Hard Candy (10 page)

Minutes...hours...days later, she realized she still held tight to Craig. She loosened her arms, moaning softly at how empty she felt without him inside her.

He leaned down to kiss her forehead before moving off the bed to walk to the bathroom. She heard the water come on in the sink and turned to her side to watch the doorway. Within seconds he was back carrying a cloth. He smiled down at her as he pressed the warm washcloth between her legs, soothing her body. When he was done, he returned the cloth to the bathroom, turning off the lights as he made his way back to the bed.

He crawled back into the bed, folding her in his arms as he brought her in close to his chest. She wound her arm around his waist, snuggling into his body, bringing her knee in to press between his thighs. She thought she felt him kiss her head again, but sleep was starting to claim her.

Craig inhaled deeply, drawing the scent of Penny deep into his lungs. He lay on his back, hugging her delectable body to him. Her head was lying on his shoulder, and one arm and leg was flung over his body. He held her tightly, not wanting to let go. Because of that, he was aware the second she woke up.

He ran his hand down her back. “Stay.”

“
Craig…”

“
Please. Stay. I don’t know what else to say.”

Penny snuggled in closer to his hold before lifting her head to look him in the eyes. “I don’t know if I can do that.”

“
Why?”

“
It’s too complicated.”

“
Actually, it’s pretty simple. Do you want to stay?”

“
Of course I do.”

Elation filled him. “Then, what’s the problem?”

“
I don’t know.”

Well, that wasn’t helpful at all. “Come on, we stick together remember? We can figure anything out between the two of us.”

“
The two of us?”

“
Shit, Pens. I don’t know what to say.”

“
Do you want to be with him?”

“
I want to be with you.”

“
That wasn’t what I asked.”

Craig sighed. “I don’t know what you want me to say.”

“
I want you to be honest. Come on. Tell me the truth.”

“
I want to be with you.”

“
And Mack?”

Craig hesitated. He wasn’t sure if this was the right thing to do, but she’d asked for honesty. “And Mack.”

She was silent for a moment. Craig wasn’t sure what that meant, but he was starting to think he’d messed up good.

“
So, you want to be with both of us?”

“
I know how that must sound. I realize you probably think I’m the biggest asshole, or that I’m confused...”

“
Are you?”

“
The biggest asshole? Looks like.”

“
Confused?”

“
More than I’ve ever been.”

“
Me too.”

Craig finally turned to look at her again. “Yeah?”

“
I wasn’t entirely honest with you before. A lot changed for me over the years, too. I’ve been with two men before. A long time ago now.”

“
You’re not even thirty yet. How long ago could it possibly have been?”

Penny laughed, curling up closer to his body with the movement. “You’re an idiot.”

Craig realized what she’d just said. “You’ve been in a ménage?”

“
Not a relationship. But, sex, yes.”

“
What’s the difference? You can’t have a relationship with three people.”

“
It’s possible. I have a friend in Houston who’s with two men. She’s the reason I experimented. There’s a few things I’ve done with her help, actually, including getting the piercing. But, I see what they have together, and it works for them.”

“
Are the men together, too?” He wasn’t sure that would work. How could it possibly work? Hell, some people couldn’t even manage to have a relationship with one person.

“
Yes. They weren’t at first, but they’ve grown a lot closer over the years.”

“
Years?” Whoa.

“
Yep. I’m trying to think… They just celebrated number eleven. I’m pretty sure that’s correct. It works for them.”

“
How?” Seriously, he wasn’t getting how it could work.

“
They’re honest with each other.
Extremely
honest. It’s the only way something like that can happen. The minute one person feels the least bit left out they need to talk about it.”

Could it work? Did he even want to be in a relationship with Mack and Penny? Of course. It smacked of more than a little like having your cake and eating it too, but he didn’t care.

Would Mack? “Mack said he wanted to be with me.” Way to just blurt that out there. Craig sighed.

“
Did he? Wow. Okay, so, you want to try something?”

Craig winced. “He never said anything about you. What if…?”

“
What if he doesn’t want me?”

He didn’t even want to think about that. He was just beginning to think that his dreams might be possible. Being with two people that he loved and respected and was friends with would be amazing. Having to let one of them go because they couldn’t be with the other person would be horrible. Because Craig didn’t want to have to choose. He couldn’t go to Mack if Mack didn’t want Penny.

Shit, what kind of man was he? Both Mack and Penny deserved far greater than him. They deserved someone who wanted them and only them.

“
Maybe this isn’t the greatest idea,” he said.

“
We won’t know until we try.” Penny shuffled over and crawled out of bed.

“
Wait, where are you going?”

“
We’re going to see Mack.”

“
Now?” Craig wasn’t sure he liked the high pitch his voice had just registered at, but this really wasn’t the best idea Penny had ever had.

“
You want me to stay, right?”

Craig stood up, moving forward to grasp her by her arms. “You’re going to stay?”

Penny inhaled deeply. “Promise you’ll help me if I move back?”

“
Of course, I promise. What kind of friend would I be if I didn’t?”

“
I’m hoping you want to be more than just a friend.”

Craig grinned. “Penny, I’m already more than a friend.”

She nodded in agreement. “There’s a lot of things I’d need to work out.”

“
You’re not happy in Houston. You told me that yourself the last time we talked before you came up here. All those little things can be dealt with. I just need to know if you’re going to try.”

“
I feel lighter.”

“
Huh?” Eloquence, that was his name.

Penny laughed brightly before pressing a kiss to his shoulder. “I feel lighter now. It’s like I can breathe again now that I know what really happened with my parents. Well, now that I know something, at least. I think I’m okay with not knowing everything.”

“
What are you going to do about it?”

“
Nothing. You said it yourself, the guy is dead. No one but me thought my dad had done anything, so even if Ed didn’t kill her, if she killed herself, what good would pursuing what happened do for me? She’s dead. My dad didn’t kill her. I don’t think even this police force would agree to open a twelve year old case that had been ruled accidental only on my word. It wouldn’t prove anything. It doesn’t matter anymore in the grand scheme of things. Finding out what happened, won’t bring her back. Besides...”

Craig shifted in place. “What?”

“
I think she’s at peace, now. I think I was meant to find that journal, so that I could come home. Maybe that’s why dad kept it all these years.” She grinned ruefully. “Sounds all woo woo, doesn’t it?”

“
Hey, I’ve heard stranger. That makes sense to me, though. I’d like to think she’s at peace. Same with your dad.”

“
Yeah.”

“
So, you ready to make this your home in truth?”

Penny nodded. “It’s always been home for me. It just took me a few years to realize it.”

He pulled her into a hug. “I’m glad.”

“
Let’s go find Mack. I’m ready to take the next step.”

Craig breathed out. He wasn’t sure this was the best idea, but he’d hate himself if he didn’t make an effort.

***

Mack pulled up in front of the brewery. He couldn’t resist a quick look at Craig’s dark house. It was far enough away that there was privacy, but he couldn’t help himself from looking anyway. What had he done last night? Fucked up, that was for sure. But, had he done any damage to his friendship with either of them?

He couldn’t go over there. He’d already made an ass of himself, and he wasn’t sure he could face Penny again after last night.

Shaking his head, he stepped inside the front door and looked around. It was coming along nicely. The front entrance was an open room with wood paneling and picnic tables set up throughout the space. A bar sat opposite the door, his taps recently installed. They hadn’t done much with the décor but he wasn’t in a huge hurry. He’d get to it in time. Wandering behind the bar, he quickly walked through his working space, checking out each of the brewhouses as he passed them.

Everything looked in order. So, what was he going to do today to distract him? It was the weekend so no one else was due to come in.

He wandered back into the main area just in time to see Craig and Penny walk in. Fucking fantastic. His day was just getting better and better. Especially once it became very clear they’d done something last night. They were more relaxed, moving into each other even when they weren’t touching.

“
Hey,” he said. “What brings you here?”

Craig glanced at Penny with obvious nerves before turning to face Mack fully. What was that all about?

“
We need to talk to you.”

“
Okay. Shoot. We’re all alone this morning.”

“
Great. That works. We brought some breakfast, if you haven’t eaten yet.” Penny held up a bag.

“
Sure, grab a seat.”

“
Do I get a tour later?”

“
I can show you around. It’s not finished, though, so you won’t get the full show.”

She shrugged. “That’s okay.”

The three of them sat down at one of the picnic tables. He’d had them specially made, out of reclaimed wood, and they were one of his favorite things in the joint.

“
I told Penny about us.”

Mack frowned. “What us?” Craig couldn’t mean what he was implying, right? Not if Penny was still standing beside him.

“
You know what us. About high school, and last year when you came back for that weekend. And last night, when we talked.”

Mack didn’t know what to say. He finally nodded.

“
So, do you still want to know the answer to your question?”

“
What question?”

“
If you want to play dumb, I’m fully willing to play along, but we need to speed this up. You asked me last night if I was happy. The answer is not quite.”

Mack chanced a glance at Penny before looking back at Craig. He couldn’t tell from either one of them where this was going. “Not quite what?”

“
Not quite happy. I’d be a lot happier if I could get my wish, but I’m not sure if I have the balls to be that selfish.”

He glanced at Penny again. She was sure taking this well. What exactly had gone on last night after he left?