jordan.”

She took her napkin off her lap and put it on the table.
“How am I supposed to do that?”

Gabriel stood up and grasped her hand. Rather than answer,
he pulled her close to him. “It’s getting warm in here. You want to take that
tour of the place now?”

“Sure. I’d love that.”

Casey hesitated. “You want some company?”

Jordan started to reply, but she realized he had directed
the question to Gabriel.

Gabriel nodded. “Yeah. I think the three of us should take
this tour.”

Casey smiled. Jordan studied both men’s faces, sensing an
odd undercurrent to the conversation.

Casey grabbed the bottle of wine from their table. Jordan
followed him out of the ballroom, Gabriel holding her hand.

They walked to the lobby, the sound of the band receding in
the distance behind them.

Gabriel blew out a relieved breath. “Finally. Peace and
quiet.”

Jordan expected Gabriel to release her hand and was
foolishly relieved when he didn’t. “I thought the band was pretty good. But
yeah, you’re right. Too loud.”

Casey waved his hand toward the fancy foyer. “Guess we can
start the tour here.”

For the next hour, Casey and Gabriel led her on a tour of
the old house, discussing the history of the authentic furnishings, the old
photographs Casey had found in an upstairs attic and framed, and the intricate
woodwork he’d restored. He pointed out how he’d used color to lighten or
enhance certain areas. Jordan was blown away by Casey’s attention to detail.

“Is it any wonder why I hired him for the job?” Gabriel
asked. “The guy brings it all to the table—the artistic eye, the architectural
training and magic fingers when it comes to making something beautiful.”

Jordan acknowledged the truth of Gabriel’s words with a
smile, but her inner voice started talking again. Even though Gabriel had held
her hand throughout the tour, a part of her couldn’t let go of the suspicion he
was trying to set her up with his friend. It was confusing as hell.

“Here’s my favorite spot,” Gabriel said, when they reached
the end of the upstairs hallway. “It’s the largest bedroom. I suspect there
will be lots of weddings held at the inn and this will be the honeymoon suite.”

He opened the door and Jordan gasped at the luxurious, huge
bedroom. “Oh my God. It’s gorgeous.”

Jordan tried to take it all in, but there were too many
pretty things—the large canopied bed, the walnut furniture, the ornate mirror
that covered nearly one whole wall. Her eyes had trouble focusing on anything
for long before something else equally amazing caught her attention.

“We sort of strayed from the script in here, installing a
lot of modern comforts along with the antiques and period furnishings. Plus, as
Gabe said, it’s probably going to be used as a honeymoon suite most of the
time, so we threw in a dash of the romantic.”

“More than a dash,” Jordan said, running her fingers along
the plush, deep-red duvet.

Gabriel walked up behind her and tugged down the corner of
the comforter. “Silk sheets.”

Jordan stroked the silk and closed her eyes, imagining what
it would feel like to slide between them. “So nice. I’ve never slept in silk
sheets.”

“Never?” Gabriel asked.

She shook her head. “I’m more a cotton-in-the-summer, flannel-in-the-winter
kind of girl.”

“That’s a shame.” Gabriel leaned closer and placed a soft
kiss on her cheek.

Jordan’s heart raced at the brief contact and it suddenly
became difficult to catch a breath. Was that a friendly kiss? Did he remember
Casey was in the room too?

She turned quickly, sitting on the edge of the bed. Both men
were looking at her with what her overwrought mind thought was undisguised
lust.

“Jesus,” she muttered. Was she in one of her fantasies? Had
she had too much to drink? Was she seeing things?

Gabriel looked concerned, but Casey grinned. “We’re freaking
you out, aren’t we?”

She nodded.

Gabriel ran a hand through his hair. “Crap. I’m sorry,
Jordy. Casey and I had a chat last night.”

“About what?” she asked.

Casey walked toward her, plopping beside her on the bed.
“About you.”

“I knew it.” Heat crept into her face. She’d made a complete
ass of herself. They were both too nice and now they were going to try to let
her down easy. “You don’t have to say anything. This is all my fault.”

Gabriel frowned. “What’s your fault?”

She stood up and started pacing, her nervous words falling
out faster than her brain could process them. “I was an idiot to think either
one of you would want to date me, let alone both of you. I mean, you guys could
have any woman in town. Someone beautiful, smart, more interesting than a
bookkeeper. I’m just an insane, extremely horny woman who’s been thinking with
her hormones, not her head. I didn’t mean to throw myself at you guys. So I’m
letting you off the hook. I’m going to go home, drink a bottle of wine—maybe
two—and pass out, and in the morning can we all please just forget this ever
happened? I’d really like to maintain the friendships. I hope I didn’t do
anything to jeopardize that.”

Casey looked at Gabriel. “What the fuck is she talking
about?”

Gabriel shrugged. “I don’t have a clue.”

Casey stood up. “Jordan, I think we’re going to have to talk
about your self-confidence issues.”

Now it was her turn to be confused. “I have issues?”

Casey crossed his arms. “Oh hell yeah. Lots of them.
Apparently you’re under the mistaken impression that we aren’t attracted to
you, that you aren’t smart, funny and fun. All that bullshit.”

Gabriel took her hand. “Did you really think we brought you
up here to tell you we didn’t want you? Why would we bring you to a bedroom to
break news like that?”

“You brought me up here for a purpose? I thought this was
just part of the tour.”

Casey scoffed, running his hand through his hair. “Jeez.”

“Wait. Why are you
both
here?”

Gabriel squeezed her hand. “We both want you.”

She closed her eyes, her heart aching. Sophie was wrong. She
didn’t have time. “God. You want me to choose, don’t you?”

Casey stepped closer. They were both taller than her,
muscular and broad. She marveled at how comforting their nearness was. She
should have felt trapped, suffocated, but instead she was warm, happy.

Casey ran his hand along her bare arm. She’d felt ridiculous
in the strapless dress Sophie had loaned her, until Casey and Gabriel arrived
to pick her up. Their widened eyes and approving grins had made her feel
special, beautiful. “Yeah. There’s a choice to be made, Jordan, but it doesn’t
have to be the one you’re thinking of.”

She shivered with desire at his simple touch. “What do you
mean?”

Gabriel lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the base of
her palm, letting his mouth linger over the pulse point at her wrist. There was
no way he could miss the pounding beat. “We want you to choose
us
. Both
of us.”

She fought to understand. “Both?”

“We don’t want to fight over you any more than you want to
choose between us, Jordy. Casey and I talked last night about the possibility
of sharing you.”

“Taking turns?”

Gabriel shook his head. “No. If you agree to our proposal,
it’ll be all three of us climbing between those silk sheets. Together. Have you
ever been part of a threesome?”

Jordan burst into laughter. “Oh yeah, sure. Loads of times.
Why just last night, I—”

“We’re not kidding, Jordy.”

Gabriel’s words stopped her. “You’re not?”

Casey shook his head.

“That’s insane,” she whispered.

Casey shrugged. “I said the same thing at first. Then I
thought about it. It really could work.”

“Jesus,” she repeated, remembering Stephanie’s suggestion
that she go for a threesome. At the time it had seemed as likely as walking on
Mars. She needed to sit down. She reclaimed her spot on the edge of the bed.
“Have you guys ever—”