you own
a ski resort. You have beautiful women around you all the time.”
“Getting laid
and having someone to love are two very different things.”
“Yeah, they
are. But don’t ever give up on finding that special woman, Pat.”
“Oh, I
won’t.” He grinned. “If you conned a woman into falling for you, it’ll
be a cinch for me to do that.” Patrick sipped his coffee. “Seriously,
cuz, you’re a lucky man. You have a wife who loves you. You’re building a
business doing something you love. You have a great place to live, even if it
is too hot.”
“It’s only
hot in the summer. The weather is great the rest of the year.”
“But no
snow.”
“We have
snow…every three or four years.”
Leaning back
in his chair, Patrick propped one ankle on the opposite knee. “We didn’t have
any snow when we were growing up in San Diego either, but I love it. I don’t
ever want to live any place that doesn’t have snow.”
“What if Ms.
Right shows up at your lodge and lives in Florida?”
Patrick
rubbed his chin. “Florida, huh? And she’s definitely Ms. Right?”
“Definitely,”
Jake said with a grin.
“No problem.
I’ll just use all my considerable charm and convince her to stay in Colorado.”
He returned Jake’s grin and took another sip of coffee. “So, what’s on your
agenda today?”
“I have to
pick up some supplies in town and run a couple of errands this afternoon.
There’s a guy coming over about ten who’s interested in Texas Thunder.
Hopefully, he’ll bring his checkbook.”
“First sale?”
Jake nodded.
“The first of many, I hope.”
Patrick set
his mug on the table. “Are things tight for you? I can lend you some money if
you—”
“No,” Jake
said firmly.
Patrick
frowned. “Don’t pull that macho shit on me, cuz. It doesn’t mean you’re a failure
just because you need some help until things get better.”
“I don’t…”
Jake stopped and ran his hand through his hair. He didn’t want to hurt
Patrick’s feelings, but his pride wouldn’t let his cousin bail him out of a
jam. His ego already suffered from having to live off Amanda’s commissions
instead of being the major breadwinner. “Thanks for the offer, but we’re okay.
Amanda’s done pretty good with commissions. In fact, she’s showing a house
today that should be a sure thing, according to her. Her commission on it will
be close to thirty thousand.”
Patrick
released a long whistle. “For one house? Not bad.”
“Nope, not
bad at all.”
“If it falls
through or you change your mind—”
“You’ll be
the first to know, I promise.”
Patrick
refilled his mug and took a sip of the steaming coffee. “Will any of your
errands take you close to a store where I can buy a birthday gift for Amanda?”
Jake stopped
in the act of picking up his mug. “Birthday gift?”
“I know
Friday’s her birthday. She’s been great to me and I’d like to get her a gift.”
He snapped his fingers. “I know. I could get her something to add to her
Garfield collection. Or is that collection special to the two of you?”
“It’s
special, but not exclusively ours. Her friends add to it all the time, and her
mom always sends her something at Christmas.” Jake cleared his throat.
“Actually, I do have a gift in mind that you can give her.”
“What is it?”
Beating
around the bush had never been Jake’s way, especially with Patrick. He figured
the best way to tell his cousin would be to simply say it. “Sex.”
Patrick
almost choked on the coffee he’d just sipped. He stared at Jake for a moment,
his eyes wide. Slowly, he lowered his mug back to the table. “You want to run
that by me again?”
“I want you
to be part of a threesome.”
“You’re
joking, right?” He shifted in his chair and laughed without the least bit of
humor. “Tell me you’re joking.”
“I’m
absolutely serious.” Jake leaned forward and rested his folded arms on the
table. “A couple of months ago,
a ski resort. You have beautiful women around you all the time.”
“Getting laid
and having someone to love are two very different things.”
“Yeah, they
are. But don’t ever give up on finding that special woman, Pat.”
“Oh, I
won’t.” He grinned. “If you conned a woman into falling for you, it’ll
be a cinch for me to do that.” Patrick sipped his coffee. “Seriously,
cuz, you’re a lucky man. You have a wife who loves you. You’re building a
business doing something you love. You have a great place to live, even if it
is too hot.”
“It’s only
hot in the summer. The weather is great the rest of the year.”
“But no
snow.”
“We have
snow…every three or four years.”
Leaning back
in his chair, Patrick propped one ankle on the opposite knee. “We didn’t have
any snow when we were growing up in San Diego either, but I love it. I don’t
ever want to live any place that doesn’t have snow.”
“What if Ms.
Right shows up at your lodge and lives in Florida?”
Patrick
rubbed his chin. “Florida, huh? And she’s definitely Ms. Right?”
“Definitely,”
Jake said with a grin.
“No problem.
I’ll just use all my considerable charm and convince her to stay in Colorado.”
He returned Jake’s grin and took another sip of coffee. “So, what’s on your
agenda today?”
“I have to
pick up some supplies in town and run a couple of errands this afternoon.
There’s a guy coming over about ten who’s interested in Texas Thunder.
Hopefully, he’ll bring his checkbook.”
“First sale?”
Jake nodded.
“The first of many, I hope.”
Patrick set
his mug on the table. “Are things tight for you? I can lend you some money if
you—”
“No,” Jake
said firmly.
Patrick
frowned. “Don’t pull that macho shit on me, cuz. It doesn’t mean you’re a failure
just because you need some help until things get better.”
“I don’t…”
Jake stopped and ran his hand through his hair. He didn’t want to hurt
Patrick’s feelings, but his pride wouldn’t let his cousin bail him out of a
jam. His ego already suffered from having to live off Amanda’s commissions
instead of being the major breadwinner. “Thanks for the offer, but we’re okay.
Amanda’s done pretty good with commissions. In fact, she’s showing a house
today that should be a sure thing, according to her. Her commission on it will
be close to thirty thousand.”
Patrick
released a long whistle. “For one house? Not bad.”
“Nope, not
bad at all.”
“If it falls
through or you change your mind—”
“You’ll be
the first to know, I promise.”
Patrick
refilled his mug and took a sip of the steaming coffee. “Will any of your
errands take you close to a store where I can buy a birthday gift for Amanda?”
Jake stopped
in the act of picking up his mug. “Birthday gift?”
“I know
Friday’s her birthday. She’s been great to me and I’d like to get her a gift.”
He snapped his fingers. “I know. I could get her something to add to her
Garfield collection. Or is that collection special to the two of you?”
“It’s
special, but not exclusively ours. Her friends add to it all the time, and her
mom always sends her something at Christmas.” Jake cleared his throat.
“Actually, I do have a gift in mind that you can give her.”
“What is it?”
Beating
around the bush had never been Jake’s way, especially with Patrick. He figured
the best way to tell his cousin would be to simply say it. “Sex.”
Patrick
almost choked on the coffee he’d just sipped. He stared at Jake for a moment,
his eyes wide. Slowly, he lowered his mug back to the table. “You want to run
that by me again?”
“I want you
to be part of a threesome.”
“You’re
joking, right?” He shifted in his chair and laughed without the least bit of
humor. “Tell me you’re joking.”
“I’m
absolutely serious.” Jake leaned forward and rested his folded arms on the
table. “A couple of months ago,
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