An Arrangement of Three
Anastasia Rabiyah
Published by Purple Sword Publications, LLC at Smashwords
AN ARRANGEMENT OF THREE
Copyright © 2010 ANASTASIA RABIYAH
ISBN 978-1-936165-59-9
Cover Art Designed By Anastasia Rabiyah
Edited By Diana Castilleja
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and events are fictitious in every regard. Any similarities to actual events and persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Any trademarks, service marks, product names, or named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement if any of these terms are used. Except for review purposes, the reproduction of this book in whole or part, electronically or mechanically, constitutes a copyright violation.
For Toni who once said:
“One isn’t enough.”
Maybe she was right.
Chapter One
Sherri sighed and slid her key in the lock, wanting nothing more than to calm her racing nerves after what had happened at work. Turning the thin piece of metal, she silently reprimanded herself for losing her temper, for snapping and doing something rash. Ever since she agreed to come to the blistering hot city of Safford, Arizona, her life felt wrong. Her boyfriend of three years had wanted to move here, lured by a higher paying job with the accounting firm he worked for, and since they arrived, his hours working kept getting longer. She shook her head and opened the door to their home, not looking forward to explaining to him that she’d up and quit her job at the paper. She hated the job, hated the two people she had to work so closely with as much as they obviously disliked her. For once, she thought her happiness ought to count for something. Roger would have to understand.
Crossing the living room, she tossed her purse on the couch and jumped when she heard a woman’s voice. Not just any voice—the voice of Roger’s boss. When the woman screamed out Roger’s name, everything clicked into place in Sherri’s mind. Late nights. Cell phone switching to voice mail. His cold reactions to me in the bedroom. The whole move to this hellishly hot place. Still, she had to see for herself. Stupid curiosity.
In the hall she found a trail of discarded clothes. A woman’s slip, Roger’s paisley tie, a crumpled red blouse, a bra; the evidence pulled her toward the infidelity. She heard his usual groan, signaling his release. The scent of sex mingled with perfume in the air. At the doorway to their bedroom, she stood frozen, staring at the two of them naked and tangled across the bed.
The part of her that had taken up with Roger wanted her to be quiet and walk away. Her mother liked him and wanted Sherri to settle down with someone stable instead of all the playboys she’d followed around in her past. Roger the accountant. Roger with his gold rimmed glasses and perfectly creased slacks. Roger who did everything with precision and demanded perfection in all things, even her.
“So that’s why we moved here,” Sherri blurted. “I get it now.”
Amanda, Roger’s boss, turned around with widened eyes. Roger covered his face with his hands. She heard him whisper, “Oh my God.”
Shock fused her there. She stared at Amanda’s round butt, and her fiancé’s hairy legs visible in the tangling of cream colored sheets she’d bought the day before. “Well shit,” Sherri whispered. “Shit, shit, shit. You son-of-a-bitch!”
Amanda rolled off of him and dragged the sheets up to cover her breasts. She looked like she wanted to say something, but whatever it was, Sherri didn’t want to hear it.
“Don’t speak!” She held up her palm. “Nothing you say can do any good now.”
She had no one here in Safford. No one, not even friends from work. She hadn’t been here long enough to form any bonds, and she’d quit her job, royally screwing herself. Turning her back on them, she forced her feet to move. One step in front of the other. Keep on moving. Don’t look back. Don’t stop. She needed to escape. She needed to put this behind her and rethink everything. She’d definitely lost her happy place. In fact, it had been on vacation for some time now. She needed to go find it again.
After snatching her purse from the couch, she simply walked out the front door. Not that there is anything simple about walking out on what she had thought was supposed to end up being a great life—a stable future. A plan. The road she should have been on. “Thank God we didn’t get married, or worse…have kids.” She looked back at the brick home with its perfect white trim and aesthetically placed river rocks, agave, and Mexican bird of paradise plants, and shook her head. Maybe perfection was overrated or always an illusion, a mirage. “What the hell am I going to do now?”
She pushed the key into the ignition and started her car. It didn’t matter that she didn’t have any clothes, or that she hadn’t taken her belongings. She didn’t want anything in that house. Right now, it all would remind her of Amanda’s rounded ass, dotted with sweat. Or memories of the times with Roger. She didn’t want to remember any of it. She wanted to forget.
After she drove out of the neighborhood and into the inner city, such as it was, she began to form a plan. She had a gay friend she’d been exchanging e-mails with in a writer’s group for years. They traded critiques, advice, and shared a lot with each other when life got crazy. She had never met David in person, but she knew he lived about thirty miles away outside the small town of Clifton. He had mentioned the idea of them getting together for coffee sometime after she told him she’d moved to Safford. She’d put it off, like so many things, but now was as good a time as any to see if his offer still stood.
Sherri headed for Clifton, her mind a blank. The drive helped her breathe, at least. On the outskirts of the town she pulled into a coffee shop lot and fumbled through her purse for her cell phone. She’d never called him, but she had David’s home number. He’ll likely be at work or out somewhere. This is a long shot. After scrolling through the list, her eyes blurred by tears, she finally found it.
The phone rang five times. She was about to hang up when someone answered. “Hello?”
“Hello, is this David?”
The deep male voice yawned. “Yeah, yeah, who’s this?”
“It’s Sherri.”
Silence ticked away. She wondered if he would hang up on her. Sometimes people she knew from the net freaked when they met in person. Sometimes, they turned out to be real weird.
“From the writing group?”
“Yes. Um, you said you might want to do coffee.”
His tone changed, becoming lighter. She could tell he was smiling. “That’d be great! When do you want to meet up?”
Glancing around, she frowned. “How about today?”
He chuckled, sounding nervous. “Well, I’m off work today, so sure. What time?”
“Now?”
“Now. Um, okay Sher.” His tone darkened. “What’s up? You’ve been in Safford for months, this is the first I hear from you by phone, and you want to meet right now.”
“It’s Roger. He’s cheating on me. I left him.”
Silence ticked away. Sherri watched a thin blonde woman traipse into the coffee shop. She winced and shut her eyes. Trust would never be easy to give again. Love—she didn’t think she could bear to try it a second time. Not after this.
“I’m so sorry,” David finally said, sounding sincere. “Where are you?”
She opened her eyes, tears welling there, and struggled to read the shop’s sign. “Café Ten. It’s on the corner of Third—”
“And Penning. I know the place. Stay put, Sher. I’ll be right over. It’s not that far.”
After ten minutes, she went inside and ordered a latte. Time moved slowly. She ordered a second and contemplated the slice of strawberry cheesecake under glass by the counter. Food to ease the mind. Resisting temptation, Sherri shuttled back to the seat near the window and stared at the road.
Another ten minutes passed before a red Mustang pulled up next to her car. She squinted at the man who got out. He brushed strands of dark blond hair from his eyes. She had seen pictures of him on the net before—always dressed in a business suit. David wore a rumpled white t-shirt and blue jeans today. He strode across the lot, his face riddled with concern lines.
The bell jingled on the glass door. David scanned the patrons. His brown eyes pierced right through her. He smiled and hurried over. “Sherri,” he said when she stood, holding out her hand in a safe, professional gesture. “I’m so sorry this happened.” His embrace crushed his body against hers so that she felt every curve of taut muscle across his chest and the lump in his pants as well.
She swallowed and hugged him back, her tears starting fresh. “Thanks. Thanks for coming, for being here. I don’t know what to do.”
“Stay with me. It’s not much, but a cabin in the woods might do you good. Nature has a way of putting life, and what’s important, into perspective. You can stay as long as you like.” His mouth touched her temple in a gentle kiss. “You’re welcome there.”
“No, I couldn’t impose. I can’t…”
“You can. It’s an invitation from friend to friend. We’ve known each other for years, just never in person. I feel like you’re family. A sister.”
Her skin went cold. Trapped in his comforting arms, she didn’t want to feel like his sister at all. She wanted him to press that tender mouth of his against her lips and make her forget. The animal attraction she felt for him sent a burning shiver through her womb. Sherri let her arms fall to her sides, afraid of what she felt, completely surprised by it. I can’t take any risks. I can’t try again. Never again. Besides, he’s gay.
His warm hand rubbed up and down the small of her back in soothing motions. “Let’s get out of here, okay? You don’t need to be in a public place. You need to be somewhere quiet where you can work everything out.”
He pulled away and stared down at her. She hadn’t thought he would be so tall. He stood a head over her, imposing and kind all mixed in one.
“Yes, all right,” she blurted, surprised again that she agreed so easily. He was persuasive in a subtle way, and really, it had been her plan all along. “I won’t stay more than a couple of days. I promise. Just until I get my bearings. I might have to move back to my mother’s house.”
“No, no. Stay as long as you need to. You’ve got that new job and all.”
She sobbed. “Well, that’s the other thing. I quit.”
“Oh.” He sucked in a breath and grasped his chin. “Hey, I can talk to my partner. He does research on the Mexican Gray Wolves they’ve released into the wild. He could use an assistant. It’s grant money, so it doesn’t pay much, but it’s better than nothing, and it’ll keep you at the cabin.”
“Really?” His kindness gave her hope. David was safe, a safe place to hide, and maybe a new beginning for a decent job.
“I’ll have to ask him first. He’ll be home late tonight.”
“Thanks, David. Thank you for this. I didn’t know what to do, or where to go.”
He took her hand, his fingers knitting with hers, and led her away. They passed out of the coffee shop into the parking lot. After he gave her directions to his house, she started her car and followed his Mustang, thinking she had done the right thing.
The drive through and out of Clifton was boring. Organized landscaping gave way to desert scrub and vast sections of cactus and wilds. In the distance, Sherri stared at the looming blue-gray mountains. She didn’t know anything about David’s partner and hadn’t realized they lived so far out of the way.
They passed onto a rough asphalt road leading into the Apache National Forest. She reached over to turn on the radio, but could only pick up a static laced country station. After a few minutes, she gave up and switched it off.
A feeling of angst settled in the pit of her stomach. Her nerves were shot. She blinked away another flood of tears. Following her friend on a winding road that led into the mountains, she began to question what she was doing. He might be some nutcase, an axe murderer taking me into the trees to chop me to bits and bury me. She decided no one but her mother would really care if she didn’t show up again. Surely Roger would be relieved.
A reckless sense of rage washed over Sherri. She decided she didn’t care what happened next. Worrying over her future had gotten her in the state she found herself in at that moment. Trying to be too careful, to make all the right choices hadn’t worked out. She focused on the shape of the man driving in front of her and wished he wasn’t gay, that they could have a wild, vengeful fling and immediately reprimanded herself for it. Be careful what you wish for, she thought.
This was David. Her friend. Her lighthouse in the midst of a dark, stormy nightmare. She wouldn’t use him like that even if she could.
The Mustang turned onto a dirt road and slowed to fifteen miles an hour. She saw the cabin long before they reached it. An old-fashioned timber built model, it boasted a side deck with balcony and a stone chimney. She wondered if they had heating or if it would be cold nights huddled by a fire for her.
Her cell phone rang. She reached for it on instinct, saw Roger’s number, and shoved it back where she’d found it. “Bastard.”
David parked on the gravel drive. He got out as she pulled in next to him. Snatching up her purse, she climbed out of her car and smiled awkwardly. “Thanks for this.”
“No problem.” He shrugged. “Do you have a suitcase or anything?”
“No.”
His forehead crinkled.
“I walked in on him, all right? He was having sex with his boss in our bed. Right in our house.”
He sighed and put an arm over her shoulder, his warm scent pleasing. “Come inside, Sher. We’ll have a drink or two. You can tell me everything or nothing at all.”
Trying to catch her breath, she kept pace with him. He left his arm around her when he unlocked the door. Inside it was dark, the large sitting room inviting and restful. He guided her to a leather couch that faced the fireplace and sank in beside her. She cried into his t-shirt while he stroked her hair.
“You’ll be all right,” he soothed. “You’ll see. Everything happens for a reason.”
Her eyes hurt. The beginning of a headache pounded her temples. Feeling safe in his arms, she closed her eyes and tried to stop thinking about what had happened. His heart thrummed by her ear, steady and low. Each intake of his breath pushed his chest against her cheek. She smelled soap on his skin.
His fingers kept combing through her locks, running over her scalp and down past her neck. “I’ll take care of you,” he promised. “No one’s going to hurt you here.”
She dozed off and woke when he tried to get up.
“I’ll get you a blanket and a pillow.” Concern lined his face. “You can crash on the couch. I’ve got to get dinner started before James gets home.”
Sherri nodded. The room had gotten darker still. She figured the sun had set. Feeling useless, she let him set a pillow under her head and closed her eyes when he tucked a velour blanket over her body. Soon after, the scent of burning pine permeated the room. A fire crackled and popped in the hearth while David moved pots and pans in the adjacent kitchen. He had left a glass of white wine for her on the coffee table.
The smell of good things to eat drifted to her.
She heard the front door open and then slam. “Whose car is in my spot!”
Chapter Two
James stormed in from the chilly night air, his body tense. He smelled someone here, someone new, and he didn’t like it that David had brought company without warning him. There was too much at stake. Too much risk. Besides, a man wanted to be able to go about dressed as he pleased without having to worry over offending someone—or undressed in James’s case. Clothes were annoying.
He glared at the dark-skinned woman spread across the couch, blaming her for his discomfort. She had big brown eyes that watched him with a hint of fear. Her full lower lip trembled.
“I’m sorry. That’s my car,” she said. Her voice sounded like music.
He scowled at her.
“David!” He waved a hand at the woman, dismissing her. It wasn’t like his pack mate to bring women home, or anyone for that matter.
“Hi, James. How was your day?” David was being facetious. His face was all smirk.
He ground his teeth. “Same as always. Who is that on our couch?”
David fully turned from his place over the stove. Something was frying in the skillet. Vegetables were boiling. He liked to show off his cooking abilities given the chance. Obviously, he wanted to make an impression on the woman, clueing James in that she was important somehow.
“That’s Sherri. You remember. I told you about her a thousand times. She’s an editor. I met her years back in my writing crit group. Online.”
James glowered. “Oh.” He hissed out an annoyed sigh and lowered his voice when he spoke again. “Tell me when you’re having people over. I could have walked in buck naked.”
“That would have startled her for sure. Besides, you don’t carry a cell…not that you could out there. I figured you’d have sense enough to be presentable when you saw her car.”
“Lucky I keep clothes in the Jeep, just in case.” He growled and marched to the fridge to grab a cold beer. Twisting off the cap, he wondered what David was up to. “How long?”
His friend flipped whatever it was he was cooking. “She can stay as long as she needs to. Sherri ran into a problem with her boyfriend—ex I should say. She has nowhere else to go.”
He swigged his beer. “Great. Just great. Last thing I need is a woman hanging around here poking into my business.”