The very thought did something to her.“They’ve nevertouched each other sexually before.”
“Really?”Miranda asked.“Because there’s some heat betweenthose men.”
“I know.I think they need… I think they’re a lot like mydads.”She’d thought about this endlessly.“I asked Papa once when he knew heloved Dad.He told me he knew he loved him a long time before they decided tobe more than friends.I asked him why, and he said they were waiting for mymom.Mom made things possible that weren’t before.They were afraid to lose thefriendship.They depended on it all their lives.But my mom saw what theyneeded and when my dad offered to do whatever she wanted, she said she wantedthem to kiss.”
That story had played through her head a million times sinceshe met Keane and Garrett.
“I would bet they didn’t look at each other like this beforeyou,” Miranda said.“I would bet they’re starting to open up to thepossibilities.Does it bother you?”
“Yes.It’s killing me.”
A loud laugh came from her friend.“You know some peoplewould think you were talking about the fact that the two men you’re into areinto each other and it bothers you.”
“No, I want to watch.”She really did.“But I also don’twant to push them.I haven’t wanted to push them because it didn’t feel right.Not if I wasn’t staying.But what if I want to try?”
“Then everything is open to you.I love them so much,”Miranda admitted.“Keane is quiet but sweet.He comes out and helps Gigi withall the medical stuff that she takes out to the resort.He just started packingit.Now Gigi leaves it by the car and gets an extra coffee because she knowshe’ll do it for her.”
“I would talk to her about using one of my men for freelabor, but he likes it.Keane’s the kind of guy who needs to feel needed.”Shewinced.“He’s like my dad.That should scare me more than it does.”
Miranda shrugged.“Nah.Your dad is a good man and a greathusband.I don’t think you could do better than your dad, and Garrett might notbe your papa but he’s close.This could be so good for you.”
She held her friend’s hand for a moment.“I needed this.Thank you.How did you get so good at the whole therapy thing, because thisfeels like therapy.”
“I am the firstborn child of a man who lost everything tococaine and strippers once,” Miranda declared.“My dad is big into therapy.Andcoffee.”
Olivia felt a real weight lift.She didn’t have to make adecision today, but she could start trying.She could start not thinking it hadto be temporary.She could talk to her mom.
Oh, she could talk to her mom and her sister, and they couldgive her advice and she would listen because they loved her.
“Olivia,” Garrett began, “we need to… Baby, are you okay?Keane?Keane, she’s crying.”
He sounded like that was the worst thing that could happen.Like this was an emergency that had to be handled right this instant.Like shewas precious.
“What happened?”Keane was there in seconds.
She stood up and wrapped her arms around him.“Nothing,Master.I was reminiscing with Miranda, and the memories were sweet.They’remaking me think about things in a different way.”
“In a good way?”
“In the best way,” she said, and went on her toes to kisshim.
“Uh, what’s Gabe doing?”Miranda asked.
“Damn it.”Garrett strode off, following Gabe.
Keane smiled and took her hand.“Come and dance with me.Weneed to keep Gabe from making an idiot of himself.He doesn’t like the guyGigi’s dancing with.Says he looks like a criminal.I asked if I looked like acriminal and he said yes, so he’s also an asshole.”
Olivia grinned but the thought of being on that dance floorwith all those people around her held little appeal.Especially since the musichad picked up and everyone was two-stepping.She could be klutzy.“TakeMiranda.I want to sit and drink my margarita for a minute and watch the soapopera playing out around me.”
Miranda stood, ready to play her part.“I noticed thatClancy and Penny are not speaking to each other, and it looks like Jonasbrought his sister-in-law.Does Hannah know?”
It was a small town, and there was always drama.Always.Miranda loved the gossip in Willow Fork.Despite the church ladies, who sworethat being in small towns was the only things that kept people from sinning,there was a shit ton of sin to go around.
“I don’t know who any of those people are,” Keane admitted,taking Miranda’s hand like the gentleman he was.“But you can tell me why Gabeseems to think he’s Gigi’s bodyguard.I would love that story.”
Miranda’s eyes glittered with enthusiasm as they hit thedance floor.
She loved that they fit in with her friends.
