The Arrangement Read online

  Mary grabbed the remote, flicking off the TV. “I can't believe he just did that."

  "You're not the only one.” Relief mingled with happiness and a healthy dose of lingering disbelief set Nick's head spinning, nearly doubling him over. Just to make sure, he pinched himself. “It's not a dream,” he said softly, doing it again. Then another, weirder thought occurred. “Maybe I'm dead, and this is heaven."

  "Oh, stop it!” Grinning, she threw her arms around him. “If I ever doubted that Eric loved you, I certainly don't now, and neither should you. Count your blessings, sweetheart."

  He walked around in a blissful daze for the rest of the afternoon and when dinnertime rolled around, he chewed his food absently, barely tasting it. He'd just gotten up to clear the table when he heard a soft tap at the back door, and Eric's head poked in. “Sorry to interrupt your dinner."

  "It's fine, Eric, we've just finished,” Mary said, coming up to embrace him and plant a kiss on his cheek. “You did a very brave thing today. Some people might call it a very rash thing, too. As much as I admire your decision, I hope for your sake and Nick's that you don't end up regretting it."

  "I don't see how that's possible,” he replied, looking right at Nick. The sudden jolt of arousal down Nick's spine almost made him drop the stack of dishes in his hands.

  They stole away to the loft a few minutes later. Nick dragged Eric to the couch and pushed him down, kissing him with persistent, breath-stealing fierceness. Eric had to press a reluctant hand to Nick's chest to get him to slow down. “Sorry, Nick, but it's been a long day. The spirit's willing, but sadly, the rest of me's not up for more than a few kisses right now."

  "S'okay.” Nick grinned. “I guess I'm just a little excited."

  Eric smirked. “No kidding."

  "So how do you feel? About the press conference, I mean."

  "Relieved, mostly. These last few months I've felt as if I had an elephant sitting on my chest, and now it's gone. I've never felt more at ease in my life."

  "I wasn't expecting you to do anything like that. It's going to take me a while to get over the shock."

  "You and Allison both. I still don't think she believes it, and she was standing right there."

  "But what made you do it? I thought your political career meant more to you than everything else."

  "I thought so too,” Eric said quietly. “And evidently I was wrong."

  "You mean you don't care about running for president anymore? You gave all that up for me?"

  "Of course not. I'll be president someday, one way or another. The next senatorial election is five years away. That should be more than enough time for any lingering uproar to die down. And if the voters decide to toss me out on my ear anyway, it doesn't matter. There's more than one path to the White House, and I've got the time and resources to explore them all."

  Nick chuckled. “I should've known you'd have a Plan B."

  "Truthfully, I didn't, until I realized I was about to lose the only two people in the world who'd ever mattered a damn to me. My whole life, becoming a cold-hearted bully like my father's the only thing I've truly feared. You and Allison help me hold back that darkness. I'd be insane to let the two of you go.” He grinned. “And besides, I wasn't about to let that bastard Hines get the drop on me."

  "But he could still publish those photos."

  "He could, but most of the impact's been drained from them. That still leaves the photos of Allison and I, but even taking the kink factor into account, I doubt most people would regard consensual sex between a man and his wife as scandal-worthy. He's really got nothing of any substance to threaten us with now."

  "Except my name,” Nick reminded him. “You didn't mention it. Neither did that article in the Post."

  "I didn't think it my place to out you to a roomful of your own colleagues."

  "I hate to break it to you, but you pretty much already did. It won't take them long to put two and two together."

  "Would it be so bad, seeing yourself identified as my lover in cold black-and-white?"

  "No, of course not, but ... What about Ally? Would I be identified as her lover too?"

  "First things first, Nick. It'll be hard enough asking the public to accept that a United States senator's just declared himself an out and proud bisexual. Adding a polyamorous relationship to the mix is pushing it."

  "It's bound to come out eventually."

  "Then we'll deal with it when it happens,” he said, kissing Nick softly. “For now, let's savor whatever small victories we can find."

  * * * *

  He found Allison tucked up in an overstuffed chair in the study, reading and sipping an iced tea. Giving her a quick kiss, Eric dropped heavily into the chair next to hers. She reached over and took his hand, entwining their fingers, a tiny smile curling up the corners of her mouth. “I take it Nick was happy to see you?"

  He nodded. “But the question is, are you?"

  She held up their clasped hands. “How's this for an answer?"

  "No divorce, then?"

  "Well, since your life would be so greatly diminished without me...” She grinned. “I guess I wouldn't mind keeping you around for a couple more years."

  "A couple?"

  "A couple dozen."

  He carried her hand to his lips. “I'd call that a deal."

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  Chapter 9

  One Year, Three Lives: Christmas Eve

  A huge pine wreath hung on the front door of the lake house, the halls festooned with holly, red and white poinsettias and twinkling lights. An eight-foot tall Christmas tree stood in the far corner of the living room, flocked white and covered with blue and silver ornaments, gaily-wrapped gifts spilling out around it. Nick looked up at it and grinned, then took his mother's arm and led her in to dinner.

  It was Nick's favorite type of gathering, small and intimate, with just him, Eric and Ally, along with his mother and Ally's dad. The exact same guest list as last year, minus his own father, Nick thought with a pang of sadness, meeting his mother's gaze. He clasped her hand, giving it a squeeze before they all bowed their heads to say grace.

  Good, simple food, fine wine and lively conversation helped ease him out of his momentary funk. Before he knew it, dessert and coffee had arrived, and Ally stood up, tapping on her water glass to get everyone's attention.

  "I've got some good news,” she chirped, smiling brightly. “I had to wait for the ink to dry on the contract before I told anyone, but it's now official—as of the first week of the New Year, I'm joining the staff of the New York Herald as its new fashion and entertainment columnist."

  The table erupted in applause and delighted cries, with Ally's father rushing over to give her a huge bear hug. Nick sat stunned for a few moments before glancing down the table at Eric, who flashed him a wink and a smile.

  When it came his turn to plant a congratulatory peck on Ally's cheek, he gave her a matching pointed look to go along with it. “You could've said something to me, you know."

  "I wasn't even sure the deal was going through until a couple of days ago. Besides, aren't surprises more fun?"

  "I'll take that as a rhetorical question,” he replied dryly. “But I'm a little surprised you'd accept a job that puts you right back where you were a few months ago."

  "It's not the big leagues, but I didn't handle the big leagues all that well when I had the chance. At least it's a job. It'll keep me busy and in the game until something better rolls around. And besides, with you going back to work after the holidays, we can ride into the office together!"

  "Oh, great!” he muttered with an exaggerated eye-roll. She punched him on the shoulder then stuck her tongue out at him, both of them dissolving in giggles.

  They retired to the living room for more coffee and to exchange gifts. He'd bought Ally a coffee-table book on twentieth-century history, his mother a pretty red wool sweater he'd seen her admiring the last time they'd gone to town together, and Eric a pale lavender silk dress
shirt that Ally had helped him pick out, with a striking gold and deep plum striped silk tie to go along with it. He, on the other hand, ended up with a Barnes and Noble gift certificate and a pair of flannel pajamas from his mother, a biography of Edward R. Murrow from Ally and a small, square box from Eric.

  He unwrapped it carefully, finding nothing inside but air. Confused, he shot Eric a look. “Don't I even rate a lump of coal?"

  "Wait and see,” Eric replied, with his second cryptic wink of the night.

  Nick grinned. Apparently there was another surprise in store tonight. Leave it to Eric to play mysterious, even on Christmas Eve.

  * * * *

  Allison's father left as soon as they'd finished with the gifts, but when Mary went to get her coat, Eric laid a gentle hand on her arm and steered her into his office.

  "I understand you've found a buyer for the farm,” he said, sitting down at his desk, gesturing for Mary to take one of the seats in front of it.

  "Yes, finally. It's scheduled to close escrow next week, I think."

  "Actually, escrow closed yesterday.” Reaching into his drawer, he drew out a thick, legal-sized envelope. “I bought the property."

  Her mouth dropped open, her shock and surprise painfully obvious. “E-Eric, I-I had no idea. Nick didn't say a word to me."

  "That's because Nick didn't know. I didn't want him inadvertently spoiling the surprise,” Eric replied, pushing the envelope toward her. “Here's the deed to the house. It's yours, free and clear of all encumbrances. I'm having the property divided into two separate parcels, with the farmland placed in trust for Nick's children."

  "You mean ... Is Allison—"

  "No, Allison's not pregnant, but we fully intend to have children someday. Between the three of us, I think we'll raise a fine family.” He smiled. “And since neither my mother nor Allison's is with us, I'm afraid you'll have to shoulder all the grandmother duties."

  She smiled back, though it did little to mask her concern. “You've chosen a difficult road. I don't envy you."

  "I love Nick and Allison, Mrs. Thompson. I can't imagine spending the rest of my life without them. Whatever we have to do to stay together, we'll do, and consider the price well-paid."

  "Nick said the same thing to me last Christmas, and I thought him incredibly foolish. Now I can't help but wonder at how foolish I was.” She opened the envelope, staring at the deed as if she expected it to disappear in a puff of smoke. “Eric, I don't know what to say, other than thank you. This is incredibly generous."

  "On the contrary. I consider you family now, and my own mother taught me the importance of always taking care of family. I wasn't about to stand idly by and see Nick's birthright lost to future generations."

  He poured himself a brandy after she left and sat by the fire sipping it, waiting for Nick and Allison to drift back into the living room. Nick gave him a lopsided smile and shook his head, bending down to give him a kiss. “My mom told me what you did. Thank you."

  "It was my pleasure."

  "And it'll be mine later."

  Eric grinned. “I'm counting on it."

  * * * *

  They curled up in front of the fire, all three of them, talking, laughing and nursing their drinks. It had taken Ally a while to get used to the rather bland taste of club soda, but now she actually liked the stuff. It tickled her nose like champagne, only without the miserable, headachy morning after.

  Eric reached to the small table behind him, scooping up two small velvet cubes tucked behind a potted poinsettia. “Here's something to fill those boxes I gave you both earlier."

  She opened it slowly, her breath hitching at the sight of a dazzling new platinum ring, identical to the ones Eric had given her and Nick last Christmas, with the addition of a flawless two-carat diamond. It had an inscription inside too, the same as last year's, only with this year and last year's date engraved beneath their entwined initials. Her eyes brimmed with tears as she gazed up at her husband and whispered, “Thank you."

  Nick slid the old ring off his finger, replacing it with the new one. “So does this mean our jewelry collection's going to keep growing like this every year?” he asked in a playful tone.

  Eric laughed. “Well, I don't know about that, but it's only appropriate that we celebrate our milestones. Think of it as a symbol of a new beginning."

  Leaning back against Nick's chest, she held her hand out before her to admire her gift, watching the diamond's facets catch and reflect back the light from the fire. Finally she stretched, yawned and stood up. “Gentlemen, I believe I'm going to bed.” Smiling, she glanced from Nick to Eric and back again. “Would you both like to join me?"

  Now Nick and Eric traded glances. Eric appeared startled but pleased, while Nick looked as if someone had just dropped a house on him—in the best possible way, of course.

  They came eagerly into her outstretched arms, kissing her and then each other. For a long time she'd doubted that they'd ever come together like this, that insecurity and petty jealousy would tear them apart if they tried. But they'd passed through the fires of hell in this past year, and if they could survive that, she knew they had nothing to fear from the future.

  "I love you so much,” she whispered. “Both of you.” And when they echoed her words, all remaining doubt fled from her heart.

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  Chapter 10

  Three Tickets to Paradise:

  Two Husbands, One Problem

  Eric's cell phone chirped like the world's tiniest, most annoying bird not five inches from Ally's ear. With one bleary eye cracked open, she tossed it inside the bedside table drawer. Rolling over with a groan, she reached for her husband, discovering only a warm Eric-shaped indentation in the mattress. Then the soft patter of water running in the shower began its insidious drip-drip through the final layer of her grogginess, and she groaned again.

  When Eric emerged from the bathroom a few minutes later, a towel knotted loosely around his hips, she was propped up on her pillows, wide awake. “You're up early,” she observed.

  "I have a meeting."

  "You had a meeting all day yesterday. I thought we'd planned to spend today together."

  "And we will,” he said, coming over to plant a quick kiss on her forehead. God, she hated it when he did that—as if she needed to feel more like a petulant child than she did already. “This should only take a couple of hours, then we'll have the entire afternoon—"

  "That's what you said a month ago and you didn't even make it back in time to drive me to the airport."

  He disappeared into the walk-in closet, acting like he hadn't heard her. Throwing on her robe, she followed as far as the doorway, watching him put on his slacks, button on a fresh dress shirt and knot his tie. “You knew about this when you came home last night, didn't you?” she demanded.

  Apparently absorbed in fastening his cuff links, he didn't answer. Well, at least he wasn't insulting her intelligence by pretending to be sorry about it. “Looks like I should've stayed home."

  "We're heading into summer recess in another week, Allison. There's a certain amount of business we need to get done before then—"

  "Look, I understand you're busy. I know the work you do is important. But I wish you hadn't asked me to come down for a visit if you knew you weren't going to have time to see me. Believe it or not,” she added acidly, “I have other things I could be doing."

  He shrugged on his jacket, telltale annoyance pulling tightly at the corners of his mouth. “You can work on your column just as easily here as in New York."

  "I can do a lot of things in New York. I came here to see you."

  He tried to brush past her, but she planted her feet and refused to budge. “Ally, be reasonable,” he said softly. “I'm sorry our weekend's been ruined, but there'll be others."

  "More weekends like this one, where we spend a grand total of three waking hours together? Where we have dinner at ten o'clock because you've been working all day?"

&n
bsp; A look flashed across his face, but whether it was impatience or genuine sadness, she couldn't tell. “I'll see you later,” he said, dipping down for a kiss that she drew back from. At last she stepped aside, letting him pass.

  She stood listening to the thump of his footsteps on the stairs, the sharper sound of him striding purposefully through the foyer, then the front door's click as it swung shut. She knew he wouldn't have a change of heart and come marching back upstairs, wouldn't call to apologize. Eric never wasted time saying things he didn't feel, and she knew he wasn't sorry.

  Well, fuck it. No point hanging around here in the vain hope that Eric would show up just in time to kiss her goodbye and put her on the Courtland Industries jet. She hit the shower and dressed quickly, then called down for a car to take her to the airport.

  The plane proved dull and uneventful, but at least it gave her enough time to put the finishing touches on Monday's column. She saved the file as the jet began its descent into LaGuardia, shutting her laptop with a sigh.

  The weather in downtown Manhattan matched her mood—gray and gloomy, with a hint of restless warmth lurking underneath. When the limo pulled up to the private elevator in the basement of Courtland Towers, she climbed out gratefully, riding up to the penthouse in silence, accompanied by Dalton, Eric's new chief of security. He'd shadowed her around the city for months now, though Ally thought he took his job a bit too seriously—she saw no need for him to escort her upstairs, especially when only she, Eric and Nick had access to the private elevator. He even insisted on walking her to the penthouse door, but at that point she politely but firmly sent him back down to his station in the lobby.